VOICE the georgetown
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DIRTY GUSA POLITICS PAGE 4
BEAT ‘CUSE: HIGHWAY TO THE DANGER ZONE PAGE 6
DIS-LYCANTHROPY PAGE 10
Georgetown University’s Weekly Newsmagazine Since 1969 w Februrary 18, 2010 w Volume 42, Issue 20 w georgetownvoice.com
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Chiming in
2 the georgetown voice
february 18, 2010
comments of the week “Yeah, I know I can’t dance. A guy can try. Sorry for partying. Mad love for controversial vox comments.” —Matt Wagner, “Damn it Feels Good to be a Hoya: Wagner and Hampton’s GUSA campaign video” “Outline, specifically, your plans to respectfully honor and pay daily tribute to the true authority on this campus, i.e the King of Georgetown.”
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—King of Georgetown “Send your questions to the Voice for Wednesday’s GUSA prez debate!”
“Nooo!! The neighbors can take my right to urinate publicly, my right to drink on a stoop without fear of their police goons who should be solving real crimes, my right but not my right to RAAANCH!” — Tuscany’s time to shine, “BREAKING: BZA upholds decision to revoke Philly Pizza’s license, pizza hotspot likely to close” “Yeah, why challenge an incumbency? That’s not what democracy is for. Viva la status quo..”
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Voice Crossword “Just Dance” by Mary Cass and Jaclyn Wright
ACROSS 1. Contraction 6. Hustle 10. Vocal part 14. Raccoon-like animal 15. Margarine 16. Kind of saxaphone
17. __/Family, experimental folk band 18. Came into existence 19. Soap bar company 20. Using a keyboard 22. Rose from sleep 24. Can be inflated by compliments
25. Tonight Show host 27. Ogling 29. “None of your __” 32. Still 33. Approx. appearance time 34. Candle centers 37. Baby’s bed 41. Mike Myers was “The Love __” 43. French agreement 44. Employ 45. River deposit 46. Edit, like the Constitution 48. Digital design (abbr.) 49. Short for short 51. Seoul natives 54. For a specific purpose 56. Wrote, present day 57. Purchase 58. Slow down! 60. Stir up 64. Revise 66. Continent with the shortest name 68. Chopin’s practice music 69. Musical currently nomi nated for an Oscar 70. Diseases 71. Judy Dench film “__ on a Scandal” 72. Italian general 73. Hyperbolic function in trigonometry 74. Biscuit, for dogs
classified Two AKC registered English Bull dogs for free, if interested please contact f123.anderson@gmail.com.
answers at georgetownvoice.com DOWN 1. Vocal improvisation 2. The __ Little Puppy 3. Nonprofit for retirees 4. Like rocks 5. Little fish 6. Weep 7. Jester 8. Prefix for plane or smith 9. Human’s ancestors 10. Kind of romance 11. U.F.O Pilot 12. Canned chili 13. Go it alone 21. Not just nibble 23. What a Cyclops can’t afford to lose 26. Self-evident truth 28. Scratcher’s target 29. Begs 30. Decorative needle case 31. Duke, Duke, Duke of __ 35. Shark’s stick
36. Naughty 38. Costa __ 39. Persia, today 40. Where oysters hang out 42. Six-sided state 46. Antiquated 47. Slip a Mickey 50. A violinist may use one or take one 52. Cave 53. Blue-pencil wielder 54. Video companion 55. Faulkner’s “As I Lay __” 56. Flip response? 57. __ it like Beckham 59. Capital on a fjord 61. Puppyish 62. Mental flash 63. Reason to cram 65. Summer shirt, for short 67. He’s gotta catch them all
ARE YOU A LOGOPHILE? Share your love of words and help write crosswords. E-mail crossword@georgetownvoice.com.
editorial
georgetownvoice.com
VOICE the georgetown
Volume 42.20 February 18, 2010 Editor-in-Chief: Jeff Reger Managing Editor: Juliana Brint Publisher: Emily Voigtlander Editor-at-Large: Will Sommer Director of Technology: Alexander Pon Blog Editor: Molly Redden News Editor: Kara Brandeisky Sports Editor: Adam Rosenfeld Feature Editor: Tim Shine Cover Editor: Iris Kim Leisure Editor: Chris Heller Voices Editor: Emma Forster Photo Editor: Hilary Nakasone Design Editors: Richa Goyal, Ishita Kohli Literary Editor: James McGrory Crossword Editor: Cal Lee Contributing Editor: Daniel Cook, Dan Newman Assistant Blog Editors: Hunter Kaplan, Imani Tate Assistant News Editors: J. Galen Weber, Cole Stangler Assistant Sports Editors: Nick Berti, Rob Sapunor Assistant Cover Editor: Jin-ah Yang Assistant Leisure Editors: Brendan Baumgardner, Leigh Finnegan Assistant Photo Editors: Jackson Perry, Shira Saperstein Assistant Design Editors: Robert Duffley, Megan Berard
Associate Editors: Matthew Collins, Lexie Herman Staff Writers:
Jeff Bakkensen, Cyrus Bordbar, Tom Bosco, Sonnet Gaertner, Aleta Greer, Victor Ho, Kate Imel, Satinder Kaur, Liz Kuebler, Walker Loetscher, Kate Mays, Scott Munro, Katie Norton, Sean Quigley, Justin Hunter Scott, Sam Sweeney, Keenan Timko, Tim Wagner
Staff Photographers:
Max Blodgett, Jue Chen, Matthew Funk, Lynn Kirshbaum
Staff Designers:
Marc Fichera, Dara Morano, Marc Patterson, Miykaelah Sinclair
Copy Chief: Geoffrey Bible
Copy editors: Aodhan Beirne, Caroline Garity, Keaton Hoffman, Matt Kerwin, Molly Redden
Editorial Board Chair: Eric Pilch Editorial Board:
George D’Angelo, Emma Forster, Molly Redden, Chris Heller, Imani Tate, J. Galen Weber, Dan Newman, Will Sommer, Brendan Baumgardner, Cole Stanger, Juliana Brint
Head of Business: George D’Angelo
Director of Marketing: Michael Byerly
The Georgetown Voice
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Newsroom: (202) 687-6780 Fax: (202) 687-6763 E-Mail: 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 Silver Communications. All materials copyright the Georgetown Voice. All rights reserved.
On this week’s cover ... GU Drug Culture Cover Photo: Iris Kim
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the georgetown voice 3
VOTE IN A BOX
Vote Wagner-Hampton on Tuesday The Voice editorial board endorses Matt Wagner (SFS ’11) and Emmanuel Hampton (COL ’11) in this year’s Georgetown University Student Association executive election. Although incumbents Calen Angert (MSB ’11) and Jason Kluger (MSB ’11) have demonstrated strong leadership this year on a number of projects and proposed a promising agenda for next year, their indifferent support for the GUSA Senate’s Finance and Appropriation Committee’s takeover of the Student Activities Fee allocation process demonstrated indefensibly poor judgment. Wagner and Emmanuel’s strong opposition to the recent power grab, by contrast, sets them apart as the one pair of candidates with the necessary understanding of, and concern about, student club funding. As the former chair of the senate’s Finance and Appropriations Committee, Wagner has an unrivaled knowledge of
the funding process. Under his leadership, advisory boards and GUSA worked together in a collaborative, cooperative manner. Wagner pushed for much-needed reform of the Student Activities Commission without alienating the other advisory boards. This first-hand experience has given Wagner the ability to critically analyze current Finance and Appropriations Chair Nick Troiano’s (COL ’11) funding reform plan, which he has opposed as ill-conceived change. If elected, Wagner will serve as a much-needed check on the Finance and Appropriations Committee, and push to repeal the most irresponsible aspects of Troiano’s reform program. Unfortunately, Angert and Kluger have not demonstrated this capacity for independent analysis of club funding issues. While they have been successful in realizing many of their smaller projects—such as creating a subsidized LSAT preparation course and starting
a program allowing certified students to drive the SafeRides van—they have dropped the ball on funding reform, the most important issue GUSA has taken up this year. Instead of taking an active role, they passively allowed Troiano and other members of the Finance and Appropriations Committee to dictate the terms of funding reform. It’s a pity Angert and Kluger have taken such an uncritical approach to such a central issue, especially since they have the proven ability to push their projects through Georgetown’s bureaucracy, as well as an appealing agenda for a potential second term. Wagner and Emanuel Hampton would do well to add some of Angert and Kluger’s most reasonable and actionable agenda items—such as installing more powerstrips in classrooms and implementing a Zipcar program for students under 21 years of age—to their already strong platform.
q DIRTY SNOW
GU has mixed record on snow response During the record breaking snowstorms that left 36 inches of snow in their wake, the University performed well in keeping critical services up and running. However, Georgetown’s strong response during the storms was undermined by its bumbled handling of the aftermath. But, above all, the Georgetown community owes a debt of gratitude to the men and women who stayed in hotels near campus during the storms, in order to insure that vital services were not disrupted. Many Department of Public Safety officers, Leo’s, and facilities employees were separated from their families for days at a time. As the first snow started falling last Friday night, facilities workers were out salting paths and making sure that the
most important walkways and buildings were accessible. But after the snow stopped falling, the University was very slow to clear highly trafficked areas like the sidewalk in front of Walsh and the path through Henle, creating dangerous, icy conditions. It even took the intervention of a concerned group of students to clear ramps and make other necessary accommodations for disabled students. The city-crippling storm put Georgetown and other local universities in a difficult position, forced to take time off, but not wanting students to miss critical material. The short notice given for liberal-leave classes on Monday was unfortunate, especially since many students had travel plans, but understandable given
that the University has very few options for make-up days. Losing a Monday is much better than our neighbor George Washington’s solution, where make-up classes will be held on an upcoming Saturday in April. Going forward, the University must be sure to give students advance warning about any make-up days, so that they may adjust their plans in advance. Georgetown largely weathered the storm of the century successfully and performed significantly better than the rest of the District. We should take a moment to thank those who were away from their families to provide for the community, and hold onto the happy memories of canceled class and fun in the record-breaking snow.
q ALL ABOARD WMATA
Congressional funds needed for Metro Last Friday’s nearly disastrous Red Line derailment was merely the latest in a string of unacceptable Metro accidents and near misses. Thankfully, only three people suffered minor injuries last week, when a northbound train accidentally switched onto a southbound track and needed to derail to avoid a head-on collision. But the incident demonstrates the dire need for increased funding of the beleaguered Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. If the D.C. area is to have a safe, well-maintained Metro system, the federal government needs to step up its financial contribution, since the $150 million they provide annually does very little to support WMATA’s
$2.1 billion operating budget. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D), D.C.’s non-voting congressional representative, has called for a congressional hearing to evaluate the backlog of maintenance issues brought into the spotlight by Friday’s derailment. While Norton is doing her part to focus on the significant concerns about the system’s safety, real action on the part of Congress is needed to address the $11.4 billion backlog of necessary Metro improvements. After a spike in activity following the fatal June 2009 Red Line crash, Congress has largely forgotten about the issue of Metro safety. Congressional neglect would be unfortunate at the best of times, but with the aging system in
such a poor state, the lack of fiscal support is increasingly dangerous. Unless Congress increases its financial support of the WMATA system, which many federal employees rely upon, we can only expect more problems and accidents. WMATA is doing its best to raise money for the necessary repairs and investments, recently announcing a painful, but necessary, 10-cent fare increase. But fare increases and contributions from local jurisdictions will not be enough to fund the much-needed safety improvements. Congress, whose pockets are deep enough to address the dangerous situation at WMATA, must ensure the safe and effective functioning of Metro.
news
4 the georgetown voice
february 18, 2010
As GUSA election nears, campaigns get heated by Eric Pilch As the Georgetown University Student Association presidential election draws closer, tensions have risen between the leading campaigns of former Finance and Appropriations Committee Chair Matt Wagner (SFS ‘11) and sitting GUSA President Calen Angert (MSB ‘11). The controversy started when Vice Speaker of the Senate Chris Pigott (COL ‘12) sent a strongly worded Facebook message to nine of his friends who were members of the Wagner campaign Facebook group. The message led the Wagner campaign to direct allegations of racism toward the Angert campaign because Pigott is one of Angert’s prominent supporters and a campaign dorm captain. In the Facebook message, Pigott charges that he “served with Matt last year in the GUSA Senate and saw the destructive nature that he leads the University with.” The message also briefly touched on Wagner’s relationship with the Student Commission for Unity. “I know some of you are very involved with SCU and other minority and diversity organizations on campus,” Pigott wrote. “Just so you know, Matt Wagner was one of the most vocal opponents of SCU.”
Wagner and his running mate Emmanuel Hampton (COL ’11) found the message highly offensive, sparking tense conversations between the candidates. According to Wagner, Hampton was in the library discussing the Facebook message when one of current GUSA vice president Jason Kluger’s (MSB ’11) friends overheard the conversation and informed him of what was happening. Kluger maintains he politely confronted Hampton and told him he was not a racist. According to Wagner, they had a heated argument. Kluger said he became angry when Hampton would not believe the message was unaffiliated with the Angert campaign, so Kluger called Wagner. Wagner told Kluger he was done making the message a campaign issue, and Wagner and Hampton stressed that they now see this as an issue of the past. “It took us a few days to determine that we’re going to let it roll,” Wagner said. Pigott explained that he would have changed the wording of the message if he had known that it would be sent to Wagner, but stands behind the content of the note. The Wagner and Angert campaigns also said that they have both battled formal complaints that
rivals have filed with the independent GUSA Election Commission. These complaints are supposed to be strictly confidential, and can lead to disqualification from the race if upheld by the commission. The campaigns of Hillary Dang (SFS ’12) and Arman Ismail (COL ’11) denied lodging or receiving complaints from the commission, while the Wagner and Angert campaigns would neither confirm nor deny that they had lodged formal complaints. The Wagner campaign alleges that two formal complaints were lodged against them because their campaign website was created by a professional website designer, who is a personal friend of Wagner’s. The designer’s website creation services were advertised at nearly $795, almost three times the $300 campaign budget given to the candidates. According to Wagner, the site was created for free, and the investigation was closed after the creator proved he had also produced a free website for the Georgetown Lecture Fund. The Angert campaign claims that they were investigated for campaigning before the two week campaign period, stipulated by election bylaws, because they announced they would be running for reelection at a January 31 GUSA
Jackson perry
Facing off: GUSA presidential candidates participate in the first ever debate. meeting. According to Angert, the election commission has dropped this formal complaint. Election commissioner Ryan Gavigan (COL ‘11) said the election commission would not comment on the complaints, but public announcements would be made if any punitive actions were taken against a campaign. There have been no announcements from the election commission thus far. Despite the controversy, the presidential campaigns have tried to stay positive in public and reach as many students as possible before voting commences on February 23. Angert’s campaign has attempted to boost election turnout by personally knocking on doors. His
charm shone through on Wednesday night during a tour of Darnall Hall where he stressed the campaign’s motto that “results count.” “I think we have the most to say, the most ideas, and the most experience,” Kluger said. Standing before H*yas for Choice on Tuesday night, Wagner pitched his campaign’s central themes of safety, arts advocacy, and rolling back recent funding board reforms. Wagner and Hampton said they have personally knocked on every door in the four freshman dorms. “We believe that the way you win a campaign is to meet people, and to be up front and honest,” Wagner said.
On the Record with D.C. Councilmember David Catania Voice: You recently introduced legislation authorizing samesex marriage in the District, which ultimately passed the City Council in January. However, Congress has 30 legislative days to review the bill. Do you think there is any possibility that Congress will intervene in the matter?
Courtesy David Catania
D.C. Councilmember and Georgetown alum David Catania (IAt Large; SFS ‘90, LAW ‘94) talked to the Voice on Wednesday about his run for re-election, his recent work on same-sex marriage and medical marijuana legalization, and his time at Georgetown. Interview conducted and transcribed by Claire Wheeler.
Catania: We have assurances from the respective committee chairs from the committees that would have jurisdiction over the matter, that any effort to undermine or frustrate or reverse the Council’s actions will not come before these committees … For the foreseeable future, I feel … that we have a very good chance in sustaining marriage equality in the District. Do you think that Marion Barry should resign over corruption charges recently made against him by the U.S. Attorney’s office, including allegations that he gave an ex-girlfriend a $15,000
government contract, sexually harassed a non-profit project manager, and used government money to hire his Narcotics Anonymous sponsor?
I think that Councilmember Barry needs to reflect seriously on whether or not the continuous controversies that surround him are affecting his ability to deliver for his constituents … This has to frustrate his ability to deliver for his residents because he is spending so much time defending his conduct that there cannot be enough hours in the day for his constituents. So I think that he needs to look very hard at himself and whether or not he has organized his life in such a way that causes so much chaos that it means he can no longer deliver for his constituents. Why do you think that it is important for the medical marijuana bill to be passed in D.C.?
I think that there is ample evidence to support the position that the appropriate use of marijuana for medical purposes reduces pain and suffering and stimulates appetite. So there are, in my mind, very convincing reasons to have marijuana available for individuals who are ill upon the recommendation of their doctor. What I also think is important is that we organize this in a way so that it is a closed system and is highly regulated and highly controlled. Meaning that in other jurisdictions that have permitted medical marijuana, there have been many efforts to expand its use beyond what was originally intended … So I think the more we professionalize the medical use of marijuana, going forward the more likely we will be to continue the use of medical marijuana. How do you think that your time at Georgetown University changed you?
I had a fantastic experience at Georgetown. I was really lucky to not only have exceptional professors, but also to meet extraordinary people as peer students … While I was at Georgetown, I was the administrative assistant to Dr. Madeleine Albright, and I got to see quite a lot as a virtue of that position, and it was of course a very exciting time, 1989-90. It was of course a very exciting time to be working for her. It was the time of the Velvet Revolution, and the fall of the Iron Curtain. And of course her role, and her participation, and her interest in that period allowed for me to see things that never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined, so I just think across the board, you know, my experience at Georgetown prepared me … Everyday I am grateful for my Jesuit education … You come to realize, as you get older, that not every education is seeped in a Jesuit perspective or a sense of social justice. Many people are simply educated in subject matters, not a way of living.
news
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the georgetown voice 5
Appeal rejected, Philly P’s likely to close by J. Galen Weber Philly Pizza and Grill can be closed by the city at any moment, following Tuesday’s Board of Zoning and Adjustment hearing which rejected the restaurant’s appeal to reinstate its certificate of occupancy. In its decision, the BZA upheld the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs’ move to revoke Philly Pizza’s certificate of occupancy on the grounds that it is zoned as a sit-down restaurant, but in fact is operating as a fast food establishment. Under D.C. law, any establishment that has a drive through, requires customers to pay for food before it is consumed, or uses disposable tableware is considered a fast food establishment. Philly Pizza owner Matt Kocak said that over the past four or five months, Philly Pizza has made changes to act more like a restaurant, such as adopting non-disposable silverware and renovating to create a more sit-down feel. He said he made these changes to appease neighbors, who complained about excessive noise and disturbances coming from Georgetown students who loitered outside on weekend nights. Much of Tuesday’s hearing focused on the testimony of Terrell Hill, an investigator with the DCRA. Hill testified that he saw no one sit down and eat in the restaurant except on his last visit. “This time we were surprised because there were actually two people eating, [in the restaurant],” Hill testified. Hill also stated that the patrons were eating out of disposable containers, and paid for their food before eating it.
by Holly Tao
Galen Weber
Will Philly Pizza see the light of day? Owner says he won’t give up yet. The hearing also featured testimony from several Georgetown residents and Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Bill Starrels. One of the residents displayed photographs she had taken outside of Philly Pizza between 2:30 and 3:00 a.m. on a Saturday morning in early September. The pictures showed dozens of people standing around Philly Pizza eating pizza out of boxes. Kocak and his lawyer, John Patrick Brown Jr., argued that it was not within the authority of Matt Le Grant, the Zoning Administrator of the District of Columbia, to revoke Philly Pizza’s certificate of occupancy because Hill’s eight hours of observation were not enough to fully determine fully if Philly Pizza is a fast food establishment or a sit-down restaurant. Brown also argued that the majority of patrons at Philly Pizza now dine in and use non-disposable tableware, which would mean the establishment fits none of the criteria for a fast food restaurant. Ultimately, the board was unconvinced by Kocak’s arguments, rejecting Philly Pizza’s appeal to reinstate its certificate of occupancy unanimously.
Philly Pizza was still open the day after the hearing and Kocak said he plans on keeping Philly Pizza open for as long as he can. In the meantime, Kocak plans to close the doors of the restaurant at midnight every night, but continue deliveries past that time. “We are not going to give up right away,” Kocak said. Kocak said he was caught in the crossfire between neighbors and students and has been unjustly targeted. He pointed out that neighboring Quick Pita is still open even though it uses disposable plates and remains open late. Georgetown resident Alex Meeraus, who attended the hearing and testified against Kocak, was pleased with the decision but had sympathy for Kocak. “I was happy because I think it was the correct response,” Meeraus said. “I feel sorry for the guy though.” Another resident, who asked not to be named, had mixed feelings when he heard about the decision. “It’s kind of bad because I’m all about late night pizza joints, but it was pretty out of control,” he said.
Marion Barry’s ninth life?
when Watts-Brighthaupt cashed her checks from the city, Barry demanded a portion of the money. The report also alleges that Barry hit on another woman, non-profit project manager Sha-
It’s time to play “Name That D.C. Councilmember.” If you were told a current councilmember propositioned a colleague for sex 562 times, paid his girlfriend with Council money, and then tried to stop her from talking to investigators, who would you think it was? If you guessed Marion Barry (D-Ward 8), you’d be right. A report released Tuesday alleges that Barry did all of the above and more. These might be the most serious allegations against Barry since he was caught smoking crack at the Vista Hotel in 1990,
Graduate unemployment rises
and it’s a good time to evaluate the role D.C.’s most famous politician still plays in Washington. The report was compiled by attorney Robert S. Bennett at the behest of the Council after Barry was arrested for stalking an ex-girlfriend last summer. Further reporting prompted by the scandal revealed that Barry had given the woman, Donna WattsBrighthaupt, a D.C. Council contract worth $15,000. According to Bennett, much of the work Watts-Brighthaupt produced was copied from a 1997 Department of Education report—and
City on a Hill by Will Sommer
A bi-weekly column on D.C. news and politics ron Wise, “probably 562 times.” Later, he fired her, allegedly using the money from her salary to hire his Narcotics Anonymous sponsor. If the allegations are true, it’s incredible that Barry thought he
Georgetown graduates looking for jobs in the midst of the recession had less luck than their recent predecessors, according to a report released by the Georgetown Career Center on Tuesday. The percentage of graduates reporting employment within six months of graduation fell from 62 percent in 2008 to 57 percent in 2009, while the number of graduates still seeking employment rose from seven to 12 percent. The survey—to which 60 percent of the class of 2009 responded—showed that banking remained the most popular career field for new alumni. While consulting was the second most popular field in 2008, education became the second most popular field in 2009. Other popular career fields are consulting, health care, government, accounting and non-profit. “The government and nonprofit fields remain popular with Georgetown students, and these employers are reaching out to our students,” Career Center Executive Director Mike Schaub wrote in an e-mail. Although many economists predicted the recession would cause more college graduates to enroll in graduate school in lieu of entering the job market, the percentage of Georgetown graduates enrolling in graduate programs actually decreased slightly, down one percent from the class of
could get away with this, despite his reputation for corruption. What’s more incredible, though, is how fast Barry has gone from pitiable to reprehensible. It’s not hard to feel bad for a mayor flop-sweating his way through an anti-drug speech, stumbling towards another fix. It’s much harder to sympathize with a 73-year-old man plying his much younger girlfriend with city money. If you want to relive the days when Barry was a junkie on the mend and not a man out to grift the whole city, watch The Nine Lives of Marion Barry, a 2009 documentary about Barry’s 2004 run for his Ward 8 council seat. The
2008’s graduate school enrollment rate. The percentage of Georgetown alumni attending graduate school immediately after graduation has remained relatively constant since 2001, varying only by a margin of five percent. Georgetown University remains the most popular choice for graduate school, with 46 students reporting that they will be staying on the hilltop to pursue a J.D., Ph.D., or M.D. degree. Other peer institutions that have published the results of senior exit surveys reported similar trends in employment and matriculation to graduate school. At the University of Chicago, the percentage of graduates who had secured full-time employment dropped by five percent, and the percentage of graduates still looking for a job increased by six percent. The Harvard Career Center reported that the percentage of graduates who had accepted a job at graduation decreased by 18 percent, from 51 percent in 2008 to 33 percent in 2009. According to Schaub, current students do not need to be overly concerned about future prospects. “The bottom line is that Georgetown students are sought after by employers and will be competitive in the job search, although the process may take a little longer during a poor economic climate,” Schaub said.
film features an interview with Barry’s young godson, who extols his godfather’s virtues. Later, the filmmaker cuts to a close-up of the young man’s face when a reporter asks him about his godfather’s drug addiction. It’s clear that Barry had conned his godson like he conned the city. Since 1990, Barry has been a running joke. It’s time D.C. stopped finding him funny. The D.C. Council should forward the charges to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, as Bennett’s report recommends, and the voters of Ward 8 should look for new leadership. Make a proposition to Will at wsommer@georgetownvoice.com
sports
6 the georgetown voice
february 18, 2010
After loss to Rutgers, Hoyas look to juice ‘Cuse by Tim Shine Since conference play has started, the Hoyas have been consistently inconsistent. Georgetown (18-6, 8-5 Big East) has yet to lose back-to-back games, but they also have yet to string together three straight Big East wins. Right as the Hoyas begin to pick up steam, they always seem to suffer another setback. None was more disheartening than last Sunday’s loss to Rutgers. “It’s definitely frustrating,” junior forward Julian Vaughn said. “We’re definitely capable of much more. We’ve got to focus on Thursday now. We learned from [Rutgers], and it’s over now.” That Thursday would be today, when No. 10 Georgetown takes on No. 5 Syracuse in what may be the Hoyas’ most important test yet. Georgetown has always been able to bounce back after a defeat this season, but they have not been forced to recover against a squad as talented as the Orange. Of course, the storied rivalry between the two schools will also heighten the atmosphere tonight in the Verizon Center. So will the fact that the Orange dealt the Hoyas their worst loss of the season back in January, a 73-56 drubbing that came after Georgetown jumped out to an early 14-0 lead. “I just think we lost focus, we lost intensity. We relaxed,” sophomore center Greg Monroe said of the game at Syracuse. “And when you relax and someone turns it up, that’s the outcome: you lose.”
Head coach John Thompson had a slightly different interpretation of the loss. “I would think I disagree with Greg on that,” he said. “I don’t necessarily think there was a dip in focus or intensity. I think they made some adjustments to how they were playing their zone and we didn’t do as good of a job as we can attacking how they made their adjustments.” Syracuse, who lost just their second game this season on Sunday, is unquestionably one of the nation’s best teams. The Orange can score in bunches, but the reason they’re a Final Four contender is their suffocating zone defense. The 2-3 zone is a staple of head coach Jim Boeheim’s teams, but what makes this squad special is its overwhelming size. “That defense this year is as good as I’ve seen it,” Thompson said. “Most of the time people talk about their back line, where you have Arinze [Onuaku], [Rick] Jackson, and Wes [Johnson]. But you look up front and those two guards are 6’5” and 6’6” too. They cover ground. The shots that are open for a second quickly go away.” The zone can also easily shut down opponents’ interior game. That was the case when the Hoyas were at Syracuse last month. Of course it didn’t help matters that Monroe was hampered by foul trouble and fouled out with six minutes to play. Monroe is the key to the Hoyas’ chances tonight. If he can stay on the floor and continue to
LYNN KIRSHBAUM
Beat the zone: Greg Monroe will need to help break the Orange’s defense.
contribute like he has the past two games, Georgetown can send its hated rival home with a loss. However, he knows from previous experience how challenging that will be. “It is kind of hard to establish yourself in the zone,” Monroe said. “It’s not really like man-toman, it’s not like they’re going to be feeding you down low a lot.” Thankfully, Monroe is not the kind of one-dimensional inside
banger that is usually shut down by the zone. He has a reputation as one of the country’s best passing big men, and he’s more than justified it over the past few games. Against Providence, Monroe had 12 assists, a careerhigh, and the most for a Hoya since 2002. After being reduced to a nonfactor in the first game against Syracuse, Monroe knows the pressure is on him as the Hoyas
look for revenge. But no matter how high the stakes, the big man is not going to break from his unselfish ways now. “I can’t go out and think I have to make every play or score a lot of points to help us win this game,” Monroe said. “I’m not going to go out and force anything or try to prove a point. I’m just going to go out and do whatever Georgetown needs me to do to win.”
The Sports Sermon “Chickenshit ...That’s what Canadians use. Slap it on for thirty minutes while you’re watching a hockey game” — Barry Melrose on the secret to smooth skin.
ment—perfect to fill any empty void in your day or procrastinate that extra few hours before I sit with two of my friends heading to Lau. at a table upstairs in Leo’s in If the novelty and convecomplete silence. We do not eat, nience weren’t enough, the stories but rather stare up at the hazy and drama of the Olympics proprojector screen as if in a trance. vide are second to none. When One of my friends breaks the my friends and I were in Leo’s, silence, reverentially saying, we were intrigued to see how Ev“That was beautiful.” We nod geni Plushenko would perform our heads in agreement. On the after coming out of a three-year screen was men’s figure skating, retirement to defend Olympic live from the Vancouver Winter gold. We also reveled in the spirOlympics. During the next athited performance of 19-year-old lete’s program, we make comfigure skater Florent Amodio. ments like, “Wow, his footwork Born in Brazil, then abandoned really looks on,” and “Looks on the streets as a baby, he was like he came up a half-turn short adopted by a French on that triple-axle.” family and is now Under normal Pete Rose Central competing under circumstances, I Da bettin’ line the French flag in would be angry that Dookies Margin Hoyas Vancouver. Even figure skating was (underdogs) (duh!) the heartbreaking on TV, taking crucial (favorites) stories make the time away from a Boeheim Payback JTIII Olympics worth more desirable sport World Shawn White watching. It is hard USA or highlight show, Dwight Howard not to feel for Lindbut not during these 4 rings Shaq sey Jacobellis. With two weeks. These the snowboard cross gold all but weeks is because there is altwo weeks are the greatest two around her neck in Tornino in ways an athletic event on TV weeks of the sporting world: 2006, she attempted a grab and at all times. With the Olympics these are the Olympics. fell, postponing her gold medal in Vancouver, the time differAs illustrated by our newdreams for four years. In Tuesence works out perfectly, with found interest in men’s figure day’s semi-final in Vancouver, the exceptions of early mornskating, the Olympics provide a Jacobellis overshot a landing, ing and very late night events. fantastic opportunity for fans to and in recovering broke through I return to my room after a late expand their sporting horizons. a gate—an automatic disqualifimorning class and—perfect!— Normally, American sports covcation. Another four years until men’s short-track speedskaterage focuses on the big four— another shot at gold. ing is on. I return from lunch football, basketball, baseball, and Such is the nature of the and—yes!—USA vs. Canada hockey—with some soccer ocOlympics. Just as quickly as they women’s curling. I flip on the casionally thrown in for variety. came, they are gone, and we are TV before dinner and—how What could be a more perfect left to wait two years for the next splendid!—ice hockey is on. sampler to a whole new buffet Olympic games to begin. So enThe Olympics provide hours of sports than a two-week marajoy Vancouver while you can— upon hours of entertaining thon of events that span the arLondon’s a long way off. sports pageantry and exciteray of a particular season?
by Adam Rosenfeld
During these two glorious weeks, I care if a cross-country skier gets caught from behind in the final stretch. I’m happy if a veteran ski jumper nails his final pass to win a gold on his way to retirement. I feel the pain of a figure skating pair missing on one jump and ruining their Olympic dreams. Hell, I even watch curling and get some excitement out of it. The bottom line is that the Olympics can bring genuine interest and feeling to sports that normally enjoy no mainstream recognition. Another reason why the Olympics are an awesome two
sports
Hoyas avoid the horns, beat Bulls by Nick Berti Elite teams always seem to find ways to win even when they don’t play their best. Last night, the No. 12 Hoyas women’s basketball team (21-4, 10-2 Big East) escaped a trap game, beating South Florida (14-11, 5-7 Big East) 54-50. Coming off a loss to the No. 8 West Virginia team—and with a tough game against No. 3 Notre Dame on Saturday looming—Georgetown could have easily overlooked the Bulls and been dealt a difficult loss.
“We don’t look to any team, every game’s a big game, it’s the Big East,” senior guard Shanice Fuller said after the game. But that attitude was not apparent early in the game, as USF jumped out to a 7-0 lead. The run prompted coach Terri WilliamsFlournoy to take out the starting five and go with bench players to stop the bleeding. “[The starters] didn’t come out to play, they weren’t playing hard, and that’s not how we play,” Williams-Flournoy said. Unfortunately for the Hoyas, USF didn’t let up, holding on to a
Jackson Perry
Bull fighting: the Hoyas were able to down USF with a strong finish.
A Hoya hoops fan’s dilemma With the men’s basketball team experiencing a season of extremely impressive wins coupled with equally embarrassing losses, Georgetown students are left with a choice of what kind of Hoya fan they want to be. Let’s look at the facts. Last year the team was 16-15 after ascending to a No. 8 ranking on the heels of a lopsided win against then No. 2 UConn. After that victory, a tangible, but esoteric mistrust among the players—of the system, of their own abilities, of one another (who knows)—burned hopes for an NCAA Tournament run down to the ground. With such a heartbreaking and anticlimatic end to last season, there can be no doubt that Hoya fans had differing attitudes towards the team
coming into this season. Despite the memory of last year, some of you expected the team to rebound this season because they retained a considerable nucleus of talent while most of the country’s other top programs had entered so-called rebuilding mode. The squad spoiled you with impressive early-season victories (Temple, Butler, Washington) that inflated your fan-ego further. But then they lost to Old Dominion— again!—in that stupid little gym and you wrote them off, declared them unchanged from the nightmarish season of a year ago. After splitting a brace of games against Marquette and UConn, they have become the absolute epitome of the Jekyll and Hyde archetype,
19-10 lead with 5:41 left in the first half. Poor shooting was the main reason for the early deficit, with Georgetown shooting 33 percent from the field, and going an ice cold 0-6 from behind the threepoint line in the first 16 minutes. USF handled Georgetown for most of the half, but the Hoyas exploded in the last few minutes, going on a blistering 16-1 run. Their shooting woes suddenly disappeared as they shot 8-13, capped off with a three-pointer from freshman guard Sugar Rodgers as time expired, to go into the locker room leading 26-20. Coming out in the second half, the Hoyas continued to keep USF at bay. The Bulls kept fighting, though, eventually retaking the lead with 10 minutes to go, thanks to guard Allyson Speed’s career-high six threepointers and center Jessica Lawson’s 19 points. From then on, the game was back and forth until the final buzzer, including five lead changes in the closing minutes. In the end, the Hoyas found themselves on top of the scoreboard, thanks to an unrelenting will to win. “We we’re just thinking about getting the rebound, getting the stop, and putting the ball in the basket,” guard Jaleesa Butler said. Georgetown hopes to ride the momentum from the exciting win into their game against No. 3 Notre Dame on Saturday in McDonough at 3 p.m. winning all the games you expect them to lose (Pitt, Duke, Nova) while fizzling out against weaker opponents (South Florida, Rutgers). This, to you, can only indicate that they are chronic underperformers, and any prospect of an extended run in the tourney is wishful thinking. If they can’t top
Backdoor Cuts by Walker Loetscher a rotating column on sports the Big East’s bottom-feeders, how can they expect to beat four, even three, consecutive quality opponents in March? To you, it’s best to write this team off now, before they can break our hearts again. Another group of fans entered the season with a very different
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Chris Kinney
What Rocks
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COURTESY SPORTS INFORMATION
In a sport where winners and losers are determined by hundredths of a second, one Hoya has distinguished himself from the rest of the field: nationally ranked track star, junior Chris Kinney. Kinney was one of the top hurdlers coming out of the high school ranks. Although he was considering other schools with traditionally stronger track teams, he knew he belonged at Georgetown after visiting the Hilltop. “Georgetown has the great academic name I wanted, and I fell in love with the team on my visit,” Kinney said. Since arriving at Georgetown, Kinney has certainly not disappointed. He currently holds the Georgetown record for the 110-meter hurdles (14:06) and
outlook. Those of you in this group decided to enter this season with tempered expectations. After early nail-biters against teams (Temple, Butler) that you had no idea at the time were top-25 caliber squads, you remained steadfast with your cynicism. Then, the team lost to Old Dominion, rekindling old demons from freshman year in snowed-in McDonough. At this point, you laughed at the coincidence and hoped it would be an omen of the 2006-2007 team’s success, when they made the Final Four. And then the omen seems to be coming eerily true when the team went on a superb tear through the meatiest portion of the schedule, first beating UConn with a 19-point comeback that may as well have been the team performing open-heart surgery on itself, pumping lifeblood back into the storied program. The
tied the 60 meter hurdle record (7:84), a time that is currently seventh best in the nation. He also holds a school record as part of the 4x100 meter relay team. Kinney has also been named Big East Track Athlete of the Week twice in his Georgetown career. Kinney has high expectations for the team at this weekend’s Big East Indoor Championships. “Our hurdle squad is ready to go fast and we want to show the nation Georgetown has a great all-around team,” Kinney said. But Kinney has a personal goal for the meet. “I’m going after number one in the nation, and he goes to Syracuse,” Kinney said, “I’m going there to take him down.” —Adam Rosenfeld
Hoyas then upended Pitt, pulling the cord on the nation’s second-longest home win streak, and blew out Duke on national TV with the president in attendance. You also can’t forget about the payback against Nova in a snowed-in Phone Booth. Sure, a couple of hiccups came along the way, namely defeats to South Florida and Rutgers. There was also the drubbing at Syracuse, but that team is simply damn good. But you’ve got the Orange coming back here today. You’re thinking it’s going to be another payback game. And perhaps, it will be just another stepping-stone in a vindicating season. As a loyal Georgetown fan, you are faced with a choice: are you the pessimist, or the optimist? Diagnose Walker at wloetscher@ georgetownvoice.com.
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february 18, 2010
HaSHING iT OUT
GU aND GwU’s DRug POlicy DiviDE by Cole Stangler On the night of September 8, 2009, George Washington University Police Department officers responded to a suspicious odor coming from freshman Simon Abrahms’s dorm room. After a search which, according to a Metropolitan Police Department report about the incident, revealed a “large amount of U.S. currency, green grasses substance, scales and small zip lock bags,” MPD officers arrested Abrahms. Less than a month into his college career, the 18-year-old was expelled from GWU. A little more than a month later, a Georgetown freshman who spoke to the Voice on con-
dition of anonymity, returned to his dorm room, where he had recently smoked marijuana, to find Department of Public Safety officers waiting to question him about a suspicious odor. His process followed a strikingly different path than Abrahms’s. After being taken immediately to the DPS Office below Village C, the Georgetown student answered some questions and filled out a statement. He was later notified of the punishment for his first-time violation: a meeting with his Hall Director, eight sanction hours, an essay, a fine, and a meeting with Dr. Patrick Kilcarr, director of the Center for Personal Development and a faculty
HILARY NAKASONE
Tokin’ presence: GWU drug users wish they had to deal with DPS instead of UPD.
COLE STANGLER
Judge Judy: Georgetown students hope they never have to see Johnson’s office.
member at the School of Nursing and Health Studies. Although Abrahms possessed a significantly greater amount of marijuana than the Georgetown student did when he was confronted by UPD, the difference in the severity of their punishments owes more to their respective locations. Unlike at Georgetown, drug-related suspensions are not out of the ordinary at GWU. The difference reflects GWU’s harsher drug policy and enforcement strategy. Georgetown and GWU are often lumped together as similar institutions, with comparable student bodies. But the numbers don’t lie. Since 2003, Georgetown has witnessed four drug-related campus arrests, a figure remarkably lower than GWU’s 43 in the same period. In fact, Georgetown hasn’t seen a drug violation serious enough to warrant MPD involvement since 2005. “DPS works on occasion with MPD regarding drug cases on campus; most cases are ones of minor possession, however, in which DPS documents the cases via an incident report that are then forwarded to the Office of Student Conduct for their attention,” Joseph Smith, Georgetown’s associate director of Public Safety, wrote in an e-mail. GWU’s University Police Department, however, is much less reluctant to work with MPD in enforcing drug violations. Officials from UPD did not respond to e-mails inquiring how they determine when to work in cooperation with MPD regarding possible drug violations. Assistant Chief Frank Demes said that UPD Police Chief Dolores Stafford “purposefully did not respond” to e-mails because “anything [UPD] says could be turned against her administration.” When asked to comment on the matter, Demes declined and instead referred requests to the Office of Media Affairs. In an e-mail, Michelle Sherrard, George Washington’s director of Media Relations, wrote that, “The George Washington University abides by the laws of
the District of Columbia and the country in regards to drug possession and drug use.” Last October, MPD launched a drug raid on a Foggy Bottom townhouse that yielded five George Washington student arrests. The Hatchet reported that “police seized $1,171 in cash, three plastic bags of a substance that tested positive for cocaine,
spective student conduct codes. The minimum penalty for a first time violator at GWU is a $50 fine, mandatory participation in a drug abuse education program, and eviction from his or her residence hall. Any student the University finds guilty of “possession with intent to distribute drugs” automatically receives a one-year suspension.
the Reform of Marijuana Laws sponsored a resolution in the George Washington Student Association Senate, calling for a reduction of sanctions for students caught using marijuana. The bill, which sought to make marijuana violations less than or equivalent to alcohol violations, eventually passed the SA Senate but was vetoed by then SA President Lamar Thorpe. Once the bill failed, GWU student efforts to alter the school’s drug policy significantly subsided. “After all that work, I basically gave it up (as it was then just a few months before the end of the year) and hoped the group would continue the fight,” Greg Hersch, founder and former president of GWU’s NORML chapter, wrote in an e-mail. “It didn’t. My senior year, there were no events in the second semester, and meetings became more and more sporadic.” Around the same time student activists attempted to re-
Drug violations referred for on-campus disciplinary action
graph by ISHITA KOHLI
about 160 grams of marijuana, a scale, and plastic baggies, according to police reports and court documents.” That kind of spectacular action is rarely seen on the Hilltop, where students who commit drug violations are much more likely to be referred to DPS and receive housing probation or counseling than spend the night in a jail cell. Even the number of DPS’s “on-campus referrals” is much lower than UPD’s “drug law violations referred for disciplinary action.” Since 2003, Georgetown has witnessed 158 referrals, compared to 704 at GWU in the same period. GWU does have a larger student body than Georgetown, but the difference is not large enough to explain such a disparity. There is a philosophical difference in the way the schools handle drug violations—a difference made clear by their re-
GWU’s definition of “possession and intent to distribute drugs” is fairly broad. According to its Code of Student Conduct, intent to distribute includes any sale, exchange, or transfer. For example, a student caught giving a friend less than $20 worth of weed is eligible to be suspended for an entire year. GWU’s definition of “possession and intent to distribute” is broader than the District’s, meaning students who are not disciplined by MPD may still face suspension and eviction. Administrators from George Washington’s Student Judicial Services, the organization that deals with drug violations and hands out punishments, did not respond to multiple requests for comment. The university’s drug policy has sparked its fair share of dissent from the GWU student body, peaking in February 2007, when the school’s chapter of the National Organization for
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form George Washington’s code, Georgetown’s own NORML chapter considered launching a similar effort. But that February, thenGeorgetown NORML president Taylor Wray (COL ’08) told the Voice that, “looking into the Georgetown Student Code, we found that there is a large spectrum of penalties for both alcohol and marijuana. There wasn’t a smoking gun that we could point at for change.” Georgetown’s Student Code of Conduct, while not exactly progressive, takes a more nuanced approach than George Washington’s. Drug violations range from Category A to Category C, depending on the circumstances.There is no defined minimum penalty, so incidents can be analyzed on a case-tocase basis. In a typical case, after receiving an incident report from DPS, the Office of Student Conduct
refers the matter to the Office of Residence Life. Students receive a hearing and are usually placed on disciplinary probation. Students are rarely suspended for a first time violation. “First and foremost, Georgetown attempts to educate,” Judy Johnson, director of the Office of Student Conduct, said. “Now that isn’t to say there are no punitive aspects or sanctions— certainly a student is going to receive sanctions—but the objective is not to remove a student who’s committed a violation, even if it’s drugs.” If a student is suspected of having health issues with drugs, he or she is referred to Dr. Patrick Kilcarr. “The purpose of referring [students] to Dr. Kilcarr is to address the student’s health issues. If they need some help, let’s get them the help they need,” Johnson said. Kilcarr’s philosophy embodies Georgetown’s educationbased approach to drug policy—he focuses on individual responsibility and choices rather than lecturing students about their poor judgment. “Students are sent here and we’ll sit down and talk about their thoughts, about their using habits and what’s going on,” Kilcarr said. “The one question I always ask is—not other people or outside sources—but are they concerned about their drug use, what’s happening with their use, and what impact use is having on their life?” The anonymous freshman caught for smoking in his dorm room, initially skeptical about meeting with Kilcarr, was pleasantly surprised by his brief meeting. “Actually I think the meeting with Dr. Kilcarr was the best part,” he said. “When I went down and talked to him, he was very cool about it. He asked me, ‘Do you think you have a problem? Do you think it’s getting in the way of schoolwork?’ I said I didn’t think so.”
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Drug-related campus arrests
graph by ISHITA KOHLI
The student described the violation as a minor setback in his first semester at Georgetown. He said Kilcarr respected his opinions, telling him that his prior decisions had obviously been good enough to get him to Georgetown. “My sense is the way we do it, it’s very humane and respectful,” Kilcarr said. “Ultimately it offers our students the opportunity to make a choice. And that’s what I think is important. Not to say you can’t do this and you can’t do that—that would cause a problem.” Kilcarr also criticized overly harsh policies, which he believes are ineffective and would conflict directly with Georgetown’s greater academic philosophy. “I really feel that it would cause blowback, that if anybody’s told they can’t do something, even if they didn’t think about doing it, they’re going to want to do it because they’re told they can’t,” Kilcarr said. “It brings out that adolescent nature of who we are. But if there’s education about appropriateness—is this in your best interest? Is this serving your personal goals or is it keeping you from moving in the direction that you want to—you
SHIRA SAPERSTEIN
Snowed in: Drug violations are much more prevalent at George Washington.
know, it really feels to me to be in line with what Georgetown’s all about, what the institution’s all about.” The contrast in drug policy and enforcement at Georgetown and GW, two campuses separated by just a few miles, highlights a broader national debate about what kind of policy is most effective. Indeed, the debate rages on at college campuses across the country. For now, it appears that schools are moving towards a more education-based approach. That transition appears to be following a national trend in which more and more states are loosening their restrictions on medical marijuana, and the Drug Enforcement Agency has stopped raiding medical marijuana dispensaries. According to Bill Piper, director of the Office of National Affairs for the Drug Policy Alliance Network, an organization which describes itself as “promoting policy alternatives to the drug war that are grounded in science, compassion, health and human rights,” the tide is slowly turning in states and on college campuses. “The trend the U.S. is going towards is a more health-based
approach. You see it in state after state,” Piper said. “I know there are a number of college campuses where students have been successful in changing the drug policy, at least around the issue of drug overdoses, so that it’s clear if people call 911 because somebody needs help, they’re not going to be kicked out of school or arrested for it.” Georgetown offers a case study for this approach. The anonymous freshman, although frustrated by his experience, was grateful that Georgetown’s policy ensured that one minor incident didn’t jeopardize his college education. For normalization advocates like Piper, that’s exactly the point. “Ultimately, if you’re an institution of higher learning, I think the question should be are people getting good grades, are they completing their assignments, are they doing anything that’s disruptive?” Piper said. “It makes little sense to arrest or kick people out of school for nothing more than what they put into their own body. For an institution of higher learning to cooperate with the police in that way, it certainly raises issues of the school’s commitment to education.”
Kilcarr cares: The first step is admitting that you have a problem.
COLE STANGLER
leisure
10 the georgetown voice
february 18, 2009
The Wolfman cometh, maketh a bad movie by Brendan Baumgardner Much like the titular monster, the arrival of The Wolfman was heralded by bad omens and concerned whispers. And whether you are a Victorian country dweller or a contemporary moviegoer, the proper course of action remains the same—stay away. The Wolfman is a remake of the 1941 Lon Chaney horror classic that tells the story of Lawrence Talbot (Benicio del Toro), a traveling actor who returns home to investigate the mysterious disappearance of his brother. Upon his arrival, it quickly becomes clear that all is not right at Talbot Manor. The lost brother’s corpse turns up mauled in a ditch, a band of gypsies tells of a horrible curse, and Lawrence’s father Sir John Talbot (Anthony Hopkins) agonizes cryptically over the power of the moon. Unfortunately, despite the top tier talent and classic source material, The Wolfman remains a mess of sloppy storytelling and humdrum acting that takes itself entirely too seriously. The first harbingers of
doom came long before The Wolfman’s theatrical release. The crew, it seemed, was working on a sort of revolving door system where directors, composers, and editors were cycled out almost daily.
by Joe Johnston, whose most recent work includes Hidalgo and Jurassic Park III. The scoring and editing of the film followed a similar path. Danny Elfman, who initially
put together simultaneously and copious reshoots in response to lackluster test screenings. But not all of the blame can be placed on The Wolfman’s tumultuous creation. The fact of
My, what big claws you have! Can you use them to dig up Lon Chaney? I think he’s rolling in his grave.
IMDB
Mark Romanek, for example, was originally slated to direct, but opted out at the last minute after disputes with the studio over the shooting schedule. Romanek was ultimately replaced
scored the film, was replaced very late in the game by Paul Haslinger, only to be brought back on the team weeks before release. There were also reports of various edits of the film being
the matter is that the film lags in all areas. The performances are incredibly wooden and disappointing. Even Hopkins only occasionally evokes the quiet creepiness his character demands—his
cept, the exhibit quickly begins to feel more like a chemistry lecture than a display of fine art. Most pieces in the exhibit, especially those from 19th century photographers, are of smaller proportions; many
dine reactions, the accompanying pictures are overlooked. This weakness is most apparent in the mid-20th century’s mediumsized gelatin-silver photographs. In this segment of the collection, the
tled,” a thought-provoking portrait of a laughing man in what appears to be a soldier’s uniform, the gravity and possible political statement are lost on the viewer, whose mind is too clouded with scientific jargon
whispered line “terrible things, Lawrence. You’ve done terrible things” will haunt you for some time—and you’ve already seen most of these moments in the trailer. The tone is oppressively serious without the substance to back it up. The scares are all cheap jump gags and even the special effects, which should have been the film’s highlight, were nothing special. We’ve seen these monsters before. The Wolfman is one of these films that absolutely belies the skill of the cast and crew. Benicio del Toro has proven his worth again and again, while Anthony Hopkins is typically beyond reproach. Even Joe Johnston didn’t live up to his past—sure Hidalgo was junk, but try and convince yourself you don’t have a soft spot for Jumanji. I guess, if pressed, I could come up with one compliment for The Wolfman. It was a hell of a lot better than its most recent werewolf counterpart, New Moon. I may have left this movie with a headache, but at least I wasn’t tempted to cure it with a silver bullet.
Photography exhibit sheds light on the Darkroom by Leigh Finnegan In the Darkroom: Photography Before the Digital Age is not art for art’s sake. Rather, it’s art for the sake of education—an appreciation for the history and scientific complexity of the method that has been lost at today’s world of Wal-Mart printout stations and Facebook albums. But while the exhibit, now on display in the National Gallery of Art, boasts more than just pretty pictures, its dense exploration of the technical comes at the expense of the photographs’ intended artistic value. The exhibit is organized chronologically, with pictures grouped according to their means of development. With each photo comes an engraved paragraph-long placard explaining precisely which chemicals and light-sensitive materials were used in the darkroom and the unique effects that they have on the final product. The specimens span more than a century, starting with the earliest camera-less prints and proceeding all the way to the Polaroid method that some of today’s Luddites still prefer. Although interesting in con-
NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART
Moments after this photograph was taken, Viking warriors emerged from this pinnace to rape, then pillage. are dwarfed by the explanatory writing hanging next to them. The science and history lessons grab the viewer’s attention first, and when that attention is lost halfway through in-depth discussions of io-
photographer begins to experiment more with conveying emotion rather than just translating an image. The exhibit, unfortunately, does little to emphasize that emotional component. In Garry Winogrand’s “Unti-
to appreciate to subtext. The strong aesthetic impact of the larger photographs offers some compensation. Perhaps because they are bigger in size, the exhibit’s heavy-hitters possess pas-
sion and technique that demand the viewer’s attention. Most of these come from late 20th century photography, when, as the inscriptions explain, advanced darkroom techniques became more capable of effectively portraying artists’ sentiments. Here, the explanations reinforce the photos rather than overshadow them. In Richard Misrach’s haunting “Dead Fish, Salton Sea, California” and David Levinthal’s disturbing “Untitled (From Mein Kampf),” where toy soldiers blurrily reenact Nazi war crimes via the Polaroid method, the photographs stand out as the main attraction, with their development processes helping to explain the overall effect. On a whole, though, the competition between chemistry and aesthetics is distracting. The viewer doesn’t leave In the Darkroom with a deep-seated scientific understanding of the photographic process or an immense appreciation for the potential of photography of an art form. Instead, the exhibit is a hodgepodge of a confusing chemistry lecture, a dense history textbook, and a few resonating images of photographic brilliance.
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“Ray, when someone asks you if you’re a god, you say ‘Yes!’”—Ghostbusters
Ris-oundingly bad by Chris Heller Ris Lacoste is a culinary legend around here. Her decade-long reign as executive chef at 1789 was exceptional, bringing critical acclaim, not to mention “Restaurant of the Year” awards, to the corner of Prospect and 36th Street NW. In December, after a four-year absence, she re-emerged on D.C.’s restaurant scene with a place of her own: Ris. Located one block north of Washington Circle in Foggy Bottom, Ris is housed in one hell of a building. Lacoste spent $4 million on design and furniture, and it shows. The main dining room is spacious, with a long bar and accompanying wide-screen televisions running along the back wall. Plush, tall chairs flank the stainedwood tables dotted throughout the room—the restaurant’s atmosphere is a unique balance of warmth and class. But be sure to enjoy walking in, gawking at the floor-to-ceiling windows, and sitting down—it’s all downhill from there. I visited Ris last Sunday with my girlfriend, a self-described “foodie.” She ordered eggs Benedict and beef carpaccio, while I looked forward to my French onion soup and gruyère cheeseburger. The menu led me to believe that Ris had carved out a unique niche—although Sundays are brunch days at Ris, the restaurant smartly offers typical lunch or dinner fare, too.
The minutes ticked by after we ordered our meals. I looked around to see few tables, a dozen at most, filled. I wanted to ask the waiter why the service seemed sluggish, but he dashed in and out of the hidden backroom so quickly that I never had the chance. When my French onion soup came, it tasted rich, but the few clumps of cheese floating in the soup were a far cry from the thick cheese topping I expected. My date’s eggs Benedict were overcooked and underwhelming. “I was expecting a twist,” she said. “I could’ve had this at a Bob Evans.” After another toe-tapping wait, our waiter emerged from his hidden lair to deliver our entrees. The cheeseburger, topped with a “special sauce” and onion jam, was surprisingly delicious. The dish isn’t complicated—it’s just a good old-fashioned cheeseburger. The carpaccio, garnished with arugula and topped with anchovies and capers, was equally satisfying. Sadly, it was by far the most daring meal on the table. While the entrees satisfied us, they were too little, too late, and far too usual. Lacoste’s reputation in D.C.’s restaurant scene is deservedly huge, but she’s going to need every lick of experience to get Ris humming. In time, perhaps Ris will become the restaurant we hoped it would be. But for now, it’s just another “nice” place in D.C. with a pricey menu and poor service.
Alternative energy sources Years ago, the most unwholesome beverage a kid could buy at a convenience store counter was a sugar-laden can of Coke, and the only option available to sleep-deprived college students was an extra large cup of coffee. Now, coffee and Coke have to compete with something that combines exorbitant amounts of both sugar and caffeine: energy drinks. Teenagers and college students are increasingly attracted to these seemingly innocuous and well-advertised cans of energy, but few are aware of the health risks. While one might argue that names like Full Throttle, No Fear, and Venom, are warning enough, many health experts
would prefer an actual warning label to inform consumers of the beverages’ adverse effects. In addition to caffeine and sugar, energy drinks generally contain additives like taurine and carnitine that act as stimulants. Energy drinks were originally marketed for high-performance athletes, but oozed into the mainstream population with the introduction of Red Bull in 1997. Energy drinks, however, are not your average sports drink. While sports drinks contain electrolytes (dissolved salts and minerals) that rehydrate your body, energy drinks often lead to extreme dehydration. Unlike sports drinks, energy drinks also create an artificial adrenaline rush, putting your
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lez’hur ledger
A vinyl-laden Valentine’s
by James Baumgardner I spent my Valentine’s Day in a dimly lit concert hall filled with dusty milk crates. What better way to spend this Hallmark holiday than by participating in a form of consumerism a little more genuine than one made of cheesy greeting cards and freshly cut roses? To some it may seem like a depressing alternative, but I don’t think anything could have suited me better than trekking down to the Black Cat to scour the stacks at the Fourth Annual D.C. Record Fair. And, in a way, what could be more romantic? Fourteen hundred music lovers sifting through decades worth of music in search of that elusive perfect record. Sure I may not have brought a date, but the sense of camaraderie at the record fair was more genuine than anything I’ve felt upon receiving a heart-shaped box of chocolates. Entrance into the Black Cat and access to vinyl of all genres and sizes (mainly with a diameter of seven, 10, or 12 inches) cost a mere two dollars, but the bang for my buck came when I walked up a flight of stairs to the venue’s main stage—and I was immersed in an eclectic group of people, of all genres
mind and body into overdrive for an hour or so, but leaving you even more drained once the effects wear off. The adrenaline rush causes your blood sugar levels and your blood pressure to increase, forcing your heart of pump faster. Increased heart rate and abnormal heart
Rub Some Dirt On It by Sadaf Qureshi
a bi-weekly column about wellness rhythms are common side effects, although they tend to go unnoticed. This is the part you should be most worried about. Energy drinks disrupt the normal activity of your heart, often giving it more of a boost than it can handle. Maybe you can justify this damage once in a while, when
and ages (mainly around 18, 26, and 43). The hipster youth was out in full force this afternoon, as they found their way to tables of every genre. Their ultimate goal: to expand their collections of obscure, hard-to-find releases so that they may be the envy of every Pitchforkabiding D.C. citizen. The hip-hop record collectors seemed to have a more genuine pursuit, in search of any worthwhile beats for oldschool vinyl DJing. They tended to congregate in the corners, where vendors who specialized in rap had set up shop. Then there were the elderly. They weren’t necessarily senior citizens, but they were probably just old enough to have once bought vinyl out of necessity rather than novelty. They spread out across the hall, searching through bins of blues, jazz, and classic rock, hoping to find that original ’75 pressing of Physical Graffiti. But as evident as their differences were, each of the approximately 1,400 attendees had similar motivations. A vendor I met in the back of the hall, who claimed to be a veteran of these fairs, explained it best. Everyone’s personal background didn’t matter,
you need to sneak in an extra hour of late night studying or paper-writing. But energy drinks are not always being used to bolster our academic pursuits. Sometimes, we need them to bolster our social lives as well. Mixing energy drinks with alcohol at bars, clubs, and parties is beginning to become standard practice. Alcohol is a depressant, and mixing it with all that caffeine and sugar masks the drowsiness side effect. The problem is that mixing stimulants with a depressant will lead to a false sense of awareness and consciousness. You will think your judgment is sound and unimpaired, when, in fact, it is not. Both caffeine and alcohol are diuretics, doubling the dehydration effect. Bringing alcohol into the picture also increases
they were all there for the hunt. They were there to find their favorite albums in their perfect forms. Regardless of who may be right in the audiophile argument over sound quality, the record will always reign supreme both aesthetically and emotionally. The physical record is fetishized in a way that an MP3 audio file never can be. The weight of the object, the album art, and the liner notes combine into a cohesive experience. This experience is enhanced by the mechanics of the player—after all, turntables don’t have a shuffle mode. Quite simply, though technology has advanced, the record has far from outlived its purpose. The romanticism of the experience extended far beyond the records themselves. I didn’t spend my Valentine’s Day flipping through dusty records, but at a party in a community full of passionate individuals. Perhaps the most passionate of these individuals were the ones who took the stage, particularly Animal Collective’s Geologist and D.C. legend Ian MacKaye. Each supported the scene, spinning some of their favorite records while the rest of us shopped, proving that vinyl culture is still very much alive.
heart risks and the likelihood of abnormal cardiac rhythms. While it won’t kill you, it certainly won’t do you any good, and you’ll end up with a hangover twice as unmanageable the next morning. I don’t mean to suggest that energy drinks need to be completely eliminated from the college diet, but they do need to be understood for what they are and used accordingly. While they won’t kill you, it is possible to abuse them, doing damage to your body. Drinking too many at once, or making energy drinks a daily habit is not the best decision—those sodas and coffees of yore may actually be the safer choice. See how long Sadaf can last after she gulps down a Monster at squreshi@georgetownvoice.com.
leisure
12 the georgetown voice
february 18, 2009
Critical Voices
Toro y Moi, Causers of This, Car Park Records Plenty of words have been written about chillwave, but for Toro y Moi, I don’t mind adding some more. The band’s newest album, Causers of This, stands out in the midst of a chillwave hangover—or, given the saccharine hooks of Neon Indian, perhaps “despite all of my chillwave cavities” is a better metaphor. Just listen to how different the album’s lead single, “Blessa,” sounds. In a scene full of catchy but beaten-to-death hooks only made special by their endearing sound, here was a track that let itself unfold slowly, conveying nostalgia through its dreamy melody. The album as a whole follows this trend—funneling new wave through Kompakt-brand minimalism, the songs pile spliced samples
on top of pulsing beats. There are rarely the crescendos of Ed Banger’s pop house and the songs aren’t nearly as “intelligent” as the ‘90s house that’s been seeing a revival lately with Pictureplane and Animal Collective—Causers of This is headphone house through and through. That stylistic decision not only mirrors the album’s themes but also provides a fantastic listen on its own. The album pulses and bounces—you may not be singing along to “Imprint After” or the self-titled track, but the off-kilter beats and bubbly synths lodge themselves somewhere in your subconscious, making the largely hook-less songs memorable. There is, of course, one song that stands out—probably your best point of entry to an album that, no matter how warm it is, isn’t exactly full of the ear candy that Life of Leisure was. “Low Shoulder,” based on a looped piano sample and Cut Copy-esque vocal work should make its way onto any February 2010 playlists you’re putting together. And once you’ve come to love that one, dive into the rest of Causers of This. Voice’s Choices: “Low Shoulder,” “Blessa” —Matthew Collins
A guide to open bar crashing It was Booker T. Washington who said, “Nothing ever comes to one, that is worth having, except as a result of hard work.” Washington, master orator that he was, apparently never attended an open bar reception. Well, I have—as recently as this past month, too. And though Washington’s dictum may be true in some contexts— when establishing a school for freed slaves, for example—I’m fairly certain that imbibing fine liquors on The Man’s dime is not one of them. I have a fair bit of expertise in this area. In my formative years, when I served as a Senate intern, my disreputable friends and I made a game of seeking out the wettest lobbyist receptions that
the Hill had to offer. Take, for example, the American Beverage Association’s get-together in an ornate Capitol room, at which a jovial Coca-Cola executive ordered me a rum and Coke—and a damn good one, at that. Sadly, my attendance at open bar events has fallen off precipitously in recent years. In my time at Georgetown, I count three times when I became inebriated on Jack DeGioia’s dime. And one of them—a Senior Dis-O event stocked with Blue Moon keg after Blue Moon keg—hardly counts anyway. Nonetheless, let me offer this warning to those hoping to labor their livers at a Georgetown reception. The bounties that an open bar on the Hilltop can offer are
Local Natives, Gorilla Manor, Infectious Records The first instinct upon listening to a new band is to draw comparisons to established artists on the scene—to see if it fits into your canon, justify your love or indifference, or even just satisfy the nagging suspicion that you’ve heard the arrangement before. Indie newcomers Local Natives make that practice frustrating, if not impossible, with their first full release, Gorilla Manor. You can hear Spoon in the piano used on several tracks, the introduction of string instruments is reminiscent of Ra Ra Riot, and the vocal arrangements almost immediately point to the influence of Fleet Foxes. But somehow Local Natives manages to combine all of the above and create an album that is surprisingly cohesive despite
great, but a blunder can be cataclysmic. One second you’re coolly sipping your gin and tonic, ready to mingle—and the next you’re tottering towards the University president to compliment his tie. To successfully navigate these shin-digs and avoid such an unfortunate fate, I offer a few pieces of advice:
Bottoms Up by Sam Sweeney
a bi-weekly column about drinking Always bring an accomplice. There’s nothing worse than standing alone while chattering guests around you mingle away. You’ll stick out like the thirsty, out-of-place college student that you are. Chat with your friend as you quaff refreshing vodka
its variety. The consistent, driving forces of the percussion and bass guitar, harmonized vocals, and melodies crafted in true laid-back Californian style all tie the album together and refuse to allow listeners to drift off in a haze. “Who Knows Who Cares,” for example, begins with the quiet simplicity of a ballad, only to build into an almost cacophonous roar of instrumentation before quieting back down once more. But Local Natives owe their recent increase in popularity to more than just creative compositional methods. The band demonstrates a tireless dedication to their craft. They impressed audiences by performing an astonishing nine shows at the 2009 SXSW festival, and completely self-financed their debut album. Put simply, Local Natives are much more than the sum of their parts. Gorilla Manor is a declaration of prowess and an excellent debut into the music scene. You may have heard something that sounds like this before. But the synthesis within Gorilla Manor is something entirely new. Voice’s Choices: “World News,” “Airplanes,” “Sticky Thread”
Concert Calendar THURSDAY 2/18
!Outernational! with Apollo Run DC9, 8:30 p.m., $12
FRIDAY 2/19
Sweet Interference with Tripp Rock & Roll Hotel, 8 p.m., $10
SATURDAY 2/20
Nouvelle Vague with Clare and The Reasons 9:30 Club, 8 p.m., $25 Franz Nicolay with Romania DC9, 11 p.m., $8
MONDAY 2/22
The English Beat with Fishbone 9:30 Club, 7 p.m., $25
TUESDAY 2/23
The Clientele with Vetiver Black Cat, 8 p.m., $15
THURSDAY 2/25
Exit Cloy with Twin Thousands DC9, 8:30 p.m., $8
—Emily Simpson
Learn how to order your drink of choice in advance. I spied the Johnnie Walker Black the moment I walked into the Alumni Association awards dinner a few weeks ago. Wisely, I called my dad before ordering to ask him the proper way to order scotch (neat, with a small amount of water, or, my preference, on the rocks). Unwisely, when my turn came to order, I coolly said, “Johnnie Rocker, please,” before registering my mistake. The bartender looked at me and I swear he shook his head. James Bond makes it look easy, but it’s not.
cups of jungle juice at a Village B rager and you might wake up the next day with blurry memories of heaving into a foreign toilet and no idea how you got home. Needless to say, you’re expected to be slightly more mature at a reception because the potential for embarrassment a great deal higher. But as the event is winding down, don’t be afraid to speed up. I’ve been told vodka goes bad after it’s been sitting out too long, and wasting alcohol is a sin (or at least it should be). So there you have it. May these lessons bring you as much satisfaction and satiation as they’ve brought me over the years—or, to be on the safe side, maybe just a little bit less.
Don’t forget to pace yourself. Knock back one too many
Have Sam dirty on the rocks at ssweeney@georgetownvoice.com.
tonics until you’re feeling bold enough to talk to the adults around you.
fiction
georgetownvoice.com
the georgetown voice 13
There are so many planes in my mind when I sleep Drawing lines of the intertwining kind On the pavement of my dreams So brief and dark when in movements of blackness to light I come awake and have not died Delicate the idea lingers that will not be killed That I am out of time but will live on Eyes sunk into a wet cotton skull Gazing a clouded content within six thin walls or The slanted panes of a tight cozy plain pine coffin And not nearly as claustrophobic or spiritual Do I find these moments as I had feared it feels A quick skip in a record to remind myself That nothing is quite as cordial as dying for fascists Or waiting for you when I should be finding you Or instead living the life of a family gardener or a miner Choking black ash painting a pair of lungs in the dark With false genius projecting its secrets from a sweaty brow And the grit of tedious labor works its way into the satisfaction Of having lived to work and not worked to live The words that escape the breathy morning yawn In the ear of a waking love who cries from the heart
s e n a l p y n a p m e e o l s s e I r n a e e h w ko d m i Ther n T i n m erida y h S m n ena in By Ke And is attune the O O O who knows Assured and repented and held and I Holding down the sighs and tears choked back twelve years dry In a caravan I find refuge from this inert state Clumsily bumping on brick and cobbled byways Ears virgin to the future to the fears to the sunny depression That lingers like the buzz of a distorted guitar Rattling inside a tin can speaker inside my chest Now that same waking feeling with the warm breathiness Are the sunbeams on the back of bright pink shiny ears That will hear the same words from that one person someday We neither understand the significance nor the Weight of such exchanges as we grasp in polyphonic harmony Born is a feeling so sweet and succinct When torn through by clichĂŠs riding on FM wavelengths and Hidden in sonnets at every hour of the day But we are the cardinal feeling The Hortus deliciarum of two once wandering voices
AVIASTAR.ORG
And I thank the dearth of myelin And a sleepy head clouded with the hours of a day To hooded seals and glaciers and the peculiarities of sexual dimorphism And the orange glare of a sole streetlamp I owe my blessing For they framed a moment that will now frame my life
voices
14 the georgetown voice
february 18, 2010
No on-campus cura personalis for sick Hoyas by Marie-Camille Negrin You wake up one morning to find your throat as raspy as Bob Dylan’s. You trudge to class, yet you can’t help but cough at the least opportune moments and, despite your best attempts, you are that loathsome person whose nose just won’t stop running. But it’s not a cold. It can’t be. Georgetown students can’t afford to get sick. We have classes, commitments, jobs, and social lives. Maybe it’s nerdy, but in general, the only thing that we Hoyas hate more than the flu itself is missing a day of school. With daunting mountains of make-up work in mind, you decide that the 101 on the thermometer must be a mistake, and schlep out into the cold. Better to be on top of your schedule, especially since your only alternative is staying cooped up in your room. Being sick on campus is a hassle. Everything from hiking up to the Health Center—where you find that your only option is
to book an appointment for the following week—going to CVS to buy Robitussin, rummaging through Vittles and Snaxa for some chicken soup, all while focusing on not slipping on black ice, prove considerable challenges. And it’s a lonely hassle, as friends are preoccupied with their own commitments and can only devote so much of their day to being your surrogate mom. College students already don’t take very good care of themselves, with all the partying, late nights, and junk food. Getting sick seems to be inevitable, and it would be nice to have a welcoming room or center—preferably one with comfy couches, fuzzy blankets, and mom’s chicken noodle soup—already at hand? Unfortunately, this haven doesn’t exist, and we are left to rely on friends to take care of us with canned soup and Leo’s bagels. It’s hard to know when feeling sick warrants a day of bed rest, though, and given the drawbacks of taking a day off, many
of us do our best to shrug off our symptoms and tough it out. But, it can be dangerous to ignore your body. This year alone I have gone to the hospital twice to help two different friends. Both had nasal infections and the flu, but because they didn’t have fevers, they denied that they needed any treatment or time off. One friend almost fainted in class; the other called GERMS at 6 a.m. because she couldn’t walk up to the Health Center. Denial was not the solution for these two girls, and in the end both wound up confined to their beds for four days anyway. One of the most unpleasant aspects of being sick at Georgetown is that there is nowhere go. Everyone from our professors to the writers of the Stall Seat Journal tell us that when we have the flu we have to stay in our dorms. But how are you supposed to feel better when you’re stuck in a tiny dorm room, constantly being awakened by your roommate, breathing the same stale air all day? Our campus is sorely
lacking in community space for its undergrads, and that includes quiet areas to be sick where you don’t have to disgust your roommate with your coughs. Unfortunately, feeling a little under the weather often means enduring the seemingly endless wait to see a doctor at the Health Center. Most of the time students know their illness and know what medication they need, but are unable to obtain it without a prescription. Overall the experience is frustrating and results in more lost sleep thanks to long stretches in the overcrowded, microbe-stocked waiting room. Couldn’t there be another center that deals with minor colds or sicknesses? A sort of express line for the sick, preferably more accessible and centrally located. Students could more easily access doctors and be on their way again, instead of denying that they feel awful until they experience a full-fledged health breakdown. In the winter, students are bound to get sick. Especially
during finals, with stress levels high and immune systems on the verge of shutting down, campus feels like a giant bubble of germs. Everywhere you turn you hear people hacking and complaining about not feeling well. The best we can do is be proactive: sleep, eat well, exercise, and wash our hands. But even that is not enough to combat the exposure to germs that comes with dorm life. Our bodies are bound to break down occasionally, and Georgetown should offer some sort of respite so that we can build ourselves back up. Being sick is never fun, and without the right resources, the road to recovery can be unnecessarily and uncomfortably drawn out.
Marie-Camille is a sophomore in the College. Until Georgetown gives us another option, she recommends a spoonful of sugar.
It’s easy to quit smoking—I’ve done it tons of times by James McGrory It’s mid-February, which is the perfect time to evaluate all those attempted resolutions of only six weeks ago. The new year ushers in a sense of determination that has the potential to last, but usually disappears within a few weeks, a few days, or even a few hours—usually about when that New Year’s Eve whiskey buzz turns into a New Year’s Day headache. I, like so many before me, took it upon myself to throw away that nasty habit that comes at an unreasonable price in packs of twenty. In theory, it shouldn’t take much dedication to get rid of a cigarette addiction. It’s costly and far more detrimental than the three-minute-long mental numb merits. But, in practice, addiction is a little more multidimensional than the rational mind can handle, so it’s no surprise that within a week, my pack-a-day habit was back in full force. There seem to be four steps that lead me in circles when I finally work up the will to quit. I take a self-righteous approach to the task, realize the dire consequences of my decision no more than two or three days later, cave in and buy my brand of choice, and face a certain over-
whelming guilt through the lens of self-pity. I then rationalize that it just wasn’t the right time for me and that I’ll get there eventually, all the while puffing at filter after filter.
Perhaps having seen firsthand a beloved family member fall victim to a slow and painful demise thanks to cigarettes should have caused eye-opening realizations about my own
isn’t behind you on this task either. People may wish their best to you and cheer you on from the sidelines, but when you fail for the first or second time, they won’t chastise you.
ACCESS RX MEDICATIONS ONLINE
“Remember, if you smoke after sex that means you’re doing it too fast.”—Woody Allen Studies can tell me all the negative effects my habit has on my health. They can preach to me about the possibility of various cancers, emphysema, bronchitis, and heart disease, but I have a youthful invincibility complex and most likely won’t see signs of these until I am much further down the wretched path of addiction.
future, but sometimes the future is far too distant an abstraction to understand fully. The timelessness I’ve placed on my day-to-day life has made it impossible to deal with the idea of consequence in concrete terms. And as much as it may be frowned upon to have an addiction to cigarettes, society
Instead, they’ll wish you better luck next time, as if your quitting was in fate’s hands instead of yours. So I took a step back from my earlier halfhearted attempts and took on the task as if it were my first time. At first, I found it difficult to walk through the crowds of smokers in front of Lauinger Library,
but when, a few days in, the full sensations of taste and smell came back, it was as if I was being granted a rebate for the payment of anxiety-driven headaches. A few weeks in, the cravings lessened and I regained the lung capacity to climb a set of stairs instead of waiting for Copley’s molasses -like elevators. A few months and maybe I’ll find myself wondering why I ever let those vile capitalist companies profit from me for so long. Take note that this is not a message written in a self-righteous tone, as I’m fully aware that cigarette addiction does not have a simple answer; if it were to have one I surely wouldn’t be under its influence. This is simply a notice that it isn’t an impossible feat, regardless of how many times you’ve tried and failed before. You must find a path and reason that work for you, and think of it as a personal obligation that won’t lose meaning in the coming days or weeks or years.
James McGrory is a sophomore in the College and fiction editor for the Voice. If you want to discuss his article he’ll be outside Lau.
voices
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the georgetown voice
15
Constantly risking Winter Olympic absurdity by Leigh Finnegan For the sake of the modern world, I really hope the ancient Greeks were wrong in their religious beliefs. Maybe the gods have been ignoring our lack of animal sacrifices for the past couple millennia, but all those myths about an angry god not getting enough worship and going on a killing spree make me a little nervous for the future of civilization. As I watched Friday night’s opening ceremonies for the 2010 Olympics, I half-expected Zeus to send a vengeful lightning bolt right through the multimilliondollar roof of Vancouver’s BC Place Stadium. In middle school, most of us were taught that today’s Olympics are a continuation of an ancient Greek tradition, in which the finest athletes from different Greek citystates came together in competition to worship the gods (and, presumably, get their asses wrecked by the Spartans). But aside from the shared name, the ancient Olympics resemble the modern games about as much as Lady Gaga resembles Lady Bird Johnson. If anything, today’s
games have become a worship ceremony for ostentation, pointlessness, and Visa. The games, from my understanding, are theoretically supposed to be about global unity and celebration. In practice, the one thing they celebrate more than anything is a colossal waste of money. This year’s games are setting Canada back an estimated $6 billion, which is a mere penny on the sidewalk compared to the $44 billion China spent in 2008. Even if we weren’t experiencing a massive global recession, I’d still venture to guess that nobody would’ve watched the dancing Inuits, flying ice skaters covered in lightbulbs, and ear-numbing Nelly Furtado-Bryan Adams duet and thought: “Wow, now this is money well spent.” But even if you were able to put the ceremony’s hefty price tag out of mind for a few hours, a key issue remains: most of the ceremony has absolutely nothing to do with ancient Greek tradition, sports, or the global community—at all. The opening ceremony was just Canada celebrating and validating itself in a laughably overdone series of dances featuring more people than the en-
tire population of the Yukon. The whole effort was counterproductive, too. The only thing anyone learned about Canadian culture is that the artist who designed this must have been on one hell of an acid trip. Before you start to think that Canada might finally have reason to shed its famous inferiority complex, rest assured that our neighbors to the north weren’t the only ones insulting classical culture. Not to be outdone, we Americans brought such a herculean level of red-white-andblue ridiculousness to the opening ceremonies that the global community could only watch in awe. While other countries marched their finest, select athletes into the arena with pride and dignity, America herded in its titanic, 216-member team, the flag-bearer waving like the Grand Marshall of the Macy’s Day World Domination Parade. Doesn’t the rest of the world already hate us enough without having to watch our small army of Ralph Lauren-clad, juicedup curlers flooding what’s supposed to be the global stage? And finally, what would a sporting event be without some good old counterintuitive American consumerism? The airing of the opening
What would Betty Freidan do? When I was younger, my mom refused to let me watch two Disney movies: Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. I asked her years later about what I thought was a strange prejudice against the delightful animated fairytales, and she explained that she didn’t want me growing up absorbing stories of women being saved by a white knight. Don’t get me wrong, I did watch those movies when I was little, just at friends’ houses, keeping it a secret from my mom. I had a sense then that she disapproved of the movies, but little idea as to why. I understand better now. It was the same reason why my Barbie doll collection was so much smaller than my peers’, why she never bought me an Easy Bake Oven, and why most of the books I read centered around strong female protagonists. My mother was raising me to be a feminist and I hardly realized it.
Being a feminist now, when I’m 22 years old and on the brink of real-world decisions, is a lot more complex than when I ran around to the Annie Oakley-inspired mantra, “anything you can do, I can do better.” It’s not just that I have a more nuanced view of the world than I did as a preschooler. It’s also that the term “feminism” is more complicated now. Some call the 2000s the beginning of a “postfeminist” era, others say we’re in the “third wave.” Either way you spin it, feminism now comes down to the freedom of personal choice. Whether or not that choice comes with a social stigma, however, is a persistent problem modern feminism still hasn’t fully addressed. A beneficiary of Title IX, my mom knew feminism as an outgrowth of Betty Freidan, whose success was manifested in the legal accomplishments of the 1960s and 1970s, otherwise called feminism’s “second wave” (the first being the women’s suffrage movement back in the first few decades of the cen-
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tury). But now the movement is in murkier waters. Historically, feminism ebbs and flows in the United States; once women’s right to vote was ratified in 1920, there was little action until 1963, when Friedan published the Feminine Mystique and Congress passed the Equal Pay Act, setting off two decades of legal victories for American women.
Carrying On by Kate Mays A rotating column by Voice senior staffers
However successful feminists may have been in legal battles, they’ve paid for it in less tangible ways. The 19th Amendment gave us the right to vote, but the relative complacency that followed led to the 1950s housewife. Sure, there was Rosie the Riveter, that icon of female strength during World War II, but she existed solely because of the workforce vacuum created by the draft. When the men returned home, the women were more than happy to do the same. Except they weren’t, as Friedan pointed out, and now women make up 47 percent of America’s workforce, according to a report
CANADA GAMES 2011
How low can you go: So is this figure skating or an intense game of limbo? ceremony was interrupted every few minutes with blocks of Olympic-related advertising. Visa’s “Go World” ads—which curiously feature American athletes much more frequently than their foreign competitors—have become a staple in the more recent games. McDonald’s is right behind them all the way, encouraging kids to be like their muscular idols by eating disgusting amounts of trans fat. But the real travesty of the Olympic ordeal is that all of the host country self-aggrandizement and schlocky advertising obscure the games’ stated purpose—the appreciation of athletics. The ancient released by the Pew Research Center last month. We’re also outpacing males as college graduates 53.5 to 46.5 percent. In 2007, 22 percent of married women had higher incomes than their husbands, compared to just four percent in 1970. This sounds pretty good—and compared to 1970, it is—with gains for women in pretty much every category. Granted, the marriage rate has declined, but I wouldn’t necessarily call that a problem— more earning power equals more independence, which is a good thing, right? This is where modern-day feminism gets complicated. Men were fine with giving us the vote, but 22 percent of women outearning their husbands? Median household incomes may have risen, but what about the men? And what about their masculinity? In most popular writing about women challenging gender structures, men and their presumed emasculation are at least an aspect, if not a central concern, of the story. If they’re not getting divorced, the career women profiled in newspaper trend stories who dare to have more successful careers than their husbands seem to be preoccupied with making sure their spouses can cope with their success, to the same extent that they are concerned with their own careers. When The New York Times Style section recently wrote about the rise in female college
Greeks held their athletes in the highest esteem, as they performed feats of strength that seemed superhuman. But our own potential Olympic heroes today don’t have a fighting chance at the Hellenistic glory of old. Instead they’re stuck sour-faced on the sidelines, clapping obligatorily while commercialism and showiness get the attention.
Leigh is a freshman in the College and an assistant Leisure editor for the Voice. She only watches the Olympics when Michael Phelps is on. enrollment, the main take-away was that it’s now much harder for women to find boyfriends in college who won’t cheat on them, and women resort to sluttier behavior as a result. While the feminist movement may have provided women with more access to the “man’s world,” it did little to overturn the pervasive patriarchy in our culture. We became really good at enacting laws to protect women. Granted, these laws are necessary to protect women’s rights within the dominant male order, but they can also create the illusion that feminism has made more progress than it actually has. Congress may have passed the Pregnancy Discrimination Act over 30 years ago, for example, but it’s more than naïve to think that a woman’s potential or actual motherhood does not affect employment decisions. Creating a law to address a problem does not necessarily solve it, especially when the issue is as culturally entrenched as gender bias. We degrade their legacy by declaring this era “post-feminist,” as if gender inequality is a thing of the past.
Kate Mays is a senior in the College and former Voice editor in chief. Anything you can do she can do better, and she will.