After an anomalous problem-free election last year, it looks like last Thursday’s contest will add a new story to GUSA’s illustrious history of election scandal.  From the election commission to candidates and campus media:

Hi all,

 

The Election Commission has received several inquiries and complaints about this year’s election. In order to follow up and investigate each claim adequately, the Election Commission has decided, in accordance with the Student Association by-laws, to delay the announcement of results until early next week. 

 

The Election Commission has no further comments at this time. We will contact candidates individually with any questions.

There was no indication of what the complaints were about, but smart money says they at least partially involved the labyrinthine ballots that required students to keep track of ranked votes for all eight tickets.  We’ll keep you updated.

I’m not trying to kick up an alarmist sandstorm here, but if you’re one of the 6,137 undergrads who were notified that their social security numbers and/or other personal information may have been stolen as part of the heist of an external hard drive from the Office of Student Affairs, it’s probably worth trying to protect yourself. Though Georgetown’s campus-wide e-mail said no credit card information was stolen, your information could be used to take out lines of credit in your name (such as loans).

The first step is to put a 90-day fraud alert out with the 3 major credit bureaus; this will prevent new lines of credit from being taken out in your name without your first confirming them by phone. Call Equifax at 1-800-525-6285 to begin the alert; they’ll contact Experian and TransUnion (the other 2 bureaus) to make it universal.

Second, Visa’s fraud center told me that identity thieves and other bad guys will use your information to pose as you, call in, and find out your credit card info. Call your credit card company to place a password on your account, which is more secure than the typical “mother’s maiden name” question used to verify by default. Credit card companies are already diligent fraud monitors, so they’ll probably call anyway if a strange-looking charge appears on your account.

I don’t know the chances of your info being used to nefarious ends (who’s to say what they really are, anyway?), but there’s no harm in protecting yourself. It should only take 20 minutes or so (based on past experience), and will be a lot less painful than trying to deal with the repercussions should your info actually be used.

Welcome back to D.C., y’all.  While you wait with visible anticipation (yep, we see you sweating) for the first Voice of 2008 (January 17: mark your calendar!), here’s a review of There Will Be Blood by Michael Evans to keep the hunger from taking you over and help with the weekend plans (as if you’re not treating it like the weekend already). Check back for more frequent blog updates and see ya in Red Square or wherever.

-Mike Stewart, Editor-in-Chief

It was ugly, but Georgetown opened its Big East schedule with a 58-46 win over Rutgers on Saturday, Anthony Francavilla reports. Next up is DePaul, who just knocked off 16th-ranked Villanova in Chicago.  Tip-off is at 9 p.m. EST on Tuesday.

-Mike Stewart, Editor-in-Chief

Headed to the cinema over break? Thinking about seeing the dreamy Johnny Depp in Sweeney Todd while you’re there? Well, how about it?  Joshua Speiser tries to help you out with a review over on the main site. Decide whether or not that’s how you’re going to spend $6-15, depending on where you go home to.

-Mike Stewart, Editor-in-Chief

The last time Georgetown played Jacksonville University, they had to forfeit the game after an on-court punch provoked pandemonium in Jacksonville’s stands, forcing the teams into the locker rooms for protection. Thirty-eight years later, the Hoyas avenged the loss the old-fashioned way, with an 87-55 hosing of the visiting Dolphins, Anthony Francavilla reports. Next up: the Highlanders of Radford, in the “exam game” at our very own McDonough Arena, on December 15th at 7:30 p.m.

More photos after the jump.

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Turns out Bush is ruining it for Republicans on days you didn’t even know there were elections. Democrat Steven Beshear unseated Republican Governor Ernie Fletcher in Kentucky, and Satan is being fitted for a fur coat. Locally, Dems took control of the Virginia Senate for the first time in a decade, and some Republican SFS grad who I’m totally not related to is the new Supervisors Chairman (what?) in Prince William County, where he’ll put his international relations skills to work by ordering some Taco Bell.

-Mike Stewart, Managing Editor

The top part of a tree trunk split off and struck a woman on 36^th Street between N and Prospect Streets around 1:15 this afternoon. GERMS, the Metropolitan Police Department, DPS and the D.C. Fire Department were on the scene within minutes to tend to the victim, who was immobilized, loaded onto a stretcher and taken off the scene in a D.C. ambulance. She will be treated at George Washington University Hospital, according to Officer Brittingham of MPD. GERMS declined to comment at this time. The accident happened outside the Mortara Center, near Wisemiller’s Deli. More updates as this story develops.

View more photos after the jump.

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To update our previous story, a Midnight Madness visit to Georgetown was enough to prevent all outside intervention: top-ranked recruit Greg “The Doctrine” Monroe has decided to play hoops for the Hoyas next year, according to the Washington Post. If he follows through, he’ll round out a pretty stellar incoming class next year. Based on all the talk about his academic achievements, he’ll probably have a higher GPA than you, too.

“I think his greatest strength is his ability to do everything well,” Monroe’s high school coach Tyron Mouzon said. In a related story, Craig Escherick’s greatest weakness was that he wasn’t a very good coach.

-Mike Stewart, Managing Editor