Hello again,

As it (finally) starts to cool down in D.C., another edition of The Hatchet Alumni Association newsletter arrives. Volume 116 has returned to campus to help usher in the new semester. 

The Hatchet’s annual fall conference is right around the corner — and we need your help this year. Last year, more than a dozen alumni participated in a networking session for students, and we want to beat that number this year. If you’re a practicing journalist, work in PR or do something completely different, current staffers want to hear from you. The conference is on Saturday, Oct. 19 at 10 a.m. on campus. If you’re interested in participating please email me directly.

If you’re returning to campus for GW’s alumni weekend, The Hatchet is hosting an open house in its latest townhouse (609 21st St.) on Saturday, Sept. 21 from 3 to 6 p.m. And as always, special thanks Tim Gowa (Class of 2010) and David Caesar (Class of 2008) for organizing the alumni association’s summer happy hour, where dozens of alumni gathered at Stoney’s. 
 

Zach Montellaro (Class of 2016)

Campus news

The Class of 2024 participated in GW’s inaugural New Student Orientation this month, replacing the longstanding Colonial Inauguration that took place in multiple sessions throughout the summer. Officials invited families to orientation this year, holding several sessions for them to ask questions to current students and learn about resources on campus.

Former Dean of Admissions Costas Solomou and former Senior Vice Provost for Enrollment and the Student Experience Laurie Koehler also resigned this month, while several new hires have taken the helm. 

In Ward 2, embattled D.C. Councilmember Jack Evans has been reprimanded by several local politicians for using his public position for personal financial gain. Evans was most recently fined $20,000 for violating the D.C. Code of Conduct, and several candidates have jumped in the race to take his seat in next year’s election. 

Also, read our first-ever Orientation Guide and annual Welcome Back Guide, published over the past two weeks with tips for freshmen and pointers on how to start the school year on the right foot.

Alumni Q&A

Deepa Shivaram (Class of 2017), an NBC News 2020 election embed, talked with Dante Schulz, The Hatchet’s contributing video editor, for the latest alumni interview. Deepa was a contributing video editor and a photographer during her time at The Hatchet. She talked about her time on the trail and how The Hatchet helped jumpstart her career. 

What is it like being an embed for NBC News?
I go wherever Kamala Harris goes. I joke she’s the most consistent thing in my life now. I’m constantly traveling, never staying in one place for more than two or three days. I’m also talking to voters, trying to see how they’re responding to her and generally reporting on the campaign.

What has been the most surprising part of your job?
You can just walk up to random people who are standing around at a rally or town hall and ask them what they think and what they believe … and people just want to talk! People are very open. I’ve met so many people around the country who are willing to share their stories, willing to share so many intimate things about their lives … People are very open and want to be transparent in their thought process, and that’s been very refreshing.

What has been the strangest thing you’ve eaten on the trail?
It’s not strange per se, but at the Des Moines farmers market there’s a jelly stand, and this woman makes all these different kinds of jams and I got to taste test them. Tacos on the trail has definitely been a bigger accomplishment!
 
How has The Hatchet helped you in journalism?
It was literally where I learned to shoot and edit. I really had no editing experience before I joined … I basically learned a lot of skills from The Hatchet video team, and so it really set me up to actually just be interested in broadcast journalism to begin with.

What's your favorite memory from The Hatchet?
Definitely the time that I got to to cover the White House Easter egg roll. That was my junior year … [My editor] had class or something and she was like, “Can you just go to the White House?” And I was like “Yeah, I can go to The White House. For sure I can do that.” It was my first time covering a big national event, let alone the White House, but it was an amazing way to see how the process worked. I’m glad I had that experience as a student journalist so I could take that insight with me once I started working in newsrooms after college.

Alumni news

Job opportunities

POLITICO is hiring a breaking news video producer and an editor of interactive news. The Washington Post is hiring a climate and environment editor and reporter. The Virginia Commonwealth University is hiring a communication and marketing manager.