Civil unrest, January 6, 2021

Mayor Bowser has announced the District’s preparations for this week’s permitted First Amendment activities. While there is no specific or direct threat to the GW community at this time, the university strongly encourages students, faculty and staff not living in the District to be mindful of the Mayor’s request and avoid the downtown area by maximizing virtual learning and telework. All designated on-site employees should check with their supervisors for any special reporting instructions. Student with clinical responsibilities should check with their clinical supervisor for further instruction. If any student with clinical responsibilities feels that the conditions are unsafe and are not able to make it in, please let your resident, attending physician, or clinical instructor know. If you do have to be on the Foggy Bottom campus Wednesday, please take the following safety precautions: • Plan for the possibility of increased vehicular and pedestrian traffic. • Plan for the possibility of increased WMATA ridership. • Make sure doors close and lock behind you as you arrive and depart. • Do not allow strangers into GW buildings. • Carry identification and your GWorld card at all times when on or off campus. • Do not engage with demonstrators who are seeking confrontation • If there is a disturbance, seek shelter indoors until normal conditions return. Observe directions from law enforcement personnel. • GW Police will be on campus and will be available for assistance, if necessary • The GW Medical Faculty Associates clinics will remain open. • The GW COVID-19 testing site at the Marvin Center will be open. • The GW MFA COVID-19 testing site at Shenkman Hall will remain open. • The GW MFA COVID-19 vaccine clinic at Lerner Health and Wellness will remain open. • Campus libraries (Gelman, Himmelfarb, and the Law School) will have virtual operations but no in-person services. In conjunction with these demonstrations, there will be parking restrictions and street closures listed on GW’s Campus Advisories. We will monitor activity in the District very closely and will send email and text alerts to our community as necessary. The latest safety and security information will be posted on GW’s Campus Advisories. To that end, we encourage you to always remain vigilant. Additional emergency management information from the District of Columbia is also available online. While we don’t expect any disruption, we will be prepared. We appreciate your partnership as we navigate the upcoming days. In case of an emergency on campus, call GWPD at 202-994-6110. If you are off campus call Metropolitan Police using 911.