9 20 2012

VOICE the georgetown

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STUDENTS STRUGGLE WITH CAMPUS BUSINESS POLICY PAGE 4

BULLDOG ON BULLDOG ACTION PAGE 6

‘THE MASTER’ ASTOUNDS AND COUNFOUNDS PAGE 10

Georgetown University’s Weekly Newsmagazine Since 1969  September 20, 2012  Volume 47, Issue 6  georgetownvoice.com

2 the georgetown voice

september 20, 2012

Letter to the Editor: Dear Editor, In his Sept. 13 article, “Start Me Up: The Struggles of Georgetown’s Tech Entrepreneurs,” Connor Jones identified a challenge at Georgetown that reflects a larger national trend—entrepreneurs having difficulties finding the right talent to launch technology-centered businesses.

The good news is that entrepreneurs have a talent for solving problems. As this challenge has become more common, quite a few startups have emerged that focus on providing technology services to entrepreneurs—and the Georgetown Entrepreneurship Initiative has been working to secure partnerships to help our students minimize technological barriers and launch successful businesses.

From working with universities whose students specialize in technology to seeking out companies that provide technology services to recruiting Entrepreneurs in Residence with connections to technology companies, the Entrepreneurship Initiative is actively seeking solutions to this challenge. During the past few months, Georgetown student Rahul Singh and his company, Anant Corporation, provided tech services to student companies in the Georgetown Summer Startup Program, and we will soon be launching a portal for Georgetown entrepreneurs through a partnership with CoFoundersLab. We also are in discussions with alumni at technological companies to identify potential partners for our growing base of entrepreneurs who need access to advanced developers and resources. While none of these activities will immediately solve the regional and nationwide shortage of tech talent, they are all moving us in the direction of making Georgetown a world-class university for entrepreneurial students.

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Entrepreneurs face many challenges as they work to take an idea and transform it into a successful business. I encourage any student or alumnus interested in launching a venture to become involved in the Entrepreneurship Initiative or student clubs (like the new Startup Hoyas Club), attend events on campus, network with established entrepreneurs, and seek relevant internships. The world needs more entrepreneurs, and Georgetown will continue to support the increased interest for entrepreneurship among our students. Together we are overcoming the challenges and building upon our successes.

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Yours entrepreneurially, Jeff Reid Director, Georgetown Entrepreneurship Initiative

Voice Crossword “Quote Quandaries” by Tyler Pierce 36. Gulf War ally 37. Third part of the quote 39. Helper 43. Baby hawk 44. Trash 46. Final part of the quote 51. Yo-Yo Ma’s instrument 52. A or an 53. Half and half 55. Sue Grafton’s “L” for Lawless 56. Haze 57. Clean by rubbing 59. Material for a whitesmith 60. Author of the quote 66. Opposite of WSW 67. Salt additive 68. Not bumpy 69. He had a declassified guide 70. 2000 Olympics city 71. Ball girls?

DOWN ACROSS 1. 90’s teen girl retort 5. Attack 11. Type of scan 14. Ancient Mariner’s poem 15. Genus related to asparagus 16. Ruckus 17. Start of a quote

19. Tree excretion 20. This puzzle has one 21. Approaching, to 60 Across 22. Cleopatra bane 25. Dadaist Jean 26. Latvia neighbor 29. Marshmallow topping 31. Second part of the quote 33. Epee cousin 35. Follow

1. The best things in life ___ free 2. “If __ was Nine,” Jimi Hen drix song 3. Mischief-maker 4. Pedal pushers 5. One of Rita’s kids on “Dexter” 6. Shrimp dish 7. Locale 8. “Prince ___,” (Aladdin song)

puzzle answers at georgetownvoice.com 9. U.N. working conditions agcy.

10. Type of video game party 11. Taj Mahal, e.g.

12. Slowly, to a conductor 13. Lincoln headgear 18. Irritate by rubbing 21. ___’easter 22. Retro hairdo 23. Dis 24. Insect stage 26. And others, for short 27. Plant or stooge 28. ___ Aviv 30. Dorsal, for example 32. Mario attribute, slangily 34. Kind of blue 38. Countenance 39. Downed a sub, say 40. “___ never work!”

41. Pastrami purveyor 42. God of love 43. And so on: Abbr.

45. Freeze 46. Hurry 47. Regal fur 48. Made up (for)

49. Guitarist’s setup 50. Epoch after the Paleocene 54. Snooping 57. The heaviest organ in the human body 58. Marsh plant 60. Bro’s sib 61. Today, in Tijuana 62. Append 63. “___ Maria” 64. Fighter at Chancellorsville, slangily 65. Lt.’s inferior, in the Navy

ARE YOU A LOGOPHILE? Share your love of words and help us write crosswords.

E-mail crossword@georgetownvoice.com.

editorial

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VOICE the georgetown

Volume 47.6 September 20, 2012 Editor-in-Chief: Leigh Finnegan Managing Editor: Keaton Hoffman Blog Editor: Vanya Mehta News Editor: Gavin Bade Sports Editor: Kevin Joseph Feature Editor: Connor Jones Cover Editor: Neha Ghanshamdas Leisure Editor: Mary Borowiec Voices Editor: Claire McDaniel Photo Editor: Lucia He Design Editors: Amanda Dominguez, Madhuri Vairapandi Projects Editors: Christie Geaney, Cannon Warren Puzzles Editor: Tyler Pierce Assistant Blog Editors: Morgan Manger, Jamie Niu Assistant News Editors: Julia Jester, Matt Weinmann Assistant Sports Editor: Steven Criss Assistant Leisure Editors: Will Collins, Julia Lloyd-George, Kirill Makarenko Assistant Photo Editors: Julian de la Paz, Matt Thees Assistant Design Editors: Lauren Ashley Panawa

Staff Writers:

Jane Conroy, Shom Mazumder, Caitriona Pagni, Paul Quincy, Heather Regen, Melissa Sullivan, Fatima Taskomur, Ambika Tripathi

Staff Photographers:

Max Blodgett, Kirill Makarenko, Tim Markatos, Larissa Ong, Andres Rengifo

Copy Chief: Tori Jovanovski Copy Editors:

Patricia Cipollitti, Kim Tay

Editorial Board Chair: Rachel Calvert Editorial Board:

Aisha Babalakin, Gavin Bade, Patricia Cipollitti, Nico Dona Dalle Rose, Keaton Hoffman, Julia Jester, Linnea Pittman, Cole Stangler

Head of Business: Aarohi Vora Business Staff: Sara Ainsworth, Zoe Disselkoen, Meghan Fitzpatrick, Charmaine Ng

The Georgetown Voice

The Georgetown Voice is published every Thursday.

This newspaper was made possible in part with the support of

Campus Progress, a project of the Center for American Progress, online at CampusProgress.org. Campus Progress works to help young people — advocates, activists, journalists, artists — make their voices heard on issues that matter. Learn more at CampusProgress.org.

Mailing Address: Georgetown University The Georgetown Voice Box 571066 Washington, D.C. 20057

Office: Leavey Center Room 424 Georgetown University Washington, D.C. 20057

Email: editor@georgetownvoice.com Advertising: business@georgetownvoice.com Web Site: georgetownvoice.com The opinions expressed in the Georgetown Voice do not necessarily represent the views of the administration, faculty or students of Georgetown University, unless specifically stated. Unsigned editorials represent the views of the Editorial Board. Columns, advertisements, cartoons and opinion pieces do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board or the General Board of the Georgetown Voice.

The University subscribes to the principle of responsible freedom of expression of its student editors. The Georgetown Voice is produced in the Georgetown Voice office and composed on Macintosh computers using the Adobe InDesign publishing system and is printed

by Silver Communications. All materials copyright the Georgetown Voice. All rights reserved.

On this week’s cover: “Georgetown Investment” Cover Design: Sebastian Sotelo (MSB ‘14)

the georgetown voice 3 REFERENDUH

“Clear and convincing” deserves support Next week, GUSA will hold a referendum in support of raising the Student Code of Conduct’s evidentiary standard from “more likely than not” to “clear and convincing.” This reform will improve the disciplinary process by requiring the University to provide more substantial evidence that students actually committed the violation for which they are being convicted. Disciplinary sanctions can impact students’ abilities to secure jobs, internships, and, in some cases, study abroad clearances.

The Office of Student Conduct should take its disciplinary role seriously, and that includes respecting students’ right to have their cases reviewed in the best light possible. Since the disciplinary procedure is by no means judicial, a stringent evidentiary standard is the closest students are likely to come to presumed innocence. This referendum deserves student support, and signifies the most worthwhile endeavor to come out of GUSA so far this year.

Last spring, GUSA’s resolution recom-

mending student code of conduct reform went ignored by the administration and unacknowledged by Vice President of Student Affairs Todd Olson. This referendum is an ideal next step in encouraging the administration to adopt this reform. It will give students the opportunity to demonstrate their support for the reform, using one of the only channels available for students to voice their opinions to the University.

Even if the referendum does indeed pass, the administration is in no way bound to honor it. But that does not mean that it cannot have a powerful impact. The Hoya’s editorial board expressed concern that if a broadly supported referendum goes unacknowledged by the administration, students will lose faith in GUSA’s ability to enact change.

On the contrary, GUSA should not avoid advocating for positive change for fear of being discredited. Given the body’s weak institutional influence on the University—GUSA is not represented on the Board of Directors,

and most of their negotiations with the University occur in informal backrooms—GUSA should use open and transparent channels to pressure the University in a public forum.

When the Voice’s editorial board endorsed Clara Gustafson and Vail Kohnert-Yount during last spring’s election, we encouraged them to pressure the administration outside the normal channels. Although early in their term, Gustafson and Kohnert-Yount are doing exactly what it is that caused us to throw our support behind them in the first place— fighting to make changes that will really impact student life and giving weight to student opinion in dealings with the administration.

This opportunity to support the GUSA Executive—and to send the administration our own “clear and convincing” message—is not one to be wasted, and will set the tone for student-administration relations for the rest of the academic year. The “more likely than not” threshold of guilt does a disservice to students, and we should vote “yes” to further our disciplinary rights on this campus.

PUBLIC TRANSIT

Transgender awareness a worthy campaign Last Thursday, Mayor Vincent Gray and the D.C Office of Human Rights announced the launch of a citywide campaign aimed at promoting respect for the transgender community. Advocates of the campaign noted that it was the first nationwide, governmentfunded effort to explicitly and exclusively target gender nonconforming communities.

The campaign involves displaying advertisements on bus stops around the District depicting five transgender individuals stating their favorite D.C. activities. The goal of the campaign is to highlight that everyone belongs to the D.C. community, regardless of gender identity.

While we endorse and applaud the efforts of Mayor Gray and the Office of Human Rights in launching an awareness campaign, it is paramount that this be accompanied by concrete policies and enforcement that live up to the promise to make the city inclusive and non-discriminatory.

Mayor Gray stated that the campaign was indicative of his commitment to “ensure all residents have equal access to employment, housing and public services, and accommodations regardless of gender identity or expression.” Given that in 2011, 46 percent of transgender individuals reported employment discrimination and 37 percent reported housing discrimination because of their gender identity, these issues should play prominently in any campaign for transgender rights.

The OHR’s new focus on transgender awareness should include increased enforcement of D.C.’s existing anti-discrimination laws, as well as initiatives to ensure that victims of discrimination are aware of the available channels for legal recourse.

The recently unveiled awareness campaign will do the most good by addressing the disconcertingly high incidence of violence against gender nonconforming individuals.

The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Pro-

grams released a report in 2011 documenting that transgender individuals (particularly transgender women, people of color, and young adults) are at a disproportionately high risk of being victims of hate violence. Furthermore, they reported that while hate violence incidents have decreased overall, the number of hate crimes targeting the LGBT community has soared by 11 percent, while people who identify as transgender were found to be 28 percent more likely to experience physical violence than those who are gender conforming. This campaign will hopefully stymie discrimination by working to destigmatize gender nonconformity.

There is still a lot to be done to address violence and heterosexist discrimination, but this campaign is a laudable attempt to increase awareness. The city should continue its effort to reverse discrimination against transgender people—reversing the stigmatization on discrimination itself.

READING, RIGHTING

Chicago Teachers win beneficial contract On Tuesday, the Chicago Teachers’ Union House of Delegates voted to end its two-week strike and accept the contract negotiated between union leaders and Mayor Rahm Emanuel. By reclaiming control over their contracts and their schools, the teachers took a step against privatization of public education advocated by President Obama and Emanuel, his former Chief of Staff. Their contract includes features which will improve the educational experience for Chicago students by reinvesting teachers with control over their own classrooms.

The most common talking point against the striking teachers was the $76,000 average Chicago Public School teacher’s salary (the median CPS teacher’s salary is $68,000).

However, competitive compensation is crucial to attracting and maintaining a strong base of experienced teachers. The new contract guarantees a three percent pay increase the first year, with two percent increases the next two years. This scheme also includes a

huge victory for the teachers—no merit pay.

Teachers need to be accountable, but their pay should not be tied to test scores when the body of evidence suggests that standardized tests are an extremely unreliable method of evaluation. A far better approach would rely on peer review and classroom observation.

This would deliver the necessary accountability, while giving teachers the freedom to broaden their curricula and focus on more than just the test. Under this contract, standardized tests count for 30 percent of a teacher’s total evaluation.

Chicago’s poor fiscal situation does not justify underfunded schools. Chicago, like many cities, needs to reduce its deficit, but that reduction shouldn’t come on the backs of teachers and a school system that serves some of the nation’s most disadvantaged children. There is a vast discrepancy in perstudent spending between CPS and suburban schools. This inequity should not be addressed by refusing teacher raises or ne-

glecting to hire much needed support staff like counselors and nurses. Rather, Chicago should stop diverting funds ($43 million in 2004) away from schools to developers, in the form of programs intended to encourage private economic development.

One feature of the contract that Mayor Emanuel is touting as a victory is the expansion of the school day. Fortunately, this contract provides for more arts and physical education faculty, to accommodate for the longer school day and year—all welcome improvements.

The CTU under President Karen Lewis is an incredibly democratic institution.

The union, its contract negotiation, and the attendant strike all provide a model for sound education reform that empowers teachers to gain the experience they need to most effectively educate students.

Issues like funding and class sizes remain to be improved, but this contract is a laudable first step.

news

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september 20, 2012

Occupy marks its anniversary with continued protest

by Soo Chae and Juliana De Souza A year ago in Manhattan’s Zuccotti Park, Occupy Wall Street launched its mission to address economic inequality in the U.S. The activism quickly spread, inspiring sister occupations throughout the country and around the world.

In the three-day celebration of its birthday in New York, the grassroots movement again staged demonstrations in Manhattan’s financial district—albeit in smaller numbers than last fall—resulting in the arrests of more than 180 people and numerous instances of police brutality.

“Everyone spread in different groups—we moved beyond the one big block, becoming more verbal,” said Astra Taylor, Monthly Review journalist and film editor, in a live video chat hosted by The Nation.

Though one year may seem like a short time for a national protest movement to impact America’s 99 percent, Occupiers will tell you they’ve done more than camp out in public parks and lift a few posters.

In the past year, the movement has gradually expanded to include a much broader spectrum of issues, including environmental problems, health care issues, gay rights, the

housing crisis, and student debt.

“Now we’ve gotten more sophisticated,” said Michael Haack, freelance writer and organizer of Occupy Our Homes D.C. “Traditionally we thought about rights as like freedom of speech, but [since Occupy began] I think the conversation has changed.”

At Georgetown, GU Occupy has been spreading the founding message of the Occupy movement.

Members participated in a march after the tragic shooting of Trayvon Martin, protested on Copley Lawn when Newt Gingrich visited campus, and dropped a banner reading “Stop the war on the poor! No social

justice in Ryan’s budget” when nowVice Presidential candidate Paul Ryan spoke in Gaston Hall, as well as held a number of teach-ins to educate students about social justice.

“I think we had a pretty successful year in bringing the more activist direct action type of attitude to Georgetown,” said Mark Waterman (SFS ‘13), a member of GU Occupy [Full disclosure: Waterman is a former Voice staffer]. “Now both Occupy D.C. and GU Occupy are trying to revive our base and our movements a little bit.”

According to Sydney Browning (COL ‘15), a fellow member of GU Occupy, the group is seeking

Lucia He

Occupy protesters shut down lobbyist-infested K Street in November 2011.

advanced ways to pioneer growing action on the hilltop. “[The Occupy movement] has spread and specialized, and other progressive organizations that have pre-existed revitalized themselves.

We’re hoping that kind of energy can happen at Georgetown.”

In what Browning called an “explosion of activism,” GU Occupy envisions channeling its enthusiasm into other groups on campus, such as United Feminists or the Georgetown Solidarity Committee.

In the coming weeks, members of GU Occupy plan to partake in “Shut Down K Street” during Occupy D.C.’s “Week of Resistance,” which includes a variety of events celebrating the birthday of the D.C.based General Assembly. The movement to launch a comprehensive progressive calendar on the Hilltop is a case in point of young activists emulating Occupy’s vibrant activity.

“We don’t want to lose the momentum of the initial Occupy protest, but we also want to translate that into actually doing work on Georgetown campus with our own campaign,” Browning said.

Dany Sigwalt, program manager at the Washington Peace Center, believes student activists have infi-

nite potential for progress, but they must learn to better share resources and energy with larger movements.

“College campuses and students have a lot of connection to resources that can be used strategically,” Sigwalt said. “Making sure that college social movements are more sustainable will be very helpful in building a long term, sustainable relationship.”

Despite their many accomplishments in generating new momentum for social change, Occupiers are still unsatisfied and motivated.

“The question now is whether this movement can mobilize the networks and resources of a lot of existing roots and encourage them to step up their level of radicalism,” said Nathan Schneider, independent journalist and activist, in The Nation’s live chat.

According to Schneider, Occupy’s past year did not merely signify tens of thousands of people protesting out on the streets.

“What it was was a reflection and deepening thought of the core committed people who are determined to make this movement work, providing ways for people to find their own solutions and empower themselves.”

use classroom spaces for business purposes because our exempt status does not allow University resources—classrooms, technology, etc.—to be used by individuals for profitmaking enterprises.”

Olson attested that programs through the Entrepreneurship Initiative are permissible as academic exercises. “As a university, Georgetown should and does encourage entrepreneurship among its students.

The MSB programs are one example of this. These are very much educational in nature, with a supervised academic structure where the use of the university’s resources is perfectly acceptable,” Olson wrote.

It is unclear, however, what event prompted the implementation of the Student Affairs policy.

“I believe it was from about 2006 and it was instituted allegedly to help curb the sale of fake IDs on campus,” said Jay Factor (COL ’14), a GUSA senator on the Student Life Committee, which was charged with changing the policy last semester.

Strzeletz had another idea about why the policy was put in place.

“From what I understand, the rule was put into place because of

these credit card companies who were setting up on campus and trying to sign kids up for credit cards.”

Olson would not say why the policy was enacted.

Although the Student Life Committee took up the issue last year, it received a negative response from the University. “We tried working with administrators.

I think we drafted a letter. We didn’t really get a response and nothing has happened so far,” Factor said.

“Todd Olson’s statement doesn’t seem accurate at all when you have policies that are expressly forbidding any type of student activity in entrepreneurship,” Factor continued. “ I do think this is something the student life committee would be happy to reexamine and advocate for.”

But Strzeletz thinks the selective enforcement policy is working for some student startups.

“Obviously, there’s no room to have your own business on campus,” Strzeletz said. “I don’t think they’d care about a tech business, but it’s sort of out of sight, out of mind. If you’re making a business, they’re really supportive of that until it interferes with life on campus.”

Students struggle with campus business policy

by Connor Jones The Georgetown Entrepreneurship Initiative has the broad mission to encourage undergraduate students to start their own businesses. However, such businesses are prohibited by Student Affairs policies, which student entrepreneurs say has led to a system of selective enforcement. “[S]tudents living in any housing owned by the University may not operate a private business or otherwise engage in commercial activities from these premises,” the policy reads. “This prohibition includes using a room address, room telephone, or University network connection to conduct any type of business activity, such as acting as an agent for an outside company, soliciting or collecting orders for goods or services, or selling or delivering products.”

BuyBack Brothers, a business which purchases books from students at the end of each semester, was removed from campus in the spring of 2011 for violating the policy.

“They set up in Red Square and started buying from Red Square

without any problems for two semesters,” said Nicholas Strzeletz (COL ’14), the current operator of BuyBack Brothers. “So no one said anything for two semesters, and then suddenly an administrator came up to them at the end of one semester … it must have been spring 2011, and, basically, this woman [Phylander Pannell, Director of Campus Activity Facilities] said ‘you’re not allowed to do this. Student businesses can’t run on campus. You can’t use this space.’ Then she brought DOPS officers to prevent [Jordan Green (COL ‘12)] continuing to run the business.”

Even though student-run technology startups violate Georgetown’s policy by using University Internet, such activity is difficult to detect. As such, technology startups are seldom forced to cease operating on campus.

Last year, James Li (MSB ’13) and Michael Hauser (MSB ’13) were running a consulting business for nonprofits out of their Georgetown housing. When the Washington Post asked to photograph Li and Hauser for an article about student entrepreneurship, they ran into trouble with the policy.

“So we had to go through a week of bureaucracy with Georgetown to make sure they could come into our Village A and take photos in our dorm,” Li said. The University eventually permitted the Post to take photographs.

At the time, Li and Hauser were running their business with the help of the Entrepreneurship Initiative, and, according to Li, “The entrepreneurship department actually didn’t know about that rule until that situation came up.”

Jeff Reid, Director of the Entrepreneurship Initiative, did not respond to requests for comment, but Vice President for Student Affairs Todd Olson said the rule was primarily intended to protect residential life and deflect liability from the University.

“We strongly encourage student entrepreneurship, but also want to protect the residential character of our living areas, and businesses with deliveries and other impacts can interfere with that character,” Olson wrote in an email to the Voice.

“The Center for Student Programs, and Student Affairs broadly, does not permit individual students to

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the georgetown voice 5

Campus groups voice concerns about New South student space

by Matthew Weinmann As plans move ahead for the New South Student Center, plans for addressing concerns about student groups’ storage and practice space are just being formed.

Currently, New South is used by a wide array of student dance, sport, and service groups, including Groove Theory, the Aikido Club, and Relay For Life, among others.

The plans unveiled at a public town hall on Sept. 6 emphasized the NSSC as a “living room” on campus, a place to gather and study.

Construction is projected to begin next fall, with the NSSC slated to open in the fall of 2014.

“The transition planning for the New South Student Center will get started in earnest sometime later this semester, and continue throughout the spring,” wrote Director of the Center for Student Programs Erika Cohen-Derr in an email.

“Currently there is not a plan, but there have been informal conversations,” said GUSA President Clara Gustafson (SFS ‘13). “I think there should be two meetings before the end of the semester, with the whole group of students who have a stake in that space and the administrators who are going to be able to do something about it.”

cOuRTeSY GeORGeTOWN uNiVeRSiTY

Plans for student space in New South during construction are still up in the air.

“The Transition Planning Committee will include students representing the organizations and advisory boards most affected by the loss of the space during the construction year and beyond,” Cohen-Derr wrote. “The plan will need to include space for the functions that are currently supported by New South: office space, storage space, and practice/rehearsal space”—precisely the concerns student groups have.

When told there is currently no plan for relocating students, Alex Bayani (SFS ‘14), President of the Georgetown Fencing Club, said he “find[s] it disconcerting such groups don’t have a future home or at least there is no plan for that at this time.”

“We have about 20 to 25 people who attend practice regularly, and

Who do the police protect?

With the passing of the one year anniversary of Occupy Wall Street inevitably come pronouncements on the significance and relevance of the movement. Conservatives have forcefully condemned it to what one famous Bolshevik once termed the “dustbin of history,” while sympathetic liberals have celebrated it for reintroducing economic inequality back into American political discourse.

As for the radical utopians at the front lines in Manhattan, Oakland, and elsewhere deciding on the movement’s next steps, the future remains hazy—will OWS go the way of the seemingly directionless, increasingly apolitical Indignados of Spain, or might it somehow regain popular momentum and come to resemble something like the mass mobilizations of Quebecois students?

This kind of idle speculation is ultimately fruitless; it’s better left to the pundits who haven’t set foot in Zuccotti and have by now already refocused their attention to the

vapid horse races of the election season. But if there’s one thing that Occupy has unambiguously exposed at this point—and reminded us of again on Monday—it’s the sheer power and role of the police in our society.

On Occupy’s anniversary day, more than 180 people were arrested on a peaceful march in lower Manhattan. Police reportedly yanked demonstrators from the sidewalks, detaining elderly folks and people in wheelchairs.

Several journalists were arrested and a New York City councilman was assaulted by a police officer in Zuccotti Park. This puts the total arrest count for Occupy protests nationwide at around 7,600.

But there is something valuable in this madness. A common chant hurled at aggressive cops at protests is, “Who do you protect?

Who do you serve?” Of course, those who ask already know the answer. This interaction between police and demonstrators—and the repression that often accom-

as it now stands our space is limited and crowded,” Bayani said.

“I am deeply concerned about the future of the club, its growth, and its prospects, as we are now in a competitive regional conference.”

Some groups, such as Relay For Life, utilize New South primarily for storage. “We have years of ‘relay swag’ accumulated in the closet, and all the tents we use at the event,” said Dan Silkman (COL’ 15), a Relay event co-chair. “If they give us the same amount of space in Leavey that we have in Riverside, I don’t think it would be that much of an issue.”

Although Silkman is confident student groups will be given space, he admits he is “just assuming they are going to give us space.” He hopes whatever ends up being requested panies it —reminds us to whom the law is ultimately accountable.

It puts into concrete terms what is an abstract notion: that the police are there to protect the interests of the rich and powerful, that there’s one set of rules for the wealthy and another set governing the rest of us.

union Jack

by Cole Stangler A bi-weekly column about national politics and policy This familiar interaction repeated itself on Monday. While the supposed “rule of law” doesn’t apply to the banks that committed securities fraud on a massive scale, or the Wall St. executives who perjured themselves before the Senate, it does to skinny 17-year-old kids with anarchist flags who try to sit down in front of the entrance to the New York

of student groups will be reasonable.

“If we have an extended period of time to get everything together and formulate a plan to move everything and reorganize, I think that would be the most fair thing,” he said.

New South houses two dance studios, which will be included in the NSSC, but while under construction Georgetown’s dance groups will have to find temporary homes. “[The Georgetown University Dance Company] is very excited to have new studios, because we’re hoping they are going to much more innovative than the ones we have now,” said Catharine Maitner (COL’ 15), secretary of the GUDC. The group uses marley floors, a type of vinyl floor used by different styles of dances, and only New South has those floors.

“I know we used to practice in Yates,” she said, “but going to the New South studios was a huge step up for us.”

Groove Theory is another dance performance company which regularly uses the dance studios. “The most important thing you can’t automatically get is mirrors,” said Camille Squires (SFS ‘15), a member of Groove Theory. “There are open spaces to find on campus, but mirrors are crucial when you are trying to practice a dance and make sure it

Stock Exchange. And each time the New York Police Department pummels protesters to the ground under the pretext of protecting those cozy office buildings of our financial overlords—Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan Chase or Deutsche Bank—we’re reminded of the immunity of the banks and the great lengths the state goes to guarantee that immunity. It’s no surprise police repression played such a pivotal role in spreading Occupy last fall. For exposing the priorities and interests of the state so clearly, the movement is of tremendous importance.

Contrary to what some wellintentioned skeptics sometimes assert, the police repression of Occupy isn’t simply a series of isolated police departments carrying out the “rule of law” by confronting civil disobedience. It’s long been established that mayors coordinated a crackdown on their cities’ encampments last November. We also know the trail goes much higher. Thanks to documents obtained by various Freedom of Information Act requests,

looks good, and it’s uniform.”

“I appreciate the whole New South Student Center, that it’s for students and a lot of it is for future Georgetown students,” Squires said.

“But I think it’s important, too, to consider the students that are there.”

A smaller, and probably less well-known, group that utilizes New South is the Aikido Club.

The club, which currently has six members, has been in existence for 15 years, and has included both graduates and undergraduates.

“We have mats that are a special kind of canvas, which collectively weigh 400-500 pounds,” said Lance Strahl (MSB ‘13), the club’s president. The only place Strahl could see the club moving to is Bulldog Alley, but storing the mats is an obvious challenge.

“We have accumulated so much, and so much of it is required.

It’s a safety issue.” Strahl said.

Overall, Strahl was dissatisfied with the plans for the NSSC. He worries the space will be dedicated to one purpose, when it should be about “cura personalis, caring for the whole person, and providing activity and a space for people to do diverse things they enjoy,” Strahl said.

“It’s really not taking care of the whole person. It’s really not taking care of anything.”

we’ve learned that the Department of Homeland Security’s National Operations Center was intimately involved in monitoring the movement. DHS was even in direct contact with the White House about how to deny its involvement in monitoring the protests.

Still, it’s difficult to fully grasp what the police surveillance that Occupy has generated actually means. Either the state is genuinely afraid of a popular movement taking shape—which many thought back in OWS’s glory days last fall— or, perhaps even more disturbingly, law enforcement simply has such an expansive set of resources at its disposal to crush any counterculture movement it deems an inconvenience to larger society, especially the ruling one percent.

No matter what, the fact that Occupy has laid bare the vicious tactics of the police state and led millions to contemplate its consequences is a legitimate and lasting victory in itself.

Tell Cole how you’d Occupy him at cstangler@georgetownvoice.com.

sports

6 the georgetown voice

september 20, 2012

Football looks to bounce back against Princeton

by Keith Levinsky In a wild Saturday at MultiSport Field, Georgetown’s football team (2-1, 0-0 Patriot League) fell to Yale (1-0) 24-21.

The loss was Georgetown’s first of the year, and its sixth straight loss in consecutive years to Yale.

With under a minute remaining, the Hoyas drove inside the red zone, but a Bulldog interception shortly thereafter solidified the heartbreaking loss.

“My hat’s off to Yale. They made the plays and we didn’t make them,” said Head Coach Kevin Kelly. “They won in this comedy of errors football game.”

Georgetown was the more effective team moving the football throughout the game, but Yale got on the scoreboard first.

In the middle of the first quarter, the Bulldogs put together a 90-yard drive that ended with a rushing touchdown. Although the Hoyas were able to drive 96 yards on their next possession, the drive ended on a missed 19yard field goal.

Georgetown would take a quarter to respond with two quick touchdowns. On a Yale punt, sophomore wide receiver and punt returner Kevin Macari initially bobbled the catch, but then picked up the ball and rushed down the near sideline for a 79-yard punt return touchdown.

On Yale’s next series of downs, senior cornerback Jeremy Moore intercepted a screen pass on third down and sprinted 41 yards for the touchdown. The interception touchdown gave the Hoyas a 14-7 advantage with seven minutes left in the first half. The Bulldogs answered by tacking on a 36-yard field goal with five minutes remaining the half.

Georgetown then maneuvered a 70-yard, 12-play drive that put the Hoyas inside the ten-yard line. However, the team then fumbled the ball on the two-yard line, giving the Bulldogs another chance to score with 45 seconds. On the next play, Yale quarterback Erik Williams threw deep down the near sideline. The ball was haplessly tipped by a Georgetown defender into the hands of Yale’s Cameron Sandquist, who raced downfield for a touchdown.

After coming out of halftime with a surprising 17-14 lead, Yale fumbled the ball on their first drive of the third quarter, gifting the Hoyas with solid field position. Georgetown would take advantage, as junior running back Dalen Claytor scored a 32-yard rushing touchdown a few plays later.

Later in the third, the Blue and Gray would have a turnover of their own as they fumbled the ball on the 15-yard line. Yale capitalized, running it in from nine yards out to go ahead 24-21 with 2:43 remaining in the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, the Hoyas were thwarted twice in fourth-down situations. Georgetown was able to move the ball successfully on its last drive of the game, but ultimately lost the ball on one final interception.

“The ball went up and the kid made a heck of a play,” Kelly said. “In hindsight, we probably should have a ran the ball up the middle, kicked the field goal, and gone to overtime. It’s one I wish we could have back but we can’t.”

Claytor finished with 53 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown, along with 37 receiving yards. Moore recorded 12 tackles, forced and recovered

ANDRES RENGIFO

Aaron Aiken is on call this week, depending on the status of Isaiah Kempf.

a fumble, and had two interceptions, one of which resulted in a touchdown return.

“It was such a wacky game.

I’ve coached college football for 28 years, but I don’t know if I’ve been involved in a more wacky game.”

The Hoyas will look to rebound in a very important match-up at Princeton (0-1), a game that will be televised on ESPNU. The game is Princeton’s home opener and marks the

first time Georgetown will play in front of a national audience.

Princeton suffered a tight 17-14 loss to reigning Patriot League champion Lehigh (3-0) in Bethlehem, Pa., last weekend.

Georgetown will face a Princeton squad that is on a roll. The Tigers went down 17-0 in the first half against Lehigh but rallied in the fourth quarter with two straight touchdowns to cut the lead to 17-14.

Princeton’s most dangerous weapon will be senior running back Akil Sharp, who rushed for 79 yards last weekend and scored both of Princeton’s touchdowns. Georgetown will look to improve on its rushing defense this weekend after surrendering 236 yards on the ground to Yale last Saturday, more than their first two games combined.

Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. at Princeton University Stadium.

the Sports Sermon “Probably changing my underwear, they were definitely really unlucky.” - Ryan Dempster on his midseason pitching adjustments As it is, Georgetown remains behind their area peers—George Washington and American both boast club teams of their own.

Cricket has yet to gain a foothold in America, perhaps because of its similarities to baseball. If a young athlete is deciding between a foreign sport and one that’s always on television with equipment readily available, there really isn’t an argument to be made for electing a flat bat over a round one. Plus, for short attention spans, the traditional “test” match (which can last up to five days) is a bit daunting. It certainly has its merits, as entire nations get behind their countries and care

year, any casual fan can watch the majority of the tournament on It all started on the Harbin ESPN3, with the tournament’s patio. Just a few friends—headed final match airing for a national by an international student from television audience on ESPN2. It Sri Lanka—equipped with some may be just the right amount of bats and wickets. Three years exposure U.S. cricket needs. after those makeshift matchups It’s not as if America has between friends, Don Jayamaha reached its saturation point with (COL ’14) and a couple of those sports. This is the same country friends took things to the next where the NFL is mulling over level, moving their passion to expanding to 18 regular season North Kehoe Field. With the help games, while the NCAA planned of the Student Activities Comon expanding their college basmission, the Georgetown Cricket ketball tournament from 65 to 125 Club was born. teams (They later settled on 68, for Although still in its infantile now). That’s not really the argustages, Jayamaha says the club rement at hand. ceived around 30 signups this year, Cricket, like soccer, is simply including about 15 not our sport. SocPete Rose Central with prior cricket excer has increased Da bettin’ line perience. For the rest, in popularity in the the club would like country, though it Dookies Margin Hoyas to teach them crickhas been a slow and (underdogs) (duh!) et—from bowling to (favorites) gradual process. In batting, and every nuthe same manner, Cabrera New School cricket may have a Trout ance in between.

D-Line “When we startslow but rocky road Wheels R. Wilson ed off, we had three ahead if it wants to Magic Superman Howard Canadians, four get on the radar for Americans, and a ton of interna- about the results, but the length a casual sports fan. Aside from tional students that had never simply clashes with the nature of similarities to baseball, there isn’t played before,” Jayamaha said. fast-paced American sports. an American cricket team to get “We also had some people that Because of that, the Interna- behind, a la soccer. played baseball all their lives and tional Cricket Council has been For a South Asian growing up wanted to give it a go.” trying to alter that notion with a in America, I’ve seen both sides of While encouraged by the ini- more fast-paced model. They’ve the spectrum. Pure apathy toward tial reception to the club, Jayamaha gotten it down to a 20-over (an cricket during my younger days, realizes the South Asian commu- over translates to six balls bowled) followed by a brief obsession with nity at Georgetown is small. That format, which reduces game time the sport after a visit to India in is, those international students dramatically to a manageable my teens (that included picking like him who grew up around the three hours. up old test matches on VHS). My second-most popular sport in the With the new format in mind, enthusiasm for cricket eventually world are generally few and far the ICC began its fourth iteration teetered off; there was simply nevbetween on the Hilltop. This year, of the World Twenty20, an inter- er a means to maintain or heighthe’s seen a rise in that population national cricket tournament, on en my interest once removed from on campus, with international Tuesday. Held in Jayamaha’s na- the motherland. students from cricket hotbeds like tive Sri Lanka, the tournament With programming decisions the U.K., Australia, and the West pits nations with historic rivals like ESPN’s expanded coverage, Indies showing interest. against each other, like India and that’s no longer the case. Because With that in mind, the club Pakistan. What’s more, the tour- of Jayamaha and the founders of hopes to have a number of watch nament has grown in popularity the Georgetown Cricket Club, it’s parties and expand beyond Kehoe each season, with increased me- no longer a hidden gem on the by increasing interest in the sport. dia attention across the globe. This Hilltop either.

by Kevin Joseph

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the georgetown voice 7

Volleyball refocuses after loss Mental errors cost Hoyas

by Keaton Hoffman “It’s a whole new season for us.

We’re just ready to shake it off and refocus at practice and play better.”

Wise words from junior setter Haley Lowrance, as the Georgetown women’s volleyball team (6-7) fell to the Flames of Liberty (9-4) in the home opener at McDonough Arena on Tuesday.

After losing 25-21 in a close first set and putting in a solid 25-18 performance in the second set, the Hoyas crumbled after being edged out 28-26 in the third.

Liberty cleaned up in the final set to hand Georgetown its sixth straight loss.

In the face of the disappointing loss, Head Coach Arlisa Williams looked at positive individual improvements. She praised junior opposite Annalee Abell’s and sophomore outside hitter Dani White’s aggression at the net, describing their play as “huge.” Between the pair of them, Abell and White racked up an impressive 31 kills.

But, as Lowrance points out, volleyball matches aren’t won by individuals. “It’s a team sport. As long

as we can support each other we should be able to pull it out.”

While the team’s communication lacked at points in this game, manifest in unforced rotation errors and blocking miscues in the front court, the team clearly has chemistry. But both Lowrance and Williams hope their communication will improve as the team heads into Big East play against St. John’s on Friday.

“I think that we can communicate a little bit more effectively,” Williams added.

Unfortunately for the Hoyas, chatter wasn’t the only thing that was lacking against the Flames. Blocking, serving tougher, and eliminating unforced errors like missed serves and doubles are all areas where the team could use improvement.

The team managed only seven blocks in four sets. In preparing for St. John’s, Coach Williams said that the team’s focus at practice “is going to be on our block set up and our block timing,” both of which rely on senior middle blocker Lindsay Wise. She had one roof against Liberty, but if the team wants any hope of reaching the Big East Tour-

Alex Johnson is an ace threat for the Hoyas, even as a sophomore.

ANDRES RENGIFO

Schiano makes Giant mistake

All eyes this weekend were supposed to be on the Sunday night game, when the Lions and 49ers faced off for the first time since the infamous handshake between Jim Harbaugh and Jim Schwartz. But instead, the GiantsBuccaneers game proved to be the one to watch for fans of skirmishes between coaches. With time dwindling down and the Giants up seven points and in possession of the ball, Eli Manning and Big Blue set up to take a knee, a play popularly known as the victory formation.

When the Giants snapped the ball, however, instead of submitting to defeat like most teams do, the Buccaneers pushed hard through the line. The Giants’ offensive linemen, in a state of disbelief were pushed back and driven into Eli Manning, who was knocked down before he could kneel down.

After the clock hit zero, Giants coach Tom Coughlin and Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano met at midfield, where Coughlin scolded Schiano for allowing his defense to play so hard when the Giants were clearly taking a knee.

You hear a lot of sayings like “play to the whistle” or “it’s not over till the fat lady sings,” and they makes sense in principle.

Personally, I think sportsmanship has almost become too big of an issue, especially in such a politically correct world where anything that even resembles an insult gets posted all over the Internet, and oftentimes gets taken out of context and criticized to no end.

That said, I also believe in following precedent and abiding by the unwritten rules of the game.

One of the most important unwritten rules in football is that when a

nament, she needs to demonstrate her experience and step up her penetration at the net.

From the backline, the Hoyas served four aces against five errors on Tuesday. While her jump float is one of the more formidable assets from the service line, Lowrance admitted that the team has room for improvement in its serve. “Sometime, especially if we’re down, we tend to get timid at the service line. We just really want to get it in, as long as you have confidence in yourself back there … go after them. If you can hit them in the face, awesome.”

Greater ferocity from the line is an admirable aim, but it’s yet to be seen if the Hoyas can translate their setter’s sentiments onto the court.

Other than Lowrance and sophomore outside hitter Alex Johnson, none of the Hoyas has displayed the ability to consistently threaten aces.

Endurance is another obstacle for the squad. The team have yet to win a match that went to five sets, and the scoreboard suggests the girls are fatigued by the time the later sets roll around. “I hope that we have the stamina to win those games, but strength and conditioning is an area we focus on,” Williams said when asked about future Big East play.

For Williams, however, nothing outweighs the need to eliminate silly errors, of which there were 33 against Liberty. “We have got to reduce that number if we’re going to be successful,” she said.

It’s hard to say if the Hoyas have it in them to best last year’s middling record of 14-13 overall and 6-8 in the Big East. As Lowrance pointed out, “Volleyball is a game of momentum.” And right now, the Hoyas are in desperate need of recapturing it. team goes into the victory formation, the quarterback is taking a knee and the game is essentially over. There won’t be one last heave down the field or one more run up the middle, just a nice kneel down so that no one gets hurt. The offense does not run up the score,

Unsportsmanlike Conduct

by Alex Lau A bi-weekly column about sports and the defense accepts their defeat. It has been a part of football for decades, and rarely—if ever— has a defense done what Schiano’s defense did last Sunday.

The reasons for pushing hard are understandable. The Bucs were only down seven at the time and

by Steve Criss Coming off a moraleboosting win last week against St. Louis University, the Georgetown field hockey team (2-5) faced Providence (4-2) this Friday in its first Big East matchup. Despite defeating the Friars last year in an overtime contest, the Hoyas fell behind in the first half, when Providence scored two goals within only a few minutes of each other. Georgetown was able to put one goal into the net just before the half ended, but it was quickly matched by an early second half goal. Minutes later, Providence scored again to give them a substantial 4-1 lead.

The final attack at the end of the game was not enough to bring the Hoyas back, as senior midfielder Katy Wingo was able to score off a penalty just before time was called.

This past Sunday against Lehigh, the Hoyas fell behind by two goals in the first half. Leihigh went up 3-1 with 28 minutes left, but Georgetown battled back by scoring another goal with ten minutes to play. The effort proved not to be enough, though, as the squad was unable to tie the score as time ran out. Despite taking 19 shots to Lehigh’s 8, the Hoyas could not consistently find the back of the net.

These results are a disappointing step, as the team was riding the high from their road win in St. Louis.

One of the main concerns

the Giants were on their own 30yard line; if the Giants had fumbled the ball, it technically would have been possible for the Bucs to recover the ball and return it for a touchdown to tie the game. But the odds of that were slim to none; very rarely does a quarterback fumble a snap, especially one in which he is right under center. Even if the Giants did fumble the ball, could the Bucs have really recovered it? In the victory formation, the quarterback has two running backs right next to him, so in the off chance that the quarterback didn’t just fall on the ball himself and recover it, the running backs next to him would have almost certainly been able to do so before a defender got to it. Then, in the .0000001 percent chance that the defense did recover a botched snap, and got past the rest of the offense, there would be a running back 10 yards back that would be ready to tackle any

going into these games was the amount of corners given up in the second half. The team’s defense performed well on avoiding the penalties early in most of their games, but when they came out for the second half the number of corners jumped.

“It’s been one of our key focuses for our defensive unit. Obviously we need to protect the circle because those set pieces are opportunities where we’re giving them numbers and situations to score, and knowing that we are going into our Big East that’s never become more crucial,” said Head Coach Tiffany Williams.

As for the offensive half, things seemed to be looking up after the game against St. Louis, with the Hoyas’ four goals scored by three different teammates. The team performed well, with some extra motivation provided

by Coach Williams--she said their goal was to score within the first five minutes, and they did just that. Senior forward Catherine Shugrue scored twice with an assist against St. Louis and believed the team’s overall offensive performance was promising but could use work going into Big East play.

“I think that we just need to work on our off-ball movement and creating our cuts at the right time and coming back at the right time to help the defense,” Shugrue said. “But I think we did well on Sunday and hopefully we’ll just keep going up from there.”

defender who made the recovery, which would most likely be a slow defensive lineman closest to the fumbled ball.

Compare the chances of the Buccaneers scoring to the chances that someone gets injured on such a play, however, and it’s easy to see that Schiano made a mistake. The chances that someone—even one of Schiano’s own players—got injured were high enough to the point where the potential costs heavily outweighed potential benefits of going after it on an innocent play.

It is difficult to fault players for doing their jobs, and playing hard until the final whistle is blown. But at the same time, that doesn’t mean Schiano can sacrifice the important rules of the game--written or unwritten--for the sake of leaving it all on the field.

Is Alex out of line? Tell him at alau@georgetownvoice.com

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8 the georgetown voice

september 20, 2012

n i g y o c i n l i o n f t t e r s o r p e s a ’ v n p w n o s t I an eorge G r f T o

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“Something that should have happened, had to happen, has happened. Georgetown will divest,” read the opening line of the cover editorial in the Sept. 23, 1986 issue of the Voice.

That week, the University announced its plans to pull its money out of American companies that profited from business in apartheid-era South Africa. The decision came as the muchawaited result of a three-year long student struggle for divestment. Georgetown’s holdings, then valued at $28.6 million, represented 16 percent of the endowment of the time, according to the 1986 “Honor Roll of Donors” issue of Georgetown Magazine.

Student groups like the Student Coalition Against Apartheid and Racism held candlelight vigils, drafted numerous petitions, and staged a day-long apartheid simulation in which blacks were given priority in everything from classes to the lines at Vital Vittles.

The campaign culminated in a week-long occupation of White-Gravenor in April 1986 that resulted in the arrest of 35 students. Despite the escalating pressure from protesters, the University had refused to take any action for more than three years.

Even though the injustices perpetrated by the South African government by 1986 were well-documented and highly publicized, an administrative body already existed to ensure the endowment was being invested responsibly. The Committee on Investments and Social Responsibility was established in 1970 in response to campus concerns about apartheid.

Although it had student representation—one from each of the Main, Medical, and Law campuses—the extent of its power, at the time, was unknown, as no University response formally acknowledged their contributions.

This CISR still exists, though its role and membership has evolved over the years. In February 2012, the CISR’s membership expanded and its mandate broadened to include considering the concerns of the campus community and evaluating whether they merit consideration by the Board of Directors, which then makes the ultimate decisions on University investment practices.

Despite its name, however, the Committee on Investments and Social Responsibility has little to no say regarding how the

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Marguerite Fletcher addresses an anti-Apartheid rally. endowment is invested. The Committee is still in the process of being restructured, and, although this might change, it has never had access to the list of firms in which Georgetown invests. The Committee also cannot force the Board of Directors to invest in any socially responsible alternatives. In fact, as of now, no one outside of the Investment Office or the higher echelons of University leadership has access to the list of investments. The University’s opaque investment practices make it impossible for the Georgetown community to have agency or respond to any harms that may be being committed with student and alumni money. *** Georgetown University’s endowment consists of gifts made to the school by private donors. This “pooled endowment” totaled about $1.1 billion as of June 30, 2012. This part of the endowment is different from the approximately $500,000 managed by the Georgetown University Student Investment Fund and the Graduate Investment Fund, which were created through donations specifically granted to serve as educational tools for students.

“Our pooled endowment is invested in commingled funds designed for institutional investors,” reads a document compiled by the Investment Office which outlines how the office functions. The Investment Office takes the money in the pooled endowment and, instead of choosing stocks or securities directly, invests the money in larger funds handled by different money managers who then use their specific niche knowledge to invest Georgetown’s money as they best see fit. “We maintain relationships with … the very best money managers that are out there for Georgetown to have our money with,” said Alex Douglas (SFS ‘03), an analyst at the Georgetown Investment Office since 2007.

“Part of that job is not only finding the best managers, but finding managers who share our values [as a University],” Douglas explained. According to the Investment Office, if Georgetown decides it is uncomfortable with its managers or questions specific investment decisions they’ve taken, the manager is dismissed and Georgetown’s portion of the fund is returned.

Nevertheless, the primary investment objective of the University is “to achieve the highest long-term total investment return on investment assets that is compatible with the University’s risk tolerance,” according to the Principles and Operating Guidelines for the CISR. Although Georgetown seeks to select the best managers for their endowment, as Douglas explained to the Voice, once it enters a fund, money managers do not receive much day-today interference from the University. An order to divest would be a strong statement to make to a manager. A fundamental focus on high returns explains why Georgetown imparts so much responsibility to these specialized money managers, and why they, in a sense, give up direct control of the endowment’s funds.

This method of investment also ties the University’s hands legally. According to the Investment Office, when Georgetown enters into an investment fund, legal restrictions govern when and how the University can remove its money. Since Georgetown is not the only investor in a fund, pulling out unexpectedly can have serious detrimental impacts on the other investors in that fund.

Douglas assures that Georgetown’s investment practices are common among peer institutions, and that “Georgetown is appropriately transparent compared to its peers.”

However, while the Investment Office can keep a real-time eye on the firms in which Georgetown’s money is invested via the managers, it cannot share this information with the greater Georgetown community. According to the document released by the Investment Office, “Those funds [managers] consider their portfolio holdings proprietary information that gives them an edge over competitors.”

“It is not in Georgetown’s best interests, nor is it appropriate, to be putting all our cards on the table in terms of what our managers are holding,” Douglas said.

It is unclear whether the CISR, which has been handled by the Investment Office since it was established in 2004, will have access to information on holdings. “To a certain extent, some of these details [including how much information will be necessary for the committee to do its job] have to be de-

termined when the committee meets for the first time,” Douglas said.

Despite multiple requests, the Investment Office declined to share the names of the private money managers the University hires to handle the pooled endowment. *** In February 2010, Students for Justice in Palestine addressed an open letter to President DeGioia urging the University to investigate its investments to ensure that Georgetown was not investing in companies profiting from violations of international law and abuse of human rights, particularly those involved in the Israeli occupation of Palestine. SJP provided a list of specific companies involved, shares of which they gauged an institution of Georgetown’s size likely possessed.

“At the time, Georgetown’s response was not particularly helpful. The worst moment was when … we were [sure] that Georgetown’s investments weren’t in line with its Jesuit values and ethical values, and the Investment Office actually … took the sections on their website about Jesuit values [off],” said Sam Geaney-Moore (SFS ‘12), an SJP member heavily involved at the time. “That to me was basically the whole point, because it was basically Georgetown admitting ‘We’re not investing in an ethical manner.’... It was a pretty remarkable strategic decision, I would say.”

In 2008, the Investment Office worked with the student funds and their investment managers to confirm that Georgetown’s investments had absolutely no connection to the Sudanese conflict. In 2010, no such assurance was provided to SJP. “What we found in the divestment campaign was that ... basically, the University didn’t have any mechanisms for making sure that investments were socially responsible,” Geaney-Moore recounted. “Officially speaking, there was a committee on socially responsible investing, but the truth was that it hadn’t met for years and that the Chief Investment Officer [at the time, Larry Kochard] just wasn’t interested in, you know, paying attention to those issues.”

According to Geaney-Moore, the SJP then shifted its campaign from divestment to focus on increasing the transparency of University

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Student activists advertise their 1986 rally. investment practices. This shift in the direction that student pressure was applied likely spurred the University to reevaluate its policy with regard to Socially Responsible Investment.

“In response to … continuing student queries over the years, Georgetown decided to take a look at … how are we doing with regards to [socially responsible investing], what are our current policies, and how does that compare with our peers,” Douglas said. This review took the form of a working group comprised of University officials, administrators, and faculty that convened over the course of 2010 and 2011.

Eventually, the working group recommended that the University expand the mandate of the CISR, a measure that was then approved by the Board of Directors last February. The changes to the Committee were significant—the membership was broadened to include two more members at large designated by the President, as well as one student representative from the Law Center, one undergraduate student appointed by GUSA, one graduate student appointed by the Graduate Student Organization, and another to represent both student investment funds, GUSIF and GIF. In the recent past, the only student representatives had been one each from the student investment funds because, according to the Investment Office document, the Committee “was limited to reviewing and making recommendations with regard to the voting of proxies for the two student funds.” In other words, a narrower mandate only allowed the CISR to determine how GUSIF and GIF would vote at annual shareholder meetings regarding issues that individual shareholders had brought to the table that year. It had no say, for example, as to whether there were value conflicts with the companies themselves.

The CISR’s new specific responsibilities are outlined in the principles and operating guidelines for CISR—the Committee is responsible for initially evaluating proposals “by any member or group within the University community regarding in-

GU Freedom College occupies the steps of White-Gravenor Hall in protest.

vestment responsibility concerns,” for determining “whether any such proposal has a valid basis, and … whether any such proposal merits further consideration by the Board of Directors,” and then for making recommendations to the Board “as necessary.”

What the group cannot do is just as explicit. “[The CISR] shall not address the day-to-day operations of the University, nor recommend that the Endowment Fund be invested specifically to remedy social injustices.”

Apart from engaging in shareholder advocacy or refraining from investing in companies with questionable practices, “A third way [to do SRI] is to actually try to invest in corporations that are particularly related to social justice,” said Eli McCarthy, an adjunct professor with the University’s Program on Justice and Peace.

“If you have a bunch of money—and that’s a kind of power—and you know social injustices are occurring, then I think it behooves us to make some inroads at putting our money towards remedying [them]. Our investments are not just … neutral practices.” McCarthy gave the example of Fordham University, one of Georgetown’s peer Jesuit institutions, which has approved about $250,000 of its endowment to be invested in the community.

The committee is still in the process of materializing for the academic year, but its first meeting is scheduled for later in the fall semester. Dan Solomon (SFS ‘13), GUSA’s appointee to the CISR, has firm intentions to establish credible accountability for the committee. “What I’m looking to do, basically, is to make the committee’s efforts as transparent as possible,” Solomon said. He gave examples of how he intends to include students in the investment process, such as by holding town halls for students to voice their concerns.

GUSA Vice-President Vail Kohnert-Yount (SFS ‘13) has high hopes for Solomon, who was chosen for his background in social justice activism as the former national student director of

Students Taking Action Now: Darfur.

“We’re very, very confident that he’s going to...have the tenacity, and the persistence, and the knowledge to really make the most of his position and make sure that the Committee remains sustainable,” Kohnert-Yount said. *** As a Catholic and, specifically, Jesuit university, Georgetown holds itself to a standard of adherence to socially responsible investment practices, as well as those which concur with its role as an educational institution.

Student investment groups espouse similar values. “Education is the second part of our two-part mission, the first being generating returns for the University,” wrote GUSIF Chief Executive Officer Mark Vather (MSB ’13) in an email.

GUSIF, which was founded in 1997, invests $200,000 for the endowment and $400,000 for the Alumni Association. “We invest this portion solely in equities,” Vather said.

According to Douglas, this type of investment would allow the student funds to easily divest from any companies if they so wished simply by selling the securities in question, unlike the process for the pooled investment, which is more complicated. In fact, the Investment Office specifies that for the pooled endowment, it can’t say “divestment” because it does not hold securities directly.

“GUSIF has become more and more socially conscious. In fact, we have most recently expanded our natural resources group to include renewables,” Vather wrote in an email to the Voice.

However, there is no one specific criterion for a company to be labeled “socially responsible. “Our portfolio is subject to the discretion of students with a host of interests and viewpoints, and also range in levels of social responsibility based on the standards applied,” he explained. “Integrity is one of our core principles.”

Like the Investment Office, neither GIF nor GUSIF makes public the specifics

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of their investments. Vather lists several reasons for this, including their duty as a fiduciary.

“We have been advised to keep investments private by faculty and University,” he said. “[It is] general industry standard to keep all information proprietary” due to the competitive nature of financial investments.

“Sorry if this seems like it is not transparent,but the very nature of disclosing investments essentially undermines the reason to make the investment,” Vather wrote. *** The Georgetown community has high expectations for involvement of the University community in the newly revamped CISR, with its broader membership and expanded mandate, but some students remain uncertain regarding the level of information to which it will have access.

“Transparency is the key issue on endowment ethics at any University,” Geaney-Moore said. “Until there’s some transparency, until that information can be obtained … there’s just never going to be any progress.”

It took more than three years of nonstop organizing, campaigning, and protesting, with students risking serious punishment, for the administration to let go of its holdings in South Africa in 1986.

Though the Committee may have stronger influence in theory, Kohnert-Yount remains skeptical. “This committee isn’t going to solve all our problems,” she said.

To ensure that the changes have the desired effect, Kohnert-Yount emphasizes the need for students to rally those in the community who genuinely care for the integrity of our University’s investments.

“Students still have to be vigilant, and students still have to care about what the University is doing with its financial resources,” she said. “It’s not just going to be one person on the committee that’s going to make Georgetown a socially just place. It’s going to be the tireless work of a lot of student activists, faculty, Jesuits— those kinds of activists—to make change.”

leisure

10 the georgetown voice

september 20, 2012

Blimey, mate, these fish and chips are bloody brilliant

by Keaton Hoffman Given the predominance of exotic, ethnic style eateries opening by the dozen in the District, The Brixton, an upscale British pub on U St., may seem out of place. However, by paying tribute to the diversity of modern London and offering an extensive selection of British beers and spirits, The Brixton manages to bring a taste of authentic London to D.C., if not offering us the tastiest or most well-balanced bite.

The restaurant is separated into three levels. Crystal light fixtures and warm, inviting booths adorn the first floor, holding to the host’s promise of elegant dining. The wait staff is well dressed, the ambient music classical. A long bar frames the room, if only to emphasize that here, drinking trumps dining.

A carpeted staircase leads to the second level, which brings together casual dining and a décor boasting antler chandeliers, humble tables, and regal booths. Screens playing footie and cricket greet the thirsty and work-weary. It seems like the

perfect place to stop by for a lunchtime beer on a rainy afternoon. Unfortunately, The Brixton only opens at five—one of several management mistakes that threaten to prematurely shut its cardinal red doors.

The top level is an open-air deck with two bars, space for live music, and decent views of a nonexistent cityscape. On a Monday, it’s dead, but the potential for a booming happy hour scene is palpable. Alas, if only The Brixton had happy hour specials.

The drink menu is classic and unquestionably British. For beer, Belgian and German brews are few and far between; The Brixton prides itself on brands from the British Isles.

Of the eight beers on draft and 16 from the bottle, the sweet hoppiness of the Belhaven Twisted Thistle IPA delighted, while I got lost in the dark and muddled frothiness of the Wells Bombardier Bitter.

The cocktail menu also stuck to classic British sensibilities, with cider, ginger beer, whisky, and, of course, gin making multiple appearances. Of note was the Julep—brim-

ming with fresh mint, the inviting and refreshing Tanqueray-rooted staple worthy of an evening on a veranda at Downton Abbey.

In the British fashion, once you’re good and drunk, time for some food. The appetizer options include a Scotch egg and the house favorite, samosas, but I opted for squid stuffed with black pudding (puréed blood sausage) and cherry tomatoes.

An herbaceous and rather spicy sauce lifted the plate visually and in flavor, as did a garnish of coriander sprigs. A salad of crabmeat and avocado on a leaf of butter lettuce pleased as well, though was lacking in texture. Overall the appetizers are eclectic, but none really complement the entrées or each other to create a cohesive meal.

For the main course, The Brixton’s menu is anchored with British favorites like Fish and Chips and Petit Beef Wellington. But Kerala Curry Tiffin, PEI Mussels, and Caribbean Spiced Australian Lamb Shank unite the flavors of the former British Empire in a modern pub experience. The Fish and Chips, made

to drunken outbursts of temper, Freddie is on a decidedly aimless postwar path as he drifts between jobs before ultimately leaving each with a bang.

intellectual who takes a shining to him. This is “the Master” in question, a kind of cult leader by the name of Lancaster Dodd (Philip Seymour Hoffman).

with haddock and served with crispy potato wedges, a fresh summer salad, and a malt vinegar remoulade, is impressive. Despite the fried preparation, The Brixton manages to lighten a usually oily fish for a deliciously juicy bite. Moving from sea to land, their Jamaican Jerk Chicken is cooked beautifully, with a crispy glazed skin, but the heavy mash of plantains, mangoes, and currants overwhelmed the plate in a starchy-sweet heaviness.

I could go on and on about The Brixton’s mistakes: awkward American rock playlists, a poorly worded menu foggier than a winter in Brighton, an overeager and uninformative service staff, and an overall lack of focus in its menu and décor.

But I don’t care. Modern London doesn’t have to define itself around one culture, or one style and neither does The Brixton.

Food, beer, friends, cheers.

EATER.COM

Romney decided to have a party for the 47% but no one showed up.

No one knows what The Master is, but it’s provocative

by Julia Lloyd-George Every so often, one comes across something—a book, a piece of art or music, a film— that intimidates and challenges to the point of breaking a kind of mental barrier. The Master, director Paul Thomas Anderson’s astounding new film, undeniably falls into this increasingly elusive category.

Revealing just enough to lure the viewer into the majestic world it creates, this enigma of a film leaves a remarkable amount of space to question its intent; as transfixing as its two central characters are and as compelling as their undefined relationship is, the true subject of the film is never quite clear. Concentrating on exploring questions of theme rather than constructing a tight plot structure of convention, The Master draws its power from a willingness to leave everything open to debate.

The concept of greatness and the instability that is inextricably linked to it frames the narrative. Set in the post-World War II era of uncertainty, the story hones in on the addled mind of Freddie Quell (Joaquin Phoenix). A troubled veteran prone

itunes

“What the hell were you smoking when you wrote this script, anyway?”

With all the trappings of fable, he mysteriously wanders onto the ship of an authoritative

Taking Freddie under his wing, Dodd endeavors to uncover his troubled past through

a series of experimental interviews. Freddie thus becomes part of the community built around “the Cause,” a doctrine similar to that of Scientology and taken entirely from the mind of Dodd.

This is the beginning of a long and complex bond between “the Master” and, as he calls Freddie early on, his “guinea pig and protégé.” Of course, it turns out not to be so simple. Phoenix, who is making his big comeback to the screen after a rather ill-advised rapping career, is pure manic perfection in this role. Complementing Hoffman’s chillingly precise performance as the cerebral Dodd, he inhabits his character with feral abandon.

The shifting dynamics between the two—a constant struggle for power muddied by the fact that both men have their own breed of instability—are further complicated by the addition of Peggy (Amy Adams), Dodd’s wife with an ideological bent of monstrous proportions. Still, these politics merely serve as a backdrop for The Master’s majestic visual element.

Shooting on 70-millimeter film—a rare medium in the modern digital era—cinematographer

Mihai Malaimare Jr. accentuates every scene with mastery and artfully opens a window into 1950s Americana. Every frame is a veritable work of art, making the atmosphere of tension that inhabits it all the more breathtaking and the drama between its characters all the more pronounced. From the lush scenery to the actors’ superb performances, director Anderson’s meticulous method gives the film an air of perfection.

The Master is a story about greatness and the ways in which it can unravel human beings.

Though this narrative is the essence of the film, it merely skims the surface of a much deeper subject; like the metaphorical Freudian iceberg, the bulk of the story lies in an area much darker and more difficult to analyze, and even the repeated shots of turbulent ocean water make allusions to these mysterious depths.

Entrenched in the dialogue between mind and matter, The Master is not only overtly psychological but also a covert exploration of what it means to be human—that is, a vessel of memory and emotion that can be twisted and difficult to discern.

And that is the most unmistakable part of its allure.

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“i learned French for you!” — ten things i Hate About You

the georgetown voice 11

Disabled artists explore social issues Short films measure up

by Nicole Steinberg Although we can’t really generalize what makes a talented artist, many assume good health and a strong mind are both prerequisites.

But the Ripley Center’s new exhibit, Sustaining/Creating: A National Juried Exhibition for Emerging Artists with Disabilities, Ages 16-25, which opened on Sept. 11 and runs until Jan. 2013, works to test this hypothesis. A single corridor on the third floor of the gallery features the works of 15 artists with disabilities. The collection, as the title notes, explores the theme of sustainability. Each artist shares his or her own viewpoint on the issue, in turn prompting the viewer to reflect on societal customs and social responsibility.

The series, which is presented

by Volkswagen Group of America, explicitly states the purpose of this unique exhibit: “The partnership supports young artists at a critical time when many are deciding whether to pursue the arts as a career. The award validates and sup-

ports that life-defining choice.” The artists receive a monetary award for each piece of artwork which is then presented in the exhibit. This reward is deemed a “validation” of the artist’s work, which is in turn intended to inspire a life-long dedication to art.

From diastrophic dysplasia to colorblindness, each artist clearly expresses his or her struggle in the artwork. Two of the standouts were from Colin Budd and Sam Sadtler, who suffer from ADHD and dyslexia, respectively.

Budd, who hails from Pennsylvania, is a digital artist who currently attends Cornell University.

He received $2,000 for a digital print that illustrates society’s disturbing dependence on technology. The entire print consists of just three colors that reflect a break from the natural world: gray, red, and blue.

The print’s prominent use of gray in particular suggests a bleak future unless a change occurs, hinting at the instability of our technologydependant society. Budd’s case of

ACADeMY OF ARt uniVeRsitY

Georgetown’s Engineering Program will help you build bridges like this.

Fashion your seatbelts D.C.

As New York Fashion Week comes to a close, the 16th annual Spring/Summer D.C. Fashion Week is just kicking into high gear. At the ceremony’s opening this past Monday, Mayor Vincent Gray expressed his hopes for a more sartorial District. “When you think of Washington, D.C. the first thing that comes to mind is a government town,” said Gray.

He is determined to change this image to one of a “worldclass city” where fashion and government go hand in hand.

To add to D.C.’s cosmopolitanism, Gray has appointed a Fashion Council comprised of various members from the D.C. community to work to improve the industry’s presence here.

On that note, the kickoff to Fashion Week on Monday showcased Eco fashion, an alternative to the fur, leather, and lavishness that is characteristic of the industry. Five labels showcased their sustainable, recycled designs, affirming the old adage, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” By promoting the use of organic cotton, soy fabrics, and linen, each designer presented a variety of eco-friendly textiles that can be used in the production of more earth-conscious designs.

The show opened with Inova Health System’s original “bluewrap” designs. Although theirs is not a name one would expect at a fashion show, the healthcare company sponsored

ADHD is surprising, for the print is the most intricately designed work in the exhibit, challenging viewers to reconsider not only their assumptions about sustainability but also those about disabilities.

Sadtler, a Massachusetts native, presents a view of sustainability just as foreboding as Budd’s. He photographs the interiors of mundane objects, from appliances to computer chips, to reflect the ritual of replacing the old with the new. Though Sadtler’s critique of society’s relationship with technology stands out for his unique perspective, his inspiration is what separates him from the rest.

As someone afflicted with severe dyslexia, Sadtler shares with the audience that he often felt “discarded.” He compares himself to an old can opener, the object in his photograph, that way he was taken away and grouped together with other outdated items. With this method, Sadtler links sustainability to morality in an innovative and touching way.

Sustaining/Creating is a collection that stands out not only for providing a new perspective on what sustainability means to Millennials, but also for offering a personal look into living with a disability. While the exhibit may not be stylistically groundbreaking, it highlights a group of young artists who are breaking barriers and shaping the future of the visual arts.

the crafting of flowing gowns, glitzy cocktail dresses, and sassy headpieces out of clean hospital waste. Made from plastic that is typically used to wrap surgical instruments, Bluewrap

Haute Mess

by Julian de la Paz & Neha Ghanshamdas a bi-weekly fashion column

was recycled into runway garments that were not constructed by “professional designers,” but rather by members of the medical field. While innovative in theory, in execution the designs were rather stark; their conceptual nature overshadowed any chance at marketability.

by Liana Mehring As the digital age hems in the average American attention span, short films have become an immensely gratifying form of entertainment. A little over 10 minutes each, the short films of this year’s D.C. Shorts Film Festival allowed for a wildly entertaining celebration of the concise. The festival, the largest of its kind on the East Coast, ended this Sunday after featuring 145 films from 23 countries. It attracted hundreds of professional filmmakers and thousands more film enthusiasts to venues across the District This Sunday I attended the “Best of D.C. Shorts,” a compilation of the best jury and audience selected shorts. Highlights included a comedy called, Cockatoo, in which a man hires the services of something akin to an emotional hooker for a bizarrely hilarious afternoon spent with a woman paid to play the part of his exgirlfriend. On the other end of the spectrum, Paraíso tells the story of Mexican-immigrant window washers in Chicago. This film is beautifully shot, with dizzying vertical drops down the reflective faces of the tallest skyscrapers.

As they propel down the faces of Chicago’s skyscrapers, the viewer realize that the their profession serves as a literal and figurative window into a more privileged way of life.Another standout is Good Karma $1, a documentary

Other participants included a local label, Heydari, who showed collages of ties and scarves as finished pieces, and used materials ranging from Alpaca, tulle, and organza to recycled denim. Her original creations were rather disjointed as a collection, but they too brought sustainability to the runway.

Most of the collections were consistent with last year’s spring trends in that bright hues and short hemlines were omnipresent. However, the integration of unconventional materials such as trash bags, rubber dishwashing gloves, and magazine covers made their garb unwearable and borderline absurd. If Candy Land characters are looking for a new wardrobe, Isagus Extraversions would be the place to go.

in which a former advertising executive finds inspiration in the cardboard signs held by homeless men and women. While collaborating with the homeless to improve their message, he ultimately discovers that the most affecting signs are the most authentic.: “We never thought it would come to this.”

The Capital Buzz is a lighthearted exposé of D.C.’s small but tenacious bee-keeping community. The local film is filled with familiar shots of Georgetown, with one bee-keeping enthusiast living at what appears to be 3310 Prospect St. He keeps several hives installed on his roof--so, West Georgetown, “bee” warned.

The last show of the night, Guang, tells the story of a musically gifted young man whose relationship with his brother is complicated by his autism. The film’s disarmingly genuine portrayal is dedicated to director Shio Chuan Quek’s own autistic brother.

Sitting through a 90 minute short film set is like riding an emotional roller coaster without a minimum emotional maturity requirement. At regular ten-minute intervals, audience members are driven to the pinnacle of happiness, hit a hard turn of hilarity and are then plunged into despair. A fantastic ride combining the best of depth and brevity, the films featured at D.C. Shorts make for a worthwhile ticket.

Despite being an absolute trainwreck, the msot memorable piece was a gown made entirely out of the heads of Barbie dolls— synthetic hair and all. Yes, runway presentations are often beyond the scope of a layperson’s wardrobe, but they ought to at least provide an artful aesthetic. This presentation missed the mark.

While Washington’s Eco Fashion Show was lacking in comparison to those of New York, Milan, or Paris, the designers showcased on Monday night do get an “E” for effort—as well as eco—in transforming regular household items into interesting, if impractical, clothing.

Repurpose your trash bags with Julian at rdelapax@georgetownvoice. com & Neha at nghanshamdas@ georgetownvoice.com

leisure

12 the georgetown voice

september 20, 2012

C r i t i c a l V o i ces

The Killers, Battle Born, Island Records Four years is a long time to keep fans waiting, especially with the crazed fan base that the Killers enjoy. The band’s last album, Day & Age (2008), turned out one major smash hit, “Human,” with a chorus that unfailingly inspires singalongs while creating confusion about how “dancer” is somehow the opposite of “human.” However, on that electronia- and discoinspired album, the band otherwise failed to produce the kind of sweeping, energetic anthems of 2004’s Hot Fuss and 2006’s Sam’s Town which made them such a deservedly successful group.

That gradual descent that began with Day & Age only takes a deeper dive with Battle Born, whose lethargic ballads dilute the rock roots of

the Vegas-based quartet, confirming that their star is indeed dimming.

The album’s opening track, “Flesh and Bone,” is drenched in synths with little other musical variety. Unfortunately, this lackluster track sets the tone for the rest of the album. For instance, “The Way It Was” is a fairly likable, dreamy song with lyrics that recall driving through the band’s native Nevada.

And yet, “Here with Me” has the same gist with much less success, and too many clichés in both music and lyrics; it sounds less like a Killers hit and more like a cheesy 80s radio song. “A Matter of Time” thankfully picks up the pace with a catchy chorus, but the next few songs once again take a dip into monotony.

The one exception on this otherwise-disappointing album is “Runaways,” the single with lyrics drawing from the best of the Killers’ overarching nostalgic theme– “teenage rush, she said, ain’t we all just runaways / we got time but that ain’t much, we can’t wait ‘til tomorrow.” The resurrection of the slamming electric guitar and drums that brought the Killers fame in the first place adds to the sweeping quality of this song.

Though the album’s title track admits a somewhat graceful exit for the band as a plau-

Only American Idol’s got talent

To members of our generation, there were a few common debates that raged among middle-schoolers: Backstreet Boys or N*SYNC? Pokémon or Digimon? And, perhaps the most divisive, Britney or Christina?

Earlier this month, gossip sites abounded with a renewed version of that same fight for queen of the pop princesses. Britney and Christina, who are both far from the weirdly sexy teenage selves of our sixth-grade memories, are now respective judges on The X Factor and The Voice, two competition reality shows that aim to discover America’s next pop sensation. The Internet speculation was as to which former teen idol’s 30-year-old self would win more viewers for her show. However, according to the ratings, in the battle of Britney vs.

Christina, America chose to change the channel.

The tank in ratings, with the premieres of both shows gaining

dismal scores among their shared target demographic, comes as no surprise. Although loyal viewers might argue otherwise, it is difficult to deny that both shows are, at their heart, knockoffs of cultural phenomenon American Idol, set to begin its 12th season next year.

Despite the gimmicks that they pulled to keep themselves a little bit different, The Voice and X Factor face the challenge that every reality-TV piggybacker faces—market saturation. Over the years that reality TV has existed, we’ve seen successful shows give rise to failing knockoffs dozens of times: Models of the Runway and dozens of dating shows that tried to differentiate themselves from The Bachelor, just to name a few. In the minds of producers, the motivation is simple— Jersey Shore is mega-successful, so let’s take some ridiculous Jersey residents, put them in a hair salon, call it Jerseylicious, and the money should flow in. Right?

sible stadium anthem, it hardly makes up for what turns out to be an incredibly dull record. Taking too many detours from their signature musical style, the Killers have lost the endearing passion that earned them success in the first place.

Voice’s Choices: “Runaways,” “A Matter of Time” —Julia Lloyd-George

Kanye West, Cruel Summer, GOOD Music The goal of Kanye West Presents GOOD Music: Cruel Summer, was to show that Kanye West can transcend his larger-than-life ego and make room for members of his label, GOOD Music Records, to pen the quippy rap hooks ready for pop radio. Unsurprisingly, Kanye Wrong, The problem is that in other markets, knockoffs make perfect sense; if you love a dress at Anthropologie but can’t afford it, you can buy a similar one at Forever 21.

But TV doesn’t cost us anything, so knockoff shows need to compete even harder for the attention of viewers who either won’t like their show to begin with, or who are already fans of the original.

idiot Box

by Leigh Finnegan

a bi-weekly column about television That’s where the celebrity judges come in. The younger generation of singing talent shows are trying to reel in viewers with the oldest trick in the book—famous people plus television equals ratings. If so many millions of Americans liked Idol with a mean British dude, a seemingly random man who calls everyone “dawg,” and a singer from the ‘80s who’s constantly wacked out on some unknown substance, then

couldn’t handle being in the background—his hands are all over this album, dominating every track either lyrically or in production. As a result, when taken as an effort to promote GOOD Music as a roster of legends, this album is mediocre at best.

2 Chainz is a standout on Cruel Summer, his spiked-sweet-tea accent hammering home filthy verse after filthy verse. The rapper closes the summertime smash hit “Mercy” by shouting about cuting “ya girl, now your girl need a bandaid,” and makes admittedly less gory appearances on “The One” and “The Morning” which solidify his downSouth grittiness. But 2 Chainz isn’t signed to GOOD Music. Neither is R. Kelly, who anchors the club banging opening track “To the World,” nor The-Dream, who adds a silky sexiness to the subdued “Higher,” nor Jay-Z, who rekindles his Watch the Throne bromance with Kanye on the album’s I-don’tgive-a-fuck-if-the-beat-sucks fourth single, “Clique.”

When we look to standout GOOD Music verses, however, there isn’t much to be found. The label’s second-in-line, Big Sean, has been on a steady decline since his promising first full-length LP Finally Famous. He has bright spots on they’ll surely like the same premise with some swivel chairs and some actual celebrities.

This is all fine in theory, but for would-be singing show sensations, the problem is in the execution. It is the nature of reality television that the “celebrities” who join their regular casts are those desperate to stay (or become) relevant—try to imagine Lady Gaga on Stars Earn their Stripes and this point becomes obvious. That’s why nearly-middle-aged former teen sensations Britney and Christina are jumping on the reality TV bandwagon now, when their voices and bare midriffs are no longer vehicles for success.

But despite the has-been factor, some shows do translate celebrity cast members into significant, longlasting success. Where The Voice’s flailing third season and X Factor’s flailing second (in the U.S.) are going wrong is that the show they’re mimicking, the cultural behemoth of Idol, is already up to their tricks.

The show now features a cast of celebrity judges that rotates by year,

Cruel Summer, cracking clever derriére-obsessed puns like, “Whoa— make make the ground move, that’s an ass-quake/build a house up on that ass, that’s an ass-state,” but he bludgeons “Clique” and is forgettable on “The One.” Other GOOD Music artists don’t receive much airtime at all. In the fittingly titled “Creepers,” Kid Cudi’s self-loathing emo introspection isn’t anything we haven’t heard on the Man on the Moon series. “The Morning” is a musical cesspool: Raekwon, Cyhi the Prynce, & D’Banj add filler to a sloppy soup of muddied lyrics and a lost vision. As the album ebbs, things only get worse as Teyana Taylor ruins John Legend’s otherwise great record “Bliss.”

Compared to successful releases from Lil Wayne’s Young Money and Rick Ross’s Maybach Music Group, Cruel Summer fails to showcase GOOD Music’s overall talent—assuming that it even exists.

The only thing Kanye succeeds in doing is making a poorly compiled collection chock-full of cameos, while still managing to make it all about him.

Voice’s Choices: “Mercy,” “To the World” —Will Collins and Keaton Hoffman featuring stars like Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler who are more successful, current, and/or entertaining than their counterparts on other shows.

Add in the massive fan base that the show already has—even despite a significant drop in popularity over the past few years— and its unique history of occasionally producing an actually successful pop star, and Idol has become Dancing with the Stars, while the other two are in the realm of Skating with Celebrities, which only survived one season.

But all hope isn’t lost for these floundering rip-off reality shows.

Sure, America loves talented singers and famous people, but it loves freak shows and crazies even more—hence the length of Paula Abdul’s judging run on Idol. If Britney’s up for shaving her head again, X Factor just might succeed after all.

Send your audition tapes to Leigh at lfinnegan@georgetownvoice.com

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voices

14 the georgetown voice

september 20, 2012

Struggling for sovereignty, Hong Kong marches on

by Frances Wong When people ask me if I’m from China, I happily say yes.

China is my country; it is where I am from. Based on that alone, most of my friends from home would automatically assume that home would be somewhere in Mainland China, maybe Beijing or Shanghai. But no—I’m from Hong Kong.

More than a handful of times, I’ve heard my friends reject the idea that they’re from China, instead saying, “No, I’m from Hong Kong.” In fact, my brother once filled out a form writing: City: Hong Kong; Country: Hong Kong That day my brother got a history lecture.

“Sir, Hong Kong was handed back to China in 1997.”

Sovereignty was transferred from British colonial rule to the People’s Republic of China in 1997 under the conditions that Hong Kong would be governed under Hong Kong Basic Law for the next 50 years. This allows the citizens of the city to enjoy a certain level of political freedom which their brethren in China

do not. For the past 15 years, Hong Kong established itself as an international financial hub.

The Basic Law allows the city to have a capitalistic economy, permitting private companies and corporations to develop and grow.

But despite their economic freedoms, the people of Hong Kong are still fighting for complete democracy. This is because, instead of a free and fair democracy, our Chief Executive— much like the U.S. president—is elected by a 1,200-member committee of elected and selected people from 28 functional constituencies.

After this year ’s controversial election, where Leung Chun-Ying won with a majority of the votes, Hong Kong is embroiled in yet another controversy with the proposal of a revised “National Education.” Potentially taking effect in 2015, the new curriculum is based around the values of the PRC, specifically those of the Communist Party. Proposed textbooks describe the current Chinese government as a “progressive, unselfish and solid ruling bloc,” worrying parents

who fear the curriculum will brainwash their children.

Just a day before the Hong Kong Legislative Council Election, tens of thousands of peaceful protesters gathered outside the government headquarters demanding that the education plan be withdrawn. Leung forged a tentative compromise by allowing schools to decide whether or not they want to opt into the program over the next few years. However, the debate shouldn’t be about whether National Education should be enforced, but rather, what it should consist of.

“One Country, Two Systems”—that was the model for the reunification of China and Hong Kong originally proposed

by Deng Xiaoping. The two systems are working, as China still uses the socialist system while Hong Kong has its own capitalist economic and political systems. However, what about the “one country” part?

Yes, the CCP is always pressuring the Chief Executive, trying to put a handle on the pace of democratic reform in Hong Kong. As a Hong Kong citizen, I, too, am angry with the CCP. I

am by no means a Communist, and I am also not pro-China. But I’m still from China. Just as I am angry at what other countries have done to China in the past, I am also angry at how the CCP has inflicted pain upon its own people, on my own ancestors.

Recently, unrest has spread to Hong Kong regarding the perceived aggressive posturing

by Japan over the status of the contentious Diaoyu Islands. In this issue, Hong Kongers have united with those in the Mainland in supporting the “unity of our sovereign soil.” This is the greater Chinese identity that I wish to be developed in Hong Kong. To construct a unified Hong Kong-Chinese identity, we must go beyond collective pains or historical gains and forge a positive cohesive narrative fueled by a common curriculum. For this reason, a unified national public education system for China and Hong Kong must be established. The debate ought to be in the details.

Understandably, Hong Kong residents are worried about the central government’s influence on the island—frankly, I am too.

But we have another 35 years to

Pumpkin, and Chickadee. They live with Mama, their biological mother, and Sugar Bear, Alana’s biological father. The Thompsons hail from McIntyre, Ga. and are emblematic of the stereotypical redneck family. They like to drive around in ATVs, eat road kill, and—poetically—attend “The Redneck Games.” Although Alana’s entire family is featured, the focus of Honey Boo Boo is on Alana’s preparations for her “biggest pageant yet”.

While the above synopsis may not allude to an intelligent, insightful television show able to draw in mass audiences, Honey Boo Boo had more viewers than

the Republican National Convention and tied with the Democratic National Convention.

Questions about the state of the American electorate aside, clearly Honey Boo Boo is doing something right. In fact, there’s actually a lot to learn from Alana.

(No, that’s not a misprint.) This seven-year-old “hick” can teach us urbanite, East Coast residents a thing or two.

Alana’s entire family is overweight, and the pint-sized pageant princess is no exception.

Despite this, Alana has a positive self-image. “Pretty comes in all different sizes. My size is cute,” boasted Alana in a recent episode. In a country where eight year-olds are on diets, it is refreshing to see a young girl who thinks she is “beautimous” no matter what. This is in no small part due to her mother’s affirmations that all of her girls are beautiful.

The support Alana receives from her family has taught her to believe in herself, which is no small feat.

The girl thinks herself capable of doing anything, and doesn’t let anything, from her little belly to her inability to hit certain dance steps, prevent her from reaching for her goal of winning Grand Supreme Queen in a pageant.

Her response to what she wants

to be in the future is, “Whatever I choose.” That level of confidence at such a young age serves as an inspiration for the 2.2 million viewers that tune in.

While some may mistake Alana’s self-image for delusion, she is decently self-aware. Honey Boo Boo and her family are not afraid to tell each other how it is, leaving the sugar coating for their donuts and not their words.

Mama doesn’t shy away from constructive criticism on Alana’s pageant performances. Because of this, Honey Boo Boo is well aware that she isn’t the cutest or most petite contestant at these pageants, but that does not prevent her from competing and going after what she wants in life.

In fact, Honey’s greatest strength may be her resilience.

When she loses a pageant she has a little cry and pouts a bit, but she quickly jumps back and begins preparing for the next one.

Nothing can deter her from her dreams. This is especially important to take to heart as midterms approach and the semester really begins to ramp up; if being third runner-up doesn’t deter Honey Boo Boo, a B-minus shouldn’t faze us.

Despite how they may appear, Honey Boo Boo does not have a dysfunctional family. The Thompsons care about one an-

worry about the political changes before the Hong Kong Basic Law expires. During this time, we should keep fighting for our own democracy, while still embracing our Chinese identity. Hong Kongers should be angry when Japan rewrites the tragedies committed against the Chinese people during World War II. We should also be proud of how far China has come financially and, to certain extents, socially.

The discourse surrounding the National Education movement shouldn’t sink to clamor about brainwashing; it should instead focus on uniting China and how to best merge Hong Kong’s students into the fabric of Chinese society. We are “One Country, Two Systems”— that is what Hong Kong prides itself on. We do not equate the Chinese Communist Party with the country. We know the difference.

Frances Wong is a junior in the College.

She may be currently miffed with Japan, but she still loves everything about sushi.

Honey Boo Boo: More than just roadkill and Mountain Dew

by Sara Ainsworth Here Comes Honey Boo Boo is a lot of things: child exploitation, caffeine science experiment, and the funniest thing on television.

But, if you can crack through the exterior of caked makeup and glitter, there is much to be learned from Honey Boo Boo Child and her famly.

The show itself is a spinoff of the much-maligned Toddlers & Tiaras focusing on Alana Thompson, a seven-year-old pageant queen and viral video sensation.

Alana, also known as Honey Boo Boo, has three sisters who go by the nicknames Chubbs,

Those are the eyes of a desperate sugar fiend, just looking for a fix.

KAREN BU

other and support each other in all situations. When Mama wants to go extreme couponing, everyone gets involved and helps out. Both Sugar Bear and Mama make sure to have plenty of family time, and that all the girls are receiving individual attention.

Frankly, they are not that different from any functioning, nuclear family. Perhaps Leo Tolstoy was correct in saying that “happy families are all alike.”

Ultimately, just because Honey Boo Boo and her family need to have their drawls’ subtitled and introduced the term “vajiggle jaggle” into the American lexicon, does not mean that the Thompson clan doesn’t have anything valuable to contribute to television and society as a whole. They are refreshingly real in a land full of “reality” television. Mocking Alana and company is easy, but it isn’t that much of a stretch to find something worthwhile amidst the hairspray and Mountain Dew. At least tell yourself that next time you’re watching Honey instead of doing your reading.

Sara Ainsworth is a junior in the SFS. If she competed in The Redneck Games, she’d totally win the armpit serenade event.

voices

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the georgetown voice

15

Does an un-American act warrant anti-Americanism?

by Nikhil Lakhanpal As a 19-year-old Hindu IndianAmerican from the Bible Belt of the U.S. studying at a Jesuit university in an Islamic country, I’ve often taken it as my responsibility to answer for the actions of a variety of peoples. During my second year in Doha at the School of Foreign Service in Qatar, I find myself once again wedged between competing emotions from my competing cultural contexts; many of my Muslim friends are angry about an anti-Islamic video, while many of my American peers in the U.S.

are enraged by the violent and vengeful acts of the “Muslims.”

Both actions cannot be justified.

Just as the atrocities perpetrated by Islamic fundamentalists are not representative of the people of Islam, the bigoted behavior of deranged Americans is not representative of the entire U.S. We as a nation have been responsible for evils in the past.

Our government has done things that I will forever be ashamed of; from segregation to anti-Communist witch-hunts to armed missions against other countries, we have been far from perfect.

KAREN BU

Flag burning is so passé. Everyone knows Twitter is how you protest.

Art for art history’s sake

Toward the end of my sophomore year, I realized that I could not delay declaring a major anymore. Unable to choose between Government and Art History, I opted for both.

Thinking back, my decision-making at the time was less than logical. It took me so long to come to a final decision for one sole reason—despite that I had loved all the Art History courses I had taken the past three semesters, I couldn’t get past the Studio Art requirement for the major. For some reason, this single course within a major requiring nine others had me doubting my desire to study Art History at all.

The Studio Art requirement is one of the unique aspects of Georgetown’s Art History Department; most schools don’t have such a requirement. The

department offers courses across all mediums, from basic photography to intro to oil painting to digital art courses, but despite this abundance of choice, I still questioned the utility of a studio art course in my college career.

It seemed to me that a studio art course would be a waste of my time. I’m not an artist and have no real desire to hone my artistic skills, plus I was quite certain I would probably fail it due to my lack of creative talent. I could not understand why, as an art historian, one would need to experience anything beyond identifying various techniques or stylistic eras.

Why would I need to learn how to create works of art myself?

Soon enough, the reality of taking a studio art course was inevitable. In an attempt to get over it as soon as possible, I

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And we are still flawed in some ways; countries, much like people, make mistakes. It is difficult for me to come up with a response to those of this region who wish to protest the Iraq War, our actions in Afghanistan, or our generally apathetic attitude towards the plight of the Palestinian people.

But in this case, I must take a firm stand. Behind me in my room, there hangs an American flag, the same flag that is flown over the U.S. Capitol in Washington. I share a dorm with two other Americans, one of whom served in the armed forces. So every day, whether it’s through an intense game of Madden or a debate on presidential politics at home, I remember what it means to be an American, despite living in the heart of the Middle East.

Freedom of speech is a paramount right in my country. I will never say otherwise. But the provocative nature of Nakoula Basseley Nakoula’s film is criminal. If there is one thing we have struggled to learn as a people over the last 250 years, it is that the U.S. is—at least supposedly—welcoming of all peoples.

While attitudes do not always stand where we want them to, the bulk of the nation is accepting.

And we are slated to be as such.

So it is the job of that majority to condemn the actions of Nakoula, the epitome of un-Americanism; a convicted drug dealer who caustically set out to offend a passionate people.

At the same time, this condemnation must be reciprocated by my Muslim brothers and sisters. Do the actions of Nakoula justify the murders of several U.S. Foreign Service Officers in Libya? Absolutely not.

If it is my duty as an American to condemn the actions of Nakoula for his un-American cinematography, then is it not the duty of the people of this region to condemn those who are trying to destroy our embassies?

As a global citizen, I embrace protest against wrongful action.

But harming innocent people is unwarranted. The actions of one individual are not representative of the nation, and definitely not representative of the State.

I am saddened by this. I am saddened that Nakoula is receiving attention for his juvenile, disrespectful film. Nakoula’s “work” should be dismissed—the focus should be on the deplorable acts being committed in the rest of the Middle East instead. As Syria crumbles in our midst, why should we pay this criminal any attention?

If we truly wanted to protest, even insult the creator of the

decided to take it this semester as a sixth course. After debating between a number of options, I settled on an Intro to Acrylic Painting class that fit nicely into my schedule.

It’s only the third week into classes—so I don’t yet know if my stylized smudges will result in a failing grade—but I can now attest that learning the mechanics of creating a piece of art is absolutely not a waste of my time, and has even increased my interest in

My professor told us to not focus on the minutiae of realistic geometry, especially as beginners, and to just try and get the general sense of the object we were trying to paint. As I began to let go of my perfectionism, the process became less stressful and, dare I say, enjoyable. I quickly began to appreciate the beauty of acrylic painting as a form that gives artists the freedom to go back and glob paint over their mistakes—something which, as my professor continuously reminds us, cannot be done in real life.

I still get the occasional snarky comment about how it’s “so college” to be taking an art class instead of ‘real’ classes, but honestly, the few hours I spend in the art studio on the silent second floor of Walsh are an amazing break from the monotony of readings and essays. On those Saturday afternoons when all I want to do is procrastinate from doing my homework, painting is an activity that actually feels productive.

Learning to paint has also given me a deeper appreciation of the art and artists I have long admired. I now know the work that goes into creating

Carrying On

by Kim Tay A rotating column by Voice senior staffers

art and its history. I took art classes when I was younger, but hadn’t done it for years, and I’d never touched acrylic paints (except at the nail salon?). The first week of class was frustrating, to say the least. As I labored over rulerstraight brush strokes and picture-perfect edges, the final product never turned out the way I wanted it to.

film, we should not watch it. We should pay Nakoula no heed.

If Americans want to be Americans during this time, we should stand to condemn the provocative actions of this filmmaker.

After speaking with my Arab and Muslim friends about the events of the past few weeks, I’ve heard sentiments such as “Where does freedom of speech begin and end?” or “When one guy blows himself up, you guys blame the rest of us! Now you know how it feels.”

There’s a reason we say “God bless America” instead of “God bless Americans.” Americans are a people, an imperfect people.

But we stand united to form one nation, a nation with one voice.

Nakoula is an American. He’s also an Egyptian and a Coptic Christian. Just as Osama bin Laden was never the voice of Islam, I do not think he is representative of American, Egyptian, or Coptic Christian sentiments. One thing’s for sure, he’s definitely not representative of mine.

Nikhil Lakhanpal is a junior in the SFSQatar. In Qatar, Madden got its footballs confused and put Wayne Rooney as QB. those deep, rich hues of red or blue in Mark Rothko’s largerthan-life color-field paintings.

Instead of appreciating art solely for its aesthetic qualities, I now look to the labor that goes into the works themselves. It requires meticulous work, always thinking of what your next step will be to create that cohesive, final piece.

A painting isn’t just a series of brushstrokes on canvas, it’s hinged on a knowledge of the materials an artist uses; acrylic paints dry really fast while oil paints take longer to set, making it easier to rectify misplaced strokes in the former and to blend colors through layering in the latter. Having finally worked with the medium, I’m finally able to understand the process in addition to the product.

My preference for modern art over classical works has gotten me into regular arguments defending the artistic value of Jackson Pollock’s ‘paint-splattered’ technique or Barnett Newman’s ‘zip’striped paintings. I always get frustrated with the dimea-dozen response, “That’s not art. Even I could do that!” After taking this class, I’d like to see them try.

50 shades of blue and gray

Here’s the second installment of the Voice’s serial romance novel-cum-murder mystery, 50 Shades of Blue and Gray. The next installment of this steamy thriller is all up to you — send your 1000 to 1500-word submission, under your real name or your fake one, to editor@georgetownvoice.com by Monday night at 10:00 PM, and we’ll pick our favorite for next week’s back page.

“VB 11!” I shouted back, the words catching in my throat.

I couldn’t believe how things were going. The girl of my dreams was actually in my arms moments ago; the wafting scent of her auburn hair reminiscent of the flowers on her dress.

“O.K.,” she shouted, “I’ll meet you there in 10.” I was on cloud nine. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that this could ever go so well. Oh if only Ryan and Mike could see me now! I started the trek down towards my apartment. The shadows flickering around the street lamps seemed to dance with the excitement boiling over within me.

As the minutes passed, I found myself floating faster towards my apartment than ever before. In what seemed like a flash, I was opening the outer door only to find Corinne pressing my apartment’s intercom button.

One look at her shimmering, smoky blue eyes sent a shock through my blood, but all it took to put me at ease was hearing the word “hey” in her smoky voice. Without saying a word, I grabbed her hand from the intercom and pushed her against the wall. Then, with instinct taking over, everything just felt right. My heart began racing as I felt her hot breath on my neck. Then finally, our lips touched, unleashing a hungry firey passion within us both.

Before I knew it, both of my hands were exploring the contours of her body, pinning her to the wall using my lips.

Soon my other hand grabbed her hair and yanked down, bringing Corinne’s face up as our tongues tentatively joined in a slow, erotic dance. After a few minutes I mustered up the self-control to ask, “Shall we go inside?”

“Definitely” she whispered. Fumbling for my keys, I got the door open and whisked her up the stairs to my door.

Kissing against the threshold, we stumbled into my apartment when suddenly all I could think is “I hope Brett isn’t home.”

Navigating through the dark I was relieved by the fact that Corinne couldn’t see the pinnies and sci-fi posters littered across my walls. While I’m sure she would have an appreciation for Doctor Who and Battle Star Galactica, those were probably questions better left for a second date. As we inched closer to my room, not hearing any of my roommates, a sense of calm filled me. Then suddenly Corrinne jumped and reached for her phone in her purse. As she tried to quiet it I caught muffled sounds of Take Five as her ringtone.

“Jazz fan, I see.”

“Definitely.” She seemed surprised and pleased by my comments. “Coltrane, Gillespie, Brubeck, I can’t get enough.” Even in the dark, her eyes still shimmered. Heated even more by her new declaration, I tenderly ran my hand through her hair and pressed my lips to hers again. Lacing my fingers in hers we head straight to my bedroom. Seeing no one there, Corinne immediately grabs me and throws me onto the bed. Straddling my lap she sits on top of me kissing me deeper than I’ve ever experienced before.

In one swift move she unzipped the back of her dress and flung it onto the edge of my headboard. Fighting to get my shirt off I couldn’t look away from her chest.

Her perfect round breasts were better than I had ever expected and put Alex’s lean figure to shame. The only other thing fighting for my attention was the lacy black thong that was hiding beneath her dress and was now getting very well acquainted with the crotch of my jeans.

Finally I managed to get my shirt off and hurled it to the side. Unfortunately, a sleeve caught the lamp on my nightstand and knocked it right off, sending a loud crash through the room. As we laughed, we rolled over the side of the bed to assess the damage, but got a lot more than we bargained for. Amongst the shattered remains of what was once a very nice lamp, we saw my roommate Brett lying on the ground.

“Is he ok?” she asked.

“I think so. He just goes a bit too hard sometimes.” Placing a hand on his shoulder I said, “Come on, Brett, wake up, man.” This wasn’t the first time Brett had gotten blackout, but something seemed wrong. Corinne reached around to flip the light switch on the wall and suddenly everything changed.

“OH MY GOD!” she yelled.

“HOLY SHIT!” Brett was lying on the ground apparently bludgeoned with the oversized Jack the Bulldog sculpture from the living room. Next to the dog was a note face up that read: I’m sorry things got a bit gory But at least it makes a good story You’ve sure had quite a fright But you must meet me tonight Alone at the observatory

By Constantine Petallides