culture politics features health student orgs freshman guide music

CULTURE POLITICS FEATURES SPORTS HEALTH MUSIC STUDENT ORGS FRESHMAN GUIDE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
STAFF
EDITORS’ NOTE 3
Co-Editors in Chief
CULTURE 4
AN INSIDE LOOK: THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
POLITICS 5
OUR NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR: BARACK OBAMA
Kwasi Agyeman
Maya Frazier
[email protected]
Assistant Editors in Chief
Sydney Green
[email protected]
Politics
Kwasi Agyeman
[email protected]
FEATURES 6
WHO’S WHO AT GW
Business
[email protected]
SPORTS 8
INTERVIEW WITH MIKE LONERGAN –
NEW MEN’S HEAD BASKEBALL COACH
Culture
HEALTH 9
Music
AVOIDING THE FRESHMAN 15
Malcolm Bouzi
[email protected]
MUSIC 10
Fashion
STUDENT ORGS 11
Sports
[email protected]
Erin Levy
[email protected]
“FRESHMAN” ARTISTS
THE BIG GREAT LIST OF STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
FRESHMAN GUIDE 12
GWORLD/FRESHMAN FAQS
SHOP IN THE DISTRICT/STUDY IN THE DISTRICT
BUCKET LIST
THE CULTURE MAP OF FOGGY BOTTOM
Nkwa Asonye
[email protected]
Creative Writing
Patrice Laquinte
[email protected]
Copy Editors
Amelia Concepcion
[email protected]
Dominique Bozeman
[email protected]
Layout
Angel Veliz
[email protected]
Founder
Samuel Collins, Jr.
our sponsors:
Email us at [email protected]
Follow us on Twitter @theacemag
EDITORS’ NOTE
Kwasi: Oh freshman year! Running to the White House when Obama won, eating Sunday brunch on the Vern
at Somers and always being late for class because I honestly didn’t know where Monroe Hall was. Looking
back it was amazing, they were also those moments that I can’t fully write out here (good and bad and
amazing). Overall, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. My CI friends till this day are some of my closest friends at
GW. The late nights I spent with my friends exploring GW campus, the parties, the random people, walking to
Crepeaway at 2am were unforgettable. If there is anything you do freshman year, meet new people! Trust me
after that year, most people in your class won’t be as friendly.
Sydney: I began writing for the Ace Magazine at the start of my freshman year, seems like ages ago but it’s
barely been a year. Not once did I think that I’d have any major part in the production of this CI issue or any
issue, quite frankly I just like to write. Nonetheless, here it is: A Freshman Guide to ACE GW, hand-crafted with
love by the ACE Staff. Together we came up with any and every piece of knowledge imaginable that will take
some of your freshman anxiety away. We hope that you take it all in, review it during your summer, and bring
it back in the fall as the new freshman class, the class of 2015.
Maya: In our last issue, Senior Sendoff, the Ace paid homage to the Class of 2011. During commencement
week we watched the seniors take their final steps as undergrads and reflected on the contributions they
have made to our community.
As we say goodbye to some of our favorite Colonials, such as Ace Magazine founder, Samuel Collins, we
welcome you, Class of 2015 to GW!! We hope that this issue will provide you with useful information to make
your transition to GW not only smooth but also exciting!
Enjoy freshman year!!! Welcome to GW!!
Youngest in Charge
Kwasi Agyeman
The Visionary
Maya Frazier
Next Generation
Sydney Green
September 2010
Vol.3, Issue 1
Freshman Guide
to ACE GW 2010
Freshman Guide
to ACE GW 2011
The Ace Magazine Mission
The Ace Magazine is a publication that connects the multicultural community to the university at large with
contributions from student writers and faculty members. Going into its third year as the premier magazine
of The George Washington University, The Ace Magazine continues to spark discussion between campus
groups furthering our belief that “we all have similar issues no matter our color.”
Want to write/work at the Ace Magazine?
email: [email protected]
www.acemagazine.org
CULTURE POLITICS FEATURES SPORTS HEALTH MUSIC STUDENT ORGS FRESHMAN GUIDE
AN INSIDE LOOK:
THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
By Sydney Green
D
id you know that our nation’s very own first President,
George Washington, long had a desire to establish
a national institution of higher learning close to the
White House? Yes, he actually wanted to live relatively close
to a college campus and make it one of the most prestigious
universities directly immersed in the nation’s capital. Not
many know that his dream was not fulfilled until after his death
on February 9th, 1821 with the founding of the Columbian
College and was not named after him until 1904 as The George
Washington University. Not many know that GW was used as a
hospital and barracks during the Civil War and Walt Whitman
was among the volunteers on our campus. Very few know that
each President of The George Washington University has been
sworn into office using the same bible that George Washington
himself used for his own Oath of Office when he was elected
President of the United States of America. Even fewer are
aware that our fifteenth university president, President Joel
Trachtenburg, was sworn into the oldest and largest fraternal
organization, the Freemasons, right in the Smith Center and
that GW is directly tied to Masonic influences and support.
No worries, this isn’t an article addressing some conspiracy
about how our past president, Trachtenburg, and hip-hop
mogul, Jay-Z, may actually be Illuminati brothers, but rather
a composition addressing the facts that made GW and the
statistics that will continue the legacy. Our 8th university
president, President Cloyd Heck Marvin, essentially began the
move towards excellence and achievement as he expanded the
campus from three blocks to 12 during his 31-year tenure as
president. He stood as the longest serving president and the
most controversial. When the GW Hatchet and Hillel argued
for a desegregated school, he threatened to “kick them off of
campus and fire the director”. Students, faculty members, and
citizens were outraged when the Marvin Center was named
after him.
“The George Washington
University simply
cannot be compared
to other universities
nationwide.”
Nonetheless, this was
a time of growth and
greatness for GW. A
time when GW became
the focus of theatrical
life in DC with the
opening of Lisner
Auditorium in 1946,
which was said to have
the largest stage south of New York. A building that quickly
became a national landmark still stands on campus today
alongside numerous residential halls and academic buildings
where faculty members ranging from Edward Teller, the father
of the hydrogen bomb, to Edward “Skip” Gnehm, former
ambassador to Jordan, Kuwait, and Australia have shared their
knowledge and talents with us GW students for years. Who
knows if the professor teaching you American History at your
8:00 a.m. lecture hall is making history after office hours? As
a GW freshman you could be taking classes from the likes of
Frank Sesno, a CNN Special Correspondent and the Director
of School of Media and Public Affairs. GW was at one point
the employer of Vincent du Vigneaud, who received a Nobel
4
Prize in Chemistry. Former U.S. Presidents, John Quincy Adams
and Ulysses S. Grant both served on our Board of Trustees
along with Alexander Graham Bell, the man who invented the
telephone.
Aside from our notable faculty members, GW has produced
some of our nation’s most influential and prestigious
congressman, CEO’s, actors, Supreme Court justices, and
administrators. You could follow in the footsteps of GW alumni,
Colin Powell or John Foster Dulles, both former US Secretaries
of State. Robert Smylie and William Barr both went on to
becoming Attorney Generals after graduating from GW. We
can’t forget to mention Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis,
the first lady of John F. Kennedy, Margaret Truman Daniel, the
daughter of Harry Truman, Lynda Bird Johnson, the daughter of
Lyndon Johnson, or D. Jeffrey Carter, the son of Jimmy Carter,
who all graduated from The George Washington University.
Did you know that Alec Baldwin attended GW, ran for Student
Association president, lost, and transferred to NYU? Did you
know that when Ronald Reagan was shot he was transported to
GW Hospital and asked his doctor if he was a republican?
You may run into the likes of Kanye West, Wale, Mike Posner,
Travie McCoy, or Sean Kingston, all of whom have performed
at GW’s annual Spring Flings and Fall Festivals. Or maybe
Wolf Blitzer, who attended a basketball game just last season
and asked a group of students to “teach [him] how to dougie”.
Michelle Obama served as the 2010 commencement keynote
speaker, George Bush spoke at an event held by the GW
College Republicans, and America’s favorite African-American
T.V. mom, Phylicia Rashad, works out in HelWell. With GW’s
urban location and close proximity to the White House, there
is no telling when President Obama will show up to a deliver a
speech as he did multiple times this past academic year.
The George Washington University simply cannot be compared
to other universities nationwide. So when someone asks you
where you go you can tell them more than just “GW”. Being a
GW student is an accomplishment in itself, and this fall you’ll
only set yourself up for more opportunities to come. Welcome
to G-Dub.
CULTURE POLITICS FEATURES SPORTS HEALTH MUSIC STUDENT ORGS FRESHMAN GUIDE
OUR NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR:
BARACK OBAMA
By Tyler Lackey
W
hether you agree with Obama’s political agenda or not,
there is no doubt that President Barack Obama has
been one of the coolest presidents to set up camp in
the Oval Office. He brings a type of finesse to the District that,
for our generation, has translated into political “swag”. It is
his ability to switch from the man that handles big government
issues, like the Libyan crisis, to the man that out-shoots
an entire basketball team that makes him such a dynamic
Commander-in-Chief. And as his first term as president comes
to a close, the ACE would like to recognize President Obama,
the first black President, by revisiting some of his funniest,
personable and swagged moments since being sworn into
office.
A more recent moment that will probably live forever in
all of our minds is President Obama’s dramatic walk after
announcing the US’s invasion of Bin Laden’s compound and
subsequently the death of America’s most infamous terrorist.
Not only was our President commended during his speech by
millions worldwide via Facebook and Twitter, his walk from the
podium alone sparked new trending topics and “like” pages on
Facebook just moments after it happened. For all those who
doubted and criticized, there was no denying his swag after
that address and certainly after that walk.
Nonetheless, being President is a serious job. The political
spotlight is full of outside critics. Especially for Obama and all
the talk about his birth certificate, everybody seems to have an
opinion. I think it is safe to say that he handled it well, given
that at the state dinner, he jokingly
showed a clip from the Lion King,
saying that it was the documented
video of his birth. It was a side of
the President that not many people
had seen, but definitely enjoyed.
Obama continued to shock and
entertain the nation when he began
throwing puns at Donald Trump,
who essentially reignited the
controversy over our President’s
birth certificate.
“I know that he has taken some
flak lately, but nobody is prouder
to put this birth certificate matter
to rest than ‘The Donald’,” said the
President, “and that’s because he
can finally get back to focusing on
the issues that matter, like: did we
fake the moon landing? What really
happened in Roswell? And where
are Biggie and Tupac?”
Probably not one of Obama’s
proudest moment, but still one of
his funniest, was when cameras
caught the President outside in
the yard wielding a light saber. It still has not been confirmed
whether the President is the lost Jedi, but reports say that
congress will think twice when it comes to presidential matters
because the force is strong in Barack.
It is safe to say no one was prepared for the moment that the
President revealed his notable cat-like reflexes when he caught
a fly between two fingers during an interview. It was more so
his comments afterwards that had most people laughing, “That
was pretty impressive wasn’t it? I got that sucker.”
On a more
serious note,
the Head of
State’s most
notable
achievement
is one that
most people
could never
fathom,
including some of the great presidents of our past. Not even
completing his second year in office, President Obama was
honored for his work in moving towards a nuclear weapons
free world with a Nobel Peace Prize, making him only the third
President to receive the award while in office.
“For all those who doubted
and criticized, there was no
denying his swag after that
[Bin Laden] address and
certainly after that walk.”
Aside from his jokes and “swag” walk, our President’s coolest
moments are directly tied to the opportunities he works to
give others. By appointing Sonia
Sotomayor to the Supreme Court,
he made history yet again by
appointing the first Latina to
serve on the esteemed bench.
He has also afforded more equal
opportunity regimens through
laws and acts like the Don’t Ask
Don’t Tell Repeal that allowed gay
soldiers to serve openly. With the
Matthew Shephard Act, he helped
expand the definition of hate
crimes to include gender, sexual
orientation, gender identity, and
disability.
President Obama has been one
to give some great laughs and
some awe-inspiring moments,
but none of that overshadows
his competence, or intelligence.
He is not a perfect president,
but then again none of the past
Presidents have ever been. It is for
his achievements, his charismatic
nature, and his swag that the ACE
recognizes a revolutionary man,
Barack Hussein Obama.
POLITICS CULTURE FEATURES SPORTS HEALTH MUSIC STUDENT ORGS FRESHMAN GUIDE
WHO’S WHO AT GW
faculty
With well over 10,000 students and faculty here at GW, we had to take the time to make
sure you get to know these thirteen.
I think my favorite moments have been the pranks we
have all pulled on each other. We always call them “pranks
of love” so everyone understands that these shouldn’t
be mean spirited. For instance, I recently “Chipotle’d” a
colleagues office by wrapping everything in her office in
aluminum foil. We also have a tradition that every time
we have a balloon arch at an event that it ends up in
someone’s office that day. The best prank on me so far
was when my entire office was filled with balloons from
floor to ceiling and my door was blocked with over 500
cups filled with water. The lesson for me with these types
of pranks is that while we work hard and do important
things, we always have to remember that we work at a
University and that life should still be fun. Especially
when times are stressful, we need to take time to laugh.
Tim Miller
students
Assistant Dean of Students
Freshman Memory: I ran to the White House
on Election Night, was able to attend Obama’s
Inauguration, and experience the excitement of living
in Washington DC. From day one I knew GWU was
going to be my new home. I loved all of my classes, was
focused on my academics, and at the same time was
able to enjoy my social life. I earned a 4.0 my freshman
year proving to my Mom that I could be both involved
on campus and maintain a good GPA.
Courtnay Oddman
Major: Communications
Organizations: President of Colonial
Army Student Association, Colonial
Cabinet 2011, GW House Staff, and
GPS Guide
Freshman Memory: One of my
friends vomited on me in a cab
on the way back from the club.
Brandon O’Connor
6
Major: Finance
Organizations: Co-President of MBSA,
Education Chair of BMI, Director of Finance for
the District Youth Empowerment Program
The opportunity we have to join a great
university is also a responsibility. Our
presence here gives hope to others that our
academic and career goals are not just selfserving, but that we have a vision to serve
and lead with courage and conviction. You
are here, we are here, because we have gifts
and talents (and the good fortune) to develop
these strengths in this institution of higher
learning for the common good. Welcome to
your new home! Make the best use of your
time here. Be thoughtful, wise and caring and
remember to whom much is given, much is
required. I wish you great success.
Terri Reed
Vice Provost for Diversity
and Inclusion
Freshman Memory: Visiting the White House with
my MSSC family to watch both President Barack
Obama and Felipe Calderón, President of Mexico,
speak. Most people with a background like mine
never even make it to college. Visiting the White
House? That’s a dream that I never thought would
be possible when I was growing up.
Alex Veliz
Major: Business Administration
Organizations: OLAS, Black Student
Union, Philippine Cultural Society,
Chinese American Student Association,
Japanese American Student
Association, and MSSC Media Team
Advice: Don’t be afraid to try new things!
Take advantage of everything GW and D.C.
have to offer. Check out every student
organization, internship opportunity, or
political event. It’s what makes GW such
a great school, and it will make your time
here even better.
Russell Berger
Major: Finance
Organizations: Pi Kappa Alpha,
GPS Guide
CULTURE POLITICS FEATURES SPORTS HEALTH MUSIC STUDENT ORGS FRESHMAN GUIDE
Advice: Surround yourselves with
individuals (peers, professors, coworkers, family) that will contribute
to your academic, emotional,
personal, and spiritual growth.
Freshman memory: Standing on the
mall with my friends witnessing the
end of the Bush presidency and the
inauguration of President Obama.
Advice: Explore all of DC/
Foggy Bottom is nice but
U-Street and Adams Morgan
are more fun and have
some really good Restaurants.
Mario Grant
President of Black Student Union
Ted Costigan
Vice President of Student Association
Samantha Free
Treasurer of Student Theatre Council
Along with the listed individuals, be sure to visit the
Multi-Cultural Student Services Center
and meet a host of great faculty members including
Michael Tapscott, George Rice, Eric Gutierrez, and Mrs. Harbinder Sohi.
Advice: “Play hard, Work harder”. Though a
huge part of college is partying and having
fun, the main reason why we’re here is to
receive an adequate education. Don’t be that
person who partied all freshman year, and
now bums around because their scholarship
was taken away due to a horrible GPA.
Olayemi Otun
Major: Anthropology
Minor: Public Health
Organizations: Co-President of Black
Women’s Forum, Treasurer of Zeta Phi Beta
Sorority, Inc., African Students Association,
and Black Student’s Union
Freshman Year Memory: Snowmaggedon- I’ve
never seen so much snow on the ground before
in my life, yet my friends and I still went to
parties, to the monuments, a lot of memories
happened during that week of craziness. Oh and
not to mention that we didn’t have class for an
entire week. I definitely wasn’t mad at that!
Finora Franck
Major: International Affairs, Concentration
in Development Studies
Minor: Music
Organizations: GW University Singers, GW
Music Program, GW Sirens (A Cappella)
Advice to Freshman: Each one of you comes to
GW with a clean slate and a whole new city, take
advantage of every opportunity for leadership
even though you might not have the experience to
qualify you for it (that comes with time). The most
successful and happy people in this world are those
who make their own future and remember to live
a life serving their community and our world in
whatever they choose to do.
John Richardson
Major: Business Administration
Organizations: President of Student Association
Advice: Don’t take yourself too seriously. Everyone
wants to get that prestigious lobbying firm internship
and Capitol Hill assignment, and that’s ok. But, make
it a priority to also join a club and/or get involved in
student life here at GW. I promise, you’ll get just as
much work/professional experience and make just as
many usable connections; plus, a great group of friends!
Abby Bergren
Major: Political Science
Minor: Music
Organizations: Vice-President of GW
College Democrats. Treasurer of GW Bands
CULTURE POLITICS FEATURES SPORTS HEALTH MUSIC STUDENT ORGS FRESHMAN GUIDE
INTERVIEW WITH MIKE LONERGAN –
NEW MEN’S HEAD BASKEBALL COACH
By Nkwa Asonye
Nkwa Asonye: You talked about GW being your dream
job; what is it you’d like to get most out of it?
Coach Lonergan: Really, I’d like to build on the past traditions
that they’ve had here. This isn’t a program that hasn’t had a
lot of success; they’ve had great success. I’d really like to get
more exposure, get more TV games, and maybe get some more
local recruits. The best thing about this position is that you can
recruit locally, nationally, and internationally. With the success
that they’ve had in the past with international players and just
being in the nation’s capital and the makeup of the student
body here. I’m going to rely more on [students] and try to find
out more about what made [regular students], not just studentathletes, come here.
NA: You’ve been regarded as one of the better
gameplanning coaches in the game and you’ve got trips
to the [Division I] NCAA Tournament and a Division III
National Championship with Catholic University. What
can you bring from that for game-day planning?
CL: (laughs) Well, I think I’m a pretty good recruiter too, but
people like to label me as an Xs-and-Os guy. I just feel like I’ve
always had a great staff. I’ve had great assistants wherever,
and I think those guys have done a great job developing
players. So many things go into it, and sometimes you get a lot
of credit and too much blame as a head coach, but to me, it’s all
about the players and putting them in a position to win.
NA: How are your local roots going to help you connect
with the fans?
CL: I think it’s going to have to be the student body with
Colonial Army, fraternities and sororities, whatever, we really
have to get the students up. We also have to reach out to local
alumni. We want it to be really tough for opponents because
when the crowds were here, it was definitely a really difficult
place to play.
NA: I know you’ve probably gotten this question already,
but what are your expectations for the season?
CL: I really just want to improve. It’s going to take a little while
to implement our system offensively and defensively. In the fall,
we’ve got a lot of work to do. Hopefully, because there are a lot
of experienced players here, they’ll adapt quickly but there’ll
definitely be some growing pains. If we can stay healthy and
really get everybody on board, I hope in February, we’ll be a lot
better than we’ll be in October.
2010-11 By The Numbers
Baseball Record: 19-36 (9-15 A10)
Women’s Soccer Record: 9-9 (3-6 A10)
Men’s Basketball Record: 17-14 (10-6 A10)
Men’s Swimming Postseason:
Women’s Basketball Record: 8-21 (3-11 A10)
Women’s Swimming Postseason:
Conference standing: 11th
Conference standing: Tied for 4th
Conference standing: Tied for 11th
Men’s Cross Country Postseason:
A10 championship – 11th
Women’s Cross Country Postseason:
A10 championship – 11th
Golf Postseason:
A10 championship– 6th
Men’s Soccer Record: 3-15 (1-8 A10)
Conference standing: 14th
8
Conference standing: 11th
A10 Championship – 4th of 7
A10 Championship - 8th of 10
Men’s Tennis Last year’s record: 15-9 (6-0 A10)
Conference standing: 1st Won A10 Championship NCAA
Women’s Tennis Record: 15-8 (4-4 A10)
Conference standing: 4th
CULTURE POLITICS FEATURES SPORTS HEALTH MUSIC STUDENT ORGS FRESHMAN GUIDE
AVOIDING THE “FRESHMAN FIFTEEN”
By Janel Coleman
T
he Freshman 15, something you’ve probably heard of, the
idea that college students have a tendency to gain weight
during their first year in college. For many, college is the
first time that students are living without home cooked meals.
Weight gain can be the result of late night snacking, stress, lack
of exercise, and increased alcohol consumption. The Freshman
15 does not have to be a part of your college experience, it can
be avoided.
Karen M. Carter, a holistic health counselor, says, “With
everything else you need a sense of awareness, which comes
first from the home.” Your parents or guardians who prepared
meals for you throughout your life helped to define your view
on nutrition. Even if you started out with a great foundation,
the significant change of being in a college environment can
negatively impact everything you learned throughout the years.
Carter makes a great point when she states, people are not
being aware of what they eat “how often, how much and how
late.” Freshman do not have the luxury of having access to their
own full kitchens like the majority of other GW students. There
is a large possibility that most meals and snacks will be bought
outside of the dorm and will not include healthy portions of
vegetables, fruits, lean meats and whole grains. The lack of
healthy options for late night meals only adds to this problem.
When students have to stay up late to write a paper or study,
they are likely to order pizza or wings, because the reality is
nothing else is open. In addition, busy schedules can prevent
students from going to the gym and maintaining a regular
exercise regimen. With all of this said, it may seem that “The
Freshman 15” is seemingly unavoidable, but we’ve provided
you with quick and easy tips to do just that:
1. Be aware of what you are eating during the day you are have more control over your
dining options.
2. Find healthy, portable snacks keeping these with you will prevent you from buying
unhealthy food when you are pressed for time or
late at night.
3. Minimize intake of sugary drinks remember high sugar intake can potentially lead to
diabetes.
4. Add an exercise regimen into your schedule sign up for an exercise class at HelWel with some
friends or go on a walk to the monuments.
5. Spend your GWorld money wisely try Campus Fresh or Pita Pit for healthier and
delicious options and give J Street Café a chance
rather than heading to Wendy’s.
If significant weight gain does occur, go about losing it in
healthy ways such as exercising and changing eating habits.
Fad diets have proven little success. Carter suggests, instead of
completely eliminating foods you like that may not be healthy
make sure they are balanced with healthier options mentioned
earlier.
We need to make sure that if we did learn healthy eating habits
before college that we continue to follow those while we are
here. Friends can even learn from each other and that way
Freshman 15 can be prevented.
Visit www.allrecipes.com or
www.cookinglight.com for easy,
healthy recipes. You can buy the
ingredients with your Colonial
Cash at Safeway or Trader Joe’s
and cook something up in your
community kitchen with friends.
CULTURE POLITICS FEATURES SPORTS HEALTH MUSIC STUDENT ORGS FRESHMAN GUIDE
“FRESHMAN” ARTISTS
By Malcolm Bouzi
You’re not the only ones fairly new to the game this fall, we’ve provided you with a review of some artists
on the come-up but be sure to do a little research of your own and check out these young stars.
J. Cole
Although J. Cole has been in the game since ‘07, he has definitely been getting a lot more shine since he got
signed by Roc Nation in 2010. Recently nominated for Best New Artist by BET, J. Cole is an artist on the come
up. This is something he seemingly predicted with his first mixtape entitled “The Come Up”. He has been
featured on songs by Talib Kweli, Jay Electronica (also recently signed by the Roc), Mos Def, and Kanye West.
His recent single, “Return of Simba”, makes a clear statement that he is ready to fight for the hip-hop crown.
Look for his debut album this year.
Big Sean
Big Sean is another rap artist who has been in the game for a few years but finally stepped from the
underground hip hop scene to the limelight. This G.O.O.D. Music representative has been living in Kanye’s
shadow a little bit, but now seems ready to really make a name for himself and leave his own legacy in the
music industry. His Finally Famous mixtapes have shown off his talents, and their releases have built up to his
new album finally coming out on June 28th.
Frank Ocean
Odd Future member, Frank Ocean, has written songs for the likes of John Legend, Justin Beiber, and Beyonce.
His versatility and creativity with R&B is apparent with his work on his critically acclaimed first mixtape
Nostalgia, Ultra. He has brought a fresh perspective to R&B that has excited the ears of many across the
nation. Nostalgia, Ultra. is sure to be on many playlists this summer, with Frank’s future releases being highly
anticipated.
Gonjasufi
Gonjasufi’s 2010 debut album, A Sufi and a Killer, inducted a new type of animal into the hip hop game. A
mixture of rap and lo-fi, this experimental must be heard to be believed. Gonjasufi’s distinct raspy voice tears
through the beats of Flying Lotus’ understudy, The Gaslamp Killer. These two come together and push the
boundaries of vocal work.
Quadron
Quadron is an R&B/Soul duo from Denmark that garnered attention with their 2010 self-titled release. A
beautifully crafted piece of work, with Coco’s vocals flowing effortlessly over Robin’s beats. They have released
music videos for many songs on the album that show off their creativity and overall their love for what they do.
They have continued to impress their fans with releases like their “Baby Be Mine” Michael Jackson cover that
managed to make the timeless song sound new and fresh. These two are sure to keep the good music coming
with whatever they have in store for the future and should not be slept on.
The Weeknd
The Weeknd’s 2011 mixtape, House of Balloons, spread through blogs like wildfire and continues to reach the
iPod’s of most college students. A very mysterious person, at first it wasn’t clear if The Weeknd was a group or
a solo artist. Along with Frank Ocean, he is seen as someone who is bringing a fresh perspective to R&B with
a more experimental approach. This is evident with songs like “The Party & the After Party” and “Loft Music”
where he flips samples of tracks from indie rock band Beach House. The subject matter also helped spur the
popularity of the mixtape with lines like “drinking Alize with our cereal for breakfast” and “she’ll prolly OD
before I show her to momma”. With two more mixtapes scheduled to come out this year, there are many who are excited to see
what he does next.
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Don’t see your favorite artists on this list?
No worries, register yourself on www.songkick.com and you can be the first to know
about concerts near you. You officially go to school in our nation’s capitol, celebrity
appearances and performances are nearly unavoidable.
CULTURE POLITICS FEATURES SPORTS HEALTH MUSIC STUDENT ORGS FRESHMAN GUIDE
THE BIG GREAT LIST OF
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
The George Washington University is one that values academic excellence as well as student involvement in
extracurricular activities. So we’ve categorized and listed numerous student-run organizations that you could not only
join, but perhaps find and explore your passion outside of your lecture halls and labs during your freshman year.
Cultural
African Student Association
Arab Student Association
Asian Student Alliance
Black Student Union
Brazilian Club
Ethiopian Student Association
GW French Club
GW German Club
GW Portuguese Culture Club
The Hawaii Club
Korean Student Association
Muslim Students Association
P.E.A.C.E.
The Philippine Cultural Society
The Russian Bazaar
Performing
Arts
Balance: The GW Ballet Group
Capital Funk
Colonial Comedy
Emocapella
Generic Theatre Company
GW Band
GW Bhangra
The GW Pitches
GW Raas
GW Shakespeare Company
GW Troubadoors
The GW Vibes
The Sirens
Student Theatre Council
[insert here]
Service
Active Minds
Best Buddies
Books for Africa
Buzzing For Change
Charity Water
Colonial Donors
Colonials For Life
Engineers Without Borders
Givology at GW
GW Alternative Breaks Program
GW Habitat for Humanity
GW Students for Fair Trade
The Jackie Robinson Society
The Pink Ribbon
Up ‘til Dawn
Academic
La Unidad Latina,
Lambda Upsilon Lambda
Mu Sigma Upsilon
Omega Psi Phi
Phi Sigma Sigma
Pi Delta Psi
Pi Kappa Alpha
Pi Kappa Phi
Sigma Chi
Sigma Lambda Upsilon/ Señoritas
Latinas Unidas
Sigma Psi Zeta
Zeta Phi Beta
Religious
Bowling Club
Club Basketball
Club Tennis
Equestrian Team
G.W. Friday Game Night
The GWU Hacky Sack Club
The GWU Pokemon Club
GW Anime Society
GW Ballroom
GW Cigar Smoker’s Forum
GW Club Swimming
GW Cycling Team
GW Fencing
GW Ice Hockey
GW Men’s Club Soccer
GW Official Quidditch League
GW Quiz Team
GW Sailing
GW Scrabble Club
GW Women’s Rugby Football Club
GWRoadrunners
GWU Weightlifting Club
Humans Versus Zombies
J Street Hooligans
Stitch ‘n Bitch
Taekwondo Club
Anthropology Society
Communication Scholars
Finance and Investment Club
GSPM Student Association
GW Global Zero
GW Mock Trial
GW Research Organization
GW Sports Marketing Association
GWU Robotics Group
Health Science Student Council
Liberty Society
National Society of Black Engineers
(NSBE)
Alpha
Athletes in Action
Buddha Nature
The Canterbury Club
GW Interfaith Action
GW Knights of Columbus
GWU Chinese Bible Study
Inter-varsity Christian Fellowship
Korean Bible Study
Political
Allied In Pride
College Democrats
GW Acting Politically for Israel
GW College Republicans
GW NAACP
GW NORML
The GW Young America Foundation
International Affairs Society
Progressive Student Union
Greek
preview list
Alpha Delta Pi
Alpha Kappa Alpha
Alpha Nu Omega
Alpha Phi Alpha
Chi Omega
Delta Gamma
Delta Sigma Theta
Iota Nu Delta
Kappa Alpha Psi
Kappa Kappa Gamma
Kappa Phi Lambda
Latinas Promoviendo Comunidad/
Lambda Pi Chi
Recreational
Publications
The Ace Magazine
The Daily Colonial
GW Cherry Tree
The GW Hatchet
The GW Issue
GW Patriot
The GW Review
Wooden Teeth
For more information on these
organizations and a variety of others
that are not listed above please visit:
StudentOrgs.gwu.edu/Directory
CULTURE POLITICS FEATURES SPORTS HEALTH MUSIC STUDENT ORGS FRESHMAN GUIDE
Got GWorld?
As a freshman you will be allotted $1,700 in Colonial Cash and Sodexo Dining Dollars on your
GWorld card each semester, making you among the richest and most well-fed students at GW.
Though this may sound like a great deal, you will most likely be hassled by upperclassmen for
a free meal and you may get sick of the dining options offered in J Street. We have yet to find a cure for the latter, but this list of
Colonial Cash retail partners should rid you of the former.
5th Avenue Bagels and Deli
7-11
Agua Ardiente Restaurant
Aroma Restaurant
Au Bon Pain
Bambu Sushi Bar
Bertucci’s
Bubbles Salon
Cafe Romeo
Campus Fresh
Capitol Grounds
Carvings
Charlie Chiangs
Chipotle
Cone E. Island
Crepeaway
CVS Pharmacy
DCSnacks.com
Domino’s Pizza
Dunkin Donuts
Esteem Cleaners
Eurospa
Foggy Bottom Grocery
Freshens
Froggy Bottom Pub
G-Dub Java
G.W. Delicatessen
Gallery Cafe
Gallery Market
GW Bookstore
Haagen-Dazs
HippoVideo.com
J Street Cafe
Johnny Rocket’s
Juice Zone
Lindy’s Red Lion and Bon Apetite
Manny & Olgas
Mehran Restaurant
One Fish Two Fish
Panda Cafe
Pangea Artisan Market and Cafe
Papa John’s Pizza
Paper Moon Italian Ristorante
Pita Pit
Pizza Movers
Potbelly’s
Pro Euro Hair Design
Quizno’s
Rumi Restaurant
Safeway Food Stores
Snap: Crepes and Bubbletea
Soapy Joe’s Laundry Service
Soho Cafe
Star Nails
Starbucks
Subway
TGI Fridays
Thai Coast
Thai Place
The Brown Bag
The Burro
The Hippodrome
Ticketmaster
Tonic at Quigley’s
Tresses Salon
Vaccaro’s Italian Pastry Shop
Wasabi Sushi
Washington Deli
Wingo’s
FRESHMAN FAQ’S
By Lenworth James
How strict is this school on drinking?
George Washington is very liberal when it comes to drinking.
They are more focused on changing the alcohol culture than
the actual consumption of it. If you are under 21 and get caught
with alcohol at this school you will probably get a warning. As
long as you don’t over do it, don’t run the streets like a drunken
slob.
Can I party and maintain my GPA?
Yes, you can party and maintain your GPA if you plan everything
out. Set a schedule of when you will study and make sure you
stick to that schedule. Make the sacrifices to study hard during
the week so you can party hard on weekends. Also, being at a
party and knowing that your work is done is much more fun
than dancing with someone knowing you should be writing your
12-page paper due in two days.
Should I hold on to my high school
boyfriend/girlfriend while in college?
This question is asked every year and there are two sides to the
story. I have seen instances where it worked, but I have seen
more instances where this has failed. Trust and distance are
both huge factors in regards to this, but I say hold on as long as
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you can because college relationships are very tricky and not
stable. If you have stability with someone from high school, why
break it up for a short-term fling with someone in college?
How can I meet and get to know
upperclassmen on campus?
Go to events on campus, such as welcome week. The MSSC
hosts a slew of events the first couple weeks of school
so freshman can get to know upperclassmen in a chill
environment. The Block party is the best event for that.
Everyone is pretty much friendly, so be friendly and say hi.
Upperclassmen aren’t too cocky that they wouldn’t say hi back.
Where can I find a job?
The career center is the first place you should go to find a job.
I would also say go to the MSSC, the staff there can either offer
you a job or they could introduce you to someone who is hiring.
They’re especially helpful because they’ve either been here for
years or they once attended GW. If you aren’t looking for the
on-campus job, M street is the place to go. There are plenty
of stores to choose from, and all these retail stores give huge
discounts.
CULTURE POLITICS FEATURES SPORTS HEALTH MUSIC STUDENT ORGS FRESHMAN GUIDE
SHOP IN THE DISTRICT
By Jenna Price
Friendship Heights
Looking for a more upscale shopping experience? Friendship
Heights offers you the best selection of your favorite stores
in one location including: Bloomingdales, Saks Fifth Ave.,
Nordstrom Rack, Loehmann’s, Lord & Taylor, and many more
Georgetown
The Georgetown shopping district brings together a variety of
retailers, being only six blocks from campus, you’re bound to
head back to campus with a few new purchases from Intermix,
Cusp, Sephora, Wink, Urban Outfitters, Rugby, American
Apparel, Betsey Johnson, Madewell, The Levi’s Store, or True
Religion.
Metro Center
Arguably the mecca of your favorite chain stores, this shopping
district is known for it’s expansive stores so be sure to hop on
the metro for three stops and venture through the three-story
Forever 21 or one of the nicest H&M’s in the DMV. Along with
a Zara, Urban Outfitters, and a Macy’s, Metro Center will leave
you far from dissappointed when looking for a few, affordable
buys.
Pentagon City Mall
If you find yourself missing the indoor mall experience with
cheap, traditional food courts and free adolescent excitement,
Pentagon City is your place. Although it is a trek, you can’t
discount the Carol’s Daughter, Club Monaco, Hollister,
Nordstrom, Abercrombie & Fitch, Banana Republic, J. Crew,
and Express that Pentagon City has to offer.
STUDY IN THE DISTRICT
We’ve given you organizations to join, hot spots to spend your Colonial Cash, and the best places in DC to shop, but
you did come to GW to earn a degree eventually and you’ll find out soon enough that Gelman Library can get overly
crowded and depressing come midterms. Here’s a list of great places to study...all throughout the District.
The National Mall
The weather in D.C. can be absolutely amazing, bring a few
books and enjoy it.
open late 7 days a week and all night on Fridays and Saturdays.
The cafe features a bookstore and serves breakfast, lunch and
dinner at an affordable price making it a prime close-to-campus
study spot.
Eckles Library
Starbucks
The Vern receives such harsh judgement from all Foggy Bottom
dwellers but you’d be a fool to miss out on the free popcorn,
pizza, and PB&J sandwiches offered during finals.
Tryst Coffee House
Open until 12 a.m. every night, this coffee house is located on
18th St. in the Adams Morgan neighborhood and features free
wi-fi along with free live music some nights. Perhaps you need
to escape GW’s campus? Tryst is a great place to study and a
great place for a study break when the local bands set up.
Busboys and Poets
Known as a community gathering place where racial and
cultural connections are consciously uplifted. This restaurant/
cafe/venue promises to feed your mind, body, and soul and with
that offers a great study place off campus and immersed in the
city.
KramerBooks & Afterwords
A cafe that has been deemed a cultural landmark in D.C.
located on Connecticut Avenue just above Dupont Circle is
You can never go wrong with a tall chai latte or grande caramel
macchiato from Gelman’s Starbucks, now open 24 hours during
the weekdays. When Gelman is full, head downstairs, grab your
favorite coffee drink and take a seat. If you can get work done
despite a little noise and tempting aromas of freshly brewed
coffee, then Starbucks will most likely be your home away from
home.
Politics and Prose
An independent bookstore and coffeehouse which was founded
just 25 years ago has become recognized nationally and visited
by various authors and politicians such as Jimmy Carter who
hosted a book signing just last November. The store features
unusual books and hosts a variety of events throughout the
year. Although a bit far from campus, a study trip to Politics and
Prose is sure to be more than just academically rewarding.
Panera
Dupont Circle is home to a variety of cafes and restaurants,
including a newly opened Panera that features a spacious lower
level perfect for study groups or solo sessions. Nothing beats a
cheap panini and free wifi.
These are just a few alternate places to study around D.C., but you can’t forget the places on campus that are less frequently
visited by GW students such as The Fish Bowl, the various floors of the Marvin Center, the Thurston Study Lounge Basement,
Pelham Commons on the Vern, and other community rooms located in every residential hall.
CULTURE POLITICS FEATURES SPORTS HEALTH MUSIC STUDENT ORGS FRESHMAN GUIDE
-Get to know Manouc h and his hot dogs.
-Eat at Ben’s Chili Bowl.
-Get a cupcake from Georgetown.
-Visit the memorials after hours.
-Check out Eastern Market.
-Kayak on the Potomac.
-Catch a free show at The Kennedy Center. -Climb to the top of the Washington
-Bowl in the Marvin Center Hippodrome. Monument.
-Stay in DC for a summer.
-Visit the DC National Zoo.
-Go to the MSSC Block Party.
-Visit all of the DC area universities.
-Pull an all-nighter, or five.
-Be late for class due to Obama’s motorcade.
-Participate in Freshman Day of Service. -Visit the Cherry Blossom festival in the Spring.
-Run for a Student Association position. -Convince your Professor to hold class in
-Visit the “Exorcist” steps in Georgetown. U-Yard
-Go watch the Drag Race in Dupont Circle. -Join a student organization, or start one.
-Eat from one of the many food trucks
-Swim at the Vern pool and walk to
that visit campus.
Jettie’s for ice cream.
-Go to “all-you-can-eat” Sunday Brunch -Dance with Big George at a basketball game.
on the Vern.
-Attend Midnight Breakfast during fall
-Chill in Kogan Plaza on a sunny day.
semester finals in J Street.
-Spend a night out in Adam’s Morgan
-Study on the Lincoln Memorial steps.
-Visit Busboys&Poets and Eatonville.
-Write an article for the ACE.
GW breaking news and social interactions rely heavily on twitter,
so make one and follow these for a start!
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@TheAceMag
@GWtweets
@GWToday
@gwcareercenter
@GW_Sports
@GWGeorge
@TheVernExpress
@GWPB
@GWPatriot
@WRGWNews
@gwugirlproblems
CULTURE POLITICS FEATURES SPORTS HEALTH MUSIC STUDENT ORGS FRESHMAN GUIDE
THE CULTURAL MAP OF FOGGY BOTTOM
The Hillel
GW Student Gallery
Lisner Auditorium
GW Williams House
Multicultural Students Service Center
Hail to the Buff! Hail to the Blue! Hail to the Buff and Blue!
All our lives we’ll be proud to say We hail from GW! Oh by
George, We’re happy we can say, We’re GW, here to show the
way! So raise high the Buff! Raise high the Blue! Loyal to GW!
You bet we’re loyal to GW! FIGHT!
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