The Hoya: April 13, 2012

GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY’S NEWSPAPER OF RECORD SINCE 1920 thehoya.com

Georgetown University • Washington, D.C. Vol. 93, No. 41, © 2012

friDAY, April 13, 2012

BRING YOUR APPETITE Get a taste of Georgetown’s best eats in the guide’s Food Issue.

RECRUITING No. 1 recruit Nerlens Noel annouced he will attend the University of Kentucky.

TOCQUEVILLE Joshua Mitchell will become interim director of the Tocqueville Forum in June.

SPORTS, A14

NEWS, A4

GUIDE, G5

ADMISSIONS GU’s acceptance rate hit an all-time low of 16.5 percent for the Class of 2016.

NEWS, A7

Campus Census Director Tapped for Provost Plan Talks To Resume Mariah Byrne & Matthew Strauss Hoya Staff Writers

GU and neighbors will use hearing postponement to hold private negotiations Sarah Patrick Hoya Staff Writer

The university and neighbors will begin private conversations on the 2010 Campus Plan after the D.C. Zoning Commission approved a 60-day extension in the proceedings last week.

At the last hearing on Feb. 9, Zoning Commission Chairman Anthony Hood encouraged Georgetown and its neighbors negotiate an end to the campus plan debate, which began when the university first submitted the plan in Deccember 2010.

The granting of the extension means that parties involved will not have to file further testimony until mid June.

Previously, the Zoning Commission was slated to make a decision on the case by early May. Representatives of the university, Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E, the Citizens Association of Georgetown and the Burleith Citizens Association said they welcomed the extended opportunity to communicate outside the public zoning hearings.

“We hope to come to some compromises on what the community needs and what the university needs,” Jennifer Altemus, president of the Citizens Association of Georgetown, said. “I think both of our sides are very clear on what we’ve been wanting out of the process, and hopefully if we work together we can make that happen.”

But few of the details of the conversations have been ironed out. A schedule for the discussions has not been established, and it is not clear that the issues discussed will be different from those brought up at zoning hearings. “[Private meetings] haven’t been successful in the past, but we haven’t given up trying,” Altemus said.

The university had been meeting with neighbors to discuss the plan as it was being compiled, but those talks ceased after the plan was filed in 2010. Since then, discussion of the plan has been limited to the zoning hearings and ANC meetings, both of which are public.

The Zoning Commission has held six hearings on the plan, and this latest delay represents the third consecutive postponement of the commission’s final ruling.

According to Director of Media Relations

COURTESY GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS

Robert Groves will replace current provost James O’Donnell in June.

Modified ATF Plans Advance

Robert Groves, director of the United States Census Bureau, has been selected as the university’s next executive vice president and provost.

Census Bureau director since 2009, Groves previously worked as director of the Survey Research Center at the University of Michigan and as a research professor at the University of Maryland. He will begin his duties as provost on Aug. 20 and has expressed excitement about returning to a college atmosphere.

“I can’t wait to actively interact with students,” he said. “My first job is to learn the aspirations and concerns of students and faculty, so that’s what I’ll do for several months. I’m anxious to hear from my colleagues.”

Groves will replace James O’Donnell, who has served as the chief academic and administrative of-

ficer for the main campus since 2002.

O’Donnell announced last August that he would be stepping down at the end of this academic year, but he will return to the university in the fall of 2013 as a classics professor after a sabbatical.

Wayne Davis, a professor of philosophy and president of the Faculty Senate, led the selection committee that conducted the nationwide search for a new provost. According to Davis, the committee, which was composed of students, faculty and staff, emphasized three major criteria: a strong academic record, administrative experience and reflection of the university’s Jesuit identity.

“Our top priority for the search was academic excellence, and [Groves’] credentials there are outstanding,” Davis said. “The quality of his academic record is incredible.”

See PROVOST, A5

GEORGETOWN FARMERs’ MARKET BACK IN BLOOM

Emma Hinchliffe Hoya Staff Writer

Revised plans for the new Athletic Training Facility were approved by the Old Georgetown Board last week and will now go before the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts for final approval.

“This is the third time that Georgetown has brought in a different scheme,” Secretary of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts Thomas Luebke said. “[The earlier version] was very real-estate intensive and did not have the best relationship to campus.”

Initial designs for the building, which is slated to be built adjacent to McDonough Arena, were approved by the D.C. Zoning Commission as a part of the 2000 Campus Plan process. The designs also received the approval of the Old Georgetown Board, a branch of the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, in 2006, but the project was put on hold during the 2008 economic downturn.

Because the prior date set for construction had passed, plans were required to be resubmitted for approval when the university made the facility a priority again last year.

At a hearing in October, OGB

See PLAN, A7

See ATF, A7

ERICA WONG FOR THE HOYA

The GU Farmers’ Market spring season opened Wednesday. It will continue weekly through May 9.

Four GU Professors Chosen in The Princeton Review’s Top 300 Kelly Church Hoya Staff Writer

LEONEL DE VELEZ/THE HOYA

COURTESY SAM POTOLICCHIO

FILE PHOTO: CHRIS BIEN/THE HOYA

From left: Professor Hector Campos, Sam Potolicchio, Fr. Matthew Carnes, S.J., and Barrett Tilney (not pictured) were named four of the 300 top professors according to The Princeton Review.

Newsroom: (202) 687-3415 Business: (202) 687-3947

The four Georgetown professors included in “The Best 300 Professors” list released by the Princeton Review last week all expressed surprise at the honor bestowed on them.

But Hector Campos, Sam Potolicchio, Barrett Tilney and Fr. Matthew Carnes, S.J., all have a record of previous awards and recognition for effective teaching.

The Princeton Review partnered with ratemyprofessors.com to determine which professors would be featured in the list.

Annual surveys and data were first used to determine which schools had the highest-ranked professors, and a list of 42,000 professors from those top schools was then compiled using ratemyprofessor.com rankings.

The two companies conducted their own surveys of the top 1,000 professors and reached out to administrators and stu-

Published Tuesdays and Fridays

dents from the respective schools to finalize the list. The result was a collection of 300 professors from 122 colleges.

For Campos, associate professor of Spanish and theoretical linguistics, his selection came as a shock. Campos acknowledged that most professors maintain a love-hate relationship with ratemyprofessor.com because student reviews are often based on extreme opinions.

Students of Campos said that he was demanding, but his teaching style and passion for his subject had convinced several of them to take him more than once.

“Campos is hands down the best professor I’ve had at Georgetown,” Emely Pring (COL ’12) said. Despite having over two hours of homework per night for one of his classes, Pring chose to take a second course with Campos.

“He’s the only professor that I would ever work that hard for,” she said.

See PROFESSORS, A7

Send Story Ideas and Tips to news@thehoya.com

OPINION

THE HOYA

Founded January 14, 1920

There’s a problem with “The Problem of God.” Because professors are given the freedom to choose the material covered in introductory theology classes, there’s an element of unpredictability in how much work they will assign.

While specific course material should be left to the discretion of each professor, such classes should entail the same amount of graded work.

Professors teaching either “The Problem of God” or “Introduction to Biblical Literature” have significant leeway when designing the curriculum of their courses. Thus, even though all “The Problem of God” classes, for example, are listed under the same course number, students have the pick of a variety of topics of focus depending on their sections. At present, the syllabus for each introductory theology class is accessible during preregistration and registration to help students choose courses that pique their interests.

The variety of lenses offered by these classes benefits the student body.

However, the differentiated amounts of work required for different sections do not. The workload for “The Problem of God” ranges from lengthy papers and challenging midterms to

only one-page reflections and discussions, depending on the section. Some don’t require a traditional final, while others mandate a research paper or sit-down exam. Similarly, students enrolled in one section of “Introduction to Biblical Literature” may face more graded assessments than those enrolled in another.

Students beginning their Georgetown careers may not necessarily know the amount of work assigned by a particular professor before registering for a course and may be stuck spending significantly more time on a required introductory class than other students in a different section of the same course. The policy is also detrimental to the Georgetown student who, rather than considering the material offered when choosing a section, may only consider the level of work required, potentially causing them to miss out on valuable academic experiences.

The theology requirement is fundamental to a Georgetown education. It is designed to provide students with an academic foundation. But the uneven work distribution among sections of these required courses makes it impossible to keep that foundation consistent for all students.

THE VERDICT

C

Puppy Love — Jack Jr., the university’s mascot-in-training, arrives on campus today. He will make his first appearance at 4 p.m. in Healy Circle.

Flattop Not Coming to the Hilltop — Nerlens Noel, the No. 1 men’s basketball recruit in the Class of 2016, committed to the University of Kentucky instead of to Georgetown Wednesday. See our coverage on A14.

C C C

Fresh Om Nom Nom — The Farmer’s Market returned to campus Wednesday after a winter hiatus. It will be held on Copley Lawn each Wednesday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. for the next four weeks.

EDITORIALS

Continuity Across Course Sections

FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012

C

A2

A Monumental Task — Final designs for renovations for the National Mall were released Monday. Projects include a retractable theater that could seat thousands, a looping rooftop garden above a gourmet restaurant and an underground pavilion with a cafeteria and bookstore.

Sing, Sing, Sing — The Georgetown Saxatones and Superfood will present Spring Sing Saturday at 8 p.m. in Gaston Hall. All proceeds from the benefit concert will be donated to local charities.

FROM THEHOYA.COM READER’S RESPONSE

“

Why can’t we just be leaders? Why can’t we just provide great leadership to both men and women? I didn’t take my position because I wanted to be an example for women — I did it so I could be an example for everyone I was leading. That was my primary responsibility. And if women happened to look up to me because I was female (and there were several who did, who I took pride in mentoring), then great! But I wouldn’t give them more attention than any of the men that I mentored.

”

Alumna Leader on “Overlooked Female Leaders” Posted April 4, 2012

THE RAW DEAL by Anthony Mastroianni

Extending Dorm Choice to Freshmen As campus is again flooded with prospective and admitted students, tour guides will point out the four freshman dorms and explain how each has unique perks and disadvantages. But what prospective students aren’t told is that even after being shown these possibilities, they will have no say in where they live during their first year at Georgetown.

If Georgetown’s freshman dorms were all the same, there would be good reason to randomly assign students to those dorms. But when the living styles and amenities provided in each dorm are so clearly different, it’s only fair that incoming students have an opportunity to express their residence hall preferences.

There is certainly something to be said for the random lottery allocation that currently assigns freshman housing. Many students who enter Georgetown with negative, preconceived notions about their dorm actually grow to love their randomly assigned locations, and the current system avoids any feelings of injustice or disappointment before students get to campus.

But with a preference-based system, students would be able to rank each of the dorms. If they chose a roommate through CHARMS, the website could include an additional question where, upon commitment, the pair could agree on their rankings. Each pair would then receive a lottery number, maintaining the same democratic element of the current system. The only difference would be that each pair’s dorm choice would also be considered.

Freshman housing at Georgetown varies greatly. Some, for example, consider the New South sinks most desirable, while others want the

camaraderie of a Harbin cluster.

As long as so much variation exists among the freshman dorms, a ranking system will leave more students in a dorm where they’d rather spend their freshman year.

The risk of a ranking system is that it sets expectations. Some students may be upset landing a less-desired housing assignment if they’ve been explicitly denied their preferences, rather than just been randomly dorms. Ultimately, though, the benefit of matching students with their preferred living spaces outweighs the risk of minor disappointment.

If one student would rather live in Harbin and another in Village C, there is no cost to the university in accommodating such preferences. If they don’t get their choice, they are no worse off than they would have been under the current random allocation system. Allowing for rankings simply provides the university with more information, which could result in increased satisfaction among incoming freshmen. First years already face the same randomized ranking system in preregistration — they state their preferences, and then may or may not get into the classes they chose because of the limited space available. Within a few years of this proposed change, students would come to see housing in the same, unbiased light.

The current allocation of freshman housing isn’t a bad or ineffective system — it’s just one that could use improvement. By letting students rank their housing preferences, Georgetown could help freshmen take advantage of the unique, varied opportunities provided by each freshman dorm.

CORRECTIONS The article “University, ANC Request Extension of Campus Plan Process” (Online Exclusive, April 2, 2012) incorrectly stated that the members of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E voted not to support the university's modified designs for the Athletic Training Facility. The ANC actually voted no objection.

The article “GU's Admissions Rate Hits Record Low” (Online Exclusive, March 31, 2012) incorrectly stated that 3,466 of 19,725 applicants were accepted in 2011, marking a 16.8 percent acceptance rate. The actual number of admitted students is 3,468 of 19,275 applicants, marking an 18 percent rate.

The article “Overlooked Female Leaders” (The Hoya, A3, March 20, 2012) incorrectly stated that the chief executive officer of Students of Georgetown, Inc., last year was a woman. The chief operating officer of The Corp last year was a woman.

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

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

Alumni Relations Manager Special Programs Manager Accounts Manager Operations Manager Publishing Division Consultant Public Relations Manager Human Resources Manager Institutional Diversity Manager Local Advertisements Manager Online Advertisements Manager Web Manager

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

Policies & Information Letter to the Editor & Viewpoint Policies The Hoya welcomes letters and viewpoints from our readers and will print as many as possible. To be eligible for publication, letters should specifically address a recent campus issue or Hoya story. Letters should not exceed 300 words.

Viewpoints are always welcome from all members of the Georgetown community on any topic, but priority will be given to relevant campus issues.

Viewpoint submissions should be between 600-800 words.

Send all submissions to: opinion@ thehoya.com.

Letters and viewpoints are due Sunday at 5 p.m. for Tuesday’s issue and Wednesday at 5 p.m. for Friday’s issue.

The Hoya reserves the right to reject letters or viewpoints and edit for length, style, clarity and accuracy. The Hoya further reserves the right to write headlines and select illustrations to accompany letters and viewpoints.

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

News Tips Campus News Editor Maraih Byrne: Call (202) 687-3415 or email campus@ thehoya.com.

City News Editor Sarah Kaplan: Call (202) 687-3415 or email city@thehoya. com.

Sports Editor Pat Curran: Call (202) 6873415 or email sports@thehoya.com.

General Information The Hoya is published twice each week during the academic year with the excep-

tion of holiday and exam periods. Address all correspondence to: The Hoya Georgetown University Box 571065 Washington, D.C. 20057-1065 The writing, articles, pictures, layout and format are the responsibility of The Hoya and do not necessarily represent the views of the administration, faculty or students of Georgetown University.

Signed columns and cartoons represent the opinions of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the editorial position of The Hoya.

Unsigned essays that appear on the left side of the editorial page are the opinion of the majority of the editorial board.

Georgetown University subscribes to the principle of responsible freedom of expression for student editors.

The Hoya does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, sexual orientation, race, disability, color, national or ethnic origin. © 1920-2012. The Hoya, Georgetown University twice weekly. No part of this publication may be used without the permission of The Hoya Board of Editors. All rights reserved. The Hoya is available free of charge, one copy per reader, at distribution sites on and around the Georgetown University campus. Additional copies are $1 each.

Editorial: (202) 687-3415 Advertising: (202) 687-3947 Business: (202) 687-3947 Facsimile: (202) 687-2741 Email: editor@thehoya.com Online at www.thehoya.com Circulation: 6,500.

OPINION

friDAY, april 13, 2012

THE HOYA

A CANADIAN CONTENTION

A3

VIEWPOINT • William J. Doyle

Long-Term Welfare Reform Every Donation Counts For Capital Campaign F

rom the Super Committee to the Simpson-Bowles Commission, it seems like every bipartisan effort to avoid a looming debt crisis has ended up in the garbage can.

The deficit is one of the most depressing and frustrating issues to follow in American politics because it constantly seems to be at a stalemate.

Nevertheless, there is some consensus that any serious discussion of reducing the deficit must involve entitlement reform.

There should be two main priorities when thinking about entitlement reform: ensuring that the quality of benefits remains high and guaranteeing that these programs are sustainable in the long run. Too often, political figures fixate on only one of these goals and ignore the other.

Demographics should drive public policy formulation.

From 2010 to 2050, the percentage of Americans who are over the age of 65 will increase from roughly 15 percent to about 25 percent, placing significant pressure on programs such as Social Security.

The relative number of those depending on such programs will increase while the relative number of those contributing will decrease.

Under the current Medicare system, more than 45 million people over the age of 65 or with permanent disabilities are given insurance, usually a single-payer model of healthcare. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, Medicare will go bankrupt by 2020 without substantial reforms.

In Rep. Paul Ryan’s (R-Wis.) “Path to Prosperity Plan,” he proposes to transition Medicare to a voucher-based system by 2022. But in a recent poll, 80 percent of all Medicare recipients reported a favorable view of their healthcare coverage. Rather than scrapping a system that is clearly working, sensible reforms should be implemented that will make

Medicare sustainable in the long run.

The problems related to the spiraling costs of Medicare connect to broader trends in the American health care system. More needs to be done to address issues such as skyrocketing medical malpractice expenses and rampant Medicare fraud. These larger issues help explain why health care costs for American families have nearly doubled over the past decade. Addressing these issues and looking into the potential of tax increases as well as higher premiums can ensure that Medicare remains intact for future generations.

Social Security is another major issue that needs to be

Scott Stirrett

Sensible reforms will make Medicare sustainable. addressed, and my fellow columnist Sam Dulik (SFS ’13), author of “Quorum Call,” presents some laudable proposals.

However, he looks at only part of a much larger deficit problem.

Medicare and Social Security are parts of a far more comprehensive puzzle. The United States is running a federal deficit that is extremely unsustainable. The federal budget is growing at a rate that is four times that of GDP. According to the Congressional Budget Office, the debt-to-GDP ratio could increase from 70 percent in 2011 to 190 percent in 2035.

The only way to fix this spiraling debt is to embrace true fis-

cal conservatism, which means balanced budgets, not necessarily low taxes. The reality is that under President Bush, significant tax cuts were pushed through while spending was substantially increased.

Large constituencies of both parties support a similarly sized government. The difference is that Republicans will not increase taxes or cut spending, delivering the bill for current deficits to future generations.

Like the Simpson-Bowles Commission recommended, moderate tax increases should be part of any solution to eliminate the deficit. Much of the opposition to tax increases can be traced to conservative lobbyist Grover Norquist’s “no new taxes” pledge, which has been signed by all but four Republican members of the House of Representatives. Circumstances can always change in domestic politics, and making a pledge that prevents the possibility of compromise is deeply irresponsible.

The federal deficit presents a grave challenge to the United States. Even in light of this ballooning deficit, programs such as Medicare and Social Security must be protected for future generations of Americans through a mixture of policy reforms, including potential tax and fee increases.

For too long there has been the false assumption that in order to support eliminating the budget deficit, one must be a fervent supporter of cutting entitlements benefits.

Through flexible thinking and pragmatic policies, the United States can avoid an impending federal budget crisis while maintaining the quality of entitlement programs.

S

eniors reading this are just weeks away from leaving the Hilltop, heading off to new volunteer and job opportunities, beginning advanced studies or spending time with friends and family while exploring the next steps in life after college. I heartily congratulate you.

At some point after commencement, you’ll get a phone call or a letter in the mail asking you to give back to Georgetown.

We understand that a Georgetown education is expensive and many students and their families make sacrifices to attend this university. We understand that many new graduates are saddled with student debt and that the economy is still recovering. I remember what it was like being a struggling college student myself, working my way through Georgetown as a busboy, waiter and bartender.

But please don’t think it’s callous of us to ask. We have no other way of knowing who can give. It’s our job to harness the incredible passion we all have for Georgetown, and it starts with our phone calls. It starts with people giving whatever they can, whenever they can. Robert McDonough, for whom Georgetown’s School of Business is named, started out giving $5 and $10 gifts to Georgetown shortly after he graduated in 1949. A half-century later, he gave $30 million to the business school. At the time, it was the largest gift in the university’s history.

Every gift matters, whatever its size.

What matters most for the university’s future is that you give at all. Last year, 70 percent of the gifts made to the Georgetown Fund were under $200. Those gifts add up.

This year, philanthropy will fund more than 900 undergraduate scholarships, keeping the doors of opportunity open to the most deserving students, no matter what their means.

Our current capital campaign, “For Generations to Come”, has two important goals.

One is to raise $1.5 billion so we can put Georgetown on a trajectory to keep up with great global universities. The second is to grow our alumni giving participation rate.

Scott Stirrett is a junior in the School of Foreign Service. He is the former chief of staff of the Georgetown University College Democrats and former chair and co-founder of D.C. Students Speak. A CANADIAN CONTENTION appears every other Friday.

U.S. News & World Report uses alumni giving as a barometer of alumni satisfaction in calculating rankings. We know from alumni surveys that 89 percent of undergraduate alumni say that Georgetown had a profound impact on their lives, but only about 27 percent currently give back.

We want to raise that figure to 40 percent by 2020, bringing Georgetown in line with Harvard, Yale, Brown, Penn, Duke and other schools with which we compete academically. We don’t think they can do anything we can’t do.

Growing the donor base won’t make a big difference in the dollar total of this campaign — new donors tend to make small gifts — but we’re taking the long view and paving the way for future campaigns. That’s one of many reasons why we call this campaign “For Generations to Come”.

Great schools are built on great philanthropy. But great philanthropy isn’t built by swooping in decades after graduation, asking an alum who has made a fortune for a spare million or two. Fundraising is all about relationships, and it’s our responsibility to make the case that we will use your gift, no matter how large or small, to build a better Georgetown.

We are as profoundly grateful for a $20 check from a new graduate as we are for that multimillion-dollar gift that names a building or endows a scholarship.

At Georgetown, we are taught to be women and men for others. Service takes many forms, but it is a privilege, not a sacrifice. While giving to your alma mater is a personal matter, we request only this: If you feel that Georgetown has changed you, given you something special, made you a better person, that you give back by giving what you can, when you can, and in so doing help the next generation of Georgetown students.

William j. Doyle graduated from the College in 1972. He is the campaign chair of For Generations to Come: The Campaign for Georgetown.

SCRIBBLES OF A MADMAN by Ben Mazzara

QUORUM CALL

A Proposed Path to Prosperity

R

ep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) hates your grandmother.

Or at least that’s what my friends on the left would have you believe. Over the past year, the mild-mannered Wisconsin Republican congressman and chairman of the House Budget Committee has been transformed into the voice and face of conservative proposals for reform of America’s entitlement programs. Unfortunately, I believe Ryan has been unduly demonized for demonstrating the courage and ingenuity to seriously address one of our country’s greatest social and fiscal maladies.

Scott Stirrett (SFS ’13), author of “A Canadian Contention,” and I won’t agree on much, but we both recognize that Social Security is in crisis mode.

About 20 percent of the federal budget funds this program, which gives dignity and stability to so many senior citizens.

However, due to waves of retiring baby boomers, bureaucratic mismanagement and a rapidly expanding gap between Social Security tax revenue and outlays, the system, in its current configuration, will not last long. By the time Scott and I retire, it’s almost unthinkable that we’ll see a penny of Social Security money. That is, unless we orchestrate some dramatic changes.

Ryan has boldly worked to save Social Security for our generation and beyond. His plan is straightforward. To begin with, Ryan’s “Path to Prosperity Plan” would not alter a single element of Social Security for those aged 55 or older. This point is critical: While Democrats have spread fear through attack ads that target senior citizens, for any senior currently enjoying Social Security benefits, or any individual within a decade of doing so, the current system would stay constant.

But Ryan would introduce a significant change for those of us younger than 55. He would

offer the choice — but not the mandate — of independently investing in a personal retirement account. This model has been adopted with tremendous success in Chile. There, the government guarantees a minimum pension, and if an individual’s personal account for some reason amounts to less than the national standard, public funds make up the difference. In all the decades of this system, not once has the government had to take such action. The Chilean model is solvent and stable: Chileans have more flexibility and opportunity, the payroll

Sam Dulik

Ryan would offer the choice of investing in a retirement account. tax has been eliminated and the savings rate has nearly tripled. When offered a choice, 93 percent of Chileans have opted for this reformed system.

Why shouldn’t Americans follow suit?

Ryan rounds out his option of a personal retirement account with two commonsense, but nonetheless controversial, reforms. The first, means testing, is essential to guaranteeing fiscal solvency and basic fairness in a reformed Social Security system. Means testing contends that a wealthy senior and a poor senior should not receive the exact same Social Security benefits. With all due respect, Mitt Romney doesn’t

need to collect a Social Security check. the “Path to Prosperity Plan” centers on that basic notion of fairness.

The Ryan Plan also stresses the importance of the gradual increase of the retirement age.

When the Social Security Act became law in 1935, Americans could begin collecting benefits at age 62. Back then, the average life expectancy was precisely that many years. In 2012, the average American lives over 78 years, yet 65 is the retirement age. There is no reason why the system should not be modernized to reflect that we live longer today, especially for those under the age of 55 for whom average life expectancy will be well over 80 years. Some on the left cast Ryan as a radical because of this suggestion.

However, it’s a responsible and levelheaded course of action.

Hence the problem with Social Security reform: As everyone knows, former Speaker Thomas J. O’Neill Jr. called Social Security “the third rail of American politics.” Touch it and you’re dead meat.

Unfortunately, I’ve seen the Democratic Party only work to reinforce this characterization.

In television ads, mailings and speeches, Democrats have mischaracterized Ryan’s proposals in order to score cheap political points. This conduct is beyond disappointing.

Disagree if you will about the fundamentals of the Ryan Plan, but give credit to its author for his courage to take on a massive and daunting challenge. The Ryan Plan may not be perfect, but it is an innovative start.

Paul Ryan deserves our thanks, not our scorn, for initiating an essential conversation about the future of our country.

Sam Dulik is a junior in the School of Foreign Service. He is the director for special events for the Georgetown University College Republicans. QUORUM CALL appears every other Friday.

VIEWPOINT • Clara Gustafson & Vail Kohnert-Yount

Valuing Sustainability For Future Generations

G

eorgetown offers ample opportunity to study, reflect on and live by the Jesuit values that define our university. One of the pillars of our Jesuit heritage is learning to be not only bright men and women, but also men and women for others.

It is important that we begin to talk about sustainability in light of our strong Jesuit tradition, especially when considering our obligation to future generations.

Can we truly claim that we are leaving the earth better than we found it for those who will come after us? We, the Georgetown community as a whole, can and should lead the way to sustainability. As a university dedicated to the service of others, we should take up our calling and be more environmentally oriented.

Though there are many behind-thescenes efforts to stay green, we hope to start a university-wide conversation about sustainability. We’re off to a good start: The administration recently held a Hoya Roundtable to highlight the university’s achievements in sustainability thus far.

This event also afforded a very motivated group of students with the opportunity to share their study, entitled “Visions for a Sustainable Georgetown.” University President John J. DeGioia is also helping lead the way by signing Mayor Vincent Gray’s College and University Sustainability Pledge with other D.C. area schools.

However, in order to accomplish all of our goals, it will be necessary for all of us to fully engage in a campus-wide conversation about what sustainability means to us, and how we can all help achieve it. For example, centralizing our efforts through one administrative office would help

streamline and standardize the process and the way sustainability is supported here at Georgetown. We hope to push forward in a big way on sustainability in the next year, but it will have to be a group effort.

Achieving a sustainable campus will also require that we all work together to hold ourselves to a higher standard of environmental thoughtfulness and ethic. The Georgetown University Student Association and the administration would love to see what ideas you have to help further the sustainability movement here at Georgetown based on your own experience. Some of the ideas that have been shared so far through our feedback program, IdeaScale, include better labeling of trash and recycling bins and creating a Georgetown version of Craigslist to reduce waste.

Implementing new ideas and changes usually necessitates an adjusted budget and increased manpower. These two things could be achieved through an administrative office of sustainability, which would also ensure that the conversation and education process about sustainability continue. As a community, we will need to consciously and continuously talk about sustainability in order to create real change and foster a sustainable environment here on our Hilltop. We will all need to think about how we can be men and women for others, for the environment and for future generations.

Clara Gustafson and Vail Kohnert-Yount are juniors in the School of Foreign Service and president and vice president of the Georgetown University Student Association, respectively.

A4

NEWS

THE HOYA

PAGE FOUR

FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012

MULTIMEDIA Watch 5 Questions with Joanna Foote (SFS ’13), Truman Scholarship winner and the focus of this week’s Center Stage. See thehoya.com.

Your news — from every corner of The Hoya.

IN FOCUS

A CULINARY REACTION verbatim

see no value “ We in trying to drive [it] down into single digits.

”

Charles Deacon, dean of undergraduate admissions, referring to the university’s record-low 16.5 percent acceptance rate.

See story on A7.

from

TWITTER.COM

LEONEL DE VELEZ/THE HOYA

Georgetown professor Daniel Blair (left) and Harvard University professor David Weitz made ice cream using liquid nitrogen during Weitz’s lecture “The Physics of Cooking,” Tuesday in Reiss.Science Center.

AND THEY CALL IT PUPPY LOVE 4E is going all out for the arrival of our mascot-in-training. We’re all bark and no bite, so join us as we #WelcomeJJ. blog.thehoya.com

CMEA Admin Was SCS Dean to Leave for U. Indy Mentor, Advocate BEBE ALBORNOZ Hoya Staff Writer

ANNIE CHEN

Hoya Staff Writer

Vanessa Correa left her post as assistant director of the Center for Multicultural Equity and Access last week, but her work will continue to shape the Community Scholars program and the lives of students after her departure.

Correa, who had worked at the CMEA since 2007, is now the retention adviser for the Pathway to the Baccalaureate program at Northern Virginia Community College, a position that helps students with the transition to a four-year institution.

According to CMEA Director Dennis Williams, several changes that Correa pushed for within the Community Scholars program — an initiative she ran — will take effect this summer. These include extending the pre-orientation program from four weeks to five weeks and adding a second course for credit.

Williams described Correa’s work as some of the most intensive in the CMEA office. Correa was actively involved in the admissions process for the Community Scholars Program, organized its summer session and supervised the students during their weeks on campus.

The scholars, who represent diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds and include many first-generation college students, spend part of the summer before their freshman year taking classes to prepare for the upcoming semester.

“The intensity of the summer is one of the things that make the job difficult. It’s difficult to do that job at that level of intensity for a very long time,” Williams said.

Correa also worked as co-advisor to CMEA’s Peer Mentor and Patrick Healy Fellowship programs, but, to her students, her impact extended beyond the walls of the center.

“My relationship with Vanessa began more as a mother coming in, then a mentor and then someone who I looked up to,” Yasmin Serrato (SFS ’13), a Community Scholar, said.

Serrato previously worked as an assistant to Correa and served as a residential adviser for the program this past summer.

To other students, Correa provid-

ed a warm welcome that they did not find elsewhere upon arrival to the university.

“Because most of us are underprivileged students, we didn’t have that type of atmosphere to feel welcomed,” Justin Pinn (COL ’13) said.

Pinn said Correa provided support when he struggled with family, financial and academic hardships during his freshmen year.

While Correa also served as an academic adviser for students in partnership with their deans, Pinn noted that what set Correa apart from other faculty members was her ability to reach beyond the academic lives of students.

“When we get into higher education, we lose a sense of being personable. We forget that we are human,” Pinn said. “But Vanessa always takes into consideration who you are and your story.”

Correa played a similar role for her colleagues.

“Because she is so involved with her students, she has always been supportive of me in my relationships with my students,” CMEA Program Coordinator Jacqueline Mac said.

Mac recently made a video to honor Correa that included reflections from students and staff, many of whom described her as family.

“When you hear that from the students, it’s inspiring,” she said.

“I want to be someone like Vanessa who students can go to and be comfortable sharing what’s going on in their lives.”

Correa said she is grateful for the support she received at the university and is inspired by the work CMEA has done.

“Georgetown students are driven and ambitious. It was a privilege for me to work with such an incredible group of young people,” she wrote in an email. “I will miss them the most.”

Williams said he would miss Correa but added he was certain she would continue to build a legacy of working with students in her new position.

“She’ll spend her life helping other people, and it doesn’t matter where she finds them, whether it’s here or NOVA.”

Robert Manuel, associate provost and dean of the School of Continuing Studies, will leave Georgetown at the semester’s end to begin his role as president of the University of Indianapolis.

Manuel came to Georgetown in 2006 after serving as assistant dean and clinical associate professor at New York University’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies.

Due to Manuel’s time as dean, the SCS has doubled its enrollment and is currently seeking a site in downtown D.C. to build a new home for its programs.

Manuel has also overseen major expansions to the SCS’s programs, including the development of Georgetown’s only part-time bachelor’s program and the introduction of six new master’s programs.

“He brought that vision to life in a comparatively short time,” associate dean of the School of Continuing Studies Vincent Kiernan said.

One of the programs developed under Manuel’s leadership, Georgetown’s

Public Relations and Corporate Communications program, was recently deemed by PRWeek the best public relations program in the country for 2012.

Although Denise Keyes, associate dean for the Master of Professional Studies in Public Relations and Corporate Communications, created the curriculum for the program, she said Manuel’s leadership was instrumental to the program’s success.

“His contribution and strength is bringing leaders like me from the industry and letting us do our own thing,” she said.

Kiernan emphasized that Manuel has created an atmosphere of collaboration within the administration of the SCS programs.

“One of his greatest skills is an ability to identify really, really sharp talent. …

We all share in the vision,” Kiernan said.

“It’s been a collaborative vision.”

Edwin Schmierer, associate dean of the Center for Continuing Professional Education, noted that Manuel has incorporated the university’s Jesuit ideals into its professional programs.

“He consistently tied our academic programs to the mission of the univer-

sity and help[ed] our students become reflective lifelong learners.” Schmierer said. “He reimagined the educational mission of the Jesuits for modern day education.”

Manuel claimed that the integration of traditional values with contemporary outreach was his biggest challenge as dean.

“What weighed me down or woke me up every night was the possibility of failure of the imagination, not of any kind of practical failure,” he said.

Manuel said he was drawn to the private, Methodist University of Indianapolis, because it reflects the same opportunities he saw at Georgetown when he started.

“I saw at U. Indy all of those possibilities that I saw in Georgetown six years ago,” he said. “It was incredibly exciting to think that I could take what I love about Georgetown and use it in a leadership position [there].”

Keyes said she will be sad to see Manuel leave, but feels confident that the SCS will continue on its current trajectory, thanks to his direction.

“His vision was so big that there’s definitely room to grow,” she said.

Tocqueville Forum Picks Interim Director MARIAH BYRNE Hoya Staff Writer

Government professor Joshua Mitchell has been tapped to serve as interim director of the Tocqueville Forum on the Roots of American Democracy and will seek to stabilize the organization after the departure of its founding director.

Mitchell, the former chair of the government department, was instrumental in hiring current director Patrick Deneen and said his academic interests align with that of the forum.

“I live, breathe Tocqueville, so I’m the obvious candidate,” Mitchell said.

As interim director, Mitchell will prioritize keeping the program afloat after Deneen leaves, a departure he characterized as a large loss to the university.

Deneen, who also serves as the Tsakopoulos-Kounalakis chair in Hellenic studies, announced in January that he will join the faculty at the University of Notre Dame next year.

“The most important thing right now

is to stabilize [the Tocqueville Forum],” Mitchell said.

Mitchell and Government Department Chair George Shambaugh affirmed that that the forum will continue, though on a smaller scale. Although it is housed in the government department, the program receives no money from the university. It is therefore dependent on donations to pay its staff members and hold programming, and much of its funds are currently drawn in by Deneen.

According to Mitchell, there is a fundamental question that must be answered: “Do donors want to continue giving without Deneen?”

Shambaugh said that the university will provide bridge funding for at least a year while the forum rebuilds.

However, contracts for the forum’s two staff members have not been renewed for the upcoming academic year.

Shambaugh emphasized that the university has been pleased with the work that the staff has been doing, but is unable to maintain their salaries until

funding has been secured.

“Absent financial guarantees, we won’t hire anyone,” he said. “Right now there aren’t sufficient financial guarantees.”

Mitchell, who will become interim director in June, expects to hold a year of modest programming followed by a reconfiguration of the forum. He intends for the program to retain its intellectual focus, however.

“My intellectual interest is Tocqueville. It is first and foremost Tocqueville,” he said.

According to Shambaugh, Deneen narrowed the scope on the forum, a change that may be undone as the program identifies its core mission going forward.

The search process for a permanent director has not yet begun and will most likely occur next year. Mitchell believes that it is possible that he may eventually fill the role. According to Shambaugh, Mitchell is the ideal candidate to take on the permanent directorship.

“I’m a caretaker, and I have no problem being that right now,” Mitchell said.

News

FRIday, APRIL 13, 2012

THE HOYA

A5

New Provost to Start in June PROVOST, from A1

CHRIS BIEN/THE HOYA

The Wisconsin Avenue Streetscape Project will widen sidewalks and reconfigure lanes but has sparked concerns about its impact traffic patterns, safety and local business.

Wisconsin Improvements Draw Mixed Response Hiromi Oka

Hoya Staff Writer

Construction along Wisconsin Avenue that began earlier this month has some residents and businesses in the Glover Park area concerned.

Work on the Glover Park Streetscape Project, which began April 2 and is set to be completed in September, will affect the one-mile stretch of Wisconsin Avenue between 34th Street and Massachusetts Avenue.

Planned improvements include wider sidewalks and new stoplights, in addition to lane reconfiguration.

The District Department of Transportation plans to reduce the number of car lanes from three to two during rush hours and from two to one during regular hours.

The lane changes will initially be painted on to gauge the effect on traffic. Barring any negative consequences, concrete medians will be constructed to make the lane reconfigurations permanent.

According to DDOT’s studies, the new configuration will not significantly impact congestion in the area.

However, homeowners are concerned that the lane changes will affect traffic patterns and cause drivers to use neighborhood side streets instead of the main thoroughfare.

Advisory Neighborhood Commission 3B Vice Chair Jackie Blumenthal, who represents East Glover Park, explained that increased traffic on side streets could endanger local residents if those streets are not improved as well.

“It doesn’t make sense to fix one part and not the other,” she said.

Some business owners said they are skepti-

cal about the project.

Mike Allgood, manager of Tennis Zone at 2319 Wisconsin Ave., noted that the project would only increase the pre-existing traffic issues on Wisconsin Avenue.

“Parking’s always tight,” he said. “There’s bottleneck traffic and now with construction, it exacerbates the problem.”

Others were more optimistic about the planned construction.

“They’re trying to do construction around rush hour, so we’ll see what happens,” Jennifer Ward, manager of Glover Park Hardware at 2251 Wisconsin Ave., said. “As a business, we’re just going to stay positive.”

The Glover Park Streetscape Project was one of several suggestions made in a 2006 study conducted by the District’s Office of Planning.

According to Blumenthal, pedestrian safety has been an issue in Glover Park, and the neighborhood has been advocating improvements to side streets for nearly 10 years.

Residents are hopeful that other improvements, such as a crosswalk at 37th Street and Tunlaw Road, will also eventually be implemented.

ANC 3B Chairman Brian Cohen, who expressed disappointment that not all the study’s recommendations are being carried out, said he was nonetheless optimistic about the Glover Park Streetscape Project.

“Overall I think the project is a huge net gain,” he said. “It’s going to make the streets safer, it’s going to make the neighborhood commercial district more ‘walkable’ and more pedestrian friendly. It will help create more of a distinct identity for Glover Park and the Glover Park commercial district. It’s going to look better, it’s going to be safer for pedestrians and drivers.”

Davis pointed to Groves’ accomplishments at the Census Bureau as proof of his abilities as an administrator. As the bureau director, Groves oversaw the 2010 national census, which came in $1.9 billion under budget.

Davis added that Groves stood out from other candidates because of his desire to further Georgetown’s focus on interreligious understanding and to expand academic service.

According to Bridget Power (COL ’12), a member of the selection committee, student input was an important part of the process.

“It was reassuring to know that the undergraduate student body voice mattered and

was something that the selection committee cared about in the process,” Power said.

The university also held a town hall dedicated to collecting student input on the provost search in January that drew about 60 to 70 attendants. “[I was pleased to see that] students really do care because the provost really does affect student life in a variety of ways, both inside and outside the classroom,” Power said.

Davis believes that the most pressing issue Groves will face is the limit on expansion imposed by the opponents of the university’s 2010 Campus Plan.

“There’s a real opportunity for an innovative and creative administrator to work with the president and treasurer to find other ways to expand

what we do,” he said.

Dr. Trivellore Raghunathan, research professor at the University of Michigan and former colleague of Groves, praised his approachability.

“I can say for sure that Georgetown has got a visionary in the new provost; a warm, nice and caring person and an articulate teacher,” he wrote in an email.

In a Tuesday press release announcing the appointment, University President John J. DeGioia wrote that the breadth of Groves’ experience would prove an asset to the university.

“We are excited to welcome his innovative leadership as we continue to strengthen our academic programs and fulfill our educational mission in Washington, D.C., and beyond,” he wrote.

National Debate Tournament Win Reflects Team Effort Carly Graf

Hoya Staff Writer

Georgetown’s most recent pair of national champions stepped into the ring last week, armed with words and hours of research, to claim victory in this year’s National Debate Tournament championship.

Andrew Arsht (COL ’14) and Andrew Markoff (SFS ’14), became the second sophomore team to win the tournament since its founding in 1947 when they defeated a team from Northwestern University.

The championship in Atlanta marked the conclusion of a year’s worth of preparation for the two victors, as well as the entire team and its coaching staff.

“Each tournament is a stepping stone leading up to nationals. In many ways, our preparation was a year-long process culminating in a few crucial debates,” Arsht said.

Throughout the year, team members spend dozens of hours each week research-

ing the given topic, practicing speeches and evaluating prospective competitors. This year’s debate topic focused on U.S. involvement in Bahrain, Egypt, Libya, Syria, Tunisia and Yemen.

“When we are not travelling or on break from school, we each do approximately 40 hours of research per week in addition to schoolwork,” Arsht said.

Every member of the team stayed on campus over spring break, spending 12 to 14 hours each day preparing for the national tournament.

“I think a good analogy is that it’s like going to two schools. Georgetown and debate probably have about equal work loads,” Markoff said.

According to Markoff, nerves and stress run high at the National Debate Tournament because every team who qualifies is talented and well prepared.

“We entered each debate knowing that it could be the last debate of the season,” he

said. “That made us try that much harder, but no debate could have been considered easy.”

Arsht and Markoff emphasized the importance of their teammates in their victory.

“I would argue that the team is everything. Without our highly dedicated coaches and teammates, we would have no shot at winning a single debate, much less a tournament,” Markoff said.

Debate Coach Jonathan Paul recognized the importance of the entire team effort as well, crediting members who didn’t compete as integral to Arsht and Markoff’s win.

The pair said they believe that Georgetown’s debate program will only grow after the victory.

“I think that this win shows that they have brought the program back to its competitive heyday. Even if we didn’t have this victory, I still do think the team is strong and has a really bright future ahead of it,” Markoff said.

PUZZLES DECODAQUOTE

Substitute letters in order to reveal a well-known quotation. Each letter consistently represents another.

VOPVLA FGE KUF GVBF XC LXHS DUNOE PNKU V JXPFO, AX KUVK PUFG LXH LFOO KUF GVBF PNOO DVSSL.

-QNOO DXAQL Hint: L = Y F UXJJANAJO JXXJ OGX BAQQAEPCOG AD XHXKG ZUUZKOPDAOG; FD ZUOANAJO JXXJ OGX ZUUZKOPDAOG AD XHXKG BAQQAEPCOG.

-LADJOZD EGPKEGACC Hint: C = L

SUDOKU Fill in the grid so that each row, column and square contains all digits 1-9.

LAST WEEK’S ANSWERS WORD SEARCH:

O D A R O L O C + I I A W A H S + K E N T U C K Y I D A H O + I A + C A D I R O L F S + E N + O K N A G I H C I M H N T P E N N S Y L V A N I A I E V + + W N I A R I Z O N A N R I + + + + I L L Y F + M N G I R + T E X A S L A E O E + T H G A T O S E N N I M S R + O S I I N D I A N A O S A R N N P N A N A T N O M E C O B E I M I E R A W A L E D + S U A J A A O K L A H O M A + + I T L H + + A N I L O R A C + + W H A + N E B R A S K A R K A N S A S

Kate Sciamanna/THE HOYA

A6

news

THE HOYA

friday, APRIL 13, 2012

DC Elections 101: Incumbents Prevail in Primaries Braden McDonald Hoya Staff Writer

D.C.’s primary elections largely favored current office holders this year, though some key positions remain contested as provisional and absentee ballots are still being counted. The following candidates won their party’s nominations in last week’s primaries. General elections will be held Nov. 6. An asterisk indicates the incumbent.

Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans* (D)

Evans, who has served on the D.C. Council since 1991, ran unopposed in the election for Ward 2 councilmember nominee. Evans has adamantly opposed Georgetown’s 2010-2020 Campus Plan and called for the university to house all undergraduates on campus. He has also advocated a stronger and more heavily staffed Metropolitan Police Department to patrol neighborhoods.

D.C. Council, At-Large Member (Two Seats) Vincent Orange* (D)

Orange (LAW ’88), an incumbent, won the Democratic nomination by a slim margin of 543 votes over Sekou Biddle (D), though his victory may not be confirmed for several weeks as officials continue to count the almost 5,000 provisional and absentee ballots cast. In the initial round of counting, Orange received 39.77 percent of the vote, while Biddle received 38.75 percent. Orange has advocated fiscal responsibility and efforts to reduce unemployment and education reform. Orange’s possible victory comes despite controversy surrounding the campaign funds he allegedly received from Jeffrey Thompson, a local businessman whose contributions to several D.C. political campaigns are under investigation.

Ann Wilcox (D.C. Statehood Green)

Wilcox won the D.C. Statehood Green nomination with 59.37 percent of the vote; her opponent, G. Lee Aikin, received 22.72 percent.

Wilcox is a lawyer who has served on the D.C. Board of Education and aims to expand access to affordable housing and social safety net programs in the District.

Mary Brooks Beatty (R)

Brooks Beatty, who was unopposed on the Republican ballot, supports replacing lowperforming schools with charter schools and has called for greater transparency and ethical behavior in the D.C. government. She won with 81 percent of the Republican vote.

Delegate to Congress Eleanor Holmes Norton* (D)

Norton, who is now in her eleventh term as the Delegate for D.C., ran unopposed on the Democratic ballot. Norton, a tenured professor at Georgetown Law, is a strong advocate of D.C. voting representation in Congress. Norton has sponsored several D.C.specific tax credits for education and homeownership.

Natale Lino Stracuzzi (D.C. Statehood Green)

Stracuzzi, a manufacturing sales representative for a furniture company, criticizes Norton for the large donations she receives from developers and PACs. Stracuzzi supports legislation to make D.C. a state and is interested in working with labor organizations, NAACP and human rights committees.

There is no Republican nominee for Delegate to Congress.

Shadow Senator

The position of shadow senator was created by the District in 1990. Shadow senators are not officially sworn in or seated by the U.S. senate and do not receive a salary or a budget from the federal government.

Michael D. Brown* (D)

Brown, the District’s current shadow senator, won the Democratic seat with more than 58 percent of the vote, beating opponent Pete Ross by a 33-point margin. Brown has lobbied for D.C. to receive full representation in Congress.

There is no D.C. Statehood Green nominee for Delegate to Congress.

Nelson F. Rimensnyder (R)

Rimensnyder, who ran unopposed on the Republican ballot, advocates statehood rights for the District and the elimination of waste and corruption from the D.C. governments. Rimensnyder argues that D.C. residents’ lack of representation in Congress means that they should not have to pay federal taxes.

NEWS

FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012

THE HOYA

At a Glance: Accepted Students in the Class of 2016 6%

< 1%

8%

8%

53%

384

363

189

Goals of Campus Plan Talks Undetermined PLAN, from A1

276 10%

187

15% WHITE ASIAN-AMERICAN AFRICAN-AMERICAN HISPANIC

FOREIGN NATIONAL NOT PROVIDED NATIVE AMERICAN

DATA: GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS CONNOR GREGOIRE/THE HOYA

The pool of accepted applicants for the Class of 2016 is composed of 33.5 percent minority students (left). New York, California, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Maryland are home to the largest number of admitted students (right).

A7

Rachel Pugh, private conversations will provide a better forum for cooperation than the zoning hearings, which often have a combative tone.

“We see [these conversations] as progress toward meeting … Hood’s request to find common ground for all involved,” Pugh said.

Chris Clements, president of the Burleith Citizens Association, echoed Pugh’s expectation.

“My hope is that we can have an honest and good discussion of the issues and come to an agreement that satisfies everyone,” he said.

According to Altemus, the Citizens Association of Georgetown plans to

focus on the same concerns that surfaced at previous zoning hearings, namely the impact of the university’s long-term plans on the neighbors’ quality of life. “[The citizens associations] have proved our case to the Zoning Commission, and the university realizes that they are going to have to mediate some of the adverse impacts that the university has had on the community,” Altemus said. “So hopefully, with both of those things going for us, we will accomplish something.”

Representatives of the university declined to comment on what issues the university hopes to discuss at the meetings. ANC Chair Ron Lewis also declined to comment.

Acceptance Rate Hits Record Low ATF Plans Approved by ADRIANNA SMITH Hoya Staff Writer

Georgetown broke several records this admissions cycle, receiving an all-time high number of applications and recording an all-time low acceptance rate of 16.5 percent.

According to Dean of Undergraduate Admissions Charles Deacon, this change is good news for the university.

“The new low acceptance rate indicates that Georgetown continues to be more popular for applicants,” Deacon said. “Sixteen percent … is extremely selective. We see no value in trying to drive that down into single digits, though we could. If we did, it would leave us in a much less personal place and candidates would face an even more numbers-driven admissions process, with decreasing attention to the personal stories of each applicant.”

According to Deacon, many colleges strive for ever-lower acceptance rates in an effort to be perceived as more selective. “[The] size of the applicant pool and admit rate … [can be] manipulated by certain policies [that] many

colleges employ to try to gain the advantage of perception,” he said.

“We haven’t artificially inflated the numbers by … accepting the Common Application, the primary driver of multiple and frivolous applications.”

The admitted Class of 2016 is the most diverse class in Georgetown’s history. According to Deacon, of 3,316 accepted applicants, 33.5 percent are minority students, up from 31.4 percent last year.

The admitted Class of 2016 is 15 percent Asian, 10 percent black, 8 percent Hispanic and less than 1 percent American Indian. Fifty-three percent of the admitted pool selfidentified as white, 8 percent as foreign nationals and 6 percent did not specify an ethnic background.

According to Vice President of Institutional Diversity and Equity Rosemary Kilkenny, the diversity of Georgetown’s pool of admitted students is increasing, yet there is a disparity between the number of minority students who are admitted and who actually enroll.

Though Asian-Americans, blacks, Hispanics and American Indians represent about 30 percent of admitted

students, they make up about 22 percent of Georgetown’s student body.

“We would certainly like the yield of minority students to be higher … [though] it is improving,” Kilkenny wrote in an email.

Yield rates, or the percentage of accepted students who choose to attend the university, have long been lower among minorities.

While the yield among black students has historically been about 30 percent, lower than the overall yield among accepted students of 46 percent, last year the figure rose to 40 percent.

“In my judgment, increasing the yield is a challenge, not a problem, and it is a challenge that we are tackling in a very big way,” Kilkenny said.

Geographically, at least one student was admitted from each of the 50 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, according to Deacon.

New York, home to 384 admitted students, is the state with the most acceptances. It is followed by California with 363 acceptances, New Jersey with 276, Massachusetts with 189 and Maryland with 187.

Old Georgetown Board ATF, from A1 members criticized plans for the ATF because the proposed facility slightly obstructed the entrance to McDonough Arena. Blueprints for the two-story, 125,000-square-foot building were modified to address those concerns.

At a meeting of the Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E earlier this month, members unanimously voted to not object to the modified designs, though they expressed several concerns about its lack of space for student housing. Proposed construction projects such as the ATF are reviewed by the ANC before going to the Old Georgetown Board for a vote.

The current plans include an entrance corridor connecting the ATF to McDonough Arena through a rotunda, forming what Luebke hopes will be a Hall-of-Fame-like hallway.

The ground floor of the structure will provide practice space, office suites and locker rooms for the men’s and women’s basketball teams, while

the lower level will include a weight room, training room, equipment room, team meeting space and additional locker rooms for other student athletes.

The facility now faces review by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts. If the commission approves the plans, however, there are still considerable steps to be taken before construction can begin. According to Luebke, minor concerns about the design remain.

“We’re not raising yellow flags.

[The design] just wasn’t developed,” Luebke said.

If the ATF plans earn full approval from the commission, the university must still fundraise for the building’s construction and draft detailed blueprints.

Funds for the building, which is expected to cost about $55 million, will be raised entirely through donations. According to the university, the money will be drawn from the $125 million allocated to intercollegiate athletics in the current capital campaign.

GUSAMay Pilot Game Rentals

4 GU Profs Among Best in US

SAM RODMAN

PROFESSORS, from A1

Hoya Staff Writer

The Georgetown University Student Association senate will vote Sunday on a proposal to launch a game equipment rental program on Harbin Patio next fall.

The program, spearheaded by Senator Ben Weiss (COL ’15), will offer equipment for games including cornhole and ladder ball as well as Kan Jam, a disc-throwing game.

According to Weiss, university administrators vetoed the provision of rental equipment for activities that involve a significant amount of running, such as Frisbee or Wiffle ball, in order to avoid liabilities.

Students will be able to borrow the games by leaving their GOCards with the Village C Residence Hall Office.

Weiss said that the idea for the initiative came from a call for more student space in the recently published 2012 Student Life Report.

“It was a really hot day in March and there were a ton of people on Healy [Lawn], and there was no one on Harbin Patio, and I thought,

through the Student Life Report, that we could start using that space,” Weiss said.

Weiss met with Vice President of Student Affairs Todd Olsen in March to propose the program. According to Weiss, administrators were very supportive of the proposal because GUSA will fund the program and equipment will be limited to stationary games.

The program will be financed by money left over after the allocation of the Student Activities Fee Endowment funds.

With the university’s backing, Weiss solicited student input through an online survey that has received more than 40 responses. He said that students were largely in favor of the program, and cornhole was the most popular game among the survey answers.

“I think that Harbin Patio is one of the most underutilized spaces on campus, so I would support any initiative to increase student use,” Luke Marrinan (COL ’15) said.

According to Weiss, if the program is a success, the administration will consider expanding rentals to other areas like the Southwest Quad.

Carnes, a professor in the government department, said that being chosen was an affirmation of the work he does at Georgetown.

Currently on a year-long research sabbatical at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, Carnes received both the Dorothy Brown Award for Outstanding Teaching Achievement and the Edward B. Bunn, S.J., Award for Faculty Excellence last year.

Both honors are determined by Georgetown student nominations and recognize a professor who has had a powerful impact on students’ experiences.

Michael Fischer (SFS ’13), a columnist for THE HOYA, has taken multiple courses taught

by Carnes and feels that his vocation as a priest makes him particularly effective.

“He has a firm belief in a Jesuit identity,” Fischer said. “When he teaches in the classroom and when he engages students, you know that he’s not doing it for

a salary. He’s doing it because he sees the work he’s doing there as greater than himself and long lasting.”

According to Carnes, being featured on the list has allowed him to reflect on the impact of what he does at Georgetown.

“That’s maybe one of the great side effects of recognition like this … that you become aware of how much you value the things you get to do,” he said.

Potolicchio (COL ’04, GRD ’09, ’11), a visiting assistant professor and doctoral candidate in the government department, served as a teaching assistant for Carnes when he attended Georgetown as a first-time Ph.D. student. He said the number of Georgetown professors chosen reflects the strength of the faculty at the university.

“I was an undergrad at Georgetown and have had a lot of the professors. I think it really sums up just how strong the teaching faculty is,” he said.

Potolicchio, who won the K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders

Award from the Association of American Colleges and Universities last year, also feels that it is a personal honor to have been chosen by students.

“That means a lot to me because the students are the ones that I walk into the classroom for. To know that I can inspire them in that way is a deep honor,” he said.

Art history professor Barrett Tilney, characterized by students as passionate and engaging, said she was also pleased that students enjoyed her classes and their relationships with her.

According to Whitney McAniff (COL ’12), Tilney emphasizes the personal lives of the artists studied in her classes — not just their artwork — and makes an effort to personally connect with her students.

“She has this ability to impart knowledge in a unique manner,” McAniff said. “She’s so personable and talks about her life outside of school and cares about students’ lives, and that’s communicated in her teaching.”

A10

SPORTS

THE HOYA

women’s lacrosse

friday, april 13, 2012

BASEBALL

Hoyas Avenge Loss Kyle Franco Hoya Staff Writer

FILE PHOTO: CHRIS BIEN/THE HOYA

Junior midfielder Sophia Thomas scored five goals in the Hoyas’ win over Louisville on April 7.

Balanced Offense Key to GU Success OFFENSE, from A14 are hard to ignore. The Blue and Gray have racked up 79 goals in the past four contests for an average of just under 20 per contest; the team didn’t reach that mark this season until its sixth game.

How they’re scoring is impressive as well. Twelve different players scored for the Hoyas against Cincinnati, while 10 tallied against Louisville.

“We’ve been working really well together on offense. We’ve had so many people contribute with goals and assists. We’re not just a one-dimensional team, which is great, so we’re going to be hard to defend,” Thomas said.

As sophomore goalkeeper Barb Black noted, the offense isn’t the only part of the team that’s come together of late: The Blue and Gray defense has been nearly as impressive. The real gem came against Cincy, when the Hoyas allowed only four goals in a 18-point blowout.

“On the defensive end, I think it’s been great,” said Black, who has allowed an average of 10.17 goals per game this season. “We’ve been playing a lot more as one entire unit and doing the little things consistently, [like only] giving up the shots we want to give up and just working together.”

With third-ranked Syracuse as the next test awaiting the Hoyas this Saturday, it would seem as if the team

is coming together at just the right time. Wins at UNC and Penn earlier in the season demonstrated what this Georgetown team is capable of, but the unity that both Thomas and Black touched on suggests that the squad has reached a new level.

The consistent excellence that Head Coach Ricky Fried has long yearned for from this team may be right around the corner. Like his players, though, Fried reflected a very much in-the-moment perspective with regards to his team.

“I know it sounds kind of cliche, but we’re just taking it one game at a time,” Fried said.

It’s hard to argue with the recent results of that mentality.

When the Hoyas (16-17) faced Mount St. Mary’s (11-24) on March 15, the Mount capped off a five-run comeback with a walk-off homerun to defeat the Blue and Gray. In the rematch on Tuesday, though, it was Georgetown who came out on top, 5-3, thanks to a lights-out performance from the bullpen.

Junior outfielder Justin Leeson, senior outfielder Rand Ravnaas and redshirt junior infielder Mike Garza recorded two hits each, complementing six shutout innings from the Georgetown bullpen to lead the Hoyas to their second straight win.

Sophomore Alex Baker started on the mound for the Hoyas but struggled in his first inning, surrendering three runs on two hits.

Baker followed up the rough first inning with a scoreless second and third before handing the ball over to the bullpen.

Facing a 3-0 deficit after the first half of the inning, Georgetown hitters were quick to respond. Leadoff hitter Leeson got things started with an infield single, which he followed up by stealing second. With the table set, Garza roped a single to left to plate the Hoyas’ first run.

In the bottom of the second inning, the Blue and Gray picked up where they left off in the first.

After sophomore Steve Anderson reached on an error and senior Nick Geary ripped a double, Leeson again came through with an infield single and Anderson scored. A Mount St. Mary’s error allowed Leeson and senior Andy Lentz to score with ease and give the Hoyas their first lead of the day, 4-3.

Clinging to a one-run lead, Head Coach Pete Wilk handed the ball to sophomore Jack Vander Linden in the third for some extended relief. Vander Linden tossed an immaculate four innings of work, turning in an ace-like performance. The lanky

right-handed pitcher struck out two, walked none and allowed only one hit.

The Hoyas gained some breathing room in the eighth after Ravnaas scored Lentz on a bunt single to extend the lead to 5-3.

To prevent another comeback, Wilk called up redshirt senior Pablo Vinent and juniors Thomas Polus and Charles Steinman. The three upperclassmen combined for two perfect innings of relief to cap off the win, with Steinman earning the save.

Overall, the Georgetown team from Tuesday was a much different squad than the one that lost seven straight games earlier in the season. And Wilk thinks he knows why.

“We’ve pitched better. Bottom line,” Wilk said. “We’re getting quality starts from [senior Will] Harris and [junior Neal] Dennison consistently, and we’re swinging the bats fairly well.”

Wilk also cited improved defensive play and consistent middleof-the-order production as key improvements. Specifically, Wilk offered praise for Garza, who leads the team with a .390 average, five home runs and 28 RBI. “Garza has been a cornerstone of our offense,” Wilk said. “He’s having a great season so far.”

Fresh off this great team victory, Georgetown is looking to improve on their 3-6 conference record this weekend at Villanova (18-16, 3-6). But the two evenly matched teams will have more than conference standings on the line.

“They’re a decent club,” Wilk said. “It’s a big weekend for both of us to move up in the standings. It’s sure to be a battle of two clubs that don’t like each other.”

If the Hoyas can stay consistent, then they have a good chance to win this emotionallycharged series.

The first game of the threegame series will take place on Friday at 3:15 p.m. in Plymouth Meeting, Pa.

sports

friday, april 13, 2012

softball

THE HOYA

A11

women’s tennis

GU Swept in Doubleheader Rachael Augostini Hoya Staff Writer

Despite a strong effort in the first game of their doubleheader, the Georgetown softball team (15-25, 0-8 Big East) came up empty in Wednesday’s contests at Big East rival Pittsburgh and have now lost eight of their last nine games.

The Hoyas, still searching for their first league win, came out strong in the early stages of the first game. With junior catcher Shikara Lowe on first and sophomore left fielder Taylor Koenig on second, senior designated hitter Mackensey Carter’s single and a throwing error by Pittsburgh third baseman Kelly Hmiel let Koenig score, putting Georgetown up, 1-0, after the top of the third inning.

But the Panthers had the Blue and Gray’s measure and earned back-to-back singles in the bottom of the third, and Hmiel made up for her earlier error by drilling a two-RBI triple to give Pittsburgh the lead.

Georgetown couldn’t respond, and the game ended with another frustrating onerun loss for the Hoyas.

That frustration carried over to the second game, which went the Panthers’ way right from the start. Georgetown freshman pitcher Megan Hyson, who has been a consistent force for the Hoyas all season, struggled in her outing Wednesday evening.

Hyson pitched only one inning against Pitt and was pulled after giving up a quick three runs.

Georgetown’s bats were even worse, though, managing only one hit, while Pittsburgh scored 11 runs on 11 hits through five innings.

The Hoyas are left still seeking their first Big East win, and they have their best opportunity to earn it when they head to New York City to take on St. John’s. The Red Storm have two Big East wins thus far on the year and a worse overall record than the Hoyas.

The Johnnies are led by junior shortstop Chrissy Montez and senior center fielder Kristi Cady, but the team lacks a strong pitching staff, which will give a good chance for the Hoyas to take advantage on offense. But to translate that into a win, Georgetown’s pitchers will need solid seven-inning outings to control the games from the beginning.

The first game of the three-game series will begin at noon tomorrow in Queens.

perfect timing for your holiday specials contact sales@thehoya.com

file photo: LEONEL DE VELEZ/THE HOYA

Senior Lauren Greco lost in straight sets at No. 1 singles while hampered by a finger injury. The Hoyas won the match, however, extending their win streak to six as they prepare to play Big East rival Syracuse.

Streaking Hoyas Set to Take on Orange pirates, from A14 their matches in straight sets, too, while senior Lauren Greco — who was recovering from a finger injury — had a rare straightset loss in the No. 1 spot.

An even more dominant performance was in store for the Blue and Gray against St. Francis.

Not only did the Hoyas blank SFU without dropping a single set, but they held the Red Flash

to a mere 12 total games, compared to the 86 that the Hoyas amassed. Panarese continued a remarkable rookie campaign with a win at the No. 5 spot, lengthening her win streak to 7 matches. The freshman from Milton, Mass., has won 14 out of her past 15 singles matches.

Coach Ernst spoke highly about Panarese’s role in the Georgetown program both currently and in the future. “[Sophie] will be an integral

part of the team for all four years. She keeps her head on the court and competes at all times.

She’s the team favorite,” Ernst said.

While Panarese’s play and the squad’s recent string of victories are surely things to be proud of, Ernst is staying focused on what lies ahead.

“Honestly, [our win streak] is the furthest thing from my mind. Right now I am focused on the match against Syracuse

tomorrow. We have been looking ahead to this match since September,” Ernst said. “Syracuse is a top-50 team and we are going to have our hands full, but they are the favorite and we have nothing to lose.”

That challenging matchup with the Orange is set to begin today at 1 p.m. in Syracuse, N.Y. The Hoyas will then have little time to rest, as they face another Big East foe, Villanova (6-11, 1-4 Big East), tomorrow at noon.

A12

sports

THE HOYA

MEN’S TENNIS

The Bleacher Seats

Cincy Back in the Spotlight W

CHRIS GRIVAS/THE HOYA

Senior Andrew Bruhn has started each match the last four years and ends his career Saturday.

Big East Foes Loom for Hoyas SEAWOLVES, from A14 drew Dottino and freshman Alex Tropiano both won, 8-3, at No. 3 and No. 2 doubles, respectively. Seniors Andrew Bruhn and Brian Ward rounded out the doubles matches with their 8-4 win at No. 1.

But the match turned into a battle during singles play. While Ward notched a quick 6-1, 6-1 victory at No. 4 singles, Caris and Dottino had closer fights in their respective singles matches. Caris won at No. 2 by a score of 7-5, 6-1, while Dottino picked up a 6-0, 7-5 win at No. 3.

Bruhn, Tropiano and Distaso each took their singles matches to three sets but all ultimately fell. Despite these defeats, Georgetown was able to clinch the match, 4-3.

“Stony Brook has beaten us in the past,” Ernst said. “It was great to come out and beat them.”

Putting that win in their back pocket, the Hoyas set their sights on Tuesday’s home match against St. Francis.

Although the No. 1 and No. 3 doubles matches went to 8-6 and 8-7, respectively, Georgetown walked away with a crushing 7-0 victory after sweeping the Red Flash in straight sets in singles.

“I liked the way we focused and took care of things,” Ernst said.

Friday, april,13, 2012

They’ll have to take care of things again this weekend when they finish out their season at home against Big East foes St. John’s and Villanova. The Red Storm in particular should be challenging for the Hoyas.

“This is the best team St. John’s has ever had,” Ernst said. “They have already beaten Princeton and Yale.”

Georgetown should be in better position against Villanova, whom the Hoyas defeated, 4-3, in last year’s match.

“It is always a close match against Villanova,” Ernst said. “With them, there is a little bit of pressure.”

The Hoyas hope to finish the weekend with two victories and round out the season undefeated at home.

Ernst is also hoping to see his upperclassmen shine in their final home matches.

“It is the last hoorah for Bruhn as a captain and a senior,” Ernst said. “He has played in every match as a Hoya. That’s pretty impressive. He is due for a big win.”

Georgetown’s pair of Big East matches will begin Friday against St. John’s at noon and continue Saturday against Villanova at the same time. Both will be held at home at the McDonough Outdoor Tennis Complex.

“This is the weekend we have talked about since September,” Ernst said. “We are expecting everyone to step up.”

hen the Cincinnati Reds’ miraculous playoff run in 2010 began with an Aug. 10 brawl against the St. Louis Cardinals, the team announced with their actions that they had entered the upper echelon of the Major Leagues. Prior to the fight, Reds star Brandon Phillips announced that he would play against the Cards on one leg if necessary, then backed up his talk by instigating the benches-clearing brawl that catapulted the Reds into the spotlight.

After the skirmish, the Reds went on to upstage the Cardinals and win their division title for the first time since 1995.

Cincinnati regressed in 2011 and missed the playoffs.

However, the Reds’ front office finally got Phillips’ memo that the Reds were ready to make the jump to compete with the established powers of baseball and backed his talk up with action.

In the offseason, Cincinnati General Manager Walt Jocketty addressed the Reds’ needs on the mound by trading for ace Mat Latos and signing closer Ryan Madson.

In the last two weeks, Cincinnati signed MVP-winning first baseman Joey Votto to an extension worth over $250 million and inked fan-favorite second baseman Brandon Phillips to a $72.5 million deal.

By signing his two superstars to long-term contracts and shelling out prospects and money for top-tier pitchers, Jocketty has sent a message to the NL Central and to the rest of the league: The Reds want to win, and they want to win now.

Albeit, these additions have not been completely without tragedy, as is tradition in Cincinnati. After bringing Ken Griffey Jr. home about a decade ago, the star player failed to play 100 games in each

season between 2002 and 2004 due to injury. During those three seasons, he made $8.5, $12.5 and $12.5 million dollars, respectively, comprising roughly 20 percent of the Reds’ payroll those seasons.

This season, the bad luck in Cincinnati continued when Ryan Madson required Tommy John surgery before the season began, effectively throwing away the team’s $6 million investment in the closer and conjuring up images of Ken Griffey Jr. grasping at his hamstring in pain.

Despite that setback, this

Corey Blaine

The Reds are ready to bring the spotlight to the Queen City. year’s team is still positioned to compete for the NL Central title with teams holding nearly $30 million more in payroll.

The addition of Latos represents significant risk due to his shaky record thus far in the majors, but Cincinnati is willing to take that risk knowing that flamethrowing reliever Aroldis Chapman will be able to compensate for any off days.

Further, the long-term signings of Phillips and Votto also bear risk, as the Phillips signing will last until the second baseman’s mid-30s.

During that time, though, this Cincinnati team will be nothing if not entertaining.

When he’s not making dazzling plays as a gold-glove winning second baseman, Phillips is on Twitter (@DatDudeBP), inviting his followers to the movies or appearing courtside at Xavier University basketball games to show his love for the city. Officially banned from baseball in 1989, former player and manager Pete Rose still shows up at Reds games to applause from the fans.

Also joining the eclectic guest list for games are Charlie Sheen and former boy-band superstar Nick Lachey.

The team may not be America’s team anymore, but their following along the Ohio River is undeniable.

During their traditional home opener this season (the Reds always open their season at home in a nod to their status as the first professional baseball team), the team strolled into the Great American Ballpark on a red carpet.

No longer an afterthought in the five-team NL Central, these Reds are ready to bring the spotlight to the Queen City.

They can’t compete with the Yankees in terms of payroll or celebrity fans, but their on-field success and passionate fan base are certain to turn heads in 2012.

With a team that’s willing to fight and a front office that’s willing to make moves, Cincinnati fans may once again hear renowned broadcaster Marty Brennaman boast “and this one belongs to the Reds” as America’s first professional baseball team wins their first championship of my lifetime.

The drought isn’t as dramatic or publicized as that of the division rival Chicago Cubs. But to Redlegs everywhere, like myself, this could finally be our year.

Corey Blaine is a junior in the McDonough School of Business. THE BLEACHER SEATS appears every Friday.

sports

friday, april, 13, 2012

THE HOYA

A13

MEN’S lacrosse

top of the key

One-and-Done Strategy Toys With Fans’ Hearts W

hen I visited Central Kentucky while honing their individual skills.

So while the individual talent on for my annual pilgrimage to the beautiful Keeneland both squads was considerably less than Race Course last weekend, the couches that on recent teams of one-and-dones, had long since stopped burning and I don’t think there is any debate that the Wildcats’ blue-chip recruits were college basketball was better in that era. preparing to hire agents and enter the The passing, the shooting, the defense draft after hanging the school’s eighth — it was all more skillful.

But it wasn’t just that skill, but also banner in Rupp Arena.

And, somehow, the bluegrass is an even the affinity that fan bases felt to their brighter shade of blue today. Wednes- players that is different now.

After Kentucky lost in that Elite Eight day’s announcement that Nerlens Noel will play for UK gives Head Coach John game, the Wildcats quickly retired the Calipari his fourth top recruiting class in jerseys of the four seniors — the “Unforgettables” — who completed their final as many seasons in Lexington.

For many critics, this was further fod- season in 1992. They weren’t all headed der for their complaints about Calipari to the NBA (in fact, only Sean Woods and his reliance on the so-called “one- went), but their contributions and their and-dones.” Most of these grumbles ob- effort meant something to the fans.

It’s also no surprise that the Wildject to how the University of Kentucky — like Calipari’s previous school, Mem- cat on this year’s championship squad phis — has become nothing more than most likely to be singled out for praise a waystation on the road to the NBA, from the Kentucky faithful isn’t Anthoshredding the concept of student-ath- ny Davis, Marquis Teague or Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. It’s Darius Miller. letes that underpins college sports.

Miller, a senior who While that complaint will graduate this spring, has its merits, I’m not is a Kentucky native who’s sure that college basketplayed for the Wildcats ball players in the nation’s all four years and stuck it elite programs have really out through his freshman lived up to the “studentyear aboard the train athlete” ideal in the past. I wreck that was Billy Gilalso don’t know what that lispie’s tenure. He wasn’t nicely-packaged NCAA the team’s best player — term really means in the Evan Hollander not by a long shot — but big-money sports of foothe represented the spirit ball and men’s basketball. that people long for in At its heart, those comOne-and-done college basketball. plaints concern a broken I was in Lexingregulatory structure, one players cheapen tonWhen last week, I read a that Calipari has exploited but not violated … unthe college game. lament, one of many, of the lack of stars in horse less you count the sancracing. Far too often, the tions placed on UMass most promising horses and Memphis after some of his heavily-recruited prospects were are retired to stud farms before they discovered to have breached NCAA ama- have a chance to demonstrate their greatness. It’s one of many problems teur status and eligibility rules.

But as a fan, I have a much deeper that have reduced the quality of horse concern, one that goes to the heart of racing in America and eroded the fan both the saga of Nerlens Noel and the base of the Sport of Kings.

And while one-and-done players have game itself.

One-and-done players cheapen the another level ahead of them, they too college game. They turn the focus from leave the game too early. They never the games that will be played to the re- have time to fit into — and help build — cruitment itself. And although it can a program. They also don’t have time to be done, as this year’s Kentucky team earn the admiration of college fan basshowed, it can be difficult for coaches to es, the best supporters in all of sports.

At the end of the day, I’m not sure mold one-and-dones into team players.

During March Madness this year, one how, or if, we can roll back the clock of the television stations here in the on one-and-dones. But just as a day at District aired the 1992 NCAA matchup the racetrack is more thrilling than between Duke and Kentucky. As I’ve a horse auction, I don’t want to see written before, that contest is one of college basketball become a game in the best college basketball games ever which the most important moment arrives before the season even starts, played.

The excellence and timelessness of in overwrought ESPNU signing anthis game is rooted in a college expe- nouncements. That’s no fun. rience that has become anathema to many college basketball players these Evan Hollander is a sophomore in the days. Both teams had rosters that had experience with their coaches’ systems. School of Foreign Service and deputy The players had spent four years work- sports editor of The Hoya. TOP OF THE ing together, building team chemistry KEY appears every Friday.

INDEX

CLASSIFIEDS

Sitters Wanted. $12 or more per hour. Register free for jobs near campus or home. www.studentsitters.com Garage for Rent, Starting May 1. 34th Street Near R. Call 202.337.3396 or email gigi1693@hotmail.com Fantastic summer job, S Arlington, 8-4 daily, June - Aug. Two boys, take to swim practice daily at country club, and return home. Other activities may include arts & crafts, museums etc, xbox and wii. Should have car. 202-556-3354.

Needed right now. Campus ambassadors and manager, great products, pay, perks, fun and benefits! Contact Michael at 602759-9153, email holdemtex55@ hotmail.com today!

Needed right now. Campus ambassadors and manager, great products, pay, perks, fun and benefits! Contact Michael perfect timing foremail at 602-759-9153, your holiday specials holdemtex55@hotmail.com today! sales@thehoya.com contact

MISCELLANEOUS

800

The Hoya Classifieds Line Ad Rates Regular line classified ads are $0.50 per word.

Optional Extras Bold words: $1.00 per issue. Make individual words or an entire ad stand out.

Large headline: $1.50 per issue. One line of 16-point bold, centered and capitalized.

Two-line large headline: $2.50 per issue.

Boxed ad: $2.00 per issue. Add a onepoint box around your ad.

Deadlines & Payment Copy and payment must be received by 12 noon, one business day before publication. All classified ads must be paid in full at the time of placement.

Visa, Mastercard, cash or personal checks are accepted. Cancelled ads may be removed from the paper if notification is made before deadline. No refunds will be given, but the unused portion of the payment will be held as a credit.

For more information, please email classifiedads@thehoya.com

File photo: Chris grivas/THE HOYA

Senior midfielder and captain Gerry Reilly has picked up 31 ground balls to lead the Hoyas. He scooped up four ground balls in Georgetown’s overtime loss to St. Johns last Saturday.

GU Looks to Step Up Defensive Pressure to Match Fighting Irish IRISH, from A14 Dave Urick stressed the importance of offensive patience against Notre Dame.

“They’re a very good defensive team that doesn’t give up a lot of goals, and we’re going to need to take advantage of every opportunity we get and make sure we shoot the ball well,” Urick said. “We [need] to make sure we’re taking quality shots as well. We can’t afford to not take a good quality shot, which means there has to be some patience involved as well.”

Senior midfielder Zack Angel, who has scored 15 goals on the year, junior midfielder Brian Casey and junior attack Travis Comeau, who each have tallied 14, lead the Hoyas’ offensive attack. Casey also generates offense for his teammates by his 13 assists, second only to junior attack Zac Guy’s 15. A lingering forearm injury has caused Angel to miss two starts this season,

but Urick believes he will be ready to go after receiving more treatment today.

“I tell you one thing: He’s a tough kid. I’m sure he’ll play.

How effective he’s going to be is another issue,” Urick said. “He didn’t score in the [St. John’s] game, and he’s used to scoring three goals a game. But having him out there certainly helps us because they put the long-stick middie on Zack, which gives some other guys a little more room to operate. I think he’s going to be farther ahead this week than he was last week.”

Another concern for Georgetown is its defense, which has struggled as of late. It has allowed 28 goals in the past two games and an average of 10.4 per game on the season — last in the Big East. Reilly attributes the recent struggle to a lack of communication.

“A lot of defense, particularly at the collegiate level, is communication,” Reilly said. “I felt like

with Villanova and St. John’s, a lot of times we weren’t on the same page. We’ve really taken a hard look at those films. It comes down to communication. That’s something we really emphasized this week.”

That emphasis certainly showed in the closing minutes of practice yesterday, as the players were yelling out to each other and enthusiasm abounded. That seems to bear out Reilly’s insistence that no nobody has given up on this season.

“I don’t think anybody is putting their head down, and I think everyone is coming out to work,” Reilly said. “At the end of the day, we just love playing the game. Every day we are working harder, getting better, staying the course and believing in each other. If we do that, everything else will take care of itself.”

The game this Sunday is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Multi-Sport Facility.

Men’s BASKETBALL

Georgetown Turns Attention to Upshaw, Pollard for Class of 2016 NOEL, from A14 Noel would have given the Hoyas the title of being the only program to ever produce three No. 1 overall picks, the previous two being Patrick Ewing and Allen Iverson.

Noel has been a popular topic of conversation among the fanbases of all three schools he was considering. Kentucky and Syracuse spent the season trading the No. 1 and No. 2 national rankings, and Georgetown was among the nation’s biggest surprises, earning a top-10 national ranking after being picked to finish 10th in the conference at the beginning of the year.

The Everett, Mass. native attended Georgetown’s Selection Sunday celebration in O’Donovan Hall last month, when the Hoyas were

picked as a No. 3 seed in the NCAA tournament. The Hoya faithful chanted his name and held up signs reading “Bring the flat top back to the Hilltop,” in reference to Noel’s signature haircut.

Former Georgetown head coach John Thompson Jr. was on hand in New Orleans during the Final Four to watch Noel play in a high school all-star game. It was during that time that Noel also watched the Wildcats win the national championship on the back of freshman center Anthony Davis, to whom Noel has been compared by many.

More pressing is the fact that the Hoyas do not have a clear replacement in the middle for graduating center Henry Sims.

Freshman center Tyler Adams

missed most of this season due to a heart condition, while sophomore center Moses Ayegba sat out the entire year with a torn ACL. Georgetown is still in the running for Robert Upshaw and Devonta Pollard, both top-50 prospects. Upshaw, a 6-foot-11 center from California, could provide a sorely needed inside presence. Pollard is a versatile 6-foot-7 swingman from Mississippi who can score in bunches and rebound well. Both players should make their decision within the next month. Upshaw is choosing between the Hoyas and Fresno State, while Pollard is considering Missouri, Texas and Alabama in addition to Georgetown.

Sports

MEN’S TENNIS Hoyas (12-6) vs. St. John’s (15-6) Today, Noon McDonough Outdoor Tennis Complex

FriDAY, APRIL 13, 2012

Hoya PARANOIA Check The Hoya’s sports blog for a preview of the spring sports action this weekend. paranoia.thehoya.com

Men’s Basketball

talking points

“

NUMBERS GAME

This is the weekend we have talked about since September.

13 ”

Tennis Head Coach Gordie Ernst

MEN’S lacrosse

Stifling Defense Awaits Hoyas

Noel Picks Kentucky Over GU

Matt Carlucci Hoya Staff Writer

Michael Palmer Hoya Staff Writer

Hoya fans had their Final Four dreams for next season fade substantially Wednesday night, when Tilton School center and national No. 1 recruit Nerlens Noel chose to sign with Kentucky, discarding the Hoyas and fellow finalist Syracuse.

Noel appeared on ESPNU’s signing day special Wednesday night to reveal his decision. The 6-foot-10 center channeled Miami Heat star LeBron James, announcing that he would be “taking his talents” to Kentucky before spinning in his chair to reveal the Wildcats’ logo shaved into the back of his head.

Noel ignited a firestorm this season by reclassifying to the Class of 2012 in February. He instantly replaced Shabazz Muhammad as the nation’s No. 1 prep star, slowly eliminating teams until he narrowed his list to three a few weeks ago before making his final decision Wednesday night, the day after his 18th birthday.

Hoya fans may be feeling a bit of deja vu: Noel’s decision is quite similar to that of Andre Drummond. Last summer, Drummond surprised the nation by reclassifying to the Class of 2011 and caused a very late recruitment battle as the new No. 2 player in the country. The 6-foot-11 center narrowed his list to five finalists, the Hoyas among them, before settling on then-reigning national champions Connecticut.

Noel was seen by many as a perfect fit for Georgetown — widely known as “Big Man U” — which has produced such names as Ewing, Mutumbo, Mourning, Hibbert and Monroe.

With the potential to become the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, See NOEL, A13

FILE PHOTO: CHRIS GRIVAS/THE HOYA

Junior attack Zac Guy leads the Hoyas with 15 assists on the season.

After two consecutive conference losses, the men’s lacrosse team has no respite from tough competition as the Hoyas prepare to host the No. 6 Fighting Irish of Notre Dame (8-1, 3-0 Big East) Sunday in what promises to be a tough test for Georgetown.

The Blue and Gray (5-5, 1-2 Big East) lost to then-No. 13 Villanova last Wednesday, 15-7, in a one-sided affair. Georgetown followed that loss with a good effort against St. John’s but fell just short in overtime, 13-12.

The two losses dropped the formerly No. 20 Hoyas out of the rankings, but senior captain and midfielder Gerry Reilly is optimistic about the squad heading into Sunday.

“The team was obviously dis-

Celee Belmonte Hoya Staff Writer

The Georgetown men’s tennis team remains undefeated at home after two wins in the past week — a 4-3 victory over Stony Brook on April 5 and a 7-0 win over St. Francis Tuesday.

Although they faced Stony Brook over Easter break, Head Coach Gordie Ernst made sure nothing distracted his team from focusing on the match.

“We look forward to matches against

teams like Stony Brook,” Ernst said.

“They are very much a team like Temple, Navy or Old Dominion. These are teams that are all close to us and matches that show how mentally tough we are.”

The Hoyas picked up the first point against the Seawolves with victories in each of the three doubles matches.

The pairs of sophomore Casey Distaso and junior Charlie Caris and sophomore Andrew Dottino and freshman See SEAWOLVES, A12

FILE PHOTO: CHRIS GRIVAS/THE HOYA

Sophomore Casey Distaso and junior Charlie Caris (not pictured) won their doubles match against Stony Brook.

WOMEN’S TENNIS

GU Win Streak Hits Six After Homestand Panarese for these hard-fought wins.

“It just comes down to playing under pressure. They have had success The Georgetown women’s tennis in three-setters because they really team (13-5, 3-2 Big East) enjoyed anoth- enjoy competing — even playing tourer week of success, winning all three naments in the summer — so they are home matches to extend their winning always building that foundation of streak to six. The Hoyas first rolled past playing under pressure,” Ernst said.

Stony Brook last Thursday in a 6-1 deciExcept for junior Alexandra Landers’ sion and the next walkover at No. 6, day topped Big East the Hoyas won the rival Seton Hall “Syracuse is a top-50 rest of the singles by the same score. matches against Then, on Tuesday, team. ... They are the SBU in straight sets the Blue and Gray favorites and we have to secure an imprescruised to an easy sive victory.

7-0 victory over nothing to lose.”

In Friday’s match Saint Francis at against Seton Hall, GORDIE ERNST Tennis Head Coach home to keep the the Blue and Gray run going. took an early lead While the Hoyas by picking up doumay have made quick work of Stony bles points in the first two matches.

Brook, they still faced some tough The No. 2 pair of sophomore Tina Tehopponents in several close three-set rani and junior Vicky Sekely won with matches. At No. 3 singles, sophomore a score of 8-3, and the No. 3 team of Kelly Comolli won the first set, 7-5, Panarese and sophomore Madeline Jaethen dropped the second set, 3-6, be- ger clinched an 8-4 triumph. fore storming back to win the third, In singles play, the Hoyas picked up 11-9, to secure the win. Freshman So- the No. 3 singles point with Sekely’s phie Panarese likewise won her match commanding 6-0, 6-0 victory. Panarese in three sets at No. 5 singles, fighting also won her No. 6 singles match in back after dropping the first set by tak- straight sets before Comolli decided ing the second and third, 7-6 and 10-6, the match with a 6-3, 6-1 win at No. respectively.

4. Tehrani and Jaeger went on to win Georgetown Head Coach Gordie Ernst had high praise for Comolli and See PIRATES, A12

Special to The Hoya

FILE PHOTO: CHRIS BIEN/THE HOYA

Graduate student attack Kristen Coleman scored three goals in the Hoyas’ win over Louisville Saturday.

Georgetown Offense Catches Fire While the rest of campus was home for the Easter holiday, the Georgetown women’s lacrosse team was out winning ballgames in a big way.

The Hoyas (8-4, 4-1 Big East) went on a Midwest road trip and came back to the Hilltop with two quality results, defeating Cincinnati, 22-4, and Louisville, 19-11.

See IRISH, A13

Georgetown Knocks Off Stony Brook, St. Francis

Laura Wagner

Hoya Staff Writer

appointed after that loss. But we let it soak in, took two days off and came back ready to work on Tuesday,” Reilly said.

“Like coach says, you’ve got to put it in the rearview mirror.

At this point, as far as postseason chances and the Big East tournament go, our fate is kind of in our own hands, and it starts Sunday with Notre Dame.”

Fate will certainly need to be on Georgetown’s side this Sunday against Notre Dame’s stifling defense, which has allowed an average of only 5.3 goals per game en route to seven straight wins. The Hoyas look to combat the challenge with a balanced offensive attack, as the team has five players with double-figure goal totals on the season. Head Coach

Men’s tennis

WOMen’s lacrosse

Ryan Bacic

Women’s lacrosse players that scored in the Hoyas’ 22-4 win over Cincinnati last week.

That pair of wins stretches the team’s win streak to a season-best four games, as the Blue and Gray topped American and Connecticut in two prior outings.

Junior midfielder Sophia Thomas made clear that she and her teammates won’t get ahead of themselves, though.

“Four wins, that’s pretty huge,” Thomas said. “But we’ve still got two big games coming up, so I think if we can win these games

that’ll give us just that much more confidence going into the [postseason].”

Perhaps Thomas is right not to dwell on the wins too much: The Hoyas’ four victims during the streak weren’t quite at the same level as Big East foes Syracuse and Loyola. But no matter the opponent, the gaudy offensive numbers that Georgetown has been See OFFENSE, A10

Visit us online at thehoya.com/sports