
Media Credit: Sydney Walsh | Staff Photographer
More than 600,000 white flags were planted along the National Mall this past October to honor those who have lost their lives throughout the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.
The GW community has faced a lot of changes this past year.
The Hatchet’s photo team looked back through images that captured some of those significant moments throughout 2021. From an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol to a repopulated campus to many student protests, here are some of the most memorable moments from this year:

File Photo by Zach Schonfeld | Staff Photographer
On Jan. 6th, Pro-Trump rioters stormed the Capitol building despite law enforcement’s blockade.

File Photo by Lillian Bautista
Leading up to the presidential inauguration, thousands of National Guard members were stationed around D.C., including in Foggy Bottom.

File Photo by Gabrielle Rhoads | Staff Photographer
With massive blockades around the Capitol and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, supporters observed President Joe Biden being sworn into office from afar this year.

File Photo by Danielle Towers | Assistant Photo Editor
University President Thomas LeBlanc announced in May that he would retire as the 17th president of GW at the end of the academic year, a timeline that was moved up when Board of Trustees Chair Grace Speights announced in October that an interim president would take over at the start of 2022.

File Photo by Elissa Detellis | Photographer
Students returned to in-person classes at the end of August after more than a year of online classes sparked by the pandemic.

File Photo by Grace Hromin | Senior Photo Editor
As the pandemic proceeded, testing requirements for all faculty, students and staff continued regularly to monitor campus positivity rates.

File Photo by Grace Hromin | Senior Photo Editor
Sheets of plastic covered Townhouse Row after reports of mold forced residents to evacuate, prompting many other students to report mold in other University buildings.

File Photo by Sophia Young | Assistant Photo Editor
Students from the graduating classes of 2020 and 2021 were able to return to D.C. in October to celebrate in person on the National Mall.

File Photo by Danielle Towers | Assistant Photo Editor
GW capped the culmination of its bicentennial celebration with a dance performance on the side of Gelman Library following Commencement.

File Photo by Sydney Walsh | Assistant Photo Editor
More than 600,000 white flags were planted along the National Mall this past October to honor those who have lost their lives throughout the pandemic in the United States.

File Photo by Skylar Epstein | Staff Photographer
After the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity discovered a Torah scroll vandalized in their on-campus house, hundreds of GW community members processed through campus in support of GW’s Jewish community.

File Photo by Sydney Walsh | Assistant Photo Editor
Beginning in the spring semester, students will have access to unlimited Metro rides after a multi-year push from Student Association leaders for officials to enroll in the U-Pass program.
This article appeared in the December 30, 2021 issue of the Hatchet.