Georgetown’s crew team might be getting help in its long-running battle for a boathouse on the Potomac from the longest serving member of Congress. City Paper writer Mike DeBonis (Voice alum, natch) says Representative John Dingell of Michigan’s investigation into the Washington Canoe Club, a boathouse opponent, is making some people suspect Georgetown’s involved.

Dingell, who got both a bachelor’s and a law degree from Georgetown, sent the Canoe Club a letter accusing it of being a private club on federal land. Four other clubs on federal land have higher membership fees, though, and have not been contacted by Dingell.

It’s unclear whether Dingell is trying to knock out a boathouse opponent or is really dedicated to universal canoe access. What is clear, though, is that the Canoe Club is pretty dingy on the outside. Maybe the interior is palatial, but these pictures say more “unloved campsite” than “hall of privilege.”

-Will Sommer, blog editor

Was anyone surprised to discover that, once again, our esteemed student government experienced electoral technical difficulties last night?

“Due to unforeseen technical problems, the GUSA Senate online voting system was not functioning last night. The site is now back up and voting is live. In the wake of the outage, voting is extended until Wednesday, September 26 at 9 PM.”

I’m not sure if GUSA, UIS, or the Election Commission is at fault here, but it doesn’t really matter. Voter turnout — and for that matter, candidate turnout (my “district” was uncontested) — is low enough already, and every botched election turns a few more people off of the campus democratic process. GUSA made a big play to be taken seriously last year with their successful anti-keg ban advocacy, but if they hope to be a respected organization, these election glitches need to stop.

-Anna Bank, Editorial Board Chair