In the Weeds
Weeds are a serious problem at the Anacostia Community Boathouse.
The site is home to eight member rowing associations, whose members volunteer to maintain the facilities. Recently, they’ve begun wading into the boathouse’s bioswale — a strip of planted ground that catches and filters stormwater runoff for pollutants before it enters the Anacostia River — and pulling out invasive plants threatening its biodiversity.
Mary Ellsworth, a volunteer environmental captain at the boathouse, said the work is difficult and discouraging. Although the bioswale is performing well, she said, the state of the overall ecosystem is hard to watch.
“For people who are nature lovers and know the environment, it’s almost painful to walk through green areas that you notice are all invasives, and they are in most places along the river,” she said.
First-Year Advising’s Final Days
In September 2024, first-year advisors at American University were told their office would be shut down in a few months’ time, days before the busiest time in their semester. Now the advisors, already feeling undervalued by administrators, are taking a hard look at their futures at the school. Published April 2025 in AWOL Magazine’s 36th print edition.
Pokémon Go Fest Introduces Massive Crowds to Liberty State Park
In June 2025, Pokemon Go Fest came to Jersey City, NJ, drawing over 50,000 people to Liberty State Park. In a major test of the park’s staff and facilities, participants praised its accessibility and views. Published June 11, 2025, by the Jersey City Times.
Federal government has revoked some AU international student visas
In April 2025, I reported the federal government had revoked visas of international students at American University, but the administration had not announced this to the community and was not planning on doing so. The story was sourced in multiple nationwide trackers of visa revocations. Published April 22, 2025.
Education students feared loss of their school while massive gift was in the works
In February 2025, American University announced that the largest philanthropic gift in the school’s history was being made to its School of Education, with the school set to be renamed for the donor and his late wife. But since November 2024, education students had thought their school was on the brink of dissolution. Published March 3, 2025.
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My AWOL Magazine profile: https://awolau.org/staff_name/ben-ackman/
My Jersey City Times profile from my Summer 2025 internship: https://jcitytimes.com/author/ben-ackman/
My personal blog: https://benackman.com/blog/
Ben Ackman's Photography Website 