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Georgetown University’s Weekly Newsmagazine Since 1969 w November 7, 2013 w Volume 49, Issue 13 w georgetownvoice.com

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2 the georgetown voice

november 7, 2013

Community effort needed to curb cissexism at Georgetown

by J Capecchi In September, the Voice published a feature about LGBTQ life at Georgetown in which the Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students Dr. Todd Olson expressed that the University thought of gender as binary. In response, I wrote an open letter on the blog Feminists-at-Large and delivered a physical copy to Dr. Olson himself. Last week I had the privilege of speaking with Dr. Olson about the gendered culture at Georgetown. Our discussion was a productive combination of gender education and specific strategies for addressing cissexism.

Cissexism is, simply put, the belief that men should be men and women should be women. In this framework, there is nothing that falls outside the realm of “masculine” or “feminine”:

It is a totalized and binary system.

Cissexism establishes and enforces specific social roles and physical embodiments: our employments, family relations, dress, mannerisms, emotions, and more.

Everyone is affected by cissexism, but in various ways and to different degrees. In its most toxic forms, cissexism causes the disproportionate unemployment, homelessness, and even murder of trans* and nonbinary people. In its most privileged forms, cissexism rewards men and women for fulfilling their proper roles—in ways that (for cisgender people) are completely “normal.” But, cissexism harms cismen and ciswomen too.

There are very few people in this world that fulfill every single gender expectation of masculinity or femininity, and it is likely that you personally have been hurt by cissexism.

Toddactyl only sees the world in binary.

SHALINA CHATLANI

Hillary 2016, what’s the rush?

With the passing of the one-year anniversary of Obama’s re-election, the speculation about 2016 potentials should be heating up. However, the Democratic Party wants to pick a candidate backwards. There is a growing consensus within the party that Hillary Clinton absolutely must be the standard-bearer in 2016—before she even announces her candidacy.

The Democratic Party has essentially decided to have a primary before the 2014 midterms and the decision is clear. Hillary is the nominee.

All that is left to decide is the vice presidential candidate from a short

list of names. But this is not the way it should be.

What is Clinton’s number one goal should she win the presidency?

What will her climate policy look like? Will her foreign policy be different once she is in the top position?

How does she intend to work with a broken Congress? The short answer is that no one but Clinton knows.

The United States is facing problems and it is clear the solutions are not going to come from Congress.

The jobs crisis remains enormous.

September’s job report was mixed, with the economy adding a less than average number of jobs. October’s

Let the Voice be your voice. We accept opinions, letters to the editor, personal experiences, and creative writing that are exclusive to the Voice. Submissions do not express the opinion of the board of the Voice. The Voice reserves the right to edit submissions for accuracy, length, and clarity. To submit, email voices@georgetownvoice.com or come to the Voice office in Leavey 424.

Opinions expressed in the Voices section do not necessarily reflect the views of the General Board of the Voice.

If you have ever been pejoratively accused of being a “pussy,” a “bitch,” a “faggot,” a “dyke,” a “cunt,” or just simply told to “man up” or “act like a lady,” you have experienced cissexism at work.

Dr. Olson’s comment in the Voice about gender being rethought of as “sort of something you play with” does not reflect the oppression faced regularly by trans* and nonbinary people. I use this quote—not the speaker—to illustrate a larger societal flippancy toward cissexism. While people can play with gender, the violence and bigotry that trans* and nonbinary people face is serious. These are fundamental misunderstandings about gender “deviance.” It is not merely attention-seeking, a fetish, or an embodied lie. It is the way we understand ourselves, the way we feel whole and honest and worthwhile.

It is utterly terrifying that for trans* and nonbinary folk, living our truths equates to putting ourselves in danger.

Georgetown, much like the larger world it exists in, is cissexist. While talk of gender-neutral housing is thrown around by many people, this example is far from the only case of cissexism here. During your next class, observe how much more airtime is taken up by male students—and how many female students preface their comments with “sorry.” Notice how very few people on campus are even vague-

ly androgynous. Remember that Georgetown’s upper administration, faculty, and Jes Res are saturated with (cis)men. Our campus finds many justifications for its cissexism. Our newest pope, as much as he has advocated for the poor, non-Catholics, and gays, is still committed to “traditional” gender roles in Catholicism. Our location in D.C., upper-class leanings, and pre-professionalism set us on a path of strict gender conformity.

To address cissexism at Georgetown on an individual level, all you have to do is present yourself in a way that is not “appropriate” for your gender. You can also call out interpersonal cissexism when you see it, just like you should address racism, sexism, and classism. But larger solutions are trickier, as Dr. Olson and I discussed, since they require cultural and institutional change and collective strategizing over a period of time.

While gender-neutral housing may not be conceivable in terms of male-female roommates now, it is already present in single-occupancy housing—which could be further implemented in Georgetown’s planned residence halls. Georgetown could accept more openly trans* students and hire trans* faculty and staff. The University could give tenure to Women’s and Gender Studies professors, so that they might serve as relatively permanent allies. Georgetown can ad-

report will be affected by the 17-day government shutdown. Five years after the Great Recession, millions remain unemployed or have stopped looking for work.

In creating a workforce for the 21st century, the United States lags behind its major competitors. A study

America’s roads and bridges, and to bring our infrastructure into the 21st century. Although some progress is being made in upgrading rail lines and improving roads, the energy infrastructure in the United States is still based on technology from the 60s and 70s and almost 14,000 dams are in danger of failing. Congress has so far proved unwilling to join Obama in making these critical investments.

Of course, the most difficult problem is the electoral system. With so many representatives gerrymandered into their seats, it is likely that any future Congress will remain just as deadlocked as the current one.

The electoral math guru Nate Silver estimates there are only 35 seats in the House representing swing districts. Between lightning bolt shaped districts and ever increasing amounts of money, the U.S. electoral system increasingly fails to represent its people.

With a broken Congress, the United States needs a president who is able to articulate clear and effective

Carrying On

by Matthew Weinmann A rotating column by senior Voice staffers

of adults’ skills in the OECD countries released last month showed U.S. adults barely in the middle of the pack in literacy and closer to the bottom in number and technology related skills. It is common to read of U.S. children being significantly outperformed on international tests.

Perhaps the initiatives launched under President Obama, such as Race to the Top, need more time, but more work needs to be done overall.

Obama often calls on Congress to join him in creating a plan to rebuild

dress—and can help end!—cissexism.

To their credit, Georgetown students have recently organized to form a discussion group for trans* students and close allies under the guidance of the LGBTQ Resource Center.

While we did not instigate any specific efforts, Dr. Olson and I discussed various approaches to addressing cissexism at Georgetown.

Alumni can write in support. Faculty can integrate gender into their courses in relevant and meaningful ways. The administration can be transparent about which issues they are willing to address themselves (and therefore which might require oppositional student activism). Students can facilitate all of these efforts and envision additional ones.

Cissexism harms people on the Hilltop. I want to make Georgetown the trailblazer it so often claims to be, and this goal requires the participation of underclass students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the greater D.C. community. I do not expect to singlehandedly fix cissexism. I do not have all the solutions and cannot act alone, but, whatever the specifics, it is important that we act.

J Capecchi is a senior in the College.

Capecchi can be reached at jmc348@ georgetown.edu for more information and free lollipops. plans for addressing these problems.

Clinton probably has good ideas to address all these issues and Democrats will probably love them. But when Democrats are falling over themselves to declare unfailing loyalty before she even gets in the race, it becomes impossible to know if her ideas are the best. Rather than focused so heavily on personality, the emphasis should be on the benefits and drawbacks of policy proposals.

Another Clinton presidency would be great. Hillary Clinton is more likely to horse trade, cajole, and work with Congress to move legislation along than the Obama can with Speaker John Boehner. The glass ceiling would finally be shattered and America would move one step closer to full equality between men and women. But it is crucial that the Democrats keep an open mind and demand smart policies, not just Clinton policies. If they don’t, it could be the first step toward becoming like the Republican Party—one of no ideas and outsized personalities.

And frankly, one of those is enough.

editorial

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VOICE the georgetown

Volume 49.13 November 7, 2013 Editor-in-Chief: Gavin Bade Managing Editor: Connor Jones Blog Editor: Julia Tanaka News Editor: Lucia He Sports Editor: Chris Almeida Feature Editor: Patricia Cipollitti Cover Editor: Kathleen Soriano-Taylor Leisure Editor: Heather Regen Voices Editor: Ana Smith Photo Editor: Andres Rengifo Design Editor: Lauren Ashley Panawa Projects Editors: Alec Graham, John Sapunor, Cannon Warren Puzzles Editor: Tyler Pierce Creative Directors: Madhuri Vairapandi, Amanda Dominguez Back Page Editor: Tiffany Lachonna Social Media Editor: Rio Djiwandana

Assistant Blog Editors: Minali Aggarwal, Isabel Echarte, Ryan Greene, Laura Kurek Assistant News Editors: Jeffrey Lin, Claire Zeng Assistant Sports Editors: Chris Castano, Brendan Crowley, Joe Pollicino Assistant Cover Editor: Neha Ghanshamdas Assistant Leisure Editors: Dayana Morales Gomez, Joshua Ward, Rianna Folds Assistant Photo Editor: Joshua Raftis Assistant Design Editor: John Delgado-McCollum

Staff Writers:

Tim Barnicle, Sourabh Bhat,Max Borowitz, Emilia Brahm, Grace Brennan, Emmy Buck, Shalina Chatlani, Steven Criss, Lara Fishbane, Mary-Bailey Frank, Abby Greene, John Guzzetta, Kevin Huggard, Kenneth Lee, Julia- Lloyd-George, Claire McDaniel, Dan Paradis, Max Roberts, Abby Sherburne, Jackson Sinnenberg, Deborah Sparks, Manuela Tobias, Chris Wadibia, Joshua Ward, Annamarie White

Staff Photographers:

Elizabeth Coscia, Robin Go, Alan Liu, Ambika Ahuja, Gavin Meyers, Annie Wang, Muriel van de Bilt, Katherine Landau, Annie Wang

Staff Designers:

Noah Buyon, Katarina Chen, Dylan Cutler, Corrina Di Pirro Mike Pacheco, Christina Libre, Pam Shu, Sophia Super

Copy Chief: Sonia Okolie Copy Editors:

Eleanor Fanto, Grace Funsten, Caitlin Healey-Nash, Morgan Johansen, Sabrina Kayser, Samantha Mladen, Dana Suekoff, Isobel Taylor, Suzanne Trivette

Editorial Board Chair: Caitriona Pagni Editorial Board:

Gavin Bade, Emilia Brahm, Patricia Cipollitti, Lara Fishbane, Juan Daniel Gonçalves, Ryan Greene, Lucia He, Quaila Hugh, Connor Jones, Jeffery Lin, Ian Philbrick, Ryan Shymansky, Julia Tanaka

General Manager: Nick Albanese Managing Directors: Mary-Bailey Frank, Mollie Rodgers, Nick Mendolia, Allison Manning The Georgetown Voice

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Email: editor@georgetownvoice.com Advertising: business@georgetownvoice.com Web Site: georgetownvoice.com The opinions expressed in the Georgetown Voice do not necessarily represent the views of the administration, faculty or students of Georgetown University, unless specifically stated. Unsigned editorials represent the views of the Editorial Board. Columns, advertisements, cartoons and opinion pieces do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board or the General Board of the Georgetown Voice. The University subscribes to the principle of responsible freedom of expression of its student editors. The Georgetown Voice is produced in the Georgetown Voice office and composed on Macintosh computers using the Adobe InDesign publishing system and is printed by Gannett Publishing. All materials copyright the Georgetown Voice. All rights reserved.

On this week’s cover: Georgetown Basketball Cover Photo: Courtesy of Sports Information Office

the georgetown voice 3 KICK IT TO THE CURB

The Can Kicks Back misrepresented to students

The Can Kicks Back, a campaign to reduce the national debt targeted toward young people, set up a tent on Copley lawn and hosted a panel to discuss the debt last Tuesday, Oct. 29. TCKB is a non-partisan “millennial partner” of Fix the Debt, a lobby group that fronts as a grassroots movement devoted to reducing the country’s $17 trillion debt. Co-sponsors of the event—GU College Republicans, Democrats, and GUSA—did not make it clear that Fix the Debt serves as a front group for Wall Street billionaire Pete Peterson who has pledged $1 billion to promote budget cuts.

Fix the Debt is also funded by companies whose pro-sequestration agenda mirrors Peterson’s. According to the Public Accountability Initiative, at least 13 steering committee members of Fix the Debt have financial ties to firms that lobby to preserve corporate

tax breaks and block taxes increases. By paying a negative tax rate and actually contributing to the federal deficit, many of the firms headed by CEOs that sit on Fix the Debt’s CEO Fiscal Leadership Council benefit from the nation’s status quo.

Publicly petitioning for broad cuts in welfare programs for America’s most vulnerable people, while simultaneously working to evade reasonable regulation and taxation, reveals the council members’ hypocrisy and outright callousness toward America’s poor.

Given the lack of transparency in the structure and goals of Fix the Debt and, by proxy, TCKB, it is of special importance that Georgetown student leadership take a closer and more critical look at the external groups they promote in the future. Had GUCR, GUCD, and GUSA done some research and looked past the glossy,

misappropriated rhetoric and symbolism of the group they invited to the Hilltop, they would have found that Fix the Debt’s agenda is undoubtedly anti-student and anti-poor, despite its claims to “promote generational equity.”

The reduced social spending and tax cuts for the wealthy voiced by Fix the Debt and its associated groups are inconsistent with the realities faced by those who depend on welfare programs: the country’s working poor, who are disproportionately women, people of color, and young people. Instead of focusing on promoting policies harmful to America’s most disadvantaged citizens, Hoyas concerned with “generational equity” should take it upon themselves to fight against inequality to ensure that future generations don’t have to resort to the safety net just to get by.

MEET ME HALFWAY

D.C. Housing Authority unfairly evicts tenants

The D.C. Housing Authority altered its policy last month to make it easier to terminate housing for residents receiving government subsidies under Section 8 housing assistance. The Housing Authority made its decision after months of dealing with problem residents, since the old housing code made it difficult to remove even criminals from their publicly-subsidized housing.

With over 70,000 names, including families with children, the elderly, and people with disabilities, on the waitlist for D.C. housing, the new policy lowers the criteria for removing delinquent tenants from these homes, freeing up space for law-abiding tenants to move in. The new policy, however, is overzealous in its approach to deciding who is removed from public housing.

Under the new policy, the Housing Authority can terminate Section 8 housing for even tenants charged with first-time misdemeanors. These cases often take the form

of minor drug convictions. Entire families have lost their housing because a single family member was charged with marijuana possession. A conviction is not necessary for eviction.

These standards are excessive and neglect the needs of families who struggle to support themselves. Obviously, allowing felons, like one woman who could not be removed from her public housing even after she was charged with shooting a neighbor’s child, to occupy publically-subsidized housing must stop. But the Housing Authority must strike a balance between the relaxed policy of the past and the harsh new one.

While the Housing Authority offers an appeals process for tenants whose housing is terminated, it is inadequate and unfair.

The appeals process is conducted internally by the Housing Authority, which employs a cheaper system than the courts. A family that is fighting for its right to hous-

ing deserves the fairest process our legal system can provide.

Additionally, the fact that marijuana possession is being used as grounds for housing termination means that black residents will be disproportionately affected. In a recent study, the American Civil Liberties Union found that despite near-equal usage rates, black Washingtonians are 3.73 times more likely than whites to be arrested for marijuana use. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 48 percent of public housing in D.C. is held by black individuals or families.

With its new policy, the D.C. Housing Authority has proven its commitment to fixing the city’s problematic Section 8 housing system, but, by lumping minor drug offenders in with the rest of the District’s “problem tenants,” it has gone too far. The D.C. Housing Authority has established order, what it lacks now is balance.

PICK YOUR POISON

Va. election turning point for Republican party Democrat Terry McAuliffe beat ultra-conservative Republican Ken Cuccinelli this Tuesday in Virginia’s gubernatorial race. In the weeks leading up to the election, both McAuliffe and Cuccinelli attracted national attention for being the lowest-approved candidates in Virginia history. The results of this disappointing election prove that the political influence of Tea Party extremism may finally be waning.

Considering Cuccinelli’s involvement in the Tea Party, as well as his long track record of personal gaffes, the results of the election are not surprising. McAuliffe’s multimillion dollar advertising efforts ruthlessly targeted Cuccinelli for his hardline conservative policies on taxation, abortion, and gun control. Cuccinelli went so far to advocate reinstating Virginia’s “crimes against nature” penalty, which includes class 6 felony punishments for sodomy and oral sex. (Class 6 felonies may recieve a fine up to $2500 and up to a year in prision or a prision term of up to 10 years.)

McAuliffe’s mudslinging only added to the political damage incurred by the Tea Party as a result of the government shutdown. McAuliffe’s liberal platform won him majorities in the demographics most affected by the shutdown—women and minorities. Despite Cuccineli’s claims that the election results amounted to a rejection of Obamacare, McAuliffe’s victory proves just the opposite. According to The Atlantic Wire, of the 53 percent of Virginians who oppose Obamacare, 81 percent also supported Cuccinelli. If this election were truly a rejection of Obamacare, Cuccinelli would have garnered enough support to defeat his liberal opponent.

Cuccinelli’s loss ought to serve as a wake-up call for the Republican Party. The Virginia electorate has changed notably since Republican Bob McDonnell was elected governor of Virginia in 2009. According to The Washington Post, Black and Hispanic

voters now make up 24 percent of the electorate, which is over a 4 percentage point increase from 2009, when Blacks made up 16 percent of the electorate. Hispanic votes were too few to be included in the poll.

The electorate is also getting younger.

Voters under the age of 44 comprised 36 percent of the electorate, a 4 percent increase from 2009.

This generation of voters has shown that the zealot antics of the right-wing politicians do not win state elections, nor will they be advantageous in the 2016 presidential election. The Republican Party has arrived at a turning point. Republicans need to decide whether they will be a major party capable of winning elections, or a conservative niche party without a hope of competing on the national stage. This election has shown that in order to remain relevant, Republicans must isolate their policy and public image from Tea Party extremists like Cuccinelli.

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4 the georgetown voice

november 7, 2013

New mascot caretaker selected Freshmen who attend seminars will receive housing points

by Jeffrey Lin

The Bulldog Advisory Committee has chosen McKenzie Stough (COL ‘13), an employee of Georgetown’s Office of Communications, as the caretaker of the new Jack the Bulldog.

“I am thrilled to be selected as Jack’s next caretaker. The mascot tradition is extremely important to Georgetown and I look forward to my new role in continuing that tradition,” Stough wrote in an email to the Voice.

Stough will live with Jack in a campus townhouse, and her main role will be transitioning Jack into his role as the school mascot.

Although Stough will be the primary caretaker, the BAC will serve as a resource for Stough to use for Jack’s care.

“McKenzie has lifelong experience training and caring for dogs—including a chihuahua named Lola and a pug named Olive—which makes her familiar with the dedication that goes into raising a dog,” Erika Cohen-Derr, assistant dean, director of the Center for the Student Engagement,

and member of the BAC, wrote in an email to the Voice. “Moreover, she has a deep commitment to Georgetown’s bulldog mascot tradition.”

According to BAC, the application process was competitive and saw multiple applicants.

“It was great to see such an enthusiastic response to our call for mascot caretaker applications. It’s clear just how much our community loves Jack the Bulldog based on the passion conveyed in the applications we received,” Anupam Chakravarty (SFS ’10, MA ‘15), senior manager of interactive and multimedia communications in the Office of Advancement and member of BAC, wrote in an email to the Voice.

One of McKenzie’s first goals will be to make sure both Jack and Jack Crew are comfortable in the transition.

“I am especially [looking forward] to [working] with her,” Neve Schadler (COL ‘15), head of Jack Crew and member of the BAC, wrote in an email to the Voice.

Democrat Terry McAuliffe won the Virginia gubernatorial elections on Tuesday.

flickr

McAuliffe elected Virginia governor

by Deborah Sparks Terry McAuliffe (D) was elected the 72nd governor of Virginia late Tuesday night. In a close race, McAuliffe won 48.0 percent of the vote. Republican opponent Ken Cuccinelli II won 45.5 percent and Libertarian Robert Sarvis won 6.6 percent.

McAuliffe, former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, has never held public office before. Cuccinelli on the other hand was attorney general of Virginia.

Alejandro Perez-Reyes (SFS ’17), a fellow for the McAuliffe campaign this summer, said that the election was pivotal for the nation. “Virginia is a purple state. It’s become the closest representation to what the nation looks like demographic wise,” he said.

National issues such as abortion and Obamacare stole the spotlight away from local issues. Cuccinelli’s strong pro-life stance led members of H*yas for Choice to protest the Republican governor-elect on Sep. 25 at the second McAuliffe/Cuccinelli debate in McLean, Va. In addition, members of GU Democrats

were heavily involved in the McAuliffe campaign. Many participated in phone banking and canvassing for the Democratic governor-elect since the beginning of the academic year in late August.

“This past weekend, I spent my time in Manassas, just knocking doors for McAuliffe.

I phone banked yesterday for McAuliffe to make sure people voted,” Joseph Laposata (COL ’16), tabling director for the GU Democrats and Speakers Coordinator for the D.C. Federation, said.

Perez-Reyes felt the clear takeaway from the election was the need for bipartisanship in an increasingly divisive political culture.

“I think that what you can take from this governor’s race is a negative example of how to really address someone who disagrees with you,” he said. “I think as Georgetown students, we can take that lesson and apply it to things we do on our own campus. Different groups on campus may not be very tolerant to each other, but if they look at this governor’s race, they can see that when people just yell at each other, it’s not the best of dialogues.”

by Claire Zeng Class of 2017 students will be able to receive housing points for attending a new series of speaker panels, presentations, and breakout activities organized by the Georgetown University Student Association. The What’s a Hoya program will reward students with 0.1 housing points for each event attended.

This year, the program will be divided into monthly themes for November, January, and February, finishing before housing selection commences in March. The themes in sequence will be “Women and Men for Others,” which will focus on mentorship, “Cura Personalis,” which will center on safety and well-being, and “Community in Diversity,” which will discuss pluralism in action.

Each month will have four sessions and students will only be allowed to attend one session per theme. Each session will vary by speakers but will cover the same general material. GUSA hopes to accommodate a total of 1800 possible students per theme, a little over half of the total of 3397 students in the class of 2017. “[The goal is] to build a base of common vocabulary and to have a rising tide that lifts all boats, where everyone will have at least exposure at some level to these concepts,” said Nate Tisa (SFS ’14), president of GUSA. The idea for the program first came about over the summer and was organized with the University throughout this semester. GUSA hopes to see the program function as an expansion of New Student Orientation throughout the year for freshmen.

“Those first three days are a whirlwind, and you have a lot of things going on, so this is a few months in and reintroduces them to resources,” said Megan Murday (SFS ’15), one of the three What’s a Hoya coordinators.

GUSA hopes to incorporate other clubs into the sessions and direct students to these clubs and resources through the program.

“We see our role as the logistical component to bring people together to discuss these issues,” said Chandini Jha (COL ’16), another What’s a Hoya coordinator. “All the programming is already something that we have specialists in the administration and student clubs for, who have these things down-pat.”

What’s a Hoya will reach out to student groups to advertise relevant upcoming events. Student panels will be part of the sessions and students will be encouraged to nominate fellow students as panelists on the GUSA website.

GUSA hopes to incentivize freshmen to attend with the 0.1 housing point reward.

“It had to be an incentive that applied equally to everyone. Not everyone likes basketball games and gift certificates, and those things cost a lot of money when you talk about numbers of 1000, 1500 people,” Tisa said. “However, one thing that unites all freshmen is that they have to select sophomore housing.”

Higher selection points give students a better chance of having a lower selection number, and thus a better choice of housing. The 0.1 number is designed to prevent freshmen from having higher points than other classes.

No other group or activity has been able to utilize housing points before. Housing does not plan on extending this benefit to any other group.

“Due to the unique nature of this program, we felt it was important to be supportive and make this accommodation. I do not see other programs in the future that reach this scope and will have such a positive impact on the student body,” Patrick Killilee, executive director for residential services, wrote in an email to the Voice.

The first theme, mentorship, will discuss the importance of making connections and will include a panel with a dean and two professors, an alumni presentation, and a student panel. It will also feature Fr. Kevin O’Brien, S.J., vice president for mission and ministry, as introductory speaker for all four sessions.

“I was happy to accept GUSA’s invitation to offer introductory remarks,” O’Brien wrote in an email to the Voice.

January’s theme, safety and well-being, will discuss health and safety resources as well as guidelines for neighborhood relations. February’s topic, pluralism in action, will focus on diversity.

A sexual assault workshop for the January theme is still in discussion but may be part of programming.

“We need to make sure that what we do include is appropriate for the setting, which is large groups and public discussion,” Tisa said. “We need to work with the professionals to develop something that makes sense.”

Each session will be from one to one and a half hours. Attendance will be recorded and in order to get the incentive, attendees will be required to complete an assessment on HoyaLink afterwards. The assessment, which is still in the works, is designed to test what students learned, provide an opportunity for reflection, and serve as an exit survey.

Participation in What’s a Hoya is restricted to freshmen for its pilot year but may expand to other classes in coming semesters.

Students can sign up for the first topic on HoyaLink starting Nov. 11. The first month’s sessions are on Nov. 20, 24, 25, and Dec. 6.

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the georgetown voice 5

GU Fossil Free seeks support from GUSA Senate through resolution

by Lara Fishbane GU Fossil Free has finished a proposal for the GUSA Senate to pass a resolution asking the University’s Board of Directors to divest from fossil fuels. The group plans to present the proposal on Nov. 24.

The move to involve GUSA comes as an attempt to prove to the Board of Directors that divestment is an issue students care about. “I know that one of the problems we have had in the past is that they think there is not broad student support for this,” Caroline James (COL ’16), member of the Fossil Free Core Team, said.

“This bill would be [students’] endorsement of our proposal,” she added. “We are trying to show through the Senate that students are educated about this idea, that they know that this can only benefit us, and that it’s an ethical thing for Georgetown to do.”

A GUSA Senate resolution is non-binding on the University and has no power over the endowment or Board of Directors. However, it would serve as a symbolic message to the administration. “[A resolution] is meaningful,” Nate Tisa (SFS ‘14), president of

LUCIA HE

GU Fossil Free will flyer around campus to increase awareness on divestment.

GUSA, said. “It’s saying that students believe that it’s the right thing to do, and that helps to put pressure on the various organizations to take action.”

This resolution is part of the yearlong campaign to reduce and then eliminate the University’s investment in fossil fuel companies. “About 8 to 10 percent of our endowment is invested in fossil fuels,” James said.

“We are asking that the University freeze all new investments in fossil

Taxis, meet Teamsters

D.C. cab drivers are mad as hell, and they aren’t gonna take it anymore.

At least, that was the feeling that came out of reports of last week’s inaugural meeting of the D.C. Taxi Operators Association, an affiliate of Teamsters Local 992, on Oct. 29. The taxi drivers asked to join up with the storied transportation union to give them more leverage in negotiations with the D.C. Taxicab Commission (DCTC). The big sticking point is modernization policies mandated by the city.

Under the DCTC’s new regulations, each taxicab must have the same rooftop display that tells pedestrians whether or not they are for hire. They also must have a credit card reader and a new red and silver paint job. The deadline for all cabs to comply was last Friday, but many drivers have failed to meet the requirements. Only about 3500 of the 6500 taxis in the District have the new rooftop display, for example.

Drivers say they are in favor of modernization, and it’s easy to see

why. Perennial D.C. taxi companies like Grand and Diamond have been battered by the entry of new, tech-savvy competitors like Uber into the market. Riders have long complained about unreliable cab service and a lack of coverage in poorer neighborhoods. Computer technology in the car also allows drivers to incorporate apps that locate and order taxis, breaking into the e-cab niche. The problem, as is often the case in D.C., is the implementation of the regulations.

The first issue is price. While the DCTC plans to raise cab fares to reimburse drivers for the modernization, drivers have to pay for the hardware upfront. That means cabbies who make $20,000 a year are having to shell out up to $700 dollars for the rooftop display alone. Costs are only compounded with the card reader and paint job.

On top of that, there has been a shortage of the needed hardware. The DCTC authorized eight payment service providers (PSPs) to sell credit card equipment to the taxi companies, but they

fuels and that over the next two years Georgetown gradually divests from its holdings in fossil fuels.”

Last semester, Fossil Free collected almost 1,500 signatures from students who supported divestment. The group also presented its proposal to the Committee on Investments and Social Responsibility, which advises Georgetown’s investments but also lacks the power to pass binding resolutions. quickly ran short of their stocks and raised prices in response.

The same is true of the rooftop displays. The shortage has been so serious that the DCTC pushed back the deadline for implementation twice, but even the long delay has not allowed access for every driver.

Those who were either priced out of the market or couldn’t lo-

City on a Hill

by Gavin Bade

A bi-weekly column about D.C. news and politics. cate the needed equipment have now been forced off the streets, out of work because of the clumsy implementation of these rules.

Some have elected to drive anyway, and have paid a steep price.

As of Monday, over 25 cabs had already been towed for not having the correct roof display.

If all that weren’t bad enough, the PSPs aren’t always paying their drivers. The system is designed to work as follows: When you swipe your card in the cab, the payment service provider processes the transaction, takes a

Fossil Free decided against a campus-wide referendum in order to increase the effectiveness of the process.

“Because the Senate is a small representative subset of the student body, we’ll be able to sit down individually with any senators who have reservations about divestment,” Daniel Dylewsky (COL ‘15), member of the Fossil Free Core Team, wrote in an email to the Voice.

In the next few days, members of Fossil Free will begin talking to senators to address any potential concerns, including some that have already been expressed.

“Divestment has other consequences on other vital aspects of the University,” said Gabriel Pincus (SFS ‘14), GUSA secretary of sustainability.

“For example, it might affect our ability to give scholarships.”

According to James, the most common concerns regard whether it will hurt the endowment or affect financial aid. “The answer to both of these questions is no,” she said.

Fossil Free members believe that GUSA should support their campaign because of an ethical responsibility to clean up the environment. “[It’s] not the kind of change we can expect to see until the fossil fuel in2.5-3 perent fee, kicks a $0.25 surcharge to the DCTC, and transfers the rest of the money to the cab company and driver. As WAMU’s Martin DiCaro reported last week, three cab companies say that last step isn’t always happening, and that hundreds of drivers have lost entire days of income as a result.

While consumer reaction to the updates has been generally positive, it is clear that much went wrong in the contracting process for PSPs. One of them, U.S.A. Motors, cancelled its contract early last week because it installed faulty hardware and failed to pay over 900 drivers. Its entire business model collapsed soon after. Another PSP, Chicago-based Gleike Taximeters, is involved in multiple lawsuits with three cab companies over payment issues. All of them have had trouble keeping hardware in stock. Perhaps this shouldn’t be surprising given the track record of city contracting in the District, but it’s certainly an injustice to the hundreds of drivers who need their fees in ways most Georgetown students can only imagine.

But what may be worse is the

dustry loses its political stranglehold on the leaders who are in a position to affect it,” Dylewsky wrote.

Members of Fossil Free are optimistic about the likelihood of the Senate’s support. “I think that the majority will be receptive or at least open to the prospect of the resolution and open to the dialogue about divestment,” Sydney Browning (COL ’15), co-founder of GU Fossil Free, said.

The next steps of Fossil Free will be to increase community awareness of their campaign by tabling in Red Square and handing out frequently asked question flyers. “What we don’t want to happen is to only educate the senators,” James said.

“We do want to continue to educate everyone. Hopefully divestment is a word that students begin to hear more and more.”

The ultimate goal is to put enough pressure on the Board of Directors so they have no other choice but to divest from Fossil Fuels. “I would love for Georgetown to be the first university with over a one billion dollar investment to divest,” James said.

“I think it shows huge initiative and honors Georgetown’s commitment to being socially responsible both as a Jesuit institution and not.”

DCTC’s implementation scheme overall, for it saddles the most cost on those who are least able to pay it. It’s easy to image a strategy that would have seen the DCTC raise rates a small amount over an extended period of time and then given the added revenue to drivers to pay for the modernization. Such a plan would have the same end result, but would avoid saddling drivers with a huge onetime debt.

Cabbies have been saying similar things for months, but have been unable to gain traction on the price front. Every driver I’ve talked to says the same thing—that the equipment is too expensive and that it takes away from essentials for their families. This new affiliation with the Teamsters isn’t about opposition to modernization.

It’s about making modernization and other regulations work for both drivers and passengers, and in that way is a welcome addition to the labor family here in the nation’s capital.

Cab it out with Gavin at gbade@ georgetownvoice.com

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6 the georgetown voice d

BY MAX BOROWITZ

MARQUETTE GOLDEN EAGLES Head Coach: Buzz Williams. The Backbone: Davante Gardner. In order for Marquette to reach its full potential, Davante Gardner is going to have to willingly become the focus of the Eagles’ offense. The big-bodied, 300 pound forward has always been an efficient scorer with a knack for getting to the line, but this year Gardner will have to be the leader on the defensive end as well. The X Factor: The Freshmen. Unlike in previous years when Marquette was forced to rely on experienced talent, Head Coach Buzz Williams might have to actually lean on some of his star recruits this year.

Headlined by Jajuan Johnson, Buzz Williams finally has a group of freshman capable of contributing at a high level. Question Mark: The backcourt.

With the loss of star Vander Blue, an already turnover-prone Marquette backcourt becomes very questionable. The Bottom Line: Marquette has the potential to be a Final Four team, but it is not without flaws. Chris Otule will need to be the elite rim protector and defender that his talent suggests.

Above all, Buzz Williams will have to once again make a product on the court that is greater than the sum of its parts.

CREIGHTON BLUE JAYS Head Coach: Greg McDermott. The Backbone: Doug McDermott. The head coach’s son surprised some when he elected to stay at Creighton for his senior season, but he returns as a legitimate contender for national player of the year, and the odds-on favorite for Big East Player of the Year.

Creighton will need to be more than just four guys and Doug McDermott if the Blue Jays want to make a serious NCAA Tournament run.

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november 7, 2013

THE PREVIEW SAME NAME, NEW ERA BIG MAN ON CAMPUS CONTINUITY THROUGH CHANGE MEN’S BASKETBALL Rotation BACKCOURT TO THE FUTURE SECRETARY OF NATE CHANGE AT THE TOP LEWIS STEPS INTO THE STORM

SAME NAME, NEW ERA

BYJOE POLLICINO

Decimated by the loss of stalwart teams to conferences with FBS football and more lucrative media deals, the Big East Conference enters a new era that will take time to adjust to. The protracted schism left some bitterness.

“Does it do anyone any good to sit and lament over [the process]? We had this discussion all last year, we’re going to have it again now,” said Head Coach John Thompson III. “Is it different? Absolutely. But I’m more excited about the future than I am worried about the past.”

For players like senior forward Nate Lubick, adjusting to this new landscape will be difficult.

“Growing up as a kid, I was a Big East kid and rooting for Big East,” said Lubick. “So I thought I would be playing against Syracuse and Louisville for four years. So I wouldn’t use the word disappointing [to describe the realignment process]. It’s a change.”

Despite having one of the best basketball leagues in the country for over 30 years, the Big East conference’s football league lacked the financial prowess necessary to thrive in the current state of college athletics. Realizing that other conferences could provide more financial benefits, the Big East’s football schools began to seek out new homes for their respective athletic programs.

And then the dominoes began to fall. Syracuse, Pittsburgh, Louisville, and Notre Dame all departed for the ACC, West Virginia bolted for the Big 12, and Rutgers joined the Big Ten. Out of fear of losing all the money associated with having a football league, the Big East frantically invited schools such as Memphis, Southern Methodist, Houston, and Central Florida in an attempt to compensate for the mass exodus.

Feeling these new invitees did not align in terms of geography, as well as basketball and academic tradition, non-football members DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, Seton Hall, St. John’s, and Villanova voted to dissolve the league and return it to its basketball-centric roots in December of 2012. And after intense negotiations with the remaining football schools such as Connecticut and Cincinnati, the seven schools were able to retain the Big East name as well as the right to have its annual conference tournament at Madison Square Garden.

In an attempt to bolster the league’s ranks, the Big East invited non-football playing, basketball-centric schools Butler, Creighton, and Xavier to form a revitalized 10-team league last March. These new members will bring great tradition and competitiveness to the new league.

Butler, with its famed venue Hinkle Fieldhouse, has appeared in the national championship game twice in the last five years.

Creighton, with five tournament appearances in the last decade, boasts one of the country’s most rabid fanbases, and Xavier has been to the NCAA Tournament in 11 of the last 13 seasons.

“We added three great teams in Xavier, Creighton, and Butler,” Lubick said. “We are really excited about all them and we are excited about making different road trips and going to get in the Midwest a bit.”

Thompson thinks these teams will make the new league one of the most competitive in the country.

“I think that over time, even though it’s easier to talk about who’s not in the Big East or who left, over time those same feelings and

emotions towards… the new teams, is going to be created because it’s a terrific league,” said Coach Thompson.

The league also announced a new 12year broadcasting deal with Fox Sports and its cable network, Fox Sports 1, worth roughly $600 million. The league, which now boasts a presence in seven of the nation’s 35 largest television markets, will certainly continue to be a national brand and afford its members additional exposure nationwide. And with a return to a double round-robin format, the league hopes to foster the growth of new rivalries, an opinion shared by Thompson.

“It helps, even in the initial stages of the Big East, it helps form the rivalries,” said Thompson. “You’re going to come here and then we’re going to go back to your house. I think with the new league, that’s important.”

Despite the discontent of fans over the breakup of the old league, Thompson and his players feel the new league will be extremely beneficial for Georgetown and its new members.

“I’m extremely excited to move on with this next phase of the Big East,” Thompson said. “I think the world will quickly see that our basketball and our league is among the best in the country… Change happens. You can’t control it. Intercollegiate athletics is going through an evolution. We have landed in a place that’s best for Georgetown and that’s best for the Big East. I’m excited about it.”

Tired by all the realignment buzz, players like senior guard Markel Starks are excited by the apparent end of the conference’s instability.

“It’s time to move on,” he said.

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the georgetown voice 7

BIG MAN ON CAMPUS

BY BRENDAN CROWLEY

If Josh Smith can stay focused and fit, he adds a new dimension to the Hoyas’ offense.

When fans and critics talk about junior center Josh Smith, any and all discussions start with one word: big. Many gape at his measurements: 6-10, 350 pounds. Others remember how big of a flop his career at UCLA became after much hype coming out of high school, and still others wonder how big of an impact he can have as a Hoya over the next two seasons. But for Josh Smith, he’s just happy to return to playing basketball.

A vaunted five-star prospect coming out of high school, Smith committed to a UCLA program that was on the tail end of a successful decade, with multiple Final Four appearances.

In his first year, envisioning a future NBA career, Smith averaged solid freshman numbers, scoring 10.9 points and pulling down 6.3 rebounds in 21.7 minutes per game. But Smith’s second season, one which is often promising for NBA prospects, failed to meet expectations. Smith’s numbers across the board dropped from his freshman season, raising questions about his ability to make the jump to the next level. And by the time Smith’s third year came around, his inability to stay on the court for extended stints became a clear obstacle to both himself and the Bruins.

With his weight ballooning and tensions rising with Head Coach Ben Howland, Smith decided it was time for a change of scenery.

After a visit to the nation’s capital over Christmas break, Smith found himself committing his future to the Hoyas. Smith will presumably be in a Hoya uniform for the next two seasons,

after the NCAA granted him four semesters of eligibility in a rare display of leniency, a reality few dared to predict when he announced his transfer to Georgetown in January.

“All I can say is, I was blessed,” said Smith, “I knew I was going to play but I didn’t know if it was gonna be the first game, or the Kansas game, but now, knowing that I can play, it’s just a lot of weight off my shoulders.”

For Smith, any success on the court will rest on his conditioning and habits off of it.

With his well-documented struggles with his weight, Smith explained that improving his health has been a methodical process. Since he arrived last December, Smith has slimmed down significantly, but still has a long way to go before he’s in full game shape.

“I’ve been here for almost a year,” said Smith. “So even though I haven’t been on the court, I’ve been with every practice rhythm, every conditioning, lift, workout, playing, I’ve been doing all that … I’ve just noticed a really, really big change, just being able to go for a little bit in practice, now being able to full practice … I’m on steps to getting there.”

Health questions aside, Josh Smith’s potential for on-court play is as high as any big man’s in the country. With his unmatched size and rare skill set: strong offensive moves and a soft passing touch, Smith is a nightmare matchup for any opponent.

“There’s not too much like going up against Josh Smith,” senior team captain

JAMES SANTELLI/NEON TOMMY

Nate Lubick said. “He’s the least fun person I’ve ever boxed out in my entire life.”

Head Coach John Thompson III, perhaps the biggest factor in Smith’s transfer decision, had high praise for his new big man.

“A committed Josh Smith—I’m not sure there is a better big man in the country,” Thompson said in an interview with ESPN. “He has the instincts and the physical tools to be better than any big man I’ve had.”

Clearly, a best-case scenario year from Josh Smith raises the ceiling for a Hoyas team searching for an identity after the departure of star Otto Porter to the NBA’s Washington Wizards. On offense, the addition of a true center in Smith allows both Nate Lubick and junior Mikael Hopkins to thrive in their natural power forward positions. Forced to play out of his position last year, Hopkins will be a particularly formidable matchup for most power forwards he faces this season. Also, Smith’s deft passing touch will be the perfect shot-creator for the Hoyas’ knockdown three point shooters, like senior guard Markel Starks and sophomore guard D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera.

If Smith can stay healthy and extend his stints on the court, he has the chance to be one of the most dominant forces in the Big East this season.

Though questions will follow him all season regarding his health, his eligibility, and his departure from UCLA, for Josh Smith, the fresh start he has been seeking has finally arrived.

“I’m here now,” Smith said, “so that’s all that matters.”

The X Factor: Grant Gibbs. The 6th year senior Gibbs is quite far from McDermott’s level when it comes to overall basketball ability, but in many ways, he’s just as crucial for Creighton. As the team’s leader in assists, it seems like Gibbs’ performance will be essential in maintaining a steady and functioning offense. Question Mark: Defense. Creighton will struggle to be nearly as good defensively with the loss of Gregory Echenique, their best rim-protector and rebounder from last year. Odds are, Creighton will be able to score almost at will, but that likely will not be enough in a conference that traditionally is defense-focused. The Bottom Line: Creighton might be the most intriguing team in the conference. It has the conference’s best player, who is also a credible National Player of the Year candidate and has largely gone unnoticed during its tenure in the Missouri Valley Conference. Above all, this is a dangerous team but success depends on two factors: Creighton will not be able to make a serious title run unless someone steps up with Doug McDermott, or until Creighton develops a defensive identity.

VILLANOVA WILDCATS Head Coach: Jay Wright. The Backbone: JayVaughn Pinkston. Last year, Pinkston was a destroyer in the paint, getting to the line more than almost anyone else in the country. As Villanova’s leading scorer and a talented rebounder, Pinkston should be the number one option on a Villanova team that will likely confound experts all year. The X Factor: Which Villanova are we getting? Last year, there might not have been a more confusing team in the Big East. Was Villanova a bad offensive team last year because it was in a conference with defensive juggernauts, or does it simply lack firepower? It’s hard to assess because nobody can really know which of those teams will show up this year.

8 the georgetown voice

basketball preview

november 7, 2013

CONTINUITY THROUGH CHANGE

EXPERIENCE AND DEPTH GUIDE HOYAS INTO THE NEW BIG EAST

BY CHRIS ALMEIDA PICTURED: AARON BOWEN

georgetownvoice.com

basketball preview

MEN’S BASKETBALL ROTATION

BY MAX ROBERTS

MOSES AYEGBA, Jr. Center 6’9”

Ayegba played a limited role for the Hoyas last season, averaging 9.4 minutes per game, often filling in for a fouledout Mikael Hopkins. Ayegba brings a commanding defensive presence to the court with his ability to block and alter shots.

But despite his defensive prowess, Moses is relatively limited on the offensive side of the ball. Although he is a senior, an ACL tear caused Ayegba left him on the bench for large parts of his freshman and sophomore years, so he still has room to potentially improve. The addition of Josh Smith figures to place Moses in the background, but his reliability will ensure that he gets crucial minutes to relieve Smith.

game. The discouraging thing about Hopkins is that he lead the team with 99 personal fouls last season which no doubt contributed to his diminished playing time.

Mikael’s situation this year will be dramatically changed from previous seasons. With the arrival of Josh Smith, time at the center position will likely be split between Smith and Moses Ayegba, allowing Hopkins to shift down to his more natural position of power forward. Though Lubick will be the starter at the four position, Hopkins will likely play significant minutes off the bench, where he will no longer encounter the size and strength mismatches of years past.

AARON BOWEN, Sr. Forward 6’6”

The Hoyas come roaring into the season with big expectations and a desire to overcome their past NCAA Tournament struggles.

It’s inexplicable, really. There’s nothing anybody can point to when trying to explain the suffering of the cornerstone of Hilltop athletics. For each of the past six years, the Hoyas’ seasons have been a torturous series of up and downs, each ending in postseason disappointment. So, this season begins with the same question: Will the Hoyas snap out of it?

“I’ll give you my expectation,” senior guard and co-captain Markel Starks said. ”I’m sick of looking up at those banners and not having, you know, any letters up under it. So finally trying to get over that hump, I think that’s the main objective this year.”

The Hoyas begin the season unranked in both polls, and not unreasonably so. After losing first team All American forward and former Big East Player of the Year Otto Porter Jr. to the Washington Wizards, Georgetown will have a major hole to fill on both ends of the floor.

“Yeah, you know obviously we lost Otto, who carried the load for a large part of the season scoring-wise,” senior forward and co-captain Nate Lubick said. “Everyone needs to step up, it’s a group effort not just myself.”

Porter’s presumed replacement, junior forward Greg Whittington, is also absent. He tore his ACL in the offseason and likely won’t return this season. Despite his inconsistent shooting, Whittington’s defensive and rebounding prowess made him a formidable presence last year when he wasn’t suspended. Who will fill the small forward position remains uncertain, leaving junior Jabril Trawick, sophomore Stephen Domingo, and freshman Reggie Cameron to vie for the spot.

Though the small forward position remains in doubt, there is no question about who will be starting in the backcourt. With Starks and sophomore D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera, the Hoyas sport one of the strongest backcourt duos in the country. Last year, Starks was the team’s second leading scorer and Smith-Rivera had a strong freshman season, reaching double figures in scoring 12 times. This season, the sharpshooting pair will be expected to provide even more scoring punch for the Hoyas.

“He’s a scorer, he can pick his spots. There’s not a place on the floor that he cannot shoot, and I think he and I will work well together,” Starks said of Smith-Rivera.

In the frontcourt, Lubick and junior Mikael Hopkins will return this season from the starting lineup last year but will be joined by junior center Josh Smith, a transfer from UCLA. Though Lubick, Hopkins, and senior center Moses Ayegba were effective on the defensive end, helping the Hoyas hold opponents to 37 percent shooting last year, they proved less potent on offense.

Smith, an imposing figure at 6-10 and 350 pounds, is primed to serve as a much-needed scoring threat.

“He’s a very good basketball player, which quite honestly I didn’t realize until he got here last year, the feel for the game he had,” Head Coach John Thompson III said of Smith. “You couple that in, he’s going to demand attention or he’s going to score.

That’s going to open things up for our offense.”

The Hoyas need to be effective on offense early, considering their usual strong slate of non-conference games to start the year. The season opener against No. 19 Oregon in South Korea will serve as a preview for a tournament in Puerto Rico that could lead to matchups against No 9. Michigan, No. 15 VCU, and Kansas State. Later in the season, the Hoyas will face title contenders No. 5 Kansas and No. 2 Michigan State.

“Our out-of-conference schedule is the hardest that we’ve had since I’ve been coaching here and that’s for a lot of different reasons. [In the past] when putting the out-of-conference schedule together, we weren’t really sure what the conference schedule was going to look like. We didn’t know how many games we were going to play,” Thompson said. “I would think it’s easy for the layperson or casual fan to look at the Kansas game or the Oregon game or the potential matchups in Puerto Rico. They’ll look at Michigan State. That’s a lot right there.”

Though the Hoyas’ new conference still bears the Big East name, former rivals Syracuse, Pittsburgh, Notre Dame, Louisville, and Connecticut will be absent from the schedule after the conference shakeup last year. Filling their place will be newcomers Creighton, Butler, and Xavier. Losing Head Coach Brad Stevens to the Boston Celtics will blunt Butler’s edge. But Creighton, which sports Big East Preseason Player of the Year Doug McDermott, should compete with Georgetown and Marquette for the top spot in the conference. Also contending for the Big

MILES GAVIN MENG

East title will be old foes Villanova and St. John’s, teams both overflowing with potential going into the 2013-2014 season.

This year will provide a new start, but the Hoyas have not forgotten last season, the good or the bad. In the 2012-2013 campaign, the Hoyas began the season unranked, like this year, before witnessing the emergence of Porter and rising as high as No. 5 in the country. But all the hope generated by an outstanding regular season disappeared when the Blue and Gray fell to tournament first-timers Florida Gulf Coast in the first round of the Big Dance.

“There absolutely is carryover. You have to step back, go through the process of introspection in everything. And we do that every year. The way it ended, people forget that we had a very very good year last year,” Thompson said. “We did win the Big East. Most of the people in this gym and most of our fans were happy many more nights than they were unhappy. I think that gets lost when it ended as it did. But that being said, we have to continue to analyze and figure out how we can not end like we did. And that’s something that’s going on.”

Though many commentators are skeptical of the Hoyas’ odds this year, they have quietly assembled many of the pieces necessary for a strong season. Starks and Smith-Rivera’s offensive strength will be supplemented by not only Smith’s scoring, but also by his passing and imposing presence, which will open up lanes to the basket that have been closed to Georgetown guards with the absence of a reliable center in recent years.

What’s more, the Hoyas will be significantly deeper than last season, with nine or ten players vying for minutes, as opposed to the six-deep roster seen at the end of the last year’s campaign. Though success is far from guaranteed, the Hoyas have a knack for exceeding expectations. Many forget that Georgetown has cracked the top ten in each of the last seven seasons.

Many onlookers see Porter’s departure and assume a large drop-off is in order, but it is important to note that this year’s Hoyas are deeper, more complete, and more experienced than recent Georgetown teams. Nothing is assured, but if all the pieces fall into place, the Hoyas could fulfill Coach Thompson’s expectations for the year: “To be good.”

the georgetown voice 9

Bowen, an often forgotten member of the senior class, averaged only seven minutes per game last season, shooting a dismal 21 percent from the field, albeit on only 19 shot attempts. Many Hoya fans will remember him for his clutch acrobatic tip in last season’s contest against Louisville, but there isn’t much beyond Bowen’s athleticism. He is outclassed by many of his teammates who have more well-rounded games.

Bowen is the crowd pleaser. He electrified the Verizon Center several times with thunderous dunks. However, he provided little else besides these few highlight reel plays, and although the crowd loves such plays, the coaching staff wants more complete players than video game dunkers. If Bowen can apply his athleticism to the defensive end as well as match it with intelligent cuts and rotations he could become a valuable commodity off the bench for the Hoyas.

REGGIE CAMERON, Fr. Forward 6’7”

Reggie Cameron, this year’s lone freshman, is the next in a line of lanky Hoya swingmen. At 6-8, Cameron will be competing for time at the wide-open small forward position.

Though he is known for his strong three-point shooting, Cameron still has much to learn both defensively and in the lane.

Look for the Hackensack, NJ native to play decent minutes off the bench, with a possibly increasing role if he prospers in the early season.

Georgetown’s success this year will revolve around its experienced veterans.

Stephen Domingo was outshined last season by Smith-Rivera’s impressive play, but don’t forget that he was also a four star recruit coming into his freshman season last year. He actually passed on his senior year of high school to join the Hoyas last season, so while he is technically a sophomore, he is as young as most freshmen. Coming in, Domingo was known mostly for his shot, but he occasionally struggled from deep and only averaged just one point per game last season, while playing a meager 5.6 minutes per game. The San Francisco native lacked stout defense and a commanding rebounding presence, so when he struggled to make shots, he found himself on the bench. However, with Otto gone and one year under his belt, Domingo could play a larger role if he finds his aim.

NATE LUBICK, Sr. Forward, 6’8”

MIKAEL HOPKINS, Jr. Forward 6’9”

D’VAUNTES SMITH-RIVERA, So. Guard 6’3”

Mikael Hopkins is one of the more enigmatic cases on the roster. He started all 32 games last year but logged fewer minutes than the other starters. Hopkins can be painful to watch as he’s frustratingly inconsistent. Listed at 6-9 inches, Hopkins has the ability to be an absolute force on defense as he led the team in blocks last season, while finishing with the fourth-most steals.

However, he only averaged 2.9 rebounds and 5.9 points per

JOSH SMITH, Jr. Center 6’10”

Josh Smith, a transfer from Ben Howland’s UCLA program, came to the Hilltop last semester, but was not expected to play for the Hoyas until the end of the first semester. However, the NCAA recently granted a waiver for Smith to play the entire season in a seemingly arbitrary decision. Listed at 6-10 and a massive 350 pounds, conditioning is one of the first issues with Smith’s game. In the time that he spent on the court with UCLA he could be incredibly dominant, but he often could not sustain his play for long periods of time.

“By no means is he where he should be, but he’s come a long way at the same time, so it’s a work in progress,” Coach Thompson said regarding Smith’s conditioning. How Smith will fit into the rotation remains to be seen. He may be a starter immediately or may come off the bench in spurts to provide support in the low post. Despite the best efforts of Lubick and Hopkins, the Hoyas often struggled to produce points in the post position last season. Smith’s impressive size and talent could provide points in the paint, while also creating more space and driving opportunities for Starks and DSR. Smith will also be a force for the Hoyas on the boards.

Assuming Smith can stay disciplined in his conditioning he could bring a new, powerful dimension to the Hoya offense.

MARKEL STARKS, Sr. Guard 6’2”

MILES GAVIN MENG

STEPHEN DOMINGO, So. Guard 6’6”

points per game and shot 33 percent from behind the arc.

After Whittington’s season ended, Smith-Rivera became the team’s third scoring option. It is clear that the team will rely even more on Smith-Rivera this year with the departure of Porter. The shooting guard will definitely be asked to step up this year to compliment Starks, but he is still young and will hopefully continue to keep learning from teammates. In his sophomore year, Smith-Rivera’s shooting will be one of the Hoyas’ biggest weapons this year and beyond.

Nate Lubick did a bit of everything for the Hoyas last year, and he will probably have to do even more after the loss of Porter. Lubick started each game last season and had an impact in almost all statistical categories. He was second on the team in rebounds, fifth in scoring average, second in assists, logged the third-highest number of minutes played, and led the team in field goal percentage, making almost 60 percent of his shots. The Hoyas will need even more from him this year, especially in terms of scoring, which was often lackluster against top opponents. Lubick has emphasized his offseason conditioning, as well as work on his shot and post moves that could elevate his offensive game.

Smith-Rivera was a four star recruit out of high school, but few would have guessed that his freshman contributions would be as significant as they were. Smith-Rivera was fifth on the team in minutes, despite not getting the start in a single game. He was able to be an impressive sixth man for the Hoyas, providing reliable, timely scoring as a guard. He was the team’s fourth-leading scorer last season with 8.9

Starks looks to be the focal point of the Hoya offense with the departure of Otto Porter Jr. a year after averaging 12.8 points per game, second only to Porter himself. Starks had an impressive season last year, especially stepping up against tough Big East opponents, posting 17 points in an upset win over Louisville last January and a game-high 19 points in the March demolishing of Syracuse at home. As a senior point guard, Starks will be the clear leader of the team. Starks was also recently selected to the Bob Cousy Award watch list, an award given to the best point guard of the year. The Accokeek, MD native said that while he wants team success first and foremost, he also appreciates the recognition. Overall, look for Starks to take command of the Hoyas this year and for the team to go as he goes.

JABRIL TRAWICK, Jr. Guard 6’5”

Trawick was assumed to be a minor role player heading into last season, being overlooked in favor of Porter, Starks and Whittington. However, after losing academic eligibility, Whittington only ended up playing in 13 games. As a result, Trawick ended up starting 20 games, playing fewer minutes than only Porter, Starks, and Lubick. While his stats from last year don’t jump out as impressive, at 5.8 points per game, 2.9 rebounds per game, and a middling 30 percent from behind the arc, Jabril remains an exciting player. Standing at 6-5, Jabril is a tenacious defender who had the third-most steals on the team last season. However, as his 3 point field goal percentage (.299) shows, his shot still needs some work.

Jabril practiced heavily this offseason to be able to grow into a role that will surely expand even more this campaign.

10 the georgetown voice

basketball preview

november 7, 2013

BACKCOURT TO THE FUTURE

BY CHRIS ALMEIDA

Question Mark: Lack of a star, consistency. These two problems are probably fairly closely related. When offense isn’t working for Villanova, how will they score? We know that Villanova is a good defensive team, but it’s hard to figure out how they will be able to consistently score without a real standout emerging. Bottom Line: No team in the Big East could experience outcomes as different as Villanova. The Wildcats could be a middling squad or a total disaster. It’s more likely the former than the latter.

ST. JOHN’S RED STORM Head Coach: Steve Lavin. The Backbone: Chris Obekpa. Although Obekpa has not received much in the way of national accolades, he is one of the best rim-protectors in the Big East. After averaging 4 blocks per game last season, Obekpa heads into his sophomore season with a chance to make a name for himself. For all of his defensive abilities, he only has one problem: He’s terrible on the other side of the ball. He needs to at least become a competent offensive player for St. John’s to improve. The X Factor: D’Angelo Harrison. If someone took the most cursory look at guard D’Angelo Harrison, the guard may seem like one of the best players in the Big East.

But despite scoring almost 18 points per game and rebounding well for his position, Harrison hogged the ball, resulting in only 2.3 assists per game and a truly abysmal shooting percentage (39.4 percent). Harrison simply needs to be a more selfless player.

Question Mark: Despite proving its ability to defend at a fairly high level, St. John’s always struggle to score.

While the Red Storm has the talent to be a good team, Lavin has yet to convince the squad to play within a coherent offensive system. Bottom Line: St. John’s will be fun to watch, if not because of talent...

This isn’t going to be your average Hoya season. Georgetown basketball usually features imposing big men, and more recently, a lanky swingman. But this year, it’s all about Georgetown’s guards, senior Markel Starks and sophomore D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera. The Hoyas have produced dominant backcourts in the past, but this year’s edition is especially exceptional.

Oak Hill alumnus Smith-Rivera, the head of last year’s freshman class, broke out early in the year with a 19-point showing against Duquesne in the season’s first full game. After junior forward Greg Whittington was ruled academically ineligible at the beginning of Big East play, Smith-Rivera started playing significant minutes, posting double digit scoring figures 12 times. Against DePaul, Smith-Rivera scored 33 points, the most by a Hoya since 2009.

Now, with a year of experience under his belt, Smith-Rivera will be a catalyst for the Hoya offense. “[Smith-Rivera] can shoot, he’s a scorer, guy can really shoot,” Starks said, “I mean, he’s a scorer, he can pick his spots, there’s not a place on the floor that he cannot shoot, and I think he and I will work well together.” After dropping weight in the offseason, Smith-Rivera will be more prepared to be a top scoring option, while also bringing his impressive defensive and rebounding abilities to the starting lineup.

Starks, after an impressive junior season where he averaged over 12 points per game while shooting over 41 percent from three-point range, is hungry for postseason success. “You know, when I think of ... the guys that came before me. When I think about Roy Hibbert, his senior year: out in the second round. You know Chris Wright: out in the first round. You know I don’t want to leave that legacy. Not to take anything away from their careers, but I want to leave a legacy. I want to leave here on a very positive note,” Starks said.

After being named to the Bob Cousy Award watch list, an award for college basketball’s top point guard, and the preseason All-Big East first

team, Starks is moving on to the national scene, and is poised for a strong season, where he will be in the spotlight from day one. Starks ended up in Head Coach John Thompson III’s doghouse two years ago for his attitude, but is now trusted to be the team’s floor general.

“Markel and I are at the point where he knows exactly what I want.

He knows not only what I need of him but what I need him to help everyone else to the point I need everyone else to get to.” Thompson said, “So that happens when you have older guys that have gone through it and gone from being the Reggie Camer-

ons of the world, trying to figure out what language Coach is speaking right now, to the senior that understands that I don’t have to have a conversation. Yes, I think we are in a very good place. That’s how it should be.”

Though junior center Josh Smith’s presence on the floor could redefine the Hoya offense, right now, the focus will be on Starks and Smith-Rivera, who will also see open lanes to the basket with stronger post presences on the team. With the Hoyas high on experience this year, and the pieces coming together for a complete lineup, don’t be surprised when this dynamic duo scores in avalanches.

As opposed to years past, the Hoya backcourt will be the focal point of the offense.

Courtesy SPORTS INFORMATION

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SECRETARY OF NATE

the georgetown voice 11

LUBICK READY TO LEAD

BY CHRIS CASTANO

With Otto Porter gone, players like Nate Lubick need to shoulder more of the scoring burden this year.

Nate Lubick is unassuming. Normally the Georgetown big man cuts a neutral figure during interviews, But due to the team’s disappointing finish against Florida Gulf Coast, his serene manner breaks noticeably when questioned on the end of the 2012-2013 season. Lubick’s not happy about it, and he has every right not to be.

“I’d be lying to you if I said I completely gotten over it,” said Lubick, “I don’t think I or Markel will completely gotten over it until we step foot on the court in Korea playing against Oregon. … We still have a sour taste in our mouths.”

As a four-year starter, Nate Lubick has become one of Georgetown’s more recognizable faces on the court. But with the loss of Otto Porter to the NBA, he’ll be stepping into an even more prominent role. Knowing this, Nate has set lofty personal goals and worked hard this summer.

“My goal coming into this season was to be in the best shape of my life.

That is definitely true. I am in the best shape I’ve been in a long time. Everybody keeps asking if I lost any weight. I didn’t lose any weight, I’m just in really good shape,” Lubick said.

Lubick is the clear starting pow-

er forward on the team and, with an unproven Josh Smith now at center, will initially be the team’s main option down low, a fact he has prepared for.

“I worked on my shot a little bit, and I worked on everything. Being able to score in the post. I got to be somebody when we throw it down I need to be able to score in the post,” Lubick said.

Head Coach John Thompson III understands Lubick’s importance to the team as well. In Thompson’s opinion, getting the best out of his team means getting the best out of Lubick.

“It’s going to be a lot different because I think we’re going to depend on Nate for a lot more scoring punch on the blocks. Nate is a facilitator. Nate does a very good job of setting up his teammates and making the hustling plays in the past. This year, we’re going to go to him and he’s going to have to produce. I think you’re going to see Nate as a better player on the court this year than in the previous three years,” Thompson said.

Many questions have been raised over who would take over as the Hoyas’ star player following the departure of Otto Porter Jr. to the NBA. While Lubick is certainly considered a less complete player than Porter, he did shoot

Courtesy SPORTS INFORMATION

a team-leading 59 percent from the field and will be looked to increase his production in all facets of the game this year. Still, the big man is adamant that the responsibility of taking over for the Hilltop’s favorite Wizard falls not on his shoulders, but the whole team’s.

“There is not one person who is going to be able to fill in for Otto. There is not one person who is going to fill in for Greg [Whittington] … everybody talks about how we are going to be during the Big East season without Greg. Well we didn’t play with Greg during the Big East season last year. And we did a pretty good job and we came out on top for that. … We are going to be fine moving forward,” Lubick said.

While Lubick might play coy on his role in this team, he can’t hide his confidence about the strength and playing ability of the team this season.

“In years past we have been really young. Everybody has talked about how young we are. That is not the case this year,” said Lubick, “We are a veteran team that is a veteran-led team. Our younger guys are guys who have experience. We got Juniors and Seniors who are going to be carrying the majority of the load with D’Vauntes and some of the younger guys stepping up big as well.”

...then because it’s always entertaining to see which Johnnie will waste an offensive possession with an ill-advised shot. If St. John’s can sharpen up its attack, then this team might make a difference in the Big East.

PROVIDENCE FRIARS Head Coach: Ed Cooley. The Backbone: Bryce Cotton. Despite the presence of Doug McDermott, Cotton will look to defend his title as the league’s leading scorer. While everyone knows that Cotton is high-volume scorer, he and his frontcourt will have to put in a concerted defensive effort to reach its goal of an NCAA Tournament appearance. The X Factor: Efficiency. Apart from Cotton, Kadeem Batts and LaDontae Henton make up a competent frontcourt, but everyone will need to make more out of their possessions.

Providence has talent on the offensive end, but nobody will be afraid of this team unless they start hitting more shots. Question Mark: Point guard play. The departure of guard Vincent Council may spell trouble for Providence’s offense. Cotton and company relied heavily on Council to set them up last season, and, without him, they may struggle to be a cohesive offensive unit. Bottom Line: Even though they have been largely written off by the national media, Providence is a talented team. Expectations are low, the defense is mediocre, and there’s a lack of consistent backcourt talent, but the Friars’ respectable squad has the potential to be competitive.

Head Coach: Chris Mack. The Backbone: Semaj Christon. Christon is one of the few players in the Big East capable of being a lottery pick in the NBA. Essentially, this team was built completely around Christon...

12 the georgetown voice

basketball preview

november 7, 2013

CHANGE AT THE TOP WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PREVIEW

BY ABBY SHERBURNE

...and will only go as far as he will take them.

A talented and athletic sophomore, this big-bodied combo guard could have a real future in the NBA. But considering that this team is so reliant on Christon, he will need to become an even stronger player. The X Factor: The new guys. Xavier is bolstered by a heaping of new players—some transfers and others who were ineligible last year.

Myles Davis, for instance, a four-star recruit who was ineligible last year, will finally get a chance to prove his abilities to the Musketeers. Question Mark: Everyone on the team who isn’t Semaj Christon. While guys like Davis could spark the offense, it’s difficult to be too sanguine about the other players on the team. For all of Christon’s ability, he can’t do everything by himself, and will need substantial help from a relatively untested supporting cast. Bottom Line: Odds are, the only people who will follow Xavier with any interest, aside from alumni, are NBA Draft enthusiasts, looking to catch a glimpse of Christon. Much like Georgia’s Kentavious Caldwell-Pope last year, Christon will likely be forced to do everything for a team that is largely incompetent at the other four positions.

BUTLER BULLDOGS Head Coach: Brandon Miller. The Backbone: The system. Former head coach Brad Stevens, who left the program to coach the NBA’s Boston Celtics, seemed to be working voodoo magic to make two consecutive NCAA Title Games with a Butler team generally lacking in elite talent.

This team should continue to be greater than the sum of its parts with new Head Coach Brandon Miller, a disciple of Stevens, now taking the reins. The X Factor: Rene Castro. He’s a three-star recruit and will be utilized as a point guard, even though he’s really more of a combo guard. Butler lost most of its team from last year, and that team wasn’t even great, so their best hope lies in newcomer Castro. Question Mark: Lack of continuity. Butler is now in its third conference in as many years. The team is still missing its star coach, along with most of its top performers from last year. To top it off, they have an unheralded freshman point guard, who’s being asked to run...

Senior co-captain Samisha Powell provides leadership for an otherwise youthful squad.

While he might not have been here long, interim Head Coach Jim Lewis sure is happy to be joining the Women’s Basketball team.

“Well, there’s no better place to be,” he said on just his second day with the team last week. Lewis, who grew up in Alexandria, Va. thinks he was “predestined” to work with the Hoyas and more than ready to take on the task.

While his credentials are impressive, including coaching posts with Team USA and WNBA squads, he still has a long way to go with an inexperienced roster recovering from the abrupt departure of former head coach Keith Brown. “What I do daily is a change to all of [the players], so I’m just trying to keep it simple and build them up,” Lewis said, “ [I’m working] towards building the cohesion we need on the team.”

His players are excited to take on the challenge and are approaching the season with the same positivity.

“We’re constantly energetic [now],” said senior guard and captain Samisha Powell, “I know last year it was just like, ‘We want practice to be over.’ People aren’t saying that a lot, it’s positive attitudes.” Powell along with senior forward and captain Andrea White, are the only two upperclassmen returning to the squad, so they have a lot of responsibility riding on their shoulders as well.

Powell said she’s shifted her focus to this leadership role and “being another teacher on the floor as well as their senior point guard and captain.”

While Lewis hasn’t been able to see what the women can really do yet, Powell

thinks that the freshman class of players is extremely strong.

“The freshmen all bring in different talents that fill the void for Sugar Rodgers,” she said. Rodgers is Georgetown’s all-time leading scorer who graduated in 2013. She now plays for the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA. “That helps us a lot with our returners.”

White echoed Powell’s dedication toward being a leader to a younger squad, and is excited to see what the new-comers can do. Despite the turbulence over the past month, she is excited about the prospect of starting fresh.

“I think it has helped unify [the team],” White said. “We have to stick together as a team with a new coach coming in and everyone has adjusted to him, he’s adjusted to us, so as long as we stick together, we’ll have a successful season.”

Lewis isn’t overlooking the seniors’ leadership either.

“There’s a definite strength that I’ve observed from day one, and that lies in our two seniors,” said Lewis.

We can safely assume that both seniors will be seeing a considerable amount of playing-time, but Lewis declined to comment on a starting five, hinting that the squad might face some additional challenges because of a slew of injuries that are yielding an unusually small roster.

“I don’t want to give out any secrets as to how many,” he said, “but nonetheless we’ll be prepared to play.” Lewis aims to build up the individual players, and says that we “can expect to see everyone on the floor.”

The quickness of the sophomores and

GEORGETOWN VOICE ARCHIVES

the relative malleability of the team’s playbook will offer the Hoyas a unique opportunity to grow together in a way that matches their abilities. In the past, the women have stuck to a zone defense, but with their quickness and youth, we can expect the implementation of a man-defense to accommodate a faster style of play. “We want teams to adjust to us,” Lewis said in stressing the importance of the team’s growth over any records.

With senior leadership from Powell and White and Lewis’ willingness to dive in, the team is keeping its expectations high. “How many [championships] do you want?” Lewis joked, about the tournament-filled season.

The women will spend Thanksgiving week in Alaska at the Carrs/Safeway Great Alaskan Shootout, and the week before Christmas at the Puerto Rico Classic against Michigan State and Western Kentucky.

After last season’s 15-16 performance under Keith Brown, including a 5-11 record in the Big East, no one really knows what to expect from these Hoyas. However, with help from a quick and committed sophomore class comprised of guard Katie McCormick, forward Ki-Ke Rafiu, forward Logan Battle and forward Dominique Vitalis, enthusiasm and energy are running high.

“Our goal is to get better every day,” reiterated Lewis, “I’m really in a learning curve and the players have been very receptive.

I think our staff is [also] doing a great job.”

Their first test will come this Friday, November 8 in McDonough Gymnasium against the Richmond Spiders (0-0, 0-0 Atlantic 10).

Tip off is slated for 7 p.m.

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the georgetown voice 13

LEWIS STEPS INTO THE STORM

Despite the controversy surrounding the resignation of former head coach Keith Brown, the Georgetown women’s basketball team looks forward to an upcoming season with high prospects for success.

“We’re very optimistic because we’ve assembled a very outstanding group of young women who are learning how to

work together and put them in positions where they can be effective,” interim coach Jim Lewis said.

On Oct. 2, Georgetown placed Brown on leave after players reported him for unprofessional conduct and inappropriate language. Brown resigned from his post on Oct.10. The University did not comment about how the team would be

GEORGETOWN VOICE ARCHIVES

Interim Head Coach Jim Lewis will look to nurture young talent like sophomore forward Dominique Vitalis.

BY JEFFREY LIN

moving forward in the wake of Brown’s resignation.

The University named Lewis the interim head coach on Oct. 24. He’s worked as a collegiate head coach before, for George Mason’s women’s basketball team from 1984 to 1987. He then served as the first head coach of the WNBA’s Washington Mystics in 1998, before spending time on the coaching staff of the Indiana Fever, the Minnesota Lynx, and the Los Angeles Sparks. While he will be considered temporary until tournament time, the University will review his interim status at the conclusion of the 2013-2014 season.

With the first game of the season against Richmond set for this Friday, the team is excited to see how Lewis will operate during game time.

“Coach Lewis came in and he’s done a great job,” senior forward Andrea White said. “We’re learning new offenses and I think everyone is excited about this season.”

One challenge Lewis faces is the lack of experience on the team. Of the 11 players currently on the roster, only two players, co-captains White and Samisha Powell are not either sophomores or freshmen.

“Yes, we are a young team,” Lewis said, “[but] we have two outstanding seniors, Samisha Powell and Andrea White, who have just been named co-captains.

They’re going to help lead us to the kind of success we expect.”

Moreover, Lewis has confidence that the younger players will be able to shoulder a heavy load this season.

“The [four] sophomores and the five freshmen are all very capable of playing at this level and they’re going to be thrown right into the fire because we’re a little short with some injuries,” Lewis said. “Nonetheless, they’ve conditioned themselves well and we continue to grow in knowledge, confidence, and ability to execute and play really championship-level basketball. These freshmen will grow up very quickly. We’re excited to see the growth for the entire team this season.”

White realizes the role she and Powell must play as the leaders of this relatively young team: “I have to be a leader on the court and off. … I have to be more vocal and lead by example so they can learn from me.”

And Jim Lewis is just the man for the job. With his dedication to individual growth and the players’ dedication to team growth and cohesion, these Lady Hoyas are in luck.

...the show from a new position. And no one in the projected starting lineup averaged double digits last season, yielding more than one offensive problem that the Bulldogs will have to deal with. Bottom Line: This Butler team just does not have much talent. They’ve got plenty of competent role players, but nobody who will really lead the team.

SETON HALL PIRATES Head Coach: Kevin Willard. The Backbone: Senior Eugene Teague. It says something about Seton Hall that its best player is a guy who averaged only 11 points per game last season. Teague was a competent player on what was a terrible team last year. He managed to score efficiently, shooting 56 percent from the field. Any hope that Seton Hall displays even the slightest pulse this season will rest on his shoulders. The X Factor: What happened? Seton Hall was once respectable, even as recently as two years ago. Unfortunately, despite being constituted largely by seniors who once played on that squad, the Pirates appear mired in rather hopelessness on both ends of the floor. Odds are, they will be bottom feeders once again. Question Mark: Basically everything. Last season, Seton Hall lacked in almost every facet of the game, managing to be one of the very worst teams in the Big East on both offense and defense. This will be a long year for the Pirates. Bottom Line: Seton Hall has low expectations. Even in a depleted new Big East, Seton Hall looks like an unmitigated disaster on both ends.

Next year’s recruiting class holds the only optimism anyone could have for this team is that.

DePAUL BLUE DEMONS Bottom Line: DePaul will, once again, be bottom feeders. Despite their gimmicky fast-paced offense, it seems inconceivable they’ll do much besides trying to avoid last place in the conference.

leisure

14 the georgetown voice

november 7, 2013

Hamlet dubsteps with Ophelia in this modern Shakespeare

by Elizabeth Baker I’ll be the first to admit it: I had no idea what to expect when I learned the Theater and Performance Studies Department’s production of Hamlet was taking a modern guise. I’ve seen Much Ado About Nothing and Romeo and Juliet set in present day, so I know very well that Shakespearean lore is capable of transcending time and space. But to take perhaps the greatest story ever told and refashion it with iPads and grating dubstep? It’s a risk, but director Professor Derek Goldman and his cast pull it off spectacularly.

When you walk into Gonda Theater, you’re greeted by a large seminar table, complete with plush chairs, screens, and Macklemore’s “White Walls” blaring from the speakers. The stage looks more like an abandoned study session in Lau than the royal court of Elsinore. Yet despite the 16th century language, it strikes me how easy it is for Shakespeare to slide into our time period.

Suddenly, the characters of Hamlet lose their royal garb, and become, simply, college students. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, for instance, prove an intriguing duo who easily leap (together, that is) onto our campus.

Played by Jack Schmitt (COL’15) and Joel Napier (COL’15), the Shakespearean Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dum quickly become our protagonist’s buddies, bro-tastic handshakes and all, working together to sqeeze the truth out of Hamlet.

Perhaps this is what makes Shakespeare, particularly Hamlet, so perfect for today’s time period. Despite its allusions to spirits and roy-

alty, the themes of family, friendship, and loyalty transcend time. It is out of love that Hamlet, played by Addison Williams (COL ’14), refuses to let go of his father’s memory.

“Ultimately, what is so great about Shakespeare’s writing is that it defines the human experience,” said Edward Walczak (COL’15), who plays a cunning yet sympathetic Claudius. Even rotten beings aren’t inherently evil: As Walczak explains, Claudius merely tries to better the lives of others by getting his hands dirty. “Claudius is a sin-eater…

Constantly he wonders, can evil be justified if good goes out of it? He becomes less sure as time goes along.”

Goldman is deft at staging duality and contrasts—the scene with Claudius praying in the chapel perhaps shows this best. As the king prays to a God that will not answer, the audience sees the exposed underbelly of the antagonist. As Walczak put it, “If you wanted real evil, cue Richard III.” In a way, the technology used in this performance heightens the sense of distraction in Hamlet’s world, which exists even before Goldman and his cast decided to incorporate iPads and iPhones. Throughout the play, castmember’s faces are eerily lit by their electronics, absorbed in an unreal world—all except Hamlet, who holds onto his book, a last tie to the past, and never lets go.

At points, Claudius’ monologues are interrupted by a buzzing cellphone. “It only heightens the feeling of detachment,” Williams said. “Everyone knows how it feels to be in a room, looking at your friends texting and laughing at a joke. You’re there,

JOSHUA RAFTIS

“Everyday I’m shufflin’... off this mortal coil.”

but you’re not really getting it.

And that’s how I think Hamlet feels most of the time.”

Hamlet wildly tries to get his friends’ and family’s eyes and ears away from their screens and plugged back into the real world.

Alexandra Waldon (COL’15), who plays a sensuous but oblivious Ger-

trude, believes the technological aspect of Hamlet helps connect it to the real world and drives the point home of how we all are, in some ways, too tuned in.

Goldman and his cast have brilliantly recreated Hamlet in a rendition that could almost take place within our campus walls.

Meat: The flavor of love

I’ve been thinking a lot about meat lately. Maybe because two of my housemates are vegetarian, I get a sort of odd little twinge of guilt when I’m browning the ground beef for my chili or frying up some particularly fragrant chicken dumplings. Yet meat has always been a part of my diet, a nicely regulated quadrangle on the food pyramid.

When my mother unilaterally decided our household would transition to a “plant-based diet” in the early days of high school, I was a bit apprehensive about the influx of vegetables. They were terrifying at first. I remember running my hands over a bulbous, smooth, purple eggplant and scowling in confusion at what bizarre magical land it had come from. The first time I woke up to my mother grinding a kale smoothie instead of frying up bacon was another sad day. Quite a few years later, vegetables and I have finally come to terms with one another. I even go out of my way to buy myself a misshapen eggplant every few weeks, because, underneath the otherworldly exterior lies what I have discovered to be a delicious food, especially when battered and fried.

Yet as much as I have embraced the beauty of vegetables, I cannot give up meat. I have three reasons for my loyalty to my carnivorous ways: 1. Bacon: As any of my housemates will tell you, I eat a lot of bacon. Bacon seems to have established an almost cult-like following as of late, primarily consisting of boys who associate it with some bizarre kind of masculinity and chocolatiers who have decided that bacon ought to be a novelty component in their newest fusion milk chocolate bar. While I am not a member of either group, I love bacon because it is easy to cook and makes pretty much everything more delicious. Breakfast time? I cut an avocado in half, crumble

bacon into the tiny semicircle left from the pit, and drizzle some sour pomegranate sauce on top. Lunch or dinner? One of my favorite go-to meals is mac and cheese—but not the kind you would think. Instead of opening a box of Kraft (which is still pretty delicious), I boil up and drain some pasta, add whatever cheeses are in the fridge (goat cheese, feta, cheddar, Gruyere, blue cheese, cream cheese… you name it, I’ve tried it), and then add some crumbled bacon to the mixture.

Nothing is more comforting, filling, and delicious. Want something slightly healthier? Add bacon to a quinoa salad with your buttery sweet potatoes, sautéed mush-

Plate of the Union

by Rebecca Barr & Colleen Wood a bi-weekly column about food rooms, arugula, and goat cheese.

There’s something about the bacon that just ties all the other flavors together. Bacon is that friend of yours who is weirdly good at bringing different groups of friends together and not making it awkward.

2. Kebabs: Kebabs, unlike bacon, are a stand-alone meat.

When I eat a kebab, I don’t want it mashed up in mac and cheese or mixed in with a salad. When I eat a kebab, I want to eat meat in all its juicy, pleasurable, guilt-inducing deliciousness. I first discovered the joy of kebab culture (yes, it is a culture) while living in Adana, a city in Southeast Turkey known primarily by its prevalence on menus in Turkish restaurants around the world. The spicy and delicious Adana kebab is not made by normal Turks in their homes. It is made by masters of the craft of kebab making in special restaurants, each laying claim to the best, original Adana kebab. The master chefs combine freshly ground lamb meat with onion, garlic, cumin, corian-

From surveillance cameras that watch the brooding Hamlet to gritty, electronic music and jolting visuals, the audience is launched into a familiar world. As Waldon notes, “Hamlet rooted in the interpretation of distraction by devices becomes an incredibly poignant and plausible translation.” der, sumac, red pepper, and a myriad of other spices and squeeze it onto a long, thick skewer, roasting it until the juices drip down into the coals below. There may be no more pleasurable and satisfying moment for me as when a kebab arrives on the table, lying on top of a bed of hot pita bread. An Adana kebab is a show stealer and an attention hog, and it entirely deserves it.

3. Barbecue/barbeque/BBQ. It doesn’t matter how you spell it.

It’s delicious in any linguistic form.

Growing up in Memphis, barbecue was something my family ate with great frequency. From ribs to pulled pork sandwiches, each restaurant has its own way of preparing and seasoning the meat, in addition to its own special sauces. In May, the air would smell of barbecue as the World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest and all its related revelries occurred downtown on the banks of the Mississippi. Barbecue is a staple of Memphian life.

Family get-together? Let’s order barbecue! Birthday party? Barbecue! Funeral? Uncle Henry would have wanted us to eat this barbecue. Barbecue is certainly delicious, but it is also the most nostalgic of my reasons for eating meat. Barbecue reminds me of home, of childhood, of sauce dripping all over me, of summertime, and of joy.

I am not here to make an argument for meat, but I am here to make an argument for eating food that makes you happy. As epicurean as it may sound, one of the greatest privileges a person can have is being able to eat food that makes her happy. Perhaps one day, vegetables will be able to satiate me entirely. Until then, though, I’ll be adding bacon to my mac and cheese, indulging in the occasional kebab, and dripping barbecue sauce all over myself on the banks of the Mississippi.

Let Rebecca and Colleen stuff you with meat at rbarr@georgetownvoice.com and cwood@georgetownvoice.com

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“Too bad you can’t practice getting taller, boys.” — Space Jam

the georgetown voice 15

Hemsworth pounds out solid sequel in Thor: The Dark World

by Zakiya Jamal Following The Avengers, Thor (Chris Hemsworth) has returned home to Asgard. Similar to their past films, Marvel’s newest movie, Thor: The Dark World, includes plenty of action, comedy, and just the right amount of romance to make it entertaining popcorn fodder.

Facing the job of restoring the realms to order and preparing to take the throne as king, Thor must also deal with the heartbreak of being parted from his love, Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), for the past two years.

Disaster strikes when Foster stumbles upon an ancient evil, the Aether, which leads to a war that quickly becomes catastrophic for all nine realms, including both Asgard and Earth.

The sequel brings a host of changes in production, including a new director, Alan Taylor, and different writers. Yet these chang-

es seem to be the right choice for the Marvel franchise, because this Thor sequel was surprisingly better than the original.

The plot bustles with dozens of moving parts, switching settings between Asgard, Earth, and some of the other realms, along with trailing various characters throughout the film. Though this could have easily gotten messy and confusing, Taylor does a deft job of tying everything together and focusing back in on the main story when it begins to trail off.

The film strikes a nice balance between action and comedy as well. For every fight scene, the audience is given at least two witty one-liners from Loki (Tom Hiddleston). At one point he tells King Odin (Anthony Hopkins), “It’s not that I don’t love our little talks, it’s just … I don’t love them.”

Fans who have been following Loki throughout the last few Marvel movies will be glad to know

IMDB

“Don’t think too much, just bust that kick, I wanna take a ride on your disco stick.” that despite his imprisonment he hasn’t lost his sarcasm.

The romance between Foster and Thor grows more layered— and even, at times, funny—when other love interests are thrown into play. There are just enough chick flick moments to make the audience go “Awwwww,” but not so many that you wonder if you’re still watching an action film.

True to the Marvel brand, Taylor

doesn’t disappoint with the cinematography and graphics, as he illustrates detail and clarity in every battle scene.

Thor: The Dark World comes together like the combo deals at the concession stand, packing every blockbuster element into a neat box. There’s drama, gut-wrenching moments to keep audiences on the edge of their seats, and twists that continually

surprise and excite the audience until the very end.

And just as with all Marvel movies, viewers are advised to stay after the theatrical credits for a little extra scene that will either drive you crazy with more questions or excite you for The Avengers 2, coming in 2014. Either way, this movie breaks the bad sequel curse, and is most certainly worth seeing.

Maybe even twice.

C ri t i c a l V o i c es

Cut Copy, Free Your Mind, Modular Recordings Although festival season has come to a close, Cut Copy’s fourth full-length release, Free Your Mind, is worthy of nothing less than the floral crowns and tank tops that listeners will don come springtime. The band is back with the same heavy dose of nostalgia that they have toted throughout their career, only this time their sound has been molded into what could be a 50-minute live set for thousands of eager fans.

The Australian foursome’s blend of energetic synthpop and their exaggerated flower child persona leads to an engaging, dancy feel. After the unnecessary “Intro,” “Free Your Mind” bumps the LP to life with a deep, engaging breakbeat. This beat employs the punchy, squelching sound of acid house, which peaked in popularity in

the mid-80s rave culture, to carry the title-track persistently forward. Dan Whitford’s distorted vocals, clamorous percussion, and swelling synth lines layer on top, eventually leading to a cathartic peak.

The thumpy acid house sound revived in the second track is a recurring experiment throughout the LP. “We Are Explorers” is the pinnacle of the album’s euphoric sound. Cut Copy’s signature peppiness constructs an exemplary festival hit, complete with hand drums and tambourines.

Though the whole album sounds like it has been buried for decades, “In Memory Capsule” is particularly nostalgic, reminiscent of stadium-sized 80s pop-rock jams. Cut Copy also dabble outside their favorite decade, with songs like “Take Me Higher” and “Walking In The Sky,” which are both grounded in the sounds of late 60s flower child pop.

The shape of the songs on Free Your Mind stays extremely consistent—and not always in a good way.

Every track begins with a catchy riff and slowly builds up to an energetic climax. This energy is sustained as long as possible before the layered sound tumbles apart and the song abruptly transitions into the next.

This repetition renders the album tedious once the excitement of its first few tracks has worn off.

The formulaic song shape, paired with Whitford’s ultra-repetitive, straightforward lyrics cause this LP to blend into a dance soundtrack, which, although perfect for a live, outdoor set, doesn’t leave much to chew on in its recorded form. Free Your Mind may be repetitive and simple, but if anything is to be repeated over the entirety of a full-length release, Cut Copy’s carefree, sun-soaked sound is about as good as it gets.

Voice’s Choices: “Free Your Mind,” “We Are Explorers” —Joshua Ward

Sky Ferreira, Night Time, My Time, Capitol Records Sky Ferreira was almost Edie Sedgwick. Like Edie, Ferreira teased with her work, which never quite made it to the public’s

eye, until now. Ferreira has been building an underground cult image—it’s Edie all over again with the drug arrest. Yet the distinction between these two beautiful superstars arises with Night Time, My Time.

Ferreira actually delivered a whole album, more than Edie ever managed. It was a timely release, capitalizing on the press surrounding the arrest only days before “You’re Not the One” came out. Preceded by the single, the album is as edgy as a listener expects from Ferreira, but the leather and fishnets of the single are topped with a vintage mink coat in the LP—glamorous and lux.

The opener, “Boys,” entices you in with a trail of electronic flourishes. It’s grungy and contemplative in structure, a constant throughout the album. “Ain’t Your Right” excites with its bass line, making an otherwise fuzzy and ticklish sound gnarly. “24 Hours” is a grand, sweeping staircase bannister leading you uptempo to the jamming middlemeat of the record.

It’s a dance album for those of you who don’t applaud Gaga.

PBR, where you at!? “Nobody Asked Me (If I Was Okay)” holds

a great beat, and Ferreira’s voice is throaty and commanding.

“I Blame Myself” is the bathroom break to the party. Pure and delicate, Ferreira’s voice overcompensates for the murky “Omanko.” Up next is “You’re Not The One,” a New Wave-y, riff-ilicous single. “Kristine” serves as a modello for “I Will,” which is a Chinese lantern dancefloor catalyst. “Love in Stereo” nominates itself for Summer Jam 2014 with its soft sunlight beat and gentle riffing.

The title track closes. It’s Lost Boys haunting, a scraping winter escape into cool November air that slowly crescendos to silence. The album’s great downfall is its lyrics, which lack poeticism. Regardless, Night Time, My Time is musical ground-down sandpaper with glitter glue, a spore that reproduces exponentially in your mind. Ferreira is our femme fatale reminding us Patrick Bateman ain’t got nothing on her now, even though she had it all along.

Voice’s Choices: “Nobody Asked Me (If I Was Okay),” “24 Hours” —Tim Annick

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“Are you a big man? Huh, I’m talkin’ to you. … Do you wake up in the morning and say, ‘I’m putting on my big boy pants.

Look, I’m wearing a belt, I got big boy pants on.” –The Other Guys

“I hope you’ve brought your silver polish, MacElroy, ‘cause that was gold.” –Blades of Glory

With arguably the greatest recruiting class of all time, John Calipari and the Wildcats could leave everyone else competing for silver.

“I was so drunk, I thought a tube of toothpaste was astronaut food.” –The Other Guys

If Keith Appling can consistently perform as the player that we have only seen in flashes over the past few seasons, Michigan State looks to be playing deep into March.

Despite the return of future NBA star Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State will have to avoid a hangover from their disappointing early exit from the NCAA Tournament last year.

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“I'm expressing my inner anguish THROUGH THE MAJESTY OF SONG!”-Anchorman

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Although the Wolverines made the Final Four last year, they will have to cope with the loss of team leaders Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr. to the NBA. “There will be no refunds.

Your refund will be escaping this deathtrap with your life.” -Semi-Pro “I passed through the seven levels of the Candy Cane forest, through the sea of swirly twirly gum drops, and then I walked through the Lincoln Tunnel.” –Elf

The Gators will cruise through the weak SEC, but will they be ready for the challenges that await them in March?

“No, you go to hell, and while you’re there, why don’t you grab me a juicebox!”

-Kicking and Screaming

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Playing in the Carrier Dome gives the Orange a huge homecourt advantage over their opponents.

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After their national title victory over Michigan last year, Rick Pitino’s Cardinals will look to repeat as champions this year.

“Here’s the deal: I’m the “He was like best there is. Plain and a god walking simple. I wake up in amongst mere morthe morning and I piss tals.”-Anchorman

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excellence.” -Talladega As the clear favorite Nights

With coaching legend Mike Krzyzweski, the Jabari Parker and the veteran-laden Blue Devils should contend once again for the title this March.

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“I'm not gonna lie to you, Don. People down here are starting to murmur that you don't have the balls to do it.” – The Other Guys

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to be the No. 1 pick in the upcoming NBA draft, freshman sensation Andrew Wiggins should lead the Jayhawks to a Big-12 title and beyond.

With all the talent the Wildcats have, it remains to be seen if they can finally break out in March.

"Took the restrictor plate off to give the Red Dragon a little more juice.

But it's not exactly street legal, so keep it on the down low." –Old School

top according to will ferrell

If we went to a Halloween party dressed as Batman and Robin, I'd go as Robin. That's how much you mean to me. -Blades of Glory The Buckeyes follow the lead of their selfless point guard Aaron Craft, a defensive stopper and offensive distributor.

"Hey. They laughed at Louis Armstrong when he said he was gonna go to the moon. Now he's up there, laughing at them."

-Blades of Glory

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“I’m very important. I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany.”-Anchorman

Once P.J. Hairston returns from his suspension, he and James Michael McAdoo should give UNC’s offense plenty of juice.

Memphis has plenty of questions to answer as they try to convince others they are important enough to belong in the national spotlight.

“Veronica and I are “How do you trying this new fad walk away called uh, jogging. I in a movie believe it's jogging without flinching when it explodes or yogging. It might be a soft ‘J’. I'm not behind them? There's no sure but apparently way!” –The Other Guys you just run for an extended period Gonzaga imploded last year of time. It's supposed to be in the NCAA wild.”-Anchorman tournament, after earning a No. VCU will not be able to 1 seed. Will they surprise teams anymore, recover after but Shaka Smart’s squad will still losing All-American forward win with their stifling defense and Kelly Olynyk? superior conditioning.

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The Shockers enjoyed some laughs at the expense of more traditional college basketball powers last year when they made a surprising Final Four run.

“I look good. I mean really good. Hey "From everything I've heard, you guys are everyone, come see how good I look!” the best at these types of investigations ... Outside of Enron ... and AIG, and Bernie -Anchorman Madoff, WorldCom, Bear SteaAt this point, rns, Lehman Brothers ... " -The the Ducks Other Guys have solely been defined by A year removed from their postseason the ever-increasing absurban, the Huskies will look to regain their dity of their uniforms. footing on the national scene.

18 17 Favored to win the Big East, fiery coach Buzz Williams and the Golden Eagles will try to build on last year’s success.

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“And guess what, you wandered into our school of tuna and we now have a taste of lion. We’ve talked to ourselves. We’ve communicated and said, ‘you know what? lion tastes good. Lets go get some more lion’.” –The Other Guys

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“I was faking. I used ninja focus to slow my heart rate down.” -Step Brothers

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Look for Bo Ryan’s team to set the record for most wins with 40 points or less scored.