Daily Archives: April 25, 2013
New Ocean Hall is a whale of a good time
The Sant Ocean Hall marks the largest addition to the Museum of Natural History since it was constructed in the early 1900s, so it is only appropriate that it takes up an extremely large space and contains vast quantities of information. The Sant Ocean Hall is the kind of exhibit that will still be interesting on the third or fourth visit, and its aesthetics make you want to return just for the visual effect. The main hall contains glass display cases that curve around the space, leading visitors around the room in an orderly pattern. Oceanic hues of blue and green emanate from every display, and the entire room’s wavy and luminous quality gives the faint impression of being surrounded by water. A film of undersea scenes playing on panels surrounding the room makes the entire museum feel submerged.
City on a Hill: Is D.C. down for the count?
D.C.’s September 9 primary elections should have been simple. Many of the races for the D.C. City Council were uncontested, and less than 14 percent of D.C.’s registered voters cast ballots. But the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics still managed to bungle the job, and the ineptitude they demonstrated raises serious questions about whether they will be able to handle the far greater challenge of overseeing the November 4 general election.
Related break-ins on O Street
On Sunday at about 5:30 p.m., an unidentified male broke into the first and second stories of a townhouse apartment on 36th and O Streets.
Fenty shutters Franklin Shelter
When Mayor Adrian Fenty (D) closed down the Franklin Homeless Center in Shaw last Friday, former Franklin resident Eric Sheptock told local activists of a “sleep-out” protest in the park across the street on his blog. However, he said, he would not be able to attend, because he had to follow his belongings to a new shelter.
Bovine burglary
A bronze sculpture of a bull’s head worth $25,000 that was stolen from a Georgetown house has been returned, according the Metropolitan Police Department.
GUTS collision on Canal
A Georgetown University Transportation System bus and a minivan with Pakistani diplomatic plates collided on Canal Road on Tuesday afternoon, sending the van’s three passengers to the emergency room.
Cafeteria food sickens 96
At least 96 students were treated by the Georgetown University Hospital or the Student Health Center for gastroenteritis from Tuesday night and Wednesday. Speaking to an audience of student and local reporters in the Leavey Center yesterday afternoon, Todd Olson, the Vice President of Student Affairs, said that the “clear common denominator” amongst all the students was that they had dined at the Leo O’Donovan Cafeteria.
Closing a shelter to solve homelessness?
Fresh from its battle with Congress over the District gun laws, the D.C. City Council is facing off with another opponent: Mayor Adrian Fenty (D). Last Friday, Fenty shut down the Franklin Shelter, one of downtown’s largest homeless centers, in direct defiance of legislation passed by the Council, and without a specific plan for the displaced homeless. Fenty’s support of long-term housing for the homeless is admirable, but it shouldn’t come at the cost of short-term housing like the Franklin Shelter, which the homeless rely on.
Don’t let Congress squash gay marriage
An enlarged Democratic majority in the 111th Congress may come with a cherry on top for same-sex couples in D.C.: the possibility of wedded bliss. Sources at City Hall told the Washington Blade that, assuming Democrats gain enough Congressional seats in November, the District’s City Council may pass a gay marriage bill in the upcoming spring. It’s about time, too. Gay and lesbian couples deserve the same legal and financial rights afforded to straight couples in the District. But before the Council takes the next step towards full equality for all of its constituents, it must ensure that the backlash from Congress won’t outweigh the benefit of a gay marriage bill.
Career Center: stop banking on finance
The past few days have been shrouded in shades of 1929. The Dow saw its biggest one-day drop ever, mammoth investment banks failed left and right, and Congress stubbornly refused to dip into its wallet to bail everyone out. In other words, if you were considering entering a career in finance after graduation, now may be a good time to reassess your options. And as students rethink their options, Georgetown’s Career Education Center should too. Long criticized for focusing on finance and neglecting other career paths, the Career Education Center should use this moment as an opportunity to expand its offerings beyond Wall Street.
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