GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY’S NEWSPAPER OF RECORD SINCE 1920 thehoya.com
Georgetown University • Washington, D.C. Vol. 93, No. 40, © 2012
TUESDAY, march 27, 2012
WHEN SKIES ARE GRAY Both the men’s and women’s lacrosse teams lost at home Saturday.
DONATION The Class of 2012 may receive a $1 million anonymous gift.
SPORTS, A10
VIEWPOINT An LGBTQ-friendly housing option undermines its intended goal.
NEWS, A7
OPINION, A3
University explores buying space in planned building ajdacent to Law Center
Sarah Patrick Hoya Staff Writer
cussed the possibility of converting the many smaller spaces on the ground floor into fewer, larger stores. “It’ll end up as a prime, largeformat, street-driven retail mall with seven to a dozen stores as opposed to 60 or 80,” Shear told the Washington Business Journal in February. The company has not applied for any permits to modify the exterior of the building. These permits are more difficult to obtain, as exterior renovations require approval from both the
While the university must increase the number of alumni participating in its current capital campaign to achieve longterm goals, the campaign is expected to meet this fiscal year’s benchmark, Vice President for Advancement Bartley Moore said. As of Feb. 29, the campaign had raised $102 of the $138 million it aimed to pull in by the end of the university’s fiscal year on June 30. “History would suggest if the remaining four months of the year perform at an average level, then we will meet our goal for this fiscal year,” Moore said. The ultimate goal of For Generations to Come: The Campaign for Georgetown, which publicly launched in October, is to raise $1.5 billion in the next 10 years. One of the campaign’s main initiatives is the 1789 Scholarship Imperative, which provides undergraduate financial aid and scholarships. “Our goal by the last year of the campaign is to be annually funding 1,789 $25,000 scholarships for undergraduates funded completely through philanthropy,” Moore said. Last year, 800 scholarships were funded by the initiative, and the university has raised enough to fund about 150 more this year. The campaign intends to increase the number of endowed professorships and chairs and support the faculty’s teaching and research initiatives as well. Campaign funds will also support the construction of the new Athletic Training Facility to be built adjacent to McDonough Arena. The 125,000-square-foot space will house practice courts and locker rooms for most varsity sports programs in addition to sports medicine facilities.
See MALL, A6
See CAMPAIGN, A5
Hiromi Oka
Hoya Staff Writer
See EXPANSION, A6
NEWS, A4
Capital Campaign On Track
GU May Expand Downtown
The university is considering purchasing space in a 2.2-million-squarefoot building that will be constructed adjacent to the Georgetown Law Center in downtown D.C. Property Group Partners, a D.C.-based development agency, unveiled plans for the building, to be called Capitol Crossing, at a press conference Monday night. The 7-acre development will be located alongside I-395 near Capitol Hill and include retail, living and office space. Robert Braunohler, regional vice president of PGP, said that the likelihood of Georgetown purchasing property in the development is high. “I think there’s a good chance … [but] we haven’t reached the point of negotiations,” he said. According to university spokeswoman Stacy Kerr, the site is one of many Georgetown is considering purchasing. Kerr would not confirm what the space would be used for if the university decides to buy part of the building. PGP President Jeffrey Sussman said that purchasing space in the building would be a logical step for the university toward expanding classroom space at the Law Center. According to a PGP press release, the development will be the first US Green Building Council LEED Platinum-certified development of its kind in the United States. Current plans have the Law Center
BUDGET D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray unveiled a $9.4 billion budget proposal Friday.
ERICA WONG FOR THE HOYA
The owners of the almost empty Shops at Georgetown Park have received permits to undergo substantial interior renovations, including the demolition of the entire first floor of the building.
Mall Set for Interior Overhaul Kelly Church Hoya Staff Writer
The Shops at Georgetown Park are set to undergo substantial interior renovations, including the demolition of the entire ground floor of the building. Vornado Realty Trust and Angelo Gordon & Co., the mall’s owners, received permits from the D.C. Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs this month allowing them to begin renovating the space. The permits allow for interior non-structural demolition on the Canal, Wisconsin and M
Street levels of the mall, as well as renovations to the lower, middle and upper levels of the parking garage. Only the topmost level of the mall will remain untouched. Though work can start almost immediately according to DCRA spokesperson Helder Gil, there is no clear timeline for the renovations. “They haven’t submitted permits yet for what they are planning on rebuilding in the space. That’s not something I think we know at this point,” he said. Mitchell Shear, president of Vornado, had previously dis-
Female Leadership Sees Upswing
HOODIeS SYMBOLIZE SOLIDARITY
Omika Jikaria
Special to The Hoya
CHRIS BIEN/THE HOYA
Students protesting the killing of Trayvon Martin dressed the John Carroll statue in a sweatshirt before marching to a rally Saturday. See gallery at thehoya.com. Newsroom: (202) 687-3415 Business: (202) 687-3947
For some women on campus, the inauguration of Clara Gustafson (SFS ’13) and Vail Kohnert-Yount (SFS ’13) as the GUSA executive signaled a new era of student leadership at Georgetown. Gustafson and Kohnert-Yount comprise the first all-female ticket to be elected to lead the Georgetown University Student Association. Women have recently made strides in campus leadership, but statistically, a gender imbalance persists within the university’s highest profile organizations. Though women make up a slight majority on campus, four of GUSA’s 16 senators, two of Georgetown University Alumni and Student Federal Credit Union’s seven board of directors members, two of the seven Students of Georgetown, Inc.’s board of directors and four of the 11 members of The Corp’s upper management are female. While the degree to which these female leaders feel that gender discrepancies are a problem varies, many say they have faced obstacles on the way to their current positions. “Women frequently fare worse in terms of being taken on for a leadership position,” the International Relations Club Director of Communications Emily Siegler (SFS ’14) said. Four of the 10 executive board members of the IRC, which is one of Georgetown’s largest student organizations, are female. “Women do not possess the same credibility as do men when it comes to leading,” Siegler said. For Gustafson and Kohnert-Yount, Published Tuesdays and Fridays
LEONEL DE VELEZ/THE HOYA
Newly elected GUSA Vice President Vail Kohnert-Yount (left) and President Clara Gustafson comprise the first ever all-female GUSA executive. the idea of an old boys club has historically come across particularly strongly within GUSA. The last female GUSA president before Gustafson was Kelley Hampton (SFS ’05), elected in the spring of 2004. “While there isn’t necessarily a culture of male domination at Georgetown, there is a history of male domination in GUSA,” Kohnert-Yount, former chair of the Georgetown University College Democrats, said. She noted that this was particularly clear during elections, when she felt that female candidates were
more heavily judged on their appearance than their male counterparts. Gustafson and Kohnert-Yount were wary about identifying as the allfemale ticket, because they did not want their gender to take away from their platform. “There are different social standards for men and women [who] decide to run for office,” Kohnert-Yount said. Gustafson and Kohnert-Yount’s executive branch is comprised of See WOMEN, A6
Send Story Ideas and Tips to news@thehoya.com
A2
OPINION
THE HOYA
tuesDAY, march 27, 2012
THE VERDICT
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EDITORIALS
Classroom Technology Shouldn’t Cost Extra A Georgetown education comes with a price. But for all it covers, our tuition dollars could be stretched further. In the case of the Language Learning Technology Center Lab, however, the university forces a select group of students to pay additional fees above and beyond tuition costs. Students shouldn’t be unfairly forced to pay for a resource that, for many others, is either covered by tuition or is otherwise optional. Intercultural Center 224, 226 and 227, officially known as the Language Learning Technology Center Lab, provides language and linguistics students with access to technology intended to enhance their learning experience. The three rooms feature various recording devices for students to record graded conversations, Smart Boards and international DVD players. Additionally, the lab allows students enrolled in language courses to stream media that would otherwise be unavailable to them because of copyrights. These resources are beneficial but are part of graded work required for courses, and yet the fee associated with them is not included in general tuition. Instead, language departments require students to pay an additional fee of $70 per course per semester for use of the lab.
While we understand that the technology does have to be maintained and updated, there shouldn’t be an additional charge to students enrolled in particular classes or pursuing particular majors. Access to the resources available in the lab should be universal, rather than paid for on a class-by-class basis. Also, since the majority of classroom requirements, like recorded conversations, can be replicated through personal computers, students are reluctant to physically go to the Intercultural Center to complete an assignment that they can complete anywhere else. Students shouldn’t have to pay for technology they already have. Other programs like STATA, used in many statistics courses, are offered on university computers but do not require students to pay additional resource fees. Access to these programs, too, is included with general enrollment and registration tuition. Access to streamed movies, audio components for listening exercises and recording devices are undoubtedly beneficial to those students enrolled in language or linguistics courses. But given that all students have already covered costs to study on the Hilltop, paying for additional infrequently-used technologies seems unjustified.
Georgetown’s Budding Sustainability Efforts We don’t have to wait for April showers to see flowers here at Georgetown. An attractive campus can create a positive impression on prospective students and boost morale for current ones. But Georgetown needs to continue ecofriendly efforts to provide the flowers that color campus and improve the sustainability of its landscaping in general. With this year’s unusually warm weather, students, staff and visitors are enjoying the bulbs that were planted in the fall earlier than usual. The sudden appearance of hundreds of flowers in the most visible locations on campus is almost enough to make one believe in a Georgetown flower endowment. And while flowers may seem trivial, Georgetown’s flora offers a valuable boost to campus happiness — as long as we plant and maintain it responsibly. The university already engages in some innovative sustainability practices. In addition to composting all organic yard waste, our campus uses a system to irrigate plants that incorporates a real-time weather monitoring system. This centralized technology uses current climate patterns to determine exactly how much water plants need and then waters them in the mornings and evenings when the smallest amount will evaporate. In 2003, Georgetown implemented an integrated pest management system that uses disease-resistant plants and or-
ganic fertilizers to minimize pesticide use. The development policies of the Leadership in Energy and Environment Design-certified Rafik B. Hariri Building and the soon-to-be-opened Regents Hall have also emphasized choosing local or drought-resistant plants when possible. Planting blossoms that require less water means that less is needed to maintain campus beauty. In addition to minimizing fertilizer use, local flowers reduce the carbon dioxide emissions by eliminating the need to transport the plants. But more can be done to boost sustainability. While the university grounds feature many perennials, many of Georgetown’s flowers are annuals that must be planted anew each spring. Currently, the bulbs are either disposed of or distributed to interested community members instead of preserved for the following season. Rather than wasting unwanted flowers, the university should consider saving them for the spring. The native plant policies in place at the Hariri and Regents buildings should also be implemented across campus. After a gray Washington winter, the flowers and plants that color our university are a welcome sign of spring. As long as Georgetown continues to improve sustainability and encourage the use of native plants, they are also a welcome reminder that beauty need not undermine functionality.
Connor Gregoire, Editor-in-Chief Upasana Kaku, Executive Editor Suzanne Fonzi, Managing Editor Mariah Byrne, Campus News Editor Sarah Kaplan, City News Editor Pat Curran, Sports Editor Steven Piccione, Guide Editor Katherine Foley, Opinion Editor Chris Bien, Photography Editor Stephen Levy, Online Editor Remy Samuels, Layout Editor Samantha Randazzo, Copy Chief Molly Mitchell, Multimedia Editor Michelle Cassidy, Blog Editor
Contributing Editors Kavya Devarakonda, Kathryn DeVincenzo, Meagan Kelly, Shakti Nochur, Eamon O’Connor, Michael Palmer, Mairead Reilly, Glenn Russo, Lauren Weber
Matthew Strauss Rita Pearson Braden McDonald Jonathan Gillis Evan Hollander Ashwin Wadekar Lawson Ferguson Victoria Edel Bethany Imondi Alex Sanchez Hanaa Khadraoui Leonel De Velez Sari Frankel Christie Shely Zoe Bertrand Jessica Natinsky Emory Wellman Nikita Buley Emily Perkins Kendall Ciesemier Martin Hussey
Deputy Campus News Editor Deputy Campus News Editor Deputy City News Editor Deputy Features Editor Deputy Sports Editor Deputy Sports Editor Sports Blog Editor Deputy Guide Editor Deputy Guide Editor Deputy Guide Editor Deputy Opinion Editor Deputy Photography Editor Deputy Photography Editor Deputy Photography Editor Deputy Layout Editor Deputy Layout Editor Deputy Layout Editor Deputy Copy Editor Deputy Copy Editor Deputy Multimedia Editor Deputy Blog Editor
Editorial Board
Misery Loves Company — Though the Hoyas may have bowed out early in the NCAA tournament, Syracuse was also eliminated after losing to Ohio State on Saturday. Helpful Hints — Ted Leonsis (COL ’77), owner of the Washington Wizards and Capitals, spoke about his success as an entrepreneur last Friday. See story on A7.
C
Founded January 14, 1920
Great White Envelope — Thousands of high school seniors will be checking their mailboxes this week as the university sends out its final admissions decisions for the Class of 2016.
WMATA Woes — D.C. Metro fares have reached an all-time high since the 1980s when adjusted for inflation.
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Celebrating Our Beginnings — The university celebrated Founders Day yesterday, commemorating the day that Frs. White and Gravenor, S.J., arrived in Maryland in 1634.
FROM THEHOYA.COM READER’S RESPONSE
“
Well, Fiona Greig also felt that she should single out her own donors by denoting their sexual orientation or socio-economic background, referring to one as the ‘homosexual’ and the other as ‘super wealthy.’ So, don’t just quote straight from the horse’s mouth why they dropped out. Overall though, yeah D.C. government is about as corrupt as it gets.
”
Anonymous on “STIRRETT: Mending DC Government” Posted March 23, 2012
A LITTLE BIRDIE TOLD US ... @MaxSkolnik March 23 Another strong endorsement from a progressive student leader. http://bit.ly/GQWUqd via @scottstirrett @thehoya. @guphantoms March 24 @thehoya4E Funny story: we may or may not have been doing some a cappella imrov with that song in rehearsal #heyijustmetyou @GUASFCU March 26 Thanks @thehoya4E @wgtbsports @keatonbedell @David_Barton for your suggestions. Working with the University now to get a new ATM location
THE RAW DEAL by Anthony Mastroianni
CORRECTION
The article “Students Rebuild Southeast Ballfield” (The Hoya, A7, March 23, 2012) mistakenly reported that the Kenilworth neighborhood is in Southeast, not Northeast, D.C.
Jonathan Rabar, General Manager Glenn Russo, Director of Corporate Development Kelly Connelly, Director of Finance Claire Willits, Director of Marketing Michael Grasso, Director of Personnel Bryn Hastings, Director of Sales Michael Vu, Director of Technology Caroline Boerwinkle Catherine Hendren Evan Marks Sara Eshleman Shane Sarver Eleonore Durand Kent Carlson Keeley Williams Mary Nancy Walter Michael Lindsay-Bayley Ryan Smith
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Board of Directors
Katherine Foley, Chair
Carolyn Shanahan, Chair
Sidney Chiang, Laura Engshuber, Danny Funt, Alyssa Huberts, Nneka Jackson
Connor Gregoire, Web Leslie, Jonathan Rabar, Sam Schneider, Lauren Weber, Amanda Wynter
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OPINION
TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 2012
THE HOYA
VIEWPOINT • Sari Frankel
A3
VIEWPOINT • Nicholas Shaker
Ravi: A Bully, Not a Murderer Acceptance Shouldn’t Be Optional, but Expected D A harun Ravi is a young man who made a lot of mistakes. I don’t defend him, not even for a minute. Ravi, a freshman at Rutgers University, was charged with 15 counts of invasion of privacy after spying on his roommate, Tyler Clementi, kissing another man and showing the footage to friends. A few days after the incident, Clementi killed himself by jumping off of the George Washington Bridge. What Ravi did was disgusting, but he clearly never meant to kill anyone. I grew up in the same town as Ravi, in Plainsboro, N.J., and am just one year behind him in school. I don’t know him personally, but many of my friends do. When Tyler Clementi’s suicide made waves all across the nation, no one was more shocked than the residents of our town. As a whole, my small town is liberal and ethnically diverse. We all learned very quickly to accept and befriend people who are different from ourselves; it’s the only way to live in a community that is small yet diverse. A majority views the whole situation as a homophobic hate crime, and if I lived anywhere else, I probably would too. But seeing distorted depictions of my hometown on television and seeing my friends’ words being
twisted in The New Yorker and The New York Times has forced me to re-examine my first reactions to the situation. It’s easy to forget that there is a human side to everything until a situation like this impacts you directly. No one from my neck of the woods thought a tragedy like this could ever happen to people from a town like ours. News reports depict Plainsboro as nothing more than a rich suburb where parents raise their children with a sense of entitlement. But in reality, there is a large immigrant population and most parents fought hard to establish themselves here in the United States. Ravi has been in this country since he was in grade school, but due to U.S. immigration laws he is still not a citizen. Given his recent crimes, he could be deported back to India. The media has slanted the case to make it seem as if Ravi displayed Clementi’s sexual orientation in front of the entire campus. In reality, he had already come out and few people saw the footage. That doesn’t make what Ravi did excusable or forgivable by any means. Had Clementi been straight, Ravi’s actions would still be equally wrong, but the incident wouldn’t have been a national news story and Clementi would
not have been turned into a poster boy in the cause against cyber bullying. While Ravi was not charged for Clementi’s death, the fact of the matter is that if Clementi hadn’t committed suicide, there would be no criminal case. If Clementi had reported him beyond the Residence Assistant instead, disciplinary action would have been taken. He may have been kicked out of school, or he may have gotten off with a roommate switch and a slap on the wrist, but it’s unlikely anyone would have pressed charges. But pointing fingers now won’t change anything. Sentencing is scheduled for this May, and Ravi faces a possible 10 years in jail or deportation. He is certainly guilty of the invasion of privacy counts he was charged with and shouldn’t get off scot-free, but these terms are too harsh. He is being made into an example. Ravi is an insensitive idiot, not a murderer. His roommate’s life has been destroyed, but the guilt he has to live with every day has surely ruined his life as well. A 10-year jail sentence won’t reform him; it’s just salt in the wound. SARI FRANKEL is a freshman in the College, and is a deputy photo editor for The Hoya.
ALWAYS ON THE SUNNY SIDE by Sania Salman
mong the promises made by new Geogetown University Student Association President Clara Gustafson (SFS ’13) and Vice President Vail KohnertYount (SFS ’13), one particularly caught my eye: On their campaign website, the executive team has indicated their intent to add an LGBTQ-friendly checkbox to CHARMS. Speaking as an openly gay man, I am deeply opposed to this initiative. The intent of the checkbox is to prevent LGBTQ freshmen from suffering from harassment or hostility in their living situation — an honorable goal to say the least — but the means to this end are completely out of line. Having an LGBTQ-friendly box on CHARMS undermines the experiences in growth and challenge that Georgetown provides its students. My freshman roommate and I could not have been more different. He is a foot taller than I am, hails from the opposite coast and has a completely different family background than I do. Our relationship developed slowly over the year, and that winter, when I came out to him, I was nervous about his reaction. Sure, it was awkward for a few minutes, but at the end of the day it was a non-issue. He wasn’t given an option as to whether or not he wanted live with a gay man, but he ended up with one. He was forced to open up his mind, set aside his prejudices and deal with his living situation. I was not out of the closet as an incoming freshman and would not have indicated that I wanted to live with an LGBTQ-friendly roommate if I had been given the option. This raises the concern of logistics: Having the box will miss the point, since many gay freshmen will not utilize it. Additionally, some straight freshmen may also be too timid to check the box unless they are already comfortable with the LGBTQ community. More importantly, having a checkbox sends the message that if you don’t want a gay roommate, you won’t have one. It paints the issue of embracing our LGBTQ community as an option, rather than an expectation. We must assume that incoming freshmen are open to living and interacting with their queer roommates, hallmates and classmates as a rule, rather than making it seem like an exception. Our campus community needs to send a message to new students that the Hilltop is an inclusive place, and that we love and wel-
come all members of the Georgetown family. There is no excuse for hatred or abuse here, and the introduction of a checkbox makes tolerance seem like a noble deviation rather than a reasonable expectation. Keeping in mind our Jesuit value of cura personalis, the checkbox exempts certain Georgetown students from becoming accepting adults. It denies them the ultimately positive opportunity of being pushed into an uncomfortable situation and opening up to people with different orientations and lifestyles. It sends the message that in life, you are entitled to interacting only with those of the same orientation, when in reality, gay Americans permeate all facets of life. Having a drastically different roommate is a learning experience, just as my 14 general education requirements were. Although I wasn’t initially excited for some of my classes, they have contributed volumes to my intellectual experience at Georgetown. Our Jesuit founders stressed the growth of students as individuals, and being pushed out of our comfort zones is the best way to accomplish that goal. Lastly, we have to examine this issue in the context of diversity as a whole. We would never consider suzahaving a blackfriendly checkbox or a Korean-friendly checkbox. We would not ask someone if he or she is willing to live with a Jewish or international student. NSO, the athletics department, campus ministry and other offices have the opportunity, and more importantly, the power, to spread love for the gay community at Georgetown .We must deal with the threat of LGBTQ intolerance the same way we have dealt with racial tensions, sexism and religious bias. I fear that the introduction of this checkbox, while intending to rally support for LGBTQ students, will actually give students an opportunity to express intolerance. Gay roommates — just like premed roommates, smelly roommates and athletic roommates — are a fact of life, and giving someone the illusion of opting out of one is contrary to our goals of building an inclusive and supportive community. We must firmly advocate that gay people are people, and if you have a problem with that, regardless of political, religious or familial roots, we have a problem with you. NICHOLAS SHAKER is a senior in the College.
CURA HOYANALIS
Our Past and Present Fight
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CUTTER, KUH-TAWR, QATAR
In Qatar’s Islamic Culture, Our Jesuit Tradition Thrives
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was initially confused as to how Georgetown could maintain a Jesuit tradition in the middle of the Arab World. It doesn’t seem to fit with the character of Qatar. The public prayer call airs five times a day, many women are fully covered and the open preaching of religions other than Islam is illegal. But in D.C., banners with the nine pillars of Georgetown’s Jesuit nature are proudly displayed. But those who say that Jesuit or Christian values are incompatible with an Islamic society are completely wrong. Jesuit values are the most important part of Georgetown’s culture, even here in Qatar. “In accordance with the Jesuit tradition” could very well be one of the most repeated phrases on our Doha campus. I would go as far as to say that there is no difference between Jesuit values and the teachings of Islam. I don’t claim to be an authority on either, but from what little I understand of the Christian and Islamic faiths, they fit. Culturally, there are differences. Historically, there has been friction. But coming from the unbiased view of a secular Hindu, there is definitely a sense of compatibility between the two faiths. This is represented perfectly in the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar. In a country that only has one official church, Georgetown holds a weekly mass. In one of
the most prosperous nations on earth, Georgetown’s SFS-Q offers free-of-charge international service trips. In what is officially a Wahhabi Islamic state, Qatar’s only Bible study group meets in what may be one of very few inter-faith rooms in the country. I think I figured out why this predominantly Muslim society welcomes the Jesuit values presented by Georgetown, though:
Nikhil Lakhanpal
Jesuit values are an important part of Georgetown’s culture, even here in Qatar. People here realize that “men and women for others” is not just Christian or Muslim. It’s both. Heck, I’m pretty sure it’s Hindu, too. If there are two facets that truly unite our two campuses — and many faiths — it’s that all accomplishment is understood to be for the greater glory of God and is conducted with interreligious understanding. The
students of SFS-Q are, for the most part, very religious. While “Problem of God” can be a challenge, I’m very appreciative of the fact that my religious Islamic peers embrace the traditions which have maintained the integrity of this university for over two centuries. And I’m ashamed that I ever thought they wouldn’t. Here, it isn’t about the word “Jesuit,” it’s about the ethics that fall under it. There’s no backlash, no complaint, no sense of “there they go again, those gosh darn Christians from the West trying to impose their Jesus on me!” I don’t know what life is like on the D.C. campus. I don’t know how well the Jesuit values are maintained there. But I think I can speak for SFS-Q. In Doha, there’s a certain pride about being a part of this community. There’s a morality here that can only be due to the spiritual nature of the majority of the student body. We have a clear culture which follows the Jesuit tradition. We have similar academic rigor. So really, our campus cultures aren’t too different. The difference in vantage point is the only thing that separates us. I can write about Qatar and read about Washington, but who’s wiser until I experience the Hilltop and you come to the Dunetop? NIKHIL LAKHANPAL is a freshman at the School of Foreign ServiceQatar campus. CUTTER, KUHTAWR, QATAR appears every other Tuesday.
n the center of Georgetown stands a Georgetown vie for implementation. Like cemetery. John Carroll, we students hope that things The Jesuit cemetery embodies the real- can be different. We will take the risk and ity of death. Neither the compiling of facts make the first small steps toward reconciliand knowledge nor the training of the body ation and community, hoping that our acand mind for careers can be the ultimate tions will speak louder than their words. ends of this university; such objectives are Today, it is easy to see Georgetown as a rendered obsolete before death. A George- mere pit stop: We know that our four years town education must seek out the immortal here go by quickly. We are constantly presbecause it displays so evidently the futility of sured to focus on our futures. But when we mortality. Georgetown must nourish that pause and look around us, we realize that which is deepest within us — the soul. every stone was laid, every challenge was When Frs. Andrew White and John Al- overcome, every battle was won by those tham Gravenor, S.J., arrived in colonial who loved Georgetown and truly embodied Maryland in 1634, the obstacles before it. Only through service and sacrifice will them ran deep: an untamed wilderness and such a place endure. the suppression of the Jesuit to start. They In an age of challenge, animosity and faced probable exile and imprisonment. disinterest, we students must have faith in But these men took courage in their set of our university. We must not yield our deepprinciples and in their faith in something est convictions to outside pressures, and greater than themselves. So they persevered we must hold each other accountable if we and founded a school, the precursor to to- fail to live up to the guiding principles of day’s Georgetown. Georgetown. With hope Similarly, when John for our university, we Carroll arrived at the must make the first move newly independent colo— by partying with more nies, before him lay a consideration, by drinking world of religiously segwith more prudence — regated schools and the toward civility and peace uncertainty of a new in our Georgetown comcountry. But Carroll had munity. With love of our hope in a grand educauniversity, we must seek tional experiment that in out the opportunities to Michael Fischer small ways could change support it any way we can. lives for the better. So he Such words are neibought a small piece of ther popular nor easy. Only through service But the good life is never land in the middle of a swamp, and Georgetown the easy one, nor can the and sacrifice will was born. most precious things Over the years, this uniGeorgetown endure. be maintained without versity has faced innumersafeguarding them. Our able obstacles, like debt, forbearers challenge us under-enrollment, mismanagement and to be all that it means to be Georgetown disunity. But men and women, many anon- students, whether they are buried on camymous now, rose to the occasion to tackle pus or throughout the world. To fall into each challenge. They toiled in the shadows complacency, to act irresponsibly and to for the sake of Georgetown because they live apathetically is to reject everything loved the university. our university’s founders intended for us. The call of the Georgetown student is to In the center of Georgetown stands a a life of character. Georgetown students of cemetery. With its tombstones cracked and all backgrounds across the ages beckon us inscriptions worn, it’s easy to overlook. But to step up and walk the high road, the less- real men are buried there. Men who had trodden path that separates us from ordi- faith in something beyond themselves. Men nary people. who hoped in a grand experiment of meanToday, Georgetown faces no lesser dan- ingful education. Men who loved, in their gers. Our identity, our mission, our rights own unique way, what Georgetown was and as students are being challenged. We must could become. look to Frs. White and Gravenor, who held So faith, hope and love remain, these three; firm in their faith of the convictions on but the greatest of these is love. which Georgetown stands. Today, animosity springs forth between MICHAEL FISCHER is a junior in the School of neighborhood and university, student and Foreign Service. CURA HOYANALIS appears administrator, as alternative visions of every other Tuesday.
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NEWS
THE HOYA
PAGE FOUR
TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 2012
ONLINE EXCLUSIVE Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) has proposed a bill that would make it easier for low-income students to save for college. See more at thehoya.com.
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IN FOCUS
CELEBRATING YEAR 1392 verbatim you like “ IfMonty Python, you might like our club.
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Melissa Riggio (COL ’14), treasurer of the Medieval Club, speaking about the group’s efforts to expand its membership See story on A7.
from
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CHRISTINA LING FOR THE HOYA
Students rang in the Persian New Year, or Nowrouz, with traditional dancing and singing and a formal dinner in Copley Formal Lounge Saturday night. The event was organized by the Iranian Cultural Society and What’s After Dark.
GUSA Approves New Exec Cabinet ANNIE CHEN
Hoya Staff Writer
The Georgetown University Student Association senate voted unanimously to approve its budget for fiscal year 2013 and nominations for a new executive cabinet. President Clara Gustafson (SFS ’13) and Vice President Vail Kohnert-Yount (SFS ’13) created three new positions in their cabinet — secretaries of social justice, campus ministry and academic affairs. They did not retain the positions of secretary of career services, secretary of information and technology, secretary of strategic development and director of executive outreach, making this year’s cabinet one seat smaller than the last. Scott Stirrett (SFS ’13), cofounder and former chair of D.C. Students Speak, will serve as secretary of neighborhood relations. “Our relationship with the neighborhood has been tense in the past, but it doesn’t mean it has to be that way in the future,” he said. “We look forward to reaching out on a one-on-one basis to establish personal relationships.” According to Stirrett, members of the cabinet will meet with Center for Student Programs Director Erika Cohen-Derr about the possibility of registering incoming freshmen to vote in the District during the New Student Orientation. Jon Askonas (SFS ’13), co-chair of the Walsh Exchange Steering Committee, a new intercollegiate international relations conference to be held at Georgetown, will serve as secretary of academic affairs. The position was created to assist the development of an undergraduate academic research symposium. According to Askonas, the goals of the position also include making professor evaluations more accessible to students and reviewing academic policies. To achieve the latter goal, Askonas plans to establish a relationship between GUSA and the
Inter-School Academic Council. “Right now, the academic policies are fragmented by school. We want to work on making the policies accessible to students on [a] university-wide level,” he said. Laura West (COL ’13), who will serve as secretary of mission and ministry, plans to work closely with the Interfaith Council and both religious and non-religious groups on campus. “We will reach out to them to let them know GUSA will support them within our capacity and get a clearer direction of what our role should be,” she said. West’s immediate goals include supporting religious retreats and continuing the university’s participation in President Obama’s Interfaith and Community Service Campus Challenge, which began in September. The other appointments include Amanda Kimbers (MSB ’13) as secretary of athletic affairs, James Saucedo (MSB ’13) as secretary of diversity affairs, Sophie Guntram (COL ’13) as secretary of student safety, Erin Auel (COL ’14) as secretary of sustainability, Nanase Matsushita (SFS ’13) as secretary of treasury and Neesha Tambe (COL ’13) as secretary of social justice. John Morris (COL ’13) and Sam Schneider (COL ’13), a member of THE HOYA’s board of directors, will serve as student advocates general. The fiscal year 2013 budget, which also passed unanimously, was drafted by the Finance and Appropriations Committee in early March and allocates $960,000 to campus groups. The budget marks a $160,000 increase in available funds from fiscal year 2012 and will fulfill 64 percent of requests submitted by student organizations. The senate also passed the Omnibus Electoral Accountability and Regulation Act, which clarifies campaigning rules. According to the bill, the GUSA Election Commission must now publish complaints recorded against candidates, and candidates are required to report the cost of creating their websites if they are developed by anyone other than a Georgetown undergraduate.
NAME THIS PUP The National Zoo wants you to name two of its new wolf pups. Think you can withstand the cuteness long enough to vote? blog.thehoya.com
Mayor Proposes $9.4 Billion Budget SARAH KAPLAN Hoya Staff Writer
D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray unrolled a $9.4 billion budget proposal for the fiscal year 2013 that contains no new taxes or fees but includes spending cuts and several initiatives to increase revenue. The initiatives will aim to close the District’s $172.1 million budget deficit. The mayor’s proposal, which was released Friday, includes a stipulation that would extend the number of hours permitted for alcohol sales in hopes of generating an extra $5.5 million. If the budget is approved, bars would be able to remain open until 3 a.m. on weekdays and until 4 a.m. on weekends, and liquor stores would be allowed to open one hour earlier every day of the week. The budget would also establish a “presidential inauguration week” in January of 2013 and 2017, during which bars could operate at weekend hours all week and restaurants could serve food 24 hours a day.
Other revenue-increasing proposals include traffic measures such as the installation of more speeding and red-light cameras, expected to generate $24.8 million, and changes to the tax code, anticipated to net an additional $28.2 million. All told, the additional revenue will amount to $69.4 million, or a little over a third of the district’s current budget deficit. The rest of the deficit will be addressed with $103 million in spending cuts, largely to health care coverage. The largest single cut would be $23 million from the D.C. Healthcare Alliance Program, which provides health care coverage to low-income residents. “We had to make difficult choices, but we believe this budget maintains the right level of government services, including protecting our most vulnerable citizens, without raising taxes,” Gray said in a statement. The announcement of the mayor’s budget is the first step in an oftenprolonged process involving both the D.C. Council and the federal government. On Tuesday, the mayor, the dis-
trict’s chief financial officer, the city administrator and the budget director will testify before the council, which is set to vote on the budget May 15. After the budget is approved by the council, it must be submitted to Congress for review as part of the federal budget process. This has been problematic in past years; last April, the District was on the verge of a municipal shutdown due to delays in the approval process before Congress came to an 11th hour agreement. According to Georgetown’s Associate Vice President for Federal Relations Scott Fleming, the possibility of a federal shutdown — and therefore a municipal shutdown for the District — is not unlikely. “Right now … the Senate and the House of Representatives are dealing with two different sets of numbers in terms of overall spending,” he said, referring to the fact that two very different appropriations bills are being considered by the two chambers. “It will be challenging at best to find agreement and … there is a risk that [a shutdown] could occur.”
Symposium to Explore Financial Crisis MATTHEW STRAUSS Hoya Staff Writer
The 2012 Lannan Spring Symposium and Literary Festival, “Blueprint for Accountability,” will explore the 2008 financial crisis and resultant Occupy Wall Street movement with a series of discussions and speaker events. “We believe the financial crisis to be one of our most pressing issues, and that our financial stability is still quite precarious,” Carolyn Forché, director of the Lannan Center for Poetics and Social Justice, the sponsor of the festival, said. “Undergraduates across the country should have a strong interest in this topic, as it affects everything from buying their first house to building their professional lives. I can’t think of anything that a college student should more intensely consume himself with.” Former New York Gov. Elliot Spitzer, Rolling Stone Magazine contributor Matt Taibbi, Pulitzer-Prize
winning author Ron Suskind, Occupy Wall Street activist and writer for the blog “Daily Kos” Jesse LaGreca, Demos’ D.C. Office Director Heather McGhee and sustainability activist Van Jones will kick off the festival Tuesday with a panel about the relationship between Wall Street and the federal government. The event, co-sponsored by the Culture Project of New York City, aims to spark dialogue about the role of financial and economic powers in American society. Other events throughout the coming week include a breakfast conversation with Suskind and McGhee on Wednesday, a lecture by Booker Prize-winning author Margaret Atwood, a documentary screening and an event about the American debt crisis and Occupy movement. Members of Georgetown Occupy have been consulted in the planning of the April 3 event, “American Occupations: Debt and the Crisis of Democracy.”
“Whether or not you agree with what the movement is, you have to acknowledge its major impact on national politics in the last year,” Georgetown Occupy member Gina Bull (SFS ’12) said. She added that she expects the national movement to make a spring resurgence and that this academic discussion marks a significant time for the Occupy protests. Despite the national focus of the events, Forché emphasized the importance of the symposium to the Georgetown community. “We’re always interested in opening conversations on campus among the disciplines and inspiring undergrads to become involved,” she said. “There are students all over our campus who are engaged in community service and are engaged in social justice. My dream is a larger and greater conversation that facilitates understanding of the connections between the classroom and the community.”
News
tuesday, march 27, 2012
THE HOYA
A5
Rules for College Health Care Plans Finalized Margaret Viator Hoya Staff Writer
The Department of Health and Human Services finalized a set of federal regulations on Wednesday that will affect Georgetown and about 2,000 other colleges and universities that offer health insurance plans to students and employees. The regulations, which will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2013, encompass a wide array of issues. Chief among them is a ban on excluding applicants from health plans based on pre-existing medical conditions. According to the new regulations, insurance companies must also adjust their profit margins for student plans. In addition, the new regulations
require schools to provide coverage of preventative care. This includes contraception, an issue that has stirred debate in recent months since a preliminary version of the policy was announced in late January. University spokeswoman Stacy Kerr said that the university is monitoring the new regulations closely. The announcement of these new federal regulations came as the Supreme Court began to hear oral arguments on the health care plan’s constitutionality Monday. According to H*yas for Choice President Ashley Bradylyons (SFS ’12), several members of the group will be taking part in a Planned Parenthood Rally outside the Supreme Court Tuesday to show support for the act.
Campaign Aims to Increase Participation campaign, from A1 The estimated cost of construction of the new Athletic Training Facility to be built adjacent to McDonough Arena. The 125,000-square-foot space will house practice courts and locker rooms for most varsity sports programs in addition to sports medicine facilities. The estimated cost of construction stands at $55 million, a sum that Georgetown intends to fund entirely through fundraising and philanthropy, according to Moore. To achieve these goals, the university must significantly increase the total level of participation in giving to the university. Roughly 27 percent of undergraduate alumni donate to the school, putting Georgetown 28th nationally in total undergraduate giving, according to Moore. If the university could sustain a participation level of 35 percent, it would be ranked 12th. “That’s where we believe a university of Georgetown’s caliber, and whose alumni are so passionate, should be,” Moore said. The Office of Advancement works to incorporate current students in
its fundraising efforts, a goal furthered by the 1634 Society, a club dedicated to informing undergraduates about the importance of giving back to the university. “The 1634 Society works to forge the next generation of alumni leaders,” Scott Chessare (SFS ’10), staff adviser to the organization, said. The university attempts to keep alumni, the focal point of fundraising efforts, aware of major initiatives, achievements and goals for the future. It also publishes a monthly e-newsletter specifically dedicated to development, which is distributed to all current donors. According to Moore, the most important strategy for maintaining strong alumni relationships is the Office of Advancement’s schedule of events around the globe. University President John J. DeGioia often travels on behalf of the university to meet with prospective donors. “He is a very significant incentive for people who are invited to his events to come, because he’s enormously liked and respected by our alumni,” Moore said. “Apart from Jack the Bulldog, President DeGioia is probably our biggest celebrity.”
CHRIS BIEN/THE HOYA
Friday’s Stand for Civility event on Healy Lawn brought together students from across campus to support respectful public discussion about contentious topics. Participants wrote their personal principles on multicolored balloons.
Students Rally for Civil Discourse Esteban Garcia Hoya Staff Writer
Students gathered Friday on Healy Lawn in a show of support for civil discourse, responding to radio host Rush Limbaugh’s disparaging comments about a Georgetown Law Center student earlier this month. The event was prompted by Limbaugh calling Sandra Fluke (LAW ’12) a “slut” and a “prostitute” after she advocated that employers’ health care plans include coverage for contraception at a meeting of the House Democratic Steering Committee and University President John J. DeGioia’s resultant letter promoting respectful public dialogue. The Stand for Civility was run by a loose coalition group of 20 student organizations, according to the event’s leader, Jordan Daniels (SFS ’13). “We were really happy about the diversity of the organizations that signed on,” she said, and added
that the group had been working since spring break to organize the event. Georgetown University Student Association President Clara Gustafson (SFS ’13) opened the event by echoing DeGioia’s message. “Whatever side of the healthcare debate you’re on, it’s important to be articulate,” she said. Gustafson was followed by Daniel Solomon (SFS ’13), the student director of Georgetown’s chapter of STAND: A Student Anti-Genocide Coalition. He spoke about the importance of endorsing women as members of the community and outlined important questions for engaging responsibly in public discourse. “Can you understand where I’m coming from? Can I understand where you’re coming from, and can we approach each other with dignity and respect?” he asked. The final speaker was Emma Green (COL ’12), a resident of the Body Positive house on Magis Row and a member of the Philodem-
ic Society, who stressed the larger implications of the recent controversy over the provision of contraception. “This is an issue about women, but ultimately this is an issue about debate,” she said. An Open Letter from the Students of Georgetown University, which supports civil discourse, was also drafted by the event’s organizers and posted to change.org. It had received 167 signatures at press time. Students in attendance said that promoting civility is a cause with widespread support. “People know we need dialogue about these issues,” James Saucedo (MSB ’13) said. Event organizers asked students to write one of their personal principles on a balloon as the event drew to a close. Meghan Ferguson (COL ’15) and many other wrote “respect.” “[The kind of language used by Limbaugh] is so counterproductive. It accomplishes nothing,” Ferguson said. “You can’t have equality without respect.”
PUZZLES DECODAQUOTE
Substitute letters in order to reveal a well-known quotation. Each letter consistently represents another.
“VOF JAGP VOEAN VOXV BF GFXQA CQJD OEUVJQP EU VOXV BF AFHFQ GFXQA XAPVOEAN CQJD OEUVJQP.” -XAJAPDJKU Hint: A = V FXM’K OX BEXVMU HBSAMO KCD GXEJU XGDH SXV B JAKAMO. KCD GXEJU XGDH SXV MXKCAMO. AK GBH CDED QAEHK. -TBEY KGBAM Hint: Y = K
SUDOKU Fill in the grid so that each row, column and square contains all digits 1-9.
LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS BRAIN TEASERS:
It was one volume of an encyclopedia. The man was carrying a pardon of execution for a prisoner condemned to die in the electric chair. When he saw the lights flicker, he knew that it was too late.
JUMBLE: PHANTASM SWITCH TABOO EMOTE
Used to fix a broken tomato: TOMATO PASTE Kate Sciamanna/THE HOYA
A6
NEWS
THE HOYA
TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 2012
Women Take Leading Roles WOMEN, from A1 11 women and 13 males. That of their predecessors, Mike Meaney (SFS ’12) and Greg Laverriere (COL ’12), was made up of four females and 22 males. According to Stephanie Kuo (MSB ’13), executive secretary in Meaney and Laverriere’s staff, female underrepresentation in leadership positions is not just a GUSA or Georgetown phenomenon. “In past years, it’s been sort of a systemic issue. Even if you look at the U.S. Congress, women are underrepresented. … There is room for improvement, but we’ve made great strides,” she said. Kuo began her role coordinating the schedules and communication for the GUSA executive cabinet and staff but became increasingly involved in important decisions throughout her term. Georgetown University College Republicans Chair Maggie Cleary (COL ’14), one of five females among the club’s 11 officers, says that the larger proportion of males in certain groups at Georgetown might be explained by differing preferences between men and women. “A lot of activities that I am involved with seem to be very male dominated, and I think that is simply because girls aren’t interested in some of these topics,” she said. According to Heather Seamans (COL ’12), copresident of Georgetown’s chapter of Republican Women, her organization was founded to foster a more moderate political discourse within the Republican party. Seamans stressed, however, that the group does not identify women’s issues as its focus, instead exploring topics including immigration reform and gay rights. Seamans said that she feels women are well represented in campus leadership positions overall, arguing that the election of Gustafson and Kohnert-Yount was the continuation of progress that female leaders have made at Georgetown over the past year. Current GUSA Director of Communications Kara Brandeisky (COL ’13) believes that a large part of Gustafson and Kohnert-Yount’s election success can be attributed to targeting students who have
Hoya Staff Writer Rita Pearson contributed to this report.
CLASSIFIEDS
INDEX MISCELLANEOUS
been historically underrepresented in GUSA, namely women. In contrast, female leaders in GUASFCU and The Corp did not report feeling like a minority in their respective student organizations. According to Chief Lending Officer Catie Barile (MSB ’13) and Chief Communications Officer Mary Bryan Ciarrocchi (MSB ’13), the ratio of maleto-female leadership in GUASFCU’s board of directors fluctuates but does not affect the culture of the institution. “Every year the composition of the GUASFCU board is different,” Ciarrocchi wrote in an email. “We have seen past boards in which males have been the majority, and we have also seen past boards in which females have been the majority.” While last year The Corp held information sessions to specifically encourage female students to apply for its board of directors and upper management, the representation of males and females is well-balanced, according to Chief Operating Officer Stephanie Wolfram (MSB ’13). Outside of student organizations, Kuo noted that many female students serve as leaders in high-level positions within the boards that govern the university and alumni network. Kuo has previously served as a student representative to the board of directors. “It’s not gender that defines us but shared passions and visions,” Kuo said. “At the end of the day, that’s the most important factor in our successes.” Brandeisky also thinks that more women will move into leadership positions if a precedent of female involvement is set. “Older female students encouraged me to pursue leadership positions when I was a freshman,” she said. “Early on, this made a big difference.” Kuo agreed that it is important to provide women at Georgetown with mentorship and an example of female leadership. “It’s on us to foster women in engagement and be great advocates for reaching out to more women,” she said.
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Mall Empties Before Revamp MALL, from A1 Citizens Association of Georgetown and the Commission of Fine Arts. Only 12 stores remain open in the Shops at Georgetown Park, which once held more than 60 shops and businesses. According to Robert Bellamy, assistant general manager at Washington Sports Club, the business has not been
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asked to leave the mall. WSC is located on the top level of the building, which is not slated for renovation. “It will be open while things are under construction, while they’re making renovations,” Bellamy said. Bellamy added that the arrival of a large department store would be good for the remaining businesses. Although WSC has not seen a decline
in customers, Bellamy said, “It never hurts to have more awareness,” citing that a large store would increase traffic in the mall. Since being forced to vacate the mall in Dec. 2011, several former occupants, including Fornash Designs and Total Party, have announced the opening of new locations across the Potomac at Ballston Common Mall in Arlington, Va.
GU May Buy Space on I-395 EXPANSION, from A1
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ERICA WONG FOR THE HOYA
All but a dozen stores have left the Shops at Georgetown Park in preparation for upcoming renovations to the building’s first three floors and the garage below.
and the development integrated into a six-block area that would operate independently from the D.C. power grid, instead using renewable energy sources. “We’re in discussions with the Law Center folks to have connections with the water system and the cogeneration plant,” Braunohler said. Braunohler added that the
project has been well-received by the city and the university. “Georgetown has been very supportive,” he said. Sussman said that the agency expects to complete architectural and engineering drawings in the next 12 months and is set to begin construction on the building around June 2013. Arthur Santry, senior managing director of leasing agency Cassidy Turley, esti-
mated that the project will be completed in the next three years. Regardless of whether Georgetown buys into the property, Sussman said he looks forward to having the Law Center as a neighbor. “We thought the Georgetown Law Center was an attractive neighbor because … it’s a 24-hour community,” he said.
news
tuesday, march 27, 2012
THE HOYA
A7
Old School: Medieval Club Celebrates Historical Era Alex Styer
Special to The Hoya
LEONEL DE VELEZ/THE HOYA
Ted Leonsis (COL ’77) spoke about his professional success and attachment to his personal values Friday. He has founded several companies and owns multiple D.C. sports teams.
Alum’s Values Shine in Success Sam Rodman Hoya Staff Writer
Internet pioneer and venture capitalist Ted Leonsis (COL ’77) spoke about entrepreneurship and the importance of empathy to his business success Friday evening. His talk in Reiss Friday was part of Students of Georgetown, Inc.’s 40th Anniversary Celebration. Leonsis owns the Washington Wizards, Mystics and Capitals and is the founder of SnagFilms, a website that streams independent documentaries. He also started media company Redgate Communications, and became a senior executive at America Online when Redgate was acquired by the corporation in 1994. Lenonsis’ first business venture was a snow cone stand that he launched as an undergradu-
ate in 1976. After graduating, he briefly worked for a consumer technology company before founding a software firm that sold for $70 million when he was 24 years old. Leonsis said that his rapid success led him to briefly lose his way and begin questioning his values. He had an epiphany, however, after surviving a plane crash in 1983. As the airplane was falling, Leonsis prayed and negotiated a deal with himself. “If I get through this, I promise I’ll live the rest of my life without regret. I’ll try to find my own way, and I’ll leave more than I take,” he remembered thinking. Surviving the crash inspired Leonsis to make a list of 101 things that he hoped to accomplish during his lifetime. So far, he has fulfilled 76 of them. Leonsis encouraged prospective entrepreneurs to actively
participate in several communities and underscored the importance of social interaction and self-expression. He also cited personal empathy as a key to his success. Leonsis said he came off selfabsorbed in an interview with the Washington Post after purchasing several of the District’s professional sports teams. He responded by apologizing to the staff of Verizon Center and cleaning the women’s restrooms and pickup up garbage after entertaining President Barack Obama at a Washington Mystics game. “It’s almost two years later. … Not a single person has said to me, ‘Remember when you hung out with the president of the United States?’ But every single person remembers that I apologized, I said I was wrong and I cleaned the women’s bathroom,” Leonsis said.
Founded in the 1970s by students interested in medieval history and culture, the Medieval Club provides an extracurricular outlet not just for Medieval Studies students, but for all students with a penchant for history. “It’s a gathering of people who are interested in medieval-type things, even if it’s not purely academic,” President Sorina Radu (SFS ’12) said. Treasurer Melissa Riggio (COL ’14) joined after hearing about the group through the Georgetown Fencing Club, which was a component of the Medieval Club before it split from the group to become a club sport. The two organizations are still connected and have overlapping members. The cornerstone of the club’s programming is its Medieval Banquet, which features fencing, jugglers, dancers and a falconer to celebrate the Middle Ages. As in past years, the banquet on April 13 in Copley Formal Lounge will feature free food, including a pig that will be roasted in Red Square. For some club members, this sight alone was an incentive to join the club. “It has its tradition,” Jonathan Kim (COL ’12), senior adviser to the organization, said.
“I joined the club after seeing the Medieval Banquet [which had] a pig roasting in Red Square. I’m a Medieval Studies major, so that also was a really good way for me to explore medieval culture as much as possible.” Every fall, the Medieval Club travels to a local Renaissance fair and takes advantage of other cultural opportunities in the District. The group recently visited the National Geographic Museum’s “Anglo-Saxon Hoard: Gold from England’s Dark Ages” exhibit. Medieval Club also hosts two to three movie nights each semester, occasionally accompanied by guest lecturers. “In the past we’ve had a ‘Braveheart’ movie night where … Professor Jennifer Paxton in the history department [came] and [lectured] about ‘Braveheart’ and the inaccuracies of the movie,” Kim said. The group has always been small, with active membership of around fifteen students. “It’s been really hard to expand our membership. There’s this general idea that small clubs cater to [a small group of] people and their friends,” Radu said. To draw in more students, club leaders hope to branch out and host more programs, possibly including a medieval cooking party in the future.
Seniors May Get $1M Gift Zosia Dunn
Special to The Hoya
An anonymous donor has pledged $1 million to the Class of 2012 if more seniors contribute to their class fund than did so last year. The Class of 2012 has until June 30, the end of the university’s fiscal year, to beat last year’s 68 percent participation rate. Donations currently total $24,000, representing participation by 42 percent of the class. In past years, more than 50 percent of seniors have donated to their class fund before graduation in mid-May. Katie Eisenstein (COL ’12), chair of the Class of 2012 Fund, is optimistic about the project. “I’m confident that we can meet our goal,” she said. “To put it in perspective, at this point last year the Class of 2011 Fund had 358 gifts and had raised around $8,300.”
The anonymous donor, a parent of a Georgetown student, allocated the potential gift to the 1789 Scholarship Imperative, which aims to fund 1,789 $25,000 scholarships by the end of the current 10-year capital campaign. While not in contact with the donor, Eisenstein said that the gift was motivated by the current success of the Class of 2012 Fund. Statistics about the fund were shared with many alumni during the public launch of the capital campaign in October. Georgetown’s Board of Regents, a group of alumni that acts as representatives of the university, has also pledged a donation to match the amount contributed by the senior class. “This demonstrates that past generations are honoring our current philanthropy by amplifying it,” Eisenstein said. “This presents us with an exciting opportunity to make history as a class and truly give back to Georgetown.”
A8
SPORTS
THE HOYA
MEN’S TENNIS
TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 2012
WOMEN’S LACROSSE
GU Falters Against Loyola LOYOLA, from A10
FILE PHOTO: SARI FRANKEL/THE HOYA
stops [defensively, in the end],” Barnes said. The game could have been billed as a Battle of the Thomases, as junior midfielder Sophia Thomas scored four goals for Georgetown while freshmen midfielders Annie and Sydney Thomas provided the bulk of the offense for the Greyhounds. However, labeling it as such would be a serious disservice to GU freshman attacker Caroline Tarzian, who tallied four crucial goals. In doing so, she jumped Jackson into second place in points scored, with 19 thus far this season. The loss is sure to sting for the Hoyas, who now have second-ranked Syracuse to worry about in conference play. Still, though, Fried noted that with the top four teams in the Big East making the conference tournament, Georgetown is still in control of its own des-
Senior Andrew Bruhn and partner Brian Ward (not pictured) lost at the No. 1 doubles spot in Georgetown’s loss to George Washington. Georgetown plays UMBC tomorrow at 2 p.m.
FILE PHOTO: CHRIS BIEN/THE HOYA
Sophomore midfielder Kelyn Freedman scored two goals and forced three turnovers in the Hoyas’ loss to Loyola. tiny regarding the NCAA tournament. “I think if our season so far shows us anything, [it’s] that we can bounce back pretty easily. [At] the beginning of the season, we lost some games we should have won and came back and beat UNC,” the
defender said. “We have our heads up high, and there’s no doubt in our minds that we’re going to come out for the next game.” The next match will take place tonight, as the team will take on local foe American. Faceoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
TRACK
Hoyas Fall to Local Rival Ten Runners Qualify at UVA GWU, from A10 partner Caris. However, with Bruhn and senior partner Brian Ward falling, 8-4, at No. 1 doubles and sophomore Andrew Dottino and freshman partner Alex Tropiano losing, 8-2, at No. 2, the victory was not enough to earn Georgetown the doubles point. Distaso’s win came as no surprise, as his competitiveness and work ethic is not lost on Ernst. “Casey [Distaso] is the ultimate competitor,” Ernst said. “Everyday he leaves his premed studies at the fence before he walks on the court. That’s why he succeeds and that’s why his matches are always so close. He is never blown out.” Despite the loss, Ernst is still confident in his squad. “I do believe we can beat [George Washington] on any given day,” Ernst said. “But we
would need everyone to come out and play their best.” Georgetown had a match scheduled for Saturday against Duquesne that has been postponed indefinitely due to travel and schedule conflicts. “We would love to have another match, but everyone is so busy that we just cannot do it,” Ernst said. “But now we have time to get completely rested.” And the Hoyas need this much-deserved rest. After travelling for much of the season, the Blue and Gray now begin their final stretch with eight straight home matches. Georgetown will next take on the University of Maryland-Baltimore County. The Retrievers come into the match after defeating Texas-Pan American, 4-3, in a five-hour match Friday. The Hoyas look to improve their record to 9-6 against UMBC tomorrow at 2 p.m. at the McDonough Outdoor Tennis Complex.
TURNING TWO IN THE 202
Yanks Will Top Philly for Title
W
ith Opening Day just a week and a half away, it’s time to roll out picks for the 2012 Major League Baseball season. With superstars Albert Pujols and Prince Fielder switching squads and the arrivals of newcomers such as Yu Darvish and Matt Moore, this year’s MLB landscape is in flux. But despite the massive player migration, most of last year’s playoff contenders remain the likeliest teams to hoist the World Series trophy come October. AL East Champion: New York Yankees As a Red Sox fan, it pains me to pick the Bronx Bombers, but it’s impossible to ignore that the Yankees are one of the most balanced teams in the league heading into 2012. After their starting rotation — outside of ace C.C. Sabathia — was a weakness in 2011, New York added up-and-comer Michael Pineda from Seattle who joins veterans Hiroki Kuroda and Andy Pettitte to give the Yanks formidable rotation depth. These additions give New York the edge. AL Central Champion: Detroit Tigers Despite losing catcher/ first baseman Victor Martinez to injury for all of 2012, the Tigers ponied up for slugger Prince Fielder. Alongside Miguel Cabrera, the addition of Fielder gives Detroit arguably the strongest combination of hitters of any MLB team. Unless catastrophe strikes, the Tigers should run away with the division in 2012.
I would bet on the squads that have Albert Pujols and Adrian Gonzalez at the heart of their respective lineups. NL East Champion: Philadelphia Phillies The NL East will be a bloodbath, with the Nationals and Marlins closing on the Phillies and Braves after several major offseason moves. Despite injuries to Ryan Howard and Chase Utley, the Phillies should maintain control of the division with a rotation headlined by Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, and Cole Hamels. NL Central Champion: Cincinnati Reds With St. Louis and Milwaukee losing Pujols and Fielder, respectively, I expect the Reds to take the division, with help from new acquisitions including ace Mat Latos and closer Sean Marshall. The Cardinals and Brewers did find adequate replacements for their sluggers — Carlos Beltran for the Cardinals and Aramis Ramirez for the Brewers — but the Reds should still have a slight edge in 2012.
Preston Barclay
The Yankees are one of the most balanced teams in the league heading into 2012.
NL West Champion: San Francisco Giants Buster Posey’s impending return should stabilize an otherwise weak Giants lineup, and that should be enough for the 2010 World Series champs to get by in a division without a truly great team. The Diamondbacks, Rockies and Dodgers will all be factors, however, and any one of those three could get hot and take the title.
AL West Champion: Texas Rangers Although Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson joined the Rangers’ divisional rivals in Los Angeles, back-to-back defending AL champion Texas countered by adding Japanese sensation Yu Darvish and closer Joe Nathan. The Angels will undoubtedly be in contention, though, so the loser of this division should gain one of the league’s two Wild Card slots.
NL Wild Card Winners: Atlanta Braves & Washington Nationals (Contenders: Miami Marlins, Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Dodgers) With the exception of a few bottom feeders, virtually every NL team has a shot at the Wild Card. I like the Braves and Nationals to come out on top at the end of the year because of the balance in their lineups, starting rotations and bullpens.
AL Wild Card Winners: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim & Boston Red Sox (Contender: Tampa Bay Rays) The Angels and Red Sox appear to have a slight edge over the Rays heading into this season. Tampa Bay has the best rotation of the three, but the other two have better lineups and the financial flexibility to fill gaps in midseason. It’s been a mistake to count out the Rays, though, and they could steal a Wild Card bid from one of the two powers. But right now
World Series: Yankees over Phillies I may be ostracized for picking the Evil Empire to win the World Series, but it’s impossible to ignore their re-establishment as the title frontrunner. With off-season upgrades and an experienceladen roster, the Yankees seem to be on their way to winning a 28th World Series championship. Preston Barclay is a sophomore in the McDonough School of Business. TURNING TWO IN THE 202 appears every Tuesday.
ASHWIN WADEKAR Hoya Staff Writer
After a successful indoor season in which the women finished in the nation’s top 25, the Georgetown track and field team kicked off its outdoor campaign this weekend at the UVA Team Swashbuckle meet in Charlottesville, Va. The Hoyas put up 10 Big East championship-qualifying times in the one-day event, and, once again, the Georgetown relay teams impressed. The Blue and Gray faced tough competition from the likes of Virginia and Army, who took the top two spots, respectively, for both the men and women. Georgetown’s men took fourth place, while the women finished eighth. Seniors Chela Green and London Finley and juniors Tenille Stoudenmire and Amanda Kimbers led the women’s 4x400-meter relay team to a second-place finish behind Virginia’s ‘A’ team. Finishing in a time of 3:44.06, the squad earned eight points for Georgetown. The Hoyas also took three of
the top 10 spots in the women’s 1500m run, as junior Meaghan Gregory, sophomore Shanique Dasilva and freshman Kristen Walsh took fifth, eighth and 10th places, respectively. Kimbers and Stoudenmire stood out for Georgetown this weekend. The duo dominated the 400m run with times of 55.03 and 56.08 seconds, respectively. That was good enough to give them the top two spots in the event. Freshman Bria Murray also competed, finishing in 16th place with a time of 1:02.57. In his first race for the Hoyas, graduate student Kevin Wilson — who was an All-American for track at George Mason — took third place in the 200m dash with a time of 21.69s. Senior Biyerem Okengwu clocked a time of 22.72s in the same event, earning a 13th-place finish. Okengwu also competed in the 110m hurdles, and his time of 14.61s put him in fourth place. In the 800m run, graduate student Toby Ulm took second place with a time of 1:52.50, while freshman Omar Kaddu-
rah edged out Army freshman Clyde Wilson for a sixth-place finish with a time of 1:54.43. Five other Hoyas competed in the event, but only Ulm and Kaddurah scored points for the Blue and Gray. Georgetown fared even better in the 5000m run, in which junior Ben Furcht and senior Mark Dennin took first and third place, respectively. Impressively, both runners broke the 15-minute mark. Meanwhile, junior Dylan Sorensen earned 10 points for the Hoyas by taking first place in the steeplechase. Another bright spot for the men’s team was the 4x400m relay team of Ulm, Wilson, senior Austin Perron and sophomore Hansel Akers, who finished second only to Virginia’s ‘A’ team. The squad’s time of 3:10.98 was the fastest 4x400m time for Georgetown since 2005. The Hoyas will try to continue their good start when they compete this weekend on both sides of the country at the Stanford Invitational in Palo Alto, Calif., and the Raleigh Relays in Raleigh, N.C.
sports
tuesday, march 27, 2012
THE HOYA
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women’s lacrosse
Baseball
Georgetown Looks to GU Set to Take On American Rebound Against Navy Leonard Olsen Hoya Staff Writer
USF, from A10 pitching carried the Bulls to a 6-1 victory. Sunday’s loss was tougher because Georgetown got on the board first, with an RBI single from junior outfielder Paul Bello. USF capitalized on two Georgetown errors in the bottom half of the inning to plate two and take a 2-1 advantage, but the Hoyas tied it up in the fourth thanks to a solo home run from redshirt junior infielder Mike Garza. But with the game tied, 2-2, Georgetown again unraveled. Over the course of the sixth, seventh and eight innings, the Bulls tabbed the Hoyas’ senior starting pitcher Will Harris and the Hoyas’ bullpen for five more runs to take a 7-2 advantage, which was to be the final score. The USF sweep drops the Hoyas to 0-3 in conference play, with their next conference series coming against Rutgers this weekend. In or-
der to take some conference games back, Head Coach Pete Wilk knows his team needs to make some adjustments. “Our defense needs to be better, and we work hard at it. Right now it seems like we’re either not hitting when we pitch well or not pitching or playing defense when we hit well,” Wilk said. “We need to put all three aspects of the game together consistently, and then we’ll start winning more games. Easier said than done.” At the plate, the Hoyas need to improve their approach to facing pitchers with more than one aboveaverage pitch to avoid the scoring droughts they faced this weekend. Georgetown has a midweek matchup against Navy to make adjustments and build momentum heading into their next conference matchup. First pitch for Wednesday’s game against Navy is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Shirley Povich Field in Bethesda, Md.
MEN’S LAcrosse
The No. 13 Georgetown women’s lacrosse team (4-4, 1-1 Big East) hopes to recover from a heartbreaking loss to No. 16 Loyola (5-3, 1-0 Big East) over the weekend when it takes on American (6-4, 2-1 Patriot League) at home this Tuesday. The Hoyas dropped Saturday’s contest on a Loyola goal scored in the last minute of overtime. Before Saturday’s loss, the Blue and Gray had been playing their best lacrosse of the year, having knocked off two straight ranked opponents in then-No. 3 North Carolina and then-No. 8 Penn. While American might seem like a soft spot in the Hoyas’ schedule, the Eagles are still a quality team and should pose another challenge for Georgetown. American also brings some sizable momentum to the table, having won three straight contests. The Eagles scored at least 19 goals in each game and most recently routed Bucknell by a score of 22-9. The Eagles currently sit at second behind Navy in the Patriot League standings and boast a potent offensive attack, ranking second in the conference in both goals and points per game. They have outscored their opponents, 143-124, on the year. American Head Coach Laura Campbell’s team is led by the junior duo of attack Kimberly Collins and midfielder Emily Burton. Collins is the team’s points leader with 41, while Burton leads the team in goals with 32. She also boasts a .681 shot percentage. Senior Kaska Komosinski works between the pipes for the Eagles, tallying 69 saves on the year. She is aided on defense by sophomore Lauren Binstein and junior Laura Dawson. Georgetown Head Coach Ricky Fried is aware of the talent on American’s team, and he sees Tuesday’s matchup as a potential trap game for his team. However, the Hoyas have proven they can run with the best. The Blue and Gray have a ex-
FILE PHOTO: CHRIS BIEN/THE HOYA
Senior midfielder Erin Lovett scored a goal and had two assists in the Hoyas’ overtime loss to Loyola Saturday afternoon. plosive offense that averages 17.5 points per game, good for fourth in the conference. However, their shooting still has room for improvement; the Hoyas average the most shots taken in the Big East but possess the lowest shooting percentage. Georgetown definitely has the offensive talent to improve on this statistic. Junior midfielder Sophia Thomas has been spectacular this year and was recently named Big East offensive player of the week. While Thomas leads the team in goals (19) and points (23), her
companions in the midfield have been integral to the Hoyas’ success as well. Senior Erin Lovett and junior Kelsi Bozel have 14 and 13 points on the year, respectively, and freshman attack Caroline Tarzian has made an immediate impact on the team with her 19 points. But it will take a team effort for the Hoyas to earn a win Tuesday, as the team looks to get back on track with the bulk of its Big East schedule looming. The opening draw is scheduled for 7 p.m. at MultiSport Facility.
candid canadian
Injuries Threaten Hockey’s Future
D CHRIS GRIVAS/THE HOYA
Senior midfielder Brian Will scored two goals on only two shots in Georgetown’s narrow loss to Duke Saturday afternoon.
Devils’ Strong Start Proves Too Much for Georgetown DUKE, from A10 penalties that went against the Hoyas, winning four of five faceoffs and dramatically out-shooting Georgetown, 11-2. All told, Duke scored five straight goals in the second quarter and took an 8-3 lead into the intermission. But it was the unforced errors that irked Urick most. “We threw it away a few times in the first half, which was a little bit disappointing. Against them you want to take a little bit better care of the ball and not turn it over unnecessarily. We’re going to do that on our own,” Urick said. “We don’t want to throw it over the guy’s head if we can avoid it.” But even after the break, Georgetown couldn’t get anything going, allowing two more Duke goals. By the time senior midfielder Zack Angel scored with 11:15 left in the third quarter, the Blue Devils had scored seven straight goals and held the Hoyas scoreless for more than 14 minutes. After Angel broke the streak, however, the Blue and Gray began to show some signs of life. Duke responded immediately with a goal of its own, but junior attack Zac Guy and senior midfielder Brian Will both scored in the third quarter. Despite that help, Georgetown still trailed by seven when the fourth quarter began. Comeau, who had scored two goals earlier in the game, completed a hat trick when he scored off an assist from junior attack Brian Casey. Comeau has been key in several of
Georgetown’s wins this season, and creating opportunities for him remains a goal. “We’ve just got to make sure we get Travis some looks. Travis depends on other guys getting him the ball when he’s in a position to shoot it,” Urick said. “And it’s a two-way street, so hopefully we can build on that too.” After Comeau’s goal, Angel, McDonough, Will and junior midfielder Dan McKinney proceeded to score in a furious rally. The defense also clamped down, as senior goalie Matt Winter recorded his eighth save of the game in the final period. Fatigue became a factor for the Hoyas late in the game, though, as they were toward the end of the busiest stretch of their season. “This is the fifth game in two weeks. It was a question of how much they have in the tank in the fourth quarter,” Urick said. “But guys like [senior midfielder] Gerry Reilly; they’re ironmen. Let’s put it this way: Gerry Reilly will sleep pretty well tonight.” But despite the exhaustion, Georgetown pushed through. And although the rally came up short, Urick found a silver lining that was appropriate for a rainy day. “I think we might have taken a few steps forward today as a team. That’ll only prove itself out over the next few weeks, but I’m pretty sure that if we build on this, we’ll be moving in the right direction,” Urick said. The Hoyas will have a chance to gauge that growth when they travel to Easton, Pa., Saturday to take on Lafayette. Faceoff is set for 4 p.m.
espite being only 24 years old, Sidney Crosby has already been known for a lot of things. He was the 7-year-old who did TV interviews; he was the one who tore up the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League at the age of 16, dominating 19- and 20-year-olds; he was the one — the only one — who Wayne Gretzky claimed could break his NHL scoring records, earning the nickname of “The Next One;” he was the one who scored 120 points in 79 games in his second year in the NHL, becoming the youngest scoring champion ever in any major North American professional sport; he was the youngest captain ever to win a Stanley Cup; he was the one who scored the game-winning goal at the 2010 Olympics, clinching the gold medal for Canada against the United States in overtime. Most recently, however, Sid the Kid has added a new, less spectacular tag to his legacy. People often call hockey a “contact sport,” but that doesn’t do justice to the type of physical punishment that players experience on a daily basis. Basketball is a contact sport; hockey, like American football, is a collision sport. The latter always brings the risk of serious injury, and in hockey, concussions have recently become a troubling issue. The NHL has been reluctant to release specific concussion numbers, which leads me to believe the issue may be even more serious than the average fan would suspect. Whether that is the case or not, it is clear things need to change. Countless careers have been cut short by traumatic head injuries, and a common stance among frustrated pundits has always been that a player would have to die before the league — and the world — took note. That might no longer be the case. I suppose it’s not surprising that some of the most important moments in sports seem to happen on its biggest stages. After months of buildup, including a four-part HBO documentary series, the 2011
Winter Classic in Pittsburgh included the world’s two best hockey players, Crosby and Alex Ovechkin. It was supposed to be a celebration of hockey’s re-emergence as a relevant North American sport, but for Crosby, a third-period blindside hit by Washington’s David Steckel turned it into his worst nightmare. From Jan. 6 to Nov. 20, Crosby didn’t play a single shift. In his first game back, it seemed the star the NHL so badly needed was ready to pick up where he left off. He scored four points, including two goals, and the concussion issue once again took a back seat. But seven games later, Crosby suf-
Arik Parnass
Countless careers have been cut short by traumatic head injuries. fered another concussion-related setback and was once again kept off the ice. He returned last weekend, but questions will remain about whether Sid’s career will more resemble that of “The Great One” — Gretzky himself — or Eric Lindros, another “future star” who was never able to realize his potential because of concussions. Just as basketball fans were captivated by Jordan and soccer fans can’t help but love Messi, as a hockey fan I am inspired by what Sidney Crosby can do on the ice. As somebody who wants to see the game grow, it is inconceivable to me that he wouldn’t become one of the greatest of all time, completing a long and prosperous career. But maybe I, and many others, ought to change our expectations.
I recently read an article in Sports Illustrated about Jack Jablonski. Jack was a promising young hockey player who was hit from behind into the boards one day and suddenly couldn’t move. He has become an international sensation, a poster boy of sorts for the changes that need to come to make the sport safer. The National Federation of State High School Associations in Minnesota passed several changes to punish checking from behind, boarding and head contact more harshly; they came into effect statewide only 10 days after Jack’s injury. If a 16-year-old youth player can inspire statewide changes, then what kind of benefit could Sidney Crosby have on the sport as a whole? It is clear that the NHL understands how important Crosby is to the game, and some changes have already been made — with more sure to come. There will always be a supply of talent. In the past few years, Steve Stamkos and Evgeni Malkin have emerged as superstars, and, as difficult as it may be to imagine, maybe the league can survive without Crosby on the ice. If it means that future generations of hockey players will be able to fulfill their potential without the fear of concussion, maybe Crosby will have done more for the game off the ice than he ever could have on it. The possibility of seeing Sid’s talent wasted is horrifying, but the idea of seeing future talents like 2013 projected first overall pick Nathan MacKinnon — who comes from Crosby’s hometown — suffering the same fate might be even more devastating. I, like so many others, hope that Crosby is back for good. But the league and its fans must realize the severity of the issue that currently haunts the sport. If wasted greatness is what it takes to change the game, then maybe it’s for the greater good, and we should all accept that. Arik Parnass is a freshman in the College. CANDID CANADIAN appears every Tuesday.
SPORTS
WOMEN’S LACROSSE Hoyas (4-4) vs. American (6-4) Tonight, 7 p.m. MultiSport Facility
TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 2012
RECENT SCORES: BIG EAST BASEBALL
ONLINE AT HOYA PARANOIA Check in with The Hoya’s sports bloggers for analysis and predictions of this weekend’s Final Four matchups.
Cincinnatti 2 Louisville 10
St. John’s Villanova
0 8
UPCOMING GAMES: BIG EAST BASEBALL
Pittsburgh Notre Dame
2 3
Maryland at St. Johns Tomorrow, 3 p.m.
Cincinnati at Dayton Tomorrow, 3 p.m
Navy at Georgetown Tomorrow, 4 p.m.
“We don’t want to throw it over the guy’s head if we can avoid it.” Men’s lacrosse Head Coach Dave Urick on his team’s turnover issues
MEN’S LACROSSE
Hoyas Lose OT Thriller
WOMEN’S LACROSSE
RYAN BACIC
Special to The Hoya
CHRIS GRIVAS/THE HOYA
Senior midfielder Zack Angel scored two goals in the Hoyas’ 13-11 loss to Duke Saturday afternoon. The Hoyas are now 4-3 on the season.
Late Rally Comes Up Short Against Duke EVAN HOLLANDER Hoya Staff Writer
A series of Georgetown penalties and defensive breakdowns in the second period gave No. 8 Duke (73, 1-1 ACC) a lead large enough to withstand the No. 19 Hoyas’ (4-3, 1-0 Big East) fourth-quarter charge. The Blue Devils prevailed at MultiSport Facility, 13-11, in a Saturday afternoon battle of two powerhouse programs. Despite a strong start from junior attack Travis Comeau, who was quiet in last week’s loss to Loyola, the Hoyas couldn’t find their offensive rhythm and were badly outshot by the Blue Devils for much of the contest. “It was very typical with these two teams, very similar to last year’s. It
was a hard-fought, very physical game,” Head Coach Dave Urick said. “A good game between two tough, physical teams. They’ve got some really big guys.” Georgetown started well enough, with Comeau answering an early goal from Duke and then scoring another to DUKE 13 even the score at 2-2. GEORGETOWN 11 Senior midfielder Francis McDonough assisted Comeau’s second goal and then scored one of his own in the final minute of the first quarter to tie the game at three. But the Blue Devils tightened up considerably in the second quarter, taking advantage of three See DUKE, A9
Heading into overtime against Loyola (Md.) (5-3) on Saturday, having battled back with two goals in the final 1:27 of regulation to miraculously tie the game, it seemed as if the Georgetown women’s lacrosse team could do no wrong. But with 30 seconds left in an overtime period that had seen the Hoyas dominate possession, Loyola found the back of the net to put themselves up for good, 15-14, dropping the Blue and Gray to 4-4 (1-1 Big East) on the season. “At the end of the day, in overtime, we didn’t do the things that we wanted to do, and that really hurt us,” Georgetown Head Coach Ricky Fried said. “[We had] too many unforced LOYOLA 15 turnovers, too many GEORGETOWN 14 bad decisions on the defensive end of the field, and poor decisions shooting. And when you make those decisions, and you play that way against a quality opponent, the result kind of speaks for itself.” Saturday’s contest featured 11 lead changes, and neither team led by more than two goals at any time. Loyola was eventually able to build a two-goal lead with three minutes remaining after a free-position strike, but Georgetown wasn’t ready to give up. A goal from junior attack Dina Jackson cut the lead to one, and junior midfielder Sophia Thomas provided the equalizer with 25 ticks left. “The thing about our team is we never stop playing until the whistle [blows],” senior co-captain Kelly Barnes said. “We have a lot of pride for the entire time that we’re on the field.” Unfortunately for the Hoyas, their late heroic push would prove to fall short. The game was a sharp deviant from Georgetown’s last two games,
FILE PHOTO: CHRIS BIEN/THE HOYA
Junior midfielder Sophia Thomas scored four goals in Saturday’s loss. both of which were lower-scoring affairs that paid off with big upset victories. Shootouts don’t appear to play to Georgetown’s strengths, as the Blue and Gray have yet to win a game this season in which the opposing team has reached double digits in scoring. “I thought we actually did a pretty good job [of] on-ball [defending],” Fried said. “But off-ball is right now our Achilles heel, and [we’re] giving up too many easy opportunities inside the eight, which is one thing that we had corrected [in past
MEN’S TENNIS
games].” With around eight minutes remaining in the first half, sophomore goalie Barb Black was removed in favor of junior backup — and nationalanthem singer — Abby Bisbee, but two quick Loyola goals sent Black back into the game. Validating the coaches’ decision, the sophomore responded with some clutch saves to help keep the Hoyas alive. “Barb stepped up huge, which was awesome, but just not enough See LOYOLA, A8
BASEBALL
GW Routs GU in Crosstown Battle Losing Streak Reaches Six After USF Sweep
CELEE BELMONTE Hoya Staff Writer
The Georgetown men’s tennis team fell to 8-6 on the season, dropping a 6-1 decision to crosstown rival George Washington (9-6, 1-1 Atlantic 10) at the Mount Vernon Tennis Center Friday. The win is the Colonials’ sixth in a row, and Georgetown Head Coach Gordie Ernst believes that this is the best team George Washington has had in years. The Colonials’ roster includes players from Turkey, Portugal, Ecuador, Sweden, Denmark and Germany. “They are a really good, solid team,” Ernst said. “They have six foreign players that are all really talented, competitive and experienced.” But despite the Colonials’ diversity and talent, the Hoyas had their chances to win Friday’s match. “[Junior] Charlie Caris was close in second singles, and [senior] Andrew Bruhn had his chances at No. 1 singles,” Ernst said. “But we got outplayed.” Caris fell at No. 2 singles to George Washington senior Ugur Atalay, 6-2, 7-5. Atalay, a senior from Istanbul, Turkey, was recently named the At-
KYLE FRANCO Hoya Staff Writer
FILE PHOTO: SARI FRANKEL/THE HOYA
Junior Charlie Caris lost at the No. 2 singles spot to George Washington senior Ugur Atalay. Georgetown fell to 8-6 on the season. lantic 10 men’s tennis performer of the week. At first singles, Bruhn lost, 6-2, 6-4, to George Washington freshman Francisco Dias. A Lisbon, Portugal native, Dias was ranked No. 80 in the most recent Intercollegiate Tennis Association poll.
The Hoyas’ lone point came from sophomore Casey Distaso’s 4-6, 7-6, 1-0 victory against sophomore Viktor Svensson at sixth singles. Distaso also won at No. 3 doubles, 8-7, with See GWU, A8
The Georgetown baseball team (11-13, 0-3 Big East) extended its losing streak to six games and fell below .500 for the first time this year after dropping all three games of their series to USF (17-8, 3-0 Big East) this weekend. The Hoyas opened conference play Friday night anxious to get their first win in four games, but USF pitcher Andrew Barbosa had different plans. The senior lefty dominated in his six innings of work, allowing no runs and only one hit. In fact, Barbosa was nearly untouchable, striking out 13 of the 20 Georgetown batters he faced. The Blue and Gray’s starting pitcher, junior Neal Dennison, was unable to replicate Barbosa’s impressive performance. With the Bulls on fire early, Dennison allowed five runs over the first three innings and surrendered another run in the fifth, when he was relieved by freshman Will Brown.
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The Hoyas also failed to match USF’s offensive output, as the usually active Georgetown lineup recorded just three hits and drew only two walks. With Georgetown batters completely neutralized, USF never trailed and easily cruised to a 6-0 win. Georgetown couldn’t make anything happen on Saturday, either. An RBI single from junior outfielder Justin Leeson left the score at 1-1 after three innings, and junior starting pitcher Thomas Polus preserved the tie in the second, third and fourth innings. But the southpaw couldn’t keep going and gave up five runs in the fifth and sixth innings before he was replaced by sophomore Jack Vander Linden. Although Vander Linden threw two and a third innings of flawless relief, the Hoyas could not muster a comeback. In the end, South Florida’s See USF, A9