Unbeknownst to many, in 1998 D.C. voters did some college students a solid by approving a referendum legalizing medical marijuana. Congress blocked the bill from taking effect until last year, and now the D.C. Council is trying to shepherd through a bill approving the necessary logistics to establish pot-dispensaries in the District. While details still need to be worked out - such as what exactly 'medical' means - it seems the bill has the votes needed to pass, according to the DCist, a D.C.-focused blog. If it does pass, D.C. would become to the 15th jurisdiction in the U.S. to allow medical marijuana, but only the sixth jurisdiction to actually dispense the herb.
| JORDAN COUGHENOUR / THE EAGLE |
Down at George Washington University, the party has started early. The school received 20,475 applications, a 3 percent increase from last year, according to the GW Hatchet. Despite the increase in applications, GW will admit the same number of applicants as always, leading to a higher selectivity percentage. Preliminary research by The Eagle shows that those students lucky enough to get into GW will pay much more money for an education comparatively similar one students get at AU.
Really horrendous news for lovers of free Internet content - The New York Times, the top-rated newspaper-owned news site, has announced it will start charging for content on its Web site. Using a "metered" model, which allows users a specific number of free reads a month before charging for content, will "create a second revenue stream and preserve its robust advertising business," according to a press release from the Times.
These so-called paywalls are gaining in popularity. Rupert Murdoch of Fox News fame announced last year that he would begin instituting paywalls for content on his news Web sites. The popular Hulu.com, a Web site which streams new T.V. shows, will also be switching to a paid model as soon as this year. Whether crafty college students will abide by these flimsy restrictions is yet to be seen.
Speaking of flimsy walls, the White House gate-crashing Salahi couple appeared before a House subcommittee Wednesday. The couple pleaded the Fifth Amendment and refused to answer questions. In an interview with the Loudoun Times-Mirror last week, Tareq Salahi said the committee hearing would be "truly ... a historic moment. Not since the 1950s has Congress held hearings of such a historic nature."
Since 1950, Congress has held hearings on "un-historic" things such as President Richard Nixon's misconduct in the White House, the CIA's dirty tricks during the 60s and 70s, President Bill Clinton's penchant for young interns and the 9/11 attacks on the United States.
The Salahis are insane, but not nearly as insane as the decision to strike pork from Salsa's menu over winter break.
That pork was delicious, possibly nutritious and cheaper than Chipotle. The Quick Take demands to know why pork was removed from the menu.
What have they done for me lately?
Students in the Washington Semester Program partnered with some local organizations to help clean up trash that was accumulating around Tenleytown. Ten students, led by Professor Katharine Kravetz, helped 30 other volunteers in picking up over 35 bags of trash.
If you, or your group, have done anything for anyone lately, let The Eagle know with a quick e-mail detailing who you are and what you have done. We'll publish the best every Thursday in this section. Send pictures along too, if you're feeling fancy.
