TO: GW Community

FROM: John Petrie, Assistant Vice President for Public Safety and Emergency Management

RE: World Bank/IMF Meetings and Planned Demonstrations
September 25-29, 2002

As the Fall World Bank/International Monetary Fund (IMF) meetings begin, we wanted to pass along the following updated information to assist the GW Community in navigating the Foggy Bottom area over the next several days.

Demonstrations against the Fall World Bank/IMF meetings and other issues are scheduled through Sunday, September 29. Municipal officials estimate that as a result of the World Bank/IMF meetings as many as 10,000 visitors could be in and around Foggy Bottom from Friday, September 27, to Monday, September 30.

We cannot emphasize enough that everything is our best estimate and anything can change based upon the situation that evolves.

STREET CLOSURES AND TRAFFIC
In preparation for the World Bank/IMF meetings, the District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) tentatively plans to close the streets noted below to vehicular and pedestrian traffic. These street closures are subject to change on short notice. Listen to WTOP (1500 AM, 820 AM, 107.7 FM) for the latest information.

• Friday, September 27: 20th Street will be closed from I Street to G Street; G Street will be closed from 20th Street to 18th Street; 18th Street will be closed from G Street to I Street; and I Street will be closed from 18th Street to 20th Street, completing the perimeter.

• Saturday, September 28: 20th Street will be closed from I Street to F Street; F Street will be closed from 20th Street to 18th Street; 18th Street will be closed from F Street to I Street; and I Street will be closed from 18th Street to 20th Street, completing the perimeter. (Note: Access to Thurston Hall will be preserved.)

• Sunday, September 29: The Saturday perimeter will expand to the east and south, but Foggy Bottom will not be affected any further.

All GW students, faculty and staff must carry their GWorld identification cards at all times for the duration of the meetings to ensure access to University buildings. GWorld cards may also be needed for pedestrian traffic should the closed streets be expanded to include areas of the University.

Additionally, demonstrators plan to disrupt traffic throughout the city during the morning and afternoon rush hours on Friday, September 27. Please use Metro and allow extra time to get to campus.

GW STATUS
The University will remain OPEN during this time and will operate on a NORMAL SCHEDULE. For the convenience of students, faculty and staff, some classes may be moved to different buildings. Additionally, the University will be implementing the following precautionary measures.

Thursday, September 26, at 7 a.m. to Monday, September 30, at 7 a.m.

• Non-GW guests will NOT be permitted to stay in GW residence halls. However, family members of GW students will be allowed to stay in the residence halls, but students must have submitted a Family Guest Visitation Request form to the Office of Housing Services by September 20, 2002. MPD has the approved guest list in case perimeters unexpectedly expand.

Friday, September 27, at 7 a.m. to Monday, September 30, at 7 a.m.

• Classes in the Old Church (814 20th Street) will be held on Friday, September 27, but your GWorld card will be needed to pass police limits. MPD has class lists to facilitate access.

• Students will not have access to the Study Abroad Office (812 20th Street) on Friday, September 27. However, employees will staff the office to respond to phone and e-mail inquiries. Questions should be directed to (202) 994-1649.

• The Marvin Center will remain open, however, you can only enter through the H Street entrance. Marvin Center access could shift to GWorld card access only.

• GW Law School entrances on 20th, G, and H Streets will be locked. Use the entrance on the University Yard side. Entrances to other University buildings on 20th Street also may be affected.

• Saturday, September 28, GW academic buildings will be locked, except during times of regularly scheduled classes. Faculty and staff who enter these buildings should be sure to lock the door behind them when entering and leaving the building.

• Visitors to the Foggy Bottom Campus should approach the campus from the west (23rd Street) to avoid street closures and/or demonstrations. If street closures extend west of 20th Street, MPD may set up entrances at 22nd Street and Virginia Avenue and at 23rd Street and H Street.

• The GW Trolley will not operate. However, 4-RIDE and the Colonial Express Shuttle will operate on the Foggy Bottom Campus. Delays may be experienced.

• The Mount Vernon/Foggy Bottom Campus Shuttle stop location will be moved to the Hall on Virginia Avenue (HOVA) effective at 6 a.m. on Friday, September 27, until 2 a.m. on Monday, September 30. HOVA will serve as the "DAY" and "NIGHT" shuttle stop locations during this time.

As MPD Chief Ramsey put it when he and I addressed the Student Senate Tuesday night, the vast majority of protesters are committed to peacefully exercising their First Amendment rights.

Reasonable precautions are being taken to secure our property against accidental damage as there is the potential for a large number of people to be on campus. These precautions are for the convenience of the University community during the demonstrations and street closures. People must carry their GWorld cards at all times. Additionally, please report any unusual activity to the University Police Department at (202) 994-6111.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
During the period of the scheduled meetings and demonstrations, please check the GW Web site at www.gwu.edu for information and updates (click on the "World Bank IMF Meetings September 2002" link). You also may call the recorded "GW Information Line" at (202) 994-5050 for updated news and information.

For up-to-the-minute information on street closures and traffic conditions, tune in to WTOP (1500 AM, 820 AM, 107.7 FM) or listen online at www.WTOP.com.

Thank you.

©2002 The George Washington University Office of University Relations, Washington, D.C.
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