Hatchet The GW
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SERVING THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY SINCE 1904 VOL. 98 NO. 29 A N I NDEPENDENT S TUDENT N EWSPAPER • WWW. GWHATCHET. COM THURSDAY , NOVEMBER 15, 2001 Hatchet The GW INSIDE 4 6 7 10 OPINIONS Commissioner responds to Wellness Center complaint NEWS Former Israeli ambassador sites three problematic solutions FEATURES SPAM! Student e-mail boxes are filled with it ARTS Off to see the wizard Fees cover student services by Drew Wiseman Senior Staff Writer University fee: $1,000. School of Media and Public Affairs fee: $1,000. Health and Wellness Center: $225. Voluntary library gift: $50. GW tacks these and other fees onto student bills in addition to tuition every year, leaving students and parents wondering where the money goes. Don Boselovic, associate vice president for finance, said the fees are put to good use. He said the Health and Wellness Center fee of $7.50 a credit hour, or $112 for 15 credits each semester, pays for operating costs of the new workout facility, plus paying off construction. A $100 graduation fee helps pay for staff, set-up, rental space and other expenditures, he said. He did not know if the fee covers graduation speakers. The University fee of $34.50 a credit hour – adding up to a maximum $517.50 a semester – is a combination of other fees for the Marvin Center, registration and computer labs. With about 8,000 students, the total adds up to a maximum of about $8.3 mil- lion a year. See FEES, p. 9 City Hall lacks basic services by Trevor Martin Senior Staff Writer City Hall residents say they are dissatisfied by poor service in a building they say is still not properly prepped for student use. While their three-month wait for ethernet connections ended this week, they still await adequate laundry facilities. The building’s 540 residents share four washers and four dry- ers, which is equivalent to 136 people for each set. In contrast, 440 New Hall resi- dents – who are also mostly upperclassmen – share 14 washers and 16 dryers, according to Community Director Jed Frei. That makes one machine for every 32 residents. Students were told new laun- dry facilities would be available Oct. 30, but that deadline has been pushed back because of engineer- ing problems, said Courtney Flaherty, associate director of GW Property Management. “They said they would do something about the laundry. Right now there are just too many people for those machines,” resi- dent senior Matt Blasi said. Junior Dave Dillehay said with so many people living in the building, four washers and dryers “just don’t work.” The University is building a new laundry room with nine washers and 10 dryers in the base- ment on the same level as the cur- rent room, Flaherty said. She said the new completion date is Nov. 30, but it is subject to change if there are further delays. Michael Peller, managing director for Business Services, said the laundry services are a legiti- mate concern but sometimes delays cannot be avoided. “We had to deal with getting certification from the owners of the property, electrical and plumb- ing issues,” Peller said. He said the equipment is on location, and workers are waiting for approval to install the machines. Residents said the University also broke promises about their internet connection. They said they expected ethernet by the beginning of the month. Until this week, residents used See RESNET, p. 12 Experts tell the truths of holy war by Joseph Gidjunis Hatchet Staff Writer Leaders from four major reli- gions agreed that modern-day ref- erences to jihad or holy war are off target Monday night in the Marvin Center. Representatives of Hinduism, Islam, Christianity and Judaism told an audience of about 40 peo- ple that war is only permissible in defense from an aggressor. The event kicked off Religion Week. “There is no holy war in the precepts of Islam. The taking of a life is never holy,” said Mahdi Bray, member of the National Muslim Public Affairs Council. “If you take a life, you kill all life. If you save a life, you save all life.” Bray explained that war is only permissible by necessity in Islam. “There is a justification to engage in war for defense,” Bray said. “It is a duty to defend the religion.” Panel members compared Jewish law to Islamic law regard- ing warfare. “The only type of war per- mitted by Judaism today is a defensive war,” said Georgetown University Professor and Rabbi Barry Freundel. He said war is only justifiable when someone attacks or is planning to attack. Freundel explained some rules of Jewish warfare. “You can do whatever you need to do to weaken their mili- tary,” he said. “However, you can- not massacre people, harm the environment or surround a city and not give your enemy a route to escape.” Hinduism, in contrast, focuses See PANEL, p. 6 Sikhs share faith by Julie Gordon Hatchet Reporter Sikh students hosted a dinner and discussion to educate the GW community about their religion. About half of the 100 students attended the Marvin Center Tuesday night event were non- Sikh, organizers said. Sikhism, which draws aspects from Hinduism and Islam, is a monotheistic, nonviolent religion that accepts all faiths. Backlash against Sikhs has been reported after Sept. 11, often because they are mistaken for Arabs. Followers of the Sikh religion keep five articles of faith, includ- ing the Kesh (uncut hair), which is covered by a turban. “Because Osama bin Laden was shown with a turban and long beard, our community was immediately targeted,” said Amrith Kaur Mago, co-president of the Sikh Student Association. Though Mago has not personally felt persecuted, she has “definitely felt some paranoia” after the attacks, she said. Most Sikh students inter- viewed said they do not feel prej- udice that has been reported across the nation, most likely because GW’s student body is so diverse. But, Amandeep S. Sidhu of the Federal Defense Group in Alexandria, Va., said, “Sikh men have clearly faced profiling.” Last week, Sidhu was pulled off a plane after passing through security checkpoints for a second time. “The guard admitted that it was profiling,” Sidhu said. Before the free dinner, which consisted of modern Indian food, Mago spoke about her efforts with the Sikh community to educate non-Sikhs and to help protect Sikhs being victimized. Mago began a grassroots effort with 11 other students to create briefing packets that were dis- tributed in Sikh temples. These packets have information for Sikhs describing what to do if their rights are violated. Sikh Student Association co- president Jaspal Singh said only about 40 percent of the students who attended the discussion and dinner this year were Indian, com- pared to about 90 percent last year. Jamie Daggon, a sophomore Program Board member, praised the event. “One of my closest friends is Sikh, and I wanted to learn a little about the religion,” she said. “It’s great that the Sikh community is taking positive action.” Gitika Sharda said she would have attended the event even if she did not have Sikh friends because the discrimination some have faced is “a crime against humanity.” The SSA taught students that Sikhism is about peace, faith and devotion to God. After the dinner, students watched an interfaith celebration in the Marvin Center Ballroom, where groups from various cul- tures danced, performed a wed- ding and read prayers and poetry. top and right photos by Michael Itti/photo editor Students celebrate religion week at a “Discover Sikhism”dinner (top l.), an interfaith panel (top r.) and a Filipine cultural celebration. Send comments to [email protected] source: Don Boselovic, associate vice president of finance University Fee: $1,035 HWC fee: $225 Staffing and maintenance of HWC SA fee: $30 SA entire budget SMPA fee: $1,000 Updating equipment (SMPA majors only) Voluntary library gift: $50 New computers, furniture Registration Expenses Academic technology General expenses 31% Marvin Center Operations 12% 9% 48% F EE F UNDAMENTALS F EE F UNDAMENTALS Joe Gidjunis/ Hatchet staff photographer
Transcript of Hatchet The GW
SERVING THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY SINCE 1904VOL. 98 NO. 29AN IN D E P E N D E N T ST U D E N T NE W S PA P E R • W W W.G W H AT C H E T.C O M
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2001
HatchetThe GW
INSIDE
4 6 7 10OPINIONSCommissioner respondsto Wellness Center complaint
NEWSFormer Israeli ambassador sites threeproblematic solutions
FEATURESSPAM! Student e-mailboxes are filled with it
ARTSOff to see the wizard
Feescoverstudent servicesby Drew WisemanSenior Staff Writer
University fee: $1,000. Schoolof Media and Public Affairs fee:$1,000. Health and WellnessCenter: $225. Voluntary librarygift: $50. GW tacks these andother fees onto student bills inaddition to tuition every year,leaving students and parentswondering where the moneygoes.
Don Boselovic, associate vicepresident for finance, said thefees are put to good use.
He said the Health andWellness Center fee of $7.50 acredit hour, or $112 for 15 creditseach semester, pays for operatingcosts of the new workout facility,plus paying off construction.
A $100 graduation fee helpspay for staff, set-up, rental spaceand other expenditures, he said.He did not know if the fee coversgraduation speakers.
The University fee of $34.50 acredit hour – adding up to amaximum $517.50 a semester – isa combination of other fees forthe Marvin Center, registrationand computer labs. With about8,000 students, the total adds upto a maximum of about $8.3 mil-lion a year.
See FEES, p. 9
City Hall lacks basic servicesby Trevor MartinSenior Staff Writer
City Hall residents say theyare dissatisfied by poor service ina building they say is still notproperly prepped for student use.While their three-month wait forethernet connections ended thisweek, they still await adequatelaundry facilities.
The building’s 540 residentsshare four washers and four dry-ers, which is equivalent to 136people for each set.
In contrast, 440 New Hall resi-dents – who are also mostly
upperclassmen – share 14 washersand 16 dryers, according toCommunity Director Jed Frei.That makes one machine for every32 residents.
Students were told new laun-dry facilities would be availableOct. 30, but that deadline has beenpushed back because of engineer-ing problems, said CourtneyFlaherty, associate director of GWProperty Management.
“They said they would dosomething about the laundry.Right now there are just too manypeople for those machines,” resi-dent senior Matt Blasi said.
Junior Dave Dillehay said withso many people living in thebuilding, four washers and dryers“just don’t work.”
The University is building anew laundry room with ninewashers and 10 dryers in the base-ment on the same level as the cur-rent room, Flaherty said.
She said the new completiondate is Nov. 30, but it is subjectto change if there are furtherdelays.
Michael Peller, managingdirector for Business Services, saidthe laundry services are a legiti-mate concern but sometimes
delays cannot be avoided.“We had to deal with getting
certification from the owners ofthe property, electrical and plumb-ing issues,” Peller said.
He said the equipment is onlocation, and workers are waitingfor approval to install themachines.
Residents said the Universityalso broke promises about theirinternet connection. They saidthey expected ethernet by thebeginning of the month.
Until this week, residents used
See RESNET, p. 12
Experts tell the truths of holy warby Joseph GidjunisHatchet Staff Writer
Leaders from four major reli-gions agreed that modern-day ref-erences to jihad or holy war are offtarget Monday night in theMarvin Center.
Representatives of Hinduism,Islam, Christianity and Judaismtold an audience of about 40 peo-ple that war is only permissible indefense from an aggressor.
The event kicked off ReligionWeek.
“There is no holy war in theprecepts of Islam. The taking of alife is never holy,” said MahdiBray, member of the NationalMuslim Public Affairs Council. “Ifyou take a life, you kill all life. Ifyou save a life, you save all life.”
Bray explained that war isonly permissible by necessity inIslam.
“There is a justification to
engage in war for defense,” Braysaid. “It is a duty to defend thereligion.”
Panel members comparedJewish law to Islamic law regard-ing warfare.
“The only type of war per-mitted by Judaism today is adefensive war,” saidGeorgetown UniversityProfessor and Rabbi BarryFreundel. He said war is onlyjustifiable when someone
attacks or is planning to attack.Freundel explained some
rules of Jewish warfare.“You can do whatever you
need to do to weaken their mili-tary,” he said. “However, you can-not massacre people, harm theenvironment or surround a cityand not give your enemy a routeto escape.”
Hinduism, in contrast, focuses
See PANEL, p. 6
Sikhssharefaithby Julie GordonHatchet Reporter
Sikh students hosted a dinnerand discussion to educate the GWcommunity about their religion.About half of the 100 studentsattended the Marvin CenterTuesday night event were non-Sikh, organizers said.
Sikhism, which draws aspectsfrom Hinduism and Islam, is amonotheistic, nonviolent religionthat accepts all faiths. Backlashagainst Sikhs has been reportedafter Sept. 11, often because theyare mistaken for Arabs.
Followers of the Sikh religionkeep five articles of faith, includ-ing the Kesh (uncut hair), which iscovered by a turban.
“Because Osama bin Ladenwas shown with a turban andlong beard, our community wasimmediately targeted,” saidAmrith Kaur Mago, co-presidentof the Sikh Student Association.Though Mago has not personallyfelt persecuted, she has “definitelyfelt some paranoia” after theattacks, she said.
Most Sikh students inter-viewed said they do not feel prej-udice that has been reportedacross the nation, most likelybecause GW’s student body is sodiverse. But, Amandeep S. Sidhuof the Federal Defense Group inAlexandria, Va., said, “Sikh menhave clearly faced profiling.”
Last week, Sidhu was pulledoff a plane after passing throughsecurity checkpoints for a secondtime.
“The guard admitted that itwas profiling,” Sidhu said.
Before the free dinner, whichconsisted of modern Indianfood, Mago spoke about herefforts with the Sikh communityto educate non-Sikhs and to helpprotect Sikhs being victimized.Mago began a grassroots effortwith 11 other students to createbriefing packets that were dis-tributed in Sikh temples. Thesepackets have information for
Sikhs describing what to do iftheir rights are violated.
Sikh Student Association co-president Jaspal Singh said onlyabout 40 percent of the studentswho attended the discussion anddinner this year were Indian, com-pared to about 90 percent last year.
Jamie Daggon, a sophomoreProgram Board member, praisedthe event.
“One of my closest friends isSikh, and I wanted to learn a littleabout the religion,” she said. “It’sgreat that the Sikh community istaking positive action.”
Gitika Sharda said she would
have attended the event even ifshe did not have Sikh friendsbecause the discrimination somehave faced is “a crime againsthumanity.”
The SSA taught students thatSikhism is about peace, faith anddevotion to God.
After the dinner, studentswatched an interfaith celebrationin the Marvin Center Ballroom,where groups from various cul-tures danced, performed a wed-ding and read prayers and poetry.
top and right photos by Michael Itti/photo editorStudents celebrate religion week at a“Discover Sikhism”dinner (top l.), an interfaith panel (top r.) and a Filipine cultural celebration.
Send commentsto [email protected]: Don Boselovic, associate vice
president of finance
University Fee: $1,035
HWC fee: $225Staffing and maintenance
of HWC
SA fee: $30SA entire budget
SMPA fee: $1,000Updating equipment(SMPA majors only)
Voluntary library gift: $50New computers, furniture
RegistrationExpenses
Academictechnology
Generalexpenses
31%Marvin Center
Operations
12%9%
48%
FEE FUNDAMENTALSFEE FUNDAMENTALSJoe Gidjunis/Hatchet staffphotographer
