GW Spirit: Who Cares?

The administration of The George Washington University just won't give up on "spirit". They insist on marketing the school's athletic program as "lively" and as "contribut[ing] immeasurably to the GW experience, school spirit and community pride." Anyone who goes to school here knows that is quite a stretch of the imagination. Sure, when the men's basketball team wins a few games in a row, interest peaks, as well as attendance at games. But if GW's sense of school spirit hinges on the game-to-game success of our men's basketball team, then we have a spirit problem bigger than our inconsistent athletic team.

GW has tried to drum up spirit in a number of ways. Most of them are ways to create a semblance of spirit by coercing large groups of students to attend games. For example, fraternities and sororities are awarded "points" (I don't know what the points mean) for attending certain games. Usually they leave at halftime. Another example is Colonial Challenge, a program that pits students and student organizations against each other in a Spirit Olympics. Groups are bribed to turn out to GW athletic events by being promised money for their organizations, whereas individuals compete for the chance to win cash prizes and GW gear. Of course, participation is highest in these programs when the men's basketball team is winning.

The administration at GW has to realize that this is a unique school that most students chose to attend not because it's spirit of tradition, or athleticism, but because its spirit of political engagement. GW is positioned to posses a special brand of "spirit" in which students feel most united and proud of their school when the Lisner Auditorium hosts an event featuring all of the living Secretaries of States, or we secure First Lady Michelle Obama as a commencement speaker. Most of the students I know are most excited about going to school here when big political speakers and events occur on campus, not when the men's basketball team wins a few games in a row. Students camp overnight in line for hours to get tickets to basketball games, but they will for an event featuring Madeleine Albright and Colin Powell.

If the school wants to continue on their crusade to force spirit down our throats, they should at least attempt to foster spirit in an area that GW students are actually interested in, rather than insisting that the foundation of a school's sense of pride needs to come from it's sport teams.

So What is a Provost Anyway?

The university has narrowed its' search for the next provost down to five finalists who will all be coming to campus for more interviews over the next two weeks. A provost or chief academic officer, 2nd in command to university President Knapp, assists in running the school especially in academic capacities. Before he became president, Mr. Knapp was provost at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. Out of the 200 applicants President Knapp interviewed 23 personally and from there narrowed his list.

"It's important for candidates to visit our campuses so they can better understand the University and interact with representatives of all its constituents, including students," Knapp said in an e-mail. "In this second round, candidates go through a very rigorous schedule, meeting dozens of people, so they can answer their questions about us, and we can take a close and careful look at them."

As a student body we will be represneted by elected SA officials in the selection. process but not be directly involved. It is important we pay attention. While the president may set the direction of the university and and help decide funding, it is the provost who not only helps implement strategies but gives academic advice. Additionally, this provost will be in charge of finding 3 new deans for the School of Business, the School of Public Health and Health Services, and the Graduate School of Education and Human Development. Filling this position is very important for the university and hopefully they will select someone who looks out for student's interests first and foremost.

Our worst fears realized: CVS No. 10 is on it's way

As first reported by James back in January, as one of the options for filling the empty Tower Records space, GW was considering leasing the building to CVS, making the spot the tenth CVS within walking distance of the GW campus.

Yesterday, word came from The Hatchet's blog that CVS had signed the lease and would be moving into the spot. A story on the deal is expected to run in tomorrow's Hatchet.

Since it was apparent that the school's administration sought no student imput on putting up another CVS, and since many people I spoke with were and still are opposed to the idea (with many more to surely follow once this story hits The Hatchet tomorrow), I propose the following calls to action to counter the "red menace":

1) Join the newly-created anti-CVS in the Tower Records space Facebook group.

2) Write a letter to the editor of The Hatchet and express your displeasure with not only the CVS, but with the GW administrators failure to take student input into account.

3) If and when it opens, boycott the CVS!!!