The Hoya: October 11, 2013

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

Georgetown University • Washington, D.C. Vol. 95, No. 13, © 2013

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013

MOLLY MADNESS

EDITORIAL The editorial board offers 10 salient topics students won’t discuss.

Taking a closer look at MDMA use among students at Georgetown.

GUIDE, B1

BUYING FOLLOWERS The MSB used a Twitter campaign to rapidly gain 35,000 followers.

COLUMBUS DAY The Hoya is off print Tuesday. Issues resume next Friday.

BUSINESS, A8

OPINION, A2

KEITH BROWN TO PLAYER: ‘YOU’RE A DUMB F - - -’

Basketball Coach Resigns Hours after the women’s basketball coach quits, audio confirms allegations of Brown’s verbal abuse LAURA WAGNER Hoya Staff Writer MICHELLE XU/THE HOYA

Frank McCourt Jr. (CAS ’75) speaks at a ceremony outside Old North on Tuesday to officially launch the McCourt School of Public Policy.

McCourt School Opens To Campus Fanfare NATASHA KHAN Hoya Staff Writer

Georgetown officially launched the McCourt School of Public Policy this week and honored Frank McCourt Jr. (CAS ’75) for his record-breaking $100 million gift. “[The school is] everything about Georgetown,” McCourt, whose son, father and two brothers attended the university, told THE HOYA. “I grew up living and breathing public policy at the dinner table.”

To celebrate, the university sponsored several events on campus throughout the week, including a

campus-wide barbecue, reception and academic ceremony Tuesday and a panel on public policy and dinner Wednesday. The Office of Advancement purchased advertisements in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe, The Financial Times and Politico.

“They were a way to both thank Mr. McCourt and continue to educate the policy community about the founding of the McCourt School,” university spokeswoman Stacy Kerr, who declined to disclose the cost of the See MCCOURT, A6

Eight days after being placed on paid administrative leave for alleged misconduct, women’s basketball Head Coach Keith Brown resigned Thursday.

Brown and Assistant Coach Tim Valentine went on leave following complaints of verbal abuse by multiple players, and the university had initiated an investigation into the allegations.

The university released a statement on Brown’s resignation attributed to spokeswoman Stacy Kerr.

“Georgetown University Athletic Director Lee Reed today received and accepted the resignation of women’s basketball Head Coach Keith Brown, effective immediately,” the statement reads. “We expect the highest standards of behavior and professionalism from all members of our university. Actions inconsistent with our values have no place in our community.”

On the evening after the statement announcing the resignation was released, WJLA, which first broke the story about the allegations against

Brown, posted audio recordings of Brown speaking to his players. In the recordings, taken after a Sept. 6 training session, Brown can be heard berating his players in profanity-laced tirades, telling one unidentified player, “You’re a dumb f - - - .”

In another recording, Brown yells at other unidentified players for being “defiant,” saying, “[You’re] f - - - ing with me just to f - - - with me. Is that what it is? If you’re being defiant just to be defiant, you’re f - - - ing with me.”

In the recordings, Brown repeatedly refers to himself in the third person and references his distinct “vocabulary.”

According to WJLA, Kerr was swift in distancing the university from Brown’s words, saying, “That behavior does not meet expectations and standards for the university and its leaders.”

In addition to the two audio recordings, WJLA quoted three unnamed former Georgetown basketball players, all of whom played under Brown in the last two years and were subjected to Brown’s verbal abuse.

“Yeah, I’ve been called like a dumb ‘F’ or dumb ‘M-F’er … It’s a completely destructive and harmful environment with what these girls are experiencing now,” one former player said, according to WJLA. “It’s upsetting and brings me back to places I don’t like to rethink.”

According to the report, the for-

FILE PHOTO: CHRIS GRIVAS/THE HOYA

Keith Brown went on paid leave after players alleged harassment. mer players said such language was commonly used by Brown.

“I do think that a lot of coaches are really hard on their players. However, there is a line that can be crossed, and I think that line was crossed,” another player said.

According to lawyer Sam Perkins, a partner at Brody Hardoon Perkins & Kesten, LLP in Boston, whether the players have legal recourse depends on several factors.

“They are limited in their right to See RESIGNATION, A6

GUPride Stages Love Saxa Protest Hoya Staff Writer

DANIEL SMITH FOR THE HOYA

GU Pride President Thomas Lloyd (SFS ’15), second from left, questioned Love Saxa speaker Ryan Anderson on Tuesday.

Love Saxa has brought speakers to campus to discuss traditional marriage and faith since spring 2012. But this year, the group has drawn criticism from GU Pride, whose members allege that the Love Saxa’s invitations have increasingly been extended to more homophobic guests.

“Last year, being on the board, I don’t remember them bringing anyone anti-gay to campus,” GU Pride President Thomas Lloyd (SFS ’15) said. “It seems like their programming has taken a turn for the more homophobic.”

Heritage Foundation fellow Ryan Anderson, who wrote a book opposing same-sex marriage, spoke Tuesday, and Mark Regnerus, who authored a study criticizing samesex parenting, came to campus last

Thursday. Members of the gay community protested Regnerus’ talk in silence, which was unrelated to his aforementioned research. Tuesday, members of GU Pride wore Pride Tshirts to demonstrate the presence of

“

It seems like their programming has taken a turn for the more homophobic

“

LILY WESTERGAARD

THOMAS LLOYD (SFS ’15) GU Pride President

Georgetown’s LGBTQ community at Anderson’s event.

Love Saxa member Patrick Boyden (COL ’14) said that Love Saxa’s recent events are consistent with its mission.

“Our focus is combatting the hook-up culture,” Boyden said. “We think college students know there’s something beyond this pervasive sex culture. We think combatting the hook-up culture is looking towards marriage and family.”

Craig Cassey (COL ’15), an openly gay member of the Advisory Neighborhood Committee, first brought the Anderson event to Pride’s attention after last week’s protest, which was not directly affiliated with GU Pride.

“We see a conflict there. We figured it is important to have our community represented at these events,” Cassey said. “Both speakers have been viewed as homophobic. It seems evident that Love Saxa doesn’t agree with our belief of marriage equality being See PRIDE, A5

No Shutdown on Immigration Fight Special to The Hoya

In the midst of the federal government shutdown, immigration reform activists continued to rally behind their cause Tuesday during a protest on the National Mall, where approximately 200 participants were arrested.

Among those arrested were eight Democratic members of the House of Representatives and Gustavo Torres, executive director of CASA de Maryland, a group that supports Latino immigrants and advocates for reform. U.S. Capitol Police officers stationed in front of the Capitol arrested those who would not clear out of the way when asked, The Washington Post reported.

The rally was organized by the Center for Community Change and the Service Employees International Union to call the House of Representatives to action on immigration re-

form. As some in the crowd of 10,000 chanted “Si se puede!” (Yes we can!), others shouted, “Congress, remember, we’re voting in November!”

After months of delaying, House Democrats introduced several pieces of immigration reform legislation on Oct. 2 that were largely based on a

“

They’re not criminals.

They’re just coming to work to support their family.

“

KAYLA CROSS

NELSON MENDOZA Protester

Senate bill passed in June. The Senate bill would revamp the immigration system and allow undocumented immigrants to apply for U.S. citizenship within 13 years. The House, however, has segmented the legislation into

separate bills that each addresses smaller issues.

CASA de Maryland representative Lydia Walther Rodriguez, who participated in the rally, said that she was confident in the movement’s power.

“Congress is still inside, so they’re still working. They still need to know that we’re here and there’s a lot of us,” Rodriguez said. “Make a decision now. Don’t wait any longer.”

Georgetown Assistant Vice President for Federal Relations Scott Fleming, however, said that the government shutdown has drawn the nation’s attention away from immigration reform.

“The debt ceiling is also such a major impact on the United States as well as the world economy that that is the 800-lb. gorilla in the room, if you will, that has got to be dealt with,” Fleming said. “It remains my See IMMIGRATION, A5 Published Tuesdays and Fridays

CHARLIE LOWE/THE HOYA

An estimated 10,000 protestors descended upon Capitol Hill on Tuesday to protest for immigration reform, which Georgetown has previously endorsed.

Send Story Ideas and Tips to news@thehoya.com

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OPINION

THE HOYA

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013

THE VERDICT Founded January 14, 1920

EDITORIAL

Sounds of Silence

G

Ten topics on which students are conspicuously mum

eorgetown students are certainly not prone to keeping their opinions to themselves: Dialogue, debate and activism are prevalent on the Hilltop. And yet, a collective veil of silence is drawn over some salient issues.

These 10 topics — whether overlooked, downplayed, forgotten or ignored — are worth bringing to the table.

ATHEISM The university’s staunch advocacy of interfaith dialogue has led to exemplary engagement between practitioners of different religions. While an increasing number of young people across the country distance themselves from organized religion, campus culture can suggest that the only intolerable faith is the absence of one. Abiding by Pope Francis’ urging to engage in a rigorous dialogue with atheists would enrich the Georgetown community’s understanding of different belief systems and those who can otherwise feel ostracized.

MENTAL HEALTH Ever see a student who exudes composure and energy and think, “They must not be working very hard?” It’s easy at this university to believe that stress is normal, if not expected. But getting overwhelmed can happen to anyone juggling the demands of college life and students face an acute risk to their mental health. When students are suffering, they need to know that they can and should seek help. The Georgetown community could do more to address and acknowledge the anxiety, sadness and guilt that can accompany overbearing stress. As hard as it may get, no one should feel ashamed of the health issues they encounter, nor should they reinforce a culture that promotes and ignores them.

THE FRESHMAN SLUMP Almost every freshman at Georgetown hits a rough patch at some point, be it a week, a month or even the entire year. Whether it be from social transitions, the fast pace of the Hilltop, rejection from student groups or the realization that one is no longer at the very top of his or her class, freshman year gives ample opportunity for second guessing. It’s rare to encounter a Georgetown student who won’t admit to such unease retrospectively, and yet many struggling freshmen stay silent amid constant proclamations of unequivocal love for the Hilltop.

NAPOLEON COMPLEX Who’s kidding who: More time than we often admit is devoted to measuring Georgetown against other competitive East Coast schools, especially those in the Ivy League.

To compensate, students point to our high selectivity, refer to Ivies as “peer institutions” and try to forget the rejection letters that may have guided us here. And while Georgetown’s non-Ivy status creates a kind of chip on the shoulder of our student body, we rarely acknowledge it. Many learn to love Georgetown, but some students often can’t forget the one that got away.

POVERTY IN THE DISTRICT The District of Columbia’s poverty rate is higher than that of any state. Today, almost one in five residents of Washington, D.C., lives below the poverty line, and the District’s AIDS infection rate is among the highest in the world. A portion of the student body admirably prioritizes social justice in the District. But while it is easy to be misled by the cobblestones and million-dollar townhouses of Northwest, suffering among our neighbors is too prevalent for us to turn our backs.

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



New Way to Travel – A yearlong study shows that water taxis for D.C. waterways would be economically viable for the city.

VIRGINITY An assumption on most college campuses is that most, if not all, students are sexually active. With a notorious “hookup culture,” this assumption might appear especially on point at Georgetown. However, there is a significant portion of students — upperclassmen and freshmen alike — who choose to abstain from sex, whether it is due to religious beliefs, the fear of sexually transmitted infections or the simple fact that they do not feel ready or have not found the right partner. And though losing one’s virginity may now seem inconsequential in a context where everyone else seems to have already done so, acknowledging a variety of sexual choices is most prudent.

ENGAGEMENT WITH WORKERS We all have the privilege of living on a beautiful and well-kept campus. While countless photographs celebrate Georgetown’s architectural beauty, there is too little campus-wide regard for those who make it possible. Georgetown, as the largest private employer in the District of Columbia, employs not just professors but also hundreds of custodial and maintenance workers who work every day in close proximity to students to keep Georgetown functioning. It’s commendable that the campus community has worked to embrace employees at O’Donovan Hall, but let’s not forget the many others in what are often thankless jobs.

ATHLETE ALIENATION From our storied men’s basketball team to national powerhouse soccer teams, Georgetown can boast an impressive roster of Division I athletic talent. And though those sporting a backpack with the “G” emblem share a campus and the classroom with everyone else, an implicit and unspoken separation exists between student athletes and the rest of the student body. Race and socioeconomic background are also underlying factors in that divide, as is an unfounded skepticism in their academic qualifications. Competitive teams will inevitably be close-knit as fans cheer from a distance. Off the field, however, students and student-athletes share too much to be divided.

@JoseGlezEche Oct. 9 “The #McCourtSchool will be different... A new school for the common good is born” @thehoya @bkmisar Oct. 8 Hey @stew0610, wanna come to class with me? MT”@thehoya: SCS offering free courses to furloughed federal employees @andrewserrano Oct. 8 Excited to be a part of the opening of the #McCourtSchool of Public Policy today at @Georgetown. @thehoya

LETTER TO THE EDITOR To the Editor: Rebecca Driessen’s article “Physician Shortage Reported in D.C.” (THE HOYA, A5, Oct. 8, 2013) raises the valid issue of the “invisible problem” of today’s doctor shortage in American health care. However, the problem in today’s overburdened health system goes so much deeper.

When well-meaning but time-strapped doctors are faced with increased patient loads, the result is doctors often spending 10 to 15 minutes or less with each patient. This is leading to misdiagnosis far too often, anywhere from 15 to 28 percent of the time, according to published studies. So when there are even fewer doctors taking care of more patients in D.C., will we see even more misdiagnosed cases, and cases diagnosed too late? How many more lives will be lost, and how many more billions of healthcare dollars will be wasted each year on the wrong conditions and treatments?

It’s alarming that despite the attention the ongoing healthcare debate continues to get, an issue as clearly life-threatening as misdiagnosis still is barely even on the radar. Healthcare providers, policymakers and patients alike ignore this challenge at their peril, and have a tremendous opportunity to finally begin to formally acknowledge, study and combat it.

SOCIAL CLASS The consequences of socioeconomic divisions among students are vast. Everything from internship accessibility to housing and nightlife activities are influenced by personal family finance. Commentary on class is often superficial — who went to private high school versus public, who wears Vineyard Vines and who shops at discount stores. But the outer aesthetic fails to fully address real struggles for students that are rooted in their backgrounds. To their credit, organizations like the Georgetown Scholarship Program and the Community Scholars Program have made strides in helping these students acclimate to the Georgetown community. Many at Georgetown have privileged backgrounds.

Others don’t. In virtually every aspect, socioeconomic background shapes one’s experience at this university.

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, Patrick Curran, Evan Hollander, Sarah Kaplan, Braden McDonald, Hiromi Oka, Remy Samuels

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

Katherine Berk, Chair

David Seligman Chairman & CEO, Best Doctors Inc. Boston, Mass

chatter

This week on chatter, find Joelle Rebeiz’s view on responses to the shutdown: “In a surprising –– if not unintentional –– act of government defiance, Georgetown has partnered with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund to bring a replica of the Vietnam Memorial to campus.

“Though the bite-sized Vietnam Memorial Wall hardly serves as a satisfying alternative to the real thing, it stands to remind us of the value attached to honoring and remembering.

As a university whose colors symbolize the unity of Confederate and Yankee troops during the Civil War, Georgetown has done its part in rising above the country’s current civil strife and creating a space that appropriately honors those who most deserve our respect.”

Find the rest of this column and more at thehoya.com/opinion/chatter.

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Board of Directors

Evan Hollander, Chair

Pay Your Way – WMATA is considering increasing fares for Metro buses, rail and parking starting in the upcoming year.

A LITTLE BIRDIE TOLD US ...

PRE-PROFESSIONALISM As job recruiters increasingly seek applicants with specialized skills, a shift toward pre-professional majors at Georgetown should not go unacknowledged. Applications to the McDonough School of Business have spiked, and the business administration minor in the College has steadily grown in popularity since its introduction in 2010. The search for jobs is competitive, and many students are adapting to evolving hiring expectations by choosing business-oriented classes in favor of those in the liberal arts core.

That has dramatic implications for the academic character of Georgetown, and it can’t go by unnoticed.

Danny Funt, Editor-in-Chief Emma Hinchliffe, Executive Editor Hunter Main, Managing Editor Victoria Edel, Online Editor

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Free Rider – A rise in D.C. bike thefts has been traced to one culprit after MPD street cameras captured a photo.

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

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.

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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.

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OPINION

friday, october 11, 2013

THE HOYA

A3

VIEWPOINT • Chong

CURIOUS BY NATURE

A Fresh Chance to Forge Friendships

F Katherine Foley

Chocolate: A Chemical Addiction T

hey say that admitting you have a problem is the first step to recovery, right? In that case, I confess: I am addicted to chocolate.

Granted, if Cadbury and Hershey’s and all the other various candy bar companies went bankrupt tomorrow, I could still physically survive. But there’s something about a chocolate craving that’s just stronger than other foods for me. Fortunately, chemistry proves that a nagging sweet tooth isn’t entirely to blame for my habit: Chocolate’s composition gives it a natural hook for suckers like myself.

Chocolate has been around for ages. Though its first official appearance in history textbooks is in 16th-century Europe, a study in 2002 used liquid chromatography to find traces of cocoa residue on Mayan ceramic pots that date back to 600 B.C. When it was finally commercialized in 1847 in England, chocolate had a long-standing reputation as a luxury good. The Cadbury brothers soon followed suit, and now we’ve got a culture rich with chocolate, from mochas to chocolate-covered strawberries.

There’s a reason for chocolate’s centuries of popularity: a perfect blend of chemical properties that keeps us coming back for more.

I’m sure you’ve noticed the smooth, creamy taste of a Hershey’s bar, but did you know that this property results from its high saturated fat? Cocoa butter contains large amounts of stearate, which is an 18-carbon long fatty acid chain. It gives chocolate a slightly waxy, solid texture at room temperature. However, when you put a piece of chocolate in your mouth, your body’s temperature breaks the bonds that make chocolate a solid, and it literally melts in your mouth into heavenly goodness.

This is also why you should never leave a chocolate bar in your car on a warm summer day.

There’s also the rumor that chocolate serves as an aphrodisiac. True, it does contain tryptophan, an amino acid we typically associate with Thanksgiving turkey. But certain types of unsweetened baking chocolate actually contain higher amounts of tryptophan-to-protein ratios than everyone’s favorite gobbling poultry. Rather than making us tired, tryptophan’s primary function is to increase serotonin,

There’s a reason for chocolate’s popularity: a perfect blend of chemical properties. a neurotransmitter responsible for feelings of ecstasy. Additionally, chocolate contains phenylethylalanine, which is the chemical associated with the rush of falling in love. Of course, within chocolate, the levels of these chemicals are relatively low, so there is some debate over whether or not chocolate can actually set the mood. But from my experience, chocolate is extremely comparable to love, so I’m not all that surprised.

As if a food substitute for love weren’t enough, there are still the stimulant aspects of chocolate to consider. One of chocolate’s most tantalizing components is theobromine. This mild stimulant is only one methyl group different from caffeine — enough to imitate the effects of the famed stimulant — and is a basic plant alkaloid. I’m no botanist, but I do know that other plant-based alkaloids include morphine from poppy seed, cocaine, nicotine and, of course, caffeine itself.

And theobromine doesn’t just wake you up — it also decreases your stress levels. Got a huge paper to write between now and midnight?

Try skipping the java and hit up the M&Ms instead.

Of course, in large quantities, theobromine has negative effects. In adults who take in more than 50 to 100 grams of cocoa a day, side effects include anxiety, sweating, trembling and even severe headaches. Sometimes, this means hospitalization for the delicate among us, particularly old people. And for smaller mammals like dogs, the effect can be fatal — this is why chocolate and dogs don’t mix.

The word addiction typically brings to mind serious consequences, like those of alcoholism or smoking. That’s why I’m not entirely comfortable with the fact that chocolate — even in all its milky goodness — has some of these addictive qualities. I’m uncomfortable depending on any one substance just to get through the day. I justify my daily indulgence by the relative tameness of the the habit-forming compounds in chocolate. But even writing that makes me wonder if this is just my love for theobromine and phenylethylalanine talking.

And while I certainly hope no developments link chocolate to severe negative health effects, I’d have to say that death by chocolate would be a pretty good way to go.

Katherine Foley is a senior in the School of Foreign Service. Curious By Nature appears every other Friday.

our months ago, I was certain of three things in my life. The first was that I was to graduate from high school in a week. The second was that two months after that, I would start my freshman year of college. The third was that these two things put me on top of the world.

Sure, that escalated quickly, but for good reason. Put it this way: Strictly speaking, senior year of high school was a nightmare.

That one boring class I couldn’t afford to skip anymore was, of course, down a dark, creepy hallway. For all seniors, the looming deadlines to complete a painfully optimistic list of college applications were the knife-wielding clowns tearing at our heels. This torture went on for months until suddenly, I hit June, and finally all of that studying, nail-biting and acceptance — or rejection — letter-reading finally ended.

Eventually, in our blissful senioryear merriment, we all began rotating phrases among friends like “Keep in touch!” “Promise we’ll visit each other?” and the ever popular “Skype me!”

That’s all anyone talks about in that surreal week leading up to high school graduation: staying in touch. Maintaining relationships with fewer than 50 people from high school without knowing, or perhaps refusing to acknowledge, the struggle of such an undertaking was, and is, a daunting task.

And now, it’s been more than a month since the start of college. For us freshmen, those cringe-worthy icebreakers at New Student Orientation are hopefully no longer haunting our dreams, the first day of class is ancient history and even our first midterms lie comfortably

The first year of college throws so much at you that you can’t help but let a few things go. under our belt. Most of us have been admitted to a few student organizations and have gone to some parties.

And every time you go on Facebook, you see those 50 friends you haven’t spoken to since June doing more or less the same exact thing. They seem happy. They look like they’re having fun.

And hopefully, so are you.

Four months have passed since you wrote things like “Have a great time at college!” or “Visit me!” in their yearbooks. And now

you know as much about their lives as what they post on the Internet — not much else.

I’ve come to realize that that’s okay. What I’ve already learned on the Hilltop is that there is so much thrown at you once early September of your freshman year passes and school really begins to pick up its pace that you really can’t help but let a few things — or even people — go. The ones who wish you happy birthday on Facebook and every so often like a

VIEWPOINT • Rosengarten

few of your statuses? High-school acquaintances who, you now see with sharper eyes, you stuck with because it was convenient.

But those friends who call and text you regularly, make plans to video chat with you and perhaps even come out to visit you?

Those are the ones worth keeping. They’re the ones who would have been friends with you even without the forced proximity of high school. And it’s OK to choose them over others, because — awkward as you may still feel in your freshman year of college — high school is over. It’s a stage of life that you can certainly find pleasure reflecting on, but it’s not one you can keep living.

In less than a year from now, I’ll be a sophomore at Georgetown.

I’ll have new best friends, new classmates and new acquaintances. And though I’ll have kept a handful of old friends I still know and love, that other group of individuals I “went to high school with” will be even more distant than they are already becoming.

And of course that makes me sad.

These people, however remote they may be now, had all been my friends at some point. But some people, even friends, come and go in our lives and there isn’t much we can do about it. To the Class of 2017, we have a different life on the Hilltop: foreign, transient, awkward and worlds away from the places we left behind in June.

But it’s our life now, with its own set of fears, pleasures and rewards and the only right way to experience it is to embrace its pros and cons wholeheartedly, and hang on for the ride.

JinWoo Chong is a freshman in the College.

A UNIVERSITY FOR OTHERS

Creativity Deserves Enacting Change To Take Center Stage Inside the Institution

‘O

h, I’m not that cre- volves not merely being creative ative.” but mastering one’s craft, un“I could never per- derstanding the complex tradiform like that.” tions of one’s particular domain “I used to do art in high and engaging rigorously with school, but since I came to col- contemporary conversations in lege, I haven’t had time.” one’s field. So art is inherently I have heard these and relat- an intellectual endeavor.” ed statements from fellow stuFink regularly integrates the dents too many times since my arts into her curriculum in the arrival on the Hilltop. Although English department, inviting the Georgetown calendar is rid- students to use creativity and dled with uncontestable dem- performance as a means of texonstrations of student creativ- tual analysis. ity, from Rangila to the senior I hear students in my classes Studio Art Major show, we as a every day participating in the community tend to prioritize intellectual legwork of being our intellectual achievements artists. A brilliant philosophy and undersell the vitality of the paper is akin to a multilayered creative community in which Rembrandt print, while a fellow we are all participants. George- classmate’s perfected French actown Day would be arguably cent pirouettes through the air incomplete without an appear- with ease and musicality. I nevance from Groove Theory, just er fail to react in shock when as freshman convocation would the same classmate remarks not have been the same without that he or she isn’t creative or the convocation choir, and last an artist. Bringing passion and week’s dedienergy to cation of Váyour work clav Havel’s is the birthOur artistic lives are an Place could place of crenot have ativity, the integral part of each been as beginning and every one of our beautifully of artistry, orchestratand most academic successes. ed without importantpassionly, draws us ate perforcloser and mances from members of the closer to setting the world on theater community. The most fire, as St. Ignatius instructed. significant moments of our My challenge to Georgetown Georgetown experience are students in the next year is to punctuated by intense encoun- be boldly and unapologetically ters with music, movement, the- artistic. Too often, we as a sociater and the visual arts. So why ety have fallen for the lie that do students, in our accounts of business, government, science, ourselves, tend to diminish our math and academia are discreativity and separate it from tilled, analytic discourses, disour intellectual life as Hoyas? tinct from self-expression and One possible explanation is the mastery of artistic crafts. an unintended and often invis- If we believe in the principle ible impact of Georgetown’s of cura personalis, our artisculture of intellectual intensity tic lives are an integral part of and distinction. As part of a each and every one of our succommunity where you are only cesses. Together, we play differas good as your next idea, stu- ent roles in the artistic commudents may feel that creativity nity here at Georgetown, from and artistic endeavors are by na- performing to producing art to ture non-analytic and therefore providing technical support to lacking in intellectual stimula- cheering in the audience. Let’s tion and prestige. This perspec- celebrate our creativity rather tive sells the arts and the artists than deny it. short, because genuine creative expression cannot occur with- Nora Rosengarten is a senior out intellectual engagement. in the college. She is producIn an email on the subject of tion director for the Georgetown the importance of art in aca- University Dance Company and demic subjects at Georgetown, undersecretary of the arts for the English professor Jennifer Na- Georgetown University Student talya Fink commented, “Art in- Association.

I

n case you haven’t heard, the however, it would have found simifederal government is in the lar resources at its disposal. There midst of a shutdown. While are similarly liberal wealthy donors, we all have our partisan leanings, super PACs and highly liberal dislooking at this from an apolitical tricts. There were means available perspective shows something ex- for an equally radical Occupy cautraordinary: A tiny, activist faction cus, but the movement simply had that serves as the representative of no interest in engaging political ina grassroots political organizing stitutions from within. movement has brought the governThis leads us to our main point: If ment to a screeching halt over a you actually want to make a change, moral imperative. you will be more likely to make that Compare the success of the Tea change by engaging the pertinent Party movement to that of the Oc- institutions than by waving signs in cupy movement. At face value, they front of their office buildings. As a seem rather similar: rank-and-file Georgetown student, you have been members feeling ignored by politi- given a future of nearly unlimited cal elites commenting on how far opportunity. Whatever issues inthe status quo has strayed from spire you, there is a high probability their ideals from a point of ideologi- that there is an internship or job cal extremism in either party. There available that would allow you to is, however, one simple but tremen- work with these topics. As temptdous difference: ing as it is to take to Members of the Tea the streets, doing so Party ran for public could be a disservice office and those of to the cause, as you the Occupy movetherefore forgo a ment did not. chance to tackle inNow, more than stitutional change two years removed from within the infrom the first day of stitution itself. One Occupy Wall Street, passing comment Phillip Dearing Zuccotti Park refrom an intern to a & Benjamin Weiss mains vacant, with superior within the little indication of office could have a the conflict that greater impact than Don’t protest transpired there. the most eloquent policy. Change policy. of statements shoutBut for the Tea Party movement, promied across a police nence in Washington did not end barricade. with the “9-12 Protest.” While the Protests do have their place. For sign-wavers and flag-carriers have the forgotten or for the disenfranall gone home, their elected repre- chised, the protest might be the sentatives remain. only way to be heard by decisionThere are 49 members of the Tea makers; it may even be the case that Party Caucus currently in the House these very institutions are systemof Representatives, and, as we’ve atically preventing such individuseen in the past week, even this als from having a seat at the table. small portion of Congress can make However, simply being a Georgea tremendous impact. But while town student gives us a pulpit from the Tea Party movement used their which to be heard. Just being on grassroots organizing to ensure this Hilltop gives you the training future representation of their ide- and intelligence to get involved in als in Congress, the Occupy move- making decisions that can truly ment dedicated effort solely to the bring change to our world. It is on inhabitation of several public parks behalf of those individuals who throughout the country. With no have been disenfranchised and are political organizing and no attempt not blessed with similar opportunito work within existing institutions ty that you must take advantage of to effect change, the movement your opportunity to change the inis now essentially watching from stitution from within. Don’t protest the sidelines because their conser- policy. Change policy. And above all, vative counterparts have brought remember this: Decisions are made the United States government to a by those who show up. You’d better screeching halt. be there.

Some may argue that Tea Party success is because of wealthy do- Benjamin Weiss and Phillip Dearnors, super PACs and highly conser- ing are juniors in the College. A vative voting districts. Had Occupy University for Others appears sought these kinds of supporters, every other Friday.

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NEWS

THE HOYA

PAGE FOUR

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE Professor Deborah Tannen analyzed New York Jewish conversation Wednesday.

See story at thehoya.com.

Your news — from every corner of The Hoya.

IN FOCUS

verbatim

CASINO JACK

is so far “ [D.C.] behind. ... We

have to do something about it.

”

Councilmember Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6) on the minimum wage in Washington, D.C. See story on A5.

from

COURTESY THETEENDOC.COM

OLIVIA HEWITT/THE HOYA

Former lobbyist and convicted felon Jack Abramoff (LAW ’86) reflected on his past corruption on Capitol Hill and offered solutions for reforming campaign finance legislation in Lohrfink Auditorium on Wednesday. See story on A6.

PARENTAL ADVICE: THEN AND NOW “Don’t talk to strangers!” “Keep your hands to yourself!” Does advice from your parents still hold true in college? blog.thehoya.com

CULP Adds After 4 Years, Students Turn Staff Second Professor SUZANNE MONYAK Special to The Hoya

JENNIFER DING

Special to The Hoya

The Culture and Politics program received approval to hire an additional tenure-line faculty member to focus solely on the CULP program early this semester.

Field Chair Shiloh Krupar is currently the only faculty member solely dedicated to CULP. While many other professors teach CULP courses, the professors are all hired by other departments.

“Because it is an interdisciplinary major, CULP faculty members are from multiple departments and programs enabling the intellectual synergy among faculty and students,” School of Foreign Service Associate Dean and Director of the Undergraduate Program Mitch Kaneda wrote in an email. “However, it has been long recognized that there is a need for an additional CULP-dedicated faculty member to enhance the strength of the major.”

As the sole faculty member dedicated exclusively to CULP, Krupar did not find much company when she first began teaching in the basement of the ICC. “I didn’t have a community of faculty right around me. Part of that was because there wasn’t any other Culture and Politics faculty member, and everyone involved had an office somewhere with their crossaffiliated program. Because I was in the basement, it just felt really isolating,” Krupar said.

For Krupar, an additional faculty member would not only solidify the major but aid in the advising process as well. CULP is the second-largest SFS major.

“This second line would generate more stability in terms of faculty being directly affiliated with the program,” Krupar said.

“Everyone else is cross-affiliated so they have responsibilities in other places as well as Culture and Politics. A second person fully attached to the program would

really help with advising.”

A search committee formed for the hiring process released an advertisement early this semester that emphasized the desire to hire a professor who specializes in visual culture and new media.

“A lot of students are interested in visual culture and new media, and so that is what we tried to respond to,” Krupar said.

“I’m hoping this will help bring somebody and address those needs that students have articulated.”

The SFS hopes to bring three to five candidates to campus in early December to give guest lectures and interact with students.

Kaneda said that an additional professor would bring diversity to the program. “[The] addition of a CULPdedicated faculty member will strengthen the major by bringing stability to course offerings, enhancing the intellectual synergy among students and faculty, providing additional advising capacity for the students and supporting the mission of the SFS,” Kaneda wrote.

While the new faculty will benefit the major, Krupar stressed that the new hire would serve the entire SFS community.

“While I’ve emphasized mostly that this new hire would provide more stability for CULP, that’s not to the exclusion of this person not collaborating with other programs in the SFS and other departments in the SFS,” Krupar said.

The additional faculty member, however, does not represent a long-term expansion of the major.

“I am not aware of any longterm plans to build a more CULPspecific faculty at this time,” Krupar wrote in an email. “The new faculty line should not necessarily be seen as an expansion of the program; rather, its main purpose is to stabilize and secure the program as it currently exists, in terms of course offerings, advising needs, etc.”

When Anupam Chakravarty (SFS ’10) arrived at Georgetown in fall 2006, he planned to spend only the next four years on campus.

Seven years later, he’s still here.

“There’s this energy in the city and energy on campus,” said Chakravarty, now senior manager for interactive communications and multimedia strategy in the Office of Advancement.

After graduation, Chakravarty took a few months off, but eventually returned to help a professor. Talking to different professors compelled him to return permanently.

Amanda Delp (SFS ’12) began working for the Office of the Provost the Monday after graduation. The position started out in the summer as a temporary favor to the office — which she had worked for as an undergraduate — but eventually developed into a full-time job that fall.

“It was odd when students came back that first fall and I wasn’t joining them,” Delp said.

Michael Renzi’s (COL ’12) work in web services and project management for University Information Services also evolved from a student position. “[It is] definitely a good bridge from the academic to the professional world,” Renzi said.

Although staying at Georgetown can help ease alumni into the transition from student to working professional, it also blurs the lines between student and staffer. Vail Kohnert-Yount (SFS ’13),

administrator for the Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor, recently worked with her former roommate, currently a senior at Georgetown, on an Alternative Spring Break project.

“I work very closely with her in a professional capacity, but she’s also seen my dirty socks,” she said.

Theon O’Connor (COL ’12), who works for the Office of Neighborhood Life, said that student interaction is one of the primary reasons he loves his job here.

“I knew I needed a job that would give me that connection with students on a day-to-day basis, and I think I’ve gotten that with what I’ve done here,” he said.

One of the major perks for Georgetown staff is the university’s Tuition Assistance Program. After working at Georgetown for a full year, full-time employees can attend a Georgetown master’s program, including law school or the MBA program, free of charge.

To participate, the staff member must continue to work full-time in addition to nighttime graduate school courses. Renzi intends to begin working toward a master’s degree in economics next fall.

“It’s going to be crazy. I’m not going to have a lot of free time, but it’s really too good a deal for me to pass up,” he said.

Even though they may be busy taking courses on top of a full-time job, employees who take up coursework said they find support from their employers.

“Most people who work at Georgetown, like bosses and supervisors, they understand and encourage and look favorably toward their employees doing grad school here,” Chakravarty, who is

ALEXANDER BROWN/THE HOYA

Anupam Chakravarty (SFS ’10), on left, and Michael Renzi (COL ’12), right, returned to campus to begin their careers at Georgetown after graduation.

currently pursuing a master’s degree in Communication, Culture and Technology, said.

To work while being surrounded by students can also trigger nostalgia for these recent grads.

“I definitely get a little sad watching all the students walking around,” Renzi said.

Chakravarty agreed.

“Every time I walk through campus and the smell of GUGS burgers and the passionate look of people in Red Square, or even these goofballs talking about what they did on Saturday while making coffee, that part I definitely miss,” Chakravarty said.

Delp, however, prefers the life of a staffer.

“I appreciate not having to go to class and not having to have my life revolve around midterms. It’s the nice parts of student life without having to do those parts,” she said.

Chakravarty said that he initially had reservations about working at Georgetown after college.

“You don’t want to be that guy in the varsity jacket in the senior parking lot of your old high school,” he said. “There’s this expectation that everyone is going to make their impact way beyond the Hilltop, so I had some trepidation about coming back.”

Jesslyn Cheong (SFS ’11), who works at the Kalmanovitz Initiative with KohnertYount, added that she was originally concerned that by staying at Georgetown, she wasn’t pushing her boundaries enough.

“It eased the transition, but I didn’t want to be too comfortable either, because it kind of felt like making a safe choice, but I think it really was the right choice in the end, because even though it was a place I feel comfortable at, it really allowed me to see a whole different perspective of Georgetown,” she said.

Chakravarty hopes to eventually start his own nonprofit, and thus sees his work at Georgetown as a means to achieving this.

“Now the possibilities seem a lot more endless than they did, you know, in 2010 when I graduated. Now, I feel like I’ve learned a lot about a lot of different fields,” he said.

After two months as a Georgetown employee, Kohnert-Yount said that she is glad she returned to campus.

“I wanted to do something at this point in my life that was very closely tied to social justice and community work,” Kohnert-Yount said. “I actually think this might be the best job I ever have.”

News

friDAY, october 11, 2013

Rally for Immigration Reform Draws 10,000 IMMIGRATION, from A1 hope that once we get beyond the current government shutdown and beyond the impending subject of the debt ceiling, there will be a refocused attention on immigration reform.”

Fleming said that two particular provisions of the immigration bill, the DREAM Act and the H1B Visa provisions, would directly affect students.

“I know a good number of the Dreamers on our campus,” Fleming said. “They are amazing individuals. They have overcome incredible odds to get to where they are.”

Tuesday’s rally represented a unification of immigration reform allies and those who would be affected by the new immigration laws. Protester Nelson Mendoza, who is originally from El Salvador, emphasized the importance of presenting a united front.

“We have to support them even if we are legal. We have to give them a hand to ask Congress to pass the law,” Mendoza said.

“They are not criminals. … They are just coming to work and do the best that they can to support their family here and their family in their countries.”

Protester Alisa Leucero is a Dreamer who was granted amnesty under the Obama administration’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program and graduated from a New York high school this June.

“We want them to remember that we

are here and to not forget that we want reform,” Leucero said. “Sometimes, it seems like they are putting Obamacare and Syria and things like that first but forgetting about us.”

Many Catholic organizations, including Georgetown, have supported the cause of immigration reform. University President John J. DeGioia signed a letter to Congress this summer along with presidents of other Catholic universities pushing for immigration reform. DeGioia also previously made a number of personal phone calls to several members of Congress, encouraging senators to vote for the DREAM Act. “It goes to our mission and our sense of social justice that is inherent here at Georgetown and at other Catholic colleges and universities,” Fleming said.

In support of this movement, Fleming’s office has compiled a video interview project, highlighting the stories of students at Georgetown who have been affected by the DREAM Act. The final interview was completed Monday, and the videos will be posted on the Office of Federal Relations’ Web page in the near future.

“If a member of Congress sees a real face on a story, it turns it from statistics into people,” Fleming said. “It is my feeling that when members of Congress — who either are undecided or opposed to the DREAM Act — see these stories, it will make them think again.”

New LLC Blurs Lines Between Home, Class Rebecca Driessen & Madison Ashley

the past four years, saw a living learning community as the perfect opportunity to bridge the lessons and history of the UniWhen Dani Bembry (COL ’15) returns versity with academic life in an organic to her dorm in Kennedy Hall, sometimes way. class is just getting started. Bembry is one Cross-listed with American Studies and of 11 students in “College, Culture and Humanities and Writing II, the course has Conflict,” a new seminar that houses stu- drawn a diverse cross-section of students, dents together in the Hill River City Liv- including several first-year and transfer ing and Learning Community. students.

“It seemed like a different and quirky “There are a lot of transfers in the class new idea to have a living and learning and they’re able to talk about their colcomponent to the class. I just thought off lege experience before Georgetown and the bat it seemed really interesting,” Bem- compare it to now. I think that adds a rebry said. ally unique dimension to the class,” BemLLC resident Neve Schadler (COL ’15) bry said. said that living with her classmates enTo keep the class lively, Howard holds hances her academic experience. the seminar in a variety of settings based “It’s about the education experience — on lecture content. For a recent lecture not just the academic on the history of the life but the residential sciences at Georgetown, life of living with other “There’s a level of students went to class people and growing with trust and familiarity at the Heyden Observathem,” Schadler said. tory.

“There’s a level of trust that makes the “We went up there and familiarity that academic experience and we had been talkmakes the academic exing about the relationso incredible.” perience so incredible.” ship between science Taught by College and education.

We Neve Schadler (COL ’15) Associate Dean Tad were able to see GeorgeHill River City LLC Resident Howard, a faculty-intown’s history with residence for Kennedy that,” Schadler said.

Hall, the seminar looks at the history of Students also meet weekly for breakfast conflict and possible solutions for college in Howard’s living room where they diseducation in America. cuss topics unrelated to class.

The LLC was dubbed Hill River City af“Our hour-long breakfast allows us to ter Fr. Tim Healy, S.J.,’s seminal talk, “The explore campus and do unconventional Hill, The River, The City: Meditations on things,” Bembry said. “We did an activity a Bicentennial,” which addressed George- where we talked about ‘What’s music?’ town’s identity as a D.C. institution as and just engaged in a debate about relawell as a university. tivity in the curriculum.”

“It’s a beautiful reflection on where Although the four-credit class will last Georgetown had come from, what had only one semester, there is a single credchanged, what had remained constant it course in the spring for students to and what lies ahead,” Howard said. compare what they learned in “College, As a faculty-in-residence for Kennedy Culture and Conflict” with one of their Hall for the past seven years, Howard has spring courses. enjoyed the unique connection that he “I want them to talk interdisciplinarily has with the university and the students. and make it painfully smashed together,” Howard, who has taught the class for Howard said.

Special to The Hoya & Hoya Staff Writer

THE HOYA

A5

Pride Protests Love Saxa PRIDE, from A1 essential for America.”

GU Pride members also raised questions about the timing of these events during Coming Out Week and OUTober.

“I was surprised they would plan an event on marriage during the week Pride celebrates the LBGTQ identity,” Lloyd said.

“That necessitated a formal response. I can’t speak to whether they’re doing it deliberately, but I think it’s poor planning — OUTober has been an established event before this was conceived.”

Love Saxa member Emile Doak (COL ’14) said that Tuesday happened to be the only time Anderson was available and the date was unrelated to OUTober.

“The fact that they’re close together was not our plan,” Doak said. “I actually feel bad about [the timing].”

During his lecture, Anderson discussed his rationale for opposing gay marriage.

“There are people on both sides of the debate who haven’t considered the other side,” Anderson said. “The argument I make about marriage isn’t based on religion or theology. It doesn’t discuss morality, and it doesn’t discuss gay marriage or homosexuality.”

Anderson said that marriage should not be “redefined” because it is a fundamental social institution.

“The love-making act is the life-giving act,” he said. “The marital relationship has an intrinsic connection to the creating and raising of new human

beings.”

The presentation was followed by a spirited but courteous question-and-answer session during which Anderson debated with GU Pride members.

Lloyd was among those who challenged Anderson’s logic.

“A queer person could remain celibate until marriage, then engage in a conjugal act that’s going to produce as many children as an infertile couple,” Lloyd said. “That act unites them because they’re the only people who are engaging in that act together, and then that makes them more committed to each other, more emotionally connected to each other, making them better parents, more able to raise their children in an effective way.”

“Conjugal union is by definition something only a man and a woman can participate in,” Anderson said in response.

Boyden said speakers like these were foundational to create a more open discussion on campus.

“Love Saxa is definitely a proponent of a traditional vision of love, the view of one man and one woman. We hold that out proudly. Talks like this can be the starting point for a conversation about the subject,” Boyden said.

Cassey and Lloyd were both optimistic about the attention the events drew to Pride and LGBTQ issues.

“It’s certainly energizing queer students and allies alike,” Cassey said. “Pride isn’t opposed to taking a part and being present at these events.”

DANIEL SMITH FOR THE HOYA

GU Pride protested a Love Saxa speaker who opposes same-sex marriage.

Despite calling the events homophobic, Lloyd said he appreciated the dialogue that rose from them.

“In a way, I’m glad these students are bringing them to campus,” Lloyd said. “When people hold events like these that involve openly hostile speakers … it gives us the opportunity to engage people who wouldn’t normally be engaged by us.”

Director of Adult Faith Formation Ennio Mastroianni addressed GU Pride’s presence at the end of the event.

“I think that we can all agree that Ryan [Anderson] made us think, and thinking is good,” he said. “I want to congratulate the maturity level at which this discussion took place on everyone’s part.”

DC Seeks Higher Wages Katherine Richardson Special to The Hoya

Only four weeks after Mayor Vincent Gray vetoed a bill that would have hiked the minimum wage for large retailers in D.C. to $12.50 an hour, mayoral candidate and Councilmember Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6) has proposed a bill that would raise the minimum wage of all D.C. workers to $10.25.

The Living Wage for All of D.C. plan, if enacted, would make Washington, D.C., the second part of the country, after some municipalities in California, with a minimum wage above $10. Specifically, the bill would raise the minimum wage from its current $8.25 to $10.25 over the next two years, after which it would be tied to changes in the cost of living in the District.

Gray floated the idea of an unspecified minimum-wage hike in the letter accompanying his veto of the Large Retailer Accountability Act, which would have forced large D.C. retailers like Wal-Mart to pay workers at least $12.50 per hour in combined wages and benefits. Nine councilmembers are co-sponsoring Wells’ bill, according to The Washington Post.

Wells and Gray disagreed

with the LRAA primarily because it targeted certain businesses while ignoring most D.C. workers.

According to WJLA, 14 notable District businesses have announced their support for Wells’ bills and have committed to raising employee wages, including D.C. Brau Brewing Company, BicycleSpace, Inspire BBQ, The Pug, Union Kitchen, Blind Dog Cafe, Toscana Cafe, Al Tiramisu, Bike Rack, Big Bear, Chocolate City Brewing, Right Proper Brewing, the Law Office of C. Thomas Chartered and 3 Stars Brewing. “[D.C.] is so far behind every year, and we have to do something about it,” Wells said on Wednesday during a press conference held at D.C. Brau, located at 3178 Bladensburg Road NE. Wells’ alternative would avoid targeting big businesses and facilitate the transition for employers. The bill would raise the employee tax credit for companies with fewer than 150 employees, and it would also lower the commercial property tax rate from $1.50 to $1.65 on the first $3 million of a property’s value. In addition, to alleviate the burden from the lowest income bracket, Wells’ bill would also increase the standard deduction for per-

sonal income taxes.

“We greatly appreciate Councilmember Wells’ introduction of the Living Wage for All Act,” D.C. Jobs Council Executive Director Marina Streznewski said during Wednesday’s press conference. “The bill helps open a broad discussion of a muchneeded increase to the minimum wage, while also speaking to the need for District residents, especially at lower income levels, to keep more of the money they earn.”

Ali Plutnicki (MSB ’17), who works at Sprinkles Cupcakes for $10 an hour, said that the bill would help fellow employees better support themselves financially.

“For me, as a student, I think that $10 an hour is fine because I’m still dependent on my parents, but I don’t think it’s something I’d be able to live off of myself,” Plutnicki said.

Councilmember Vincent Orange (D-Ward 5), who is chair of the Business, Consumer and Regulatory Affairs Committee, recently announced that the committee would hold a hearing regarding Wells’ bill on Oct. 28, along with four other bills about minimum wage that have been introduced by other councilmembers.

Activists Focus on Skin Cancer Ashley Miller Special to The Hoya

The Skin Cancer Awareness Program will kick off Friday with a week of activities demonstrating the permanent and long-term damage that can occur to skin at a young age.

“If we come away from this having impacted 1,000 students, and they all know that they need to care about their skin more, then that will be a big step,” co-founder Abby Greene (MSB ’14) said.

Courtney Mastrangelo (COL ‘14), a former writer for The Hoya, and Greene see their goal to spread awareness as a challenge because students often are not concerned about skin damage while they are young.

“It’s a cancer that I think that a lot of people take for granted because they bake themselves in the sun and they refuse to understand that they can buy a $3 bottle of sunscreen to protect themselves for the rest of their lives,” Mastrangelo said.

Mastrangelo and Greene founded the program because skin cancer affected them on a personal level.

“Both our mothers have been

diagnosed and treated for skin cancer,” Greene said. “It is definitely something close to our hearts.”

Tina Alster, director of the Washington Institution of Dermatologic Laser Surgery, said that people often do not think that their skin is damaged if it is not visible. Alster is donating sunscreen, T-shirts and informational pamphlets to the program. She will also provide a Reveal Skin Scanner that the program will have at some of its events in order to show the underlying damage the sun is doing to skin.

“Often the damage you get today you won’t see medically for at least 20 years,” Alster said.

She said that the new program will address people at a critical age for skin damage, who often fail to protect their skin.

“Every single person that comes to me about aging would not look old or spotted if they hadn’t damaged their skin in their teens and in college,” Alster said.

Will von Bernuth, co-founder of the sunscreen company Block Island Organics, will donate sunscreen samples to the initiative.

“I think it’s largely an education issue. It is something that is just not very well-known and the dangers of it are not very well accepted. To overcome that, I think it is a lot of education — of going out there and saying what happens to your skin as you age and how sunscreen can help prevent that,” von Bernuth said.

Skin Cancer Awareness Program events and activities will include tabling in Red Square, as well as participating in a fundraiser at Mason Inn on Oct. 17 and activities at a football game and men’s and women’s soccer games.

The awareness program is being sponsored by the Athletic Department, as many athletes spend large amounts of time outdoors.

“We athletes, and anyone who participates in an athletic type of event or any kind of outdoor exercise, have greater exposure to the sun and having more awareness, these days with skin cancer being so prevalent around the country, creating more heightened awareness for it is certainly something we can get behind,” Senior Director of Marketing for Georgetown Athletics Pete Kirschner said.

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news

THE HOYA

friDAY, october 11, 2013

GU Thanks McCourt With 2 Days of Celebrations MCCOURT, from A1 advertisements, wrote in an email.

The Tuesday ceremony in Dahlgren Quad featured speeches by McCourt, University President John J. DeGioia, Dean of the College Chester Gillis, Provost Robert Groves and McCourt School Dean Edward Montgomery.

“My father arrived at Georgetown in 1935 and lived right up there,” McCourt said during his speech, pointing to Healy Hall. “That marked the beginning of an 80-year love affair between the McCourt family and Georgetown University.”

The university officials praised McCourt for his generous donation and emphasized that the new school embodies the core of a Georgetown education: genuine dialogue, engagement and Jesuit values.

“This pattern of engagement, this commitment to genuine dialogue, to the idea that we arrive closer to the truth when we pursue the best in one another has never been more needed,” DeGioia said. “This is a moment that demands the very best of us — the generosity that we honor today places a new burden of responsibility on the university.”

Groves emphasized the importance of the McCourt School as the first major public policy institute to be formed after the multimedia and Internet data revolution.

“Government programs now run on vast data systems,” Groves said. “The evolution of the Internet is generating real time data on human behavior at an unprecedented rate.”

McCourt added that the new school would play a particularly vital role during a precarious time for the nation’s government, with the most polarized Congress in recent memory.

“I’m sure the irony is not lost to anyone here that our government is shut down on the day this school is being

established,” McCourt said.

Following Tuesday’s official kickoff, the university convened a panel in Riggs Library on Wednesday that featured faculty members of the new school, including Montgomery, government professor and Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne, Vice-Provost for Faculty Adriana Kugler and former Georgetown Public Policy Institute professor James Habyarimana.

During the panel, the professors highlighted issues that would be studied at the new school, particularly immigration, health reform, education reform and global poverty, as well as the importance of inter-disciplinary cooperation.

The university closed its celebratory exercises with a reception and dinner on Copley Lawn on Wednesday that featured speeches from PBS NewsHour Co-Anchor and Managing Editor Judy Woodruff, Sen. Patrick Leahy (LAW ’64) (D-Vt.), Rep. John Dingell (C ’49, LAW ’52) (D-Mich.), Sen. Edward Markey (DMass.), Board of Directors Chairman Paul Tagliabue (CAS ’62), in addition to McCourt and DeGioia. Several noteworthy guests were also in attendance, including House Minority Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and former NBA player Alonzo Mourning (CAS ’92).

A pre-recorded video message from former President Bill Clinton (SFS ’68) played during the dinner.

“You have given a gift not just to Georgetown,” Leahy said. “You have given a gift to the future.”

Markey agreed and expressed high hopes for the school’s future, praising McCourt’s foresight and vision.

“This was a contemplative in the middle of the action, and this school that will bear his name is going to put students in the middle of the action in the most powerful city in the world,” Markey said.

Several of the Congress members in attendance stressed the relevance

CLOCKWISE FROM THE LEFT: COURTESY GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY, MICHELLE XU/THE HOYA, JULIA HENNRIKUS FOR THE HOYA

U.S. representatives and other D.C. figures joined Georgetown administrators and Frank McCourt (CAS ’75) to launch the McCourt School of Public Policy on Tuesday and Wednesday with an official ceremony and dinner. of the school, particularly in light of the current federal government shutdown.

“Let us pray that some members of Congress will come and study here,” Leahy said jokingly.

Dingell, the longest-serving member in the history of Congress, who attended Georgetown when there were only 100 students and tuition was $600 a semester, agreed.

“All you have to do is to look and see

the unfortunate low charades that are going on in the House of Representatives now to appreciate how desperately the values that are taught here at Georgetown are needed in our government,” Dingell said.

McCourt expressed hope that the new school would live up to the motto currently inscribed in Gaston Hall: “For the greater glory of God and the betterment of mankind.”

“This is a time for optimism,” Mc-

Court said. “A new school for the common good has been born.”

DeGioia expressed gratitude and encouraged the university to embrace the responsibility that comes along with McCourt’s gift.

“This trust Frank has placed in us provides us a new opportunity to do our very best work and bring out the very best in everyone around us,” DeGioia said. “We will do our best to prove ourselves worthy of this trust.”

Brown Resigns After Allegations of Misconduct The other two assistant coaches, Krystal Reeves-Evans and Kenya Kirkland, were never sue for infliction of emotional distress. In col- implicated or placed on leave. The three aslege athletics, there is a certain amount of sistant coaches have been in charge of the heavy handedness built in to that. It would team and will continue to lead team practices, have to be pretty extreme to warrant a law- which began Oct. 4. Georgetown’s sports insuit,” Perkins said. “It depends on how the vic- formation policy prohibits assistant coaches tims have been effected and what they choose from speaking with the media. to do.”

Kerr said the findings of the investigation Kerr told The Hoya that the investigation will not be made public so as not to discourage into the allegations against Brown was others from raising concerns about miscon“nearing completion” when he resigned, duct in the future. though she would not reFive current players came veal any specifics on how to Brown’s defense last week the investigation was conwhen he was first placed on ducted or what it revealed leave, but have not spoken about the accusations of out since the release of the auverbal harassment. dio recordings and Brown’s Attempts to reach Brown resignation. were unsuccessful.

Former basketball player According to the stateSugar Rodgers (COL ’13), KEITH BROWN ment, Valentine was never who now plays in the WNBA, Former Women’s Basketball accused of misconduct and could not be reached for comHead Coach was placed on leave only to ment for this story but spoke “ensure the unimpeded progress of the inves- to The Hoya after Brown was placed on leave tigation into allegations of unprofessional con- last week and emphasized that he had her full duct and the use of inappropriate language in support. coaching the Georgetown University women’s “[Brown] said stuff that coaches need to say, basketball team.” like, ‘Touch the damn line.’ Is that verbally Kerr provided more details about why ex- abusing somebody?” she said. “He did whatactly Valentine was placed on leave. School of- ever he could to help me be successful.” ficials were investigating whether he had said Brown took over as head coach in May 2012, anything to the players implying that cooper- just the seventh coach in the program’s 43ating with the investigation into Brown would year history. result in “retaliatory” action against the playKerr did not know if an interim head coach ers. The investigation concluded that Valen- will be named. The team is slated to play its tine had not said anything to that effect, and first game against the University of Richmond he has returned to the coaching staff. on Nov. 8.

BROWN, from A1

OLIVIA HEWITT/THE HOYA

Former lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who served time in prison for corruption, spoke about campaign finance reform and advised students with political aspirations in a lecture Wednesday night.

Abramoff Talks Lobbying Sam Abrams

Special to The Hoya

Former lobbyist and convicted felon Jack Abramoff (LAW ’86) reflected on his past corruption on Capitol Hill and offered solutions for reforming campaign finance legislation in Lohrfink Auditorium on Wednesday.

In the hour-long Georgetown University Lecture Fund event, “Can Washington Be Fixed? The Ultimate Insider Shows Us Why the System’s Broken and How to Reform It,” Abramoff looked back on the years he spent lobbying members of Congress.

Through the provision of improper benefits, Abramoff was able to operate effectively by gaining access to members of the House of Representatives and Senate, whom he persuaded to support his clientele’s position.

“I spent $1.5 million a year on sports tickets alone in order to get policymakers to come with me so that I would have an opportunity to influence them and have them be indebted to me in some way,” Abramoff said.

Abramoff spoke about his peak lobbying years when he won multimillion dollar accounts to represent the interests of everyone from Native American casino owners to Russian energy companies in Washington, D.C. “People come to this city for power, and I was clearly one of them. I was brash, a bit arrogant, but it was because I had more connections than

just about anyone,” he said.

“I figured that I wasn’t really doing anything wrong, because every lobbying firm on Capitol Hill was giving the same improper benefits. I was just doing it on a much larger scale.”

Abramoff was eventually indicted on felony corruption charges and was imprisoned from November 2006 to June 2010, a time that he said allowed him to realize the faults within himself and the system.

“I came to realize that it’s unfair when your firm has the resources to fly congressmen to St. Andrews for a round of golf while your opponent is getting their calls put on hold by those same congressmen,” Abramoff said. “I had created a system for myself whereupon I could buy a policymaker a dinner or take them to a game and would persuade them over to my side that very same night. Buying that access is corrupt, and it left people with a passion for a cause and a rightful case, but no money, with an impossible fight.”

The man whose black hat became synonymous with Washington corruption claims to have fully learned his lesson and is now trying to reform the same system that he once exploited.

Abramoff has been working with United Republic, a political reform group that vociferously attacked him when the corruption allegations surfaced.

“I’m a conservative, but I want to work with people of

all political affiliations to get certain anti-corruption and campaign finance legislation passed,” he said. “I want people who are lobbyists to have to register as lobbyists, and once they do so, they should be barred from contributing election campaign money.

That is actual reform. However, to get this passed would require asking the congressmen who benefit from that money to reject it, which is difficult to do.”

Abramoff, who as of May 2012 owed $44 million in restitution for defrauding his Native American tribe clients, concluded his speech by offering some cautionary advice to the Georgetown students in the audience.

“For those of you headed to Capitol Hill in the future, just know that no matter what you do there, learn the rules and play by them, because shortcuts will come back to bite you,” Abramoff said.

“Know all debts must eventually be repaid, and this is coming from a guy that only took shortcuts in his professional life.”

Students in attendance said they appreciated Abramoff’s advice.

“It was good to be made aware of this side of the political landscape. His Time magazine cover which read, ‘The Man Who Bought Washington’ turned out to be rather apt,” Yash Johri (SFS ’17) said. “It was really interesting to see how his experience in jail has reformed his political morals.”

“If you’re being defiant just to be defiant, you’re f--ing with me.”

NEWS

friday, october 11, 2013

THE HOYA

A7

Demand for MBA MSB Followers Questionable Programs Increases MSB, from A8

Kit Clemente

the economy in their decisions to attend business school.

“You never know if there is a good National demand for full-time time for overall economy. Just pick a MBA programs has begun to show good time for yourself, rather than signs of recovery for the first time looking around,” full-time student since the beginning of the economic Fiona Ou (GRD ’15) said. recession in 2009, while part-time The increase in demand for MBA programs are still losing popularity, programs has directly increased the a business school admissions survey competition for acceptance to busiannounced last week. ness school and jobs. For example, Georgetown’s applicant pool for the average GMAT score for Georgethe part-time MBA program in- town’s full-time program in the last creased last year while the full-time admissions cycle increased by five applicant pool remained steady, lead- points from the previous year. ing to an overall increase in demand.

“This will mean more competition “I think, fairly obviously, percep- for applicants, which is a good thing tions of an improving economy have for our program, as it means we will led people to be hopefully see more willing to stronger and invest in their more competieducations tive applicants,” again,” Senior Associate Dean Associate Dean of MBA Admisfor MBA Prosions Shari Hugrams Elaine bert said. “It Romanelli said. also means that “With appliwe’ll see more ElAINE ROMANELLI Senior Associate Dean for MBA Programs cations down demand for our across many students from schools, that suggests there is also employers.” some pent-up demand, that people Full-time student Miguel Cuunthat did not apply to business school jieng (GRD ’15) agreed and said the or did not decide to make that invest- added competition was visible, parment during the recession are now ticularly among peers. back in the market, so it’s kind of a “It’s a little bit unnerving, and I two-fold influence on an increase in can feel some of the effects here — applications.” it’s very high pressure and everyFull-time student Charles Shackel- body is kind of clamoring around ford (GRD ’15) agreed, although he for internships and then full-time said the economy was not the only positions too,” Cuunjieng said. “It factor in his decision to apply to the does add stress.”

MBA program.

Increased competition aside, “My prior company was having Shackelford added that the indifficulty winning as much work creased demand for MBA programs as usual, but I never felt worried for could serve as a positive indicator of my job,” Shackelford said. “It’s more a recovering job market. that I wanted to go in a different di“I think it’s probably made it hardrection, so that’s the main reason I er to get into school, but I think that decided to come here.” because the job market is recoverIn spite of this apparent correla- ing, it’s a much better time to get a tion between an improved economy job now than it was four years ago and a rise in demand for MBA pro- or even two years ago,” Shackelford grams nationally, many students do said. “I think, overall, the picture is not feel as if they directly considered looking better.”

Special to The Hoya

“People [are] more willing to invest in their educations again.”

Colleges Turn Away From SAT, ACT Griffin Cohen & Gene Choi Specials to The Hoya

Due to questions about the accuracy of aptitude tests such as the SAT and the ACT, some universities are seeking other ways of evaluating applicants’ abilities.

Starting this fall, Bard College is giving high school seniors a way to redeem poor grades and worse test scores through writing four 2,500-word research papers. If professors at the university give the papers at least a B-plus grade, students can be accepted.

“It’s kind of declaring war on the whole rigmarole of college admissions and the failure to foreground the curriculum and learning,” Bard President Leon Botstein told The New York Times.

“You ask the young person: Are they prepared to do university-level work?”

In particular, Botstein expressed doubt about whether tests or grades can accurately reflect a student’s potential. Rather, they often reflect a student’s ability to successfully selfmarket. Bard spokesman Mark Primoff did not respond to other requests for comment.

Georgetown Dean of Admissions Charles Deacon, however, disagreed with Botstein’s premise and said that the university has no plans to adopt any similar initiatives.

“We’ve tried to use admissions ratings or counselor ratings, but it’s not quantifiable to predict results,” Deacon said. “It can also be utilized as justification for admitting athletes or students with legacies without having them to report their scores.”

Deacon also questioned whether Bard has ulterior motives, since eliminating SAT/ACT requirements could potentially increase applicant numbers and project higher selectivity, despite the amount of work involved with writing research papers.

Bard’s new application standards, however, were implemented after the National Association for College Admission Counseling encouraged universities to eliminate standardized testing from their admissions requirements in 2008, particularly because of an alleged bias toward affluent students.

According to College Board’s 20122013 testing report, students from families earning less than $20,000 annually averaged a score of 1326, while those from families earning more than $100,000 averaged 1619.

“A lot of the college application process is about if students have been trained to test well, and if they have

been trained to write well,” said Kristin Collins, D.C. regional director for Strive for College Collaborative, a group that prepares low-income students for the SAT and the college application process. “If you are talking about lowincome students, they have not been set up to succeed in the way that other students have.”

Regardless of financial situations, the College Board also reported that for the last five years, 57 percent of high school seniors have not hit the benchmark score of 1550 that allegedly deems whether a student is prepared for college. According to the College Board, this correlates with a 65 percent probability of earning at least a B-minus average as a freshman in college. Students who receive at least a 1550 are more likely to enroll in and complete a four-year college degree program.

In Washington, D.C., students have historically tested well below the national average. In the last five years, the average score for D.C. students has consistently been among the bottom two averages nationwide. Although D.C. students showed small signs of improvement in the last testing cycle, the average score of 1200 was still below the national average of 1400.

In addition to the socioeconomic factors at play, several experts have alleged that both college admissions and standardized tests do not accurately judge a student’s ability; rather, they seem to emphasize achievements.

For example, College Board President David Coleman has suggested that the Common Application to replace the personal statement with an analytical essay.

“If an essential requirement of success is to make an argument and write analytically, then why wouldn’t the admissions essay ask for that?” Coleman said to The Chronicle of Higher Education.

Deacon also emphasized the drawbacks of the Common App, pointing to Georgetown’s continued reliance on its own application system.

“We know scores paint only a small picture of the student,” Deacon said.

“That’s why we want to get to know students better through our personal Georgetown essays and interviews. We want students to directly communicate to us and not through a one-size-fits-all essay for the Common App.” The College Board Communications Office declined to comment beyond its publically available press releases and reports.

the original 7,000 followers were located mainly in D.C., New York and London, the 35,000 added followers were listed mainly in India and Indonesia. These new accounts had mostly been created in the last 41 weeks and had tweeted fewer than 27 times, while the original followers have an average of 331 tweets per account.

Kormis stressed that the MSB’s recent social-media push is a global campaign, and she expects global engagement.

“Our goal is to promote the school,” Kormis said.

Jason Ding, a research scien-

tist at Barracuda Labs, added that gaining as many as 35,000 followers is highly irregular and extremely difficult to do even through a promoted campaign, which usually produces a more gradual result.

This sharp increase in followers and fluctuating trend in types of followers highlights the potential pitfalls of a broad marketing campaign and flaws in Twitter’s advertising model.

While the MSB has gained tens of thousands of followers, the school is not receiving the type of engagement associated with a high follower count, as its Klout score suggests.

“I would rather have a thou-

sand engaged followers than a hundred thousand non-engaged followers,” Mathis said.

“This is a trial for us,” Teresa Mannix, assistant dean for Communications for the MSB said.

“This is the first time we’ve done a global campaign.”

After seeing these findings from Barracuda Labs, the MSB has since suspended its Twitter promotion campaign, fearing that funds are being poorly spent if they are not getting the engagement they had hoped for.

Mannix stressed that only time will tell if their campaign was successful.

“Numbers are just numbers,” she said.

Campus Workers Share Stories Rebecca Driessen Special to the Hoya

Two years after unionizing and fighting for improved benefits and pay, employees at O’Donovan Hall spoke in support of other workers and asked for student help in pushing to improve workers’ rights Tuesday evening.

“Behind the Kitchen Doors: A Conversation With Leo’s Workers” was co-sponsored by the Georgetown University Student Association, the Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor, the Black Student Alliance, Caribbean Culture Circle, the Black House, MEChA de Georgetown and Georgetown’s NAACP chapter.

Donte Crestwell, a current Leo’s employee, and Tarshea Smith, a former Leo’s employee who now works with the Leo’s workers’ union UNITE HERE, spoke about the history of Leo’s campaign for unionization as well as the current state of campus workers’ rights.

Smith credits students for helping her to stand up to the abuses she suffered while working at Leo’s.

“I’m so thankful to Georgetown students. I’m so thankful for you all to be here today to hear our stories.

If the students had never reached out to me, pushed me, I would have never, never done it,” Smith said.

“Just say hello. The management is so intimidated to see a student in a conversation with a worker, that just gives us so much power.”

Brittney Blakely (COL ’14), GUSA secretary of social justice, agreed with Smith about the impact that students can have.

“Students can best help by simply acknowledging our campus workers and making the effort to engage in conversation, get to know them,” she wrote in an email.

In the past decade, campus workers’ rights have greatly improved with the creation of a just employment policy and the unionization of Leo’s workers. Reflecting that progress, the talk on Tuesday shifted from a conversation about food service workers to a discussion about other often overlooked groups on campus, including employees in the Office of Facilities and Epicurean and Company.

Lorena Santiago-Hernandez (SFS

REBECCA DRIESSEN FOR THE HOYA

Campus workers advocated for other university employees and asked students to continue support of workers’ rights on Tuesday. ’16), co-chair of MEChA, addressed the dichotomy between treatment of campus workers and campus administrators, like university President John J. DeGioia.

“They deserve the same respect.

President DeGioia works for the university, just like these workers. He wouldn’t tolerate the lack of respect, and neither should the workers,” Santiago-Hernandez said. “We need to acknowledge their presence. We have so much respect for professors and academia. We should have as much or even more for workers.”

Black Student Alliance president Erika Nedwell (COL ’14) said that it is imperative for Georgetown students to support workers.

“People cognitively do things that you wouldn’t want your mother to have to do, like cleaning up your vomit after a night out,” Nedwell said. “We all talk about being a part of this Georgetown community, and being men and women for others, and not everyone is living that.”

Student leaders also expressed concern about the rights of service workers at the Hoya Court establishments, which are set to open this month.

Those workers are not yet included in the Leo’s workers’ union contract.

“The Elevation Burger, Salad Creation and Subway will not be under the union until January 2014 at the earliest, when the contract is up for

renewal,” Crestwell said.

Many of the groups also worried about workers’ rights at Epicurean.

Four Epicurean workers sued proprietor Chang Wook Chon in 2010 for allegedly violating the Fair Labor Standards Act and withholding overtime work payment; Chon also pled guilty in March for inappropriate conduct during the lawsuit, including threatening the plaintiffs. The civil lawsuit is ongoing.

“The abuses of workers at Epicurean is very closely tied to our just employment policy,” former GUSA Vice President and current Kalmanovitz Initiative administrator Vail KohnertYount (SFS ’13) said. “We’ve committed ourselves to being a place of justice that doesn’t allow people to be treated like that, and yet it happens here on our campus,” Kohnert-Yount, who worked on the union campaign as a student, re-assured attendees of the overwhelming power of the collective student voice.

“In six short years, the attitude that changed. Georgetown went from threatening to expel students who were standing up for its workers on its campus to sending a letter to its contractors saying, ‘Hey, we are about workers’ rights,” Kohnert-Yount said.

“That didn’t come about because they just turned magically from dictators. That came about because of the students.”

MyAccess Gets Slight Makeover Ryan Thomas

Special to The Hoya

The Office of the Registrar began to roll out of a number of largely visual changes to MyAccess last weekend ahead of an expected larger overhaul to the system.

These changes included collapsible menus and a feature that allows students to easily browse back through previous pages. The website now features a modernized layout, replete with a new color scheme, sparser text, larger menu buttons and more readable page descriptions.

“For many students and faculty, the look and feel of MyAccess has been a little drab,” Student Systems Director Patrick Versace said. “It will probably be about a year before we see the complete update.”

Versace said that he hopes to completely implement the changes by next fall, but the timing is not yet determined.

Georgetown MyAccess is a localized version of the Banner student software from Ellucian Systems, which the university adopted in 2009. Banner is used by many colleges and universities to manage student and faculty accounts.

“Each university can localize that part of the product to some extent, so our localization of the self-service component of Banner is what we call MyAccess,” University Registrar John Q. Pierce said.

The software is updated yearly by

the company that owns it. Most updates regard compliance with federal financial aid regulations, as well as minor system updates. This year, however, Banner will receive more substantive updates from Ellucian.

“The adjustments that have been made are not changes that have been designed at Georgetown, but rather we’re implementing new code that has been released by the company,” Pierce said.

One major feature that may be introduced within the next year features increased integration with Degree Works, a degree audit page that allows students to view what requirements they have left to fulfill.

“You might start in Degree Works and be able to find what you want to take, click through and it will register you there.” Pierce said.

The course registration process may soon change as well.

“There are a number of changes being discussed internally, including changing to a real-time registration system,” Versace said.

However, the university is exercising caution before introducing any major changes.

“We’ll be reaching out to the student tech committee to form test groups for the new features.” Versace said. “We think that as students and faculty see the updates, they will really like what they see.”

Many of Banner’s updated features are for the administrative side of the program and will not be seen

by students.

“It’s still in development, but one of the features we are hoping to roll out in time for grading in December is nothing that the students that will notice, but it provides the ability for faculty to extract a spreadsheet from Blackboard for example and upload the grades directly into Banner,” Pierce said. “We tested it this spring, and people said that their time spent entering grades went from an hour to 10 minutes.”

Last year, the Office of the Registrar, in conjunction with Students of Georgetown Inc., introduced Classy, a service that allows students to search for classes on an outside site and more easily visualize potential schedules.

The registrar’s office plans to support any updates and increased use of this service, although no specific plans are currently in place.

“One of the problems was that students were thinking they were registering for a course that turned out to have had a schedule change in Banner,” Pierce said. “My interpretation is that students found it useful, so I would like to continue to support it.”

Corp Marketing Director Emily Coch (COL ’15) said that the service will continue.

“We’re continuing to develop the features of Classy to better meet the needs of all students,” Coch said.

“We’re collaborating with the university on increased integration. … When December comes around, you’ll see it again, hopefully with some updates.”

BUSINESS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013

MSB Hunts for Followers, But Do They Listen? @MSBGU TWITTER FOLLOWERS OVER TIME

MOST-FOLLOWED ACCOUNTS

20,000

FOLLOWER COUNT

30,000

40,000

INITIAL 7,000 FOLLOWERS

10,000

SEPTEMBER 8, 2013

JAN. 2011

JAN. 2012

DATE

Hoya Staff Writer

SHEENA KARKAL/THE HOYA

Although the McDonough School of Business’ recent social media campaign has placed it on the top-10 list of business schools for social media reach, analysis of the campaign reveals that it has not brought the intended engagement with these followers.

MBA50, the website that ranked the MSB at No. 8 for its social media reach, based its list on the number of followers, likes and subscribers, rather than the way those followers interact with the account.

The MSB’s 44,000 followers put it

at fifth on MBA50’s top business school Twitter accounts.

While these numbers are impressive, the MSB’s Klout score, which measures user interaction through social media, is 53 out of 100. Twitter accounts operated by The New York Times and President Barack Obama, which engage followers through retweets and favorites on every post, have a Klout score of 99.

On a more comparable level, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sloan School of Management has 41,000 Twitter followers and a Klout score of 78.

MSB administrators acknowledged the usefulness of the Klout

Find Success in Failure

O

off as projects in college dorm rooms before their founders left school. It has become almost cliche, and the general impression, both within and beyond the startup world, is that college students have some innate ability to magically change the world.

The secret to the magic

Daniel Yu

You have to be ready to fail, and then fail again and again, until you figure out what works. and success of these dorm room startups was that the students who founded them were in concentrated communities of like-minded and talented people, at an age when they had maximum freedom with limited responsibilities. These communities exist at schools all across the world, but

Barack Obama

1

Katy Perry

2

Georgetown University

2

Justin Bieber

3

Wall Street Journal

3

Barack Obama

4

The New York Times

4

Twitter

5

The Economist

5

YouTube

6

Harvard Biz Review

6

Instagram

7

CNN Breaking News

7

Taylor Swift

8

Bill Gates

8

Samsung Mobile

9

The Washington Post

9

Britney Spears

10

Georgetown Hoyas

10

Jennifer Lopez

@BarackObama @Georgetown @WSJ

@nytimes

@TheEconomist @HarvardBiz @cnnbrk

@billgates

@washingtonpost

@georgetownhoyas

@katyperry

@justinbieber

@BarackObama @twitter @youtube @Instagram @taylorswift13 @samsungmobile @britneyspears @jlo

The MSB’s initial 7,000 followers also followed Georgetown-related and businessrelated accounts. The business school’s next 35,000 followers, acquired after the MSB launched a paid Twitter campaign, followed Katy Perry and Justin Bieber and many were located in Indonesia and India.

“We developed a targeted campaign to engage with that audience through promoted accounts, which appear in the suggested ‘who to follow’ box on the side of a person’s feed, as well as through promoted tweets, which place our tweets within targeted Twitter feeds. The tweets we promoted highlight high-profile events on campus and our own social media campaigns,” MSB Chief Marketing Officer and Associate Dean Chris Kormis wrote in an email.

The campaign targeted Twitter users likely to be interested in the MSB, looking at people who follow Forbes magazine. Barracuda Labs,

score as a measure of success in social media.

“One of the best success metrics is seeing how users engage with your content,” Rob Mathis said, Georgetown Social Media Director.

If MBA50’s rankings were adjusted to measure by Klout score, or engagement, rather than the number of followers, or reach, the MSB would likely place 21st rather than eighth.

In the month leading up to the MBA50’s social media ranking, the McDonough School of Business added 35,000 followers, jumping from 6,964 followers Sept. 8 to 44,877 followers Oct. 3.

COMMENTARY

ne year ago, I was starting a company, learning how to be an entrepreneur, working a side job while attending the University of Chicago full time. It took a while, but I eventually realized that I was not spending enough time on any of those activities to really feel satisfied with the work I was doing.

I reached the conclusion that meaningful progress required commitment and sacrifice.

At the end of that term, I left my job, and I left school. Taking a leave of absence was one of the most difficult choices of my entire life, though it turned out to be the best decision I’ve ever made. It freed me to spend my time doing what I wanted to do; I’ve never worked harder, been more productive or enjoyed myself more than in the past nine months since I’ve been out of school.

For many students, their goals require a college degree, and that’s perfectly fine. As the famous stories of millennial entrepreneurs demonstrate, though, the path to success no longer dictates that you receive a college diploma.

There’s no need for me to give examples of successful startups that started

1

DATA: JASON DING

JAN. 2013

After the McDonough School of Business began paying to promote its account on Twitter, the school’s followers jumped from 6,964 to 44,877 in less than one month.

TM GIBBONS-NEFF

LATEST 35,000 FOLLOWERS

the catalyst to realizing this potential requires individuals with a passion to make something happen.

This means a genuine dedication to accomplishing something for its own sake, not because someone offers you $100,000 or because you think one day it will make a good movie. It requires you to realize that you can’t have it all, and that in order to really give it your best shot, you have to shed all of your labels — student, athlete, musician, entrepreneur — until you’re left with the core of what you want to be, and then allow it to consume your life. It demands a leap of faith, and a reckless personality or plain naivete to tackle the inherent uncertainty in trying to start something new.

You have to be ready to fail, and then fail again and again, until you figure out what works. You may repeatedly ask yourself what exactly it is that you’re doing with your life, but all that really matters is that you wouldn’t have it any other way.

DANIEL YU is the founder of Project SAM, a platform for health clinics in the developing world to manage their inventory through basic mobile phones.

INSIDER

a social-media analytics company, analyzed the MSB’s recent gain in followers to note that of the 35,000 added, Forbes was not among the top 25 accounts followed in common by the followers and the MSB. Rather, the top two accounts in common were Justin Bieber and Katy Perry, who both have approximately 45 million followers, many of which are fake accounts.

However, accounts about business and Georgetown were found in common among the MSB’s original 7,000 followers before the launching of the campaign. While See MSB, A8

TRADING

What advice do you have for MSB students?

Network, network, network. Get to know students across main campus (not just in the MSB), introduce yourself to business people who come to speak, and also get to know your faculty. Making these connections is the gateway to future success.

ROBERT J. BIES is a professor of management in the MSB.

Students should use their D.C. location to get involved in programs designed to address local, national and international social problems. Many of the concepts taught here set students up for internships at one of the vast array of government agencies and nonprofit organizations actively addressing these issues. These organizations are prime prospects for first jobs for students.

ALAN ANDREASEN is a professor of marketing in the MSB.

Get to know who you are, so you find the right career track.

The perfect job for your roommate may be the worst thing for you. Beyond that, enjoy establishing connections with your Georgetown network, especially upperclassmen who can provide on-the-ground information about the job situation. Believe it or not, the stuff we teach in the classroom turns out to be quite useful down the road.

JAMES J. ANGEL is an associate professor in the MSB.

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