The Hoya: January 14, 2014

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

Georgetown University • Washington, D.C. Vol. 95, No. 26, © 2014

TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Georgetown rallies to beat Butler in overtime with key players on bench.

COMMENTARY The NHS should change its name to better reflect its mission.

SPORTS, A12

ISRAEL BOYCOTT DeGioia opposed a boycott of Israeli universities. NEWS, A5

OPINION, A3

Hoya Staff Writer

Since School of Foreign Service adjunct professor Michael Scheuer appeared to endorse the assassinations of President Barack Obama and U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron in a column Dec. 23, he has been the subject of media attention and criticism. Yet in an interview with The Hoya, Scheuer did not back down from the comments that angered Am eri can s across the political spectrum. The crux of the media uproar focuses on the column’s close, which advises Obama and Cameron to pay heed to the writings of 17th century English republican Algernon Sidney, who called for the execution of tyrants and glorification of their assassins. “There must therefore be a right of proceeding judicially or extra-judicially against all

persons who transgress the laws; or else those laws, and the societies that should subsist by them, cannot stand; and the ends for which governments are constituted, together with the governments themselves, must be overthrown,” wrote Sidney, who was executed for treason against King Charles II and whose writings later served as inspiration for American revolutionaries. The Sidney passage comes at the end of the column, which labels Obama and Cameron as “the Islamists’ only Michael Scheuer indispensSFS Adjunct Professor able allies,” describes a growing religious war and criticizes the two politicians for their approaches. In an interview with The Hoya, Scheuer said this criticism could be applied to any Western leader. “Obama, Mrs. Clinton, Bush, Cheney, all of them tell the

Jennifer Ding Hoya Staff Writer

“I’ve offended everyone. It comes from leftist and it comes from conservative websites.”

See SCHEUER, A6

NEWS, A9

Speaker Slot Prompts Rare Battle

Scheuer Upholds Assassination Call Mallika Sen

CAMPUS PROJECTS Construction continues as Northeast Triangle encounters delays.

KAYLA NOGUCHI/THE HOYA

GUSA Vice Speaker Sam Greco (SFS ’15), right, lost his bid for speaker Sunday in an unexpected election whose validity is under question.

A routine election for GUSA senate speaker drew the ire of the GUSA Election Commission on Sunday, when GUSA Senator Emily Siegler (SFS ’14) defeated Vice Speaker Sam Greco (SFS ’15) and two other candidates. Greco had failed to receive a majority of in a confirmation vote to rise from vice speaker to speaker, drawing 13 no’s, nine yes’s and two abstentions, leading to an immediate election for the new speaker. The open election speaker vote was contested by Siegler, Greco, Senator Abbey McNaughton (COL ’16) and Senator Robert Shepherd (MSB ’15). Siegler received 10 votes and Shepherd received eight, while Greco and McNaughton received three apiece, leading to their automatic elimination. The six votes were then redistributed to Siegler, leading to her final tally of 16 to Shepherd’s eight. The confirmation vote and subsequent election were called after former speaker George Spyropoulos (COL ’14) resigned Dec. 8, and both come at a time when GUSA members are quietly mobilizing to begin campaigns for the executive slot in the coming weeks. See SPEAKER, A6

For Freshmen, Bar Raised for Honors REQUIREMENTS FOR LATIN HONORS 3.95 3.90

Current GPA needed for Latin honors

3.85

Estimated GPA needed for Class of 2017

3.80 3.75 3.70 3.65 3.60 3.55 3.50 3.45 3.40

Summa Cum Laude Magna Cum Laude

Cum Laude

Addition of mean grades to transcripts among changes Sam Abrams Hoya Staff Writer

In a move that comes after national trends of grade inflation, Georgetown introduced two academic changes this semester: academic transcripts that display the mean grade in each course in addition to an individual student’s grade and Latin honors calculated by percentages rather than GPA cutoffs beginning with the Class of 2017. In the Class of 2013, 38.5 percent of seniors in the McDonough School of Business, 56.3 percent in Georgetown College, 58.8 percent in the School of Nursing and Health Studies and 64.36 percent in the School of Foreign Service graduated with Latin honors. In the new system, which will affect current freshmen onward, the top 5 percent of a graduating class will receive summa cum laude designation, the next 10 percent will See HONORS, A6

THE END OF POWER

MICHELLE XU/THE HOYA

Columnist and author Moisés Naím (left) and Director of Asian Studies Victor Cha (right) discuss the nature of power in a chaotic world in Riggs Library on Monday evening. See story on A6. Newsroom: (202) 687-3415 Business: (202) 687-3947

Published Tuesdays and Fridays

FILE PHOTO: JULIA HENNRIKUS/THE HOYA

Ward 2 Councilmember Jack Evans speaks at the Law Center in November. The mayoral candidate has altered his approach to D.C. universities.

Evans Changes Tack On District Universities Johnny Verhovek Hoya Staff Writer

Mayoral candidate and D.C. City Councilmember Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) hasn’t always had the best relationship with Georgetown — most notably when he lobbied for 100 percent of the student body to live on campus during negotiations of the 2010 Campus Plan agreement — but as Evans vies to be D.C.’s next mayor, his tone has changed to one of cooperation and engagement with the District’s universities. While Evans clashed with the university over the development of the campus plan, which eventually called for 90 percent of students to be housed on campus by fall 2015, he pointed to the final agreement as an example of how he would work with Georgetown if elected. “I think considering how far apart [Georgetown] and I started on the 2010 Campus Plan, it was a good sign that we were able to come together and figure something out,” Evans said in an interview with The Hoya. This language stands in stark contrast to the attitude Evans displayed toward Georgetown during early campus plan negotiations. “Even if students who live off campus in our neighborhood are well behaved, it is too much of a strain on residents. When you have houses and tenants that are not well behaved, the burden becomes impossible,” Ev-

ans wrote in a Jan. 2011 op-ed in The Georgetowner. Trevor Tezel (SFS ’15), who authored a viewpoint in The Hoya last summer urging students to take a second look at Evans and his relationship with the university ahead of the mayoral race, said the episode showed Evans’ lack of concern for student voices in the debate over the university’s future. “He never showed any sort of the same outreach to the university and especially not to the student body and groups that were really trying to get the students’ voice heard,” Tezel said. “In order to show that he’s an ally, Councilmember Evans needs to listen to all voices in the District.” Now, as the mayoral campaign enters its formal stages following the Jan. 2 deadline to gather signatures for ballot access, Evans said he hopes to work as a partner with the city’s universities in accomplishing their mutual goals. “As mayor, I would assign a liaison to be in charge of communicating with universities and surrounding communities. I think it is critical for us to reach out to students because they are our most valuable resource,” Evans said. Evans also emphasized the role the D.C. government can take in providing employment and internship opportunity to university students. See EVANS, A6

Send Story Ideas and Tips to news@thehoya.com


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OPINION

THE HOYA

tuesday, january 14, 2014

THE VERDICT

C EDITORIALS C Missing a Voice on the BOD C C

Record Return — A new record, photography and poster store on 31st Street will open during the first week of February.

C C C

What Could Have Been — “Alternative Georgetown,” a new exhibit sponsored by Lauinger Library features architects’ drawings and plans for campus spaces that were never built or fully realized.

Founded January 14, 1920

The George Washington University student government launched an initiative exploring the possibility of having a voting student member on its board of trustees late last year. If the Georgetown University administration and the Georgetown University Student Association take student opinions seriously, they ought to do the same. At Georgetown, the board of directors has a senior student observer and a junior student shadow observer who are considered an important part of board dialogue but do not have an actual vote. Vice President for Student Affairs Todd Olson told The Hoya in November that he had not considered granting voting rights to the student observers. “We have not had that conversation,” Olson said, adding that an undergraduate voting member would not have much impact on the board’s deliberations. Frankly, now is the time to have the conversation. As Olson already stated, a voting student member might not have a substantial impact on the crucial decisions of

Georgetown’s 36-member board, but it would nonetheless lend legitimacy to undergraduate concerns. The payoff would be tremendous for student rights and would not affect the overall stability of board decisions. Yet while the GW proposal provides an excellent model, that initiative has already received harsh criticism. The GW student would be just one of 38 voters on the board and would be cycled out far more often than the other board members, some of whom have worked hard as alumni to attain prestigious positions on the board. If GUSA decides to begin a corresponding initiative, it would likely be met with similar criticism. While daunting, this criticism does not mean that such an initiative is not worth pursuing at Georgetown. However insignificant a single student vote may be, its existence would represent continuing progress for student input on campus and foster an expanding culture of student involvement in university decision-making.

Let Daddio Be Daddio

Standing in front of a classroom filled well beyond the 75-student pre-registration limit, sociology professor William Daddio was forced to start “Comparative Law Enforcement” on a more solemn note than intended. For years, Daddio has opened his courses to anyone who presented him with an add/drop form; more than 200 students took spots on the waitlists for his courses this semester alone. But at the beginning of the semester, the Georgetown College deans told Daddio that he is not allowed to sign add/drop forms as he usually has, strictly limiting his class to 75 students as a function of the university’s commitment to maintaining small class sizes. On the first day of his course last week, Daddio could offer only an earnest “Sorry, guys,” to the several dozen hopefuls he turned away. We acknowledge the importance of the commitment to small class sizes, but this example illustrates the deans’ misguided application of a sound principle, leading to class size for the sake of class size. Average class size is a perfunctory met-

ric of the quality of a classroom environment, but defending the statistic for the sake of looking good on paper leaves the critical problem at hand unsolved. While small class sizes at a university might indicate institutional academic excellence, individual classes are not necessarily improved by cutting down on the number of students enrolled. If a professor can design an enriching course that can accommodate many students, he or she should be encouraged to do so. Both Daddio and his students have indicated that they are willing to make this accommodation. The fact that so many students are interested in the course demonstrates a commendable effort from Daddio and genuine scholastic initiative on behalf of the students. These are elements of an academic community that ought to be encouraged by academic administrators. If “Comparative Law Enforcement” remains an enriching course with more than 75 students in the room, the university should provide the necessary support for Daddio to reach a larger audience.

There’s no option on Twitter to see what’s trending on the Hilltop, but if there were, it would likely often show basketball predictions or Leo’s complaints. On Dec. 5, students and alumni instead turned campus online conversation to a more serious topic through the hashtag #BBGU, or “being black at Georgetown University.” Beyond the copious campus discussion spurred by the protest, in which students, faculty and alumni voiced their experiences dealing with race, #BBGU has started to effect positive change on campus by inspiring similar events from the Asian, Latino and — as of yesterday — disabled communities at Georgetown. Unlike more traditional venues for political expression, #BBGU and its offshoots have a tangible sense of grassroots organization and of unfiltered, immedi-

ate honesty. The anecdotal moments captured in these tweets have provided a forum through which matters of race can be discussed with respect and accountability, an obvious improvement over the overtly racist discussions that have taken place in the “Georgetown Confessions” Facebook group. One might reasonably question the direct social change that these Twitter protests will enact. It is true that they advocate no specific policy change beyond an avenue to express marginalized experiences. Yet if there was previously no such avenue of expression, then merely facilitating expression is a justified end in and of itself. The success of #BBGU is an encouraging instance of social media raising the volume of marginalized voices and enhancing the quality of campus dialogue.

No Pants, No Problem — For the sixth year in a row, D.C. metro riders joined subway travellers in 60 cities worldwide to participate in Improv Everywhere’s “No Pants Subway Ride.” Bringing up Bao Bao — Bao Bao, the National Zoo’s baby panda cub, will make her public debut at the zoo this Saturday. Grounded Nation — Due to inclement weather across the nation, more than 4,400 flights were cancelled last Tuesday, including dozens at Reagan National Airport and Dulles International.

Dine on a Dime — D.C. restaurants — including 1789, Cafe Milano and Filomena — will offer special prices on certain menu items through Sunday for D.C.’s Restaurant Week. Frozen — An icy Potomac welcomed students back to campus last week, while the C&O Canal froze enough to allow for ice-skating.

A LITTLE BIRDIE TOLD US ... @SolomonDoug Jan. 11 @thehoyasports jt3 does not know how to use his timeouts @thnkout Jan. 9 “@thehoya: The Qdoba on M St and 33rd St NW has closed permanently.” HALLELUJAH @DijahTheDiva Jan. 9 @Nicole_Carter_ @thehoya Indeed, this is true. Chipotle is much better, but I will miss 1/2 off Tuesdays. @Raphaeldavid09 Jan. 9 Tough loss.RT @thehoyasports: 70-52 is your final from Providence. Ugly showing for the #Hoyas sans Smith. @Sticka Jan. 9 I suppose a business model predicated on one day a week was bound to fail. :( MT @thehoya: The Qdoba on M St. has closed permanently. @anupamtree Jan. 14 great advertising for @thehoya in @DCist’s No Pants Metro Ride photos. also, i need Purell.

EDITORIAL CARTOON by Megan Schmidt

140 Exemplary Characters

Emma Hinchliffe, Editor-in-Chief TM Gibbons-Neff, Executive Editor Sheena Karkal, Managing Editor Lindsay Lee, Online Editor Mallika Sen, Campus News Editor Madison Ashley, City News Editor Carolyn Maguire, Sports Editor Kim Bussing, Guide Editor David Chardack, Opinion Editor Alexander Brown, Photography Editor Ian Tice, Layout Editor Robert DePaolo, Copy Chief Karl Pielmeier, Blog Editor

Contributing Editors

Katy Berk, Zoe Bertrand, Chris Bien, Pat Curran, Victoria Edel, Danny Funt, Chris Grivas, Penny Hung, Sarah Kaplan, Hanaa Khadraoui, Hunter Main, Eitan Sayag, Sean Sullivan, Emory Wellman

Deputy Campus News Editor Kit Clemente Deputy Campus News Editor Kayla Cross Deputy City News Editor Griffin Cohen Deputy Business Editor Natasha Khan Deputy Sports Editor Andrew May Deputy Sports Editor Tom Schnoor Sports Blog Editor Max Wheeler Deputy Guide Editor Allison Hillsbery Deputy Guide Editor Jess Kelham-Hohler Deputy Guide Editor Lindsay Leasor Deputy Opinion Editor Matthew Grisier Deputy Photography Editor Julia Hennrikus Deputy Photography Editor Daniel Smith Deputy Photography Editor Michelle Xu Deputy Layout Editor Michelle Cardona Deputy Layout Editor Kennedy Shields Deputy Copy Editor Jackie McCadden Deputy Copy Editor Zack Saravay Deputy Copy Editor Sharanya Sriram Deputy Blog Editor Emma Holland

Editorial Board

Michal Grabias, General Manager Jason Yoffe, Director of Accounting Christina Wing, Director of Corporate Development Nicole Foggan, Director of Marketing Addie Fleron, Director of Personnel Brian Carden, Director of Sales Nick DeLessio, Director of Technology Clara Cheng Kevin Wilson Tessa Bell Sean Choksi Laura Tonnessen Chris Amaya Dimitri Roumeliotis Natasha Patel Charles Lee Nicole Yuksel Ellen Zamsky Emily Manbeck Christine Cha Katherine Seder Matthew De Silva Casandra Schwartz Janet Zhu

Operations Manager Revenue Outreach Manager Senior Accounts Manager Local Accounts Manager National Accounts Manager Treasury Manager Statements Manager Alumni Relations Manager Special Events Manager Public Relations Manager Human Resources Manager Professional Development Manager Institutional Diversity Manager Local Advertisements Manager Systems Manager Technical Support Manager Web Manager

David Chardack, Chair

Consultants

Katy Berk, Taylor Coles, Ben Germano, Kelly Nosé, Sam Rodman

Kent Carlson, Kevin Tian, Mary Nancy Walter, Mullin Weerakoon, Simon Wu

Board of Directors

Evan Hollander, Chair

Michal Grabias, Emma Hinchliffe, Hanaa Khadraoui, Vidur Khatri, Hunter Main, Braden McDonald 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 TM Gibbons-Neff at (203) 858-1127 or email executive@thehoya.com. News Tips Campus News Editor Mallika Sen: Call (310) 918-6116 or email campus@thehoya.com. City News Editor Madison Ashley: Call (504) 3446845 or email city@thehoya.com. Sports Editor Carolyn Maguire: Call (908) 4471445 or email sports@thehoya.com. General Information The Hoya is published twice each week during the academic year with the exception of holiday and exam periods. Address all correspondence to:

The Hoya Georgetown University Box 571065 Washington, D.C. 20057-1065 The writing, articles, pictures, layout and format are the responsibility of The Hoya and do not necessarily represent the views of the administration, faculty or students of Georgetown University. Signed columns and cartoons represent the opinions of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the editorial position of The Hoya. Unsigned essays that appear on the left side of the editorial page are the opinion of the majority of the editorial board. Georgetown University subscribes to the principle of responsible freedom of expression for student editors. The Hoya does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, sexual orientation, race, disability, color, national or ethnic origin. © 1920-2014. 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

tuesday, january 14, 2014

CURIOUS BY NATURE

THE HOYA

VIEWPOINT • Klein

A Timeless Mission, An Archaic Name

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Katherine Foley

The Simple Beauty Of Snowflakes I

wasn’t particularly crazy about the polar vortex swirling around the Midwest and the Northeast over winter break, but I do love a good snowstorm. I mean, who wouldn’t want a repeat of “Snowmageddon,” the infamous snowstorm that closed Georgetown’s campus for 10 days in 2010? Yet, on a much smaller scale, the snowflakes that make up these snowstorms are perhaps just as fascinating as the storms themselves. There is a debate about whether or not the elaborate, sixpointed snowflakes of storybooks and construction paper cutouts actually exist. Researchers from Utah and the National Science Foundation took pictures of snowflakes reaching the ground with a camera they developed that has a shutter speed of one-forty-thousandth of a second — 20,000 times faster than the typical camera exposure. They found that, in reality, this type of “perfect” snowflake occurs only once in every thousand snowflakes. That’s not to say that snowflakes themselves aren’t beautiful; an average snowflake just doesn’t exhibit the predictable beauty we expect. Snow is crystalized water that forms from clouds. As temperatures drop well below freezing due to low atmospheric pressure far away from the earth’s surface, the water vapor in clouds freezes around dust or pollen particles that also happen to be up there mingling. As the flakes fall to the ground, they pick up more frozen water vapor or dust on the particles. The legendary flake image we have engraved in our minds comes from the idea that because water is a chemical, we should be able to predict its behavior on its way down from the sky. To a certain extent, this is true: Ice crystals form a

Average snowflakes don’t exhibit the predictable beauty we expect. shape that is called a hexagonal lattice. The most basic snowflakes will form this simple planar shape and then become a prism as they gain a third dimension. But of course, it is nearly impossible to predict the exact way flakes fall from the sky. Before snow reaches your driveway, several variables affect the way it forms. First, there’s the temperature to consider: At relatively warmer temperatures, snow forms more needle-like structures. Colder temperatures induce the planar, six-sided flakes we like to make out of paper. Additionally, humidity plays a role in how the flakes are able to form. For example, if the tips are round and the arms of the flakes are long, then it was high humidity that likely allowed the flakes to grow rapidly. Irregular patterns can usually be attributed to pockets of air that become trapped in the ice. And there’s no telling what other particles the flakes may encounter on the way down that will alter their shape. In reality, most snowflakes end up looking like blobs because of the turmoil they encounter on the way from the cloud to the sidewalk. Probably the foremost expert on snowflakes is professor Ken Libbrecht from the California Institute of Technology. As a young boy, Libbrecht spent almost every snowstorm outside using a magnifying glass to look at snowflakes. He attempted to speed-draw the different shapes he saw. For the most part, he succeeded: He created a general grid of 35 types of snowflakes that he observed falling. Today, he spends most of his time researching the particular circumstances that cause each type to form. He has also been working to create the perfect laboratory snowflake that exhibits the mythical six-point perfection. While Libbrecht focuses on the microscopic aspect of snowflakes, we mostly encounter them on a landscape scale. Snow’s bright-white appearance can be credited to light chemistry. Because most snowflakes have so many surfaces, they reflect all colors, a phenomenon we perceive as the color white. And then there’s my personal favorite, the silencing factor: When the temperature’s right, snow coats everything with soft edges and absorbs the sound waves that normally fill our lives with background music. When snow is covered with freezing rain, however, it actually begins to amplify sounds. Hopefully we’ll see a lot more of these complicated little flakes in the months to come. If anything, they seem to make the cold temperatures a little more bearable with their beauty. Katherine Foley is a senior in the School of Foreign Service. CURIOUS BY NATURE appears every other Tuesday.

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love being in the School of Nursing and Health Studies. Its small class sizes, studentfaculty interaction and research opportunities are unparalleled in the Georgetown community. While I am proud of my school and the incredible work it does, I believe that our name misrepresents who we are. Our students focus on subjects across the health sciences, from health care management and policy — an extremely relevant field in the age of the Affordable Care Act — to international health, which examines the intersection of global health, economics, politics and medicine. In fact, less than onefourth of freshmen enrolled in the NHS are nursing majors, and a majority of NHS graduates go on to work in medicine, consulting, public health and many other fields. While the name “School of Nursing” holds historic value for our school, any NHS student or faculty member will tell you that the phrase no longer encompasses the extent of our local and global impact. It is often other members of the Georgetown community and the greater public who still perceive the NHS as primarily a nursing program. Yet a simple name change, from the NHS to the SHS — the School of Health Studies — would be a more accurate representation of the diverse curricula offered. The name would both encompass our excellent nursing program and give due emphasis to the other fields of human science, international health and health care management and policy. This is not to say that the NHS should change its name simply to appease the uninformed, but as any marketer would tell you,

It frustrates me that I am sometimes perceived as a nurse although I am not studying to become one. branding matters, especially at a competitive school like Georgetown that looks to draw in a diverse group of talented students. Although the NHS has an acceptance rate on par with the other three undergraduate schools, the student body in the NHS is much more homogenous, with fewer international and male students. The numbers speak for themselves: Of 115 students enrolled

in the class of 2017, 22 are male and just five are international students. While no definitive link can be determined between the application rate of male students and the name “The School of Nursing and Health Studies,” one might be able to say that potential male applicants to the NHS are deterred from applying to the school — or even seriously considering the

Viewpoint • Schoengold

Three Megatrends In This New Year

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very year psychics, stockbrokers and politicians make predictions about the coming months, years and decades. Sometimes they predict a return of some odd assortment of ideas, fashions and technologies. And in general, it’s hard not to use the beginning of a new year to reassess how we should personally, financially and socially invest our resources. This year, I implore everyone to resist the temptation of the short-term outlook that has gripped our politicians and financial markets and instead try to focus on the future in a more justifiable manner. The most successful people are those who are able to sense shifts in the larger humanistic trends and make prudent investments to capitalize on those changes. While Amazon’s small delivery drones may yet transport next year’s Christmas gifts and Bitcoin may replace the dollar, it is more likely that nontechnological trends will appear over the next year and shape the next decade.

Urbanization As agriculture becomes more efficient and employment remains concentrated in cities, life on earth will become increasingly more metropolitan. Just 16 years from now, demographers expect the urban population to exceed five billion worldwide — the population of the entire planet in 1987. Urbanization provides the potential to improve living conditions and increase access to healthcare, education and other services. But, as cities grow, the costs to meet basic needs will skyrocket and intensify the strain on public resources, including the environment. Some nations and regions can expect major cultural and livelihood transformations as conservative, rural countries become increasingly urban. T h e s e changes will remake some parts of the world with u n fo r e s e e n consequences. In the coming decades, struggles for basic resources and services and changes in the skills employees need will likely change the economic, political and social landscape across the globe.

I implore everyone to resist the temptation of the short-term outlook.

Women You don’t have to be Nostradamus to predict that women’s status in the workplace, government and every other part of society will continue to grow. Millennial women are now better educated than their male counterparts and, according to a new Pew Research report, are the first cohort of women in modern history to start their work lives at a near wage equivalence with men. This doesn’t mean women earn their fair share yet. But this, combined with countless other complementary indicators, suggests that women are gaining traction toward full equality. The recent election of a record 20 women to the United States Senate and rising expectations for former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign suggest that even bigger things are to come for women. Their changing role in society will be a driving force in every industry, sector and issue. Brands, groups and laws perceived to be unfriendly to women must adapt or risk irrelevance. Women will increasingly control more of the world’s disposable income, represent more of the world’s voting population and have a larger, and likely positive, impact on our world. The result of this megatrend is limitless and unpredictable.

Localization National governments’ inability to address their citizens’ demands will invigorate local businesses, social groups and governments. Community leaders will look to tackle problems left unaddressed by paralyzed, ideologically partisan national governments. State authorities may even accelerate this trend and decentralize power in an effort to maintain stability. At best, the rise of localism will strengthen small communities’ social capital, reinvigorate cooperation and even help spur innovation among competing mini city-states or microstates. But localization could also descend into tribalism, authoritarianism and inequality across the various localities. Localization, like the continued rise of women and urbanization, is not necessarily good or bad — although leaders would be wise to prepare accordingly. Rather, these megatrends are opportunities for the savvy among us to build products, skills and ideas with these potential changes in mind. Michael B. Schoengold is a dual degree candidate at the School of Foreign Service and McDonough School of Business.

school — because of its name. By extension, it prevents the NHS from admitting a more diverse class across the four programs, including nursing, and it perpetuates an image of the NHS among many Georgetown students as a sorority of nurses, a phrase that is inaccurate. I am no different from these students. I paid attention to this stereotype about the NHS before I applied to Georgetown. When I started exploring the international health program, I saw my interests in human health on the individual and global levels intersect. Yet I still struggled, both after my acceptance and after the start of my college career, with whether or not I would be perceived as a nurse by my peers at Georgetown and elsewhere. As much as I would like to say that my expectations weren’t met, I have been asked when I decided to become a nurse or how I’m enjoying my nursing major. I have the utmost respect for the nursing program, but it frustrates me that I am sometimes perceived as a nurse although I am not studying to become one. My peers in international health have similar experiences, and while we try to correct any misconceptions that we encounter, these perceptions still persist. I love my school and the diverse and exciting fields in which it excels. I love the students and faculty of the NHS. But I believe that words and names matter, and it’s time for a change to a name that represents who we are right now, not who we were throughout our history. Marnie Klein is a freshman in the School of Nursing and Health Studies.

THE CHURCH AND STATESMAN

Turning to Spirituality For Guidance on Sex

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or people of countless faith married, he would be surprised if traditions, sex has become more than about a dozen had not inextricably linked with re- been fully sexually active before ligious practice. Trying to discern marriage. His remarks also seemed God’s will in regard to sex can be to leave little doubt that he saw litdaunting, and efforts to reconcile tle wrong with individuals having faith and life can cause confusion premarital sex with multiple partor guilt. Looking at Christian sex- ners before engaging in a commitual ethics, Catholics differ wildly ted relationship. from Protestants, who in turn vary Given that spirituality and sex wildly from each other. For some- are, for so many people, closely one watching this conflict from linked, there has to be some kind outside the Christian community, of ethic that provides a guideline it can be just as amusing as it is while not completely abandoning terrifying. Christians have strug- the realities of the modern world. gled to create spiritually based Eighteenth-century theologian constraints for such a framework John Wesley famously created a capable of transcending modern quadrilateral through which his realities. Extremely conservative, followers examined issues they middle-of-the-road encountered. Acand liberalized cording to Wesley, Christians have reason, tradition, thus divided more scripture and exor less into three perience provide groups. While each a lens for judggroup approaches ment and action. sex with religion in In today’s world, mind, each reaches reason — and, for wildly varying conmany, experience Tim Rosenberger clusions. — seems to directly The first group challenge tradition sees sex as excluand some readings A spiritual ethic sively for the purscripture. What shouldn’t deprive the of pose of procreation was God’s purpose by a heterosexual in creating a sexufaithful of sex. married couple. al ethic, and why Still, largely within this group, falls have we become so involved with a subgroup that approves “natu- the superficial elements of it? ral family planning,” also known According to Jim Brownson of as the surest way to get pregnant the Western Theological Seminary, quickly. This group often forbids God created sexual ethics to frame divorce and certainly frowns upon the idea of a complete giving of remarriage. They largely disregard the self. Marriage was designed any spectrum of sexuality and to be a covenantal relationship of would certainly be unequivocally complete surrender between two appalled by Wisconsin Avenue’s individuals — a surrender uniquely sex shop, The Pleasure Place. captured by sexual action. AccordThe next group claims the mor- ing to Brownson, “We can see how alistic mantel of the group above premarital sex would undermine but leaves huge caveats for sexual the intention of God, because it practices that could not lead to represents a total bodily self-giving conception. Some of these groups that is not matched by a correeven allow demonstrably sexually sponding gift of life and promise active persons, including those of commitment, thereby falling with children, to regain “spiri- short of the complete and loving tual virginity.” Amusingly, drawn gift of self that God intends.” out to their logical terminations, The goal of a spiritual ethic isn’t under some of the rules of these to deprive the faithful of sex or to groups, gay people could be con- make it daunting and, in some insidered permanent virgins. De- stances, weird. The ethic makes sex spite the fact that some persons of all the richer by tying it to a form more evangelical persuasions deny of commitment and deliberate, the existence of homosexuals, one thoughtful, utter surrender. The wonders if this logic could be used undue fascination that some relito push for acceptance of nonceli- gious communities have with the bate gay relationships that would physical and social importance of technically count as celibate. sex only pulls them further away The final group seems to have from realizing God’s ideal. Sex just given up on sexual ethics en- should never be divorced from totirely. Sleeping around is some- tal, selfless love, but within those what frowned upon, but cohabita- constraints it should be encourtion, gay marriage, contraception aged and celebrated as compleand multiple divorces are seen as mentary of spiritual completeness. perfectly acceptable. This group seems to be gaining popularity: Tim Rosenberger is a sophomore The newly appointed dean of the in the College. THE CHURCH AND National Cathedral observed that, STATESMAN appears every other of the hundreds of couples he has Tuesday.


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THE HOYA

PAGE FOUR

NEWS

TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Unofficial groups find space at the Student Activities Fair. See story on A8.

Your news — from every corner of The Hoya.

IN FOCUS

POTOMAC OVER ICE

verbatim last thing “ The I wanted to do was follow in my mom’s footsteps.

Eric Wu (SFS ’17) reflecting on his Georgetown experience at Winter Confluence. See story on A8.

from

GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY

ALEXANDER BROWN/THE HOYA

During last week’s polar vortex, students were greeted upon their return to the Hilltop with freezing temperatures and a subzero wind chill. The Potomac was iced over for much of the week.

TALKING TO A SECOND-SEMESTER SENIOR Conversations with those of the Class of 2014, on the precipice of graduation, require a special etiquette and must be handled with care. blog.thehoya.com

New Voices Join Online Protests Strong Words KIT CLEMENTE & SUZANNE MONYAK Hoya Staff Writers

Inspired by the dialogue of the #BBGU campaign, Georgetown students provided personal experiences, thoughts and questions about their life at Georgetown University as students of color through the #BLGU and #BAGU campaigns. The former, on Dec. 12, focused on issues related to Georgetown’s Latino community, while the latter, on Dec. 16, highlighted the Asian and Pacific Islander communities.

“Taking time out of your studies to tweet because you want your voice to be heard @BLGU_ #BLGU #BLGU_” —Viviana Jaramillo Balbin (MSB ’15) Organizers of both #BAGU and #BLGU were motivated by recent dialogues and took to social media. Both events utilized sites such as Facebook and Twitter to spread awareness of the events and personal experiences of participants. #BAGU coincidentally followed the popular #NotYourAsianSidekick, started the day before, which helped to publicize the event. #BLGU additionally reached out to the community using social media to promote the event. “Our hopes were manifold: Raise awareness amongst students, faculty, administrators and alumni with regards to the Latina/o experience; create solidarity in the Latina/o community; attain recognition by administrators, that they pay attention to the concerns of the Latina/o community,” #BLGU organizer Kevin Magana (COL ’14) wrote in an email. He also mentioned attracting the alumni community and inspiring peer institutions to create similar events. Using social media as a medium for the events additionally allowed participants to build off each other’s experiences. “Though the event was simply tweeting and posting about the experiences of being in a specific minority group, I think it really helped members from different communities to realize that we all have common threads,” Vietnamese Student Association President Anthony Do (NHS ’15), who organized #BAGU, said. Participants felt that the online nature of the event allowed them to comfortably post their thoughts. “We’re using these hashtag campaigns because we don’t feel there’s a … space on campus where we can engage in this type of dialogue and be honest about it” Aya Waller-Bey (COL ’14), who orchestrated the #BBGU, said. “Didn’t really notice the color of my skin or how thin my wallet is until I came here to @Georgetown. #BAGU”

—Anthony Do (NHS ’15) Students tweeted and posted about personal experiences, both positive and negative, relating to their race in the Georgetown community. “In terms of content, the inspiration simply came from personal experiences. The APIA community is often associated with being the ‘model minority.’ Along with that, people often believe that we are not marginalized and do not experience disparities,” Do wrote in an email. Through these online protests, Georgetown students have taken the initiative to spread awareness about their cause and to start a necessary conversation about diversity. “I would love for everyone who feels like their identity has yet to be represented to do [something similar]. The reason why all this has happened in such quick succession is people are motivated for change and that this is a conversation that should be had now,” Claytia Gonsalves (SFS ’15), who helped Waller-Bey with publicizing #BBGU, said. “‘Why are you hashtagging BAGU? Indians aren’t Asian.’ Thanks, but we’ll decide what we are and aren’t. #BAGU” —Prayuj Pushkarna (SFS ’17) The #BAGU Twitter feed also addressed the controversial topic of what it means exactly for a person to consider him or herself Asian. “I think the fact that we’re all in one label of ‘Asian,’ what happens is it makes certain groups invisible. A lot of it applies more to East Asians, whereas I am Vietnamese and identify as Southeast Asian Vietnamese American,” Linh Tran (COL ’15), a member of the VSA and East Coast Asian American Student Union, said. “Our history is based on immigration … so it sort of sets us different from other groups within the Asian community. I think it’s important because no one knows about it.” “Bleeding #hoya blue, but also #BLGU_ #BLGU” —Sarah Audelo (SFS ’06) Participants in both events hope #BLGU and #BAGU will help spread awareness among both the student body and the administration for these student concerns about diversity. “A long-term goal was to catch the attention of the university and show them that these issues are important. I love Georgetown, I bleed Hoya Blue, and I will be proud to hold a Georgetown degree,” Do wrote. “I really want to see Georgetown as a whole practice Cura Personalis and be inclusive as a whole. I always wondered why Georgetown does not have an Ethnic Studies Program, so maybe these movements could raise it to their attention.” The students organizing the pro-

tests stressed that these online protests should not be interpreted as an outlet to express negative feelings toward Georgetown. Rather, their aim is to improve the school they already love. “The word ‘protest’ warrants a very negative type of opinion and people think we’re just criticizing and complaining and that we don’t love Georgetown, but there’s so much pride. … These protest and initiatives and campaigns are coming from a place of love for Georgetown,” WallerBey said.

“These are important voices #BLGU. We are listening. Keep the conversation going. @Georgetown” —Fr. Kevin O’Brien, S.J. The conversations about diversity will not end after these Twitter protests. The organizers from #BBGU, #BLGU and #BAGU are still in communication to plan future events and action for the spring semester. “Using the stories shared from these movements, as well as information that several other students have compiled, the goal is to create a formal proposal to push for some changes to be made on campus,” Do said. “Of course, the dialogue from these movements will continue. Some participants have been talking about starting blogs to continue the dialogue and keep the conversation going.” Waller-Bey hopes that the different race and ethnicity-based Twitter protests can unite over common themes and goals in order to form a joint committee. Still in its early stages, the committee is entirely student-driven and will include the black, Hispanic and Asian communities as well as white allies. “We’re currently looking for themes that were expressed in both the #BBGU thing, the #BLGU thing, and we’re hoping to do the same for #BAGU to from those types of experiences that we saw, be able to consolidate those and express more efficiently how we can solve those, what the university can do on their end, what we’re suggesting the university be doing and then propose different solutions in that manner,” Waller-Bey said. The committee plans to meet early in 2014 to draft a proposal for the university. “The conclusion to be drawn is that GU administrators need to act to make Georgetown a more inclusive place for its Latina/o community, as well as other minority groups. To overlook this would be to unnecessarily inflame passions and cause further efforts to gain attention towards these issues,” Magana wrote. Hoya Staff Writer Mallika Sen contributed reporting.

From GU’s Disabled SUZANNE MONYAK Hoya Staff Writer

Students tweeted about their experiences of being disabled at Georgetown on Monday using the hashtag #BDGU. The protest — inspired by the December #BLGU, #BAGU and #BBGU Twitter protests by minority groups — lamented that Georgetown is far from being disability friendly. Organized by Lydia Brown (COL ’15) along with Natalia Mabel Rivera-Morales (SFS ’13), Chris DeLorenzo (GRD ’17) and Carly Rosenfield (COL ’14), the online protest exposed viewers to the discrimination students with disabilities face from the administration and their peers, as well as positive experiences of support. According to Brown, the Twitter event was intended to increase awareness and acceptance of disabled students on campus. “I’m hoping that joining this conversation will emphasize the need for institutional commitment to disability and diversity while simultaneously bringing to light the experiences of disabled students who, before now, have very, very rarely been able to share what it means to be disabled at Georgetown,” Brown said. #BDGU additionally focused on attracting greater university recognition of disability. “It’s just particularly telling to me, because the university talks a lot about diversity,” Brown said. “Disability is usually included in lists of diversities but very rarely acknowledged and certainly not acknowledged at the same level that some other forms of diversity are.” Brown said that in her opinion, Georgetown is not a disability-friendly school. “Absolutely horrible comments that people receive from their peers, from their neighbors, from professors in classes … make it very adamantly clear for me that people with disabilities, especially non-apparent disabilities don’t feel safe, let alone included, at this university,” she said. The participants of the Twitter protest

COURTESY LYDIA BROWN

Lydia Brown (COL ’15) at an event for disability pride in July 2012.

tweeted about the disrespect and ableism present in the Georgetown community. “Access and inclusion for disabled students shouldn’t be optional or above and beyond. It should be the bare minimal standard,” Brown tweeted. “Learning that a professor can deny you an accommodation if it ostensibly ‘compromises the objectives of the course,’” Rivera tweeted. “Say ‘n*****’ or ‘f****’ and you could get expelled or fired. Say ‘r*****’ and no one bats an eye,” DeLorenzo tweeted. “I tell people that I’m autistic, and they say, ‘Don’t put yourself down like that; you’re so smart.’ I can’t be smart and disabled?” Brown tweeted. “Having CAPS outright tell you, ‘we don’t deal with your kind here,’” tweeted DeLorenzo. The need for the existence of a disability cultural center was mentioned by Brown to President John J. DeGioia at a public forum; however, the idea has not been met with a response. “The only time you ever see anyone on campus talking about a disability, 99 [percent] of the time, it’s either something that should be hidden or kept secret because there’s some kind of stigma attached to it,” Brown said. According to Brown, the role of such a cultural center would be to promote conversation, awareness and acceptance of an area of diversity that is often neglected. “Essentially, a DCC’s role on campus would be very multi-faceted, but its significance can’t be underscored because the establishment of the DCC essentially is the institutional recognition and affirmation of the disability community and an integral part of our campus diversity,” Brown said. Disability cultural centers already exist at the University of Minnesota, the University of Washington-Seattle and Syracuse University. The majority of the tweets utilizing #BDGU were from Brown, DeLorenzo, Rivera and Rosenfield, although the conversation attracted a few Twitter users from outside of the Georgetown community. “Interested to follow #BDGU today. Being disabled at Gtown an issue I didn’t think enough about until after grad, working at Special Olympics,” Gina Elliott (SFS ’12) tweeted. As with the other Twitter campaigns, Director of Student Engagement Erika Cohen Derr tweeted her support. “Pay attention to #BDGU today, #Hoyas. Disabilities often get short shrift in conversations on diversity. Share your thoughts,” Cohen Derr tweeted. “I would have liked it to be broader,” DeLorenzo said, but he added, “I’d say it’s a fruitful start.”


NEWS

TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014

DeGioia Rejects Israeli Academic Boycott MATT GREGORY Hoya Staff Writer

In response to the American Studies Association’s decision to endorse an academic boycott of Israeli institutions, Georgetown University President John J. DeGioia issued a statement Dec. 23 rejecting the ban and vowing to maintain standards of open dialogue and academic freedom. DeGioia’s press release emphasized a commitment to free expression and the exchange of ideas, which he believes are central to the university’s mission. “The recent resolution of the American Studies Association endorsing a boycott of Israeli universities undermines the academic freedom that is essential to the mission of the Academy,” the statement read. “As an academic institution, it is Georgetown’s responsibility to deepen engagement and foster dialogue between scholars and societies to enhance the entire global academic community.” The original ASA petition cited Israeli human rights abuses in the Palestinian territories, among other violations of international law, as justification for the boycott. “The resolution is in solidarity with scholars and students deprived of their academic freedom, and it aspires to enlarge that freedom for all, including Palestinians,” the ASA’s letter endorsing the ban stated. The site reported that over 66 percent of ASA members supported the organization’s decision in a nationwide vote. Even though Georgetown is not endorsing the boycott, certain members of Georgetown’s faculty are members of the ASA and have publicly expressed support for the decision. In a letter to the editor of the Washington Post published on Dec. 27, adjunct professor Noura Erakat of the Center for Contemporary Arab Studies argued that the boycott draws international attention to Israel’s treatment of Palestinian citizens. “The boycott, divestment and sanctions movement … is a call from Palestinians to international solidarity,” Erakat wrote. “By heeding it, the ASA did not single out Israel; it listened to Palestinians who demand equality.” In his press release, DeGioia noted that university faculty might have differing positions on the issue of Israeli-Palestinian relations and made a commitment to supporting ideological diversity among members of the staff. “I recognize these are matters on which

colleagues can disagree,” the statement said. “While the position of our University remains opposed to any boycott, we will certainly defend the rights of those who disagree.” According to Provost Robert Groves, however, the university administration agreed that the boycott violated free expression and academic dialogue. “There was absolute unity on the principles that motivated the action,” Groves said. “We are devoted to freedom of ideas and disclosure among opposing viewpoints. That is what universities are about and what Georgetown is about.” Groves further noted that Georgetown could never endorse any limitation on the free exchange of ideas, which would violate its fundamental academic principles. “Our basic belief is that the role of Georgetown in a larger context is hearing different viewpoints,” he said. “This statement is evidence of our devotion to the principle, and as an academic institution, we wouldn’t do anything to suppress dialogue.” Student groups also voiced support for President DeGioia’s rejection of the academic boycott. J Street U President Jake Sorrells (COL ’16) noted the valuable role academia can play in promoting intercultural understanding and the detrimental effects of restricting it. “I think that the boycott actually exacerbates a lot of the tenROBERT GROVES sions between the two University Provost sides,” Sorrells said. “It allows a lot of the animosity, racism and ignorance that is driving this conflict to fester because the more people aren’t interacting with each other through dialogue, the more misconceptions about the other are really able to thrive.” Sorrells also noted that while some recent Israeli actions could be viewed as warranting some form of condemnation or criticism, academia is not the appropriate setting for a response to them. “I agree with the frustration and aggravation that is behind the boycott and that in some ways it is well meaning,” Sorrells said. “But I don’t think it’s the right tactic to go about achieving meaningful change.” Across the country, over 90 universities have rejected the ASA proposal, including Harvard, Columbia, Dartmouth and Princeton, as well as many other Catholic institutions like Trinity College, The Catholic University of America, The University of Notre Dame and Loyola University-Maryland. Catholic University of America President John Garvey issued a particularly strong condemnation of the boycott.

“We are devoted to freedom of ideas and exposure among opposing viewpoints.”

the guide

SPECIAL MUSIC ISSUE FEATURING THE RIPPLES, OLD MOONLIGHT, MELLEN, TATE TUCKER AND MORE

THE HOYA

TOP 10 TRAFFIC CAM REVENUES CAMERA LOCATION REVENUE IN MILLIONS (JAN. 1- APRIL 18, 2013) Westbound, 2200 block, K St.

$7.4

Westbound, 600 block, New York Ave.

$4.7

Southbound, D.C. 295 near Exit 1

$4.6

Northbound, D.C. 295 near Exit 1

$3.1

Northbound, D.C. 295 at Benning Road

$2.4

Northbound, 1900 block, Branch Ave.

$1.8

Southeastbound, 2200 block, South Dakota Ave.

$1.7

Eastbound, 3500 block, Massachusetts Ave.

$1.5

Southbound, D.C. 295 near Burroughs

$1.5

Eastbound, 2200 block, K St.

$0.7

Source: Washington Post, D.C. Department of Motor Vehicles

IAN TICE/THE HOYA

Traffic Cameras Draw Ire KATHERINE RICHARDSON Hoya Staff Writer

Students with cars and those driving university vehicles for student groups may find themselves unexpectedly fined due to the Metropolitan Police Department’s recent activation of new traffic cameras throughout the District. According to MPD Director of Communications Gwendolyn Crump, the cameras were placed strategically based on data generated by the MPD. “The deployment locations for the automated traffic enforcement units were selected based on a variety of criteria, including sites with crashes and injuries, calls for service, high speed volume, near schools or in zones prohibited for use by certain commercial vehicles,” Crump wrote in an email. The cameras, intended to combat aggressive driving, will monitor speed limit, red lights and stop signs and issue tickets through the mail. There are currently over 130 traffic cameras positioned across the District. While there are no new cameras in the blocks sur-

rounding Georgetown’s campus, DPS Chief of Police Jay Gruber expressed that the cameras would nevertheless have positive effects on the Georgetown neighborhood, including increasing driver and pedestrian safety. “Although none of the cameras directly impact the campus, the new cameras will most likely reduce traffic crash injuries, pedestrian injuries and deaths, as well as facilitate a smoother commute for our community,” Gruber wrote in an email. While several Georgetown groups regularly use university vehicles around the District, student drivers are responsible for paying any fines incurred while operating vehicles for their respective groups. Jessie Silvis (COL ’16), a driver for D.C. Reads, said that she was not aware of the cameras but will now be more careful while driving. “I’ll definitely have to take that into consideration because if we get a ticket with the [Center for Social Justice] vans that would reflect really negatively on the university and probably would cost us

something,” Silvis said. Although Silvis said she recognizes the possible repercussions of traffic camera tickets, she noted that the drivers in the program already drive safely. “I’m not too concerned, because we usually are on smaller roads or on highways where the speed limits are high, so we usually have to follow the speed limit anyway,” she said. “We try to drive pretty safely, considering we have a van full of tutors or kids going back and forth from the schools, so hopefully most people aren’t breaking the speed limit.” Financial and Administrative Officer for the CSJ Lauren McCoy said that the organization did not have an official statement on how the new cameras might affect groups. While Georgetown Outdoor Education also uses vans for transport throughout the District, program director Kristoffer Nessler expressed confidence in student guides’ ability to follow traffic laws. “It really won’t affect us because we don’t speed,” Nessler said.

Mixed Reaction to Wage Hikes GRIFFIN COHEN Hoya Staff Writer

AVAILABLE THIS FRIDAY IN

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Amid celebrations surrounding the recent D.C. Council provision for a higher minimum wage, concerns remain surrounding implementation of the new policy as some students fret that a higher minimum wage will limit the availability of fulland part-time jobs off campus. The measure to increase the minimum wage would give the District and the neighboring Maryland suburbs of Montgomery and Prince George’s counties one of the highest minimum wages in the nation. The change would also index the wage for inflation beyond 2016. The proposed change, which would raise the minimum wage to $11.50 from $8.25 per hour beginning in 2016, is now in the hands of Mayor Vincent Gray, who is expected to sign the bill later this month. While Gray has previously supported a more modest increase to $10 per hour, the D.C. Council’s unanimous approval means it could likely override any possible mayoral veto. Any changes would immediately affect Georgetown and those employed by the university, according to University Director of Media Relations Rachel Pugh. “Georgetown abides by D.C. laws and will pay new minimum wages set in the District of Columbia,” Pugh wrote in an email. “We are thoughtful-

ly working to integrate these changes into departmental budgets in the coming years.” The university has already begun working to ensure that the wage increase, despite impacting department budgets, does not pose a negative effect on student employees, according to Associate Director of Student Employment Programs Jessica Witczak. “Part-time employment is essential to many students in order to earn money to put [toward] the cost of attendance,” Witzcak wrote in an email. “We are cognizant that this change will impact the budget of many departments throughout the university which, in turn, has the ability to impact the number of available student positions and number of hours provided.” According to Witzcak, the university currently pays undergraduate employees between $8.25 and $12.00 per hour depending on the position. For students working off campus, there is concern that the wage increase could cause employers to either decrease hours or lower the number of employees to help offset the cost. Cathy Eastman, assistant store manager for Anthropologie on M Street, which employs several student employees, does not see this negative outlook as a possibility. “Our business is set up where it’s our payroll versus our sales, so of course we would have to arrange the business [so that] we could

offset some of the impacts of the new minimum wage,” Eastman said. Still, Eastman looked favorably on a higher minimum wage for her employees. “The increase is good for us, but we’ve always paid competitively — a little bit more than other brands,” Eastman said. “It’s always a great thing for people to feel like they’re getting paid their worth.” The change also has the potential to negatively affect part-time employees, who are more likely to earn a lower hourly wage than their fulltime counterparts. “I think raising the minimum wage is a great idea, but I think it will hurt student employment,” Scott Harrington (SFS ’16), who works at North Face on M Street, said. “I believe that the higher wages will cause employers to focus on investing in their current workers as much as possible.” Despite the general approval of the proposed increase, the signed bill notably lacked a provision to raise the wages of tipped restaurant workers, who currently earn a minimum wage of $2.77 before tips. “For college students, I don’t think it really matters much,” Dylan Leone (SFS ’17), who works as a student guard on campus, said. “It’s the minimum-wage workers in the city who are below the poverty line [who] are going to be affected. They need this minimum wage increase to keep a basic standard of living in the city.”


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THE HOYA

tuesday, january 14, 2014

Scheuer Stands by Comments World Power Focus SCHEUER, from A1 American people, what they do is hate the American government for what it does in their world,” Scheuer said. “Until we realize that as fact, this war — we’re going to keep losing it as we are now.” Scheuer said that if electoral options failed to remove egregiously erring leaders, the people of a republic have a right to pursue other options, including protests, refusing to pay taxes and as a last resort, revolution. Scheuer, in this vein, refused to shy away from endorsing assassination. “At some point, when push comes to shove, you kill people and get them out of the way,” Scheuer said. “But it’s the end of a very long process, and one would hope that supposedly smart men who went to Harvard and Oxford would know that the future is not a happy one for them if they continue to disregard the liberties their people have fought for over centuries.” Scheuer’s column, published on his website, non-intervention.com, focused on the partnership between the United States and the United Kingdom as well as the countries’ wartime policies. Scheuer, a former Central Intelligence Agency officer who was the former head of the

agency’s Osama bin Laden unit, criticized the leaders for their policies regarding the Muslim world, including their support of Tahrir Square activists during the Arab Spring. The column quickly received traction on news websites, most prominently on The Daily Beast, where columnist David Frum described Scheuer’s comments as “advocacy of murder,” in a column entitled “Michael Scheuer’s Meltdown.” Scheuer has received criticism from liberal and conservative quarters alike. “I’ve offended everyone. It comes from leftist websites because they think Obama really is the second coming of Christ, and it comes from the conservative websites because conservatives would love to have me on their team except I don’t want unnecessary wars and I can’t stand the American relationship with Israel,” Scheuer said. He emphasized that his desire to extricate the United States from its relationship with its Middle East ally is not synonymous with anti-Semitism. Scheuer, who since 2005 has taught two graduate-level courses, “Al Qaeda” and “Al Qaeda and the Global Jihad” for the Security Studies Program during both summer and fall semesters, said he has never

been approached by the university regarding his outside writings, which have been the subject of past controversy. Although his critics have written to the administration in protest, according to Scheuer, Center for Security Studies Director Bruce Hoffman has defended him before, calling him the leading scholar on Osama bin Laden. The Center for Security Studies declined to comment for this article through Associate Director David Maxwell, citing Scheuer’s status as a private citizen and lack of a spring 2014 course at Georgetown. Scheuer did say he expected to hear from the university on this occasion, although he has not yet heard anything. University spokeswoman Stacy Kerr said that the university was not in the practice of censoring opinion. “This is the essence of academic freedom. Being committed to the free and open exchange of ideas does not mean that we approve of or endorse each and every statement made by members of our faculty,” Kerr wrote in an email. “The answer to speech that one finds disagreeable or controversial is not censorship but more speech and more dialogue. As such, we welcome everyone’s right to disagree and to express their opinions openly.”

Evans Alters Higher Ed Tactics EVANS, from A1 “I would push for-credit internship and summer jobs programs to get people more involved in the community,” Evans said. “Students at Georgetown and other area universities demonstrate a real interest in social justice issues and helping out. I believe the city government can be a big resource to D.C. students who are looking for internships and need information

on prospective employers citywide so that they can get work after graduation.” Evans also told The Hoya that he believes the relationship he has built over the years with the university as well as with the residents of Georgetown will allow him to act as a mediator in any conflicts that arise. “I think there has to be a good balance struck in any major decisions that get made that affect the commu-

nity,” Evans said. Tezel said he welcomes the idea of a more communicative mayor’s office and added that outreach to the university should be much greater than it has been in recent years. “Showing that kind of commitment to reach out, not just in the context of a mayoral campaign, but for the actual day-to-day governing would be very much appreciated and is sorely needed,” Tezel said.

GU’s First MOOC Concludes Katherine Richardson Hoya Staff Writer

Georgetown’s inaugural massive open online course “Globalization’s Winners and Losers: Challenges for Developed and Developing Countries,” successfully completed its seven week run in December, awarding nearly 6,000 certificates to students from all over the world and inspiring several real-world offshoots in countries like Kazakhstan. The 14,000 active users of the course on analyzing the effects of globalization came from nearly 150 countries and each used the course for a different purpose, according to School of Foreign Service Associate Director of the Landegger Program in International Business Diplomacy Rosaelena O’Neil. According to Professor Theodore Moran, who taught the course, nearly half of the users completed the program. “We know anecdotally from our discussion boards and surveys that some students were taking the course for professional development requirements in their jobs, some students were taking it for credit that their own institutions were giving them credit for … and others were wanting the certificate just for personal satis-

faction,” O’Neil said. To complete the course, students were required to watch class videos, complete readings and post on discussion boards on the online course platform edX, as well as complete assessments. Emily Cheung, the lead TA for the course, acknowledged the immediate feedback the course gave students through discussion boards. “I think when you open up a course of this size on a platform like edX that has such an active discussion board, I think feedback is given immediately for everything,” Cheung said. Moran said that many students also used the forum to debate readings and bring up criticisms and suggestions for the course. “They were not bashful about giving their own experiences and their own reactions,” he said. A large production team and group of researchers worked alongside Georgetown professors throughout the summer to create the course, which had an initial budget of $100,000, not including videography. “Like every new project, I suspect that the cost is going to be exponentially less for other MOOCs,” O’Neil said. “This particular team had a par-

ticular chemistry that worked amazingly well and allowed us to produce something that was inconceivable in a short period of time.” According to Moran, the MOOC has inspired teachers globally to adapt the course to their respective classrooms. “One professor in Kazakhstan and a couple professors in Africa have told me that they are going to use this course as the basis for a real, physical course that they are going to give at their institutions,” Moran said. While Moran expressed that MOOCs would certainly help propel the future of education, he did not believe such online courses could ever be substituted for a physical Georgetown education. “This will never replace a Georgetown education,” Moran said. “There’s a reason why you’re paying, but this is part of the Jesuit outreach ethic of trying to go outside the walls of the university and offer service to the world.” The MOOC team has already begun work on a reiteration of the course that is speculated to begin in the fall of next year, according to O’Neil. The university will unveil its second MOOC course, “Introduction to Bioethics,” in April 2014.

GUSA Speaker Race Scrutinized SPEAKER, from A1 However, Section 2.05 of the GUSA bylaws states that the role of the vice speaker is to assume the role of speaker after the speaker resigns or is removed, and does not mention the necessity of a confirmation vote. GUSA Vice President Adam Ramadan (SFS ’14), who presided over the meeting, emphasized that the confirmation vote, while not mentioned in the bylaws, is something that is upheld as precedent and took place last year with the transition from current GUSA President Nate Tisa (SFS ’14) to former speaker Zach Singer (SFS ’15), who preceded Spyropoulos. “My understanding is that the precedent was set over the past couple of years where there would be a confirmation vote. Last year for example, when Nate resigned, Zach succeeded Nate but was not confirmed until the confirmation vote by the entire GUSA senate,” Ramadan said. Siegler, who commented during the meeting that oral traditions are just as legitimate as those written in constitutions, drew this insight from knowledge of legal procedures. “My statement yesterday was that in court situations, legal precedents have been established in similar situations,” Siegler said. “I wasn’t saying that the confirmation vote should be held over the bylaws.” “If people truly had a problem with this, I believe there were many appropriate times to speak those concerns, and it was rather silent on those fronts,” Senator Seamus Guerin (COL

’16) said. Guerin said that a confirmation vote is an important indicator of how a new speaker will be received in the senate. “The speaker serves all of the senate, and all of the senators individually, and to have their confidence and their confirmation is important. Their support is important for the success of the position,” Guerin said. However, the Election Commission challenged the legitimacy of the procedure. “The Election Commission was not formally involved in the administration of this election, nor do we fully endorse its validity,” GUSA Election Commissioner Ethan Chess (COL ’14) wrote in an email. “The GUSA bylaws state that the vice speaker becomes speaker upon the resignation of the outgoing speaker. There is fairly little grey area as far as that is concerned. While I recognize that in the past confirmation votes have been taken in this same circumstance, they were, by my reading of the bylaws, not necessary for the speaker to carry out his or her duties.” If the procedure backed by Chess were to be followed, in order for Siegler to assume the speakership, Greco would have automatically assumed the speakership, at which point the senate would have been required to remove him from that role, if so desired. Removal requires a unanimous vote of the Ways and Means Committee, as well as a subsequent two-thirds vote in the senate. However, Chess said that this pro-

cedure would still bring up questions. “To remove [Greco] from his position based on the results of a vote that would be ambiguous at best, and invalid at wors,t cannot be good for the health of elections throughout GUSA,” Chess wrote. “I suspect this issue will merit some consideration from the Constitutional Council going forward and they will — after careful deliberation — make a final [adjudication] on the matter.” The confirmation vote that took place Sunday was unusual, according to Greco. “That whole confirmation procedure, it took over an hour. Nothing like that has ever happened before,” Greco said. “In my experience, I’m almost a 100 percent positive that the vice president last year didn’t come in when this happened. I know there was no questioning, debating, leaving the room. It was nothing to the degree that they proceeded with [Sunday] night. That was irregular.” Despite the confusion, senators said they look forward to working with Siegler. “I couldn’t be more excited. I think she’s fresh face and a fresh face goes a long way. I think that having a fresh face and a valuable contributor in the GUSA Senate will be awesome in leadership, and I think that she presents as many skills that would serve her excellently in leading us,” Senator Chris Fisk (COL ’17) said. Greco will remain in his position as vice speaker.

Of Naím Book Talk Ashley Miller Hoya Staff Writer

Dr. Moisés Naím spoke about the changing dynamics of world power contributing to a more chaotic world in Riggs Library on Monday afternoon in a converstion with Director of Asian Studies Victor Cha, sponsored by the Office of the President. Naím expanded on the theories in his book “The End of Power: From Boardrooms to Battlefields and Churches to States, Why Being In Charge Isn’t What It Used to Be.” Naím, a senior associate in the International Economics Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and an internationally syndicated columnist, told the audience that scholars generally agree that there is a shift in power occurring worldwide, but his more provocative theory is that the nature of power itself has changed. “The central message of the book is … that power has become easier to acquire, much harder to use and easier to lose,” Naím said. This inconsistent nature of power is well demonstrated by the rise in start up businesses that challenge multinational, well-established corporations. Naím called these new powers that oppose traditional powers “micropowers.” He compared Kodak’s demise to the simultaneous success of Instagram. “Kodak is no longer,” Naím said. “And very interestingly, at the very same time that Kodak was starting bankruptcy proceedings, Chapter 11 proceedings, a small company with 13 employees and three years of age was sold for a billion dollars. That company is called Instagram.” This trend, Naím said, also translates

to the battlefield. The changing nature of power allows for the success of “David and Goliath” stories outside of the business world. He discussed a study by a Harvard scholar that found that in contemporary battles, the weaker side, as designated by the number of weapons and other similar qualifications, was more likely to win. “I think that the trends I describe are trends that reflect a world with more opportunity, with more possibilities, where those excluded can now have the hope and the opportunity of being included,” Naím said. On the other hand, this optimism does not translate to politics in the same way. The new constraints of powers cause governmental risks and possible stagnation. “In a world that is more full of opportunities, there is almost more risks,” Naím said. “The book also shows some of the risks that are mostly in the way we govern ourselves. And we have seen around the world the difficulty that governments are having in governing, making decisions and creating the consensus that is needed to move a society forward.” Naím believes that this changing nature of power needs to be accounted for by governments. Lauren Allen (SFS ’17), a member of the audience, which flowed out the library doors, said she was interested in Naím’s idea that young people have a greater ability to gain power in the current climate. “It stood out to me how the world is so much younger, and it’s talking about these small companies that are headed by very young people that end up being micropowers and just how changeable the power scene is now,” Allen said. “Things are not as fixed as they used to be and I think that’s just a crazy concept.”

Transcript Grades, Latin Honors Revamped semester’s change, according to MCEF Chair and economics professor Ian Gale. Data on mean grades became available graduate magna cum laude and the next 10 percent will graduate cum laude, for on MyAccess Jan. 6, though an option to a total of 25 percent of students in each display a version of a transcript without undergraduate school graduating with mean grades will remain available. Mean honors — 13.5 percent less than graduated grades are only included for classes taken with honors last year in the MSB, which beginning in fall 2013. “The faculty is attuned to struggles grants the distinction to the fewest graduates. In the SFS, for example, these changes with grade inflation at other institutions, will lead to a nearly 40 percent decrease in and we wanted to implement an alternastudents graduating with honors. tive transcript that provides a clearer idea These honors designations will be calcu- of student performance. An A in a course lated based on percentiles of GPA distribu- with a mean grade of 3.5 should be seen tion of the previous graduating class. differently than an A in a class with a 2.5 Currently, graduating summa cum class average,” University Registrar and Aslaude requires a GPA of 3.9, while a GPA sistant Provost John Q. Pierce said. of 3.7 is needed to graduate magna cum A compilation of 175 fall 2013 courses laude and a 3.5 GPA earns cum laude hon- spanning all four schools found that ors. for the vast majority of the classes, the Based on data from the Class of 2013, mean grade was a B+ or A-. However, for under the percentage system, graduating some notoriously difficult courses such as summa cum laude would remain rela- “Management Science” in the MSB, mean tively stable, requiring a GPA of 3.902 in grades in one section dropped to as low as the College, 3.928 in the NHS, 3.904 in the a B-, at 2.647. For other courses, such as “InSFS and 3.835 in the MSB. The standards troduction to Cultural Studies,” the mean to graduate magna cum laude would rise grade was an A, at 3.845. from 3.7 across all schools to a GPA of 3.796 The option of displaying mean grades in the College, 3.803 in the NHS, 3.806 in as a method of combating — or making the SFS and 3.713 in the MSB. Cum laude transparent — grade inflation stands in graduates would be the most drastically af- contrast to steps toward grade deflation fected, with the lowest level of Latin honors taken by other universities. Princeton requiring a 3.728 in the College, a 3.736 in University adopted a policy of grade deflathe NHS, a 3.730 in the tion in 2004, limiting SFS and a 3.614 in the grades in the A range MSB compared to the to 35 percent of understandard 3.5. graduate courses — a Due to the curve alguideline brought for ready in place in the re-evaluation by a Princbusiness school, which eton faculty committee limits the number of in October. students who may reThough the move to Greta Hagedorn (Col ’17) ceive certain grades, display mean grades MSB students would on transcripts will not be the least affected by this change. affect actual grading, some professors are Current freshmen had varied reactions worried that the option will prove detto the policy, which was not released in a rimental to academic camaraderie and campus-wide email but is available on each teamwork, as students are now in more school’s undergraduate bulletin. direct competition with their peers. “Changing these policies is creating “I’m a strong believer that a student’s a lot of tension among students,” Greta grades should not depend on other stuHagedorn (COL ’17) said. “That makes dents. I get a bit leery that there might people think more about grades, when be pressure to curve the grades, which I we should be focused on learning, not think distorts the academic system,” Erick grades.” Langer, director of the Master of Arts in Katie Harper (SFS ’17) concurred, believ- Latin American Studies, said. ing that the change will not benefit the In the Master of Science in Foreign Serfreshman class. vice program at Georgetown, curves have “I think it’s worse, because it creates a been implemented, with what Langer more competitive atmosphere and kids considers to be negative results. will feel like they need to continue to get “I’m very much opposed to the gradhigher and higher grades, because it’s ing system in the MSFS. Now students based off the performance of other stu- don’t want to share their information dents.” anymore,” Langer said. “I find it to be Vincent DeLaurentis (SFS ’17) pointed against the spirit of true intellectualism, out that students were not consulted in which requires students to not only gain the change. knowledge, but to disseminate it to their “Even if we didn’t have any decision- peers so that everyone learns. Otherwise, making authority, I think discussion we lose the teamwork ingredient that is would have been helpful,” he said, add- so important in both government and ing that he did not think the change in private-sector work. School, especially at a the Latin honors policy was unfair, but Jesuit university, should not be a dog-eatwished that the designation would not be dog experience.” based on a comparison to another class. However, some students feel that the The changes to academic transcripts to introduction of mean grades will bring include mean course grades this semester, parity to larger courses. meanwhile, will affect students beyond “I think it’s good, especially in a class the freshman class. The decision to add with a lot of [teaching assistants], like mean grades to transcripts stemmed from some of the bigger classes. It helps TAs a 2008 resolution by the Main Campus Ex- realize what they might need to work on, ecutive Faculty, a legislative body that de- how to best get the class all on the same termines academic policy, that came after page,” Samin Rai (MSB ’17) said. “For ina 2007 report on intellectual life. Though stance, if one TA had a lot higher mean the 2008 resolution was never implement- grade than another, they would be able ed, a version of the proposal was passed by to figure out something to get them all the MCEF in March 2013, leading to this more on the same page.” HONORS, from A1

“Changing these policies is creating a lot of tension among students.”


NEWS

TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014

THE HOYA

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Paid or Unpaid? GU Interns Weigh In GRIFFIN COHEN

general,” Glatt said. Glatt, who won his case against Fox Searchlight Pictures, beA nationwide debate about lieves that organizations are uspaid and unpaid internships ing interns to do jobs that should continues amid the flurry of be held by paid employees. networking events and resume “[Organizations have] learned workshops that signal the ap- that by merely adding that job proach of internship applica- title and adding that description season, forcing students to tion to an ad for a job, they sudtake stock of their future em- denly don’t have to pay for the ployment prospects. labor they need performed,” Internships held by George- Glatt said. town students are abundant. According to Cawley Career Ninety percent of graduating Education Center Executive Diseniors have reportedly held rector Dr. Mike Schaub, Glatt’s at least one internship during sentiments reflect national their time on campus with 75 trends in the way interns are bepercent of those reporting hav- ing treated by employers. ing held a paid position, accord“I believe that the culture suring to the rounding university’s students’ Senior Surand emvey data. ployers’ A recent expectastudy pubtions of the lished by the internship Society for experience Human Reis changing source Manand that agement e mp l oye r s analyzed the are beginMIKE SCHAUB Cawley Career Center Director increased ning to see availability the imporof internships to students. tance of compensating their According to the survey, which interns appropriately,” Schaub took a sample of some 3,000 U.S. said. organizations, 34 percent of orHowever, not all students ganizations offered more intern- agree with Glatt’s sentiments. ships during 2013 than 2012. Neil Noronha (SFS ’14), who “It is positive that organi- has held unpaid internships zations have hired interns,” at the White House, U.S. TreaSHRM’s Survey Research Center sury, U.S. State Department and Manager Semiha Evren Esen Federal Bureau of Investigation said. “And most have hired two as well as a paid internship at to five interns, which shows that Goldman Sachs, said there is they have an internship pro- value in unpaid internships. gram in place.” “If you can get paid, great, but The survey also reported favor- an unpaid internship with able prospects for paid intern- higher brand quality may ofships: more than 75 percent of fer more future job opportunirespondents reported that they ties than a smaller brand but paid their interns. paid internship,” Noronha said. However, the internship cul- While different opinions abound, ture still has a long way to go Glatt has confidence that the naaccording to Eric Glatt (LAW tional conversation surrounding ’15), who sued Fox Searchlight interns’ compensation could set Pictures in September 2011 for a precedent that will eliminate undercompensating his unpaid unpaid internships. work as a production intern on “When we filed the lawsuit, the set of “Black Swan.” I would say more than half of “I don’t think that study is re- the initial reaction was actually ally all that significant. It’s great ridicule,” Glatt said. “Since that to talk about members of that time, this country has opened organization, but I don’t think up a dialogue about inequality, the survey says a lot about the about exclusion and about strucprofile of unpaid internships in tural problems in the economy.”

Hoya Staff Writer

“The culture surrounding students’ expectations is changing.”

MICHELLE XU/THE HOYA

Naomi Tutu, human rights activist and daughter of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, was among a number of speakers for the first annual Winter Confluence for freshmen, held Jan. 7 in Gaston Hall.

From Convocation to Confluence KIT CLEMENTE Hoya Staff Writer

About 50 members of the Class of 2017 reunited in Gaston Hall on Tuesday, Jan 7, for the first annual Winter Confluence, an event marked by reflection and a keynote speech by human rights activist and daughter of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Naomi Tutu. “This winter event gives first-year students an opportunity to reflect on where they have been since NSO and where they want to go in the semesters ahead,” Vice President for Mission and Ministry Fr. Kevin O’Brien, S.J., said. “They are in a very different place than where they were in August. … With some wisdom shared by presenters, they hopefully will be able to make some good decisions about the direction of their Georgetown experience.” The event, planned by Vice President for Student Affairs Todd Olson and Director of Orientation Justin Smith, allowed attending freshmen to reflect on their first semester of college and honor the Georgetown community’s commitment to justice. The evening featured multiple speakers and a special centennial tribute to the late Polish World War II resistance movement fighter and Georgetown professor Jan Karski.

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Building upon the theme of reflection, Tutu recounted how the African proverb “A person is a person through other people” extends beyond the Georgetown community. “The lesson is that we in this world are connected to one another in ways that sometimes are not even clear, that we are connected to those for whom we do something good, that when you do good for someone else, in a real way you do good for yourself,” Tutu said. She stressed that this theme applies to Georgetown’s campus and students, especially as many embark on new goals, resolutions and adventures this semester. Freshman speaker Eric Wu (SFS ’17) shared his own Georgetown story, emphasizing the different narratives of Georgetown students. He was chosen after his proseminar professor, Elizabeth Stephen, nominated him for the speakership spot. “The last thing that I wanted to do was follow in my mom’s footsteps. I wanted to be different, and I wanted to blaze my own trail. What I found, however, in my few short months here at Georgetown is there is no better place to write your own story than here,” Wu, whose mother is an alumna, said. “I’m in the process of writing a Georgetown story that could

not be more different from that of my own mother. What’s more, each and every one of you is currently writing a Georgetown story that is immeasurably different from mine.” The event also commemorated Karski on the 70th anniversary of the publication of his book “Story of a Secret” and what would be his 100th birthday. Mark Lagon, professor in the practice of international affairs, discussed Karski’s past accomplishments and life story. To close, O’Brien reflected on the years to come. “The next few years of your time, let this be a playground of wisdom and of virtue, and in so doing when you get to that end, the senior convocation, the senior ball and the commencement activities, then you’ll be ready,” O’Brien said. Attendees enjoyed the opportunity for reflection and preparation for their upcoming semesters. “I thought the event was a really good segue into the second semester of our freshman year,” Monika Patel (MSB ’17) said. “I think it was important that they had us reflect on what was good and bad, because that’s important to consider going forward –– to focus on things you need to improve on and remember the things that have gone well in the past and use that as encouragement.”

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Auditors Heighten Discussion LGBTQ Mentorship

Program Slated for Fall

Sam Abrams Hoya Staff Writer

Professor Marilyn McMorrow’s 10 students sat on couches and chairs in her McCarthy Hall apartment discussing their final essays for “Just War Theory in the 21st Century.” It was the last week of the fall semester in an international politics course with a unique dynamic: two of the “seniors” in the course were over 65 years old. These two experienced students, Chuck Cohen and Dr. Chuck Abrams, both 68, are members of the Georgetown Senior Citizen Auditor Program. Administered by the School of Continuing Studies, the nearly 30-year-old program has helped hundreds of seniors use their years of experience to contribute to the classroom while learning something new themselves. Over 50 seniors participated in the program in the fall, across all four undergraduate schools, according to Assistant Dean of Graduate Liberal Studies and SCAP Director Anne Ridder. For Cohen, an attorney at Morgan Lewis’s Labor and Employment Practice, the class was a chance to learn and share some of his real-world knowledge with others. “I’d attended three other courses at Georgetown before this one, and they have all been great experiences,” Cohen said. “The Senior Auditor Program has given me the opportunity to delve into areas that I’ve always been interested in.” Abrams, a gastroenterology and internal medicine specialist, works at Abrams and Lipson MDs PC. McMorrow’s class was his second taken on the Hilltop, and he has since enrolled in an Eastern European History course for the spring. “The ability to interact with bright, passionate young minds and welcoming professors has been a great opportunity,” Abrams said. Depending on the professor, senior auditors can act as casual observers or actively participate in the class discussion. In “Just War Theory in the 21st Century,” the senior auditors were a huge boon to discussion, according to McMorrow. “We’ve discussed why the Geneva Conventions forbid the use of serrated blades in battle,and Dr. Abrams has been able to explain the medical reason behind this, and then we will go over international law concerning enemy combatants, and Mr. Cohen can share with us his legal interpretations,” McMorrow said. “Having them in class has really elevated the discourse.” For the students in McMorrow’s course, the presence of the both Chucks in class has added to their educational experience. “Besides their professional expertise, I really appreciated their humor and active participation in discussions,” class member Agree Ahmed (SFS ’15) said. “It’s nice to have people

Katherine Richardson Hoya Staff Writer

The Georgetown University Student Association has partnered with the LGBTQ Resource Center to create an LGBTQ peer mentorship program. The program, which is scheduled to begin in fall 2014, will encourage underrepresented students in the LGBTQ community to assume leadership roles and get more involved in campus life while at Georgetown. “On campus, there’s a disparity between certain populations and the number of people in those populations with leadership roles, so you see some groups unrepresented in clubs, club leadership roles, and we wanted to find a way to combat this,” GUSA President Nate Tisa (SFS ’14) said. Tisa added that the mentorship program will encourage students to get involved in clubs and organizations by pairing upperclassmen mentors with underclassmen. Mentors will meet with mentees in small group settings around campus. The Corp will provide two to three free coffee subsidies for each group, according to GUSA Secretary of Diversity Affairs Minjung Kang (SFS ’15). “The upperclassmen have different perspectives and can provide advice for underclassmen who don’t have the opportunity to ask those kind of questions as just being a general member as part of an organization,” Kang said. Kang said that GUSA hopes to provide a speaker in the fields of business and government. “That will give the mentors and mentees an opportunity to interact with professionals and get more general advice about how the LGBTQ community is in different industries and how it’s like to be part of that community in a more professional environment,” Kang said. The LGBTQ Resource Center has provided advice and resources as well as committing to provide training for fu-

ture mentors. “It’s been fantastic,” Tisa said. “They’ve been working on the curriculum, working on the training, to connect with resources that the LGBTQ Center already has. It’s one of the most well-known LGBTQ programs, certainly at a Catholic school, in the country, so it’s been really great to partner with them.” LGBTQ Center Director Sivagami Subbaraman explained that the LGBTQ Resource Center helped GUSA to design the initiative, a welcome new feature of the Center’s programming. “The Center worked with GUSA representatives to help develop guidelines on how to recruit mentors and mentees, and to provide some insight into [what] it might look like,” Subbaraman said. Mentors will be chosen from a pool of applicants comprised of upperclassmen members of the LGBTQ community. “We’re looking for people who are involved in all different aspects of campus life, not just GU Pride or even GUSA,” GUSA Undersecretary of LGBTQ Affairs Meghan Ferguson (COL ’15) said. “That way, potential mentees can find someone who shares similar interests with them and can actually act as a much better mentor.” Applications for mentors are currently open, and mentee applications will be released in upcoming weeks. The program, slated to start next fall, will be a pilot program for other potential mentorship programs to come, according to Tisa. “I think it’s really important for me personally, as the first gay president at Georgetown, to make it clear that I can’t be the last,” he said. “We really need to promote not only LGBTQ communities but also communities of color and women to take leadership roles at Georgetown because there’s still a disparity. … We want to demonstrate that anything is possible for a Georgetown student here, and that you don’t need to be held back because of socioeconomic or personal identity qualities.”

NATASHA THOMSON/THE HOYA

Auditors Chuck Cohen (top) and Dr. Chuck Abrams (bottom) brought lively discussion to “Just War Theory in the 21st Century.” in the room who don’t spend their waking hours dealing with pure academic topics, and who have real-world knowledge on these subjects.” Although senior auditors do not take tests or write papers, they are responsible for completing the reading and for the material discussed in class sessions. Christian Chung (SFS ’15) agreed that Abrams and Cohen were integral parts of the class. “Auditor is a misnomer in their case because they didn’t just sit back and listen –– they are just as active as any of us when we asked them for their thoughts,” Chung said. “I like to think that Chuck and I helped keep things light and fun and were able to help put things in perspective and share our frame of reference on certain subjects,” Abrams said. Ridder believes that these

unique classroom experiences can positively affect the at times testy student-resident relations in the Georgetown neighborhood. “Over half of our current auditors live in the 20007 zip code, so they are active members of the community, and they are all for us working together to help improve relations,” Ridder said. Abrams’ perception of the students in his class was extremely positive, and he shared his admiration for his younger classmates. “I’m so impressed with the breadth of knowledge and comprehension that these students had with challenging material,” he said. “I’m even more impressed that they were willing to be skeptical of the readings, to question the ideas of the authors and forge their own opinion on the issues.” OLIVIA HEWITT/THE HOYA

GU Makes History in DC Courts Sam Abrams Hoya Staff Writer

With the appointment of Cornelia “Nina” Pillard on Dec. 17, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit Court now has three former Georgetown University faculty members on its bench. Pillard, who was nominated by President Barack Obama in June joins Judges Laurence Silberman and Arthur Raymond Randolph, who are both former Georgetown faculty, on the D.C. Circuit. Silberman, who was an Adjunct Professor of Administrative Law from 1987 to 1994 and from 1997 to 1999, was

COURTESY NINA PILLARD

Nina Pillard, the newest addition to the D.C. Circuit.

appointed to the D.C. Circuit by President Ronald Reagan in 1985. “I love teaching at Georgetown, just as I’m sure Judge Pillard does,” Silberman, currently a distinguished visitor from the judiciary at Georgetown Law who teaches both administrative law and labor law, said. “The Law Center is very conveniently located, as it is in close proximity to many important courts. In my years as a member of the faculty… it has been a wonderful experience.” In addition to his teaching, Silberman received a Lifetime Service Award in 2006 and a Distinguished Service Award in 2007 from the Georgetown chapter of the Federalist Society. Ties between the Law Center and area judges stretch back to the school’s inception in 1870, according to Law Center Associate Dean Peter Byrne. “We want to expose our students to people who are making legislative decisions that impact our lives. It’s a terrific opportunity for students, as they often act as interns for these judges and get school credit for it,” Byrne said. “It’s hard to imagine a better place to go to law school than in the heart of Washington D.C.” Randolph, who was appointed in 1990 by President George H.W. Bush, taught at the Georgetown Law Center from 1974 to 1978, specializing in civil procedure and injunctions. Before joining the circuit, Pillard was the faculty director

of the Law Center’s Supreme Court Institute where she most recently taught the seminar “Corporate Responsibility for Workers in the Global Supply Chain.” In being appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, Pillard joins one of the most prestigious courts in the nation, as an appointment to the D.C. Circuit is often considered a stepping-stone for appointment to the Supreme Court. Four of the nine justices on the Supreme Court are alumni of the D.C. Circuit, including Chief Justice John Roberts. The Yale- and Harvard-educated Pillard joined the faculty at Georgetown Law in 1997 before becoming Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel. Pillard returned to Georgetown Law in 2000. She is the seventh woman to serve on the D.C. Circuit, and her arrival marked the first time women occupied five out of the 11 seats on its bench. “Nina’s superb record as a leading Supreme Court advocate and legal scholar speaks for itself —she will make a remarkable appellate judge,” Georgetown Law Dean William M. Treanor said in a statement following Pillard’s confirmation in December. “Though we are sad to lose her, we are thrilled and proud to send her on to the D.C. Circuit, where the same traits that made her such a valuable asset on our campus will be put to use strengthening the pursuit of justice.”

Rain didn’t keep eager students away from signing up for clubs and organizations at last Saturday’s Student Activities Fair. Girl, left, talks to friend about choices.

SA Fair Faces Familiar Problems in 2014 Kit Clemente Hoya Staff Writer

The free speech restrictions around O’ Donovan Hall once again prevented student groups that are not recognized by the university from tabling at the Student Activities Fair Jan. 11. During the SA Fair, student groups that are unrecognized by the university were only permitted to table outside or hand out flyers inside Leo’s. “Unlike Red Square, the outside area adjacent to Leo’s is not designated for tabling, which is why groups last [spring] semester were instructed to only hand out flyers,” Center for Student Engagement Associate Director Amanda Carlton wrote in an email. For the Student Activities Commission, which organizes the fair, the planning process includes keeping in mind the needs of all student groups, including unrecognized groups. Greek affiliates like sororities and fraternities, clubs that conflict with university policies like the pro-choice H*yas for Choice and other organizations that have yet to gain SAC approval are all among unrecognized groups. “It’s just kind of being flexible with it, it’s just understanding that every single student wants groups to represent their groups and understanding that there’s an administrative reasoning with student groups,” Student Activities Commissioner Priyanka Bagrodia (SFS ’16) said. Bagrodia noted that distributing flyers inside Leo’s was permitted as long as group members did not overwhelm students and keep them from accessing

recognized groups. “The administrative reasoning behind it is because Georgetown doesn’t recognize the groups like sororities, frats, so if people say that they signed up for sororities and frats at the Student Activities Fair, then we’d be held liable,” Bagrodia said. “That’s why we can’t have them officially table with all the other groups, but I still want Hoyas to like the groups, so we allow them to flyer inside.” For members of the unrecognized groups, strategizing ways to reach out to students is important in the face of barriers created by the inability to access benefits available to other clubs. However, the setup of the SA Fair may have helped these groups receive more student attention. “I think actually it’s going to work even better because we’re going to be outside at the front, so even as people walk in they will pass by us,” Sigma Alpha Epsilon Deputy Recruitment Chair Tanner Davis (SFS ’17) said. SAE cited 140 students who demonstrated interest in the fraternity, either by attending an information session or rushing in the fall semester. “I don’t think the fact that we’re not recognized by the school is a deterrent at all,” Davis said. The SA Fair additionally featured six new SAC groups this semester. “I think student life communities at Georgetown have been growing,” SAC Chair Patrick Musgrave (COL ’16) said. “It’s six more SAC groups, but definitely there are going to be more groups, and it’s going to provide a larger fair so people can really find their interests.”


news

TUESday, january 14, 2014

THE HOYA

A9

New Year, New Construction as Projects Push Forward Molly Simio Hoya Staff Writer

With the opening of the Northeast Triangle delayed to summer 2016, the university has continued to refine the new hall’s plans and push forward on a host of other building projects including the Healey Family Student Center, the conversions of Ryan and Mulledy Halls and the repurposing of two floors in the Georgetown University Hotel and Conference Center. “Our efforts are focused on the exterior architecture so that we can get Old Georgetown Board’s approval,” Vice President for Planning and Facilities Management Robin Morey said. After failing to get final concept approval and receiving aesthetic recommendations from the OGB for the Northeast Triangle Residence Hall in December, architects and administrators have been working to incorporate the OGB’s suggestions into the building’s design. In response to the OGB’s request for the creation of a southern entrance to the Northeast Triangle, architects plan

to shift the multi-purpose room, located on the southeast side of the first floor, to the east. This alteration will allow for a corridor that will connect the new entrance to the rest of the building. The university will review these changes during a Northeast Triangle team meeting next week. Morey said that he anticipates receiving OGB concept approval in March. In response to the Northeast Triangle’s delay, the university is continuing with preliminary plans for the partial conversion of the Georgetown University Hotel and Conference Center into temporary student housing. According to Morey, administrators are currently determining how the loss of up to two floors of hotel rooms would affect the university’s mission, as well as how students would use the space. “Students would probably come in from the esplanade and utilize the second floor,” Morey said. “We would black out the elevators so that they only reach certain floors.” Morey said that the university has not yet determined the potential revenue loss that would result from the

limited use of the hotel. Last month the university selected Ayers Saint Gross, an architect firm known for its focus on university work, to lead the conversion of Ryan and Mulledy Halls into student housing. Architects have begun initial walkthroughs of the buildings, but specific details about the halls’ designs have yet to be determined. While the university anticipates that the renovation of the buildings will be complete by summer 2015, that timeline may change as architects learn more about the buildings’ structures. “We might get in there and find out there is a structural issue and that might take longer than we anticipated,” Morey said. According to an email from the Office of Planning and Facilities Management, as of Jan. 2, Prospect Street has been closed to inbound and outbound traffic between the hours of 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. until March 15, due to Healey Family Student Center construction. Due to the street closure, Georgetown University Transportation Shuttles travelling to Rosslyn, Arlington and

CHARLIE LOWE/THE HOYA

Construction on a number of university building projects, including the new Healey Family Student Center, has continued over break. the Law Center have been rerouted. The buses now travel down Reservoir Road and Foxhall Road instead of Prospect Street, resulting in increased trip times. In addition to the progress that has been made with on-campus planning, significant advances have been made with neighborhood planning. Last month, the Georgetown Business

Improvement District finalized “Georgetown 2028,” a 15-year plan that aims to improve Georgetown’s commercial district. The plan includes a 78-item “Action Agenda,” which addresses such goals as the improvement of roadway and parking management and the creation of new transportation options such as a Georgetown Metro stop and a gondola.

Converts’ Better Future Ashley Miller Hoya Staff Writer

Indian women of the “untouchable” caste increase their economic and social standing after converting to Christianity, a recent study by Berkley Center research fellow Rebecca Shah shows. The research, presented at the Dec. 13-14 “Christianity and Freedom” conference in Rome as part of Georgetown University’s Christianity and Freedom initiative, focused on Dalit women in a violent Indian slum and related both the community and tenets of Christianity to a willingness to invest in their personal, economic and social future. “What actually keeps the poor in poverty and keeps them in persistent poverty is this sort of fear of investing in the future, a fear of long-term investments,” Shah said. According to Shah, Christianity is an important factor in changing this fearful mindset. Much of the change in the converted women’s behaviors stems from a sense of belonging in the supportive community Christianity brings. “One thing we noticed with these women was being part of the [Christian] community … it sort of gave them the sense of some sort of hope that the future was attainable,” Shah said. The close community additionally caused some women to sense a change in identity. “There is a sense of belief that ‘I can make a difference, I can invest in my children’s future,’ and that to a great extent comes by their involvement in these independent churches,” Shah said. Shah noted in her findings that although the Christian women were more often faced with domestic violence, in part due to the new independence that comes with converting, these converts were more likely to tell someone about the violence. Sixty-three percent of converted Christians experienced domestic abuse, with 57 percent reporting the incidents. By contrast, only 7 percent of Hindu victims reported abuse, while there were no reports from Muslim women, according to Shah. Allen Hertzke, co-chair of the Christianity and Freedom initiative’s steering committee, attributed the change in identity and newfound independence to the conversion experience itself, not just the presence of a strong community. “So it’s not just the fact that Christianity is instrumental in creating this sense of community or community networks or community support, but that the Christian message and the Christian conversion experience itself actually shaped the way these women saw themselves,” Hertzke said. Robert Woodberry, another researcher who presented his findings at the conference, additionally attributed the change in behavior of Dalit women to factors involving Christianity beyond the community aspect. Woodberry believes changes in views on identity and self-worth were primarily due to the tenets of Christianity. “In terms of theological beliefs, the idea that everyone is created in God’s image … is a theological resource within Christianity that can transform people,” Woodberry said.


A10

Sports

THE HOYA

tuesday, january 14, 2014

The Sporting Life

Wadekar

A-Rod Tarnishes His Legacy GU’s Resilience Displayed in Victory O W

ne of the more curious aspects of the current courtroom battle between Major League Baseball and Alex Rodriguez is that it is hard to pick a side to root for. There are many who will point to Rodriguez as the most disgraceful ballplayer this side of Barry Bonds, but the MLB is far from innocent. Commissioner Bud Selig and his cohorts turned a blind eye to steroids when their use brought the legendary home run race in 1998 between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa, which brought back fans whom baseball had lost after a 1994 strike. Selig’s current, feigned disdain for cheating sullies the game of baseball. That long-time steroid abuser Mark McGwire is allowed back into a baseball organization while Pete Rose remains in exile for his gambling is a prime example of the MLB’s false morality. The MLB’s investigation into Rodriguez has been similarly self-serving. The league is staging a witch hunt against one of its most hated stars in hopes of slowing the fall of the game’s popularity. Rather than citing failed tests in the trial, the MLB has referenced stolen evidence from a shady clinic. The chief testimony against Rodriguez comes from a convict being paid for his cooperation in the case by MLB and all the while, Bud Selig refuses to testify. The sentence handed down — even in its reduced 162 game form — is completely arbitrary and inconsistent with the precedent set by MLB to deal with substance abusers. Rodriguez lost the benefit of the doubt long ago, and it is hard to believe that, given his connection to Tony Bosch and his Biogenesis clinic, the former MVP did not take performance-enhancing drugs. But Selig has shown himself to be even more culpable in the way his league

handled the case against Rodriguez. This is not about justice; this is about offering up Rodriguez on a platter as the singular scapegoat for all of baseball’s sins. But let one thing be clear: No one is innocent here. Alex Rodriguez does not deserve even the pretense of sympathy. We have been down this scandal-laden road before with Rodriguez; he had his turn at a second chance. In 2009, when he came forward to admit to takingPEDs , Ro-

Darius Majd

Rodriguez v. Major League Baseball has no winner. driguez had the unique opportunity to escape the permanent disgrace that befell widely assumed steroid users like Bonds and Roger Clemens. Rodriguez has always displayed an abnormal obsession with his image. To see him willingly humbled at the mercy of the MLB was enough for some. His assertion that he abused PEDs only during his time with the Texas Rangers was accepted by many, especially sports fans because they wanted to believe in his greatness. Everyone wants to be able to witness a historical career, to follow it from its very beginnings to its apex, wherein an athlete does something we have never seen before. Rodriguez’s strategic admission gave him the chance to leave a bet-

ter legacy. In the 2009 postseason, he finally won the coveted championship, transforming from a great player into a clutch player in the process — all was right for Rodriguez. Only it was not enough. It never is for Rodriguez, whose insecurity is as tragic as it is unparalleled. Rodriguez is not the stereotypical villain in the professional sports world; it is hard not to feel a pang of sympathy for his lack of self-confidence. It is this insecurity that prevents him from creating a Michael Jordanesque legacy. The Biogenesis scandal has not only destroyed Rodriguez’s second chance, but also the idea that he was ever clean. I firmly believe that other tactics from every “era” of baseball were tainted in one way or another, but the damage is done. Alex Rodriguez had the talent and the ability to be the greatest ever and to do it cleanly. He could have purified baseball’s record book of the dirty numbers left by Bonds, Sosa and McGwire. He was just too mentally weak to trust that he could do it. Although today’s Rodriguez is sometimes as entertaining as an embattled anti-hero — see his towering home run in response to an intentional beaning against Boston last August — the best outcome for everyone would be for him to simply walk away. Baseball will only suffer from Rodriguez’s continued presence, and his ruthless legal campaigns will only add to his troubled legacy. But of course, he will continue to fight, desperate not to fade into obscurity. If Rodriguez cannot have baseball’s greatest legacy, he seems determined to leave behind its darkest. Darius Majd is a junior in the College. The Sporting Life appears Tuesdays.

women’s Basketball

ithout their largest player, ses Ayegba — all fouled out. In overtime, Thompson, missing so the Hoyas put on a thrilling show for a former George- many regular rotation players, turned town big man against Butler (10-6, 0-4 to the highly unusual lineup of SmithRivera, Starks, Cameron, Caprio and Big East) on Saturday night. Georgetown (11-4, 3-1 Big East), de- junior guard Aaron Bowen. Perhaps most notable about Thompspite facing a remarkable amount of attrition, gutted out a 70-67 overtime son’s lineup decision was that, despite victory in front of current Indiana the desperate situation, he turned to Pacer and former Georgetown Hoya, Caprio before considering sophomore Roy Hibbert. While Hibbert’s presence Stephen Domingo — a wing who has on the sideline was appreciated, Head failed to live up to his reputation as a Coach John Thompson III surely was sharpshooter. While a scrappy victory against a Butwishing by the end of the game that his former All-American could lace up ler team that has yet to win a Big East conference game hardly inspires consome sneakers and throw on a jersey. For the second straight game, George- fidence in Georgetown’s future, there town travelled without junior center were a few positives. The Hoyas turned Joshua Smith, who remains in appar- the ball over only 11 times, and Starks ent academic limbo. Then came word once again proved himself to be capable a few hours before tip-off that junior of hitting a big shot down the stretch. guard Jabril Trawick had suffered a broIn some ways, the game was a confirken jaw and would be out indefinitely. mation of what we have known. AyegSuddenly, bouncing back from an unin- ba, Lubick and Hopkins each brings spired, 18-point defeat positives in their at Providence (11-5, 1-2 game, but none of the Big East) seemed like a big men — Smith inmuch more daunting cluded — has enough task . of a complete game Nevertheless, the to compete with the Hoyas jumped out to nation’s best posts. an early 11-4 lead as The backcourt is a the offense clicked bright spot for the Ashwin Wadekar early on. The team Hoyas, but will be had some impresforced to adjust to the Undermanned Hoyas absence of Trawick. sive passes, and open shots were hit by relishowed grit in the win Georgetown’s sophomore guard ance on its guards is D’Vauntes Smithagainst Butler. evident: Only Utah Rivera and freshman has a higher differenforward Reggie Cameron, who made tial in three-point shooting percentage the first start of his career in lieu of the between their wins and their losses in injured Trawick. the country. But with the starters in foul trouble, Still, this was an important win for Thompson was forced to turn to his de- a depleted squad. The team needed to pleted bench. Senior guard John Caprio show some life after the embarrassing saw his first meaningful minutes of the Providence loss in which they were year, as he joined senior guard Markel outplayed and outworked for a full 40 Starks and Smith-Rivera backcourt. minutes. Additionally, the ability to Smith-Rivera led the Hoyas in scoring gut out an overtime win in a hostile and finished with 18 points, 7 rebounds environment like Hinkle Fieldhouse and 5 assists. Starks struggled for much is an important skill for any team, and of the night but came through when on Saturday, the Hoyas demonstrated it counted the most, hitting a three- that they have it. pointer with 16 seconds remaining in Georgetown will have a few days off the second half that tied the game and to prepare for a Wednesday night tilt ultimately forced overtime. at Xavier. Apart from a three-game losSmith-Rivera has been the lone ing streak in the middle of non-conferbright spot for a Hoya offense that has ence play, Xavier (13-4, 3-1 Big East) has stumbled of late. The sophomore has played exceptionally well thus far this taken over a bulk of the scoring load season. Sophomore guard Semaj Chrisever since his 31-point performance ton, who is considered by many to be against St. John’s on Jan. 4, and it the most NBA-ready player in the conseems Georgetown will rely on him ference, leads the Musketeers, and the more than ever with the statuses on Hoyas will need to be mentally sharp to Smith and Trawick now in doubt. pull out a victory on the road. Tip-off is Foul trouble continued to be a prob- slated for 7 p.m. on Wednesday. lem for the team, as the three remaining big men — Lubick, junior forward Ashwin Wadekar is a senior in the Mikael Hopkins and senior center Mo- College.

redskins

Patent Points Out Insensitive Name REDSKINS, from A12 situation, it does not matter whether a majority of fans or even Native Americans support the moniker, it matters whether anyone is offended at all. In 2014, the Washington Redskins will attempt to remake their identity. They have hired former Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden to be their Head Coach, a move that they hope will counteract the controversy of Shanahan’s departure. Although the Redskins do not have a first round draft pick, they will attempt to shore up their defensive holes and continue to build around young stars Griffin and Alfred Morris in hopes that the 2012 season was not a fluke. Ultimate-

JULIA HENNRIKUS/THE HOYA

Senior co-captain and forward Andrea White led the team with 25 points in Georgetown’s come-frombehind victory against Butler. White added 10 rebounds to record her seventh double-double.

Hoyas End Six-Game Slide COMEBACK, from A12 well, and they are doing well, but they haven’t been necessarily rewarded in victory. So Katie really stood out not only in the game tonight but in practice.” White, however, was the driving force of the Georgetown offense. The co-captain led the team with 25 points and added 10 rebounds for her seventh doubledouble of the season. Fifteen of White’s 25 points came in the first 15 minutes of the first half when the Hoyas struggled to stay competitive. “[White] is one of the most unassuming, outstanding players I’ve ever been around,” Lewis said. “Those steals down the stretch, significant. She’s smart, that’s the main thing. When I think An-

drea, I think smart.” Georgetown’s second half success stemmed from its ability to slow down the potent Butler University offense. The Hoyas forced 7 second-half turnovers that enabled the team to get out on transition. “Our intensity wasn’t there [in the first half],” White said. “I think we had to pick it up on defense definitely, so once our defense picked up our offense came easy for us.” Georgetown pulled away from Butler University and establish a six-point lead in the final minutes of the second half. The Hoyas finished the game having only led for the first three and last two minutes of the game. After a series of close losses put a dark stamp on the opening of

conference play, the win gives the Hoyas much-needed confidence. “They have worked through this storm,” Lewis said of the team’s recent losing streak. “We have a challenging conference that really plays similarly in most cases and different than we do. We’re not a three-point shooting team, per se, that’s not our strength. But what we’re good at, when we’re good, we’re pretty good.” The Hoyas will look to build upon the established momentum when they travel to Providence (5-10, 0-4 Big East) for their next game on Jan. 15. The Friars are owners of a five-game losing streak and most recently suffered a 97-65 embarrassment at the hands of Creighton. Tip-off is slated for 7 p.m.

ly, Washington will look to the 2014 season to end a year of futility. While many fans would argue that this positive change will be impossible unless Snyder relinquishes his control over the franchise, Snyder can take a step in the right direction by advocating for a name change. It appears that political and commercial pressure will eventually force that franchise to change its name. In the current transitional period, the perfect time to make the change is now. Without a doubt, new potential Washington fans and Native Americans alike will be more likely to support the Washington Warriors than the Potomac Drainage Basin Indigenous Persons.

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sports

tuesday, january 14, 2014

THE HOYA

swimming & diving

the third half

Miller Overlooked Once Again MILLER, from A12 why the owners do not want Miller in. If he had never come around, or maybe appeared on the scene later than he did, owners’ pockets would have been lined with many more millions. Nevertheless, their position is at the very least explainable. More questionable is the glaring lack of outrage displayed by Cooperstown’s more recent inductees. Miller’s legal acumen and longterm persistence in taking on

Major League Baseball’s owners made these players very rich. It is despicable that they have failed to support the man to whom they owe their outsized salaries and labor freedom. A Hall of Fame is a special place that honors the purity of accomplishment in sports. One of the defining features of sports is fairness and equality before the rules of the game. It recognizes only its rules and fair play — not age, class or money. Winning fairly is, as a result, the highest ideal in any

sport, and halls of fame properly recognize those who do it with incredible frequency. Miller fought baseball’s owners fairly and won truly remarkable and historic victories for fans and players alike. Cooperstown claims to be the guardian of those values, yet it continues to insult them with even greater force each time it rejects Marvin Miller from its ranks. Drew Cunningham and Ethan Chess are seniors in the College. The Third Half appears Tuesdays.

FILE PHOTO: CHRIS GRIVAS/THE HOYA

Junior Emily Hall was a part of the women’s 4 x 200-yard relay that took second place in the meet against JMU this past weekend.

GU Falters in First Meet of New Year

men’s basketball

Juliana Zovak Hoya Staff Writer

FILE PHOTO: ALEXANDER BROWN/THE HOYA

Senior guard Markel Starks had 15 points including a game-tying three-pointer with less than 20 seconds remaining in the second half. The Hoyas defeated Butler in overtime 70-67.

Hoyas Survive Overtime Scare BUTLER, from A12 fouled out with 25 seconds left. Racing down court, Starks nailed a long three-pointer to tie the game at 60, and Butler couldn’t get a clean shot off before time expired. With senior forward John Caprio into the game — his 16 minutes were the most he’s ever played at Georgetown — after junior forward Moses Ayegba fouled out, the Hoyas struggled to find a rhythm early in the extra period.

Starks tied the game at 64 with a free throw, however, and Bowen was able to break up a Butler pass and get the ball back with 57 seconds left. He passed to Starks, who returned the favor and Bowen’s resounding dunk reclaimed the lead at 66-64. Seconds later, Bowen stole the ball again and connected with Cameron, who put the finishing touches on the 70-67 win. Smith-Rivera was the leading scorer, with 18 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Starks added 15 points and five re-

A11

bounds, and Bowen finished with 11 points and five rebounds. Butler sophomore guard Kellen Dunham paced the Bulldogs, finishing with 21 points. Forward Khyle Marshall had 18. Butler scored 25 of their 67 points on free throws, while Georgetown made just eight of their attempts at the charity stripe. Next up for the Hoyas is a trip tomorrow to Cincinnati, where they will face Xavier (13-4, 3-1 Big East). Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. and the game will be carried on the CBS Sports Network.

In its first meet of the new year, the Georgetown swimming and diving team was swept in Virginia on Saturday. The men lost to Gardner-Webb and the women fell to James Madison. “I don’t think we were at our sharpest, really, and that was what I kind of expected [after the break]. We haven’t raced in a while, and our team actually performed better as we went along, so that was encouraging,” Head Coach Jamie Holder said. “So I think this next week we’ll have even better races.” The men, who lost 185-95, recorded only two first-place finishes. One came from senior Christian Kilgore, who won the 200-yard breastroke with a time of 2:13.48. “I think [Kilgore] swam really well. He was definitely one of the top performers on the team, and I thought he did a good job. I was pretty pleased with him,” said Holder. Freshman Martin Vanin earned the only other victory for Georgetown. Vanin won the 100-yard butterfly in 52.10 seconds. Although the men could only secure two first-place victories, they had a couple of close second-place finishes, with junior Michael Ng less than a second behind in the 100-yard backstroke winner, and sophomore Austin Evenson placed a close second in the 1,000-yard freestyle. After winning against Rider, the 200 -yard medley relay team, comprised of Kilgore, junior Mike Young, senior Matthew Mandel and Vanin, turned in another strong performance. The team placed second with a time of 1:37.02. The women suffered a similar fate to that of the men. The team managed only one first-place finish and ultimately fell to James Madison 202-90. The Blue and Gray saw promise in two swims from juniors Jillian Carter and Casey Bandman, who each placed third in their respective events. Despite the lopsided losses for both squads, two freshmen swimmers had strong meets. Molly Gaynor and Vanin both won their 100 events. Gaynor finished third in the women’s 100-yard backstroke, while Vanin also placed

third in the men’s 200-yard fly. “They’ve been great. They’re really good racers. They work really hard, and they’re major contributors,” Holder said. “I really couldn’t be happier with how they’ve been doing.” Vanin and Gaynor have been integral parts of this year’s teams. In Georgetown’s last meet against Rider, the duo also swept the 100-yard butterfly and fared well in their other events. “Clearly the 100-yard butterfly was pretty solid for us. I think we need to just improve on being a little more mentally tough and just sharpening up a little bit with a lot of our races,” said Holder. Although swimming seems to focus on the individual performances because individual swimmers compete in their own events, there is still a team dynamic. Each event’s points are tallied for a final score that determines the winner of the meet. Holder believes that this team dynamic is still hugely important in the competition. “Clearly, everyone’s focusing on the individual, but in my mind it’s more of a team sport than anything because collectively you’re scoring as a team but also with your teammates,” he said. “You can feed off the energy and put together a string of really good swims. That’s ultimately what we’re trying to do to create a winning atmosphere.” Although the Hoyas struggled to record top-place finishes on Saturday, Holder is confident the Hoyas can use that energy moving forward in the season. “Overall I think our team is in pretty good shape, and we’re set up pretty well for the rest of the season,” he said. Georgetown only has four more meets before it competes in the Big East Swimming and Diving Championships in February. Georgetown’s next competition is against Washington, D.C. rival American University Friday, where it will seek its first win for either squad since the teams’ sweep of Howard on Dec. 7. Holder hopes to use their last meet as motivation to propel the teams to their main objective for this season. “We’ll just try to focus on the details of their races and use this as a stepping stone to our ultimate goal of a Big East Championship,” said Holder.

track & field

Hoyas Open Season at Father Diamond Invitational Elizabeth Cavacos Hoya Staff Writer

The Georgetown men’s and women’s track and field teams travelled to Fairfax, Va. to open their indoor season at George Mason University’s Father Diamond Invitational on Jan. 11. Georgetown competed against the host and eleven other colleges from D.C,, Baltimore and Virginia. Although this was only the first major competition of the season, the Hoyas had a strong showing at the invitational, with several athletes taking the top places in their events. Men’s and women’s director Pat Henner was satisfied with the teams’ performances. “Overall, I was pleased,” Henner said. “In a couple of areas we looked really good.” The Hoyas certainly did look good in a few aspects of the invitational. Runners on both the men’s and women’s team turned in dominant performances, particularly in their respective mile events. On the women’s side, the Hoyas swept the top four places in the mile, and graduate student Kirsten Kasper led her teammates, finishing with a time of 4:52.86. The other top finishers were senior Joanna Stevens in second place (4:55.58), junior Hannah Neczypor in third (4:55.77) and sophomore Heather Martin in fourth (5:04.89). These athletes dominated other events of the invitational as well; Kasper and Neczypor took the first two places of the 800 meter run in 2:13.59 and 2:13.78, respectively, and Stevens took first in the 3,000 meter run in a time of 10:09.73, finishing over 20 seconds ahead of the second place finisher. Like their counterparts on the women’s team, the Georgetown

men’s team finished all of their runners in the top spots of the mile event. Graduate student Dylan Sorensen finished first in 4:15.60, followed closely by his teammates. Junior Collin Leibold finished in second in 4:16.31, junior John Murray took third in 4:16.85, senior Max Darrah placed fourth in 4:17.62 and sophomore Zach Zingsheim sealed fifth place in 4:19.08. The Hoyas also went on to dominate both the men’s and women’s 1,000 meter runs. Both teams took the top three places in each event. On the women’s side, junior All-American Katrina Coogan finished in first place (2:49.26), followed by freshman Emma Keenan in second (2:52.69) and senior Shanique Dasilva in third (3:00.55). On the men’s side, freshman Ryan Manahan took first place (2:26.64), followed closely by freshman Amos Bartelsmeyer in second (2:26.70) and sophomore Michael Lederhouse in third (2:30.19). Although the Hoyas concluded the invitational with several top place finishes, Henner understands that because Saturday’s invitational was his teams’ first major competition, there is still room to improve. “It’s so early in the season that you don’t want to make too many generalizations,” Henner said. “I think that both the men’s and women’s teams are very fit, so now it’s just a matter of taking that fitness and translating it into a [stronger] racing performance.” Henner believes that the younger members of the team will need time to reach their full potential. “We have a lot of really young athletes, so we want to take their fitness and translate it into fast times in the meet, which is going to take a couple more meets [to accomplish],” Henner

said. The upperclassmen’s competitive prowess is paralleled by their strong leadership, which will be a contributing factor in the underclassmen’s improvement. Henner saw this leadership on display at Saturday’s meet and predicts that it will continue to be a guiding force as the season continues. “Dylan won the mile yesterday, and I thought he did a great job with our race plan,” Henner said. “Kasper [won the mile] on the women’s side. …I give a lot of credit to those athletes. I think that both of [them] did a great job of providing leadership yesterday.” The Father Diamond Invitational was the first of many competitions coming up quickly on Georgetown’s schedule. Next weekend, the Hoyas will split competition between the Maryland Invitational and the Nittany Lion Invitational at Penn State. “They have one of the best allaround programs in the country,” Henner said of the Lions. “The competition is definitely going to pick up.” Between the upcoming meets this weekend and the Hoyas’ return to Penn State during the weekend of Feb. 1, Henner hopes to see his teams continue to improve and maximize their performances because achieving the same success as Saturday’s competition is far from guaranteed. “The last weekend of January we go back to Penn State for their big invitational meet,” Henner said. “That will be the first time that we start really worrying COURTESY GUHOYAS about what kind of times we’re running and [about] hitting our Senior Bobby Peavey turned in a third-place finish in the 800-meter run in the Father Diamond Invitational. marks.”


SPORTS

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Georgetown (7-9) at Providence (5-10) Wednesday, 7 p.m. Providence, RI

TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2014

SWIMMING & DIVING TALKING POINTS In its first meet of the year, the swimming and diving team was swept in Virginia. See A11

REDSKINS

Name Change Is Needed WILL EDMAN

Hoya Staff Writer

2013 was rough for the Washington Redskins. A year removed from making a surprise run to the NFC East divisional title and the NFL playoffs, the Redskins finished this season 3-13 and regressed in nearly every facet of the game. However, the onfield issues were the least of the team’s problems. Off the field, since-fired Head Coach Mike Shanahan caused a ruckus by benching star quarterback Robert Griffin III for the last few weeks of the season after RGIII himself was accused of avoiding criticism and receiving special treatment from owner Dan Snyder. Most notably, however, the controversy of the “Redskins” moniker reached new heights. Although a constant source of contention throughout the season, a recent development has reignited the debate. Last Wednesday, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Organization (USPTO) rejected a request for a trademark by a company attempting to sell a brand of pork rinds entitled “Redskins Hog Rinds,” citing the word “Redskin” as derogatory. Although Redskins Hog Rinds are in no way affiliated with the NFL franchise, the USPTO is currently deliberating on whether to remove the Washington Redskins’ trademark protection. With the hog rinds decision serving as a precedent, the USPTO will likely rule against the Redskins. If this occurs, the franchise would lose its ability to exclusively sell Redskins merchandise, and it would likely lose revenue from these sales to knockoff brands. As a result, the decision would inevitably force the Redskins to change their name, if only for commercial reasons. While ESPN columnist Gregg Easterbrook has referred to the Redskins as the

A recent development reignites the Redskins’ name-change controversy. “Potomac Drainage Basin Indigenous Persons” for years, only in the past year has outrage over the possibly offensive nickname become a public debate. It seems that condemnation of the nickname grows every week. While advocates such as Snyder and a portion of the Washington fan base contend that the name represents the team’s tradition and celebrates the legacy of Native Americans the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, a large population of Native American protesters and even President Barack Obama himself have spoken out against the name. Snyder, a profoundly stubborn man, said in May that the Redskins would “never” change their name. However, with so many parties opposing the nickname, it might be wise for the owner to reconsider. Morally, there is no defense for the name. It can be argued that other team names such as “Chiefs” and “Braves” celebrate Native American culture. However, “Redskin” is a historically derogatory term, and many assert that it carries the same oppressive weight for Native Americans as the N-word does for African-Americans. Regardless, if the word is offensive to even one Native American, the team should change its name. The nickname serves as a reminder that race relations are not yet balanced in America; not when a rich white man can decide whether the term “Redskin” should persist as a common term in society. On Jan. 2, the Redskins franchise celebrated poll results showing that out of 741 NFL fans questioned, a staggering 71 percent opposed a name change. Never mind that in a similar poll conducted in April 2013, 79 percent opposed a change, suggesting that the nickname is decreasing in popularity. Additionally, the franchise cited a 2004 poll done by the Annenberg Institute which suggests that 91 percent of Native Americans do not find the term “Redskin” offensive. But the key statistic is that 9 percent of those questioned were offended by the term. While 91 percent are indifferent and would likely be unaffected by a name change, 9 percent derive emotional damage from the name. In this See REDSKINS, A10

NUMBERS GAME

5 ”

We’re not a three-point shooting team, per se, that is not our strength.

Women’s Basketabll Head Coach Jim Lewis

The number of first place finishes for the track and field team this weekend.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Hoyas Storm Back to Down Butler MATT RAAB

Hoya Staff Writer

After a slow start threatened to extend a six-game losing streak, the Georgetown University women’s basketball team (7-9, 1-3 Big East) rallied to defeat Butler University (7-9, 2-3 Big East) 85-79 Jan. 11. Despite trailing by as many as 19 points in the first half, the Hoyas responded with a second half surge that boosted the Hoyas

to a win. “This is a big win,” senior forward and captain Andrea White said. “It definitely gave our team confidence. We were coming off five straight losses, so we just had to get that first win so things would get easier for us and we could start our run.” With the win — the team’s first since Dec. 10 and first in Big East play — the Hoyas snapped a six-game losing skid. The losing

streak included four straight losses by two points, three of which were overtime games. After Georgetown jumped out to a 5-0 lead to start the game, Butler responded with a 19-3 run, with 15 of the points coming on five consecutive three-pointers. The Bulldogs hit nine of their first 12 attempts from long range, and by halftime, 27 of their 40 points had come on three-pointers. At the onset of the game, Butler

JULIA HENNRIKUS/THE HOYA

Freshman center Natalie Butler was named Big East Rookie of the Week after posting her 12th doubledouble of the season. In Saturday’s game, the center scored 15 points and had 15 rebounds.

THE THIRD HALF

Visit us online at thehoya.com/sports

See COMEBACK, A10

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Miller Deserves Hall of Fame Nod L

ast week’s announcement lenge of the policies limiting that Greg Maddux, Tom player mobility led to a dramatic Glavine and Frank Thomas increase in both the salaries and would enter the National Base- the power of the players. Withball Hall of Fame was certainly a out Miller, it seems unlikely that proud day for Braves and White we would have ever been treated Sox fans. However, baseball fans to LeBron James wasting a halfand players nationwide should hour of America’s time to anbe less pleased about the contin- nounce his choice to join the Miued omission of Marvin Miller ami Heat. James’ behavior may from Cooperstown. A former di- have irritated many, but his and rector of the Major League Base- all other professional athletes’ ball Players Association, Miller ability to make that key choice was without question the most in their career is a critical piece influential figure in the history of the modern sports labor marof sports labor relations. So mas- ket — something athletes owe ensive was his impact that his suc- tirely to Miller. It is without question that Millcessor at the MLBPA, Don Fehr, suggested that the “first half of er’s accomplishments are on par the twentieth century in base- or even above those of current Commissioner ball belonged Bud Selig’s. It to Jackie Robinwould be hard son while the to imagine a scesecond half benario in which longed to MarSelig is denied vin Miller.” Milladmission even er’s continued a fraction as omission from Drew Cunningham many times as the Hall of Fame & Ethan Chess Miller has been represents an before gaining undue triumph admission to of the business of sports over Miller’s contributions to C o o p e r stow n . was chiefly the ideals the the MLBPA deserve to Selig responsible for Hall of Fame restoring Ameripurports to repbe recognized. ca’s faith in proresent. Under Miller’s direction the fessional baseball after the strike MLBPA successfully ushered in of 1994, and his handling of the the free agency era not just for steroid issue, while not necessarbaseball, but for all of American ily inspiring, has been responprofessional sports. Today, many sive and reasonable. The only difsports fans take it for granted ference between Miller and Selig that their favorite players can is that the latter spent his career sign with a new team at the in service of baseball’s owners end of their contracts. However, rather than its players. From this during earlier eras of profes- we can infer that Miller’s omissional sports, free agency was sion continues to reinforce the an unthinkable concept. Teams unfortunate reality that sports is effectively owned their players always a business and occasionfor life, and other teams that ally unfair as a result. Perhaps attempted to lure players away the owners, having been roundly were penalized with outsized beaten, have played some role in fines and sanctions. It represent- the lack of proper recognition ed an effective form of market for Miller. In a sense, I can understand control that kept salaries low and owners rich. Miller’s brilliant legal chalSee MILLER, A11

University controlled the potent Georgetown offense. The Bulldogs double-teamed freshman center Natalie Butler and forced her to be a facilitator in the offense. A centerpiece of the Georgetown offensive game, Butler was held scoreless in the first half. But toward the end of the first half, the Blue and Gray were able to break down the Bulldogs’ defense by establishing the post game, and at intermission their lead was just 10. At the half, White led all scorers with 15 points. Georgetown continued to rely on post play in the second half. Natalie Butler responded with a 15-point second half, and ultimately led the team with 15 rebounds and 5 assists. Her 12th double-double of the season earned her Big East Rookie of the Week, her sixth of the year. “[Natalie] definitely picked it up on defense. I think that sparked her offense, and then she just started concentrating making her shots. It was game time,” sophomore guard Katie McCormick said. In the second half, McCormick shot a perfect 4-of-4 from three, including the shot that gave Georgetown its first lead with two minutes to play. The sophomore guard finished with 18 points. “Katie really stepped up today with leadership, but that started in practice, where we’ve had challenging situations,” Interim Head Coach Jim Lewis said. “You could just feel the emotion from the players, that they want to do so

FILE PHOTO: ALEXANDER BROWN/THE HOYA

Sophomore guard D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera scored 18 points and grabbed seven rebounds in Georgetown’s overtime win.

GU Picks Up First Road Win at Butler EVAN HOLLANDER Hoya Staff Writer

With two starters unavailable and after three players fouled out, a depleted Georgetown team rebounded from an ugly loss at Providence and beat Butler, 70-67, in overtime in a Saturday night thriller. The Hoyas (11-4, 3-1 Big East) entered the game without junior center Josh Smith — missing his second straight game because of an unspecified “academic issue” — and junior guard Jabril Trawick, who broke his jaw in Wednesday’s loss at Providence. Smith and Trawick’s absence was no obstacle early for the Blue and Gray, as they raced to an early 11-4 lead. Sophomore guard D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera, returning to his hometown of Indianapolis, chipped in five of those points. Freshman forward Reggie Cameron, making his first Georgetown start, also contributed to the hot shooting by scoring seven of his nine points in the first frame, and the Hoyas finished the first half

shooting 48.5 percent and holding the Bulldogs to just 37.5 percent. However, senior forward Nate Lubick and junior forward Mikael Hopkins both picked up costly fouls early in the first half and were only able to play sparingly through the rest of the game because of foul trouble. Still, Georgetown took a 34-29 lead into the locker room at the half. Smith-Rivera’s three-point play opened the second half and the Hoyas got their biggest lead with 6:55 remaining in the game when a three-pointer from senior guard Markel Starks stretched Georgetown’s lead to 50-41. On the ropes, however, Butler fought back and — with Hopkins and Lubick on the bench — went on a 12-4 run to take its first lead of the ballgame at 53-52 with 3:19 left in regulation. A three-point play by senior forward Aaron Bowen and two free throws from Smith-Rivera kept Georgetown in the game, but the Hoyas trailed 60-57 after Hopkins See BUTLER, A11


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