Universities Prepare For Potential Housing Overflow During Inauguration

Georgetown Yet to Announce Any New Policies

As the city begins to prepare for January’s presidential inauguration, local universities are bracing themselves for a large influx of visitors by taking measures aimed at controlling the potential renting or subletting of university owned housing.

Those who had hoped to make some fast cash by renting out their dorm room for the week may find themselves restricted by university housing agreements. According to American University’s student newspaper, The Eagle, students who violate the policy could face serious consequences, including eviction.

The GW Hatchet reported that the housing licensing agreement of Georgetown’s Foggy Bottom neighbor similarly prohibits students from subletting university residences.

In addition, the Hatchet reported that GWU will be requiring all students to apply to house overnight guests over Inauguration — and that there will be a limited number of spaces granted. A university official cited possible security concerns as one of the reasons for the policy, the Hatchet reported. GWU will also be extending their overnight guest policy from a maximum stay of three nights to five nights from Jan. 16 to Jan. 21 (Georgetown’s current overnight policy is a maximum of three nights).

However, at Georgetown, the picture appears a bit hazier. In the “Definition of Agreement” clause of the Georgetown Housing Agreement, the contract states that, “This Agreement shall constitute a license and shall not be deemed to constitute a lease or create or transfer interest in or lien on real estate.” What does this exactly mean, especially for Inauguration? This, and whether Georgetown will adopt a revised policy for overnight guests, remains unknown. University officials said they would most likely have information after the Thanksgiving holiday, but could not comment further at this time.

- Dawn Hu

This Week in Inaugural Absurdities

According to The Washingtonian and PR Newswire, the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Adams Morgan is offering you and three friends the chance to live like the President for four days over Inauguration week - for the low, low price of $440,000.

The package includes a private jet to get you to and from D.C., four tickets to the inaugural events and a four night’s stay in, of course, the hotel’s President Suite. The suite itself includes two bedrooms, a living and dining room, a balcony, a full kitchen, and a library.

A private chauffeur and private concierge will be available 24 hours a day for the VIP guests, in addition to private breakfasts and an in-room dinner prepared by a private chef, which in itself includes entertainment by political satirist Mark Russell.

The package also includes a pre-Inauguration makeover by Elizabeth Arden’s Red Door Salon and Spa, a $44,000 jewelry shopping spree, “president and first lady cologne and perfume” and a puppy. Yes, just like Sasha and Malia, you too can have a brand new puppy and you even get to choose its breed and color.

In order to convey a genuine sense of the presidential life, the package also includes a foreign policy trip: four first-class plane tickets to St. Petersburg, Russia, including hotel accommodations for five nights.

A portion of the bill will be donated to the guests’ charity of choice.

And yes, in case you were wondering, this is all real.

Read more here:

http://www.washingtonian.com/blogarticles/people/capitalcomment/10108.html

http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx?ACCT=ind_focus.story&STORY=/www/story/11-17-2008/0004927113&EDATE=

- Sarah Mimms

Sexual Assault

A Georgetown student was reportedly sexually assaulted early Sunday morning, later being transported to a nearby hospital with a broken shoulder, according to the Department of Public Safety.

The assault occurred on the 1400 block of Wisconsin Avenue at approximately 4:50 a.m.

The story that appears in this Tuesday’s issue of THE HOYA is based off of the Public Safety Report e-mailed to students, as well as an announcement by the Metropolitan Police Department.

While THE HOYA always strives to report the most detailed facts, the red tape of surrounding police reports can prove a hinderance.  Our reporter went through all the the second district police reports from the weekend, however the report had not been processed and was unable to be released to the public.

During the week, THE HOYA will continue to attain the full details of the incident.

“The suspect is described as a black male, approximately 25 years to 28 years of age, about 5 feet 8 inches in height, weighing approximately 150 pounds, and has either a close haircut or a shaved head,” stated the MPD release.

Anyone with information regarding the assault is asked to call MPD at 202-727-9099, or text an anonymous tip to 50411.

My Run to the White House

My roommate and a few friends and I just ran to the White House, along with hundreds of other students, to celebrate Obama’s victory. We didn’t even wait for Obama’s acceptance speech—there were people pouring out of The Tombs and neighboring houses, yelling in the streets, so we ran into the streets and followed them. Every taxi in the street was honking, there were people hanging out of the windows of passing cars, all headed the same direction. Read more »

Armed Robbery on 1400 Block of 34th

A student reported being robbed at gunpoint in the 1400 block of 34th St. Sunday night.

A student reported to the Department of Public Safety and the Metropolitan Police Department that at approximately 11:06 p.m., a black male with a silver handgun approached her from behind and stated, “Give me your bag and phone,” according to the public safety alert.

The suspect took her bag, containing a laptop, Blackberry cell phone, and a wallet with a driver’s license, debit card, and twenty U.S. dollars. The suspect then fled in an unknown direction.

The suspect was described as a black male with light complexion, a short haircut and is approximately six feet tall, according to the report. He was also reported to be wearing a black jacket and carrying a silver handgun.

Anyone who has information regarding this incident should contact DPS immediately at (202) 687-4343.

Ristorante Piccolo Catches Fire

I woke up to this AlertDC message:

Follwing streets are closed due to a two alarm fire at Ristorante Piccolo(1068 31st Street NW) 31st& N, Wisconsin & L, 30th & M, and 31st & M St. NW. These streets are closed in both directions.

And according to the local ABC affiliate:

Washington - D.C. firefighters battled a two-alarm fire at the Ristorante Piccolo restaurant in Georgetown.

Deputy Fire Chief Ken Crosswhite says the blaze was reported at 5:16 a.m. in the 1000 block of 31st Street, a 2 1/2 story wood frame end unit.

Crosswhite says the fire was contained to the single building. No injuries have been reported. He says damage to the building is “pretty significant.”

D.C. fire department spokesman Alan Etter says the building appears to be a total loss.

The fire has been extinguished but streets will remain closed until clean up activities are completed.

The article also reports that no one was injured.

Very sad — I always thought that was one of the neighborhood’s best Italian restaurants.  The second-floor balcony was a great place to grab a bite.

Pinch ‘n Run in West Georgetown

From the Department of Public Safety:

Public Safety Announcement: Sex Offense in West Georgetown

A student reported to DPS that at approximately 2:25 a.m. on Sunday, October 19, 2008, an unknown male on a bicycle approached her from behind, grabbed her buttocks, and fled the scene.

[...]

Witness description of suspect(s):The suspect is described by the victim as a hispanic male, 5′10″ tall, 210lbs, wearing a gray sweatshirt and blue jeans.

Drunk student or return of the Georgetown cuddler or a new weirdo in our neighborhood?

Fox: Assault Suspect Pleads for Release

Fox DC released a very interesting story today on a court appearance of the two men charged with assaulting a Georgetown medical school student.

Says the article:

“Prosecutors say 19-year-old Saad Elorch and 19-year-old Abdulgader Ruddad targeted and taunted their victims, then assaulted one of them because they are gay. In court on Wednesday, Elorch, the alleged ring leader, jumped up and begged the judge to let him go. But the judge in the case denied his request.”

Based on our reporting, we understood that there was one victim who had a friend with him at the time. According to the Metropolitan Police Department report, the suspects shouted homophobic slurs at both men, but only the one victim, who had identified himself as gay, was struck with the glass bottle. Fox, however, is now reporting that two Georgetown students had been attacked.  The Hoya is investigating further.

According to Fox, the two suspects will next appear in court on Nov. 12.

GU Med Student Victim of Alleged Bias-Related Assault

The Washington Blade (as well as Vox Populi) reported over the weekend that a Georgetown Med student was attacked on Saturday night by two men who made several hateful remarks about the victim’s sexuality.

From the Blade:

The source said one of the Muslim men eventually goaded his companion, who held a glass bottle, into attacking one of the gay men. The source noted the man who wielded the bottle struck the Georgetown student’s left cheek with it. The two men then fled.

Both suspects were arrested about one hour later, according to the source. The man who wielded the bottle was arrested along the 3600 block of M Street N.W., the source said, and his companion was arrested along the 3400 block of M Street N.W.

The source said the two arrested men, ages 20 and 23, face charges of assault with a deadly weapon. The source noted the gay man who was injured was treated for a contusion and suffered no broken bones.

Both suspects were arrested about one hour later, according to the source. The man who wielded the bottle was arrested along the 3600 block of M Street N.W., the source said, and his companion was arrested along the 3400 block of M Street N.W.

THE HOYA will continue to follow the story.

Welcome

Welcome to “Outside the Gates,” The HOYA’s first blog dedicated to keeping you informed about the latest happenings in the Georgetown neighborhood.

HOYA writers will continue to post interesting stories, breaking news, and helpful information to keep you in the know. The blog is a great way to read about the smaller stories that won’t be in your latest HOYA issue, but are still useful, as well as get a preview of larger stories as they progress.

Being part of the D.C. community is a significant part of this University’s identity. It is easy to get caught up in the Georgetown bubble, and forget that we are located in the nation’s capital. This semester, The HOYA has worked to expand our news coverage to include more city news, in addition to campus news. The “Outside the Gates” blog is just one other way to bring up-to-date coverage of city news that is relevant to the Georgetown community.

Please, if you ever have an idea for a story or a post, or a comment about something on this blog that you’d like to send to us directly, do not hesitate to e-mail outsidethegates@thehoya.com.

Bailey Heaps

Editor in Chief

Tori Fosdal

City News Editor