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AN INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SERVING THE GW COMMUNITY SINCE 1904

The GW Hatchet

Serving the GW Community since 1904

The GW Hatchet

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Officials name senior vice president, chief of staff
By Fiona Riley, Assistant News Editor • March 26, 2024

SA leaders push senators to act on school-specific issues

Marika Lee, vice president of Allied in Pride, lobbies senators Josh Goldstein and Cory Grever to sponsor a condom dispenser bill. Francis Rivera | Assistant Photo Editor

Student Association President John Richardson called on SA senators Monday to help his administration create a broad agenda by pinpointing school-specific issues the organization should tackle this semester.

Richardon said he and Executive Vice President Ted Costigan would continue to lobby for “global issues,” like revamping GW’s career center, but they need senators to find and advocate for smaller issues.

“Ted and I don’t have time to focus on all the school specific problems – that’s where you guys come in,” Richardson said at the first Senate meeting of the year. “If we can do global and school-specific issues, we’re gonna knock it out of the park.”

Members of Allied in Pride attended the meeting seeking a sponsor for their condom dispenser campaign, which would add free condom machines in every residence hall.

Allied Vice President Marika Lee said 25 student organizations across campus have pledged support for the initiative, and she hopes the Student Association supports the cause. Costigan voiced support of the bill, saying he hopes it will come to the floor at the next SA Senate meeting Sept. 19.

Costigan also announced a partnership with campus groups including College Republicans, College Democrats and Program Board to launch a debate series later this semester. He said the debates would be modeled after last year’s “incredibly successful” Howard Dean and Newt Gingrich event.

Each debate would bring in political heavyweights to discuss an issue that resonates with college students. Costigan said the series would kick off this semester, although it is still in the planning stage.

Finance chair and senator John Bennett, U-At Large, said he worries about the “sustainability” of the program’s costs. Costigan said the groups would each use their connections within the University and the city to select speakers and venues in order to keep costs low.

Costigan joked that what GW students lacked in athletic fervor, they made up in political involvement.

“Politics are our sports,” he said. “We want to cater to that.”

 

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