We hope you are all staying safe at home and are adjusting to the new life of online classes. I currently am reporting from the George Washington University: Sandwich, Massachusetts campus and although it is sad to not be hanging out in the physical townhouse for 12+ hours a week, the Virtual Townhouse project is well underway! Part of that is continuing the Review but virtually. Since we are all staying inside and social distancing (please), I’m sure plenty of us will be reading and would want some book suggestions or a place to discuss what we are reading.
With that said, I present the UHP Goodreads account! There is a Review group on Goodreads that you can join here. You need a Goodreads account to join, but that is free and frankly very fun. In the group, there is a bookshelf with the books that our members have suggested at our first meeting, as well as a link to a suggestion form for books to read moving forward. You can also make a reading challenge for yourselves to set a goal for books to read for the rest of the semester. For the rest of the semester, we will still be reading and discussing book a month and all discussions will be conducted in the Goodreads group. I realize we never met in February to discuss The Hate U Give, but there is a discussion board live for that book. That means we have April and potentially May to read and discuss books before the end of the semester, unless we want to continue this into the summer which I am more than open to. You can vote on the April reading here.
Finally, if we do plan on doing a virtual meeting at some point, we will update you with that information! I know with students home all around the world and with the odd situation we are in, this might not work for everyone. But I am open to it all!
Signing off!
-Bridget Carl, friendly front desk worker and fellow UHPer
Here we are, UHPers! Our first Riddle of the Day. We’re posting this on Tuesday, but this is officially our riddle for tomorrow– which means you’ve got some extra time to answer it! Answer in the comments below (or on Facebook). The first correct answer will receive a Townhouse Token, as will the most creative wrong answer. Anyway, here it is:
The more you take of me, the more you leave behind. What am I?
Welcome to the Townhouse Tokens page! Townhouse Tokens are a part of the Digital Townhouse Project during this virtual learning time– a small piece of motivation for you to stay participating in community in these bleak times. You can earn tokens through the Riddles of the Day, through our Weekly Contests, through participating in discussion…all sorts of ways! Perhaps there are even more we haven’t thought of yet! Anyway, here’s the reward structure:
1 Token: a small UHP notepad 3 Tokens: a larger UHP notebook
5 Tokens: a UHP travel mug 5 Tokens: a UHP t-shirt 8 Tokens: free attendance at a UHP event (Student-faculty dinner, the hike, etc.)
10 Tokens: free lunch with one of the UHP staff
15 Tokens: recognition as a Townhouse Paragon, honored in the NewsFlash
We’ll keep track of the tokens you earn, and you’ll be able to redeem any of them the next time you’re on campus!
I was feeling really under the weather the day we filmed so I’m sorry for the miserable face. I love you all! Feeling better now!
Added Note from Josh:
Y’all know you’re super welcome to come to UHP events once you graduate, right? You’ll get free admission to Student-Faculty Dinners henceforth. I don’t want this to be the last I see of you! Come back around!!
Transcript:
Professor Kung: To all the UHP students who are graduating this semester, this is definitely not the final semester anyone was expecting for you. The entire faculty and staff of the UHP is heartbroken that graduation has to be cancelled. We are going to figure out a way to celebrate your accomplishments, we promise that. But in the meantime, remember that what you’re doing right now is a civic duty. We hope that when you think back on this semester, you’re going to focus on the fact that your actions and sacrifices have helped to slow the spread of this disease. For someone out there right now, today, what you are doing is literally a lifesaving act for them. So keep that in mind.
Eydie: Hi guys, you know me. I’m a sap. Graduation time is the most wonderful time of the year for me and i’m feeling sad too. Just remember, we will come together. We are GW and we will figure out a way. And people are at work right now figuring how to make the end of your experience at GW better than what you’re going through right now. We are thinking about you all. We are thinking about your parents and how proud they are of you. We are proud of you guys! We are gonna get through this. I may cry a little but that wouldn’t be me if I didn’t. Take care!
Josh: I echo everything that was just said. I have a special connection to this class because I entered GW with y’all and with a little twist of fate left a little earlier. But we have been through it, one might say. Because we entered in 2016 with the 2016 election and we are leaving and being sent off by COVID-19. So you know, it’s just the way it goes. But yeah, I echo when we heard about in person classes being cancelled for the rest of the semester, it was a blow to all of us especially on behalf of you guys. College has this unique sense of community to it, and having that ripped away early is a really rough thing. But we are working our hardest to give you that sense of community feel virtually. It won’t be the same, but it will be something! Through the digital townhouse project, be involved there, be connected there, stay with us! We care about you.
Ben: Hey everybody, seniors. We just want to let you know how sad we are about the events that have taken place lately and the fact that we won’t be able to see you in person for the rest of the semester. Honors advising is still open for business. We are here virtually for you and if you want to check in about the remainder of your classes, just to chat about life, to catch up, Brianna and I are here for you. We definitely want to continue staying in touch. You know how to access our calendar, put time on it so we can catch up and stay connected with you.
Brianna: As Ben said, we still have appointments so definitely reach out. I know we’d love to hear from you and I hope everyone is doing well. I’m not going to pretend I know all of the answers right now with all of the balls up in the air but I’ll figure it out with you. So we are here for you, please take care of yourselves and we will see you soon.
Professor Hammond: Hi everyone, I am listening to what everyone is saying and I’m just reminded about how bummed I am that we are not going to get to celebrate you all in person. As Josh was saying, and as I am remembering you all came in at a really interesting time and now you’re leaving at a really interesting time and that’s… interesting for a lack of a better word. I’m going to miss you all and I hope there are lessons that you all can take from this. Which sounds like a really trite thing but I really think there definitely will be and the sacrifices that you all are making for the greater good here. Insert some really prolific X-Files quote, for those who know who know will know. I hope you all are taking care of yourselves. So much is up in the air and there’s a lot you can’t control. But something you can do for yourself and those near you is reaching out and connecting with us and your loved ones.
Professor Ralkowski: Hey guys! So I wanted to connect with a couple things that people said already. I feel exactly the same way that Eyde does about graduation. It feels like a holiday, like Thanksgiving to me– it’s one of my favorite times of the year. This particular graduation is one I’ve been looking forward to since you were freshmen. Precisely because I feel a special connection to your class. Your freshman year was the first year that I lived in West Hall and the first year I started doing pancakes with the Professor and this little dog on the scene. In a way I think of you guys all as Lola’s siblings. To be honest, I was looking forward to this graduation but also dreading it because I know this end of the academic year is going to feel like someone ripping my heart out of my chest. And now, we are in this very strange place in life facing a global crisis.
The one thing I wanted to say that is meant to be heard just in the spirit of solidarity is I can imagine you guys are feeling a lot of anxiety about the future. There’s disappointment about graduation and then there’s anxiety about what’s to come for you and your careers that are not yet started. The one thing I can say that is just minimally related to your experience. I finished my PhD just as the 2008 economic crisis hit us. The job market looked really bleak and for about 2 years, I was losing all hope of finding an academic position, But then I ended up with this one. And I couldn’t feel happier that I’m in this place. So, I just want to ask you guys to persevere, to stay strong, and to have faith in yourselves because I really mean it. This couldn’t be happening to a greater group of GW students and if anyone can make it you guys can. You’re going to be fine, Last thing I’ll say, I’ve talked to many of you about having a BBQ at my house in celebration of graduation. That offer is still on as soon as we are out of quarantine. So see you guys there!
Professor Aviv: Hi everybody. So just following up on two things that Mark said. First of all, I too graduated in 2008 and I started my graduate program a day after September 11, 2001. So, absolutely we are going through unprecedented and very scary times. But you are really well equipped. You started your program in 2016, right around the election and you’re graduating into a once in a century pandemic. And I think there is no clearer message to you than the world really needs your talent and energy to change it and make it a better place. It was really a pleasure to meet so many of you, have conversations in and outside the classroom and I look forward to continuing them so read out to me whenever you want and whenever you can. Worst case scenario I’ll be at Mark’s barbecue too. We talked so many times about ideas that shape the world, and now it’s your turn. So, congratulations, celebrate your achievements and we will find a way to celebrate it together. And take good care of yourselves.
Professor Trullinger: Hello everyone, it’s hard to follow up these messages of hope and encouragement with anything really special of my own to say. So I guess i’ll just share a message of personal gratitude. The graduating class is one that has come through a lot in terms of the external world. But those of you who are close to me, it has been a time of great personal trial for me. And so I do feel a special sense of connection to you all and to people I’ve known from the beginning, those I’m just getting to know now. And it’s really been a very special opportunity of, now I say i the past tense, but the reality is I’m still going to be here and I am still available as I like to say in my classes, there’s a lifetime money back guarantee where you can always ask me about something years down the road about something you learned. But also just for knowing how you’re doing. This is definitely not what any of us expected but the reality is, this was always a case, maybe not with this particular challenge, but with challenges in general. The important thing we do is to remember the character we display in the midst of the circumstances is really the most important. Remember to do well, be well, take care of yourself, and also be good to one another.
Professor Kung: Just to wrap things up here. Not all the faculty could be here today but everyone is thinking of you. Again, we are going to make sure that you get the recognition that you deserve. Please keep in touch, we love our alumni coming back and visiting, and talking, and emailing, and writing blog posts. So we expect to still hear from you even after the conclusion of all of this.
I know you have all been hearing from many different campus partners about the University’s response to COVID-19, but I wanted to quickly let you know how the UHP is responding to the challenges raised by this virus.
For the time being, the UHP is open and operating as normal. Spring classes are meeting, and the townhouse is open for study hours. That said, this is obviously a fluid situation and the UHP will adhere to all University recommendations and directives as they arise. In particular, GW has suspended all non-essential, GW-affiliated international travel and is requiring community members traveling within certain countries to self-quarantine for 14 days before returning to campus. Unfortunately, these travel restrictions will impact the spring break and summer plans of some UHP community members. Advisors Brianna and Ben are available to help students navigate any last-minute changes that might affect a student’s four-year plan. In light of COVID-19, please consider your personal travel plans carefully for the upcoming spring break week. In the event that you become ill or are subject to quarantine, UHP faculty members are aware that flexibility will be required and are prepared to make appropriate individual accommodations. Communication is definitely the key here, so please be in email contact with your instructors directly if you are unable to attend class. Please do not attend class if you are not feeling well!
In the event that the University decides that it is prudent to cancel some (or all) face-to-face class meetings, the semester will continue using online resources. We ask students to be flexible and patient as there are bound to be some initial technical hiccups. Also, each faculty member will use different online tools and teaching methods, depending on the course content and format – so follow directions carefully and ask questions if you are uncertain about any course expectations. In the event of campus closures, Brianna and Ben will still be available for advising sessions, which will be held via WebEx.
Let me conclude by echoing the GW Student Association’s message of “stay informed, stay calm, and be kind.” Keep reading your emails carefully, keep washing your hands and keep looking out for one another. Further, the UHP will not tolerate any bullying, scapegoating or demonization connected to the COVID-19 virus. Bias and xenophobia have no place within our community of scholars, so please immediately report any acts of hate or bias that you have experienced or witnessed. If you have any questions, you can also reach out to me directly at bcobb@email.gwu.edu..
Bethany Cobb Kung
Director, University Honors Program
Associate Professor of Honors and Physics
So you may remember our recent post about going to the Nats vs. Marlins game on April 7th at 7pm. That sign-up filled up *super* fast! Y’all love you some baseball!
The question is now: we have the opportunity to purchase some more tickets, and are trying to see if some of you UHPers would like to have a second shot at signing up! As a reminder, the ticket will cost you $7 and includes a $10 food credit for when you’re there. Let us know below if you would like us to purchase additional tickets! Please fill out this form by Thursday evening if so.
Ladies, Gentlemen, UHPers of all gender identities, I present to you: the digital townhouse project!
Below, you will find a plethora, a mulititude of different ways of engaging in community during this time. We will have events: a trivia night, a game night, Eydie’s gonna host a cooking show (trust me, you want to learn to cook like Eydie). None of those are scheduled yet, but stay tuned!
We’ve got a buddy system you can sign up for, to be assigned a buddy and you can check in with each other on a regular basis
We’ve got The Review, our UHP book club, which is going virtual with a Goodreads account and hopefully a virtual book club discussion event!
And we’ve got contests. We’ll have a weekly contest, and then a daily riddle, in which you will be rewarded for the first correct answer and the most creative wrong answer.
Rewarded, you say? Rewarded with what? Well, welcome to the Townhouse Tokens system! You will earn tokens through contests and such, and then can redeem them for various prizes—merch for smaller amounts of tokens, mugs, shirts, and all that sort of thing. Free attendance at a UHP event or free lunch with a UHP staff member for a. And if you win 15 tokens, the maximum amount available, (for an individual, there are more available for the community…it doesn’t matter), you will be designated the envious title of Townhouse Paragon and honored in the NewsFlash.
I need to cut my hair.
It’s not just contests that will earn you tokens, by the way! You can also earn tokens by participating in discussion on the blog or the Facebook page—the first discussion post each week on each platform to get three independent replies gets it’s poster token!
Further, dear UHPers, I have caved to the demands of the people. And the UHP now has a TikTok account. To my knowledge, haven’t posted anything there yet, but you know who can submit things for it? You! The UHP public! You’ll find all the information below.
Finally, do you have any other suggestions? Or do you want to run an event for this? Fill out our poll at the bottom of this page and let us know—we want to hear from you!
Alrighty, that’s it for me. Have a wonderful day. And stay in community! And wash your hands.
Check out this volunteer opportunity from fellow UHPer Clara Mucci! Have volunteer opportunities of your own that you’d like to share with the UHP public? Click here to submit a post of your own!
Hi there! Are you a fan of museums, children, or volunteering? If yes, you’re in luck! Come get a sneak peek of the new National Children’s Museum by volunteering at our holiday Family Celebration on December 14th. Perks include free pizza, free museum swag, and a chance to play in super cool children’s exhibits! Details: Volunteers needed on December 14th from 11:30 am to 4:30 pm Morning shift is 11:30-2:30, afternoon shift is 1:45-4:30 Please email events@nationalchildrensmuseum.org if you’re interested!
A Sophomore student enters Gelman library. She’s looking for a place to sit comfortably and lay out her study materials. Floor 2? The computers are taken, the couches are taken, the study rooms are taken. She ascends the stairs to Floor 3 – no luck there either. After spending a half hour searching for a place to study, finally, a study room is open. She settles in,grateful to have finally found a place to study…only to be kicked out 10 minutes later.
Have you ever experienced this? I certainly did when I was a student here. But there is a solution, dear UHPers! The Honors Townhouse!
From 9am – 5pm on Mondays through Fridays, you can come in to the townhouse at 714 21st St NW and make use of our space! It has a lot of components though – so pay careful attention.
Part 1: The Club Room
The Club Room is the communal hub of the townhouse. It’s our most popular study space and where most of our events take place. It’s a great place to study, eat lunch, and just generally hang out. It’s also an excellent “home base” on Foggy Bottom for you Vern-folk! In the words of Trey (SEAS ’20), “When I was a first-year…it was kind of my ‘home away from home.’ And now, again, that I live off campus, it’s true again.”
Part 2: The Kitchen
It is in the kitchen that the true perks of being in the Honors Program come to fruition. If you don’t already know, there is a Keurig machine with tea, coffee, and other delightful drinks to which all UHP students have free and unlimited access! [Edit from 2021: we used to have a water cooler in there as well, but we’ll be getting a new one soon]. The only requirement? Bring your own mug/water bottle. You can always fill up the mug and then sit around and study in the Club Room or basement!
Part 3: The Basement
Not everyone knows about the basement. It’s a unique sort of place. It’s very rare that we have events down there, so it’s almost always open when the townhouse is. It’s usually quiet, secluded, *and* it’s got two whiteboards with an avalanche of markers! Right now, the basement is empty. Fill it with your presence, dear UHPers! In order to access the basement, go down the stairs across from the kitchen, and go to the right!
Part 4: The Front Office
And finally we come to my domain: the front office. The front office isn’t fundamentally a communal space like the Club Room or the Basement, but you’ll often run into faculty, other students, and of course myself here. Feel free to drop by anytime to say hello – I love meeting new students!
Quite often though, the relevancy of this office is the free food! Pro tip: we announce when we have free food on Instagram, so follow us below!
Part 5: The Thoughts of the Community
And finally, for the thoughts of others within our UHP community:
“My favorite part about the townhouse is…besides the free Keurig drinks, it’s a welcoming and warm place to study and have good discussions, to see people from class that you wouldn’t otherwise hang out with.” – Anna Peacher-Ryan, CCAS ’20
“Coffee, food, a place to study. What more could you need?” – Bridget Carl, GWSPH/CCAS ’21
“I love the townhouse, it’s the place where everyone knows your name. I thoroughly enjoy the free coffee, and recently I’ve been also really enjoying the sparkling water. As a former La Croix addict, I really enjoy the sparkling aspect.” – Jason Rucker, SMPA ’22 [Edit from 2021: Again, this comes from an era when we had a water cooler. I promise, we’re getting a new one soon!]
“I love the water and snacks.” – Marshall Deng, CCAS ’21
“[The townhouse is] a locus of intellectual activity on this campus…I spend oodles of time here throughout my week. It’s a very productive place, both intellectually and in terms of my…work.” – Jared Bulla, CCAS ’20
