Better than a cup of coffee, the Morning Digest will provide you with what you need to be prepared for the day: a daily round-up of links, local news, and important events on campus and around D.C.

     Today will have scattered clouds with a chance of rain, with a high of 75.

To masticate today:

• OCAF, Student Housing do the bureaucracy shuffle: Yesterday, Vice President for Student Affairs Todd Olson and Vice President for Planning and Facilities Management Robin Morey announced that OCAF and Student Housing would be moving to the Division of Student Affairs effective July 1, 2013, among other office changes. 
• Question Time: Jim Coury (SFS ’15) has advanced to the semifinals in the College Championship of the show Jeopardy. Tune in on May 15 to watch the semifinal round.
• May Madness: Point guard Tre Campbell confirmed that he has committed to play basketball for Georgetown, last night via Twitter . He joins power forward Isaac Copeland as part of the incoming class.

What to look out for:

• Going to get law schooled: Yesterday, the American Civil Liberties Union filed two separate cases against Metro Transit officers. The teenagers represented in the cases allege that Metro Transit officers assaulted them, then invented charges in order to justify the arrests.
• Bus-spotting: Several changes to the D.C. Circulator have been proposed this week. Under the new plan, put forth by  Councilwoman Mary C. Cheh (D-Ward 3), Circulator fares could double, from the current fare of $1. The revenue from the increased fare would go towards expanding Circulator routes, including the Georgetown-Rosslyn and Georgetown-Union Station loops. Of course, if public transport is just too plebeian for you, D.C.’s cabs will be taking credit cards by the end of August, so buckle up.

This afternoon, Vice President for Student Affairs Todd Olson and Vice President for Planning and Facilities Management Robin Morey released a memo announcing pending changes in the structure of the Office of University Facilities and Student Housing, which includes the Office of Campus Activity Facilities and Student Housing.

As of July 1, 2013, OCAF and Student Housing will become part of the Division of Student Affairs. Housing and the Office of Residence Life will consolidate into one office, headed by Stephanie Lynch, Director of Residence Life since 2003. OCAF will move to Student Affairs as part of Student Engagement, and will be led by Assistant Dean Erika Cohen-Derr.

The entire Office of University Facilities and Student Housing will change to become Planning and Facilities Management. Jonalyn Ware Greene, who currently heads the Office, will transition to lead Financial Management and Business Operations for the new office.  The role of Planning and Facilities Management is to ”focus on master planning, facility infrastructure improvements and work order management implementation to facilitate service improvements,” according to the memo. These changes will not affect summer or fall housing, late stay, or activity space scheduling.

The memo, titled “Strategic Changes to Support a Vibrant Living and Learning Community,” explained that these changes came after consultation with students and faculty and took comments and questions from the Hoya Roundtables over the past two years into consideration. “We are making significant investments to bring more students on campus, and to engage students, faculty, and staff in the life of our campus, inside the classroom, in residence halls, and in the many co-curricular opportunities offered,” the memo said. ”This change comes at an exciting time and provides us the capacity to ensure students experience a premiere residential environment that supports an engaged campus community.”

Photo: Tiffany Lachhonna/Georgetown Voice

Better than a cup of coffee, the Morning Digest will provide you with what you need to be prepared for the day: a daily round-up of links, local news, and important events on campus and around D.C.

     Today has a good chance of rain with a high of 64. Update, 6:22 pm: There is a 30 percent chance that it is already raining.

To masticate today:

• Michelle Obama book signing: This morning, Michelle Obama will be signing copies of her book “American Grown: The Story of the Whitehouse Garden and Gardens Across America” at Politics and Prose on 5015 Connecticut Ave. NW between 11:15 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

What to look out for:

• Breast cancer walk: The Georgetown Lombardi/Capital Breast Care Center team raised more than $145,000 for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in D.C. The 39.3 mile, two-day walk took place on Saturday and Sunday, and, at the closing ceremony on Sunday, Avon presented $250,000 to Capital Breast Care Center.
  
• Capital Bikeshare accused of underpaying workers: The D.C. bike rental service has come under investigation by the U.S. Labor Department now that a former employee alleges that he was underpaid for nearly two years.
• This time, it’s not the British: Former Marine Adam Kokesh is planning a march on Washington. The gun rights advocate has stated that, if enough people attend, he will lead a group of rifle-toting gun rights supporters across Memorial Bridge and into D.C. this 4th of July. Recognizing the illegality of such a venture, Kokesh hopes the police will work with him on a plan to allow the protest to take place.

Better than a cup of coffee, the Morning Digest will provide you with what you need to be prepared for the day: a daily round-up of links, local news, and important events on campus and around D.C.

   Today will be muggy and mostly cloudy, with a high of 64.

To masticate today:

• Isadora in Russia: This weekend, Once Wild: Isadora in Russia is playing in the Davis Performing Arts Center Gonda Theatre. Show times are tonight and Saturday at 8:00 p.m., and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. Take a break from studying and head over for some intense drama and Russian dance.
• Tour de embassies: The Around the World Embassy Tour by Passport DC is tomorrow from 10:oo a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Over 42 embassies in D.C. are participating in the event, which will feature numerous cultural performances, in addition to educational talks and exhibits at each embassy.
• To infinity, and beyond: As part of the ongoing effort to preserve and restore the Heyden Observatory, the Observatory will host open houses from noon to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Additionally, the Georgetown University Astronomical Society is hosting a stargazing event from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. on Saturday. You can vote to preserve the Heyden Observatory here.

What to look out for:

• Drivers licenses for undocumented immigrants: Mayor Vincent Gray announced a proposal yesterday afternoon to allow undocumented immigrants the right to use special drivers licences. These licences will in some way look different than the ones used by documented residents.
• School closures and cuts pile up: While many are left scrambling in the wake of school closures and spending cuts, many more are shocked to learn that Mayor Gray has yet to even discuss D.C.’s school closures with Education Committee Chair David Catania in person.

Reported crimes ran the gamut, from four public urinations to the assault of a police officer who was trying to stop a thief in Lau. Most notably, Dahlgren Chapel was vandalized one night. The vandals damaged furniture and knocked Jesus’ hand off a crucifix. There are no known suspects.

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Better than a cup of coffee, the Morning Digest will provide you with what you need to be prepared for the day: a daily round-up of links, local news, and important events on campus and around D.C.

Note: Due to the looming shadow of finals, Vox will be operating at a reduced posting schedule until the end of the semester. Be sure to check back for the Morning Digest and other updates designed to tempt and delight you in these times of darkness.

  The weather today will be cloudy in the morning and clear later in the day, with a high of 70.

To masticate today:

• Midnight Breakfast: UnBirthday!: What’s After Dark, Student Affairs, and Dining Services are hosting an Alice and Wonderland themed end-of-the-year celebration tonight from 10 pm to midnight at Leo’s. It will include a number of activities like painting your own teacups, mixing your own tea, playing a giant game of chess, and free food!
• Superfood’s final performance of the year and senior send off: Superfood will give its final performance of the year at 3 pm in front of the John Carroll statue in Healy Circle. In addition to being the last concert of the year, the group will be sending off its five seniors.

What to look out for:

•  $10 million dollar gift to National Mall from Volkswagen: Volkswagen planned to announce a $10 million gift today to to the Trust for the National Mall in order to help fund its plans for an aesthetic renovation.
• Capital Bikeshare adds new options for infrequent users: A new membership option allows users to pay $10 for the key, which is like the traditional annual and monthly membership keys. But, with this key, users only have to pay $7 for a day pass to use a bike for a day.

The 2012-2013 term came to an end on Sunday afternoon, as GUSA held its last meeting for the year. GUSA’s members reflected on the success of Georgetown Day and gave thank yous and fond farewells in anticipation for the three long, lonesome months for which all Georgetown students, but mostly GUSA, will be deprived of GUSA’s presence. In addition, they passed bills concerning group advocacy and ways to further expand sexual assault education.

Georgetown Day was sexy and GUSA knows it

GUSA took particular pride in the great success of Georgetown Day this year, and views it as the proper way to facilitate on-campus event-planning with the administration. 

“Last year we had an anonymous student campaign to make sure that the administration didn’t barricade Healy Lawn, and that went down to the wire, in terms of what rights we would and would not have,” Student Life Committee Chair Ben Weiss (COL ’15) said. “Compare that to this year, when we had a lot of really great administrative-student conversations and deliberations. I think we can look to that as a model going forward on how we can all work together.”

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This year’s Georgetown Day, beginning at 7:00 a.m. and ending at 2:30 a.m., will feature events such as a Leo’s kegger (called Club Leo’s) for 21+ students, the return of inflatables, and a concert in the McDonough parking lot by 2AM Club, a band featured on the show Pretty Little Liars.

Inflatables, which were cancelled last year due to the administration’s attempt to scale back Georgetown Day, will return with bounce houses, obstacle courses, and a rock climbing wall from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Other events throughout the day include a Build-your-own-Bulldog, a blessing of Jesuit graves, a faculty and staff wine tasting reception, a screening of Space Jam, food trucks, and a scavenger hunt (where students can win Tombs gift cards), among other events.

Jack the Bulldog’s retirement party will also take place that day with free cookies and a photo-op. A dunk tank on the lawn will also give students the opportunity to dunk GUSA President Nate Tisa (SFS ’14) and DPS Chief Jay Gruber, according to Thomas De Bow (COL ’15), the GUSA representative on the Georgetown Day Planning Committee.

The events were largely brought about and planned with student input, according to Tisa. Club Leo’s is a revival of the beer garden, a Georgetown Day tradition that was cancelled last year along with the inflatables. From 10:30 p.m. to 2:30 a.m., students who present a valid ID and GoCard will be able to drink unlimited amounts of beer for $5 to $10, depending on whether they reserved tickets or not.

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Yesterday afternoon, the University in conjunction with GUSA announced that Fritz Brogan (COL ’07) will be the manager for the new pub in New South Student Center. Brogan owns the popular student bar Mason Inn in Glover Park and belongs to a family with strong ties to the University.

19 different pub and restaurant providers were solicited for consideration for managing the pub, and the list was narrowed down by a group of administrators and students before Brogan was selected.

“Students were loud and clear that we want someone that understands what it’s like to be a student, what our needs are, how we want to make this place our own. Fritz, having been an incredibly involved student while he was here … and has been a strong alum … it really made sense for us,” said Chief Business Officer for University Services Debbie Morey. “We couldn’t have asked for a better partner.”

The design and atmosphere of the bar have not been decided on yet. While the bar will incorporate television screens for watching sporting events, Brogan will establish a design once he receives sufficient input from students.

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White House reopens and D.C. adjusts after attacks

The Boston Marathon bombings and subsequent manhunt for suspected brothers Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and Tamerlan Tsarnaev created heightened security throughout the Northeast. Police removed the trashcans on Capitol Hill and DPS even upped security on campus. In a move described as “an abundance of caution” the White House was closed, but reopened yesterday.

Closing down the White House to all visitors may have been an over-precaution as a response to a bombing in Boston, but that was not the only attack last week. Letters containing the incredibly deadly toxin ricin were mailed to President Barack Obama and Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).

Both letters were successfully stopped by screening procedures, which have been in place since the anthrax attacks on Congress in 2001. The success of these safety measures has Capitol security brimming with confidence. “I have confidence in our procedures, our personnel, the United States Capitol Police response personnel, the strength and weaknesses of field testing and the need for laboratory confirmation,” said head of Senate security Terrance Gainer, according to the Post.

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