YEAR IN
REVIEW
2014-2015
Table of Contents
4
Free Speech
5
DC Statehood
6
Race and Diversity
8
Health and Safety
9
In Memoriam
10 11
While the university attempted to clarify and expand its speech and expression policy, the administration still came into conflict with students.
Despite hearings on statehood, the District repeatedly faced obstacles in its push for greater autonomy.
4
Construction
Construction cluttered main campus, prompting calls for greater student input in the 2018 Campus Plan.
5
Bookended by a vigil on Ferguson and a vote on the diversity course requirement, the 2014-15 academic year provoked conversations at Georgetown about race and diversity both nationally and on campus.
Students discussed perceived inadequacies in university resources regarding physical, mental and sexual health.
6 Production Staff
The university community mourned the deaths of SFS Dean Emerita Carol Lancaster, Andrea Jaime (NHS ’17) and other alumni and faculty.
Art Across Forms
Through film, theater and dance, student artists at Georgetown explored challenging themes including mental health, race relations and family.
New Faces in Sports Entering with high expectations, first-year athletes and coaches stood out both on their teams and in their conferences, providing hope for the future.
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MALLIKA SEN Editor-in-Chief Katherine RICHARDSON Executive Editor
DANIEL SMITH Managing Editor
KSHITHIJ SHRINATH Issue Editor Molly simio Online Editor BECCA SALTZMAN Copy Chief
ISABEL BINAMIRA Photography Editor SHANNON HOU Layout Editor
Contributing Editors Jess Kelham-Hohler, Carolyn Maguire, Nick Bailey, Charlotte Kelly Cover photo: Daniel Smith This page: Dan Gannon (top), Daniel Smith (middle, bottom)
The Year in Brief
July 2014 – DeGioia Becomes Longest-Serving President University President John J. DeGioia, the first layperson to occupy Georgetown’s presidency, surpassed his predecessors 13 years after he ascended to the office in July 2001.
Andrew Wallender Hoya Staff Writer
August 2014 – Alumni Donate to Thompson Athletic Center
September 2014 – Syrian Performers Denied Visas Twelve Syrian women scheduled to perform a play as part of the Myriad Voices festival, showcasing Muslim communities, were denied visas to enter the United States. A forum including a live videochat with the women replaced the production.
Nov. 14 – The Hilltoss Opens in HFSC
Men’s basketball greats Patrick Ewing (CAS ’85), Roy Hibbert (COL ’08) and Jeff Green (COL ’08) contributed a total of $5.3 million to the construction of the John R. Thompson, Jr. Intercollegiate Athletics Center.
The debut of The Hilltoss, a smoothie and salad restaurant, in the Healey Family Student Center marked the first new store opening for Students of Georgetown, Inc. in more than 11 years. COURTESY ANDREW MINKOVITZ
Dec. 3 – Global Business Major Announced
The School of Foreign Service added an eighth major in global business and began the Global Business Fellows program, a collaboration between the SFS and the McDonough School of Business.
Jan. 15 – Global Futures Initiative Announced
FILE PHOTO: MICHELLE XU/THE HOYA
Dec. 10 – Healy Clock Hands Stolen The clock hands of Healy Tower went missing early in the morning after unknown culprits stole them from the clock facing the front gates. The hands have yet to be recovered.
University President John J. DeGioia announced the Global Futures Initiative, a new two-year-long initiative that will engage the entire university in an exploration of prominent global issues, namely development, governance, security and the environment.
Jan. 26 – CISR Rejects GU Fossil Free Proposal
FILE PHOTO: DANIEL SMITH/THE HOYA
Feb. 3-4 – SFS-Q Campus Celebrates 10th Anniversary The School of Foreign Service campus in Qatar celebrated the 10th anniversary of its founding with a conference in early February exploring power dynamics in institutions throughout history.
Feb. 19 – Luther, Rohan Win GUSA Election After running an unorthodox, satirical campaign, Joe Luther (COL ’16) and Connor Rohan (COL ’16) received 54.1 percent of votes after four rounds of run-offs in the Georgetown University Student Association executive race. The election followed an intense 15 days of campaigning by the five executive tickets marked by heated debates between candidates. Despite their satire-driven platform, the duo took an action-oriented approach in their first days in office, appointing a 67-person cabinet and urging institutional changes in GUSA.
March 2014 – Study Abroad Housing Options Altered Since early 2014, students have pushed back against the Office of Residential Living’s housing policies for fall study abroad students, who were prevented from entering the housing lottery for the upcoming year and forced to wait until early fall to obtain spring housing. An IdeaScale petition advocating for greater flexibility in study abroad housing options garnered more than 540 signatures after its creation in early February. Following more than a year of back-and-forth between the ORL and students, the university announced earlier housing selection times for students studying abroad in the fall and the ability for housing groups to have semesterlong unfilled vacancies. FILE PHOTO: VALERIA BALZA/THE HOYA
FILE PHOTO: ISABEL BINAMIRA/THE HOYA
The Committee on Investments and Social Responsibility voted against GU Fossil Free’s divestment proposal, instead recommending that Georgetown’s board of directors seek a concentrated course of action involving targeted divestment, strategic engagement and continued assessment. Following the proposal, the board of directors formed a working group on fossil fuel divestment in early April to discuss divestment with GU Fossil Free and CISR. The board will vote on CISR’s proposal in June.
Feb. 28 – Rhino Bar Closes Its Doors Rhino Bar & Pumphouse on M Street shut its doors due to rising rent costs. It will be replaced by retail store Club Monaco, ending a 63-year bar tradition at 3295 M Street.
March 1 – 200th Anniversary of University Charter
FILE PHOTO: ISABEL BINAMIRA/THE HOYA
Politicians from across D.C., including President Barack Obama and Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), congratulated Georgetown on the 200th anniversary of its federal charter.
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Students, University Clash Over Free Speech Despite policy changes, conversation about student rights continues
Katherine Richardson Hoya Staff Writer
T
Former H*yas for Choice President Abby sion policy has been tested in a variety of ways. Tezel believes that it should remain fluid and Grace (SFS ’16) said that this event galvanized clarification to the speech and expression polisubject to future revisions. “I think it’s a document that is constantly hav- cy after the club submitted a formal complaint ing to be looked at and reworked,” Tezel said. “I to the Speech and Expression Committee. “I think that our biggest challenge was when think both the student affairs administrators as well as the students on the committee are com- we were kicked off of campus in the fall. Well, mitted to … really looking at it from a theoreti- we were kicked onto campus,” Grace said. “Forcal, academic, thoughtful approach in order to tunately, after that, we were able to bring a really substantive complaint against the Speech best administer the policy.” The Speech and Expression Committee, and Expression Committee and highlight a lot which serves as an advisory body to the office of of work that still needed to be done.” The policy misappropriation also sparked the vice president for student affairs, responds to student complaints about the misapplication the creation of a separate group, Hoyas United of the policy and works closely with Student Af- for Free Speech, in October. The group, foundfairs to amend the speech and expression policy. ed by former H*yas for Choice Vice President This academic year, the committee has faced Vincent DeLaurentis (SFS ’17), created a petition multiple speech complaints, which have turned with demands for the university to expand free speech zones on campus, campus-wide attention to particularly to Healy Circle. free speech and the impleAround 460 community mentation of the speech members signed the petiand expression policy. tion, presented to Olson in The first came in Septemearly November. ber, when H*yas for Choice The Speech and Expreswas once again removed sion Committee issued its from tabling by the Georgefirst official opinion in Octotown University Police Deber in response to H*yas for partment, this time from the TREVOR TEZEL (SFS ’15) Choice’s complaint. It stated off-campus public location Former GUSA President that the complaint had where GUPD officers had relocated H*yas for Choice members in January merit and provided advice and support to both GUPD and Student Affairs in the clarifications 2014. GUPD Chief Jay Gruber later apologized for of the policy. The committee began training GUPD officers the misapplication of the free speech and exon the policy and handling student protestors pression policy. “We screwed up,” Gruber said at the time in October, encouraging them to confer with (“GUPD Talks Free Speech, SafeRides,” thehoya. the Center for Student Engagement before takcom, The Hoya, Oct. 3, 2014). “It never should ing action. “We’re all hoping that will ensure regularity have happened, never should have happened. I apologized to the president of H*yas for Choice, in the enforcement of the policy,” Speech and and I let the student body know I apologized. It Expression Committee member Sam Kleinman (COL ’16) said. was wrong.” Olson officially clarified the speech and expression policy in a campus-wide email sent in November. The email included a tabling map of “public squares,” expanded to include Library Walk, Copley Lawn, the Alumni Square courtyard and the patio between Darnall Hall and Henle Village. DeLaurentis said that although he was pleased with the clarification of the policy, he believes that further changes should be made in the future. “I think the policy is basically fine,” DeLaurentis wrote in an email. “I would love to see an expansion of protected tabling zones to areas into Healy Circle. I’d also like to see greater student representation on the Speech and Expression Committee and to place greater checks on the VP for Student Affairs’ control of the policy.” Grace said that H*yas for Choice will continue to push for reform to the speech and expression policy. “I will never be happy until we’re allowed to table in Healy Hall,” Grace said. FILE PHOTO: NATE MOULTON/THE HOYA The effects of the policy clarification on H*yas Members of GU Fossil Free hold a banner in Gaston Hall following a speech by World for Choice were seen in late January when the club protested the Cardinal O’Connor ConferBank President Jim Yong Kim. GUPD escorted them off the stage.
he Foundation for Individual Rights in Education listed Georgetown as one of the worst 10 colleges for free speech in the country in its rankings released in March. This appellation was but a step in a long-running discussion about free speech highlighted by frequent clashes between student activists and the university administration. After an incident in January 2014 in which unaffiliated campus group H*yas for Choice was relocated from protesting in Healy Circle to a location just outside the front gates, prompting discontent about the ambiguity in the existing policy, the university released an updated speech and expression policy in May 2014. The policy was the result of a memorandum of understanding between Vice President for Student Affairs Todd Olson and newly appointed Georgetown University Student Association President Trevor Tezel (SFS ’15) and Vice President Omika Jikaria (SFS ’15). The changes, made with input from former GUSA President Nate Tisa (SFS ’14) and the Speech and Expression Committee, attempted to clarify the policy in four ways: designating Regents Lawn, the lobby of the Leavey Center and the Healey Family Student Center as “public squares” for student free speech, expanding beyond Red Square; increasing the efficiency of the classroom reservation process; permitting protest anywhere on campus provided no other campus policies are violated; and expanding the role of the Speech and Expression Committee by allowing it to review student complaints and ensure fair and accurate application of the policy. “The changes have been useful and have helped create a predictable and clear context for our students to express their views,” Olson wrote in an email to The Hoya. “We are committed to continuing to monitor and review how the policy is working in practice.” This academic year, the speech and expres-
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“I think it’s a document that is constantly having to be looked at.”
FILE PHOTO: MICHELLE XU/THE HOYA
H*yas for Choice members tabling on 37th Street were relocated to Copley Lawn. ence on Life for eight hours in Healy Circle without disruption. Discussions cropped up surrounding free speech later in the academic year, as well. In February, the Georgetown Voice published a cartoon that students said depicted racial and gender-based violence between GUSA executive race candidates, prompting a town hall meeting and protest about satire, race relations and free speech. The Speech and Expression Committee received a complaint about the cartoon but has yet to issue an opinion. Kleinman said that the group expects to release its opinion on the issue before the end of the academic year. Most recently, in March, GU Fossil Free stormed the Gaston Hall stage during a speech from World Bank President Jim Kim. The three students were escorted from the stage by Director of Student Conduct Judy Johnson and members of GUPD, and were charged with student conduct violations. After meeting with Johnson and submitting a letter of appeal, member Patricia Cippolitti (SFS ’15) said that she has not yet heard anything back from the university, which she said leads her to believe that the charges have been dropped. “I think that we were totally in our right and within the purview of the university’s speech and expression policy,” Cippolitti said. “We were silent. We merely held up a banner and we weren’t obstructing anyone’s view or the speaker’s ability to speak. I think that the time, place and manner of that act of protest was appropriate to our message and to the event.” Cippolitti said she hopes that Georgetown students continue to exercise their right to free speech on campus and protest to inspire change. “I do agree that we shouldn’t be disrespecting people or in any way shape or form degrading the message of others, but we shouldn’t be afraid to put our perspectives out there, especially if they are on the side of justice,” Cippolitti said. “I hope to see students in the future more willing to take those risks if they are furthering the common good.”
Push for DC Autonomy Hits Roadblocks T
he campaign for D.C. statehood saw immense progress in the past months — including the first U.S. Senate committee hearing on the issue in over 20 years — but the possibility of the District of Columbia becoming the 51st state is still just a conversation. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), the District’s non-voting member of the House of Representatives, is leading the campaign for D.C. statehood. Norton spoke at a Sept. 15 Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee hearing alongside then-Mayor Vincent Gray (D) and D.C. Council Chairman Phil Mendelson (D). It was the first hearing regarding D.C. statehood since 1993. The hearing discussed the New Columbia Admission Act, which would limit the federal district to the immediate areas surrounding the White House and the Capitol, while the rest of Washington would be admitted as the 51st state, granting D.C. two Senate members and one voting House representative. The legislation currently has 104 co-sponsors in the House and 17 in the Senate, the highest number in the statehood bill’s history.
“As the District’s elected representative to Congress … I feel it when the bell rings for votes on bills, and I cannot cast a vote for the 650,000 American citizens who live in the District, despite the $12,000 per resident they pay in federal taxes, more per capita than any other Americans,” Norton said at the hearing. In addition to concerns regarding representation, statehood advocates decry the District of Columbia Home Rule Act of 1973, which mandates that any piece of legislation passed by the D.C. Council must undergo a 30-day Congressional review, during which time Congress can prevent the legislation from becoming law. No other state or municipality must undergo such a process. “We cannot spend without congressional appropriation, and we cannot enact local laws without congressional review,” Mendelson said at the September hearing. “The District government is fully capable of managing our affairs just like any state.” Although Congress has only used this power three times in the past 40 years, it has previously used its review over D.C.’s budget to prevent
the appropriation of funds toward specific programs, which affected the institution of both medical marijuana and needle exchange programs in the District. The debate came to light once more after voters passed Initiative 71, a ballot initiative to legalize the possession and cultivation of marijuana in the District, in November. In a spending bill passed by Congress in December, Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.) included a policy rider that said that the city could not “enact” any law that legalizes marijuana, intended to prevent the institution of Initiative 71. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) and the D.C. Council opposed this policy rider on the grounds that the marijuana legalization initiative was enacted by the voters prior to the passage of the spending bill and urged Congress not to block Initiative 71. “For Americans wondering why we’re being treated differently than Colorado, than Alaska, this demonstrates our relationship with Congress,” Bowser said in a February press conference. “We encourage Congress not to be so concerned with what seven out of 10 residents said
Kristen Fedor Hoya Staff Writer
should be the law in the District of Columbia.” Despite resistance from some members of Congress, legalization officially went into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 26, at the end of a 30-day Congressional review period. No members of Congress officially introduced any disapproval motions during that time. Though the standoff over legalization seems to have subsided, D.C.’s hopes for statehood appear to be little more than a pipe dream, according to Mark Rom, director of Georgetown’s masters program in American government. “In the current political environment and for the foreseeable future … there’s no way Congress would approve it. It’s so Democratic. It’s two Democratic votes in the Senate,” Rom said in September (“Senate Holds Hearing on D.C. Statehood,” A4, The Hoya, Sept. 16, 2014). For now, Norton is continuing her effort to garner increased support for D.C. statehood, holding D.C. Emancipation Day on April 16 and delivering three speeches on the House floor to highlight the contributions of D.C. citizens.
Before 2018 Plan, Construction Crowds Campus
D
rilling and hammering sounds became background noise to students this past academic year. Multiple construction projects — many still in progress — yielded the opening of new buildings and the closing of familiar spots on campus, much to the dismay of students who claimed that the planning of these projects neglected their voices. In early September, the long-awaited Healey Family Student Center opened as a new space for students to study and socialize. Envisioned as the center of student life on campus, the center hosted various events and conferences, including watch parties for men’s basketball games, and housed two new eateries: Bulldog Tavern and The Hilltoss. As one project ended, though, multiple others popped up in its place. As part of the 2010 Campus Plan requirement to house 385 more students on campus for the 2015-2016 academic year, construction projects for residence halls continued this year. In light of these construction projects, as well as the three-year on-campus housing requirement put into motion last spring, students have called for greater representation and involvement in the drafting of the upcoming 2018 Campus Plan, which will decide every major construction project for the next 20 years. “I think that’s certainly the most important issue for students, particularly with the 2018 Campus Plan — ensuring that we have students involved at every point in the process,” former Georgetown University Student Association Undersecretary for Neighborhood Relations Olivia Hinerfeld (SFS ’17) said in February (“Next Executive Key to 2018 Campus Plan,” A1, The Hoya, Feb. 10). In March, the GUSA Campus Plan Subcommittee started a petition regarding the 2018
Campus Plan, entitled “Let’s Not Get Screwed Again.” The petition, which had received 2,613 signatures as of April 13, included three main demands from students: the three-year on-campus housing requirement should not further increase, the university should prioritize maintenance of existing buildings over new projects and the Georgetown Community Partnership Steering Committee should recognize student input in their upcoming deliberations. “It is crucial that students show the Georgetown Community Partnership that they care about the future of Georgetown and will not be excluded from the planning process again,” GUSA Vice President Connor Rohan (COL ’16) said. “Now is the time to speak up.” One of the most visible changes was the closure of the Leavey Bridge and the Reiss Pathway, which were shuttered midway through the fall semester in October to begin the construction of the Northeast Triangle, a residence hall for 225 students set to open in the fall of 2016. The construction also rerouted the pathway to the entrance of Henle Village. Because the Northeast Triangle will not open for another year, the Office of Planning and Facilities Management also advanced temporary plans to convert two floors of the Georgetown University Hotel and Conference Center into student housing for the upcoming school year. The renovations will completed by fall 2015, and 140 sophomores will move into the converted doubles. Renovations of the former Jesuit Residence in Ryan and Mulledy Halls will be completed by July 2015. After an application process, 148 students will live in the Spirit of Georgetown Living Learning Community next year. Construction also began on the John R. Thompson, Jr. Intercollegiate Athletics Center
Toby Hung Hoya Staff Writer
FILE PHOTO: MICHELLE XU/THE HOYA
The blocked Reiss Pathway was one of many consequences of campus construction. after a groundbreaking ceremony in September. The center received donations totaling $5.3 million from former Georgetown basketball legends Patrick Ewing (CAS ’85), Roy Hibbert (COL ’08) and Jeff Green (COL ’12), bringing it closer to its $62 million fundraising goal. The TAC, located next to McDonough Gym, will house state-of-the-art practice facilities for all varsity sports and is slated for completion in the fall of 2016.
A new $86,000 sand volleyball court funded through donations was also constructed in the Southwest Quadrangle area. “I understand construction is painful,” Vice President for Planning and Management Robin Morey said in August (“Campus Construction Continues into Fall,” A4, The Hoya, Aug. 26). “But when you think about the students and the community, this is improving Georgetown for the future.”
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From Ferguson to Georgetown, Ignitin
A year of striking images and difficult reflection leaves hope for fu
O
n the eve of the first day of classes in August, a collection of members of the Georgetown University community found their way to Red Square. Two weeks earlier, Michael Brown, an 18-year-old black male, had been shot by a police officer in Ferguson, Mo., triggering nationwide protests decrying police brutality against communities of color. Now, it was time for Georgetown to participate in the national conversation. Student speakers opened the vigil with their personal reflections on the events in Ferguson before giving way to professors and, eventually, University President John J. DeGioia. At the end of the event, candles rose into the air, illuminating the red brick of the square. “It was one of those beautiful moments that highlighted the solidarity achieved on Georgetown’s campus,” GU National Association for the Advacement of Colored People President Mikaela Ferrill (COL ’15) said. These national and campus events set the tone for the rest of the academic year. Over the past eight months, conversations about race and diversity became ingrained into the national consciousness. Striking images of armed police fighting back protesters in Ferguson, of Eric Garner falling to the ground in Staten Island as a police officer held him in a stranglehold and of protesters raising their fists in front of the White House captivated the nation. These same conversations also played a major role in student life on campus, as the university community reflected on the state of race relations and diversity both nationally and at Georgetown. While university stakeholders, including faculty and administrators, were pulled into the discussion, students were the driving force behind the various movements, beginning difficult conversations about university shortcomings and proposing institutional solutions to create a more thoughtful, socially conscious and unified Georgetown.
fortable conversations.” developing.” al Christmas tree lighting in Dahlgren QuadranThe conversations were kicked into a higher gle on Dec. 5. The peaceful demonstration stood Conversations on campus in the fall, particularly in the immediate aftermath of the shooting and gear by the November and December decisions out to history professor Marcia Chatelain, who protests in Ferguson, revolved around systemic is- of grand juries not to indict the police officers participated in university reflections throughout sues with the criminal justice system, mirroring involved in the cases of both Brown and Garner. the year. the national discussion. Law In Washington, D.C., protesters, including George“There’s something really powerful about makprofessor and former federal town students, marched through Mount Vernon ing contact with the ground and expressing your prosecutor Paul Butler, who Square and Chinatown and to the White House to concern about the direction of the world that way,” spoke at the reflection event in express their discontent. Chatelain said. “Watching students literally put On campus, students staged silent protests in themselves on the line to make sure that the conAugust and at similar events at the law center throughout Red Square, organized a week of action in Decem- versation on racial injustice continues is something the year, said that the frustra- ber and wrote letters supporting body cameras to about the school year that I’ll always remember.” tion stemmed from a feeling congressmen. In a nationally televised home game Admissions officer Aya Waller-Bey (COL ’14), forof powerlessness in communi- at the Verizon Center against the University of Kan- mer resident director of the Black House, echoed sas, the Georgetown men’s basketball team became Chatelain. ties of color. “These high-profile cases of the first college team to wear shirts reading “I Can’t “There was this silence, this eeriness for me,” police officers shooting un- Breathe,” Garner’s final words. And, according to Waller-Bey said. “It brought tears to my eyes.” MARCIA CHATELAIN armed Professor of history people of color have exposed a huge problem in our criminal justice system, which is that people of color are often treated differently and unfairly by police officers and prosecutors,” Butler said. “If a substantial number of our citizens don’t feel like the government is working for them, or worse yet, feels like the government is out to get them, that raises important questions about our democracy.” Students and faculty discussed the national issues in September at a teach-in on Ferguson co-sponsored by the Center for Social Justice and the Black Leadership Forum, and 17 students travelled to Ferguson over Columbus Day weekend to personally experience the situation on the ground and participate in teach-ins and protests there. “Once in St. Louis and then Ferguson, you really could see the impact not only of Michael Brown’s inCLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: COURTESY MESBAH UDDIN, FILE PHOTO: MICHELLE XU/THE HOYA, FILE PHOTO: M cident but the frustrations of the community. And Students engaged in the discussion on race and diversity through protest. Clockwise from left: a die-in a beyond frustration into ac- November, an August vigil in Red Square, four minutes of silence during a December week of action and a s tion,” LaDarius Torrey (COL ’17), who went on the Ferguson October trip, said. BLF member Esther Owolabi (COL ’15), a more var“Just seeing that action, just seeing it go beyond ied array of students inspired by the national events *** was now engaged in the conversation. thought, was very valuable.” “This year’s events sparked conversation beyond Torrey also co-produced a video, “Am I Next?” in As discussion about national issues of race flourSeptember that featured a spoken-word poem and those who have already been dedicated to social ished, conversations about the state of Georgejustice advocacy work, and suddenly, new faces town’s diversity inside and outside the classroom images of black male Georgetown students. “That genuine question of ‘Am I next?’ seemed were in the crowd during student activism events received greater attention as well. like the right thing to ask,” Torrey said. “It’s getting and meetings, which was heartening to witness,” “The problems about race and institutions not people to challenge themselves and challenge oth- Owolabi wrote in an email to The Hoya. being as inclusive as they could be — those probers. It’s getting people to engage in those uncomThe week culminated with a die-in at the annu- lems don’t only exist with regard to the police or
“We need to have more places that reflect the beloved community that we want.”
*** Two days after the vigil in Red Square, the Office of the President organized a panel of faculty members from both the main campus and the law center to reflect on the incidents in Ferguson. The event, held in Gaston Hall, marked the increasing support from the administration in providing space for conversations on race. “Because the events took place at the beginning of the year, we had more time to be immediately reactive, and so our reaction was on two levels,” Vice President for Mission and Ministry Fr. Kevin O’Brien, S.J., said. “One was the more informal, student-driven responses: the demonstrations, the teach-ins, the prayer vigils. The other was more formal in which the administration had a role in
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ng Conversations on Race and Diversity
uture through student-led movements
Kshithij Shrinath Hoya Staff Writer
faculty and administrators to advise Provost Robert Groves on diver- brutality and the criminal justice system’s relationship with communities of color. In the past, though, they have receded into the sity issues in the student experience. “It has led the new effort around campus to celebrate heritage background. “August will come, and there’s a rush of activity,” O’Brien said. month celebrations, and it has been working very closely with Vice Provost [Randall] Bass on the proposal for a diversity requirement,” “We can’t forget that these conversations on race must continue.” A consensus of student and faculty leaders, including Owolabi, Office of the President Chief of Staff Joe Ferrara said in a statement Chatelain and O’Brien, highlighted institutionalizing the dialogue to The Hoya. Additionally, the Last Campaign for Academic Reform, officially and preserving the memory of the history of student activism as the launched in October, built upon 25 years of student advocacy in critical needs for the future of the conversation. In addition to the difavor of a diversity course requirement, distributing a petition that versity course requirement, Owolabi called for the creation of an Afgarnered around 1,200 signatures. The Main Campus Executive Fac- rican-American studies major and other cultural studies programs. ulty will vote on whether to adopt the requirement Friday. “We need to have more places that reflect the beloved commuThe requirement is an overlay, meaning students will not have nity that we want, more faculty and staff who are geared toward seeany additional required courses but will instead have to focus two of ing the university as a place where this transformation happens,” their existing courses on issues of diversity. Chatelain said. Discussion of the experiences of communities of color on GeorgeOne of those places that intends to engage wider portions of the town’s campus particularly came to light in a town hall discussion university community is the recent “Ignite the Dream” summit. The after the publication of a cartoon in the Georgetown first annual series, prompted by a call to action from sociology proVoice, which advocates said highlighted the need for fessor Michael Eric Dyson back in August at the reflections on Fergua diversity requirement. During the meeting, cartoon- son, took place April 9 to April 14, discussing issues of race, class and ist Dylan Cutler (COL ’16) apologized for the depiction pervasive inequality in America and highlighting student activism. of Christopher Wadibia (COL ’16) “Our overarching goal was to attract people and Meredith Cheney (COL ’16) as who aren’t engaged in the conversation,” Ignite a dead horse. Students claimed the the Dream co-founder Corey Stewart (SFS ’15) cartoon depicted both racial and said. gender-based violence. “This year has been a lot, and I think it made “[Cutler] was very humble in people more aware, but issues of race and class coming up and saying, ‘Please are not just a conversation for that moment,” engage with me on these issues,’” co-founder Bserat Ghebremicael (MSB ’17) said. LCAR member Dan Zager (COL ’18) “It’s a conversation that needs to continue and said. “That’s what I hope to come become ingrained.” out of the diversity requirement: Although increased support from the adthat people who have never talked ministration and faculty created spaces for ESTHER OWOLABI (COL ’15) about these issues that are very, conversation this year, students still led the disParticipant in the tree lighting die-in very important engage in this concussion and will likely do so moving forward. versation that everyone needs to be having.” Students organized the Ferguson Week of Action, the town hall Linked with the diversity course requirement is the meeting following the Voice cartoon, the Last Campaign for Acaproposal for Casa Latina, a house for the Latino com- demic Reform, the push for Casa Latina and the Ignite the Dream munity modeled after the Black House. Currently, summit. both black and Latino students share the Black House, “I’m just very proud of the type of engagement that our students which is overloaded with programming. had. It was meaningful, it was substantive and it was deep,” O’Brien “I went to Georgetown on the premise that it is a said. “Jesuit education is about depth: depth of thinking, depth of Jesuit institution,” Latino Leadership Forum Facilitator questioning, depth of conversation. Those are harder conversations Naomi Fierro (COL ’15) said. “It promised to take care of because they go deep and therefore they’re more personal. But the me in all of my forms. Not just because I got straight As, deeper the conversation is, the more lasting the impact is, and the but because I’m Latina, because I bring something dif- more that all of us will change for the better as a result.” ferent to the table, because I’m a dancer. Those things make me different and make me beautiful and should *** not be shunned.” Though a push for Casa Latina happened four years After rising from the ground in front of the Christmas tree, the 75 ago as well, conversations restarted in the fall among or so people who had participated in the quiet protest at the lighting MICHELLE XU/THE HOYA, FILE PHOTO: MICHELLE XU/THE HOYA, COURTESY LATINO LEADERSHIP FORUM the LLF, culminating in the presentation of the peti- ceremony gathered in Red Square, where they had assembled four at the annual Christmas tree lighting, protesters at the White House in tion for the house at a sit-in in the Office of the Presi- months earlier at the beginning of the year in grief and solidarity. dent April 10. The petition has 253 responses, 95 per- Only around 40 people had entered Dahlgren Quad with the intensit-in for the diversity course requirement and Casa Latina in April. cent of which are in favor of the house. The sit-in also tion of protesting: the others had simply joined when they saw what how that can be a microcosm of what’s going on in reality on a big- presented the LCAR petition for the diversity course requirement. was happening. “People stood up spontaneously, talking about their experiences,” ger scale,” Hinojos said. “I think there’s always been a conversation Stewart called the conversations over race and diversity that hapon diversity on campus and what it means for students of color to be Zager said of the sit-in. “Being able to sit back and just let the com- pened this year not adversarial or antagonistic but “empowering.” Hoyas. So while that’s been happening, the national conversation munity take charge and voice in the president’s office what they As the students stood together in a circle holding hands, the quiet has been happening at the same time. With that mix, it just became wanted to see done for a better Georgetown: that was beautiful.” feeling of solidarity and empowerment filled the air. a stronger voice on campus.” “In the circle, students of all backgrounds were standing united as *** The conversations of those previous years seemed to begin to see Hoyas against police violence toward communities of color,” Owolaresults this year. The plan presented to DeGioia resulted in the forbi said. “I will never forget looking around the circle and feeling as Conversations about Casa Latina and the diversity course require- though I was not alone and had a community of support as we all mation of the Provost’s Committee on Diversity, announced Feb. 1 as a permanent committee of undergraduate and graduate students, ment have taken place before, as have discussions about police struggled together for justice.” to the justice system,” Butler said. “We need to turn the lens inward and look at our own institutions.” These discussions about diversity in student life have taken place for years. Last year, as a senior, Waller-Bey spearheaded the #BBGU discussion, an online movement in which black students tweeted about their experiences at Georgetown. The daylong event in December 2013 translated into an action plan of eight points, including the institution of a diversity course requirement, which was presented to DeGioia at the annual Black House dinner in February 2014. “These conversations aren’t that new,” Waller-Bey said. “For the greater America, this may not be on their radar, but this is our everyday experience, so … we are always organizing to have these conversations.” Black House Resident Director Nancy Hinojos (SFS ’15) agreed that the conversations had been ongoing prior to this year but said that the national events brought greater attention to the issue on campus. “We started to talk about what the dynamics were on campus and
“[I] had a community of support as we all struggled together for justice.”
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Concerns With Campus Health Care Span Array of Issues Calls for reform center on physical, mental and sexual health resources On a campus whose population is known for its passion for and devotion to activities, academics and internships, students often put health on a backburner. The university faced continued struggles this year addressing the problems that students encounter in maintaining their physical, mental and sexual well-being. These issues contributed to ongoing discussions on campus about the shortcomings of health resources available, the policies in place to support student health and possible improvements to both. Physical Health The issue of student physical health came to light in the aftermath of the death of Andrea Jaime (NHS ’17). Jaime, 19, died from a case of meningitis Sept. 16 at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. Two days after Jaime’s death, her case of meningitis was confirmed as bacterial, which requires immediate medical attention and is more serious than viral meningitis, potentially leading to brain damage. “The tragic death of one of our students to a form of bacterial meningitis not covered by the available meningitis vaccine presented significant challenges in responding from a public health perspective,” Assistant Vice President for Student Health Services Jim Welsh wrote in an email this week reflecting on the incident. “In that response, over 100 students were prescribed prophylactic antibiotics within hours of learning of the diagnosis.” In addition to providing antibiotics to those who could have come into contact with Jaime, the Student Health Center extended its hours and added extra staff. Jaime’s death and the university’s response prompted several students to come forward and voice concerns about the quality of treatment that they had previously received at the Student Health Center and about the difficulty of scheduling an appointment there, though the center advertises walk-in appointments for students with pressing medical needs. “I’d had a pretty bad cough for two weeks and was worried that I might have a fever, but I was on hold for about half an hour and they told me they couldn’t see me for two days,” Jenna Galper (COL ’17) said in September (“In Wake of Health Scare, Students Voice Concerns about Health Center,” A1, The Hoya, Sept. 30, 2014). Welsh did not comment on any changes that have been made to the operations of the Student Health Center in order to address the concerns that students have expressed. At the time, Vice President for Student Affairs Todd Olson said that he was not aware of any specific cases of students having trouble in making an appointment at the health center. “With just about every office on campus, you can find students that say, ‘I wanted to get in but they couldn’t see me at the time I wanted,’” Olson said in September (“In
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Wake of Health Scare, Students Voice Concerns About Health Center,” A1, The Hoya, Sept. 30, 2014). “I’m not saying there’s never been a complaint, I’m just saying I’m not aware of particular complaints this semester.” Mental Health Mental health has been at the forefront of discussions about students’ well-being, especially after multiple students reported that they felt pressured to take medical leaves of absences by the Counseling and Psychiatric Services and after Thomas Lloyd (COL ’15) revealed that the university offered him little psychological support last spring after then-Georgetown-sophomore Daniel Milzman told Lloyd that he had produced ricin in his dorm room. Other students have since come forward in campus media and relayed their difficulties with CAPS, from having trouble scheduling a timely appointment to being denied
treatment in a time of need. CAPS Director Phil Meilman stressed that CAPS has worked throughout the year with the Georgetown University Student Association and other student representatives in order to improve its services. Through this collaboration, CAPS revised its website in order to make its processes more clear and transparent for students. “We are always looking to improve our offerings and we welcome constructive feedback,” Meilman wrote in an email to The Hoya. However, Meilman acknowledged that the counseling service has limited resources to serve the large amount of students that it sees. Each year, around 10 percent of the student body goes to CAPS for counseling, resulting in a cumulative total of over 10,000 individual visits. The first one or two visits for evaluation and initial psychiatrist visit, as well as all group counseling sessions, are free, while ongoing mental
FILE PHOTO: DANIEL SMITH/THE HOYA
The Student Health Center drew criticism from students for slow response times, part of a general discontent with university physical, mental and sexual health services.
Molly Simio Hoya Staff Writer health services for individuals result in a fee for each session. “From an administrative perspective, the biggest challenge is to provide the greatest amount of service to the greatest number of students,” Meilman wrote. “We continue to work on this challenge, and we have increased the size of the staff over the past 10 years to better meet the demand.” Sexual Health Sexual health was also a prominent issue this year for Georgetown, which ranked 93rd out of 140 colleges on Trojan Brand Condoms’ 2014 Sexual Health Report Card. Bert Sperling, a researcher who worked on the report card, said Georgetown’s low ranking is due to the limited sexual health resources available to students. “The [hospital-treated infection] and [sexually transmitted infection] testing is certainly very good. But as far as information provided to the students, there is not a lot. It is up to the students to find their own information. There is not a focus on sexual health,” Sperling said in February (“GU Ranks Low in Sexual Health,” A1, The Hoya, Feb. 6, 2015). In addition to being scored based on condom availability, STI testing and sexual health outreach, universities were scored on their sexual assault resources and services. After the institution of the “I Am Ready” program during New Student Orientation to engage incoming students on the topic of campus sexual assault, the university introduced an updated sexual misconduct policy in the fall. The policy limited the size of hearing panels in sexual misconduct cases from three faculty or staff members and two students to two faculty or staff members and one student. Additionally, outside investigators now look into all complaints before a hearing is conducted. The university also released a Survivor Bill of Rights. The policy changes came at the guidance of the White House and the Office of Civil Rights. “I think we’ve seen a lot of positive changes this year. We’ve seen a lot more support from the administration and a lot more support from the federal government,” Sexual Assault Peer Educator Haley Maness (NHS ’15) said. However, Maness said that there are still significant changes that can be made to help survivors, including better faculty training. While most faculty members have had online sexual assault training, Maness wants to see a more in-depth and discussion-based program. Additionally, Maness said that there needs to be more student awareness on campus, and she is lobbying for the creation of a MyAccess page with information about resources and mandatory reporting. “Even though we’ve seen some positive changes, it’s not nearly enough,” Maness said.
In Memoriam
MALLIKA SEN Hoya Staff Writer
John Courtin (CAS ’70, LAW ’78), 65
Carol Lancaster (SFS ’64), 72
As a rower, coach, admissions officer, adjunct professor, executive director of the Georgetown University Alumni Association and 2014 recipient of the John Carroll Award, Courtin, who died June 29 after a prolonged illness, built a place for himself — and others — on the Hilltop. Originally from Buffalo, N.Y., he exemplified passion, whether for architecture, rowing — he rowed in Boat 1 for the 1969 Dad Vail championship heavyweight team — or Georgetown. He is survived by his wife Sharon (NHS ’74), his son Christopher and his daughters Allison, currently a coach for the men’s lightweight crew team, and Cathryn (SFS ’13).
For more than half its existence, the School of Foreign Service was impossible to extricate from Lancaster, its student, professor, dean — and champion. Lancaster, who died Oct. 22, had resigned the deanship in April following the discovery of a brain tumor in November 2013. In addition to holding multiple positions within the SFS, the D.C. native spent stints in public service, including one as deputy director for the United States Agency for International Development. Her expertise was developmental economics, and she authored 10 books on the subject, gaining a formidable reputation for academia — and a sense of humor. At Georgetown, she was integral to the establishment of master’s programs FILE PHOTO: ALEXANDER BROWN/THE HOYA in global human development and Asian studies and the foundation of the Georgetown Institute for Women, Peace and Security. She is survived by her husband, Curt Farrar, son Doug Farrar (SFS ’05, GRD ’12), four stepchildren, seven grandchildren and daughter-in-law.
Executive Director of the Alumni Association
Dean of School of Foreign Service
COURTESY GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS
Fr. Patrick Heelan, S.J., 88 Vice President of the Main Campus
COURTESY ANNE GEHMAN
Richard McCooey (C ’52), 83 Founder of The Tombs and 1789
From a family lunch during admissions weekend to a 21st-birthday forehead stamping to graduation dinner, two properties on 36th Street house the pinnacle of Georgetown tradition. Their founder — McCooey, who died Aug. 6 from complications related to cancer and cardiac arrest in Greenwich, Conn. — singularly embodied this tradition, infusing it into The Tombs, 1789 and, until its closure, F. Scott’s. The 1966 John Carroll Award winner, who had served as president of the Yard — the forerunner to the Georgetown University Student Association — and in the Air Force, augmented the collegiate feel of the neighborhood, providing a place to call home to the Georgetown Chimes and generations of Georgetown students. McCooey sold his properties to the Clyde’s Restaurant Group in 1985 but remained heavily involved, overseeing the art and decoration. He is survived by his wife Karen.
The William A. Gaston professor of philosophy, Jesuit priest, university administrator and physicist served Georgetown for 20 years in a multitude of capacities and was cherished for his ever-present smile. Heelan, who died Feb. 1 in his native Ireland, oversaw difficult transitions during his tenure as vice president of the main campus, such as the integration of the Faculty of Languages and Linguistics into the College, but is remembered for his strong leadership. His academic interests spanned a vast breadth and were particularly notable for the focus on bridging the gap between science and religion.
James Alatis, 88
Dean of School of Languages and Linguistics
Alatis, who died Feb. 28, was integral to the growth and success of Georgetown’s preeminent School of Languages and Linguistics, serving as associate dean, dean and distinguished professor of linguistics and modern Greek over a 46-year career that culminated with retirement in 2012. Remembered for his kindness to colleagues, Alatis introduced the study of sociolinguistics, the departments of Arabic and Japanese and the Master of Arts in the Teaching English as a Second Language program, among other initiatives. He is survived by his wife, Penelope, his sons William, Stephen and Anthony, and three grandchildren. His memorial service is April 27 at the Gonda Theatre. JAMESALATIS.COM
KAREN GALE, 65
Professor of pharmacology and neuroscience
With 37 years as a professor of pharmacology and neuroscience at Georgetown, Gale, who died Aug. 21 from cancer, fostered a reputation as a mentor who championed creativity and diversity. Gale became a full professor in 1988 and published 175 papers, receiving over $10 million in research and training funding. She helped develop and lead the graduate Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience. She posthumously received the President’s Award for Distinguished Scholar-Teachers, accompanying the creation of “The Karen Gale Memorial Lecture Fund for Women in Neuroscience.” She is survived by her husband Charles Underhill and her daughters Ali and Justine Underhill (COL ’11).
COURTESY JUSTINE UNDERHILL
Andrea Jaime (NHS ’17), 19 Student
COURTESY CLYDES RESTAURANT GROUP
As the school year began, Georgetown students were left reeling at the loss of one of their own: Jaime, a human science major known for her passion, dedication and service. She died Sept. 16 from a case of bacterial meningitis. Originally from Bogota, Colombia, Jaime attended high school in Miami, Fla. and was a Gates Millennium Scholarship recipient and Community Scholar at Georgetown. With dreams of one day serving as a doctor in the army, she was set to become an emergency medical technician at a fire station in Bethesda, Md. In addition to the rigorous Nursing and Health Studies course load, Jaime was a member of the Georgetown University Grilling Society and the Georgetown Scholarship Program, and was known among her friends for her energy that resulted in many a scenic run.
COURTESY MARJIA JANNATI
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Across Forms, Art Provokes Challenging Conversations
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his past academic year, Georgetown students struggled with national issues such as race relations, as well as personal issues of mental health and safety. While much of this dialogue took place in classrooms, Gaston Hall and Red Square, students also explored these themes through art. The following pieces highlight three of the most impressive, innovative and, above all, challenging works over the past school year. Created across three media — film, theater and dance — each work engaged in thoughtful and deep reflection, captivating audiences and provoking incisive conversations.
Student Feature Film Explores Mental Health Issues
COURTESY MESBAH UDDIN
Jack Schmitt (COL ’15) depicts a chronic procrastinator in student film “11:59.”
Mesbah Uddin (SFS ’15) began his Georgetown journey like many other young students: he wanted to study political science, go into community organizing and then run for office. After freshman year, Uddin had a change of heart. As a sophomore who knew nothing about making movies, Uddin helped a close friend edit a documentary about Islamophobia in the United States. It was during the taxing all-nighters in Gelardin Media Center that he discovered his love for filmmaking. Uddin then sought to follow the advice of his favorite filmmaker Quentin Tarantino, who said, “If you want to make a movie, make it. Don’t wait for a grant, don’t wait for the perfect circumstances, just make it.”
Circumstances were hardly perfect as Uddin created his second full-length film, “11:59,” a film about the common Georgetown habit of procrastination and mental health issues on campus. The film required long hours of planning and organization of dozens of cast and crew members. But after the months of filming, “11:59” premiered in spectacular fashion in Lohrfink Auditorium on April 11, a testament to the ability and dedication of Georgetown students in our arts community. While the film’s inception lies with Uddin, it took an army of students from a variety of backgrounds to make the film happen. “There was an original song done for this film by a student singer at Georgetown, there were 48 comic strip panels made by two ani-
‘Killer Joe’ Provides Twist on Family Themes The Nomadic Theatre and Mask & Bauble Dramatic Society’s co-production of “Killer Joe” this semester reinforced that Georgetown theater is unafraid to venture into dark and unsettling territory. The challenging drama is centered on a poor Dallas family. When the son of the family falls into financial trouble, he seeks out the help of a detective who moonlights as a contract killer in order to murder his mother and gain her life insurance money. This premise speaks volumes about the themes present in this play, including family, ethics and poverty. By exploring these emotional topics through an extreme ex-
ample of dark comedy, the student producers of “Killer Joe” were clearly challenging themselves and their audience. Greeted by a stern trigger warning that gave guidance on exiting the theater, audiences needed to be in a place to accept the play’s extremism to appreciate it. The Georgetown theater troupes were ambitious enough to take on the performance despite knowing that many would be unable to stomach the full production. Most impressively, the production confronted traditional subjects such as the notion of family, but shifted the way in which viewers consider them. The situations that
the family in “Killer Joe” are confronted with are often grotesque. But this intense and at times absurd aspect of the play is where its strengths lie, as these extreme situations are simply magnified reflections of our feelings. By pushing these feelings to the limit, “Killer Joe” was better equipped to explore them. “Killer Joe” was an intense and impressive showing by Nomadic and Mask & Bauble that left audiences speechless and reflective. The choice was bold and marked an interesting and exciting shift in the ambition of the theater boards, which should continue in the coming year.
Discussion of Race Combines Dance, Theater
FILE PHOTO: SOPHIE FAABORG-ANDERSEN/THE HOYA
Black Movements Dance Theatre used a variety of styles in their spring show.
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Black Movements Dance Theatre’s spring show, “Truth Be Told,” performed on Feb. 27 and 28, aimed to exemplify the themes of equality, struggle, resistance, love and, as the title suggests, personal and universal truths. As part of the celebration of Black History Month, “Truth Be Told” served its mission in becoming more than a dance showcase; it truly was an experience of theater. The show focused on portraying race relations in the form of dance. This depiction, inspired by Martin Luther King Jr., was startlingly relevant amid the corresponding national political atmosphere after protests over police brutality broke out in the wake of the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner. “I thought that certain pieces of the show
highlighted beautiful moments of struggle and passion that epitomize the fight for racial justice and equality,” Stephanie Palencia (COL ’15), an audience member who formerly dancer in the group, said. BMDT uses a range of dance forms in order to tell stories. In “Truth Be Told,” dancers explored a variety of styles, from lyrical to modern dances, tap dances and pieces based in traditional African dance. The dancers in BMDT come from diverse backgrounds of style and experience. However, the dances, choreographed by students and professionals alike, highlighted unity instead of accentuating differences. “BMDT is passion. Although their dancers range from just beginning to advanced, BMDT never fails to put on a show that resonates with
Bryan yuen Hoya Staff Writer mators, there was a leading actor who took it to the next level,” Uddin said. According to Jack Schmitt (COL ’15), who played the lead of Sidney Philips, it was not always easy to get a crew of busy Georgetown students together. “We find a way because it is something that we are all very passionate about and all wanted to see through,” Schmitt said. The film showcased not only the talents of Georgetown students but also their willingness to tackle important issues on campus, as “11:59” explored mental health issues to begin dialogue on campus. “All of us believe in the power of film to expose truths and tell stories that we didn’t know ourselves about society,” associate producer Nabeel Zaweil (SFS ’15) said.
Michael Fiedorowicz Hoya Staff Writer
COURTESY AINHOA HARDY
The Nomadic Theatre and Mask & Bauble team up for the drama “Killer Joe.”
Katherine Pietro Hoya Staff Writer the audience on an emotional level. I always love watching these dancers perform, and being a former member of BMDT, I know just how much passion and commitment it takes to execute some of these dances,” Palencia said. Though dance can be an intimidating medium of art, BMDT’s work at combining theatre with dance aims to attract people with varied backgrounds, while exploring issues of national significance in a relatable form. “We are working to expose the truth in different ways,” BMDT Assistant Director Raquel Rosenbloom (COL ’16) said in February (“Social Justice Inspires Dance Showcase,” B1, The Hoya, Feb. 27). “[We have] a piece that is all about being in the truth and resisting the truth.”
Across Sports, New Faces Offer Hope for Future First-years contribute to experienced teams in their debuts
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very fall, the newest batch of Hoya student-athletes arrives on the Hilltop, touted as some of the best recruits in the country. As each sport gets underway, coaches and fans are eager to see which Hoyas will stand out from the pack and make immediate contributions to their teams. Several athletes in this year’s freshman class managed those lofty expectations and stood out, even on teams crowded with upperclassmen. These first-year Hoyas, including one firstyear coach, quickly found ways to contribute on their respective squads and show promise for the years to come. Men’s Basketball: Isaac Copeland, freshman forward Entering the season, Copeland was expected to make an immediate impact as a five-star recruit ranked No. 16 nationally in the incoming class, and it did not take long for Copeland to become a mainstay on the team. On Jan. 17, Georgetown was trailing Butler by one point with 10 seconds left in regulation and had control of the ball. In the past, senior forward Jabril Trawick or junior guard D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera would have taken this shot. Instead, Trawick penetrated the seam and passed to Copeland, who was planted in the corner. Without hesitation, Copeland buried a three-pointer, causing the packed Verizon Center to erupt in cheers for an accomplishment that was uniquely Copeland’s. Copeland’s efforts earned him a spot in the starting rotation mid-February. The freshman forward’s season was highlighted by a ferocious dunk against St. John’s on Feb. 17 and performances like a career-high 20-point game against Seton Hall on Feb. 10 that ended a stretch in which Georgetown had lost three of its last four games. Copeland, who ended the season with a 14-point performance against Utah in the round of 32 in the NCAA tournament, is a talented, often explosive young guard with three promising years ahead of him. Women’s Basketball: Dorothy Adomako, freshman guard Adomako’s impact on the women’s basketball team was apparent from Georgetown’s first game of the season. Facing the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in her first collegiate game, Adomako scored on the first two shots of the game. The freshman guard went on to notch a doubledouble, finishing with 17 points and grabbing a team-leading 14 rebounds in the victory. “Dorothy knows that she’s a competitor,” Head Coach Natasha Adair said. “She’s not a kid that’s afraid of the pressure or doesn’t want it. We knew that she was going to give everything that she could.” A bright spot in an otherwise disappointing season in which the women’s basketball team finished with a 4-27 record, Adomako averaged 13.1 points and 6.8 rebounds per game, both
team highs. She led all freshmen in the Big East in rebounds per game and earned the Big East Freshman of the Year award. In addition to her individual successes for the season, both coach and player believe that Adomako will only continue to grow as a player and a leader when the team returns to action in the fall. “Coach has definitely told
Although the end result was not what Basuljevic had hoped for, as his shot hit the right post, one penalty kick did not taint a standout season for the freshman. Basuljevic scored six goals for the Hoyas during the season, the second most of the entire team, four of which were game-winning goals. Basuljevic’s seasonlong efforts and his growth as a player earned him
me that my leadership definitely needs to step up,” Adomako said. “Sophomore year, I definitely need to step up on and off the court.”
both the Big East Rookie of the Year and high expectations from his coach going into next season. “I think how he interfaces with a pretty experienced group around him is going to be vital for our success next year,” Wiese said. “Not just to be able to communicate, but to be a leader in his own right — I think we expect that of him.”
Men’s Soccer: Arun Basuljevic, freshman midfielder When the men’s soccer team’s season came down to penalty kicks against Virginia in the NCAA tournament quarterfinals, Head Coach Brian Wiese knew that getting 10 players to volunteer to take a potentially season-ending shot for the team might prove difficult. “[Taking a penalty kick is] not something that a lot of guys want to do in that situation — it’s amazing how few people actually want to stand up there,” Wiese said. Described as a confident young player, freshman midfielder Arun Basuljevic was among the 10 who offered to be one of the penalty kickers for Georgetown. “He didn’t think twice about it,” Wiese said.
Football: Head Coach Rob Sgarlata With nearly 40 years of experience on the Hilltop, Rob Sgarlata (COL ’94, GRD ’12) may be as Georgetown as Georgetown gets. “I’ve called this place home since 1990,” Sgarlata said. “It’s been a dream to be here and have a chance to work with our student athletes and be at a place I’ve called home for a long time.” One of the program’s all-time leading rushers, Sgarlata played for the team all four years as an underclassman before joining the coaching staff. Before he was appointed head coach of the football team in January 2014, Sgarlata served
Kara Avanceña Hoya Staff Writer in diverse roles throughout the football program. From serving as an academic advisor to a technology liaison to an offensive and defensive coordinator for the team, Sgarlata has worked a combined 18 years within the football program. After so many years on the Hilltop, Sgarlata ascended to lead the football team this year, finishing with a 3-8 record on the year. “I’ve had opportunities to leave … but I truly believe that our football program and the athletic programs here in general at Georgetown are ones that value the right things,” Sgarlata said. Men’s Lacrosse: Nick Marrocco, freshman goalkeeper Growing up in a family of lacrosse players, including a sister who is a goalkeeper at the University of Richmond, Nick Marrocco seemed genetically predisposed to develop into the defensive stalwart he is today. However, the road from high school to the competitive world of Division I lacrosse was not without its trials. “The beginning of the year was a little tough just to come in new. It’s more fastpaced, totally different from high school,” Marrocco said. Marrocco appears to have shed any vestiges of his early struggles, when he allowed 23 goals in comparison to 17 saves over his first two games. On the 8-5 men’s lacrosse team, the goalkeeper now averages 13.46 saves per game, good for the secondmost saves per game in the country, and has a .563 save percentage, the 12th-best record in Division I lacrosse today. Marrocco earned the U.S. Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Defensive Player of the Week award on March 30 for his performance, making him the first athlete in Georgetown history to earn that distinction. “I think the best thing about Nick is that he’s improved since he stepped on campus,” Head Coach Kevin Warne said. “I think the guys respect him. … The team has the confidence in Nick that he can bail us out at any time.” Women’s Golf: freshman Jacquelyn Eleey In a team with three times as many freshmen as seniors, the Georgetown women’s golf team could have easily chalked this season up as a rebuilding year. Instead, the Hoyas battled all season long and earned a second-place finish in the Big East tournament. Georgetown finished one stroke behind the first-place Seton Hall team — who had three times as many seniors as freshmen. At the center of Georgetown’s success was freshman Jacquelyn Eleey, who posted an overall score of 7-over par 223 to win the individual title. The feat was nothing new for Eleey — she tied for the top spot in the Hoya Invitational in March and led the Hoyas in four of their five spring tournaments. “I’m really proud of Jackie,” Head Coach Katie Brophy said earlier this week (“Golf | Freshmen Highlight Weekend,” A9, The Hoya, April 21). “Her success is a sign of all her hard work, dedication and drive.”
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THE YEAR IN SPORTS
A look at the achievements of Georgetown athletics
File Photo: Claire Soisson/The hOya
MESSI Lionel Messi and the Argentinian national team practiced at Shaw Field in March.
File Photo: Claire Soisson/The hOya
File Photo: Julia Hennrikus/The Hoya
WOMEN’S LACROSSE Senior defender Adrianne MEN’S BASKETBALL Freshman forward Isaac Copeland sank a game-winning three-pointer to defeat Butler 61-59 on Devine scored a hat trick against UConn.
January 17, setting off a raucous celebration. The men’s basketball team reached the round of 32 in the NCAA tournament.
File Photo: Julia Hennrikus/The Hoya
File Photo: Julia Hennrikus/The Hoya
MEN’S SOCCER Sophomore defender Joshua Yaro anchored the defense of the team, which reached the NCAA SOFTBALL Senior pitcher Megan Hyson leads the team tournament quarterfinals. Yaro was expected to be the first pick in the MLS draft before returning to school.
in apperances, wins, innings pitched and strikeouts.