Thumbs Down: Where art thou?
The University has been reducing the number of art classes, leading some students to express discontent with the art department. With fewer sections open, art students are having a harder time finding classes they need to take. Although department chair Thomas Brown claims that the reduced class sizes increase the level of engagement, we believe that GW should go back to teaching more sections. Art is a gift that everyone should have the chance to experience, and not having more sections will make it difficult for art students to fulfill requirements.
Thumbs Up: A healthy donation
After about a dozen students left the School of Public Health and Health Services before completing their program, the school has decided to create a scholarship fund. Kicking off the fund was GW alumna and University Trustee Zoe Beckerman, with an astounding donation of more than $50,000 for students in SPHHS’ two-year master’s program.
Thumbs Down: Falling short on fundraising
More than seven months through the fiscal year, the University has raised less than a third of its annual fundraising goal. With $90 million to go, we aren’t optimistic. Hopefully, the hiring of Michael Morsberger to the position of vice president for development will hopefully be a beacon of light in the wake of what seems like recent departmental turbulence.
Thumbs Up: Hobnobbing with Hobbs
Men’s basketball coach Karl Hobbs and his team have been hanging around popular lunch destinations, visiting dorms and handing out pizza to drum up support for the team. Aside from an exciting season, it’s great to see this kind of community and spirit building from some of our school’s best-known athletes. They’ve performed well in a season of lowered expectations, and this kind of work is going above and beyond for the school.
Thumbs Sideways: Colonial crushes
The Student Association has launched a partnership with the Web site GoodCrush.com, a site that allows you to anonymously e-mail anyone your heart desires, and then see if the feeling is reciprocated. There are certainly better things for our student government to be doing. Nonetheless, it’s not likely this was a big waste of its resources, and we confess that we are excited to find out who is crushing on us.
Thumbs Up: Pitching in
GW is making progress toward having the first lady speak at Commencement, and it will continue to do so with the help of the University’s Board of Trustees. Members of the board have pledged to do at least 60 hours of service each, all of which will be counted toward the Obama Service Challenge. This promise from the board is very much appreciated, and we hope that the added numbers will help the University reach its goal of 100,000 hours.
Thumbs Sideways: Encouraging diverse employment
According to the Office of Institutional Research, GW employs about 2 percent more minority faculty than the national average. While this isn’t much higher, diversity is an important issue for GW, and knowing that we are above average is good. On the other hand, there is work to be done, especially for the School of Public Health and Health Services.
Hungry for a Hatchet
The opening of FoBoGro is fast approaching, and we couldn’t be more excited. Our only suggestion: a sandwich named “The Hatchet.” Recipe: turkey, Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, honey mustard, and pickles on wheat – complete with frilly toothpicks.
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