The Hoya: The Guide: September 30, 2016 by The Hoya

the guide FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2016

ART BY GRACE CHUNG/THE HOYA

GUIDE

FEATURED

VARIETY.COM

“Mothership” Lands at Spagnuolo Jonathan Monaghan’s new project shows his unique perspective and staggering creativity. B3

Not-So-Magnificent Seven The star-studded remake of a classic fails to live up to both its predecessors and potential. B6

Schumer at the Verizon Center Comedian Amy Schumer brought her trademark irreverent style of stand-up to D.C. B4

Out-of-Phase Psychedelia Morgan Delt’s latest release “Phase Zero” is a psychedelic ode to the end of summer. B7

SPORTS Goal-Scoring Prowess

The men’s soccer team put on a show against American in its 3-1 win on Tuesday. B10

A Life Remembered MLB star Jose Fernandez’s death has united baseball in incredible ways. B10

the guide

THE HOYA

friday, SEPTEMBER 30, 2016

THE smithsonian's newest crown jewel Kate Kim

Hoya Staff Writer

Behind the Washington Monument lies a 400,000-square-foot, three-tiered crown — an architectural representation of hands lifted in prayer. Flanked by its Smithsonian Institute counterparts yet standing out in stark contrast aesthetically with its bronze exterior, the National Museum of African American History and Culture became the newest addition to the National Mall on Sept. 24, years after its initial conception. The museum is a tribute to black Americans at a time when race remains a central topic in contemporary national discourse. Designed to promote this dialogue further, the museum helps visitors understand, connect and empathize with a wide collection of stories from African Americans of diverse backgrounds in the country’s history.

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It helps us better understand the lives of the president but also the slave.” President Barack Obama

The stories range from those of faith to those of fear and anger. These emotions have translated into action, igniting the sparks that led to organized movements. The suffering endured by black Americans seems to reverberate within the museum’s multifarious walls. Mixed into these powerful waves are also elements of progress and advancement that manage to intercalate themselves into the suffering of African Americans, as validation that their efforts were not futile. Thousands of people, spanning all generations and races, gathered to witness the museum’s grand opening celebration and ribbon-cutting ceremony Sept. 24. President Barack Obama joined a number of other prominent individuals, including Stevie Wonder and former President George W. Bush, to commemorate the mu-

seum’s opening. The museum confronts one of the darkest chapters in American history and one that continues to exist at the forefront of the national conversation. The history and issues it embodies continue to impact the lives of all Americans. Inscribed on its walls are words of great poets like Langston Hughes, from whom Obama borrowed the famous line, “I too, am America,” in his opening ceremony statement. The sports exhibit features the white terry cloth robe worn by Muhammad Ali himself. All these are in celebration of the countless accomplishments and contributions of black Americans, as well as their rich history. “This national museum helps to tell a richer and fuller story of who we are,” Obama said. “It helps us better understand the lives of the president but also the slave; the industrialist but also the porter; the keeper of the status quo but also of the activist seeking to overthrow that status quo; the teacher or the cook alongside the statesman.” The building, according to lead designer David Adjaye, was inspired by a traditional Yoruban crown, while simultaneously evoking the act of prayer. The building has two components: the Corona, the museum’s distinctive crown-like bronze-colored structure, consisting of 3,600 aluminum panels, and the Porch, the museum’s main entrance. The museum has been a work in progress for many years. Fifteen years ago, several congressmen brought the issue before Bush. “It would be fair to say Congress and I didn’t always see eye to eye. … But this was one issue we strongly agreed on. I was honored to sign the bill authorizing the construction of this national treasure,” Bush said at the opening ceremony. There are 12 inaugural exhibitions in the museum that focus on a variety of major themes, encompassing slavery, segregation, culture, music and arts. The theme follows a chronological pattern, beginning 70 feet below ground, symbolizing the somber beginnings of the history of black Americans. In the history galleries, the story begins with the transition of slavery to the defense of freedom as the first few exhibits weave

together the complex narrative of the slave trade, the Civil War and the Emancipation Proclamation. The narrative then shifts to move to the civil rights movement and the challenges brought with it. Some particularly notable features of this section are the casket of Emmett Till, the 14-year-old black teenager who was lynched for reportedly flirting with a white woman in Mississippi in 1955.

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The NMAAHC is the most fertile symbol of the importance and indispensability of black memory to the nation, situated in the most holy civic space in America.” Professor Michael Dyson

Finally, the last section, “From 1968 to Beyond,” explores the modern influences of black Americans in the economic, social, cultural and political spheres of the United States. Michael Dyson, a Georgetown professor of sociology was at the opening ceremony. “The NMAAHC is the most fertile symbol of the importance and indispensability of black memory to the nation, situated in the most holy civic space in America,” Dyson said. The collections are designed to touch upon each of the major periods of black American history, including slavery, Reconstruction, the civil rights era and the Harlem Renaissance. The museum contains artifacts such as a Tuskegee Airmen Trainer Plane, c. 1942, a Jim Crow Railroad car, c. 1920, and even family photographs and clothing from Harriet Tubman herselff, c. 1897. Boasting in total more than 36,000 arti-

facts, the museum’s collection is vast and varied. There are countless stories told, as if to emphasize that there is no single defining characteristic of black history in America. One of the museum’s most beautiful features is the assortment of lenses built into the building, designed to provide views of the White House and Washington Monument, in order to encourage visitors to consider “a view of America through the lens of the African American Experience,” according to a press release from the museum. In the center of the museum lies the Contemplative Court, a space that beautifully strikes a perfect balance between water and sunlight, meant to serve as a space of meditation for visitors to process and reflect upon all they have seen and experienced during their visit. This space is similar to one in the incredibly successful United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, which presents difficult subject matter in a way that has received widespread acclaim. If the NMAAHC follows this model, there will be no bound on its domestic and international impact. One of the museum’s primary missions is education. Many initiatives are built into the museum, such as the Robert Frederick Smith Explore Your Family History Center, which provides resources on how to conduct genealogical research. The Freedmen’s Bureau Records initiative is working to make the records of the Freedmen’s Bureau, a U.S. federal agency that aided freed slaves in the South during Reconstruction, accessible to the public. All these efforts by the museum are ultimately to create a searchable online genealogical database for black Americans to trace and appreciate their historical roots. In addition to its historical value, the museum serves as a center for healing. With a physical structure planted firmly in the National Mall at the very center of our nation’s capital, the African American Museum of History and Culture is an important step toward the collective reconciliation and solution to issues including racial prejudice and injustice, past and present. The history on display in the museum is one we cannot choose to ignore; rather it needs to educate our future action to ensure issues of oppression may, someday, be a thing of the past.

COURTESY NMAAHC

The National Museum of African American History and Culture recently opened on the National Mall. To date, the museum has collected more than 36,000 artifacts including, clockwise from top left, a 1965 photograph of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a photograph of children playing in Brooklyn in the 1940s and a trumpet owned by Louis Armstrong.

the guide

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2016

THE HOYA

FEATURE

Chris Bohn

The Music On My Playlist Chris Bohn is a chef at the Leo O’Donovan Dining Hall. He is the head cook at the wok line.

‘EINSTEIN’ BY TECH N9NE Tech N9ne started in the underground circuit in Kansas City and around the Midwest. He was discovered by the Insane Clown Posse years ago and just blew up with his first album. It has always been one of my favorites for a number of reasons.

‘DANGER ZONE’ BY KENNY LOGGINS Two words: Top Gun. If you have not seen it, we cannot be friends. Some of the younger generation may have been exposed to it through the FX animated comedy show “Archer.” Either way, this one is a definite classic with an instantly catchy chorus.

COLUMBIA RECORDS

‘NOTHING’S LEFT’ BY THE INSANE CLOWN POSSE I have known people who absolutely hate this group but actually love this song. It has a very powerful message that hits everyone in a different way. It is a must-listen for sure. It started out as The Inner City Posse with Kid Rock as one of its members before he became so popular with his solo career.

motHership

Familiar sights made strange HANNAH KAUFMAN Hoya Staff Writer

Mario’s rainbow road snakes between the buildings of an empty metropolis, save for a few golden stags clustered near the front of the frame. A golden baby deer takes its first steps into the world, rising from the cushions of a lifeless gray couch, and a row of police riot gear lines the pristine shelves of a perfectly symmetrical room in artist Jonathan Monaghan’s newest exhibit “Mothership.” These are just three of the myriad creepy and absurd images concocted by Monaghan in his computer-animated films “Mothership” and “Escape Pod.” Along with several other series from Monaghan’s collection, the works are currently on display at the Spagnuolo Art Gallery in the Edmund A. Walsh Building. The gallery is not only a home for the exhibit but also accentuates the tone as the works breathe chaos and depth into the small exhibit space. Both films, roughly 15 to 20 minutes in length, run as an unbroken loop, as if simulating some kind of bizarre cycle of life. Without a marker defining the beginning or end, it is hard at first to situate oneself in the continuous narrative of the strange world devoid of humans, inhabited only by its few mythical creatures. Art major Christian Anté (COL ’16), who visited and studied the pieces in the exhibit, aptly summarized the sentiment of the film “Mothership.” “Monaghan’s animations become a series of ecstatic cahoots, jumping from nostalgic gaming monuments to comical fantasy. The artist creates a realm of nonsensical, computerized fantasy, grounding this world in familiar imagery: human sexual anatomy, Mario Kart’s impossible rainbow road, airplanes and cow hide,” Anté said. In all his works, Monaghan has a knack for throwing together a mixture of disjointed influences and imagery into a weirdly unified object that is at once familiar and alienating. At the same time the blurred human faces, company logos, organic, hairy body parts and modern objects can be recognized in each subsequent shot and are broken apart, recombined and used for purposes that remain a mystery to viewers in the absence of any human life to explain them. The bizarre amalgamation of elements and Monaghan’s animistic approach to his scenes is intentionally thought-provoking.

“I am very interested in the disconnect between the natural and the synthetic. In my worlds, architecture and artificial objects frequently take on organic properties, such as a couch giving birth or a spaceship dangling with human body parts. The more we engulf ourselves and our societies within technologies, the blurrier the boundary between the natural and the synthetic becomes,” Monaghan said to THE HOYA.

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[Monaghan’s] unique combination of the familiar and the absurd is jarring at first but reflects his incredible creativity and unique perspective.” ALLIE WILLIAMS (SFS ’19)

The Frankenstein-like creations evoke a similar range of ambiguous emotions. Spattered with pop culture references, critiques about modern capitalism and an awkward sequence where the camera travels out of the rear end of a golden stag, Monaghan’s computer animations often inspire moments of unbelieving hilarity. These moments then warp into an eerie awareness of the deer or stag’s lonely but determined journey in a world where human technology dominates the environment, although no humans remain. “If you look at mythology, Japanese or Western, the deer represents something otherworldly and unattainable. He’s able to traverse these different worlds. Being golden represents power and the material desire that goes along with it,” Monaghan said. Materialism is a concept employed by Monaghan in many of his art forms. Aside from the two computer-animated films available for viewing in the art gallery, also hang there two large works of art from Monaghan’s series “After Fabergé.” Titling one of his pieces “Imperial Genitals,” Monaghan seems to be intentionally inviting controversy, as he links organic and sexual symbolism with the cold, glossy, manicured objects of luxury consumerism. Both pieces from the series are shaped as ornamented ovals, mimicking the original Russian jeweler Peter Carl Fabergé, who crafted elaborate, bejeweled eggs for

BRASSLAND

tsars, empresses and other imperial elites from the late 19th to the early 20th centuries. While Monaghan’s eggs contain traces of more traditional decor, like the silver crown and embellishments at the top and bottom of “Imperial Genitals,” he has put his own twist on this status symbol by incorporating elements of the 21st century that have changed what it means to live in luxury. Where one would expect gold and rubies and other precious gems to adorn the egg, there is instead layer upon layer of plush leather and other high-quality materials, the odds and ends of plastic plugs and cords, the sheen of well-polished metal legs and a host of other half-identifiable but most definitely expensive designs. This seemingly random mix of textures is crafted purposefully, each piece adding its own monetary value to the overall lavish nature of the egg. Monaghan’s primary artistic influence is simply the world around him. “My work starts with looking. I look at historical works of art and architecture from Western history but also look at advertisements, consumer products and corporate architecture. As I collect these references, I begin conflating these disparate elements.” Monaghan said. “I then begin to sketch these objects, environments and creatures that will populate this virtual world. I model these with the 3D software, define their appearance and texture, then animate and ‘film’ it.” While elements of Monaghan’s work are immediately recognizable, his arrangement of common symbols and objects is a testament to his ability to present aspects of daily life as if they were foreign. Allie Williams (SFS ’19) found “Mothership” to be an innovative work. “His unique combination of the familiar and the absurd is jarring at first but reflects his incredible creativity and unique perspective,” Williams said. Such a hodgepodge of symbolism and influences can be expected from an artist whose home website page features a unicorn wearing a rainbow birthday hat while standing in an empty coffee shop. While one may never make perfect sense of Monaghan’s purposefully unsettling combination of characters, materials and settings, the uncanny realization that he has in fact produced an overarching narrative may be his most startling and impressive skill. Monaghan’s work will be on display from now until Oct. 16 at the Spagnuolo Art Gallery.

‘BRANDY (YOU’RE A FINE GIRL)’ BY LOOKING GLASS This song came out before I was born, but my father loved his oldies. Some of my fondest memories are of us in the car on a Sunday morning headed to or from church, and he would blast tracks like this as if he were 16 again. I was having too much fun to be embarrassed. My mother did not like it at all. It was all about the music. This song just reminds me of older, better days growing up.

‘THAT’S THE WAY IT IS’ BY BRUCE HORNSBY AND THE RANGE This is another song with a message that everyone can relate to, even if it did come out back in the ’80s. 2Pac did a remake of this a couple years before he died, which adds to its history. His version was quite catchy but not as good as the original.

‘HOLD ON’ BY ALABAMA SHAKES I know nothing about this group, but I love this song. Many people at Georgetown know and enjoy this track. It is catchy from the moment you first hear it.

JONATHAN MONAGHAN ROUGH TRADE

Artist Jonathan Monaghan combines organic images from nature, pop culture references, logos and computer-generated graphics in a jarring but thought-provoking exhibit. “Mothership” is on display until Oct. 16 at the Spagnuolo Gallery.

the guide

THE HOYA

Friday, september 30, 2016

movie review

This week’S TOP FIVE

Presidential Debate Moments

‘Call Sean hannity’

Those who doubt Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump’s claim that he was always opposed to the Iraq War need not live in uncertainty. They only need to call Fox anchor Sean Hannity! Bizarrely enough, despite moderator Lester Holt bringing up past records that show otherwise, Trump decried the “mainstream media nonsense,” demanding that the public “call Sean Hannity!”

nbc

Hillary’s Shimmy

In response to Donald Trump’s declaration that she has “a temperament that’s got a problem,” Hillary Clinton exclaimed, “Whoo! Okay,” before doing a shimmy. This is just one of many small moments from this week’s debate that have already been turned into memes and even a song.

NORDISK FILM

Already slated as the Swedish entry for Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards, “A Man Called Ove” is a worthy addition to Swedish cinema.

Hailing from Scandinavia, ‘A Man Called Ove’ 

Grace wydeven

and blossoming friendships, as Ove struggles to reconcile the past with the present and learn that he has a future even though his wife is dead. Based on Fredrik Backman’s New York Times Throughout the movie, the motif of engines is bestseller and directed by Stockholm native Hans utilized on both a literal and metaphorical level Holm, “A Man Called Ove” ranks among classic to convey Ove’s mechanized methodology of movSwedish cinema. Having already been selected as ing forward. As he looks back on his life, some of the Swedish entry for Best Foreign Language Film the most important transitions have come by way at the 2017 Academy Awards, the film chronicles of cars and trains. He remembers tinkering on the adult life of Ove (Rolf Lassgard), a crotchety the engine of his father’s Saab as a boy, meeting old man who has nothing to do besides visiting Sonja serendipitously on a train and eventually the grave of his wife Sonja and making sure no working as an engineer. one violates the neighborhood codes. As the movie progresses and Ove makes pieceOve badgers anyone and everyone who gets in meal improvements in his attitude and actions, his way, whether they be a grocery store clerk these metaphors serve as a fitting complement. or a juvenile delinquent. Ove begins a series of With a dead engine, Ove certainly cannot move failed suicide attempts to reunite with his late forward. Luckily, with a little help from his new wife. With each failure, it becomes increasingly neighbors, he gains the perspective and willpowapparent that Ove cannot die yet; there is too er to move forward. much he needs to see and The film’s setting in a learn. small Swedish neighborhood The strong acting by His first attempt is comimay seem mundane, but it cally foiled when he sees [Rolf] Lassgard and the is key to the film’s success new neighbors backing in portraying the realities of over his mailbox while he metaphorical undertones many retirees and struggling is literally suspended in young families. The blend of midair. Ripping the noose throughout the film make it the elderly -- such as Ove’s old off, Ove runs outside to tell friend-turned-rival Rune and them off and, from that both funny and heartwarming. his wife – and the young also moment on, he is unable provide an important metato take his own life. He later assists them by in- phorical aspect of Ove’s evolution. By being forced stalling their dishwasher and babysitting their to confront past conflicts, such as his contentious two children, eventually making his peace. He be- relationship with Rune and an effervescent young gins to remember what life was like when Sonja family, Ove must literally reconcile the old with was still alive. Her kind, passionate spirit seems the new. As the film shows, suicide is no way to acto guide him back to the land of the living, albeit complish that. quite predictably, and changes his aim from simThough “A Man Called Ove” follows a fairly ple existence to an active pursuit of all life has to static archetype of an old man in need of an atoffer. titude adjustment, the strong acting by Lassgard Ove fulfills the comedic archetype of the and the metaphorical undertones throughout grouchy old man, similar to Clint Eastwood’s the film make it both funny and heartwarming. character in “Gran Torino.” In an interesting With enough light to balance out the dark and twist, he serves to undermine his own efforts to- a comedic end to a near tragic plot, the film is ward finding true happiness. The plot follows a everything audiences could want in a modern fairly predictable course full of sudden flashbacks dramatic comedy.

Hoya Staff Writer

Sweaty nixon

Despite higher production qualities and decades of gaffes and gotchas, no debate has topped the first televised debate. The 1960 Nixon vs. Kennedy battle culminated in an epic, history making scene. While a handsome Kennedy revealed his cool-under-pressure mastery of nonchalance, Nixon aced historical standards of evasiveness and became known for sweating profusely under hot studio lights.

Starring: Rolf Lassgård Directed by: Hannes Holm

NBC

CBS

‘The blooper heard ’round the world’

As the Iron Curtain muffled democratic sentiments and suffocated instincts of freedom in most of Eastern Europe, in 1976, President Gerald Ford denied any “Soviet domination of Eastern Europe.” After Time jumped in to immortalize the moment, the world came to know Ford’s gaffe as “The Blooper Heard ’Round the World.”

ABC

ageism

In 1984, many were worried that Ronald Reagan was too old to continue as President for another term. When confronted with the issue during a debate against Democratic Presidential Candidate Walter Mondale, he remarked “I will not make age an issue of this campaign.” He continued, “I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent’s youth and inexperience.” Microphone dropped.

ABC

Photo of the Week | Valladolid, Mexico

FILM VAST

Protagonist Ove, portrayed by Rolf Lassgard, is a cranky old man who regains his will to live a fulfilling life after his late wife’s death prompts numerous suicide attempts.

John Miller/ tHE hOYA

the guide

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2016

THE HOYA

RESTAURANT REVIEW

From Paris, With Love LE CHAT NOIR

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4907 Wisconsin Ave. NW | Cuisine: French | $$$ DANI GUERRERO Special to The Hoya

A neighborhood gem, Friendship Height’s Le Chat Noir owes its name to Paris’ first avant-garde cabaret. Located on Wisconsin Avenue in the northern edge of Tenleytown, this Left Bank-inspired bistro offers an authentic interpretation of classic French cuisine. The restaurant’s influences are obvious upon entry — a stylish Montmartre poster welcomes diners into the bohemian-styled brasserie. Le Chat Noir’s red leather booths and dim lighting illustrate the busy eatery’s brasserie flair. Honoring a tradition common to the different venues around the quartiers of Paris, Le Chat Noir offers refuge from D.C.’s busy pace, either by letting the cool summer breeze caress costumers seated in the outdoor area or by allowing a break from stuffy dress-code conventions. True to the vision of co-owners and spouses Marie and Sam Ziar, who also manage Atlas District’s Le Grenier, the cozy location puts an emphasis on disarming simplicity. “I’m from Normandy, so I’m predisposed to enjoy simple things,” Marie Ziar said. Executive chef Thierry Sanchez embodies the visionary spirit of a person raised in different cultures. Born in Panama to a Colombian mother and French father, Sanchez manages to do double duty in both restaurants. Sanchez was raised in Mexico before leaving to study gastronomy in France at age 18. “We want to appeal [to] different crowds by giving them hints [of food] they already like, while offering something they can’t [easily] find somewhere else,” Sanchez said. “I like to experiment, use my Latin roots to create new dishes while still following traditional French

techniques.” The appetizers were nothing short of innovative. The pasteque salade ($8.25) was a garden-fresh treat with a juicy tenderness recalling the last notes of summer. To my surprise, the watermelon and goat cheese paired perfectly. Placed in a bed of arugula and topped with avocado, this seasonal dish proved to be a personal favorite. The crepe fourree ($9.95), stuffed with fresh crabmeat and Bay scallops covered in Chablis cream sauce, was equally ingenious, while the original reinterpretation of parmentier au confit ($9.50), which features mashed celery root-potato gratin, offered a creative mix of flavors. Our high expectations for the entrees were easily surpassed. The coq au vin ($22.95), a seasonal specialty, featured roasted chicken breast braised with Burgundy and white truffles. The steak frites ($22.95) consisted of a New York strip steak covered in a layer of garlic-infused butter, and was cooked to perfection. The bouillabaisse ($22.95) came in a meticulously presented oblong of scallops, mussels, shrimp and fennel-saffron broth, covered in a house sauce of olive oil, saffron and peppers. Lastly, the never-ending bucket of moules frites ($19.95), served in either mariniere or apple-calvados sauce — both perfect for dipping any remaining fries — had a magnificent appearance surpassed only by their rich flavor. Faithful to the French culinary traditions, galletes — buckwheat crepes — have their own section of the menu. Those looking for a timeless delight may find peace in the oeuf jambon fromage ($8.25), which flawlessly assembles a sunny side up egg, artisanal gruyere and thinly sliced ham. With its creamy filling, the biniou ($8.95) combines arti-

True to the vision of coowners and spouses Marie and Sam Ziar, who also manage Atlas District’s Le Grenier, the cozy location puts an emphasis on disarming simplicity.

LE CHAT NOIR

Le Chat Noir stays true to the style of traditional French cuisine while also embodying the character and personality of the restaurant’s owners. choke hearts, sauteed shallots and melted brie while the viroise, sauced in goat cheese, is one of Sanchez’s trademarks. The myriad of elaborate desserts was a perfect end to our meal. Determined to pack in as many sweets as possible, we split the parfum estival ($8.25), a homemade salted caramel ice cream garnished with apple sauce, the crepe banane chocolat ($6.95) and the profiteroles, featuring a filling of milk chocolate and honey. One of the locale’s best-kept secrets is that customers can pair any item on the menu with moderately priced, though exquisite, wine. This unique service motivated the recent inauguration of Le Chat Perché, a wine bar atop the restau-

rant, open Thursdays to Saturdays from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Enclosed in a relaxed atmosphere, Le Chat Perché invites guests to watch silent films while sipping delicate wines. Sam Ziar has emphasized the importance of selecting wines from multiple regions and small producers. The top lounge, decorated in art nouveau motifs and shimmery pomegranate walls, pays homage to the vintage. Le Chat Noir is devoted to elaborating “comfort food with a hint of class,” as Marie Ziar described. While offering intimacy in the daily chaos of D.C. life, the restaurant makes dinner time a happy discovery through a creative menu and excellent service.

The District's Best Outdoor Eateries ROOFERS UNION

ROOFERS UNION

LE DIPLOMATE

s fall sweeps through Washington, D.C., eating out no longer means trying to find a restaurant with the best air conditioning. Fall is the season to take full advantage of outdoor dining options in D.C. to enjoy warm food on a cool day and to take a moment to sit and feel the breeze. Here are five of the best outdoor patios and rooftops the District has to offer.

VINOTECA

CHEZ BILLY

TABARD INN

the guide

THE HOYA

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2016

SETTLING IN SEOUL

MUSIC REVIEW

Jasmine White

Standing Out Amid Homogeny

T PETE TONG

DJ Pete Tong is the host of “Essential Mix” and “Essential Selection” on BBC Radio 1. Tong revived the dance music sublabel Parlophone in 2011, and has since signed a number of innovative and exciting EDM producers.

Deep House Disappointment DJ Pete Tong

SARAH MARTIN AND TOM GARZILLO Hoya Staff Writers

On Tuesday, British DJ Pete Tong, known for his work with BBC Radio 1’s dance programming as the host of the “Essential Mix,” performed at Soundcheck Nightclub. Located on K Street, Soundcheck is a small venue operated by the owners of Echostage. Tong is the host of one of the longest running programs in the current BBC Radio 1 schedule and is known as a “global ambassador of dance music.” I was therefore eager to see and hear his work in a live setting. As the daughter of a 1980s Nu Wave dancer, I have a special place in my heart for music that has an energetic, danceable beat. Georgetown parties rarely provide the space for actual dancing; we act out the lyrics and jump. As a result, when I had the opportunity to see one of the top dance music DJs in

the world, I was thrilled. However, the actual performance barely managed to live up to my expectations. At around 12:45 a.m., the club was packed. The people in the crowd were almost all in their 30s, dressed uniformly in dark denim. The walls shook with the reverberating beat that Tong cast out of his rig while the crowd of disillusioned Hilltop staffers lost themselves to drinks, drugs and music. The atmosphere was claustrophobic and not at all what I envisioned. When I think of dance music, I think of the 1980s. I think of acts like Duran Duran, Erasure and New Order. The Nu Wave dance music scene set a high standard that very few bands have since been able to match. Tong is certainly skilled at creating a lively atmosphere, capable of transporting listeners to his hypnotizing world of hi-hats, sharp snares and thundering bass. It is a chal-

lenge to snap back to reality after such a show. While Tong’s style may not appeal to certain individuals, it is impossible to deny that it has the power to capture a crowd. Tong’s set blended all the newest deep house, techno and tech-house music. It felt like one complete, cohesive experience, despite the diverse sources from which it has drawn. The songs seem never-ending — just as one beat drops off, another is added. Tong’s ability to manipulate and transform textures is part of what has led to his international acclaim. At least three different beats could be identified at any given moment, but Tong was very careful when transitioning between them, keeping the audience oblivious until the new sound hit in full force. Although a range of sounds was incorporated, including hints of orchestra notes and dashes of pitch-shifted vocals, the incorporation of percus-

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sion marked the music as distinctly Tong’s. Nothing about his music was distinctly bad. However, it is hard to avoid comparisons to old dance standards like “Perfect Kiss” by New Order: a cathartic, multilayered track that still holds up today. Perhaps it is my familiarity with older tracks or the unavoidable lack of New Order’s analog production in this digital age, but Tong did not have the emotional impact I had hoped. Taken within the context of his genre and time, Tong is undeniably one of the best. That said, his show could have taken a more distinctive direction. If you want to hear music that sounds like the soundtrack to a game of laser tag, Tong may be your man. If you prefer to jump rather than dance, maybe his style will appeal to you. However, if your taste is more retro, like mine, then you must keep waiting for the next wave.

MOVIE REVIEW

Less-Than-Magniﬁcent Seven 

Starring: Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke Directed by: Antoine Fuqua JOSE VILLALOBOS Special to the Hoya

Yet another example of a Hollywood blockbuster with a highly skilled and marketable cast thrown into a roller-coaster ride of action and drama, “The Magnificent Seven” is equally predictable as it is enjoyable. The movie juggles more elements than the typical Western, but many of the film’s themes get lost in director Antoine Fuqua’s attempt to balance the screen time of the movie’s superstars Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt and Ethan Hawke. “The Magnificent Seven” is a remake of a remake – its source material, a 1960s Western of the same name, is in turned adapted from Akira Kurosawa’s Japanese classic “Seven Samurai.” However, the most recent version does not take full advantage of the opportunity to develop this story in a contemporary setting with more modern themes. Kurosawa’s 1960 original was remade into a Western to translate a storyline about honor, redemption and the perils of battle and vengeance into a different setting. Fuqua’s latest version fails to do the same. The plot is centered on an unlikely and unwilling hero (Denzel Washington) who rises to save the day by assembling a cast of loyal supporters out of misfits. This narrative is nothing new – numerous franchises have been enormously successful by modifying this model – think Dominic Toretto in “Fast and Furious” or Captain America in Marvel’s “The Avengers.” Fuqua brings back the ac-

tors from his award-winning urban crime thriller “Training Day”: Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke. The former plays the role of a bounty hunter who is put in charge of protecting a small town from evil mining mogul Bartholomew Bogue (Peter Sarsgaard). He assembles a team of outlaws that includes sharpshooter Goodnight Robicheaux (Ethan Hawke), an old-time friend and tracker Jack Horne (Vincent D’Onofrio), an inexplicably high-strung mountain dweller whose conflicted persona is left regrettably unexplored. Chris Pratt’s attempt to emulate the dark, troubled role of gambler Josh Faraday, originally given to Steve McQueen, is met with little success. Washington dominates in his performance, yet it does not ask nearly enough of his acting abilities. Pratt does his best with the second most screen time, but many of the other stars are lost in an attempt to bring together too many backstories and personal journeys. The past of Hawke’s character, a Civil War general ashamed of his former deeds and sickened by the violence he has endured, is arguably explored the most. However, there is a disconnect in the plot when he suddenly recovers his fighting spirit before the final showdown. With the blandness of “The Magnificent Seven” and his other movies since “Training Day,” Antoine Fuqua might be a one trick pony after all. While he is not necessarily a bad director, he is certainly a predictable one. His style, dictated by lackluster and riskless scripts, rely on the innate talent of his main actors and

MGM/COLUMBIA PICTURES

“The Magniﬁcent Seven” fails to capture the original’s magic, but is redeemed by strong lead performances and action scenes. the choreography of action sequences. This is obvious in “The Magnificent Seven” and keeps it from truly conveying some of the moral themes it explores. The film’s attempt to criticize capitalism and industrialization — after Bogue violently seizes the town of Rose Creek in hopes of making a quick dollar — is quickly lost in a premise that very soon becomes focused on personal vengeance instead of righteousness and justice. Likewise, the diverse cast of outlaws that get together to fight off the evil corporate tyrant seems to have a clear purpose,

yet little commentary is made in reference to America’s history of profound racial tension. It is difficult to believe a conservative, predominantly white community in the late 1800s would easily accept leadership and protection from an ensemble led by a black man and including a Mexican and a Native American. Aside from obvious flaws in its plot, “The Magnificent Seven” is still a joy to watch, and its action scenes are wellchoreographed. The talented cast, highlighted by the charisma of leading men Pratt and Washington, certainly make this movie worth a watch.

he experience of black people in Korea was one of the things I researched most while preparing to study abroad in Seoul. While most comments were positive, I could not help but feel anxious as a result of the few horror stories I had read: unauthorized touching and grabbing, blackface and so on. Even though I understood that these incidents may happen in the United States too, there was something especially off-putting about the thought of experiencing racism in a foreign country. Luckily, I am happy to say that, having been in Korea for a little over a month, my overall experiences have remained largely positive. That is not to say that I have not had unique experiences as a result of my foreignness and, more specifically, because of my blackness. I am constantly stared at — especially by older people — in most places I go. I have had people ask to take my picture. I have had people ask me about my hair. I have even had people not want to sit next to me on the subway because they were afraid — perhaps moreso because I was foreign. When I first got here, all of this attention — both good and bad — made me quite uncomfortable. Even though I was prepared and had done my research, experiencing it first-hand was quite different from what I expected.

There was something especially off-putting about the thought of experiencing racism in a foreign country. By now, I have become so used to being foreign that I hardly notice it. But I cannot say that I am completely comfortable in my exoticness here. For me, it is slightly degrading, because it makes me feel less like a human and more like a public exhibit, though I know that most Korean people do not intend it to be that way. I sometimes try to put myself in their shoes and imagine living in a country where 97 percent of the population looks as I do, talks like I do and shares the same history as I do. If I, by chance, suddenly encountered someone who did not have any of these things in common with me, my reaction would probably be similar. Then again, this feeling of being uncomfortable in my blackness is not a new one. Lately, I have been having a lot of thoughts comparing and contrasting my experience in Korea to my experience back in the U.S., especially with the spree of police killings of black people that have been making headlines this past week.

I am afraid of perpetuating preconceived notions that nonblack people may have of me, but I am also afraid of not fulfilling the expectations that other black people may have for me. One difference is that I do not fear for my physical safety here in Korea, which is unfortunately a legitimate fear of mine back in the United States, but I still feel like an outsider in Korea. When I walk into a room here, the first thing people notice is the fact that I am foreign. While most of the attention is positive, I would honestly prefer if there were no attention at all. I like the fact that back home I am “normal,” and I blend in. I feel signifcantly less self-conscious in my appearance because I know that I am not constantly being stared at because of it. However, I have also struggled a lot culturally in the United States because of my blackness. I am afraid of perpetuating preconceived notions that nonblack people may have of me, but I am also afraid of not fulfilling the expectations that other black people may have for me. Growing up, I was always the kid who was—to quote Earl Sweatshirt’s “Chum” — “too black for the white kids and too white for the blacks.” I guess, for me, Korea just highlights how far I must go in being comfortable in my skin and my identity, because if I truly were, none of this would bother me. I do not see all of these emotions and thoughts that I have been having as a bad thing. I take it as a challenge, really. And I am quite thankful that Korea has brought this to my attention. If I could only overcome my concern about other people’s gazes, I think I would be much happier with myself.

Jasmine White is a junior in the College. SETTLING IN SEOUL appears every other Friday.

the guide

friday, september 30, 2016

THE HOYA

Live review

MUSIC

Irreverence Reigns Supreme Amy Schumer



Grace Wydeven Hoya Staff Wtiter

Fresh off the release of her book, “The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo,” Amy Schumer has wasted no time getting back on the road with a nationwide stand-up tour. On Sept. 23, Schumer graced the stage of the Verizon Center with her typical fashion sense — painfully high heels — which eventually got tossed aside, and a hefty bottle of white wine. Opener Rachel Feinstein, a fellow comedian who has appeared on “Inside Amy Schumer” and in her own Comedy Central specials, kicked the show off to a strong, sarcastic start. As the audience waited impatiently for the star of the show, Schumer made her way out onto stage, wine bottle in hand. A Towson University graduate, Schumer joked about being local, which received a few cheers, and went on to add that nothing could really shock the people of D.C. Schumer cracked a few opening jokes about her recent Bud Light commercials, relating them to a few of her funniest drinking experiences as a college student. She described how once she had come out of a drunken blackout as if she was waking up suddenly from a dream only to realize that her dream was actually a real-life drunken stupor. Tying her prop into the show, Schumer assured the audience that her wine was real, despite previously responding to audience queries with an incredulous “are you kidding me?” It was clear that Schumer knew her audience well, landing joke after joke about her binge drink-

ing and sexual misadventures in college, leaving the crowd of predominantly young women howling with laughter. From the hilarious misadventures of her undergraduate years to her current relationship with her boyfriend, she wove a common thread throughout the routine. Though admittedly blunt, raunchy and shocking, Schumer’s humor is undeniably relatable. Although she was often the butt of her own jokes, Schumer never relinquished control of the narrative, making it clear that the power to portray herself was hers and hers alone.

“Amy Schumer is so funny because I can see parts of myself, and any empowered woman, in her.” Glenna Roberts (SFS ’18) Co-Founder, Dressmate

She was able to incorporate jokes about passing out from drinking and having casual sex but always did so in such an honest, raw and grounded way that the audience could let its guard down and relate to each mishap or embarrassing moment. Aside from the cringe-inducing stories, Schumer also made sure to include ac-

counts that supported her self-described reputation as the world’s “worst celebrity.” Comically relating the routine she did for Hillary Clinton’s birthday party, she slipped in that she tried to leave early several times. Her excuse? “I’m an introvert, and it’s just that, well, I have this leftover pasta waiting for me, and I’m gonna go home and eat it in the dark.” Despite the hyper-sexualized, partygirl image many people attribute to Schumer, with this incident she subtly proved that she is just like everybody else: sometimes she does not want to stay for the party, even if that party happens to be for a former secretary of state. Defending her relatable desire to leave early, Schumer quipped, “Madam Secretary of what, exactly?” Glenna Roberts (SFS ’18) found an empowering narrative within Schumer’s trademark humor. “Amy Schumer is so funny, because I can see parts of myself, and any empowered woman, in her. She’s funny because she’s real. Your body, your sexuality, your sense of humor and your personality are all uniquely yours, and being able to laugh at ourselves while also shaping our own image is both comforting and empowering,” Roberts said. With her blatant disregard for societal constraints and her refusal to bow to anyone’s will but her own, Schumer showed her comedy to be multifaceted and dynamic. Perhaps more impressively, underlying her performance is a strong, powerful woman who is as smart as she is funny and as formidable as she is selfdeprecating.

New Releases

STEREOGUM

The Weeknd ft. daft punk ‘starboy’ The Weeknd, in collaboration with Daft Punk, has released the first single “Starboy” of his upcoming November album of the same name. With celebrity revelry-themed lyrics, the Weeknd delivers his latest release with the familiar altR&B stylings of his past work. The song comes alive with the infusion of EDM production by the Grammy Award-winning French duo. Only a week since its release, “Starboy” has already broken the top 40 and has secured a nomination for the MTV Europe Music Awards, fortifying “Starboy” as one of fall’s most anticipated albums.

DEF JAM RECORDS

The Mowgli’s ‘Spiderweb’ “Spiderweb” has all the makings of a classic indie track. It is homey and upbeat, telling a lyrical narrative of youth and finding oneself. It concludes, in an almost kitschy way, with clapping to accompany a strong beat. Although it is not the most original song out there, “Spiderweb” is definitely a solid addition to the Los Angeles-based alternative rock group’s repertoire.

AMYSCHUMER.COM

Brash and raunchy, Amy Schumer delighted audiences with her trademark bawdy and self-effacing humor, grounding it with numerous relatable moments concerning her college exploits that resonated with the young audience.

Phase Zero Morgan Delt

album review STEROGUM

Green Day ‘Still Breathing’



Meena Raman

Special to The Hoya

Psychedelic rock artist Morgan Delt is drenched in sunshine and synths in his latest release, “Phase Zero.” Much like its swirling cover art suggests, Morgan Delt’s sophomore album “Phase Zero” is the quintessential psychedelic pop record, with a clear focus on the imagery and influence of sunlight. Released on Aug. 26, the album captures the fading sound of summer, transitioning listeners from the lazy warmth of the season to the cooler tone of autumn with incredible ease. Delt is signed to Sub Pop Records, a label characterized by its grungy style, and he is known for his home recording, which explains the cozy, lo-fi quality of his music. His soft, whispering vocals are another key to his trademark sound and blend effortlessly with the background instrumentals

BANDCAMP.COM

Morgan Delt’s sophomore album makes up for lackluster moments with cohesion.

and heavy synthesizers that are evocative of another decade. The retro quality of Delt’s recording pairs well with the album’s electronic instrumentation, giving the psychedelic music a more grounded, natural feel. “Phase Zero” opens with one of its best tracks, “I Don’t Wanna See What’s Happening Outside,” a sentiment that is perhaps all-too-familiar as summer draws to a close. Its hazy opening notes brim with both tranquility and hope — accentuated by relaxed synthesizers — before culminating on a more climactic, electrified note. This track is reminiscent of rock band The Coral’s cheery hit, “In the Morning,” albeit less folksy. Combined with the mellow feel of electronic music contemporary Dan Deacon, a general atmospheric mood pervades the entire album. In contrast, the penultimate track, “Escape Capsule,” offers a soothing melody and essentially acts as a filler track. While the song is pleasantly calm and melodic, it lacks the same sense of vibrancy and catchiness that makes the opening piece stand out. While still worth a listen, the end result is rather forgettable. Another weak spot is “Mssr. Monster,” an inventive, if slightly cacophonous, number. Featuring a heavy backtrack reminiscent of science-fiction movies, the song is filled with low, frantic chants and random notes that render it an unpleasant listen. The album’s eighth track, “The Lowest of the Low,” is ironically one of its highlights. Though not immediately striking, this piece sees Delt at his most psychedelic, fusing shuddering vocals, sung as if through a ceiling fan, and echoing bass to produce some of the album’s most melancholic notes that reveal more depth with every listen. Closing out the album is “Some Sunsick Day,” an airy piece about rebirth and natural beauty. The dreaminess of the song is

SUB POP

represented well by its music video: a kaleidoscopic dreamscape filled with computergenerated imagery that is both romantic and surreal. In fact, the aesthetic elements of the video are exactly what one might imagine while listening to the album. Deviating from the edgier sound of his eponymous debut record, “Morgan Delt,” Delt successfully evades the stereotype of the “sophomore slump.” While its tracks are notably less distinctive than those of its predecessor, much of “Phase Zero” seems to meld together, and its resulting sound is far more unified and harmonious. “Phase Zero” is the auditory equivalent of a blazing summer sunset, and the album is a solid addition to the ever-innovative Los Angeles alternative music scene. While Delt’s vocals are not particularly unique, they reverberate quietly in each piece, letting his instrumental mastery of the pop-rock genre shine. The first and final songs on this album are standouts — amalgamations of the earthy and the synthetic. However, other tracks fluctuate between forgettable and overdone. Though Delt is less thorough in exploring his lyrical message, leaving room for improvement in future works, he remains true to his psychedelic sound while continuing to head toward a bright future.

Thirty-year-old punk-rock act Green Day is still kicking in anticipation of its 12th studio album “Revolution Radio,” scheduled to release Oct. 7. The band, still with apparent chemistry, maintains a youthful energy throughout the upbeat, positive single “Still Breathing.” Singer Billy Joe Armstrong powers through with lyrical vibrancy and timehonored verve. Featuring an anthemic chorus and 2000s-inspired guitar parts, “Still Breathing” is sure to inspire the band’s longstanding supporters and new followers alike.

BILLBOARD

Cherub and T.I. ‘Signs’ “Signs” is a classic Cherub track: bassheavy, upbeat and full of falsettos and ’80s synth textures. Though the track is a slight departure from some of Cherub’s earlier work, lacking the same soul and refined sound of “Year of the Caprese” or “MoM & DaD,” this single definitely shows promise for Cherub’s upcoming work. This collaboration with rap artist T.I. highlights the dynamic range of Cherub along with T.I.’s continued relevance in the pop genre.

sports

THE HOYA

swimming and diving

Volleyball

Sluggish Start Dooms GU Cynthia Karnezis Special to The Hoya

COURTESY GUHOYAS

The men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams earned silver medals at last season’s Big East championships and will open this season Saturday in Newark.

Leavitt Highlights Opener Mary Burke

Special to The Hoya

This weekend marks the official season opener for the Georgetown swimming and diving team and their first competition under new Head Coach Jack Leavitt as the team travels to Newark, Del., for a meet at the University of Delaware on Saturday. During the summer and the preseason, one of Leavitt’s top priorities has been getting to know his 62 student-athletes and their individual talents. “Now that we’re three weeks in, they’re getting to know me a little better. I’m getting to know them a little better, and it’s starting to gel well,” Leavitt said. Over the summer, the team members were advised to stay in the best shape they could and find a pool wherever possible. The dedicated student athletes listened and trained globally. “We had kids in China, Israel, Spain, New Jersey, California. … We had people all over the country, all over the world,” Leavitt said. “Whether they were interning or taking classes or whatever else, we had kids that were working out in whatever way they

could.” Last Friday, the team hosted an intra-squad meet, attended by potential recruits and returning alumni. Although it had only been three weeks into the season, Leavitt commented that the team seemed prepared and in shape for the season ahead. Leavitt also mentioned that the team had been working on improving the athletes’ technical skills before focusing on time and speed. Through individual sit-downs with each team member, coaches have been tailoring practice to make positive changes in both technique and race strategy with individualized stroke work and specialized drills. This weekend, Coach Leavitt is looking forward to racing against other teams. He highlighted the successful past of opening meets in previous years. “We have a lot of parent support that will be there, so it’ll feel like a home meet … We’re really excited about getting up and racing and having the first one under our belt before our first home meet in two weeks,” Leavitt said. Leavitt urges both fans and Hoyas alike to keep an eye out this season for senior Ka-

tie Duncalf and junior Molly Fitzpatrick. He stressed that Duncalf, entering her senior year, is looking “to leave her mark here,” after placing second in conference last year in the 200m backstroke. Big East champion Fitzpatrick swam in the Olympic Trials in Omaha, Neb., this July. While the women’s side has superstar talent, Leavitt emphasized the depth of the men’s team across all events. “Ultimately if we do win a Big East championship at the end of the season, it will be a complete team effort,” Leavitt said. This season, Leavitt is looking forward to performing well at the Bucknell Invitational meet in Lewisburg, Pa., in early December. He is also excited for the Big East Tournament at the end of the season in February. “We finished second in the conference the last three years, [now it’s time to] chip away at first place and win the championship, ” Leavitt said. Leavit emphasized his excitement for the development of the group and is anticipating successful performances at the exhibition meet this Friday and the official season opener Saturday in Newark.

THE water cooler

Broken System Fails Recruits

ne of the biggest lies that perpetuate collegiate athletics is that student athletes’ well-being and education come first. For a vast majority of programs, student athletes exist to win games, boost student and alumni morale, and keep donation checks and application fees rolling in. It is basically an act of doublespeak by universities who trumpet their commitment to student-athletes and proceed to fire a head coach in the middle of the season for performancebased reasons. On Sunday afternoon, Louisiana State University fired football Head Coach Les Miles after over a decade of service that included a national title and two South Eastern Conference Championships. While that certainly doesn’t make a coach untouchable, firing a coach that won nearly 79 percent of his games in the middle of the season was a disservice to current LSU players and recruits and is ultimately a practice that college sports should do their best to abandon. Miles’ undoing was his inability to parlay top-tier recruiting classes into championships — both at the SEC and national level. Compound this with the Florida Gators of the late 2000s and the Alabama of the 2010s, and there has not exactly been room for the Tigers at the top of the SEC. To put it in perspective, including the 2012 BCS National Championship game, LSU has lost its last five games against Alabama. In a world where being the best is only achieved by beating the best, Miles consistently failed to do that during his final seasons at LSU. There was ample enough reason to fire Miles; his inability to develop a quarterback, anemic offenses and recent absence in big games were more than enough justification. The timing, however, is disappointing, because it creates a leadership void for people relatively powerless to fill it.

Ultimately, there are going to be two large parties affected: the current LSU football team and the team of whatever coach is ultimately tapped to replace Miles at LSU. One way to avoid the second issue is for LSU to make interim head coach Ed Orgeron the fulltime head coach.

Michael Ippolito That may or may not happen and Orgeron basically has eight games to audition for the job in a role he knows all too well; he took over at USC for Lane Kiffin, after Kiffin was sacked on the LAX tarmac after a road loss in October 2013. Orgeron finished the season by going 6-2, so he has proven that he can fill in admirably and do quality work with someone else’s talent. Assuming this does not happen, however, poses one of the biggest ironies in college sports: coaches are free to leave their jobs for other, more lucrative opportunities, but the players they recruit are bound to the school to which they committed. If players want to transfer, either to stay with the coach that recruited them, or in general, they have to give up a year of eligibility in order to do so while no such consequences are placed upon the coach. The cause of this problem is difficult to avoid because during the recruiting process, players and their families often get to know one coach or a select few people from the recruiting institution relatively well and a personal connection forms. The connection is not so much between the player and the institution directly but rather the coach who represents that particular institution. Coaches are

friDAY, september 30, 2016

also under no obligation to disclose their future plans to prospective recruits. Thus, a football coach at a successful mid-tier football program could essentially lie to a recruit and promise that they will remain the coach throughout the player’s career there and then leave suddenly leaving the player with no recourse. Obviously, the NCAA and individual schools are not going to stop firing coaches when they see fit. They simply need to afford the same opportunity to their players in a situation in which the head coach is fired or leaves during the middle of the season. If another university or sports program is willing to accept them onto the team and the school will accept the player’s academic credits, there should not be any real problem. If normal students can transfer penalty-free and a new school is willing to accommodate an athlete willing to transfer, regardless of scholarship status, there does not seem to be a valid reason for the NCAA to restrict what is in essence labor mobility in light of how the recruiting system actually works. A final issue is that schools often have to approve student-athlete requests to transfer out. This rule also needs to be part of the exception so that, if a coach is fired or chooses to leave, the players essentially have that off-season to act as free agents. Obviously that is not how the real world or professional sports works, but that is precisely the point: in the NCAA’s mind, collegiate sports are not professional sports and do not deserve to be treated like professionals. If that is the case, the NCAA should be willing to allow penalty-free transfers to current LSU football players and any other group in a similar situation.

Michael Ippolito is a senior in the College. The Water Cooler appears every Friday.

The Georgetown Women’s volleyball team (5-11, 1-2 Big East) could not keep up its momentum from their big conference win against Villanova (10-5, 1-1 Big East) this past weekend, losing to Seton Hall (9-8, 3-1 Big East) Tuesday night in three straight sets. The Hoyas kept close for much of the night but could not secure a strong lead, falling to the Pirates by two points in each game. “We started off very slow and showed a whole lot of grit battling out of that and being able to finish all three sets within two points,” Georgetown Head Coach Arlisa Williams said. “What we learned tonight is that we have to come out and set the tone from the beginning. When we play good volleyball, we’ll play with anyone in the conference.” Despite the loss, the Hoyas boasted impressive offensive and defensive highlights due

to strong performances from their sophomore class. Sophomore outside hitter Alyssa Sinnette led the team with 10 kills, while sophomore middle blocker Symone Speech and sophomore outside Liv King both added eight kills. Junior setter Meghan Richard and Speech had very few attacking errors as well, swinging at .462 and .438 respectively. Speech also had a match-high six blocks at the net. In the back row, sophomore libero Kenzie Higareda led the team with 10 digs. Higareda also had a strong night from the back line, serving a contest best five aces. The Hoyas were down by six points, at 9-3 in the first set, until they eventually cut their deficit to 14-12. However, Seton Hall pushed through on a 5-0 run to reestablish their lead at 21-16, before closing out the game at 25-23. In the second, the girls started off slowly as the Pirates took a 5-1 lead. The Hoyas battled hard to come back, capturing

COURTESY GUHOYAS

Senior middle blocker Ashlie Williams has recorded 94 kills and 34 total blocks this season.

the first lead of the night at 8-7. They capitalized on their advantage, pushing it even farther to 13-9 after a key block by Speech and Richard on the right. The Pirates did not give up and ultimately retook the lead at 19-18 before closing the game out once again at 25-23. Looking to change the momentum of the match, Georgetown came out with a strong 4-1 lead in the third. But once again, the Blue and Gray could not keep the Pirates down. Shortly thereafter, Seton Hall tied the set at 8-8. Following a 9-4 run, the Hoyas trailed by five points at 17-12. After a strong serving run by Higareda and a few key kills by Speech and senior middle blocker Ashlie Williams, the third set was tied 23 all, and it looked promising for Georgetown. The last few points were a battle, but ultimately Seton Hall clinched the final set at 26-24. The Hoyas will now look to take their strengths from this match and improve upon them in their upcoming game to secure a win and improve their conference record. Georgetown heads to the Midwest this weekend to continue conference play against Marquette on Friday, and DePaul on Saturday. Marquette boasts an impressive 11-3 overall record, offensively led by powerhouse outside hitter Taylor Louis, Big East player of the week last week. The Hoyas are looking for an upset much like their past Villanova victory. “I think what we are seeing is that every single team in our conference is going to be competitive and we’ll take what we did well against Villanova, we’ll take what we did well tonight, and we’ll apply that to our work in practice on Wednesday and Thursday to get ready for the weekend,” Williams said. Friday’s game against Marquette is set to start at 8 p.m. ET.

WOMEN’S golf

Hoyas Tee Off With Ivies Dan Crosson

Special to The Hoya

The Georgetown women’s golf team will travel to Princeton, N.J. this weekend to compete in the Princeton Invitational. The team recently placed 17th out of 20 teams at the Lady Paladin Invitational, where they shot +44 as a team. Prior to this, they finished second at the William and Mary Fall Invitational, where they shot +42 as a team. The Hoyas will next face the entirety of the Ivy League at the Princeton Invitational. Head Coach Katie Brophy has set expectations high for the Hoyas. “We always look forward to playing against the Ivy League. All the teams in the Ivy League will be there, so it will be a great opportunity for us to see where we can stack up against all of them. Obviously, we would like to come away with a top finish,” Brophy said. Brophy noted two bigname teams that represent the biggest challenge for the Hoyas this weekend. “Harvard is ranked the best, with Princeton closely behind them, so those will be the two biggest competitors for us,” Brophy said.

Georgetown has had very consistent scores in the first two invitationals, but Coach Brophy noted the importance in improving scores. He has also emphasized putting this past week in practice. “Right now we are working on our putting. …We really think that putting it closer on our first putts and then converting some of our shorter putts will be the key to shooting some lower numbers,” Coach Brophy said. An improvement in the short game could be the difference between a first or second place finish. Gaining better control of both long and short putts can increase players’ confidence and, of course, lead to lower scores. Decreasing the number of putts can also allow a player to be more conservative with her longer shots. It can help save a player from mistakes during a round, turning a bad hole into a one. Such practice can help the golf team continue to develop. With most of the players on the team being freshmen and sophomores, the Hoyas can use their youth to their advantage. Three sophomores lead the team: Alexa Popowitz, Christina Parsells and Pendleton Bogache. Parsells was a firstteam All-Big East selection

last season. Popowitz was a second-team All-Big East selection last season and led the Hoyas at the William and Mary Fall Invitational with a score of 224 (+8), finishing in a tie for third place individually. Bogache led the team at the Lady Paladin Invitational with a score of 222 for three rounds (+6). In addition, freshman Ashley Fitzgibbons has gotten off to a quick start in the first two matches, finishing second-best on the team on both occasions. That much success by underclassmen inevitably excites coaches, who know that the athletes will continue to develop as their careers continue. Brophy is no different and has plenty of confidence in her young core. “The nucleus of our team is sophomores, so having one year under their belt has shown that they can compete at really any level. But coming back this year after really productive summers from all three of them, they are all ready to go and shoot low numbers. They are all really competitive and a very close group of friends,” Brophy said. “It’s been nice having them come back with some experience.” The Princeton Invitational is this Saturday, Oct. 1, at Princeton, N.J.

COURTESY GUHOYAS

The women’s golf team finished second at the Big East championships last season and earned 17th place at the Lady Paladin Invitational this past weekend.

SPORTS

friDAY, september 30, 2016

THE HOYA

Men’s Soccer

THE analyst

Fernandez Immortalized CHRISTOVICH, from B10

tried to reconcile these crippling questions. And though many actions taken by the league were to be expected, some events were unique to the way that baseball and sports as a community pull themselves out of tragedy. The first thing the MLB did was cancel the Marlins game Sunday morning. The Marlins community needed time to take care of their families and friends in the wake of the news — which was the right decision, as emotion on Sunday was bigger than baseball. Ironically, however, Fernandez himself probably would not have wanted the game to be cancelled. He loved baseball that much. The moments of silence around the league in the following games and the numerous media tributes were all standard rituals to honor a fallen member of the community. But baseball is a game of superstition. Players refuse to step on the chalk foul line. Roger Clemens would rub the Monument Park statue of Babe Ruth before every start as a Yankee. Wade Boggs etched the Hebrew word for life, chai, into the batters’ box dirt before every single at-bat. And like many athletes, baseball players have an eternal attachment to the timeless game. From the films “Field of Dreams” to “Angels in the Outfield,” to stadium tributes like the name “the house that Ruth built” and the curses of the Bambino and billy goat, baseball believes that not even death completely separates people from the game. On Monday night, Marlins second baseman Dee Gordon smashed the first pitch he

swung at into the Marlins Park second deck. It was probably the farthest homer Gordon had ever hit. It was also Gordon’s first home run since last season. Then, on Tuesday night, childhood neighbor and friend of Fernandez, Cardinals shortstop Aledmys Diaz, returned to St. Louis after spending Monday grieving with Fernandez’s family in Miami. In his second at-bat of the game, Diaz hit the first grand slam of his career. No one suggested that these events were a coincidence. When both Gordon and Diaz pointed to the sky after reaching home plate, teary eyed, everyone knew the home runs were fate. Because in baseball, superstitions like these are not only accepted but also widely believed. In those moments, Fernandez was with them. Gordon and Diaz honored Fernandez by playing his favorite game at his elite level. And when they credited a higher power, fate or perhaps Fernandez’s presence for their stellar performances, they eased the heartache just a little bit. Healing for this community is finding symmetry in superstition and comfort in coincidence. Players are diving more deeply into the game than ever before, unafraid of the constant ache of Fernandez’s memory and grateful to continue the game from which he was taken so suddenly. Baseball is turning the tragedy of a young ace’s death into a celebration of a game well-played, one ethereal home run at a time.

Amanda Christovich is a sophomore in the College. The Analyst appears every Friday.

FILE PHOTO: ISABEL BINAMIRA/THE HOYA

Sophomore goalkeeper J.T. Marcinkowski sat during Georgetown’s 3-1 win agaisnt American on Tuesday. He has started eight games this season, made 41 saves and allowed eight goals.

Defensive Play Rallies Hoyas EAGLES, from B10

injury,” Coach Wiese said. “We don’t want those first few minutes of the season to be in those games; this was a good opportunity to get [Auer] in and keep him sharp for down the road.” Georgetown responded quickly when senior forward and co-captain Brett Campbell got his head on sophomore defender Kyle Zajec’s cross, heading in

his third goal of the season. The goal came in the 14th minute of the game. Georgetown finished the half with the tie intact, before breaking out in the second half. Soon after the half began, in the 52nd minute of the game, senior midfielder Jon Azzinnari got his first goal of his career. It turned out to be the game-winning goal. Azzinnari scored on a corner kick, knocking the

Football

ball into the back of the net for the 2-1 lead. The rest of the game was fast paced, with eight shots from American in the second half and seven from Georgetown. “Mitch was busy; you have to look at it from two fronts. One, American is built to really play a game of chicken, it’ll keep a lot of guys high. They are happy to concede some chances if it means they’ll get some chances on the

other side,” Coach Wiese said. In the 66th minute, the Blue and Gray got an insurance goal when the Eagles committed a foul in their own box. Junior midfielder Arun Basuljevic put away the penalty kick, his first goal of the season, to give the Hoyas the 3-1 lead and the victory. Up next is Big East foe Butler, whom Georgetown will play in Indiana at 7 p.m. on Saturday.

Sailing

Races to Assess Strengths SAILING, from B10

FILE PHOTO: NAAZ MODAN/THE HOYA

Senior quarterback Tim Barnes has thrown for 547 yards and six touchdowns this season. He has thrown two interceptions and has a 59.1 percent completion rate.

Offense Key to Upset Win FOOTBALL, from B10

alive. Last week against Columbia, Georgetown had only eight total first downs and were just 2-of17 on third down conversions. “I think overall execution in our offense has got to be paramount, especially against these good teams we have coming up, we need to be able to move the sticks. Not worried about long drives or putting things all the way together, it’s executing just one, two, three plays in a row and putting together some first downs,” Georgetown Head Coach Rob Sgarlata said. In what looks to be another major factor on Friday is the turnover battle,

as both teams relied heavily on forcing turnovers in their most recent games. The Harvard secondary snatched three interceptions last week, while the Hoyas boasted a plus-four turnover ratio against the Lions. Both teams have a shorter week of preparation since the game will be played on Friday. Georgetown will also have to account for the long trip, but the team plans to keep most of its normal routine. “Thursday we’ll travel, and we’ll practice on the way up. We’re really just basically giving up our run-through on Friday. I think it’s a normal routine for the staff and kids as much as possible, which is

very important,” Sgarlata said. The game will likely bring a large crowd. The average attendance for a Harvard home game is over 15,000, let alone a Friday night matchup against an undefeated opponent. The Blue and Gray, however, are looking forward to the atmosphere. “There’s no better place to play than Friday night against a ranked team, away, on TV. So we’ve been looking forward to this one, to get back up to Harvard, honestly since last year’s game. So it’s an exciting week,” Sgarlata said. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. Friday at Harvard Stadium. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3.

who also competed in the Faye Bennet Championships, came away with notable seventh and eighth place finishes, respectively. Although these two athletes fell just a few positions short of qualifying for nationals, they showed noticeable improvement in their times over the weekend and still have opportunities to qualify for nationals in future events. Meanwhile, other members of the Georgetown sailing team headed to the Washington Sailing Marina to compete in the Tom Curtis Memorial Regatta, named after the only sailor ever inducted into the Georgetown Hall of Fame, Thomas E. Curtis Jr. (CAS ’68). Through twelve races, sophomore Campbell D’Eliscu, junior Roger Dorr and senior Emily Fung finished with a third-place finish in the A division after coming out to an early lead in the points. In the B division, senior AJ Reiter, freshman William Logue, and junior Meaghan MacRae made a run in their last few races to finish with a second-place result. The regatta served as a first-round qualifier for the conference championship, with the top four teams advancing to the next round. Georgetown successfully clinched a ticket to the next round, placing second overall in the midst of a heated points battle with Old Dominion University, St. Mary’s College of Maryland and Hampton University for the second-, third-, and fourth-place transfer spots. George Washington University finished well ahead of the rest of its competition, including Georgetown. Although happy to move on to the next regatta, Callahan was somewhat unsatisfied with the team’s inability to distinguish itself from its top competitors. “We did end up second in the regatta, which was

fine. And we did end up qualifying for the conference championship,” Callahan said. “But it was closer than we would have liked.” Early conference qualifi-

“We did end up qualifying for the conference championship. But it was closer than we would have liked.” MICHAEL CALLAHAN Head Coach

ers place a lot of pressure on high-caliber teams like Georgetown to finish at the top, since the confer-

ence competition is expected to be generally less intense. “It’s a different workout when only five of the teams are at a different level than the rest of them,” Callahan said. “If you finish fifth that’s essentially like getting last out of fifteen boats.” The team will have more upcoming opportunities to gain more experience and prepare for high-pressure competition as they head into several of nonqualifier races in the weekend ahead. The match-racing team looks to get its feet wet at the Naval Academy with its first competition this fall. In addition it will compete in, a second regatta at the Merchant Marine Academy in New York City, which serves as an opportunity to improve the team and assess new sailors.

COURTESY GUHOYAS

The sailing team will compete in two nonqualifying regattas over this weekend.

SPORTS

Women’s Lacrosse Georgetown (0-0) vs. Navy (0-0) Friday, 7 p.m. Cooper Field

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2016

TALKING POINTS

KNEELING FOR RIGHTS Eleven players on the football team knelt during the national anthem on Homecoming Day. See thehoya.com

“

NUMBERS GAME

There’s no better place to play than Friday night against a ranked team.” HEAD COACH ROB SGARLATA

The number of goals the men’s soccer team has scored, three of which came in Tuesday’s win.

THE ANALYST

MEN’S SOCCER

Outburst of Scoring Ends Losing Streak DARIUS IRAJ

Hoya Staff Writer

The Georgetown men’s soccer team (3-6, 1-1 Big East) overcame its offensive woes on Tuesday at Shaw Field, defeating the American University Eagles (4-3-3, 1-0 Patriot League) 3-1. The Hoyas doubled their scoring output on the season after giving up the lead in the eighth minute. American started strong, controlling the game early on, taking two shots in the first few minutes before

scoring its only goal of the game. American senior forward Joe Iraola got around a Georgetown defender on a one-on-one play to put the Eagles ahead. However, the Blue and Gray fought back, and unlike previous comeback attempts this season, they were finally successful. “I think the guys handled going down a goal really well. We were down eight minutes in the game, and you were sort of wondering with how the season’s gone if that’s going to derail everything you’re talking

about or how they handle that emotionally,” Georgetown Head Coach Brian Wiese said. “And I thought we were fantastic with the response, and you had some really good performances by guys who hadn’t been on field a whole lot up to this point.” One player who had rarely seen the field this season was senior goalkeeper Mitchell Auer. Starting in place of sophomore goalkeeper and co-captain J.T. Marcinkowski, Auer played very well in one of the few

starts of his career, saving six shots. “[Marcinkowski] has been going really well for us, but Mitch is a senior. He’s really emerged as a leader in the locker room, you hear him really engaged with the guys and he’s been playing well, and so we were always looking ahead to a situation where he might be in a postseason game, a Big East semifinal, a Big East final, a NCAA tournament game, if [Marcinkowski] picks up an See EAGLES, B9

FILE PHOTO: JENNA CHEN/THE HOYA

Senior forward Brett Campbell scored one goal in Tuesday’s 3-1 win against American. Campbell has a team-high three goals this season and has played and started in all nine games, recording 19 shots.

Amanda Christovich

Baseball Mourns Young Star’s Life

ake his baseball career out of the equation and José Fernandez’s story was a tragedy. At age 15, Fernandez made a dangerous boat ride to the U.S. in a fourth attempt to defect from Cuba. During that boat ride, he rescued his own mother, who had fallen out of the boat as a result of violent surf. On Saturday evening, the now 24-year-old Fernandez got into an argument with his pregnant girlfriend and took a late night boat ride off the coast of Miami, perhaps to calm his nerves. A little after 3:15 a.m., Coast Guard personnel found the 32-foot fishing boat overturned; it had crashed into a jetty at some point in the night. Fernandez, along with two other passengers, was dead. The very water that had given Fernandez a new life had abruptly taken it away. Now add back baseball. Add back the reputation of Fernandez as not only one of the best young pitchers

in the Majors, but also as one who outwardly loved the game — who was always smiling, always joking, always real. Add back Fernandez’s involvement in the Cuban community. Add back the hope and leadership he brought to Miami baseball fans. Add back the many players, coaches and journalists around the league who not only respected Fernandez but also considered him a friend. When tragedy strikes, people often look to sports as a distraction, an escape and a stabilizer. But how do you cope when your tragedy is so acutely entwined with your escape? How do you distract yourself when your source of comfort becomes your calamity? For those, like Fernandez himself, who turned to baseball when nothing else was going right, where do you turn when it is baseball itself that is the source of grieving? All week, baseball has See CHRISTOVICH, B9

FOOTBALL

SAILING

Squads Continue Hot Starts Harvard to Test Surging GU LUKE DJAVAHERIAN Special to The Hoya

The Georgetown sailing team built upon an impressive start to the season, competing this past weekend in two regattas, the Faye Bennet MAISA Women’s Singlehanded Championship — where sophomore Haddon Hughes and junior Lola Bushnell finished first and second overall, respectively — and the Tom Curtis Memorial Regatta. The two top-place finishers were both veterans to the 2016 Faye Bennet MAISA Singlehanded Championship and battled through weak winds and choppy water throughout Sunday. Georgetown Head Coach Michael Callahan took note

of his sailors’ struggle with the poor course conditions and consequently plans to make course management a focus in practice going forward.

“When the breeze gets light ... it becomes a matter of race-course management.” MICHAEL CALLAHAN Head Coach

“When the breeze gets light and a little bit shifty and tricky, it becomes a matter of race-course management as opposed to just speed,” Callahan said. “So,

what they’re going to be working on is just handling how to sail light air, how to manage a shorter course and how to manage giving a good average finish in the lighter stuff.” Callahan expects these adjustments to pay off in November, when Hughes and Bushnell make their return to the Intercollegiate Sailing Association Women’s Singlehanded National Championship. Last year at nationals, Bushnell finished in seventh place, while Hughes made history by becoming the first Georgetown sailor to win the event. Junior Rose Edwards and freshman Macy McCann, See SAILING, B9

DEAN HAMPERS Special to The Hoya

The Georgetown football team (3-0) will travel to Cambridge, Massachusetts to take on No. 19 Harvard (20, 1-0 Ivy League) this Friday in a battle of two unbeaten squads. The Hoyas are seeking to redeem themselves against the school that handed them their worst loss of last season, a 45-0 rout at Harvard Stadium. This year, the team has wiped away the memory of that performance. “It’s a new year, that stuff’s all in the past — just going in excited for an opportunity. It’s another game, another opponent, so it’s just a new year and we’re excited,” senior quarterback and captain Tim Barnes said.

“It’s a new year, that stuff’s all in the past — just going in excited for an opportunity.” TIM BARNES Senior Quarterback

COURTESY GUHOYAS

The men’s and women’s sailing teams have recorded four top-five finishes in their first five regattas this season. Their match-racing team will debut this weekend.

Harvard will be led by senior quarterback Joe Viviano, a dual threat who threw for 205 yards and ran for two scores in a 32-22 win against Brown (1-1, 0-1 Ivy League) last week. The 6-foot-5 Pennsylvania native commands the starting role of quarterback for the first season. Junior running back Semar Smith, who already has three touchdowns this year, will add to the Crimson’s dynamic

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FILE PHOTO: ISABEL BINAMIRA/THE HOYA

Senior wide receiver Justin Hill returns to action this weekend. He has two touchdowns this season. rushing attack. “Our goal as a defense is just to stop the run, and I think our defensive line has been doing a great job all year,” Georgetown senior linebacker Leo Loughrey said. Loughrey adds experience to the Hoyas’ defense, responsible for 18 tackles this season. Heading the Crimson defensive effort is senior cornerback Sean Ahern, the team’s captain. Ahern holds two All-Ivy League first team selections, and has a forced fumble and two tackles for loss this season. Nonetheless, stopping the passing game has been a bit of an issue for the Harvard defense, which has given 255 yards per game through the air this season.

The Hoya offense will look to senior wide receiver Justin Hill, who returns this week after missing the Columbia game, and junior wide receiver Justin Harrell, who missed all of last season due to injury. Both players have a pair of touchdowns so far this season. Tim Barnes was 16-of-30 for 124 yards and scored a touchdown last week, but hopes to improve on his performance. “I didn’t play very well last week, and coach put us in the right plays, I just got to make better throws and just execute better,” Barnes said. Another key for the offense will be keeping drives See FOOTBALL, B9