The Hoya: The Guide: October 11, 2013

the guide FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013

THIS WEEK LIFESTYLE

A Caffeinated Culture

Saxbys founder Nick Bayer created his company with a vision of bringing good lattes and better service to students. B2

Campus-Ready Shakespeare

Both “Hamlet” and “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead” will be performed this theater season. B3

FOOD&DRINK

Sticking With the Basics

Rialto, a new Italian restaurant, focuses more on the quality of their dishes than innovative traditional recipes. B4

ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT

Just Being Miley

Bangerz, Miley Cyrus’ newest album, blends genres for plenty of pop hits. B5

The CW Does It Again

“The Originals,” a spinoff of “The Vampire Diaries,” features a vampire family living in New Orleans. B5

NEW RELEASES ‘EDEN’ BEN KHAN 

Lasting Effects ‘I

t felt so good. I just kept rolling my head around and around and around.”

“I opened my eyes, and I felt like a newly empowered individual.”

“Music came on, and my arms started moving and flailing. I was watching my arms move.”

“The worst thing in the world could have happened, and I would have had absolutely zero clue that it was bad until the next morning.”

This is how a collection of Georgetown students described their highs on MDMA. “Intense euphoria, feelings of connectedness and empathy and [increased] energy,” on the other hand, is how Carissa Winland, a neuroscience Ph.D. candidate at Georgetown who teaches the course “Drugs, the Brain and Behavior” characterized the effects of the drug, which increases levels of the happiness-inducing neurotransmitter serotonin in the spaces between brain cells in the same way as prescription antidepressants like Prozac, often causing mild hallucinations. Like cocaine, MDMA affects con-

centrations of dopamine, the neurotransmitter involved in movement and sense of reward.

MDMA, short for 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine, first gained notoriety in the 1970s when psychologists administered it to patients to reduce anxiety and inhibition.

It was outlawed in the United States in 1985, but by the late 1990s, it had become popular on the rave scene in its street-pill form, ecstasy. Following a brief decline, it made a comeback in the late 2000s in its powdery form — known colloquially as Molly.

But Winland and Amanda DiBattista, who also teaches “Drugs, the Brain and Behavior,” are quick to point out MDMA’s negative side effects, including difficulty concentrating, an urge to grind your teeth, changes in sleeping patterns, hyperthermia and overdose in the short term. A prolonged period of depression, known as “Suicide Tuesday,” can last up to a week after use of the drug. Winland adds that there is strong evidence of long-lasting neurological damage

BRADEN MCDONALD & GRIFFIN COHEN Hoya Staff Writer

Special to The Hoya

from MDMA: Several studies show that adults who took Molly in their teens or early 20s on a recreational basis (i.e., a few times a month and without being addicted) had damaged serotonin systems into their 30s, despite having abstained from the drug for months or years.

DiBattista rattles off studies in which the drug has been linked to memory problems and neurotoxicity, or death of brain cells.

Despite these risks, recreational use of the drug has skyrocketed in the United States in recent years. In a June 23 article, The New York Times reported that MDMA-related visits to U.S. emergency rooms have doubled since 2004; United States Customs and Border Protection reports 2,670 confiscations of MDMA in 2012, a dramatic jump from 186 in 2008.

Academics speculate that the rise in the drug’s use has been linked to the popularization of electronic dance music, or EDM, in See MOLLY, B2

LIFESTYLE

BEN KHAN

Following his sultry, bluesy album Drive Part I comes British singer Ben Khan’s new single, “Eden.” While Khan may strive to evoke a breathy, almost slinky groove, “Eden” is far from musical paradise. Frequent horns annoyingly blare over the melody. The electronic tone of the song is too sluggish for dancing but not melodious enough for a ballad. “Eden” ends up sounding like cheesy background music for a dated 1980s detective movie.

‘BLOW IT SOUTH’ WHITE LUNG 

College Problems No Match for Apps Student-created mobile tools bring the social scene to our fingertips KELLY LUI

Hoya Staff Writer

In an age when individuals are inseparable from their smartphones, mobile apps have virtually permeated every aspect of our lives — from Facebook to Snapchat, Fruit Ninja to Google Maps — but it is sometimes easy to forget that in addition

to all the people using them, there are also teams behind the creation of the apps. Georgetown alumni among the latter have used their technological know-how to turn vision into reality.

Bobby Pinter (COL ’16) spent the summer working on his solo project, EventString, a mobile app that focuses on easier, more personal-

ized time management and logistics planning. The app is still under development, but Pinter is aiming to launch it by December.

The Loop, created by Seun Oyewole (SFS ’14) and Keegan Carter (MSB ’14), is an event app that provides information about activities, both public and private, in the area so that college students will not fall

DERANGED RECORDS

White Lung, the loud, aggressive Vancouver all-women punk band, is back with a bang. Although their passionate howling and screechy guitar accompaniment might not appeal to all music lovers, their vigor and enthusiasm cannot help but be infectious. Abandoning the tormented tone of their previous album, White Lung embraces their rage and fury in “Blow It South” for an almost urgently-paced, authoritative single.

THEHOYA.COM/ THE-GUIDE @thehoyaguide

KELLY LUI/THE HOYA

Seun Oyewole (SFS ’14) and Keegan Carter (MSB ’14) are the creators behind The Loop, an event app that keeps students aware of what’s going on both on campus and in the D.C. area.

out of the social loop. Their project was runner-up in the Commercial Track of the Hoya Challenge 2013, and the program is now available for free in the Apple App Store.

Catherine Cook (MSB ’11) is a co-founder of MeetMe, previously known as MyYearBook.com, a social networking app and associated website that enable users to make new friends. The app is immensely successful, and in 2011, was acquired

by Quepasa for $100 million. The team of developers now consists of 100 people and is based in in New Hope, Penn. They are now working on another mobile app, Unsaid, for which details are still under wraps.

While the scale of teams and ventures differ and the ways they choose to reach their goals vary, many share a similar starting point.

“Initially, it was just like, we had a problem, and I think we have a solution, so how do we make it happen,” Carter said.

Although The Loop has been successful, Carter and Oyewole did not initially set out for profit.

“It’s not necessarily that we are doing it for the money. We are doing it to solve a problem, and in order to solve the problem we have to make money,” added Oyewole.

The two came up with the idea of The Loop in their sophomore year at Georgetown. It was inspired by a need to stay up to date on the college social scene and create a central location where people can find everything that is going on in D.C. See APPS, B3

B2

the guide

THE HOYA

FRIDAY, october 11, 2013

FEATURE

The Highs and Lows of Georgetown’s Molly Culture MOLLY, from B1 recent years. What was once a boutique movement confined to underground raves has gone mainstream.

For all its colorful glory, the drug has come under media — and user — scrutiny in recent months, due to a string of overdose-related deaths at EDM concerts. Electric Zoo, an annual New York City music event that attracts over 100,000, was cut short this September following the deaths of Olivia Rotondo, 20, and Jeffrey Russ, 23, from MDMA overdoses and related hyperthermia on the festival’s second day. Closer to campus, 19-year-old Shelley Goldsmith, a student at the University of Virginia, died Aug. 31 at D.C.’s Echo Stage from an MDMA overdose.

The recent deaths have revealed another major risk related to the drug: Users, especially recreational ones, rarely know the actual contents of the pills or powder they ingest. Molly, despite its street reputation for being purer than ecstasy, can be laced with a wide spectrum of contaminants. Winland mentions MDDM, a byproduct that forms during the manufacture of MDMA, as a culprit, adding that postmortem reports have found that several deaths from MDMA show high levels of impurities in the death-inducing drug.

Andrew (SFS ’16), a self-described “lover of rave culture,” never gave a second thought to popping his first ecstasy pill freshman year, or several more thereafter. But for Andrew, the string of incidents this summer served as a wake-up call. He was present at Echo Stage when Goldsmith was carried away on a stretcher, and witnessed a friend and fellow Georgetown student grow violently ill from using the drug that same night.

“I basically took things at face value until I saw what was happening, and sometimes it takes tragedy to knock you to your senses,” he said.

Suspecting his friend had been the victim of an impure batch of MDMA, Andrew invested in a device called the Marquis Reagent Testing Kit. Sold online

by DanceSafe, a nonprofit that seeks to bring an educational approach to hard drug use, the kit, worth $20, arrived at Andrew’s doorstep within two days. By the end of September, Andrew had test-

ed seven samples of MDMA from various dealers — including on one occasion in the back of a dealer’s car — and was taken aback by the results.

“Of the seven batches I tested, five had zero traces of MDMA at all and were a completely different chemical, one had very trace amounts of MDMA — about 20 percent — and one of them was pure MDMA. So, like, do the math there,” he said.

Andrew claims that the impure samples mostly turned up high concentrations of methylone, an antidepressant developed in 1996 and a common “replacement” for Molly said to be behind the deaths at Electric Zoo. “People aren’t getting what they’re expecting to, and what they are getting can often be very dangerous and unpleasant,” Andrew said. “The fact is, because it’s a different drug, you don’t know what dose you should be taking.

People who think that they’re veterans [of MDMA use] aren’t taking the right amount. Basically they’re dealing with a completely different animal, and that’s dangerous.”

Like many of his peers, Andrew obtains most of his MDMA from smallscale dealers on campus, and has no way of tracing the many channels through which the drug

“

it, great.’ One hundred percent cocaine isn’t good for you, and neither is 100 percent MDMA. I’m opposed to what 100 percent represents. That’s just an excuse to do more and more powerful Molly and assume you’re reducing risk.

I’m pretty sure it still burns holes in

I basically took things at face value until I saw what was happening, and sometimes it takes tragedy to knock you to your senses.

2,670

number of mdmarelated hospital visits in 2012

186

number of mdma-related visits in 2008

passes before he consumes it.

“The networks are so huge and complicated. No one really knows where exactly the drug is coming from,” he said. “People think, ‘Oh, it’s just in my hands,’ and they don’t really think about the route it takes to get there.

Because there is no quality control because it’s illegal, consumers need to do their own quality control.”

But Nathaniel (COL ’14), an infrequent Molly user, objects to the use of test kits because he fears it could create a false sense of security.

“It creates this sense of ‘Oh, I tested

”

your brain even if it’s pure,” he said.

According to Patrick Kilcarr, director of the Center for Personal Development at Georgetown, an added danger linked to Molly is its reputation as the drug of choice for those on the college track.

“Molly is becoming more and more of a drug that you know educated people are taking, but what they’re not educated about is what exactly is in the pill,” he said.

Georgetown’s Director of Health Education Services Carol Day says recreational MDMA users at Georgetown like Andrew are rare. Day has never personally met with a student who came to speak about issues related to the drug, though she has seen several cases of alcohol abuse, and speculates that student perceptions about their peers’ use of hard drugs in general is inflated.

“I haven’t seen it, but that doesn’t mean it’s not there. But oftentimes there’s a perception among students in our community … that other people are using [hard drugs] way more than they actually are,” she said.

Indeed, a 2012 survey on college drug use sponsored by the National Institute on Drug Abuse at the National Institutes of Health reported that only 5.8 percent of full-time college students had taken MDMA in the past year and 1.4 percent in the last 30 days.

At Georgetown, students who avoid the drug said they regard it as unnecessary and dangerous.

“I enjoy being in complete control of my actions for the night, and so … I’m just not very interested in it,” Kenyon Smutherman (SFS ’17) said, adding that he does not know of anyone at Georgetown who has used the drug.

Rob (SFS ’14), who has experimented

with alcohol and marijuana, said his lack of exposure to the drug stems from its limited popularity in his social circles.

“I’ve just honestly never considered it. I suppose it has to do with my social circles, an intense workload while at school, living with the parents while at home,” he said. “If someone I trusted offered it to me at a party, I might be compelled to try it, but even in that case it would be due to a social experience more than anything else.”

Maria (COL ’14), who has used MDMA in college only once, agreed that Molly culture is largely hidden at Georgetown.

“If you seek it out, you’ll find it somewhere, but it’s not omnipresent. If you’re a rave person and you find friends who rave, you will probably find Molly. But not necessarily if you don’t want to.”

Nationally, only 32 percent of students claimed that they viewed MDMA as being “readily available” in 2012, down sharply from a peak of 52.5 percent in 2001.

Department of Public Safety Chief of Police Jay Gruber said that his department has never dealt with a case of MDMA use or related drugs on campus to date, though DPS does strictly punish the illegal use

“You feel really happy and connected with the people around you,” she said.

“And to be honest, when you’re going to these concerts — especially if it’s a daylong music festival where you’re dancing all day — you get really tired, and if you were just drinking you’d get exhausted. If you’re doing drugs, you have more stamina and are less likely to think about the fact that you’ve been standing all day.”

DiBattista added that the popularity of MDMA at electronic concerts may be linked to its stimulation of synesthesia, a neurological phenomenon whereby one sensory system creates experiences in another.

“When many sounds are put together to form music, an equal number of colors come together to form a visual stimulus — something like fireworks,” she said.

Robynn Stilwell, an associate professor in Georgetown’s music department, emphasized the relationship between MDMA use and concertgoers’ desire for a communal experience.

“One of the really seductive elements of MDMA in all its guises is the way that it fosters a sense of connection and community,” Stilwell said. “People want the ‘getaway’ aspects of a percent of college communal experience as well as students who a personal one.” have taken mdma in For Andrew, enhanced education about the drug and its possithe past year ble impurities is paramount percent who have to maintaining the integrity taken it in the of narcotics of rave and EDM culture. whenever it “I think the rave culture past 30 days is encouncan be a positive experitered and cooperates with ence for people. I think it’s other campus partners to address drug something valuable, and it’s because I abuse. love that culture and I love what it does Nathaniel theorizes that hard drugs for me. People actually get value out of like MDMA are not nearly as popular it in moderation,” he said. “That’s why as alcohol as a release mechanism of I want to protect it through smarter choice for Georgetown revelers because decisions, like using test kits.” of students’ busy schedules.

Anita had given little thought to the “I think people here do party a lot, possible risks of impure MDMA. but there also is a work-or-business qual“Sometimes I can take a much smallity here. There are very few people who er amount, and other times a much are completely ‘on vacation.’ Here, you larger amount and that must have to don’t really have your weekends free. do with what it actually is. Talking to There are more fetters or constraints on you I’m wondering why I do this,” she you,” he said. said, laughing. “I’m definitely getting Still, the drug attracts a following on one of those kits.” the Hilltop.

Anita (SFS ’14) grew up heavily im- The names of all admitted drug usmersed in the rave scene overseas and ers who are Georgetown students decided to complement her EDM expe- have been fictionalized to protect the riences with Molly in her sophomore identities of these individuals from law year of college. enforcement or employer searches.

5.8

1.4

Almost adult

Taking a Step out of Building Community Coffee Shops Your Comfort Zone lifestyle

Emily Triosi

N

ot many people have a ever attended the “Doctor Who” month dedicated to them, happy hour on Friday nights.

As I reported back to Pat, we but I do. This past July was designated “Month of Mary “by decided that I would require yet my friend Pat Fogerty (SFS ’14). another extension. It would be We came up with the challenge called “Months of Mary” because, while celebrating a birthday at as usual, I would need more time.

The Tombs around 1 a.m. on a I feared I had wasted two months.

Monday. I don’t recall how the idea Instead of going on dates every emerged but, by the end of the weekend night, there were quite a night, the month already had its few evenings I did my own thing, which included lip syncing Jaown hashtag (#MoM).

What do you do with an entire net Jackson’s entire 1989 album, month dedicated to you? Do you re- Rhythm Nation 1814, eating a leftceive presents? Do people give you over container of ricotta cheese compliments everyday? Neither of while watching the film Terms us knew, but I wanted to believe of Endearment and going to see gifts and praise would be involved. the One Direction film This is Us Pat, on the other hand, wanted in 3-D. While I don’t regret any of these 31 days to be about going out- these activities, I’m sure it could side of my comfort zone. He wanted have been time better spent. me to grow as an individual, but I reflected on the state of my he also wanted me to focus on my “Months.” Had I really achieved relationships with the nothing? During that opposite sex. Unfortutime, I explored D.C. nately, my life does not and Virginia. I made resemble a romantic multiple batches of comedy starring Kate homemade cookies Hudson, and the best lauded by my friends I could do was go on Mary Burgoyne and family. I made two a Grouper date with a loaves of excellent chalguy who thought that Dublin was lah bread, and I’m not even Jewish. located in Germany. It wasn’t a total Apart from my culinary success, loss, though, because we both dis- my most important achievement covered that we like drinking water was cultivating friendships with and absolutely adore breathing. my coworkers, roommates and While we did see eye-to-eye on basic family members. I went on friend needs, nothing came out of this geo- dates to brunch, museums and graphically challenged date, which parties. I had a great time, and I happened at the end of my month. didn’t have to impress anybody. I Seeing potential in me, Pat was kind left my comfort zone and found a enough to grant me an extension in different kind of love. the form of “Month of Mary, Part II: And then it occurred to me my Rise of the Burgoyne.” Now, I really month is called Month of Mary, had to deliver. August was the time to not Month of Mary and some ranmake love happen in my life. do. I improved myself during this For some reason, I thought I personal challenge, and that’s all I could find that guy at the Black really needed to do. To any person Cat’s weekly “Buffy the Vampire who says that I failed my month(s), Slayer” happy hour that takes place you know who else isn’t really aton Saturday evenings during the tached to anybody? George Cloosummer. I should have left when ney. Leonardo DiCaprio. Joseph the episode they were viewing was Gordon-Levitt. James Franco. I’d from my least favorite season, but say I’m in good company. #MoM as a true “Buffy” fan, I, of course, stayed. And then, I really should Mary Burgoyne is a senior in the have left when one of the four men College. ALMOST ADULT appears present at this event asked me if I every other Friday in the guide.

Special to The Hoya

If you’ve ever been to Georgetown’s coffee shop of choice, you’ve probably noticed Saxbys Coffee has excellent customer service and the ideal atmosphere for studying or hanging out with friends. These are two things on which Nick Bayer, founder and CEO of Saxbys, prides his company. Saxbys already dishes out 15,000 cups of coffee, lattes, smoothies and frozen yogurt every day, and this company and its leader show no signs of slowing down.

When and how did you decide you wanted to start a chain of coffee shops?

I got involved in the coffee business about eight years ago. The reason I got involved is not because I was a coffee head or a coffee snob or anything like that. I was sort of a business junkie. I was very entrepreneurial, and my first-ever coffee experience led me to getting in this business. It wasn’t because I had the best latte ever or saw the coolest latte art — it was because I immediately fell in love with the great vibe of a cool coffee shop.

What distinguishes Saxbys from other coffee shops and coffee chains?

Most people try to distinguish themselves on product, but we actually try to distinguish ourselves first and

foremost on people. We like to hire friendly, outgoing, nice people that want to give great customer service.

We feel like we have as good a product as anybody in the industry, but we know we have better customer service and we think that’s why our business does as well as it does and why people keep coming back and supporting the Saxbys brand.

Is Saxbys involved in any community outreach programs?

We have been philanthropic before we were profitable. We always say yes to a charity. If a charity asks us to get involved, we won’t always write huge checks, but we will always at least donate a giftcard or a coffee basket. Corporately, we are huge supporters and corporate partners with Big Brothers Big Sisters. If you pick up a bottle of water, we specially designed a bottle of water and created a program called Thrive by Saxbys.

That water is sold exclusively at every Saxbys across the country, and for every bottle of water that is sold, we donate 10 cents to Big Brothers Big Sisters. I care deeply about the organization because I have been a Big Brother for seven years, and I’m actually on the board of the organization. We partner with them corporately, and then each of our franchisees partners with local charities that will do good for their individual communities.

PHILADELPHIA STYLE MAGAZINE

Nick Bayer, founder of Saxbys Coffee, strived to build a coffee shop with a relaxing atmosphere and great customer service.

What is the origin behind the name “Saxbys”?

I wanted to have a name that was easily pronounceable, obviously non-offensive, but unique. Saxbys came from a creative brainstorm amongst me and a couple other people. We looked at things like Starbucks and Saks Fifth Avenue and Tiffany’s and companies that exuded a persona of quality, and we just played with letters.

Do you have any advice for anyone who is interested in entrepreneurship or starting a business?

For people who are looking to start their own business, you can never get enough experience. I should have, in retrospect, gone and worked for Starbucks for six months, nine months, 12 months, learning the business from the inside from a great coffee company.

If you want to work in the sandwich business, I would recommend you go and work for a sandwich company you hold in pretty high regard. You can never learn enough on what I like to call somebody else’s dime.

How do you see Saxbys expanding or developing in the coming years?

We’re trying to grow on brand recognition that we’ve developed in D.C. and Philadelphia. Are we looking to become a national and, one day, an international presence? That would be very cool. Are we looking to eclipse Starbucks? No, honestly that’s not one of our goals. We’re looking to be a neighborhood coffee shop that values our people and the people that support our coffee shops, in as many places as Saxbys can successfully do that.

What makes you the most proud of your business?

What makes me most excited is seeing the next generation come about because of Saxbys. We have franchisees in Ohio that are putting their daughter through college in no small part based on the success of their Saxbys locations — and her goal when she graduates college is to come and own her own Saxbys. Seeing those franchisees being able to support their families and put their kids through colleges and seeing all these young people embracing Saxbys as a daily part of their routine motivates me to continue to grow this business.

the guide

friday, october 11, 2013

lifestyle

THE HOYA

lifestyle

Bringing the Bard to Campus Jacqueline Kimmel Special to The Hoya

KELLY LUI/THE HOYA

This past summer, Bobby Pinter (COL ’16) created EverString, an app that assists users with time management and logistics planning.

Entrepreneurs Create Successful Startups APPS, from B1 as well as on campus.

“It all started off from wanting to know about all the parties.” Carter said.

“There is always something going on, it’s just that you are not always aware of it.”

For Cook, MeetMe also began as a solution to a real problem. When MyYearBook.com first launched in 2005, she was only a high school student.

“My brother Dave and I were new in our high school in New Jersey. I was a sophomore, and he was a junior, and we were having some trouble making friends, so we got the idea to create a place for people to meet new people from their town,” Cook said. That simple idea eventually grew into a network with more than one million daily active users.

Pinter was inspired to create EventString when everybody was making travel plans around spring break of last year.

“You know when you are thinking of travelling [and] you have to make these gigantic mental calculations. And I just thought, isn’t there a better way to do it?” Pinter said. Keeping with this idea, he embarked on the long and often frustrating journey of bringing EventString to life.

Apart from a beginning computer science class in Georgetown, Pinter began the project without any prior appcreating experience. Fortunately, Apple provides ample support for aspiring app engineers.

“It was a very long growing process,” Pinter said. “I wanted to give up a lot.

But it was something I really wanted to

B3

do, and by the time August was there, I thought, if I quit now, I would have done officially nothing for the summer, and I just couldn’t have that.”

Cook, Oyewole and Carter took a slightly different path in developing their projects. Cook and her brother cooperated closely first with a development team in Mumbai, India and later a team in the United States, both of which were responsible for the more technical, coding aspects of the job. Oyewole and Carter likewise partnered up with an IT company that Oyewole previously interned with, which helped them turn their idea into the actual app.

A crucial part of the success and growth of a mobile app startup lies in marketing. Carter and Oyewole have been cultivating students’ awareness of the brand in Georgetown, putting up stickers and promotional flyers for The Loop around campus to pique students’ curiosity about the brand. They have also organized a variety of events, including mini concerts and interactive activities. The Loop also co-hosted EAT2BEAT, a street carnival in D.C. that took place during the Smile Project last Saturday. They are hoping to expand their target users from Georgetown students alone to all college students in D.C. and eventually to other areas as well.

To all the entrepreneurial-minded students or aspiring app-creators out there, alumni developers offer a simple message: Don’t be afraid of the risk involved in developing your idea.

“Do it. Just do it”’ said Oyewole. “And I’m not going to define what ‘it’ is. It’s whatever you decide it to be.”

When director Kathleen Joyce (COL ’15) cut herself shaving with an old razor, she was inspired to create her show. As the cut became infected, it appeared more and more gruesome.

“It kind of looked like a gunshot wound,” she said. “I had my hair and makeup people take a picture of it so they can replicate it on some of the people in the show. I guess there are some method actors, and I am a method director.”

Joyce’s devotion to her production of Tom Stoppard’s “Rosencrantz and Gildenstern are Dead” is certainly impressive. However, the junior is just one of dozens of Georgetown students dedicated to performing works inspired by Shakespeare on campus this fall. Nomadic Theater’s production of “Rosencrantz,” an absurdist comedy based on Shakespeare’s classic tragedy, will open Oct. 24. The theater department’s production of “Hamlet” will debut on Nov. 7. Both shows have set themselves a challenging, yet rewarding, task: updating Shakespeare’s stories to appeal to students in the 21st century.

“Hamlet” director, professor Derek Goldman, thinks the task is far from insurmountable. In fact, he believes that the themes are wholly applicable to the life of the college student today.

“My interest in doing ‘Hamlet’ here at Georgetown was rooted in the deep sense that the play is about students and would connect explicitly to student experience,” he said.

Student producer Hannah HauerKing (COL ’14) agreed.

“While, say, the ‘to be or not to be’ speech is so stigmatized now, it’s really just a speech about someone struggling with adolescent teenage suicide and disillusionment with their family,” she said. “These themes really transcend time.”

Many of the actors in the play have already begun to identify Hamlet’s challenges.

“Hamlet is a college-age student,” actor Josh Street (COL ’15) said. “At a school like Georgetown, we get so many pressures. We can really relate to the pressures on Hamlet and what he is going through. It’s actually amazing that we stay so sane.”

Those working on “Rosencrantz” have had a similar experience.

“This show is really about looking about your place in the universe,” Joyce said. “Anyone, particularly a college student, can identify with that.”

Still, the theater department wanted to approach the age-old story with a fresh perspective to make it even more relatable. Its production of “Hamlet” emphasizes the parallels between Hamlet’s isolation and the isolation of the modern person in the 21st century. “We’re using a lot of devices and ideas around social networking,” Goldman said. “Hamlet is fighting for a very strong connection with the real.”

In the age of iPhones and laptops, Goldman thinks students will empathize with the constant battle against distraction. Viewers may actually discover more about their role in modern society by watching a play that is hundreds of years old.

“We are using pretty advanced technology to make a commentary about how engrossed we all are in devices and how alienating it can feel in a world of these devices” Hauer-King said.

Joyce was more cautious about creating a radical interpretation of “Rosencrantz.”

“The play already deals with many existential issues,” she said “It is complicated on too many levels already.”

Still, she wanted to give the work her own spin. For example, she transformed the travelling acting troupe in the play into a not-fully-human circus of demented performers, some of whom will bear the aforementioned

GEORGETOWN PERFORMING ARTS

This fall, the theater department will produce a rendition of “Hamlet.” wound. She thinks these few changes will enhance the play while still staying consistent with Stoppard’s original absurdist intentions.

While it might seem redundant or strange to have two very similar productions open in the same theater in the same month, the choice was actually intentional. “When I heard that Professor Goldman was doing ‘Hamlet’ I thought [‘Rosencrantz’] would be a great accompaniment,” Joyce said. “I think the two plays complement each other.”

Joyce was in one of Goldman’s classes last year and they agreed to promote the two shows together to try to attract audiences to both.

Joyce believes audiences can experience the comparable issues in both plays without having to force a direct connection. “The audience will be able to appreciate the common themes in both shows,” she said.

Goldman is also excited about the timing of the two plays. “[‘Rosencrantz’] is so often regarded as an offshoot of ‘Hamlet,’” he said. “But because it is showing first, it will be able to shine in its own light.”

CRUISING IN A CLASSIC antigua, guatemala — alexander brown

STARTUPHOYAS.COM AND MEETMECORP.COM

The Loop and MeetMe were inspired by college students’ necessity to unify information about social gatherings in one place.

GLUTEN FREEDOM

Winning the Cupcake Wars: Wheat-Free Edition F

all has officially begun. It’s time to break out your favorite cozy sweaters and leather boots and breathe in the crisp autumn air all around us. At home, I would always welcome fall by siting outside on my front porch with a cup of tea and a homemade dessert. There are some major perks to having a sister who is a pastry chef and a mother who bakes yummy treats. Away at school, I recreate my autumn tradition by going for a walk around Georgetown and, of course, treating myself to a pumpkin spice latte and a little something sweeter on the side.

Washington, D.C., and, more specifically, Georgetown, have become famous for their cupcakes. Walking on M Street alone, you will find the “Big Three”: Georgetown Cupcake, Sprinkles Cupcakes and Baked & Wired. If you are in the know, then you probably skip the long lines outside Georgetown Cupcake and

avoid walking down 34th Street entirely — nobody wants to deal with all of those tourists — and venture to Sprinkles or my personal favorite cupcake shop, Baked & Wired.

My sweet tooth has brought me to all of these cupcakeries, and I must admit that not all cupcakes are baked equally. Fortunately, each place sells distinctive gluten-free cupcakes and other gluten-free treats, so you can still indulge with the rest of your friends. Here are my evaluations on the gluten-free treats in Georgetown:

Georgetown Cupcakes 3301 M St. NW Pros: closest to campus, opportunity to get your quintessential picture in front of Georgetown Cupcake and variety (gluten-free cupcake flavors change daily).

Cons: typically long lines, limited seating and the priciest for the smallest cupcake.

Overall: If you have time to wait in a long line, it is definitely worth the short walk from campus. My personal favorite is the gluten-free chocolate salted caramel. The cake is surprisingly light, but the frosting can eas-

Christina Wing ily overpower the airy cake. The best time to go is anytime during the week (there are way fewer tourists!) or bright and early on weekends.

Sprinkles Cupcakes 3015 M St. NW Pros: red velvet cupcake — enough said, separate storage for minimized cross-contamination between gluten-free and regular.

Cons: pretty far walk, only offers

red velvet gluten-free cupcakes and barely any seating.

Overall: Sprinkles is the only place in Georgetown serving a gluten-free red velvet cupcake. The cupcake itself is comparable to Georgetown Cupcakes — light cake but heavy frosting.

Even though there is extremely limited seating, the Old Stone House is closeby, and it has a gorgeous garden in the back where you can sit and enjoy your cupcake and the fall weather.

Baked & Wired 1052 Thomas Jefferson St. NW Pros: lots of gluten-free options (brownies, cupcakes, cookies and more), good bang for your buck and line moves quickly.

Cons: pretty far walk, gluten-free options vary depending on day and time and different lines for food and drink, which can be a doubly long wait.

Overall: I’ve yet to leave emptyhanded or unsatisfied from Baked &

Wired, it is always worth the trek. I prefer the brownies and blondies to the gluten-free cupcakes, but they are very dense so be sure to get a drink to help wash it down. If there aren’t any seats left and the weather is nice out, you can enjoy your treats on the Waterfront. Dessert and a view: Is there anything better than that?

No matter how you typically welcome fall, I definitely recommend going to any (and all) of these delicious places. They all have the necessary caffeinated beverages to help you work through midterms and give you a great excuse to actually enjoy fall weather and step outside the front gates, even if it is just down to M Street.

Christina Wing is a sophomore in the McDonough School of Business. GLUTEN FREEDOM appears every other Friday in the guide.

B4

the guide

THE HOYA

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013

RESTAURANTS

RECIPE BOX

Italian Plates Captivate

‘BAKED’ APPLES

Fall has finally arrived, which means the annual onslaught of apple cider, apple donuts and apple pie has occurred. Don’t let a lack of time or motivation prevent you from indulging in this beloved, seasonal obligation. This easy, microwave version of the classic baked apple is perfect for a healthy late-night snack or a break from the usual dessert fare at Leo’s.

INGREDIENTS

1 Fuji or Gala apple 1 tbsp. packed brown sugar 1 tsp. unsalted butter

RIALTO



1/8 tsp. cinnamon 1/2 cup water 1 tsp. raisins (optional)

CAITLIN DESANTIS Hoya Staff Writer

Core apple and remove peel from top 1/2 inch. In a bowl, mix sugar, butter and raisins if desired. Pack this mixture into core of apple.

Place apple right side up in a microwave-safe bowl. Pour in 1/2 cup water.

Sprinkle cinnamon over top of apple. Cover bowl with microwave-safe plastic wrap, leaving a small space for steam to escape.

Cook in microwave on high power for 5 minutes, or until apple is fragrant and soft (check every 2 minutes as microwave cooking times may vary.)

Remove apple from bowl, place on a small plate and pour 1 tsp. of the cooking liquid over apple. Serve warm.

RESTAURANTS

Dishing Up Delights From A Restaurant on Wheels JULIA MCCRIMLISK Special to The Hoya

Over 20 food trucks surrounded the parking lot down by the Navy Yard this past Friday night for the season’s final D.C. Truckeroo, a monthly food truck event, of the season. While it was a festive gathering featuring live music and tons of gourmet options, the festival also struck a solemn note, as it raised money for the families of the Navy Yard shooting victims.

My friend and I arrived with the intent to make the most of our experience and indulge in both dinner and dessert. After circling the parking lot for half an hour and taking in the plethora of options, we opted to divide and conquer. My friend stopped by the BBQ Bus for a classic pulled pork sandwich while I headed to the Tapas Truck right next to it. Her sandwich came up first, a mound of pulled pork seeped in a generous helping of smoky sweet barbecue sauce ladled atop a scoop of crunchy coleslaw and sprinkled with red onions. While BBQ Bus outdid itself with the classic pulled pork, it decided to shake things up with the baked beans, and the result was not quite the same. With a little too much spice, the baked beans weren’t exactly the tried-and-true classic we were expecting, and ultimately my friend decided to pass on finishing them.

The Tapas Truck had a longer wait. The menu offered six tantalizing options, ranging from a cone of shrimp served on a bed of garlic fries and drizzled with a sweet, spicy sauce to pulled pork sliders coated in a thick honey mustard sauce to beer-battered corn nuggets tossed in a cilantrolime sauce for those seeking a vegetarian option.

While its tagline “Authentic Spanish Cuisine,” might have been a bit of a stretch — everything just seemed to be fried — the sauces were rich and flavorful. I went for the shrimp and garlic fries, and even though a combination of the sweetness and deep-frying largely obscured the taste of the shrimp, the sauce was amazing and had a nice kick to it. I didn’t even mind that the sauce caused the fries to meld together at the bottom of my cone.

2915 M St. NW cuisine: Italian price: $$$$

We hit up the Sinplicity ice cream truck for dessert. I have to give them an A+ for presentation. They offered a menu with a variety of promising flavors, from snickerdoodle to Belgian chocolate, without being overwhelming.

You could choose between a scoop of ice cream accented with a piece of biscotti or an ice cream sandwich with homemade ice cream stuffed in a French macaroon. Despite the mouthwatering sandwiches, I decided to go for a scoop of ice cream because I really wanted to sample the snickerdoodle ice cream, and because the ice cream sandwiches are pre-made, you can’t select your flavors. The ice cream was surprisingly lackluster. It surpassed what you could get at the grocery store, but it lacked that rich, creamy taste that comes with a scoop of truly exceptional homemade ice cream. As a result, I ordered again, this time a scoop of peanut butter truffle ice cream. I was looking forward to it and although it was decent, it still had a relatively weak flavor. The price was also pretty steep — $6 for a single scoop — especially since the ice cream was generally disappointing and the scoops were relatively small. Maybe I’m an ice cream snob, but I’d say you’re better off walking down to Wisconsin and spending your money at Thomas Sweet.

Because we didn’t want to leave Truckaroo on a sour note, we stopped at Curbside Cupcakes on our way out. They outdid themselves on the presentation and had a great range of flavors from chocolate salted caramel to pumpkin walnut. I ended up with a cookies and cream cupcake that, while not quite light and fluffy, tasted homemade with crushed Oreos tossed into the batter. It was topped with a dollop of sweet, sugary icing and a mini Oreo cookie. I do have a disclaimer, though: While I loved the sugary icing — my only complaint was that there wasn’t quite enough — my friend described it as a sugar overload.

Even though the trucks didn’t all live up to my expectations, I’m making a return visit in the spring. The festival is a great experience and offers many different options for any food preferences and desires.

Rialto, owned by Ben Kirane and Moe and Joe Idressi — the masterminds behind Georgetown favorites Bodega and Thunder Burger — is a new Italian restaurant that joins the ranks of the many others near M Street and adds a modern flare to classical Italian cuisine. Decorated with metallic damask wall paper, the restaurant has luxurious urban vibes, supplemented by a fire place, candlelight chandeliers and a video screen of a fire, which adds a touch of warmth and charm to the interior.

Named after a district in Venice, Rialto aims to bring Italian flavors to the Georgetown neighborhood. The menu is based on a shared plate concept, although don’t expect family-style Italian portions. Rialto’s portions are much more modest but are still conducive to sharing, and most pastas are offered in two different sizes, the smaller of which could pass as a light lunch. Two or three small dishes per person would suffice depending on his or her appetite.

Rialto has a cold bar, which guests can see as they enter the restaurant. Termed piattini freddi — meaning small cold plates in Italian — dishes include chilled Maine mussel salad, marinated artichokes, caponata and a roasted beet salad. There is also a wide selection of cheeses, cured meats, olives, anchovies and six variations of mozzarella salads, including a more untraditional one with tomato, pesto and hazelnuts.

In addition, Rialto serves up piattini caldi, which are hot small plates, and includes a selection of seafood, chicken and vegetables. I tried the branzino, a seared Mediterranean sea bass with caramelized lemon and a side of broccoli rabe that was perfectly crispy. The bitter broccoli complemented the tangy lemon, adding some interesting flavors to the otherwise simply prepared fish.

CAITLIN DESANTIS/THE HOYA

Rialto focuses on creating simple and authentic Italian dishes with high-quality ingredients and presentation.

As should be expected from any good Italian restaurant, Rialto’s pasta is exceptional. Instead of following the trend of many new restaurants by attempting to renovate classic dishes, Rialto instead keeps things simple and relies purely on the quality of its products.

The spaghetti alle vongole is a fusion of clams, garlic, parsley and white wine. I chose the orecchiette e salsiccia, a combination of roasted Italian sausage, tomatoes, broccoli rabe and toasted pine nuts. The pine nuts added a richness to the pasta without being heavy like a traditional cream sauce, and the overall experience was delectable and true to an authentic Italian culinary experience.

Rialto also offers various pizzas, risotto and polenta dishes, and if you are looking for something more substantial for dinner, Rialto also has secondi plates. Options include a 10 oz. veal porterhouse with a mushroom cream sauce, fried polenta and broccoli rabe or a braised lamb shank with a red wine demi-glace, polenta and spin-

ach. While the secondi dishes are big enough to serve as an entree, they are recommended to be shared by the entire table.

To conclude the meal, Rialto has traditional Italian desserts like tiramisu, panna cotta and zeppole, warm sugared fried doughnuts with raspberry jam, along with some original Italian creations like fried chocolate hazelnut ravioli and poached pears topped with ricotta, Roman hazelnut and honey.

There are plenty of gelato options, from lemon lavender to sicilian pistachio. Dessert drinks include robust coffees and espressos which are the perfect finish to a great Italian meal.

Most of the small plates range from $5 to $11 with a few exceptions. The secondi plates are more expensive, ranging from $34 to $45. Because the menu is a la carte, dinner can be affordable, but it can also get pricey depending on how adventurous you are with ordering. Rialto is the perfect destination to enjoy of glass of red wine and some authentic Italian cooking.

HAPPY HOUR SPICED POMEGRANATE SPARKLER

marthastewart.com If last week’s unseasonably warm weather left everyone trying to relive summer, perhaps this seasonal drink will give everyone the closure needed to transition into autumn. The sparkling water looks back to warmer days, while the citrus gives the boost needed to face the arrival of fall.

In a small saucepan, heat 1/2 cup of pomegranate juice to a near boil. Add 1/2 cinnamon stick and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from the saucepan and allow it to cool for at least 1 hour. Then, pour spiced juice into a tall glass and add 1 cup of sparkling mineral water. Stir, add ice, and serve with a garnish of frozen cranberries.

PUMPKIN SPICE WHISKEY COCKTAIL

refinery29.com Colder weather is here, so it’s time for heavy sweaters, crunchy leaves and a resurgence of the pumpkin spice cult.

But the seasonal trend extends beyond lattes, pies, candles and jack-o-lanterns. For those seeking another way to warm up and unwind with cooling temperatures and midterms, Kahlua’s new Pumpkin Spice Rum and Coffee Liqueur is here to satisfy all of your cravings. Requiring only two ingredients and easy to prepare, the cocktail will be your new fall favorite.

Combine 1 part Kahlua Pumpkin Spice with 1 1/2 parts Jameson Irish Whiskey. Serve in an old-fashioned glass with a large ice cube.

FOODSPOTTING

The Tapas Truck is one of many that makes a stop at Truckeroo, a monthly foodtruck festival where people can sample dishes with influences from all over the world.

bestbets HSA NAVARATI GARBA

on campus

If you enjoy lively music and dancing, check out the Hindu Student Association’s Navaratri Garba night in celebration of the goddess Durga. Authentic Indian snacks will be provided and raas lessons will be offered if you’re interested in learning a colorful Indian dance. This is a perfect opportunity to learn more about Hinduism and meet new people.

‘DESPICABLE ME 2’ SHOWING

Gru (Steve Carell) returns in the sequel to everyone’s animated favorite, Despicable Me. Watch as he changes his super-villain ways and is recruited by the Anti-Villain League to help discover who stole a secret lab. To add to Gru’s midlife crisis, his daughter Margo enters the dating scene. Watch as villains are thwarted and hilarity ensues!

IMPROV SHOW

COFFEEHOUSE NIGHT FEAT. MELLEN

WHERE: Copley Formal Lounge WHEN: Friday, 7 p.m.

INFO: Hindu Student Association PRICE: Free ($2 deposit)

WHERE: ICC Auditorium WHEN: Friday, 8 p.m.

INFO: Georgetown Program Board PRICE: Free

WHERE: Bulldog Alley, Leavey Center WHEN: Saturday, 9 p.m.

INFO: Georgetown Improv Assn.

PRICE: $4 Student, Faculty, Staff

WHERE: Uncommon Grounds WHEN: Tuesday, 8 p.m.

INFO: Local Band Performs PRICE: Free

Want to attend a one-of-a-kind theatrical performance? Come see the Georgetown Improv Association’s October show! Watch as some of Georgetown’s best and most talented performers will make use of audience suggestions and their own quick and imaginative wits to create an unscripted, spontaneous night of comedy that truly is a unique opportunity.

For a break from midterms, head to Uncommon Grounds for a night of music and caffeine.

Mellen, a D.C.-based acoustic band, will be performing. Feeling the urge to show off your talents and have a chance to perform? Sign yourself up on Facebook and show off your star qualities. Whether you’re there for the music or the Pygmalions, it’s sure to be a good time.

the guide

friday, OCTOBER 11, 2013

music

THE HOYA

B5

television

mUSIC

Struggling Risky Tracks Match New Spinoff Scores To Live Up Miley’s Adult Image Another Hit for CW the originals To the Hype  bangerz   DAYS ARE GONE Haim JESS KELHAM-HOHLER Special to The Hoya

For months, Haim has been considered the band to look out for. These stylish Los Angeles sisters have been rumored to be the creators of an album that will change and challenge all current pop music, and with a No. 1 already in the U.K. album charts, it looks like they are set for international success. This is a beautiful album, but there might be a slight danger here of reputation and rumors overselling the goods.

This 11-track album, Days Are Gone, contains many easily identifiable hits: the ’80s revival pop meets rock-and-roll sound is unique and refreshing. In the context of current pop, Haim has successfully created an independent and interesting album. The contrast between their L.A. bohemian-hipster look and electro sound makes them stand out.

On top of that, the lyrics make for consistently satisfying listening, and bring the whole album together. We hear Danielle’s confession of being unable to deal with first love in “If I Could Change Your Mind.” Eight tracks later in “Let Me Go,” we hear the sisters struggle with a difficult relationship, telling the boyfriend over a heavy bass guitar to, “Let me go, you know I’m not the one for leaving.” Not one song falls into the cliched realms of pop music: When love and relationships are in question, the lyrics do so with a unique and more stripped-back sound. The harmonies are beautiful and relaxed, and the album is perfectly produced.

However, having listened to the album, I can’t help but feel that something is missing. Maybe it’s the fault of all the hype, but after hearing all the songs, I wasn’t left feeling very different.

After an extended listen, the songs start to merge into one similar tune. In part, the track order is to blame. The album starts with a powerful punch, putting the catchy and energetic songs such as “Falling,” “Forever” and “The Wire” first.

These tracks have motivating rhythm and catchy lyrics. But as the album continues, Haim begins introducing more of their slower songs with more repetitive lyrics, when they should be maintaining that impressive energy throughout. This variety is great, but somehow, as an album, it leaves you feeling as if you missed the point.

Despite these slight weaknesses, Haim are still definitely worth a listen. As a debut album, Days Are Gone is unquestionably a success, and this band is no one-hit wonder. This album needs to be on your playlist, but listen to these tracks by themselves, because they deserve that personal attention rather than being lost in the mass of the album. If nothing else, Haim deserves praise for managing to bring back the ’80s and making it cool.

starring: Daniel Gillies, Joseph Morgan

Miley Cyrus

Kim Bussing

Allison Hillsbery

Hoya Staff Writer

Special to The Hoya

With the don of her new image, Miley Cyrus is essentially flipping off the music world with a giant foam finger. With the release of her provocative fourth album — her first album out of Disney’s shadow — Cyrus proves she’s not only unashamed and unafraid to be completely herself with her music but that she’s experimenting with a new brand of pop and trying to establish herself as an artist.

What makes Bangerz such a success, despite the controversy surrounding its artist, is that it manages to transcend genres without seeming disorganized. There’s plenty of club-ready hits for those hoping for something to live up to “We Can’t Stop” — although her highly anticipated collaboration with Britney Spears, “SMS (Bangerz),” is the weakest track on the album, with so much overlaid rapping and vocals that it degenerates into mere noise.

There’s some country twang, a tribute to Cyrus’ Tennessee roots and perhaps even an ode to the late Hannah Montana, deceased as of last week’s Saturday Night Live. And then there are some crooning love songs, thrown in for good measure.

Admittedly, “Wrecking Ball” and “We Can’t Stop” are probably Bangerz most notable tracks, if only for the fact that they completely abolished everyone’s previous views of a good girl, the non-tongue-wagging Miley of the past. Aside from that, many of the tracks have a lot of individual merit. “4x4,” a collaboration with Nelly, has a hoedown feel, although Cyrus establishes with the lyrics that this isn’t an innocent country throwdown. The driving percussion, energetic beat and blending of Nelly’s and Cyrus’ vocals make it infectious.

“Do My Thang” is a risky track and Cyrus’ very obvious statement that she couldn’t really care less

Last Thursday marked the premiere of the new CW series, “The Originals,” and episode two aired Tuesday at 8 p.m., the show’s regular timeslot. A spin-off series of “The Vampire Diaries,” “The Originals” is set in New Orleans, and focuses on a family of vampires who have been living in extravagance, debauchery and familial strife for over a thousand years. In the opening scene of the premiere, the back story begins to unfold, and viewers discover that the sexy and powerful Mikaelson siblings arrived in Louisiana when it was nothing but a lowly penal colony. For several hundred years, they established New Orleans as their home. Forced to flee at the dawn of the twentieth century, they have returned to find their city under the control of a vampire from their past, Marcel. The plot quickly thickens, relational intricacies emerge and the lines between the expected good and evil are blurred.

The idea of a “Vampire Diaries” spin-off originated with the fans, whose suggestions for possible storylines and casting blew up the blogosphere last spring. The CW ran a backdoor pilot episode of the series during an episode of “TVD” that received enough attention for the network to approve “The Originals” for this fall’s line-up. “TVD” is by far the CW’s most popular series, and it is quite clear that “The Originals” is primarily being introduced to a previously established fan base. Paradoxically, this may hinder

RCA RECORDS

about what people think of her.

The lyrics are ridiculous, but it’s pulsing, it’s daring and the fact that Miley can pull it off makes it stand out as another of her partyready hits. “FU,” which features French Montana, fully captures the strength of Miley’s vocals in this rage-infused song that proves she don’t need no man.

The album gets its depth and range from its handful of softer tracks, although whether they stand up to “Wrecking Ball” is hard to decide since Cyrus seems a bit out of her element when moving away from the fist-pumping, hard-partying anthems. “My Darling,” a duet with Future, comes across as messy. The layering of the vocals is sloppy, and Cyrus lacks any emotive expression, so the effort comes across as labored. “Adore You” is almost exaggeratedly slow, but there’s a sweet, earnest sense of love to it that mellows out Cyrus’ image, and the image of the album.

The album is not the best album that has ever been released, but it’s definitely more than was expected and surpasses the mass-produced sound of recent releases by other pop sensations. But it does highlight Cyrus’ smoky vocals and what seems to be her push in the direction of music: She’s blending genres and influences, she’s creating something that’s shocking but still manages to hook listeners. Her first independent debut proves that she won’t be stopping anytime soon.

CW NETWORK

“The Originals” is a thrilling series about a family of vampires.

the show’s success as the series will need more than just “TVD” fans who are free on Tuesday nights.

The writers of “The Originals” seem to be well aware of this hidden danger, as the premiere excels in setting the show as a separate and self-contained drama.

Of course, there is the proverbial tension between the “good” and “bad” brothers, Elijah and Niklaus Mikaelson, respectively.

Elijah, played by Daniel Gillies, serves as the voice of reason and morality, much in the way that Stefan’s character does in “TVD.” He exists in stark contrast to Niklaus, who is portrayed by British actor Joseph Morgan. Niklaus’ character is really the center of the series; he is a sociopathic and unpredictable protagonist, one whom viewers still cannot help but loving.

Though it is hard to judge a series based on two episodes, “The Originals” seems to have its own set of potentially addictive characteristics. Enmity between Marcel and the Mikaelsons, vampires and witches, mortals and supernatural creatures and all conceivable clashes of these groups create a world where alliances are constantly shifting and loyalty is a relative term. The central conflict of the show is that Niklaus has fathered a child and now must protect his miracle offspring’s pregnant (werewolf) mother, despite his paranoia and belief that love for others creates exploitable weakness.

Perhaps the best part of “The Originals” is the flashbacks. A family with a millennium of baggage understandably comes with some fantastic back stories, and the ancient drama has a way of creeping back into everyone’s lives. “The Originals” is largely appealing because it is simultaneously a story of the past and present. In addition to the chronological development of the characters, viewers also get a unique glimpse into the development of New Orleans. Though The Big Easy was not the original location chosen by writers, it plays out as the perfect backdrop — a place where death, magic, debauchery and evil are not only able to exist unquestioned, but thrive.

“The Originals” has potential, but its sustainability has yet to be confirmed. If it can keep the flashbacks coming, take advantage of its setting and build up a fan culture unique to that of its popular counterpart, it may indeed make its mark on current television culture.

TOP SHELF

Finding Today’s Truth in the Timeless Novel

T

here is something inherently special about a story that leaves an especially lasting impact.

Any novel can be entertaining, cryinducing or engrossing, at least until the last page. Those novels that stick with you have a nuance of literary resiliency that demands the solid foundation of history and characters that share tradition and, if not values, at the very least a past.

These stories invite you to share in worlds that have a sense of immortality that can’t be trapped between the covers. They are psychologically intricate, as the long-lasting impacts of emotional and physical struggles must be transcribed from generation to generation of characters.

Although it spans significantly fewer years than more ambitious novels, Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women” was my first exposure to this kind of complex structure and is still one of my personal favorites. Admittedly, I think it’s technically designated as a children’s book (I did get it as a present for my eighth birthday) but it still managed to captivate both Joey and Rachel on “Friends,” and I revisit the March family every Christmas.

What’s so fundamentally en-

chanting about these books is that as opposed to a fictional one. The they can be constantly revisited due attempt to conform Macondo into to their hefty casts of characters and man’s image of what it should be and multi-decade (or century) spans. You the repetitive nature of history makes find something new each time you for an impressive literary feat, one that is merely bolstered by the multi-generreturn to them.

Compare “100 Years of Solitude” ational scope.

But for those who aren’t in the

by Gabriel García Márquez, with its magical realism, inherently flawed mood for tackling García Márquez, characters and alternately blessed Colleen McCullough’s “The Thornbirds” is in the same vein and cursed town of Mawhile being a bit easier condo, to the relatively to digest. Set primarily in simple lives of Beth, Amy, Drogheda, a sheep station Jo and Meg. Hometown to in Australia, the admittedthe Buendía family, it is ly dense novel spans from the setting for the drama of many generations of Kim Bussing the childhood of Meggie Cleary, the only daughter Buendías. “Solitude” is a beautiful book, although wild and in a large family, to the adulthood definitely not for everyone’s taste. of her children, along with sporadic Buzzfeed ranked it one of the most flashbacks to the back stories of her difficult novels to read, mostly be- parents, Paddy and Fee. It’s primarily cause every character has the exact a love story — Meggie and a priest end same name. This ends up being a up having a thing for each other — but self-fulfilling prophecy — as the same it also explicates the impact of parenmistakes and foibles are repeated for tal styles and relationships on the children. Meggie’s brothers, who grow one hundred years.

“100 Years of Solitude” doesn’t have up isolated on Drogheda, never leave a formal protagonist, rather, each their hometown. Meggie’s daughter chapter usually has a different main delves into tumultuous romantic relacharacter because a lot of people die, tionships after never seeing a healthy which almost gives it a historical feel one modeled.

“The Twelve Tribes of Hattie” by Ayana Mathis comes across as a modern reworking of “The Thornbirds.”

It tells the story of Hattie Shepherd, who fled from the South in 1923 and settled in Philadelphia to pursue the American Dream during the Great Migration. She marries a man who only brings her disappointment and twelve children, although any loving maternal feelings seem to dissolve.

The book, which is surprisingly short for a story that spans so many years, jumps across decades, letting the reader’s imagination fill in the various breaks. Yet the ripple effect on her children caused by Hattie’s lack of attention is obvious — there is a gay musician forced to hide his sexuality, a pill-dependent housewife and a mother suffering from extreme mental illness. Some chapters are painful to tackle, Mathis’ characters are so emotionally multi-faceted that she has frequently been compared to Toni Morrison. And if that doesn’t convince you to read it, Oprah also gave it her official book club stamp of approval.

Kim Bussing is a sophomore in the College. TOP SHELF appears every other Friday in the guide.

POLYGON RECORDS

charlotte glasser, jess kelham-hohler & emily troisi Special to The Hoya

around town SPOOKY SPY FAMILY NIGHT

gypsy sally’s

wonderfulL

TASTE OF DC 2013

WHERE: 800 F St. NW WHEN: Friday, 6 p.m.

INFO: spymuseum.org PRICE: $14

WHERE: 3401 K St. NW WHEN: Friday, 7 p.m.

INFO: gypsysallys.com PRICE: Free

WHERE: 2001 11th St. NW WHEN: Saturday, 9:30 p.m.

INFO: livdc.com PRICE: $15

WHERE: Pennsylvania Avenue NW WHEN: Saturday and Sunday, noon to 7 p.m.

PRICE: $10

No need to get dressed up in your costume for this Halloween event -- creating a disguise is part of the fun. Head over to the International Spy Museum for an evening of adventure. There will be top secret missions for “secret agents in training,” villain bingo, a scavenger hunt and the chance to explore the new 007 exhibit, “Exquisitely Evil: 50 Years of Bond Villains.”

This Friday night is one for the Deadheads: Come out to D.C.’s new music venue and listen to two Grateful Dead cover bands. First to perform will be On the Bus (strictly a cover band) followed by Black Muddy River Band, an acoustic trio that promises to harness the Dead’s sound in their performance. This event is only for those 21 years and older.

DJ Spinna is taking over Liv Nightclub for one night only and is bringing the sweet sounds of Stevie Wonder with him. Dance the night away to remixed classics like “Superstition” and “Isn’t She Lovely.” If you are a fan of Wonder’s soulful songs, be sure to come out to Liv this weekend to experience the funk while it lasts.

Experience cuisine from more than 60 of the District’s best restaurants at this year’s Taste of DC. A farm-to-fork area features local, organic and sustainable dishes, and the over-21 crowd can enjoy a beer garden with more than 50 local, national and international brews. Live entertainment serves as a pleasant backdrop to the all-weekend event.

B6

Sports

THE HOYA

friday, october 11, 2013

Tennis

Football

Top Teams to Test GU at ITAs For Struggling Hoyas, Matt Raab

Special to The Hoya

Though the Georgetown men’s and women’s tennis teams play the majority of their matches — including all conference matches — in the spring, they compete in a handful of dual matches and tournaments in the fall, including the highly competitive Intercollegiate Tennis Association Regional Tournament. After a lackluster start to the fall season, both the men’s and women’s teams have an opportunity to step up their games at the ITA Regional Tournament. The men’s team will travel to Virginia Tech from Oct. 17 to Oct. 22, and the women’s team will travel to the University of Virginia from Oct. 18 to Oct. 21 for a grueling weekend of tennis.

Both teams will face stiff competition from a range of experienced opponents in the Atlantic region, including the 2012 NCAA Champions and current No. 1 UVA men’s team and the No. 15 UVA women’s team, along with a number of teams that Georgetown will face again later in the season.

“It is pretty cool to be in a region with Virginia, who is the best team in the country,” Head Coach Gordie Ernst said. “When we go to play, they will be possibly playing Virginia guys.”

The tournaments are an opportunity for the team to continue its development during the fall season, which mostly consists of individual and doubles play without team implications. Due to this structure, most of the team will not compete in the ITA Tournament, as Georgetown is guaranteed only one singles player and one doubles team each for the men and women. The Hoyas can earn more spots, however, with successful play.

“We’re looking forward to

seeing how many girls we can get in there,” senior co-captain Kelly Comolli said. “We want to get as many as we can to get to play that tournament.”

The brackets will not be set until later in the week, leaving more time for the Hoyas to compete for spaces. The experience is valuable for those who will compete, but their experiences will also translate to those players who did not make the cut.

“When you go and you play at this level and then you come back and they share that with the rest of the team,” Ernst said, “it’s like, well, this is what we’re going to have to do to get better.”

The opportunity to beat some of these strong competitors is also a strong motivator for the team.

“It’s definitely going to be the best competition we’ve faced all fall, and this is why it’s so exciting to go to that tournament,” Comolli said. “You’ve got a lot of ACC schools down there — UVA, Virginia Tech, a lot of highly ranked teams — so to get a couple of big wins down there would be huge for the program, I think, especially giving us some momentum going into the spring.”

Both the men and women have struggled in the first few weeks of the season, an issue partially attributable to the relative youth. But as the season progresses, the team has begun to develop, and Ernst feels the ITAs will be a chance to both demonstrate and continue that trend.

“I think that everyone has grown closer and we’ve grown more of a team,” Ernst said.

“The fall is tough because we play these individual tournaments, and that’s why we try to fit some matches in, but right now, it’s just about trying to get better.”

Comolli had similar sentiments. As the last tournament of the fall, it also takes on a sentimental value.

“For me and [senior co-captain] Maddie [Jaeger], this being our last regional tournament, we’re definitely excited for it and really want to do well.”

For both the men and the women, matches in the week leading up to ITAs will provide final preparation for the tournament: the women at the Navy Invitational from Oct. 11 to Oct. 13, and the men against District of Columbia on Oct. 15.

“The guys that go will put in a little extra next week,” Ernst said. “Navy’s on, so the girls are going to go down and they’re going to play a ton.”

After making final preparations, the teams will travel down to the tournament sites, something the women’s team has not done this year. Comolli feels that this is another aspect of the tournament that will help the team develop.

“I think we’re pretty close as a team right now and still getting to know each other a little bit,” Comolli said. “It’s our first trip on the road, so it’ll be interesting to see how we react to going on the road.”

As the final competition for both teams until mid-January, and as a competition that includes many of the regional rivals with which the Hoyas will be contending in the spring, the tournaments will be a critical meter of the team’s progress. The coach hopes this is something that both teams will be able to take solid advantage of.

“To go to play against the best guys in the country, I would think, is pretty cool,” Ernst said. “And I hope [our players] will too. And if they don’t, then maybe I’ll cut these guys.”

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Hoyas to Face Big East Rival

Relief Not Likely FOOTBALL, from A8 team, and two top-20 teams in the FCS. “Fordham is very well coached. They are a very talented football team,” Kelly said. “You can see that the 60 scholarships that they have are starting to kick in. Coach Moorhead does a great job of coaching in all phases. We expect to see an excellent football team.”

Fordham is coming off a 52-34 win against fellow Patriot League opponent No. 10 Lehigh.

The Rams exploded for 630 yards of total offense against the Mountain Hawks in last week’s nationally televised game.

Junior quarterback Michael Nebrich earned a handful of awards, including National Co-Offensive Player of the Week, for his part in Fordham’s convincing win over Lehigh. He threw for a career-high 384 yards on 26 of 36 passing attempts and four touchdowns while also rushing for 56 yards and a touchdown.

Fordham’s strong passing game is accompanied by an equally strong rushing game. The Rams’ rushing attack is headed by senior running back Carlton Koonce, who has rushed for more than 100 yards in each of his last four games. Both Koonce and Nebrich, the stars of the Fordham offense, are former FBS players; Nebrich transferred from Connecticut and Koonce transferred from Hofstra.

“You have to prepare for [their offense],” Kelly said. “We have looked at what we are doing defensively and we have a game plan put together. But they put a lot of pressure on us because they can run the football and they have been throwing the football extremely well. They are a well-coached, talented football team.”

It is clear that the Rams’ offense deserves more credit than their defense for their undefeated streak this season. Fordham’s defense has allowed its opponents, on average, more than 23 points per game, including 34 points to Lehigh last week. Fordham has been particularly susceptible to the rush this season. In its

FILE PHOTO: CHRIS GRIVAS/THE HOYA

Senior quarterback Isaiah Kempf will be back in action for Saturday’s game. six games, opponents have rushed for an average of 188.2 yards per game against the Rams.

Georgetown’s offense will look to exploit these holes in Fordham’s defense. According to Kelly, senior quarterback Isaiah Kempf is expected to return to The Hoyas after suffering an undisclosed injury against Princeton last Saturday.

In order to pull off the upset, Georgetown will have to do a better job protecting the football. In their five games this season, The Hoyas have thrown six interceptions and have lost three fumbles. Meanwhile, the Fordham defense has recovered 10 of 13 forced fumbles and has also forced two interceptions.

According to Kelly, the Blue and Gray have been hindered by injuries for most of the season. But, despite having the week off, they are still not at full strength.

“We are getting better [as far as injuries]. We are not quite there yet. But we should have some guys back that were out the last couple weeks,” Kelly said.

Tomorrow, the battered Hoyas will look to pull off the upset against Fordham. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at MultiSport Facility.

Down to the wire

Late Regular-Season Games Often Meaningless HOFF, from B8 the Red Sox game on TV that night. I highly doubt there are nearly as many young boys doing that today.

So, why the decline in interest? Well, some answers are obvious, such as how technology has quickened our lives and the way we watch sports. It doesn’t make as much sense for a person who is used to smartphones, Twitter and instant news updates to set aside a few hours of his or her time to watch a game. But there has to be more of a reason than that.

Surprisingly enough, I think the fact that sports fans are becoming more informed is hurting the leagues’ regular season appeal.

For example, people seem to be more aware than ever before that there is no benefit to being a mediocre team in any sport, as fans are rooting for their teams to tank for a better draft pick. It doesn’t take a genius to realize that that doesn’t bode well for regular season interest.

Also, at any point of the season, an NBA fan can now look online and find the exact chance that each team has of winning the title according to thousands of computer simulations. If only three teams have more than a 10 percent chance of winning the title, as many simulations were indicating at the end of last year’s regular season, can you really blame NBA fans for not caring about regular season games that

ultimately won’t mean anything come May and June?

In hockey and baseball, the opposite is true, as everyone who makes the playoffs has a legitimate chance to win. While the regular season actually separates the great from the bad teams too often in the NBA, the NHL’s and MLB’s regular seasons don’t separate them enough. Yet, the effect on the overall interest is the same. By the end of the regular season, the games only matter for the few teams scraping to get into the playoffs because fans will remember that, as long as their team is in the tournament, the games aren’t very important.

Only football seems to have the right combination, where every team in the playoffs has a chance to win it all, while teams who have better regular season records still have definite advantages. But even that isn’t as true as it once was. The past three Super Bowl champions went 10-6, 9-7 and 10-6 in the regular season, and last year’s champs, the Baltimore Ravens, couldn’t have looked worse in December. But nobody remembers that anymore, because, after they went beast mode in the playoffs, fans thought to themselves, “Well, I guess that’s why the regular season doesn’t matter that much.”

Tom Hoff is a junior in the McDonough School of Business. Down to the Wire appears every Friday.

CLASSIFIEDS FILE PHOTO: ALEXANDER BROWN/THE HOYA

Junior forward Audra Ayotte, who has started 11 of 13 games, has been one of the more productive players on the Hoyas’ offense this season, contributing three goals and nine assists.

MARQUETTE, from A8 “I don’t think we’re quite as desperate because we have good wins over William & Mary and UConn, a good tie against UCF and we have a high RPI.” Indeed it would seem that only a collapse of historical proportions could keep Georgetown out of the NCAA tournament at this point. The Hoyas rose from ninth to sixth in the NSCAA poll this week, the highest ranking in program history.

In addition to the first place title, good old-fashioned bragging rights will be up for grabs this weekend. With historical powers Notre Dame, Louisville and UConn no longer members of the Big East, Georgetown and Marquette are primed to be the class of the conference in the foreseeable future.

“I do think this [match] is emerging now in this new con-

ference as the rivalry game between the two top teams,” Nolan said. “You don’t want [the Hoyas] to treat it like any other game because it does mean a little bit more. These kids are smart enough to know that.”

Tactically, Georgetown expects to encounter an opponent that actively engages their defense rather than an opportunistic team that looks to counterattack in transition.

“They’re a very attack-minded team, which I think our kids will enjoy, because our last four games have been against teams that have just sat in and defended against us … and it’s been very frustrating for our girls to try to break [the opposition’s defense] down,” Nolan said. “[Marquette] will come out on their home field and will be looking to knock us out.”

The Marquette match will mark the end of a three-game

road trip for the Hoyas. Georgetown will return to Shaw Field for the first time in almost three weeks next Thursday to face St. John’s (7-3-2, 1-2-1 Big East).

The Red Storm are led by sophomore forward Rachel Daly, whose 14 goals make her the current leading scorer in the Big East.

Nolan had high praise for Daly. “She’s made a big difference for them,” he said.

St. John’s sits at seventh place in the Big East, meaning that if the season ended today, the team would miss the conference tournament by one spot.

“Depending on [St. John’s] result this weekend, Thursday could be a desperation game for them,” Nolan said. “They’re a very good team, so I’m not expecting an easy game.”

INDEX MISCELLANEOUS 800

The Hoya Classifieds Line Ad Rates Regular line classified ads are $0.50 per word.

Stonefish Grill & Lounge: Hiring All Positions (Managers, Host/Hostesses, Bartenders, Cooks, Servers, Bussers and Dishwashers) Apply for a Full or Part Time Opportunity today in person at: *1708 L Street NW, Washington DC, 20036 *8500 Annapolis Rd unit J, New Carrollton, MD 20784 or Email us your resume at stonefishgrilldc@gmail.com

Optional Extras Bold words: $1.00 per issue. Make individual words or an entire ad stand out.

Large headline: $1.50 per issue. One line of 16-point bold, centered and capitalized.

Two-line large headline: $2.50 per issue.

Boxed ad: $2.00 per issue. Add a one-point box around your ad.

Deadlines & Payment Copy and payment must be received by 12 noon, one business day before publication.

All classified ads must be paid in full at the time of placement. Visa, Mastercard, cash or personal checks are accepted. Cancelled ads may be removed from the paper if notification is made before deadline. No refunds will be given, but the unused portion of the payment will be held as a credit.

For more information, please email classifiedads@thehoya.com

sports

friday, october 11, 2013

men’s soccer

THE HOYA

B7

basketball

Midnight Madness Rebranded Ashwin Wadekar Hoya Staff Writer

FILE PHOTO: CHRIS GRIVAS/THE HOYA

Junior goalkeeper Tomas Gomez made several early saves in a scoreless first half, paving the way for Georgetown to take the lead in the second.

Hoyas Overcome Slow Start, Beat Providence PROVIDENCE, from B8 Georgetown will continue its Big East schedule against the Xavier Musketeers on Saturday evening at 7 p.m. in Cincinnati. Xavier (5-5-2, 1-2 Big East) picked up its first Big East win this season against DePaul after losses to Marquette and Creighton.

This is the Musketeers’ first season in the Big East after leaving the Atlantic 10 conference, and the game will be the first ever meeting between the two programs.

With just two days between Big East games, the Hoyas will have little time to prepare for their next opponent. The short rest period also means that players with injuries, including Yaro, will have a limited amount of time to rest. Depth on the roster will be vital as the team moves through the heart of its conference schedule.

“We are at a time in the season where we have injuries and nicks and some things we have to address

with the team. This is where we need our depth to be good, and we need our special players to be special on the road to get three points,” Wiese said.

The players also have off-the-field concerns that could affect their preparations for the game against Xavier. Playing on the ninth-ranked team in the nation does not exempt these student-athletes from the same classroom stresses as the rest of the student body.

“We missed class all day today.

We’ll get a flight back tonight and spend a day on campus tomorrow, and then we’ll turn around and get on a plane Friday afternoon to get to Cincinnati,” Wiese said.

Despite being closer on the schedule to the end of the regular season than to the team’s last loss, the team still feels that they have room to improve.

“If we can continue to get better, the sky is the limit for this team,” Wiese said.

With all the change in the landscape of college sports, it may seem trivial that Georgetown has announced that Midnight Madness — traditionally the first official practice of the season for men’s and women’s basketball — will now be called Basketball Tip Off. But sometimes, even a cosmetic adjustment can be revealing.

The substance of the event is largely similar to its predecessor, featuring player introductions and a highprofile hip-hop artist, whose name has yet to be released. Like in years past, the event will draw on performances from student groups. The only difference in this year’s event — which opens at 7:30 p.m. to students for no charge — is that there will be no tailgate beforehand.

Georgetown switched to Basketball Tip Off in a move of solidarity with the rest of the Big East, a conference that bore the brunt of conference realignment. But the name of the annual celebration isn’t the only change to the start of this basketball season. For one, the NCAA changed its practice schedule for basketball, allowing teams to begin practicing earlier In a larger sense, the name change reflects a new direction of the Big East, one that has moved hand-inhand with Fox Sports 1, Fox’s recently launched sports network. FS1 has agreed to televise Big East basketball games after the conference’s contract with ESPN expired last year.

This year, FS1 will air a live show of all 10 Basketball Tip Offs. “[Basketball Tip Off] is not just a superficial name change,” Pete Kirschner, senior director of marketing, said. “It’s something Fox is doing with all the Big East schools.

On Oct. 25, when they are [at Georgetown], they will also be present at nine other schools.”

Conference realignment and new NCAA regulations have prompted several schools to launch the start of their seasons differently, but many high profile basketball schools —

volleyball

GU Looks for Wins on Road Juliana Zovak Hoya Staff Writer

Still seeking its first Big East win, the Georgetown volleyball team will take to the road to face conference rivals St. John’s and Seton Hall on Friday and Saturday, respectively.

Georgetown (6-10, 0-3 Big East) will attempt to rebound from two tough outings last weekend, when it lost to both Marquette and DePaul in three straight sets.

“I think that we did get better in the gym this week,” Head Coach Arlisa Williams said. “We looked at the match from DePaul this weekend, and I think that there are some things that we did very well against DePaul, but there were some areas where we were deficient.

Our players could actually see that instead of just feeling it on the court, and they were able to make some changes.”

Williams sees the fire in her team as it works to notch a conference victory.

“Our team is still super excited and super motivated. They’re working really hard,” she said.

The Blue and Gray will first travel to New York to play the Red Storm (12-7, 2-2 Big East), who are undefeated at home this season.

St. John’s is looking to avenge its recent loss against Xavier, and it will have the support of its home fans when it faces Georgetown.

“I think the biggest thing is to make sure we don’t get caught up in the emotion of them and their fans,” Williams said. “They always have a decent crowd at the game, and there’s a lot of energy. Their players make a whole lot of noise, and we need to really make sure that we don’t get caught up in that.”

The Hoyas will also have to look out for the Red Storm’s personnel on the court, like sophomore setter Deniz Mutlugil, who had 48 assists against Xavier.

“They have an experienced setter and some pins with really fast arm swings, so getting our hands over fast enough blocking-wise and then defending

FILE PHOTO: ALEXANDER BROWN/THE HOYA

behind the block is going to be a challenge for us. And we’ve seen that already this year, so we’ve got to really focus on that,” Williams said.

But she is confident that if the Hoyas can take care of their responsibilities, the success will follow.

“We just need to make sure that we’re taking care of our side of the net, and if we take care of our side of the net at a high level, some of the emotion and momentum a team can get, [St. John’s] won’t have,” she said.

After playing against St. John’s, Georgetown will travel to play Seton Hall (6-9, 0-3 Big East), which is also still trying to record its first Big East win.

Seton Hall is coming off a three-set sweep of Hofstra, where junior setter Shelbey Manthorpe recorded her 13th double-double in 15 matches, while her twin sister, junior outside hitter Stacey Manthorpe, finished with six kills.

“Seton Hall’s got those twins that just bring nothing but en-

ergy, that setter/hitter connection between them,” Williams said. “They run a really fast offense, so I think just making sure that we stay with the speed of the game, and if we don’t, it’s going to be a tough weekend.”

Meanwhile, the Hoyas have continued production from sophomore outside hitter Lauren Saar, who had 15 kills against DePaul, bringing her season total to 197. Freshman setter Caitlin Brauneis leads the team with 611 assists on the year.

Because both teams are familiar foes, Georgetown knows its style of play and has a clear understanding of what to look out for.

“We know the types of decisions that their coaches make and what they’re trying to do, and so of course that’s going to help us,” Williams said. “But on the flip side, they know us just as well, so I think it’s probably a wash.”

Having lost to both teams last year, Georgetown will seek a different ending for these two

including Kentucky, North Carolina and Duke — will continue with their traditional Midnight Madness routines. Despite changes to the practice schedule, Midnight Madness has become so ingrained as an annual event that it has distanced itself from marking the first official practice of the season.

“From a marketing standpoint, Fox is more engaged with us,” Kirschner said. “And it’s their first year [as a network].”

Looking forward, Georgetown has much to be excited about. The program escaped a particularly brutal wave of conference realignment,

one that pinched basketball schools like Georgetown in favor of footballcentric athletic programs. However, FS1 has offered a new breath of life for basketball-minded school, who have banded together in the new rendition of the Big East.

“Everyone associated with Georgetown and the Big East is excited to partner with Fox,” Assistant Athletics Director of Communications Mex Carey said. “We’re excited to create a new relationship with them as they dive into college basketball as one of their primary sports.”

Basketball Tip Off is just the beginning.

more than a game

Local Success: A Look at Under Armour’s Growth

K

Sophomore defensive specialist and setter Emily Gisolfi and the Hoyas are still seeking their first Big East win of the season.

FILE PHOTO: LEONEL DE VELEZ/THE HOYA

Excitement will be in the air at Basketball Tip Off this year, as the new event accompanies a new conference and a new TV deal for GU.

evin Plank — the founder of Under Ar- athletes lifting weights, pulling chains and mour — has some unique connections groaning with determination. Chanting “I to Georgetown. Legend has it that he Will” and “We Will Protect This House,” Unstarted his business in his grandmother’s der Armour ads pulse with energy. townhouse basement, just a few blocks from The strategy has paid off handsomely. the university. That was 1996; today, the com- In the apparel market, Plank has overseen pany is worth about $2 billion — enough for 14 straight quarters of 20 percent revenue Plank to buy an eight-bedroom mansion on growth. Company shares have quadrupled 34th Street this past summer. And although since 2005, and although its share of the business operations are now housed in a sports apparel market is still about half of state-of-the-art headquarters in downtown Nike’s, its percent growth is unrivaled.

Baltimore, Plank has been known to hold Such an upward trajectory is difficult weekly business meetings in the back room to sustain, but Under Armour has made of Clyde’s on M Street. every effort to be creative in its approach.

How did this popular sports brand begin? For instance, the company made headPlank first thought of starting the company lines two years ago with its new Maryland while playing football at the football jerseys, which feaUniversity of Maryland. Fed tured alternating patterns up with the sticky, sweatfrom the state flag. Its new soaked cotton shirts made by Alter Ego t-shirt collection, Nike and Adidas, he wanted to which is emblazoned with create a new fabric that kept superhero logos, also pastes players cool and dry. an innovative design on It was risky business. Overthe traditionally solid-color shadowed by the industry gitraining shirt.

Nick Fedyk ants, Plank initially marketed But in other ways, Under his product by using his high Armour is still playing catchUnder Armour school and college football up. Multi-colored socks seem connections, which would to be all the rage, and Nike has roots in test out his shirts and show has a firm hold on the marGeorgetown. them to other players on the ket with its wildly poputeam. He spent weeks on the lar Dri-FIT Elite collection road, driving to a number of summer train- — a staple in college basketball games ing camps and practice sessions. Finances throughout the country. Adidas also were tight, and Under Armour managed released its Team Speed Crew, a design to squeak by with help from a small D.C. popularized by the green and yellow neon bank, loans from generous family members colors of the Baylor Bears. Under Armour and over a dozen credit cards. Surprisingly, arrived late on the scene with its tornadoPlank never missed a minimum payment. shaped Ignite design. The company may Soon, the company started gaining have entered the sock war, but it was a popularity. In 1996, Plank broke into the late entrance.

NFL market by gaining the attention of an The company also struggles internaAtlanta Falcons equipment manager. The tionally, with only six percent of revenues company’s next big step came in 2000, generated abroad. Women’s apparel is when retail store Galyan’s — now owned by also lagging: Both in the office and out in Dick’s Sporting Goods — agreed to sell Un- the market, Under Armour is largely deder Armour apparel. It became the official fined by its masculine tenor, as is evident sponsor of the University of Maryland foot- by the tone of its commercials, its choice ball team in 2004 and since then has signed of athlete sponsorship and the male-domcontracts with 19 other universities, includ- inated makeup of its management team. ing Auburn, Boston College, Northwestern, Yet as long as people remain willing to South Carolina and Temple. pay top-dollar for Under Armour products High-profile individual athletes also con- and designs, revenues can continue to tribute to the company image. Among the grow and provide funding for an expanded company’s most famous sponsorships are market strategy. The UA logo is now even Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton, out- visible in the Georgetown bookstore — an spoken linebacker Ray Lewis and NBA point outlet once dominated by Nike and Air guards Stephen Curry, Kemba Walker and Jordan. With the company’s Georgetown Brandon Jennings. Together, they promote roots, that move just seems natural. a testosterone-driven marketing strategy that literally screams muscle and perfor- Nick Fedyk is a senior in the College. mance. Commercials feature jacked-up MORE THAN A GAME appears every Friday.

SPORTS

Volleyball Georgetown vs. St. John’s Friday, 7 p.m.

Queens, N.Y.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2013

FIELD HOCKEY

TALKING POINTS

“

Despite the team’s dismal record, Sarah Butterfield is staying motivated.

See thehoya.com

FOOTBALL

NUMBERS GAME

0 ”

To get a couple of big wins ... would be huge.

Tennis Head Coach Gordie Ernst on the ITA regional tournament

The number of games the Georgetown women’s soccer team has lost.

MEN’S SOCCER

GU Extends Shutout Streak Hoyas outlast Providence in defensive struggle, Yaro injured ANDREW MAY

Special to The Hoya

FILE PHOTO: CHRIS GRIVAS/THE HOYA

Running back Nick Campanella will try to exploit the Ram’s defense, which has allowed an average of 188.2 rushing yards per game.

Unbeaten Fordham Heavily Favored CAROLYN MAGUIRE Hoya Staff Writer

After a dubious start and a much-needed week off, the Georgetown football team (1-4) will look to revitalize its season as it begins conference play tomorrow against No. 9 Fordham (6-0).

Although Fordham is a conference opponent, it is ineligible for the Patriot League Championship this year because it violated NCAA regulations by awarding athletic merit aid to players in the Class of 2014. For this reason, the game will not count toward Georgetown’s conference record. Nevertheless, it will decide the Hoyas’ confidence, for better or worse.

Georgetown is searching for its second win of the season. The

Blue and Gray have lost three consecutive games since their home opener against Davidson on Sept. 7.

Georgetown played its most recent game Sept. 28 and suffered a 50-22 loss against Princeton.

“Last week we went back to square one and the fundamentals,” Head Coach Kevin Kelly said.

“We had to reteach some things.

We have some young guys that hadn’t been playing, so it was good for them to catch up. It was a good week.”

The Hoyas will look to rebound against the Rams, but it will be no easy task. Fordham is off to its best start since 1988, and has won its first six games, which include matches against Temple, an FBS See FOOTBALL, B6

The No. 9 Georgetown men’s soccer team (9-2-1, 2-0-1 Big East) had luck on its side Wednesday afternoon, beating No. 25 Providence (7-2-2, 2-1-0 Big East) 1-0 in a closely contested 90 minutes. Freshman midfielder Bakie Goodman delivered the goal in the 69th minute on a cross from the right side by junior midfielder Tyler Rudy. Providence pressed on defense early in the game, quickly recovering possession and preventing Georgetown from stringing passes together. The Friars had eight shots in the first half and forced junior goalkeeper Tomas Gomez to make three saves. The Hoyas, in contrast, had only four shots, one of which was on goal. According to Head Coach Brian Wiese, the play of the opposing team prevented Georgetown from establishing its style of play.

“The first 30 minutes they made it very hard for us. We had a hard time building, getting behind, and switching to be dangerous in the first third of the game,” Wiese said.

Freshman defender Joshua Yaro was injured in the fourth minute of the game and had to be substituted for his roommate and fellow freshman defender Jared Odenbeck. The seriousness of the injury will not be clear until the team returns to campus, and Wiese was reluctant to discuss his condition without more information. The backline will certainly miss the speedy center back if he does have to miss a considerable amount of time. With or without Yaro, the defense will look to extend a streak of 380 consecutive scoreless minutes. Georgetown’s next shutout will tie the school record for scoreless games in a season at 10.

Providence started out the second half much like the first, taking several shots and corners without allowing the same to Georgetown. A shot

FILE PHOTO: ALEXANDER BROWN/THE HOYA

Freshman midfielder Bakie Goodman scored in the 69th minute on an assist from junior midfielder Tyler Rudy. It was his third goal of the season. by senior forward Steve Neumann forced a save from junior Friar goalkeeper Keasel Broome in the 58th minute as Providence’s fortunes began to change. The breakthrough for the Hoyas came when Rudy made a run on the right wing and got in behind the defense. He then cut the ball back to the middle of the 18yard box, where Goodman received the pass and buried it in the back of the net. Though another of Goodman’s shots hit the post in the 79th minute, there were no goals to be had on either side for the remainder

of the game.

Goodman missed the last game against Seton Hall after suffering an injury against Creighton and just recently felt close to 100 percent. He came off the bench against Providence and had an immediate impact on the game.

“Goal aside, Bakie was the difference in the game,” Wiese said. “He did such a good job keeping the ball for us and causing problems. He was very slippery.”

See PROVIDENCE, B6

DOWN TO THE WIRE

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Hoyas Take Shot at Revenge Regular Season Games TOM SCHNOOR

FILE PHOTO: CHRIS GRIVAS/THE HOYA

picked to finish first in the conference, and Georgetown was picked second. That is exactly how it has shaken out as conference play nears its midpoint, but a victory for the Hoyas would put the team in prime position to win their second Big East regular season title in as many years.

“The regular season title was a great achievement for us last year because it was the first time we’d done it,” Nolan said. “[This year,] I think it’d be a nice achievement that would be an indication of all of our good work.”

The matchup with Georgetown will be of extra importance to a Marquette team that is in search of a signature win for its NCAA tournament resume. Thirty-four teams receive at-large bids for the NCAA tournament, and the Golden Eagles appear to be toeing that line.

Marquette has lost both games it has played against ranked teams this season: a 2-1 defeat at the hands of No. 2 UCLA and a 1-0 loss to No. 7 Portland. The Golden Eagles’ third loss came at the hands of a middling Illinois State team.

“I think they’ll be looking at us as a game that could get them over the hump for an at-large bid should they not qualify,” said Nolan.

Georgetown lost to Marquette in last season’s Big East tournament final. In Sunday’s rematch, the Hoyas will play for redemption.

See MARQUETTE, B6

Hoya Staff Writer

The last time the No. 6 Georgetown women’s soccer team took to the pitch against Marquette was in the 2012 Big East Tournament Final. The lone goal in that closely contested match was scored in the 88th minute by the Golden Eagles and was enough to give Marquette their first ever Big East Tournament championship.

It is a defeat that still haunts the Hoyas, and this Sunday afternoon in Wisconsin, they will get a shot at revenge.

“I think [the players] are ex-

cited to get another look at Marquette,” Head Coach Dave Nolan said. “We lost a really tough one to them last year in the Big East Tournament Final. I thought we were slightly better than them on the day, and I think that still resonates with some of the kids.”

Although no trophy will be on the line when the Hoyas (11-0-2, 3-0-1 Big East) and the Golden Eagles (11-3-0, 4-0-0 Big East) meet this weekend, the stakes will be high for several reasons.

First and foremost, it is a matchup of the top two teams in the Big East. In the preseason coaches’ poll, Marquette was

Drawing Less Interest

R

ecently, I’ve been surprised over missioner claimed that a certain sticking the lack of outrage that normally- point in lockout negotiations was “the hill insane Boston sports fans have ex- we will die on,” only to compromise on that pressed about Rob Gronkowski’s hesitance issue a few days later in order to avoid losing to return to action. Considering that it’s the entire season. The NHL and its owners just Week 6, I started to wonder if the rela- knew that the regular season wasn’t all that tively mild reaction was due to a decline important, and that a great deal of it could in interest that many fans be sacrificed without longmay have in the regular lasting damage to the season. Of course, that’s league. The playoffs are the only one example, so to real show. test my hypothesis, I had Forbes also noted that to look for more. there was a major spike in Last season, the NHL demand for the playoffs in cancelled 34 of its 82 the NBA. Regular season games for each team, and ratings last year dropped, Tom Hoff it would be reasonable to however, from both the expect a drop in interest 2010-11 and 2011-12 seafrom fans, based on the These findings supThe regular sea- sons. huge decline in interest port what I heard from after the 2005 lockout many NBA fans during the son is becoming that wiped out the entire league’s own lockout two season. Yet the NHL’s attenincreasingly less years ago: “I don’t watch dance rose by about 1,000 NBA regular season games important to fans. anyway … I really only care fans per game last season.

From the numbers, it about the playoffs.” seems fewer games equaled more interest.

Considering the NBA and NHL’s ticket According to Forbes, the first game of the sales and TV ratings, the Gronkowski Stanley Cup Finals in 2013 had double the situation and MLB’s eternal quest to make ratings of the first game in the 2012 finals. baseball games go as slowly as 79-year-old The average price for a Cup Finals game Commissioner Bud Selig probably drives ticket also rose in 2013, and it appeared his car, it seems as though the regular that the lockout had an opposite effect than seasons for American sports are starting what was expected; the condensed regular to matter less and less. From ages seven season made every game that much more to about 11, I would always try to finish important, meaning that the overall excite- my homework in time to be able to watch ment surrounding the product increased.

There’s a reason that the NHL’s deputy comSee HOFF, B6

Visit us online at thehoya.com/sports