Science and Engineering Festival

Waddup Waddup!!

So today I had the opportunity of going to the USA Science and Engineering Festival. This two day long festival was hosted by Lockheed Martin and held in the DC Convention Center which is right off the Mt. Vernon Square Metro stop. It is held every year and is typically hosted on the National mall but was held in the convention center this year due to the recent bad weather. 

GW School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS) was a sponsor of the festival so we had an booth where we taught kids about circuits and they got to color and make paper airplanes. Since I am the newly elected Junior Class Representative for the Engineer’s Council, other e-board members and myself along with other students from SEAS all came out to volunteer our time and scope out the festival. 

After working at the booth, I went over to see my corporate sponsor for my Jackie Robinson Scholarship, Northrop Grumman Corporation. They had a section at the festival as well where there were a number of demonstrations, presentations/displays, and giveaways. The whole day was a ton of fun and t was really great to see the familiar faces from the NGC corporate staff at the end of the day. 

If you are in DC now, the festival will be going on again tomorrow and there are a number of different presentations and special events that are going on in conjunction with the festival. You can visit www.usasciencefestival.org for more information. Go check it out (: 

Until next time: if you have any questions, comments or just want to chat-- always remember I am only an email away! anstone@gwmail.gwu.edu

Stay Classy Colonials,

Alyse

Curious George + Engineering = So much FUN (:

Happy Friday Readers (: 

I’d like to comment on the ridiculously GORGEOUS weather we are having today in Foggy Bottom. The environment on campus is definitely thriving today. I got out of class today and the Panhellenic Conference Council got an ice cream truck to give free ice cream to everyone on campus (free ice cream + gorgeous weather = happy Alyse). The Panhellenic Conference is the umbrella organization under which the social greek sororities on campus fall under if they are not under the Multicultural Greek Council umbrella organization or are a Professional Fraternity.  Social fraternities that are not professional and that do not fall under the Multicultural Greek Council are apart the umbrella organization called the Inter Fraternity Council.    

Wait... but my Friday gets even better-- the engineering org Engineers Without Borders was having a BBQ with footballs and nerf guns and a kiddie pool in Kogan Plaza (should have snapped a photo-- it was very dope sorry!). Although the food wasn’t entirely free, my gworld balance is definitely looking rough and I will take a $2 meal any day. Yep, today’s a good day.

Now back to the point of my post: so this past Wednesday, the engineering school (SEAS) hosted about 300 three to five year olds for a big Curious George event. With the help of a lovable student dressed up in a Curious George concert, we taught the kids about the various engineering disciplines through hands on activities in the Smith Center and then we ate lunch with them. It was an all around really fun event and fun day and everybody involved had an awesome time. I was on the planning committee since the event was run through the office I work at (Undergraduate Advising Office in SEAS) so I definitely had an awesome time because (a) I LOVE children and (b) I LOVE planning events. So it was a win win situation. I was looking for pictures to post for the event but everyone in the office is gone for the day and cameras have gone M.I.A. but once I find them, I will definitely post them up (: 

Until next time: if you have any questions, comments or just want to chat-- always remember I am only an email away! anstone@gwmail.gwu.edu

Stay Classy Colonials,

Alyse

Cab Doz Getaway

So if you haven't noticed, I've come from underneath my rock and you'll be hearing from me a lot  over the next couple of days as I avoid studying (:

Over this past weekend, I was kidnapped by my Colonial Cabinet fam (just kidding!). But all of the Colonial Inauguration staff (Colonial Cabinet and CI Staffers) went on a spring retreat/leadership getaway over the weekend. Although I can’t really say much about the retreat because its a surprise and a little bit on the down low, I can say it was an awesome bonding experience and although we left tired and smelly, we came back on Sunday loving each other more than we did when we left. 

Despite the fact that our more time intensive job commitments begin this summer, throughout the second semester we have weekly trainings, office hour commitments, and other events we have to attend including basketball games, April visit days for prospective students, and two retreats. We had our winter retreat towards the beginning of the spring semester and in past years this retreat is usually held the last weekend in the semester. But, because of some changes in schedule, we had it a bit earlier this year. 

Spring Retreat (:

At our winter retreat!

Chilling during GW's Spring Fling

Buff Out Basketball Game

Stuck together in a random elevator lol

With two trainings left in the semester and one more week of office hours, my cab fam and I  are getting ready to meet all the amazing incoming students. As a result of our overwhelming excitement for the summer, we have given ourselves the name “Cab Doz” which you may often hear us drop from time to time. 

If you are a prospective student-- GET READY!! This summer/fall is going to be exciting and fun but be sure to register for CI! I may have briefly mentioned it in an earlier post but once you register for CI you will be placed in a small group. Each Cab member is a small group leader. We will be there to make sure everything runs smoothly for you, and to also answer any and all questions you may have. The faster you register, the faster you hear from us, and get some Cab Doz lovin (: 

Until next time: if you have any questions, comments or just want to chat-- always remember I am only an email away! anstone@gwmail.gwu.edu

Stay Classy Colonials,

Alyse

The Spring Swing of Things for Me

This semester is bound to be one of the busiest, but most exciting ones in store for me. I am working on switching majors (yes, AGAIN!) to the School of Media and Public Affairs to study Political Communication. I have never taken a single journalism class so it is tough starting at one of the best journalism schools in the country, but hey, I’m just learning from the best!

Come visit us this spring and summer
and we can't wait for our new students to walk through
these gates

As well, I am working with the Admissions Office and going through training for the VIP (Visitor Information Program) through the Admissions Office to stay here for the entire summer and give tours. As if that weren’t enough, I will be interning for an Austin-based consulting firm. Finally, this is the heat of basketball season and I am busy with Colonial Brass as we cheer on our men and women's team to post season play. It is bound to be a great summer and even more exciting summer as I hope to get to meet more of you since traditionally many of you, like me when I went through the process, view colleges during the summer.

To those of you who applied ED and are anxiously awaiting, hang in there! Decisions will be made soon and should be headed out in the middle of February. For others who applied Regular decision, take this time to breathe after putting in your application and hold on until the middle of March. I wish you the best of luck, be sure to put in your FAFSA (http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/) and CSS Profile (https://profileonline.collegeboard.com/prf/index.jsp)  with the Financial Aid Office, and as always reach out to the Admissions Office or me if you have any questions/concerns. We are always glad to help our perspective Colonials.

Peace, Love and Hippos,

Brandon Moore

brmoore@gwmail.gwu.edu

Putting Down the Books to Pick Up Some Pancakes

Servers wore construction hats
instead of hair nets. Cute!!!

This past Monday the GW community continued one of its longest traditions, Midnight Breakfast, to kick off the two weeks of finals for the Fall semester. For its 26th year, GW professors, coaches, administrators and staff have gotten together to serve students a nice evening breakfast before we continue to pull our all-night study sessions. Although studying may not be the most fun thing you do in college, at least at GW we get to it on a full stomach :)

GW Women's
Basketball Coach Bozeman
and President Knapp help
serve students a great breakfast

This year the theme was "Trespassing Welcome" and there were themes all around the renovations going on around campus. There were showcases of the new Aimes Academic Center on the Mount vernon Campus, plans on display about the construction of the Science and Engineering Complex (SEC) near Whole Foods and sadly the closing of the Hippodrome and 5th floor Bowling Alley. President Knapp joined students as the signed a wall of the former Hippodrome before it is constructed into a new office space for student-run organizations. Some friends and I played pool for the last time in the Hippodrome before hitting the books again in Gelman Library.

The beautiful new academic space at the
Mount Vernon campus

As well as eating and looking at the projects at hand, we also had the opportunity to see various groups perform at the Midnight breakfast like Balance, GW Troubadours, Ballroom and Capitol Funk.

As always, let me know if you have any questions about anything and congratulations to all of you who joined the Colonial Community through the Early Decision I program! Your hard work has paid off and I can't wait to see you on campus

Peace, Love and Hippos!

Brandon Moore
brmoore@gwmail.gwu.edu

(Another) Eid Banquet!

Tonight, I went to the Muslim Students’ Association Eid Al-Adha Banquet.  (I know, I’m being so interfaith-y this week!)  Now, as I may have said before, I’m not Muslim, so I’ve never celebrated Eid until this year, first at the MSA’s Eid Banquet in September for Eid ul-Fitr, and now for Eid Al-Adha!

I really enjoy all these religion-based events because though I don’t subscribe to any one religion, I was raised Catholic and still celebrate the big Christian holidays.  I knew quite a bit about Jewish tradition because so many of my high school friends are Jewish, but I didn’t have much exposure to Islam (weird given my name and background, eh?)

I’m also a religion minor, so it’s great to see everything I’m learning in all my classes in action, as well as how modern Muslims practice in comparison to all the Middle Ages (and earlier) theologians and philosophers that dominate so much of my religion homework. 

There was also henna!  So I of course had to get all painted up--I love it!  Here are some pictures of my lovely body art:

When it was first applied--the dark stuff dries and crumbles off, leaving behind...

... all this loveliness!

Cute, no?  All that added up to a good night!

With questions about anything, email: shireens@gwmail.gwu.edu

<3 Shireen

Interfaith Dinner

Tuesday night, my friends and I went to the 10^th annual Interfaith Dinner in the Grand Ballroom.  It was a nice night with food, music, and merriment, but also sharing of religions and cultures rather than the ever-so-common separatism among the religions

The theme of this year’s dinner was “better together”, and each religious student group shared pieces from their holy books that emphasized that theme, often in the native tongue of the religion and then an English translation.  The musical performances also emphasized tolerance, spreading hope and love, and giving peace a chance.  It was just lovely!

It’s always nice to see people of different backgrounds coming together to share common goals and beliefs, but it’s especially nice when different religions come together, especially since religion is so often something that divides peoples rather than its intent of helping people.  This dinner affirmed my belief that religion actually can do good!  Who would have thought, eh?

If you’re interested in joining a religion-based student group at GW, we have them in droves!  I wrote a post about it a while back, but there’s also plenty of info on the student org website where you can find all you need to know. 

Questions? Write me!  shireens@gwmail.gwu.edu

~~~Shireen

Have you heard about GW Basketball???

GW and the DC Metropolitan area are often known for their incredible college basketball environment. In this area, we have the Big East powerhouse Georgetown Hoyas, the NCAA qualifying George Mason Patriots down the road in Fairfax, along with the American University Eagles and a little ways away, the Final Four Men's Virginia Commonwealth Rams. But enough talk about our foes! The George Washington Men's Basketball team finished the 2010-2011 season on the cusp of an Atlantic 10 Conference tournament appearance (with a 5th place finish), but lost in an upset qualifying tournament game to St. Josephs, finishing with an overall 17-14 record. In addition, the GW Women's Basketball team had a rebuilding season, advancing to the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament in Lowell, MA where there season ended with a loss to Dayton.

But this year is a whole new season!!!!!

The GW Men's Basketball team has a new face. The new head coach of GW's mens team, Mike Lonergan,  is the former head coach at the neighboring college of the Catholic University of America before serving in his most recent post as the head coach and catalyst of an emerging strong basketball program in Bennington, VT with the American East Conference's University of Vermont Catamounts. The GW men's team will face a tough schedule this year, traveling to Syracuse (#5), UC Berkeley (#18), Harvard, and Kansas State, along with taking on strong conference opponents like Richmond, Xavier (#15), Temple and Duquesne. On top of it all, the men will be taking on the VCU Rams in the 17th Annual BB&T Classic hosted at the Verizon Center here in DC's Chinatown. GW's Tony Taylor was selected to the A-10 Pre-Season first team and will be a great leader for a tough season ahead. It should definitely be an exciting season so look for GW on the headlines and on ESPN and such.


The GW Women's Basketball team will have a schedule that keeps them closer to home, so that just means that much more action for us to see here at the Charles E. Smith Center. The Women will play local foes like Georgetown, UDC, American, George Mason, William & Mary, but also take on foes from larger conferences like the Auburn Tigers, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights and the Virginia Tech Hokies. Mike Bozeman will lead these ladies to what is sure to be a fantastic season here in his 4th with GW and I am so pleases that I will get to see more of the games now that ALL of the band will be at ALL of the Women's games :)

If you are coming up for a tour, make sure you buy some tickets so you can go catch some of the action and feel what the sports environment is like here at GW. Come root alongside the Colonial Army (the student fan section that fills up a side close to the floor level) or watch from home and cheer, root on, and raise high your Buff and Blue!!!

I will continue to update you on the basketball season as I a.) love college basketball and b.) am a part of the band (Colonial Brass) and at every game. Feel free to ask me any questions and best of luck to those of you applying Early Decision about now and for those of you working on your applications. Keep up the good work and reach out if I can help you in any way!

Peace, Love and Hippos

Brandon
brmoore@gwmail.gwu.edu

Swanky Luncheon

Today, my friend (and fellow VFC eboard member) and I went to an awards luncheon at The Capital Hilton.  The event was for Planned Parenthood of Metro-Washington, which we are always in contact with for our Voices for Choices goings-on.  So it was fun to see all the people we represent.

It was so high-class!  The butter they served with their rolls was in the shape of the Capitol building--it was so crazy.  And the meal itself was very good too.  They definitely shelled out some big bucks for this one, and I'm all right with that!  It was a splendid affair to honor the awardees: DCAF (The DC Abortion Fund, Fredda S. Sparks, and Ellen Malcolm.  Lizz Winstead, a former Daily Show writer, was the keynote speaker.  AND SHE WAS SO FUNNY!  Definitely check out her link and see if you can go to a show or at least watch a video of hers.  If you're a hippie liberal like myself, you'll love her bit.

Souvenir chocolate in the shape of a birth control pill pack--HILARIOUS.

We're thinking of selling these and similarly hilariously-shaped chocolate goods for a fundraiser--what are your thoughts on that?  I know I'd pay for one of those, I think it's just so funny and crafty.

Let me know your thoughts on that, and ask any questions you desire!  shireens@gwmail.gwu.edu

<3 Shireen

Apple Picking!

Today, my friends and I went apple picking with GW Trails!  Well, minus the picking.  Turns out all the in-season trees were picked dry, and the rest of the trees didn't have ripe fruit on them yet.

However, we still had a fun time!  We went to a farm about an hour away in Poolesville, MD, and the drive was just as scenic as the destination.  I love fall.  I know I've mentioned it before, but I really, really love changing leaves and crisp air and autum-ness.  So even though there was no picking of apples whatsoever, we still managed to have a great time playing in the hay, petting farm animals, eating caramel apples, apple pie, and hot cider, and using an old-fashioned contraption to core and peel fresh apples.  Still a fall wonderland!

This is my first trip with GW Trails, and I don't think it'll be my last.  Thing is, I'm a novice hiker, so I need to get a bit more experience anyway!  This trip doesn't add a notch to my belt in that sense, but at least I know how Trails trips work now.  This one only cost $15 (plus whatever you buy there), but you can pay on GWorld!  And I didn't take advantage of this, but if you're over 21 and have a license, you can drive people there and go on the trip for free!  They rent cars and get zipcars, that's what the trip cost mostly goes towards.

Here are some pictures from the excursion:

What a cute little baby!!!

Scarecrow--didn't just scare the crows.  Just look at him!

My buds Matt and Emily.

SkyGoat: they had this weird bridge contraption so goats could go
from one pen to another--made me nervous.

Adorable baby cow!

Yay for fall!

Shoot me an email at shireens@gwmail.gwu.edu

<3 Shireen

Block Party!

Today was the 9th annual Foggy Bottom/West End block party, held on GW's campus in the park behind the metro and next to the hospital.  It was a fun event for local vendors, clubs, and advocacy groups to spread their messages, give away coupons, and regale Foggy Bottom and West End residents with SWAG!

I went with fellow e-board members of The Global Language Network, first to set up a table and get people to sign up, but then to visit the other booths and see what they had to offer!  We got some free cookies from Trader Joe's and Circa, free apple cider from TJ's also, a West End Library card (or the application, at least), and a pickle on a stick from Potbelly's!  So that alone equals a good day.  On top of that, there were live music and dance performances.

Entryway of the block party (from a few years ago)

Fun times had by all!  And it was an absolutely gorgeous day, barely a cloud in the sky and a perfect 74 degrees out, but still with that crisp autumn chill that I love so much.  It was also fun to see parents walking around with their students, I like seeing classmates with their parents--you can often see a bit of them in their kids.  It's just fun to people-watch.

Emails are getting few-er and far-er between.  Send me your GW/college app/life questions!  shireens@gwmail.gwu.edu

<3 Shireen

WonkyBlog

Today was WRGW's Truckapalooza!  Over 20 food trucks with the DC Food Truck Association came out to one of GW's most successful student org events yet.  Even in the rain (which happily cleared up!) didn't keep vendors or happy patrons away from the good eating!

As you may be able to tell from past blogs, I LOVE food trucks.  They come to campus often, but never in such large numbers--I was overwhelmed!  I will eventually try them all. Eventually.  Today, since we had such a good selection to choose from, I got to try two!  My buddy and I got food from two different trucks: DC Empanadas and Eat Wonky, and we split our meals.  I got Wonky Fries (Canadian Poutine, if you've ever had it) and she got a grilled cheese and an "Asher" empanada--basically calzone filling in an empanada shell.

Everything we tried was good, but the poutine was what really won us over.  That was a perfect 10; I'd go back to that one again and then some.  I had been wanting to try it for so long and I was not disappointed in the least.  So thanks, WRGW!!!  This one was a real hit--and a great way to kick off parents weekend!

Poutine: french fries covered in (vegetarian!) gravy and mozzarella-type cheese

Keep emailing, I love questions and feedback!  shireens@gwmail.gwu.edu
<3 Shireen

National Coming Out Week

So this week is National Coming Out week and GW is taking part in this very important celebration of diversity at our campus. This is a great time when LGBT students (Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transgender-Queer) are able to celebrate their diversity, remember their community and embrace support for even further change. GW's LGBTQ group, Allied in Pride, has sponsored many events this week and has a very sizable LGBTQ population that is taking part in these events.

An aerial view of the Mount Vernon's Hand Chapel

Tonight, I went to an interfaith service with my amazing friend Abby at the Hand Chapel on the Mount Vernon campus. The Hand Chapel is absolutely gorgeous and has a beautiful view into the wooded area that surrounds the rolling hills campus tucked away in the hills of Northwest DC. At this service, about ten students (allies and LGBT students) showed up to listen to a Father from Dignity Washington (group for LGBT Catholic persons) and an Emaan from a very liberal Islamic sect speak about the strength, divine acceptance and equality that the LGBT community was entitled to and possesses. The message presented by both presented a powerful message using water to illustrate that all people, gay straight, white or non-white, depend on this source and through this "recycling" process, we as a people are all one.

I am looking very forward to the rest of the events the week has to offer and will be sure to make it to as many as I can. To give you some insight as into what the rest of National Coming Out weeks involves, here are some of the events:

1. LGBT Study Abroad and International Careers Information Session
2. Glee Night (I mean isn't that just amazing!!!!)
3. Out of the Closet and On to the Screen: The Changing Images of the LGBT Community on Film and Television
4. LGBT Family Friday: Dessert and Mocktails (Since this weekend is Parent's Day weekend here at GW)
5. OUTing to Town (which is a very popular local LGBT bar here in Northeast DC)


As always, if you have any questions about anything, feel free to contact me with any questions and I will give you an answer or find you an answer if I don't know it right off the top of my head. Best of luck to all you Early Decision students and I look forward to continuing to help all of you :)


Peace, Love and Hippos,

Brandon

brmoore@gwmail.gwu.edu

Choice USA Generation 2 Generation Awards

Last night, my roommate (also my Voices for Choices VP) and I went to the Gen2Gen Celebration for ChoiceUSA.  This weekend is their annual conference in DC, and the weekend-long affair kicked off last night at K Street Lounge with an award ceremony featuring Gloria Steinem!

I know... I'm pretty lucky to have seen Toni Morrison and Gloria Steinem ALL IN ONE WEEK!  And within only a few days of each other!  Eek!

Obviously, as VFC President I'm all about pro-choice advocacy, but I haven't had a lot of opportunities to schmooze with others in the field.  Last night was my first exposure to that world, and I'm super excited to immerse myself in it even more!  I was told by my liaison with Planned Parenthood that we've got exciting things in store for the campus PP groups--can't wait!

So it was a really cool event with a whole lotta awesome pro-choicers and members of the sexual advocacy community.  I also got to meet with Georgetown's H*yas for Choice, and we started the planning process for a DC University-wide event, so be on the lookout for that!

The event will include the entertainer at last night's happy hour celebration, a spoken word artist based in DC named Sonya Renee.  She was really good, we all got chills from some of her poems--so we really want to have an event with her!   It would probably be at a venue in or around Dupont Circle, so we can get a steady audience from GW, Georgetown, and AU as well.  Let me know your thoughts on that!

Email me!  shireens@gwmail.gwu.edu

<3 Shireen

Voices for Choices Event!

So you know how I just promoted The Global Language Network?  Well now I'm here to promote my other student org, Voices for Choices!

We're the pro-choice and sexual health awareness group on campus.  A 10-year old chapter of VOX, we work directly with Planned Parenthood on advocacy work, lobbying, clinic escorting, and various other issues related to sexual health and pro-choice activism at GW, in DC, and in the political arena.

Additionally, this year I, as President, am in partnership with Sir Richard's Condom Company, a forward-thinking company with a proactive premise: for each condom bought, one is donated to a developing country.  This year, they're working with Partners in Health to meet the staggering demand for sexual health education in Haiti.

Click "Attend" on our Facebook Event Page!  Even if you can't actually come, I'd like to drum up support--it's too good a cause not to!

Email me with your thoughts!  shireens@gwmail.gwu.edu

... and if you'd like to be added to the VFC email listserv, shoot me an email at vfc@gwu.edu

<3 Shireen

The Global Language Network

This is not my first post on The GLN, and it likely won't be my last, but I figure I should raise awareness for those who haven't heard of it yet.  Also, I'm President of GLN-GW, so I think a bit of shameless plugging won't hurt anyone!

Here's the deal:  The Global Language Network began 6 years ago as a GW student org, and since we have branched out to become an official 501(c)3 non-profit.  We teach over 50 languages to the GW and greater DC communities, and our classes are taught on GW's campus and the surrounding Foggy Bottom area.  Also, classes are offered nights and weekends, so they can work around your class/work/interning schedule.  

Sounds great, right?  But wait, there's more!  All our classes are FREE!  You have to put down a $100 deposit as a GW student, but if you don't miss more than 3 classes, you get your money back!  So it's just a win-win-win.  Everyone wins.  Classes began yesterday for the fall session, but log in to our website at www.thegln.org or email me at shireen@thegln.org to sign up for our newsletter so you're in the know on our other events and preparations for the spring session!  And use your GW email when creating an account to secure yourself priority registration for classes!

Email me at shireens@gwmail.gwu.edu for everything else!

~~~Shireen

Eid Banquet

SO... I lied in my last post.  I said that my next one would be about multicultural student orgs. But this is about the Eid Banquet last week, so, whoops.  Next one will be about the orgs, I promise!  (Though actually, the Eid Banquet was held by the Muslim Students' Association, so it sort of counts.  Sort of.)

Anyway, the evening began with optional prayer in their reserved prayer space upstairs--if you weren't into that everyone else was just chilling in the Grand Ballroom of the Marvin Center.  After everyone got back, there was an intro to GW-MSA, some Qu'ran readings, and a speaker who discussed coping with stress and school and religious obligation and whatnot.  It was pretty good.  And then there was food!  And that was also good!  There was a mix of Indian/Pakistani grub, complete with a whole lotta rice and samosas--oooooooh yeah.  The samosas were baller.

My friends and I all wore traditional outfits.  My roommate is Pakistani so we borrowed her duds and looked FLY while doing it:

OF COURSE I had to look at the wrong camera... that one *would have* been great.

So that was my night!  This is one of many awesome events put on by MSA.  They really pull out all the stops with their events; I'm not Muslim, and I always enjoy myself and learn a lot.  So I'll be publicizing their events regularly, you can bet on that!

Email me with any questions or what have you!  shireens@gwmail.gwu.edu

~~~Shireen

The Infamous "Org Fair" And the Deal

AND showcase was a success!

I hope if you're on campus you came out to see a tremendous night of performance alla GW, and for all the prospectives remember this night! All the groups were phenomenal, and I think we really gave freshmen a taste of what we're all about (the booths were crazy afterwards). If you're into showing FPP some love, here are some pictures and BA-DUM-BA! a video of our quite enthusiastic performance. Hope you all can do the time warp.

Freshmen and anyone particularly enthused by last night's performances, tonight's the Student Organization Fair, which I'm sure you've all heard about. So, what's up? Well, that's where you'll get a chance to talk to and meet all the student organizations here on campus. From the performance groups in showcase, to Greek life and cultural societies, GW has over 400 organizations for you to choose from. How do you pick what to dive into, you might ask? Well, can't pick until you know what they're about!

And here's the thing about getting involved on campus: that's what is going to make your experience here at GW. I have found my family within the student theatre community, where will yours be? Even if you've felt so far that it's been hard to adjust or make friends, slipping right into an activity you are passionate about will open the doorway to a whole circle of people who may end up being the heart and soul of your time at GW. I guarantee you, it's worth stopping by, so stop reading my ramblings and get involved!

Look for me at the FPP booth tonight, and of course, email me your life stories here: gmdepalo@gwmail.gwu.edu.

See you around campus,
Gina Michele

Back to the books….and fun of course!!!!!

Hey readers! Your favorite Texan is back on campus and busy as ever. Today marks the first day of classes for the fall semester and after an earthquake following my landing and surviving the “hurricane,” it is a really gorgeous day here in the District.

I am very fortunate with my course schedule this semester because I start class every day at 11:10 so as a sophomore, NO MORE 8AM CLASSES!!!! All freshmen at almost any school will have them, but you will make it through and usually sophomore year on you can sleep in, but thank goodness I’m done. I do have classes five days a week, but with only one on Fridays and two classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays its really not a bad schedule.

Beyond the first week of class, all of my student activities are really kicking off too here on campus. Yesterday was band practice before the Student Performance Showcase tonight in Lisner Auditorium to show new freshman all the amazing performance groups and ensambles GW has to offer.

Secondly, StAR (Student Admissions Representatives) will begin giving tours this week to all of the perspective undergraduates who come and visit GW. I will be giving a tour every week at 3 so hope I see you there and get to meet you at some point during the semester.

I hope all my fellow bloggers are having a good start of the year too and to all you perspective students, keep up the hard work in the classroom and stay involved in your school so you can come join us on Foggy Bottom. Best wishes to all and more blogs to come! As always, feel more than happy to e-mail me about anything and everything.

Peace, Love and Hippos,

Brandon

brmoore@gwmail.gwu.edu

Student Org Offices

At GW, every student organization is entitled to an office in the Marvin Center, our main hub for student life, as long as that org has a sufficient, active membership.  (And as long as we fill out a bunch of paperwork at the end of each year... but I digress.)

I'm now president of 2 different student orgs: The Global Language Network, and Voices for Choices.  Look us up!  Join!  Click those links!!!

Shameless pandering aside, my new executive position in these organizations also means a lot of extra work.  A WHOLE LOT.  For one, I've had to reorganize the GLN office this past weekend--and believe me, it took all weekend, and two:  I have to *move* the VFC office.

I'm not sure why, exactly, but for some reason VFC's office was moved to another location right around the corner.  And because of this, I have to basically move everything VFC has garnered in the almost 10 years of it's existence to a new home.  The Co-Presidents from last year, angels that they are, are helping me, but it's still quite an endeavor!

Unfortunately, the org that currently possesses our office hasn't moved yet!  So we're likely in someone else's spot too, since we can't move either!  It's a vicious cycle.

Also, I've got to say this new office is a downgrade.  The old one was right in the main hallway, and had windows (not to outside, but to the hall.)  It was also shared with only 2 other orgs, but the new one is shared with 5!  Our cubicle may be slightly larger, but I'd still prefer the other place.  It was like home!

It seems this blog was mostly me complaining, but I really am super excited for my new leadership positions.  I've got a lot of initiatives planned for both groups, and I'll definitely keep you guys posted on all my updates!  The momentum of moving/organizing the offices isn't stopping anytime soon, so join the ride and look into GLN and VFC!!!

... ok, so I wasn't done promoting myself.  So sue me!

Email me at shireens@gwmail.gwu.edu only if you want to join either of my orgs.  Not really.  But it wouldn't hurt!

<3 Shireen