The Hoya Guide: April 20, 2012

the guide friday, april 20, 2012

the weekly magazine for life on the hilltop

Out of Sight, Out of Mind

Georgetown’s Hidden Homeless If You Like It, Put a Pin on It

G4

The Scottish Play Still Raising the Bar G12

Honest to Blog: Juno is Overrated

G14

this issue 3 lifestyle 4 10 food&drink 12 art&culture entertainment 14 hilltop

red square roundup | campus spotlight

pinterest | center stage

cafe citron | rosa mexicano

macbeth | take it from a senior

juno | girl meets world

followus

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HOMELESS COMMUNITY FORMS ITS OWN SOCIETY

On Jan. 19, 2012, a Georgetown University employee discovered the body of 55-year-old Clark Carvelli, found dead in a tent in the woods behind campus. Further investigation revealed that Carvelli had been living there, in the forest bordering Georgetown University, for more than 25 years as part of a larger group of people surviving outside of society. This complex community of homeless individuals centers around Capital Crescent Trail, the beautiful path along the Potomac River visited by countless runners everyday. Meet Omar, Joseph and a host of others who, like us, call Georgetown home.

COVER PHOTO BY CHRIS BIEN

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Follow the guide on Twitter and stay up to date on Hilltop events, the best food in town and the most amusing entertainment news. You can also catch our exclusive online content.

the guide

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

Upasana Kaku, Executive Editor Suzanne Fonzi, Managing Editor

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

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

General Information THE GUIDE is published each week during the academic year with the exception of holiday and exam periods. Address all correspondence to: THE HOYA Georgetown University Box 571065 Washington, D.C. 20057-1065 The writing, articles, pictures, layout and format are the responsibility of THE HOYA and do not necessarily represent the views of the administration, faculty or students of Georgetown University.

Signed columns and cartoons represent the opinions of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the editorial position of THE HOYA. Georgetown University subscribes to the principle of responsible freedom of expression for student editors.

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

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

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

CHRIS BIEN/THE HOYA

take it from a senior

Brush up on your small talk skills or you may be in for a whirlwind of a senior year. From stuffy networking events to boisterous family meet-ups, people will want to know whether college has “paid-off.”

EamonO’Connor

omglol :) :| :( :D saywhat?

Mr. & Mrs. Smith — After dating for seven years, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are engaged. This is probably the closest Americans will get to a royal wedding.

Retro Rekindling — Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher are reported to be dating. We’re excited to see our favorite “That 70’s Show” couple in real life.

Super Sad — Nicki Minaj has left Twitter after getting into a fight with her fans, leaving a large, multicolored hole in the middle of our Twitter feeds.



Magic Moments — J.K. Rowling revealed that she is writing the long-awaited Harry Potter encyclopedia. Now we can all get degrees in the History of Magic.

“

We do look very different; we’re older. Leo’s 37, I’m 36 — we were 21 and 22 when we made that film. You know, he’s fatter now — I’m thinner.

- Kate Winslet on life after Titanic

hilltop

redsquareroundup april20

girl with the dragon tatoo

iparty 2010

april21

ICC Auditorium 9:30 p.m.

Free

Copley Lawn 1 to 5 p.m. $8

Director David Fincher, of Fight Club and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button fame, brings Stieg Larsson’s Swedish thriller to life in this gritty film adaptation. Featuring incredible performances by James Bond star Daniel Craig and newcomer Rooney Mara, this unforgettable film is sure to shake up your Friday night.

Head out to Copley Lawn to celebrate our international students and their diverse cultures on the Hilltop. Sample the cuisine and learn about traditions and cultures from six different continents. After you’ve eaten your fill, stick around for some exciting performances from various campus groups.

ROTTEN TOMATOES

april21

georgetown improv

GEORGETOWN OIP

hsa holi

april22 Copley Lawn 2 to 5 p.m.

Free

Bulldog Alley 9 p.m. $4 student, $6 general admission

Join the Hindu Students Association for the annual Holi festival, a traditional Hindu festival celebrating the arrival of spring. Also known as the Festival of Colors, Holi celebrations involve slinging water and colored powder at your friends on Copley Lawn. Holi is open to all Georgetown students, regardless of faith tradition.

You don’t want to miss the last improv performance of the year! This is also the final show for seniors Jed Feiman, Sean Quigley, Dan Hrebenak and Dan Thoennessen, so it is sure to be an unforgettable night for improv fans across campus. House band Bulldog Alley Alleycats will also be performing.

GEORGETOWN IMPROV

GEORGETOWN HSA

HIDE&SEEK campusspotlight | GUDC Y

ou may have seen a pack of girls in tights, leotards and ballet shoes running across Healy Lawn or a group of girls, donning pink and black, posing on the Exorcist Stairs and the Lau Steps. These dancers are members of the Georgetown University Dance Company. GUDC is a pre-professional repertory dance ensemble and the oldest dance organization on campus, founded in 1974. The company is led and directed by students and Artistic Director Miya Hisaka Silva a member of the department of performing arts faculty.

GUDC performs a diverse set of dance styles such as classical ballet, jazz, contemporary, indigenous and hip-hop. In addition, student members receive academic credit for their time spent in two technique classes during the week and up to 12 hours per week of rehearsal time. Beyond technique, GUDC fosters both artistic and lead-

ership skills, as students are encouraged to take officer positions such as student director, production director and treasurer, and to choreograph their own original work. Dancers are wholly dedicated to the entire artistic process from creating their own pieces to producing the shows. The company provides dance members with invaluable, hands-on experience that extends far beyond the dance studio.

GUDC members strive to give back to the community by volunteering at the Lombardi Cancer Center, teaching, performing and working with the patients. The Lombardi Dance program began in 2002 when Jill Roberts Piscatella, a former GUDC member, taught stretch exercises to people with cancer.

As the program has evolved, GUDC members have carried on this tradition by participating in Lombardi Moves and also performing for the Lombardi Center community.

Each year, GUDC presents shows in both the fall and spring semesters.

The performances showcase works by student members and professional choreographers. GUDC’s spring show, “Symphony of Steps,” will take place in Walsh’s Black Box Theatre on Friday, April 27 and Saturday, April 28.

We will be featuring six pieces by student choreographers and two professionally choreographed pieces by our director and guest choreographer Kim Parmer. Tickets are available online at performingarts.georgetown.edu/ boxoffice. The performance will be a great way to end the Georgetown Day celebration and send off our four performing seniors, Hannah Conn, Jerene Aldinger, Lane Feler and Sarah Stodder, with warm wishes of good luck in the future!

Elise Widerlite GUDC Member

COURTESY GUDC

ON YOUR TOES Georgetown University Dance ALL moves PHOTOS LEONEL DE VELEZ/THEHOYA Company bring their to The Hilltop.

4.20.12 | the guide | 3

lifestyle PIQUE YOUR PINTEREST: new site evolves into social phenomenon Victoria edel Hoya Staff Writer

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uppies, cupcakes, wedding gowns and nail art: a list of your guilty pleasures or some of the most popular content on one of the fastest-growing social media sites in history? The answer is both. With 104 million unique visitors last month, a year after its launch in March 2010, the popularity of the social imagesharing site pinterest.com has skyrocketed; its traffic levels are topped only by socialmedia giants Facebook and Twitter. But Pinterest has proven to be different than all other tech trends — the vast majority of the users are women.

Pinterest lets users create “pinboards,” a virtual space for each user where one can collect favorite photos, hobbies, recipes and much more that is found on the Internet.

The goal is simple: To connect everyone in the world through the ‘things’ they find interesting.

“Pinning” something can be compared to bookmarking a page, but instead of creating a long list of sites stashed in one’s Internet browser, Pinning lets users select photos to display and share with their followers. They can then organize those photos onto a variety of themed boards. Many users don’t post their own content, simply “repinning” the photos selected by others to their own boards.

With a quick glance at the most popular pins, you will see everything from baby animals to cocktail recipes, wedding ideas to arts and crafts. There are funny photos, handsome celebrities and makeup tips.

Though they all appear together on the “popular” board, they can be sorted into categories like food, fitness and the vague “my life.”

Like many Hoyas, Ciara Foldenauer (COL ’14) is a part of the growing Pinterest trend.

She’s been on the site since the beginning and has witnessed its growth over time.

Foldenauer curates seven boards, including one for her favorite photographs — the type of content that originally lured her to the site — as well as boards for recipes, inspirational quotes and home decorating ideas. She attributes her love for the site to its unique structure and individualized content.

“It’s a new way of connecting with people,” Foldenauer said. “It’s not like Twitter because [tweets are] so short and just words. Pinterest is a lot more personal. …

Twitter is more narcissistic.”

She isn’t alone in her belief that the growth of Pinterest marks a new era of distinctive, personalized social media content.

“Pinterest is just for you,” Elizabeth Buffone (COL ’14) said. “Twitter is all about what you’re doing. Pinterest is personal

because it’s what you’re into.”

The site shifts a user’s focus from the opinions of their peers to their own ideas — instead of posting things you hope your friends will “like” or retweet, it’s about putting together things you want to remember.

Of course, while people pin smart tips, they often never carry out those plans.

While Sarah Christiano (COL ’13) pins recipes or craft ideas onto her boards, she’s never actually used one.

“I have not actually done any of those ideas, but I’ve told people about them because they’re clever,” Christiano said.

Buffone is a little better about using her pins in real life.

“I like to cook, and when I want to cook I look for recipes [online], but I get tired. But that’s why I use Pinterest, because I have things that I want to cook and now they’re organized [on my board],” Buffone said.

pinterest.com

HERE COMES THE BOARD Ciara Foldenauer (COL ’14) uses Pinterest to collect everything from wedding ideas to inspirational quotes as a form of procrastination.

4 | the guide | 4.20.12

lifestyle “It’s the only organized thing I’ve ever done — my Pinterest.”

Both Christiano and Foldenauer have found themselves involved in one particular Pinterest craze — wedding boards.

“We would all be lying to ourselves if we said that none of us have been thinking about our weddings,” Christiano said. “We just see pretty things and pictures and think ‘That’s nice, maybe one day.’”

Foldenauer is more convinced that her pins will help her in the future.

“Some of the [wedding ideas] are so unique. I want to remember [them]. You can pin things to remember for later on, even if it’s not for 10, 20 years,” Foldernauer said.

Christiano enjoys the site because of the chance it gives her for self-expression.

“I’m not a very creative person individually, but I can steal [the ideas of other users] and feel creative,” Christiano said.

Pinterest’s creative model has allowed the site’s users to create the type of content they want to see, but Christiano believes this has turned men away from the site.

“I think it could be a thing guys would like too, but the people who are using it are pinning things guys wouldn’t like,” she said, “So they’re initially turned off because [it seems like just] a site for puppies and weddings.”

Diego Soto (COL ’13) bucked the gender

trend and made his own account, but fails to see the appeal.

“The entire thing is just random pictures of food and clothing,” Soto said.

“It’s more about the pictures themselves than my friends’ comments on them, but that’s what I care about more: what’s on my friends’ minds.”

But this hasn’t kept all men away from the site — the three founders are men with extremely popular boards — even President Barack Obama has a pinboard.

Obama’s boards include pictures of “Pet Lovers for Obama,” “Obama-inspired recipes” and pictures of the first family and the campaign trail. On the other side of the political spectrum, Mitt Romney’s wife Ann has an account that features family photos, patriotic pictures and her own recipes.

Perhaps this is the biggest sign of the website’s growing influence: the number of prominent people, blogs and brands that have started their own pages. Martha Stewart has 33,000 followers, Kate Spade has over 38,000 and the popular blog The Beauty Department has more than 100,000.

Many wonder how long this trend can last. Foldenauer thinks the website is around for good.

“The website definitely has a lot of potential,” she said. “Now that more people are getting [accounts], it’s keep getting better.”

PINTEREST.COM

A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS Some users like Elizabeth Buffone (COL ‘14) use Pinterest to organize their favorite links from around the web.

WHAT’S YOUR SOCIAL NETWORK?

SHEENA KARKAL Special to The Hoya

You’re mainstream, but not ashamed. You have a penchant for stalking people you barely know and assessing their personalities based on their tagged pictures. You don’t mind using popular aspects of those “other” social networking sites such as hashtags and memes. You have everything you need right here, so why go anywhere else?

Google+, with its integration of your email account and the unlimited chatting features, removes that guilt from spending too much time online. Although the circles are enticing, its downfall is the lack of users, which makes posts pretty pointless. Don’t worry, it’ll get there. And then, you can say you’ve been there since the Beta version. Share that one with “public.”

You like the idea of having “followers” instead of “friends.” You might think everyone wants to know what deli meat you prefer on your sandwich, but they don’t. Maybe you like tracking your favorite political and pop culture pundits, but your friends still wonder why you know so many details about your favorite celebrities. Basically, you love to know what’s going on (but only in 140 character increments).

You’re probably in the MSB, or you’re at least already planning for the future.

LinkedIn is a true networking site for the more practical and efficient undergrads.

While the rest of your friends are still hopelessly searching for summer plans, you’ve had yours in place since January thanks to your networking skills. Give yourself a pat on the back! (And stop bragging about your sweet internship to your unemployed friends.)

Congratulations! You’ve officially discovered time travel, because you’re clearly from the year 2002 A.D. All that’s left on MySpace is a couple of struggling artists vying to be the next Justin Bieber and middle school students (with really fancy layouts!) who aren’t yet 13 years old and who refuse to lie about their ages to Lord Facebook.

You enjoy the exclusivity of this site, which you need an invitation to join. You are also probably female and love living vicariously through people who inspire you through what they can make or do. You can be creative by appreciating creativity, right? You tell yourself you’re going to try to emulate them, but that would involve too much work. Pinning something is just too easy.

4.20.12 | the guide | 5

lifestyle

centerstage

Hoyas Don’t Let Hoyas Use Craigslist: Alumni Find Their Entrepreneurial Niche Like many recent college grads, Máuhan Zonoozy (MSB ’09) and Berni Schnider (MSB ‘09) spent the beginnings of their lives after graduation trying to find something to be passionate about. This search led them to found collegecraig.org, a website for university students that seeks to make buying and selling on campus easier and safer. The site, currently operating exclusively for Georgetown students, allows students to post ads for everything from sublets to study groups. Zonoozy and Schnider each dabbled in a few different industries before coming together to create the start-up, with Zonoozy at the helm.

Georgetown was his inspiration, but he hopes CollegeCraig will one day be used on campuses across the country. Their goal is to provide current Hoyas with a resource that the pair wished they had during their time as undergraduates.

How did you come up with the idea for CollegeCraig?

Zonoozy: CollegeCraig is the solution to a problem my friends and I faced as undergrads at Georgetown: There was no convenient and inexpensive way to find studentcentric goods and services. The options available were full of spam, were inconvenient or were just a tad bit too sketchy.

Universities already have built online ID systems to restrict their internal sites. So, I eventually decided to create a web ap-

Hoya Staff Writer

collegecraig.org

plication that would apply that [system of restrictions] to student goods and services.

ONLINE GARAGE SALE College Craig makes buying and selling on campus easier for Georgetown students.

Schnider: Identifying a problem and creating a solution seemed to be the backbone.

As students, we lacked a reliable resource for dealing with our peers and hyper-local community. We set out to build that, and you’ll see our experiences reflected in the features on CollegeCraig and in our obsession with maintaining a high level of integrity in our listings.

What role did Georgetown play in your decision to become an entrepreneur?

Schnider: Georgetown gave us both a strong education, which made us feel confident that we could take on this challenge. There are times when we were writing our business plan or preparing marketing events, and we would realize that this is exactly like projects and case studies that we had in our classes.

Zonoozy: Having an undergraduate business background also taught us how to shake hands, ask for business cards and sell ourselves. That sounds a bit funny, but those intangibles are invaluable in real life. It’s weird because sometimes “entrepreneur” comes off as a dirty word amongst the ivory towers … But fortunately Georgetown provided an incredible support system of mentors, professors, faculty and friends that encouraged us to go after what excites us professionally.

courtesy maura hohman

ENTREPRENEURIAL ALUMNI Máuhan Zonoozy (MSB ‘09) and Berni Schnider (MSB ‘09) founded College Craig to provide students with a resource they wish they had.

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maura hohman

Why do you think this resource will be effective at Georgetown?

Zonoozy: The university and broader Georgetown community is very tightly knit here. Georgetown students are already progressive and community-oriented, so this seems like a natural progression. We did build CollegeCraig with Georgetown specifically in mind.

Schnider: Washington as a whole also presents a lot of opportunities for all of our university students as well. Working here, I have seen an incredible demand for part-time jobs and internships. Students will be surprised to see all the companies that would love to have them.

What has the process of creating your own company been like?

Zonoozy: [It’s been] by far the most exciting and interesting learning experience [and], at the same time, easily the most time-consuming and demanding role I’ve been in as well. You don’t get to sleep too much, but it’s worth it.

Schnider: It’s been an awesome adventure so far — definitely one of the richest learning experiences of our lives. I can honestly say that we’ve never tried so many new things in such a short period of time, like staying up until 4 a.m. stuffing gift bags for promotional giveaways on campus.

In an ideal world, where do you see CollegeCraig going?

Schnider: Currently, we would like to build a strong partnership with Georgetown in order to grow CollegeCraig Georgetown. In an ideal world, every college student would have access to a CollegeCraig site for his or her university.

lifestyle

What I’d Do if I Could Do Freshman Year Over Again the 20-something transition BrookeBerger

I

came to college with expectations that resembled something from Animal House — I was undecided about everything besides wanting to expand my social circle with all the opportunities that college offers. As I approach the end of my junior year and start to think about my post-college plans, I can’t help but think about the things I’ve done that have gotten me to the place that I am as well as the things that I haven’t done (but still have some time left to tackle). As such, here are a few tips I would give to an emerging 20-something just starting his or her college years: First of all, having multiple friend groups will serve you well. I started my freshman year with a friend group that was almost entirely shaped by a pre-

orientation program I did. As you get older, having friends that run in different circles proves more interesting. After my first semester, I made a concerted effort to branch out and make friends that are involved in many different student organizations on campus.

I came to college completely undecided about a possible major or career direction, but I was obsessed with the idea that everything on my resume and transcript had to seem cohesive. If I wanted to be an English major, I should try to get some experience at the school newspaper, or if I wanted to go into finance, I should study economics and work at the Credit Union.

Despite my desire to present a coherent image, it turns out that not focusing on solely one aspect of school (whether by choice or not) has given me a well-rounded skill set in addition to providing me with some perspective on what I want to do. As an English major, I was able to pursue my interests in writing, but I’ve also been an intern at GUASFCU since I was a freshman.

Originally from the West coast, I was determined to get out of the bubble in which I had grown up by attending a university on the East coast. The transition was tough at times, but I eventually grew to love Georgetown. However, after spending a summer at UC Berkeley, I realized just how much cultures vary from campus to campus. Not only did my time at Berkeley allow me to spend time at a more traditional West coast college, it also allowed me to appreciate those aspects of Georgetown that I had taken for granted.

It becomes increasingly important during one’s college career to start thinking about internships and jobs. I arrived at college with the belief that, coming from Georgetown University, I wouldn’t have to rely on connections as much in order to get my foot in the door. I was wrong. If I could start college over, I would spend more time networking with people who could potentially help me get a job after graduation. I would contact alumni, go to more Career Center events, keep track of busi-

The Best Jazz in Georgetown

W

hen most students are searching for a night featuring live music, they head over to the U Street Corridor. However, a few more knowledgeable ones know that there is no need to travel so far to experience some good old-fashioned jazz. Due to its location down an alley on the south end of Wisconsin Avenue, tucked in between Serendipity and Rugby, it is no surprise that many Georgetown students walk right past the Blues Alley Jazz Club. It is one of the hidden gems of the Georgetown neighborhood — a historical venue that brings live music to the other side of town.

Blues Alley was founded in 1965 and is currently the oldest surviving jazz club in the nation. The club has a full bar and restaurant that features Creole cuisine, seafood dishes and steak. Blues Alley is open for business nightly, with shows at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. that feature talented jazz musicians. Recent performers have included D.C.’s own Sine Qua Non, but in the club’s nearly 50 years it’s played host to renowned jazz artists such as Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie and Gil Scott-Heron. Blues Alley’s popularity spans generations and attracts music lovers of all ages from all over the world. It boasts some notable clientele as well. “Stevie Wonder swings by to check out a show

from time to time,” Lou Valdez, one of the Blues Alley managers, said.

The dim lighting and small size of the room create a very intimate setting for patrons of Blues Alley. Candles on every table of the venue lend the room its main source of light and let visitors feel close to the performers. It doesn’t take a jazz aficionado to appreciate the smooth sounds of the live performance. The staff encourages all music lovers to come to Blues Alley and hopes to attract more college students to the establishment. Student discounts are available for certain shows by contacting the club manager.

Valdez describes Blues Alley as a great club with a lot of history that “provides musical education” to all its patrons.

But don’t take his word for it. “The only way to describe Blues Alley would be actually to experience it. There’s only so much words can describe. Some things you have to experience yourself,” Valdez said. The club is large enough for groups, but it is also a great spot to take a date or grab dinner with a few close friends. If you’re looking for music with a little more soul than whatever the disc jockey at Rhino is playing, grab some friends or that cute girl or guy you’ve been eyeing at Yates and head over to Blues Alley to enjoy a night of food and live jazz, different from anything else in Georgetown.

ness cards and, most importantly, stay in touch with potential employers.

Finally, it’s important to put in the effort to develop professional relationships with professors. Not only can professors provide feedback on academic work, they can also offer advice about graduate school and potential careers. After having a conversation with an enthusiastic professor, I was convinced that writing and journalism is something that I would like to pursue after graduation.

College passes by incredibly fast. Take advantage of the many opportunities afforded to this university’s students, especially if you think it’s something you would never do. Sure, there have been parts of my college career that have resembled something from Animal House, but the best experiences that I’ve had have been times that I wouldn’t have even considered before going to college.

Brooke Berger is a junior in the College. THE 20-SOMETHING TRANSITION appears every other Friday in the guide.

BISI ORISAMOLU Hoya Staff Writer

CHRIS BIEN/THE HOYA TIFFANY LACHHONNA FOR THE HOYA

ALL THAT JAZZ Blue Alley Jazz Club is a little-known establishment that offers great food and drinks while showcasing local musicians.

4.20.12 | the guide | 7

A Different Neck of the Woods

JONATHAN GILLIS Hoya Staff Writer

O

Jason points out the growing pile of garbage outside the camp. He will have to walk almost a mile to get rid of it.

Jason uses objects that he finds around the camp to craft his own pets. Pictured above is his dog.

A rough-hewn man of Mexican descent, Omar leans against a rock near his tent, empty beer cans and tequila pint bottles scattered in the dirt around his feet. He has the grin of a schoolboy who just orchestrated the perfect prank, but he speaks in short, commanding bursts like a military officer.

Omar, who guesses that he is 45 years old, has been living in a tent alongside the Potomac River within eyeshot of the university for nine years. Several of his friends live nearby, their camp sites all interconnected by a series of trails that they have carved out of the foliage. Together they form an anomalous neighborhood complete with a trash collection program, a leisure area and a set of rudimentary roads. They call each other on cell phones, bike to work together and go fishing in the afternoons. They live remarkably conventional lives in entirely unconventional circumstances.

Just 20 yards from Omar’s makeshift home is the Capital Crescent Trail, a runner’s paradise that travels parallel to the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. It is a strange dichotomy — a homeless man’s tent so close to a recreation trail. But Omar might as well be on another planet.

“I’d rather be here, right here by myself,” he says, taking a swig of Patron. “I do some fishing. Yeah, it’s nice to do some fishing.” He closes his eyes and lifts the bottle to his lips again.

The land that Omar and his friends occupy is part of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historic Park, a 184-mile preserve that winds alongside the Potomac River from Maryland to West Virginia. Runaway slaves were known to use its lush woods for cover as they travelled north on the Underground Railroad, and homeless shantytowns were often spotted by boatmen as they traveled down the canal.

Nearly 200 years later, the narrow strip of land between the C&O Canal and the Potomac has not lost its draw for vagrants. No one can explain that better than Jason, one of Omar’s companions and a chronic alcoholic, who says that he

spends most of his time beside the river watching ducks. Jason, a short, weathered man, says he came to Washington, D.C., from Atlantic City, N.J., seven years ago and has been living in the woods ever since.

“It’s nice down here, you know, with the ducks and the bridge and the water,” Jason stammers. “It’s just so damn relaxing. I wouldn’t leave now. Not ever.”

Jason can be erratic, but he is always welcoming, quick to offer drinks and cigarettes to anyone nearby. Like many of the group members, he disappears for days and resurfaces with little explanation.

“

It is a strange dichotomy — a homeless man’s tent so close to a recreation trail.

But Omar might as well be on another planet.

“

Sleeping areas can be set up in any clearing, but usually they are tucked into the shade for protection from the rain.

mar wears his life on his face. Swollen cheeks and a slightly crooked nose are the remnants of a boxing career that ended abruptly in 1995. Deep wrinkles run through his forehead, a testament to years of heavy drinking. Razor burn lines his jaw, the product of rusty disposables that he stashes in a bed of leaves.

Sometimes he claims to have been in a hotel in Huntington County, Ind. Other times he tells stories about being an artist or a doctor or any number of other jobs that require him to travel.

A beer can always in hand, Jason occupies a little cove near the river where he and the rest of the group, of which the number of members constantly varies, have set up their own park. It has a picturesque look to it, with spring blossoms that dangle from the branches of the nearby trees and fallen logs that serve as benches. To the side, an expired fire pit from the night before continues to kick up ash.

To a certain degree, Jason has established himself as the landscaper of the group. He points out all of the areas around the camp that need improvement and rattles off a list of supplies required to accomplish his goals. He has a tendency to ramble, though, and he can

be abrasive, especially after he has been drinking all afternoon. Still, his friend Steve, a surly man in his early 40s, defends him with great loyalty.

“He’s a good guy, man. He don’t use crack, don’t use heroine. He kind of just hangs out, you know, tries to get his life back together,” Steve says. “We all got to have dreams like that.”

According to professor William Kornblum, a professor of sociology at the City University of New York, the sense of community between homeless individuals provides an escape from the difficult lifestyle.

“There is a persistent finding that the homeless on the street tend to have bonds between them, and they are longlasting friendships. In sociology, they call it a ‘communal relationship,’ where they start to rely on each other like men in combat do,” Kornblum says. “They start to see it as them against the rest of the world.”

It is easy to get fooled into thinking that life in the woods is some kind of paradise. From the way that Jason and Omar describe it through the fog of alcohol, it might as well be a vacation in the Bahamas. Steve, however, sees it all from a different angle.

“I hate it here. I just want to get out,” he says bluntly.

But getting out is more easily said than done. Steve has a criminal record and lingering mental issues that would make it difficult for him to acclimate to conventional society. His heavy drinking is also problematic.

According to Gunther Stern, executive director of the Georgetown Ministry Center, an organization that works to end homelessness, the refusal to acknowledge their problems creates hurdles for men like Steve.

“These guys all have serious mental illnesses as well as addictions, but they don’t believe that they have mental illnesses,” Stern says.

As a result, many of them stay in the woods and away from the very resources that could help them resettle.

Jason and his friends have cleared a common area on the river for recreational use, and at times, for fishing.

After this tree fell during Snowpocolypse in 2010, it was stripped of its branches and carved into a bench.

“I don’t go out there, and they don’t want me to go out there to talk to them,” Stern says. “In terms of survival, you know, they just do it.”

Ignoring issues like addiction and mental illness, however, can have devastating consequences.

Desperation can take its toll on the community, and last December, it claimed the life of one of Steve’s good friends.

“One of my buddies jumped off the Key Bridge,” Steve says. “It was sad, too, because there was a cop there that had a heart attack at the same time, so both of them ended up dead.”

What Steve is referring to is a widely reported story from Dec. 16, 2011. Michael Boehm, an officer in the U.S. Park Police who had been dispatched to respond to a jumper on the Key Bridge, suffered a heart attack and was transported to the Georgetown University Hospital, where he died. Boehm was given a police funeral in Burke, Va., but officials never uncovered the identity of the jumper — Steve’s friend.

Illness and the elements can be just as deadly as the creeping hopelessness. In the summer, Jason says, mosquito bites blanket his arms and the dirt causes his

“

maintains that living on the fringe of society is preferable to a conventional lifestyle.

“You can barely get a hello from anybody in this city,” he says. “People will stare at you because you ain’t fitting in, and the only way to get in is to know somebody and then they tell their friends that you can get in. Otherwise, you are on the outside. That’s OK, though, because I know in my heart and in my mind who I am. And I know that I am on the inside, and they are on the outside.”

He gives off an air of certainty, a sense that he is privy to something that everyone else has yet to discover.

He is an artist, a fact that he feels he needs to prove by pulling out a pencil and drawing a quick sketch on some old cardboard laying nearby. Offering up stories while his cat, Shadow, clambers over his shoulders and onto his head, Joseph says that he hails from Alabama, where he was a personal bodyguard.

“I’m not the kind of man that wants to jump to violence. I like to give people a fair warning, to be peaceful with them,” he says.

A few minutes later, he keeps to his

and codes that they enforce among themselves. They depend on each other to look after each other’s stuff, and if they don’t do it, then they have to impose sanctions,” he observes. “Reciprocity when people have so little, that becomes a very important part of the morality of their group.”

Becoming a defeatist is the quickest path toward destruction for members of the small community, so they dutifully wear smiles and continue about their days, ignoring disease, bugs and the ever-present desperation.

If securing a job is the first step to recovery, then Jason and Steve have a head start. Both of them begin their days with an early morning shift at Caring Hands, a document handling service in Southwest D.C., where they help expedite processing for items like State Department Visa applications and DMV registrations. As they both like to say, “We do documents for the State Department.”

“We get a stack of papers and turn them in and then get more papers back, and bring them back,” Jason explains, a hint of cockiness in his voice.

That’s OK, though, because I know in my heart and in my mind who I am. And I know that I am on the inside, and they are on the outside.

Omar and Jason propped up a fallen tree so that the ivy could hang down as a form of home decoration.

all photos chris bien/the hoya

During the spring, this area is a haven, but the group will have to move during the summer to avoid bugs.

skin to dry and crack open. In the winter, frigid nights can be treacherous, and in the spring, although cops warn residents of expected flooding, heavy rains still threaten the entire riverfront.

Even when the weather is mild, a lack of healthcare can be fatal. Earlier this year, a Georgetown University employee found the body of Clark Carvelli, a 25year resident of the woods, just outside the university’s Canal Road entrance.

According to Joseph, another resident of the forest community, Carvelli suffered from heart murmurs and Hepatitis C. Stern estimates that there are about 70 men and women sleeping outdoors in the Georgetown area, under bridges, by the canal or in nearby Rock Creek Park.

“Many of them have been homeless for 20 years or so,” he says. “If you are on the street and you have a mental illness, and you just live there for 20 years, we have to as a society say, ‘That’s not OK.’” Despite the death of his friend, Joseph, a tall man with dangling dreadlocks and a pair of scholarly glasses,

word. Though he had warned Jason against giving Shadow beer, Jason insists on sneaking some to the cat in a water bottle cap. Joseph turns around and sharply rebukes him.

“Jason, man. Jason, man. I like you.

You’re a good dude,” he says. “If you ever give my cat beer again, though, you’re gonna lose your hand.”

Jason interrupts him with a stream of nonsense, and then begins tearing through his pockets.

“I got a veterinarian license around here somewhere,” Jason says. “I think I lost it, but I know I got it here. You got to give the cat something to drink.

Otherwise, you get a lazy cat.”

Joseph looks unenthused.

“Jason, man, you’re gonna kill my cat, and that’s like my baby. Just go over there,” he says.

Jason backs down.

Conflicts typically do not last too long within the community, as an unwritten code of law seems to come into effect. Defined ethical codes are common within homeless communities, according to Kornblum.

“The homeless establish routines

— Joseph The job description seems vague, but in their eyes it makes perfect sense.

Carol Garland, the president of Caring Hands, has employed the men for a while, but her involvement with them goes far beyond a traditional employer-employee relationship. In the past, she has bought them clothes and even tried to get some of them into a halfway house. At this point, she says, her efforts feel futile.

“Jason is not very consistent. He just drinks too much, and he doesn’t always show up,” Garland says. “But Steve is usually very reliable. He definitely has some mental problems, though.”

Jason and Steve are not the only ones with steady employment. Their friend Sarah, a kind, well-spoken young woman, says she used to live in Dupont Circle until she lost her last job after yelling at her boss, leaving her unable to afford rent. Now, she says, she works as a waitress and hopes to find new housing soon.

“It sucks, but I got myself into a financial situation. It’s tough,” she says. “I know I’ll get there, but it’s tough.”

food&drink Quality Mexican North of the Border FREDDIE BRODERMANN Special to The Hoya

 ROSA MEXICANO

H

575 Seventh St. NW cuisine: Mexican price: $$$$

aving had the most phenomenal spring break in Mexico — no, not the quintessential Cancun hoorah, but rather in the wonderful Ciudad de Mexico — and sampling its delightful cuisine, I thought that it was only necessary to taste the offerings on this side of the border. When my father and sister visited, we made a reservation at Rosa Mexicano, located across the street from Verizon Center. Chipotle and Qdoba would certainly not cut it.

After walking past tables sprawled on the street, we strolled inside. Rosa Mexicano certainly seemed to be a swanky and classy affair. The restaurant was divided into three main sections and had dim lighting, which created a chic atmosphere. However, the ambience was by no means intimate and reservations did not seem necessary.

When we took our seats and scanned the menu, I noticed how extensive it was and I felt quite savvy when I recognized some of the enjoyable dishes that I had eaten in Mexico. However, I wanted to venture out of my comfort zone and try something original.

As my father and sister ordered tacos,

I opted for steak and shrimp accompanied by a crispy arugula salad and garlic fries. I asked for the spiciness to be tempered so didn’t receive any sauce when my entree arrived. The skirt steak was succulent, cooked to medium-rare (upon the chef’s recommendation) and bursting with flavor. The shrimp were a good supplement and the garlic fries were out of this world. With the shape of one’s ideal McDonald’s fry, the garlic added a real twang.

The steak tacos that my father and sister had ordered were polished off before I could even get a look in, but I gather they were pretty good. The corn tortillas were on the slightly thick side and didn’t come with any salsa. My sister, a bit of a fussy eater, allowed me to sample her chicken tacos. I must say that they were delicious. Flavored with ancho chilis, cumin and other seasonings, the chicken was juicy and tasty.

It came smothered in a Chihuahua cheese sauce and accompanied with sweet corn and refried black beans, all of which combined perfectly.

The attentive and slick service added to the positive experience. Our waiter,

blogbites

ZAGAT.COM

ME GUSTA Rosa Mexicana delivers powerful Mexican flavors in its rich cuisine. from Peru, was very knowledgable and extremely efficient, topping off drinks before they were finished.

All in all, Rosa Mexicano was an enjoyable dining experience. Although obviously no match for the real deal, the food was delicious and sumptuous, the service was top-notch and the restaurant was atmospheric. However, the high price of Rosa Mexicano makes half-price Mondays at Qdoba that much more appealing.

tacos de panza con callos de hacha

braised pork belly and seared diver scallops on corn tortillas

budin de pollo

baked corn tortillas filled with pulled chicken, cheese and roasted peppers

a weekly review of the blogosphere’s best recipes

Cookie Dough Peanut Butter Cups

CAPRESE PASTA SALAD

How Sweet It Is howsweeteats.com Can’t decide between Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup and a chocolate chip cookie? Well, now you don’t have to. Jessica at How Sweet It Is combined two of our favorites into one mouthwatering bite. Melt chocolate chips, let harden in muffin cups and then fill with a drop of peanut butter cookie dough.

Enjoy whatever dough is left by the spoonful.

Pink Basil pinkbasil.com In preparation for the warmer weather, whip up a quick and easy pasta salad and take it with you to Healy Beach. This light dish is perfect for when you want to indulge in delicious carbs, but nothing too heavy. Imagine yourself on the beaches of sunny Capri, where the ingredients of basil, tomato and mozzarella are enjoyed by the locals.

10 | the guide | 4.20.12

dishes you have to try:

HOWSWEETEATS.COM

PINKBASIL.COM

food&drink

Lively Spot Dishes Up Latin Heat and Beat

Slowly Savoring Life’s Bites market to table

JASMINE WEE Special to The Hoya

W

hen you find yourself looking for a relatively inexpensive Pan-Latin food joint where you can have a Latin-style dinner, drink and dance all in one place and in that order, then Cafe Citron in Dupont Circle is your best bet. A veritable establishment with a long history and reputation in the District, Cafe Citron is a popular spot not only because of its comfort food-style Latin American cuisine, but also for its inexpensive happy hours (Tuesday through Saturday), fun casual vibe, nightly in-house disc jockeys and free salsa and merengue lessons on Wednesday and Saturday evenings.

Before I even stepped foot into the restaurant, I knew that even if the food didn’t meet my standards, it would still be fun just to check it out.

And I was not disappointed.

When my friend and I entered the cozy restaurant — but not until a friendly security guy checked our IDs — we immediately sensed good vibes as Caribbean music blasting from speakers permeated the restaurant. The bar was packed with mostly 20-something office types who just got off work and the slightly dimmed lights, and the rustic Latin decor created a fun and casual atmosphere.

The restaurant is known for their extensive mojito menu, so we ordered their renowned Cuban Mojito ($7.27) and some fried plantains ($6) and calamares a la plancha ($12) to start. The mojito was delicious — sweet, but also unexpectedly strong; perhaps we were just too used to the tepid alcoholic beverages that are found within the campus vicinity. As someone with minimal knowledge and little experience with Latin American cuisine, the fried plantains, with their

KYLE YOUNG FOR THE HOYA

SALSA ANYONE? Cafe Citron is well known both for its food and its upbeat Latin vibe.

 CAFE CITRON 1343 Connecticut Ave. NW. Washington, D.C. cuisine: Pan-Latin price: $$$$ browned and crunchy exterior but gooey and aromatic insides, were a delightful surprise; bananas have rarely tasted better than this. The chewy texture and garlicky flavor of the grilled calamari had us equally smitten.

By the time our entrees came, we already quite full; however, just looking at my camaron citron ($16), I knew my stomach could definitely make some extra room. The lemon and garlic shrimp came on a bed of grilled peppers and onions, complemented by some steaming buttery rice and a small house salad.

But alas, the shrimp were nothing to write home about — good, but not on par with the appetizers we ate. The vegetables were also standard fare; the rice, however, with its rich and creamy taste, was a knockout as the intense flavor overpowers that of the shrimp. Likewise my friend’s lomo saltado, a Peruvian dish of grilled beef strips served with onions, peas and French fries, was delicious but not particularly amazing. Even so, both entrees make for satisfying comfort food, especially when finished with a glass of mojito.

Being right next to the bar allowed us to see how Cafe Citron is not just any restaurant establishment in D.C., but one that has a following with regular customers, in the sense that there seems to be an air of community. Loyal customers banter and joke with the bartenders, some knock back bottles of Corona, and two or three couples got up from the bar to dance — actually, salsa — to the Latin music coming from the speakers.

Overall, my friend and I had a very enjoyable experience at Cafe Citron. We’ll definitely be back for the appetizers, drinks and fantastic vibe during happy hour. Combined, these factors make Cafe Citron a great, fun choice to just kick back with friends on any night of the week.

Now, who wants to learn how to do the merengue on Saturday?

BethanyImondi

M

y Italian professor in Florence had a favorite saying: “Piano, piano.” The words, which can be translated to mean “slowly, slowly,” served to remind my peers and me to slow down our pace, to take the time to relax and appreciate the simple moments.

Of course, as we were all American students at the villa in Fiesole, the philosophy of piano, piano was not easy to pick up. Used to running around with a caffeinated fix and a ringing cell phone our hands, Americans are constantly on the move. We live for the green light, the moment when we can step on the gas pedal and speed to the next stop and cross off another item on the to-do list.

In Italy, however, the opposite is true. Drinking coffee is not a twominute, drive-thru affair but rather a period of extending lingering to chat with the proprietor about the latest soccer scores or the economic crisis. Meals are three-course, hourplus events to socialize with family and neighbors and relax after a long

day. Punctuality is rare; nothing ever seems to start on time, and yet there are few problems. There are few concerns about juggling a list of errands or scheduled appointments. Whereas Americans seem to value time as money, Italians prefer to savor time with pleasure. Though an American could think of a dozen better things to do than stand at a bar for 20 minutes drinking coffee, Italians live for such simple opportunities.

While I admit to succumbing to the hustle-and-bustle American lifestyle after returning from abroad, I am making efforts to slow down and appreciate life’s everyday joys. One example of my attempts at living slowly, slowly is my preparation of a classic Italian dish: risotto.

Although not very difficult to make, risotto is a bit labor intensive, since it requires constant stirring and watching. The basic recipe includes stock, wine and rice, but this time of year the markets are teeming with products perfect for a springtime feast.

In light of this bounty, add some asparagus into a risotto as a great way to eat seasonally and practice the piano, piano way of life.

Bethany Imondi is a junior in the College. MARKET TO TABLE appears every other Friday in the guide.

asparagus risotto INGREDIENTS

4 cups of vegetable stock 2 tbsp. butter 1 small onion, finely chopped 1/2 bunch of asparagus, sliced diagonally 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

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2.

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4.

5.

6.

Zest of 1/2 lemon Salt and pepper to taste 1/3 cup white wine 1 cup Arborio rice

In a medium saucepan, simmer the chicken stock on low heat to warm it.

While broth warms, melt butter in a heavy-bottomed saucepan on medium heat and saute the onion until it’s soft and translucent, about 3 to 5 minutes.

Add the asparagus, lemon zest and salt and pepper to taste. Adjust the heat to medium-low and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes.

Add the rice and saute the mixture, stirring constantly for one to 2 minutes, and then pour in the white wine and cook until all the liquid has evaporated.

Add a ladle of broth to the rice. Stir until the liquid is mostly absorbed. When the mixture begins to dry out, add a ladleful of stock until creamy consistency.

Continue adding ladles of stock and stir constantly for 20 to 30 minutes until the rice is tender. Serve immediately once all liquid is absorbed.

4.20.12 | the guide | 11

art&culture A Shakespearian Success

victoria nGare Hoya Staff Writer

A

collaboration of the Georgetown University theater and performance studies program and Mask & Bauble Dramatic Society, Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” is a dark play that straddles the line between dreams and reality. “Macbeth” is the final installment of “Nature’s Mirror: A Season of Evil and Noble Acts,” the theater and performance studies program’s 20112012 season in the Davis Performing Arts Center. With this finale, the department has a huge success in a show that’s both deeply disturbing and thought provoking.

The plot revolves around the titular main character — played by Ben Prout (COL ’15) — as he is forced to contend with his inner demons. After the three witches — played by Jeremy Guyton (COL ’12), Betsy Helmer (COL ’13) and Marina Young (COL ’13) — reveal to Macbeth that he will one day become the king of Scotland, he decides to take matters into his own hands. Instead of letting fate take its course and waiting for the crown to come to him, Macbeth decides to murder King Duncan, played by Justin McCarthy (COL ’15).

From the moment he commits the crime, Macbeth regrets his decision, and his guilt manifests through encounters with various occult figures, such as the ghost of King Duncan, in his daily life.

His wife, Lady Macbeth (Maria Edmundson [COL ’12]), knows very well what plagues her husband, and she relieves her husband’s conscience by reminding him that he cannot change the past.

Such a matter-of-fact statement does nothing to assuage Macbeth’s remorse.

What’s more, after his first act of mur-

HANSKY SANTOS/THE HOYA

FAIR IS FOUL This rendition of “Macbeth” emphasizes its dark themes.

12 | the guide | 4.20.12

der, Macbeth spirals even further into a downward cycle of depravity by committing several more in order to cover his tracks. The ghosts of all of Macbeth’s victims confront him at various points throughout the play, further merging his reality with his dream world. The ghosts do a great job portraying the horror that Macbeth is faced with as Prout masterfully illustrates his character’s fall.

As Macbeth grapples with the possibility of his own insanity, McDuff — a Scottish nobleman (played by Jeremy Guyton [COL ’12]) whose wife and kids are murdered by Macbeth — plots to rid Scotland of the tyrannical Macbeth and restore the Scottish throne to its rightful heir, Malcolm (Ed Walczak [COL ’14]), the son of the late King Duncan.

Led by professor Maya E. Roth, student Producer Lorrie Damerau (COL ’13) and Stage Manager Katie Chew (COL ’12), this dynamic cast brings to life one of William Shakespeare’s most acclaimed plays. Accompanied by light and sound effects — designed by department of performing arts Technical Director Robbie Hayes and Becca Nadler (COL ’12) respectively — this staging of Macbeth engenders the feeling of an inevitable blurring between the corporeal and ethereal upon the audience. The technical aspects of the show are amazing. The characters fly on and off the stage and at times even into the audience. As ghosts and Scottish soldiers alike perform from the balconies of the theater, the realms of the living and the dead become less defined in both Macbeth’s mind and those of the audience.

To further intensify the phantasmal atmosphere of the play, its scenes are set on a wooden stage with trap doors and a giant ,overarching, gnarled tree shaped into an incomplete circle. The presence of this partial circle alludes to the sense of unfinished business aroused by the reappearing ghosts of Macbeth’s victims. Representing the ambiguous destination of the dead and the living in Macbeth, characters enter and disappear from the stage through the trapdoors, and spells are conjured up by the witches in this same space.

If the goal of this play was to raise questions about the occult and provoke thoughts about the tentative nature of good and evil, Macbeth was a success.

TAKe it from a senior Georgetown Forever EamonO’Connor

U

nderclassmen, be warned: Brush up on your small talk skills or you may be in for a whirlwind of a senior year. From stuffy networking events to boisterous family meet-ups, people will want to know whether college has “paid off” for you. For the senior, reciprocation is demanded, especially when that first, daunting question lingers in the air.

“So, how does it feel?” inquiring minds ask you, their eyes widening and voices shifting to deeper, more reflective tones. The first time someone asks, you stiffen up. The “it” is very clearly the end of senior year, a fact that leads to the implicit prodding for details on life after senior year and post-graduation plans.

Usually, the senior blurts out something that sounds very convincing and self-assured. In particular, my go-to senior spring update — “I feel like my Georgetown experience is complete and now I’m savoring it” — has gotten me thinking recently. What makes a college experience complete? More importantly for you, underclassman reader, what makes a Georgetown experience complete?

College tempts us to live out our experiences in measurable ways. For me, that has meant everything from the pressure cooker of intensive Arabic classes to the higher-pressure cooker of college journalism. In both of these experiences and many others, I worked tirelessly toward completion. Why? Because for college students, completeness is presumed to be the ideal in life experience.

Let’s take Arabic. My yearning for the complete could be satisfied in a proficiency exam, fulfillment of the minor, or even the realization that I could hold up a steady conversation with native Arabic speakers on a trip last winter.

At The Hoya, my roles as a senior editor, executive editor and later editor-inchief all served as microcosms of the four-year strictures enforced by college.

Achievement, in the organizational structure, was superficially confined to half-year or year terms, depending on the role. As with any other college organization, we often left concerns for institutional memory and the long-term to the wayside; in exchange, we would savor the tangible notions of completeness that we could cling to during the time we had in our Leavey offices.

In our struggle to be individuals who get ahead, we don’t like failing, and we certainly don’t like accepting that progress toward more completeness takes time. We press forward assuming we can just start over after checking “Georgetown” off our bucket list, degree in hand.

Since I realized Georgetown is never really complete, I’ve been able to rebound from the small-talking halftruths by living out my Georgetown experience in more meaningful ways.

Working toward intellectual, personal and professional goals I had long put to the side, I have found my college experience to be slowly inching toward a more complete version of incomplete.

Georgetown is hardly bound by this campus, these four years or the peers we spend them with. Georgetown is a lifestyle we live out beyond our time on campus. As we build our character, challenge ourselves, give back to the university and commit to meaningful relationships, we chant “Hoya Saxa” to the world around us. In short, we begin savoring the incompleteness that makes us human.

Just as with small talk of course, it takes some time in the trenches to come to this realization. Indeed, it can be beneficial to take the laser-vision view toward graduation that so many students adopt here. Doing so endows you with a drive that will serve you well.

But when you find yourself disillusioned by the undergraduate craving completion, take some time to realize that life is about progress, not endpoints. If you relish that incompleteness, you may just find that your four years here can last forever.

Eamon O’Connor is a senior in the College and is a former editor-in-chief of The Hoya. TAKE IT FROM A SENIOR appears every other Friday in the guide.

thank you executive

sports

To the fabulous Hoya staff: I have spent more hours than I care to count this semester reworking ledes, rearranging paragraphs and nitpicking at headlines, but I remain unable to find the words to convey how much you all mean to me. For the past few months, you guys have been my colleagues, friends and family – and I couldn’t have asked for a better group. Thanks for an amazing semester!

Special shoutouts to: Evan Hollander, for being an editing machine who provided a constant stream of ridiculous stories.

Ashwin Wadekar, for being the obligatory obnoxious Boston fan in Leavey 421.

Matt Carlucci, for stepping up as a writer and editor despite being surrounded by lefty libbo-commie propaganda.

Lawson Ferguson. The space isn’t sufficient to honor everything this kid has done for the paper, but let’s face it — he’s not the type for corny thankyous anyway.

Thanks to everyone in the sports section who kicked ass week-in and week-out for the past year.

The paper couldn’t have happened without you.

#hoyalove, Upasana

campus news To the News Staff: Thank you so much for a more incredible semester than I could have imagined. I really appreciate you all being there with and for me through my baby panic attacks and the incredible reward of actually getting the paper out each issue.

Matt and Rita, the news assistants and everyone else, thank you for your flexibility, dedication and overall awesomeness this year. It’s been incredible to watch the section grow. Sarah and Upasana, you are better friends than I could have ever asked for. Thank you for continually inspiring me to be a better senior editor.

Mariah

city news Thank you: To the newsies, for being the heart of The Hoya.

To Braden, my faithful deputy, for appreciating the intoxicating intensity of the newsroom and never forgetting a single phone number.

To Mariah, for making me smile, for not wall-quoting half the ridiculous things I say on a nightly basis, for always being there til the bitter end, and for being the best friend/co-editor I could have asked for.

Sarah

layout I’m doggone lucky to have such a wonderful staff.

Kyle, Audrey, Anna, and Abby — you have been such a big help this semester.

Emory, Zoe, and Jess — I couldn’t have done it without you. Thanks for putting up with my craziness.

Eddie, Shakti, and Jeremy — for being the best layout family a girl could ask for. #allofthelayoutlove #themostlayoutlove,

Remy

Hang tough, Pat

the guide Connor, Upasana and Suzanne — Thank you a thousand times for dealing with my neurotic tendencies, the countless emails, the superfluous text messages and my lack of, how do you say, “normality?” I’m incredibly grateful to have worked with you.

Alex, Bethany and Victoria — I can’t tell you how much you helped me adjust this semester after being out of the loop for so long. Every time I needed help, you were always there and I can’t say “thank you” enough. #bestdepsever Assistants — For those of you who came into production night to help out, thank you. Believe it or not, you are the future of The Guide, and it’s the little things that you do that people around the office notice. My best advice to you: Stick with us.

Steven “Stebbs” Piccione

photo To My Hoya Photographers, I want to thank all of you for your hard work, dedication and overall awesomeness in making one of the best semesters I have spent on The Hoya.

I would not have been able to do this without you guys and I cannot thank you guys enough for all the pictures you guys have taken.

I want to especially thank my deputies, Leonel, Sari and Christie for all of the work they have done to make the section run. From production nights to taking on last minute assignments, you guys dedicated so much of your time and I cannot possibly thank you enough for it.

Have fun and I look forward to seeing the continued success in the photo section!

Chris

managing Dearest Hoya Staff , I don’t think I can ever adequately describe how much you all mean to me, but the cuteness of this baby owl times a thousand might be close.

Thank you for everything.

Hoya Love,

Fonzi

Owl always love you

opinion Dearly Beloved Opinion Section: To my assistants: Quite often, you light up my evening on production nights. Thanks for your work! You make the time in the office run significantly more smoothly.

To the Editorial Board: You guys all give me a run for my money to say the least. We’ve had a fantastic run.

Thanks for your work.

To Hanaa and Martin: Thanks for being amazing deputies. I was so lucky to have each of you on my team at different times this year. Best of luck to both of you.

And to the rest of the office: I’m comfortable enough to be around you sans pants. I cherish your support and friendship. I want to say more, but I know I can’t without getting emotional. Meet me at Japone?

Love,

Kate Middleton

blog But seriously, a big high five and thank you to my fantasic group of bloggers. 4E would be nothing without you all.

Special thanks to Martin – without your ideas and your laugh I don’t know where we would be today. Looking forward to all of our future internet-based adventures!

Michelle

copy To my Copy Cats — Thank you all for a purrfect semester.

Your constant eagerness to help made it so much better than I could have imagined. To Nikita and Emily — I really couldn’t have done it without you girls. Thank you for making me laugh, covering for me when I needed it and keeping me sane. You’ve let me know that I’m leaving this section in very capable hands. I wish you all the best.

Copy Love, Sam P.S. Thank you beautiful ladies and handsome gents for making copy the most attractive section :)

4.20.12 | the guide | 13

entertainment 10 Things I Hate About JEREMY TRAMER Hoya Staff Writer

L

egendary film critic Roger Ebert said a few weeks ago that he would consider including Juno in his list of the top 10 movies of all time. As one of Juno’s few outspoken detractors — I’ve trashed Juno offhandedly in numerous reviews of other films for THE HOYA — I can’t let this stand. So before I graduate next month, I’d like to explain exactly why I dislike Juno.

To clarify, I’m not some kind of negative blowhard who hates all cutesy independent movies: I love Little Miss Sunshine, which is often compared to Juno. I don’t have some kind of fanatical political views about abortion which make me hate the film on those grounds. I just specifically dislike Juno. And if you’re an outraged Juno fan who can’t wait to shoot down my criticisms, calm down. I’m not necessarily trying to make value judgments about the film. I’m mostly just saying why I personally don’t like it.

1. Unrealistic and Infuriating Dialogue The dialogue in many parts of Juno is virtually indistinguishable from the dialogue of Napoleon Dynamite, a movie for 14-year-olds who love arguing about whether pirates are more badass than ninjas. Juno, meanwhile, is widely regarded as a transcendent film by teens and adults alike. Yet in the first few scenes of Juno we hear such gems as: “Shut your frickin’ gob,” “Silencio, old man,” “homeskillet,” and, brutally, “honest to blog.”

Admit you’d believe me if I told you that any of those lines came from that new Napoleon Dynamite animated show on Fox. “DO THE CHICKENS HAVE LARGE TALONS?!?!?” Ebert, who evidently hasn’t spoken to someone under 20 since he was under 20, would be shocked to learn that no real young people talk like Juno (Ellen Page) and her friends. No 16-year-old would refer to her own pregnancy as being “up the spout foshizz,” or at least no 16-year-old with friends. Oh, and when Juno’s best friend Leah (Olivia Thirlby, whose acting was so atrocious that I considered making it one of the 10 things on this list) finds out Juno is pregnant, she says “Phuket, Thailand” instead of the fword. First of all, are we meant to believe that 16-year-olds don’t swear, even in situations like this? Also, the “H” in “Phuket” is supposed to be silent. At least the film gets a pronunciation correct later when Juno says “shiitake mushrooms” instead of the s-word. Oh wait, that was Spy Kids. And if Spy Kids correctly pronounces its fake swear words and Juno doesn’t, ipso ergo facto Latino Spy Kids is better than Juno.

I rest my case.

14 | the guide | 4.20.12

2. An Insufferable Soundtrack I’m guessing at least a third of Juno’s budget was spent on buying microphones sensitive enough to record the quiet-ass voices of these singers. It’s all cutesy piano riffs, upbeat acoustic guitars and unaffected baby-voiced musicians whispersinging pseudo-romantic nothings. “Here is the church and here is the steeple / We sure are cute for two ugly people.” Shut up Moldy Peaches lady, you don’t actually think you’re ugly. To be fair, I’m not really into this particular kind of music in general, but when combined with a sickly sweet movie like Juno it becomes almost too much to bear.

3. Old Punk Rock Music Isn’t Cool Again, this is merely a matter of personal preference. Now, many of my best friends back home are obsessed with the same music Juno is. But does that mean I have to like it and think it’s cool? No. Hence I don’t think Juno is cool, and I wasn’t at all moved by the scenes in which she and Mark (Jason Bateman), the potential adoptive father of her baby, wax poetic about guitars and The Runaway Stooge-Trains or whatever. Patti Smith is your favorite singer? No one gives a shiitake. I don’t even know who the Phuket she is. I feel like Diablo Cody grossly overestimated the proportion of the 2007 teenage movie-going audience who had heard of The Melvins. It’s the 21st century. Who are you, my dad? My grandpa? My great-greatgreat-great-great-great uncle John Tyler, the 10th president of the United States?

Yeah, that’s right. I’m related to him. I’ll be signing autographs in the ICC Galleria from 6 to 9 p.m. next Tuesday.

4. The Hamburger Phone I’m picking on the hamburger phone because it’s a microcosm of the film’s glaring lack of subtlety. The hamburger phone is supposed to emphasize the contrast between Juno’s young age and the adult situation she’s been thrust into (pun regrettably intended). But juxtaposition has to be subtle to be effective; Juno chooses an obvious dichotomy and proceeds to beat the audience over the head with it, to the point that Juno actually says out loud, “Sorry, I’m on my hamburger phone,” during a call to the abortion clinic. The hamburger phone is hardly the only example of the film’s lack of nuance, and it actually may not be even as egregious as the stale, one-dimensional contrast between cliche, laidback rocker Mark and his overly uptight wife Vanessa (Jennifer Garner). Vanessa is stressed out by deciding between two seemingly identical colors of paint, while

Mark doesn’t care which one they use?

WHAT DOES IT MEAN? 5. Unnecessary Vilification of Mark It is immediately obvious from the moment we meet Mark that he doesn’t want a baby. Yes, he probably should’ve explicitly come out and said it before they agreed to adopt Juno’s child, but shouldn’t Vanessa, or anyone, have noticed? It seems like the movie expects us to agree that Mark is the bad guy because he doesn’t want kids, as if everyone in the audience will agree that wanting children is intrinsically morally superior to not wanting children.

Also, Mark doesn’t want kids because he hasn’t yet followed his music dreams, for which Vanessa unfairly mocks him. So why isn’t she the bad guy? To be fair, when I watched it again for the purposes of this review, I realized Juno doesn’t vilify Mark nearly as much as I’d remembered. But, if it did, that would be unfair! Uh, what I’m trying to say is, I probably should’ve put Olivia Thirlby’s horrible acting as number five on my list instead. It seems like Thirlby went out of her way to have a random facial expression in each scene regardless of the gravity of its content and to act like she was reading from a teleprompter every time she spoke.

DMDENTERTAINMENT.COM

neys and want to be children’s librarians.”

Jocks just pretend to be into hot cheerleaders, you see, because they’re “supposed to be.” Nah, Diablo, I’m pretty sure jocks are actually into hot cheerleaders. This, of course, is far from the only way in which Juno shows us just how little Cody understands young people. There is perhaps no better example of this than when the characters keep saying “like totally.”

There’s one short conversation between Leah and Juno where that phrase is said at least three times. Cerebral 16-year-olds such as Juno don’t actually say “like totally,” and every time Juno says it in the film, it feels forced and unnatural. Then again, I doubt Diablo actually has talked with a 16-year-old any time recently.

8. The Dialogue, Again “Honest to blog?” Really? If someone said that to me, I would like totally bully them or something.

6. Grossly Unfair and Inaccurate Portrayal Of Minnesota and Minnesotans I’ll let Jake Schindler (SFS ’12), my Minnesotan roommate, take this one: “If Juno were set anywhere else, most viewers would dismiss the dialogue as being awkward and unrealistic. But because it’s Minnesota, I’m afraid people are actually willing to believe that all the hip indie teens at Ridgedale Mall actually talk that way. (By the way, there is nothing hip or indie about Ridgedale, St. Cloud or really anything outside the borders of Minneapolis and St. Paul proper.) We let the Cohen brothers get away with exaggerating our accents and mannerisms because, unlike Diablo Cody, they’re Minnesotans. But Cody was born in suburban Chicago, raised in suburban Chicago and went to school in Iowa. She lived in Minneapolis for a couple of years before bolting to Hollywood. I’m glad she enjoys some of our fine cultural exports such as Sonic Youth, but I’d like to request in the most polite Minnesotan way possible that Ms. Cody set her next awful screenplay somewhere else.

9. The Film Isn’t as Edgy and Subversive as it Thinks it Is Abortions make for edgy cinema. Not getting an abortion isn’t edgy. Other movies without abortions: Toy Story, Toy Story 3, We Bought a Zoo… this is cold, hard proof of Juno’s unedginess! And if you’re saying, “but it’s not like Juno claims to be edgy or subversive or anything,” director Jason Reitman himself has said in an interview that his goal is to make “subversive comedy.” (Incidentally, I loved Reitman’s genuinely subversive film Thank You For Smoking, as well as his masterful Up in the Air, leading me to believe that Cody is the problem here, and not Reitman.

Every cringeworthy line in Juno should merit the same reaction Juno’s father has when talking about Juno and Paulie having sex: “You know it wasn’t his idea.”)

There’s nothing subversive about a mostly uneventful teenage pregnancy which doesn’t ruin, or even significantly damage, anyone’s life (except for the baby’s life, as it will have to grow up with an extremely uptight adoptive mother who mocks people for following their dreams). It’s only subversive in that it overthrows the traditional narrative of unplanned teen pregnancy as something complex and lifechanging, instead painting it as a cute and minor nuisance. Something tells me this isn’t the kind of subversion Reitman had in mind.

7. Diablo Cody’s Bizarrely Skewed View Of Youths In a voiceover, Juno says that “popular jocks” secretly love weird girls like her, girls who “play cello, wear horn-rimmed glasses and vegan footwear, read McSwee-

10. Everyone Else Likes It This is what you suspected my motivation was all along. And you were right. In my defense, admit it’s pretty cool to hate stuff that everyone else likes. Catch you on the flippity-flop side, homeskillets!

entertainment

My Entire Team Sucks, but It’s OK girl meets world VictoriaEdel

L

et’s be honest: Sometimes the joke that the Mets stands for My Entire Team Sucks is true. Abandoning realistic expectations and any desire to see my team win a championship, I somehow love these underdogs. It wasn’t easy to be a fan growing up in Brooklyn, N.Y., surrounded by Yankees fans.

For those less familiar with baseball, in the 50 years that they’ve existed, the Mets have won two championships, in 1969 and 1986. That’s not good. They’ve had many more epic collapses than victories and even more years of horrible baseball.

(In 1969, they were called the “Miracle

Mets” because, by some act of God, they learned how to play baseball halfway through the season.)

Being a fan of the Mets is irrational, but I’m not alone. Thankfully for my ego, when a writer wants to portray a character as a goofy, lovable underdog, they make him bleed orange and blue just like I do.

Peter Parker is a Mets fan. I discovered this after my brother bought a comic book titled Maybe Next Year. In this Spiderman masterpiece, Peter spends the anniversary of Uncle Ben’s tragic death at a Mets game to continue the annual tradition they had shared. In this issue, the Mets lose, but Peter and Uncle Ben agree to wait for “next year.”

Once I discovered this factoid about Spidey (who, full disclosure, is my favorite superhero), it made sense. Being a Mets fan is a character-building experience — you become dedicated to a hopeless cause,

always an optimist even when things appear grim. You have to be loyal, or you’d have jumped to that team in the Bronx a long time ago. These are all important characteristics for a superhero.

Of course, Peter isn’t the only adorable loser invested in a team of (slightly less) adorable losers. Josh Lyman, deputy chief of staff on “The West Wing,” spends an episode trying to escape Washington, D.C., for Florida to see Mike Piazza at the Mets’ spring training camp. His allegiance made Josh, who can be abrasive, seem a little more nerdy and endearing.

Being a Mets fan can be pretty hilarious, in a self-depreciating, depressing way. Jerry Seinfeld and Ray Romano, both in real life and on their eponymous television shows, are Mets fans. One of my favorite episodes of “Seinfeld” featured Keith Hernandez, then the Mets first baseman and now their hilarious commentator.

newreleases

“Beez in the Trap”

Beach House Boom

Vacationer Gone

Nicki Minaj Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded



 With soft percussion, breathy vocals and dreamy synths, “Gone” takes its listeners to the whimsical world of Vacationer.

It’s playful and tropical, like a white sand, blue water island paradise.

DOWNTOWN MUSIC

Victoria Edel is a sophomore in the College. GIRL MEETS WORLD appears every other Friday in the guide.

MARCO MOCCHETTI Hoya Staff Writer

“Lazuli”

“Gone”

In one episode of “Everybody Loves Raymond,” Ray and his brother Robert reconcile after an argument by singing the team’s song, “Meet the Mets.” Then again, I can’t hear that song without thinking about taunting from elementary school — “meet” rhymes with “beat.”

The most prolific Mets slogan is the catchphrase of former closer Tug McGraw: “Ya gotta believe!” And this is what my fandom is all about — a belief against all reason that this year they’ll make it happen, even if I know that, like Uncle Ben, at the end of the season I’ll say, “Maybe next year.” (But if current Mets third baseman David Wright is reading this, we’re not that bad! Please sign a contract extension.

And then call me.)



“Lazuli” is the first single to be released from Beach House’s upcoming album, Bloom, due in May. The overall tone of the song is relaxing and hearkens back to 2010’s acclaimed Teen Dream.

SUB POP

I was bored after she repeated the same lines over and over again. “Beez in the Trap” gets one star because at least it’s better than the rest of that rap garbage out nowadays (which isn’t saying much).

CASH MONEY

4.20.12 | the guide | 15

bestbets

friday Next week, D.C. will celebrate the fifth annual Forward Festival, a weeklong event that will honor electronic artistic culture and gather some of the best disc jockeys and musical acts from all over the world to help cultivate a caring and conscious community. This Friday, the festival’s organizers are holding a preview night for the festival,

Where: 1351 H Street NE When: 9 p.m.

Info: forwarddc.com Price: $10 in advance, $15 at the door before 11 p.m.

Metro: Union Station (Red line)

abby reutzel Hoya Staff Writer

oyster pond — steven piccione

saturday To honor National Record Store Day, local music promoters Listen Local First will be holding a Record Store Day Showcase concert featuring a variety of local bands. Listen Local First is an organization that focuses brings together local artists, business and venues for exciting performances, and its events are a great way to get to know the local music scene.

Where: Water Street Project Space When: 8 p.m.

Info: thewaterstproject.com Price: Free Metro: Not applicable; within walking distance

sunday Every year the Folger throws a party to honor Shakespeare’s birthday. There will be food, drink, performances and live readings of some of his most famous works as well as exclusive tours of the library’s collection. This event, which will feature an Elizabethan cake-cutting ceremony and portrait contest, is a must for any literature fan.

Where: Folger Shakespeare Library When: 12 p.m.

Info: (202) 544-4600 Price: Free Metro: Capitol South (Blue line)