Georgetown College’s Student–Run Newspaper
February 19, 2020
Volume CXL Issue 4
Georgetown receives $1 million donation from Brown family By WILLOW DOVE
Staff Writer In the wake of the Legacy and Legends Scholarships, Georgetown has received another piece of grounbreaking news. It has just been announced that the James A. and Martha R. Brown Charitable Foundation, Inc. has decided to gift the college with a donation of $1 million which will be used to renovate the Conference Center on East Campus and to fund additional scholarship opportunities to students from Harrison County, Nicholas County, and Robertson County. In honor of the significant
has been given such a great and generous donation” although she does wish the money was being spent on the “gym that is too small” or “the dorms that are falling apart.” However, because the donation was specifically made for the conference center, there was little flexibilgeorgetowncollege.edu GC Conference Center on East ity on the part of the college. James A. and Martha R. Campus before renovations. Brown have been active citgift from these benefactors, izens of Kentucky for many the Conference Center will be years and have contributed to renamed “The James A. and their community in innumerMartha R. Brown Conference able ways. After his discharge Center”. from the Air Force, James Senior Teagan Lily said, “it accepted a job with the Kawis amazing that Georgetown neer Company in Cynthiana,
KY and has worked along with his wife in various businesses ever since. Over a 60-year span, he and Martha have been involved in banking, operating nursing homes, retail, real estate development, and hotel ownership. Of these, Martha was most involved in the operation of their nursing homes. James also went on to be appointed as city commissioner and twotime mayor (georgetowncollege.edu). Even with their plethora of career opportunities, the couple took time to give back to their community on a volunteer basis, serving
on boards, committees, and civic organizations. In 1988, Martha received the Citizen of the Year Award from the Cynthiana-Harrison County Chamber of Commerce. After her death in 2006, James made the decision to honor Martha’s life through the creation of the Foundation, which would help serve as a positive resource for future generations. Because of the hard work and dedication of James A. and Martha R. Brown, Georgetown College will continue to be a school that offers an environment of enrichment and growth for many years to come.
By CARTER FELTON Staff Writer The 2020 United States presidential primary election process is in full swing. There are six candidates who have qualified for Wednesday’s primary debate, with only five currently backed by any delegates. Only 64 delegates have officially declared, and 1,991 delegates are needed to win the nomination. The New York Times reports that Pete Buttigieg is currently in the
lead with 22 delegates. Bernie Sanders is a very close second with 21 delegates. Elizabeth Warren is next in line with 8, followed by Amy Klobuchar with 7, and then there’s Joe Biden who has 6 delegates. Micheal Bloomberg, Tom Steyer, and Tulsi Gabbard are all tied for last place currently with zero delegates between them. The New York Times reports that National Polling ranks Bernie Sanders as first
with 24% and Joe Biden as second with 23%. Elizabeth Warren then follows with 14%. Michael Bloomberg has 10%, Pete Buttigieg has 9th, and Amy Klobuchar has 5%. Tim Steyer has 1% while Tulsi Gabbard has less than 1%. NPR ranks the top spenders of the race as Tom Steyer at first with a grand total of over $200 million, then Micheal Bloomberg at a close second totaling a little over $188 million.
Bernie Sanders is third with only a bit over $90 million. Elizabeth Warren has spent just over $68, million, and Pete Buttigieg’s expenses run above $62 million. The most recent candidates to drop out of the bid for the democratic nomination for president have been Governor Deval Patrick, Senator Micheal Bennet, and Andrew Yang. Patrick is a 63 year-old former governor of Massachusetts and announced on Feb-
ruary 12 that he was ending the presidential campaign he had launched almost exactly three months earlier. Bennet, the 55 year old Democratic senator from Colorado dropped out of the race on February 11 the night of the New Hampshire Democratic Primary. Yang, the 45 year-old founder of the company Venture for America, had been running for president.... Continued on page 2
This Week in Georgetown page 3
NBA All-Star weekend doesn’t disappoint page 5
Spring semester intramural sporting events page 6
Is plastic really that bad for the environment? page 10
Democractic presidential primary field narrows
Inside
this issue
News
Page 2
Global
Headlines Compiled by Andrew Alvey Florida city shuts down part of local park due to an annual snake orgy. The park will reopen after the snakes’ mating season ends. A Tennessee man finds a live World War II mortar while out metal detecting. The Tennessee Highway Patrol’s bomb squad safely detonated the bomb at the scene. Authorities are investigating a kangaroo that was spotted on the loose in Miami, Florida as no Florida zoos are reporting a lost kangaroo. There are also no registered kangaroo owners in the state of Florida. A middle school custodian found a purse that had been lost in 1957 in a gap between a locker and a wall. The purse was returned to the orignal owner’s children. A Wendy’s employee was fired after uploading a TikTok of himself bathing naked in the restaurant’s kitchen sink. Animal rescuers in Britain are investigating after 29 snakes were found abandoned in a pillow case behind a fire station.
The Georgetonian
Jeff Bezos pledges $10 billion to fight Climate Change By TYLER EVANS Staff Writer Climate change is a global issue that not only has been brought to our attention, but also to the eyes of the extreme elite as well. Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon, is an advocate for reducing climate change. He has pledged $10 billion to help fight it. Bezos has said that he wants to explore new ways of protecting the environment and amplify older ways. The Bezos Earth Fund will begin distributing the money this summer. Amazon employees, however, are urging Bezos to donate more. Since his net worth is more than $130 billion, Bezos is donating an estimated eight percent of his total wealth. Employees have staged walk outs and spoken publicly because of their outrage with how little Bezos is helping out. Compared to other multi-billionaires, Bezos has not done as much philanthropy with his largest donation (before the pledge) being the two billion dollars in September of 2018 to help homeless families and fund schools. Bezos has also been criticized for not signing the “Giving Pledge,” where the wealthy elite promise to give away half their wealth during their lifetimes. Amazon, headquartered in Seattle, is a neighbor of
Microsoft which has promised to be carbon negative by 2030. Bezos has posted on his Instagram, “Today, I’m thrilled to announce I am launching the Bezos Earth Fund. Climate change is the biggest threat to our planet. I want to work alongside others both to amplify known ways and to explore new ways of fighting the devasting impact of climate change on this planet we all share this global initiative will fund scientists, activists, NGOs – any effort that offers a Flickr.com real possibility to help preserve Amazon CEO, Jeff Bezos and protect the natural world. We can save Earth. It’s going to take would meet the goals of the Paris Agreecollective action from big companies, ment and be carbon-neutral by 2040. small companies, nation states, global An Amazon spokesperson told organizations, and individuals. I’m com- Forbes, “Amazon took a bold step when mitting $10 billion to start and will begin it announced the Climate Pledge, comissuing grants this summer. Earth is the mitting the company to meet the goals one thing we all have in common – let’s of the Paris Agreement ten years early, protect it, together.” and we’re incredibly excited about the The Bezos Earth Fund is the biggest Bezos Earth Fund. Jeff’s passion and philanthropic effort to date that Bezos this extraordinary personal contribution has been apart of, yet this isn’t his first to the fight against climate change are action against climate change. In Sep- going to have a huge impact.” tember of last year, amid pressure from Details about how exactly the fund employees, Bezos announced the Cli- works, the type of work that it’s funding, mate Pledge, in which he said Amazon and how it is structured are still scarce.
Democratic Presidential... ...Continued from page 1 for close to two years when he announced shortly after the results came in from the New Hampshire Democratic primary on Feb. 11 that he was dropping out of the race. On Feb. 3, the 2020 Iowa Caucus took place as the first nominating contest in the Democratic Party primaries. Pete Buttigieg won 13 delegates and was closely followed by Bernie
Sanders who won 12. Elizabeth Warren won eight delegates from the Caucus. Joe Biden and Amy Klobuchar came in last, with Biden winning six and Klobuchar only gaining one delegate. After a three-day delay for all votes to be finally reported, the Iowa Democratic Party declared that Pete Buttigieg had narrowly won the state delegate equivalent count, which is used to determine the amount of delegates distributed
and sent by Iowa to the Democratic National Convention. Bernie Sanders won the popular vote on both the first and final caucus alignments. A majority of news organizations declared Buttigieg the winner based on the state delegate equivalent count. On Feb. 11, the 2020 New Hampshire Democratic Primary took place. Out of 24 delegates available, nine went to Pete Buttigieg and nine went to Bernie Sanders. Amy Klobuchar won the remaining six delegates.
Issue 4
News
February 19, 2020 Page 3
CAIR speaker discusses treatment of minors
By BECKY GRAY
Copy Editor Recently, Georgetown was given the opportunity to have a guest speaker from the Capital Area Immigrants Rights (CAIR) Coalition. This event presented students with the opportunity to learn about what unaccompanied immigrant minors have to go through from someone who fights for them everyday. The lecture focused on very harsh realities that can be incredibly difficult to stomach but are also extremely necessary to acknowledge. For example, the border patrol facilities where undocumented immigrants are detained are referred to by Hispanic youths as la huilaerra, or the ice box, as a result of the frigid temperatures within the building and cells. A representative of the Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) sector in Rio Grande said that the cold temperatures are intended to prevent the spread of bacteria and illness (apnews.com). Other professionals, such as Dr. Marsha Griffin of
Catholic Charities, assert that “There is no good reason to keep an overcrowded space that has children in it at such a low temperature” (apnews.com). According to Griffin, the cold can sometimes even worsen an willness or cause it to persist. Griffin’s assertion leads to another issue with CBP facilities. Overcrowding is a persistent and worsening issue in the majority of these facilities. A team of CNN reporters examined a border patrol facility and found that “There were around 1,900 people in a space designed for 1,500” (CNN). Overcrowding only worsens the conditions within these facilities and adds to the deprivation of basic rights that many of the immigrants experience. All these issues aside, however, the main issue that the lecture dealt with was the treatment of undocumented immigrant minors. Per United States law, minors are not allowed to be held in a border patrol facility for more than 72 hours. That right is sometimes infringed upon, but nevertheless that is the stan-
dard. The rule is largely due to the extremely poor conditions of the facilities and the harm that can be inflicted upon children (or anyone, really) who stay there for too long. While minors are being processed, they are asked a series of questions in an attempt to gauge why they left their country and if they have any family who can claim them. Most of the time, these minors are fleeing traumatic circumstances. It’s important to note that retelling those stories over and over again can severely prolong and revive the trauma for these individuals. One of the biggest issues with these interviews is that the minors are not told that anything they share the border patrol agents, case managers and government provided clinician (who is exempt from HIPPA) can and will be used against them in their immigration trial. It is not until the minor receives a CAIR advocate, or an advocate from a similar institution, that they have the ability to privately confide in someone.
a NEXUS event, so come out and enjoy the theatre while earning school credit. This Thursday, at 11 a.m., there are two different options to earn NEXUS credit. The first is the monthly SGA General Assembly, in which our Student Government will give their monthly reports about what is going on at Georgetown. Guest speakers for the assembly will be Robbi Barber, who will speak about Black History Month, and the Director of Campus Safety, Josh Masterson. The second opportunity to earn NEXUS credit comes from the KHS Club here on campus. They have organized a speaking event since many students on campus are interested in pursuing a career in nursing. The event will take place in the John L. Hill
Chapel starting at 11 a.m. Thursday evening at 3 p.m. in the John L. Hill Chapel, Dr. Dizgun, the Executive Director of the Kentucky Institute for International Studies, will be speaking about the realities and perceptions of Mexico. If you are interested in studying abroad in Mexico, he will also be speaking about opportunities that will be available to students this Winter. On Saturday, Feb. 22, the annual Georgetown tradition of “Belle of the Blue and Beaus Too” will take place at 7 p.m. inside the chapel. GAC sponsors this event every year and gives students the opportunity to represent their housing on campus while competing for a scholarship. This is one of the “can’t miss” events on campus and will
CAIRCoalition.org
CAIR Coalition logo Overall, U.S. immigration policy issues have spanned multiple presidencies and multiple decades. This Nexus event reminded students of that with one student, Willow Dove, stating “Its important for people to be educated on what is happening to imigrants in this country and especially unaccompanied children. Being more educated, will allow individuals to make more informed decisions at the voting booth which will have a profound impact in the upcoming election this fall.”
This Week in Georgetown: Feb. 19 - 25
By BENJAMIN ROBISON
Staff Writer This Wednesday, Feb. 19, GAC is hosting another fun craft night inside the Jones-Hall-Nelson Suite. Students who come will be able to make their own sun catchers, as well as paint their own canvases. Craft night runs from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and will be tons of fun. Bring a friend and enjoy the creative and relaxing process. Shortly after the craft night, the Foust Artist Series will continue in the John L. Hill Chapel at 8 p.m; Shakespeare’s comedy, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, will be performed. The play includes a young marriage, the adventures of Athenian lovers and a forest in which fairies are controlling and manipulating young men. This is
also be a NEXUS credit. On Tuesday, Feb. 25, the third chapel service of the semester starts at 11 a.m. inside the John L. Hill Chapel. This is yet another opportunity to earn a NEXUS credit this week. These chapel services are usually held twice a month to encourage students to grow in their faith during their time here at Georgetown. Also on Tuesday, Feb. 5, GAC will be having their first Bingo Night of the semester. This fun night will start at 7:30 p.m. inside the lounge area of the Cralle Student Center. For the rest of the semester, GAC will have their formerly weekly trivia nights on every Tuesday night except for the last Tuesday of the month, which will be Bingo Night from now on.
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Sports & Recreation
Man City banned from UEFA competitions for two years By JACOB CLEMONS
Staff Writer Late last week, it was announced that Manchester City, who plays in the European Champions League, will be facing a two-year ban from the league. On top of the ban, they will be fined €30million (32,445,750.00 in U.S Dollars). Manchester City, who are the reigning English champions in the Champions League, have a payroll of $189,482,620.92 annually for their players. Therefore, this fine is not incredibly damaging to the team financially, but more harmful to their reputation and image. Currently, the ban and fine have been placed by the UEFA, which is the Union of European Football Associations. This is the result of them being accused of misleading the governing body of European football. The UEFA said this in their public statement: “The Adjudicatory Chamber, having considered all the evidence, has found that Manchester City committed serious breaches of the UEFA Financial Fair Play Regulations by overstating its sponsorship revenue in its accounts and the breakeven information submitted to UEFA between 2012 and 2016.” One might wonder what are the fair play regulations. “Financial Fair Play” (FFP) rules were introduced in 2011 to put a stop to football clubs across Europe from overspending on players’ wages, while also restricting the amount club owners can put in to cover
losses. Sponsorships boost revenues, and therefore the amount clubs have to spend under FFP; so, the perception that Mansour himself was funding the Etihad deal led to the serious allegation that City had deceived UEFA’s CFCB, which is responsible for ensuring compliance with FFP. Manchester City had deceived UEFA’s CFCB, which is responsible for ensuring compliance with FFP. After receiving this information regarding the ban, Manchester City released a statement claiming that they have done no wrongdoing and that they intend to appeal the case. In the statement, they claim that they feel targeted by the UEFA, “Simply put, this is a case initiated by UEFA, prosecuted by UEFA and judged by UEFA.’’ They intend to have an independent third party involved in the case.
The Georgetonian
Severe crash dampers Daytona 500 ending, Driver Ryan Newman in serious condition By JAKE DAMRON Staff Writer
Every year, the chances of you dying in a car crash lie at one in 8,000. When your name is Ryan Newman and you have been racing in the NASCAR circuit for nearly 20 years those chances of wrecking increase tremendously when you consider that a vehicle in a NASCAR race is capabile of traveling up to 230 MPH. Newman was born in South Bend, Ind. and is now married to Krissie Newman. He is also the father of Ashlyn Olivia and Brooklyn Sage Newman. He is currently participating in his 19th season as a NASCAR Cup Series driver. He drives the number six Ford Mustang for Roush Fenway Racing. He has had a very successful career recording a solid 18 Cup wins, including titles such as the Daytona 500 and Brickyard 400, along with the 2002 Sunoco Rookie of the Year award and the 2003 Driver of the Year.
Yesterday, Feb. 17, was the 2020 Daytona 500 which was delayed and postponed due to rain midway through the race. Newman was involved in a very serious and dangerous, but non-life-threatening, crash at the famous Daytona 500 race held annually in Daytona, Fla. During the final lap of the race Newman and Denny Hamlin were battling out for first place when Newman got turned around while coming around a turn. His car then flipped on its roof and slid a large distance. When his car came to a rest, it caught fire shortly before his team came out to extinguish it. This morning, ABC stated in an article regarding his accident that Ryan Newman is being treated at Halifax Medical Center. Newman’s racing team has stated that “He is in serious condition but doctors have indicated his injuries are not life-threatening” (Pereira, Nathanson). Corey LaJoie, who was involved in the crash, rearended Newman’s car without
intent to cause a wreck. He said it was out of his control and stated, “It was wild” and “I didn’t even know who I hit.” This just goes to show average, everyday drivers how easily one split-second decision can change our lives forever. There has been mass support from former and current NASCAR drivers such as Denny Hamlin, who was quoted with saying “The finish, the history, that’s all great. One day it will all sink in. But right now, all I’m thinking about is Ryan Newman.” Hamlin won the race which was a tremendous achievement in his career. This just goes to show the down to earth side of these athletes and how they care for one another at the end of the day. Legendary four-time NASCAR Cup Series Champion Jeff Gordon made a comment regarding safety and health concerns in the sport, he said, “Safety’s come a long way in this sport, but sometimes we are reminded that it is a very dangerous sport.”
Georgetown College Weekly Athletics Preview The further we go into the semester, the closer we are getting to the full swing of spring athletics. Basketball: Men’s and women’s teams travel to Lindsey Wilson on Thursday for a conference double header. Saturday, the Tigers will host Campbellsville in another conference double header at 2 & 4 p.m. The men are holding firm as the number one team in the country. The women continue to vie for conference positioning.
Softball: The Tiger’s host two teams on Saturday. Saturday will feature them playing two games against Judson University and Kentucky Christian at noon and 4 p.m. Indoor Track & Field: The team completed their indoor season on Saturday in the Otterbein Invitational, placing 9th out of 17. They will travel to Defiance, Ohio for the MidSouth Conference Championship. Baseball: They host two teams on Saturday. Saturday
will feature them playing a double header against Indiana Wesleyan University starting at 1 p.m, and game two to follow. Baseball boasts a very talented roster this season. Cheerleading: Their regional competition is coming within the week. They currently hold the ranking of fifth in the country for competitive cheer and are hoping to bring a regional championship to Georgetown. Tennis: The men’s and women’s tennis teams will
play in the Owensboro Invitational this week. Both tennis teams are poised to garner national attention this season. Acro & Tumbling: They travel to Alderson Broaddus University for a meet on Feb. 22. Women’s Lacrosse: They travel to Centre College on Wednesday. After some large victories on the road this week, the lacrosse team has established themselves as a national powerhouse early in the season.
Febuary 18, 2020 Page 5 Sports & Recreation Track & Field competes in NBA All-Star Weekend doesn’t disappoint, conference championship team LeBron wins in Chicago, Gordon snubbed
Issue 4
By HAYDEN SHEROAN Staff Writer
This Friday, Feb 21st, through Saturday, Feb 22nd, the Georgetown College Track and Field team will be attending their conference meet for the indoor season. The meet will take place at Defiance College in Defiance, Ohio. The meet covers two days; day one begins at 1 p.m. with field events such as shot put, triple jump and pole vault. Day one also consists of the 60-meter hurdles, 400meter run, the 3K race-walk, 60-meter dash, 600-meter run, 5K run and the distance-medley relay. Day two begins at 10 a.m. with field events such as the weight throw, long jump and high jump. Day two also consists of the 4x800-meter relay, mile run, 60-meter hurdles, 1K run, 60-meter dash, 800meter run, 200-meter dash, 3K, 4x400-meter relay and ends with the awards ceremony. The team goes into this meet having broken a large number of school records. With the recent success, the team promises to have one of the best showings the program has ever had. At the past meet in Cedarville, Ohio, the men’s team placed sixth overall and the women’s team placed ninth overall. This placement was among NCAA schools as well. The team set a combined nine new school records. The trend for this year’s team of breaking school
records shows no signs of stopping as they seem to improve each week. Additionally, there is potential for several athletes to use this weekend to qualify for nationals. High jumper, Emma Bianchi, has already posted a national qualifying jump of 1.65 meters and is looking at a great showing this weekend. Coach, Luke Garnett has made a statement with a strong recruiting class that complements upper class athletes. Garnett added two new coaches to his staff this season: Liz Marcinek as a sprint and jump coach and Andy Fryman as a throws coach. Both coaches have shown great promise through the consistent development of the team’s athletes and are looking at their first indoor conference meet this weekend. The team’s focus is locked in for this weekend, and students at Georgetown should make sure to show tiger pride. Tune in for some exciting results this weekend. After this weekend, preparation for nationals will begin for those who qualify and then the outdoor season. For students who would like to show tiger pride and follow along with the results of the meet, follow @ GTownXCTF for notifications updates on the progress of the meet. Tigers who would like to attend can travel to the event at 202 E Sessions Ave, Defiance, Ohio 43512.
By COOPER JACOBELLI Staff Writer
Last weekend was one of the most entertaining events in basketball. It held the dunk contest, skills contests, celebrity and all-star games and a plethora of Kobe tributes. If you did not know, Kobe Bryant died a little over two weeks ago. Since then, there have been countless tributes to him throughout the basketball world and beyond. Throughout this weekend they held a tribute during the celebrity game where rapper, Common, spoke about his memories with Kobe and how much he meant to him. The panel for the weekend included: Barack Obama, Kevin Hart, Chris Paul and Giannis Antetokounmpo. All spoke about their memories of Bryant. Obama said, ”The last conversation I had with him was with him and Vanessa in L.A. I asked if he missed basketball. He said, ‘I don’t miss it at all, I don’t touch a basketball, because I am now just as competitive and focused on the second phase. We were talking about how we could work together with the foundation to mentor young men of color who were at risk.” The rest of the panel also spoke about Kobe’s legacy, but Obama hit the nail on the head with how impactful
Kobe was on the NBA landscape. The rest of the weekend was full of dunk contests, three-point shootouts and Stephen A. Smith running around. For the most part, it was a lot of fun to watch with friends; however, the celebrity game was atrocious. The only thing intruiging about the celebrity game was Stephen A. Smith running around yelling at his players, refs and fans. The concept of the game was even hard to watch. Nobody looked interested and I do not think the crowd was pleased with what celebrities they brought to play. The entire weekend was not lost though, as that was only on Friday. We still had the dunk contest and the actual all-star game left. The dunk contest was one of the best ones I had seen in a long time. Aaron Gordon was an absolute monster. He had multiple dunks that deserved the trophy, but he never got it. There was a huge cloud of controversy surrounding this year’s contest, due to the fact that Aaron Gordon did not win. There were multiple articles in my research saying, “The Dunk contest did and still does not deserve Aaron Gordon.” People all over Twitter
are posting about how he won people’s vote, but what caught my attention is the fact that multiple former and current basketball players spoke out for Gordon. If that does not take the sting away from losing, I do not know what would. The best thing about this weekend was the All-star game which pitted captain Lebron James against captain Giannis Antetokounmpo. Leading up to the game, there had been a lot of trash talk about Giannis’ team. He is alleged to have snubbed some of the best players in the game. In his defense he stated, “I just want people that’ll pass the ball. I don’t want guys doing everything by themselves.” I wanted Giannis to win in order to prove his haters wrong, but the score came out to be 157 - 155 in the end. Lebron’s team came out victorious, but it was the best way to lose due to the extremely low margin. Giannis proved to his critics that the team he put together was smart, not selfish. This weekend was pretty solid overall. The NBA knows what it is doing to get ratings and I think that is what they did. I enjoyed it greatly, but I cannot wait for NHL all-star weekend - now that is the pinnacle of television.
If you’re interested in becoming a writer for the Georgetonian, contact Gary “Buddy” Lukens at: glukens@georgetowncollege.edu
Features
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The Georgetonian
Spring semester intramural sporting events By BEN ROBISON
Staff Writer Throughout the course of the school year, the Rec Center offers a variety of Intramural sports for students to participate in. These include: football, volleyball (regular and co-ed), basketball (three-on-three & fiveon-five), softball and indoor soccer. Getting involved with intramural sports is a great way to enjoy time with friends and stay active. They give you an opportunity to meet new people and challenge yourself while having fun. Intramural sports are currently in the middle of the fiveon-five basketball season with the tournament being played next week. Indoor soccer will be the next sport offered, and
it will be a while enjoyone-week ing time with tournament your friends style comand staying petition. out of the cold Signups for weather. This soccer will was a big hit start next in the Fall and Monday, will be a killer Feb. 24. An fun time. email will To sign-up be sent out for any intrato the stumural sport dent body. this season, Followbe on the ing Spring look-out for Break, intrasigns around mural co-ed with THE GEORGETONIAN/BEN ROBISON campus volleyball will The ladies of Sigma Kappa and Phi Mu pose for a picture the supervibegin. Teams following their five-on-five basketball game last Sunday. sor and sport can have as information. many players on their roster men and women on the court If you happen to miss these as they want, but are required at the same time. Volleyball signs, you can always conto have, a minimum of two is a fun way to get exercise tact Patrick Oakley, Cameron
Kenner, Cindy Lin, Claire Oyler, Sara Shawver or myself via the school email for more information regarding team signups. Students can also contact the Recreational Director, Melinda Clasby, for information regarding a sport or becoming a referee. As the semester continues, the Rec Center and Intramurals are planning to have one night and weekend tournament events. Ideas for different tournament games include spikeball, ultimate frisbee, dodgeball, cornhole and Crossnet. If you have any fun ideas for games and tournaments, feel free to stop by the Rec Center throughout the day to give your input and feedback on what would be fun for students to play.
be freshmen in college. But, why do we have leap years? Leap days are necessary so that our calendar follows along with the revolutions of the Earth around the Sun. We typically think the Earth makes one revolution in 365 days, but it actually takes us 365 days, five hours, 48 minutes and 45 seconds. Without the extra day every four years, we would have approximately six hours each year. This means we would lose a whole day every four years; thus, we add this day back every fourth year. Julius Caesar was the first person to employ a leap day in his Julian Calendar (timeanddate.com.) This day was added every fourth year much like in the way we do it today; how-
unlucky to marry in a leap year, and especially on a leap day. The leap day is on a Saturday this year, a good day for well-deserved R&R or a leap day party. What will you do with your extra 24 hours?
Your 2020 just got an extra 24 hours By CHARITY STOLTZ
Staff Writer At the end of this month, we will have an extra day on Feb. 29, because the year 2020 is a leap year. The last leap year was in 2016, and many of us probably don’t remember what we did with our extra 24 hours. For some people, it’s just an extra day standing between them and spring break. For a few, it’s a day of celebration that only comes once every four years: their birthday! Approximately 187,000 people in the United States have birthdays on the leap day (Google.com.) If you were born in 2000 on the leap day, you would technically only be five years old; however, people they are going to
ever, his calendar ended with Feb. and the leap day was Feb. 24. Today, we add an extra day every four years but omit a leap year three times every 400 years because a solar year is slightly less than 365.25 days. A leap day comes with many traditions that have been passed through history. A well known Irish tradition is that women propose to their boyfriends on leap days. It is thought that this was introduced as a way to balance the traditional roles of men and women in the same way that the leap year balances the calendar. A related tradition is that if a man turns down a proposal from his girlfriend on a leap day, he must buy her 12 pairs of gloves. The history
behind this tradition is that the gloves would be worn to prevent the woman from the embarrassment of not having a ring since the culture of that time was to marry early. In Scotland, you are deemed unlucky if you’re born on a leap day, and Greeks think it’s
THE GEORGETONIAN/FAMILYMUSEUM.ORG
You get an extra day to your 2020 year because of Leap day.
Features
Issue 4
February 19, 2020 Page 7
Tigers Tennis seasons are in full swing
By KATIE SWANSON
Staff Writer As we move into the spring semester, tennis season is starting to get into the swing of things. With this season coming up, there have been a few rule changes that apply to NAIA Division teams. Normally, the three doubles matches to start the team match all count for a point in the overall score of the match; however, we have moved to NCAA Division 1 rules and are only counting it for one point. This means that teams must win two out of three matches in order to get a point. The singles point system has stayed the same. In addition to this, instead of an eight-game pro set, it has changed to a regular sixgame set. Throughout the
whole match, the teams play no advantage in both doubles and singles. For boys, lets on the serve (which means if the ball hits the net and falls into the box) are live balls. They did this to reduce the amount of cheating on serves when they get aced or miss the return. Overall, these rule changes have been put into place so that all divisions of tennis are playing are under the same rules. Also, it reduces the length of the tennis match. Instead of having a team match last all day, they hope to shorten it and bring out more viewers to matches. The team’s first match was on Feb. 8, 2020 at Bellarmine University. The match started at 10 a.m. For the girls, they began the match winning two
doubles matches, which put them up one point. The singles were drawn out. There were many close matches and a few went into tiebreakers. Unfortunately for the girl’s team did not come up with a win and ended the match down 2-5. The boys went on once the girls were finished. They began at approximately 2:30 p.m. Doubles went on first and were followed by singles. They went into singles down one; however, they put up a great fight and followed this up with two more wins. Unfortunately, the team also did not come out on top but many of the matches were down to the final points. However, for both teams, the competition was highly competitive and a lot of teams could have swung either way.
Tree hugger: Holton Greear
By ABBY SPARKMAN
Staff Writer Holton Greear is a freshman here at Georgetown College, and she is from Scott County. Holton plans on graduating from Georgetown in May of 2023. She is currently majoring in communications and minoring in professional media studies. As of right now, she is unsure as to what she wants to do in the future, but she says she is leaving it all in God’s hands. Although she isn’t exactly sure what she wants to do, she does want it to involve social media. A fun fact about Holton is that not only does she have a deep love for nature, but she is also vegan!
THE GEORGETONIAN/HOLTON GREEAR
Holton Greear hugging a tree outside her dorm.
This coming weekend, both teams are playing in the Owensboro Invitational. The first match begins for both men and women at 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 21 against Brescia University. On Saturday, the invitational continues and both teams play at 1 p.m. against Bethel University and at 4 p.m. against Kentucky
Wesleyan College. This will be good for the tennis teams and will allow them to play various matches in order to get prepared for conference. Home matches for the team begin in March. Be sure to be on the lookout for sports events all across campus and to come out and support your tigers!
THE GEORGETONIAN/KATIE SWANSON
The girl’s tennis team after a match.
If you are interested in writing for the Features section of the Georgetonian, please contact Abby Sparkman at
asparkman@georgetowncollege.edu
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ArtsEntertainment
The Georgetonian
“The Last Full Measure” moves audiences By ASHLYN REED
Staff Writer Most military-themed cinema is known for the harsh language and realistic portrayals of battle scenes and combat that are thrown onto the silver screen. Many military-based films, such as “The Hurt Locker,” “Platoon,” “Full Metal Jacket” and “Saving Private Ryan” are known for their timeless quotes, brilliant themes and the awareness they have all amassed throughout the years. One of the newer films joining these ranks is “The Last Full Measure,” starring Sebastian Stan and Samuel L. Jackson. In this film, Stan plays a Pentagon employee who is trying to determine whether or not a nomination for the Medal of Honor is to be given to a certain Vietnam War Veteran. He learns the stories of this man through the eyes
of other soldiers who fought with this he also learns about himself and his place in the world. man. This film has While he is been praised by on this journey of veterans, military learning about the families and critics man who seemed alike who say that to give so much the film finally during the war, shows what kind he also finds that of troubles veterthere are certain ans and their faminstitutionalized ilies go through problems with the after combat. This details of war. He movie also shows learns how this off the acting man was lost in chops of a few the sea of soldiers actors, especially who gave all they Jackson and Stan. could. Not only Jackson has does Stan’s charshown before that acter learn about he can do dramas. this man, his govWikimedia Commons He can act as if ernment and the Sebastian Stan stars as Scott Huffman he is on the brink of details of war, but
crazy; he can be funny or stoic. But in “The Last Full Measure,” Jackson has to dig deep down and bring up feelings of honor, valor, heartbreak and friendship to bring the story of this man’s narrative to life. Stan, on the other hand, has finally been given free reign to show that he is more than just “Bucky Barnes” or “The Winter Soldier” that we know him as. Stan says he feels a great honor in being able to take part in bringing this story to life. He also jokes that he no longer has to be the funny guy, because people are beginning to take him seriously, something he says he strives for as an actor. “The Last Full Measure” truly brings up the full spectrum of human emotions along with enough military terminology to be considered a classic military film right alongside movies like “Unbroken.”
own girlfriend, a tomboy playing the popular chick and a sweetheart geek presenting himself as an attractive athlete. Besides this interesting plot, the show requires that contestants play interactive games, participate in both group and individual chats and show off their skills in a multitude of competitions. Each of these components then contributes to the rankings, where players rate their fellow contestants. These rankings then determine who in The Circle has the most power and therefore the ability to “block” other players. One by one, contestants leave The Circle until the remaining five vote amongst themselves to determine the winner of $100,000. So, what are my thoughts on this competition? Well, I find that there are both pros and cons to the show. Starting with the positives: This Netflix original
hosts a variety of people and appeals to all audiences. The contestants form a tight bond, despite not being able to communicate in person. I think some of the main themes encase the values that our modern society really needs to regain. As for the parts of the show that I found negative, there is only one. Elements of the series encourage contestants to lie about their true identities, which is an issue that our social media age needs to learn how to control. Kids are now growing up in a society where it is not okay to just be yourself, and shows like this only fuel the flames of this problem. Overall, “The Circle” was certainly a success in my eyes, and I would recommend anyone who is a procrastinator like me to give it a watch. You won’t regret it.
“The Circle”: Smashing success or flagrant failure? By JORIE BEIL Staff Writer Netflix has been one of the fastest-growing streaming services for the last several years, providing thousands of consumers with multitudes of viewing options. One of the most profitable expenditures that Netflix partakes in is the production of original movies and shows. While widely accepted and loved by most, controversy remains - are these creations worth watching, or should they be thrown to the side in favor of the timeless classics that Netflix hosts? As someone who considers themselves a professional procrastinator, one of my favorite tactics for avoiding work is binging every hit series possible. Needless to say, I have plenty to say on the topic of hot Netflix orig-
inals. This is the first installation of my reviews and opinions on the most talked about and anticipated shows and films. Up first: “The Circle.” “The Circle,” released on the first of this year, is, I believe, best described as a perfect marriage between “Big Brother” and “Survivor.” This reality show/competition features a series of players who enter a social media platform called The Circle. In the game, contestants stay in their individual living spaces and communicate to each other through The Circle. Easy enough, right? Of course, there’s a twist… each contestant has the opportunity to portray whomever they want in The Circle. That’s right. They can become anyone. The first season of the show included many “catfishes” including, but not limited to, a man pretending to be his
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ArtsEntertainment
February 19, 2020 Page 9
Watching “Star Wars” at twenty years old
By TAYLOR REESE
Staff Writer The “Star Wars” movies are insanely popular and mostly loved by everyone young and old. However, there are some who have never seen any of the “Star Wars” movies and are wondering who the heck this Obi-Wan guy is. Even without having ever seen a “Star Wars” movie, one could usually say they know there is somone named Darth Vader, that a character finds out that another character is his dad, and that it’s arguably the greatest plot twist in cinematic history. I can personally speak on this, because this is all I knew about “Star Wars” just a couple of weeks ago before my roommate convinced me to binge all the “Star Wars” movies. The following is my experience of watching the “Star Wars” movies as a 20-year-old college student. To start off, I had basically no background knowledge of “Star Wars.” I did not know what the plot was, the setting of “Star Wars,” nor did I really know what was happeninG. My friend guided me through my journey, since
I was insanely confused by why we would watch episodes IV, V and VI first. Then I learned that those movies were made before episodes I, II and III, which confused me even more especially when discovering the most recent trilogy were episodes VII, VIII and IX. Before I continue, this is a warning that there will be some spoilers. My roommate and I started off by watching the original trilogy (IV, V and VI). I was introduced to the main characters such as Luke, Leia and Han, and I finally figured out who Obi-Wan is. My initial thoughts are that Han Solo is the love of my life, and I love his joking attitude, especially with Leia. I was very shocked and confused once I discovered that the secret daddy drama was actually Luke discovering Darth Vader is his dad, whom everyone said was dead. This really confused me throughout the original trilogy because how would Darth Vader not realize he had a son and a daughter too? I was also upset that we didn’t get to see much of Yoda and Obi-Wan. Overall, I really liked the original trilogy and thought it had a great plot, even though
it confused me about the whole secret Darth daddy situation. Next, we watched episodes I, II and III which I discovered is the prequel trilogy to the original trilogy. It was interesting seeing Anakin Skywalker grow from a little boy with no knowledge about the Force, into a young Jedi who is the best the Jedi Council has ever seen. I was confused how he went from strong-willed Anakin to Darth Vader. I could see some negative tendencies in Anakin like anger and being too stubborn, but I didn’t think he would convert to the Dark Side. However, it all made sense once his illicit romance with Padme began to develop. Obviously, the Dark Side changed him quickly, since he almost killed Padme in the end - his whole reason for joining the Sith. A lot of my questions got answered, such as why Anakin didn’t know that he had kids, why he was horribly scarred in the original trilogy and why everyone said Anakin was dead because in a way he was. In the latest trilogy, I have only seen episodes VII and VIII so far. I hate the
writers for killing off Han Solo in the first movie of the trilogy. It makes it even worse that he was killed by his own son. Also, I feel like Luke could have gotten his crap together a lot sooner instead of abandoning them. However, I was glad when he returned and faced Kylo Ren, even though he dies right after. I want to learn more about Rey and the odd relationship she has with Kylo Ren. I feel that she sees the good in him, but I don’t believe that he can be turned. When she turns down his invitation to join him, he decides to go back to the Dark Side and becomes the Supreme Leader. I’m interested to see if he eventually turns, or if they have the ultimate battle and only one leaves alive. Overall, I think that “Star Wars” is pretty cool, and the order of the movies actually does makes sense to me. I think that I actually appreciate watching “Star Wars” for the first time as a 20-year-old more because I feel like I can understand and appreciate certain details and concepts better than I could have as a child.
Drew Parker started the show at 7p.m. on Friday evening with his brand new singles “Party in the Back,” “Daddy Did” and “I Was Lying.” To finish, he did his own twist on a classic song by Brooks & Dunn, “Boot Scootin’ Boogie.” Ashley McBryde was the next artist to go on, and she brought in her talents mixing the Rock and Country genres in her new singles: “Hang In There Girl” and “One Night Standards.” But the main attraction was of course the headliner, Luke Combs. Combs opened up with one of his more popular songs “When It Rains It Pours” and proceeded to down a drink in a red solo cup and then continued
to do so after every two or three songs for a total of four times. After his song “1, 2 Many” he proceeds to shotgun a Miller Lite on stage. Say what you will about Combs and his music, but you can’t argue that he knows how to put on a show. He’s not just all party and drinks, he also touched on some sentimental feelings. His song “Beautiful Crazy” talks about how there is someone for everyone out there no matter how crazy one is. With his song “Even Though I’m Leaving,” there was not a dry eye in the arena because it reminds us that those who we love will always be with us no matter where they are. But Combs
ended the concert with his chart topper “Beer Never Broke My Heart.” Yet the songs were not the main reasons that made the concert great. It was the stories of why the artists were there that night. For Parker, it was spending Valentine’s with his six month pregnant wife and sharing his unborn daughter’s first concert. For McBryde it was to thank all of the people who showed up to the concert to support their dream, and to give a message to dreamers everywhere. For Combs, it was to spend Valentine’s Day with his fiancé who was previously in the hospital. In the end, there is truly nothing better than a Country concert.
Luke Combs knows how to put on a show
By TYLER EVANS
Staff Writer What is better than spending Valentine’s Day with your significant other (or if you are single, a night out on the town with your friends)? Well this goes without saying, but a concert is great in any of those scenarios, especially if you want to get in touch with your redneck side. This past Valentine’s Day, Luke Combs came to Lexington promoting his album “What You See Is What You Get,” and sold out faster than any event in Rupp Arena history. The concert started with a few artists who aren’t as well known but just as good. Artist
Opinion Is plastic really that bad for the environment?
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By KATIE SWANSON Staff Writer Plastic has become a bigger issue than anyone had ever expected in recent years. One of the most dangerous parts of using plastic is that it takes hundreds of years to decay. For example, plastic bags can range from 400-1000 years, while plastic cups can take up to 450 years. These plastics will sit for centuries in a landfill or on the side of the road as litter. This becomes a problem because the plastic is not disposed of properly and is left in the environment unattended. Americans themselves use more than 30 million tons of plastic per year, while only 8% of that gets recycled. Many
The Georgetonian
studies believe that if we do not slow down, the amount of plastic in the environment will only increase. So where does it go? Plastic doesn’t biodegrade. This means that it is not decomposed by bacteria or other living organisms. Instead, it photodegrades, which means that it breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces that are toxic to the environment. If these pieces get into the soil or into the oceans, animals can unknowingly consume them without even knowing it until it ultimately affects their health. As a result of this, the animals become intoxicated with this poison and could end
up dying from it if not treated immediately. Some oceanic cases have gotten so bad that the marine life in that area is almost extinct. The Independent reports that almost 90% of debris in the ocean is plastic and there is about 46 times more plastic in some areas than there is food available for the marine life. This leads to them simply eating the plastic as they confuse it for food. The plastic doesn’t just effect the health of sealife. At this point, if you are eating seafood, there is a high chance that you are also eating traces of plastic because the chemicals have stayed in their meat. It was found that plastic was
present in 60% of all seabirds and 100% of sea turtle species that were found dead. This is obviously unhealthy and could have serious impacts on your health. Steps need to be taken if we want to reverse the damage which we have created. Some countries have banned the use of plastic and no longer offer plastic bags at the checkout lines in grocery or retail stores. People here are encouraged to bring their own bags or purchase reusable bags. Reusable water bottles and lunch boxes are also a way to minimize the amount of plastic that we throw away. Throwing away a water bottle or a plastic bag at lunch everyday may
not seem like much, but when seven billion other people are also doing it every single day, it begins to add up. Steps need to be taken by governments to reduce the amount of overall plastic use before it is too late to stop the damage. Things you can individually do is choosing to not use a straw at a restaurant, switch to reusable bags when shopping or knowing the right way to recycle plastic. Taking these few steps can encourage the ones around you to do the same. Before you know it everyone you know is taking steps to reduce the amount of plastic that is going into our environment. With your help, you can make a dif-
tiest scratch in granite, but never in marble. Marble also looks cleaner in your kitchen. Marble is usually lighter than granite, and less grainy looking, giving it a smoother design and cleaner look. I also personally believe that marble countertops have certain crisp edges that granite could never have. The swirls and loops of color and mineral show up better in marble. The coloring of the original marble is beautiful as is, but the smooth texture and form of graining is what makes the rest of the marble pop in a kitchen. Another wonderful thing about marble, one of my favorite details of these gorgeous countertops, is that you are able to cut directly
on them. Of course you have to get certain types, or treat them the right way, but it is so much better and more convenient than cutting boards. If you were to cut on granite, it leaves scratches and loses integrity in the aesthetic of why you chose the darker countertop in the first place. I also think that marble looks classier than granite could to look. If you want a larger looking kitchen that gives the illusion of having more space, even if it really does not have that kind of space, you should spring for the lighter marble. There has to be a reason that the Greek Gods were sculpted out of marble, because it withstands time, looks amazing, and can be beautiful in any form.
The darker granite simply shrinks a room, makes hard lines in the geometric features of the kitchen and looks like the fake stick-on covers that go over pressboard on other countertops. Granite, of course, has its own pros, it looks good in some cases (mostly in luxury RVs and cabins), it is durable and sometimes the grain in the granite itself is the more gorgeous part of the rock. But in the end, granite just is not the same as classic marble in the countertop game. Marble is more expensive than other materials, but you get what you pay for. The beauty of the mineral should be all the convincing a person needs. These millionaires who are shown on HGTV should
have no problem spending money on marble countertops if they are willing to spend millions of dollars into buying the house. It drives me insane to see so many people wanting granite instead of marble simply for the color of the stone in the kitchen, not looking at any part of its practicality. Both are very heavy and expensive. The cost, however, should not be a factor, especially if you are comfortable with spending millions of dollars on a house anyways. If you are making a decision, please do not try to be trendy and choose granite over marble because of aesthetics. Choose marble because of the look, the classy finish and the practicality of it as a surface.
Marble countertops are very aesthetic By ASHLYN REED
Staff Writer I watch a lot of HGTV and I have something to say for all of the clueless butterfly collectors searching for million dollar dream houses. Marble countertops are better than granite countertops, and lighter marble is classier than darker marble. To address the topic of marble being better than granite, marble simply looks so much better. Yes, marble is more susceptible to staining than granite, but there is a reason you are supposed to clean your countertops. Marble in itself is very durable, as is granite, but marble also doesn’t scrape the same way as granite. I have watched a knife leave the nas-
Opinion
Issue 4
Less religious worldviews are more ecologically friendly By DYLAN PRUITT Staff Writer “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion … over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.” With these words in Genesis 1:26-28, the Judeo-Christian God states what many have seen as the initial purpose of humanity: to have dominion over all of creation. Although countless Christians and Jews alike interpret these verses to mean that humans are given the task of tending to and looking after creation, others take the use of “dominion” to mean just that: domination. Without delving into the debate over the proper translation of “dominion” and the Hebrew word it is rooted in, there is a greater problem to be found in the ecological implications that result from such interpretation of Genesis and other key aspects of Christianity. However, as can be seen in examples of other world religions and their adherents, the true issue of non-environmentally conscious religious views is not the religious doctrine itself, but rather the intensity and form of religious belief. Across all world religions, in fact, there is also some evidence of an inverse proportion between ecological friendliness and religiousness. For instance, Christianity has already been seen to
exemplify this aforementioned adverse relationship. However, the mere existence of some Christians that either falsely or correctly interpret Genesis 1:26-28, is neither not a condemnation of Christianity, nor the only point to be gathered. Rather, this points towards a much more important factor: that the type of Christianity one adheres to appears to determine outlooks on the environment. In a 1993 study, priest and sociologist Andrew Greely found that fundamentalist Christians were less willing to allocate money towards environmental efforts than Catholics were. I am arguing that not only does the difference in religious group cause this effect, but the very fact that fundamentalist Christians are on a more extreme side of the religious spectrum than many Catholics is the source for a lack of environmental concerns. The key factor which I believe to be the core of this disparity between religious views and environmental concerns is the tendency of religions - particularly the more extreme views of them - to overwhelm every aspect of life. As religious beliefs increase in intensity, so too does ignorance about a plethora of other topics and indifference to the rest of the world. Many have heard jokes about the religious person whose entire personality is religion. If you were to ask them for a glass of water,
they would go into an hourlong sermon about how Jesus Christ is the living water that will truly quell the thirst inside of you. Some may say the animalistic religon of the Native Americans is an obvious contradiction to the argument. Rather than a contradiction, I actually view the existence of such groups and views as further proving this analysis of religion. These religions center on the earth, animals and humanity as possessing inherent interconnectedness and the respect of that relationship. Very little do the religious views of such peoples deviate from this sole focus. Whereas more widespread religions deal with the metaphysical and dwellings on morality or the afterlife, tribal and native religions look towards the protection of the earth. This is precisely why worldviews that are less fundamentally religious are typically more environmentally friendly. As much as they are attacked for viewing the world as “just an accident without purpose,” they are in fact much closer in ideology to the native and tribal religions. Through acceptance of the scientific evidences of evolution and a natural rather than theological creation story, many atheists are able to recognize the interconnectedness of humanity and the rest of the cosmos in a way that most religious individuals simply cannot.
February 19th, 2020 Page 11
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Editor–in–Chief.............................................Laura Callihan Managing Editor.................................................... Riley Noe News Editor......................................................Andrew Alvey S&R Editor..................................................... Buddy Lukens Features Editor........................................... Abby Sparkman A&E Editor................................................ Lauren Parkinson Opinion Editor................................................Cooper Adkins Back Page Editor........................................... Carrie Jo Cecil Copy Editor.......................................................... Becky Gray Copy Editor.......................................................Colton Sosbe Copy Editor...................................................Nena Claycomb
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THE BACK PAGE
Thoughts from Places: The Caf By CARRIE JO CECIL Back Page Editor No one comes to Georgetown College because of its dining services. To be fair, dining services are not the main attraction of most colleges. Prospective students tend to be so concerned with scholarships, programs and housing that food services tend to fly under the radar. Funnily enough, I remember being mildly impressed by my first visit to the Georgetown Caf. In my defense, I attended public school for thirteen years without regularly packing my lunch, so my standards were not high. The Caf had more than two options and the food wasn’t served in weird little styrofoam cups. Even then, like most students, I wasn’t really thinking about the Caf when I chose Georgetown. If, like me, you’re not a picky eater or don’t have dietary restrictions, then the Caf might have been surprisingly good at first. There are several distinct dishes at each meal, as well as self-serve ice cream. You don’t have to come in from classes and take time to cook or spend money at a restaurant. Unfortunately, the novelty wears off quickly. In fact, I bring up the Caf now for that very reason. My friends and fellow students, I have officially reached “Chicken Quesadilla Season.” To explain, Chicken Quesadilla Season is the point in the semester in which I have grown tired of Caf food but am not yet ready to spend a lot of money eating out, so I resort to the ever-faithful chicken quesadilla multiple times a week. Chicken quesadillas, no matter how tasty the combination of melted cheese and toasted tortilla is, get tiresome when you’ve had them for dinner three times in a row. Even if you spice it up with chipotle or change around your sides from fries to carrots to pizza to cereal, students cannot live on chicken quesadillas alone. I don’t know if other people have this sort of season in their lives, but I wouldn’t be
surprised. Before you worry too much order to avoid going back to books and about my diet, Chicken Quesadilla papers. In Spain, there’s an after-dinSeason will pass, eventually. Either I’ll ner tradition called “sobremesa” eat out too much and have to return to which literally means “over the table.” the Caf, or the other food will suddenly It is the practice of lingering with your look more appealing than it has been dining companions for half an hour in a while. No matter what restores the to an hour after everyone has finbalance, I can assure you I will keep ished eating but before the table has going back to the Caf. been cleared. To quote BBC Travel, I’m not the point of alone in my sobremesa perpetual is “prolongreturn to the ing the lunch Caf. First of b e c a u s e all, I paid for you’ve had a meal plan such a good that I don’t time that you want to go don’t want to waste. it to end; if I assume you leave the that’s the table, the spell reason most is broken.” If people are you’ve ever in the Caf. sat at a Caf I suspect, table with THE GEORGETONIAN/CARRIE JO CECIL however, your friends, that free The view from near the salad bar in the Caf laughing food—or rather, pre-paid—isn’t the about nothing and purposefully only reason people are in the Caf avoiding the work you have to do, then during all its hours of operation. you’ve unintentionally participated in Dining aside, there’s something about sobremesa. The point of sobremesa the very room of the Caf that draws is the company, not the food, so it’s students in. By this time, most students rather well suited to the Caf. I have are familiar with a “caf-rat,” which friends who come to the Caf everyrefers to someone who sits in the Caf day just to sit and talk during lunch to do homework. It also exists in verb and dinner but eat only the rare bowl form, as I have done my fair share of of cereal or occasional mid-afternoon caf-ratting. There’s something nice chicken nuggets. I myself get up for about the background noise of other breakfast just to have some company people chatting and the workers stack- although my classes start later than ing dishes. It also provides a certain my friends’. If the Caf is good for anyamount of peer pressure to look busy. thing, it excels at sobremesa. With the big windows at either end of While partaking in sobremesa, you the Caf pouring in sunlight, it can be a have probably also participated in really nice place to study. another foreign-word activity: kvetchThe other thing that keeps me ing. “Kvetch” is a Yiddish word meancoming back to the Caf is the opposite ing “squeeze,” but as a verb it means of caf-ratting. If I’m eating, I don’t have to complain. Kvetching is a specific to be doing homework. My friends and form of complaining that invites its I can stretch a meal that can be eaten in listeners in to enjoy the experience of a 25 minutes into an hour-long dinner in well-crafted complaint. It isn’t meant
to be mean or put someone down, but to air a shared grievance. If you’re in the Caf and say, “Where are all the forks? Have they flown away?” to another student who’s also looking for a fork, then you’ve kvetched. Or, if a side-dish looks familiar from a previously meal, you might kvetch by saying to your tablemates, “I think the Caf has finally started recycling.” My early remarks about the dreaded Chicken Quesadilla Season are another version of kvetching. The point is not to be mean, these aren’t things you should say to workers who don’t have control of cafeteria policies, but just to your fellow diners who are dealing with the same minor annoyances as you. It’s part of releasing tension after a long day, not a chance to put someone down. That doesn’t mean the Caf is without serious flaws. The food isn’t as fresh or varied as it could be, vegetarian options are lacking, and under previous menagement, workers were at times treated as disposable instead of actual employees, although some of these issues have been partially resolved with new management. Hopefully, when the new dining service provider is announced, some of these concerns will be resolved. Keep an eye out for the forthcoming announcement, and don’t stop providing constructive criticism in the meantime. That being said, nothing will ever be perfect. I’m certain that every meal at Georgetown will feature some amount of kvetching about school, work or any number of things even if the food is flawless. As important as it is to eat and to eat healthily, people come to the Caf for lots of reasons that aren’t its food. As I said earlier, students do not live by chicken quesadillas alone, but by every aspect of a balanced life. Work, companionship and relaxation can be their own kind of sustenance, so don’t take what the Caf has to offer for granted, even if you aren’t particularly hungry.