The Hoya Guide: March 16, 2012 by The Hoya

the guide friday, march 16, 2012

Shear Madness at The Kennedy Center

the weekly magazine for life on the hilltop

Talking 21 Jump Street With Tatum and Ice Cube

Girl Meets World: Life Outside of NYC

this issue 3 lifestyle 5 10 food&drink 12 art&culture entertainment 13 hilltop

red square roundup // hide & seek

cherry blossom festival // center stage

meskerem // cafe tu-o-tu

shear madness // hoyawood

21 jump street // girl meets world

nextissue

GAUGING CLASS AT GEORGETOWN

At Georgetown, we’re always talking about class – just not this kind. The topic of socioeconomic status is often overlooked on the Hilltop, though class can play a major role in a Hoya’s life in and out of the lecture hall. Many elements of Georgetown culture assume a certain family background and level of “cultural capital,” expectations that students from working-class upbringings struggle to fulﬁll. On the other side of the coin, wealthier students feel that drawing attention to the issue only worsens the situation. This week in the guide, Eamon O’Connor explores the need for an improved dialogue and a greater understanding of class issues on campus. COVER PHOTO BY CHRISTIE SHELY

soundbite

DUPONT UNDERGROUND LIFESTYLE

In next week’s the guide, learn about The Dupont Underground, the secret section of Dupont Circle and former home to the trolley system. Read about the efforts to turn it into the city’s newest arts district.

the guide

Connor Gregoire, Editor-in-Chief Steven Piccione, Guide Editor

Upasana Kaku, Executive Editor Suzanne Fonzi, Managing Editor

Corrections and Clarifications If you have a comment or question about the fairness or accuracy of a story, contact Executive Editor Upasana Kaku at (202) 687-3415 or email executive@ thehoya.com.

Chris Bien, Photo Editor Remy Samuels, Layout Editor Samantha Randazzo, Copy Chief

General Information THE GUIDE is published each week during the academic year with the exception of holiday and exam periods. Address all correspondence to: THE HOYA Georgetown University Box 571065 Washington, D.C. 20057-1065 The writing, articles, pictures, layout and format are the responsibility of THE HOYA and do not necessarily represent the views of the administration, faculty or students of Georgetown University. Signed columns and cartoons represent the opinions of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the editorial position of THE HOYA. Georgetown University subscribes to the principle of responsible freedom of expression for student editors. THE HOYA does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, sexual orientation, race, disability, color, national or ethnic origin. © 2012. THE HOYA, Georgetown University twice weekly. No part of this publication may be used without the permission of THE HOYA Board of Editors. All rights reserved. THE GUIDE is available free of charge, one copy per reader, at distribution sites on and around the Georgetown University campus. Additional copies are $1 each.

Victoria Edel, Deputy Guide Editor Alex Sanchez, Deputy Guide Editor Bethany Imondi, Deputy Guide Editor Mairead Reilly, Contributing Guide Editor Leonel De Velez, Deputy Photo Editor Sari Frankel, Deputy Photo Editor Christie Shely, Deputy Photo Editor Zoe Bertrand, Deputy Layout Editor Jessica Natinsky, Deputy Layout Editor Emory Wellman, Deputy Layout Editor Nikita Buley, Deputy Copy Editor Emily Perkins, Deputy Copy Editor

Editorial: (202) 687-3415 Advertising: (202) 687-3947 Business: (202) 687-3947 Facsimile: (202) 687-2741 Email: editor@thehoya.com Online at www.thehoya.com

CHRIS BIEN/THE HOYA

girl meets world VictoriaEdel

“At the tender age of 18, I started college and began to learn about places that aren’t New York, places where it’s normal to get bagels from a grocery store and where no one knows what a diner is ...”

omglol ;) :) :P :|

Smells Like Jagger — Adam Levine is releasing a perfume and a cologne. We can only imagine that they will smell like our middle school lockers. Always Love You — Bobbi Kristina Brown, daughter of Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown, is removing the “Bobbi” from her name. We can’t blame her. Mad Man — Jon Hamm dissed Kim Kardashian in a recent issue of Elle UK, calling her “stupid” — sounds like he’s taking his misogynist role too seriously.



Road Tripping — Twilight star Kristen Stewart is starring in an adaptation of “On the Road”, the Jack Kerouac classic. Expect hipsters and preteens at the premiere.

saywhat?

“

“I think it’s ready for hair gel as soon as it comes out. If there is hair, throw some gel in there. Too young to tan though. Don’t tan. You gotta be 18. Maybe a spray tan.” - DJ Pauly D, on Snooki’s baby

hilltop

redsquareroundup mar16

one move, one groove

gpb movie

mar16-17

Gaston Hall 7:30 p.m.

ICC Auditorium 9:30 p.m. and 11:59 p.m. A prequel to the Shrek franchise, Puss in Books recounts the life of the adorable swordfighting Puss in Boots. Puss goes on a heroic adventure with the mastermind Humpty Dumpty and the street-savvy Kitty Softpaws to tackle the villainous Jack and Jill, outlaws and owners of legendary magical beans.

Don’t miss the third annual hip hop culture showcase exhibiting the creativity of various guest groups from the metro D.C. area. Tickets are avaialble online for students at $7, so buy yours today!

chris bien/the hoya

mar16

gu children’s theater

filmofilia.com

bamf!

mar16

McNeir Hall 8 p.m.

Trinity Theater, O Street between 35th and 36th 7:30 p.m.

Come enjoy this (free) performance about a girl named Lucy who is sure that there are wolves in the walls of her house. Her family doesn’t believe her until, one day, the wolves emerge. Come see how Lucy’s adventure unfolds.

Founded two years ago, BAMF! exposes Georgetown students to the Broadway stage in a casual, low-key atmosphere. This year’s theme focuses on love and features songs from classics such as Wicked, Rent and Hairspray.

gu children’s theater

hide&seek

Georgetown bamf

The photos onleft theisleft an example ofof what appear in &Hide Thetwo photo on the theare complete image last will week’s Hide &Seek Seek, but for next on campus is the photo right? challenge. Canweek: you finWhere d the location of the photo on on thethe right?

lastweek

findme

Chris bien/the hoya

BUSINESS WING Railings along one of the wiings in the Hariri Building emphasize the architectual design with visual and spacial structures.

Chris bien/the hoya all photos leonel de velez/thehoya

3.16.12 | the guide | 3

lifestyle One Hundred Reasons to Celebrate cherry blossom Centennial in full bloom peter brigham Hoya Staff Writer

n March 27, 1912, American first lady Helen Taft and Viscountess Chinda, the wife of the Japanese ambassador at the time, planted two cherry trees along the banks of the Potomac River in Washington, D.C. This small gesture, intended as a tribute to the nascent friendship between the United States and Japan, kicked off a spring tradition in the District that celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. Since 1935, the National Cherry Blossom Festival has dependably come around every year as the cherry trees bloom. Just as more cherry trees have arrived in the District over the years, the festival has grown, now heralding the arrival of spring for Washingtonians and the many visitors from around the country and world who stream into the District during the cherry blossom festival season. This year, the festival continues its expan-

sion as an institution promoting culture, length; this significant change marks the community and Japanese heritage in the centennial celebration. “We’re expanding the annual celebration District, seizing the occasion of the centennial as an opportunity to usher in new tra- and the National Cherry Blossom Festival from six days to ditions and continfive weeks,” Piaued growth. cente said. This The festival isn’t year’s festival bedeparting from its gins on the first longstanding tradiday of spring, tions that visitors March 20, and enjoy, according lasts through to National Cherry Arbor Day, April Blossom Festival 27. Communications Aside from Manager Danielle Piacente, but rather — Danielle Piacente the extra-long festival itself, taking advantage there will also of the occasion to build on those traditions and start new ones. be a great deal of commemorative merchanThis year, the festival will run for more dise sold during this time. The Cherry Blosthan a month, five times its traditional som Festival has partnered with National

“The message that we’ve gotten through ... the embassy is that ‘Japan is back. Japan is blooming.’”

Geographic to produce Cherry Blossoms: The Official Book of the National Cherry Blossom Festival. However, the emphasis remains on the celebratory activities that characterize the festival. Though the festival is longer, the cherry blossoms themselves will still be in “peak bloom time” for less than a week, according to the National Park Service. To maintain interest in the cultural touchstone even after the flowers have gone, the festival planning team has launched the City in Bloom campaign. City in Bloom is an attempt to spread the spirit of the National Cherry Blossom Festival throughout the DMV region. As part of the campaign, major D.C. attractions like the Newseum, the National Archives and even Dulles International Airport, will feature window decals and bright pink lighting, imbuing them with a festive, spring-like spirit.

leonel de velez/the hoya

APRECIATING JAPANESE CULTURE Every year, the National Cherry Blossom Festival celebrates Japanese culture as well as thriving life in the District.

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Along with the buildings that will be “in bloom” this year, old Cherry Blossom Festival events will have a new spotlight thrust upon them. “Our signature events have been elevated,” Piacente said. This will be noticeable from the start of the festival. The opening ceremonies are being treated as a stand alone event for the first time in the Festival’s history. They will be held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, a 6,000 seat venue, and will feature performances by pop singer Sara Bareilles and, in a tribute to the Festival’s Japanese roots, Japanese pop artist Misha. The excitement will not end once opening ceremonies do. The Festival’s parade will be nationally televised for the first time and will feature celebrity hosts Katie Couric and Alex Trebek. Piacente noted that though there is always broad national and international interest in attending the Cherry Blossom Festival, according to, this year has seen a particularly international attendance base, with many more people visiting from Japan and major entertainment acts. Aside from its traditional events, the Festival offers a number of musical performances and other shows and will have three stages this year. Those stages include the Canon Performance Stage at the Sylvan Theater near the Washington Monument and a jazz center at the Jefferson Memorial Stage, both of which offer

Q & A

attendees the chance to enjoy the participating acts in unique D.C. environments. Organizers also highlighted the Cherry Blast Party on Saturday, April 21, a 21-plus event hosted in a warehouse with numerous arts and cultural activities occurring simultaneously. “There’s a surprise at every corner,” Piacente said. The Cherry Blossom Festival is the product of year-round work by a dedicated group of full-time, paid employees as well as volunteers. The Festival’s full-time staff includes 10 employees this year, which is more than it has had in past years, and they rely on the occasional support of outside contractors, as well as the work of 1,000 volunteers. They also strive to keep Japanese cultural groups in the District involved in the planning of the Festival, drawing on the support of such organizations as the Japan-America Society of Washington D.C., a nonprofit membership organization that, according to its website, “promotes greater understanding and networking be-

CHRISTIE SHELY/THE HOYA

lifestyle

tween Americans and Japanese through its many cultural, public affairs and educational programs.” The Japanese Embassy also works actively with festival organizers. The centennial anniversary of the planting of the trees by the Japanese ambassador’s wife and the American first lady comes on the heels of the one-year anniversary of the devastating March 11, 2011

earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Last year, the Festival wove relief efforts for earthquake victims into its work, but one year later, with Japan recovering from the effects of the earthquake, the emphasis is again on celebrating the vibrancy of Japanese culture and Japanese-American friendship. “The message that we’ve gotten through … the embassy is that ‘Japan is back. Japan is blooming,’” Piacente said. It’s a fitting message to guide the work of a Festival that’s been blooming for a century.

WHAT’S YOUR MEN’S NCAA PREDICTION? “We’ll be the ﬁrst team to lose in the ﬁrst round, but keep showing up to games.”

“They’ll make it to the Sweet 16, but they won’t beat Kansas.” Maria Lappas (COL ’14)

“We’ll lose in the second round. I just have a feeling.” Jacob Arber (SFS ’14)

Fahad Abdul (COL ’14)

“Georgetown’s going to win the national championship 50-0 against Syracuse.” Warren Wilson (SFS ’15)

For more of your comments on the NCAA tournament, watch The Hoya’s video online at thehoya.com.

3.16.12 | the guide | 5

lifestyle

centerstage

From Dis-Orientation to Senior Ball: Coordinating a Year to Remember

SUMaIYA ISMAIL Special to The Hoya

From Interhall Council to IRC, Chris Butterfield’s (MSB ’12) college experience includes involvement in a great number of activites and organizations, culminating in his position as chair of the Senior Class Committee. With a glimmer of enthusiasm that resonates in his voice, Chris rattles off the exciting activities he plans as part of the SCC, never allowing the authority he commands as chair to interfere with his modest and amiable demeanor. Humbled by all that has led him to where he is now, Chris speaks with joy at having the opportunity to create a memorable final year for his peers. How did you first get involved with the SCC? I first learned about the Senior Class Committee when I was an RA as a sophomore. I was introduced to some people who were on the committee and who really enjoyed it, so I asked them a few questions and saw what they did and that was what initially lit the spark in me and got me excited in the type of programming that Senior Class Committee does.

crisis situations when they come up. Learning about how the university works and where to find support within it helped me to understand how to make the best use of the resources available to me. I know that without a lot of the training that I went through with Residence Life I wouldn’t know half of what I know now. I really got an amazing base of knowledge that lets me be a resource to all of my board members. All of that knowledge that enables me to be what I believe a successful chair, I learned from Residence Life and from being an RA.

What are your main responsibilities as chair? I mainly What has advise and been a highdirect a board light of servof eight and ing as chair a committee on the SCC? of 35 seniors One of the who all work most rewardtogether ing things throughout has just been the year to the time I — Chris Butterfield (MSB ’12) put on social have gotten programs, to spend with transitionaltype lectures, networking events and my peers in discussion about Senior all types of different activities around Class Committee activities. These are campus. Every activity has a different the people we’ve spent the last four nature, whether [it] be professional, years with; these are our classmates, alumni-faculty related or just a pletho- our friends. In my mind, nothing can ra of others, but [it] all starts with dis- be better than the accolades that I orientation in the fall and ends with hear from my classmates about how senior week and commencement in much of a difference [the Senior Class Committee] has made for them and the spring. their experience in their final year What past experiences have prepared here. I feel like the work our committee does and the time that we put in you for the work that you do now? Being an RA on campus has taught really makes a tangible difference in me so many lessons about managing the senior experience that our peers people and supporting your peers are in the midst of right now. It really when they need it and dealing with allows you to see all of your efforts

“These are the people we’ve spent the last four years with; these are our classmates, our friends.”

6 | the guide | 3.16.12

sari frankel/The Hoya

STAY CLASSY Chris Butterfield (MSB ’12) serves as chair of this year’s Senior Class Committee, organzing events throughout the year. come to fruition. What advice do you have for the underclassmen? Well, I read an article written by Father Healy entitled “What We Can’t Tell Freshman.” It’s centered on the fact that seniors just can’t say a lot of what they want to freshmen because [first-years] are either not ready to hear it or they’re not prepared. So what I think a big part of being

here is all about is getting to know yourself better, while really grasping every opportunity that comes your way and making of it what you will. The knowledge — both mental and physical knowledge — and understanding how you grow spiritually are all things that you will be able to take away as a senior. And you must always remember that you can’t sit around for four years waiting for your college experience to happen. You have to go out and live it.

lifestyle

How to Dress to Impress for Future Success the 20-something transition BrookeBerger

he daunting internship or job interview; it’s so intimidating in part because it requires that you communicate the essence of your personality to the interviewer in a very short amount of time. What’s an easy and effective way to make a lasting impression? Your interview wardrobe. I have friends applying to internships and jobs across a variety of fields. The industry to which you’re applying has a large influence on your choice of outfit. No matter the internship or job, there is always an opportunity to put a unique spin and make a statement with your wardrobe. For finance and similar positions, simple and professional is the industry standard. This style often manifests itself in a traditional black or gray suit, but there are still ways to set yourself apart even when conformity seems to be encouraged. Being unique is a simple way to be remembered amongst the swarms

or playing with more daring colors. of other black and gray suits. Yet, not all industries or companies are An easy way to stand out is to make sure that your suit fits correctly, for both equal. Many dress codes offer a glimpse men and women. It’s fairly obvious when into the company’s culture. At Google, a suit is too big in the shoulders or the for example, the relaxed work atmopants are too long. For men, the tie can sphere favors more casual dress. While you should rebecome a tool for search the compacreating personny before the interal style. The color view, use what you and length of Your interview outﬁt should find to help deterthe tie are both not only represent the mine what type of things that concompany’s brand but also outfit would work tribute to a sharp best during an look. Women the individual brand you’ve interview. Make can choose texspent your life developing. sure that your turally interestoutfit represents ing blouses to the culture of the break up the simcompany you’re plicity of the rest interviewing with and yourself as an of the suit while individual. standing out in an appropriate way. Last, don’t forget about the shoes — For other types of interviews, especially those in creative industries, having often-neglected articles of clothing that an outfit more representative of your have the potential to make or break an personal style is especially important. outfit. In finance interviews, shoes are Although some interviews won’t require another subtle way to stand out. Instead suits, it’s still important to dress profes- of going for a plain black shoe, opt for sionally. This might mean wearing a fit- patent leather. Men can use their shoes, ted blazer and trendy blouse. However, and especially their socks, to make an feel free to get creatve with your outfit, impression. Males should always be sure by wearing a statement piece of jewelry to wear dress, never athletic, socks and

Known Sanctuary, Killer Conspiracy

ew Georgetown students realize that there is a conspiracy theory on campus surrounding Colonel Ulric Dahlgren and his alleged mission, known as the “Dahlgren Affair,” to assassinate the president of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis, during the Civil War. If Dahlgren’s name sounds familiar, it should, since Dahlgren Chapel of the Sacred Heart bears Ulric’s family’s name. According to Fr. Emmet Curran, S.J., before the chapel’s construction in the 1890s, the Trinity Church on 36th street served as the center for student worship, but an opportunity soon arose for the university to have its own on-campus place of worship. The Dahlgren family was one of rich military tradition. Ulric‘s father, John A. Dahlgren not only invented a revolutionary new gun, called the Dahlgren gun, but he also served as an admiral in the U.S. Navy. On the eve of the Civil War, Ulric joined the Union army. He quickly established himself as a brave and valiant soldier, losing one of his legs below the knee in a cavalry skirmish after the Battle of Gettysburg. After quickly rising through the ranks,

becoming a colonel, he quickly volunteered to be part of a daring operation, a 4,000-man cavalry raid to liberate the Union inmates at Libby Prison and Belle Isle, but in Richmond, Va. “To reconnoiter the area, Dahlgren posed as a Union deserter and spent a month in the Richmond environs at the beginning of 1864,” Fr. Curran said. Then, in late February, Dahlgren led a 500-man detachment of General Kilpatrick’s cavalry force to liberate the prisons. The raid was ultimately unsuccessful and Dahlgren and most of his men died in the attempt. Dahlgren’s body was quickly recovered by the Confederacy and according to an article in the Virgina Magazine of History and Biography, published in April 1964, Dahlgren’s orders to burn Richmond and kill Jefferson Davis, known as the “Dahlgren Papers,” had been found and read by the Confederates. These papers, allegedly discovered on the colonel’s corpse, have been voraciously questioned since their discovery with speculation of forgery. If these papers are in fact authentic, they may serve to cast the relationship between the North and South in an en-

tirely new light. “Duane Schultz, in his The Dahlgren Affair: Terror and Conspiracy in the Civil War, makes a pretty convincing case that the papers were forged by Confederates to provide the justification for their own campaign of terror and assassination in the north, ” Fr. Curran said. Fr. Curran continued, “Eric J. Wittenberg, in his Like a Meteor Blazing Brightly: The Short but Controversial Life of Colonel Ulric Dahlgren, concludes that the papers were authentic, that Dahlgren was the instrument for the carrying out of a plan concocted by Secretary of State Edmund Stanton.” Regardless of the validity of the assissination plot, Georgetown University decided to name the newly constructed Dahlgren Chapel after the Dalhgren family, since the then-recent Georgetown graduate, John Vinton Dahlgren, experienced the death of his young son and asked the university for permission to lay his body in college grounds. Although the chapel was not named after Ulric Dahlgren, the family’s name on the historic worshipping site will forever keep alive the story of the Dahlgren Papers in the Dahlgren Affair.

should wear colors appropriate to the rest of their outfit. Women should make sure they can walk normally in their shoes. It’s uncomfortable for both the interviewer and the interviewee when it becomes painfully obvious that shoes don’t fit correctly or are painful to walk in for long distances. Above all, comfort is key; if you don’t feel comfortable in your interview dress, then how can you expect to be happy working somewhere that requires you to wear that type of outfit every day? Even though what you wear to an interview is an important and easy way to make a successful first impression, how you act in your interview outfit is more important. Both your outfit and your demeanor should communicate excitement. Your interview outfit should not only represent the company’s brand but also the individual brand you’ve spent your life developing. Make sure your interviewer knows how you, as an individual, not just a suit-wearing, job-seeking person, will benefit the company if hired. Brooke Berger is a junior in the College. THE 20-SOMETHING TRANSITION appears every other Friday in the guide.

NICOLE JARVIS Hoya Staff Writer

FILE PHOTO HANNAH HILL

SACRED GROUND Dahlgren Chapel shares a name with would-be Civil War assassin.

3.16.12 | the guide | 7

up against hidden boundaries: coping with class

or T’Keel Petersen (MSB ’12), seizing every opportunity at Georgetown has not come easily. To study abroad at Oxford University the summer after his sophomore year, Petersen was forced to weave together a patchwork of grants and contributions from extended family; the financial aid package that makes his enrollment at Georgetown possible did not extend to summer education. But even once he gathered the necessary funds to go abroad, spending on group dinners and other activities dealt him a blow when he ran out of money with two weeks to go in the program. With a tone of relief in his voice, Petersen recounts a successful plea to an extended family member for some extra spending money. While the financial help allowed him to get by at the time, Petersen says he still has a raw understanding of how studying abroad, along with other opportunities at Georgetown, is not an option for many of his peers. “Not being able to avail yourself of that opportunity is rough,” he says. For many students like Petersen, attending Georgetown isn’t a possibility without the promise of financial aid. And even when cushioned by tuition support, the decision to matriculate does not signal an end to the challenges associated with a low-income status. Attending Georgetown brings to light an array of socioeconomic factors for lower and working-class students, forcing many of them to deal with the invisibility of class and the near absence of an active campus dialogue on the subject. Keeping Up With a ‘Hidden Curriculum’ Recent studies indicate that at selective universities, issues of class — an identifier that comprises measurements of family education, income, occupation and wealth — are hardly extinct. According to a 2011 study by University of Michigan researchers, the college completion rate for students from high-income families has grown more than four times faster than the rate for students from low-income families since the 1980s. Another 2011 study, led by Stanford University sociologists, found that the gap in standardized test scores between low-income and affluent students has grown by roughly 40 percent since the 1960s, now surpassing the gulf in achievement between black and white students. Research shows that the achievement gap in American education is predominantly rooted in students’ socioeconomic status — and when it comes to the top tier of selective universities, the differences can be vast. According to Leslie Hinkson, a professor in the sociology department teaching a course called Education and Society, a student’s background plays a major role in the assimilation of lower-class students into a campus culture that can value characteristics associated with the well-educated upper-middle class.

“Student background characteristics matter more than anything else, and a lot of that has to do with class,” she says. Long before a child considers attending college, he or she is exposed to a certain type of vocabulary at home, a certain pedigree of schooling and parental expectations for academic performance. Any one of these factors

just learning to think critically here, you’re also playing catch-up at the same time.” According to a 2003 study by The Century Foundation, 74 percent of students at the top 146 schools in the United States came from the top economic quarter, a measurement of parental income. At those schools, only 3 percent of students came

“My roommate actually proofread my papers. She was my editor for the first two years of college,” Comen says. “And as I caught up with my decent public school education next to some kids who had been at top-of-the-line private schools, there was definitely a slight bit of jealousy.” Petersen, who received a generous financial aid package upon acceptance, finds that the demands of the classroom, along with close ties with his family, shaped his academic career. Petersen’s studies must lead to something bigger post-graduation. Landing a consulting or investment banking job that pays about $70,000 would mean a starting salary two-and-a-half times the amount Petersen’s single mother makes at the job she has had much of her adult life.

nomic background, that is not an option, flat-out.”

Class Adjustment Outside the Classroom According to Hinkson, college students’ interactions beyond the classroom are dominated by collective behaviors and norms that sharpen the unseen lines dividing students who are on different points of the socioeconomic spectrum. “For students from the upper-middle class, it’s just taken-for-granted knowledge and a way of being. It’s what we refer to as cultural capital,” Hinkson says of the social scene, the style of dress and the way of speaking that can signal social class to others. Just as with academics, students not endowed with upper-crust cultural capital are forced to catch up.

Georgetown,” he says. Zimmerman has worked 20 hours or more each week in college to support these changes in lifestyle. With his own drive and the help of others, he has crafted a support network to help manage everything from everyday finances to weekends on the town to future career opportunities. Jaclyn Wright (COL ’12) says she has intentionally cultivated a social life that doesn’t revolve around spending money as a way of leisure, despite the fact that bars and restaurants in the Georgetown neighborhood encourage these spending habits for many affluent students. A working-class student writing her thesis on access to elite institutions in higher education, Wright says her academic passion stemmed from her social interactions. For students of higher socioeconomic back-

“There were several times where I’ve been embarrassed where people say, ‘You can’t even tell me how much a gallon of milk costs.’” Katherine Wolfenden (COL ’12), whose senior thesis pertains to Georgetown’s approach to diversity and difference, says her lower socioeconomic status affects every area of her life. “Class for me is more a reality of my life, it’s not about what people are wearing,” she says, adding that perceived norms at Georgetown can run counter to many students’ socioeconomic backgrounds. “People here definitely have a warped sense of what normal is.” Easing Transitions, Enabling discussions Sarah David Heydemann (SFS ’09), a program coordinator in the Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor, served as

PHOTO ILLUSTRATIONS BY CHRIS BIEN/THE HOYA

A WORK IN PROGRESS Although many students grapple with socioeconomic status on a daily basis, the issue of class remains invisible for many at Georgetown. Above are testimonials from several students sharing their thoughts and personal experiences. or others may be linked to parents’ income, according to Hinkson, but ties to higher-income or well-educated social networks helps cultivate a student’s drive to achieve in the classroom, too — regardless of a parent’s income level. For the students who succeeded in high school without these advantages on their side, the jump to college can become a turbulent experience both inside and outside the classroom. “In academics, there seems to be what we call ‘the hidden curriculum of schools,’” Hinkson says. “If you don’t have all of that background knowledge that students who went to more selective high schools have … you’re not

from the bottom quarter and only 10 percent from the bottom half. Deven Comen (COL ’12), who hails from a public school in a farming town, felt that lack of upper-class exposure when she arrived on campus her freshman year. Although she felt welcomed, some socioeconomic differences were glaring. Her roommate was a student from an allgirls private school on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, and as she struggled to keep pace with her peers from wealthier backgrounds and top-tier high schools, Comen recalls feeling isolated. Comen’s academic transition would become indicative of the uneven playing field in elite higher education.

“You have to understand for people from my situation, you are your family. This is potentially a huge change for your family, especially going to a school of the caliber of Georgetown,” he says. For students of upper-middle class backgrounds like Ryan Wilson (COL ’12), former co-chair of the Diversity Initiative’s Admissions and Recruitment Working Group, the need to apply a Georgetown education to real-world results isn’t as urgent. “I’m in the position right now where I’m trying to go to law school, but honestly, if it doesn’t work out, I can go back home and wait until an opportunity comes up,” he says. “And if I were in a lower socioeco-

“Schools don’t teach students cultural capital. It’s what you learn at home, and schools reward students for cultural capital,” Hinkson says. The son of a mechanic and a legal secretary, Ryan Zimmerman (COL ’12) was taken aback when he first set foot on Georgetown’s campus. “There were people wearing brands I had never seen before,” he says. These fresh-faced observations would soon have a substantive impact on Zimmerman, a first-generation college student. “As soon as I got to campus, I started to change how I dressed and how I acted and to step into a role that is very indicative of

grounds, being cognizant of class difference does not come easily. “We try to hide behind the broke college student mentality, and we don’t necessarily get into what’s really going on here. We’re all not struggling in the same way,” says Wilson. Along with other students interviewed, Wilson says he has observed social segmentation based on class — a divide that can only exacerbate the issue. “I think most people hang out with people of similar backgrounds and are never forced to confront those very awkward moments,” Wilson says, going on to describe interactions he has had while shopping for groceries with friends of lower socioeconomic backgrounds.

co-facilitator for a discussion on social class in A Different Dialogue this fall. Over the course of many sessions, she found that the idea of assimilation of lower-income students into a higher-class culture was particularly relevant at Georgetown, where the son of migrantworkers may be sitting in class next to the daughter of a major corporation’s CEO. “I think that that transition can be really confusing, and I don’t know if there are folks out there really talking about [it],” she says. The Georgetown Scholarship Program, founded in 2004, seeks to ease that shift. The brainchild of Dean of Undergraduate Admissions Charles Deacon and Dean of Student Financial Services Patricia McWade,

Eamon o’connor Hoya Staff Writer

GSP not only opens the door to Georgetown for students from less affluent backgrounds through financial aid but also seeks to keep it open during their time on campus through support and programming. For Comen, Petersen, Wright and Zimmerman, GSP has been crucial to adjusting successfully to campus life, whether through resume reviews, etiquette trainings, interview practice or support over school breaks, when many low-income students can’t afford to head out of the District. While programs like GSP and the Community Scholars Program — a Center for Multicultural Equity and Access initiative that provides support to racially, ethnically and socioeconomically diverse students — help participants of varying backgrounds adjust to Georgetown, students and faculty cite a lack of campus awareness and dialogue on the matter. “Unless you’ve actually lived it, you can’t understand what it’s actually like to be poor,” Wolfenden says, later adding, “I think it gets to a point where you realize, pity would be so impossible to deal with that you’d rather just not talk about it.” The feeling of embarrassment or discomfort can go unspoken for many students of affluent backgrounds. “Do I apologize for the wealth that my parents have? I feel guilty about it a lot of time because I feel like I didn’t do anything to deserve it,” says Anusuya Sivaram (SFS ‘12), an uppermiddle class student. Heydemann sees the discomfort and the gaps in understanding as a communication issue, one that stems from the stigmatization that can accompany conversations about class at all points of the socioeconomic spectrum. “We as a community really lack the language to talk about class,” she says. “We don’t understand what the word working class, middle class means. I think we need to build the vocabulary.” For Sivaram, this discomfort can stunt the conversation. “The fact [is] that there is this difference, and I can’t do anything to solve it without creating more discomfort,” she says. Becoming more sensitive to the relevance of socioeconomic status — in many cases an invisible piece of students’ Georgetown experience — is essential, according to Heydemann. “If we don’t make a conscious effort, a sustained effort to pay attention to the little ways that class issues seep into our everyday lives, there’s no way that Georgetown can really become a place that opens its doors to everyone,” she says. Grounded by his roots but open to different perspectives, Petersen says he has seen cross-class conversation transform his Georgetown experience. “It’s helpful to all of us to interact across these classes and divisions we have, because it humanizes the stereotypes and the caricatures that are always given to us.”

food&drink Run-Down Space Serves Up Big Taste Charlie long Special to The Hoya

 MESKEREM

2434 18th St. NW cuisine: Ethiopian price: $$$$

otentially dyspeptic spices, cushioned-floor seating, no silverware, dimly lit overhead light fixtures — three steps into the lounge of Meskerem Ethiopian Restaurant in Adams Morgan and my senses had rendered me powerless from drawing parallels to Ben Stiller’s experience with “ethnic food” in Along Came Polly. In the film, Stiller’s character, Reuben, forces himself to sit through dinner at a hip New York City “ethnic” restaurant in the hopes of impressing his eclectic date, Polly (Jennifer Aniston). By the end of the meal, an uncomfortably cross-seated Reuben painfully continues to take handfuls of food as he drips with sweat and suffers from an audible bout with intensely irritable bowels. Thankfully, my media-influenced reprehensions proved to be groundless — although Meskerem is undeniably a unique dining experience, the restaurant satisfies on many other levels. With no prior experience with Ethiopian cuisine, my two guests and I collectively decided to take a conservative approach to the menu and order Meskerem specialties per our waitress’s suggestion. We started with a small appetizer of

Groupon.com

NO FORKS ALLOWED Meskerem serves up a hands-on approach to dinner.

sambusa, a crispy dough shell stuffed with a savory blend of minced beef, green chili and herbs. The sambusa are deep-fried in vegetable oil, yielding a delightfully flakey and buttery texture. For $3.75, they were a cheap and delicious introduction to the ethnic cuisine. For salads, our party split a small tomato salad and a small Meskerem salad at $5.00 a piece. The tomato salad, reminiscent of a Spanish gazpacho, featured an infusion of diced tomato, onions, green chili, lemon and olive oil. My favorite dish of the meal, it boasted a fantastic combination of flavors in a non-traditional representation. The Meskerem salad — lettuce, feta, tomato and olive oil in a house dressing — was initially satisfying, but unfortunately gave way to wilted greens after only a few bites. Moving to the entrees, we settled on the Meskerem Messob for three, a large finger-food meal arranged on a traditional Ethiopian serving tray. The dish featured sizeable portions of beef, chicken, lamb and vegetables heaped atop a large piece of injera, a traditional Ethiopian flatbread. Although it soon became hard to differentiate meats and seasonings from one another, the dish as a whole packed a great balance of flavors.

blogbites

In the Ethopian culture, injera is torn into pieces and used as a tool for picking up and eating food. Eating such a messy dish with my hands was not only nostalgic of kindergarten but also enhanced the comfort level of the meal. I found our party of three began to laugh and genuinely enjoy the experience more as our repudiation of silverware forced us into a nonjudgmental experimentation with clumsy eating. Meskerem’s stellar cuisine really does give the impression of dining in Ethiopia, but, unfortunately, the decor and wait staff were less impressive. Our server’s inexperience with English was painfully evident and made for some awkward situations — fine with a party of three friends but potentially devastating to an intimate date needing relief. The ripped tablecloth, peeling paint and cracked chairs were signs of a serious need for renovation. Even so, Meskerem’s superior cuisine makes the restaurant a quality choice for open-minded diners. While the deficiencies in aesthetics and personnel detract slightly from the overall experience, they ironically illustrate the fact that Meskerem principally survives on the hallmark of dining — good food.

meskerem salad

Feta cheese, tomato, lettuce and olive oil in Meskerem’s house dressing of olive oil and lemon

tomato salad

Diced tomatoes tossed with onions and green chilli on a dressing of olive oil and lemon

sambusa

Thin dough shells are stuffed with a balanced blend of minced beef, green chili and herbs. This dish is lightly deep fried in vegetable oil to a golden perfection

meskerem messob

A dazzling array of beef, chicken and lamb with vegetarian dishes, arranged on a large serving tray.

a weekly review of the blogosphere’s best recipes

Corned Beef Grilled Cheese

Irish Brownie Bombs

Closet Cooking closetcooking.com Instead of spending this St. Patrick’s Day eating unappetizing corned beef, enjoy a creative twist on the classic. With Guinness caramelized onions, this sandwich from Closet Cooking puts the holiday’s signature eats into grilled cheese form. This is one food item you can drink to.

Endless Simmer endlesssimmer.com While a cold glass of Guinness is fine on its own, combine it with chocolate and things can only get better. These brownies not only include stout, but also whiskey and a rich cheesecake layer made with Bailey’s. This will be one decadent and boozy dessert.

10 | the guide | 3.16.12

dishes you have to try:

food&drink

To the Second Power With Cafe Tu-O-Tu

Not a Diet, Just Delicious market to table

MICHAEL HENNESSY Special to The Hoya

he new eatery gracing the border of Georgetown’s campus has become an instant hit. The second location of the Cafe Tu-O-Tu, which opened in late February, is now balancing the other end of M Street. Next door to Pie Sisters and Dixie Liquor, the Mediterranean and European cafe owned by Mino Sarano has quite the large menu for its small space. The restaurant itself is small and airy. When I walked in, I loved the excess of natural light pouring in through the windows looking out over the Key Bridge. It has enough seating for a small lunch crowd, but lines can form out the door during its busy hours. Their large menu and daily specials will satisfy even the pickiest eaters. I went ahead and chose the first thing that looked appetizing to my stomach: the chicken caprese panini. It astounded me that the pictures of the food on the wall actually depict what the food looks like when it arrives in person. The panini came in a little basket with a bag of potato chips, and it looked as good as it tasted. The ciabatta bread gave the grilled panini a hearty crunch, and the insides were rich from the warm, melting mozzarella. The combination of the chicken, cheese and tomato was pure food glory. In addition to the sandwich, I ordered a pasta salad with pesto, which complimented my panini perfectly. Tu-

 CAFE TU-O-TU EXPRESS 3421 M Street NW cuisine: Mediterranean price: $$$$ O-Tu offers a wide array of salads, perfectly manicured behind a glass window in the counter. These salads range from strawberry and goat cheese to pesto pasta to Caesar and everything in between. Relative to other Georgetown eateries, the salads are well priced for their size. On another visit to the cafe, I divulged in some of the all-day breakfast offerings. Who does not love a place that serves breakfast all day? I had the Key Bridge sandwich, your basic bacon, egg and cheese. My hangover seemed to melt away over a cup of coffee, a cookie and this gooey egg sandwich. Whether it is breakfast or lunch or breakfast for lunch, Cafe Tu-O-Tu Express hits the spot. A quick and fairly priced sandwich shop is a welcome addition to places near campus where students can find themselves a delicious meal.

BethanyImondi

hate calling things “diet foods.” It seems anytime I eat a rice cake or a spoonful of Greek yogurt, somebody has to make a remark about my eating habits. While these items are in fact low in calories and technically considered healthier than a chocolate chip cookie, why do they have to be considered diet foods? If I slathered my rice cake in Nutella, then would the naysayers quiet down? Grapefruit is one of those foods that has the reputation of being a dieter’s best friend. Nearly all of us have heard of the grapefruit diet; allegedly, the fruit has some magic power that can zap fat and encourage weight loss. Essentially you just consume a low-calorie, high-protein diet that includes drinking a glass of grapefruit juice at every meal. But besides the juice, the diet doesn’t specifically mention eating a grapefruit. Even more, there is no substantial scientific evidence that suggests the effectiveness of grapefruit consumption as a means of burning fat. And so it seems that the fruit’s reputation

is all based on unproven facts. Yet even with these questionable weight-loss benefits, I still feel like I am getting judged as a health nut when I pick up a piece of grapefruit from Leo’s. It doesn’t matter that I pour two (or four) packets of sugar on top of it; the simple fact that I have it is enough for people to assume. Last week on spring break, it was easy to forget about judging eyes. Having spent the week in Florida, I enjoyed a fresh, juicy grapefruit nearly every morning. And even if the grapefruit did have any health benefits, I probably undermined them with my accompanying plates of waffles and sugared pieces of fried dough. Despite the fact that grapefruit always seems to be available at the dining hall, it is actually in season this time of year. While certainly delicious to eat as is, the fruit’s sweet and tart taste combination makes it terrific for creating unique and flavorful desserts. As this recipe for nobake cheesecake shows, grapefruits can shake their diet reputation by simply combining them with a few decadent ingredients. Bethany Imondi is a junior in the College. MARKET TO TABLE appears every other Friday in the guide.

grapefruit cheesecake INGREDIENTS

1 grapefruit 1/2 cup water 1/4 oz. gelatin 1/2 cup sugar 1/4 cup brown sugar 1/2 cup sour cream

8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature 1/4 cup grapefruit juice 1 2/3 cups heavy whipping cream, whipped 1 nine-inch graham cracker pie crust

Serves 8 from Food.com

CHRISTIE SHELY/THE HOYA

TAKE TWO Cafe Tu-O-Tu owner Mino Sarano opens up a second location of the sandwich and salad shop.

1. 2. 3. 4.

Peel and section grapefruit. Set aside. In a small saucepan, sprinkle gelatin over water; let stand one minute. Cook over low heat for three minutes, or until gelatin is completely dissolved; cool. In a large bowl, beat sugar, brown sugar and cream cheese until smooth. Add sour cream, dissolved gelatin and grapefruit juice; beat well. Stir in whipped cream. Pour into prepared pie crust and chill until ﬁrm, about four hours. Top with grapefruit sections.

3.16.12 | the guide | 11

art&culture

VICTORIA NGARE Hoya Staff Writer

The Barber, In the Salon, With the Scissors

he second-longest-running play 200 high school students from Bowlin American theater history, ing Green, Ky., laughing out loud like “Shear Madness,” has done it the 9.6 million other people who have again by enticing its established audi- already seen the play. Set in a unisex Georgetown hair saence out for another night of murder mystery fun and gaining new fans at lon, “Shear Madness” is a story about the same time. It is up to you, the au- detectives Nick Rossetti and Mikey dience, to solve the crime, so this who- Thomas’ attempt to solve the murder dunit comedy and improv show all of famed concert pianist Isabel Czerny, who lived in the rolled into one is apartment above sure to keep you the hair salon. on your toes the By allowing audience The detectives whole time. a unique This past Sunmembers to be active par- employ strategy: They day, I went to the ticipants in the production, allow audience Kennedy Center who to see Shear Madthe play captures the atten- members, bear witness to ness, having no tion of an audience in a way the murder in clue what “audithe first half of ence sleuthing” many plays cannot. the play, to help meant in the desolve the crime scription of the during the secproduction. I assumed it would be like a typical mur- ond half. Audience members ask quesder mystery dinner and, thankfully, I tions and offer help as the cast replays was wrong. As actors Tonya Beckman what happened before the discovery (as Barbara DeMarco), Jarreau Williams of Isabel, stabbed to death by a pair of (as Mikey Thomas), Bob Lohrmann (as hair cutting shears. Each character stands to gain from Tonny Whitcomb), Brit Herring (as Eddie Lawrence), James Whalen (as Nick the death of Ms. Czerny. The pianist’s Rossetti) and Ann Stone (as Mrs. Shu- constant playing is driving Tonny bert) wittily delivered political and Whitcomb, the gay hairstylist, mad. pop culture commentary, I sat next to Barbara DeMarco is the sole benefac-

all photos shearmadness.com

WHODUNIT? Each time the play is performed, the murderer is a different character; cast members rely on audience participation to help solve them solve the crime.

12 | the guide | 3.16.12

SALON STABBING ”Shear Madness” is set in a Georgetown hair salon and follows the investigation of a murder to which the audience plays witness. tor in Ms. Czerny’s will until the day before, when Isabel decides otherwise. The pianist thinks Eddie Lawrence, a shady antiques dealer, is blackmailing her so that he can acquire her grand piano. Mrs. Shubert, a Georgetown socialite, recently recovered alcoholic and busy body, just happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. And yet while the plotline and characters remain, the murderer is a different person each time the play is performed. During each performance, the skilled improv actors are able to tailor the ending to the audience’s desire. When I went, the killer was Barbara DeMarco, the woman who would gain the most from Isabel’s death. Since this audience didn’t buy Barbara’s sob story about being friends with Isabel and not caring that she had just been cut out of the will, Barbara cracks and confesses. While this part may not have been written into the play, it fits in seamlessly with the rest of the story. “Shear Madness” takes the typical whodunit comedy to another level. By allowing audience members to be active participants in the production, the play captures the attention of an audience in a way many plays cannot. The production allows those watching to test out their ability to pay attention to detail while also throwing everything they thought they knew out of the window at the end. Audiences have returned to watch the play again and again because it’s exciting to know that the ending may be different each time you see the play.

CASTING BLAME The play features a slew of talented improv actors. On this occasion, the murder was because of money, but the next time, it may be because Isabel’s incessant piano playing pushes Tonny’s last button; or it may be because the Georgetown socialite Mrs. Shubert has reverted back to being an alcoholic and done something nonsensical. You just never know. If you like surprises, pop culture or political commentary you will enjoy this play. The concept of Shear Madness is sheer genius. The play runs through Saturday, March 31 at the Kennedy Center.

arts&culture

TV Health Expert TAKe it from a senior Leaving but Never Gone Comes to Hoyawood KATRINA YEH Hoya Staff Writer

whatever that means. I wanted to do something positive that Georgetown LawsonFerguson might remember me for. Four years later, that’s a pipe dream. And I’m OK with that. Part of what makes coles. I am a senior. Barring an lege fun is its dynamism; the people unmitigated disaster over the on campus change radically from senext few weeks, I’m going to mester to semester and year to year. graduate in May. Writing about it, People come and people go, and now talking about it and desperately try- it’s my turn, along with the rest of ing to find a job have made that fact the class of 2012, to go. This doesn’t mean I’ve done nothing slightly more real to me, but it still feels weird. The Hilltop has been my worthwhile (don’t worry, Mom and home for nearly four years now, and Dad). I’ve been fortunate enough to it’s going to be strange to leave. I sus- find things that interest me, and I’ve pect reality won’t fully set in until sev- thrown myself into them. I hope most eral days after I cross that stage in the of you have or will find something simblack gown that my parents merciful- ilar simply because that’s what makes life exciting. For ly saved from my me, the newspafreshman convoper you’re readcation. What I’ve done here, what ing right now has I’ve already been “my” activwritten about my class has done here, ity here. I’ve done the general is part of a much larger nearly everything strangeness of picture. Georgetown is bigthere is to do in my last semester the sports section at Georgetown. ger than all of us, and I’m — I’ve covered and so I’ve made not bothered by that at all. sailing, women’s a mental list of soccer, women’s all the crazy, lacrosse and stupid and awemen’s basketball. some things I’ve edited way more articles than I care that have happened to me since August 2008: The long to think about and headlined a number drive down from Boston, meeting my of those. And even if I’d done all of those roommate and freshman floormates, things perfectly, they wouldn’t be rethe first of a long list of poor life deci- membered in a few years. What I’ve done sions, T-Pain singing “I’m on a Boat” here, what my class has done here, is part … twice, norovirus, swine flu, the of a much larger picture. Georgetown is most interesting Midnight Madness bigger than all of us and will outlast all ever (featuring some drunken idiot of us, and I’m not bothered that it won’t shooting a toilet), Ohio, Snowpoca- remember me. I’ll be gone in a few months. In a few lypse, DMT, VCU, all the 21st birthdays spent at The Tombs. The list goes years, everyone who remembers me on,.but the more I thought about will be gone as well. But when I get my those events, the more I realized that diploma in May, I’ll take with me four no single one could even begin to en- years worth of memories and a lifetime capsulate what my Georgetown expe- of friendships and experiences and in the end, that’s what has made it all rience has been like. Simply put, this place has been worth it. And hey, who knows? Maybe special. That’s not to say it’s perfect, I’ll win the lottery 20 times and donate though. I suspect most of us have at enough money to the school to get my one point or another complained name printed in obnoxiously large letabout Leo’s, HOYAS/Saxanet (or lack ters on some building that probably still thereof), DPS, housing, CSP, SNAPS or won’t have reliable internet access. any other number of Georgetown’s imperfections. But the positives will always outweigh the negatives — es- Take It From a Senior is a rotating, biweekly column written from the viewpoint pecially if you know where to look. When I arrived on campus for the of graduating seniors. Lawson Ferguson first time, I had this vague notion is a senior in the College and former depthat I wanted to “make an impact,” uty sports editor for The Hoya.

lthough less than a year old, Hoyawood is building a bridge between Hollywood and Washington. A newly formed organization, led by President Reilly Dowd (SFS ’12) and Vice President Elle Leonsis (COL ’14), Hoyawood aims to connect the entertainment industry with Hoyas through events such as documentary screenings and guest panel discussions. This week, Hoyawood is hosting its inaugural speaker event with Sandra de Castro Buffington, director of the Hollywood, Health and Society program at the University of Southern California’s Norman Lear Center. The first keynote speaker for Hoyawood, Buffington holds a unique job that seems to be very compatible to the group’s goals and mission. As the director of HH&S, she aims to improve public health awareness and well-being through the entertainment industry. Mostly focused on the television sector, Buffington has worked on a variety of TV productions, including familiar shows such as “House” and “Grey’s Anatomy.” She advises top writers and producers on health storylines, connecting health professionals and specialists with Hollywood to help build credible storylines while educating public viewers at the same time. Joining top names such as Jennifer Lopez and Soledad O’Brien in PODER Hispanic magazine, Buffington was named one of the 100 most influential Hispanics in America. Beyond the relevance of Buffington’s work on Hoyawood, hosting her as Hoyawood’s first keynote speaker bears particular significance to club president Dowd. “My summer working for Sandra de Castro Buffington is largely what inspired me to start Hoyawood, so I am thrilled that she is willing to share her stories and expertise with the Georgetown community,” Dowd wrote in the event description on Facebook. Shortly after establishing Hoyawood, Dowd invited Buffington to offer insight on connecting two industries that may appear unrelated. “She’s amazing, and she really embodies the bridge between global health and Hollywood. More importantly, she bridges entertainment to real-world issues. Sometimes it takes a celebrity to make people listen. But it takes the passion and commitment behind the celebrity to bring the mission to life, and that’s exactly what Sandra does,” Dowd said.

nme.com learcenter.com

HEALTHY TELEVISION Sandra de Castro Buffington, teaches TV writers about medicine. As a prominent member of both the health and entertainment industries, Buffington also serves as a model who makes a difference for the public through the powerful influence of the entertainment industry. Her involvement with Hollywood has paralleled her work with health experts, prompting social transformation in the public. Furthermore, she has managed to include coverage of topics of personal importance to her. For example, she has used entertainment to showcase diseases that disproportionately affect Latinas. When asked who would enjoy this Hoyawood event, Dowd said, “Anyone [should come who has] … an interest in the entertainment industry, dramatic television [writing or] a career in global health, or [anyone with] a simple curiosity about how the business works and how health storylines can impact viewers around the world. It is sure to be an exciting evening.” With such broad topics covered, the Sandra de Castro Buffington event will have something for everyone. “An Evening with Sandra de Castro Buffington — Thinking Globally in Hollywood” will take place today, March 16, at 6 p.m. in Healy 106. For more information about the event or Hoyawood, please contact Reilly Dowd at mbd52@georgetown.edu.

3.16.12 | the guide | 13

entertainment

JEREMY TRAMER Hoya Staff Writer

21 Jump Street Is Too Cool for School

he commercials for 21 Jump Street character is stuck hanging out with the make the film look like another nerds and the pair become deeply enlazy and uninspired remake of tangled in their new identities. Especially in the film’s first half, there some old TV show that people born after 1989 don’t care about. Land of the was a very Superbad-esque feel. This Lost, The A-Team, and The Dukes of Haz- wasn’t just because of the high school zard are just three examples of recent setting and the crazy house parties films like this that could just as easily that feature prominently in both films, but also because of the style of absurd, have been titled The Paycheck. I’ve never seen an episode of the self-aware humor that made Superbad 1980s TV show on which 21 Jump Street one of the best comedies of the decade. is based, and going into the screening I While Jonah Hill didn’t write Superbad, didn’t even know the premise. The cen- he certainly took some of the comedic terpiece of the ads is a scene in which lessons he learned from being involved Jonah Hill shoves an old lady into a pile in that movie and applied them to the of shoeboxes. It didn’t look too promis- script of 21 Jump Street, which he wrote ing. In fact, I only signed up to review along with Michael Bacall. the film in the first place because it Channing Tatum, meanwhile, is meant I would be given an opportunity surprisingly funny and endearing to interview the film’s stars at the Ritz- throughout, and his interplay with Carlton (more on that later). Hill is at times comedic gold. Tatum Well, it turns out has made the the folks at the studio move from took a page out of the drama to FX Network marketing broad comedy handbook by severely much more underselling the comee f fo r t l e s s ly dic value of their prodand effective21 JUMP STREET uct. The shoebox scene ly than James all photos ROTTENTOMATOES.COM was one of the few Franco did in starring: Jonah Hill, Channing action-packed This 1980s adaptation keeps an original feel with all new humor. lame parts of the film, Pineapple ExTatum, Ice Cube but 21 Jump Street on press. Franco’s Chris Parnell, Ellie Kemper and Rob takedown of people who call him a selldid you know?: Tatum’s character the whole is a shock2 6 - y e a r - o l d Riggle all adding depth and humor to out. I guess students must have been is named Jenko, a reference to the ingly inspired actionbrother Dave, the film in small roles. Ice Cube was calling him out for that at other stops original TV show actor Sal Jenko. comedy. incidentally, also great as Tatum and Hill’s boss, with on the press tour because he went on The film starts out has a large role his relentless over-the-top intensity that the defensive unprovoked. I definitely very quickly, wasting in the film as could not have been more of a contrast agreed with Cube when he said that no time in getting us to the main prem- the ringleader of the high school drug to his impossibly laid-back demeanor one of his favorite parts of the movie ise. Within about 10 minutes, Jonah dealers. (The irony of an actual 26-year- when I interviewed him. was when Nick Offerman’s (Ron SwanHill and Channing Tatum are on their old playing an 18-year-old in a movie After the movie, I was fortunate to son from Parks and Recreation) police undercover job as high school students. about 26-year-olds pretending to be 18 be able to interview the cast in a hotel officer character lamentingly described Hill’s character is the physically inept year-olds was not lost on me.) room at the Ritz, first with Tatum and the undercover assignment he was givbrains of the operation, and Tatum is The second half of the film got a little Hill for 15 minutes and then with Ice ing Hill and Tatum as a lazy recycling the mentally inept brawn. After a failed heavy on the action, but it was han- Cube for 15 minutes. Tatum seemed re- of an old idea the department had in takedown, they’re assigned to infiltrate dled in a much funnier way than most ally excited and genuinely thankful to the 80s, chiding the department for bea drug ring at a local high school, be- action-comedy movies, which usually be starring in a comedy for the first time ing unoriginal in another refreshingly cause they “look young.” Soon, Hill has a drop the humor during intense scenes. in his career, and he and Hill seemed self-aware reference to the film being a love interest at the school, Tatum’s jock The supporting cast was superb, with like genuine friends. Like me, Hill had refried old TV show. Fun fact: Did you never watched the TV show growing know Ice Cube hasn’t changed the lock up, while Tatum had watched it a few screen image on his iPhone away from times. Hill said that he made sure it was that default globe? in his contract that the movie be R-ratOverall, 21 Jump Street is definitely ed, which was certainly a shrewd move worth seeing, and I’m having a hard on his part. He said he wanted the film time thinking of a movie that more efto be John Hughes meets Bad Boys, and fectively mixed action and comedy. I I can safely say he succeeded. Fun fact: gave it four stars, and it’s closer to five Did you know Channing Tatum doesn’t stars than three stars. If the movie had like ice cream? a different title and better commercials, The first question directed toward Ice and if it was more publicized that Hill Cube was something along the lines of, himself was the writer, it would be a sure “How was the transition from rapping hit with young audiences. That being to acting?” In response, Cube launched said, once word of mouth gets around, into a convincing five-minute-long it may end up being a hit anyway. comedic characters 21 Jump Street features a strong supporting cast.



14 | the guide | 3.16.12

entertainment

Shaking the Empire State of Mind: Life Doesn’t Happen Just in NYC girl meets world VictoriaEdel

grew up in New York City. The first six years of my life were spent in Queens, home of my beloved Mets, and then my family moved in with my grandma in Brooklyn where we’ve lived ever since. Before I came to Georgetown, I didn’t know anyone who lived outside the Tristate area. I never considered what life was like in the rest of America. I basically pictured the rest of the country as a bunch of mini-New Yorks, a perception that was only bolstered by television. The main show I blame is “Friends.” Not only is it one of the greatest shows ever, but it also defined how I viewed my

city, especially as a child who didn’t get into Manhattan much. Six friends with awesome jobs ran around the city, fell in love and sent my family into hysterics on a nightly basis. “Friends” became a cultural phenomenon. It made life in New York seem perfect, a utopia of comedy and sex, where the world is a subway ride away. Another show I loved was “The Nanny,” about a woman from Queens who became a nanny for a posh British family in Manhattan. Because of “The Nanny,” I defined culture clash as what happens when a loud Jewish girl lives with a WASPy Broadway producer. I never realized that other cities aren’t full of Jewish people and theater isn’t necessarily a thriving part of their culture. Then there’s my family’s absolute favorite, “Law and Order.” New York was probably the most consistent character during the show’s tenure, and the city’s diversity

— from Holocaust survivors to guidos and stock brokers — allowed the show to stay creative for a long time. But how could anyone understand this show without living in a place just like it? At the tender age of 18, I started college and began to learn about places that aren’t New York, places where it’s normal to get bagels from a grocery store and where no one knows what a diner is or that they’re run exclusively by Greek people. The subway isn’t filled with people reading newspapers in five different languages because most places don’t have a subway or that many immigrants. In my opinion, these features make my city more awesome than others, but I had never imagined what it would have been like to grow up in Minnesota, Kentucky or Ontario until I made friends from those places. I couldn’t help but think about my city last week during my Alternative Spring

newreleases “R U Mine?”

Arctic Monkeys // Single

 While the sporadic percussion and cadenced lyrics of “R U Mine?” may seem unusual to those familiar with the band’s earlier work, the song represents an evolution of the Arctic Monkey’s sound rather than a reinvention of it.

DOMINORECORDS.US

Break trip to New Orleans. New Orleans is not New York. There are few hipsters, vegetarian food is hard to find and no one has a basement. But one day we were sitting around eating pizza, and I said that while it wasn’t New York pizza, it wasn’t too bad. One of the leaders on my trip, a New Orleans native, said, “It’s not trying to be New York pizza.” This was a significant comment. The pizza wasn’t trying to emulate New York, and neither was the city of New Orleans. Some people wouldn’t actually want to live in New York City, even if I think that’s absurd. They’d rather eat mediocre bagels and enjoy “Southern hospitality.” And that’s OK with me — there are already enough people on the Q train. Victoria Edel is a sophomore in the College. GIRL MEETS WORLD appears every other Friday in the guide.

STEVEN CHOI Special to The Hoya

“Simple Song”

The Shins // Port of Morrow

 Despite the myriad sounds contained in this new single, it’s the voice of lead singer James Mercer that really stands out on this song. “Simple Song” will undoubtedly make Shins fans all the more eager for the band’s forthcoming album due later this month.

STEREOGUM .COM

“Happy Pills”

Norah Jones // …Little Broken Hearts



Produced by Danger Mouse, “Happy Pills” features heavy beats and scornful lyrics that lend a bite to this otherwise innocent song and contribute to a remarkably different sound than that of Jones’ previous works.

STEREOGUM.COM

3.16.12 | the guide | 15

bestbets

friday This month, D.C. will be hosting the Environmental Film Festival. One of the films being featured, In Organic We Trust, discusses the meaning of “organic” in today’s society, the shortcomings of the organic food industry and possible solutions. Where: Carnegie Institute for Science, Elihu Root Auditorium, 1530 P St., NW When: 8 p.m. Info: dcenvironmentalfilmfest.org Price: Free Metro: Dupont Circle (Red line)

SHEENA KARKAl Special to The Hoya

chasing waterfalls

saturday Celebrate Women’s History Month by visiting the National Museum of Women in the Arts. One of the current exhibits, Royalists to Romantics, displays French paintings by female artists, including Élisabeth Louise Vigée-Le Brun and Anne Vallayer-Coster. Where: National Museum of Women in the Arts,1250 New York Ave., NW When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Info: nmwa.org Price: $8 with student ID Metro: McPherson Square (Orange and Blue lines)

- chris bien

sunday Written by David Ives and directed by award-winning director Jeremy Skidmore, New Jerusalem, the critically acclaimed play about the 1656 interrogation of philosopher Baruch de Spinoza, looks at the clash between religion and modernity, faith and philosophy, all while retaining humor. Where: Theater J, 1529 16th St., NW When: 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Info: washingtondcjcc.org Price: $25 Metro: Dupont Circle (Red line)