The Hoya: October 28, 2016 by The Hoya

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

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2016

INTO THE SPOTLIGHT

Despite limited recognition, Georgetown’s dance groups are taking center stage.

EDITORIAL The administration and workers must find common ground.

DEBATE OVER METRO HOURS Riders petitioned WMATA to bring back late-night metro services.

OPINION, A2

NEWS, A5

GUIDE B1

Prejudices Faculty, Staff Donors Largely Back Clinton In Housing Examined “All members of JEFF CIRILO

Special to The Hoya

OLIVIA CHIU

Special to The Hoya

Black women with criminal records are more likely to experience discrimination in the Washington, D.C. housing market than white women of comparable criminal backgrounds, according to a new report released Oct. 18 by the Equal Rights Center.

“You can look at statistics and you can not feel, but this is real, tangible evidence that you can’t deny.” TAYLOR NUVELLE Tester, ERC Study

The ERC, a nonprofit civil rights organization, identified these findings as possible violations of the Fair Housing Act, which protects buyers or renters in a protected class, including race, color and national origin, from housing discrimination. Though individuals with criminal records are not a protected class under the Fair Housing Act, the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development issued a directive in April that declared blanket policies of refusing to rent to anybody with a criminal record as de facto discrimination. However, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s general counsel, turning down an individual tenant due to a criminal record can still be legally justifiable. The ERC found differential treatment favoring white over black testers in 47 percent of trials, which paired black and white women in 60 tests in which they were assigned similar criminal profiles and instructed to pose as a single woman searching for a one-bedroom or studio apartment for herself. In 22 of the 47 tests that were able to provide conclusive results, white women received favorable differential treatment after disclosing their criminal backgrounds. Differential treatment was categorized in three ways: disparity in information or quality of service, differences in housing agents’ reactions toward testers’ disclosed criminal records and speculation from agents on the impact a testers’ criminal record would have on the success of her housing application. ERC Director of Fair Housing Kate Scott, who spearheaded the research project, said the different attitudes black female women encountered greatly impacted their housing search. “I think the difference in information about what policies are is a really big problem,” Scott said in an interview with THE HOYA. “In many of those tests, one person would have walked away thinking ‘I have a chance. I’m not sure that I’ll have a successful application here, but I have a chance’ and the other tester would have walked away thinking, ‘There’s absolutely no chance. I won’t be able to rent here, so why would I even try?’” See HOUSING, A6

FEATURED

Eighty-five percent of Georgetown faculty and staff’s presidential campaign contributions went to Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, while 0.6 percent went to Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, according to THE HOYA’s analysis of Federal Election Commission filings. A total of 153 Georgetown faculty and staff donated about $206,000 to presidential campaign organizations or affiliated super PACs from January 2015 through July 2016 according to the analysis. Clinton received about $158,444 of that total from 121 donors, through 555 contributions, while Trump received a total of $1,110 from four donors. Total donations to Democrats account for 96 percent of contributions, with an additional 11 percent going to Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley. Seventy-four Georgetown community members donated $5,211.86 to Sanders, while one person donated $500 to O’Malley. The remaining contributions went to five other Republican primary candidates: former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Ohio Gov. John Kasich, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and businesswoman Carly Fiorina. Trump’s four donors from Georgetown’s faculty and staff

included a web developer, a tax analyst and two registered nurses, while Clinton’s included a variety of administrators and professors.

our community are free to contribute personal funds to support candidates or causes of their choice.” RACHEL PUGH Senior Director for Strategic Communications

Previous election years have yielded similar results. In 2012, 94 percent of Georgetown faculty and staff contributions went to President Barack Obama. ThenRepublican presidential nominee Mitt Romney received significantly more contributions than Trump received in this cycle, but Romney still only garnered 5 percent total contributions. All FEC donations are publicly available online and are not anonymous. Senior Director for Strategic Communications Rachel Pugh said Georgetown is unable to be associated with political campaigns, but encourages faculty, staff and students to be involved in politics in a personal capacity. “All members of our commu-

ILLUSTRATION: JINWOO CHONG/THE HOYA

Four Georgetown faculty and staff contributed to Donald Trump’s campaign, while 121 donors gave 555 contributions to Hillary Clinton. nity are free to contribute personal funds to support candidates or causes of their choice,” Pugh wrote in an email to THE HOYA. “While there are restrictions on the use of university funds to support partisan political campaign activity, as

long as faculty and staff are acting in their personal capacities, the university does not restrict, monitor, or interfere with their political contributions.” See CONTRIBUTIONS, A6

COURTESY GU RIGHT TO LIFE

Anti-abortion messages written in chalk in Red Square by members of GU Right to Life as part of National Pro-Life Chalk Day late Tuesday night were rubbed out and altered early Wednesday morning by unknown individuals. GUSA and the university criticized the incident.

Right to Life Chalk Messages Defaced WILLIAM ZHU Hoya Staff Writer

The university has condemned the defacement of Georgetown University Right to Life’s antiabortion chalk display in Red Square, after it was erased and replaced with phrases including “End hate,” “Choose Women” and “End the racist sexist capitalist cishetro patriarchy” early Wednesday morning. On Tuesday night, GU Right to Life chalked messages including “End abortion” and “Choose both” in Red Square to celebrate national Pro-Life Chalk Day, according to the group’s Facebook page. Vice President for Student

Affairs Todd Olson said the incident violated the university’s Speech and Expression Policy, which protects the right of student groups to chalk in Red Square. “This incident of chalk messages being erased and altered in Red Square is a clear violation of our Speech & Expression Policy,” Olson wrote in an email to THE HOYA. “It is troubling, and demonstrates a real lack of respect for other students’ viewpoints.” Olson said the university will investigate the incident and work to ensure that the freedom of expression in the community is adequately protected. “Our Speech & Expression Committee will look into the is-

sue. It is vital that the right of all members of our community to express their views is protected,” Olson wrote. Georgetown University Police Department Chief Jay Gruber said Thursday evening GUPD is currently investigating the defacement, after GU Right to Life President Amelia Irvine (COL ’19) reported it to GUPD and filed a bias report. “We did take a report. Our Criminal Investigations Unit is looking into the case,” Gruber wrote in an email to THE HOYA. GUPD had not identified a perpetrator as of press time. GUSA Free Speech Policy Team Chair D.J. Angelini (MSB ’17) also criticized the Red Square deface-

ment. Members of GU Right to Life met with GUSA representatives Wednesday evening to discuss the incident. “I find the erasure and manipulation of the Right to Life messaging directly opposed to the ideals set out in the policy,” Angelini wrote in an email to THE HOYA. “What could have been a civil back-and-forth turned into an infringement of free speech in one of Georgetown’s spaces dedicated for healthy contrasting dialogue.” GUSA said in a campuswide email Thursday evening that erasing or manipulating chalking in Red Square is “in direct opposition to the university’s ideals See CHALK, A6

NEWS

OPINION

BUSINESS

On the Affordable Care Act U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell defended health care. A4

A Legacy of Note Regardless of partisan politics, Obama will leave behind an important legacy. A3

A Hub of Makers Lauinger Library’s Maker Hub encourages students to put their DIY skills to the test. A10

NEWS Somoza Speaks on Disability

OPINION Let the Past Educate the Future

SPORTS Looking to Rebound

Disability rights advocate Anastasia Somoza (COL ’07) addressed the need for more health resources. A5

A recent rise in Hitler imagery is disturbing, but history should not be buried. A3

Published Tuesdays and Fridays

The football team will travel to Lafayette this weekend with hopes to end its four-game losing streak. B10

Send story ideas and tips to news@thehoya.com

OPINION

THE HOYA

Friday, OCTOBER 28, 2016

THE VERDICT

C EDITORIALS Reaching Respectful Balance C Founded January 14, 1920

Selfie Ban — As the election approaches, many elected officials are speaking out against “ballot selfies,” which is the practice of sharing one’s vote preference as one casts it. Justin Timberlake notably received criticism for taking a ballot selfie, which was against state law in the celebrity’s hometown of Memphis, Tenn.

Boo Bieber — During a concert in Manchester this week, Justin Bieber tried to engage with fans by speaking for a portion of the night instead of singing. Fans reacted by booing Bieber until he stormed off the stage.

Cereal Craze — In January, the Girl Scouts and General Mills, will release two cookie-flavored cereals for consumers: Thin Mints and Caramel Crunch.

mise and meet the university halfway with a possible 4 percent increase to make way for common ground. There is also the issue of existing health care prices. Workers currently pay $15 to use health care services on campus. President Barack Obama expects average health care costs to increase by 22 percent in the coming year, which will make it even more difficult for workers to receive adequate health care. It would certainly be one less financial responsibility if the current cost is waived. In a recent New York Times op-ed, a service worker at Harvard University, which is in a tentative agreement to end its own workers’ strike, argued that facilities workers often face tough health choices. Given the eminence of the issue on other college campuses, we should recognize that institutional support should be enacted for workers so they can perform their duties effectively. Furthermore, a new contract needs to be developed quickly to prevent the university from repeating its poor treatment of workers during last year’s Winter Storm Jonas. During the snowstorm, some workers’ personal health and well-being were disregarded, with some not given proper accommodations and care. For those staying overnight in order to ensure a continuation of services, they were given sheets and blankets, but no designated areas to rest and sleep. Therefore, a new contract should also include from the administration a clear plan for how it would provide accommodations for workers in the case of severe weather conditions this year. A reasonable plan of action should exist in order to establish and facilitate the proper care for Georgetown students, faculty and staff, as well as the school’s functioning, in the case of a weather emergency. Ultimately, the contract negotiations stand to shape the future state of not only our workers, but our community as a whole. If an agreement is ratified in the near future, Georgetown’s operations would continue to run efficiently while fulfilling the needs of facilities workers. This implication should not be lost on the negotiating parties, and should spur them to reach a holistic and effective compromise in the near future.

Trick or Treat — This past weekend, the 18th annual Boo at the Zoo occurred at the Smithsonian National Zoo, and gave families and kids some time at the zoo and an opportunity to participate in Halloween festivities.

On Monday, students from the Georgetown Solidarity Committee and campus workers delivered a petition signed by more than 1,000 students to the Office of University President John J. DeGioia, demanding a 6 percent annual wage increase for facilities workers along with parking and increased health benefits, compared to the administration’s current offer of 2 percent annual wage increase and a 6 percent increase in health benefits. Negotiations between the university and 1199 Service Employee International Union, which represents campus facilities workers, have been ongoing since September. If a contract is not agreed upon or negotiations are not extended by Oct. 30, facilities workers plan to go on strike. Under the current timeline, both sides must find common ground on a new contract as quickly as possible in order to ensure that workers are respected in an environment that allows them to perform their duties and allow our normal operations to continue without disruption. Thus, both the university and the union should make compromises and find common ground on work and wage conditions. In order to respect the dignity of our campus workers and truly show appreciation for the work they do, reaching a fair and balanced contract is imperative; without their efforts and daily activity, our community and campus could simply not function. A workers’ strike would have crippling effects on our university’s operations. Workers are the ones taking care of our trash and waste, cleaning our buildings and fixing our broken showers, along with many other responsibilities. These contributors to our community are ingrained in the fabric of campus, yet if they go on strike, essential functions, ranging from waste disposal to infrastructure upkeep, will falter and all of Georgetown will suffer. With such a threat, the need to find common ground should be a priority. A new contract, however, must identify and balance what workers need to perform effectively and what is fiscally reasonable for our administration to offer. First, the administration should increase its offered annual salary by more than 2 percent and health benefits for workers by more than 6 percent. However, workers should also compro-

Bright Skies — The Orionid Meteor Shower, which occurred as a result of Halley’s comet, was visible in the sky from last Thursday to Sunday night.

Traffic Jam — The National Capital Region Transportation Board released projections last week that predict that driving hours of delay will increase by 74 percent and congestion will increase by 66 percent by 2040 in the D.C. metro area.

Impressive Energy — Scientists at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory accidentally discovered a process that turns carbon dioxide into ethanol, and thus changes the pollutant into a renewable energy.

EDITORIAL CARTOON by Elinor Walker

Model for Thoughtful Dialogue In its sixth annual iteration, last Saturday’s TEDx conference featured speakers from a wide spectrum of backgrounds and experiences. Entirely organized by students, the event brought together speakers who addressed topics inspired by author Malcolm Gladwell’s “The Tipping Point,” a book that explores changing sociological phenomena in personal lives and society. Part of a nationwide effort to open discussion on college campuses, TEDx’s purpose is to bring students together through stories that explore topics deeply while creating a forum for stimulating dialogue. Not only did this past weekend’s event fulfill the organization’s mission, while being an entirely student-led effort, the speaker selection also showed the progress in diversifying perspectives through student body representation. Other dialogue groups should see TEDx as an example of a platform for constructive and diverse discourse on campus. Out of the six speakers, three were Georgetown Scholarship Program members: Agnes Lee (SFS ’17), who discussed the community she found in UndocuHoyas as an undocumented student on campus; Anthony Anderson (COL ’18), who discussed the reality of being a gay black man diagnosed with HIV; and Amina Gerbbi (MSB ’16) , who discussed her experiences living in Benghazi, Libya, when the Arab Spring began. The fact that GSP students — who make up 10 percent of the student body — took up 50 percent of the spotlight in the student speakers’ section is highly commendable; they are certainly under-represented

voices that deserve a platform to voice ideas and stories. Moreover, their stories discussed topics of deep and personal significance that spurred reflection within attendees. TEDx offered a platform that revealed and embraced the range of experiences and lessons Georgetown students carry every day. Beyond delivering a platform for diverse speakers, TEDx’s model of dialogue is also important for broadcasting new viewpoints and ideas. Through TEDx’s model, speakers relay stories in an uninterrupted speech before answering audience questions. This was followed by breakout sessions, which allowed the attendees to engage openly in the content and message of each talk, going beyond the breadth of experience offered through typical questionand-answer sessions. The breakout sessions offer a model and example of how TEDx is more poised to both share unique and relevant experiences while encouraging fruitful and engaging dialogue. Such measures allow all attendees to not only listen, but become more actively engaged in often difficult conversations. Because of the event’s diversity and platform for open dialogue, TEDx should serve as an example of how student efforts can play a role in bringing constructive and thoughtful discourse to our community. While its occurrence is only once a year, its impact and example should be internalized by students as they progress through their lives and engage conversation beyond our gates.

Jess Kelham-Hohler, Editor-in-Chief Toby Hung, Executive Editor Matthew Trunko, Managing Editor Ian Scoville, Campus News Editor Aly Pachter, City News Editor Paolo Santamaria, Sports Editor John Miller, Guide Editor Syed Humza Moinuddin, Opinion Editor Naaz Modan, Photography Editor Jesus Rodriguez, Layout Editor Jeanine Santucci, Copy Chief Elizabeth Cavacos, Social Media Editor Meg Lizza, Blog Editor Jarrett Ross, Multimedia Editor

Christian Paz Tara Subramaniam Lisa Burgoa Owen Eagan William Zhu Emily Dalton Sean Hoffman Darius Iraj Ryan McCoy Viviana De Santis Tom Garzillo Kate Kim Marina Tian Grace Laria Vera Mastrorilli Sarah Santos Stephanie Yuan Caroline Borzilleri Alyssa Volivar Danielle Wyerman Yuri Kim Sterling Lykes Emma Wenzinger Kelly Park

Deputy Campus News Editor Deputy Campus News Editor Deputy City News Editor Business Editor Deputy Business & News Editor Deputy Sports Editor Deputy Sports Editor Deputy Sports Editor Paranoia Editor Deputy Guide Editor Deputy Guide Editor Deputy Guide Editor Deputy Guide Editor Deputy Opinion Editor Deputy Opinion Editor Deputy Opinion Editor Deputy Photo Editor Deputy Layout Editor Deputy Layout Editor Deputy Layout Editor Deputy Copy Editor Deputy Copy Editor Deputy Copy Editor Deputy Social Media Editor

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The Rostrum

he alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries which result gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of public liberty.”

President George Washington, Farewell Address, 1796

Evan Zimmet, General Manager Selena Parra, Director of Accounting Emily Ko, Director of Corporate Development Gabriella Cerio, Co-Director of Human Resources Catherine Engelmann, Co-Director of Human Resources Daniel Almeida, Director of Sales Brittany Logan Senior Accounts and Operations Manager Alexander Scheidemann Treasury Manager Galilea Zorola Subscriptions Manager Elizabeth Sherlock Personnel Manager

Editorial Board

Syed Humza Moinuddin, Chair Jack Bennett, Ben Card, Jesse Jacobs, Naaz Modan, Anthony Palacio, Ashwin Puri, Andrea Roos, Ellen Singer

Contributing Editors & Consultants

]

Madeline Auerbach, Kara Avanceña, Reza Baghaee, Nick Bailey, Isabel Binamira, Jinwoo Chong, Deirdre Collins, Cleopatra Fan, Gabi Hasson, Shannon Hou, Charlie Kelly, Daniel Kreytak, Catherine McNally, Naaz Modan, Suzanne Monyak, Jesus Rodriguez, Zack Saravay, Molly Simio, Emily Tu, Andrew Wallender

Board of Directors

Kristen Fedor, Chair Jinwoo Chong, Jess Kelham-Hohler, Arnosh Keswani, Katherine Richardson, Daniel Smith, Evan Zimmet 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 600-700 words. The Hoya retains all rights to all published submissions. 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 Toby Hung at (202) 315-850 or email executive@thehoya.com. News Tips Campus News Editor Ian Scoville: Call (202) 602-7650 or email campus@thehoya. com. City News Editor Aly Pachter: Call (916) 995-0412 or email city@thehoya.com. Sports Editor Paolo Santamaria: Call (703) 409-7276 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. © 1920-2016. 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. 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: 4,000

OPINION

Friday, OCTOBER 28, 2016

AS THIS JESUIT SEES IT

THE HOYA

VIEWPOINT • GANDHI

Fr. Gregory Schenden, S.J.

Finding Faith Within Democracy

n his coverage of the 1972 presidential election between George McGovern and Richard Nixon, journalist Hunter S. Thompson wrote that “the whole framework of the presidency is getting out of hand. It’s come to the point where you almost can’t run unless you can cause people to salivate and whip on each other with big sticks.” For as much as everything changes, so much stays the same. Fear during election cycles is nothing new. This season’s relentless claims of dishonesty and nastiness are presaged throughout presidential campaigns as far back as the campaign in 1828 between Andrew Jackson and John Quincy Adams, which involved slander, mudslinging and a claim Adams went to church barefoot. While anxiety runs high this season, there is a temptation for many to opt out of the entire affair. Even though the general unseemliness of the season seem like a good reason to opt out of the election, it ought to be a clarion call for every American to vote. Through the teachings of the book “The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius,” individuals can attain deeper spiritual freedom and live as their unhindered and authentic selves through a specific disposition. This is required between a retreatant and spiritual director, known as the “presupposition.” Ignatius insists this relationship presupposes good will and trust in one another, even if the individuals do not necessarily agree. It seems this basic presupposition can be applied to our current season in the nation. Amid the deluge of bitterness and cynicism with constant cries of deception and deceit, the supreme challenge is to recognize the imperfections of the system, but to presuppose the good at the core. The temptation to give in to contempt, disquiet and discontent is real and glaring. It is our herculean mission to gaze on the trust in the good

at the heart of our democratic system, and actively support that good. At Mass this past Sunday in Dahlgren Chapel, Fr. John O’Malley, S.J., professor in the theology department, made the following appeal at the conclusion of the announcements. I share his most salient points on the necessity for all to vote this election season. My hope is that each of us takes his words to heart on Nov. 8. “I have been a priest for over 55 years, and I’ve never done what I am doing now. But, in view of the seriousness of this presidential election, I feel ethically obliged to remind both you and myself of four basic points. “One: It is our civic duty to vote, especially in presidential and congressional elections. Voting is an aspect of our moral obligation to work for the common good. In the history of Western civilization, democracies had been remarkably short-lived. The only way to ensure that ours continues is to participate in an informed way in the political process. “Two: Despite the sometimes circus atmosphere of the current campaign, this is an extremely serious election, not only for our country but for the world at large because of the impact the American president has on world affairs. “Three: To abstain from voting or to vote for a third-party candidate is not neutral. It takes a vote away from one of the two main candidates, one of whom is sure to be elected. Sometimes votes for a thirdparty candidate are appropriate gestures of protest, but in my opinion this election is no time to indulge in them. “Four: We live in an imperfect world filled with imperfect politicians. Given that situation we have no choice but to vote for the candidate we judge less imperfect.”

Fr. Gregory Schenden, S.J., is the Roman Catholic chaplain. AS THIS JESUIT SEES IT appears every other Friday.

Obama’s administration has had missteps, but the nature of the president’s accomplishments and mistakes make him one of the most consequential presidents in history.

Obama Solidifies Substantial Legacy

residential legacy is a tricky balance of the good, the bad and the scandalous. Should we remember former president Franklin D. Roosevelt for the New Deal without recalling his policy of Japanese internment? Should the Monica Lewinsky scandal overshadow former President Bill Clinton’s economic policy, which led to a federal budget surplus? As we near the end of President Barack Obama’s second term, the time has come to start asking similar questions. Like any presidency, the Obama administration has seen both successes and failures. Under his guidance, the country recovered from one of the worst economic crises in history. In addition, with his nominations of Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court, Obama cemented the liberal lean of the court that, in 2015, issued the decision to legalize same-sex marriage nationwide. Additionally, Obama spearheaded the Paris Agreement, the most comprehensive and ambitious climate change legislation in history, which is set to take effect Nov. 4. However, even with these accomplishments, there

have also been several errors during his administration. Perhaps the most tragic has been the continuation of the nationwide gun violence epidemic, with repeated fruitless attempts to pass substantial legislation on the issue. The Obama presidency has also been marred by international crises, including the rapid rise of the Islamic State group and the interminability of the Syrian civil war.

The hostility of this election has allowed people to appreciate Obama’s intelligence and moderation. Another of Obama’s most prominent shortcomings has been the failure to close Guantanamo Bay. Three months before he leaves office, he has made only marginal progress despite repeatedly pledging to accomplish this feat since 2007. Though he embarked with a vision of a stable Middle East and a cooperative international community, Obama’s

VIEWPOINT • LANGENBACHER

legacy in this area has largely been one of consistently unsolvable issues. Still, it is impossible to discuss the Obama presidency without mentioning its most well-known and controversial feature: the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, which was signed into law in 2010. Opinions on this legislation are partisan, but the fact is that it has led to skyrocketing premiums and increasing taxes. Still, by March 2016, the rate of uninsured people in the United States had fallen to a record low 8.6 percent, down from 15.7 percent before the passage of Obamacare. Obamacare is flawed, but it is undeniably impactful, and the law will be his most significant and enduring legacy. With the passage of this act, Obama has achieved a feat that eluded presidents from Theodore Roosevelt to Clinton: creating a national health insurance system. Having withstood several constitutional challenges, including multiple in front of the Supreme Court, Obamacare will be nearly impossible to repeal, even if Republicans gain control of the presidency, the Senate and the House. Like it or not,

Obamacare remains a big deal, and it is here to stay. Even as we weigh the pros and cons of Obama’s legacy on the scales of history, a looming question remains: Will any of this matter? Can this administration weather the American people’s discontent amid this ugly, divisive election and increasing disillusionment with politics? The data says yes. According to Gallup polling, Obama currently holds a 57 percent approval rating, compared to 46 percent one year ago. The hostility of this election has allowed people to appreciate Obama’s intelligence, poise and moderation, elevating him as a highly respected political figure. The Obama administration has had its missteps and its successes, but the president’s current popularity and the nature of his accomplishments and mistakes make him one of the most consequential presidents in history. Along with his landmark health care initiative, such factors will allow him to maintain a legacy of respect and admiration for years to come. Maya Gandhi is a freshman in

the School of Foreign Service.

USE YOUR WORDS

Contextualize Troubling Past Facilitating Political Discourse

dolf Hitler and the evil he epitomizes are ubiquitous once again. I wish I could say that this is the first time since 1945 that this was the case, but unfortunately there have been several other “Hitler waves” at various points in time. With the subject in the news again, it is time to revisit how societies can come to terms with and overcome troubling pasts. Indeed, Hitler is appearing in hit German films like “Look Who’s Back,” not to mention appearances or allusions in television series such as “The Man in the High Castle.” Comparing contemporary politicians to Hitler is also common; German politicians like Chancellor Angela Merkel have been depicted this way for several years, in Greek or Spanish anti-austerity protests for instance. Much of this validates Godwin’s law that “as an online discussion grows longer, the probability of a comparison involving Nazism or Hitler approaches one.” In a more serious vein, ever since the demise of the Nazi regime, access in Germany to Hitler’s “Mein Kampf” was severely limited. Sale of the book was prohibited in stores and library patrons had to sign a form specifying that they were reading it “for scientific purposes only.” In early 2016, however, the copyright held by the state of Bavaria since 1945 expired, allowing for unlimited publication. Thus came the publication of an official annotated version, 4,000 initial copies of which quickly sold out and generated international headlines and validated the fears of

many elites. Just this week, the government of Austria proclaimed that it was initiating a process to expropriate Hitler’s birth house in the town of Braunau am Inn. The interior minister claimed that the structure, which has become a pilgrimage destination for right radicals and neo-Nazis, would be demolished. Intense debate immediately ensued, the minister walked back his plans and the ultimate fate of the house remains unresolved as of today.

Acknowledge the evil, delegitimize the perverted politics and show a better path to the future. These observations about the current rise in Hitler references generate two questions. First, why does Hitler continue to haunt our culture? From one perspective, Hitler has become the ultimate symbol of secular evil in our world. Today, he is akin to a floating signifier, divorced from the historical referent and used emotively to make a point or to delegitimize an opponent. The racism, xenophobia, cult of personality, violence and authoritarianism that Hitler embodied has witnessed a resurgence in many countries. Second, how should Hitler’s legacy be dealt with? I fundamentally disagree with the notion of demolishing the house where Hitler was born. What would replace it? An empty lot? A

parkette? A modern structure? Whatever replaces the current building will forever be contaminated by its connection to Hitler. It will always be a magnet for right radicals, the curious or the deranged. Instead of trying to expunge traces of the past — however vile — history ought to be preserved, contextualized and confronted as honestly as possible. We cannot just ignore it or wish it away. In fact, such strategies can be more dangerous than anything else — engendering the “return of the repressed,” to quote another famous Austrian, Sigmund Freud. The republication of “Mein Kampf” shows a better way to proceed: Acknowledge the evil, contextualize it, delegitimize the perverted politics and values and show a better path to the future. In this way, the past can be worked through and eventually overcome. This is the only way to mitigate Hitler’s overall influence. For instance, the house in Braunau should be re-appropriated and used to house refugees, as some have advocated. Incidentally, we do not need to look to faraway Germany for guidance regarding our confronting of historical burdens. Much closer to home, Georgetown University’s still-nascent efforts to acknowledge and confront our own experience with evil — slavery — point promisingly to a path forward, but as a whole we must not be afraid of the evil of our pasts to further engage with the future.

is a professor in the department of government. Eric Langenbacher

ast week, a group of students launched the Georgetown Review, a publication dedicated to the analysis of world affairs and campus news through a conservative lens. Upon hearing the news, I was glad that a group of students had stepped up to correct a notable gap in our campus media: the lack of conservative voices available to balance liberal commentary we receive every day. To paraphrase the editor of the Review Kevin Toohers (SFS ’17), “a conservative is as welcome at Georgetown as a waiter without a bowtie and an Oxford buttondown at The Tombs.” But our campus should not be this way. Students who identify with more conservative values and who are willing to explain and defend their opinions in a rational way should not feel like outliers. Georgetown’s promise of free speech should also include an increasing diversity of thought. The Hoya recently published an editorial supporting this position from the point of view of a liberal campus media outlet (“Diversifying Campus Discourse,” The Hoya, Oct. 21, 2016, A2). The editorial board celebrated the diversification of campus discourse and welcomed the presence of a new conservative publication in its midst. Therefore, the arrival of a new, conservative student-run publication on our campus should be celebrated, and will hopefully encourage liberal publica-

tions to rise to the challenge set forth by the Review’s editorial board and facilitate debate between both conservatives and nonconservatives alike.

Annabelle Timsit However, I want to go a step further than this and argue that, if we truly want to foster diversity of thought on our campus, we need to do more than just support conservative publications. We also need to ensure that those who dedicate their careers to teaching us about the world and shaping our critical thinking skills also span a spectrum of thought from liberal to conservative. Georgetown is far from the only campus with a problem of lack of diversity in academia, and students and activists have taken note. The Heterodox Academy, a national group of students and teachers who adhere to the simple belief that university life requires people with diverse viewpoints and perspectives, engages in an environment of free and open discourse. It collects data on the increasing homogeneity of America’s faculty. The Heterodox Academy’s data shows how American universities have always traditionally leaned left and how, in the 15 years

between 1995 and 2010, the educational institutions went from “leaning left to being almost entirely on the left.” The sharp decline of teachers who identify as moderate or conservative is a problem that should worry everyone, especially liberals, whose opinions lose value when they go unchallenged. To New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof: “when perspectives are unrepresented in discussions, when some kinds of thinkers aren’t at the table, classrooms become echo chambers rather than sounding boards — and we all lose.” The liberal bias of academia is worrying for other reasons as well: The overrepresentation of liberal, moderate or independent professors belies a reality of intellectual discrimination. A 2012 study by the Association for Psychological Science found that over one in three social psychologists would discriminate against more conservative candidates when making hiring decisions. By embracing the idea that most viewpoints have an inherent value and that active debate is a positive tool for change and progress, we avoid alienating the ideas of a segment of the population. The field of academia should not be a synonym for liberalism; it should be a space where all thought is admitted and where everyone, bowtie and button-down or not, is welcome at The Tombs.

Annabelle Timsit is a senior in the College. USE YOUR WORDS appears every other Friday.

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2016

PAGE FOUR

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Political and business experts spoke at an event at the MSB, giving advice to the future president. Story on A8.

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We think that Metro needs to do a better job of training their officers to deal with people, particularly young people.” Arthur Spitzer, Legal Director of the ACLU of the Nation’s Capital Story on A7.

from our blog

A GUIDE TO EATING ALONE AT LEO’S For all the lonely souls out there, 4E has advice on getting through eating alone at Leo’s. GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY

Georgetown held its fall Faculty Convocation to recognize tenure and promotions among faculty members of the main campus, the Georgetown University Law Center and the Medical Center on Oct. 20.

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US Health Secretary Defends Affordable Care Act JOE EGLER

Special to The Hoya

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell defended the increase of Affordable Care Act midlevel premiums by an average of 25 percent next year, citing the benefits of the health care program for millions of Americans who were uninsured in 2010 in Gaston Hall on Wednesday.

“We have the lowest insured rate in the history of our nation. That’s access.” SYLVIA MATTHEWS BURWELL Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

“One in seven Americans did not have insurance,” Burwell said. “Twenty million more Americans now have insurance. We have the lowest uninsured rate in the history of our nation. That’s access.” Burwell was the guest of the third Exit Interview, a six-part series created by the Georgetown Institute of Politics and Public Service to examine the political and policy record of President Barack Obama. McCourt School professor Judy Feder introduced Burwell by praising the Affordable Care Act’s extension of health coverage to nearly 20 million Americans, but conceding that the next administration will face unresolved problems, including the widening Medicaid coverage gap. “Tonight, with Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell, our focus is on health reform and health care — safe to say, one of the biggest challenges this administration has faced, both politically and operationally,” Feder said. “When President Obama came into office, we were approaching having 50 million people without health insurance.”

McCourt School of Public Policy professor E.J. Dionne Jr., who also serves as a GU Politics board member, moderated the event. Previously, The Exit Interview”has featured National Security Adviser Susan Rice on Sept. 14 and U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch on Oct. 13. Burwell said she was most proud of her work transforming the U.S. health care system through the 2010 Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare, which expanded Medicaid eligibility and offered cost assistance for the uninsured through health insurance marketplaces. “The work that we’ve done there and the impact that we’ve had there, that I’ve contributed to, is probably one of the things I’m most proud of,” she said. “The Affordable Care Act is about three things: affordability, access and quality. … When we think about where we are, I think it is important to think about where we were and where we are now.”

“So [my faith] is something that is an important part of how I think about my work, both in terms of what I do and how I do it.” SYLVIA MATTHEWS BURWELL Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Burwell discussed how her past experience as the White House deputy chief of staff under President Bill Clinton prepared her for the demanding aspects of the job. However, she said she was still taken aback at the fast-paced nature of her job, especially during the 2014 Ebola outbreak. Burwell further addressed solutions to the current state of the American opioid abuse crisis, noting that 250 million opioid prescriptions were given in 2014 in the United States. She discussed

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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Matthews Burwell, left, defended the Affordable Care Act in an event moderated by McCourt School of Public Policy professor E.J. Dionne Jr. on Wednesday. her department’s strategy for tackling the opioid epidemic, which includes revising the guidelines whereby doctors prescribe opioids and monitoring whether doctors are prescribing opioids responsibly. “In terms of the problem, the administration has been working on it over a period of time in lots of pieces and parts across different parts,” Burwell said. “Our strategy is based on three things. One is controlling the prescribing — that’s

how many of the drugs are getting out to people. And so this is about helping doctors.” The other two priorities of the Department of Health and Human Services are to increase the use of drugs combatting the effects of opioid use, especially overuse, and to expand the medication-assisted treatment, which is a combination of behavioral therapies and medication to treat opioid overuse. Burwell concluded by

discussing how her faith as a Greek Orthodox Episcopalian has shaped her career. “In my work, that’s an important part of it — thinking about the world and how Christ turned things on its head, in terms of who he was helping and who he was being connected to,” Burwell said. “So [my faith] is something that is an important part of how I think about my work, both in terms of what I do and how I do it.” John Davis (NHS ’17), who

attended the event, said the interview helped elucidate many aspects of the Affordable Care Act for him. “There are definitely a lot of aspects of the ACA that I was not aware of previously, such as the fact that young adults can stay on their parents’ plan until they are 26 and also the annual and lifetime limits that a lot of people were reaching,” Davis said. “I’m looking forward to seeing the work that [Burwell] is going to do in the future.”

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Somoza Urges Accessibility Parents Protest DC School Alfredo Carrillo Obregon Hoya Staff Writer

America’s health care and educational resources have struggled to meet the needs of disabled individuals, according to disability rights advocate Anastasia Somoza (COL ’07) and her mother Mary Somoza in an event hosted by the Academic Resource Center on international disability rights Monday. Anastasia Somoza and her twin sister Alba Somoza were both diagnosed at the time of birth with cerebral palsy spastic quadriplegia, a condition that affects speech and motor control. Since her graduation, Anastasia Somoza has undertaken numerous endeavors to advance disability rights around the world, including speaking at this year’s Democratic National Convention endorsing Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Besides completing a graduate degree at the London School of Economics, Anastasia Somoza currently works as a consultant with the Shield Institute, an organization that provides tools for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and has spoken

to audiences in numerous countries. Anastasia Somoza began her work in disability activism after her sister was placed in a class for students with disabilities at a public school. At Wednesday’s event, which was held in the Leavey Program Room, Mary Somoza said the system was ill-suited to cope with Alba Somoza’s disabilities. Students in the class had a range of needs and the teacher was overwhelmed. “No teacher on this Earth could have taught all the different disabilities of the children that were in that classroom. Ranging from deaf-blind, to cerebral palsy, to Down syndrome, to autism, to emotional disturbance, everybody was packed in together,” Mary Somoza said. “Nobody was getting an education.” In 1993, Mary Somoza received a message from the New York State Advocate for the Disabled inviting one of her daughters to represent children with disabilities at a town hall with President Bill Clinton. She accepted and sent Anastasia Somoza. Anastasia Somoza said advocacy was a natural career choice for her growing up with a mother who spent her time advocating for her children.

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Disability rights advocate Anastasia Somoza addressed students with her mother Mary Somoza on Monday.

“It happened naturally, because I grew up with her advocating for us,” Anastasia Somoza said. “I always recognized that I was able to do what I was doing in my everyday life as a child, as a teenager, as a young adult because of the help that I received from other people.” Anastasia Somoza also said her experience at Georgetown highlighted challenges facing Georgetown’s resources for disabled students. Oftentimes, those assigned to assist her would not provide adequate service. Her shortcomings as a test-taker also affected her academics negatively. Nevertheless, Anastasia Somoza learned to play to her strengths and find support in the resources available on campus and in the many friends she made at Georgetown. “I’m so glad that I made the decision to come here,” Anastasia Somoza said. Obtaining treatment for her daughters was a challenge, according to Mary Somoza, because of America’s health insurance system. “Having grown up in the socialist environment in England, with free medicine and doctors, it appalled me that in the richest country on Earth, they didn’t have free medicine for all,” Mary Somoza said. Mary Somoza said she was able to fight her way through the health care system to ensure that her daughters would receive appropriate medical care. “I realized that one of the great things about the United States is that if you don’t like something, and you don’t like it bad enough, you can change it,” Mary Somoza said. Academic Resource Center Director Jane Holahan said the Anastasia Somoza’s emphasis on self-care is an important lesson for all students to remember. “Self-advocacy is key for all students, particularly for students with disabilities,” Holahan wrote in an email to The Hoya. “Learning how to communicate one’s needs is essential, and we — the ARC staff — want to assist students in developing their advocacy skills. Advocacy is embedded in the Academic Resource Center’s mission.”

Montana Boone Special to The Hoya

Local parents incensed by the mandatory transportation of school children from the public Hyde-Addison Elementary School to a swing site located three miles away are urging Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) and members of the D.C. Council to prevent the transfer. The movement, which adopted the slogan “Don’t Wing the Swing,” has amassed 235 signatures online and plastered Wisconsin Avenue and O Street with signs to bring attention to its demand that D.C. Public Schools find a site closer to Georgetown than the proposed Meyer Elementary School location in Shaw. The Shaw location would require students to travel more than an hour per day on buses to the location on Euclid and 11th Streets NW. Hyde-Addison, the only public elementary school in Georgetown, is slated to begin two years of renovations this summer to expand classroom space and construct a new media center and multipurpose room. The project has been delayed for over five years as budget allocations, problems with a sewer pipe and concerns about historical preservation have repeatedly pushed back plans. DCPS Communications Coordinator Janae Hinson said Hyde-Addison’s location in Georgetown presented unique challenges during planning and were responsible for these delays. “Important to remember is that Hyde-Addison is located in Historic Georgetown, which means that there are limitations,” Hinson wrote in an email to The Hoya. “We cannot build up or out, only down.” Originally, parents were provided with local options for the relocation including Ellington Field in Burleith and Hardy Middle School in upper Georgetown until DCPS opted to funnel all Hyde-Addison students into the Meyer site. Hinson said the decision was reached after considering a number of factors to minimize disruption for students. “Our goal is to provide an equitable learning experience for all students and to design a

hydeaddison.com

Georgetown parents are petitioning against DCPS for transferring their children to a new elementary school. building that allows for future student body growth,” Hinson wrote. “We took into account school population, classroom space, the teaching and learning environment and the overall impact on students, families and staff.” According to the parent petition, 93 percent of Hyde parents surveyed by the city opposed the move to Meyer, claiming no neighborhood elementary school to date has been located so far from the community it serves. DCPS established a School Improvement Team at HydeAddison to consult on issues arising during construction and disseminate information to the community about the project’s progress. The SIT is comprised of teachers, parents and community members who collaborate with the principal and Parent Teacher Association during all DCPS modernization projects. SIT member Elissa Alben, who is involved with creating the petition, said she took issue with the city’s lack of transparency during the project. “If you go back to when this started, the city initially sent us a letter as parents telling us first that the school was not going to move anywhere,” Alben said. “Then we received a letter saying that we were going to have to move, but they were only looking at local sites, and then a short time after we received another letter that they were no longer looking at local sites, they had chosen Meyer as their swing site. So parents were just constantly whipsawed in this process.” Fellow Hyde-Addison par-

ent Garance Genicot, a professor of economics at Georgetown, said DCPS was also inconsistent in its estimation of the length of the project. “At first they were saying, ‘Oh, we are going to do this and it will take three months for major work and we will finish it locally,’” Genicot said. “And then they wake up and realize, ‘Oh no, it’s going to take two years,’ then they hide information. At the end, I don’t trust DCPS anymore to do anything. They were hiding the information from the parents.” Henson said DCPS plans on providing transportation for Hyde-Addison students to Meyer. “As stated in our letter to families, we feel that Meyer will best meet the academic needs of Hyde-Addison,” Henson wrote. “DCPS will provide transportation to and from the swing space, which is always done during a modernization of this scale.” DCPS Interim Chancellor John Davis wrote in an Oct. 7 letter to Hyde-Addison parents that their feedback was an invaluable part of the Hyde-Addison modernization and would continue to be considered during the project. “The DCPS modernization team will continue to work with the SIT to ensure a successful modernization process,” Davis wrote. “We understand the challenges that come with any modernization and the associated swing and will continue to engage students, parents, and staff to ensure two productive and enriching years at Meyer.”

SAPE Sees Expanded Reach Riders, Metro Debate Hours Yasmine Salam Special to The Hoya

Georgetown’s Sexual Assault Peer Educators program has educated 300 students in sexual misconduct policies and bystander intervention so far this year, putting it on course to exceed the 700 students it educated last year, according to SAPE Faculty Advisor Jennifer Wiggins. This year also marks the largest group of SAPE educators in the program’s history, with 75 peer educators. Wiggins said the increase is due in part to increased dialogue on preventing campus sexual assault. “The amount of traction that we got last year from our programming meant that student groups we connected with last year knew this is something that we want to bring in for our new recruits this semester,” Wiggins said. While SAPE is on track to exceed last year’s numbers, it is still working on further diversifying the dialogue regarding sexual assault on campus. Wiggins said in an article in The Hoya last April that SAPE needed to work on improving its diversity. According to Wiggins, only 15 of the 60 students involved with SAPE last year identified as male and few people of color were represented. Wiggins declined to provide a breakdown on SAPE trainers’ backgrounds. According to Wiggins, the organization is currently prioritizing its selection of SAPE facilitators and how to train them to reflect the diversity of Georgetown. “SAPE is definitely more diverse than it was last year,” Wiggins said. “I think when we are putting together task forces or focus groups we should be making sure there are diverse voices in the room — also being able to connect with offices like LGBTQ [Resource Center] or [Center for Multicultural Equity and Access] to encourage people to apply to be in programs that are centered around the dialogue is very important.” SAPE’s Development Chair Maneesha Panja (COL ’18) said

SAPE still needs to take more measures to better represent minorities. “We are definitely in a transition period right now. I am not going to say that we are at a point in terms of the organization where we’re representing all groups that are being affected by sexual assault on this campus,” Pancha said. “At the same time there is a lot of initiative that both [Wiggins] and the board has embarked on that is really trying to change that.” According to Pancha, this push for increased diversity needs to start with the university administration. “I would like to see more administrative initiative to empower more people of color to be on the decision-making boards when it comes to choosing things such as Title IX coordinators,” Pancha said. SAPE’s growth is part of a larger effort on campus to improve bystander training since the release of the university’s Sexual Assault and Misconduct Survey on June 16. University President John J. DeGioia approved funds for “Bringing in the Bystander,” a bystander training program that will be administered to all student leaders on campus. At least three members of Georgetown’s largest student groups will be trained on how to identify and respond to high-risk situations. Panja said the new initiative will help improve awareness of sexual assault on campus. “By administrating this training to all student leaders on campus, that is basically indicating that Georgetown is willing to take a shift in focus in that we’re taking this problem very seriously and we are taking direct action to make sure that every single person on this campus in whatever social involvement is hearing this message from somebody in power in a club or organization,” Panja said. SAPE will also be altering the structure of its own bystander intervention to accommodate the new university initiative, according to Wiggins. “What we are going to be doing with the bystander inter-

vention workshop that SAPE does is that we are updating the curriculum to not mirror that of ‘Bringing in the Bystander,’ but it’s going to work to augment it,” Wiggins said. SAPE’s Special Projects Chair Carlo Izzo (COL ’17) said the SAPE program was most recently updated following the first campus climate survey on sexual assault and misconduct, whose results were released in June. “We have tailored our bystander intervention workshop to reflect some of the results from the campus climate survey,” Izzo said. “I think the bystander intervention training is going to be tough because it’s not personalized to the groups whilst SAPE personalizes everything to the culture at Georgetown.” According to Izzo, bystander intervention training help will help increase the ability of students to respond to incidents of sexual assault. “First of all it is an easy way to enter into the conversation around sexual assault because it doesn’t point figures or place blame right away,” Izzo said. “I think inactive bystanders do have a lot of blame and I think that we are trying to frame it in a way that you can be a positive force — it creates a lot more positivity and makes it much easier to join the conversation and is more welcoming.” Izzo said the issue of sexual assault is becoming more widely spoken about on campus. “What’s new now is that people who aren’t survivors or haven’t experienced sexual violence are suddenly interested in this topic,” Izzo said. “You get a lot of interest, and people power together to give voice to an issue.” Bystander training is a key step toward creating a community committed to ending sexual assault, according to Izzo. “My future step would be to end sexual assault, and I think it’s going to come through bystander intervention,” Izzo said. “Right now we have an awareness that it exists, but I think we need to get to the point where the awareness moves people to action.”

Matt Larson Hoya Staff Writer

The debate over Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority’s late-night services intensified last week as riders overwhelmingly petitioned to bring back midnight to 3 a.m. services on weekends at an Oct. 20 public hearing in Washington, D.C.’s Metro headquarters. WMATA cut back hours in June due to its yearlong SafeTrack initiative, which is fixing lingering maintenance issues that have plagued the Metro through 15 “safety surges” that shutter segments of the line for weeks at a time. As a result of increased maintenance hours, Metro trains open at 5 a.m. on weekdays and 7 a.m. on weekends, closing at midnight every day. However, pressure has mounted on WMATA to bring back late-night hours on weekends, with Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) and the D.C. Council both voicing support for the restoration of the service. The reduced hours will remain in place at least until SafeTrack concludes in April, but the WMATA board of directors will determine by December whether to bring back late-night services or continue extra maintenance. Among those who wish to see late-night service returned is D.C. Councilmember Jack Evans (D-Ward 2), who also serves as the chair of the WMATA board of directors. Evans drafted a resolution from the D.C. Council that passed unanimously this month calling for late-night services to be returned. Evans’ Director of Communications Thomas Lipinsky said the councilmember wants to make it easier for workers and residents of nearby towns to go to and from D.C. at night. “The Metro is a way to connect employment centers and where people live that would be seriously disconnected if Metro were closed at midnight indefinitely,” Lipinsky said. “That’s Councilmember Evans’ concern.” WMATA General Manager Paul Wiedefeld previously said

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Riders petitioned WMATA in an Oct. 20 meeting for the addition of midnight to 3 a.m. services on weekends. the current schedule must be maintained and may reduce to even shorter hours in order to fix maintenance problems. In July, Wiedefeld proposed permanently reducing Metro hours to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays and 10 p.m. on Sundays. However, at the all-day hearing at Metro’s headquarters Oct. 20, multiple riders and officials made the case to restore late-night hours. In particular, Lipinsky said that, for those who must commute to jobs at restaurants that are open late on weekends, having Metro cut its latenight hours causes significant concerns with transportation. Lipinsky also said Evans is concerned about how the local economy will continue to fare without late-night Metro transportation. “There are concerns about safe passage for those individuals who are patronizing those dining establishments,” Lipinsky said. “But even more importantly for the councilmember is the folks who are working at those establishments.” Kurt Erickson, president and C.E.O. of the Washington Regional Alcohol Program, spoke at the hearing in support of restoring late-night hours. According to Erickson, keeping Metro open late would help alleviate instances of drunk driving. “We don’t want to incentivize anybody to get behind a wheel of their own car if

they’ve been drinking,” Erickson said in an interview with The Hoya. “It’s the same thing with Metro. As long as they stay open, they are hopefully incentivizing people to use Metro to get home rather than driving home in their own vehicle when they’ve been drinking.” Wiedefeld stressed the need to keep hours at their current rate, citing multiple potential safety issues. In 2016, Metro has faced multiple such issues, including a track fire that prompted Metro officials to shut down the service for a day in March, a track explosion in May and a train car derailment in July. According to Wiedefeld, by closing Metro at midnight on weekends, there is increased time to maintain the tracks. Lipinsky made it clear that Evans also supported additional maintenance hours, and conceded that the Metro is the least busy between midnight to 3 a.m. However, he maintained that the many benefits of late-night services need to be accounted for when deciding the time maintenance is done. “Metro definitely needs additional maintenance. Nobody’s disputing that,” Lipinsky said. “Councilmember Evans agrees with the general manager that we need additional maintenance hours. And, the general manager’s proposal to reduce hours from 3 a.m. to midnight is based on where ridership is lowest.”

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FRIday, october 28, 2016

FEC Donations Examined

Clinton sees majority of contributions CONTRIBUTIONS, from A1 Government professor James Lengle said the data does not necessarily suggest that Georgetown faculty and staff are liberal. “I’d be careful about jumping to the conclusion, based on the contributions, that faculty and staff are overwhelmingly Democratic,” Lengle said. “All this data shows is more Democratic faculty and staff members contributed than Republicans contributed. The data might be suggestive, but it’s certainly not definitive.”

“It definitely is the case that the academy is overwhelmingly liberal.” Raymond nelson (grd ’17) President, Hoya Circles

However, Membership Director of Georgetown University College Republicans Hunter Estes (SFS ’19) said the contribution data reflects a liberal faculty and campus climate. “We were surprised the Republican donations were even that high,” Estes said. “I think you find without a doubt that in classes that shouldn’t even have a political tone to it, somehow politics comes up.” For government professor Matthew Kroenig, who served as a senior national security adviser to the Marco Rubio and Scott Walker campaigns this election cycle and who donated to Republican Wisconsin congressional candidate Mike Gallagher, the FEC data reflects a broader liberal bias in academia across the country.

“It definitely is the case that the academy is overwhelmingly liberal, and that’s not just at Georgetown, that’s true nationwide,” Kroenig said. “There have been a number of studies looking at this, and the overall finding is that academics tend to be overwhelmingly liberal.” Kroenig said he believes a bias within the faculty could impact the education that students receive. “I do think that liberals and conservatives tend to see the world in fundamentally different ways,” Kroenig said. “If the faculty is all on one side of that equation, I think at a minimum you’re going to be missing the perspective on the other side, and I think that will color the nature of the education.” According to Kroenig, the problem is not with professors expressing their opinions to students but with the ideological makeup of the faculty as a whole. “If all of the analysis and viewpoints and subjective perceptions students are getting tend to be from one side, I think we’re doing a disservice to students because they aren’t understanding that other side,” Kroenig said. McCourt School of Public Policy professor Lynn Ross said there is evidence that college faculty are largely liberal-minded but said this ideology rarely seeps into the classroom. “My definition of professional comportment in the classroom is that my political views don’t really matter,” Ross said. “I am certainly not ever, nor do I want to be, in the position to prosthelytize or convince students of one viewpoint or another.” According to Ross, who teaches courses on public management, her students often would not be able to tell whether she is liberal or conservative because of the

way she approaches her lectures. “If students have a particular point of view, I view my position as playing devil’s advocate,” Ross said. “If they’re liberal I become a conservative, and if they’re conservative I become a liberal.” Ross said that, if Georgetown indeed has a largely liberal bias, the solution is to have more educated voices on the other side. “What we probably need is more people of the minority view to balance things out,” Ross said. “If [someone] is arguing that there is a bias that teachers are imparting with their political views, I would say that what we need to do is get more of those biases so they can cancel each other out.” Lengle said he has encountered this diverse array of opinions in the government department.

“What we probably need is more of people of the minority view to balance things out.” Lynn Ross Professor, McCourt School of Public Policy

“In my department all I can say is that there is a vast range of political opinions, and I think that’s what makes for a good department. That diversity of opinion ends up in the classroom, and that promotes the educational process,” Lengle said. “The whole point of the educational process is the exchange of different ideas in search of the truth.”

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Former Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) received the second most contributions, $5,211.86, from community members in the Democratic race.

Lauren seibel/THE HOYA

The Equal Rights Center published a study depicting discrimination in the housing sector when it comes to women with criminal backgrounds of different races.

Report Details Racial Inequality in Housing HOUSING, from A1 Scott credits “Evicted,” an ethnography by Matthew Desmond discussing low-income housing in Milwaukee, as an inspiration for the report after it drew her attention to the often-overlooked plight of black female convicts. “There were several goals at play, but I think one of the most important ones was to add a more nuanced look of what was happening that focused on gendered experiences of both the criminal-legal system and housing discrimination,” Scott said. According to the ERC report, although there are more men in prison than women, the rate of growth for female imprisonment has outpaced the growth for male imprisonment by more than 50 percent between 1980 and 2014. Black women are imprisoned at more than twice the rate of white women. Taylar Nuevelle, who did not wish to disclose the nature of her conviction, said the report captured the discrimination she experienced in her housing after being incarcerated. “It actually brought tears to my eyes because it’s very difficult when you feel like you’re living in a vacuum and no one is experiencing what you’re experiencing,” Nuevelle said. “I could not have asked for a more comprehensive and validating piece. It was as if they had modeled the entire thing after me, and they knew nothing about me when they did

this report.” Nuevelle said the anecdotes included in the report helped humanize black female convicts in a way statistics could not.

“You can look at statistics and you can not feel, but this is real, tangible evidence that you can’t deny.” TAYLAR NUVELLE Tester, ERC Study

“You can look at statistics and you can not feel, but this is real, tangible evidence that you can’t deny,” Nuevelle said. “You can’t dismiss it, and you can’t just relegate it; it’s tangible. You can’t just disassociate yourself from it.” Scott said the study is limited in that it was not tested on subsidized housing, the most popular form of housing convicts pursue, because of its long waitlists. However, Scott said nevertheless the policy recommendations included at the end of the report for housing providers, local government and the Department of Housing and Urban Development were still valid for combatting housing discrimination. The report recommended revising the role that criminal records and screening

practices play in their screening processes and providing greater transparency about what screening criteria are for housing applications. Ibilola Owoyele (SFS ’17), secretary of civil rights advocacy in the GUSA Federal and D.C. Relations Committee, said Georgetown students should take interest in the findings of the report. “The report mentioned that one out of three Americans has some sort of criminal history. When you look at Georgetown students, someone is going to be affected by that number,” Owoyele said. “I think as people within D.C., it’s within our right and obligation to examine what role we can play in mitigating that number — first the high number of people who are criminalized, but also, once these people leave, what kind of rehabilitative justice we can do.” Director of the GUSA Federal and D.C. Relations Committee Kotryna Jukneviciute (COL ’18) said the report was significant for promoting dialogue about housing discrimination. The ERC suggests D.C. residents concerned by the findings of the investigation should consider serving as a tester for the ERC. “Some people, after reading it, will hopefully feel inspired to do something,” Jukneviciute said. “That’s what I think is the beauty of reports like this, is that it gives students the opportunity to ignite a fire inside of them and then hopefully go out and do something about it.”

Free Speech Committee to Investigate Chalking Defacement CHALK, from A1 of Free Speech and Expression.” On Wednesday morning after the defacement, H*yas for Choice posted a statement on Facebook stressing the importance of respecting GU Right to Life’s freedom of expression. “Last night, anti-choice messages were chalked in Red Square as a part of ‘National Pro-Life Chalk Day.’ While we condemn their calls to ‘end abortion,’ and their other anti-choice messages, we ultimately know the free speech rights of students on campus allow them to share their opinions in public spaces, even if that speech is problematic and often biologically unsound,” the statement reads. Irvine said GU Right to Life leaders have reached out to leaders of H*yas for Choice in the hopes of establishing a firmer commitment for respect for each other’s viewpoints. “I reached out to HFC yesterday to ask them out to coffee. [GU Right to Life Vice President] MyLan Metzger [COL ’19] and I will be meeting with their co-presidents this Saturday afternoon to talk about how we got here and how we can do better to love one another and treat each other with respect,” Irvine said. Irvine said she was taken aback at the alterations to

GU Right to Life’s intended message of love and acceptance. “I was surprised to see that our message of love had been changed to something different, something aggressive and accusatory,” Irvine wrote in an email to The Hoya. “Our theme was ‘Love Them Both,’ meaning that we as pro-lifers want to love both the woman and the child.”

“I was surprised to see that our message of love has been changed to something different, something aggressive and accusatory.” Ameilia Irvine (col ‘19) President, GU Right to life

Irvine said the defacement unfairly portrayed GU Right to Life as an organization that is hateful toward women. “Those who disagree with us still accused us of hate, changing ‘End abortion’ to ‘End hate.’ I believe that this is a complete misunderstanding of what it means to be pro-life,” Irvine wrote. Irvine also said members of GU Right to Life were

harassed while writing the chalk display. “There were precursors to this event. While a group of RTL members were chalking late Tuesday night, several students scuffed at the chalk and poured water on it. A couple of them cursed, saying such things as, ‘Get the f-----g government out of my vagina.’” Irvine wrote. GU Right to Life On-Campus Service Chair Lindsay Caprio (NHS ’19) said the group sought to express a message of love for both the mother and the child. “All we wanted to do for this year’s pro-life Chalk day was to send a message of love. We as members of the pro-life movement equally love and support both the life of the mother and the life of the child,” Caprio wrote in an email to The Hoya. Caprio said it is important students on campus who disagree with each other can find a way to voice their disagreements without resorting to vandalism when it comes to the stances of others. “Others who disagree with our view then resort to acts that destroy the integrity of our message,” Caprio wrote. “We, as students who attend such a rigorous school like Georgetown, are more than capable to engage in these difficult yet critically important discussions.”

Hoya Staff Writer Christian Paz contributed reporting.

COURTESY GU RIGHT TO LIFE

The Free Speech and Expression Committee will investigate the defacement of challk written in Red Square by GU Right to Life on Tuesday.

News

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2016

THE HOYA

Federal Team Looks Ahead GULC Panel Split Over 2016 Ben Goodman

Special to The Hoya

Shortly after the election of Georgetown University Student Association President Enushe Khan (MSB ’17) and Vice President Chris Fisk (COL ’17) to the executive, Federal Relations and D.C. Relations Committee Director Kotryna Jukneviciute saw an opportunity to fill a hole in GUSA’s advocacy efforts. “I always had that notion that there was more to be done, because for me, the real issues are outside of Georgetown,” Jukneviciute said. “That’s where the real problems are that need to be addressed.” She convened the group through consultation with Khan and Fisk to serve as a liaison between the federal government, the local government and Georgetown. In its seven months of operation, the 20-person committee has worked to improve outreach efforts and accomplish goals it set in early April when the new GUSA executive leadership announced its formation. The team identified several policy goals last semester, including advocating for the Higher Education Reauthorization Act, a mentoring program with public schools in the District, advocacy for D.C. statehood, a network to organize college student activism across the country and a partnership with D.C. Central Kitchen to provide summer storage space. To address national advocacy efforts from various college campuses, the team’s Secretary of Institutional Outreach Zachary Schroepfer (MSB ’19) worked to organize a Student Leadership Alliance. The coalition of students from different schools seeks to organize activism on Capitol Hill regarding

student life. “What I specifically have done is reaching out to universities from every state and inviting them to become a part of the SLA. Up to this date we’ve gotten a little more than 40 universities to join,” Schroepfer said. “We have petitions that are student-generated, so students write one-page petitions that typically support specific pieces of federal policies. After that the petitions go on our website, and we begin national campaigns.” So far, the SLA has conducted a national campaign for a sexual assault policy reform petition, according to Schroepfer. “This petition supports the Campus Accountability and Safety Act Bill. This act is seen as the most comprehensive sexual assault bill that is currently on the docket of Congress,” Schroepfer said. “We were able to acquire over 200 signatures, which may not seem like very many for a national petition, but we were at a smaller size than we currently are.” Since Congress is on recess until Nov. 14 the SLA eventually plans to take these petitions to Capitol Hill and meet with congressional staffers. In the meantime, the network does not plan immediate action. On the education front, the team’s Secretary of Local Educational Affairs Kamar Mack (COL ’19) lobbies with the D.C. Public School system, the D.C. City Council and the mayor’s office about local educational policy. Mack said he is looking to advocate for more civic education to be taught in D.C. public schools. “The project I’m working on this semester is a civic education bill, and essentially we are proposing legislation to incorporate more civic education

into the D.C. public school curriculum,” Mack said. Not all of the team’s education efforts this semester have been successful. The Hoya reported efforts to create a mentorship program with D.C. elementary schools on April 26. The team will no longer pursue this since it is a redundant effort the Center of Social Justice is already pursuing, according to Mack. The team’s other initiatives include lobbying to maintain the federal government’s Pell Grant funding and organizing on-campus events to spread mental health awareness. The committee receives $400 dollars in funding from GUSA, even though some students may believe otherwise, according to Jukneviciute.. “GUSA has very, very limited finances, and I think there’s a misconception where students think that GUSA has money. Even buying pizza becomes a battle,” Jukneviciute said. Jukneviciute said her team is working to improve negative perceptions of the team. “Ultimately, you can understand your campus,” she said. “If you’re one of those people who is involved, is very social on campus and has a good feeling for the student body in general, you should be able to understand the feeling of your campus.” Former GUSA Vice President Connor Rohan (COL ’16) said GUSA’s youngest initiative is promising – even if it has yet to prove itself. “Any organization is worthwhile if it’s comprised of students willing to donate countless hours to improving our community, and those who are quick to criticize but reluctant to contribute display a contemptuous ignorance that too many Hoyas consider a virtue,” Rohan said.

GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY STUDENT ASSOCIATION

The GUSA Federal Relations Team is working to improve outreach efforts and goals it set when it first launched in early April following the GUSA executive elections.

May Teng

Special to The Hoya

Despite Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton’s growing momentum in polls two weeks ahead of Election Day, there is still a possibility for Republican nominee Donald Trump to win the election, argued several panelists during a Georgetown University Law Center discussion Oct. 24. Moderated by CNN Washington Bureau Chief Sam Feist (GRD ’99), Decision 2016: What’s Trending — #ImWithHer or #MAGA?: A Panel Discussion, featured seven political advocates for both Clinton and Trump, who offered their predictions of Trump’s prospects following recent allegations of sexual misconduct and leaked audio featuring Trump making lewd remarks about women, which have resulted in sliding poll numbers and establishment Republican politicians withdrawing their support from the nominee. Polling data aggregator Real Clear Politics gives Clinton 262 electoral votes to Trump’s 126, excluding “tossup” states, which displays an improvement of over 60 electoral votes for Clinton since late September. Over 10 national polls included in the aggregator highlight Clinton’s current lead, some by margins as large as 13 points. Brookings Institute Senior Fellow E.J. Dionne, a professor at Georgetown’s McCourt School of Public Policy, expressed confidence in Clinton’s lead. “My basic view of the election is that, unless between now and Election Day we repeal both women’s suffrage and the remaining parts of the voting rights, Donald Trump will lose,” Dionne said. “Trump is caught in a bipartisan narrative of defeat.” Washington Post National Political Correspondent Karen Tumulty said her publication’s release of Trump’s private audio was instrumental in changing the tide of the election by bolstering Clinton’s support among white women. “If the race is not over, it is close to over,” Tumulty said. “Nothing else affected the race as much.” However, GOP political commentator Paris Denard said he believed Trump’s campaign was still salvageable if he focused on his policy points for the remainder of the campaign, specifically concerning the economy and the North American Free Trade Agreement. “He needs to stay on message and talk about his strengths: jobs, the economy,

GUlc

E.J. Dionne participated in a panel discussion about the remaining weeks in the presidential election. NAFTA, trade, the business leader he is,” Denard said. “If he stays on message and continues to message directly to the people, he will win this election.” Lieutenant General Joseph K. Kellog Jr., foreign policy adviser for Trump’s campaign, counseled voters to focus less on candidates’ personalities and more on their stances on political issues.

“I don’t think you need to count anybody out in the election.” Liutenant General Joseph k. Kellog Jr. Former Foreign Policy Adviser, Trump Campaign

“I don’t think you need to count anybody out in the election,” Kellog said. “I think it’s foolish to do that, because you just never know. To me, it’s come down to something very simple. The election is either status quo or change.” Tumulty agreed that the 2016 election cycle presented voters with a choice between Clinton’s pro-establishment stance, which builds on the previous work of President Barack Obama, and Trump’s narrative of dramatic reform. Denard suggested current polls may be misleading, as certain segments of the population, including black Americans in urban areas, may publically express disapproval of Trump but privately support him on Election Day.

“There is a growing sense that the black community are left behind in the economy,” Denard said. “If you have more black people owning homes in the Great Depression than we do now, we have some real problems.” Celina Lake, president of Democratic polling firm Lake Research Partners, challenged the dichotomy between the two candidates and contested that Clinton, too, advocates change. “Clinton has to make sure that her exceptional qualifications and leadership do not become an argument for the status quo,” Lake said. “But I think if you look at the number of plans she has put out, she is for change as well, and America is for change.” George Dobbins (GRD ’19), who attended the event, said despite their differing views, the panelists provided a civil discourse otherwise absent from the election. “I was really grateful that they were so civil during the whole thing, because so much of the problem with this year’s election is that people aren’t able to talk civilly to one another; but these people were, and they had very different opinions,” Dobbins said. Marina Smith (GRD ’19) said the conversation alerted her to the importance of students turning out for the election. “I think after [Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)] dropped out, large potentials for students our age thought their vote wouldn’t matter, but I think one of the biggest issues is voter turnout,” Smith said. “It all depends on who’s turning up to the polls.”

Activist Urges Reassessment of LGBTQ Movement Alfredo Carrillo Obregon Special to The Hoya

The mainstream LGBTQ movement has lost sight of its founders’ liberation ideology, according to author and activist Urvashi Vaid in a discussion of the political, local, national and global histories of the community Wednesday as a part of LGBTQ History Month.

“Social justice activism is the most rewarding journey you can make and you can imagine.” URVASHI VAID Activist

Speaking at the event “Reading Our Many Pasts,” organized by the LGBTQ Resource Center, Vaid called for a thorough reassessment of the LGBTQ movement’s motives, means and aims. Vaid said she was initially inspired to join the LGBTQ movement to help create a more equal society. “As a 17-year-old college student in the United States in 1975, I was an idealist. I believed not only that utopia could be possible, but that it could be realized in my lifetime,” Vaid said. “I defined utopia as the spread of social prosperity to benefit all people. I believed in social

movements and rushed to join them.” Vaid said that in spite of the work of the movement’s founders and initial proponents, present-day LGBTQ activism lacks commitment to and understanding of the implications of liberation. “[It] came to be interpreted as synonymous with equality,” Vaid said. Vaid said having equality as an end goal is ultimately limiting. “It does not deliver justice. It does not transform family or culture nor expand freedom for all. It does not touch, much less end, structural racism or the enforcement of the gender binary,” Vaid said. “It does not end familial homophobia or deliver women’s equality. It has nothing to offer about ending mass incarceration and the systematic employment of state violence against black and brown communities.” Vaid said the movement must instead focus on fighting for justice. “The only way we are going to win the fight [for liberation] is for the LGBTQ movement to commit to win the larger struggle for social, racial and economic justice.” For Vaid, one of the movement’s biggest contemporary challenges is defining the issues it is fighting for, including who is involved in the struggle, for whom it is getting involved and what it is fighting against. Vaid praised the community for its willingness to engage with society at large through social, political and

COURTEST LEXI DIVER

Author and activist Urvashi Vaid advocated a reassessment of the LGBTQ movement’s motives, means and aims in a talk hosted by the LGBTQ Resource Center on Wednesday as a part of LGBTQ History Month. economic endeavors but said there are areas where significant progress is yet to be made, including defending communities of color. Vaid said while the securing of equal marriage rights was a significant step forward, the existence of state laws that allow public officials to deny adoption requests and engage in other discriminating acts, which the community is unable to repeal due to a lack of local political power, shows there is still work to be done.

Vaid urged students to pursue social justice in their everyday lives. “Social justice activism is the most rewarding journey you can make and you can imagine,” Vaid said. “And it is one I wish on every one of you.” Assistant Director of the LGBTQ Resource Center Julian Haas said Vaid’s views mirror the mission of the LGBTQ Resource Center. “When it comes to honoring many complexities that make up who people are, all of our work — all

of the work that comes out of the LGBTQ Resource Center at Georgetown University — is intersectional by nature,” Haas said. “We give folks the language and framework to seek deeper understanding and visibility in themselves and then also to carry that forward in all the things they do in their community.” Abhinab Katineni (SFS ’20) said Vaid handled the topic effectively. “I think it’s really powerful because a lot of the issues aren’t common to

discuss, such as the intersection of race and economics,” Katineni said. “I think she did a good job shedding light to those issues and explaining their role in the struggle as a whole.” Kennedy Foles (SFS ’20) said the address changed many of her opinions of the LGBTQ issues. “Her discussion of LGBT issues was very transformational, and I think that it really made an impact on everybody who was listening,” Foles said.

NEWS

THE HOYA

friDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2016

Panelists Advocate Dating Violence Awareness Haley Snyder Hoya Staff Writer

Dating violence needs to be addressed as strongly as sexual violence on college campuses, according to D.C. Coalition Against Domestic Violence Program Director Elizabeth Odongo in a discussion about dating violence in the Intercultural Center on Tuesday. The event, cosponsored by Georgetown’s chapter of sexual assault awareness group Take Back the Night and the DCCADV, addressed ways for students and bystanders to intervene and react to instances of dating violence on campus through activities and conversations. Sexual Assault Peer Educators member Victoria Shakespeare (SFS ’19) said while arguments are common in relationships, dating violence occurs when a specific line is crossed. “Couples disagree on things all the time, but the way you disagree about things is different,” Shakespeare said. Dating violence, including physical and emotional abuse, extends to stalking and domestic violence, according to Odongo. According to “Love is Respect,” a project of the National Domestic Violence Hotline,

one in three American adolescents is a victim of abuse from a dating partner. Forty-three percent of college women report dating violence and abuse early in life can have lasting effects. Half of dating violence victims attempt suicide and are at a higher risk for substance abuse and depression, according to “Love is Respect.”

“More students will suffer from dating abuse than they will sexual assault.” elizabeth odongo Program Director, DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence

Odongo stressed the need to raise awareness around dating violence on college campuses. “Universities are getting better and better at supporting people with sexual assault but not dating violence. They’re trying to keep it in the conversation, but we’re not spending as much time talking about dating violence statistically,” Odongo said. “More students will suffer

from dating abuse than they will sexual assault on college campuses.” Take Back the Night President Maddy Moore (SFS ’17) said it is important to recognize that dating violence can take a variety of forms. “The conversations right now are really focused around sexual violence and the one-time incident of violence that someone might experience, and we frame it in a way that’s like happening at a party with stranger, but it’s really important to think about how this is a spectrum, and a spectrum of violence can start with anything from harassment to someone in a very serious longterm relationship experiencing patterns of abuse,” Moore said. According to Moore, it is important to take steps to address all forms of violence. “It’s important to reframe how we think about violence, especially when it comes to acknowledging that dating violence on college campus happens and that there are people experiencing economic, physical, psychological, emotional, sexual abuse in their relationships with their roommate, in a partnership, with maybe a close friend, and of-

TAKE BACK THE NIGHT

D.C. Coalition Against Domestic Violence Program Director Elizabeth Odongo led a discussion surrounding dating violence and healthy relationships Tuesday. ten we’re overlooking that,” Moore said. Odongo said instinct was crucial in identifying situations of abuse. “If you feel like something’s not right, trust your gut,” Odongo said. “A lot of the time, we can’t explain why we feel certain ways about certain people, but in my field, our gut is the most important thing.”

Odongo said the personal nature of relationships can make support from friends or family challenging, however. “It’s absolutely up to the survivor about what happens next,” Odongo said. “There are reasons why people don’t leave abusive relationships. We have to trust that they know their relationship the best and

when they’re ready, they will leave.” Moore said she has seen a positive cultural shift in the university in discussing sexual assault and dating violence on campus. “There’s definitely a lot more work to be done, more communities to reach and conversations to have, but I’m glad that it’s been moving forward,” Moore said.

Officials Urge Cooperation Aadam Shlomi Special to The Hoya

ROBERT CORTEST/THE HOYA

WMATA police officers are investigating an incident in which a teenage girl was arrested after being pushed to the ground for bringing food into a Metro station.

Metro Officers Arrest Teen Marina Pitofsky Hoya Staff Writer

Washington Metropolitan Area Transportation Authority police are reviewing use of force during transit officers’ arrest of a young black woman caught on camera being pushed to the ground after bringing chips and a lollipop to the Columbia Heights Metro on Oct. 18. The video, released by activist organization Black Lives Matter D.C., shows an unnamed 18-year-old woman enter the Metro station at 6:35 p.m. with food, which violates Metro policy. After refusing to discard her food when asked twice by WMATA police, the woman was handcuffed and pushed to the ground. Charges have not been filed by WMATA police. WMATA spokesperson Richard Jordan said the arrest is still being evaluated by WMATA administration, which has yet to arrive at any final decisions on how to address the incident. “[Metro Transit Police Department] is reviewing the matter, as is the case whenever there is a public concern raised,” Jordan wrote in an email to The Hoya. The incident has raised concerns for members of the D.C. Council, including Councilmember Brianne Nadeau (D-Ward 1), who called for an investigation of the incident last week in a letter to WMATA General Manager Paul Wiedefeld. Nadaeu referred to the incident as an excessive use of force and requested more information on WMATA police training. “I am extremely concerned that WMATA police officers took the measures they did in detaining this young woman,” Nadeau wrote. “Please conduct an investigation into the conduct of these officers. Please

also describe to me what training WMTA police undergo for de-escalation tactics.” Arthur Spitzer, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of the Nation’s Capital, said the officers’ demonstrated excessive force. According to Spitzer, because the teenager did not present a danger to other passengers, there should have been a less forceful way to make her comply.

“I feel that it’s not even an issue of excessive force, but an issue of force in general.” victoria efetevbia (COL ’17)

“The officer’s reaction was certainly excessive,” Spitzer said. “An officer should have ways to deal with uncooperative citizens that are short of taking them down to the floor and putting them in handcuffs. Especially when there are other officers nearby who can assist.” Spitzer noted however there would not have been trouble had the woman simply followed Metro rules to begin with. Spitzer said citizens should exercise commonsense restraint when asked by officers to follow rules. “People are not supposed to be eating on the Metro system. There are signs all over about that; people should be aware of that,” Spitzer said. “If she was a good citizen and the officer had said, ‘You’ve got to get rid of that lollipop,’ really she should have gotten rid of the lollipop.”

Spitzer said this incident is not unusual for WMATA police, and officers need to work better with young people rather than immediately resorting to force. “We’ve had several lawsuits that we have brought against Metro officers over the years for excessive force and in particular for excessive force against juveniles,” Spitzer said. “We think that Metro needs to do a better job of training their officers to deal with people, particularly young people, and we think there’s a serious difference between a crime and a lollipop.” Victoria Efetevbia (COL ’17), a student involved in civil rights activism, said the matter goes beyond police force and is instead indicative of the pattern of unequal treatment received by different races at the hands of Metro police. “I feel that it’s not even an issue of excessive force, but an issue of force in general. Force should have never been used,” Efetevbia wrote in an email to The Hoya. “When white professionals cram into the Metro trains on their way to and from work with their smelly salads and bagels, they are never arrested or even fined.” Raquel King (GRD ’16), who organized a march from Georgetown to the White House earlier this month to raise awareness for the deaths of unarmed black people, agreed the teen was breaking the rules but said the Metro police should have instead involved her parents and made the situation more positive. “This should have been a learning experience, a teaching experience,” King said. “What I think they should have done is say, ‘I want you to stay right here. I want to call your mom and speak to her about the fact that there’s this law in place. This is a warning.”

The next president must facilitate bipartisan compromise and cooperation to solve major issues facing the country, advocated three business and former government officials at the second annual Hariri Symposium in Lohrfink Auditorium on Tuesday. The symposium, hosted by the Business, Society and Public Policy Initiative of the McDonough School of Business, sought to find solutions to the problems Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton or Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump will face after inauguration Jan. 20. The speakers, former Ambassador to Iceland Charles Cobb, former Senate majority leader George Mitchell (DMaine, LAW ’61) and former District of Columbia mayor Anthony Williams identified the biggest issues the nation faces and proposed solutions for the winner of the 2016 race, while urging elected officials to try to cooperate on issues even if not every problem is solved. Cobb, who served as CEO of the Arvida Corporation and Disney Development before serving as an ambassador under former President George W. Bush’s administration, identified five major issues facing the United States today: excessive deficit spending, growing resistance to free trade, a decaying military and fading international presence, a lack of immigration reform and a failing health care system. Cobb said immigration policy should be focused on improving the economy rather than resettling families already in the United States, including providing longterm work permits for immigrants currently residing in the United States illegally who pay a fine, learn English and have no criminal record. Mitchell said the country should not be closing its bor-

ders but selectively taking in immigrants. “Common sense makes it clear that we need fair and realistic limits on how many people can enter. But we should not limit the discussion to who we want to keep out and who we want to throw out,” Mitchell said. “We must also discuss who we want to enter and how we can continue to replenish our society with new people to their benefit and to ours.”

“We need to start reclaiming a narrative that both sides can see themselves in.” Meghan bodette (SFS ’20)

Mitchell, whose father was an Irish orphan who worked as a janitor in a local school and whose mother was an illiterate Lebanese refugee who worked the night shift in textile mills, said ensuring access to education is key to making a fairer society. “Because of the openness of this country I was able to get an education ... and become the majority leader of the United States Senate,” Mitchell said. Cobb said there must be a bipartisan commission to regulate government spending. “There should be a commitment to listen and implement their suggestions,” Cobb said. According to Cobb, the tax code should be rewritten to provide greater clarity. Cobb said the government should reduce corporate tax rates, eliminate loopholes and reform entitlements like Social Security and Medicare. “We have entitlements for Social Security and Medicare that just don’t work anymore,” Cobb said. “It cannot survive.”

According to Mitchell, environmental policy and climate change are some of the most immediate issues facing America. Mitchell said a significant portion of the problems facing America are the result of the Supreme Court’s decision in the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission case, which enabled corporations and nonprofits to make unlimited donations to political campaigns. “The Supreme Court did not create the problem. Money and political power have always mixed, but the court has made a bad situation much worse,” Mitchell said. “The Citizens United case will go down in history as one of the worst decisions ever made by any Supreme Court in our history.” Williams said the next president needs to focus resources on major metropolitan areas and use these areas as a base and a drawing board for ideas that can then be implemented throughout the nation. William Sleiman (COL ’18), an attendee, said making the country more open is important in ensuring progress. “How Mr. Mitchell talked about immigration was very moving,” Sleiman said. “How we have to continue to let people in, in order to continue the innovation in America.” Meghan Bodette (SFS ’20) said it is important that the United States make efforts to unite following this year’s election. “His appeal to the common story that somewhere in the history of most American families we have relatives who risked a lot to come here and who were not treated with the dignity that they might have had in their home country was very powerful,” Bodette said. “After such a contentious election we need to start reclaiming a narrative that both sides can see themselves in.”

MSB

Former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell spoke at an MSB event where he, along with other business and government experts, offered their advice to the next U.S. president.

news

Friday, OCTOBER 28, 2016

THE HOYA

How Smart Tech Unique Real Estate Fund Launches Shapes the Future FUND, from A10

THINKTECH, from A10

tag your friends in the most recent batch of Facebook photos you uploaded but not both. General or strong AI, on the other hand, represents the ability of software to “learn” how to outperform humans in virtually all tasks, simultaneously.

The path to general AI largely deals with the capability of computer software to “learn” as humans do. While general AI has not yet been realized, narrow AI has become fairly integrated into our everyday lives. Whether it be facial recognition software or advancements to Google’s search algorithm, AI is helping people to perform tasks more quickly and with greater accuracy than ever before. What is it going to take to leap from narrow to general AI? The path to general AI largely deals with the capability of computer software to learn as humans do. AI first appeared in the 1950s with software being able to execute a single narrow task to perfection. This was achieved by software being hardcoded to account for a myriad of possibilities. In essence, a programmer gives a machine a specific set of instructions to accomplish a particular task. In the 1980s, AI developed further, and “machine learning” emerged. Machine learning represents the ability of algorithms to be developed that allow machines to synthesize large amounts of data, learn from it and conduct their own decision making processes. Machine learning represents the departure of hardcoded software into adaptive algorithms that bring AI a palpable step closer to human learning and intelligence. Another major step toward general AI was realized around 2010 with the advent of “deep learning.” Deep learning is a branch of machine learning that allows algorithms to actually model higher levels of abstractions. In other words, deep learning offers the opportunity for machines to be presented with infinitely large data

sets and learn how to ignore all but the most relevant information. These advancements in deep learning have brought about the driverless car and the ability for machines to diagnose tumors more accurately than even the best trained radiologists. While machine and deep learning have spurred many developments in the sophistication of AI, general intelligence is still a fairly distant dream for AI researchers. What is most challenging about attaining general AI, though, is the “common sense” problem. Although deep learning has allowed machines to “learn” what information is important in order to accomplish a particular task, AI has not developed to the point of being able to model “predictive learning”. Predictive learning is the core feature of human learning in which past experience gives way to forming future conclusions. Modeling predictive learning, more colloquially referred to as common sense, into an algorithm for machines presents the greatest barrier to attaining general AI.

Predictive learning is the core feature of human learning in which past experience gives way to forming future conclusions.. This “common sense” problem of general AI is what is currently preventing researchers from creating machines that mimic or even perfect human intelligence. It would appear that, as long as predictive learning cannot be algorithmically modeled, we should continue to see machines that surpass their human counterparts in one particular area or task but not all areas and tasks simultaneously. Ultimately, it would appear that the old adage is as true for people as it is for AI: You really cannot teach common sense.

Bianca DiSanto is a senior in the McDonough School of Business. Think Tech appears every Friday.

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“I would like to see this fund be a $1 to $2 million fund at some point in the relatively near term.” Matthew cypher Director, Steers Center for Global RealEstate

“We are technically part of the endowment at this time, so, when alumni donate money to us, they donate money to Georgetown University, but they earmark it specifically for us,” Duffield said. “Unlike other clubs on campus like GUSIF, it can’t be taken away from us,

FILE PHOTO: ALEXANDER BROWN/THE HOYA

The Georgetown University Public Real Estate Fund currently holds $100,000 but seeks up to $2 million to use for investments. because it is our money.” This is also a different model than Georgetown Collegiate Investors, which currently possesses $85,000 in assets under management. Unlike the Real Estate Fund and GUSIF, GCI raises funds from within the student body and its own membership, allowing its members to receive direct returns on their investment. Cypher outlined his vision for the future of the fund. “I would like to see this fund be a $1 to $2 million fund at some point in the relatively near term. That’s a very high priority for us from a fundraising perspective,” Cypher said. “We want it to be the largest

student-led fund on campus and be one of the larger ones around the country.” Duffield said her work with GUPREF has been valuable and is excited that many others will have similar opportunities as the fund continues to grow. “I have been given a lot of fantastic opportunities through Professor Cypher and the Steers Center to learn about real estate and to learn what I want to do as a career in real estate,” Duffield said. “I think that, with the addition of the fund, that will expand that opportunity to a whole lot more students than were able to take advantage of it previously.”

Panelists Call for Worker Solidarity WORKERS, from A10

many measures, is rising,” Carney said. “You have the stock market hitting record highs; you have corporate profits hitting record high, yet you have media wages stagnating.” Frank suggested that, despite the Democratic Party’s claims of promoting equality, it actually represents the interests of a “professional class.” “This isn’t the party of working people, regardless of the nice things that Hillary Clinton says from time to time. This is a party that identifies with the professional class,” Frank said. “When I say that they are a party of the professional class, I mean this in almost a 19th century way … The Democratic Party acts as the agent of this class of people.” Fletcher employed a metaphor of the RMS Titanic in an attempt to offer a more

realistic portrayal of the state of racial division and quality in America.

“This isn’t the party of working people, regardless of the nice things that Hillary Clinton says from time to time.” Thomas Frank American Political Analyst, Author

“There is a current that exists, particularly among white progressives, that a rising tide raises all boats,” Fletcher said. “The better metaphor is the Titanic … Many of us have been living

in steerage, and, when the ship is going down, there are some of us who are going to die — it is the way the system is built. In order to have solidarity, the people that are in steerage cannot feel like the people in the upper decks are basically saying, ‘Stuff happens, too bad.’” Instead, Fletcher suggested that solidarity has to be achieved through empathy and effort among different economic classes and racial groups. “Economic unity alone is not enough. We have to engage in a fight to break that racial differential, otherwise there is no hope,” Fletcher said. “But I am convinced that it can and will be done, and some of that I saw in the excitement around Black Lives Matter and in the excitement around the [Bernie] Sanders campaign.” About 60 people attended the event, which was enti-

tled, “Left Behind: Working Class Families and Communities.” The event was cosponsored by the Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor and the Baker Center for Leadership and Governance at the Institute of Politics and Public Service at the McCourt School of Public Policy. Esmeralda Huerta (SFS ’17), viceroy of the Georgetown Solidarity Committee, said she enjoyed the dialogue but had some reservations about the viewpoints of most of the speakers. “I was a little bit disappointed that the speakers weren’t a little bit more radical,” Huerta said. “I do think they tended to take a very white working class perspective on this ... I really enjoyed Bill Fletcher,.He did a great job of explaining how capitalism has disenfranchised working class people — poor people of color the most.”

Maker Movement Hits Campus MAKERS, from A10

work with them. Users only have to pay a fee if they decide to take their creations home — only then are they charged for the universitysupplied parts of their device. The Making of the Maker Hub

4 2

“It was more general interest meetings, like going to property tours and speaker series, but there was no true investing experience. We wanted to build a skillset for Georgetown students so it would be more marketable.” McLoughlin said the fund’s professionally led training program, which every new member completes, offers an extensive survey of real estate investment strategy with a special focus on real estate investment trust securities and commercial mortgage-backed securities. “We have a 10-week training program where we have professionals from the real estate space coming in and teaching us how to invest in REITS and CMBS. We have people from Blackstone, BlackRock and Morgan Stanley all coming in and teaching us how real professionals think about investing in real estate,” McLoughlin said. While other investment groups on campus, like Georgetown University Student Investment Fund and Georgetown Collegiate Investors trade in REITS, Cypher says the Real Estate Fund is the only student-led investment group in the country to trade in CMBS, which allows for a more comprehensive engagement with markets. “When you put the REITS product with the CMBS product, that is 100 percent of the public equity and debt capital markets,” Cypher said. “It pro-

duces this very unique public fund comprising of both debt and equity, and I think it gives the students a very well rounded and robust opportunity to learn how the public markets work.” GUSIF is currently the largest student-led investment fund on campus, managing approximately $600,000 in assets on behalf of the university’s endowment. GUPREF Chief Operating Officer Lena Duffield (MSB ’17) explained the difference between its assets and those of GUSIF (Full disclosure: Duffield is a former Hoya staff member).

Beth Marhanka, head of the GNMC, oversees the operations of the Maker Hub. She explained that the impetus for the space began in 2014, when the university acquired two 3-D printers for the GNMC. In 2015, these printers were granted their own space, which was then enlarged into a second room this year to accommodate the entirety of the Hub. Pointing from one room to the next, Marhanka explained the current division of the space during an interview with The Hoya. “People can come in [the idea lab], and it’s an ideation space where you can collaborate and come up with solutions. And then you go in there and make them,” Marhanka said. At the Hub’s opening event, which attracted about 100 people, Marhanka expressed that the lab was the perfect fit for the Hub, an initiative that she said illustrates Lauinger Library’s commitment to innovation. “This area used to have shelving in it,” Marhanka said, gesturing at the workbenches, tools and whirring 3D printers. “It was government document stacks, so we’re constantly evolving and trying to figure out what

the community wants and needs.”

“We’re all about entrepreneurship, so if you want to start a business, come here and make something.” beth marhanka Head of the Gelardin New Media Center

OWEN EAGAN/THE HOYA

The Maker Movement

According to Marhanka, Georgetown’s Maker Hub aligns with the “Maker Movement,” a trend that has been progressing in the United States for at least a decade, bringing together all handson craftsmen, inventors, tinkerers and “DIYers” under the banner of a new moniker: the maker. Heralded by the launch of the niche publication MAKE Magazine in 2005, the movement bonds many of America’s technically savvy and creative demographics, who descend upon the magazine’s “Maker Faires” held throughout the nation. According to Time Magazine, elements represented at these expo events include not only technically savvy 3-D printing expertise and robotics but also crocheting, jewelry making, pickling, beekeeping, sustainable living and much more. The Atlantic reports that many libraries have devel-

The Maker Hub features a variety of electronic equipment that is available to users of the space. oped maker spaces within the past five years. According to Marhanka, the movement has entered about 400 libraries nationwide thus far, with Georgetown modeling its progress after similar spaces at North Carolina State University, Northeastern University and Virginia Commonwealth University. Marhanka said these spaces and similar developments allow libraries to retain relevance as centers of learning in a digital age. “Libraries have such an opportunity to kind of evolve and become increasingly relevant to their communities,” Marhanka said. Marhanka also emphasized the entrepreneurial aspect of the space. “We’re all about entrepreneurship, so if you want to start a business, come here and make something,” Marhanka said.

Making Strides Forward

After numerous donations, the cost of developing the space totaled less than $10,000. Undeen said the Hub is now seeking to purchase a laser cutter for about $21,000. On the topic of funding, Marhanka said the best way for the space to gain further financial backing is through noticeable student interest. “I’d like people to know it’s an experiment, and we have to get people in here to make things,” Marhanka said. “And the more people make and take advantage of the space, we’ll get more support.” For now, creative students like MacHale are simply excited about the space. “I’ve always been interested in [making things] — I think more so than most kids are. So this is, like, my spot,” MacHale said.

Business & Tech FRIDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2016

from the pros your career In the midst of recruiting season for the banking and consulting sectors, The Hoya spoke with experts attending events sponsored by the Cawley Career Education Center. These recruiters, associates, analysts, consultants and other professionals were asked for their insights and advice to guide students pursuing careers in their fields. This week, experts talk about Georgetown’s reputation in the professional world and what students should do before and after they graduate. michael turchetti Senior Research Analyst, Lewin Group As someone who works with Georgetown graduates but did not actually attend Georgetown, how would you describe the average Georgetown graduate? I think one of the great things about Georgetown graduates is that they really do come prepared with the skill set that we need at the Lewin Group to really hit the ground running. That’s something that we really don’t get from other universities. People that have graduated from Georgetown tend to know the field that we’re in very well, so they come in with very specific knowledge of health care and the industry and that really makes them invaluable in our company. Curtis Romiy Chair, Hoya Gateway Program What separates Hoya Gateway from all the other career resources that Georgetown offers? I think the goal of Hoya Gateway is to create opportunities for students to meet with individuals in their chosen career or potential career and to learn from them about the paths those alumni took to get them where they are. I think the best way to describe the difference is the opportunity for one-on-one networking sessions, as opposed to some of the other career services where we’re looking for direct opportunities for jobs, for ways to send resumes to certain people. Here we’re talking about providing career advice over the phone, in casual settings, over Skype, one-on-one for coffee or lunch, or something like that. Ann beth Stebbins Partner, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP For someone considering going to law school, what course would you recommend taking at Georgetown? I would recommend a basic accounting course, either taken while you’re an undergraduate or in law school: “Accounting for Lawyers.” Financial literacy is a skill that you absolutely need in the law field, regardless of whether you practice as a litigator or a transactional lawyer. You need to understand your client’s business, you need to understand their objectives and you need to be able to problem-solve. You can’t solve their problems unless you understand their problems, so basic financial literacy is a must.

Gracie Hochberg compiled this section. Submit your questions to business@thehoya.com

Maker Hub Launch Lights Up Lauinger Owen eagan Hoya Staff Writer

Tristan MacHale (MSB ’19) likes to make things. When he worked at a beach club this summer, he learned basic carpentry skills like fixing doors and building shelves. “I know my way around a drill and a hammer and all that,” MacHale said.

“It’s very much a DIY space. We’re not a service space. People don’t come here with a job and we do it for them.” Don Undeen Manager, Maker Hub

For MacHale, and others like him, the Maker Hub in Lauinger Library fills a gap in creativity at Georgetown. Inaugurated on Oct. 19, the Hub is a multipurpose workshop where students, faculty and alumni are encouraged to embrace creativity in building their own handicrafts, inventions or prototype products. Built within two rooms of the library’s first floor and adjacent to the Gelardin New Media Center, the space features four 3-D printers, a sewing machine, classic woodworking tools such as hammers and power drills, a variety of electrical

Owen Eagan/The Hoya

Maker Hub Manager Don Undeen was invited to serve on the Vatican’s first Arts and Technology Council. The Hub allows students to create objects for entrepreneurial reasons, or simply for fun. equipment components and even an old-style four-panel folding Dorset loom for making cloth, among other devices. Don Undeen, the manager of the Hub, previously created the MediaLab at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, an exploratory design space where emerging technologies are examined and tested. Undeen said that this array of tools allows mem-

bers of the university community to create things independently or in groups according to their own skill. “It’s very much a [do-it-yourself] space,” Undeen said. “We’re not a service space. People don’t come here with a job and we do it for them.” Undeen added, however, that aspiring makers would not be left without help. Along with the Hub’s 10 trained

Hoya Staff Writer

In partnership with Georgetown University’s Steers Center for Global Real Estate, the Georgetown University Public Real Estate Fund launched this semester and has so far raised $100,000. GUPREF is a student-run investment fund that manages money on behalf of the university’s endowment and invests in publicly traded real estate investment funds and commercial mortgage-backed securities. The group has aspirations to become the largest student-led investment fund on campus. The Steers Center, dedicated to offering Georgetown students access to the real estate industry, was founded in 2015 when the McDonough School of Business aligned its real estate program with industry leader and business school Robert H. Steers (GSB ’75). GUPREF, which recruited 35 new members at its launch in September, is looking to expand further in the spring, promising prospective

See MAKERS, A9

THINK TECH

Bianca DiSanto

LEA NICOLAS/THE HOYA

A panel of commentators discussed issues of working-class Americans for a crowd of about 60 spectators at a panel event Tuesday, stressing solidarity to heal national divides.

AI Begets A Smart Future

Panel Discusses Worker Solidarity I

Lea Nicolas

Hoya Staff Writer

The Catholic teaching of solidarity is essential in addressing the societal neglect of working class families, according to a panel of commentators, labor leaders and Catholic advocates for working-class families at an event on Tuesday. “[Solidarity] is one of the fundamentals of our social doctrine — the fact that we are all in this together, the concept of a common good. I think that concept more than anything is under

assault,” said Rev. Clete Kiley, a Catholic priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago and a visiting fellow at the Institute for Policy Research and Catholic Studies at the Catholic University of America. “We live in a culture that is very consumerist. It’s an exaggerated kind of individualism.” Hosted by the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life in the Intercultural Center, the event also featured Tim Carney, senior political columnist for The Washington Post and visiting fellow at the

American Enterprise Institute; Thomas Frank, an American political analyst and author; Bill Fletcher, a senior scholar at the Institute for Policy Studies; and Kiley. John Carr, director of the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life, served as the moderator. Carney began the discussion by citing examples of economic inequality in the United States today. “The fact is that inequality, by

members hands-on experience in the real estate market. Matthew Cypher, director of the Steers Center, said the fund exemplifies one of the founding goals of the Steers Center. “From the moment we arrived here to start [the Steers Center], we’ve always been focused on providing our students with highly applied learning opportunities where they’re actually doing real work as opposed to simulating the work,” Cypher said. The Fund’s Chief Investment Officer James McLoughlin (MSB ’17) echoed Cypher’s emphasis on applied learning, saying that no other group on campus offers direct experience in real estate investment. “My sophomore year I approached professor Matthew Cypher about potentially starting a fund, because I didn’t think the opportunities we had in the Real Estate Club were applicable enough,” McLoughlin said. See FUND, A9

f you were to ask a dozen people to describe what they think of when they hear the phrase “artificial intelligence,” or AI, you would likely receive a dozen different responses. While the optimists in the group might reference friendly robots like C3PO as the culmination of AI, the pessimists will likely point to “The Terminator” as the reason we should proceed down the AI rabbit hole with caution. When it comes to AI, most people only have a vague understanding of what the term actually means and how close we may, or may not, be from seeing some of these sci-fi characters in real life.

See WORKERS, A9

New Real Estate Fund Raises $100K Jack Segelstein

staff members, all work-study students, he will offer guidance to visitors. To use the space, members of the university community need only to sign a waiver. Entrance and use of the Hub’s equipment is free and students are allowed to store creations in personal boxes within the space as they

cOURTESY gEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY PUBLIC REAL ESTATE FUND

James McLoughlin (MSB ’17), back middle, and Lena Duffield (MSB ’17), front middle, are inaugural members of the fund’s executive committee.

Broadly, AI is described as the development of computer systems capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence. Broadly, AI is described as the development of computer systems capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence. Such tasks include language translation, visual perception and speech recognition. However, in order to truly understand AI, several more nuanced classifications are necessary. Today, AI advancements are more properly referred to as narrow or weak AI developments. Narrow AI means that a computer system is able to execute one task extremely well, if not perfectly. That is, software can either beat the 18-time world champion “GO” player, or successfully See THINKTECH, A9