The Hoya: October 11, 2019

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

Georgetown University • Washington, D.C. Vol. 101, No. 6, © 2019

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2019

Making the Mix

Explore how Georgetown students build and use their playlists to represent themselves.

EDITORIAL Georgetown should increase student access to its virtual private network.

PROGRAMS LACK STABILITY Limited academic program resources present obstacles for students’ learning.

OPINION, A2

FEATURE, A4

GUASFCU CEO Placed on Leave

Former, current staffers detail toxic culture across two organizations KATRINA SCHMIDT AND CADY STANTON Hoya Staff Writers

HANSEN LIAN FOR THE HOYA

Students and professors both called for acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security’s appearance to be canceled.

Protesters Halt Homeland Security Secretary Speech HANSEN LIAN

Special to The Hoya

Protests by law students and professors prevented acting United States Secretary of Homeland Security Kevin McAleenan from delivering an address at the Georgetown University Law Center on Monday. Law Center students were joined in protest by a coalition of groups including CREDO Action, a progressive organizing group, and Sanctuary DMV, a volunteer group that advocates for immigrants and marginalized communities in the area, according to CREDO Action’s Twitter. McAleenan was scheduled as the keynote speaker at the 16th Annual Immigration Law and

Policy Conference, an annual conference that invites public officials, advocates, journalists and notable experts to discuss immigration politics. Under the President Donald Trump administration, the Department of Homeland Security has pushed policy changes to grapple with an increased number of migrants, including restrictions on asylum, forcible waits in Mexico and family separation policies, according to The New York Times. As McAleenan was introduced on stage, protesters began chanting, “When immigrants are under attack, what do we do? Stand up! Fight back!” while unfurling two See DHS, A6

Kuran Malhotra (MSB ’20), amid allegations that he fostered a toxic work environment and engaged in instances of inappropriate touching in social settings, was placed on an indefinite leave of absence from top leadership positions in two prominent student finance groups last week. Malhotra was suspended from his position as CEO of the Georgetown University Alumni and Student Federal Credit Union on Oct. 3, according to a same-day email to GUASFCU interns obtained by The Hoya. Malhotra was also placed on leave from his position as chief financial officer of the Hilltop Microfinance Initiative on Oct. 4, according to a message sent to HMFI staff obtained by The Hoya. Three former HMFI staffers and a current high-ranking GUASFCU leader, who all requested anonymity, described Malhotra’s domineering leadership style and outsized detrimental influence on the organizations’ cultures. Sources described a pattern of inappropriate touching and groping in social situations — characterized by a physical encroachment into personal space that surpassed friendly con-

tact — coupled with inadequate redress of the behavior when concerns were raised to other group leaders. Malhotra has not responded to requests for comment on specific allegations at the time of publication. The Hoya does not have evidence of a Title IX complaint regarding Malhotra’s behavior.

“It just makes me feel like there’s this power dynamic going on that’s palpable. People know; we don’t say anything.” FORMER HMFI STAFFER

CROSSING LINES

Malhotra has received two reprimands from GUASFCU leadership regarding inappropriate touching, according to the GUASFCU leader, the first during his freshman year and the second during his junior spring, just before he was confirmed as CEO of GUASFCU. The previous year’s GUASFCU board is responsible for the selection of the new

Hoya Madness Headliner Disinvited

board every year. The 201819 board of directors, on which Malhotra served as chief technology officer, was made aware of allegations against Malhotra but still selected him as CEO, the GUASFCU leader said in an interview with The Hoya. “The old board votes on who the new CEO is, and he had enablers on that board who looked past those incidents,” the GUASFCU leader said. Another student familiar with the situation confirmed to The Hoya that accusations about Malhotra’s behavior, including inappropriate touching, began during Malhotra’s freshman year at the university. GUASFCU is conducting an internal investigation into the allegations against Malhotra, according to an email to The Hoya from GUASFCU leadership. “GUASFCU has been informed of allegations against a member of the Hilltop Microfinance Initiative who was also the GUASFCU Chief Executive Officer,” according to an Oct. 6 statement from the GUASFCU board of directors. “Given our concern for the interest and welfare of our interns and members, we have made changes to our board of directors and have begun an investigation related to GUASFCU.” HMFI is also conducting

its own investigation into the allegations, according to HMFI leadership. “The Hilltop Microfinance Initiative was made aware of allegations regarding the professional conduct of our Chief Financial Officer, Kuran Malhotra, late last week,” HMFI wrote in an Oct. 9 statement to The Hoya. “As an organization entirely led by and comprised of Georgetown undergraduates, we take these allegations extremely seriously. The safety and comfort of our members remains our priority while reviewing the allegations brought forward.” Neither GUASFCU nor HMFI leadership responded to requests for comment on specific allegations against Malhotra. All GUASFCU staff members are required to sign the organization’s Professionalism and Sexual Assault Policy agreeing to comply with the organization’s standards for conduct, according to a copy of the policy obtained by The Hoya. The policy applies to all actions between interns — the title given to all GUASFCU staff members — and non-GUASFCU members of the Georgetown community, as well as interactions between GUASFCU interns and members of the credit union both within the GUASFCU See GUASFCU, A6

MARYLAND GOVERNOR SPEAKS AT GU

JAIME MOORE-CARILLO Hoya Staff Writer

The Georgetown University athletic department disinvited rapper Fabolous from Friday’s Hoya Madness pep rally Oct. 8 after facing pressure from student activists who raised concerns about the rapper’s past charges of domestic violence. The university announced Sunday that Grammy Awardnominated John David Jackson, known by his stage name Fabolous, would perform alongside this year’s Hoya Madness host, radio personality Big Tigger, as well as student dance groups, cheerleaders and the Georgetown University Pep Band. Jackson is best known for his song “Into You,” featuring Tamia. The announcement was quickly met with pushback by students when charges of domestic violence against Jackson came to light. Jackson was indicted on four felony charges in October 2018, according to a USA Today affiliate. The charges included one count of domestic violence with significant bodily injury, two counts of threatening to kill and one count of possession of a weapon. H*yas For Choice, a studentrun reproductive rights advocacy group, pushed for Fabolous’s disinvitation in a blog post written by Ollie Hanner (NHS ’22), a member of the group’s advocacy team. Georgetown’s choice to invite Jackson to perform despite his

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@GEORGETOWNHOOPS/@INSTAGRAM

Hoya Madness, which is meant to kick off the basketball season, was set to feature rapper Fabolous until student pushback, including a petition, led the university to disinvite him. criminal history did not align with the school’s Jesuit values, according to Hanner’s post published Tuesday afternoon before Fabolous’s event was canceled later that day. “He doesn’t seem to be a glowing beacon of the cura personalis preached to us since freshman orientation,” Hanner wrote in the blog post. Despite its blog post, HFC does not feel it directly influenced the disinvitation, HFC President Talia Parker (COL ’20) wrote in an email to The Hoya.

Several members of Pep Band also shared a petition addressed to university Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Lee Reed advocating for Jackson’s disinvitation. The petition, obtained by The Hoya, was addressed to Reed and signed by 13 students, most of whom were members of Pep Band. Students encouraged the university to reconsider Jackson as the musical act because of the rapper’s criminal history, according to the petition. “We strongly urge Georgetown to reconsider the message it

sends students in booking an act who has a history of domestic violence,” the petition said. “Georgetown Athletics, cancel Fabolous’ performance to condemn his past behavior and maintain the Hoya family as a welcoming and safe space for all.” The Georgetown athletic department formally disinvited Jackson on Oct. 8 after conversations with students, according to a statement Reed released on the Georgetown

MICHAEL HOWARTH FOR THE HOYA

In a talk hosted by the Georgetown Institute of Politics and Public Service, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) promoted bipartisanship. Story on A7.

See HOYA MADNESS, A6

NEWS

OPINION

SPORTS

Maker Hub Anniversary The on-campus lab will celebrate its third anniversary Oct. 19 with a display of student projects. A7

Fund Mental Health Care Kenna Chick (SFS ’20) urges the community to support increased funding for the university’s student mental health fund. A3

Extending the Streak Women’s soccer took down Villanova and Providence on the road, extending its active winning streak to seven matches. A12

NEWS

OPINION

SPORTS

Heading Downtown The new dorm, located in downtown Washington, D.C., will house both graduate and undergraduate students. A8

Changing Perception Esther Kang (COL ’23) uses “Harry Potter” to redefine the disability identity in our society. A3

Strong Stops Continue The Hoyas forced a multitude of turnovers to set up the offense in a 14-8 road victory over Cornell, the team’s fourth-consecutive victory. A12

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