The Hoya: October 1, 2013

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

Georgetown University • Washington, D.C. Vol. 95, No. 10, © 2013

TUESDAY, october 1, 2013

NEW GOAL IN SIGHT

EDITORIAL GUSA senate elections would benefit from two structural reforms.

Former pro soccer player Robbie Russell takes a pre-med path at GU. SPORTS, A10

TRAIN TO BALTIMORE The D.C.-Baltimore MARC Train line is adding a weekend service.

SWEARING IN GUSA senators began their terms Sunday after record voting turnout.

NEWS, A4

OPINION, A2

NEWS, A6

Dance Space Scarce Amid Construction

Homecoming Weekend 2013

Groups search in vain for adequate rehearsal space Ashley Miller

Special to The Hoya

ALEXANDER BROWN/THE HOYA & DANIEL SMITH FOR THE HOYA

Clockwise from top left: students and alumni socialized near an inflatable mascot, cheered for the men’s soccer team, watched the football game and attended the tailgate during Homecoming on Saturday.

Construction of the Healey Family Student Center in New South has left some student groups in the lurch. While many have found temporary accommodations sufficient, dance groups have struggled to make do in spaces not designed for performance. HFSC is scheduled to open in fall 2014, at which point space in New South’s Riverside Lounge will still be limited. Though some storage and rehearsal accommodations are temporary, other groups can expect the search for space to continue through next year. The Georgetown University Dance Company was granted space at certain times of day in Yates Field House, forcing the group to rework the rehearsal schedule it has kept for years. The times available at Yates, mostly in the morning, conflict with more members’ academic and employment commitments. “The consistent shifting in rehearsal and class times is hard for dancers who want to plan ahead for their lives,” said Nora Rosengarten (COL ’14), GUDC production director and Georgetown University Student Association undersecretary of the arts. “For choreography, there are always people missing now,” GUDC President Cara Davis (COL ’14) added. “We are happy with the physical space, but the

JOSH GORDON FOR THE HOYA

When Healey Family Student Center opens in 2014, struggles for student space will likely continue. scheduling was definitely rough.” Scheduling space for the group during business hours has affected the degree to which GUDC can collaborate with the surrounding community. “We lost a couple of guest choreographers and guest teachers because they’re professional local artists that work 9-to-5. We haven’t been able to get some of the ones that we really love,” GUDC member Emma Murphy (SFS ’16) said. Murphy also noted problems with the floor space in Walsh Black Box Theater, where GUDC holds some supplemental practices. Dancers must dance on a sprung floor, often referred to as a marley floor, to reduce the risk of injury. “The Yates studio is a lot bigger, but See HFSC, A6

District GU Tightens the Leash on Mascot Care Sees HIV Drop-off Kit Clemente

Special to The Hoya

Though still nation’s worst, D.C. infection rate falls 46 percent Sam Abrams

Special to The Hoya

The District of Columbia, which has historically had the highest rate of HIV/AIDS in the United States, has seen a 46 percent drop in the rate of infection between 2007 and 2011 from 3.2 percent to 2.4 percent, the Department of Health announced last week. HIV cases in the District decreased from more than 1,300 in 2007 to 718 in 2011, and 80 percent of identified cases were treated within three months of diagnosis. Nevertheless, the 2.4 percent rate is still far above the national average of 0.4 percent. In 2009, NPR reported that D.C.’s HIV/AIDS 2007 rate of 3.2 percent was higher than some West African countries. If the District were considered a country, it would have been placed on former President George W. Bush’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief list, which contained the 15 countries in the world with the worst HIV/AIDS rate. On the list, D.C. would have ranked above four PEPFAR countries: Democratic Republic of Congo (1.3 percent), Ethiopia (1.4 percent), Sierra Leone (1.5 percent) and Rwanda (2.9 percent). On the higher end of the scale were South Africa (17.8 percent) and Zimbabwe (15 percent). See AIDS, A5

ALEXANDER BROWN/THE HOYA

Fr. Christopher Steck, S.J., walks Jack the Bulldog. Steck will not be caretaker for the new mascot.

Although university administrators assured students and alumni that the mascot tradition would continue after the departure of mascot-in-training Jack Jr. this summer, one aspect of the next bulldog’s role on campus will be different: his caretaker. Fr. Christopher Steck, S.J., will not care for the new mascot, despite doing so for last 10 years, including the year and a half when Jack Jr., or J.J., was on campus. In August, the university announced the selection of a new bulldog, born June 29. The Bulldog Advisory Committee has regularly met to discuss the approach to be taken with the new dog. The ques-

Required Cab Upgrade Prompts Driver Protest Ryan Thomas

Special to The Hoya

One month after the original deadline for D.C. taxi cabs to install credit card readers, GPS and a driver verification system, drivers are protesting consequences for failure to meet the deadline, which they say is not their fault. Nearly 200 cab drivers protested problems installing the Modern Taximeter System in Freedom Square on Wednesday. The final deadline for MTS installation was yesterday. Drivers have faced backlogged service from the eight Payment Service Providers responsible for MTS installation, which include Creative Mobile Technologies,

Gleike Taxi Inc., Hitch, D.C. VIP, Transco, USA Motors, Yellow Cab of D.C. and United Ventures Consortium. D.C. Drivers United for Equal Rights and the Excluded Worker Project, which organized the protest, reported that five of these eight PSPs are currently backlogged and that credit card readers that have been installed have often malfunctioned. The groups also complained about fees tacked on by these PSPs that go beyond the expected monthly service charge. Additionally, the taxi driver organizations said that drivers have been turned away from their pre-assigned installation appointments.

tion of a timeframe for the arrival of the bulldog remains unclear. After J.J.’s abrupt removal from campus, the committee is trying to ensure a smooth transition for the new mascot. “My initial suggestion was that the puppy be housed in New South with me, and that a senior, chosen competitively, be given a paid, internlike role in which he or she would take on significant responsibility for the new mascot,” Steck wrote in an email. “I would need help if I were to take on the role of caretaker again, and I thought that a responsible, dog-loving senior would be ideal.” These suggestions were rejected by the university. “The university felt that it would be better to find a more permanent person — seniors would change

every year — who would be able to take on all of the responsibility for the role of mascot caretaker,” Steck said. “Doing so would simplify the position.” It is unclear exactly to whom the application would be open, though Steck suggested the caretaker need not necessarily be a Jesuit or a faculty member. “I don’t think there are any constraints on what role the person will have at the university, if any,” Steck said. “I believe the ideal would be that the person has some sort of employment at Georgetown so that they could bring the new mascot to their offices, and allow him to be seen regularly on campus. It would also be important that the caretaker See MASCOT, A5

Tester Talks Shutdown

DANIEL SMITH FOR THE HOYA

Sen. John Tester (D-Mont.) met GU College Democrats on Monday in the Mortara Center to discuss the shutdown. See story at thehoya.com.

See CABS, A5 Published Tuesdays and Fridays

Send Story Ideas and Tips to news@thehoya.com


OPINION

THE HOYA

tuesday, october 1, 2013

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Founded January 14, 1920

EDITORIALS

Casting a Vote for Reform C in their home jurisdiction, this system lacks logic on a campus with residences that representatives call home for less than a calendar year. A class-year-based electoral system, in which each voter would rank a certain number of class representatives on the ballot instead, would work to alleviate these concerns. The switch would not hinder residency-specific campaigning — seniors, for example, would likely still run on offcampus issues since the bulk of their constituency resides there — but it would link representatives to their constituencies with a more binding and lasting tie. During the senate voting process, a short bio added to each candidate’s name on the HoyaLink ballot would have a tangibly positive effect on elections. While platform information certainly exists in external sources — one being online surveys conducted by The Hoya — the influence of name-recognition and arbitrary voting are pervasive in GUSA politics. As important as the senate is to representing student interests, many students are unable or unwilling to devote time to researching candidates. The electoral process must therefore make an active effort to inform its voters. A simple line of text submitted by the candidates outlining their platform would allow them to better distinguish themselves to the average student. This is something The Hoya has called for in the past, and we continue to see its immediate practicality. Condensing one’s platform into such a brief blurb could be said to trivialize potentially important candidate distinctions. But compared to the current lack of any information on the ballot, there is value in any method to guide students to vote based on substance. For student government to accurately represent student interests, its leaders must constantly work to improve the electoral system. Moving to better align senate representation with interest and to deepen the substance of the voting process are two ways in which GUSA can strengthen its service to the student body.

Many parents arrive at the Hilltop in midOctober to spend time with their children, enjoy Georgetown in the autumn and take advantage of university-held programs. Often paying a heavy sum of money in travel and lodging expenses, these Parents’ Weekend participants come not only for enjoyment but also to appraise how their investment in a Georgetown tuition is paying off. As it stands, however, these visitors are prohibited from witnessing arguably the most central component of university life: the classroom. The school week following Parents’ Weekend should provide the opportunity for registered visitors to sit in on select classes and lectures. Adding this option would provide a more engaging and substantive dimension to current Parents’ Weekend programming, the goal of which is to acquaint parents and other adult mentors with Georgetown in its best light. If such an opportunity were offered, those

parents able to stay a few days into the school week would be given a survey of academic life here, which is reasonable given their large investment in it. Georgetown certainly has nothing to hide in this respect. It could be argued that parents in a lecture hall would be an imposition on already constricted seating space and class time. However, this burden could be alleviated if professors were told not to deviate from the flow of their curriculum and if parents were politely advised not to voice their comments during lecture. Perhaps professors could elect whether or not to participate in the program. While their children go through earlier education, many parents typically spend as much time as possible knowing what goes on in the classroom. If well-planned and well-executed, this Parents’ Weekend could give visiting parents a similar window into the intellectual lives of their children, even now that they are far from home.

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The Hilltop is flooded with flyering and door-to-door campaigning around the time of the Georgetown University Student Association senate races. Last week, one only had to walk through a heavily canvassed Red Square to feel the election enthusiasm. With this in mind, GUSA’s mission of representing student interests would be furthered by two structural reforms. The past four years have seen positive strides with respect to the GUSA senate. With an increasingly visible presence on campus, the senate has recently been more effective in vocalizing important student concerns and maintaining dialogue with constituents. A notable redistricting effort two years ago sought to better represent each class by adding additional at-large seats. Within this trend toward improving infrastructure, the GUSA senate should consider proportioning representatives based on class year instead of residence. The problem with housing-based allocation is twofold. First, relatively little correlation exists between the biggest campus issues worked on in the GUSA senate and residence-based concerns. When the predominant topics raised in the senate are university-wide — such as renovations for Kehoe Field and funding for student groups — students gain little from having a representative whose common identity is their housing location. Geographic representation makes sense with permanent residences; at a college, the distinction is by and large arbitrary. Second, most students switch residences four times in as many years, whereas they of course continue through their time on the Hilltop with the same class. This, and the nature of housing selection, can limit the senate’s pool of talent. If a disproportionate number of competent candidates end up living in Village B, for example, and none are placed in Henle Village, the senate stands to lose its most motivated contributors from unnecessary competition among the most qualified. While in national politics it can be reasonably assumed that representatives have strongly vested interests

Emma Hinchliffe, Executive Editor Hunter Main, Managing Editor Victoria Edel, Online Editor Eitan Sayag, Campus News Editor Penny Hung, City News Editor Laura Wagner, Sports Editor Sheena Karkal, Guide Editor Katherine Berk, Opinion Editor Alexander Brown, Photography Editor Ian Tice, Layout Editor David Chardack, Copy Chief Lindsay Lee, Blog Editor

Madison Ashley Mallika Sen Natasha Khan TM Gibbons-Neff Tom Hoff Dillon Mullan Will Edman Kim Bussing Lindsay Leasor Robert DePaolo Jackie McCadden Matthew Grisier Nick Phalen Chris Grivas Charlie Lowe Michelle Xu Kennedy Shields Karl Pielmeier

Deputy Campus News Editor Deputy Campus News Editor Deputy City News Editor Deputy Business Editor Deputy Sports Editor Deputy Sports Editor Sports Blog Editor Deputy Guide Editor Deputy Guide Editor Deputy Copy Editor Deputy Copy Editor Deputy Opinion Editor Deputy Opinion Editor Deputy Photography Editor Deputy Photography Editor Deputy Photography Editor Deputy Layout Editor Deputy Blog Editor

Contributing Editors

Editorial Board

Chris Bien, Pat Curran, Evan Hollander, Sarah Kaplan, Braden McDonald, Hiromi Oka, Remy Samuels

Taylor Coles, Alyssa Huberts, Hanaa Khadraoui, Sam Rodman, Christopher Stromeyer

Katherine Berk, Chair

Fish for Sale — The National Aquarium closed its doors on Monday after a whopping 128 years in operation. Campus Crime — Georgetown University Police Department released its annual report on Monday, which cited 72 reported on-campus crimes in 2012, up from 43 in 2011. Silver Linings — The first phase of Metro’s Silver line has begun testrunning trains and is on schedule to open in two months. Security! — Georgetown, American and George Washington are considering expanding their campus police jurisdictions into their surrounding neighborhoods.

EDITORIAL CARTOON by Janet Zhu

LETTER TO THE EDITOR To the Editor: Your “news” story “Despite Francis, Blatty Holds Strong” (A7, Sept. 27, 2013) is an example of hack editing. The writer whose name you purloined was abused. First, your editor made things up. The story invents that our petition asks to disallow “H*yas for Choice to exist unofficially on campus [and] to the establishment of the LGBTQ Center.” We do not. In fact, I wrote in The Hoya in 1991 that I would gladly fund a pro-abortion club so long as Georgetown did not. You clumsily missed the point. The major premise of your fiction is that “despite” Pope Francis’ recent comments itemizing “abortion, gay marriage and contraception,” as secondary to the radiant proposition of the gospel, “William Peter Blatty (C ’50) continues to question Georgetown’s right to be called a Catholic university for offenses centered on those three issues.” The Blatty petition does not center on these issues. Our petition is centered entirely on Georgetown University’s objectively-evident failure to comply with Ex Corde Ecclesiae, and while we request removing consent to call itself Catholic and Jesuit, we do so only as a last measure. We ask Georgetown to do exactly as Pope Francis suggests. You aimed to create a tension between our petition and the Pope’s comments. How cute. Actually, as the leader of the Argentine Bishops’ Conference and as the chancellor of the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina, Cardinal Bergoglio, now Pope Francis, successfully implemented Ex Corde Ecclesiae, and he

Bring-Your-Parents to Class

Danny Funt, Editor-in-Chief

THE VERDICT

Mary Nancy Walter, General Manager Mariah Byrne, Director of Corporate Development Jason Yoffe, Director of Accounting Mullin Weerakoon, Director of Marketing Michal Grabias, Director of Personnel Michael Lindsay-Bayley, Director of Sales Kevin Tian, Director of Technology Natasha Patel Christina Wing Tessa Bell Nitya Rajendran James Church Dimitrios Roumeliotis Michael Taylor Nicole Yuksel Addie Fleron Preston Marquis Taylor Doaty Brian Carden Eric Isdaner Simon Wu Taylor Wan

Alumni Relations Manager Special Events Manager Accounts Manager Operations Manager Publishing Division Consultant Statements Manager Treasury Manager Public Relations Manager Human Resources Manager Professional Development Manager Institutional Diversity Manager Local Advertisements Manager Online Advertisements Manager Systems Manager Web Manager

Board of Directors

Evan Hollander, Chair

Kent Carlson, Danny Funt, Vidur Khatri, Braden McDonald, Samantha Randazzo, Mary Nancy Walter

also approved of Pope Benedict’s 2012 decree to remove consent to the title “Catholic” from the University of Peru. Go figure. The Hoya suggests that petitioners find the pope’s comments lacking. On the contrary, we endorse them entirely, as we do Pope Benedict’s 2006 interview that Francis echoes: “[A]lways keep our eyes in the first place on the greatness of Christianity. [I am often asked about] the ordination of women, contraception, abortion and other such constantly recurring problems. If we let ourselves be drawn into these discussions…we give the impression that we are moralists with a few somewhat antiquated convictions, and not even a hint of the true greatness of the faith appears.” Most of all, we agree with the pope when he says that it is from the “proposition [of the gospel] that the moral consequences then flow.” He calls us to a seamless, choiceless approach. The story of the crucified Christ has consequences to sinners, i.e. all of us. That is the part that Georgetown’s Jesuitical vicars have missed in all their giddy pandering. This means, for example, that if you are a Georgetown male obsessed with carnality, whether its chasing skirts or putting one on, the God who calls us lovingly by name has, astonishingly, something to say to you, and it ain’t “keep it up.” Manuel Miranda (SFS ’82) Mr. Miranda is counsel and spokesperson for William Peter Blatty.

Policies & Information Letter to the Editor & Viewpoint Policies The Hoya welcomes letters and viewpoints from our readers and will print as many as possible. To be eligible for publication, letters should specifically address a recent campus issue or Hoya story. Letters should not exceed 300 words. Viewpoints are always welcome from all members of the Georgetown community on any topic, but priority will be given to relevant campus issues. Viewpoint submissions should be between 600-800 words. Send all submissions to: opinion@ thehoya.com. Letters and viewpoints are due Sunday at 5 p.m. for Tuesday’s issue and Wednesday at 5 p.m. for Friday’s issue. The Hoya reserves the right to reject letters or viewpoints and edit for length, style, clarity and accuracy. The Hoya further reserves the right to write headlines and select illustrations to accompany letters and viewpoints. Corrections & Clarifications If you have a comment or question about the fairness or accuracy of a story, contact Executive Editor Emma Hinchliffe at (973) 632-8795 or email executive@ thehoya.com. News Tips Campus News Editor Eitan Sayag: Call (301) 346-2166 or email campus@thehoya.com. City News Editor Penny Hung: Call (973) 818-9888 or email city@thehoya.com. Sports Editor Laura Wagner: Call (301) 800-1502 or email sports@thehoya.com. General Information The Hoya is published twice each week during the academic year with the exception of holiday and exam periods. Address

all correspondence to: The Hoya Georgetown University Box 571065 Washington, D.C. 20057-1065 The writing, articles, pictures, layout and format are the responsibility of The Hoya and do not necessarily represent the views of the administration, faculty or students of Georgetown University. Signed columns and cartoons represent the opinions of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the editorial position of The Hoya. Unsigned essays that appear on the left side of the editorial page are the opinion of the majority of the editorial board. Georgetown University subscribes to the principle of responsible freedom of expression for student editors. The Hoya does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, sexual orientation, race, disability, color, national or ethnic origin. © 1920-2013. The Hoya, Georgetown University twice weekly. No part of this publication may be used without the permission of The Hoya Board of Editors. All rights reserved. The Hoya is available free of charge, one copy per reader, at distribution sites on and around the Georgetown University campus. Additional copies are $1 each. Editorial: (202) 687-3415 Advertising: (202) 687-3947 Business: (202) 687-3947 Facsimile: (202) 687-2741 Email: editor@thehoya.com Online at www.thehoya.com Circulation: 6,500.


OPINION

TUESDAY, october 1, 2013

CURMUDGEON’S CORNER

Decoding A Decisive Referendum

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n one of the least surprising developments in student affairs in recent memory, voters in Thursday’s Georgetown University Students Association referendum expressed overwhelming opposition to the potential satellite housing complex: 2,746 of the 2,966 participating Hoyas voted no — a 92.6 percent stand against the plan on which the “One Georgetown, One Campus” campaign immediately capitalized, spinning it as a “mandate from the student body.” As one of the 2,746, I hope this is true. The idea of our surrounding neighborhood forcing the university, which already houses a very high percentage of undergraduates on its small campus, to physically isolate several hundred students from their peers is unreasonable at most. Ideally, the referendum will help build momentum to a more creative and mindful solution. But if we look at the referendum in the context of the more than 7,500 undergraduates on the Hilltop, the largest contingent of students expressed disinterest by not casting a vote. Because just over a third of eligible students voted, it seems to me that there are other ways to interpret the referendum, a likely one being that students simply don’t care. While Georgetown students are indisputably busy, I find it unlikely that in the 24-hour voting period, a typical student could not spare two minutes to access the election on HoyaLink. This interpretation would be damning for GUSA, as it would imply that students on the whole are apathetic about the satellite plan, making it all the easier for the university to justify moving ahead with it. Of course, this isn’t completely fair: Decisions are made by those who show up, after all. Here in the United States, for example, we unblinkingly legitimize officeholders who won elections with turnout rates as low as that of Thursday’s referendum. I think it’s still worth considering, however, that we shouldn’t assume that our elections or our politics are commensurate with the will of 100 percent of their constituency. It would be interesting to apply

Ideally, the referendum will serve to build momentum for creative, mindful options. the same logic to the referendum. Because the referendum’s stated objective was to take students’ temperature — not to reach a conclusion with legislative authority — we should question its explanatory power. In any case, all that Thursday told us is that almost all of one-third of students oppose the plan. More simply, however, let’s assume that the results are a mandate from the student body that accurately represents Georgetown students’ opinions on the issue. If we extrapolate the referendum result ratio to the 7,590 undergraduates on campus, then over 560 students — 175 more than would potentially live in Clarendon or Capitol Hill — do not oppose the measure. This 7.4 percent would be willing either to live there themselves or send their classmates to housing even further than Darnall. In this vein, another compelling reason to forego satellite housing is the oftenpointed-to upper-middle-class, white lifestyle and purview that can prevail here at Georgetown. More often than not, students who do not check these boxes must decide whether to try and assimilate or to identify with groups that pursue other ways of life and sometimes face isolation or discrimination as a result. This, combined with institutionally enforced divisions coming from extracurricular activities and other factors can result in a socially segregated campus. This is inimical to the idea of a healthy college environment, in which learning should come from sharing diverse perspectives just as much as from coursework. In the discussion of satellite housing, we should keep in mind that the students living there could constitute yet another isolated — likely self-selecting — subgroup on campus. It could detract from any inching towards inclusivity and diversity that the university is accomplishing. I hope we think of “One Georgetown, One Campus” not as something that we’ve achieved and would lose with satellite housing, but as something toward which we should continually strive. Nicholas Dirago is a senior in the College. CURMUDGEON’S CORNER appears every other Tuesday.

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VIEWPOINT • Curran

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Nicholas Dirago

THE HOYA

An Immature Strategy

veryone had “that” friend as a kid. You know who I’m talking about. The one who demanded a redo after tossing a football straight to the other team because “the sun was in my eyes!” The one who rewrote the rules to cops and robbers every time he got tagged. The one who ran the same play every single down in Madden, then accused you of cheating when you figured out how to stop it. Some kids just can’t accept a loss, and their behavior tends to ruin the game for everyone. Most children grow out of this phase. But what happens when they don’t? What happens when, in some unfortunate fluke of developmental psychology, these kids are put in charge of something more important than a schoolyard football league? Ladies and gentlemen, look no further than Capitol Hill. The extreme right wing of the Republican Party, in its never-ending effort to strike down Obamacare, is reminiscent of a child who just can’t let a loss go. It should be laughable. Unfortunately, it’s really, really dangerous. Before we address the far right’s shenanigans, let’s go through a brief history of Obamacare. March 2010: The Affordable Care Act is passed in both houses of Congress and signed into law by President Obama. This, as you may recall from fourth grade civics, is how the government is supposed to work. June 2012: The U.S. Supreme Court upholds the ACA. This is how the government is supposed to work when there is controversy over whether a law should be allowed under the Constitution. November 2012: Obama cruises to re-election over Republican challenger Mitt Romney. This election

I’d like to think that there’s a solution here, but the Tea Party has some growing up to do first. was widely seen as a referendum on the ACA, the signature achievement of Obama’s first term. Pretty straightforward, right? The law was passed. It was challenged, it survived and its biggest proponent won a national election. But with all the maturity of a 10-year-old who just lost his third straight game of rock-paper-scissors (“Best four out of seven!”), a small but loud cadre of ultraconservative Republicans still seem to think the law’s implementation is up for debate. And their effort to bring it down has a good chance of crippling the country. Over the past month, Republicans in the House (and some in the Senate) have blocked a bill that would continue funding the federal gov-

ernment past Sept. 30 unless said bill contained a provision to defund or delay Obamacare. They hadn’t budged on the issue as of press time, and all signs point to a federal government shutdown. The GOP extremists may stand down and allow a clean continuing resolution to pass. But even then, we’re simply jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire. Congress must pass an extension of the federal debt ceiling by Oct. 17 or risk the United States government defaulting on its debt for the first time in history. As Politico’s Ben White reported last week, a default would “send interest rates sky-rocketing, crush the stock market, devastate business and consumer confidence and probably send the nation’s

economy hurtling back into recession, if not depression.” To be clear, lifting the debt ceiling does not approve any new federal government spending; it simply allows the government to pay off previously accumulated debt. It’s not a vote for pork and big government, it’s a vote to make good on your promises. Of course, none of that seems to matter to the hardline conservatives who’ve taken over the Republican Party. After suffering defeat at every turn of the healthcare debate, they’re now threatening to vote against a debt limit bill unless it includes — among other things — a provision to delay or defund Obamacare. On the other hand, that Democrats have taken some flak for refusing to negotiate on the debt ceiling bill seems reasonable at first. That is, until you actually look at the facts. The Democrats’ position is simple: Pass a routine bill that will allow us to pay off our debts and avert a global economic catastrophe — nothing more, nothing less. The GOP held the same position for most of the country’s history, until ultra-conservative Tea Partiers elected to use the United States’ credit as a political football. Last time they insisted on playing this game in 2011, the U.S. suffered its only credit rating downgrade in history. This is a bill that needs to be passed; no one with any understanding of the situation contests that. The question is, can we pass it without the type of drama that nearly led to catastrophe in 2011 and a government shutdown this week? I’d like to think so. But the Tea Party has quite a bit of growing up to do first. Pat Curran is a senior in the College. He is a former sports editor of The Hoya.

VIEWPOINT • Chardack

AS THIS JESUIT SEES IT ...

enator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) of these services, the health center dominated news coverage needs to offer its most basic serlast week for his almost-fili- vices around the clock — or at least buster against the Affordable Care in a more flexible timeframe than Act. Personally, I have never held the business hours under which strong opinions on the ACA, but the center currently operates. And catching the recent flu that has while the hours of the health cenbeen gripping campus has shed ter are obviously constricted by budnew light on how profound an get, student health is an investment effect simple clinical health care worth finding dollars for. can have on our lives. I will provide an example from As college students, we are part this past weekend to support this of the key demographic that is tar- claim: On Saturday, during peak geted by the ACA. We are young, flu season, the Student Health healthy and active members of our Center at Georgetown University society, so we often overlook our was open for a grand total of three need for regular preventative or hours, from 9 a.m. to noon. For the general practitioner health care. I other 21 hours — when students believe that I speak for many young at Georgetown urgently needed a and healthy Americans when I say health center to administer tests that I rarely think about what I and provide medications or physiwould do if I ever got seriously sick. cian consultations to its ailing stuIn the past, many people in this dents — the clinic was shuttered. young adult demographic went to Furthermore, during the week, the emergency when students room to look for need quick, simeven the most baple healthcare The Health Center’s sic health care. from a clinisupport for students could be cian, yet cannot But again, this poses two critimake it to the described as lukewarm cal problems. Student Health at best. First, emergency Center’s restricrooms are nototive 8:30 a.m. to riously expen4:30 p.m. hours, sive. Some charge as much as $600 the receptionist at the front desk for just a basic visit. But this outra- simply responds: “The emergency geous price is clearly meant to ad- room is across the street.” While dress the second concern: that our I am grateful to have even such a ERs are chronically overcrowded. limited health clinic on the camA visit to the emergency room can pus of my university, it is no mystake hours, and ER doctors’ time is a tery to me why the center’s existvaluable commodity that should be ing services are underutilized. A spent where it is truly needed. health clinic whose mission is to This is where clinics come into work in the service of Georgetown play. students ought to better accommoThe everyday health concerns of date their needs and schedules in students are the domain of clini- order to maximize its effectiveness. cians, not emergency room doctors. Even from my limited experience, For young, healthy Georgetown I’m aware that health care provision students who are in need of a strep is made so difficult because human test, a prescription refill or even a sickness is never announced, never doctor’s note for class, it is obvious predictable and inevitable. For the that the emergency room is the last moments when things go horribly place we should be waiting. But as wrong, we have emergency rooms. a viable alternative to Georgetown’s But for basic sickness and general student health needs, the Student care, we should have full use of Health Center’s overall support for clinics like the Student Health Censtudents could be charitably de- ter, whose mission it should be to scribed as lukewarm at best. keep students from unnecessarily To start, while the Student Health ending up in the ER. I still know Center offers an array of valuable little about the complexities of the services, the center’s hours are not ACA, but I’m sure that if our health designed in the best interest of center were more accommodating Georgetown students. It is a well- to the busy lives and complicated known fact that students have over- priorities of college undergraducrowded schedules and often priori- ates, our entire community would tize class over attention to health. be well served. With this knowledge, the currently minimal and restrictive hours of the David Chardack is a sophomore health center are counterproduc- in the College. He is copy chief of tive. For students to take advantage The Hoya.

have never sat on John Car- to balance our action. roll’s lap. In fact, I’ve never But I think what I love most even been tempted to try. But about John Carroll is that he looks each time I cross Healy Lawn, I outward. He is not focused inward find my eyes drawn to that iconic on the university, as if our lives statue that welcomes each person were made for this place forever. to the Hilltop. Over my four years Rather, he reminds us that we as a professor here, I’ve come to come from a world beyond the treasure John Carroll’s presence gates, and all our work here is ultiand especially the wisdom that mately geared toward going forth he conveys with his gentle gaze. through those gates. We share for He reminds me of what I love a time in the beauty and wonder most about Georgetown, and he of this campus, but ultimately our reminds me of eyes should folwhat I’m doing low his in looking here. out to the world. He reminds And make no misme of the mistake about it: His sion of the unigaze quite intenversity that he tionally looks out planted on this in the direction plot of land “on the Capitol, Fr. Matthew Carnes, S.J. of the banks of and beyond that, the Potomac in of the Atlantic Maryland.” After Ocean and finally, I’ve come to living through the whole face treasure John religious perseand circuit of the cution himself, earth. Carroll’s presence. he sought to creEven during ate a place of welcome for people our precious time here, that of every faith, in which a dia- world informs us: It speaks to us logue of people of deep religious of its needs and inequalities, its and personal commitment could struggles and opportunities. We flourish. Inspired by him, we try let that world touch our studies, to bring a spirit of respect, en- cultivating in us a compassionate, gagement and seriousness to each informed and committed citizenclass, each activity, each conversa- ship. And we aspire, in a spirit of tion and encounter. humility and responsibility, to He calls me to remember that know how to make a meaningful dialogue begins with welcome. contribution to the lives of those His countenance and gentle smile most in need, both near and far. even win over tired visitors that In the end, John Carroll’s gaze have made the long walk from the sends us forth. It launches us out National Mall, and they gather in into the world as people enriched each new generation of students. by his wisdom and example. We Seeing him recalls for me that be- carry forth his spirit of welcome, ing a member of a community community, dialogue, faith, learnmeans being someone who helps ing, reflection and service. I think create community­­with openness this may be why he has that gentle and hospitality and an authentic smile. He envisions all that our desire for friendship. community will do and encounter I’ve come to especially love his in the world, and this fills his eyes serenity. As my life gets busier with a quiet, joyful blessing. each semester, I find I need that If you find yourself feeling harserenity, that peacefulness, all the ried in the days ahead, in the more. When my body is going in midst of midterms or papers or so many directions, running be- job interviews or work, I’d encourtween classes and meetings, he re- age you to make a visit to John minds me that I am more whole, Carroll. Let his gaze fall on you, happier, when I take the time to and then turn and share his gaze slow down. I find myself wanting on the world. Let him remind you to emulate him, quietly taking in of what we are about here, and inthe colors of the trees and flowers spire you anew with the mission as they change. we share. If you do, there’s a good Indeed, he reminds me that chance you’ll find me there, too. what we do here is sacred, and it is nurtured by peering deeply Fr. Matthew Carnes, S.J., is an into the nature of things. Our assistant professor in the governwork requires not just activity but ment department. AS THIS JESUIT reflection. To put this in Jesuit SEES IT ... appears every other language, we need contemplation Tuesday.

Health Center Hours Carroll Calls on Us To Gaze Past the Gate Sickeningly Short

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NEWS

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2013

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE A workshop Friday generated innovative ideas about social change. See story at thehoya.com.

Your news — from every corner of The Hoya.

IN FOCUS

verbatim

I HEREBY AFFIRM

I look forward to going to Rhino, going to our old stomping ground.

MAGGIE KOCH (COL ’07) See story on A5.

from

NINJAMARKETING.IT

ERICA WONG/THE HOYA

Georgetown University Student Association senators took their oaths of office Sunday afternoon in Dahlgren Quad. The election Thursday had record turnout with 47 percent of undergraduate students voting. See story on A6.

InstagraMondays They say a picture is worth 1,000 words. Head to 4E to see our favorite Instagrams from Homecoming weekend. blog.thehoya.com

DC-Baltimore Train MBA Program Set to Expand Adds Weekend Service KATIE SHAFFER

Special to The Hoya

GRIFFIN COHEN

runs a weekend service between the District and Baltimore, the Special to The Hoya company charges $16 to $60 per The MARC Train Service, run by single trip, depending on the time the Maryland Transit Administra- and date of the trip and the class of tion, will begin offering weekend the purchased seat. train service between Washington On the other hand, the MARC and Baltimore on Dec. 7. weekend service would cost about This weekend service will expand $6 to BWI and $7 to Baltimore; stuthe existing Penn Line, which con- dents with a Student Advantage nects Union Station to Baltimore membership will also receive a disPenn Station and Baltimore/Wash- count. ington International Thurgood Despite the cheaper prices, Chan Marshall Airport. said that not all riders would conAccording to MARC Riders Advi- vert from Amtrak to MARC. MARC sory Council Chair Rafi Guroian, generally caters to commuters, tourists, BWI travelers and week- while Amtrak is popular for longer end workers trips. have been MARC riddemanding ers use a a weekend monthly pass, service, and often leading the Penn Line a shortage of was specifiseats. cally targeted “It depends because of its on where you greater riderwant to go ship than that and on schedof the other uling,” Chan two MARC said. “If you RAFI GUROIAN MARC Riders Advisory Council Chair train lines. simply need to The weekend go from D.C. expansion of the Penn line, which Union Station to BWI, MARC genis subsidized by Maryland taxes, erally charges a lower price. But was originally slated for 2008 but if your goal is to go from BWI [to] was cancelled at the last minute elsewhere, it’s quite possible that when Maryland had a budgetary Amtrak can give you choices that crisis during the recession. A re- you would prefer.” cent increase in Maryland’s state The expanded weekend service gas tax allowed MARC to expand could allow some students to fly in the line. and out of Baltimore on the week“Weekend service on MARC has end, which is often less expensive been discussed for decades, and it’s than flying from D.C. airports. always been a matter of funding,” The MARC train would also make Guroian wrote in an email. “[It is] Baltimore entertainment options a very affordable option for getting more accessible to students. From to BWI Airport and Baltimore on Baltimore Penn Station, students weekends.” can take light rail to Camden According to MARC Riders Ad- Yards, home of the Baltimore Orivisory Council Vice Chair Steve oles. Camden Yards is also close to Chan, the expanded MARC service M&T Bank Stadium, where the Balwill be a “subcontract employ- timore Ravens play. There is also a ment” with Amtrak because Am- free Circulator bus from Penn Statrak owns the physical rail on the tion to the Inner Harbor and Fort Penn line. As a result, MARC will McHenry. pay Amtrak to help set up the exGuroian said the MTA is looking panded service, and employees to add additional weekday service working the expanded service will on the Camden line next year and work for Amtrak. hopes to expand the Brunswick Although Amtrak itself already line as well.

“Weekend service on the MARC has been discussed for decades, and it’s always been a matter of funding.”

The McDonough School of Business is awaiting approval to extend its MBA programs to the Tysons Corner Center in Vienna, Va., for what would be the MSB’s first expansion outside the immediate Washington, D.C. area. Space limitations and the desire to reach a new pool of applicants are the main motivating factors behind the potential addition, with business opportunities in Tysons Corner identified by a committee of faculty, students and real estate developers contributing to the choice of location. “Tysons Corner quickly emerged as the right location … as a booming business community experiencing tremendous growth, and it is in close proximity to the Dulles technology corridor,” MSB Dean David Thomas said. “It is also an area where high-scoring GMAT testtakers live and work, and many of those individuals have expressed interest in our program.” Although the MSB originally considered constructing a new building in response to the MBA program’s popularity, The Tower Club Tysons Corner building, located at 8000 Towers Crescent Drive, in the Tysons Corner mall emerged as a viable option. The Tower Club includes a private dining room, a lounge, a library and conference rooms. “This was just the right collection of amenities that also allowed us, just from an accounting standpoint, not to have to invest in bricks and mortar right now,” Senior Associate Dean for MBA Programs Elaine Romanelli said. Although the MSB does not yet have an official contract with The Tower Club, it has offered to enhance the building’s A/V equipment and provide furniture to meet possible classroom needs. MSB professors who would have to commute to the new location gave input on the proposal, and Georgetown is now waiting on the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools for approval. In addition, Georgetown is working with the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to obtain a special exemption to expand The Tower Club’s zoning permit to include

NATALIA ORTIZ/THE HOYA

The McDonough School of Business is looking to expand its MBA programs to The Tower Club at the Tysons Corner Center in Vienna, Va. educational use. Expansion Committee student representative Selman Altun (GRD ’13) said she was originally apprehensive of the plan. “My first concern was that the quality of the program and students be maintained,” Altun said. “My second concern was related to maintaining a campus atmosphere that allows networking among students. And last, because it is related to my profession, potential challenges with respect to the faculty getting to and from the new location were an area of concern.” Altun said she also recognized the benefits of the expansion, which would further the Georgetown brand beyond Washington, D.C. “It will introduce us to new students that cannot be with us due to traffic, commute time, job and

home location reasons but that are just as good as the current Georgetown students in a rapidly developing area in the heart of Northern Virginia,” Altun said. Others have shared Altun’s concerns about the loss of prestige due to the increased number of applicants, Romanelli said, but she believes that the expansion would have the opposite effect. The MBA program itself would see no changes; both the curriculum and the professors that teach it would remain. “There is a highly qualified market that, for a variety of reasons, we’re not tapping into,” Romanelli said. “I don’t think exclusivity is about numbers — exclusivity is about the caliber of students who are here, and we think that they will be absolutely equal.”


News

tuesday, october 1, 2013

THE HOYA

A5

Search for Mascot Bar Exam Process in Question Caretaker Begins Suzanne Monyak Special to The Hoya

sponsibilities,” said Neve Schadler (COL ’15), head of the Jack Crew. be committed to living near cam- “We’re making sure anything new pus for the duration of the dog’s is an improvement, so the responlife as a mascot and having a per- sibilities as far as right now will be manent position at Georgetown the same. He’ll have walks around campus, and as he grows we’ll be would facilitate that.” Director of Media Relations Ra- doing public appearances.” The Jack Crew works closely with chel Pugh said that a new caretaker will be selected in the next few Steck, and crew members would need to transition to working weeks. “I think that the thing is we’re re- with the new caretaker. No one on the BAC has met the ally still working on how we will be evaluating that person,” Pugh said. bulldog, which comes from the “I think we’ll know when we meet same breeders who donated J.J.: that person and they’re the right Janice and Marcus Hochstetler, parents of forfit.” The new “We’re just taking it step mer Georgetown students. mascot’s careThe new taker would by step and making sure mascot will be be offered a we’re not doing anything named Jack, townhouse but a nickon 36th Street to jeopardize the name has yet with a backto be deteryard for the process.” mined. dog, according ADAM RAMADAN (SFS ’14) While the to Pugh. If the Gusa Vice President breeders have caretaker already lives on campus, it could be already begun to train the new possible for the mascot to live in a dog, training will continue on campus, according to Georgedorm, as Jack does with Steck. The BAC has developed a formal- town University Student Associaized application but has yet to com- tion Vice President Adam Ramaplete a job description. Once that is dan (SFS ’14), who serves on the complete, the committee will post BAC. “I would love to have him imthe job and solicit applications, mediately,” Ramadan said, “but with an interview to follow. Though aspects of the caretaker for the sake of tradition, the puprole remain undecided, the mas- py himself and making sure he’s comfortable, we’re just taking cot’s role is clear. “As far as the mascot tradition it step by step and making sure goes, we’re not planning anything we’re not doing anything to jeopnew in the mascot’s specific re- ardize the process.” MASCOT, from A1

Credit Installation A Challenge for Cabs CABS, from A1 Cab meters have sometimes taken days to sync to the credit card reader, and the installation procedure requires drivers to return to the PSP multiple times. District of Columbia Taxicab Commission spokesperson Neville Waters attributed the current PSP backlog to the looming deadline, as drivers attempt to catch up for lost time. In fact, Waters said that many drivers had not contacted a PSP by Aug. 15 when the original deadline for installation was Aug. 30. “Many drivers tried to shop around or find other PSPs and missed the deadline,” Waters said. “PSPs are overwhelmed by installation demands from drivers in the past few weeks.” Waters said that PSPs should have the capacity to continue installation throughout the week. Regardless, as much as 20 percent of D.C.’s taxicab fleet will not yet have the MTS installed by today, DCTC estimated, leaving them in danger of towing, impoundment and $1,000 in fees, which will be the responsibility of drivers. D.C. Drivers United for Equal Rights has also called into question the DCTC’s handling of the issues with PSPs, which the group claimed the commission refused to address. Rather, the DCTC has said that these problems are private contract disputes between drivers and PSPs.

In August, only 2,000 out of D.C.’s 6,500 taxis had complied with the MTS requirement, so cabs were permitted to apply for an extension, but this responsibility was placed on the PSP rather than the driver, leading to delays and missed deadlines. Waters said that this method was to ensure that taxicab drivers had already established a contract for installation with one of the PSPs — a requirement to be granted an extension. DCTC will not extend its Sept. 30 deadline, but the commission will evaluate claims on a case-bycase basis to address legitimate grievances. “There will be no further extensions. Drivers have had over 120 days since June 1 to have the devices installed,” Waters said. “It’s unfortunate, but the deadline is necessary.” Waters added that, rather than risk impoundment, some drivers would potentially switch vehicles; sedans or black cars are not required to install the MTS. Others, Waters said, might leave the business altogether. “I also expect we will see some part-time drivers retire, especially those who are older and simply enjoy driving, because they are unwilling to deal with the expense or hassle of installation,” Waters said. D.C. Drivers United for Equal Rights did not respond to requests for comment.

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In response to a recent decrease in law school applications and a rise in student debt, a task force from the American Bar Association has called for drastic changes to the U.S. legal education system. In particular, the task force has proposed allowing people without college or law degrees to take the bar exam and to provide limited legal services, raising the question about the value of a three-year law education. The task force’s report, which is still in draft form, will influence law schools and state bar associations but is not a legally-binding document. Georgetown University Law Center Dean of Admissions Andrew Cornblatt expressed concern about the report’s potential repercussions on law schools. “There would be huge financial implications, huge,” Cornblatt said. “You’d lose one-third of your student body, so, you know, do the math.” In addition, the proposal will cause a massive influx of practicing lawyers into the market, exacerbating a job market for law school graduates that is already faced with a massive surplus of able workers. According to the National Law Journal, members of the Class of 2012 only had a 56 percent chance of obtaining a job within

nine months of receiving a degree, a trend that has stayed the same over the last three years. “It’s interesting to me that they’re trying to encourage, it seems, almost more people to go to law school, which I don’t know is necessarily a good thing,” Ashley Kempczynski (LAW ’15) said. The task force argues that if a law degree were no longer a prerequisite for the bar exam, potential lawyers would be free from the pressure of repaying enormous student loans. Ideally, this would allow more lawyers to consider providing low-price services to members of lower-income populations. Nevertheless, Kevin Barber (LAW ’14), who is facing $160,000 in student debt, expressed concern about unqualified board-certified lawyers. “It would change the market for law, but I think there would be quality control issues,” said Barber, a former editor-in-chief of The Hoya. “I’m in support of experimentation as long as it’s done in a careful and deliberate way.” Criminal defense attorney Plato Cacheris (SFS ’53, LAW ’56) agreed and said he believed that attorneys with law school backgrounds possessed advantages over those who simply passed the bar. According to Cacheris, law school allowed him to develop skills such as courtroom procedure and the preparation of

appeals, which he said cannot be learned through a book alone. “I think [law school is necessary] for a person who wanted to be an accomplished lawyer, a well-rounded lawyer, because it offers you more help,” Cacheris said. This report follows President Barack Obama’s comment in August about reducing the time spent in law school from three years to two years, allowing students to use the third year for hands-on work. Law schools have often been criticized for their emphasis on the classroom while disregarding real-world experience; current standards require students to fulfill a minimum of 45,000 classroom minutes, and paid field work does not count toward this goal. Although the report did not specifically address Obama’s suggestion, it called for the elimination of the current classroom minutes requirement. Overall, Cornblatt said that this is just the latest step in a long-term developmental process for law schools around the country. “Top law schools are taking a good, hard inner look at how we do our business,” Cornblatt said. “Should there be more practical courses as opposed to more theoretical classes? Should law school be squeezed to two-and-ahalf years? … There is a huge amount of conversation going on.”

Homecoming a Draw for Alumni Jennifer Ding

Special to The Hoya

Approximately 4,000 alumni returned to the Hilltop for Homecoming Weekend this year, an increase in participation from past years. “I think this [increase] is due to the fact that we are continuing to look for new opportunities to expand our programming to be able to engage more students and alumni,” Director of Class Programs and Reunion Campaigns Vanessa Otarola (NHS ’08) said. Last year, 6,500 students and alumni participated in Homecoming. Otarola said that they were still working to calculate the total number of participants this year, including the student tally. In addition to traditional activities like the football game and tailgate, student organizations also created new events. The Georgetown University Running Club reintroduced the Saturday morning Homecoming 5k run, and the Traditions Day committee added an all-class movie night on Thursday. “This year, the focus was on celebrating the rich history of Georgetown and of our student organizations,” Otarola said. Planning for Homecoming is a yearlong process, which starts when the Office of Advancement works with the athletics department to select the weekend during which the homecoming football game will take place. That planning culminated in this weekend’s events, which provided a link between alumni and current students. “This is the first time I’ve come back for Homecoming, and part of the reason I’m here is because my son is here,” Chris Donovan (SFS ’78) said. “It’s awesome to be back on campus. We took my son and seven of his friends out for dinner. It was nice to meet his peers and

CLAIRE SOISSON FOR THE HOYA

Students and alumni packed the stands for the Homecoming football game only to see the Hoyas suffer a disappointing loss against Princeton. friends.” Sharon Day (MED ’88) agreed. “We come back to Homecoming every so often,” Day said. “We’re here actually today because my youngest son is going to go on the tour because he’s interested in coming to Georgetown.” For many alumni, campus looks markedly different. “Buildings have changed, as there are all these new buildings everywhere you look, but the atmosphere stays the same,” Day said. However, alumni recalled their old haunts from their days at Georgetown. “I look forward to going to Rhino, go-

ing to our old stomping ground,” Maggie Koch (COL ’07) said. “We walked to Burleith, which is where we used to live, and down on M Street, The Tombs and the bookstore.” For current students as well, the weekend served as a memorable experience. “As a freshman, I’ve never experienced Homecoming before, so it was really great to just experience it for the first time,” Emma Dee Spikol (COL ’17) said. “There was a lot of energy on campus, and there were so many alumni walking around with their kids, and it was obvious that they were really excited to be returning.”

DC HIV Rate Still Worst in Nation AIDS, from A1 In particular, NPR found that black and Hispanic men in the District were especially at risk, and over 50 percent of HIV positive cases were fatal. Michael Kharfen, interim senior director of the HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, STD and Tuberculosis administration at the DOH, attributed the results to support from Mayor Vincent Gray since his 2010 election. Gray has supported a citywide recovery program that provides testing, education and medical resources. “The DOH has benefitted from good community and political leadership, including from the mayor, city council and important health officials,” Kharfen said. “Together, we’ve made a push to talk about HIV prevention, promoting safe sexual behavior and effectively responding to this epidemic.” Through this program, the DOH has focused on providing annual, convenient HIV/AIDS testing in an attempt to diagnose cases earlier. “Our department has seen that after being diagnosed, people change their sexual behavior and are much less likely to transmit the disease to others,” Kharfen said. “Also, under the proper medication, the virus can be reduced to almost undetectable levels, which also reduces transmission rates.” The DOH has also distributed 10

times more free condoms since 2007 and prioritized cooperation with local medical organizations and community awareness groups to provide prevention and treatment education. Despite the District’s success with HIV/AIDS, more than 15,000 D.C. residents were still living with HIV in 2011. In addition, the DOH reported that rates of other sexually transmitted infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis have increased in the last few years, with over 9,300 total new cases between 2010 and 2011. According to Kharfen, not all of this increase reflects an actual increase in case numbers. Rather, because of the increase in testing, more cases are being found and reported. “We’re simply testing more people here in the District than in most other places,” Kharfen said. “Our high schools have a system of STI testing, which is rare. This testing is vital, because these infections, and chlamydia especially, are prevalent in the adolescent community, and symptoms can at times be hard to spot. Syphilis is more an issue with gay and bisexual men, so we’ve ramped up our efforts of testing and prevention in that demographic.” Kharfen added that the current political struggle on Capitol Hill could threaten the District’s HIV/AIDS prevention plan and other programs. According to Kharfen, more than 93 percent of District residents utilize ex-

panded Medicaid services that would be provided under the Affordable Care Act. “The District was one of the first places in the country to begin using the Affordable Care Act to give full medical coverage to residents, which is especially vital in ensuring that people get tested and can get treatment, no matter their socioeconomic status,” Kharfen said. “The possible repeal of the act would really strike a blow to our efforts for HIV/AIDS prevention in the city.” Georgetown also participates heavily in dealing with the STI rate in the District through the Student Health Center, the Health Education Services Offices and Counseling and Psychiatric Services. According to Assistant Vice President for Student Health Services James Welsh, the university focuses particularly on screening students and educating them about sexual health. “STI screening, including for HIV, is offered regularly at the Student Health Center,” Welsh said. “Health Education Services, working with offices like the LGBTQ Resource Center and the Women’s Center, offer periodic free HIV screening opportunities here on campus.” Georgetown played host to the 2012 International AIDS Conference, where university representatives highlighted the District’s battle against STIs.


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news

THE HOYA

Tuesday, october 1, 2013

GUSA Senate Begins Term Construction Pinches Annie Chen

Hoya Staff Writer

The eighth session of the Georgetown University Student Association senate, inaugurated Sunday afternoon, was elected last Thursday with record voter turnout. Approximately 47 percent of the student body, or 2,966 undergraduates, cast ballots, an increase from last year’s 34 percent, or 2,631 students. GUSA President Nate Tisa (SFS ’14) attributed part of the high turnout to the satellite housing referendum that was on the same ballot as the senate election. However, Tisa said that students are also increasingly interested in GUSA’s work. “As GUSA continues to work on more projects in more areas of student life, students are more and more looking to GUSA for advocacy and assistance in a wide variety of areas,” Tisa said. “We’re more diverse and more representative of the student body than ever before.” Overall, 77 students competed for 28 seats in the senate. Nine out of 14 GUSA senators running for reelection from the previous session were successful. Competitiveness across districts was uneven, with nearly half of the 77 candidates competing for six seats in the two freshman-only districts, while candidates in LXR Hall and townhouses ran uncontested.

Sunday’s inauguration inducted a record number of 10 female senators to GUSA. Female representation this year is a slight increase from the nine women who held seats last year. Women accounted for slightly more than 50 percent of this years’ candidates for the senate, another record. Incumbent GUSA senator Abby Cooner (SFS ’16) helped coordinate the ElectHer conference aimed to increase female representation among student leaders prior to the election. “I’m really pleased to see an increase of female senators once again,” Cooner said. “I think GUSA is moving toward a new and exciting direction. With the increasing number of young women, it will be able to represent the student body more equally.” GUSA’s effort in engaging the off-campus student population also showed results in the election. Six candidates, an increase from last year’s three candidates, competed for the five spots for the off-campus district. Three hundred and forty-seven votes were cast in the off-campus race, more than double the number cast in last year’s election. Tisa pointed out that the 2010 Campus Plan agreement, which aims to centralize student activities back on campus, has led off-campus students to seek greater representation. “It makes sense — neighborhood relations issues have cut to the core of almost everything

the university has done since the campus plan. Off-campus students are most directly affected,” he said. GUSA senators Cannon Warren (SFS ’14) and Andrew Logerfo (COL ’14), who ran unsuccessfully on a ticket for the GUSA executive in the spring, were both elected as representatives in the off-campus districts. Warren and Logerfo together received a total of 179 first round votes, higher than the 175 votes the pair received from the executive election. Logerfo described the results as interesting, noting that the two together garnered more votes in the off-campus senate race, which consists of a voting population of approximately one-sixth of the undergraduate student body. “I think it’s just interesting. We were running in a much smaller pool but receiving more votes. I would say that we’re probably more established off campus,” Logerfo said. “This is also less of a joking campaign,” he added, referring to the pair’s executive campaign’s focus on a campus-wide rat attack challenge. Tisa, who served as a threetime senator before becoming GUSA president, expressed confidence in the growing presence of the student government. “It’s been incredible to see the ways GUSA’s off-campus engagement has surged in the past few years,” he said.

New Initiative Looks at Pope Nick Simon

Special to The Hoya

The Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life will launch tonight in Gaston Hall with an event examining Pope Francis’ impact on American public life during his first six months as the leader of the Catholic Church. The initiative’s major goals are to promote Catholic social teaching as it relates to current economic, social and political issues, and to prepare students, community leaders and public officials to advance the Catholic tradition of social justice. “What is needed is informed, active lay leadership in questions of justice and peace, life and dignity,” John Carr, director of the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life, said. Carr previously served as the executive director of the Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops for 25 years and was a fellow of religion and politics at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, archbishop emeritus of Washington, will lead a distinguished advisory group to help guide the work of the initiative, actively supported by current archbishop of Washington, Cardinal Donald Wuerl. The initiative originated from the Office of University President John J. DeGioia.

“I am grateful to John Carr for his willingness to lead this new initiative, which seeks to increase the connection between public life and the advancement of the common good,” DeGioia said. “The Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life is deeply aligned with that mission as well as the mission of Georgetown as a Catholic, Jesuit university.” Although the preliminary stages of the founding of the initiative occurred before the elevation of Pope Francis, the initiative’s focus fits with Francis’ goals. “When we started talking about this center at Georgetown, Francis hadn’t come on the scene yet, but it seems as if this center is a perfect response to his papacy because he is clearly moving Catholic teaching about the poor and about justice to the center of the Church’s mission,” said E.J. Dionne, a columnist for The Washington Post and a senior research fellow at the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs. “The timing here is not intentional but it surely is providential.” Carr said Pope Francis’ papacy was a fitting context to talk about Catholic social thought at Georgetown. “These ideas have been at the heart of Georgetown for a long time, but at this moment with Pope Francis’ leadership, we have a great opportunity to dialogue about how we can work together to preserve the com-

mon good and protect the life and dignity of the poor,” he said. A large objective of the initiative is outreach to young Catholics in public life as well as nonCatholics. “We are encouraging leaders, especially young leaders, to bring the mission of Catholic social teaching into public life,” Carr said. “We will hold regular gatherings of people who are in public service to remind them that their faith has ideas and values that can be useful to them as they serve the common good.” The initiative’s first event this evening will feature New York Times columnist David Brooks, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops spokesperson Kim Daniels, Foundations and Donors Interested in Catholic Activities President Alexia Kelley and PBS “NewsHour” political analyst Mark Shields. Wuerl, who participated in the elevation of Francis, will deliver the opening address. The initiative’s second forum, “Poverty, Policy, and Pope Francis: Addressing the Silence and Stalemate on Poverty in the United States,” will be held Dec. 2. Participants will include Dionne, McCarrick and The Washington Post columnist and former Bush Administration speechwriter Michael Gerson. Tonight’s event was moved from Copley Hall to Gaston to account for the more than 600 expected attendees. “The credit goes to Pope Francis,” Carr said.

GU Earns EPA Green Award Lily Westergaard Hoya Staff Writer

For its commitment to renewable energy, Georgetown was named a Green Power Partner of the Year by the Environmental Protection Agency last week. The distinction was given to the university for its commitment to purchasing approximately 113 million kilowatt hours of renewable energy, moving to 100 percent green power and establishing the Solar Street on-site renewable energy project, which constructed solar panels on the roofs of six universityowned townhouses in January. Three other organizations — Cisco Systems, Inc., the Microsoft Corporation and Ohio State University — received the award this year. In order to qualify for the award, organizations must demonstrate a substantial commitment to green energy, which the EPA cites as electricity generated from renewable resources that produce no fossil fuel-based pollution. “Our 2013 Green Power

Leadership Award winners are driving new renewable energy generation and providing clear examples of organizations thriving on innovation and sustainability,” EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy said in a press release. Georgetown has participated in the EPA’s Green Power Partnership program for the past several years. “Participating in this program is a way to advance the development of green power sources, both through our use of green power and also by serving as a leader in communicating to the marketplace about the value of sustainable energy,” Audrey Stewart, director of Georgetown’s Office of Sustainability, said. Blaine Collison, director of the Green Power Partner Program at the EPA, commended the effort required by Georgetown to implement these innovations. “It’s a large and complex institution,” Collison said. “Georgetown’s green power purchase is the fifth largest nationally in the higher education sector, and that matters. We need to have schools like Georgetown and

Ohio State take the action they are. It provides an incredible set of examples for other schools to take a look at and consider for their own climate policy.” Gabriel Pincus (SFS ’14), Georgetown University Student Association’s secretary of sustainability, expressed excitement about the award and encouraged the university to continue to implement new green projects. “I think it’s great that Georgetown is getting recognition,” Pincus said. “We’re taking a lot of steps across the board on sustainability issues. To get national recognition is pretty awesome.” Pincus described a variety of sustainable projects that GUSA is currently working on with the administration, including changes to the recycling program, making Georgetown a more bikefriendly campus, ensuring the preservation of green spaces on campus and developing methods to use electricity more efficiently. “[The award] is great, but there’s more to be done for sure,” Pincus said. “There’s a ton of issues we have on our radar.”

Space for Dance Groups HFSC, from A1 we have the same amount of marley. Black Box is like dancing on concrete; it’s really poorly sprung marley,” Murphy said. Groove Theory practices in both the Walsh Black Box Theater and the Center Grill space in Leavey Center, located between Makom and Cosi. The group traditionally practices after 10 p.m., rendering Yates, with its midnight closing time, an unfeasible option. Katie Shannon (NHS ’15), a Groove Theory manager, expressed concerns over flooring. “They are using the old New South dance studio floor, and it is chipped and very worn so people tend to get splinters on their hands and knees while stretching,” Shannon said. However, Shannon said that the temporary lodging adequately meets the group’s needs. “We just really miss the convenience of being able to find a spot to practice if we needed an additional rehearsal,” Shannon said. The Georgetown Fencing Club also uses the Center Grill for its practice space. Fencing Captain Jonathan McClure (SFS ’15) described a space and booking crunch. “Any problems are pretty much just a shortrun thing but they are definitely noticeable at the moment,” McClure said. The Center for Student Engagement has worked with groups on these problems throughout the semester, to varying degrees of success. Student groups gave input on location and scheduling when the CSE was working to figure out new accommodations last year in conjunction with the department of performing arts. “I know there were a couple of groups assigned to interim spaces and the space wasn’t big enough for them, so we worked with the groups to try to accommodate their needs in other spaces,” CSE Director Erika Cohen Derr wrote in an email. Many groups have transitioned without complaint into temporary locations that will remain in place until the construction ends next year, according to GUSA Director of Student Space Jack Appelbaum (COL ’14). “I haven’t heard any concerns,” he said. “I’m sure there are a lot of kinks that are being worked out.” The Center Grill is guaranteed to the CSE for only this year, as it is under the jurisdiction of Auxiliary Services and the Georgetown University Hotel and Conference Center, not the university. It is not yet clear what will make up for the Center Grill space next year. “I know there are other needs for space that they are foregoing because the space is in use by student groups this year,” Cohen Derr wrote. According to a memorandum regarding space relocation that Cohen Derr wrote in April, groups that require equipment for practice were to use the LXR Multipurpose room. Ron Lignelli, administrative director for the department of performing arts, reflected on the success of the temporary dance studios. He said that a lot of planning happened over the

CLAIE SOISSON FOR THE HOYA

During HFSC construction, dance groups are using the LXR Multipurpose room, which is not ideal as a rehearsal space. summer, especially for small but crucial factors needed to create temporary dance studios, such as buying mirrors and bars. His biggest concern is that temporary spaces might not be kept in the long term even though the addition of Healey Family Student Center will result in a net loss of practice space for student groups after construction is completed, too. Additionally, the crunch on space for dance groups has affected theater groups that traditionally rehearse in the Black Box Theater. “It’s been a challenge, but I wouldn’t say a problem,” Lignelli said. “It’s kind of a domino effect, in terms of rehearsals and auditions.” Student groups that had been housed in New South that do not involve physical activity were mainly affected by a switch in storage space to the Center for Social Justice and the mezzanine level of Regents Hall, which is inaccessible by ramp or elevator. The Department of Planning and Facilities Management and CSE are looking to remedy this over the next two years and are offering a golf cart to aid student groups in transporting some materials. “The CSJ has actually more space than we need. We are potentially giving space to other advisory boards that need it,” Advisory Board for Student Associations Chair Charlotte Cherry (SFS ’16) said. The precise allocation of space and rehearsal time for the completed HFSC has not yet been determined, although need and history will be factored in. “The scheduling will be done by the staff who run the Healey Family Student Center, and they have not been hired yet,” Cohen Derr wrote. “An advisory committee will be formed in October to provide input into the plan for the Healey Family Student Center, and this will be one of the aspects addressed by the committee. Students will comprise a big part of the committee and will have an important role in planning for these questions.”

Gray Silent on Mayoral Race Natasha Khan

would be difficult for Gray to run, perhaps even impossible. Nevertheless, government professor Daniel With only seven months before the Demo- Hopkins pointed to Washington, D.C. politicratic primary in April, Mayor Vincent Gray, cians’ history of recovering from unsavory still entrenched in an ongoing corruption in- pasts. For example, Marion Barry (D-Ward 8), vestigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, has former mayor and current councilmember, yet to announce plans to run for re-election. won re-election for both mayor and councilThree high-level officials involved in member after serving time in federal prison Gray’s 2010 Democratic Primary victory over for drug-related offenses. incumbent Adrian Fenty have pled guilty to “For many voters, a scandal in and of itfelony charges, which involve a $650,000 off- self doesn’t disqualify you from running the-book donation to Gray’s campaign. Cam- for office,” Hopkins said. “In urban politics, paign aides have also admitted to bribing a generally, the scandal is more threatening minor candidate to stay in the race in order from the point of view of prosecution than to make the race more difficult for Fenty. it is from the point of view of voters ousting Although Gray has not yet been personally you.” implicated, the investigation is still ongoing Apart from these concerns, Ladd thought and additional charges are expected, NBC Gray would secure an easy victory, pointing Washington reported, although the timeline to his strong support among African Ameriis still uncertain. The invescan and low-income voters tigation originally began in “For many voters, as well as higher-income 2011. sections of the city, thanks Gray announced his a scandal in and of to recent economic adplans to run 19 months bevancements. itself doesn’t fore the 2010 Democratic “This is really the only primary, held in September disqualify you from thing that would make you 2010. Registration for the worry,” Ladd said. “[Othnext mayoral race begins in running for office.” erwise,] he would seem to November. have a pretty easy path to DANIEL HOPKINS “The mayor is focused on re-election.” Government Professor running the city and not on If Gray were to run, he the election,” Gray’s Senior Communications would face opposition from four declared Manager Doxie McCoy wrote in an email. candidates: councilmembers Tommy Wells Government professor Jonathan Ladd said (D-Ward 6), Muriel Bowser (D-Ward 4) and that Gray would most likely have to make Jack Evans (D-Ward 2), in addition to former his re-election decision without knowing if State Department official Reta Jo Lewis. any formal charges will be brought against A poll commissioned in July by Wells’ camhim. paign showed a Gray re-election bid winning “It could be that the U.S. Attorney won’t by a slight lead. close the investigation or announce any new Wells pointed to the investigation into Gray charges until after the election is over, so the as testament to the District’s problems with possibility of new things coming out will ethical politics. hang over the whole campaign,” Ladd said. “The District has witnessed the greatest “It’s surprising to me that the investigation crises of ethics since the beginning of home has taken so long to resolve.” rule,” Wells wrote in an email. “I am fightIf the investigation remains inconclusive, ing to bring integrity to our government government professor Michael Bailey said and to make D.C. a great place for everyone that it would be possible for Gray to launch a in every part of the city to live, work and re-election campaign. raise a family.” “Even though he does have this terrible poOther candidates declined to comment. litical burden, he still could be viable,” Bailey “I have no view on this at all,” Evans said on said. the topic of a Gray re-election campaign. If Gray were to be formally charged with Bowser and Jo Lewis did not respond to rea crime, however, Bailey said he believed it quests for comment. Hoya Staff Writer


sports

tuesday, october 1, 2013

field hockey

THE HOYA

A7

men’s soccer

In Weekend Homestand, Bragging Rights at Stake Hoyas See Mixed Results Andrew May

Special to The Hoya

Molly Malone

Special to The Hoya

On Saturday, the Georgetown field hockey team (2-8, 0-2 Big East) suffered its worst loss of the season against No. 16 Louisville (7-2, 2-0 Big East) by the score of 8-1. Although the Hoyas entered halftime down by a mere two goals, the Cardinals rallied in the second half scoring six unanswered goals in the last twenty minutes of the game. Louisville got on the scoreboard just 52 seconds into the game with a goal from sophomore midfielder Elisa Garcia, but the Blue and Gray regrouped and played a phenomenal remainder of the first half, stopping six of seven penalty corners. Even after enduring 13 total shots, the Blue and Gray remained tough and deflected anything that came near the cage. Freshmen goalkeeper Rosalie Nolen allowed only one more goal in the ensuing 34 minutes of play. “We really played some great hockey in the first half, and the goals Louisville did score were ones that we couldn’t do much about,” Head Coach Tiffany Hubbard said. “We were very proud of the girls — it was a really exciting 35 minutes of play.” After failing to capitalize on two penalty corners with no time remaining in the first half, Georgetown came out determined after the break and got on the board with a goal from senior forward Katie Dempsey. On yet another penalty corner, sophomore midfielder Louise Chakejian took a shot from the top of the circle and Dempsey deflected it into the back of the net. It was Dempsey’s first goal of the season and would prove to be the Hoyas’ only goal. After cutting Louisville’s lead in half with the goal from Dempsey, neither side was able to score for the next 15 minutes. But with only 20 minutes remaining, the Blue and Gray watched helplessly as the Cardinals took control, scoring six goals to take the game 8-2. Although Georgetown was an even competitor for the majority of the game, Louisville raised its play to another level and proved that it was worthy of its No. 16 ranking. “Louisville scored two quick back-to-back goals, and that took the wind out of our sails. Whenever you give a team of that caliber too much time, they’re going to score. As soon as we let up, they took advantage,” Hubbard said.

The Hoyas responded to Saturday’s loss with a 4-3 win Sunday against St. Louis (19, 0-0 Atlantic 10). Again, the opposing team scored early as Billikens junior forward Jami Alexander put the ball past Nolen in the second minute of play, but the Hoyas did not give up. Georgetown’s offensive line drove into St. Louis’ defensive third when the ball found its way to sophomore forward Sarah Butterfield’s stick. Butterfield intercepted a pass in the circle and slipped the ball into the cage on a one-on-one match up with sophomore goalkeeper Tori Westhead. “We didn’t play too well in the first half,” Hubbard said. “The girls were all pretty frustrated, especially after coming off the previous game. We needed to step up and play our style. It wasn’t pretty, but it worked.” With a tie going into the second half, the Blue and Gray knew that in order to pull away, the offense would have to build on the solid defense. When sophomore midfielder Emily Weinberg took a shot from the top of the circle, sophomore midfielder Meghan Murphy was there to deflect the ball into the net. Seconds later, St. Louis tied it up off a penalty corner. Georgetown struck again when Weinberg and Murphy reversed roles. This time, it was Murphy assisting Weinberg to her second goal of the season to put the Hoyas up. It looked as though the Blue and Gray were home free with just under five minutes to go in the game, but the Billikens’ leading scorer, junior forward Faith Mackin, deflected a shot from outside the circle past Nolen. “We have such a young team that unique situations like the late goal happen. Luckily, the goal gave us a new challenge — overtime — which allowed us to redeem ourselves,” Hubbard said. Regulation ended in a 3-3 tie, which brought the teams into two 15-minute, sudden-death overtimes. The first overtime proved to be a stalemate, neither team yielding an inch. With a little over three minutes to play in the second overtime, freshmen forward Aliyah Graves fed the ball to the team’s go-to player, Sarah Butterfield. Without hesitation, Butterfield rammed the ball home past the goalkeeper to clinch the victory. The Hoyas take on Saint Francis (3-3, 0-0 Atlantic 10) next on Friday in College Park, Md.

This afternoon, the No. 12 Georgetown men’s soccer team (6-2-1, 0-0-1 Big East) will travel across town to take on American (3-3-2, 1-0 Patriot League). Though American is a NCAA Division I team, its schedule so far this year has been far less rigorous than Georgetown’s. The Eagles lost to George Mason and Binghamton, and their wins have come against George Washington, Longwood and Lehigh. Nevertheless, the Hoyas plan to prepare for the Eagles just like they would for any other game. That means a full practice on Monday, studying the opponent’s tactics and players and heeding advice from the coaching staff to take every game seriously. “We pride ourselves on every game,” sophomore defender Keegan Rosenberry said. “Right after a game ends, we are doing video, we are doing a scout on the next team. We try and focus on the details like Coach Gill always tells us, so obviously our focus now is on American on Tuesday.” The Hoyas defense will look to improve on one of the best shutout rates in the nation against an Eagles offense that

has failed to score in half of its games. This year, American’s offense has been led by a pair of freshmen forwards who will look to keep the Hoya back line busy. Dale Ludwig has scored twice and recorded three assists, and Joe Iraola has found the back of the net three times for American this season. The starting lineup on Tuesday could include some new faces for the Hoyas. Just two days after a game against Big East rival Creighton and three days before another conference game against Seton Hall, Head Coach Brian Wiese may choose to rest some key players against American. Wiese is also considering running out players who have not seen many minutes this season. “We have a lot of faith in our depth,” Wiese said. “There are a lot of guys who did not play at all [against Creighton on Saturday] who would have killed to be on the field, who will be maybe given a little bit of an opportunity against AU.” The depth of the Hoyas’ bench, especially at the position of attacking midfield, was on display against Creighton, as Wiese substituted outside midfielders and forwards throughout the game. Players such as sophomore forward

Melvin Snoh and junior midfielder Tom Skelly will likely see significant playing time against the Eagles after strong performances against Creighton. Other players to keep an eye out for include senior forward Gabe Padilla and freshman midfielder and defender Jared Odenbeck, both of whom have seen limited minutes so far this season. The Hoyas will stay on campus and take a quick bus trip to American on Tuesday morning. The team hopes the light travel will minimize the impact of the game on the players both on the field and in the classroom. “It’s not one of those things where you have to miss class, get up and go to a hotel and all that,” Wiese said. “It’s an easy game. The challenge of that is the guys need to remember that there is a game.” American’s location within Washington, D.C., also means that the game will take on a unique quality reserved for a very specific type of soccer game: the local derby. A derby, the term for a soccer game between crosstown rivals, should add a special meaning to the game for both sides. “Top dog out of the area is always something you want to strive for,” Rosenberry said.

the sporting life

Respected Pitcher Closes Career MAJD, from A10 recounted tales at the breakfast table and reenactments of his legendary “Enter Sandman” entrance. His mystique was so complete that I did not even bat an eye recently when I read that more men have walked on the moon than have scored a run off of Mo in the postseason. Having gone out not as a champion in 2013 but still in the elite tier of MLB closers, Mo certainly has gotten the closure that has eluded many of his Yankees pitching peers — most notably current teammate and soon-to-be-retiree Pettitte, and Roger Clemens, who just penned a piece encouraging Rivera not to hang up his cleats. His faith has always helped him put perspec-

tive into his few failures on the field, and it will continue to provide him fulfillment outside of baseball, where he is an active member in his community. The closest thing to uncertainty there will ever be in Mariano Rivera’s legacy is whether he will be the first unanimous selection to the Baseball Hall of Fame; a first ballot selection seems all but certain. I would argue he would be more than worthy of receiving a vote from every single member of the voting committee, but given the sometimes lower esteem accredited to the closer position and the tendency for some members to vote unconventionally for the sake of standing out, a unanimous vote seems unlikely; even Babe

Ruth could only convince 95 percent of the voters that he was worthy on the first ballot. But such trivial matters will be of no concern to a player like Mariano Rivera, and they shouldn’t concern anyone who is a fan of Mariano Rivera either. His greatness goes so far beyond his tangible performance. We could fawn all day over his saves record, his ERA, his “perfect pitch” and his postseason brilliance, but in an era where the best competitors are getting their edge from cocky mindsets and “swagger,” I will choose to focus on Mo’s ability to consistently be both the most dominant competitor and the most humble and selfless player every time he stepped on the field.

volleyball

’Nova Wins in Four Sets Juliana Zovak Hoya Staff Writer

Georgetown volleyball faced a tough opponent in Villanova this weekend, losing a close match three sets to one in its first Big East competition of the season. The Hoyas (6-8, 0-1 Big East) let the Wildcats (9-5, 0-1) jump out to an early lead in the first set, 7-1. They were able to keep the set competitive, though, tying it at 24, but an ace followed by a Georgetown error gave the first set to Villanova, 26-24. “The pace of the game was just so fast, and Villanova jumped on us,” Head Coach Arlisa Williams said. “But our players are fighters, and they just found their composure, and then really rallied.” The Blue and Gray came back in the second set after powerful serving by junior libero MacKenzie Simpson, who led two separate runs to put Georgetown ahead. “I think that was just us really working hard to finish and getting the ball to the right people,” Williams said. Georgetown fought off a run by the Wildcats that put them within one and managed to eke out a win in the second set, which junior outside hitter Alex Johnson sealed the deal with a kill. “I think we were up 20-12, and Villanova really jumped on us, and we just said, we’re going to pass, set, kill just two times to finish this,” Williams said. “We were able to terminate, and that’s what allowed us to close the gap in the first set and then push in the second set for the win.” The third set bounced back

and forth, with both teams connecting early, and things were knotted up at 6-6. But Villanova rallied as they capitalized on some Georgetown errors. The Hoyas managed to keep it close, but a kill by the Wildcats Claire Crutchfield, followed by a Georgetown error, gave Villanova the set and a 2-1 advantage. Villanova came out roaring in the fourth frame, scoring nine consecutive points en route to a huge 11-2 advantage. Despite a Hoya comeback on the service of junior middle blocker Dani White, Georgetown could not come back from a 13-7 final run that ended the set 25-15 in favor of the Wildcats. “They played a pretty fastpaced game of volleyball, and they were low-error. They did not make a whole lot of mistakes early, and they didn’t make a lot of mistakes late,” Williams said. “That made it easier for them to win.” Two Hoyas ended the match with double-digit kills — White had 12, and Johnson had 10, as well as 13 digs and three assists. “They served tough, we passed OK, and we were getting some good production out of our right side and our middles,” Williams said. Villanova sophomore outside hitter Lauren Carpenter led all players with 18 kills, and Crutchfield contributed 13. The loss dropped the Hoyas to 0-1 in the Big East while giving the Wildcats their first conference win. Villanova extended its winning streak to five games and are now an impressive 5-0 at home. Despite the loss, Georgetown’s

play showed some successful defensive execution. “I think we played great defense. We’ve been working on our blocking for the past few weeks, and we just see that getting better and better,” Williams said. The Blue and Gray averaged 2.75 blocks against the Wildcats, totaling 11 over the four sets. “We’re doing some great stuff, and we’re going to continue to build on that, hopefully staying in passing lines and defensively we’ll be able to terminate some balls, and that’ll be the difference between winning and losing,” Williams said. Georgetown has been plagued by inconsistency in recent matches, but if the team can even out its execution, it will be formidable competition in the Big East. “Right now, we’re just going to practice every day, working hard, addressing the issues. It’s a mentally tough group, and so we’re just learning how to do that from beginning to end,” Williams said. The Hoyas’ ability to compete late into sets and make strong comeback runs is promising for their upcoming matches if they can capitalize on their strength. “I think they’re a really talented team, we just need to finish,” Williams said. Georgetown will have the home-court advantage this weekend for the first time in Big East play, facing off against Marquette and DePaul. Williams and the team are looking forward to finally being back on the Hilltop and playing in front of a home crowd. “We need as much support as we can get. We need those fans in the stands,” she said.


A8

Sports

THE HOYA

TUESDAY, October 1, 2013

Men’s Soccer

Football

Princeton Steamrolls GU Hoyas Defense Holds; Offense Can’t Convert

FOOTBALL, from A10

Michelson, a pass-first quarterback, received the majority of the overall snaps for the Tigers and threw for 181 yards on 19 - of - 28 passing. “[Princeton] does some good things with [their quarterbacks],” Kelly said. “We saw the film from last week; they like to throw the ball with them and they are good athletes. They are dual-type threat quarterbacks that can both throw, so there is the run-pass threat. It makes it difficult for a defense to defend.” Contrary to the previous two weeks, where Georgetown’s pass defense struggled, the Hoyas struggled to defend the run against the Tigers on Saturday. The Tigers, though, were

effective in the passing game early on, which allowed them to establish their rushing game. Princeton amassed 326 rushing yards on 48 rush attempts, including a 53-yard touchdown by running back Brian Mills and a 59-yard touchdown by Epperly. The Tigers’ offensive line was able to open holes for their running backs by dominating the Blue and Gray’s front seven. Once the Princeton running backs broke through the front line, Georgetown struggled to make tackles in the open field. Although senior defensive back Dustin Wharton and junior linebacker Nick Alfieri were back on the gridiron after missing the past two games with injury, the Georgetown

CHRIS GRIVAS/THE HOYA

Freshman defensive lineman Bryan Jefferson (97) and the rest of the defense struggled to contain the Tigers’ ground game.

defense was still not at full strength. Offensively, the Hoyas began the game strong. After going three and out on their first possession, Georgetown strung together a five-play drive, which culminated in a one-yard touchdown run by senior running back Nick Campanella. After a failed two-point conversion, the Hoyas trailed the Tigers 8-6. On the ensuing Princeton possession, sophomore safety Cameron Gamble returned a Tiger fumble 14 yards for a touchdown — which gave the Hoyas their first lead since the Davidson game on Sept. 7. But soon, the game that started out so promisingly for the Blue and Gray turned very ugly. The Tigers quickly responded with a 15-play touchdown drive that gave them a 15-12 advantage, and they never looked back. Offensively, the Tigers continued to exploit the Blue and Gray defense, scoring on four consecutive possessions that spanned the second and third quarters. Meanwhile, Princeton continued to get defensive stops against the floundering Georgetown offense en route to a commanding victory. Campanella rushed for a season-high 88 yards on 20 carries and two touchdowns. With these two touchdowns, Campanella moves into a tie for fifth place for most career rushing touchdowns. Senior quarterback Isaiah Kempf went 17-34 for 161 yards with an interception and a touchdown before he was replaced toward the end of the third quarter because of injury. “We are still trying to determine what [Kempf’s injury] is,” Kelly said. The Hoyas will have a muchneeded week off before they begin Patriot League play on Oct. 12. They will return next Saturday to MultiSport Facility, where they play host to Fordham.

full contact

NFL’s Recipe for Success I

f anyone tells you they’re not surprised by the way the 2013 NFL season has panned out thus far, have them shoot me an email and they can play the books for me this week. Or just tell them to stop lying. Every season, the NFL is full of surprises, and this year is no exception. Peyton Manning and his noodle arm have scored a record 16 touchdowns in the Broncos’ first four games. The AFC East, arguably the weakest division in football, is a staggering 8-2 against out-of-division foes. And crazily enough, the Giants, Redskins, Niners and Packers are already in a hole with panicking fan bases while the Chiefs and Dolphins are a combined 7-1. The NFL strives for parity and has been successful in a big way. Each of the last 10 years, a team with the worst record in its division the previous year has gone on to win its division. This worst-to-first pattern will likely continue this year, seeing as the Saints are off to a red-hot 4-0 start and were tied for worst in the NFC South last season. The competitiveness and resiliency of nearly every team is a major factor in why the NFL is the most popular league in the country, enjoying record revenues and viewership each season. But how has the NFL leadership managed to achieve this competitive balance?

1. The Salary Cap The total amount that each of the current 32 teams in the NFL can spend on their players is $123 million, which may seem like a lot. However, having one star player like a Drew Brees or a Joe Flacco will greatly curtail what can be spent on other players. Therefore, teams in bigger markets cannot simply outspend their opponents; they have to strategically craft their rosters. Additionally, after the implementation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement last year, a salary floor now exists. Each team must spend roughly $109 million on their

players, which forces franchises to remain competitive and keep a strong product on the field for fan bases in smaller markets. 2. The Draft Every year, hundreds of players from the NCAA are eligible to join the ranks of NFL players through the NFL draft. The team with the worst record always gets the first pick, so, theoretically, the best player in college goes to the worst team, and so on. Unlike the NBA, there are no ping-pong balls, and the stability gives hope and excitement to fan bases, while also allowing a team to use its draft pick as a

Matt Castaldo

The parity in the NFL is key to the league’s popularity. bargaining chip for trades. Further, rookie salaries are controlled so a team can’t pour too much money into an unproven investment. In the past, high picks were given massive contracts only to underperform, get injured or have off-field issues. Now, rookie contracts are limited, and the risk of a potential draft bust is substantially mitigated. 3. Free Agency Rules An unrestricted free agent can sign with any team they please. Tools such as the franchise tag and “tendering” are in place, however, that protect a franchise from losing its most valuable assets with no compensation. The franchise tag can be used once per team per season and essentially prevents a player with an expiring contract from leaving for an additional year. The player is paid the average salary of the

five highest-paid players at his position over the course of the last five seasons. When a player is “tendered,” if one team makes an offer to that player and the original team doesn’t match it, the new team compensates the original team with a draft pick. This means if a team is to lose an expensive key player, it holds a draft pick to try to fill the void. 4. Drug Testing According to Lori Nickel of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the NFL drug-tests more rigorously than any league in the world, even the Olympic Games. The league tests randomly, as well as in cases where there is reasonable belief that a player is using banned substances. NFL punishment for a failed test is also swift and severe — the first offense is a four-game suspension with no pay. The second offense: eight games with no pay. The third: one year with no pay, with the punishments becoming increasingly and predictably more severe. Other sports leagues — such as the MLB — should start thinking about some of these methods to help address their current issues. When Alex Rodriguez can continue playing during a PED appeal with more chemicals in him than a YMCA pool, there’s a problem. When he makes more than the entirety of the Houston Astros team, there’s a problem. When the Astros can draw a record 0.0 Nielson rating in the Houston television market on Sept. 22 (which basically means that there were more people in your Problem of God class than were watching the Astros on TV), there’s most definitely a problem. Until other leagues can learn to follow suit, the NFL will continue to be a city upon a hill in the sporting world, with unpredictable seasons, huge ratings and sky-high revenue. Matt Castaldo is a junior in the College. FULL CONTACT appears every Tuesday.

CREIGHTON, from A10 The players tried not to focus on the noise, but the large crowd did have an impact on the game. “It definitely lifted the excitement of the game,” Neumann said. “We definitely could hear the fans and it definitely lifted the tempo of the game. We love to have the fans here, and it’s great to have them cheering us on.” In the second half and overtime, both sides created a handful of promising opportunities as they spread out across the midfield and played at a faster pace. Creighton’s sophomore goalkeeper Connor Sparrow made a diving save on a header by Allen, and the Blue Jays looked threatening inside the box several times, despite never really testing Georgetown junior goalkeeper Tomas Gomez. The Hoyas’ best chance of the second half came in the 90th minute when Muyl won a free kick at the top of the Blue Jays’ 18-yard box. Allen converted a free kick in a similar position in Georgetown’s last game against Princeton; this time, Neumann took the opportunity but couldn’t convert. “It’s a matter of where the wall sets up and where the goalie sets up,” Neumann said regarding the decision about which player would take the kick. “I felt I could put that one on goal.” Both teams played more physically in the second half as well, and the referee took on a larger role in the game. Muyl received a controversial yellow card in the first half for diving, Creighton sophomore midfielder Christian Blandon received a yellow

card in the 50th minute for a foul on Muyl and Creighton senior forward Sean Kim received a caution less than three minutes later. Though players from both teams could be seen appealing for fouls and objecting to calls, sophomore midfielder Keegan Rosenberry said Creighton’s physical style of play affected his team. “We like to think we can rise to the challenge whether it is a physical game or a not so physical game … and obviously Coach Wiese and all the guys on the team like to think we can handle any type of game. We did that pretty well today,” Rosenberry said. The Georgetown defense recorded its sixth shutout of the season to improve a shutout percentage that was already one of the best in the nation. Saturday’s game marked the first Steve neumann Men’s Soccer Captain time all year that Creighton, who came into the contest averaging over two goals a game, was held scoreless, a testament to Georgetown’s back four. In addition, Gomez made six saves, but nearly all were comfortable for the goalkeeper who was questionable for the game after receiving a hand injury against Princeton last Sunday. A large number of the Blue Jays’ shots came from a long distance, something which the Hoya defense saw as a sign that they played well. “They kept taking shots, and none of the shots were dangerous to our keeper,” freshman defender Joshua Yaro said. While they Hoyas would have preferred a win, the team is not too disappointed with the result. “We had chances to win it, they had chances to win it, so a tie is a fair result,” Neumann said.

“We had chances to win it, they had chances ... so a tie is a fair result.”

women’s soccer

Georgetown to Face Butler In First of Three Road Games Elizabeth Cavacos Special to The Hoya

In what will be the first of a three-game road trip, the No. 10 Georgetown women’s soccer team (9-0-2, 1-0-1 Big East) will face Butler (7-32, 0-2 Big East) in Indianapolis, Ind. Although the scoreboard after Sunday’s 7-1 win over Xavier boasted an impressive win, Head Coach Dave Nolan was disappointed in the overall effort of his team, which he believed fell short of Georgetown’s capabilities. Score aside, he was hoping to see more of the consistency and intensity that the Hoyas brought to the field in their 1-1 tie against DePaul last Thursday. “I felt we had been training well. Even in the game against DePaul the other day, we were great. We were hungry, and everyone was sharp. This kind of caught me unaware a little bit,” Nolan said of Sunday’s game. Nolan knows that this week’s practice schedule will call for general fine-tuning to restore last Thursday’s focus in preparation for Butler. “We’re just trying to get a little bit sharper,” he said. Butler started with an overall record of 7-12 against non-conference opponents, its best start since their 2002 season. However, Butler is playing in the Big East this season for the first time in school history and has had a shaky debut, dropping the first two games of the conference in a 0-2 shutout against Villanova and a 3-1 loss to Seton Hall. Despite this past winless week, the Bulldogs will not be defined by their losses. They currently possess a significant lead in the Big East in both shots

and corner kicks and are second in the conference in shots on goal. Their characteristically prolific offense, led by a well-balanced attack, will prove to be a challenge for the Hoyas, but Nolan is confident in Georgetown’s ability to keep pace with Butler. “If we have the ball in their half [of the field], we’ll let them worry about us. That’s the plan,” he said. If the Hoyas manage to maintain possession according to plan, they will face a defensive force that is arguably as sound as Butler’s attack is explosive. The Bulldog defense has been successful in limiting opposing scoring opportunities. In fact, Butler is toe-to-toe with Georgetown in shutout victories, each team posting five so far this season. As the Hoyas begin their three-game series on the road, the Bulldogs return to Indianapolis for a three-game homestand after four consecutive away games and will be hungry for their first conference victory back on their own turf. “It’s going to be a night game. I’m sure they’re going to get the student body out there for their first game [back],” Nolan said. “I think they’ll be fired up to play.” As they face off against more conference opponents, the Hoyas will continue to take advantage of the momentum that has propelled them this far in their undefeated streak. Coach Nolan looks forward to the opportunities that the Hoyas will have in their upcoming travels. “We’ve got these three games now between Butler, Providence and Marquette,” Nolan said. “All three games offer a lot of challenges. Right now, Butler’s the next one up, so we focus on that.”

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sports

TUESDAY, october 1, 2013

THE HOYA

A9

WOMEN’s soccer

Alexander brown/The hoya

Six different Hoyas scored in Georgetown’s blowout win over Xavier. From left to right, junior forward Jessica Clinton, junior forward Vanessa Skrumbis, sophomore forward Sarah Adams, sophomore midfielder Marina Paul, senior defender Mary Kroening and senior forward Kaitlin Brenn each scored in the Hoyas’ decisive 7-1 Homecoming victory. Paul scored two goals.

Hoyas Demonstrate Depth as Six Players Score XAVIER, from A10 record-setting afternoon, all was not well for head coach Dave Nolan. “I wasn’t happy with the performance,” Nolan said. “From the first minute to the last, I don’t think we played anywhere near our capability.” From the opening kick, Georgetown prevented the Musketeers from generating any meaningful possession. Xavier’s defense was initially successful at keeping Georgetown out of the box, but the Blue and Gray’s athleticism ultimately overwhelmed the Musketeers. The Hoyas got on the board in the 33rd minute, when a corner kick from junior midfielder Daphne Corboz was headed home by senior defender Mary Kroening. It was Kroening’s fifth goal of the season, putting

her one behind team goal-scoring leader Kaitlin Brenn. The 5-foot-10inch senior forward has been a potent weapon on set pieces, where her height provides a natural advantage. Defending corner kicks against the Hoyas’ taller players was a problem for the Musketeers throughout the game. Sophomore midfielder Marina Paul, also 5-feet-10 inches tall, scored twice off corners later in the match. However, it wasn’t just the Hoyas’ usual suspects scoring; six different players — including sophomore Sarah Adams, senior Kaitlin Brenn, junior Jessica Clinton and junior Vanessa Skrumbis, all forwards — combined for the seven goals, and three additional players contributed assists. Despite the explosive offensive show, Nolan was unsatisfied with al-

most all of the players’ performances. “I thought [senior defender] Emily Menges was the only kid on the team who played up to her capabilities today,” Nolan said. The defense was not without its issues either, however. Early in the second half, when junior starting goalkeeper Emma Newins had been pulled to give the younger goalies experience, Menges and sophomore goalie Christina Mangels botched an exchange that provided Xavier with its best opportunity of the game to that point. Mangels would recover to make the save, but the Musketeers would ruin the Hoyas’ shutout moments later in the 56th minute. A Georgetown turnover led to a counterattack, and Xavier sophomore forward Erin McGauley lofted a shot from 25 yards out over Mangels’ out-

stretched arms and into the back of the net. “[Their goal] was just indicative of the play,” Nolan said. “We did a couple of sloppy things that led to their goal that we wouldn’t have done last year. We wouldn’t have given them a goal, and that was disappointing.” The defense was also hurt by the absence of center defender Alexa St. Martin. The senior has started every game this season for the Hoyas, but missed Sunday’s match with an injury that Nolan termed “nothing serious.” “I didn’t want to risk her playing today,” Nolan said. “I had a feeling we could get by without her.” That feeling turned out to be correct. After losing 2-0 in their first-ever Big East game to St. John’s on Thursday, the Musketeers’ defeat against

Georgetown dropped them to 0-2 in league play. “I kind of feel bad for them because they’ve been thrown in the deep end,” Nolan said. “They finally made themselves competitive in the Atlantic 10, and now they’ve come into [the Big East] and have to try to get competitive again.” The win extended the Hoyas’ unbeaten streak at home to 18 games, a feat that stretches back to October 2011. Georgetown has now outscored its opponents 40-8 this season and despite Nolan’s criticism things are looking up for the Blue and Gray. He may be tough to please, but he’s the first to acknowledge it. “If we’ve played 11 games, are unbeaten, just won 7-1 and I’m unhappy,” he said, “maybe I’ll just never be happy.”

nEW GOAL IN SIGHT

Former Pro Tackles Pre-Med Classes at Georgetown RUSSELL, from A10 major to sociology. “I knew I had to get the grades in order to keep the scholarship, and so I made a decision then to switch,” Russell said. “It was perfect for me because it led me to a path of playing professional soccer, and I’m not going to complain about that.” The idea of going to medical school, however, always remained in the back of his mind. During his seasons with Real Salt Lake and D.C. United, Russell interned with the team doctors and got a feel for the everyday work of sports medicine personnell. It is these doctors whom Russell credits for encouraging him to pursue med school. “It really helped that they had already been through med school, and they still felt like it was possible for me — that was a big confidence boost,” he said. But it was his father-in-law, an experienced emergency room physician, who gave Russell the final push he needed to take the decisive step and apply for post-baccalaureate programs. “When it came time for me to make the decision and I was like, ‘I don’t know if I’m smart enough; I don’t know if I can do all of this,’ he’s the one that said, ‘It’s possible.’” Though Russell may have secondguessed his qualifications, Dean Edward Meyertholen, the director of pre-health programs at Georgetown, said Russell’s application revealed a strong candidate. “It’s just like applying to everything else, and he had a resume that was more than good enough,” Meyertholen said. “We wouldn’t have accepted him if we didn’t think [that].” Being accepted to Georgetown’s program wasn’t just good news for Russell: He can cintinue to live with his wife, Tiana Russell, from whom he had to live apart for eight years due to the demands of their respective careers. “It’s an amazing program,” said Tiana, a lawyer at the D.C. law firm Arnold & Porter. “Georgetown was definitely his first pick, and being here in D.C. … is a good thing for us personally, too,” she said. ‘Are you the TA?’ As a post-bac med student, Russell faces challenges beyond the normal rigors of the coursework. More than a decade older than the majority of his classmates, Russell is simply at

a different place in his life than his counterparts. “I think it’s happened to me twice where I’ve walked into the class and someone has been like, ‘Are you the professor or the TA?’” Russell said. Furthermore, because he has been out of school for more than 10 years, his foundational knowledge of basic concepts is rusty — or forgotten altogether — making it that much more difficult for him to learn the new material. So far, Russell’s hardest class has been biology. Though he said he “bombed” the first test, his healthy dose of perspective helps him stay optimistic. “[One] thing I’ve learned in my old age [is] if you get a bad grade, you can kind of step back and it’s not the end of the world. … The same thing happened in [General Chemistry 1], where I bombed one of the exams and ended up getting an A in the class,” Russell said, laughing ruefully. “I’m hoping I can stick to that route.” Though Russell says that some professors aren’t willing to provide the extra level of support to the postbac students, others go above and beyond. One such person is Meyertholen, who runs biology review sessions for the students. “He’s the head of the committee for the post-bacs, and he doesn’t have to do [that] anymore, but he does,” said Russell, who has attended three of the review sessions. Russell’s admiration for Meyertholen grew when he found out that the dean suffered from Kennedy’s disease, a rare neuromuscular condition. “It’s a very inspiring story,” he said, noting that there is a half marathon run Oct. 5 in honor of Meyertholen, with all proceeds going to the Kennedy’s Disease Association. Though Meyertholen does not know of any other professional athletes who have completed post-bac medical studies, he believes the program is setting all students up for success. “As far as I can tell, they have the same acceptance rate as other undergrads,” Meyertholen said. “That’s very much a reflection of the people we get. The people who come to Georgetown are smart people.” Tiana thinks that it will be his experience as a soccer player that will make Russell a success as a doctor. From dealing with his own injuries, to performing under pressure, his

life experiences seem to have been leading him to a career in medicine. “He’s had seven surgeries. Going through that process, you learn empathy just about how recovery works and what it’s like to go through those sorts of situations. … If he [decides] to go into more of a high-pressure field, he’s amazing under pressure. He’s naturally like that, but 13 years of playing professionally has honed that even more.” The Decision When Russell sat down for a meeting with D.C. United Head Coach Ben Olsen in May, Olsen said, “We need you to start getting ready — we need you.” Olsen wasn’t expecting to hear Russell’s response: “I’m retiring.” Although Olsen knew that Russell planned to go back to school after his soccer career, he didn’t expect him to leave before the season was over. Russell had played in only one regular season game up to that point, and the clock was ticking on his post-bac applications, but that didn’t stop him from feeling a measure of guilt. “I was on the team at the beginning of the season, and the season is still going on. Personally, it felt like I was jumping ship, especially since the team wasn’t really doing well,” he said. The timing of the announcement also surprised Chris Pontius, Russell’s former D.C. United teammate. “I knew that [going back to school] was his plan after soccer — I just didn’t know it was going to happen this year,” Pontius said. “But everyone supported him in his decision. It was time for him to move on and begin the next phase of his life, so we’re excited for him but sad to see him go at the same time.” For the team, who struggled to a dismal 3-21-6 record this season, Russell’s retirement had an immediate effect. “It’s had a huge impact, not only on the field [but] in the locker room — he was a leader,” Pontius said. “He’s played in a number of different leagues around the world and in some very big games, so his experience is pretty hard to come by. I think we lost that more than anything, and he’s obviously a fantastic player, too.” In Russell, the team lost more than an experienced player and leader, but a friend. Russell laughed remembering the nicknames he

COURTESY USA TODAY SPORTS IMAGES

Russell was traded from Real Salt Lake to DC United before the start of the 2012 season, during which he appeared in 19 games. accumulated over the years. “The Water Buffalo” was one of the most popular — and apt — given his hulking build and routine of soaking in the hot tub before training. When he shaved his head and grew out his beard, his resemblance to the UFC fighter earned him the moniker “Kimbo Slice.” “In the end, right when I was about to retire, everyone just called me ‘Doctor Russell,’” he said, with a slightly sad smile. Despite the team’s regular season woes, D.C. United reached the Open Cup final, something Russell called “a huge deal.” The game will be played tonight against Real Salt Lake, Russell’s former club. “I definitely want to try to make it. … A lot of emotion there,” he said. For Russell, retirement has not fully sunken in yet. “I literally stopped playing three months ago, so it’s still fresh. I kind of feel like I’m still in off-season sometimes,” Russell said. “I do miss being a part of the team.”

SUccess of a different kind Robbie Russell has never been known to shy away from a challenge. The son of a diplomat, Russell grew up playing soccer in both the United States and Ghana, where he was born. Abroad, however, his soccer skills lagged far behind those of his Ghanian counterparts. According to Russell, they tolerated his presence on the field only because he was one of the few people in town who owned a soccer ball. “Getting my ass handed to me was my first real experience with the game,” Russell said. “After that, or so my brother tells me, I tended to approach the game with a lot more intensity.” If all goes according to plan, Russell will finish the program next summer, take the MCATs and begin medical school in the fall. It won’t be easy, but if Russell brings the same intensity to his studies that he brought to his soccer game all those years ago, success seems nothing short of inevitable.


SPORTS

MEN’S SOCCER Georgetown vs. American Tuesday, 3 p.m. American University

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2013

FIELD HOCKEY

TALKING POINTS

Dominated by Louisville, Georgetown bounced back to beat St. Louis. See A7

NUMBERS GAME

” 11

I don’t think we played [to]our capability.

Women’s Soccer Head Coach Dave Nolan on his team’s 7-1 victory.

FOOTBALL

The number of blocks by Georgetown in its fourset loss to Villanova.

NEW GOAL IN SIGHT

From Star to Student: Russell Pursues Dream Former DC United player Robbie Russell works his way toward medical school LAURA WAGNER Hoya Staff Writer CHRIS GRIVAS/THE HOYA

A pair of Princeton defenders take down senior running back Dalen Claytor, who had nine carries for 64 yards in Georgetown’s 22-50 loss to Princeton in the homecoming game.

Tigers Embarrass Hoyas CAROLYN MAGUIRE Hoya Staff Writer

The Georgetown football team is beginning to develop a habit and it certainly is not a good one. In their last three games, all of which they lost, the Hoyas (1-4, 0-0 Patriot League) have allowed 43 or more points. Most recently, the Blue and Gray suffered a devastating 50-22 defeat at the hands of Princeton (1-1, 0-0 Ivy League). In front of a sold out crowd on Homecoming weekend, the Hoyas were outmatched by the Tigers and stumbled to their third con-

secutive loss. Although Georgetown struggled in all three phases of the game against the Tigers, the Blue and Gray’s defensive performance was especially suspect. In the process of allowing 50 points, the Georgetown defense gave up a staggering 542 yards of total offense. “We are trying to get the right combination [on defense],” Head Coach Kevin Kelly said. “Right now, we are hurting as far as injuries are concerned. When we get the guys back healthy and with more consistency, I think we

will get better. But we are going to take a good look at what we are doing this week and try to get it restarted.” Princeton’s two-quarterback offensive approach gave the Georgetown defense problems from the start. The Tigers alternated between junior quarterbacks Connor Michelson and Quinn Epperly. Epperly was primarily used to run an option offense, and therefore received the majority of snaps when the Tigers were in the red zone or going for short yardage plays. Conversely, See FOOTBALL, A8

After years of chasing down opposing players on the soccer field, former D.C. United defender Robbie Russell is playing catchup in the classroom. Following a career spanning six teams in four countries, scoring an MLS Cup-winning penalty kick in 2009 and facing off against the likes of Arsenal and Real Madrid in UEFA Championship League games, Russell knew his time in professional soccer was through. After officially retiring May 15, however, he began his new career in earnest at Georgetown in its post-baccalaureate pre-medical certificate program. NEW BEGINNINGS When Russell, 34, announced his retirement from soccer, the decision had been in the works for a while. So, too, had his dream of pursuing medical school. A selfprofessed science nerd, Russell accepted a full scholarship to play soccer at Duke University in 1996, harboring plans to pursue the pre-med track. But he underestimated the demands of Division I soccer and his rigorous science courses. “I got to Duke, and I knew right off the bat I couldn’t handle playing and going to

THE SPORTING LIFE

ALEXANDER BROWN/THE HOYA

Thirty-four-year-old Robbie Russell enjoyed a long career as a professional soccer player before he retired in May. school as a pre-med student,” Russell said. “I’m not one of those guys who immediately looks at the page and is like, ‘Oh I get it.’ I need to grind through it.” Because his family was not in a position to pay the steep tuition, Russell could not afford to lose his scholarship. He decided to drop his pre-med courses and change his See RUSSELL, A9

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Despite Rout, Nolan Dissatisfied Exit Sandman: Farewell to Rivera S TOM SCHNOOR Hoya Staff Writer

aturday’s announcement that to pull Rivera with two outs in the Yankees closer Mariano Rivera ninth, the scene resembled baseball had made his last appearance at its most pure: three of the most of the season marked the long- veteran players in the sport laughawaited conclusion of the most ing and joking (and crying) not like dominant career baseball has ever professionals, but like their little seen. The decision officially came league counterparts who could only from manager Joe Girardi, but Mo’s dream that they would ever thrive obvious input into the decision re- so spectacularly on the game’s greatflected all of the wonderful quali- est stage (or mound, in this case). It ties that made Rivera one of the was a heart-warming moment that reminded me of my younger days, most beloved figures in baseball. When offered the chance to play and despite his fearsome presence an inning in the outfield now that on the mound, Mo seemed to bring the kid out in everythe playoffs are out body when the ball of reach, (somewasn’t in his hands; thing that Mariano his cold stare and has wanted to try cutter served him his hand at his enwell when pitching, tire career), Rivera but Mo’s clubhouse responded, “My repertoire consisted knee is not cooperof pranks, practiating, and I don’t cal jokes and an inwant to make a fool Darius Majd fectious smile. His of myself out there. gregarious nature I respect the game extended beyond too much for me to Rivera’s legacy is his teammates and do something that one of both even to fans of opI’m not supposed to posing teams. do.” That’s just Mo’s talent and class. When the Fenway MO: Everything he faithful gave Rivera puts out on the field is for the team and for the game he a loud ovation (a good-natured taunt loves. He does not seek glory or at- in reference to his crucial blown tention, but merely to contribute to save in the 2004 ALCS) during the the team that he has spent the last Red Sox 2005 ring ceremony, he re19 seasons with. In a sport marred sponded with a polite tip of the cap in controversy and fallen idols, and a warm smile. It’s a testament Rivera has stood the test of time to both the quality of his character because his genuine kindness and and the strength of his composure impeccable professionalism stood that the fun-loving Rivera was also taller than even his record-shatter- something of a boogeyman figure for me growing up. As a young Yaning production on the field. A pleasant corollary of the deci- kee fan living in England, I rarely sion to shut down Rivera is that saw games unless I was visiting my Thursday’s emotionally charged grandparents, and even then, bedYankee Stadium send out now also time stole the ninth inning away serves as a fitting final Major League from me. My knowledge of the great appearance for Mo. When fellow Mariano Rivera came mostly from “core” Yankees Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte came to the mound See MAJD, A7

ALEXANDER BROWN/THE HOYA

The No. 10 Georgetown women’s soccer team took to Shaw Field on Sunday afternoon to face Xavier for the first time in Big East play. The Hoyas (90-2, 1-0-1 Big East) used their superior skill and athleticism to overwhelm the Musketeers (7-3-1, 0-2 Big East) and cruise to an easy 7-1 victory. The win extended Georgetown’s unbeaten streak to 11 games, making this year’s start the best in program history. That record had previously been held by the 2008 Hoyas, who began the year 8-0-2, but ultimately failed to reach the NCAA Tournament, a destination that appears almost inevitable for this year’s squad. Despite the lopsided result and

Sophomore midfielder Marina Paul scored two of the Hoyas’ seven goals in a blowout win over struggling Big East newcomer Xavier.

See XAVIER, A9

MEN’S SOCCER

Defense Prevails in 0-0 Draw ANDREW MAY

Special to The Hoya

Despite 110 minutes of furious play, No. 12 Georgetown (6-2-1, 0-0-1 Big East) and No. 3 Creighton (5-2-1, 1-0-1 Big East) played to a scoreless draw Saturday in front of a rowdy homecoming crowd. Both teams had runs of possession and good chances, something that senior forward Steve Neumann said is typical of a game between two highly ranked opponents. “They are a possession based team just like us, so they had their spells of 10 minutes, and we had our spells of 10 minutes,” he said. Though the teams both controlled possession at different points throughout the game, Georgetown had the most threatening chances. The first half was bookended with

two of the best opportunities in the entire game. A Georgetown corner kick in the opening minutes glanced off freshman defender Joshua Yaro’s head and landed at the feet of freshman forward Alex Muyl, who could not find space to take a shot. In the 44th minute, freshman forward Brett Campbell, a substitute for sophomore forward Brandon Allen, barely missed a cross in front of an open net. “We had some really good chances,” Head Coach Brian Wiese said. “But that game, there was very little in it.” While scoring opportunities were scarce, the stands were full and the homecoming crowd of almost 1,500 got into the game early and only became louder as the game went on.

Visit us online at thehoya.com/sports

See CREIGHTON, A8

ALEXANDER BROWN/THE HOYA

Freshman forward Alex Muyl tries to force the ball past Creighton’s keeper in Saturday’s tie.


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