Category: Uncategorized

     Hello hello UHP! In this edition of “The Extracurricular” we will be looking at my personal favorite GWU Student Org- WRGW District Radio. Now as a member of the radio’s General Board you might say I’m a little biased on this one, but hear me out. WRGW has been hands down the best part of my time here at GW, and I’m just trying to do my part to spread the love.
WRGW is located on the ground floor of the Marvin Center; you may have even walked by to see weird looking radio kids pressing a bunch of buttons and dancing around in a dark room. That’s just what radio is all about. We broadcast live daily from 8am to 2am, andit isn’t just music either. WRGW has four departments: Music, Talk, Sports and News. Moral of the story? There’s a place for everyone. Maybe you follow the NHL like it’s your job, maybe you have a passion for current events and journalism, maybe you go to four concerts each week, or maybe you just feel important enough to expound your wise opinions to all that will listen. WRGW gives its members a chance to express themselves on pretty much any topic they find compelling, isn’t that what college is all about? And get this, it’s internet radio, so your friends and family at home can always tune in too.  I know I feel cooler than cool when my mom texts me incessantly during my radio show…
Aside from our broadcasts, WRGW also hosts events and maintains blogs. If you like writing about sports, news or music, WRGW can offer you a great opportunity to do so. We get some pretty sweet press passes to concerts and lectures, and we broadcast home and away games for GW’s Basketball teams on air. Our events vary from concerts to Open Mic Nights, all of which are loads of fun. In fact, our next Open Mic is February 20th at Thomas Foolery in DuPont from 7pm-9pm. Come check it out if you like live entertainment and Captain Cookie, and I mean, who doesn’t?
So now you want to join radio, amiright?! To become a member, you have to sign up at the beginning of a semester, and you start off as an intern. Basically, you’re assigned to a preexisting show, and the host will show you the ropes on how to use the broadcasting equipment. After that, you’re free to apply for your own show and really dive into your future as a college radio DJ. Exciting stuff. So keep us in mind as you brainstorm Orgs to dabble in next semester, and for now tune in to some of our programming on gwradio.com!

Dear Sherpa,

I’ve only been back at school for a week, but I already feel like I need another break. Everyone seems to be excited to be back in DC, or to be studying abroad, or to have a cool new internship, but I feel like I’m stuck in a rut. Even Netflix seems boring! I feel like there are a lot of things I could be doing with my time, but I’m just not sure where to start. Help!

Love, 

Not-Necessarily-Sophomore-Slump

Dear N-N-S-S,

Everyone definitely has those times where nothing seems exciting. However, you’re in luck to have written to me! The wisdom of the Sherpa can provide anyone with a solution.

There are so many ways to get involved in GW and the larger DC community!

Check out the hundreds of student orgs at http://studentengagement.gwu.edu/student-organizations. With hundreds of groups including religious, academic, Greek, political, volunteer, performance, cultural, and athletic, there’s something for everyone! Many orgs also have events, shows, or lectures that are open to everyone, so if you aren’t ready to commit, drop by to see what life with that group might be like.

Did you know Lerner (Hell Well) is open at 6:30 am during the week? Get cracking on those New Years resolutions and finish your workout before that 8 am. You can also get a group fitness pass for only $89 as a student and use it for anything from yoga to kickboxing. Many of the sport-specific areas also offer open play, so grab some new friends from that student org and have a game of pick-up! More info here: http://campusrecreation.gwu.edu/.

If you have study abroad envy, get in touch with the Office of Study Abroad! They have massive lists of all the programs available to GW students. Or, you can always find your own!

If you’re a foodie, you won’t want to miss DC Restaurant Week. Over 200 of DC’s best restaurants offer fixed menus at (fairly) student friendly prices. It’s a great opportunity to eat amazing food without breaking your wallet! You can check out participants, menus, and even make reservations (recommended) here: http://www.ramw.org/restaurantweek.

DC is full of great sports venues, from our very own Smith Center to the Verizon Center. We all know the Wizards are on the up and up, so snap up some student tickets before they get expensive! Or stick closer to home and support our very own Colonials – most games have free seats for students.

If you can’t find that internship that feels right, try volunteering! The Center for Civic Engagement and Public Service has a ton of resources related to service initiatives in the area: http://serve.gwu.edu/. You can also look for opportunities on local or national databases, especially if you’re interested in a long-term experience.

So you see, N-N-S-S, GW and DC both offer some amazing opportunities. Sometimes, there’s so much out there that you don’t know where to begin! I hope this has come in handy with some ideas, and as always, you can write back if you need more help.

Sincerely,

Sherpa

 Hello Honors lovelies! My name is Michaela Stanch and this week in Honors Adventures in Student Orgs I will be highlighting an organization that I love, GWU’s chapter of Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, or IVCF. To explain this fantastic beast and where to find it, I’ll break the name down:
First word: Intervarsity. Unlike what many people (including myself) first think, does not mean something about sports. IVCF started in England where “varsity” means university. Intervarsity means between two or more universities. The founders of IVCF wanted to create an organization that spanned across universities and across churches. IVCF is a non-denominational organization, we love everyone from all kinds of spiritual and philosophical backgrounds.
Second word: Christian. This means something or someone relating to or professing Christianity and/or its teachings. You do not have to profess Christianity to become involved with IVCF. We are a group of students who focus on a deeper understanding of Christ and his teachings. In our many events we don’t seek to validate our own opinions or actions by scripture; instead, we focus on how the scriptures, God, and Christ can transform ourselves.
Third word: Fellowship. At our core, IVCF is about the relationships we build. We love to bond, have fun, and grow with each other. In less than a year of being a part of IVCF I have gone to ridiculously competitive game nights, been serenaded for Valentine’s Day, wandered through all of DC and shared delicious food with some of the greatest people I have ever met. Throughout the Bible it is stated that the greatest commandment is to love each other, and I see this commandment every day through my brothers and sisters in Christ in Intervarsity Christian Fellowship.
If you’re interested in Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, please email gw.ivcf@gmail.com or like our Facebook page!

Dear Sherpa, 
I don’t know how I would have survived the past three years at GW without your constant unsolicited advice, so in another moment of stress I come to you. I can’t get away from the fact that in a year I’ll be on my own with no dorm room to nap away my days in. I’m trying to plan housing, a job, a life, and everything I’ll need for next year but it’s really hard!
On top of my preeminent problems, my little sister just started as a freshman and it’s killing me to hear how she’s blowing off her 4-year plan and not preparing at all for the best 4 years of her life.  Helppp! 
Tell me what to do,
Panicking at Home, Feeling Alone

Dear P.a.h.f.a.,
I’m glad you learned this key lesson during your studies; Sherpa knows best. You and your sister remind me of a story from one very particular winter I spent alone in the 1990s.
To my dismay, all my dreams were coming true! I was left alone in my house and I had BIG plans. Eat whatever I want, play video games past bed time, and not have to listen to anyone! It never occurred to me that I’d need a plan to survive my stint home alone. My lack of a plan literally put my life in jeopardy. But don’t fret, I was able to turn it all around because it’s never too late to plan!

I found out two doofuses were planning to rob my house, thinking I was also gone. Having learned my lesson about not planning, I went big and created multiple back up plans and intricate steps for my 4-day defeat plan.
I burned one guys hair off, I tricked them into stepping on broken Xmas ornament glass, and I even pushed them down the stairs with heavy cans, and tar and feathered them! It was amazing.
But there was an unintended side effect: I ruined my house! The stairs were covered in tar (don’t even ask me about cleaning that one up), the door handles and locks were ruined because I got them all red hot, and the drapes were burnt (plus the smell of burnt hair was in everything.) Plus there were about 20 other traps I had set elsewhere in the house that I needed to disarm when it was all over. I got so obsessed with building intricate plans that I didn’t see the simple solution in front of me.  All I needed to do was call the police, or ask a neighbor for help. Everything worked out okay, but I got in so much trouble.
In the end, I regretted under-planning in the beginning, and over-planning at the end. College has so much in store for freshman like your sister, but to take advantage of all the possibilities, she needs to do some planning. Her 4-year plan is the first step to success in overcoming herself and thriving in college. You on the otherhand, must calm down.  Some things you just can’t plan, accept it, and deal with what you can.
If you’re not sure if you’re over-planning or under-planning, or just need help in general, you have a lot of advisors at GW ready to help.  Reach out to your school or major advisor, or talk to Catherine in the Honors Program.
Tar&Feathers for the win,
Sherpa

Join the American Bar Association Division for Public Education
and the Woodrow Wilson Center for

ON THE DOCKET
A LOOK AT THE 2014-2015 SUPREME COURT TERM

Monday, September 22, 2014
5:00PM – 6:30PM

Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
Flom Auditorium, Ronald Reagan Building
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC

Register Here
Event is free and open to the public

Welcome Class of 2018 and returning UHPers! Now that we’ve all gotten settled, all your things are unpacked, and you finally know where your classes are (sorta), it’s time to start getting into the zone. The college zone. College can be scary, college can be hard, and there are plenty of time that your parent’s couch seems like a much better idea than a Thurston six. So take a deep breath, square your shoulders, crack your knuckles, and keep some of these tips in mind!

  Get Calm.

College is pretty terrifying. Moving out of home to live with people you don’t know and no one knows you. The lack of support networks, friends and family can seem like a total nightmare. But try not to have a panic attack, there are things you can do to keep yourself from having heart palpitations.
Step one is to breathe. You aren’t alone. The beautiful thing about college is that everyone is in the same boat as you. It take times to get settled and feel comfortable, so don’t panic if you feel out of place – after a few weeks you won’t! Don’t panic if things don’t work out at first, if you don’t know what you want to major in, or if you get a C on a test (gasp!); it’ll take some time to adjust to college life, but eventually it will feel routine. Which leads me to my next bit of advice…
 

 Get Settled.
I know I just said this will take some time, but an important part of adjusting to college is getting into a routine. Humans like stability, and the sooner you can figure out the things that will make you feel healthy and confident, the better. Class schedule helps, but picking regular times to wake up, eat, and hit the gym all go a long way toward making the adjustment to college living much smoother. And there’s something to be said for settling into a budget. Knowing how much you’re spending on Chipotle  and Starbucks for the rest of the week can be pretty handy — it’s always good to know where you’re money’s going, and how much you have left over for fun. Plus, it’ll help drop some of the stress of living.
It’s okay if this takes a few weeks, getting settled is a slow process, but it will go a long way toward turning your place at GW into a home away from home.

Get Out
Once you get settled, it’s important to remember that you have to spend some time leaving your new little nest. College is a time when you can meet some pretty amazing people, and when making friends is the easiest thing in the world. Hit up the Student Org Fair on August 30th to find a group of people that are interested in some of the same things you are, and get to know the people on your floor. After all, they’re a captive audience.
Also, don’t forget about using the resources on campus. The UHP has tons of connections to other departments, and can patch you through to whoever you need when you need it.
 
So, stay calm, get comfortable here, and get to know people. The more you do these things, the more comfortable, and awesome, you’ll feel.