The Hoya: February 5, 2016

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

Georgetown University • Washington, D.C. Vol. 97, No. 30, © 2016

tuesday, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

CHIMES AT 70

Georgetown’s first a cappella group will host the 43rd Cherry Tree Massacre this month.

EDITORIAL To ensure student safety, SafeRides should extend to morning hours.

KEHOE FIELD CLOSES Administrators and students discuss options for fixing the sports field.

OPINION, A2

NEWS, A5

GUIDE, B1

African American Studies Announced syed humza moinuddin Hoya Staff Writer

University President John J. DeGioia announced a plan for four new commitments designed to address racial injustice and progress for racial equality both on campus and nationally in an address to the community in Lohrfink Auditorium on Thursday afternoon.

DeGioia’s proposed commitments include the establishment of an African American studies department, as well as a center for researching racial injustice, a recruitment effort to gather new faculty to support such institutions and the recruitment of a new senior officer to oversee the developments.

“This is the moment to find within each of ourselves, and within our community, the sources of our moral imaginations to determine how we can contribute to responding to this urgent moment in our nation,” DeGioia said.

The address was announced in a university-wide email Wednesday.

Throughout his talk, DeGioia noted the significant efforts made to address the university’s history with slavery and racial injustice, including the establishment of the Working Group on Slavery, Memory and Reconciliation in September. However, he acknowledged the need for even more steps to make tangible

progress toward racial equality.

“This is a moment for us to say ‘Georgetown is a different place because Georgetown is in the world, which changes and challenges us, and Georgetown has always wished to be engaged in the world,’” DeGioia said.

Following his announcement of the executive board of the College’s decision to establish an African American studies major, DeGioia went on to assert that the university will also establish a department of African American studies. Assisted

by University Provost Robert Groves, a working group on racial injustice will be assembled to explore the creation of the department as well as a research center committed to researching racial injustice.

A recruitment effort will be initiated to gather the faculty needed to support both the future department and research center. These initiatives will be handled by a new senior officer, who will directly oversee the commitments while working alongside other senior leadership and research centers.

“These will happen. But we will do this as we do all important and successful work that we have all been a part of here: together, by listening to one another, letting all who can contribute to participate in the new endeavors and working together to achieve our goals,” DeGioia said.

GUSA Race 2016 Kicks Off

With only two tickets, candidate pool is historically sparse

IAN SCOVILLE Hoya Staff Writer

The 2016 Georgetown University Student Association executive race began as the presidential and vice presidential ticket of Enushe Khan (MSB ’17) and Chris Fisk (COL ’17) launched its executive bid at midnight Wednesday in Red Square.

They are the only candidates to publicly launch a campaign thus far.

According to GUSA Election Commissioner Grady Willard (SFS ’18), the presidential and vice presidential ticket of Tony Pezzullo (MSB ’17) and A.J. Serlemitsos (COL ’17) has also filed to run.

The 2016 race, with only two tickets, sets a different tone from the hotly contested 2015 campaign of six presidential and vice presidential pairings.

Just before midnight, around 50 students from Khan and Fisk’s team entered Red Square from the Intercultural Center accompanied by a portable stereo with strobe lights and the song “Danza Kuduro” by Don Omar before taping up their poster with the slogan “Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges.”

Alex Bobroske (SFS ’17), Khan and Fisk’s campaign manager, said the slogan is focused on unifying various student groups to come together and advocate on behalf of See GUSA, A7

NAAZ MODAN/THE HOYA

Enushe Khan (MSB ’17) and running mate Chris Fisk (COL ’17) were the only candidates who publically announced in Red Square.

Democrats Propose Student Debt Bill Matthew larson

future Pell Grant awards to inflation.

The Democrat leaders who support this act are also using it to restate Senate Democrats introduced the Re- their endorsement of President Barack ducing Educational Debt Act on Jan. 21 Obama’s call to make community colin a campaign to alleviate student debt lege free. Obama’s motion is based on through a combinathe America’s College tion of three major Promise Act of 2015, bills for which the introduced by Sen. Democrats have lobTammy Baldwin (Dbied over the past two Wis.) to provide a fedyears. eral match of 3 dollars The package of bills for every dollar the includes legislation state provides to waive introduced by Sen. tuition for eligible Elizabeth Warren (Dstudents. If all states ANTHONY CARNEVALE Director of the Georgetown University Mass.) in 2014 to allow participate, up to 9 Center on Education and the Workforce students to refinance million community their federal and private loans at a lower college students could save an average interest rate. Further, the act includes a of $3,800 in tuition each year. proposal from Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HaDirector of the Georgetown Uniwaii) initiated in 2015 that aims to en- versity Center on Education and the sure government aid covers more of the cost of college by indexing See DEBT, A7

Hoya Staff Writer

“The problem is, we don’t have the money to spend.”

COURTESY courtney maduike

GUWOC Outreach Chair Courtney Maduike (SFS ’17) led a panel on diversity and race with Ayo Aruleba (COL ’17), Asha Thanki (SFS ’17), Gilda Gallardo (COL ’17) and Tanner Davis (SFS ’17).

Event Tackles Racial Tensions syed humza moinuddin Hoya Staff Writer

Georgetown University Women of Color hosted its annual “Race at Georgetown” dialogue in an effort to discuss issues of race and diversity within the larger campus community in the Intercultural Center Auditorium on Tuesday night.

The event was held in conjunction with the “What’s a Hoya?” initiative, focusing on freshman participation, and involved polling and panelists.

Approximately 120 audience members were present and able to openly voice their own opinions and questions.

GUWOC is an organization dedicated to providing women of color a space to both gather and network with one another, in addition to providing a platform for the discussion of race

and ethnicity.

According to GUWOC Outreach Chair Courtney Maduike (SFS ’17), the event’s theme was “Are You Woke?” The phrase, slang for being socially aware, emphasizes the importance of bridging divides through greater dialogue and awareness.

“It’s important to read the discourse on what’s really going on, especially with these issues.”

AYO ARULEBA (COL ’17) Chair, GUSA Multicultural Council

“I think it’s just the awareness and the fact that the theme for the event for this year is “‘Are You Woke?’”, Maduike said. “It’s this awareness and conscious-

Newsroom: (202) 687-3415 Business: (202) 687-3947

ness that being sympathetic and sensitive to these topics, and building this sense of solidarity and community across these kind of categorizations.”

The event began with opening remarks from moderators Maduike and GUWOC Treasurer Ashlie Williams (MSB ’17), in addition to a video of Yale University students protesting their community’s racial injustices and allegations of discrimination.

Following the video, student panelists Ayo Aruleba (COL ’17), Asha Thanki (SFS ’17), Gilda Gallardo (COL ’17) and Tanner Davis (SFS ’17) presented to the audience their own views on race relations at Georgetown as well as their perspectives on ways for students to enhance the ongoing dialogue.

FEATURED NEWS Analyzing Iowa

IPPS fellow Patrick Dillon, College Democrats and Students for Rubio reflect on the caucus results.

A4

NEWS Pot Clubs Ban

Sports Turning Point

OPINION Democracy Let Ecuador Down

SPORTS Super Bowl 50

Mayor Bowser and the D.C. Council has upheld a temporary ban on private cannabis clubs.

A5

Ecuador’s political climate demonstrates the self-destructive possibilities of a democracy.

A3

The men’s basketball team seeks an important conference against Seton Hall this weekend.

B10

The Carolina Panthers and the Denver Broncos will compete in a Super Bowl showdown.

B10

See GUWOC, A7 Published Tuesdays and Fridays

Send story deas and Tips to news@thehoya.com

A2

OPINION

THE HOYA

friday, february 5, 2016

THE VERDICT

C

District Sickness — Three D.C. residents have contracted the Zika virus from trips to South and Central America. One of the diseased is pregnant and is under study for Zika’s effects in utero.

C More Hours, More Safety C

Friday Fetty — Hip-hop artist Fetty Wap will come to a sold-out venue in Silver Spring, M.D. The new hit artist is expected to perform from his debut album, which quickly shot up to No. 1 on the charts.

Founded January 14, 1920

EDITORIALS

fore 5 p.m. and rise as late as 7:30 a.m. Many students have to walk to and from campus in the dark because of sports practices, visits to Yates Field House, evening classes and various club meetings during these hours. Especially for those living multiple blocks away from campus in West Georgetown and Burleith, these commutes can be concerning, as would be expected at 12 a.m. In addition, winters in Washington, D.C., often bring freezing rain and snowstorms, which present an additional risk for students who could easily slip on unnoticed patches of black ice in the dark.

SafeRides already relies on student volunteer drivers from the Georgetown University Student Association. However, in order to expand the SafeRides schedule to early mornings and early evenings during the winter, the university should also consider providing work-study for driver positions. The more extensive and flexible schedule would allow students who can’t commit to a 15to 20-hour work week to take advantage of work-study. The expanded hours would also increase the popularity of the SafeRides service among the student body and encourage more students to err on the side of caution if they are concerned about their safety.

C

Though the Georgetown campus and surrounding neighborhood area are generally considered safe, the university offers a variety of transportation services for its staff, students and faculty. In addition to the neighborhood shuttles, many take advantage of the SafeRides program, a free van transportation service that provides a safe alternative to walking alone at night. Created 15 years ago, the program has expanded to include mobile apps and has also incorporated feedback from students who found the service to be unreliable and inaccessible. Currently, the SafeRides service is available every day of the week, beginning at 8 p.m.

The SafeRides vans run until 2 a.m. Sunday through Wednesday, and until 3 a.m. Thursday through Saturday.

SafeRides is commonly used by students who do not feel comfortable walking after a night of drinking. The evening and late-night hours make sense, as many people feel more unsafe or vulnerable when walking alone at night, whether coming from a party or a late night in Lauinger Library. Given the circumstances, SafeRides should consider expanding its hours of service and including early mornings, especially during the winter season.

Beginning in November, the sun can set be-

Wings and Rings — Leo’s plans a tailgate take-out for students throwing Superbowl pregame festivities.

Rickety Responses — Responses to the campus-wide sexual assault climate survey are still below targets. The administration continues to make concerted efforts to encourage students to complete it.

C

Free Reads for Kids — D.C. Public Libraries will start a book giveaway for young children in need. Children under the age of 5 will receive one book a month.

EDITORIAL CARTOON by Noah Taylor

Cost of Club Culture No student’s confidence should be diminished because of a rejection letter from a club on campus. With the amount of hard work it takes just to be admitted to Georgetown, students can be so qualified for clubs that the difference between what it takes to make it and to be denied becomes arbitrary.

Yet this atmosphere on campus seems to be fairly internalized, influencing the social lives and self-esteem of students.

Many students want to join exclusive clubs because these organizations often encourage strong social bonds, providing students with easier and faster ways to make friends. These clubs tend to foster such strong communities because they have higher time commitments and because they have extensive resources to offer students such as specialized equipment, networking opportunities and training in real-life skills. Strong social bonds and skills training are in high demand, which allows

clubs to be more exclusive during their selection periods. As a result, we cannot ask clubs to change their ways or the administration to intervene and force clubs to be less exclusive.

This leaves the responsibility of changing this culture in the hands of the students who are outside the clubs. Students must not place such strong value in the organizations and recognize that the social bonds they want can be found without a club membership, even if it seems more daunting. Students who are looking for highquality or-quantity friendships should invest in the connections they already have, or in potential connections that they may be ignoring. With an effort toward more meaningful conversation and the avoidance of small talk, anyone on this campus can open up about what makes him interesting and build meaningful relationships without the crutch of a club.

Honor Black History This fall, discussions on racial justice moved to the forefront of national dialogue, prompting rallies, riots and numerous conversations between administrators and students on college campuses across the country. February has been designated as Black History Month since 1976. This February, Georgetown students have ample opportunity to further their solidarity with the black community and contribute to the discussion on race in the United States. Because of the student-led Black Leadership Forum and other organizations on campus, Hoyas of all backgrounds and identities can attend a series of events that all students and staff should take advantage of.

Among the events taking place over the coming weeks is Outspoken, an open-mic event featuring spoken word performances centered on issues of black history and culture; a cooking class held by the African Society of Georgetown; and a talk on how the legacy of black leaders like Malcolm X intersect with modern-day feminism. For those who wish to deepen their understanding of the diversity present in black culture to become better allies, these and other events are excellent chances to do so.

It is important to recognize, for example, that the black experience is far greater than a history of struggle. Instead, Black History Month is a celebration of black communities and the beauty of black culture.

Living in D.C., students and staff also have access to an even wider variety of Black History Month events outside of campus. The

Newseum will be displaying a commemorative exhibit exploring the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement, now in its 50th year, and the Josiah Henson Historic Site in North Bethesda — honoring the former slave whose 1849 autobiography inspired “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” — will be offering free guided tours.

Engaging with these opportunities in the greater D.C. area is especially salient when considering the city’s rich legacy of black history and our place within it as Georgetown students. Washington, D.C., is far more than Capitol Hill and the White House; one cannot fully engage with the story of this city without learning about its foundation in slavery, the uprisings during the Civil Rights era following Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, the influence of Marion Barry as a central political figure and the enduring struggles against gentrification of primarily black communities.

As members of not only a deeply interfaith and intercultural university but also an equally diverse city, Georgetown students and staff ought to consider Black History Month an opportunity to strengthen their engagement with their community. In addition, Georgetown students should keep in mind that black history and the experiences of the black community in the present-day United States cannot be relegated to a single month. Rather, we should consider Black History Month as a potential springboard into contemporary issues of racial justice and commit to maintaining these important conversations throughout the year.

Jess Kelham-Hohler, Editor-in-Chief Suzanne Monyak, Executive Editor Jinwoo Chong, Managing Editor Shannon Hou, Online Editor Ashwin Puri, Campus News Editor Emily Tu, City News Editor Elizabeth Cavacos, Sports Editor Toby Hung, Guide Editor Lauren Gros, Opinion Editor Naaz Modan, Photography Editor Matthew Trunko, Layout Editor Jeanine Santucci, Copy Chief Catherine McNally, Blog Editor Reza Baghaee, Multimedia Editor

Syed Humza Moinuddin Ian Scoville Aly Pachter Deirdre Collins Madeline Auerbach Darius Iraj Russell Guertin Sean Davey Tom Garzillo Kate Kim John Miller Anthony Palacio Vera Mastrorilli Julia Weil Robert Cortes Daniel Kreytak Stanley Dai Charlotte Kelly Jesus Rodriguez Alyssa Volivar Yuri Kim Emma Wenzinger Sarah Wright Jarrett Ross Kelly Park

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This week

[ CHATTER ]

Be sure to check Chatter, The Hoya’s online opinion section, throughout the week for additional opinion pieces.

ZACHARY schroepfer (MSB ’19) and the assembled members of the Georgetown University Student Association’s Freshman Executive Committee advocate for greater participation in the Sexual Assault and Misconduct Climate Survey: Sexual assault is immensely significant for our class in particular: Studies show that instances of sexual assault and dating violence occur with a higher frequency in one’s freshman year than any other period of college. Moreover, close to one in five women report having experienced rape or attempted rape at some point during their freshman year.”

“

Find this and more at

thehoya.com/chatter CORRECTIONS The print version of “Survey Draws Low Student Response” (The Hoya, A1, Feb. 2, 2016), incorrectly included a caption accompanying tabulated results of the Georgetown Sexual Assault and Misconduct Climate Survey. The graphic displayed was provided by the Georgetown University Office of Communications.

Evan Zimmet, General Manager Selena Parra, Director of Accounting Addie Fleron, Director of Corporate Development Nicky Robertson, Director of Human Resources Lucy Cho, Director of Sales Ashley Yiu, Director of Technology Brittnay Logan Senior Accounts and Operations Manager Matt Zezula National Accounts Manager Connor Mayes Local Accounts Manager Alexander Scheidemann Treasury Manager Daniel Almeida Online Sales and Accounts Manager Galilea Zorola Subscriptions Manager Emily Ko Alumni Engagement Manager Shreya Barthwal Special Programs Manager Elizabeth Sherlock Personnel Manager Walter Lohmann Organizational Development Manager Natalia Vasquez Market Research Manager Steven Lee Public Relations Manager Julie LeBlanc National Advertisements Manager Local Advertisements Manager

Editorial Board

Lauren Gros, Chair Emily Kaye, Irene Koo, Jonathan Marrow, Sam Pence

Contributing Editors & Consultants

Madison Ashley, Sara Bastian, Michael Begel, Isabel Binamira, Alexander Brown, Robert DePaolo, Megan Duffy, Sophie Faaborg-Anderson, Cleo Fan, Kristen Fedor, Jesse Jacobs, Caroline Kenneally, Courtney Klein, Charlie Lowe, Carolyn Maguire, Andrew May, Tyler Park, Monika Patel, Jesus Rodriguez, Becca Saltzman, Zack Saravay, Joseph Scudiero, Mallika Sen, Kshithij Shrinath, Molly Simio, Natasha Thomson, Ian Tice, Andrew Wallender, Michelle Xu

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OPINION

Friday, february 5, 2016

in response

THE HOYA

A3

VIEWPOINT • Wan

Hacking a Liberal Arts Education Renleigh Stone

Cultures Are Not Our Toys I

was asked, “How do I explain to white people that it’s wrong to treat East-Asian religions as fads?” They explained that there are people who want to “become” Taoist, Buddhist, Sikh or Hindu but without any of the relevant social context or history. Two of the inquirer’s friends have been persecuted for belonging to one of those religions, and it had struck them how insulting that is.

Some people aren’t really accustomed to that: not touching what’s not theirs. Moreover, the reverse is often welcomed. White people often expect people of color to assimilate into their religions to speak their language and take part in their culture. That is how they assert their cultural dominance and cultural power. To some, the world is white peoples’ playground and we, people of color, just live in it. Some of them do not understand growing up with a deep rooted anything. It’s all transient. They have the privilege of discovering themselves that way. Picking things up and throwing them to the side when they are done, like toys. I don’t think they realize that it feels like an invasion to some people who were born in a culture where engaging in certain practices is compulsory. White people take space everywhere: at AfroPunk, in workshops specifically for people of color at conferences like Creating Change, everywhere.

So here’s how I analogize cultural appropriation; it is as if the elders of your lineage made necklaces and gave them to the family. They have a family crest on them, and only a few people in each generation are taught the secrets of making them.

They have been passed down generation after generation and have been a symbol of strength and unity in your clan for years. You love these pieces and you are happy to have something that connects your clan together because each member has worn their necklace and has their own memories with the heirlooms. In this generation it’s you who makes the crested jewelry for the generation to come.

Someone sees you making them for your little niece and before you can blink your family heirloom begins to be cheaply mass-produced.

You see strangers wearing them with their own added charms and personal designs, ruining the original intent and meaning of the necklace. You see friends borrowing them from other friends, you see children handling them, you see the crest on Frisbees being thrown to dogs. It makes your craft and heirloom feel cheap and no longer invaluable. Your niece cannot grasp the importance of it anymore either. How could they, when her best friend, half the class, and her teacher all have one.

These other people do not treat the crested jewelry the way you do; it’s nothing to them, just a fashion statement for the season. And it makes you feel hurt knowing something that you hold so dear and thought was just for you and your clan is now on the jewelry channel available to anyone in the world.

So you lay your heart out to them asking them not to wear the heirlooms because they don’t know what the heirlooms mean to you.

“But it’s so pretty!” They can very well admire from a distance, but they feel entitled to have whatever they fancy. No one’s ever told them no before. Even though you’ve been denied access to yacht clubs, water fountains, dance boutiques, diners, buses, jobs; white people don’t realize they don’t have to have everything.

“I’m just appreciating it!” If they really recognized the full worth of the heirlooms, they would have realized it means more to you and your clan than it will ever mean to them and that it is not meant for them in any capacity.

“It’s just so different than mine.” So what?

Why can’t they just cherish their own? Who invited them? We celebrate our differences by sharing rather than taking, by not by dipping our chips in every proverbial dip available, leaving a mess behind.

“You should be grateful that I like it instead of ripping it off of you and stomping it on the ground like some other rival clans would.”

Again, treating these heirlooms like a fad or like trinkets from the dollar store perpetuates ignorance. In some cases people have injured themselves forging these heirlooms for your clan and have the scars to prove it.

It breaks your heart that they have so little regard for you and the things that have molded and continue to mold your identity. They treat it as though it’s just another charm, ignoring the blood, sweat and tears you put into the original pieces.

The people who dispute you are immature, childish and will stomp their feet, and it’s sad that they think they are appreciating your craft even though they have devalued your heirloom. They are only concerned with their own enjoyment and will refuse you and your heirloom the respect and honor it deserves. They come into something you’ve been immersed in your whole life, leave their mud on the carpet then get bored and leave. And, if they still don’t understand even after you explain why the appropriation is unsettling to you, then they don’t truly value your friendship. Lastly, there are the people who are in your family who, after a while, become used to the idea of your heirloom being mass-produced. They will fight you on this until their last breath. But if they cannot see why you’re in pain over this, you shouldn’t trust them either. Explain to them how damaging it is that people who practice these religions are still being persecuted while white people sit there, complacent with their privilege.

Renleigh Stone is a junior in the College. in response appears every other Friday.

“A

nd that’s what this last chapter is all about. It could be interesting to dive deeper, but because we are not an engineering school, we can wrap up this class here. Any questions?”

Just one. At what university is it remotely acceptable to damn an entire department to mediocrity?

At Georgetown it is especially apparent that an internal culture of resignation condemns our computer science education.

Our students are neither less capable nor less curious than their peers on other campuses. As long as we are convinced that we are inferior, the inertia of academic bureaucracy will withhold support for our programs. Over the last year I worked with a brilliant team of student organizers to hold Georgetown’s first-ever intercollegiate hackathon, Hoya Hacks.

Our goal was twofold: first, to recognize the technical brilliance that hides in the corners of our campus; second, to light the first sparks of a student hacker movement that might build for our department the reputation it deserves and needs.

We cannot take all the credit, though. Hoya Hacks is built on the exponential growth of our computer science classes, the momentum added by brilliant new technical faculty and the roaring collegiate hacker movement on other campuses. Georgetown, instead of fuelling this growth, faces an identity crisis: How can we have faith in a program that is historically so securely outside our focus? How can we believe in our own potential?

If a liberal arts education categorically excludes computer science, then perhaps its scope is insufficient and must be broadened to include it. This is not necessarily controversial. Existing support for the School of Nursing and Health Studies, the McDonough School of Business and hard science majors in the College indicates that the strategic advan-

Georgetown is uniquely positioned to use tech for good. We can build a department that is poised from the very beginning to engage with public policy. tages and additional perspective of a strong technical education are consistent with Georgetown’s liberal arts tradition. Furthermore, the intersectional nature of computer science in particular can foster growth in any number of other departments. Though they are new, the ethics of workplace diversity, the ontology of artificial intelligence, the sociopolitical utility of wireless mesh networks and the Derridean implications of hypertext are relevant to all Georgetown students.

There are a number of existing models demonstrating the sym-

biosis of computer science and historically disconnected liberal arts departments. UC Berkeley offers three degrees — a BS in electrical and computer science, a BA in computer science and a BA in cognitive science — built on a core computer science curriculum, two of which exist in the College of Letters and Sciences and even require that students take almost half their classes outside the computer science department. Brown University, renowned for its lethally sharp nontechnical programs, has built a reputation for technical excel-

VIEWPOINT • Proaño

How Democracy Has Failed Ecuador

S

urely, democracy is a good ing world, are the majority. Thus, thing. Humans tend to believe preventing the election of a president that if the masses make a deci- who will best allow every member in sion, then it must be the right one — it society to individually flourish, they must be a decision that improves soci- chose the president who benefited ety. However, we are often wrong. their interests for as long as it took John Stuart Mill is recognized him to get elected. Thus, Correa, a as one of the main philosophical self-proclaimed socialist of the 21st promoters of democracy. However, century, wins the election. in “Considerations On Republican Nine years later, the country beGovernment,” he reminds us that de- came undemocratic as a direct result mocracy can be very dangerous when of the people’s decision to put Correa the majority of the population makes in power. The democratically elected poor decisions. He terms this prob- president is now held accountable lem the “tyranny of the majority,” a only to himself, and democracy in situation in which democracy allows Ecuador is severely threatened, if not populism, demagoguery and mass destroyed. ignorance to flourish.

Democracy is not a bad thing. But Centuries after Mill’s time, prob- democracy can be self-destructive lems associated when the populace with his diagnosis is tricked into hijackpersist in democing the system for its Democracy can be racy.

Ecuador’s personal interests, self-destructive current political which ultimately climate vividly mirconflict with those rors them. Ecuador- when the populace is of the population as ians democratically tricked into hijacking a whole. This situaelected President tion is not unique the system.

Rafael Correa in to Ecuador. We can 2006. Recently, the look at Putin in RusEcuadorian Nasia or Chavez and tional Assembly, the majority of Maduro in Venezuela, and argue the which is held by faithful members same thing — that a country’s initially of Correa’s political party, Patria Al- democratic decision can eventually tiva y Soberana, translated to Proud destroy its democracy when policies, and Sovereign Fatherland, passed a initially understood as the represenseries of constitutional amendments tation of people’s interests, instill an that further centralize power in the autocratic or dictatorial regime. government’s hands. Among other The failure to understand the things, the amendments legalize virtue of democracy has led many indefinite re-election for all political developing countries to fail as liberal positions. Additionally, they allow the democracies. Since populist leaders government to use the army in situ- like Correa constantly change and ations where integral security of the revise the existing democratic instistate requires support — with no in- tutions for their own benefit, they dication as to who defines the matter cannot focus on strengthening demoof integral security. More importantly, cratic institutions that maintain their the assembly did this after blatantly sovereignty regardless of presidential ignoring the population’s demands action. that the amendments be ratified It seems as though the developing through a popular referendum. Pro- world understands this idea. Howevtesters took to the streets, violence er, even the most robust democracies erupted and the already fragile demo- have demagogue-like candidates such cratic political framework of the state as Donald Trump who clearly don’t was further weakened — if not proven offer a long-term sustainable form of nonexistent altogether. democracy. If you truly believe that Ecuador is a case of a democracy’s democracy can lead to beneficial ironic self-destruction. This is how outcomes, then make sure that next the process goes: Ecuador’s 2006 elec- time you vote, you are not voting for tions created what was perceived to populism. Make sure you are voting be a democracy. Next, along comes for the perpetuation of existing demothe tyranny of the majority: since cratic institutions that will allow your the candidate with the most votes interests to be represented at all times. will win, candidates appealed to the And if those do not exist in your counmasses with populist programs and try, then think twice before you call it promises to marginalized indigenous a democracy. peoples to gain the support of the majority. For example, transfer pay- david alzate Proaño is a ments were made to the poor, who, sophomore in the School of in Ecuador, like most of the develop- Foreign Service.

lence that rivals those of MIT and Stanford. Stanford itself has built an entire department — symbolic systems — at the intersection of computer science and semiology.

Similar growth is possible at Georgetown. What holds us back is not inherent incompetence, a curse of eternal computer science mediocrity. We are limited only by our hesitance, the a priori dismissal of a hacker ethos that can and will take this campus by storm.

Hoya Hacks was held last weekend because we cannot wait for an administration to change the attitude on our campus or for the rest of the world to reconsider Georgetown’s latent potential.

When I graduate this spring, I want to leave a computer science program that unapologetically dives deeper, one that draws and builds on Georgetown’s deep connection to American civic engagement, one that takes advantage of every opportunity to grow as well as the wealth of resources our campus has to offer. Georgetown is uniquely positioned to use tech for good. Unlike the incumbent computer science programs on other campuses, we can build a department that is poised from the very beginning to engage with public policy, to interface with and mold the political tempests just a few blocks from our campus. Instead of waiting for MIT to radically rethink our strongest departments, that radical change should have its roots here on the Hilltop.

This will only happen if we ask and answer difficult questions about our identity and our priorities as a school. New technical growth at Georgetown can begin only with uncovering the makers, the programmers and the hackers who are already here.

It is not enough to wait for resources. Technical brilliance begins with conviction.

Taylor Wan is a senior in the College studying computer science.

Many georgetowns

Moving Forward, Finding Curiosity

Y

ou would think, after watch- that is associated with the quintesing enough pathetic Cubs sential four-­year American underseasons — the incredulity of graduate education. our recent success never wanes — I In this respect, I have also played would have fully adapted to my new catch­up through self­-discovery, and country. But at Georgetown, I’ve dis- I caution my friends that many covered poignantly that being an common childhood references will immigrant is not as much a phase result in a blank stare from me. My as it is an identity that I will juggle roommate, after I mentioned the throughout my life against my oth- Renaissance artist Donatello in coner experiences. versation to another friend, asked The very notion of college in the me if I was referring to Teenage MuUnited States is foreign in many tant Ninja Turtles. Apparently, the ways to my parents, for instance. turtles are all named after RenaisWhen I speak to my parents about sance artists — and I had absolutely day-to-day events no clue. This, much at Georgetown, the of Disney, and skiing, conversations take among other things, a wildly differare subjects with ent course from which I have yet to be those of many of my acquainted. friends. Essentially, I find many of my my parents believe classmates are pasCharlie Lowe that college is just sionately engaged in and Parth Shah about academics — activities that they that is the predomihave been invested nant way university education is in since childhood. Whether it is conducted in India — and it is pretty playing piano or soccer, most of difficult to debunk this preconcep- my friends grew up accustomed to tion. That a huge portion of learn- one or several organized activities ing occurs outside the classroom outside of school. I rarely had such does not register as firmly with a structure growing up; my parents them, and they surely question the encouraged me to explore, but there necessity or relevance of many of my was no need to pursue this in a forextracurricular endeavors — includ- mal setting. It had not been a part ing this one, I am sure. of how they grew up, so naturally The idea of a liberal arts education this process was not bequeathed to as a choice is similarly baffling for my me. It seemed like many people had parents, because in India, you basical- already identified their passions ly take one exam, the score of which before coming to college, whereas I essentially dictates your profession. was still searching for mine.

The arts, seen as less “productive,” Don’t mistake my comparisons are relegated to those who receive for complaints — I am profoundly the lowest scores on their exams. grateful for my experience as an Although my parents have always immigrant. For one, I transferred encouraged me to study whatever to Georgetown from the University I want, their perception about my of Illinois, and transferring is analochosen majors — economics and gov- gous to emigrating. The Univerernment— is influenced by how they sity of Illinois is basically a different grew up. So, in a way, rather than my country, with different colors, a lot parents guiding me through college more people and different culture, with their own anecdotes, I find my- geography and food than at Georgeself educating them as I explore first- town. Being an immigrant has conhand for myself. sistently taught me to be curious Even my siblings’ college expe- and accountable in all aspects of riences were drastically different life. If I do not remain curious, I will from mine. As the youngest of five, remain ignorant. I am compelled to I have been in America during my interact with my peers and seek admost formative years. My older sib- vice from them when I am stuck, figlings, however, came to the country uring out much on my own. While at an older age. Their college experi- it can be confusing and lonely at ences consisted of full course loads times, the immigrant experience is and substantial on­-campus and off­ worthwhile because it teaches me campus employment. They went to patience and resilience. school near Chicago, so they were able to return home more frequent- Charlie Lowe is a senior in the ly. The residential college experi- School of Foreign Service. Parth ence, particularly being so far from Shah is a senior in the College. home, is alien to my sisters, leaving many georgetowns appears out much of the cultural dimension every other Friday.

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THE HOYA

PAGE FOUR

NEWS

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2016

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Congressman Chris Gibson (R-N.Y.) discussed the intersection of personal values and politics Tuesday. Story on A6.

Your news — from every corner of The Hoya.

IN FOCUS

verbatim

BREAKING THE CYCLE

“

It’s no secret that we live in a time when the federal legislation in Congress can get very little done, and this is especially true with privacy.”.

Paul Ohm, Georgetown University Law Center Professor. Story on A5.

from

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Georgetown’s breakdancing and hip-hop team Hoya Break Squad recently held elections, with Ariel Chu (COL ’18) and Max Kim (COL ’18) replacing Minh Khoa Tran (COL ’16 ) and Min Lee (COL ’16) as captains of the team.

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE AND ZOMBIES Want to see Elizabeth Bennet fight zombies in the “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” movie? Answer a simple question and you can win two free tickets to a screening! blog.thehoya.com

Iowa Caucus Kicks Off Delegation Reflects on COP21 Unpredictable Election EMMA RIZK

Hoya Staff Writer

TARA SUBRAMANIAM Hoya Staff Writer

Over 300,000 people turned out to vote at the Iowa caucus Feb. 1, kicking off the 2016 presidential election season with wins for Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, prompting student activists to voice their predictions for an increasingly uncertain election.

The Iowa caucus differs from other state primaries in that in each of the state’s 1,682 precincts, voters gather in small locations to cast their votes. Based on these votes, Iowa then allocates delegates to each candidate.

On the Republican side, Cruz won with eight delegates and 27.6 percent of the votes, followed by Donald Trump who garnered 24.3 percent of the vote. Trump and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) were each allocated seven delegates, with Rubio coming in third with 23.1 percent of the vote.

Institute of Politics and Public Service Fellow Patrick Dillon (COL ’99), former deputy White House political director and special assistant to President Barack Obama, emphasized the importance of outreach and voter engagement in ensuring caucus victory.

“I think the caucuses did what they were supposed to do: reward candidates who did the work to get to know voters and build a real organization on the ground,” Dillon wrote in an email to THE HOYA. “It wasn’t about who ran the most TV ads or who had the biggest rallies, but about who focused their campaign on field outreach and engaging their supporters.”

Dillon highlighted the strategies employed

by Cruz and Clinton that resulted in their eventual victories.

“Cruz beat Trump in part by going county to county and tapping into evangelical leaders who could speak for him everywhere,” Dillon wrote. “For Clinton, in a state almost tailor made for Bernie Sanders to be successful, her deep and strong field organization made all the difference in holding off such a stiff challenge.”

Chairwoman of Georgetown Students for Rubio Alexandra Williams (SFS ’19) said she is pleased with Rubio’s performance in the caucus, adding that she was surprised to see the narrow difference between the percentages of votes won by Rubio and Trump.

“We expected a strong third place but we had no idea he would be so close to second place. That means going forward to New Hampshire, Rubio has an amazing chance,” Williams said. “His momentum has been growing, and although New Hampshire is potentially a more libertarian state, which could harm him, I think he’s going to do well.”

Williams went on to predict that Rubio will continue to do well in the New Hampshire primary Tuesday.

“He’s achieved third in Iowa and now he just needs to get second in New Hampshire.

I think he has a great chance going forward,” Williams said. “All the polls you look at, he’s

the only one predicted to defeat Hillary Clinton, so we’re optimistic.”

Of the other nine Republican candidates, Ben Carson took third place with 9.3 percent of voters and won three delegates. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), former Governor of Florida Jeb Bush, former Chief Executive Officer of Hewlett-Packard Carly Fiorina and former Governor of Ohio John Kasich each garnered less than five percent of the vote and were allocated one delegate.

During the caucus, former Governor of Maryland Martin O’Malley and former Governor of Arkansas Mike Huckabee suspended their campaigns. Following the release of the caucus results, Sen. Paul and former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.) announced the suspension of their campaigns Tuesday.

In a statement released Wednesday morning, Paul said that although he is no longer running for president, he will continue to fight for liberty in his position as senator.

“Although, today I will suspend my campaign for President, the fight is far from over.

Today, I will end where I began, ready and willing to fight for the cause of liberty,” Paul said.

“I will continue to carry the torch for Liberty in the United States Senate and I look forward to earning the privilege to represent the people of Kentucky for another term.”

In 2012, Santorum won the Iowa caucuses and came in second overall to eventual Republican nominee Mitt Romney. Following the suspension of his campaign, Santorum announced his endorsement of Rubio for president on Fox News’ “On the Record” Wednesday night.

Santorum said that he has decided that the best way to achieve the goals he set out to accomplish would be to end his campaign.

“I think we could be better advocates for that in supporting someone who shared those values and is in a better position to do well in this race,” Santorum said. “That’s why we decided to support Marco Rubio.”

The Democratic candidates saw a tighter race, with Clinton ultimately winning 49.9 percent of votes and 23 delegates and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) garnering 49.6 percent and 21 delegates. In Clinton’s victory speech, she highlighted the importance of solidarity within the Democratic party. “I am a progressive who gets things done for people. We have to be united when it is all said and done. We have to be united when it is all said and done against a Republican vision and candidates who would drive us apart and divide us,” Clinton said. “That’s not who we are, my friends.”

Former Georgetown University College Democrats Executive Board Member Scott Lowder (COL ’17) said that he understood why Sanders did so well in Iowa, but that he did not expect Sanders to do as well in other states.

“Going into the election, the polls were very close. I think people are realizing that Bernie Sanders was really well-suited to the state, because it was overwhelmingly liberal and white,” Lowder said. “I think in more diverse states, like Nevada and South Carolina, Bernie doesn’t stand a chance.”

Members of the Georgetown delegation to the 2015 Paris Climate Conference, also known as COP21, discussed their experience and optimism for the new climate deal with the Georgetown community at an event Monday afternoon in the Mortara Center titled, “What Happened in Paris?”

The discussion was part of the Energy and Climate Policy Research Seminar, a program that encourages dialogue between students and faculty on the topics of international and domestic energy and climate change policy.

The delegation that traveled to Paris for the conference included Associate Professor of Science, Technology and International Affairs in the School of Foreign Service Joanna Lewis, Executive Director of the Georgetown Climate Center Vicki Arroyo and students Norah Berk (SFS ’15) and Alexandra Donovan (SFS ’17).

Lewis began the event by addressing the delegation and mainstream climate movement’s mixed reviews of COP21; some have deemed it a landmark achievement while others contest it will not solve climate change.

“I absolutely agree that this is not going to solve climate change but I think this is an extremely important step because we didn’t have a global platform to talk about solving climate change really until this agreement,” Lewis said.

Lewis outlined key factors that have shifted since the Kyoto Protocol was agreed upon., and making the Paris agreement possible, including the lack of country categories, groupings that exist to list countries together by their economic status and emissions targets,and the creation of targets through a bottom-up process, as opposed to a top-down process.

“Bottom-up means each country can look at their own economy and resources and they can say, ‘Well, we may not be able to cap our emissions today but I think we can accelerate a reduction, we can accelerate using renewable energy, we can slow deforestation,’” Lewis said. “So you see that these pledges that countries put forward are very nationally tailored to their circumstances, which ends up working better and getting more participation.”

Lewis attributed the negotiations’ success to the substantially evolved and improved relations between the United States and

JOHN CURRAN/THE HOYA

The Georgetown delegation to COP21 spoke about its experience at the conference in the Mortara Center on Feb. 1.

China as a result of regular meetings and bilateral discussions on climate change.

“Last November, the joint U.S.China announcement on climate change paved the way for the targets that countries ended up agreeing on in Paris, and the language in that joint agreement ended up mobilizing a lot of the developing world and it led to a more comprehensive agreement,” Lewis said.

Arroyo said the inclusion of countries, businesses, investors, states and equivalent local people resulted in 196 countries joining together and committing to the final agreement, an improvement from past climate talks in Copenhagen in 2009 that ended with virtually no lasting progress.

“It’s not what we need to stay within the two degree Celsius [warming limit],” Arroyo said. “But for the first time you see everybody playing a role, everybody pulling together in the same direction, instead of the finger pointing that we had seen after Copenhagen.”

Arroyo attributed part of the success at COP21 to the intense role of sub-national actors, including nearly 1,000 mayors, governors and other subnational officials from around the world who took part in discussions.

“You see governors or mayors taking time out of their busy schedules, dealing with day-to-day crises, willing to come and talk about something like climate change because they are on the front lines,” Arroyo said.

Arroyo praised President Obama’s climate speech at Georgetown for providing momentum for COP21.

“He set the course for major reductions in this country … really using the full administrative authority of the White House and other agencies to support both re-

ductions in green house gases but also to promote resilience,” Arroyo said. “It really was a turning point in my mind in terms of being able to see the kind of leadership federally which also influences international negotiations.”

Arroyo said although the Paris climate conference was a success, there is still a long road ahead.

“We arrived to 70 degree temperatures in mid-December here in D.C. and realized, ‘Wow, we need to get back to work,’” Arroyo said.

Donovan, a current Georgetown student who attended the conference while abroad in Paris, was impressed by the diversity of representatives at COP21.

“I was struck by how there were so many people there that were so passionate about the same subject.

Everyone brought a unique perspective.”

Joan Abbott (SFS ’16) said it was important for students, specifically STIA majors, to attend this event and learn about the intersection of environmental policy and international relations.

“Not every STIA major is necessarily a climate person and I think it’s important that students come and hear about the current events,” Abbott said. “People are focused on the science but they don’t realize the importance of the negotiations and how delicate those situations are.”

Leyla Jiang (GRD ’17) said she was encouraged by the positive outlook the speakers had after attending COP21.

“From my experience views about climate change deals are more negative, criticizing how pragmatic this deal is but being here and listening to [the speakers’] experiences in Paris, it gives me this hope because I believe everyone who is here is very committed to this problem … it motivates you to stay in this business,” Jiang said.

news

Friday, february 5, 2016

THE HOYA

A5

Student Students, University Discuss Kehoe Field Closure Workers Give Feedback Ian Scoville Hoya Staff Writer

Christian Paz Hoya Staff Writer

The Office of the Student Worker Advocate has sponsored an ongoing survey to determine the needs and concerns of student workers in the Georgetown community to help inform university administrators as they make decisions affecting student workers, including the potential consolidation of Residence Hall Offices mailrooms into one facility.

Originally created in 2014 to work under the Georgetown University Student Association Executive branch, OSWA counsels students who have labor issues and connects employees to appropriate resources and offices.

To help fulfill these responsibilities, OSWA is conducting its annual survey, called, “The State of the GU Student Worker,” to gauge student worker conditions.

Cassidy Jensen (COL ’18), OSWA co-chair and one of the survey creators, said the survey will provide hard data to bring to the administration.

“It’s really important to us for people to fill this out so that we have the fullest picture and most accurate data,” Jensen said.

“If we are going to the administration and saying, ‘look, this is a problem, for this many people, who use their money is these ways,’ it’s helpful to have as many responses as possible.”

According to Jensen, OSWA also hopes to determine where to focus resources moving forward.

This year’s survey features an entire section devoted to collecting information on RHO employees, in response to recent proposals by university administration within Auxiliary Business Services to consolidate RHO mailrooms.

“We would have one giant center and students would go there to pick up their mail,” OSWA co-chair Esmeralda Huerta (SFS ’17) said. “The reasoning for this is that mail trucks clog up traffic around Georgetown, but in any case, we realized it could mean a lot of job losses for students.”

Jensen said OSWA is collecting data to see how this change could impact student workers.

“We are operating under the assumption that if it takes place, it will have some impact on student jobs,” Jensen said. “We want to know who is working in the RHOs, if they are work study and if they will be able to find other work study jobs on campus.”

According to Huerta, OSWA hopes to use the survey results to estimate the number of students who will be affected and how their incomes will be affected by a sudden loss of federal work-study jobs.

“Hopefully we can go to the university and say, ‘Hey, you shouldn’t do this. You’re going to affect this many students in this many ways, and as a university, your primary concern should be the students and not necessarily clogging up traffic in the neighborhood,’” Huerta said.

With the survey, OSWA also seeks to learn how the minimum wage increase in the District has impacted student wages, primarily library workers.

“Student workers in the library used to receive wage increases each semester they worked there. Now there’s a different system because of the minimum wage increase,” Jensen said. “Library workers are trying to fight that and want a return to the old system. We’re trying to see if that is happening anywhere else.”

Apart from the RHO and library wage concerns, Jensen said they hope they can learn if student workers know what resources are available to them and what other issues concern workers.

“We want to know if they are having a problem with a supervisor, if they are experiencing sexual harassment, if they have a question about their duties or are paid consistently late, that they know who to go to,” Jensen said. “It’s good feedback for us and for the Student Employment Office.”

Huerta said the data from previous surveys has been helpful in addressing student concerns in the past.

“One of the facts we realized was that around 70 percent of students weren’t going to the [Student Employment Office] even when they had problems,” Huerta said.

“There was a disparity between what’s going on with student employment and access to resources.”

In response to the first survey in 2014, OSWA organized a committee with the SEO to publish a student worker handbook for hourly employees to consolidate rights, responsibilities and codes of conduct for students over the following spring and summer semesters.

According to Huerta, this year’s survey has been adapted after having conversations with student workers and observing campus trends.

Kyle Rinaudo (SFS ’18), an RHO worker in Copley Hall and a Resident Assistant, said he is aware and appreciative of the support offered to him by Georgetown.

“I do love working with the school and have never felt anything but supported by them,” Rinaudo said. “Other than the way my RA benefits are calculated into financial aid, I have no complaints. As for the resources I would need, I theoretically know who to reach out to.”

New South RHO Manager Raven Dunstan (COL ’16) said she has always felt supported as a student worker at Georgetown.

“Personally, I am aware of resources that I could reach out to if I encountered any difficulties in my capacity as a student worker,” she said. “I have always felt supported within my position and for this reason I have felt comfortable working for the university for my four years here.”

Georgetown administrators and students discussed the ramifications of the closure of Kehoe Field on Feb. 2 and the potential options for re-developing Yates Field House — including building a new recreational facility and three new sports fields — at a Hoya Roundtable discussion in the Healey Family Student Center Social Room on Wednesday evening.

Director of Yates Field House Jim Gilroy said that the final decision to close the field was made Tuesday night after weeks of discussion.

“We just decided we needed to make a decision, because we were concerned about the safety of the students,” Gilroy said.

According to Vice President for Facilities and Operations Robin Morey, Kehoe Field, which is built on the roof of Yates, was closed when it became no longer safe to use.

“We’ve implemented a strategy to make sure that we test the structural capacity of the roof, so everything inside of the building is safe, but this strategy means that we’ll eventually, and as you saw this week, we will prohibit the use of the field,” Morey said.

Kehoe Field has been plagued by problems since it was first constructed in 1942 and then re-constructed on the roof of Yates in 1979. The field was first repaired in 1987 at a cost of $1.8 million before being repaired again in 2002 for $7 million.

According to Morey, the roof has never functioned properly, causing the concrete underneath the roof to deteriorate, leading to leaks inside Yates and unsafe turf conditions.

“It’s very flat, it doesn’t drain properly and a real field should have probably a four- or five-degree elevation

change from the center field out to the edges to control the water flow,” Morey said. “So the problem is that you don’t waterproof to hold water, you waterproof to let the water run off. And the problem here is that the water literally stays on the roof every time it rains.”

Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Todd Olson said that the university has been making an effort to find spaces for club sports to train, including the better use of Cooper Field and attempting to take advantage of nearby fields such as the Jelleff Recreation Center at the Jelleff Community Center, part of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington. Jelleff field is approximately a seven minute drive from the front gates of Georgetown’s campus. “[We’re] trying to work with partners on campus,” Olson said. “We’re also actively looking around not just at the Jelleff Field in the local area and D.C. to see where we can maximize use,” Olson said.

Morey said that there are several short-term and long-term options available to repair Kehoe Field, including the complete re-development of Yates and Shaw Field into a new athletic district at a cost of $75 million.

“It could be the highest and best use of the land that we have.” Morey said.

According to Morey, the new recreational center and three new fields would be able to make better use of the current space, especially as the hospital is considering building a new surgical pavilion where the helipad would relocate, from its current location northwest of Yates Field House.

Other options include repairing

the current roof to last approximately 10 years at a cost of $10 million, thus losing the field for a year, or rebuilding the roof to last approximately 30 years at a cost of $30 million and closing the field for 18 months.

Morey said that he sees the school moving in the direction of a complete re-development of Yates, Kehoe Field and Shaw Field.

“I think that we are on a path to re-imagining Yates as a new fitness and wellness center. So phase one is integrated into the master planning work, that’s the way we think about it,” Morey said. “So now what con-

“We needed to make a decision, because we were concerned about the safety of the students.”

Jim GILROY Director of Yates Field House

fronts us, the challenge we have, is to continue that aspiration.”

Gilroy said, however, that he thinks the most helpful solution is to perform another temporary fix to the roof.

“I just think that the long-term fix is a long way away. So I think in the meantime we should provide another field for the students to be able to use,” Gilroy said.

According to Olson, a decision about how best to proceed will be made within 12 months.

Kelsey Brown (SFS ’16), captain of the women’s club Ultimate Frisbee team, said that the field had become so dangerous that players were getting injured, forcing the team to

change its practices.

“One of our freshmen broke her foot in two places tripping on the turf on Kehoe hill,” Brown said. “It’s so bad that we’ve actually had to alter our practice plans based on what field space we’re using, because when you’re up on Kehoe hill you can’t really do any vigorous activity.”

According to Brown, while the temporary solutions aren’t perfect, in the long term they may be worth it.

“I don’t love the idea of having to travel to an off-campus field, but, that being said [Jelleff field] is close enough and it’s a nice field and we’re going to feel comfortable doing whatever we want on that field, practicing safely on that field,” Brown said. “So if I can get that then, yes, I want that as long as it means that I’m having a more viable long-term solution, sometime within the somewhat near future.”

Matthew Fried (COL ’16), who also plays Ultimate Frisbee, said the loss of Kehoe Field and the manner in which its closure was handled has been frustrating.

“I’ve gone from getting full field space and flexible times to an hour and a half, like, literally we’re out there 10:30 to midnight,” Fried said. “It’s infuriating to me that this was not handled sooner and that there was not some sort of measure in place between closing Kehoe.”

Fried said that no matter what course administration takes on the future of Kehoe Field, it is essential that action be taken quickly.

“The best solution is fast action either way,” Fried said. “One of the frustrating things they said today was that these are the things they’re considering for the next 12 months — that it’s going to take them another 12 months to take action on something like this.”

GUSA Approves Live Registration Referendum Christian Paz Hoya Staff Writer

The Georgetown University Student Association senate approved a resolution to hold a campus-wide referendum to gauge student opinions on changes to the course registration procedure in a vote to be held digitally during the GUSA executive elections Feb. 18.

Approved on Jan. 24, the resolution authorizes the GUSA Election Commission to place the following question on the ballot during the ongoing election cycle: “Would you rather keep pre-registration or switch to live registration?”

The approved responses are “keep preregistration,” “switch to live registration” and “no preference.”

The move follows the announcement by former Registrar John Q. Pierce at a GUSA town hall in December that the university was considering upgrading its registration software to the Banner 9 system that uses live registration.

According to GUSA Senator for the LXR district Michael Fiedorowicz (COL ’18), one of the co-sponsors of the resolution, the goal of the referendum is to quantify student views on a possible move to live registration next year.

“We knew that the administration was considering a switch in the registration system so we wanted to be certain of student opinion on the issue,” Fiedorowicz said. “This was the right time for the referendum because the current registrar has stepped down and his replacement will be coming in over the summer, and we’ll be ready to tell them what students think about this.”

According to GUSA Election Commissioner Grady Willard (SFS ’18), the idea for a referendum on course regis-

tration originated at the GUSA town hall in December.

“He said that the program that Georgetown uses for its registration is upgrading, and that they are trying to figure what they want to do over the next two years,” Willard said.

One possibility would be to transition to live registration, which would stagger entry to courses by class year and leave courses open in a first-come, first-serve manner within the time given to register. Seats would be reserved in specific classes for majors and underclassmen.

According to Fiedorowicz, live registration would also create specific class sections based on projections of interests that would come from four-year degree plans students previously determined before registering.

The alternative is to keep the preregistration system. Under the current model, course registration staggers distribution of who gets their classes first by class year and major. Upperclassmen who have declared majors in a certain field get their first class first, followed by senior and junior non-majors down to freshmen. The deans are able to adjust class sizes based on preliminary interest.

In an article in The Hoya (“University Considers Live Registration,” Dec. 8, 2015), Pierce said he believed live registration could be a better solution.

“We think the [Banner 9] registration process might be actually better. It would facilitate the mobile app, and if we went to cloud computing where we didn’t have to invest so much money in it … it would cost less to maintain it and thus keep tuition dollars down,” Pierce said.

According to members of the GUSA senate, both models have advantages.

“I personally believe that there are more positives to pre-registration, because students are able to take their time and carefully craft their classes to meet their needs,” GUSA Senator for Alumni Square & Nevils Roopa Mulpuri (SFS ’18) and the second co-sponsor of the referendum resolution said.

“However, live registration does provide instant feedback and speeds up the lengthy process considerably.”

GUSA Senator for the Village A district Samantha Granville (COL ’17) said that her previous experience with live registration makes the proposed switch less daunting.

“The school I transferred from had live registration, so for me, it is not that scary,” she said. “We will still have plenty of time to check out the schedule of classes before we have to decide what we want.”

Granville said she also believes the live registration process would alleviate the prolonged waiting times in the current system.

“I like live registration because I know immediately what classes will be available when I sign up and can watch movement in classes on my own time rather than waiting to see what is open with pre-registration,” she said. “The process is also a lot quicker and not dragged out for six weeks.”

GUSA President Joe Luther (COL ’16) said pre-registration has more benefits for students than live registration.

“Personally, I think pre-registration has more to offer students. I can see the appeal of live registration, but I think there is a lot that can be lost in the chaos of live registration,” Luther

said. “I understand that there are some financial hurdles to the preregistration model, but I do think that it’s a worthy investment.”

Both GUSA executive tickets believe that student interests should be placed first.

According to Speaker of the Senate Enushe Khan (MSB ’17), a GUSA presidential candidate, Georgetown’s use of pre-registration is fairer than live registration.

“A lot of other schools have live registration where everyone logs on at the same time,” she said. “It’s a first-come, first-serve scramble, which is not as fair of a system.”

A.J. Serlemitsos (COL ’17), GUSA vice presidential candidate, said he hopes that the results of the referendum will facilitate discussion with university administrators.

“Anything that helps students get better matched with the classes they want to take is something that we support,” he said. “And if the university believes that they have found the solution here, we would work with them to make the process as simple as possible for all students.”

The Intellectual Life Committee of the Senate will be leading a two-week information campaign until the Executive Election.

Mulpuri stressed the importance that students vote in the referendum.

“It’s a complex issue that I highly encourage everyone to become educated about and to cast their vote in the referendum on February 18th. We, as GUSA senators, have a responsibility to advocate for the students on this topic, whatever it may turn out to be,” Mulpuri said.

DC Council Temporarily Bans Cannabis Clubs Lisa Burgoa Hoya Staff Writer

The Council of the District of Columbia unexpectedly tabled a bill initiated

by Mayor Muriel Bowser to permanently ban private cannabis clubs Tuesday, unanimously agreeing to uphold a temporary ban lasting no more than 225 days.

The ban includes an amendment establishing a seven-member task force that will investigate the feasibility of allowing cannabis clubs in the District.

Under current D.C. law, possession of marijuana is legal in quantities of up to two ounces for adults aged 21 or above. However, pot consumption is prohibited in all areas open to the public, including private bars, restaurants and social cannabis clubs, leaving few possibilities for pot usage beyond one’s residence.

Bowser currently reserves the right to revoke the business license or certificate of occupancy of any establishment that knowingly services patrons who use the drug on its premises. Advocates of citywide marijuana use argue that the ban restricts marijuana consumers who do not wish to use the substance in front of their children or whose rental leases forbid pot usage.

Drug Policy Alliance policy associate Kaitlyn Boecker said that removing the city’s restriction on pot clubs would permit lower-income families to assume the same rights as their wealthier counterparts. Since only 19 percent of D.C.’s poorest residents own

their own homes, Boecker argued that rental leases forbidding marijuana consumption disproportionately affect lower-income people.

“The city is basically telling these residents that you have the right to use marijuana, but they’re not going to give you any space to do so, so basically they’re forcing you to risk doing pot in the street and get arrested,” Boecker said. “It’s an untenable situation, and it’s not a good public policy decision.

You should not tell people that something is legal and then not give them the space to enjoy that right.”

The decision follows a series of reversed council rulings and congressional restraints that have dogged marijuana legislation in the District since Initiative 71 first passed. After roughly 65 percent of voters approved decriminalization, Congress passed an omnibus spending bill in December 2014 for D.C. that forbade the allocation of any District funds to enacting laws or regulations to legalize or otherwise reduce penalties for marijuana possession or consumption.

With limited latitude in regulating marijuana without resorting to reserve funds, Bowser proposed emergency legislation in February 2015 to bar pot usage in private cannabis clubs, resulting in a temporary ban. The D.C. Council considered instituting a permanent ban as the legislation was set to expire on Jan. 15, but deliberations for the bill have been postponed as a result of the unanimous vote Feb. 2.

The newly established task force,

which includes representatives from the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration, the Department of Health and the Metropolitan Police Department, will issue a report within 120 days advising a course of action for the D.C. Council.

Adam Eidinger, a marijuana advocate who spearheaded the successful November 2014 referendum that legalized pot through Initiative 71, said that, although he wishes the task force included members of the cannabis user community, he views the council’s decision as a victory for pot proponents.

“It’s beautiful that not a single councilmember wanted to oppose this,” Eidinger said. “I would be very surprised if what came out of this task force is a recommendation that we cannot do pot clubs here in D.C. We wouldn’t even have a task force if they didn’t think this was a reasonable thing to try and figure out.”

Boecker added that she hopes the task force will examine existing models of cannabis clubs in Alaska, Colorado, Spain and the Netherlands during its research.

“There are a lot of models that this task force can explore and our hope is that it will get them to take a thoughtful, studied, public policy approach to this,” Boecker said. “I think it’s fairly clear that we need these spaces and these spaces will allow like-minded people to legally congregate.”

The Mayor’s Office declined to comment but affirmed that it is reviewing the council’s proposal and working

with stakeholders on both sides of the issue.

Founder and President of Georgetown Students for D.C. Statehood Annie Mason (COL ’16) said Congress’ involvement in D.C.’s marijuana legislation has warped the execution of Initiative 71.

“All of the legal issues surrounding marijuana policy in D.C. would be resolved if Congress affirmed D.C.’s ability to govern itself and the U.S. ratified an amendment to establish D.C. as a state,” Mason wrote in an email The Hoya. “Initiative 71 was passed with well over a majority of the vote, but certain members of Congress acted paternalistically and not in the best interest of D.C. residents to try and prevent the efficient and reasonable implementation of policies outlined in Initiative 71.”

Georgetown has maintained a zerotolerance policy toward marijuana despite its legalization in the District.

The Code of Student Conduct expressly prohibits the possession, use, manufacture or distribution of marijuana.

Celine Calpo (COL ’19) said that D.C. should investigate integrating marijuana use into existing drug locales in the city.

“The definition of what the city considers public and private is very problematic,” Calpo said. “I don’t see why the city can’t regulate cannabis clubs in the same way that it does in hookah bars or vape lounges, where there are legal psychoactive substances but they’re in a controlled environment.”

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Professor Talks Syrian Crisis Gibson States Personal, Gaia Mattiace Hoya Staff Writer

Professor emeritus at the Institute for Advanced Study Michael Walzer advocated for swift action to end the ongoing crisis in Syria on humanitarian grounds at a lecture for around 150 students and faculty in Copley Formal Lounge on Tuesday. The lecture, entitled “What is the Responsibility to Protect?” was the 2016 Sullivan Lecture, an annual lecture focused on current developments in the fields of government and law.

Chair of Georgetown’s department of government Charles King emphasized the importance of the Sullivan Lecture, which is made possible by an endowment from Daniel and Sheila Sullivan. The endowment supports and promotes the study of ethics in government, law and other professions along with the annual lecture.

“We are very proud of the long tradition at Georgetown of integrating the normative study of political theory with the empirical study of institutions and behavior, a fundamental union that too often in political science today has been allowed to weaken,” King said.

After an introduction from assistant professor at the department of government Joshua Cherniss, Walzer began by explaining how the conflict within Syria — stemming from a civilian uprising against dictator Bashar Al-Assad in 2011 — is complex and that identifying a plausible solution is difficult.

“This is a hard case and I know the maxim that hard cases make bad law, but I don’t think that maxim holds for political theory,” Walzer said. “At least I shall proceed under the view that hard cases make for better, or at any rate, more realistic, theories.”

Walzer emphasized that his views on the Syrian situation have evolved over the years. During the lecture, he read from blogs he wrote over the course of the conflict, commenting on their applicability in light of current events.

In one post from 2012, Walzer expressed how, if unprepared or not forceful enough, any intervention in Syria would be rendered useless without physical ground troops. Otherwise, no effectual gains would be made.

“I can’t see any of these requirements being met without an intervention that puts foreign boots on the ground, and at this moment everyone wants a quick fix, weapons in the hands of the opposition, but which opposition and air strikes against Syrian military bases?” Walzer said.

Walzer said that deep contemplation of the ramifications of a humanitarian intervention is the only course of action.

“Many people have been criticizing President Obama for dithering over what to do in Syria. Not me; dithering seems an entirely rational response to what’s going on there,” Walzer said.

The last blog post Walzer referenced was from October 2013. In the article, he posited that perhaps his previous statements against American intervention in Syria were wrong.

With two million Syrians having fled the country, he read how it was not the right choice to oppose American intervention in Syria.

“Many of us who opposed an American intervention in Syria argued from the example of Iraq … the U.S. invasion produced a disaster in Iraq, millions of people displaced outside the country and inside too,” Walzer said. “The most common argument from the left was simply that the U.S. must simply not do anything like that again. Well the U.S. didn’t, yet disaster has struck Syria on an even greater scale.”

Walzer next explored how the debate on Syria has brought to light an important doctrine, “The Responsibility to Protect.”

Included within the Outcome Document accepted by the United Nations General Assembly during the 2005 World Summit, R2P allows the U.N. Security Council to authorize force under certain conditions. If a country fails to protect its nationals from genocide, war crimes or crimes against humanity, then the U.N. can vote to carry out the use of force in such countries.

While he appreciated the symbolism of R2P, Walzer stressed how it is distinct from other military action since it is not enforced in cases of ordinary brutality by authoritarian governments or in cases of civil war. He argued how as the conflict within Syria is seen as a civil war, an R2P response has yet

to take place.

“Syria today cannot be described in a singular way. There is a civil war, there is tyranny, there is a war of all against all with terrifying consequences for the civilian population, and there is a religious crusade,” Walzer said.

“Any intervention would have to be with all of these, which is why it can’t be aimed only with ending the brutality by overthrowing the tyrant.”

According to Walzer, the best actors to take on the job of intervention are neighboring countries, including Turkey and the Arab states. Yet making tangible progress towards peace is unfeasible if both Turkey and the region do not receive the necessary backing from other powerful allies and the U.N. “‘Whoever can, should,’ is still the relevant maxim. Local responses from relevant actors are probably best,” Walzer continued. “Sometimes the most suitable responder is the old imperial power which may well bear some responsibility for the violence and the victims.”

David Golemboski and Alexandra Stark, doctoral candidates in the department of government, both said they enjoyed the lecture and particularly appreciated the chance to hear from a leader in the field of political science.

“He’s obviously a legend in the field of political theory and in the world of political science, and it’s a pleasure to hear him speak,” Golemboski said. “He does a nice job of wrangling a bunch of moral considerations into a nice package, not necessarily any clearer in regards to coming up with an answer, but helpful in terms of thinking through hard problems.”

Stark agreed.

“It was fascinating to have such a well known and prestigious just-war scholar, to be able to hear his thoughts firsthand, and to ask questions and interact with him,” Stark said.

Cameron Bean (SFS ’18) said he was struck by the opportunity to hear from one of the political scientists often cited in their class, saying that Walzer’s talking points and ideas made an impression on him.

“It was great to hear from the author of one of the books that I’m reading for one of my classes and to be able to get his thoughts on a current issue. It was really powerful,” Bean said.

CEW Installs New Initiative Syed Humza Moinuddin Hoya Staff Writer

Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce released its new State Initiative, a web portal housing CEW’s past research on all 50 states and Washington, D.C., on Jan. 21. The new program is designed for state officials and policymakers to easily access data and information to supplement future policy decisions.

CEW was formed in 2008.

Affiliated with the McCourt School of Public Policy, the center’s research focuses on understanding the interactions between education and the workforce while seeking to inform policymakers at local, state and national levels.

The State Initiative follows the CEW’s efforts to seek out better ways to accommodate policymakers looking to utilize data collected in past research. The initiative signals CEW’s commitment to making its research more widely available and easier to access as states seek better data to better inform policy decisions.

“We were approached by several governors and the National Governor’s Association over the years to help with building information systems for more effective public higher education management.

This helped spearhead this project,” CEW Director Anthony Carnevale wrote in an email to The Hoya.

Over the course of a year, Carnevale desired to see CEW’s research not only inform current education systems, but also influence organizations and institutions within states to conduct their own research.

State Initiative Director Neil Ridley was tasked with building the program in order to influence the research and policy efforts conducted by individual states.

“Ideally, it would be good to see state officials as well as higher education systems using education data more extensively, more intensively

than they are now,” Ridley said. “That involves using the research our scholars produce, but that it means building [their state’s] own capacity, at the institution and state level, to analyze data useful to the area.”

The State Initiative web portal can be accessed through the CEW website and is available for public access. The portal displays the entire United States divided along state lines. By clicking a state, web users can access all available research reports developed by CEW relevant to each state.

One of CEW’s most recent reports focuses on Pennsylvania’s state university system, which awarded 10 percent more bachelor’s degrees to students from 2009 to 2014. Through the State Initiative, clicking on Pennsylvania allows users to see the full report, a press release, related research and statistically significant figures.

Ridley said he believes the new program is a progressive step to help policymakers utilize existing data to form effective programs and institutional developments. He said the people involved in the project’s actual development and implementation strengthen the CEW’s new initiative.

“I see this as a natural step to be continuing to work with states and helping states move forward. But also CEW has very knowledgeable and very talented researchers, people who are very well-known in their field,” Ridley said. “We were also able to work with experts outside CEW who have a lot of state experience and it was extremely valuable to learn along side them and pick up what they learn from their fields of experience.”

By compiling research into an accessible web portal, Ridley also hopes the initiative will be utilized by those outside of the policymaking field.

He argued anyone can explore the data relevant to their state, education level and occupation while being informed of how such information can affect their lives down the road.

“There’s value for students and those who are looking for better data because states and their data systems are able to produce potentially better, higher quality data on what’s happening to students as they go into the labor market now,” Ridley said. “So I think there’s going to be a great benefit to students who are thinking about where to go to college, or thinking about whether to go to college at all, and what course of study and programs people should take.”

While the new initiative marks a significant development for CEW, others believe the program will be effective and useful for those who seek to better inform their own lives.

Anna Teitler (COL ’18), minoring in education, inquiry and justice, said she is pleased that the data is openly available, acknowledging the potential for ordinary citizens to have greater voice when it comes to educational policy.

“It’s an incredible compilation and definitely holds a lot of potential for anyone in charge of making decisions,” Teitler said. “But imagine what ordinary people could do with it, too. Now normal citizens can click on their state and find reports on how well their state is doing. That’s the most interesting part.”

Miller Bartosz (COL ’18) said she thought the State Initiative, while a powerful development in terms of aggregating data, still has room to fill its full potential. He argued the next goal for compiling and organizing data should be focused at a hyper-local level within states.

“It’s relevant and a comprehensive step in terms of talking about ways to make improvements generally,” Bartosz said. “Maybe the program can give states and Georgetown the incentive to conduct and compile research at county levels. That’s where I believe the best research can be done to help states find the best policies.

Political Ideology Owen Eagan Hoya Staff Writer

Congressman Chris Gibson (R-N.Y.) explained the guiding principles of his personal decisionmaking in office, focusing specifically on how it applies to issues of economic reform and national defense, at an event in Healy Hall on Tuesday The event, which was co-hosted by the Georgetown University College Republicans and the GU Student Veterans Association, saw Gibson emphasize three major policy points: growing the American economy, drafting a balanced budget and maintaining a strong national defense.

After 29 years of military service, Gibson was elected the U.S. Representative of New York’s 19th Congressional District in 2012.

Gibson currently serves on the House Agriculture, Armed Services and Small Business Committees. He said that he follows two principles to guide his votes on any bills under consideration: whether the bill is constitutional and whether or not it benefits his constituents.

“If the answer is yes to both, then I support it, I vote for it,” Gibson said. “If it’s no to one of the two, then I don’t.”

Regarding his principles, Gibson said that his colleagues have learned to respect his firmness. He further stated that once he makes a decision, the House Republican leadership does not pressure him to change his mind.

“My leadership know that if I say no, I mean no, if I say, yes, I mean yes,” Gibson said. “That means they can count on me even when it gets really hard and I’ll be there with them.”

Gibson said he supports reforming the current health care system to reduce costs and benefit the economy. Currently, the World Bank reported that health care spending by the U.S. government occurs at a level of 17 percent of the United States’ gross domestic product, which Gibson wants to bring down to 3 percent.

Gibson also said he backs the easing of regulations for small businesses, which he says suffer under the present system.

“Our small business owners today often get fatigued [by regulatory policies],” Gibson said.

“They have a great idea and then they’ll actually walk away from it before they get it started and then for those existing businesses, [the ideas] often get forgotten.”

Gibson said he gave up his military pension before making monetary cuts in his district in order not to give a poor impression of hypocrisy to his voters. Gibson relates his legislative mentality to his experience as a soldier and the sacrifices that one must make when being part of a team.

“Just like when I was an infantry leader, I

knew I was going to have to make some hard calls and I wanted to be the first one to take the cut,” Gibson said. “That was important for having the kind of moral legitimacy that we can make these hard calls.”

On the issue of national defense, Gibson asserted his philosophy as one that emphasizes defense spending and is willing to use force if necessary. Gibson noted that the United States should always carefully weigh its options before committing to a major use of force.

“I am a classical conservative when it comes to national security. I believe in peace through strength,” Gibson said. “I’ve fought and bled for this country, but I think that we’ve been too quick to use force.”

In response to the threat of the Islamic State group, Gibson advocated for United States support of all Muslim allies in the region. Specifically, he advocates openly arming the Kurds to fight ISIS militants, as a stronger U.S. presence in the region might undermine the recruitment capabilities of ISIS. “This enemy is essentially fraudulent,” Gibson said.

“They claim they’re advancing the cause of Muslims; nothing could be further from the truth. They kill more Muslims than anyone else.”

Chris gibson Director of Campus Affairs Congressman for the GU College Republicans Allie Williams (SFS ’19) wrote that Gibson’s commitment to principles sets him apart from other politicians.

“It was extremely refreshing to hear from a politician who is more concerned with ensuring the best outcome for the citizens of his district than simply pandering to his party,” Williams wrote in an email to The Hoya. “[That] is all too common today.”

Mark Henderson (COL ’17), a member of Georgetown University Student Veterans Association who attended the event, conveyed his admiration for Gibson. Henderson has a personal connection to Gibson, as he served under him in the military and at his office in Congress.

“Having served under Colonel Gibson as a paratrooper and Congressman Gibson as an intern, I’ve been fortunate to witness the caliber of his leadership firsthand,” Henderson wrote in an email to The Hoya. “People should know that he is genuine, and I believe our system could use more of his moderate voice of reason.”

Grace Smith (COL ’18), a resident of Gibson’s district who also attended the event, expressed her appreciation for his work. Despite the fact that she has different political views from Gibson, Smith still respects the efforts made on his part for his constituents.

“Although I am a loyal and proud Democrat, I really respect him and the work he has done,” Smith wrote in an email to The Hoya. “He has served upstate New York well, and I am humbled to be his constituent.”

“I fought and bled for this country, but I think we’ve been too quick to use force.”

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friday, february 5, 2016

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Senate Addresses GUSA Tickets Launch Campaigns Student Loan Debt GUSA, from A1

DEBT, from A1 Workforce Anthony Carnevale said ensuring that young people receive a college education is paramount to the United States’ continued international success. He emphasized a need for change, noting that the United States has fallen behind other advanced nations in educational achievement.

“We know that one of the major problems holding back growth in the American economy has been our inability to produce a quality labor force on par with other nations,” Carnevale said.

“The U.S. is 13th … in the world in terms of our ability to graduate people from two-year or four-year colleges.”

Associate Vice President for Federal Relations Scott Fleming also expressed support for most of the act’s components, highlighting the section allowing students to refinance their loans. He noted that Georgetown students on average have lower student loan amounts and one of the lowest default rates of any university in the country.

“It is only common sense that students should be able to refinance their student loan debt,” Fleming said. “Why this interest rate should be locked in forever doesn’t make a lot of sense. Certainly it would make it possible for students to pay off their loans even sooner.”

Fleming explained that the section of the act that would allow for free community college will be difficult to pass due to its sheer cost.

In addition, if the federal budget were to increase to enable more students to attend community college, it is possible that this would leave less funding for federal loans that many Georgetown students depend on.

“The challenge with the proposal is to think about it in the overall context of the federal budget,” Fleming said. “There is reason to make sure that it … would not squeeze out money for other important programs that are important to the university.”

Carnevale also noted that this year’s increased expenditures on elderly care and national defense would hamper Congress’ ability to pay for the measures proposed in the bill. He was doubtful that any bill would be passed this year that would fundamentally alter how students pay for higher education.

“In other times, the [act] is a very good investment and we should be spending more money on this because the returns are high,” Carnevale said. “The prob-

lem is, we don’t have the money to spend and this is where all the proposals begin to get doubtful.”

Fleming expressed concern about the congressional leaders’ attempt to simplify loan and grant programs by centralizing them under federal programs such as Pell Grants and Federal Stafford Loans. As a result, he said, federal grant and loan programs such as the Federal Perkins Loan Program and the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants on which some Georgetown students depend might be discontinued.

“The leaders in both bodies have come out in support of what they call ‘student financial aid simplification,’” Fleming said. “[But] what their simplification programs say is that there should be one federal grant program and one federal loan program.”

Carnevale explained that the federal government should also focus on providing information regarding the value of particular fields of study to students, potentially making their decision on which college to attend easier.

This would include the publication of research that examines the job prospects for each major and area of study offered in specific schools.

“We want to ensure value and efficiency in higher education,” Carnevale said. “We [should] demand that every college tell their students… what the likelihood is of getting a job and how much money they’re going to make.”

Vice Chair of the College Democrats Anthony CARNEVALE Aditya Pande Director of the CEW (SFS ’18), head of the club’s Higher Education and Economics Working Group, voiced support for these solutions as a way to combat growing problems in higher education. Pande argued that the ability to refinance student loans is a necessity for borrowers.

“Refinancing is critical,” Pande said. “With interest rates so low, it is absurd to think that people who have taken out loans from the federal government would not be able to refinance them at a market rate of interest.”

Pande highlighted the importance of a college education in allowing citizens to be competitive in today’s economy, which is something this bill would allow.

“We want people to have access to tools that will enable them to improve their lives,” Pande said. “If we’re serious about improving people’s life prospects, free community college is something we should do.”

“We want to ensure value and efficiency in higher education.”

students when working with university administration.

“There’s a lot of bureaucracy in the administration, a lot of reasons that different communities on campus aren’t connecting with each other, or not getting the best advocacy they can,” Bobroske said. “And so that’s the first part of our campaign, is identifying those barriers, and then the second part is building bridges between different communities on campus to make GUSA more inclusive and actually representative of campus, rather than being perceived as a club itself.”

Khan explained that following last year’s executive election, she and Fisk wanted to focus on bringing the Georgetown community together.

“I think, coming off of last year, there was a really divisive and toxic election; I think a lot of people were dissatisfied with what happened there,” Khan said. “This is student government at the end of the day, and what we saw was all that division was not what was good for Georgetown and we wanted to really see people working together.”

Fisk said that inclusivity will be featured prominently in his and Khan’s campaign.

“We’re also strongly pushing a message of inclusivity overall. Restructuring GUSA is the main way of talking about that inclusivity,” Fisk said.

According to Fisk, inclusivity, restructuring GUSA and socio-economics are three principal topics of the platform.

Kotryna Jukneviciute (COL ’18), executive officer of the GUSA senate and codirector of outreach on the Khan-Fisk ticket, said that the campaign will focus on increasing student body engagement with GUSA. “I think the central goal of this campaign is student engagement because up until this point, you’ve had a lot of very competitive campaigns that have been focused on winning, whereas our goal is more engaging the student body and getting people to have a voice in GUSA, and to have them heard,” Jukneviciute said.

Khan and Fisk’s campaign is one of the largest in GUSA executive campaign history, with around 200 members.

According to Bobroske, the Khan-Fisk ticket also took a more open approach to policy development.

“One of the differences that we did this year compared to past years was, generally, GUSA campaigns would dole out a platform from one or two key experts in the field and just adopt that as their plan,” Bobroske said.

“This year we started with that, we went to the experts, but that was only step one. The next part was sitting down and having a meeting open to anybody in our staff, anybody who are experts in the field.”

Serlemitsos wrote in an email to The Hoya that his team has been preparing its candidacy for months, even though it was unable to launch the campaign Wednesday night.

“Tony and I are very excited to announce our candidacy. We have been working in private with our team for months. We are very excited to roll out the campaign in segments,” Serlemitsos wrote. “We apologize that we couldn’t be at Red Square [Wednesday night], as we were both out of town. But we are very excited about the race.”

According to Pezzullo, his and Serlemitsos’ plans to launch their campaign Wednesday night fell through at the last minute.

“We had sent two of our campaign staff Suneel Mudaliar (MSB ’17) and Jack Maher (COL ’17), but the two of them evidently forgot about campaigning tonight. But we’re looking forward to re-energizing them to-

NAAZ MODAN/THE HOYA

The Georgetown University Student Association’s executive campaign launched Wednesday night in Red Square with two confirmed tickets. morrow … hopefully getting the campaign started in full,” Pezzullo said.

According to Pezzullo, Mudaliar and Maher will serve as co-campaign managers of the Pezzullo-Serlemitsos ticket.

Willard said that even though this year’s election has fewer candidates, it still stands to be an interesting race.

“I think there’s some good debates that we’re going to have. As you know, there is a referendum on live registration versus preregistration. ... There are also critical issues on [Georgetown University Transportation Shuttle] bus turnaround, dining — we just had some news from [Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students] Todd Olson on Kehoe Field,” Willard said. “A lot of issues to be talked about with a couple of candidates, so I think it will be a good election year.”

Serlemitsos wrote in an email to The Hoya that his campaign will seek to provide students with a greater voice and a better environment in which they can enjoy themselves.

“We believe that there need to be additional changes to empower students and thusly balance the scales,” Serlemitsos wrote. “We understand that Georgetown is a place for education, but there are people that want to have fun, and we want to create the right environment for that fun. We believe this issue is paramount to our campaign.”

While he does not want to publish the campaign’s complete platform yet, Pezzullo said that it includes plans to fight Georgetown University Police Department’s proposal to expand jurisdiction outside the front gates.

“We don’t want to give away our entire platform just yet; we want to roll this out sort of in parts,” Pezzullo said. “Something that we do want to oppose is going to be the … legislature that would expand the GUPD jurisdiction off campus and if we can’t get the full movement on that, we at least want to stop pre-emptive patrolling.”

Pezzullo said that results from the University Sexual Assault and Misconduct Climate Survey, which ends Feb. 15, will form a significant part of their platform.

“For [the survey], we’re going to move to a different part, putting forward our platform of how we’re going to work with those results later on in the campaign,” Pezzullo said. “We think that’s an extremely important issue that deserves the attention of an entire interview or an entire day. We don’t

think that’s something that we want to address alongside all the other issues because it is so important.”

Pezzullo expressed confidence in his campaign’s ability to win with competitive edge.

“I think right now we are the greatest campaign on this campus,” Pezzullo said.

“We respect our competition very much, but we expect to squash them. I’m not worried, and I feel very confident. All I’d like to say is that for too long Georgetown has been mired in slow growth and in policies that haven’t really taken shape in any substantive way. At one time, Georgetown was great and I think what we’re going to do is, we’re going to make Georgetown great again.”

As for the Khan-Fisk campaign, Fisk said the team will take a down-to-earth approach with its campaign.

“Yes, we’re going to be very serious in terms of policy, but we’re also people first, we’re students first. And I think that us approaching this whole situation with the fact that we are just like everyone else and all of us need to work together,” Fisk said.

“I think we will just be unabashedly ourselves.”

The McDonough School of Business features prominently in this election compared to years past, with both presidential candidates being in the MSB, and the two vice presidential candidates in the College.

Last year, 11 out of the 12 students campaigning were in the College, while in 2014, five students were in the School of Foreign Service and three were in the College.

Micki Gallien (SFS ’17) said that she struggles to see the importance of the GUSA executive campaign.

“I don’t know too much about GUSA as a whole. I have a few friends who are really active in it and they’re all really great people with really great intentions and I respect them and wish them all the best, but I haven’t seen exactly how it matters who’s running any of it,” Gallien said. “Maybe that’s just my ignorance — I don’t know exactly what they do and who exactly can accomplish what difference it makes, if any, who’s in what position.”

The presidential and vice presidential debates will be held Feb. 10 and Feb. 15, respectively, before the election is held digitally Feb. 18.

Hoya Staff Writers Molly Cooke, Ashwin Puri, Patricja Okuniewska and Jack Lynch contributed reporting.

Students Discuss Diverse Experiences of Race at Georgetown GUWOC, from A1 “Working closely with communities of color, but also as a leader, I would say communities of color are trying to bridge the gap,” Aruleba said. “In order to bring sides together, to bring a more inclusive Georgetown community, it’s going to take not only communities of color talking about race. I think everyone has to come to the table.”

Davis emphasized how he became active in dialogue dealing with issues of race and the treatment of minorities after returning from studying abroad.

“I was never really conscious of my race or my whiteness until I studied abroad in [India], and I was a minority there for four months as a white person,” Davis said. “Getting stared at, getting looked at and feeling uncomfortable in social situations, and coming back here after having that experience has really shaped the way I understand how a minority might feel.”

Over the course of the discussion, GUWOC also used a polling system that allowed audience members to answer questions from their phones. Their answers would then subsequently appear on the projector screen in a word cloud with the most popular answers enlarged.

The addition of polling to the overall discussion was part of a broader effort to make sure the dialogue incorporated as much student opinion as possible. Davis explained that discussions on issues of race and discrimination do not happen as often as they should because people can see such dialogues as difficult.

“Having these conversations never really happened in any campus organization I’ve been a part of since I’ve been here,” Davis said. “And when they have, we would talk to each other like ‘This makes us uncomfortable, we don’t want to be talking about this.’”

The panelists continued to explore their own relationship with race-related

dialogue, with Gallardo giving an anecdote on how she was treated during a rally in Red Square in November, which called for the name changes of former Mulledy and McSherry Halls, now known as Freedom and Remembrance Halls, respectively.

Gallardo explained how, during a time when students were invited to speak into the microphone and give their own views during the rally, she encountered pushback and criticism.

“I would say communities of color are trying to bridge the gap.”

Ayo ARULEBA (COL ’17) Chair, GUSA Multicultural Council

“I had been the object of critique in one of the classes because I had gone up [to the mic] when they invited people to come forward and share their experiences as minorities with race. The critique was that was not my place or my time to share that experience,” Gallardo said. “I thought that was interesting, but at the same time that invitation was for everybody to share their experiences.”

A student in the audience asked how others could stand with minorities and those facing racial discrimination simply by being active on social media.

Aruleba said it is critical for students to read from experts and writers who continue to comment on the issues facing minorities today.

“Especially in this age where there are a lot of movements going on, I would encourage people to do reading on the topics because a part of the movement is being woke,” Aruleba said. “The best advocates of racial justice and the best

people to talk on these issues are those who understand, so it’s important to read the discourse on what’s really going on, especially with these issues.”

Thanki said students should move past social media activism by creating tangible change in their communities.

“You can post a status update and still be totally ignorant to the injustices that you see in the world around you,” Thanki said. “So post a status update if you want to, but then take a moment, look around you and see what else you need to do.”

Thanki added that simple acts and efforts on the part of individuals can make significant progress when it comes to assisting those affected by an issue.

“Listen, be genuine and care,” Thanki said. “Those things are so simple-sounding, but the only way to be a true ally, no matter what context, is to hear what people are asking of you instead of not just deciding for yourself what is being asked of you.”

Afras Sial (COL ’19), who attended the event, said he has been involved in dialogues dealing with issues of race and discrimination in the past, but appreciated the value in holding such conversations for those not engaged in the issues.

“I was expecting it to be more structured, for them to have topics specific to Georgetown instead of small anecdotes and large themes,” Sial said. “I didn’t get any new information out of it personally, but it was helpful for people who have not been exposed to the topic before.”

Deniz Yuksel (SFS ’19) said she was happy to see more individuals interact with the topic of race.

“Many people here have their social circles determined by what club they’re in … and friend groups are mostly of the same race, too. It’s bad, and naturally people gravitate to people who look like them,” Yuksel said. “But it’s good that it’s now being noticed, good that people are paying attention to it.”

Winslow Radcliffe-Trenner (SFS ’19)

COURTESY MADUIKE COURTNEYCOURTNEY MAIDUKE/THE HOYA

Courtney Maduike (SFS ’17), left, and Ashlie Williams and (MSBStartupHoyas ’17) spoke at will the The Georgetown University Student Association annual Georgetown University Women of Color “Race at Georgetown” Dialogue. introduce a new indoor weekly marketplace for the unviersity community applauded the event’s focus but wished the event itself allowed for more intimate discussion.

“In its objective of making people woke, it was effective because it opened my eyes and the eyes of others to specific issues of racism at Georgetown,” Radcliffe-Trenner said. “But in terms of progressing the conversation, I’m not sure how it went. A conversation has to be a conversation, and there was not really an opportunity to speak back to

someone in particular.”

Toward the event’s conclusion, Gallardo emphasized the importance of not being afraid to speak one’s beliefs and engage in issues that may appear difficult at first. She asserted that action needed to be coupled with purpose for effective change to take place.

“Make your beliefs heard. There’s a Japanese proverb: ‘Vision without action is a dream, and action without vision is a nightmare,’” Gallardo said.

NEWS

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2016

New Tech Creates Future

GONDOLA, from A10

Metro, rather than having to walk to Foggy Bottom or across Key Bridge to access Metro stops.

The gondola would run as a transit system with similar hours and fares to those of the Washington, D.C., area Metro. Handsfield said the gondola would improve travel reliability, make travel quicker in the District and add a unique transit system to Georgetown.

“It would be transformative,” Handsfield said.

According to Handsfield, the gondola could be implemented in as soon as 18 months to two years following approval. At a cost of $40 to $80 million, the gondola would be able to move 7,000 people per hour.

Handsfield added that a gondola is a better option for Georgetown than a Metro stop.

“It’s apples and oranges . A Metro would be great, but the alignment discussed in the Metro 2040 plan would cost more than $3.5 billion to implement, which is a very challenging sum to raise in today’s funding environment,” Handsfield said.

Nancy Aburto (SFS ’18) likes the idea of implementing a new gondola, but thinks the money might be put to better use elsewhere, like different form of public transportation.

“I think it would be good to have a more direct route from Georgetown to Rosslyn, except the only thing I would consider would be it’s probably going to be super expensive so it might be better to allocate those funds to

MUSE, from A10

But these signals don’t fit our typical notion of electricity, like they do in a wire. Instead, ions, which are atoms with overall negative or positive charges, move in and out of the neuron’s axon, the long, tail-like part of the nerve cell. The “go” signal from the previous neuron triggers the first section of the axon to pump ions back and forth, establishing an overall negative charge. This charge gets the next section of the axon pumping ions, again creating a negative charge on the outside of that section, and so on.

The continuous extracellular negative charge makes up the electrical signal that sends a message to the next neuron. However, the drastic spike in negative charge also affects the charge of other matter nearby that is not itself in the neuron chain. Since like charges repel, the negative charge outside the neuron knocks electrons outside the system further away. Our brains usually have thousands of neurons firing at once so a lot of electrons are displaced when we think. Because electrons are a part of all matter like skulls and skin, this electron movement can be detected by electrodes stuck to the scalp or by a Muse headband.

Since EEG technology simply catches patterns of careening electrons, the information obtained is not very specific. Devices such as functional MRIs, which track patterns of increasing blood flow and therefore activity in the brain, give more detailed information about the brain waves they detect. However, EEG equipment detects actual neural activity and is much cheaper and more portable than fMRIs. The Muse headband cannot be expected to be more than the meditation tool it was designed to be. However, James Pavur (SFS ’17) and Casey Knerr (SFS ’17) adapted the Muse headband for a new use.

Their plan was to create a typing user interface directly controlled by brain activity picked up by the Muse. With nothing more than their thoughts, users would be able to select a letter or symbol from a grid of characters to type behind the cursor. Unfortunately, Pavur and Knerr were only able to distinguish brain activities associated with blinking and with only one type of signal available, users would not be able to toggle through the grid to select their preferred letters. As a replacement, they set flashing columns and rows that scrolled across and down the text with time. Once the desired character was highlighted by a flash, the user could blink and select the next letter for their text.

Although the project was conceptually simple and based off a still largely experimental device with many problems, the project walked away with first prize. However, just because the idea is easy in theory, of course, doesn’t mean it’s easy to implement. Such a device would enable people who are unable to use their hands to communicate with the use of their eyelids alone. Technologies like this have been invented in the past, but Pavur and Knerr’s project used relatively cheap hardware and was developed in under 36 hours.

When I tried on the headband to type, it was unable to detect my blinks. Based off my inability to code anything more functional than a pocket calculator, I would not be surprised if my brain was too weak to give off adequate signals! Nevertheless, Pavur assured me that it was probably just my hair in the way. Students like Pavur and Knerr were creating the future right here at Georgetown, and I could not even hope to interpret those impressive pools of code on their laptop screens.

HACKING, from A10

on individual dishes and charge each person for his meal, as well as split the cost of the tax or tip.

“The idea behind it is that you can easily keep track of who owes you what, as well as keep a running total with individual people so you don’t have to pay each other back constantly,” Huang said.

Alternatively, two Georgetown juniors, Casey Knerr (SFS ’17) and James Pavur (SFS ’17) took advantage of the event’s diverse selection of equipment and extensive team of advisors to develop a computer program called Typeface that allows severely disabled or paralyzed people to type using brain signals and limited movement.

On the final day, contestants were asked to showcase their projects as they would in a science fair. A judging panel, which included Georgetown alumnus Tyler Gray (GRD ’14), Georgetown adjunct professor Eric Koester and representatives from Google, Twitter and TransitScreen, assessed

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more efficient buses or to some other more rapid form of transport,” Aburto said.

As she rarely goes to Rosslyn, Aburto said the addition of a gondola would not change her day-today life very much.

“The only times [it would be useful] would be a couple of times a semester when I’m trying to get to the airport,” Aburto said.

Aburto said that because the Georgetown area is so full of things to do, Georgetown students would not really feel the need to go to Rosslyn, even if it were easier to do so.

“The Georgetown area has so many restaurants and stores and resources, Georgetown students really don’t have to go [to Rosslyn] for basic things unless they have a job over there,” she said.

Lydia Bubniak (SFS ’18), a native of Virginia, said she liked the idea of building a gondola since it would make commuting easier for D.C. residents “There’s a lot of traffic on Key Bridge for commuters, who don’t just need to get from Rosslyn to Georgetown but need to go to some other very specific place, so they need to use Key Bridge,” Bubniak said.

“There are a lot of cars and buses that just need to get over the river, so if it could reduce traffic on key bridge that would be really great.”

Bubniak also said that anything that made it easier to get to the Rosslyn metro from Georgetown would benefit Virginia residents and would

CAROLINE KENNEALLY/THE HOYA

The proposed gondola connecting Georgetown and Rosslyn is expected to ease traffic for commuters crossing the bridge. encourage them visit Georgetown.

“I think maybe my friends and I who live in the area would be encouraged to go to Georgetown during the summer for shopping a little more often,” she said.

Bubniak said that if the gondola were accessible to Georgetown, Georgetown students could explore D.C. more easily, as well as its suburbs, like Old Town Alexandria.

“If it did work, it could effectively eliminate the need for the GUTS bus from Georgetown University to Rosslyn,” Bubniak said. “If you wanted to go to Old Town Alexandria, it takes about 45 minutes, but nearly half of that is just getting over

from Georgetown to Rosslyn, and that’s somewhere that not a lot of Georgetown students have gone to, they don’t know about it … I think they would be more likely to pursue internships or just do things throughout the city rather than be in a bubble.”

Although Bubniak expressed support for a new Metro station in Georgetown, she acknowledged that a gondola might be a better fit for the neighborhood.

“I think if the gondola really worked…I don’t think we would need a metro station, because part of what people like Georgetown for is that it feels older than the rest of D.C.,” she said.

According to The Washington Post, the study is expected to take 10 months.

Students Gather at Hoya Hacks

Patrick Soltis is a sophomore in the College.

INNOVATION SMACK TALK appears every Friday.

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Funding Prompts Gondola Plan

INNOVATION SMACK TALK

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the student projects. Pavur and Knerr took home first place at the event for their hard work in generating a computer program which helps the disabled. Prizes were awarded for first, second and third places, as well as for Best Hardware Hacks , Best Software Hack and Best Starter Hack, Schwartz said. Students received prizes such as gift cards, drones, virtual reality headsets and even venture capital to sponsor a tech startup. Hoya Hacks’ sponsors collectively contributed 10 additional awards to the competition, such as the Beeck Center’s Best Social Innovation Hack. Each prize rewarded participants who used technology in their own, unique way.

The event also featured keynote speaker DJ Patil, chief data scientist of the U.S. Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Lukas Schwab, a freshman at University of California at Berkeley, flew over 2,000 miles to attend Hoya Hacks.

Schwab first joined the event’s team as an advisor in collaboration with a similar event he helps to run in San

Francisco.

“I organize a 500-person hackathon in San Francisco for professional data scientists with Bayes Impact and a number of federal agencies. Georgetown’s budding computer science programs and its connection to government made Hoya Hacks a unique opportunity for partnership. Bayes Impact ended up refocusing away from Hoya Hacks, but I stayed onboard with the team. They are an incredible group of people.”

Schwab said that university funding allowed him to attend the event.

“Georgetown’s financial support for the hackathon definitely helped me get here,” Schwab said. “If the team were more cash-strapped, travel would’ve been much more difficult. I likely travelled the furthest to make it to the event.”

Schwab focused on helping other students with their technologic alprojects throughout the weekend, rather than completing his own project.

“I spent much of my time at Hoya Hacks at the help desk, working with

many developers who are much more talented than I to fix a variety of problems they encountered,” Schwab said.

“Hackathons force you to tackle a diversity of issues under a great deal of pressure, both from time and sleep deprivation. It is a wholly unique style of development.”

Schwab said he enjoyed the event and would gladly return.

“I loved it. I would come back if the team would have me,” Schwab said.

“My favorite part of the hackathon was DJ Patil’s keynote speech. I’ve had the opportunity to see him speak once before, and it’s thrilling to see the White House’s new focus on data science develop into a program that can guide public policy for the better.”

Hoya Hacks Organizer Erik Van de Water (MSB ’17) explained that their goal was to inspire individuality and innovative thinking.

“The purpose of a hackathon is to do new, interesting things with technology and that’s what we hope happens here,” Van de Water said.

Clothier Opens in Georgetown LEDBURY, from A10

and sport coats with high quality fabrics and materials.

According to their website, each Ledbury shirt is made from “fabric sourced from prestigious European mills and finished with a tailored cut, updated collar spreads and mother-of-pearl buttons.” The Richmond brand will offer both ready-to-wear shirts, priced from $125 to $225, and made-to-measure shirts, priced from $185 to $400, at its new Georgetown location.

Ledbury, which is headquartered in a renovated tobacco warehouse in downtown Richmond, currently has two brick-and-mortar stores in the District, only one of which sells the brand’s popular made-to-measure shirts. Made-to-measure shirt-making offers customers a more personalized fit, as well as various custom options, such as different collars, cuffs and monograms. The company’s Georgetown storefront will be the second location to sell made-to-measure shirts.

The new store will act as a showroom and will also feature Ledbury’s readyto-wear collection. Customers will be able to browse and try on the full range of products with the assistance of sales associates, and may place orders to be shipped directly to their homes. In addition to employing new sales associates, the company will also hire a store manager and a talented shirtmaker to head the made-to-measure service at its Georgetown location.

Trible, who is also Ledbury’s chief executive officer, said he and Watson have wanted to open a permanent store in Georgetown since its inception.

“Since we founded Ledbury six years ago, we have hosted four pop-up shops in Georgetown. We’ve flirted with the market long enough — the time was right to make it official,” Trible said in a recent press release.

Trible is confident that the brand will be popular in Georgetown, as the company’s clothing line enjoyed success when Ledbury previously had popup shops in the District.

COURTESY ELIZABETH EDELMAN

Prior to opening its permanent storefront in Cady’s Alley, Ledbury has hosted four pop-up shops in Georgetown since it was founded six years ago.

“Washington, D.C., is our secondstrongest market, just behind New York City. As we’ve confirmed with our pop-up shops, there is incredible opportunity not only to deepen the relationship with our existing customer base by providing a more personal level of service, but also to draw in new customers from this shopping destination,” Trible said.

Watson, Ledbury’s chief operating officer, explained that the Cady’s Alley location is perfect for allowing the company to focus on its customers and for showing off the brand’s ready-towear clothing line. The new Georgetown location will exhibit Ledbury clothing that customers can then order through the store.

“The Cady’s Alley location was exactly what we were looking for: a small space where we can offer a focused customer experience,” Watson said. “By showrooming products rather than

storing inventory on-site, we turn our complete focus in-store to serving the customer. The entire floorplan is dedicated to their experience, to the point where we won’t even trouble them to carry a bag home.”

Gabriel Katsuya (SFS ’19), who is interested in men’s fashion, is looking forward to the Georgetown storefront’s opening. Katsuya explained that a quality brand like Ledbury will fit in with the wide variety of men’s clothing stores in Georgetown, which are generally pricey.

“Men’s retail at Georgetown is everything you’d expect from a high-end neighborhood: huge variety and no sales,” Katsuya said. “From big-brand names like Zara and Massimo Dutti, my personal favorite, to pop-up specialty stores like the Goorin Bros and Hat Shop, Georgetown is prime for guys with a more generous budget to have a bit of sartorial fun.”

Business & Tech FRIDAY, february 5, 2016

business Funding Spurs Georgetown Gondola Study bits Sarah Fisher Hoya Staff Writer

MSB and SFS to Co-host Africa Business Conference Saturday The McDonough School of Business and the School of Foreign Service’s African studies program will co-host a conference called “Africa Rising: Business in Action,” highlighting the impact and growth of the private sector in Africa, on Saturday, Feb. 6. The event will feature presentations from top executives from companies including Coca-Cola, The World Bank, IHS Towers and Okayafrica. Leaders from across Africa and others will gather at the event to learn about business development in various industries including banking, technology and music. The main conference will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday and is currently sold out. The Hoya will feature coverage of the event in a coming issue.

startuphoyas to host career fair friday FOR INNOVATIVE STUDENTS The Georgetown Entrepreneurship Initiative, or StartupHoyas, will host a career fair on Friday geared toward students seeking jobs and internships in the startup sector. The event will feature representatives from over 17 companies, including BlueCart, Spotluck, Sameride and Compass Coffee. These companies will display internship and employment information in an effort to hire students for both the spring semester and the summer as well as for full-time employment after graduation.

The event will open on Friday, Feb. 5 at 2 p.m. in the Shea Undergraduate Commons of the Rafik B. Hariri Building.

The dress code is casual.

MSB Professor FEATURED on Business Leadership Diversity McDonough School of Business Dean David A. Thomas was featured this week in a Fortune magazine article called “Leading While Black: Why race and culture matter in the c-suite.” According to the article, only 15 black CEOs have ever been appointed in the history of the Fortune 500, the magazine’s annual ranking list of top national companies by revenue. Speaking generally about the difficulty that some African Americans encounter in seeking employment at high-profile companies, Thomas noted a bias called “attribution error” in some employers. “People are more likely to trust performance data — that someone, for example, is an outstanding performer — if they’re white,” Thomas said in an interview for Fortune. In other words, low expectations of performance from candidates of particular groups, such as African Americans, cause employers to discount their merits, affecting the entire market.

MSB CMO NAMES Higher Education Marketing TRENDS and goals McDonough School of Business Chief Marketing Officer Chris M. Kormis listed the biggest trends in marketing higher education in a recent interview with Market and Mashable. Kormis cited targeted newsletters, re-marketing to prospective students and in-person information sessions as the keys to marketing undergraduate education. Kormis emphasized that marketing undergraduate programs must be aimed at two audiences -- young high school students and their parents -- who process information in different ways. Kormis said the marketing for the MSB aims to highlight positive student experiences and leadership development.

The Arlington County Board decided to contribute $35,000 last week to a study that will test the feasibility of building a gondola between Rosslyn, Va., and Georgetown in order to reduce traffic on Key Bridge.

Organized by a neighborhood group, Georgetown 2028, the possible implementation of a gondola over the Potomac is a part of a 15-year plan for Georgetown.

“I think it would be good to have a more direct route from Georgetown to Rosslyn.”

NANCY ABURTO (SFS ’18)

According to The Washington Post, other funding for the study has come from Georgetown University, the District government, the JBG Companies and both Georgetown and Rosslyn businesses. The Washington Post reported that Georgetown University will contribute $25,000 toward the study. Money raised since the gondola was proposed one year ago will go toward hiring a contractor to assess the costs, design and impacts of the gondola.

Transportation Director of the Georgetown Business Improvement District Will Handsfield said the cable transport system would create economic devel-

CAROLINE KENNEALLY/ THE HOYA

The Arlington County Board contributed $35,000 in funding last week to a survey that will test the feasibility of building a gondola that links Rosslyn and Georgetown to reduce traffic on Key Bridge and minimize commuter travel time. opment opportunities for both Rosslyn and Georgetown and decrease commuting time for residents.

Handsfield explained that the gondola would allow the Ross-

lyn and Georgetown communities to interact, allowing for new economic opportunities in the Washington metropolitan area. “[The gondola] … connects two dense, mixed-use communities,”

Students Create at Hackathon

Handsfield said.

Handsfield emphasized that Georgetown residents would have improved access to the Rosslyn See GONDOLA, A9

Innovation Smack Talk

Léa Nicolas

Hoya Staff Writer

More than 305 students from over 130 universities gathered at Georgetown University this weekend for its inaugural hackathon, Hoya Hacks. Organized by co-founders Taylor Wan (COL ’16), Casandra Schwartz (COL ’16) and 47 volunteers, the 36-hour event took place in the Healey Family Student Center, where students collaborated in groups to carry out both software and hardware projects of their choice.

Georgetown University Information Services was the hackathon’s leading sponsor but backers also included big-name companies and student organizations such as Twitter, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Sweetgreen, Georgetown University Student Association and Students of Georgetown, Inc. The event cost approximately $30,000 to put on.

COURTESY HOYA HACKS Corp Philanthropy Chair Bryn Bogan (COL ’16) said he was ex- Students from around the country gathered in the Healey Family Student cited that The Corp sponsored the Center this weekend for Georgetown’s annual hackathon, Hoya Hacks. event.

“We love funding things that and Micah Sherr from George- said. have never been done before. Hoya town’s department of computer Dennis Duan, a freshman at Yale, Hacks takes an under-recognized science, volunteered to give work- and Whitney Huang, a freshman facet of Georgetown and puts it on shops throughout the weekend. at Princeton, took this objective the map,” Bogan said.

No prior experience was required to heart and spent the weekend Students who attended the to partake in the hackathon and developing an application called event had the opportunity to rent participants of all levels were Settle the Tab, which aims to alleadvanced technology such as lap- mentored closely by Georgetown viate the stress of divvying up a bill tops, circuit boards, virtual reality professors and representatives among friends after a shared meal. headsets and other hardware to from organizations such as Major The app allows people to take a piccomplete their projects. ture of a restaurant receipt, click League Hacking and Twitter.

Several Georgetown professors, “Our main goal was for everyincluding Lisa Singh, Evan Barba one to learn something new,” Wan See HACKING, A9

Luxury Brand Settles In to Cady’s Alley Cheryl Liu

be located across from the popular brunch location Kafe Leopold.

Trible and Watson jumpstarted Luxury retailer Ledbury will their careers by working with one of open a brick-and-mortar store in London’s most qualified shirtmakGeorgetown late ers, Robert Emthis spring in a mett, who taught 6 7 0 - s qu a r e - fo o t them much of space in the central what they know courtyard of Cady’s about the business.

Alley.

Emmett’s advice Founded by for the aspiring Oxford Univershirtmakers evensity graduates Paul tually became the Trible and Paul inspiration for Watson in 2008, their business: “Be the luxury mensthe best, make the wear brand, which best, and the rest PAUL TRIBLE will follow.” is based in RichCo-Founder and CEO of Ledbury mond, Va., is best Ledbury, foundknown for its dress ed after Trible and and casual shirts. The new store- Watson’s training in London, now front will share space with other focuses on making shirts, sweaters, retailers in Cady’s Alley like Rent the Runway and Bonobos and will See LEDBURY, A9

Staff Writer

“We’ve flirted with the market long enough — the time was right to make it official.”

COURTESy ELISABETH EDELMAN

Richmond-based men’s retailer will sell its ready-to-wear shirts at its new Georgetown location in Cady’s Alley late this spring.

Patrick Soltis

EEG Tech Makes Waves A

crowd of highly intelligent geeks edged Georgetown students out of their study spots in the Healey Family Student Center last weekend.

Hoya Hacks, a full-scale hackathon, was in full motion. Students, planted across every imaginable table and seat, outnumbered typical weekend study crowds by at least four to one. Laptop screens glowed across the landscape at a similar scale, boasting dizzying windows of code or half-built apps instead of the usual government papers or Excel spreadsheets.

Of course, plenty of code flew around: It glued together applications, websites and hardware interfaces on the fly.

More exciting, though, was the hardware made available for the competitors to use. “Hardware” loosely describes any physical piece of technology that is not just data floating around in the cloud.

Circuit boards, laptops and digital beacons were available to all the hackers.

Students could check out an Oculus Rift, a $300 dollar top-of-the-market virtual reality headset, like a library book.

What really grabbed my attention, though, were the Muse headbands. Created by the Canadian company InteraXon, the Muse headband, which was originally designed and marketed as a meditation and relaxation tool, reads brain waves. If you’re like me, you might have known that was possible with modern technology, but not in a wearable, debatably fashionable form. Electroencephalography is regularly used to read patient brain activity in hospitals.

However, EEG readings usually require dozens of electrodes gelled all over the scalp. While the Muse headband is by no means the first wearable or consumerfriendly EEG technology, and still has not dipped below $250 dollars on Amazon Prime, it was the first of its kind to make it into my grubby little hands.

As you may have heard at one time or another, neurons communicate by passing chemical and electrical signals in a lightning-speed game of telephone.

See MUSE, A9