GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY’S NEWSPAPER OF RECORD SINCE 1920 thehoya.com
SEXUAL ASSAULT · · · ·
Georgetown University • Washington, D.C. Vol. 94, No. 39, © 2013
FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 2013
COMMENTARY In 2016, Hillary Clinton may join a long list of presidential comebacks.
A culture of silence and flippancy surrounds a grave college issue. GUIDE, G6
HEALTH VIOLATIONS Los Cuates, Booey’s and Wingo’s have had multiple health citations.
SOUTH REGIONAL Ben McLemore and Kansas may stand in Georgetown’s way.
NEWS, A4
OPINION, A3
SPORTS, A12
DeGioia Attends Capital Campaign Hits $1B three years Pope’s Installation With left, campaign two-thirds complete
DREW CUNNINGHAM
with Laura Boldrini, the president of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, a house in the Italian legislaWhile Pope Francis was installed as ture He also met with Georgetown the 266th pontiff of the Roman Cath- alumni and Americans studying at olic Church on Tuesday, University the American Academy in Rome. President John J. DeGioia watched On Tuesday, DeGioia watched as proudly among the U.S. presidential Pope Francis greeted a crowd of at delegation to the Vatican. least 200,000 in St. Peter’s Square “I don’t know what I did to de- for his installation. The pope spent serve the honor,” DeGioia said. “It about half an hour making his way was an incredible honor to join the through the crowd, blessing many vice president and the delegation.” of the babies and the disabled at Over 100 official national del- the barriers. egations attended the Mass, includThe new pope then led a Mass ing the U.S. group, which was led and gave a homily about St. Joseph by Vice President Joe Biden and as a protector and the duty that all included House Minority Leader leaders have as protectors of their Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Governor people and of creation. He urged Susana Martinez (R-N.M.) and De- the audience to serve with goodGioia, all of whom are Catholic. ness and tenderness. DeGioia said that his selection “It was a very moving experimay have been related to Francis ence,” DeGioia said of the Mass. “It being the first Jesuit pope and was more of a visual experience Georgetown’s status as the oldest in the sense of just watching and American Jesuit seeing how he university. carried him“It’s one way “I had a voicemail on self. But then of acknowledg- my phone and it was ... I had a chance ing the role to read the we’ve played in Biden, and I said, ‘Oh, I’d homily, and America over what I think these last 225 better call back.’” is most powyears,” he said. erful is that JOHN J. DEGIOIA, University President “I view it more he chose the as I was invited Feast of St. Jobecause of my role and that it was seph as the day for his first mass. really Georgetown that was being You see the convergence right now acknowledged here.” of a whole bunch of dimensions DeGioia learned of Francis’ eleva- from his background.” tion while in New York for meetDeGioia added that the event ings about the Big East realign- seemed to be simple and low-key ment and was notified shortly when he first took it in and that he thereafter that he was being con- was ultimately touched by the messidered for the delegation. sage Francis delivered to the audi“The next day, I had a voicemail ence, which focused on the fundaon my phone and I listened to it, mental need to serve. and it was Vice President Biden, “The key message is this message and I said, ‘Oh, I’d better call back,’” that St. Joseph was a protector and DeGioia said. for all of us to protect one another DeGioia boarded Air Force Two and through protecting one anon Sunday morning to fly to Vati- other, the Church,” DeGioia said. can City and toured St. Peter’s Ba- “That’s a very powerful message for silica with Pelosi while in Rome. where the Church is right now.” He also accompanied Pelosi during meetings with diplomats and met See POPE, A7
Special to The Hoya
PENNY HUNG
Hoya Staff Writer
The Campaign for Georgetown hit the $1 billion milestone on the way to its $1.5 billion end goal, Vice President for Advancement R. Bartley Moore (SFS ’87) announced Wednesday morning. “One billion is a very, very important psychological threshold,” Moore said. “That we’ve now crossed that threshold means a lot more than that we are just two-thirds of the way toward our total goal. Moore explained that this accomplishment puts Georgetown “in the league of
FILE PHOTO: LEONEL DE VELEZ/THE HOYA
The Campaign for Georgtown, which launched with a celebration in front of Healy Hall in fall 2011, has $500 million left to raise by June 2016. institutions that can do very significant levels of fundraising at the level of $1 billion-plus campaigns.” Lina Jamis (COL ’12), whose donation
Asian: 4% Black: 12%
Georgetown Administration Racial and Gender Makeup
Male: 84%
Female: 16%
White: 84%
MICHAEL DEPIETRANTONIO/THE HOYA
Admin Diversity Lags MEGHAN PATZER Hoya Staff Writer
Nearly four years after University President John J. DeGioia launched an Initiative on Diversity and Inclusiveness, the university’s senior administration — composed of deans and executive leaders, including the provost and vice presidents — remains dominated by white males.
Of the 13 individuals listed under executive leadership on the university website, three are women and one is black — making the executive leadership 77 percent male and 92 percent white. Of the 12 deans, two are black and one is Asian. Walsh School of Foreign Service Dean Carol Lancaster is the See DIVERSITY, A6
University Unveils New Dorm Proposal IVAN ROBINSON
Special to The Hoya
Campus Plan in Action The leading contender among seven potential residence hall proposals is a triangular-shaped building to be located across from Reiss Science Building on the north side of campus. Some have expressed concern that this construction would eliminate precious open space on campus.
COURTESY GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
The university revealed pending plans to construct a dorm across from Reiss Science Building at two planning sessions on Tuesday with design firm Sasaki Strategies and developer Forrest City Enterprises. The plan will likely replace the university’s original proposal to convert the Leavey Hotel and Conference Center into student housing. “The more we explored it, the more roadblocks we encountered,” Vice President for Planning and Facilities Management Robin Morey said. “It met the idea of expediency, but it didn’t meet the long-term goal of what would be the best student life available.” Morey also cited the hotel’s strong cash flow as a contributing factor to the decision to abandon the project. In the planning session, Morey and other university administrators proposed seven potential locations but noted that the site across from Reiss, which would be triangular in design to match the shape of the plot of land and feature glass facades, is the frontrunner. Plans to build the dorm on campus are part of the university’s ef-
fort to meet the requirement of the 2010 Campus Plan agreement that 90 percent of students be housed on campus by fall 2015. Some members of the audience were concerned that the new dorm would eliminate open spaces on campus. “Of the things you’ve presented today, the thing I hate is the triangular new dorm [across from Reiss],” Yates Field House Director Jim Gilroy (COL ’72) said. “Somebody brought up the need for more energy on campus. I don’t think we need more energy. The idea of building another canyon to walk through for more energy — I just don’t see it.” Sasaki Strategies Director Gregory Janks acknowledged Gilroy’s concerns but said that he was confident that the plans would leave all parties satisfied. “I think if we have a very nuanced, very sensitive, very thoughtful design approach, we really think that there are possibilities to … advance and enliven the space. The building can make a significant contribution,” Janks said. “The overall point is each site has its challenges and opportunities, and of the 100 people See DORM, A5
broke the $1 billion mark, gave $214.68 to the annual fund in 12 monthly See CAMPAIGN, A7
Jesuits Stalled In China Hong Kong liberal arts college in flux EMMA HINCHLIFFE Hoya Staff Writer
The completion of a Georgetown proposal with 26 other Jesuit colleges to establish a Jesuit liberal arts college in Hong Kong in now in limbo after a change in government in the Chinese special administrative sector. After three years of planning, the Society of Jesus is nearing the final stages of submitting a proposal to establish the college on Queen’s Hill, a former British military base offered to a group for educational purposes free of charge by the Hong Kong government. But the land may no longer be available due to a new political dynamic in Hong Kong after legislative elections in September. The government first announced the availability of 40 acres of land, worth $1 billion, in March 2010. In May 2011, the government accepted 11 letters of intent from groups planning to submit proposals for an educational institution on this land, with the Jesuit college as one of the contenders. The Jesuits have been prepared to submit a proposal for over a year, but the Hong Kong government has not yet issued a call for proposals. According to Ron Anton, chairman of the board of trustees of the Jesuit Liberal Arts College, the Hong Kong government has told the Jesuits privately on several occasions of dates when they would issue a request for proposals, but these informal commitments have never been honored. In January of this year, the government announced publicly that it would issue a request for proposals at the end of March, but it has yet to make an announcement. “The new government is not as keen on this,” Anton said. “We do not know for sure what the future will be.” The Hong Kong government’s announcement of the available land coincided with efforts by See JESUITS, A5
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OPINION
THE HOYA
FRIday, march 22, 2013
THE VERDICT Founded January 14, 1920
EDITORIALS
What’s in a Name? The Department of Public Safety plans to change its name to “Georgetown University Police Department” are intended to clarify its role in the eyes of the student body and larger campus community, but the manner in which this change has taken place has instead led to confusion. Chief of Police Jay Gruber cited clarity as the reason for the change, asserting that the new name is a more precise description of the services DPS provide. Public safety departments at other universities provide services — such as emergency management, protocol and even environmental health and safety — that Gruber says DPS does not. Part of the confusion lies in the reality that DPS does offer some of these services: SafeRides, neighborhood shuttles and self-defense workshops all fall under the umbrella of services public safety departments typically provide. At the same time, because DPS does not seem to be a full-fledged police department — it lacks EMT-certified officers and the clearance to carry lethal weapons — the “GUPD”
title is not completely accurate, either. A separate DPS and GUPD could alleviate confusion instead of trying to fit several different services and roles under a single title, or at the very least a published list of clear roles and responsibilities that come with the new title. It is uncertain what this name change means for students. Students have cause for concern when disciplinary crackdowns on partying and excessive noise come amid spats of laptop thefts and burglaries. The semantic shift seems only to reinforce this complaint. What’s more, DPS has yet to make a complete shift to the new name, making it difficult to ascertain which label is currently functioning under. Public safety emails continue to refer to the department as DPS, while others refer to the body as GUPD. When members of the Georgetown community find themselves in harm’s way, titles often become trivial. What is relevant, however, is whether students believe they are primarily being policed, or protected.
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Fine Dining — Two Georgetown area restaurants, Seasons and Bourbon Steak, have been nominated for 2013 Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington Awards
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Hunky Hoyas — CollegeProwler rated Georgetown fourth on its Beauty and Brains list of colleges with the most attractive and smartest students.
Late Bloomers — The National Park Service pushed back initial estimates for the start of Cherry Blossom Season to April 3-6, based on recent cold weather.
Pachyderm Project —The National Zoo will open its new $56 million expansion to its elephant exhibit on Saturday, following seven years of construction. Welcome Back Jack — Prospect Street resident Jack Davies has placed a giant inflatable Jack the Bulldog on his roof to celebrate the start of March Madness.
A LITTLE BIRDIE TOLD US ... @DaveOwensWUSA Mar. 21 Just left the #georgetown locker room, very confident but not overconfident group @wusa9 #NCAATourney @pemalyy Mar.21 Pelosi gives shoutout to Georgetown in NCAA tournament #hoyasaxa @karentravers Mar. 21 I would feel bad for Davidson for blowing this upset if not for their ’08 upset of the #hoyas
Defeated Show Devotion Upon reviewing the GUSA executive order for staff appointments, students will find several familiar names. This year’s appointments of Jack Appelbaum (COL ’14), Spencer Walsh (MSB ’14) and Shavonnia CorbinJohnson (COL ’14) reflect a successful pattern emerging from student body elections — the incorporation of passionate individuals from other tickets into the elected duo’s administration. While Georgetown University Student Association elections are often criticized for the over-hyped competition and contention they create, the appointments reflect the more pragmatic reality of the association. Apart from instances of divisive campaigning, GUSA has proved apt at incorporating members of losing tickets in a way that is effective in achieving a wider range of goals from the campaign. After the 2011 elections, Mike Meaney (SFS ’12) and Greg Laverriere (COL ’12) recruited former competitors Ace Factor (COL ’12) and James Pickens (COL ’12) to help with the creation of the Student Advocacy Office, the
@ awalk1016 Mar. 20 @thehoya: Midnight MUG’s water main is broken and the coffee shop is closed. Story soon on http://thehoya.com” The universe hates me.
highest priority on Pickens and Factor’s platform. There are numerous examples of GUSA contenders who stayed involved after defeat in the February elections. The decision demonstrates maturity from both the executives and the failed candidates. This pattern has allowed for the incorporation of signature projects from other campaigns and also takes advantage of specialization by allowing those who know the issue best to determine the process. In order for the system to work, though, GUSA executives must think carefully about placing the individuals in positions that they are truly well-suited for and not allow themselves to split into making staff positions political currency. The choice of Spencer Walsh for director of technology, for example, is a particularly good choice given Walsh’s demonstrated expertise in technology issues. GUSA does its best with passionate people driving its operations, and now that the echo of door knocking has stopped ringing in students’ ears, the real work for the executive begins.
Spring Concert a Rave With Georgetown’s population hovering at 17,000 undergraduate and graduate students, the Georgetown Program Board’s task of finding an artist for the annual spring concert with universal university appeal is a difficult one. Scottish DJ Calvin Harris has been announced as the main act for this year’s event. The announcement made earlier this week by GPB has received a lukewarm response — especially considering the artist was not in the original pool of acts in the poll GPB conducted last semester. Rather than wistfully looking at the alternative acts that the group could have booked, Georgetown students should focus on the opportunity the concert presents to let loose and enjoy a highlight of the academic year. The spring concert has become a Georgetown tradition, and while the music is the primary reason
for generating student attendance, it also promotes a sense of community on campus, while further cultivating on-campus social life. With limited resources and other roadblocks, it is understandable that GPB can only accommodate one big act per year. However, with smaller acts and multiple concerts in an academic year, GPB could propagate the more communal aspect of such an event for the Georgetown community. Having a regular concert in the fall semester — which was put on for the first time in 2010 but has not been organized since then — could add to campus culture. GPB has produced a solid selection for this year’s show. April’s spring concert is an opportunity to ring in the warm weather and celebrate the coming conclusion of another successful semester.
Danny Funt, Editor-in-Chief Braden McDonald, Executive Editor Victoria Edel, Managing Editor Emma Hinchliffe, Campus News Editor Hiromi Oka, City News Editor Ryan Bacic, Sports Editor Sheena Karkal, Guide Editor Hanaa Khadraoui, Opinion Editor Leonel De Velez, Photography Editor Zoe Bertrand, Layout Editor Hunter Main, Copy Chief Molly Mitchell, Multimedia Editor Lindsay Lee, Blog Editor
Contributing Editors Michelle Cassidy, Patrick Curran, Suzanne Fonzi, Evan Hollander, Upasana Kaku, Sarah Patrick Steven Piccione, Lauren Weber, Emory Wellman
Penny Hung Eitan Sayag Ted Murphy Will Edman Arik Parnass Josh Simmons Kim Bussing Nicole Jarvis Emily Manbeck David Chardack Shannon Reilly Sean Sullivan Katherine Berk Nick Phalen Alexander Brown Chris Grivas Erica Wong Jessica Natinsky Kennedy Shields Ian Tice Karl Pielmeier Kate Wellde
Deputy Campus News Editor Deputy Campus News Editor Deputy City News Editor Deputy Sports Editor Deputy Sports Editor Sports Blog Editor Deputy Guide Editor Deputy Guide Editor Deputy Guide Editor Deputy Copy Editor Deputy Copy Editor Deputy Copy Editor Deputy Opinion Editor Deputy Opinion Editor Deputy Photography Editor Deputy Photography Editor Deputy Photography Editor Deputy Layout Editor Deputy Layout Editor Deputy Layout Editor Deputy Blog Editor Deputy Blog Editor
Editorial Board Hanaa Khadraoui, Chair Arturo Altamirano, Patrick Gavin, TM Gibbons-Neff, Alyssa Huberts, Sam Rodman
EDITORIAL CARTOON by Arturo Altamirano
LETTER TO THE EDITOR Dear Editor: First, it is important to note that the issue week Georgetown University College Democrats held this week is called “Gun Control Issue Week,” not “Gun Violence Issue Week,” as suggested in The Hoya’s editorial (“A Wary Gun Violence Week,” March 19, 2013, A2). This name defined the scope of the events, reflecting our aim to foster discourse on campus about gun control following the Sandy Hook shooting in December. Our speakers represented diverse voices in the discussion about gun legislation. John Rosenthal from Stop Handgun Violence has helped distribute 30,000 trigger locks to gun owners, develop gun violence prevention curriculums in Massachusetts and is a gun owner himself. The campaign has been mimicked around the country and does not solely represent a “liberal” perspective but seeks to make gun ownership safer and reduce gun violence on personal, state and federal levels. Elliot Fineman from the National Gun Victims Action Council is a victim of gun violence. His son was shot and killed in 2006, and he shared the perspective of a gun victim, but also an important gun control advocate. Our aim was to feature those acting for substantial change on gun control. Our speakers were able to address many aspects of the complex issues of gun control and gun violence, and our documentary provided another perspective on the debate as it pertains to college campuses. The documentary was followed by a discussion because we wanted to provide a space to begin the conversation about gun control so that it can spread to the rest of campus. We understand this is a bipartisan issue and change will only come through dialogue and cooperation across the aisle. That said, we invited the College Republicans to work with us on an event for this week and they were not interested. We are a partisan organization and therefore entitled to events that support our viewpoint, but we by no means attempted to ignore pertinent parts of the issues surrounding gun control. We simply hope that this week will jump-start conversation at Georgetown, and we are interested in continuing this debate. Audrey Michele Denis (SFS ’15)
Mary Nancy Walter, General Manager Mariah Byrne, Director of Corporate Development James Church, Director of Finance Mullin Weerakoon, Director of Marketing Michal Grabias, Director of Personnel Michael Lindsay-Bayley, Director of Sales Kevin Tian, Director of Technology Natasha Patel Glenn Russo Martha DiSimone Nitya Rajendran Jonathan Rabar John Bauke Molly Lynch Pauline Huynh Esteban Garcia Addie Fleron Preston Marquis Taylor Doaty Brian Carden Eric Isdaner Simon Wu Sean Nolan
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Board of Directors
Lauren Weber, Chair
Kent Carlson, Danny Funt, Evan Hollander, Dylan Hunt, Mairead Reilly, Mary Nancy Walter
Policies & Information Letter to the Editor & Viewpoint Policies The Hoya welcomes letters and viewpoints from our readers and will print as many as possible. To be eligible for publication, letters should specifically address a recent campus issue or Hoya story. Letters should not exceed 300 words. Viewpoints are always welcome from all members of the Georgetown community on any topic, but priority will be given to relevant campus issues. Viewpoint submissions should be between 600-800 words. Send all submissions to: opinion@ thehoya.com. Letters and viewpoints are due Sunday at 5 p.m. for Tuesday’s issue and Wednesday at 5 p.m. for Friday’s issue. The Hoya reserves the right to reject letters or viewpoints and edit for length, style, clarity and accuracy. The Hoya further reserves the right to write headlines and select illustrations to accompany letters and viewpoints. Corrections & Clarifications If you have a comment or question about the fairness or accuracy of a story, contact Executive Editor Braden McDonald at (202) 687-3415 or email executive@ thehoya.com. News Tips Campus News Editor Emma Hinchliffe: Call (973) 632-8795 or email campus@ thehoya.com. City News Editor Hiromi Oka: Call (281) 658-8596 or email city@thehoya.com. Sports Editor Ryan Bacic: Call (617) 960-7278 or email sports@thehoya.com. General Information The Hoya is published twice 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. Unsigned essays that appear on the left side of the editorial page are the opinion of the majority of the editorial board. 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. © 1920-2013. 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 Hoya is available free of charge, one copy per reader, at distribution sites on and around the Georgetown University campus. Additional copies are $1 each. 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 Circulation: 6,500.
OPINION
FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 2013
FROM THE OUTSIDE
School Tier Ranked Too High I
t matters where you go to school. People constantly say it doesn’t, but, in my experience, it does. It matters for several reasons. First, colleges are brands, and branding matters in the professional world. Second, many employers across the country see targeting top-tier schools for recruitment as a cost-effective way of poaching talented individuals for internship or full-time positions. Third, and most importantly, a toptier university boasts a more academic, professional and intellectual atmosphere. The first of these two reasons is unfortunate and, to some degree, the third is often overplayed. As a transfer student from a solid — but not top-tier — private university, I’ve heard both sides of the argument. Surely, someone who works hard at a less prestigious school will do better than one who doesn’t work hard at all at a more prestigious school. This assertion is entirely accurate, but in general, is not recognized quite so much in many areas of the professional world. Employers, at least from my and many of my peers’ experiences, want students from top-tier schools because there is a pervasive sentiment that a student at a top school is an inherently better candidate. However, this assumption can sometimes be entirely wrong. While there are certainly exceptions, I have found that students at Georgetown will outwork, outperform and outthink many of our peers across the United States. We are one of the few schools that prides itself on a culture of overachievement. Students here take full course loads
Simply having Georgetown on a resume is an immense benefit many students do not realize. while working part-time jobs or playing on this or that athletic team and fostering a culture of dynamism that few other campuses can boast. And in many ways, this makes Georgetown a “superior” university. On the other hand, there are some gross discrepancies in the assertion that the school you attend will either make or break your professional career. Going to an Ivy League school will certainly open up the path to concerted recruiting efforts by top employers. Simply having Georgetown on a resume is an immense benefit many students do not realize. However, there are successful individuals out there who may have come from humbler beginnings or universities. The stereotypes surrounding students at less prestigious schools make for very unfair categorizing. There are certainly stereotypes of students who attend enormous public universities — whether regarding their intelligence or partying and studying habits. However, some of the brightest people I know went to these schools. A vast percentage of CEOs at Fortune 500 companies went to these very universities, and to judge relative success based solely on one’s school would be to ignore the facts. On the flip side, there are a distinct handful of students at Georgetown that we all scratch our heads at, and not just in the, “Oh, he’s probably just really good at [insert class/subject here]” way. I mean in the “How in the name of God did this guy get into Georgetown?” way. I know plenty of students at less prestigious universities who I would rather hire than some students here, and to unjustly categorize a student based solely on their school of attendance would be to do a disservice to the purpose of education itself. Of course, it is very easy for me to say this at Georgetown. I definitely enjoy the reaction that the Georgetown name and brand brings. Every time I do it, however, I feel a certain discomfort, for I know plenty of students who are smarter, more involved and will likely be more successful than me but would not garner that same reaction. Much like with the clothing brand on someone’s necktie or shoes, it is equally unfair to judge someone based solely on their university attendance. After all, some of the most successful people never even went to college at all.
David Weis is a junior in the College. From the Outside appears every other Friday.
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ENGAGING BIOETHICS
T
David Weis
THE HOYA
Does Mother Nature Know Best?
ried going gluten-free like Gwyneth Paltrow or Zooey Deschanel? Thinking of adopting the “paleo” diet your Crossfit-obsessed roommate won’t stop talking about? These nutritional crazes are often justified by appealing to a golden era in human evolution —“paleo” is short for “paleolithic”— prior to the agricultural revolution. The idea is this: Grains are a relatively recent and unnatural introduction to the human diet and therefore cause problems in the body. Eating a diet more aligned with that of our paleolithic ancestors can return us to the state of natural flourishing we’re all meant to enjoy. In fact, the appeal to “nature’s wisdom” crops up not just in fad diets but in many other areas of bioethics and public policy. Advancements in genetic and reproductive technology such as in vitro fertilization of egg cells, preimplantation genetic diagnosis of embryos and the creation of genetically modified organisms are often claimed to be violations of nature’s wisdom. So, too, are phenomena like doping in sports, sexual reassignment surgeries or even antidepressants. These things are seen as problematic not just because they are “unnatural” interventions but because they display a reckless and hubristic ignorance of nature’s wisdom. But what does it really mean to say that something ought to be avoided out of respect for “the wisdom of nature”? For all their rhetorical power, these claims should be met with skepticism, not reverence. When pressed, those who appeal to nature’s wisdom typically have one of three justifications in mind. The first is what we might call the “religious” or “metaphysical” justification. There is some innate order in nature — laid out by either a benevolent creator or simply a principle of the cosmos — that we humans
What does it mean to say that something ought to be avoided out of respect for “the wisdom of nature”? ought to respect, just as we worship God or revere the world spirit. The second kind is a “scientific” rationale. Eons of evolution have resulted in complex creatures like modern humans and the delicately balanced ecosystems we inhabit. Trying to improve on the results of natural selection is bound to result in failure, and we shouldn’t meddle with the wisdom embedded in the process that has brought us to our current arrangement. There are problems with each of these justifications, especially in the public policy arena. First, when it comes to creating legislation on biotechnology, like cloning or regulations for competitive cycling, one’s personal, religious or metaphysical beliefs are not an appropriate basis for rules that will impact all members of society. Spiritual reasons for respecting the “order of nature” might be a permissible basis for personal choices about reproductive technology, but they have not been judged appropriate for those with a public health
impact, such as refusing your child’s life-saving blood transfusion or, increasingly, a potentially life-saving vaccine. Second, the illusion of evolution as a “master engineer,” working to create the most refined living things, is one that we’ve all seen shattered in an introductory biology course. Darwinian selection operates on the randomly occurring mutations in variable populations. It is not forward-looking or benevolent. It is subject to important non-selective pressures like genetic drift. It does not operate on post-reproductive traits like degenerative disease, which are so often the target of new biological interventions. Furthermore, evolution is an ongoing process. It did not crystallize in the current day (or in the paleolithic era, for that matter), marking it as a high point of scientific perfection. Is there any value at all, then, in the idea that nature’s wisdom should guide our choices? The third and final way of un-
VIEWPOINT • Hirsh
derstanding the appeal sounds a cautionary note, directing our attention to our own shortcomings rather than to nature’s magnificence. The first two ways of understanding the appeal had to do with the perfection of the natural order: It was unimprovable and worthy of reverence because some force — whether spiritual or scientific — had made it so. This third, which we might call the “conservative” justification, directs our attention away from nature’s wisdom and toward our own tendency to wreak havoc when we try to tinker with nature, destabilizing whole ecosystems with invasive species or unleashing dangerous mutations when we meddle with our own DNA. Nature doesn’t need to be perfect in order to be something we should be wary of upsetting. Of these three, only the last is a useful tool in bioethical debates. When contemplating some proposed intervention, any reminder of the very human capacity to do foolish things is a good one. But when important public goods are at stake — like childhood vaccinations, pest-resistant crops, degenerative disease treatment or, heck, even bread and beer — appeals to nature’s wisdom should be met with skepticism, not silence.
Kelly Heurer Kelly Heuer is a doctoral candidate in the philosophy department and former fellow at the Kennedy Institute of Ethics. ENGAGING BIOETHICS appears every other Friday.
PAST IS PRESENT
Lamenting the Loss Presidential Comeback Of a Jesuit Landmark A Matter of Timing
S
ometimes, important events happen so quietly that they are in danger of going unnoticed, and one such event is about to happen here. Woodstock, a Jesuit institution of the first order, is about to disband and leave campus forever. In the last decade, to be sure, it has not been much in evidence. Apart from an excellent theological library on the lower level of Lauinger Library — which, thank goodness, is going to remain — the institute has sought to offer accommodation, office space and seminars to Jesuit scholars, some of which are on sabbatical leave from other colleges and universities. It has created an academic home, whether temporary or permanent, to some distinguished Jesuit scholars and others who remain in residence. And it has been a kind of continuing project that has refined its members’ understanding of the thinking of Jesuit philosopher Fr. Bernard Lonigan, S.J. Woodstock always saw itself (the past tense, alas, already seems appropriate) as an exclusively Jesuit institution and one whose connection to Georgetown University was largely accidental. Funded by several Jesuit provinces whose interests it sought to serve, it seemed to have no choice but to close when — for reasons that had become increasingly apparent — these provinces felt constrained to dedicate their contributions to other purposes. Word of the closing was posted on its website. A short article appeared in The Hoya. The rest was silence. But in the past, Woodstock played a vital role here. At a time when Jesuit presence at Georgetown was becoming increasingly problematic, it offered a continuing series of Jesuit speakers who often addressed general topics and, by their willingness to pose and to address interesting and contentious topics, engaged both students and faculty. That these lectures and seminars came from an on-campus theological office gave them both a resonance and an interest that attested to a Jesuit presence here, and made them seem an extension of that presence — one that was available to all. Working, to a degree at least, in association with the Woodstock Library and with those employed there and tempered by genuinely interesting receptions — often for speakers — where like-minded stu-
dents and scholars could meet, it provided a theological voice and a Catholic presence that have now all but disappeared. After such knowledge, what forgiveness? First things first: In some form or other, Woodstock really must remain if Georgetown’s much--heralded Jesuit and Catholic identity is to remain anything but a distant memory. After all, the university has not been at all static over the past decade, and several of its academic initiatives, many of them excellent, have begun to transform the university, largely for the better. Could a new Woodstock not attach itself to one of these, bringing its donors with it, perhaps increasing their number, but assisted in the beginning with some institutional support in these hard times? But should Georgetown lose Woodstock, it would be the thin edge of the wedge. It is no longer entirely clear how committed the Society of Jesus can be to Georgetown, the first Jesuit university ever to elect a lay president. And compared with Boston College or Fordham University, the community now seems to be less engaged with the intellectual direction of the campus than ever before. Certainly the current president is a great supporter of what are called “Jesuit values,” and his office often sponsors lectures somewhat like the Woodstock lectures of old — but two presidents from now, will his office even be held by a Catholic? Some years ago I was discussing like considerations with an older colleague who brushed the matter aside, and he assured me that whatever else changed, the president, provost and dean of the College would always be Jesuits at Georgetown. That is why we need an institute like Woodstock, not more good will. Of course the Jesuit voice should not be the only one audible on as international, multicultural and complex a campus as this one, nor is there the slightest chance that such will happen. But change is part of any institution, and in the last decade, there has been little question in what ways, many of them very good, Georgetown is developing. But the loss of Woodstock would be a milestone on that path that we would come to regret.
John C. Hirsh is a professor in the English department.
H
illary Clinton took a signifi- state level in New York before launchcant step this week toward ing his 1932 campaign, which resulted keeping her name in the politi- in the first of four consecutive victories cal arena for the 2016 presidential elec- and arguably the most storied legislation by announcing her public support tive presidency in American history. for gay marriage equality. Even a caFinally, in the ’60s and ’70s, Richard sual follower of politics would assume Nixon pulled off the greatest comeback from this announcement that Clin- in the history of American presidential ton would have no reason other than politics. Nixon came into his first presihigher political ambitions to make dential campaign in 1960 as the vice such a move. Nearly five years ago, we president of popular war hero Dwight witnessed an emotional Hillary end Eisenhower. Running against the attracher bid in the historic 2008 Democratic tive, young and energetic John F. KenParty primary and connedy, many political cede the nomination historians argue that to Barack Obama. At the turning point in the time, few people the latter’s favor in the — if any at all — were race came at the first talking about an end (ever) televised debate, to her political career where Nixon came altogether. Today, she across as old, inflexhas completed a term ible and uninterestas the most admired ing. He lost the general member of President election and later the Ethan Chess Obama’s cabinet and California gubernatoseems to be the oddsrial race. However, by Being on the other on favorite for the 1968, the country was White House in 2016. in a divisive side of political trends embroiled Such a comeback civil rights movement would be remarkable at home and an unis rarely a fixed but hardly unprecpopular war in Vietproposition. edented in American nam. The same conhistory. Although servative ethos that comebacks all the way to the White rendered Nixon unappealing in the House are rare, they have often served face of Kennedy’s “new frontier” at the as the tool by which some of the United dawn of the decade made him the preStates’ most influential presidents at- ferred choice of America’s cautious and tain office. moderate “silent majority.” Although Grover Cleveland was elected in everyone knows how the Nixon saga 1884 as the first Democratic president ends, his patience in finding the right since before the Civil War. However, political moment for his presidential Cleveland’s first term was mired by his ambitions is notable. distaste for the trappings of the presiThese comeback stories speak to the dency. Coupled with a major legislative importance of timing in presidential loss over a tariff increase, Cleveland lost politics. No matter how talented the a close election in 1888 against Benja- public figure, sometimes the political min Harrison without even carrying winds blow in unpredictable direchis home state of New York. After Har- tions. Simply waiting out these winds rison and Congress passed a tariff that can be the best course for an Oval Ofaided the industrial elite, however, fice aspirant. Clinton would do well to Cleveland’s position was the popular remember that her time away from one, and he cruised to a big victory in the national political fray could serve the next general election. as an important asset. Each of these One of the lesser-known but his- three comeback examples suggests torically important presidential come- that being on the other side of politibacks belongs to Franklin Delano Roos- cal trends is rarely a fixed proposition. evelt. For a variety of reasons, including Clinton may have been on the wrong poor health, Woodrow Wilson decided side of the Democratic Party’s generanot to stand for re-election in the 1920 tional struggle last time, but her estabpresidential contest. Taking the Demo- lished presence and moderate views cratic slot on the ballot was the gover- will likely serve as her biggest asset this nor of Ohio, James Cox. Seeking to peel time around. Finally, we can’t ignore votes away from the GOP, Cox selected that Mrs. Clinton has a particular fama young FDR — who was serving as as- ily member — and Hoya — who knows a sistant secretary to the Navy at the time thing or two about political comebacks. — to be his running mate. The Democrats were crushed by Warren Harding Ethan Chess is a junior in the Coland Calvin Coolidge. FDR exited the na- lege. PAST IS PRESENT appears evtional stage and built his resume at the ery other Friday.
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THE HOYA
PAGE FOUR
NEWS
FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 2013
ONLINE EXCLUSIVE Blogger Yoani Sánchez stressed the role of social media in Cuba on Wednesday. See story at thehoya.com.
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Georgetown Moves Forward On edX Commitment
Health Violations Rampant
KYLIE MOHR
While local gourmet grocery Dean & Deluca attracted media attention when it was forced to close its doors because of a high number of critical health code violations, it is not the only area restaurant to have performed poorly on Department of Health inspections in the past year. Booeymonger, Wingo’s and Los Cuates, all popular local dining destinations for Georgetown students, were among those cited for critical health code violations within the past year. Booeymonger, a sandwich shop located at 3265 Prospect St. NW, was cited for four critical health violations in 2012, all of which were corrected on site. “They cited us for food contact service area cleanliness,” Booeymonger’s manager Punny Wellaje said. “We clean the surfaces every night. … When [the inspector] came in, we were busy.” Los Cuates on 1564 Wisconsin Ave. NW was cited for ten critical and 14 noncritical violations last April, of which five and three, respectively, were corrected on site. The citations included improper food temperatures, mold in the ice machine and cleaning solutions’ being stored in between food items, among others. “The key is keeping clean,” restaurant manager Luis Merchant said. “The work areas have to be cleaned after every shift.” Wingo’s, located at 3207 O St. NW, was cited for four critical health violations in March 2012, including improper holding temperatures, lack of proper date labels and improper food separation — all of which the restaurant was able to correct on site. None of those businesses had to close their doors in light of the health inspections because most of their critical violations could be corrected on site. Food estab-
Special to The Hoya
With GeorgetownX — Georgetown’s component of Harvard’s online learning platform edX — scheduled to launch with two massive open online courses next fall, the university has arranged to fund the program through fundraising channels targeting education and technology. While Harvard has focused its capital campaign on edX, Georgetown will not fundraise for the program through either the annual fund or the Campaign for Georgetown, according to Vice President for Advancement R. Bartley Moore (SFS ’87). The university, like its edX partners — which include Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology — is currently contributing funds to the program, which is still in its initial stages. “Each of the member institutions is expected to fund a … designated level of advancement in the edX platform,” Moore said. Director of Media Relations Rachel Pugh said that information about the amount of Georgetown’s contribution is not available. Provost Robert Groves emphasized the importance of increased fundraising for edX. “All consortium schools can benefit from faster software development and improved services made possible from more staff resources,” Groves wrote in an email. University administrators believe that the benefits of edX, including other universities’ contributions to the program, are worth the additional cost to Georgetown. “We [depart] now, as a newer member, from all the commitment that [Harvard and MIT] already made,” Moore said. Groves agreed. “While there is no direct revenue, as a partner, Georgetown benefits from the technology created as part of the platform and the sharing of data on how students learn best,” Groves wrote. According to Moore, the university’s two new major technology initiatives — the Initiative on Technology Enhanced Learning and the Center for New Designs in Learning and Scholarship — and edX are interconnected. CNDLS supports ITEL, which in turn supports edX. “The investment we make in ITEL will directly complement the effort that the university is making to generate edX-ready curriculum and content,” Moore said. “[ITEL] focuses on accelerating and broadening the way in which the university’s existing curriculum incorporates new methods, including technology enabled methods, to enhance and enliven the learning experience for students inside and outside the classroom.”
According to Moore, most of Georgetown’s contributions to edX come from targeted donor outreach. Traditional fundraising methods, like the annual fund or the capital campaign, are more focused on student life and scholarships. “Development officers, employed by the university, cultivate relationships with donors, actual and prospective, and then solicit them for gifts,” Moore said. Moore added that these gifts tend to be larger and span multiple years. However, convincing alumni — used to the traditional, intimate classroom learning experience — to donate to an online platform open to thousands can be difficult, Moore said. “We still have a lot to learn about how the university’s donors will embrace something like edX,” Moore said. “The university’s commitment to it is full and unqualified, but we are finding that it takes a lot of education and a lot of conversation to sufficiently familiarize alumni and other donors to edX so they understand fully how it fits into the future of the university and our vision for it.” Moore added that CNDLS and ITEL’s success indicate promise for edX. “What we have found … is that when we talk about CNDLS and ITEL about getting the maximum benefit and leverage of technology for the more familiar, on-campus learning experience that so many of our donors recall so fondly, they react very favorably to that because they want Georgetown to continue to be among one of the very best in higher education in terms of the quality of the student learning experience,” Moore said. Some alumni expressed this hesitation to donate to something unfamiliar. “[I’ll] probably watch and perhaps participate in the experience myself before I give money to the program,” Joanna Wilson-Choi (SFS ’02) wrote in an email. Nevertheless, Moore acknowledged edX’s youth. “Part of edX is experimentation. It’s about acquiring skills and capacity to deliver teaching and learning effectively online, because we know we are going to have to do more of that in the future and do it very well,” Moore said. “But at the same time, we are going to be figuring out what the relationship of that work is that will remain the core of what we do, which is live, in-person learning on a residential campus.” Other edX partners include Wellesley College, the University of Toronto, the University of California, Berkeley, the University of Texas at Austin, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Australian National University, McGill University, Rice University and Delft University of Technology.
MADISON ASHLEY Hoya Staff Writer
ARIEL POURMORADY/THE HOYA
Mexican restaurant Los Cuates is one of the area eateries that had numerous health violations this past year. lishments that have six or more critical violations that cannot be corrected on site must be shut down, according to DOH policy. After a routine health inspection in early February revealed eight critical and eleven noncritical violations, Dean & Deluca, which is located at 3276 M St. NW, was forced to close until it could correct those violations. Among the grocery’s citations were those for including proper cooling procedures, rodent droppings and improperly installed plumping and toilet facilities. The deli layout was rearranged and the store opened the following day, although the outdoor cafe remained closed. Katy Foley, an account director at Michelle Lehmann Communications, which represents Dean & Deluca, later cited nearby construction as the main cause of the health violations in a statement. Wellaje did not believe that the construction outside Dean & Deluca excused the violations. “If you have violations, it doesn’t matter what is going on outside,” Wellaje said.
Mike Arthur, manager of Wingo’s on 3207 O St. NW, felt much the same way. “We had major construction [on O Street], and … the rats are everywhere,” Arthur said. “You have to have all your trash in containers. You have to wash, to keep everything clean. You can’t give them a reason to come into your store.” Arthur believes Dean & Deluca is blaming construction for a far larger issue — food cleanliness. “Dean & Deluca, if you’ve been in it, there’s food everywhere. There’s stuff on the floor,” Arthur said. “It’s not a good excuse that construction turned up the rats — no, they were there the whole time. I’m sure they had lunch all the time there.” While health inspections can be tedious, Arthur believes that they are ultimately beneficial for restaurant owners and the public alike. “I want them to come,” Arthur said. “I think a health inspection every day would be great. I have no problem with them coming to Wingo’s because we’re doing everything right.”
News
friday, MARCH 22, 2013
THE HOYA
Despite Uncertainty, Plans for JLAC JESUITS, from A1 alumni of Hong Kong Jesuit high schools, called Wah Yan College. These alumni had approached Wah Yan College President Fr. Stephen Chow, S.J., about expanding the Hong Kong Jesuit influence to higher education in 2008. Chow then reached out to then-Provincial of China Fr. Louis Gendron, S.J., who authorized an exploratory committee to determine the feasibility of the project in June 2009. Genton wrote to Fr. General Adolfo Nicolás of the Jesuits, who granted permission in February 2011. The current provincial of China, Fr. John Lee Hua, S.J., is still pursuing the project. “We wanted to have a global university there. We wanted it not just to be the center for Hong Kong but to be a center for Jesuit education worldwide,” said Anton, who is also a senior coordinator of Jesuit university networking at Georgetown and served as the interim secretary of higher education for the Jesuits. The proposal has four founding partners — Georgetown, Fordham University, the College of the Holy Cross and Santa Clara University — as well as 23 other partner colleges in countries on six continents. Former Holy Cross President Fr. Michael McFarland, S.J., would serve as interim president of the liberal arts college during its first year. In developing their proposal, the Society of Jesus hired Boston Consulting Group to perform a marketing study of demand for liberal arts education in Asia and hired five companies, including design firm Sasaki Associates and developer Forrest City Enterprises, which has also been contracted to engineer Georgetown’s long-term expansion in the District, to do site planning. The group leading development of the liberal arts college also designed international majors for each department, which will combine a liberal arts discipline with an applied component in groupings such as economics and finance, art and design and political science and international relations. While Anton doubted that the
government would renege on its creditation conditional upon its commitment to education entire- fulfillment of its current goals in ly, he said that it could make the October 2012, marking the first land unattractive so that no group time a college that does not exist would want to, or be able to, estab- yet has been approved. The conditional accreditation lish a college or university there. For example, Anton said the gov- required that the Jesuit liberal arts ernment could require the winning college establish a board of trustgroup to build roads to the site or ees, which now includes Anton clean up environmental damage as chair and University President left over from the British military. John J. DeGioia. In total, the board The government could also con- of trustees is composed of 15 Jesutinue with its educational plan but its from around the world and 15 require the winning institution to laypersons, who are mostly from conform to unsavory enrollment Hong Kong. They met for the first time in January. standards. “It was really impressive to see Anton said that the Jesuits would so many people be willing to build from different roads to the site parts of the world but would not so deeply connectbe able to afford ed to the success cleaning up enviof this project,” ronmental damDeGioia said. age and would not Hong Kong curwant to pursue a rently has eight project that would public research require them to universities, but alter their educano liberal arts coltional model. leges. The Jesuits “We want to FR. RON ANTON, S.J. operate the allstart small and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Jesuit Liberal Arts College male high schools grow gradually. at Wah Yan ColEven something like Georgetown started small and lege that had been behind this grew gradually,” Anton said. “We’re project but do not have a presence thinking maybe after 10 years, we in higher education in the region. If the college were established, would have 1,500 students. If the government says, ‘In 10 years we its student body would likely be dineed 8,000 students,’ then that’s verse. Anton said he would expect two-thirds of students to be from not going to be our model.” However, Anton stressed that the mainland China, Hong Kong, Mafailure to secure this specific parcel cao and Taiwan, while the remainof land would not derail the project ing third would come from Southeast Asia. The students would completely. “We would go back to looking also interact with the college’s 27 for other possibilities,” Anton said. partner universities through ar“We won’t give up on having a uni- ticulation agreements that would allow students to split courses for versity in Hong Kong.” Despite the uncertainty sur- their degree between Hong Kong rounding the site, leaders of the and another university or to earn proposed college have pushed a bachelor’s degree in Hong Kong forward on other fronts. They ap- and a master’s degree at another plied for accreditation by the Hong school. Anton said this opportunity is Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifica- unique to the Jesuit educational tions in March 2012. In June, Col- network. “This is a model for what a 21st lege Dean Chester Gillis, university librarian Artemis Kirk and Fr. Pat century global university can be. Rogers, S.J., travelled to Hong Kong Only the Jesuits can do this,” Anton as part of a 50-person team for a said. “People talk about a three“site visit” required for accredita- campus or five-country program. tion. The college was granted ac- Nobody else could have a 27-univer-
“We would go back to looking for other possibilities. We won’t give up on having a university in Hong Kong.”
sity partnership from every continent.” The liberal arts college would account for differences between the Jesuit, Western educational system and the Chinese educational model, which depends on rote memorization and focuses more on science and math. “We’re really trying to figure out how we can inform our understanding of liberal arts, our understanding of the humanities by a deeper engagement with those from a Confucian tradition,” DeGioia said. The school would rely on small classes, which would be taught in English, to provide individual focus to each student. “There would be some remedial work in getting students used to a more western way of education, a more independent, critical education,” Anton said. “We have to be very much aware they’re coming from different backgrounds.” Anton also said this Jesuit education could serve as a transition for Asian students looking to do graduate work in the west. Students would pay tuition rates of around $25,000 — significantly higher than those of public universities in Hong Kong but lower than tuition for students who go to university outside of Hong Kong. The project has so far raised $1 million in cash and $1 million estimated in contributed services. Most donors have requested to remain anonymous at this stage of the development process, and the project has also secured donors conditional upon the guaranteed establishment of the school. Anton could not specify how much the school will cost. “We’re at a little bit of a sensitive point right now,” Anton said. “We’re waiting for the government after three years to see if they come out with a proposal and if it’s one we can live with. This is a very critical time.” Both Anton and DeGioia, however, were optimistic about the college’s future. “It’s a work in progress, and we’re very happy to be part of it,” DeGioia said. “I look forward to seeing what we’ll learn as a result.”
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Dorm Plans Advance DORM, from A1 in the room I’m sure there would be 100 different opinions about what would be the best site.” Administrators also proposed repurposing student group offices in the Leavey Center for student housing, a plan that former GUSA President Clara Gustafson (SFS ’13) criticized. “Granted, currently [Leavey] isn’t structured very well to actually accomplish the goal of being a center for student life, and there’s
“The building can make a significant contribution.” GREGORY JANKS Sasaki Strategies Director
a lot more long-term planning that would need to go into that, and so I agree with what was said about using other spaces currently to be more expeditious about getting more beds on campus,” Gustafson said. “I really, really do not like trying to convert offices because a lot of those offices are the only student offices on campus.” Gustafson added that the New South Student Center renovation would already put additional pressure on organizations to find office or meeting space. The other proposed options were to expand Henle Village or Southwest Quad, purchase the empty Kober Cogan Building — which has been vacant since May 2010 because of hazardous levels of mold following a steam leak — from MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and to construct dorms on the parking lot by McDonough Gymnasium or on Harbin Plaza.
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THE HOYA
Admin Diversity at Standstill DIVERSITY, from A1 only female dean. In total, of the 25 top administrators at Georgetown, four are women, three are black and one is Asian. The representation of women in the senior administration is much lower than in the student body, of which 55 percent is female as of spring 2011. The racial breakdown of the senior administration, however, is roughly equal to that of the student body, with the notable exception of the lack of Hispanics in the senior administration, which make up seven percent of the student body. As of spring 2011, 61 percent of Georgetown students were white, 7 percent Hispanic, 6 percent black and 9 percent Asian. The senior administration of The George Washington University shows greater gender diversity. Three of their nine vice presidents and three out of the 10 deans are women. However, GWU lags behind in racial diversity. Currently, the university has two black vice presidents but no deans of any racial minority. Jamie Martines (SFS ’13), director of outreach for Georgetown University Women in Politics, noted that while an increasing number of women across the nation are receiving college degrees and promotions to middle-management positions, few successfully reach the highest echelons of their respective organizations. Martines believes that the Georgetown should make it a priority to increase female representation. “I hope that in the future, Georgetown will look at the resources available to women who are looking to advance their careers and make sure that the university is doing everything it can to make the playing field as even
as possible for everyone,” she said. Despite the disconnect between the representation of women in the student body and in the senior administration, Rosemary Kilkenny, vice president for institutional diversity and equity, points to recent additions of women to the administration, such as the hiring of Lisa Davis as the vice president of University Information Services, as a bright spot for diversity progress. Davis is the first woman to hold that position. “Her appointment bodes well for women generally as their representation grows in science and technology fields,” Kilkenny said. With the student population of the Georgetown University School of Medicine now 51 percent female, Kilkenny believes that Davis’ appointment indicates the university’s acknowledgement that more women will be pursuing careers in science and technology. Kilkenny also said she found recent trends to be promising for racial diversity, noting the hiring of two black deans, David Thomas of the McDonough School of Business and Edward Montgomery of the Georgetown Public Policy Institute, and Martin Iguchi, an Asian, as the dean of the School of Nursing and Health Studies. Within executive leadership, however, Kilkenny remains the only black administrator. Kilkenny identified two of Georgetown’s core values — community in diversity and social justice — as driving factors in the university’s pursuit of institutional diversity. “These values are reflected in efforts undertaken by the university not only to recruit women and minority persons to all sectors of our community but also to retain individuals from these groups and provide an environment in which they can thrive, succeed and grow,”
she said. “We recognize that we are not a perfect institution, but we remain aspirational in our goals and do the best that we can to embody [these] deep-held and deep-felt values. The university will continue to pursue this course in a collaborative, energetic and aggressive manner.” Aya Waller-Bey (COL ’14), cochair for the Student of Color Alliance, remains unconvinced of the school’s dedication to this initiative. “The lack of diversity within the senior administration is frightening but not shocking,” Waller-Bey said. “I think Georgetown needs to reevaluate its commitment to diversity in all areas and aggressively pursue the recruitment of more diverse administrators to assist with making decisions on this campus.” Martines agreed, saying that the university’s decision-making bodies should represent student interests. “Students need to feel like their interests are being represented at the highest levels of university administration,” she said. “If the diversity of the student population is not reflected at the highest levels of decision making, then something needs to change.” Jacqueline Mac, program coordinator at the Center for Multicultural Equity and Access, echoed the sentiment for diversity among leadership. “It is important to me to see senior administrators who look like me, to serve as role models,” Mac said. “In my work with CMEA, I think about whose voices have traditionally been silenced and unheard, and I think about how to ensure that they are included. I encourage my students to do the same because being inclusive means having a place and a voice at the table.”
friday, march 22, 2013
Faculty Doubt Impact of Research Access Policy Emily Summit
Special to The Hoya
The Obama administration unveiled a new policy in support of open access to federally funded research Feb. 22. The policy requires all federal agencies with annual expenditures over $100 million to make the results of their research open and free to the public within twelve months of publication. Although Georgetown faculty and staff consider the new policy an ideological success, some did not believe that the measure would enhance the quality of their own research or cut costs associated with purchasing scientific journals. “We [taxpayers] paid for this research,” Gwen Owens, head of Blommer Science Library, said. “It should be available to the public, but it doesn’t affect how Georgetown is going to be buying our journals.” Chemistry Department Chair YuYe Tong agreed. “Overall I think it’s a great idea because all of the research is supported by taxpayer money and in principle should be made available free for people,” Tong said. For faculty, however, the new policy does not do enough to improve access in a constantly transforming field. “The National Science Foundation originally really wanted deposits within six months, and publishers really objected to that,” Owens said. “When you’re working in the sciences, not to be able to get your hands on something for a year is just too long a time to wait.” Because of the time sensitive nature of scientific research, Georgetown libraries will continue to subscribe to the same journals they did before the new policy went into place. One potential benefit to the measure, however, will be the increased opportunities for recognition for faculty. “Some studies show that the more accessible your journal articles are, the more frequently they’re cited. The frequency of citations is a way people use to evaluate an author’s work,” Owens said. He doubted, however, that the policy would address journal costs, whose increase in recent years have caused her concern. From
2006 to 2011, the price that Georgetown paid on average for a chemistry journal subscription increased by over 24 percent while that for a biology journal shot up by over 40 percent. “It might cut into [the science publishing companies’] market a little bit, but the large research institutions are still going to have to have the cutting-edge research as it’s published,” Owens said. In the last fifteen years, a few companies within the journal publishing industry, such as Elsevier and Wiley, have gained huge market power. Owens said that the move to publishing journals online has forced smaller journals that do not have the infrastructure to publish electronically to approach large publishing firms for assistance. The reduction in the number of firms is one reason that Georgetown pays around $6,000 to $7,000 per journal subscription. “There’s a lot of consolidation going on, and it’s getting pretty scary because within about five years, I would say that 80 to 90 percent of the scientific publishing is going to be in the hands of four or five big publishers,” Owens said. Richard Weiss, a professor in the chemistry department and an editor of the American Chemical Society Journal, thought the new policy might generate more uproar from the largest scientific publishers. “The publishers are the ones who are going to scream and cry and complain [over the policy],” Weiss said. “Places that will probably suffer most will be the for-profits because they will no longer be able to withhold their information.” Weiss cited smaller institutions that cannot afford expensive general subscriptions among the categories of the public who would benefit from the policy. However, he agreed with Owens that the rising cost of scientific journals would likely continue to be a problem. “There’s a lot of money to be made in the scientific publishing industry, and as long as there’s a lot of money to be made, there will be people who will try to find a way around whatever restrictions are placed upon them,” Weiss said.
news
friday, march 22, 2013
THE HOYA
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Campaign for Georgetown on Track DeGioia Joins Biden in Vatican
CAMPAIGN, from A1
increments of $17.89 after being called by a student working at Phonathon. Because of 24- to 48-hour lags in the accounting process, neither the Office of Advancement nor Jamis knew that her donation would break the threshold. “At first I was surprised because I usually don’t donate a lot — I just donate $17.89 here and there — it’s a significant number for me,” Jamis said. “I can’t donate much more than that because I’m not one of those alumni who can donate half a million dollars, unfortunately … I’m still paying off my student loans, but I give small donations when I can.” Since fundraising began in July 2006, 86,162 donors have contributed, although the capital campaign did not officially launch until fall 2011. The last six years have been the most productive fundraising years in university history, Moore said. “We’ve raised more money faster than we’ve ever done before,” Moore said. “[These years] overlapped with a very significant economic downturn and the ensuing recession and uncertainty about people’s own individual financial futures and the future performance of the economy. I think that says something gratifying to all of us in the university community about the level of commitment and support and belief in the university of its alumni, parents, friends and other donors.” Moore attributed the campaign’s success to a change in strategy from previous efforts. In the past, the university focused on general fundraising in support of ongoing work. The current capital campaign, however, has focused on specific initiatives like the 1789 Scholarship Imperative, which aims to fund a minimum of 1,789 scholarships of $25,000 directly from donations as opposed to through the university’s operating budget, and academic improvements within Georgetown. “We’re seeing that donors on every level, comparatively smaller and bigger gifts, are reacting very positively to the idea that our fundraising is now directly associated with a specific growth plan for the university,” Moore said. Prior to the Campaign for Georgetown’s launch, the university offered fewer than 500 directly donor-funded scholarships each year. This figure has increased to 1,000 potential scholarships for the upcoming academic year.
Additionally, alumni participation rates have steadily increased. About 25 percent of undergraduate alumni traditionally give to the university, but last year, that rate exceeded 30 percent for the first time in seven years. Moore said that this year, the Office of Advancement is expecting participation of approximately 32 percent, and the university’s ultimate goal is to reach 40 percent by 2020. Moore stressed the importance of participation regardless of donation size. “[Small gifts] are every bit as important to us as the smaller number of ultimately much bigger gifts,” Moore said. “That’s why in the campaign we talk about not only how many total dollars we raise but also the number of people who are making commitments. A successful campaign and successful fundraising depends on everybody doing their part as best they can do, whether it’s a big gift or small gift. What matters is that we receive the support of our alumni and our community.” Jamis agreed, citing the impact of her own small donation. “My donation breaking the threshold just shows that any student, whether current or an alumni, can donate, and it doesn’t matter how much they can donate,” Jamis said. “As little or much as they like, they can still make a huge difference.” Nonetheless, with $500 million left to fundraise, Moore said that the capital campaign is at a point where a handful of large gifts could have a significant effect. “We are confident that we can get the job done within the 10 years that we’ve allowed ourselves,” Moore said. “We’re going to work really hard to finish ahead of schedule if we can.” While Moore acknowledged that the university would continue looking at new approaches and messages, he said there would be no strategy changes in the near future. Although the capital campaign’s official end date is still three years away in June 2016, it has already had an impact on the university’s main, medical and law campuses. The university launched the Georgetown Environment Initiative with $20 million in November 2012 to promote interdisciplinary study about the environment. In addition, the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs and the Doyle Program on Engaging Difference received an additional $15
million in funding, according to Berkley Center Director Thomas Banchoff. “[The funding] has allowed us strengthen our teaching and outreach activities, including a broadening of our successful Junior Year Abroad Program and a new series of Doyle Seminars, small upper-level classes that address social, religious, cultural and other forms of diversity,” Banchoff wrote in an email. He added that with support from the capital campaign, the Berkley Center would continue expanding course offerings, supporting research in new areas and deepening interdepartmental collaboration. The capital campaign has had a profound impact on Georgetown’s other campuses as well. The Georgetown University Medical Center launched the Center for Brain Plasticity, which aims to develop new approaches to restoring brain function after neurological damage, and the Initiative to Reduce Health Disparities, which addresses the inequity in healthcare quality among underserved communities in the D.C. area. Moreover, the Georgetown University Law Center established the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law and the Georgetown Climate Center, think tank programs aimed at shaping public policy. According to Law Center Dean William Treanor, the Law Center has received more than $100 million from the Campaign for Georgetown. “[Law students] are learning about how to balance competing concerns and how to protect the reasoning behind their public policy suggestions,” Treanor said. “We wouldn’t have been able to do it without the funding the campaign brought us.” Treanor emphasized the importance of student involvement in the campaign. The Law Center has a thank you note program, in which more than 150 students thanked donors for support. Participants included students who had not received scholarships from the capital campaign. As the first campaign that Georgetown has ever run with modern digital capabilities, Moore said that social media and other technology have been pivotal to the campaign’s success. “It’s easier for us to get the message out now than it was ever before. I think awareness of the campaign is probably a lot higher,” Moore said.
message of basics and a message of where Catholicism, I According to Chester Gil- think, is strongest and has a lis, a theologian and Dean wonderful leadership role in of Georgetown College, this the present,” O’Malley said. message indicates the direc- “Mainly, peace, the environtion in which Francis seems ment and care for marginalto want to take the Church. ized, sick and poor. … He kind “Do I think he’s going to of suggested that we’re all in be a really progressive pope this together.” theologically? No,” Gillis said. The diversity of the audi“But his personal values are ence at the Inauguration just terrific. Just look at the reinforced the notion of comimpression he’s made. … He’s munity and togetherness. let out some of the air of the Among others, Pope Francis pomp and circumstance of warmly welcomed Argentine Rome.” President Christina Kirchner, However, Gillis added that with whom he has had a Francis would soon face diffi- strained relationship in the culties when he tries to exer- past, and Ecumenical Patricise his freedom. arch Bartholomew I, the first “People in these positions Greek Orthodox Patriarch to are stressed. attend a paHe’s going “He’s let out some of pal inauguto find out ration since how de- the air of the pomp 1054. manding B o t h the papacy and circumstance of O’Malley really is,” Rome.” and Gillis Gillis said. CHESTER GILLIS said that this Dean of Georgetown College “Everybody signaled a notices evwillingness ery move. I hope he has his to engage in international and humility and his openness interreligious dialogue and and his passion, but my sus- that his message applied to picion is he’ll have to do less leaders both secular and Chrisof that as he goes along — not tian. because he doesn’t want to DeGioia said that this atbut because the job is so com- titude opened the door for manding.” discussion and reflection on Gillis also noted that Fran- the flight home. cis may face some opposi“The vice president came tion from the historically back and spent quite a bit of powerful and hierarchical the flight talking to us about establishment in Rome if he things,” DeGioia said. “He reseeks to reform the Church’s ally wanted to talk about isstructure. sues we were wrestling with Fr. John O’Malley, S.J., a here at Georgetown.” history professor, said that DeGioia added that the Francis’ history as arch- delegation was truly grateful bishop of Buenos Aires as to have taken part in such an well as Jesuit novice master historic occasion. should help him motivate “To be there for this purthe Church to better itself. pose — for this moment — was O’Malley said that Fran- such an incredible honor,” cis made his attitude clear DeGioia said. “I don’t think through his homily. they could’ve picked four “I think he was sending a people more appreciative.” POPE, from A1
A8
news
THE HOYA
friday, march 22, 2013
New Club Teaches Sports GAAP Fosters GU Legacy Analytics, Research Katherine Seevers Special to The Hoya
Katherine Seevers Special to The Hoya
Though they do not play on varsity teams, six freshmen are focusing their free time entirely on sports through the Georgetown Sports Analysis, Business and Research Group. According to founder and President Nik Oza (MSB ’16), the club will educate students about sports analysis, which uses statistics to explain and predict different aspects of sports, such as the success of individual plays during a game and player draft and salary decisions. “It’s just objective framing of sports and objective data, not necessarily going with your gut,” Oza said. “It’s trying to look at what is actually happening, what are the trends, how do you apply probabilistic thinking, how do you devise some statistics modeling techniques and find out what’s actually going on.” The group will work with the Cawley Career Education Center to provide internship opportunities, conduct independent statistics research, send members to conferences discussing sports analysis and regularly update a sports analysis blog. Oza founded the club in January and hopes to gain recognition by the Student Activities Commission next semester. “All throughout the college process, I was thinking whatever college I chose that didn’t have a sports analysis or business club, I would start that because that’s what I want to do,” Oza said. “Georgetown’s kind of a unique situation because we have the sports management master’s program and we have sports marketing in the business school for undergrads but we don’t actually have an undergrad group yet.” The club currently has 15 active members and about 40 names on its Listserv. Oza is the only club member with significant experience in sports analytics, though members expressed their desire to learn more about the subject. “What we’re hoping to be able to do is think for ourselves and put out some analysis of our own and form our own opinions. I think that’s why I got involved, to be a thinker in the sports world and not just a reader,” Vice President of Communications Peter Barston (MSB ’16), a sports columnist
for The Hoya, said. “A lot of us are in that same position where we’re kind of new to the whole analysis, which I think makes it such a great opportunity because we’re breaking in, we have a real passion for it and we’re learning as we go along.” According to Oza, many club members are seriously considering a career in sports analysis, which could entail conducting team-side analysis, working for a league, doing market and data analysis, getting involved in the fantasy sports industry or pursuing the new industries opened up by new media and technology, such as tablets. “I think that the best part of this is that we all have a passion for this and this is what a lot of us want to do,” Knuth said. “We want to get into the sports industry because it’s not going to stop growing, and this club has such a great future because there is such a high demand for it.” A career in sports analysis is a good alternative for sports fanatics who do not have the athletic ability to actually play, club blog writer Carl Yedor (COL ’16) said. “Growing up, I played a lot of sports, but I didn’t necessarily get the athletic ability to actually make it in the big leagues, so I wanted to be involved in some way,” Yedor said. “Getting involved with analytics is a great way to try and get yourself down the path to maybe being a general manager for a team, and maybe in the box rather than looking at the guy in the box.” According to Vice President of Technology Xavier Weisenreder (COL ’16), sports analysis is still a relatively new field that only began to seriously develop in the 1990s. “Pre-1990s, it was just people who were kind of involved with the sport but weren’t really thinking analytically, more thinking with what they see, so this is really a new trend in analytics and the qualitative side to sports,” Weisenreder said. Board members said the club could go in many different directions. “We don’t want to seem intimidating with any of the advanced statistics, because we’re really just starting off and we’re just looking for anybody,” Weisenreder said. “We’re looking for people who are passionate about it, who want to learn about it and who can work with us to get off the ground. We’re really open to anything.”
Inspired by their own experiences as prospective students, 250 volunteers will introduce 400 high school seniors to the Hilltop this weekend. The two-day event is first of three weekends organized by the Georgetown Admissions Ambassadors Program for accepted students. This weekend is for students who have been accepted through early action. GAAP weekends for students accepted through regular decision will be held April 12-13 and April 19-20. Emma Spicci (MSB ’16), who attended a GAAP weekend last spring, said the warmth and positivity she noticed in Georgetown students when she visited prompted her to join GAAP this year. She will be greeting prospective students and leading tours. “My own GAAP weekend was what convinced me that Georgetown was the place for me. Every student I met greeted me with a smile and was always willing to provide helpful advice,” Spicci said. “Just as my GAAP weekend persuaded me that I wanted to be part of the Georgetown community, I hope I can convince other future Hoyas to join us as well.” According to GAAP faculty advisors and admissions officers Rob O’Rourke (COL ’07) and Sarah Hadjian (COL ’11), nearly 1,200 prospective students attend the weekends in total, approximately 70 percent of whom subsequently decide to attend Georgetown. “There are so many great aspects about Georgetown it almost sells itself, but it’s our job to coordinate all of those resources and put them all together to make one cohesive weekend to showcase Georgetown,” GAAP Vice President Danny McDonough (SFS ’13) said.
The 13-member GAAP board began planning the weekends last year. Activities will include campus tours, a welcome reception in Gaston Hall, icebreakers, student and parent panels, separate lunches for each school, dorm tours, faculty lectures, a mini-student activities fair and neighborhood tours. Although GAAP student coordinators work with the admissions office for logistical support, the weekends are entirely student-run. “We provide logistical support as needed but think it [is] so important for the weekend to reflect the vision of our
“I want them to have the same feeling I had that you’re making the right choice.” PAIGE Johnston (MSB ’16) GAAP Publicity Captain
students, who are so invested in showcasing the best of the Georgetown community,” O’Rourke and Hadjian wrote in an email. GAAP volunteers do everything from blowing up balloons to sitting on student panels, GAAP President Murphy Kate Delaney (COL ’13) said. Delaney added that volunteers are encouraged to provide participants with genuine reflections on their Georgetown experiences. “The GAAP volunteers are really giving their honest perspective of Georgetown,” Delaney said. “They’re genuine students who are extremely passionate about the Hilltop” Student volunteers participate to share their Georgetown experiences with future students. “I’m the kind of kid who was not 100 percent sure about coming to Georgetown because
I just didn’t know a lot about it,” Andrew Lyu (SFS ’16), who will run icebreaker groups and give tours this weekend, said. “The whole idea of a Catholic school scared me and my friends and my parents. The whole vibe at Georgetown was not what I expected, but I love it, and I want to be able to share that with people who are considering Georgetown in the future.” GAAP publicity captain Paige Johnston (MSB ’16) said she aims to convince prospective students that Georgetown is a good fit for them. “I want them to have the same feeling that I had that you’re making the right choice by choosing Georgetown,” Johnston said. Along with organizing GAAP weekends, the GAAP board is responsible for calling accepted students, organizing online chat forums, holding winter receptions and managing the GAAP Facebook group for the incoming class. Many freshmen who attended GAAP last year said it was what convinced them to commit to the school. “I think Georgetown did a really good job of presenting the school in a way that you feel like it would be like your home, like you would belong,” Jennifer Da (COL ’16) said. Meg Franzetti (COL ’16) said that GAAP’s emphasis on Georgetown’s unique location in D.C. was what convinced her. “They gave this one speech about not going to a liberal arts college in the middle of nowhere. They said that Georgetown’s in the middle of everything, and that’s why you should come,” Meg Franzetti (COL ’16) said. “It was just a lot of high energy, and that’s when I first met some of the people that would be my classmates, and I fell in love with it.”
A10
Sports
THE HOYA
friday, MARCH 22, 2013
MEN’S BASKETBALL
softball
GU Continues Turnaround Hoyas to Face Tough
No. 15 in Round of 64
Tom Schnoor
Special to the Hoya
The Georgetown softball team returned from last weekend’s University of Maryland, Baltimore County Tournament to sweep the Princeton Tigers in a doubleheader at Guy Mason Field Wednesday afternoon. Princeton (10-6, 0-0 Ivy), victors of seven of its past eight, came in on a hot streak, but it was Georgetown (8-20, 0-0 Big East) that jumped out to a quick lead in the bottom of the second when junior second baseman Hannah Slovacek singled down the left-field line to drive in two runs. The Tigers would earn a run back in the top of the third thanks to a two-out rally and some shaky Blue and Gray defense. With Princeton center fielder Lizzy Pierce on first, right fielder Candy Button knocked a double down the left-field line that Georgetown sophomore left fielder Sophia GargicevichAlmeida could not make a play on, allowing Pierce to score all the way from first. The Hoyas scored their third run of the day in the bottom of the third to extend the lead to 3-1, and three was all that sophomore starting pitcher Lauren O’Leary would need. O’Leary impressed once again, pitching her fourth consecutive complete game while allowing three hits and no earned runs while striking out 11. “I thought that was Lauren’s best outing this year,” Head Coach Pat Conlan said. “She had command of her pitches, had a little zip on the ball, stayed ahead in the counts and really controlled Princeton’s offense.” In the nightcap of the doubleheader, it was Princeton’s turn to jump out to an early lead. Georgetown junior right fielder Alexandria Anttila could not hold on to a line drive down the foul line, which allowed the Tigers to take a 2-0 lead. Georgetown managed to even the game up in the bottom of the third with a flurry of hits and some creative base running by Anttila and senior catcher Shikara Lowe.
EAGLES, from A12 -tion: The famed “bracketologist” expects a brutally ugly game to be tied at 50 with four minutes to play before Georgetown pulls out a win. Should Georgetown advance, it would get the winner of No. 7 seed San Diego State and No. 10 Oklahoma in the round of 32. But Thompson III isn’t worried about that — not
raising the bar
FILE PHOTO: ALEXANDER BROWN/THE HOYA
Sophomore starting pitcher Lauren O’Leary pitched her fourth straight complete game against Princeton on Wednesday. In the top of the sixth, the Hoyas attempted to work their way out of a one-out, bases-loaded jam with some solid defense. Freshman third baseman Taylor Henry made a spectacular catch on a foul ball to record the second out of the inning, but Gargicevich-Almeida’s dive fell an inch short of a blooper single and two Princeton runs scored, giving the Tigers a 4-2 lead. Once again, the Blue and Gray battled back, loading the bases and then tying the game in the bottom of the sixth after a few costly mistakes by Tigers pitcher Alex Peyton, including a hit batsman and a wild pitch. With one out and the bases loaded, the Hoyas looked primed to take the lead headed into the seventh inning, but Slovacek grounded into an inning-ending double play. Both teams failed to score in the seventh, sending the game into extra innings. Neither team scored in the eighth, but the Tigers scored twice in the top of the ninth to take a two-run lead for the third time in the game.
For the third time, however, Georgetown refused to go away. Sophomore pitcher Megan Hyson was hit by a pitch to begin the inning, and subsequent singles by Henry and freshman Samantha Giovanniello brought the Hoyas within one and put runners on first and second for Gargicevich-Almeida. She launched a double to right-center field that easily scored Henry and Giovanniello, winning the game for the Hoyas in a walk-off fashion. “I’ve been in that spot a lot already this season,” said Gargicevich-Almeida. “It was my time, and I had to take advantage.” The win was the fourth in the past five games for the Hoyas, and Conlan seemed happy with where her team is at the moment. “The last ten days, I feel like we’re playing a little more confidently and competing. We earned these two W’s today,” Conlan said. Georgetown begins Big East play with a series against Villanova this weekend.
DOWN TO THE WIRE
High Time to Forgive Vick P
hiladelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick’s past as a dogfighting ringleader will forever follow him, the same way that so many others in this world find it impossible to escape their pasts. Vick knows this, and he makes no efforts to hide his past during the book tour for his new autobiography, ”Finally Free”. Many have found it impossible to forgive Vick for the fact that he killed many dogs. So, naturally, some have responded by sending him death threats. While I could easily write a full column condemning people for their overall hatred, hypocrisy and immorality, especially because they only feel powerful enough to act in such a way when they’re behind a computer screen, I don’t think that such a column would prove anything. I’m not exactly breaking any news by saying that death threats are wrong. But many aren’t noticing the twisted way that people are viewing Michael Vick’s current situation and the twisted way that they’ve viewed it since 2009 when Vick was released from prison and signed with an NFL team again. Vick grew up in the exact same situation as many underprivileged, inner-city kids in America. He once stated, “I would go fishing even if the fish weren’t biting, just to get away from the violence and stress of daily life in the projects.” Many of his childhood friends got into the dogfighting game with him, and it’s safe to say that the setting in which he grew up contributed to his dogfighting days. When Vick was released from prison in the summer of 2009 and when he started saying all the right things about how he was just happy for a second chance and didn’t want anyone else to make the same mistakes that he did (after all, what else could he say?), wouldn’t he be the perfect person for animal-
yet, anyway. “As a head coach, I’m just worried about Florida-Gulf Coast,” he said on ESPN’s Mike & Mike in the Morning. “You have numbers next to each team’s name, but everybody’s good. Everybody’s playing well. Everybody has confidence in how they go about their business. So this isn’t the time of year to start looking at names on jerseys.”
rights groups to use as the poster boy against animal cruelty? So then why did members of PETA line up on the streets of Philadelphia with signs like “Vick’s an Eagle, hide your Beagle”? The amount of spite that Vick and the Eagles organization received was supposedly in the name of caring for animals, but it was really just out of irrational spite. Did you know that, according to a 2003 study by the Justice Policy Center in Washington, D.C., 53 percent of arrested males return to prison in this country? In one way of looking at it, our prison
Tom Hoff Vick should be used to promote the second goal that prison sentences aim to accomplish: deterrence. system fails for male inmates more often than it succeeds. In Michael Vick, we have a convicted felon who has completely accepted his punishment, tried to convince children in similar situations not to go down the road that he traveled and, by all accounts, been a productive citizen for the past four years. Prison sentences are supposed to remove a detrimental person from the public, act as a deterrent for others and turn the criminal into a productive member of society. Vick is the perfect example of our prison system working, even if it is one of the few times that it works this smoothly. Yet people feel that their spite is more important than what actually matters.
Because Vick has every possible motivation to act as a model citizen while he is still playing, he could and should be used to promote the second goal that prison sentences aim to accomplish: to act as a deterrent for others. Vick can relate to underprivileged kids who see crimes like dogfighting routinely taking place better than just about anyone. During the past four years, including — and especially during — his book tour, he has spoken out against dogfighting and crime in general. But the focus of his book tour has shifted to the death threats that he has received. Everyone and their brother is aware that Americans love their dogs the way that John Thompson Jr. loves taking shots at Syracuse. I’d be willing to bet that many of the death threats are from self-proclaimed dog lovers. What they need to realize is that with their spite, stupidity and hatred, they’re overshadowing a message that could help prevent the kind of animal cruelty that they hate. Right up there with feeling powerful when behind a computer screen, another ugly side of human nature is making its presence known in this situation, and it is the human desire to hold a grudge. A grudge can, and usually does, get in the way of the real picture that a person is meant to see — exactly what is happening here. Our prison system itself is based on the idea of reconstruction and not retribution. Now that he has reconstructed his own life, Vick is trying to help reconstruct a part of society that he once damaged. However, a few narrow-minded grudge holders are not letting Vick help to reconstruct society because of an irrational desire for retribution.
Tom Hoff is a sophomore in the McDonough School of Business. DOWN TO THE WIRE appears every Friday.
Lamenting a Big East Destroyed by Greed I
t started 34 years ago, founded on the And how could we forget the coaches? The promise of basketball. Tough, skilled, in- leading men brought another layer of enmiyour-face, must-see basketball. ty to the rivalries and passion to the profesIt ended this past week. With a whimper, sion. John Thompson Jr. and Jim Boeheim, with a sigh, with a murmur and a soft fade, Lou Carnesecca and Rollie Massimino startit left us in the least fitting way possible. Lou- ed it all off, helping to make a name for the isville took down Syracuse 78-61 in the final Big East. Boeheim, of course, remains; he contest. There were long three-pointers, big is flanked now by JTIII, Rick Pitino and so dunks and a roaring comeback. It was a good, many more as some of the best coaches in solid college basketball game. the nation continue to ply their trade in the It was not a Big East men’s basketball game. Big East. This was no slugfest. This was not a heavyBut somewhere along the line, someweight bout like the one just 24 hours ear- where after perhaps its finest collective molier between the Orange and the Hoyas. ment, the Big East lost its way. In 2011, the It had no buzzer beater, like Connecticut Big East sent eleven teams to the NCAA tourguard Kemba Walker’s epic step-back jump- nament, a record number of schools sent to er of two years past. There were no scorer’s the Big Dance from one conference. tables jumped on in celebration, like SyraIt hasn’t been the same since. cuse guard Eric Devendorf did four years Conference realignment in the name ago during one of the many climaxes of the of football and increased revenue has laid six-overtime classic between ’Cuse and Con- waste to what once was the proudest connecticut in 2009. ference out there. When the realignment Louisville and Syracuse were our last hopes dominoes first began to fall a few years ago, to provide a suitable end to the the Big East remained imperconference we have come to vious to the shocks, bunkered know so well. In the champiup in its history and tradition, onship game of the conference a conference too proud to suctournament, the two teams cumb to such petty changes. ushered out the Big East. But Or so we thought. It was they didn’t do it justice. too good to last. A basketPeter Barston Of course, they can’t be ball conference like the Big blamed. There was no way any East couldn’t survive in the single game could have lived big money world of college The new Big East up to the all the brilliant baswill forever live in the football. And so the cracks ketball we’ve seen since 1979. started showing. And before But it was a sucker punch to shadow of the bygone we knew it, the Big East began golden age see a game as lifeless as the to crumble, the most sturdy one we witnessed last Saturbasketball conference there of the conference. day night. was smashed to pieces like the The Big East has always stood for basket- backboard after Jerome Lane “sent it in” all ball excellence. Georgetown put the confer- those years ago. ence on the map with an appearance in the West Virginia bolted this year for the Big national championship game in 1982 and a 12, which is the basketball equivalent of title in 1984. The year after, they found them- trading in your Mustang for a brand new selves in the Final Four with fellow confer- Smart Car. Pitt, Louisville, Syracuse and ence members St. John’s and Villanova. The Notre Dame all are departing in the very success snowballed from there. The storied near future for the greener pastures of the conference has racked up 16 appearances in ACC. With the writing on the wall, our the Final Four, and six times a member has Hoyas and the six other big conference footemerged as the last team standing in col- ball-free Big East schools will this coming lege basketball, with UConn, Georgetown, year officially divorce from the conference Syracuse and Villanova all winning national that made them famous, beginning play in championships. a new conference all their own. The personalities, though, were just as The Catholic Seven will keep the Big East meaningful as the basketball. The warriors name. They will still play their postseason of the court brought the game to life. The tournament at Madison Square Garden, Mount Rushmore of the Big East has to where the ghosts of games past will forever include Patrick Ewing, Derrick Coleman, roam. But that will be a new story altogether, Chris Mullin and either Ray Allen, Dwayne a new Big East that will forever live in the Washington or Allen Iverson. The list of shadow of the bygone golden age of the conhonorable mentions for vital contributions ference, when the real Big East shone as the to Big East lore stretches even longer. Every- brightest star in the college basketball galaxy. one from Sleepy Floyd, the first star player R.I.P. to the Big East, 1979-2013. You were at Georgetown, to Gerry McNamara, the the best, and you were certainly the only energizer bunny of the mid-2000s Syracuse one of your kind. Too bad you went down teams, to guys like Walker, Scottie Reynolds, like all the others. Troy Murphy, Billy Donovan, Carmelo Anthony, Alonzo Mourning and Dikembe Mu- Peter Barston is a freshman in the Mctombo warrant in-depth mentions in any Donough School of Business. RAISING THE Big East retrospective. BAR appears every Friday.
CLASSIFIEDS INDEX MISCELLANEOUS 800
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sports
friDAY, March 22, 2013
Men’s Lacrosse
THE HOYA
baseball
Hot Bats Drive Two Wins Will Edman
Hoya Staff Writer
CHRIS GRIVAS/THE HOYA
Redshirt junior defender Tyler Knarr continued his outstanding play Wednesday, going 8-for-10 on faceoffs in Georgetown’s 13-8 loss to 2012 national champion Loyola
Weak Start Cues Loss To Defending Champs Beno Picciano
the game on a 4-1 run. With fewer turnovers and a 17-15 shots advantage, the Blue and Gray held tough down the stretch, providThe Georgetown men’s lacrosse team (3-4, ing a few highlights to take with them in 1-0 Big East) emerged from halftime a stron- the loss. ger team on Wednesday night, outshooting “It wasn’t any miraculous speech — I just and outscoring defending champion and told our guys we needed to play harder,” No. 9 Loyola (6-2, 2-0 ECAC) after the break Warne said of the second-half improvement. at MultiSport Facility. Unfortunately for the “We win the second half and that’s good for Hoyas, the first half counted too, and the us to build on, but obviously it’s a 60-minute Blue and Gray were unable to climb back game not a 30-minute game. If it was [just] from a seven-goal deficit en route to a 13-8 the thirty minutes in the second half, I’d be defeat. a lot happier.” In the 36th meeting of Georgetown’s Sophomore attacker Reilly O’Connor, who longest-running lacrosse rivalry, the Hoyas was named to the Big East weekly honor roll were done in by a costly second quarter and after a 10-point performance against Providropped their sixth condence last Saturday, led the secutive game to the GreyHoyas with two goals and “We need to harp hounds. an assist on Wednesday. JuFollowing sophomore nior attacker Jeff Fountain on the fundamenmidfielder Charles McCoradded two goals on shots. mick’s opening goal, which Attacker Zach Herrewtals and get back gave the Blue and Gray a 1-0 eyers paved the way for to the drawing lead less than two minutes the Greyhounds with four into the game, the visitors goals, while Justin Ward board a little bit. put together a devastatadded a goal and four asing 8-0 run that stretched sists for the visitors. kevin warne across three quarters. Warne identified several Men’s Lacrosse Head Coach Though Georgetown had areas of improvement for its shots, it was plagued the Hoyas — turnovers and by Loyola’s ability to convert quick turn- transition offense — as his side prepares for arounds for points following missed shots the second half of its schedule. With any and turnovers. luck, Wednesday’s turnaround will prove to “Loyola is very good in the transition be a microcosm of what’s to come. game,” Head Coach Kevin Warne said. “We need to harp on the fundamentals “That’s definitely something we’ve empha- and get back to the drawing board a little bit sized at practice the last couple of days. We there,” he said. “We’ve got to do a better job couldn’t execute what we needed to do, and of catching the ball in the goal and getting they jumped up on us.” out a little bit. It kind of looks like we’re a litRiding the strong performance of red- tle bit tired right now, and I think we don’t shirt junior defender Tyler Knarr, the have as many guys as Loyola does that can Hoyas were 8-of-10 on faceoffs and held a 16- get on the field and get out, because it’s a 14 advantage in ground balls heading into 60-yard sprint every time.” halftime. The Greyhounds had 15 shots to Before taking on the remainder of its Big the host’s 12 at that juncture, yet it was the East slate, Georgetown must travel to Durvisitors who held a commanding 7-1 at the ham for a weekend matchup with No. 12 break. Duke (6-4). The Blue Devils defeated Loyola “It’s a shame because we got another good 9-8 on March 8. night out of Tyler Knarr, facing off 16-for-24 “I think you’re going see a lot of the same — that’s really good,” Warne said. “Obviously things,” Warne said of the upcoming oppoI wasn’t happy with the first-half effort. … nent. “Athletically, I think Loyola is really We start staring at some shots, guys get be- good … and I think on Saturday we’ll see hind us and they have easy breaks for easy more of the same.” Opening faceoff against Duke is set for 1 offensive opportunities. The second half proved to be a tighter p.m. on Saturday at Koskinen Field in Durcompetition, however, as the Hoyas closed ham, N.C.
Hoya Staff Writer
A11
Twenty-seven runs in two games. Thanks to some incredibly hot bats and some suspect opposing pitching, the Georgetown baseball team (14-6) extended its winning streak to seven in defeating George Washington and Maryland Eastern Shore by scores that would seem more appropriate on the gridiron. After walloping the Colonials 10-4 on Tuesday, the Hoyas held off the Hawks 17-15 on Wednesday in a back-and-forth slugfest that served as Georgetown’s final tune-up before UConn comes to town this weekend for the Blue and Gray’s first Big East series. In the win over GW, Georgetown put up what was then its largest run total of the season. The record would last all of one day; the Hoyas’ 17 runs Wednesday were the most they have scored since a 17-run performance against Coppin State last February and their most in a road game since March of 2011 against — again — Coppin State. “I’m pleased with the production,” Head Coach Pete Wilk said. “We’ve done what we should have done facing the level of pitching that we’ve faced. But you are talking about different worlds when you’re talking about GW and UMES versus UConn [this weekend].” The Hoyas received solid production from the entire lineup in the two wins, as seven players recorded multiple RBIs in at least one of the two games. Sophomore shortstop Ryan Busch led the way despite hitting ninth in the order, hitting a two-run double against GW and going 2-for-3 with a two-run home run and four RBIs against UMES. The outcome of Tuesday’s game
was in little doubt from the start as Georgetown posted six runs in the third inning, highlighted by Busch’s double. With the comfortable lead, freshman starting pitcher Matt Smith (2-0) coasted, allowing four runs (two earned) in six innings of work. Although Georgetown scored 10 runs in the game, only three of them were earned, as George Washington’s shoddy defense led to five errors, effectively handing the game to the Hoyas. While Georgetown never trailed against GW, Wednesday’s game featured multiple lead changes and a spirited UMES comeback in the ninth inning. After freshman designated hitter Curtiss Pomeroy — who went 3-for5 in the game with two RBIs — scored on a wild pitch in the first inning and senior third baseman Trevor Matern helped the Hoyas score two more with an RBI single in the second, Maryland Eastern Shore responded by hammering Georgetown freshman starting pitcher Jordan Chudacoff for six runs in the bottom of the second inning. Chudacoff — making his second start of the season — only lasted three innings as Georgetown rested its key starters for the coming series against UConn. After losing the lead, the Blue and Gray responded by scoring seven runs over the fourth and fifth innings. After Busch homered in the sixth and Georgetown added another five runs in the seventh, the Hoyas appeared to have the game won handily with a 17-9 lead. However, the Hawks tacked one on in the bottom of the seventh and pounced in the ninth, posting four runs on junior reliever Patrick Camporini in 1/3 of an inning before Wilk introduced senior closer Charlie Steinman to stop the bleeding. Steinman, despite allowing a run, was able to record the final
two outs. “We pitched extremely defensively until Charlie came in,” Wilk said. “We weren’t aggressive and we weren’t trying to throw strikes. We were pitching scared.” Georgetown’s competition will increase in difficulty significantly from this point on. However, Wilk said that he was pleased with the Hoyas’ performance in the season’s first month. “We’ve beaten the teams we should have beaten, and I don’t want to minimize that. That is a very positive sign, and we’ve had teams that haven’t done that [in past years],” Wilk said. “I would like to see us play better defense, but I’ve been very pleased with our pitching with yesterday’s exception. We have been limiting free base-runners. In today’s game, if you can limit free base-runners, you’re always in the game.” After coming out on top against UMES, the Hoyas will hope that their newfound offensive potency will continue against UConn (11-6). The Huskies — who swept the Hoyas in their last meeting two seasons ago — will likely pose a significant obstacle to the Blue and Gray’s winning streak. Georgetown, though, did receive an advantage when the series — originally scheduled to be played in Storrs, Conn. — was moved to the Hoyas’ home at Shirley Povich Field in Bethesda due to inclement weather in New England. “They run up and down the lineup, and they pitch and they field,” Wilk said of UConn. “They’re one of the top teams in the conference. They’ve got a pretty talented offense and great arms. I think our upperclassmen are ready, but our freshmen don’t have a clue of what’s to come.” Games will be played at 3 p.m. today and 1 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
Curran
Envisioning a Dream Tourney CURRAN, from A12 heads begin discussing whether the new Big East might be the best conference in college basketball next year. John Beilein bests Shaka Smart in a battle of brilliant coaches, ensuring the Hoyas won’t see “Havoc” again. Syracuse edges UNLV, and NCAA investigators are caught off guard while searching for Jim Boeheim, having funneled their resources toward staking out every golf course in America.
Sweet Sixteen
Louisville tops upstart St. Louis in the Midwest semis. Marquette beats Miami in the East, setting up a date with Syracuse. Federal investigators are flummoxed at the prospect of serving papers to Manley Field House, which has been closed for 30 years, so the Orange upset Indiana while “not
worried about distractions,” according to Boeheim. After beating San Diego State in the Round of 32, Georgetown figuratively wipes the floor with Florida, making up for the fact that nobody could literally wipe the floor the last time the two teams played. Villanova continues its Cinderella run as Arcidiacono wins a shooters’ duel with Trey Burke.
Elite Eight
Gonzaga continues its quiet run through the West bracket, earning the region’s Final Four berth with an emphatic win over Ohio State. Louisville counters 16 turnovers from Peyton Siva and an off night from Russ Smith by forcing McDermott into 3-of-22 shooting in the Midwest. Georgetown gets revenge for 1985 in the South, edging out Villanova on a lastsecond Markel Starks floater. Federal agents indict 11 Syra-
cuse players on charges ranging from jaywalking to grand larceny, but each Orangeman is reinstated by game time, with Boeheim citing “misunderstandings.” Syracuse beats Marquette easily to earn a berth to Atlanta.
Final Four
Louisville shows Gonzaga what a Big East defense looks like. Otto Porter Jr. adds a 38-point appendix to the Georgetown-Syracuse rivalry book. Boeheim flees the country immediately after the game.
Championship
Aaron Bowen drops in a three over Russ Smith at the buzzer. Rich Chvotkin’s head explodes. The Hoyas cut down the nets.
PAT CURRAN is a junior in the College and former sports editor of The Hoya.
WOMEN’S LACROSSE
UC Looms in League Opener Laura Wagner Hoya Staff Writer
The No. 8 Georgetown women’s lacrosse team (5-2, 0-0 Big East) has never lost to Cincinnati (4-2, 0-0) and hopes to keep it that way when it opens Big East play against the Bearcats on Friday. Because the Hoyas have been a dominant presence in the Big East for the last decade, the Blue and Gray have acquired the teamto-beat reputation — and the heightened expectations that go along with the territory. Despite the added pressure, Head Coach Ricky Fried said that his team doesn’t shy away from the attention. “We’re actually excited to be in the Big East [season] because now, in some ways, the target is on our back as a team that has owned the Big East for 10 of the last 12 years,” Fried said. “So it’s more of a challenge to make sure we play to our capability and we focus on ourselves because everyone else is going to be shooting for us.” An additional challenge will be dealing with the physicality Cincinnati’s squad. Coming off a twogame winning streak against Presbyterian and Liberty, the Bearcats
certainly have momentum. Cincinnati also tallied an impressive 22 goals in their last game while giving up only six, displaying an organized attack and a solid defense. While scouting the Bearcats, Fried identified two aspects of the Bearcats’ game that could pose a challenge for the Hoyas. “They are very structured on the offensive end of the field because they do only a couple of things and they try to do them really well,” Fried Said. “Their athleticism stands out in the sense that they get up and down the field well — they want to push the ball in transition.” The Hoyas are coming off last week’s 17-11 loss to North Carolina, but after a strong practice Wednesday afternoon, the team is looking to rebound against Cincinnati before facing another Big East rival, No. 20 Louisville (7-1, 0-0), on Sunday. Louisville entered the national rankings for the first time this week after defeating Drexel 9-8 on Sunday, and as Fried points out, the Cardinals will be eager to make the most of their last season competing in the Big East.
“This is their last opportunity to compete in the Big East as well, so I know they are going to be hungry to play,” Fried said. The Blue and Gray have also never lost to Louisville, but between the Cardinals and the Bearcats, the former will definitely pose the bigger challenge for the Hoyas. “I’ll probably watch film tonight on [Louisville], but they are a quality team. They have had some big wins and they are playing well together,” said Fried. For the Hoyas, the emphasis remains on the mental aspects of the game, something Fried says can be a struggle for the team. Running drills in which the players zero in on specific skills instead of focusing on the drill as a whole helps them pay attention to the details. Executing the finer points of the game is key, and Fried is optimistic. “If we can [focus on the details] on a consistent basis, then we’ll do well.” The Hoyas face off against Cincinnati at 4 p.m. today and against Louisville at 1 p.m. Sunday. Both games will be played at MultiSport Facility.
SPORTS
MEN’S BASKETBALL Hoyas (25-6) vs. Florida Gulf Coast (24-10) Friday, 6:50 p.m. Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, Pa.
FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 2013
DOWN TO THE WIRE
TALKING POINTS
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NUMBERS GAME
6 ” NCAA TOURNAMENT 2013
Michael Vick has come to terms with his crimes. It’s about time we did, too.
See A10
We couldn’t execute what we needed to do, and they jumped up on us.
Men’s lacrosse Head Coach Kevin Warne
The number of times a No. 15 seed has defeated a No. 2 seed in the first round of the NCAA tournament.
Florida Gulf Coast First Obstacle to Final Four Run PAT CURRAN
Hoya Staff Writer
The news that second-seeded Georgetown has drawn a littleknown, well-coached, possibly underseeded squad in its first-round game has many citizens of Hoya Nation cringing with unpleasant flashbacks of upsets past. That’s understandable given the team’s recent tournament history. But who are the Eagles of Florida Gulf Coast? And does the Hilltop really need to fear them? The short answer: maybe. While FGCU is new to the Big Dance, Georgetown definitely can’t
CURRAN
Guide to a Perfect GU Tourney Round One After “new Big East” buddies Butler and Marquette advance in their respective openers against noted giant killers Bucknell and (especially) Davidson, one of the last holdouts in the old conference, Cincinnati, falls on a last-second jumper from Doug McDermott of Creighton. Pope Francis absolves McDermott and all his new
conference brethren of their sins for banishing the Bearcats’ horrifying uniforms from television forever. Meanwhile, somewhere in the frozen tundra of southern Canada, an NCAA order arrives at a thoughtto-be-closed athletic facility. Hours later, Syracuse announces that James Southerland will not be playing in the second-round game, wishing to “spend more time with his family.” Georgetown makes Florida Gulf Coast wish it had waited a bit longer to join the Big Dance. Round Two Following a win in its toss-up firstrounder against North Carolina, Villanova topples Kansas in the Round of 32. Ryan Arcidiacono scores 40 points, including the go-ahead three in overtime. John Thompson III glares at the TV image of Jay Wright for a bit — he hasn’t forgotten March 6 — before softening as the ESPN talking See CURRAN, A11
expect its opponents to be dazed by the bright lights of the big stage. The Eagles played a tough nonconference schedule, complete with a win at eventual two-seed Miami and a close loss to the Big East’s St. John’s. Blowout losses to Duke and Virginia Commonwealth aren’t particularly impressive on the resume, of course, but the games give the Atlantic Sun squad valuable experience against big-time opponents. “We will not be intimidated,” Head Coach Andy Enfield told the Associated Press after the Eagles’ Atlantic Sun tournament victory. “We’ve seen it all. We’re going to
have fun with it. Whoever we play, we’ll give it our best shot.” Senior guard Sherwood Brown paces the Eagles on offense at just over 15 points and six rebounds per game. Sophomore guard Bernard Thompson chips in 14 points and nearly three steals, and classmate Brett Comer dishes the ball to the tune of 6.3 dimes per game. Enfield, who has drawn praise for bringing home the A-Sun title and NCAA berth in only his second year at the helm, will likely attempt to frustrate the Hoyas with a two-three zone for at least some of the game. Georgetown showed its vulnerability to an aggressive zone scheme in
the Big East championship against Syracuse, when Orange Head Coach Jim Boeheim moved his back line up to crowd Georgetown star Otto Porter Jr. and close out on the Hoyas’ three-point shooters. Still, the Florida Gulf Coast zone isn’t the Syracuse zone, and the Wells Fargo Center isn’t Madison Square Garden. Georgetown may have some trouble early, especially if freshman guard D’Vauntes SmithRivera continues his cold spell, but the Hoyas’ superior talent should be too much to handle as the game progresses. Look for Head Coach John Thompson III to turn up the heat on the
SOUTH REGIONAL BREAKDOWN After finishing as national runners-up in 2012, Kansas (29-5) is back as a No. 1 seed again in 2013 looking to finish the job. And while standout power forward Thomas Robinson may have left the Rupp Arena paint, 7-foot senior center Jeff Withey is back to do damage inside. the Jayhawks have gotten themselves a new star on the perimeter in freshman shooting guard Ben McLemore (16.4 points, 5.3 rebounds per game). McLemore shouldn’t be as scary to Hoya fans with the recent lockdown defensive performances from sophomore guard Jabril Trawick, but a matchup with Withey would likely prove a problem. Junior center Moses Ayegba and sophomore Mikael Hopkins give up three inches apiece to the Wooden Award finalist, although the former does outweigh Withey by 20 pounds. But with an arguably tougher road to the Elite Eight than the Hoyas (VCU, Michigan and a surging North Carolina team all loom as potential early matchups), the Jayhawks may have a tough time getting to that point at all.
It might not even be fair to call Shaka Smart’s squad a “sleeper” anymore; a more apt description might be “every team’s worst nightmare.” Virginia Commonwealth (26-8), a No. 5 seed this season, burst on the national scene after beating Georgetown en route to a Final Four trip in 2011, and they’ve inspired fear among higher seeds across the country ever since. This season, VCU was a notch below Saint Louis but a step ahead of Butler in their first season in the Atlantic 10, and wins by the Billikens and Bulldogs in the Round of 64 Thursday certainly allude to the Rams’ quality. Smart — whose teams are always known for their trademark “Havoc” style of pressure defense — is also able to call on four players who average in double figures, including a potent force in the paint in junior forward Juvonte Reddic and a proven sharpshooter from long range in senior guard Troy Daniels. After slipping past Akron in Thursday night’s matchup, the Rams have a shot at starting up another magical run if they can get past Trey Burke and Michigan on Saturday to grab a spot in the Sweet 16.
Although Florida claimed its fifth SEC regular season title under Head Coach Billy Donovan this season, it was one of the least meaningful league championships in recent memory. The Gators (26-7) are an experienced squad, led by three seniors — guards Mike Rosario and Kenny Boynton and big man Erik Murphy — who have reached the tournament in each of their four seasons. Despite getting a relatively good draw against a weaker No. 14 seed in Northwestern State, followed by a tilt against the UCLA-Minnesota, consistency has been Florida’s enemy this season, particularly away from Gainesville. Where Florida traditionally hasn’t been inconsistent, though, is in the tourney: The 47-year-old Donovan already has two championship rings and reached the Elite Eight the last two seasons, doing so in 2012 with his team as an unheralded No. 7 seed. The Gators would be no strangers to the Hoyas after their Nov. 9 meeting, and junior forward Nate Lubick would be especially familiar with Murphy, a high school teammate at St. Mark’s (MA). The matchup would be no less fascinating though, with Florida a veteran team has long been knocking on the door of another Final Four.
No. 6 UCLA, riding the strength of one of the top-ranked freshman classes in the country, eventually managed to turn an inconsistent squad of talented players into one of the best teams in the Pac-12. Meanwhile, after a solid out-of-conference stint, No. 11 Minnesota finished Big 10 regular season play at a pedestrian mark of 8-10, thanks in part to a threegame losing-streak — all to unranked opponents — to end the season. So, what gives? Well, two things: first, and most importantly, UCLA lost freshman guard and second-leading scorer Jordan Adams to a broken foot in its loss to Oregon in the Pac-12 tournament championship. Given the fact that the Bruins base the bulk of their scoring off of Adams and classmate Shabazz Muhammad, it may prove difficult for UCLA to find other players to pick up the slack. Second, Minnesota has topped Michigan State, Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana this year and didn’t lose a single out-of-conference game on the road. Against a shorthanded UCLA squad that has had no time to adjust to a significant injury, the Gophers have a good shot to come out on top in this one.
Some may have deemed it one of the easier regions, but the South region nonetheless has a collection of some of the most talented players in the country. The one that NBA scouts are drooling over most is freshman guard Ben McLemore of No. 1 seed Kansas, but in terms of actual on-the-floor production this season, McLemore has a tough time eclipsing Michigan sophomore point guard Trey Burke or sophomore forward Otto Porter Jr., who’s looking to return Georgetown to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2007. Beyond those three, there’s senior guard Nate Wolters, who averaged almost 23 points per game for a 13-seeded South Dakota State team that likely would not have been in the tournament at all without him. Freshman guard Shabazz Muhammad of UCLA and sophomore forward James Michael McAdoo of UNC, meanwhile, are two other standouts on traditional powerhouses that have found themselves lower-seeded in 2013 down South.
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Eagles’ backcourt — specifically Comers, who turns the ball over 3.6 times per game. The Hoyas have shown an increased willingness to push the ball in the second half of the season, so FGCU miscues could turn into Georgetown buckets very, very quickly. If the Hoyas can rattle the Eagles early, force turnovers and get out in transition, pencil this in as an easy win against an overmatched team. If the Blue and Gray don’t manage that, however, we might be treated to something more along the lines of ESPN analyst Joe Lunardi’s predicSee EAGLES, A10
Staff
Final Four
Picks
Ryan Bacic Senior Sports Editor
Lauren Weber Chair of the Board
Evan Hollader Basketball Beat Writer
Danny Funt Editor-in-Chief
Will Edman Deputy Sports Editor