The Hoya: September 26, 2014

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

Georgetown University • Washington, D.C. Vol. 96, No. 9, © 2014

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2014

TRADITIONS

COMMENTARY Mulledy Hall has ugly ties to Georgetown’s history with the slave trade.

A look at the history of Georgetown’s best-known rituals.

GUIDE, B1

TRANSPLANTS MedStar Hospital opens transplant clinic for multiple organs.

NEWS, A5

OPINION, A3

FOOTBALL Defensive tackle Jordan Richardson and his impact as a four-year starter.

SPORTS, B10

Finding Refuge on the Hilltop 3 Professors Call for Born in a Nepal refugee camp, Acharya pursues politics at Georgetown Margaret Heftler Special to The Hoya

Like many Georgetown students, Indra Acharya (COL ’18) is interested in pursuing a career in public service.

He imagines himself running for the Senate in Vermont some-

day, or perhaps serving as a Supreme Court Justice. Like many ambitious freshmen, he ran for a position in the Georgetown University Student Association senate at-large. His interest in politics, though, stems from a unique, personal and painful history.

COURTESY INDRA ACHARYA

Indra Acharya (COL ’18), who grew up as a refugee in Nepal, is now a freshman at Georgetown, running for the GUSA senate.

Career-Based English PhD Proposed

Acharya was born in a refugee camp in Nepal after his parents were expelled from their home country of Bhutan. Acharya said that his family’s expulsion followed ethnic cleansing and violence in Bhutan after the Lhotshampa, a group of southerners with a Nepalese cultural identity, began to demand rights from their oppressive king.

“When people started demanding for their rights, [the king] started using his violent force, killing people, raping women,” Acharya said. “My parents, who were never politically involved, [being] from that particular ethnic group was the main reason for them to be refugees.”

Growing up in a refugee camp, Acharya said that he experienced feelings of dehumanization that troubled him.

“You don’t have any identity,” Acharya said. “I still remember not having enough food to eat for days. We had to depend on the humanitarian organizations and refugee services; there was no food and clothes. I used to depend on people in local communities to bring the clothes that their children wore for years.”

Acharya said the conditions in the camp were poor, and also dangerous.

“I lived in a hut, bamboo and thatch,” he said. “I called it the See REFUGE, A6

THE IMPACT OF EBOLA

Suzanne Monyak & Kshithij Shrinath Hoya Staff Writer

After a failed attempted to create a doctorate program in English in the 1990s, the English department has drafted a new proposal to create an English Ph.D. program that will prepare its students to enter careers both inside and outside academia.

“We’re trying to do something really different. We will be the first new English Ph.D. program in the country in many, many decades actually,” said Ricardo Ortiz, associate professor of U.S. Latino literature and culture, who was involved in crafting the proposal.

Georgetown is one of the only major universities without an English Ph.D. program.

“It’s kind of shocking that a place with the statute of Georgetown and the reputation of our department does not have a Ph.D.,” Georgetown English professor and supporter of the proposal Henry Schwarz said.

Unlike standard English Ph.D. programs, this one proposes an increased focus on interdisciplinary study and work experience, as well the option for students to choose alternative final projects over a traditional dissertation such as digital projects, translations or public scholarships.

“We would imagine the Ph.D. in English, which would also be a Ph.D. in the critical study of culture, would be a really great foundation for somebody wanting to do museum work, somebody wanting to do a certain kind of culture-based writing in journalism, which I think there’s more of than there used to be … anybody who wanted to work for culture-based nonprofits or NGOs, and even sort of in the public sector,” Ortiz said.

The program proposal was approved by the English department faculty in March and is still awaiting approval from the administration and the board of directors. If given the green light, the program would accept three students a year with an eventual cap of 12 participants in the program at a time. Applicants to the program are required to have a bachelor’s degree, a master’s See ENGLISH, A6

KRISTEN SKILLMAN/THE HOYA

Scott Taylor, African Studies director , and Sharon Abramowitz, University of Flordia assistant professor, discuss historical and social reasons why the ebola virus was so devastating to west Africa at a symposium on the crisis Tuesday.

ISIS Intervention Giovanna Azevedo Special to The Hoya

Three Georgetown faculty members have signed an Iraq Rescue plea calling for U.S. military intervention against the Islamic State group.

Director of the Berkley Center’s Religious Freedom Project Thomas Farr, government and international affairs professor Robert Lieber and philosophy Professor Emeritus Daniel Robinson are signatories of the plea, which urges “the United States and the international community [to] act immediately and decisively to stop ISIS/ISIL genocide and prevent the further victimization of religions minorities,” according to the Iraq Rescue website.

The plea was written in response to recent acts of terror perpetrated by the terrorist group, also known as the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, which include beheadings, executions, amputations and acts of sexual violence.

Lieber, professor in both the department of government and the School of Foreign Service, joined this initiative at the invitation of Princeton University professor Robert George.

“The plea is first a recognition that ISIS represents a great danger in the region, threatening to potentially dominate an important part of that strategic location,” Lieber said. “It also butchers or threatens to kill, or crucify those of minority religions.

It is a horrifying operation and a growing danger to the region and to U.S. national interests. You’ll find leading members of both parties in Congress, as well as the president, recently making statements that are consistent with those that we had recommended before.”

Farr said he views the Islamic State group as a clear and direct threat to the United States and to religious minorities in the Middle East.

“I believe that military action is necessary,” Farr wrote in an email.

“It must be carried out with precision and overwhelming force in order to remove the immediate threat, and with every possible precaution to avoid harm to innocents.”

However, Farr also said he believes that the religious ideology fueling the Islamic State group cannot be defeated by force alone. Instead, he urges Muslims in the region to rise against the extremists.

“It must be eliminated by Muslims who live in the nations where it is incubated. In order to do that, Muslims must have religious freedom, which they currently lack,” Farr wrote.

The plea supports President Barack Obama’s decision to per-

FILE PHOTO: CLAIRE SOISSON/THE HOYA

COLGATE UNIVERSITY

DANIEL SMITH/THE HOYA

Robert Lieber, top, Daniel Robinson, middle, and Thomas Farr signed a plea for U.S. action against ISIS. form airstrikes, but states that there is still much more to be done to combat Islamic State aggression. It also endorses The Washington Post’s call in a recent editorial for the United States to provide arms to the Kurdish and Sunni people in Iraq, since their lack of modern weapons makes it difficult for them to counter Islamic State group attacks.

See ISIS, A6

GU Joins Anti-Assault White House Campaign Maureen Tabet Special to The Hoya

The White House and Center for American Progress’s Generation Progress, an organization promoting awareness of on-campus sexual assault, launched the public awareness campaign “It’s On Us” last week as part of the Obama administration’s continued efforts to prevent sexual violence at the nation’s universities.

Georgetown joined the list of nearly 200 universities nationwide whose student leaders have agreed to promote the campaign against sexual assault on their respective campuses.

“At Georgetown our work for many years on this issue has been guided by our commitment to cura personalis, care of the whole person — mind, body, and spirit.

Educating and engaging our community on this issue is an essential part of our responsibility to uphold the moral expectations that have guided us throughout our history as a Jesuit institution,” University President John J. DeGioia wrote in a university-

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

wide email.

Tina Tchen, executive director of the White House Council on Women and Girls and chief of staff to the first lady, stressed the importance of spreading sexual assault awareness at universities.

“Everyone has the right to live free from the threat of sexual assault,” Tchen said in a conference call with college media Monday.

“Still today, one in five women will be sexually assaulted while in college.”

The campaign named four goals for colleges: distributing campus climate surveys to assess the extent of the problem on their campuses, preventing sexual assault, responding effectively when assault occurs and increasing transparency on enforcement efforts.

“Our goal of this campaign is to both change culture nationally but also to empower students on local campuses to be able to create campaigns and engage new people in the fight to end campus sexual assault,” said Anne JohnSee ASSAULT, A6 Published Tuesdays and Fridays

FILE PHOTO: DANIEL SMITH/THE HOYA

Sarah Rabon (COL ’16) reading stories from sexual assault survivors at “It Happens Here” during last year’s Take Back the Night week.

Send Story Ideas and Tips to news@thehoya.com

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OPINION

THE HOYA

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2014

C Founded January 14, 1920

EDITORIALS

En*ugh Is Enough Foolish is the idea that every action carried out by Georgetown University is a unified one. Inevitably, we disagree as a community. When we open up those differences to discussion, we find an aspect of Georgetown that actually unites us: pluralism.

Yet, when a silent H*yas for Choice protest was removed late Monday afternoon from its position outside the front gates, it plainly called into question where pluralism lies on our list of priorities.

Officially, the Georgetown University Police Department asked the group to relocate because of heavy foot traffic to and from the honorary degree event for Donald Cardinal Wuerl, the archbishop of Washington. However, if this reason is scrutinized, a different picture begins to emerge.

The location where H*yas for Choice chose to table was the same spot to which they were relocated during a similar protest last year, away from their previous location of choice in Healy Circle.

Also, compared to similar setups in front of the front gates, it seems unlikely that GUPD would move H*yas for Choice merely to clear the way for pedestrians. During

New Student Orientation, for example, tables are set up in that same location when parents and students are arriving to campus for the year. During commencement, the Dorm2Dorm moving service sets up a sales booth in this same location. Despite the heavy foot traffic that accompanies these end-of-year events, these organizations are allowed to remain. If Georgetown’s concern is pedestrians, then more groups than just H*yas for Choice should be affected.

Foot traffic notwithstanding, it might seem disgraceful to some that H*yas for Choice chose to demonstrate in opposition to Cardinal Wuerl’s reception of an honorary degree. Conversely, many students feel betrayed to see someone who is so staunchly against LGBTQ rights and women’s health receive such an award from our university.

Both sides have their merits. A naturally proceeding, healthy discussion will continue to be the best way to carve out a solution to these disagreements. Preventing H*yas for Choice from demonstrating its opinion by the front gates does not advance this pluralistic goal.

Restricting With Reason In response to the D.C. District Court’s ruling in Palmer v. District of Columbia — which invalidated the District’s ban on the carrying of handguns outside the home for lawful self-defense — the D.C. Council has proposed new legislation banning these weapons in certain sensitive places and requiring that those wishing to obtain a license provide a legitimate reason for why they need a pistol.

While gun rights advocates will bemoan this decision as a burdensome regulation on law-abiding gun owners, the law again reflects the desire and the right of the District to ensure the safety of its citizens by keeping guns out of the hands of criminals and away from areas where their presence will cause more harm than good.

Furthermore, the recent action by the Council is necessary to stem the tide of gun violence in the District that is strikingly disproportional along racial and geographic lines. According to The Washington Post, the firearm-related death rate is more than thirteen and a half times higher for blacks what it is for whites. In

THE VERDICT Cougar City — A mountain lion was roaming freely in Northwest D.C. on Wednesday. Emergency operators received two calls from worried residents who claim to have spotted the large animal, prompting the city’s Office of Neighborhood Engagement to issue a public safety alert.

C C C C

Line of Sight — Starting Oct. 1, 165 D.C. police officers will be equipped with a new tool: body-worn cameras. Mayor Vincent Gray and Metropolitan Police Department Chief Cathy Lanier argue that the cameras will foster police transparency and improve police services.

Dupont Danger — On Sunday, a PoPville reader posted on the local blog that terror struck in Dupont Circle in the form of an extremely aggressive jogger. The woman warned fellow citizens that the jogger intentionally body slammed her before running away.”

Playing on Offense — Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.) plans to introduce a bill when the House of Representatives reconvenes to strip the NFL of its tax exempt status as long as it continues supporting the Washington Redskins football team’s racially charged name.

That Escalated Quickly — A teacher at McKinley Tech Middle School in Northeast is under criticism after giving her sixth grade class a homework assignment that required her students to compare former President George W. Bush to Hitler. A school spokeswoman notes that the teacher “regrets this mistake.”

A LITTLE BIRDIE TOLD US ... @HyasForChoice

Sept. 24 Thanks to ‪@NARAL‬ for Facebook sharing ‪@thehoya‬ article about Monday’s tabling fiasco ‪#FreeSpeech‬modrzavu @GUAlumni

Sept. 23 Excellent student reflection in ‪@thehoya‬ about ‪@GUAlumni‬ Association’s Board of Governors!

EDITORIAL CARTOON by Michelle Xu

2012, gun deaths in the D.C. area outnumbered deaths caused by motor vehicle accidents according to a study by the Violence Policy Center.

While this is an issue that affects all citizens of the District, it is one that is especially important to those communities still facing the threat of gun violence on a daily basis. While it is easy for us on the Hilltop to ignore the realities of crime elsewhere in this city, it is not our place to put our theoretical objections above the reality that reasonable restrictions on the public carry of deadly weapons are necessary for the safety of the public.

This law restricts or limits the carry of handguns in government buildings, public transportation units, places where alcohol is sold or served, schools and universities, stadiums and arenas and situations that demand higher protection for officials or visiting dignitaries.

These are reasonable regulations that do not impede the rights of those wishing to assert their Second Amendment rights.

Less Gluten, More Options O’Donovan Hall is a favorite target of criticism for almost all students. Many lament its limited options and general lack of nutritious options, but this criticism is especially relevant for those with specific allergies and dietary restrictions.

Although it is obviously difficult to prepare large quantities of food — allergy-free or not — those who have these dietary needs should not simply fall by the wayside.

This is especially apparent for those who are gluten-free, a condition that requires an especially concerted effort to remain uncontaminated. While Leo’s provides a small gluten-free section located on the bottom floor on the far right side, this section is, in many ways, inadequate for anyone who relies on Leo’s for most meals.

When the section’s refrigerator is stocked — which is often not the case — the gluten-

free food available in this section is simply not nutritionally adequate. It mostly hosts muffins, waffles, doughnuts and bread, all of which have little nutritional value and high sugar and fat contents.

Although other gluten-free foods in the rest of Leo’s, such as the grilled chicken station or salad bar, offer alternatives, these options boast little variety and are not enforced as completely gluten-free — unlike options that are deemed to be vegetarian. Furthermore, gluten-free options are restricted to mealtimes, leaving gluten-free students unable to stop by mid-morning or mid-afternoon to eat, — unlike all other students, who have options at all hours.

Given the cost and mandate of Leo’s dining plans, each enrollee is right to expect that well-stocked, nutritious options will be available.

Emma Hinchliffe, Editor-in-Chief Mallika Sen, Executive Editor Robert DePaolo, Managing Editor Ian Tice, Online Editor Molly Simio, Campus News Editor Suzanne Monyak, City News Editor Sam Abrams, Sports Editor Jess Kelham-Hohler, Guide Editor David Chardack, Opinion Editor Michelle Xu, Photography Editor Zack Saravay, Copy Chief Emma Holland, Blog Editor

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Michal Grabias, Emma Hinchliffe, Hanaa Khadraoui, Hunter Main, Zach Singer, Laura Wagner Letter to the Editor & Viewpoint Policies The Hoya welcomes letters and viewpoints from our readers and will print as many as possible. To be eligible for publication, letters should specifically address a recent campus issue or Hoya story.

Letters should not exceed 300 words.

Viewpoints are always welcome from all members of the Georgetown community on any topic, but priority will be given to relevant campus issues. Viewpoint submissions should be between 600-800 words.

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OPINION

Friday, september 26, 2014

HOYA HISTORIAN

THE HOYA

VIEWPOINT • Drown

For Climate Action, a March of Unity

I

Matthew Quallen

Georgetown, Financed by Slave Trading T

homas Mulledy and the Jesuits had a problem. Actually, they had hundreds of them: Across 12,000 acres, 272 slaves toiled to feed the sprawling plantation system upon which the Maryland Jesuits built their provincial enterprise. But this system was under threat.

By the 1830s, the rumblings of abolitionism imperiled both the moral and economic longevity of slave labor. Abolition loomed over the continued operation of the Jesuits’ many educational projects, Georgetown included. And abolition haunted Thomas Mulledy, who would become the president of Georgetown University.

When Mulledy became the provincial of the Maryland Society of Jesus in 1838, he had already given careful thought to the question of what would happen to the Society’s slaves in an increasingly abolitionist America. Abolition, Mulledy understood, posed little threat in the Deep South, where neither public nor political resolve aligned with its goals. And so — to extract the greatest possible profit from their bondage — Mulledy sold the slaves south.

The Jesuits held slaves on plantations scattered across Maryland, complicating the enterprise of moving the slaves. But Mulledy was undeterred. Accompanied by local sheriffs and the Louisiana planter to whom the slaves would be sold, Mulledy descended upon the plantations.

What ensued marks the most shameful chapter in the Georgetown Jesuits’ long history. Families were divided as people were forced onto ships. Slaves as young as 9 months and as old as 75 were corralled and uprooted. Many slaves panicked. Several fled into the surrounding woods.

The affair marred Mulledy’s reputation.

Many Jesuits expressed outrage over the sale, which undermined the promise of emancipation for hundreds. One Dutch Jesuit wrote of the manner in which Mulledy conducted the sale: “No one does this sort of thing except evil persons … who care about nothing but money. … I tell you this will be a tragic and disgraceful affair.”

A contrite Mulledy came to expect that history would condemn him. Of his ensuing humiliation he wrote that “no doubt I deserve it.”

Only Georgetown, where several buildings were constructed in part by the proceeds of the sale, seems to have missed the memo. The university is currently renovating one of those buildings, Mulledy Hall — better known as

A university president sold the Society of Jesus’ slaves south instead of freeing them. one half of the old Jesuit residence — to create student housing. Renovating Mulledy’s legacy would prove even more difficult, but names, unlike the past, can be changed.

For now, Mulledy Hall intrudes on the heart of our university. The university only continues the injustice by memorializing Mulledy. By giving his name to a building bought with the sale of his victims, the university increases its offense.

Georgetown should take advantage of the renovation to rename Mulledy Hall.

Georgetown might rename the building after any number of people: perhaps a wealthy donor, perhaps a Jesuit who can more fittingly model our university’s values — Fr. Pedro Arrupe, S.J., for example.

Personally, I propose splitting the dedication 272 ways. One piece to Harriet Anne, who was 5 years old when Thomas Mulledy signed a warrant for her sale. One piece to George Henry, who was 2. One piece to Priscilla, who was 8. Another to Isaac, who was 4. There are more. Austin was 7; Dina was 8; Elizabeth was only 1 year old. We know many of their names, and their memory deserves recognition, lest we continue to treat them as nothing.

Such a proposal will undoubtedly be met with resistance. People often leap to the defense of tradition. But these defenders can only tie themselves to the faulty justification that infects the entire edifice.

The counterargument is simple: Georgetown should not memorialize those who profited from slavery.

Again an objection arises, this time in the form of a slippery slope: American history brims with celebrated slavers. Their monuments dot our national mall and collective psyche. We can’t rename them all.

But with Jefferson as with Mulledy, we need not flee the possibility that history has given some men more than they deserve.

While history offers no easy fixes, the legacy of slavery in America poses especially great challenges. Slavery was a national crime — one whose legacy insists upon a national conversation. Georgetown shouldn’t fear this conversation. Instead, it should contribute to it. For that purpose, Mulledy Hall seems as good a place as any to begin.

Matthew Quallen is a junior in the School of Foreign Service. HOYA HISTORIAN appears every other Friday.

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ntegral to all great American movements is the physical congregation of people who strive for change. The People’s Climate March in New York City this past Sunday was the largest march for climate justice to date, bringing together more than 400,000 people.

When clicktivism, the use of social media for social change and activism, can dominate our news feeds and when apathy is so often used to describe our generation, the People’s Climate March offered hope for the future of activism and climate justice.

Although the progress of United Nations discussions on global warming, the event that marchers hoped to influence, appears bleak, many marchers felt an overwhelming sense of accomplishment from the mere scope of the march itself. What was first annoyance at my inability to march forward because of the large amount of people around me soon turned into joy upon realizing that such a large mass of protesters had assembled.

The People’s Climate March proved that climate justice is hardly an issue reserved for neoliberal, granola-eating hippies, but an issue for everyone.

As I walked the 25 blocks of the march, I didn’t just find other college contingencies. I found senior citizens, some of whom were in wheelchairs, children, groups of Native Americans, a mass of socialists wearing only black, employees of corporations, scientists donning lab coats, Leonardo DiCaprio and so many other diverse groups of people.

At the march I met up with many friends who had travelled from places as far away as Michigan, Mississippi and California.

Given the diversity of groups at the march, perspectives on how

The widely attended People’s Climate March shows that impassioned activism is alive and well. to move forward on climate issues were far from similar, but that didn’t seem to matter. Everyone felt compelled to be part of something that could bring about climate justice no matter what it was.

Perhaps the most exciting moment for me during the march was seeing a classmate from my high school whom I hadn’t known was coming. For the majority of students at my high school, climate change wasn’t a real concern. As captain of my high school’s Envirothon Team, I was among the nerdy few who got excited about new recycling bins.

VIEWPOINT • Hines

Seeing my classmate, Jacqui, at the march, someone who showed no sign of interest in the environment during high school, made me realize how mainstream the climate movement has become to the American people.

Ascertaining the value of one’s own presence in a protest or march is difficult. The march still would have happened and would have been as successful without me, as is true for everyone else at the march at an individual level. But protests become successful when protesters feel such a connection to the cause that, regardless of the level of their impact, they feel they must be part

of it. Most of the marchers present last Sunday weren’t marching for U.N. climate discussions as much as they were marching for themselves. We owed it to ourselves and to the values that we hold for the earth to be a part of the historic event.

As I look out onto the Georgetown community, I don’t necessarily see activists. I don’t necessarily see students holding themselves to their beliefs and pushing themselves to advocate for change to see that their world one day becomes closer to the vision they have for it. It would be unfair to say that Georgetown’s campus isn’t rife with students eager to pursue their passions and defend their beliefs, but this is far from everyone.

Activism isn’t simply painting signs, yelling at big buildings and echoing sentiments of needing to “defeat the system.”

Every day we are forced to face choices of what is right and what is convenient. Are you going to carry your reusable coffee mug to get coffee or get a paper cup once you get there? Do you take the extra second to turn off your lights before you leave the room? Do you buy new clothes because you need them and because you’re going to wear them or because they just look cool?

We don’t have to participate in national protests to be activists.

We do need to become conscious of our actions, become conscious of how these actions affect others, and be reflective about how our actions may or may not align with the hopes we have for the future of this earth.

I challenge and exhort the student body of Georgetown to reflect on their beliefs and act upon them accordingly; I suspect our campus might be a different place because of it.

THE SENSIBLE CENTRIST

Assessing the DC We Shouldn’t Fight Drive for Statehood Poverty Like It’s 1964

‘N

o Taxation without Representation!”

The very battle cry that once led our great nation, rallying for independence, is now a popular slogan among Washingtonians like me for equal representation in Congress. Sounds good, right? Well, now the slogan that so proudly stands on D.C. license plates is being misused in order to argue for D.C. statehood.

Proponents of D.C. statehood, such as Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray, President Barack Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), argue that statehood will eliminate the “injustice suffer[ed] by D.C. residents … not having a vote.” Under the New Columbia Admission Act, proposed Jan. 15 of last year, the new state, deemed New Columbia, will encompass all the land of the present District with the exception of “principal federal monuments: the White House, the Capitol Building, the Supreme Court building, the federal executive, legislative and judicial office buildings adjacent to the Mall and Capitol Building and certain military property,” all of which will remain a part of the District of Columbia.

Proponents also argue that by becoming a state, D.C. residents will finally have equal representation in Congress. D.C. will be granted a representative in the House, and according to law, two U.S. senators. The seat of government of Washington, D.C., will be able to operate outside of Congress; Congress will now only watch over the aforementioned government buildings.

Like communism, it all sounds great on paper. It all seems to scream democracy, equal representation, true republicanism and all the valued American ideals we so cherish; however, also like communism, it will not work in practice.

First, consider the current politics of our government. There is no way on God’s green earth the Republican-led House is going to pass this act that is Democratbenefitting and that will give Democrats three extra seats in Congress.

Let’s be real; D.C. is called the “Federal City,” and its citizens voted for Obama by a margin of 83.6 percent in 2012. It also has legalized same-sex marriage and

is now making the case for decriminalization of marijuana. I have nothing against liberals and those that support these ideals, but if that does not scream liberalism, then what does? Plain and simple, D.C. bleeds blue.

Also, the plan, name and boundaries are plain U-G-L-Y! I mean, come on, New Columbia?

Imagine going on Google Maps and looking at the new boundaries of this proposed state … it will be very unamusing.

This all may seem like I’m against equal representation of District residents in Congress, but I’m not. As I previously said, I’m a Washingtonian, so I firmly believe something needs to be done but not to this extremity.

We don’t need a 51st state or a new boundary that changes the “Diamond City” to a state that no longer has a distinctive shape.

The states ratified the 23rd Amendment, giving D.C. residents the right to vote by means of giving D.C. specific electors in the Electoral College. Congress restricted the land area of D.C. to 10 square miles. If they can do that, they can pass another amendment or a better prepared act allowing the District to have representation in Congress. Or, as I’m sure my fellow Washingtonians would agree, just do not tax us.

The New Columbia Admission Act completely disregards the very slogan that we Washingtonians hold dear to our hearts, and that is “No Taxation without Representation.” Instead of trying to establish a new state, work to have D.C. equally represented in Congress.

Amend the Constitution, or pass an act through Congress to get the representation needed so that D.C. residents can be represented and, consequently, vote on the everyday bills, acts and laws that we are governed by. I agree with James Madison that D.C. needs “to be distinct from the states, [for] a dependence of the members of the general government on the State [is] equally dishonorable and dissatisfactory.”

Congress, in the meantime, must be open to giving equal representation to these residents who are being denied their right to representation in their government.

It sounds good, but D.C. statehood will never work in practice.

Ra’Mond Hines is a freshman in the College.

I

n President Lyndon B. Johnson’s that in 2014, 35 percent of children 1964 State of the Union address, would be living with only one parent he declared, “This administration and one source of income. We need to today here and now declares uncondi- deal with poverty in a way that will be tional war on poverty in America. … Our effective for Americans in 2014.

The solution isn’t a bigger and stronaim is not only to relieve the symptoms of poverty but to cure it — and above all, ger welfare system. The solution is a new and improved welfare state. One to prevent it.”

In 1964, the poverty rate in America example of a new approach that could hovered around 19 percent. Since the affect work and poverty is paid family passage of the Economic Opportu- leave.

In his piece Ferrara adds, “Indeed, nity Act in 1964, over $22 trillion has been spent on the 200 or so federal full time work year round at the curand state programs included in U.S. rent minimum wage, plus the Earned welfare plans. Today, 50 years and tril- Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax lions of dollars later, the poverty rate Credit, would be enough to lift every has dropped by only 4 percent, a small American family out of poverty. Yet, the change that many cite as evidence as typical poor family with children today to why we must re-evaluate the welfare is supported by only about 800 hours of state. work during a year, or In their September 16 hours per week.”

2014 piece on the I agree with Ferrara War on Poverty in and other conservatives the Daily Republic, who cite this statistic, Joel Mathis argues for to some extent. Workthe continuation and ers receiving support expansion of Amerfrom the government ica’s welfare efforts. should be working Mathis claims that more than 16hours per the small decrease in week. However, with Tricia Correia the poverty rate is not this argument, Ferrara an accurate measure and other conservatives We must hold anti- overlook a crucial issue. of the effectiveness of government assis- poverty programs to Minimum wage jobs tance programs beoften have much less cause society in 1964 higher standards. flexibility than a salacannot be compared ried job with benefits. to society in 2014. A stagnant mid- Because of this, minimum wage workdle class and a lethargic American ers and those living in poverty often dream, Mathis posits, are two fac- need to take part-time work because it tors that did not exist in 1964 that gives them the flexibility they need to are contributing to the high poverty take care of their children or other famrate today. ily members who have no other form of Mathis goes on to say, “Are anti- care. poverty programs perfect? No human Implementing paid family leave endeavor is. But they’re clearly better will allow workers, especially those than a non-existent alternative.” I dis- on or around the poverty line, to agree with his sentiment here, which work more hours and better support is similar to that of many liberals today. themselves. Raising taxes on all citiWe cannot continue blindly supporting zens and pouring more money in to programs that are massively inefficient. the welfare system doesnot get at the Between federal and state spending on root of the problem, nor does increaswelfare programs, not even including ing the minimum wage, which has Social Security or Medicare, we spend its own drawbacks. $17,000 per impoverished person annuWith the proper enactment and ally. With this huge expense, the system support, the passage of legislation should have more to show. supporting paid family leave will alIt is not true that any system is better low for everyone on both sides of the than no system when the ramifications poverty line to do what they need to of having such a flawed system involve do to care for their family while still perpetuating poverty and further inten- allowing them to work and support sifying polarization and tensions sur- themselves. rounding the welfare state.

Continuing to find other ways to reIn a 2013 piece in Forbes, Peter Ferrara form and support the structure of our argues against the expansion of the wel- welfare system is necessary if we ever fare state. Like Mathis, he looks to other want to make headway in the war on factors — such as the number of single poverty, and we should find ways to do head of households — to explain the fail- this without alienating certain groups ures of the system: “The poverty rate for of people. After 50 years, it is time to refemale-headed households with children evaluate the welfare state and see how is 44.5 [percent], compared to 7.8 [per- we can truly help those who need help cent], for married couples with children.” today.

Ferrara, unlike Mathis, correctly points to this societal change as a rea- Tricia Correia is a senior in the Mcson why the welfare system needs to be Donough School of Business. THE reformed. When Johnson declared war SENSIBLE CENTRIST appears every on poverty in 1964, he did not know other Friday.

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THE HOYA

PAGE FOUR

NEWS

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2014

INSIDE THIS ISSUE After failing to notify GERMS quickly about the ricin incident last March, the university notified it more promptly about meningitis. See story on A8.

Your news — from every corner of The Hoya.

IN FOCUS

verbatim

BRIANA SCURRY

“

The theme is rebirth, like the cherry blossoms, spring and the water.”

MedStar Georgetown University Hospital spokesperson Marianne Worley on how the waiting room decor will reflect how it feels to receive an organ transplant.

See story on A5.

from

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THE NEW BLOGGERS ARE HERE The Hoya has new hires. Learn about the lovely new members of 4E. CLAIRE SOISSON/THE HOYA

World Cup champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist soccer goalkeeper Briana Scurry spoke about “Tackling Obstacles and Achieving Dreams” in the Lohrfink Auditorium Wednesday as part of the Stanton Distinguished Leaders Series.

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University Sponsors Energy Innovation LUCY PROUT

Special to The Hoya

DAN GANNON FOR THE HOYA

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak discussed foreign diplomacy and the future of Asian policy in Gaston Hall on Tuesday. His speech kicked off the Lecture Fund’s event series this year.

Malaysian PM Talks Policy EMMA RIZK

Special to The Hoya

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak spoke about the future of Asia’s government and security in Gaston Hall on Tuesday.

Razak’s lecture, which focused on key issues such as the rise of China and the role of the United States in a multipolar international order, marked the first Lecture Fund event featuring a head of government this academic year.

“The way we respond to these issues will determine Asia’s future,” Razak said. “Confronted with the complex disagreements between states, Asia must place its trust in diplomatic solutions.”

Gaston Hall was filled with students as well as members of delegations from both the Malaysian and U.S. governments Tuesday.

After recognizing the past dominance of the United States on the global stage, Razak then discussed the emergence of many Asian powers including China, Japan and India, not only in regard to their economic transformation but also their political reforms.

“We must heed the fundamental principles upon which diplomacy is conducted: sovereign equality, respect for territorial integrity, peaceful settlement of disputes and mutually benefiting

relations,” Razak said.

Razak, who came to Georgetown after attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week, also emphasized his personal connection to the university during his speech, praising the education two of his children received in the School of Foreign Service and reminding students to tread carefully, both on the Exorcist Steps and on the seal outside of Healy Hall.

The prime minister talked about the positive influence of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which Malaysia will chair in 2015. He asserted that the ASEAN code of conduct can help alleviate disagreements like those surrounding the territorial claims on the South China Sea. Razak outlined key questions and issues that he believes will shape the future of Asia, regarding the rise of China and other nation’s reactions to Chinese leadership, the role of the United States in a multipolar world, and the shifting position of Japan in the 21st century.

After Razak finished his comments he spoke with US-ASEAN Business Council Vice President of Policy Marc Mealy. During this time, Razak condemned the actions of the Islamic State Group.

“They don’t speak for us. What-

ever they are, and whatever actions they’ve done, they are against Islam, they are against God and they are against humanity,” Razak, whose country is primarily Muslim, said.

He stated that religious freedom in Malaysia has embraced the true ideals of Islam, which has resulted in over 40 years of peace and stability.

During a question-and-answer session following the talk, students asked Razak about issues ranging from the banned study of political science in Myanmar to his personal advice for young people.

One student questioned the heavy media censorship and the treatment of the ethnic elite in Malaysia, prompting a response from Razak that stressed Malaysia’s emphasis on democracy and an open society that can be clearly seen on social media.

Monica Mahal (COL ’17), who attended the event, said that she was impressed by Razak’s lecture.

“The prime minister touched upon a lot of themes that apply to all types of Georgetown students,” Mahal said. “He handled his questions very graciously, and he also shed light onto his personality which made the whole conversation much more enjoyable. … Overall it was really an informative and very enriching lecture.”

The Georgetown University Energy Prize has selected 53 communities to advance to the quarterfinals of its $5 million, privately funded energy prize, which will award one community for its energy efficiency. Among the quarterfinalists are a range of small and medium-sized cities, towns and counties from across the United States, each with a variety of past efficiency experience and goals.

The competition’s goal is to ultimately create a platform for a diversity of innovations and ideas across the United States.

According to GUEP Executive Director Francis Slakey, this project is broad in scope, partially because of the eagerness of each community.

“The enthusiasm in these communities is contagious,” Slakey said. “This is the first time so many governments, utilities and community groups will be working together to reduce energy consumption.”

Since the Georgetown University Program on Science in the Public Interest launched the competition in February, these communities have worked to outline a plan for increasing energy efficiency and generate a leadership team to lead their projects. Additionally, the communities must secure signed commitments from their local governments, as well as electric and natural gas utilities and a community-based organization.

Currently, 16 launch sponsors, primary collaborators and outreach organizations, have committed funding, resources and assistance. Among these groups are the Joyce Foundation, U.S. Department of Energy and AARP, as well as any additional organizations secured by the individual communities. The high level of sponsorship secured by the communities in the quarterfinals exceeded GUEP Project Director Christofer Nelson’s initial expectations.

“I think when we first set out the requirements, we were thinking nonprofit organizations, local environmental groups or maybe even homeowner associations. We got letters from Microsoft, Belview Washington and even New Belgium Brewing to support different communities’ efforts,” Nelson said.

The prize’s sponsors support innovative efforts in participating communities.

The range of diversity within sponsorship, mentorship and participants enhances the array of possible outcomes that will extend beyond com-

munity boundaries. One major sponsor, the Joyce Foundation, is based in the Midwest. According to Ed Miller, the foundation’s environmental representative, the foundation is excited to sponsor the prize.

“We are eager to continue to partner with Georgetown University, and we are planning as the prize progresses to help get the word out in the Midwest, whether the winner comes from the Midwest or not,” Miller said.

Although Washington, D.C., does not fit the criteria of a “small to medium community,” 10 Georgetown University students have interned at GUEP’s office. During the summer, one Georgetown student made the discovery that with slightly moderate energy conservation efforts, this competition has the potential to immediately save $1 billion in energy costs and cut millions of tons of carbon dioxide emissions over the course of the next two years.

“It is an example of an idea that’s pretty modest, but one which can really make a difference,” Nelson said.

“This competition has really been about leveraging the assets the university has, which is intellectual capita, brilliant students, faculty, as well as a desire to serve our community and make a difference. Truly, the sky is the limit.”

Communities will continue to develop their projects until Jan. 1, when they will compete against each other.

Competing community Farmington Hills, Mich., has continued to assemble its team this fall since submitting their proposal.

“We have a lot of great things going in Farmington Hills. We’ve been doing many sustainability projects over the years, but this time we’re excited to compete with our peers. May the best community win,” Nate Geinzer, assistant to the Farmington Hills city manager, said.

Innovation efforts in Farmington Hills have included water efficiency efforts and an emphasis on alternative transportation, such as public transit and hybrid vehicles.

Nelson said he hopes to recruit Georgetown undergraduate and graduate students to help with the project.

“There is a huge amount of untapped potential here that we haven’t even gotten into because we don’t have the bandwidth,” Nelson said. “There are opportunities for unique graduate student and faculty research. There are opportunities for hands-on learning. There are opportunities for teaching. There are just so many things that can come out of this, [of] which we haven’t even scratched the surface.”

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friday, september 26, 2014

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GUPD AdmitsError With HFC Katherine Richardson Hoya Staff Writer

Georgetown University Police Department Chief Jay Gruber said that the officer who asked H*yas for Choice to move its table from an off-campus sidewalk on 37th and O streets NW on Monday afternoon acted in violation of the university’s speech and expression policy.

H*yas for Choice chose to table that day in silent protest of an event on campus bestowing an honorary degree upon Donald Cardinal Wuerl, the Archbishop of Washington, since the group opposes Wuerl’s opinions on women’s health and LGBTQ rights.

“One of our officers mistakenly asked students to move from 37th and O Streets,” Gruber wrote in an email to The Hoya. “It was a miscommunication. I have apologized to the students.”

H*yas for Choice has previously been allowed to table outside of the front gates. After group members set up a table in Healy Circle during the Cardinal O’Connor Conference on Life last January, GUPD relocated them to the same spot on the public sidewalk.

According to Vice President for Student Affairs Todd Olson, the administration plans to work with students to ensure that free speech policies are followed in the future.

“I know Chief Gruber has said this was a miscommunication with GUPD and a mistake,” Olson wrote in an email to The Hoya. “He has apologized. We will continue to work with all members of our university community to ensure our Speech and Expression policies are followed.”

H*yas for Choice President Abby Grace (SFS ’16) said that although Gruber admitted fault, he failed to characterize the type of miscommunication that occurred and thus downplayed the problem.

“Jay Gruber, in his email to us, acknowledged it was public property, so I think that just objectively, they’re correct by saying it was an error,” Grace said. “I think that it is rather regrettable that they framed it as a miscommunication rather than a clear breach in policy, because I think this communication implies that H*yas for Choice was in miscommunication with officers, [when] rather it was officers miscommunicating with each other.”

Grace will attend a Speech and Expression Committee meeting Friday, and said she will tell the story and push for policy enforcement.

“I think that we’re coming to share the facts and discuss what happened.

I think that the community itself has a few recommendations lined up,” Grace said. “[We hope for] correct enforcement of the policy. ... A policy means nothing if it’s not backed up by actions, so I’m hoping for correct application.”

Georgetown University Student Association President Trevor Tezel (SFS ’15) and Vice President Omika Jikaria (SFS ’15) will also work with the committee Friday. Olson, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs Jeanne Lord and Director of the Center for Student Engagement Erika Cohen Derr will also be in attendance.

“Omika and I are dismayed to learn of the latest confrontation between H*yas for Choice and the GUPD,” Tezel wrote in a statement. “What happened yesterday appears to be a clear violation of the [memorandum of understanding] reached between GUSA leadership and Dr. Olson last semester. We look forward to working with the Speech and Expression Committee to ensure that this is resolved in an appropriate manner.”

COURTESY JAMES COLLINS

COURTESY PHILIP SCHRAG

History professor James Collins (left), posing with his grandson, and public interest law professor Philip Schrag (right), along with the late pharmacology professor Karen Gale, were honored for their research and teaching skills with the President’s Award for Distinguished Scholar-Teachers.

University Honors Scholar-Teachers Xinlan Hu

Special to The Hoya

History professor James Collins, public interest law professor Philip Schrag and the late pharmacology professor Karen Gale will be honored for their dedication to scholarly research and student engagement with the President’s Awards for Distinguished Scholar-Teachers, University President John J. DeGioia announced Friday.

“There are some who believe that research and teaching are in conflict,” Provost Robert Groves said. “We make sure that we honor those among us who do both well simultaneously to note that great researchers can be great teachers.”

The award, which was created last year, provides an annual grant of $10,000 for three academic years to support the scholarship of distinguished professors.

Throughout his 29 years at Georgetown, Collins has taught a wide range of students, including first-years, upper-level graduate students and doctoral candidates, and he said that he enjoys working with students in a small classroom setting.

“My favorite thing about teaching at Georgetown is that I get to teach at multiple levels of the curriculum,” Collins said. “I’ve always taught those classes with a focus on the smaller discussion sections. I prefer the discussion sections because the main thing that we’re trying to teach students to do at Georgetown is how to think, not what to think.”

For Collins, research and teaching are not two separate entities but rather complementary parts of the classroom experience.

“For me, Georgetown pays me a salary and it pays me to teach,” Collins said. “So my first priority is to teach. And to me, scholar-

ship is a natural outgrowth of teaching. Students will always come with a new perspective to those books chosen for class, a perspective that I don’t have, and help me think about not only those texts but also other texts that I’m working on for scholarship.”

Collins said he especially loves to learn from his students, noting poignant memories of teaching students with diverse backgrounds, including adult students who provided first-hand accounts in class from their personal experiences during the Cambodian genocide, Ceausescu’s Romanian government and Nazi occupation.

“This is the advantage of teaching at a place like Georgetown,” Collins s a i d .

“There are all kinds of fascinating people here.

We are in a city that attracts people from all over the world. And the student body comes from all over the globe.”

Schrag, as the Delaney Family Professor of Public Interest Law and founding director of the Center for Applied Legal Studies, received the award for his innovation in the legal clinical program. Schrag said that his favorite part of teaching is the clinical program, which allows law students to represents clients who are seeking asylum in the United States because they fear persecution in their home countries.

“My students worked with

their clients for the entire semester and ended up defending a deportation case against their clients in seeking asylum in a federal immigration court proceeding,” Schrag said.“After preparing them for the entire semester, I’m so proud of these students who are able to handle a four-hour hearing in court by themselves.”

According to Margaret Parker (LAW ’15), who is participating in the clinical program this year, Schrag creates a stronger learning experience by encouraging his students to explore what interests them.

“He really gave us room to make mistakes within the comfort of his supervision,” Parker said. “He didn’t really tell us, ‘ Y o u should go there to find this expert or l o o k Robert groves here.’

Provost He encouraged us to just explore and try things. If we really got off track, he would just lead us back.

It was empowering to do things as if we weren’t actually students.

We were actually just advocates.”

Gale, who died this August, was honored for her groundbreaking neuroscience research of seizures on the brain and her impactful teaching as the founding director of the Interdisciplinary Program in Neuroscience.

Pharmacology professor Barry Wolfe, Gale’s colleague of 25 years, said that he remembers the moment when Gale was elected as the director of the program.

“There are some who believe that research and teaching are in conflict. We make sure that we honor those ... who do both well.”

“That very time when she learned she was the one elected, she hugged me and broke down and started crying and said, ‘This is my lifetime dream.’ And it was,” Wolfe said.

According to Wolfe, Gale let students take control of their education. She organized three new courses that helped promote students’ professional success.

“What she really did was that she empowered students in a very large way, in a way that most faculty would look at and say, ‘Oh my goodness, students have so much power over the program.

How could that be?’” Wolfe said.

Wolfe noted Gale’s dedication to supporting female faculty.

Gale often pointed out occasions in which few women were invited as guest speakers for the program, even when the majority of doctoral students were women.

The award grants that Gale would have received will be used to create a Memorial Lecture Fund for Women in Neuroscience.

“Karen was one of the faculty members of the Georgetown Women in Medicine organization. So she was a firm believer in providing education opportunities for women and minority students and to help them succeed,” Gale’s former postdoctoral student, Patrick Forcelli (GRD ’11), said.

Forcelli, who co-nominated her for this award, said that Gale had a multidisciplinary way of teaching that was highly effective.

“One of the things that I love about her is that she had such a wide view in pharmacology,” Forcelli said. “She really could span multiple levels of analysis, from basic pharmacology all the way up to neuroscience. Since neuroscience is inherently multidisciplinary, it’s essential to look at all different levels to really look at how the brain works.”

MedStar Transplant Institute Opens $2.4 Million Clinic Natalie LaRue

Special to The Hoya

The MedStar Georgetown Transplant Institute opened a new $2.4 million outpatient clinic on Tuesday in an attempt to improve the patient experience and consolidate transplant-related care. Backed by corporate and hospital funding from the MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, the new clinic will begin seeing clients Monday.

The 19,000 square foot space, located at the MedStar Georgetown Pasquerilla Healthcare Center, consists of 17 new outpatient rooms for kidney, small bowel, liver, multivisceral and pediatric patients, an upgrade from the previous 11,500 square-foot space with six rooms.

“With greater capacity comes greater efficiency,” David Zwerski, assistant vice president of the Transplant Institute, said.

The clinic addresses the evergrowing transplant business and demand for transplants at the MedStar Georgetown Hospital. In an average year, the Institute performs from 300 to 320 transplants and hundreds of other operations.

“We had really outgrown this space,” MedStar Georgetown Transplant Institute Executive Director Thomas Fishbein (MED ’89) said.

“We have so many physicians and patients that we literally could not see them in the current space that

we’re in.”

The new design places doctors, researchers and other health professionals closer to the patients, streamlining the multi-step bureaucracy of transplant-related care and allowing the clinic to attend to the physical and emotional needs of the patients.

“It facilitates single encounter care,” Fishbein said. “It is an evolution toward patient-centered care, rather than doctor-centered care.

It was very convenient for the doctors in the old-fashioned way, but now it is very focused around the patient experience.”

In addition to creating a more efficient patient experience, the clinic also aims to improve the emotional experience of the patient, for example by facilitating interactions between patients and social workers.

“Patient experience translates to high quality of care and a welcoming environment,” Zwerski said. “We have to make the best of their experience and be receptive to patients, because we know that they’re not always going to get good news.”

Georgetown University Hospital spokesperson Marianne Worley also pointed to the design of the waiting room, which includes paintings and a screen showing educational videos for patients and families to learn more about

their condition, as an example of the patient-centric nature of the clinic.

“The theme is rebirth, like the cherry blossoms, spring and the water, because a lot of people feel like when they have a new organ they have a rebirth,” Worley said.

“These things are all really important to them. It doesn’t have to feel like a doctor’s office.”

The Medical Center founded the Center for Translational Transplant Medicine in March 2013, which merged with the transplant research already being conducted at the University. Fishbein is the center’s co-director.

“We have 30 to 40 clinical trials open at any given time for patients who are being treated in the transplant institute,” Fishbein said.

By adding space for the center to operate in the clinic itself, researchers can now work among doctors and patients, creating parallels between clinical trials and actual patient work.

“The interdisciplinary element of the clinic will allow us to see patients and, in parallel, have research opportunities, which is for the betterment of transplantation,” Zwerski said.

Fishbein was optimistic about the impact the clinic would have on the Georgetown community.

“The future of Georgetown medicine is here,” he said.

ARIANA TAFTI FOR THE HOYA

The Transplant Institute’s new outpatient clinic will take up 19,000 square feet in the MedStar Georgetown Pasquerilla Health Center.

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news

THE HOYA

FRIDAY, September 26, 2014

Former Refugee Starts at GU Georgetown Considers

English PhD

REFUGE, from A1 ‘life of hell’ because, to me, if there was a hell in this world, it is the refugee camp. … You have no sense of pride in being a human, people can come kill you any time they want and no one is going to ask them any questions.”

Despite the conditions Acharya faced in the refugee camp, he still managed to find a way to make his voice heard in the community and turned to his education as an escape.

He found his voice through creative writing, as well as through leadership positions.

He described how, when he was in eighth grade, he became a student program supervisor and created a space where students could share their opinions and advocate for educational changes.

In 2012, Acharya’s family moved to the United States, settling in Winooski, Vt. Acharya said that he began to develop a true identity upon arrival, unfettered by the fear he once faced in Nepal. “[Before], I had no food to eat,” Acharya said. “Nothing.

You live in that state of survival and when I came here, we were counted as human, I had my identity. I was identified as a human. … I felt I was lucky enough because then I could try to find the ways to better my life.”

However, Acharya said that as an immigrant in the United States, he still faced challenges, many of which stemmed from racism and classism.

He wanted to attend school, but the Refugee Resettlement group told him instead to start working as a dishwasher. Acharya, however, was determined to pursue his education.

He attended Winooski High School and then applied to the Vermont Academy of Science and Technology Program at Vermont Technical College in Randolph, where he earned his high school diplomas. Acharya still faced setbacks in school, such as being forced to take an English as a Foreign Language class, despite the fact that he grew up speaking English.

Acharya found mentors in Vermont through his relationship with Katherine Decarreau, the Winooski City Manager, whom he met while working on a school project. However, he said that the refugee resettlement program faces many challenges.

“They are in a very challenging position, [they’re] not particularly well-funded by the government and they are being

ENGLISH, from A1

COURTESY INDRA ACHARYA

Indra Acharya (COL ’18) lived in a refugee camp in Nepal until he moved to the United States with his family in 2012. looked to here to solve a whole multitude of problems across a number of cultures,” Decarreau said. “It’s easy for anybody to group a whole population and make general statements when you’re faced with an awful lot of people.”

Peter Yankowski, Acharya’s neighbor and mentor, agreed that refugee resettlement does not always do enough to help refugees.

“They give them a couple of weeks of support and the refugees are the ones that lift themselves up [by their] bootstrap[s],” Yankowski said.

Acharya said that he hopes to help alter the way that refugee resettlement organizations view the people they work with.

“I see myself as a lotus. It grows in the marsh where you throw the garbage, but still it is the most beautiful flower you can ever find,” Acharya said. “There are these amazing people with amazing potential in the refugee camps. We as Americans have failed at educating people and getting them integrated in our society, so I would focus on education, social integration, and if a person is educated and knows how to communicate with people they will be able to find jobs.”

Acharya, a Gates Millennium Scholar, said that he ran for GUSA senate because he hopes to be a voice for students while embodying authentic student leadership.

“I’m not running for GUSA to change what I think is wrong, I’m going to change what students as a whole say is wrong,” Acharya said before results were released.

Results of the GUSA election were not available at press time.

Decarreau said that she is excited to see what Acharya will achieve in the future.

“I’m thrilled that Indra wound up here and he made a huge impression on the community and will continue to give a lot to our community,” Deccareau said. “[I] can’t wait to see what he does next.”

Yankowski agreed, and said that Acharya will serve as inspiration for many in the future because of his positive attitude and empathetic personality. “[He is] an awesome inspiration for the community, all the youth in the community of all ages and ability and aspiration,” Yankowski said. “He’s a very selfless person. … Along the way, other students have benefitted from the path that he’s forging.”

To Acharya, the United States holds potential that he hopes to discover during his time on campus.

“I don’t see myself going back to Nepal,” Acharya said. “I am American. I am a proud American, even if a lot of people have a hard time trusting me as American. This is my country.

This is the country where I had my first nationality.”

Professors Demand ISIS Action ISIS, from A1 Nicolo Donna dalle Rose (SFS ’15), a member of the Middle East Youth Network, said he has mixed feelings about this initiative.

“Supposedly, most of these would go to the Iraqi Kurds and

some of these to factions in Syria, however, every single time in the last decades that Kalashnikovs or other weapons of this sort have been injected into the region, they stayed in the region, and switched sides very often,” Rose said.

The plea also includes an appeal for humanitarian aid by demanding its expansion. It urges the United States to take leadership in providing food, water, medicine and other essential supplies to innocent people impacted by ISIS.

degree in English and a developed and focused research project in mind.

The proposed Ph.D. program reflects several of the suggested improvements to doctoral programs listed in a recent report from the Modern Language Association, which was released shortly after the proposal was drafted.

“The MLA report suggests that our program reflects contemporary thought about what a doctoral education in English ought to look like in the 21st century,” associate professor and Chair of the English Department Kathryn Temple said.

In order to make sure the Ph.D. candidates graduate from the program prepared for a competitive job market, participants will be required to complete a three-credit humanities-related internship, such as working as the curator at a museum or working at a cultural organization like the Folger Shakespeare Library.

“We’re really thinking about what we’re doing as kind of providing a model for doing doctoral level work in literary and cultural studies that will be relevant to the 21st century,” Ortiz said.

Students interested in a career in academia who are seeking a more traditional English Ph.D. experience are also welcome to participate in the program.

“We’re offering students certainly the opportunity to pursue traditional topics. It’s possible to come into the program and do a very standard Ph.D.,” Temple said.

Other changes to the traditional Ph.D. program include a more concentrated completion time estimate of four years, as opposed to 10 to 12 years spent in some Ph.D. programs.

“I know that there are current faculty that think that even students who are working very hard, more than fulltime, on the degree can’t finish in the four-year period, but I suspect they can,” Temple said. “My view is that a lack of structure tends to encourage people to stay in Ph.D. programs way too long.”

According to Temple, the program would be funded partly by the departmental funds within the English master’s program, as well as by other programs within Georgetown that want to work with Ph.D. students and through internships. If the internships the Ph.D. students complete for university credit happen to be paid, the money will go into the program. She added that the program’s small size will allow the department to provide closer mentorship and to provide adequate funding.

“Unlike some Ph.D. programs, we’re not going to accept anyone unless we can stipend them, and give them full tuition scholarship,” she said.

Temple said that she thought the doctorate program would benefit other English programs at Georgetown, such as the master’s program, because the English Ph.D. students could work as teaching assistants or tutors.

“It’s a natural thing that if you’re in a program where some of the students are more advanced than you, you’re going to have a stronger program and you’re going to get a better education,” Temple said. “I guess it’s controversial in that some people think that when you bring in a Ph.D. program, it weakens the commitment to the undergrad

program or to the master’s program, and I tend to think it makes for a stronger program for everyone.”

Daniel Shore, an associate professor of English at Georgetown, questioned whether the program actually fulfilled the definition of a Ph.D. in an interview with The Chronicle of Higher Education.Shore declined to comment to The Hoya.

“What we’re planning to call a Ph.D. program is, in essence, an advanced master’s program,” Shore told the Chronicle. “It’s enriching them. It’s teaching them, which is valuable. It could potentially give people other career opportunities outside of the tenure track. But it is not accomplishing the job for which I understand the Ph.D. to exist.”

However, current master’s students in the department were receptive to the proposal.

“Given the academically rigorous and supportive nature of the M.A. program, the Ph.D. program would undoubtedly offer students a meaningful experience that would result in more post-graduate, professional opportunities,” Caitlin O’Leary (GRD ’15) wrote in an email.

Although she acknowledged the current strength of the department, Samantha Reid (GRD ’16) thought the Ph.D. program would attract more qualified students and better resources, but noted that it might also constrain resources for the rest of the department.

“In other graduate programs, the Ph.D. students typically have access to the best resources, often prioritized over any M.A. students. That obviously does not occur in our department. However, a Ph.D. program might attract more resources for the department, providing more access and benefits for the entire program. Difficulties might include lack of funding and strains on current staff and faculty,” Reid wrote.

In particular, students applauded the proposal’s career-minded focus.

“An English Ph.D. program that doesn’t tout itself as focused on job preparation is seriously out of touch,” Reid wrote. “I think it shows strategy and marketing.”

She said she would be interested in a Ph.D. program at Georgetown in order to further her education in English beyond a master’s degree.

“Well, barely six weeks into the M.A. and I’m already distressed I’ll only have two years at this program, which has some incredible offerings from very strong professors. Everyone says an English Ph.D. is for future academics and professors only — maybe a job-preparation Ph.D. would help me find other avenues to use the knowledge base that comes with a Ph.D,” Reid wrote.

Schwarz said that he thought an English Ph.D., even in today’s job market, is an invaluable education that can provide students with key skills, such as reading and writing, advanced critical research and organization.

“I think a humanistic education is its own reward. I honestly don’t think you can get the life skills and the intellectual and spiritual insights of an advanced humanist education anywhere else, and I don’t think we should deprive people of that opportunity,” he said.

Hoya Staff Writer Maddy Moore contributed reporting.

Sexual Assault Activists Join White House Campaign ASSAULT, from A1 son, executive director of Generation Progress, a nonprofit organization that advocates for social and political policy through student leaders on college campuses and a co-sponsor of the campaign, said on the call.

“It’s On Us” will focus on engaging students and promoting better recognition of the problems of sexual assault. The campaign asked students to sign an online pledge in order to create an environment that does not tolerate sexual assault. More than 37,000 people have taken the pledge so far.

“Bystanders play a key role in preventing, discouraging, and/or intervening when an act of violence has potential to occur,” Tchen said.

Take Back the Night President Sarah Rabon (COL ’16) was wary that the pledge could have the opposite effect.

“Campaigns like this can sometimes provide rationalizations for complacency,” Rabon said. “The act of signing the pledge may cause someone to feel as if they’ve effectively done their part, but in reality, the epidemic of sexual assault is one that will only be resolved after a long period of hard work by many.”

In addition to the pledge, the Department of Justice Office on Violence Against Women gave $6 million to 18 colleges to develop programs on prevention and response to sexual assault. Johnson said the mission of the program was a holistic change in the response to sexual assault at univer-

sities.

“This is an ‘all hands on deck’ kind of campaign, and we are really going to change the way that we think about campus sexual assault,” Johnson said. “We need to engage media entities, domestic violence prevention groups, sports organizations and campus groups.”

Despite this increased push, the organizers have struggled to involve men in the conversation, one of the primary goals of the campaign.

“A lot of men are really uncomfortable with sexual assault, but they don’t speak up because they

“Campaigns like this can sometimes provide rationalizations for complacency.”

SARAH RABON (COL ’16) Take Back the Night President

think that other men approve of this kind of behavior, when in fact they don’t,” Johnson said.

“It’s On Us” plans to educate children in grades K-12, engaging them in age-appropriate conversations to emphasize the problem. Rabon stressed the importance of beginning education against sexual assault culture at a young age.

“Conversations around consent, bystander intervention and supporting survivors could be normalized and deepened if we, as a society, had them earlier and more

often,” she said.

Georgetown recently updated its sexual misconduct policy, following guidelines set by the White House’s Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault, which was formed in January. The changes allow sexual assault survivors to avoid face-to-face interactions with their perpetrators during hearings, limit the number of people involved in a case and force the university to assign outside investigators to examine the cases.

Georgetown’s Sexual Assault Services Specialist Bridget Sherry Laizer praised student sexual assault peer educators for their influence in promoting positive change.

“SAPE students played a critical role last year in many of the new policy changes that came about, including the Survivor Bill of Rights and addition of a new clinical staff member in Health Education Services for Sexual Assault Services,” Laizer said.

Rabon emphasized the necessity of individual action, in addition to the White House campaign and administrative changes, to create a safer environment and prevent sexual assault.

“Day-to-day efforts should be taken by students to make this campus safer for all students, as people of all genders are affected by sexual assault. A primary tool students can use is bystander intervention,” Rabon said. “If students both look out for each other and refuse to passively accept displays of predatory behavior by others, this campus can become much safer for everyone.”

FILE PHOTO: DANIEL SMITH/THE HOYA

Former president of Take Back the Night Haley Maness (NHS ’15) reads out survivor stories at last year’s Sexual Assault Awareness month.

friday, september 26, 2014

news

THE HOYA

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Panel Discusses IS Group, Middle Eastern Affairs Matthew Larson

ance, if you even want to call it that, between the KRG … and the PKK can go,” Natali said. “[They are] in direct The Institute of Turkish Studies competition with each other. That and the Middle East Institute co- competition still exists today. … The sponsored a panel on Turkey, the extent to which this competition for Islamic State group and the Middle leadership of the Kurds and to direct East on Wednesday in McShain the nature of the Kurdish nationalLounge. ism should be taken into account, A panel of experts led by Sinan Cid- because that did not change after di, executive director of the Institute [the Islamic State’s rise].” for Turkish Studies, included Denise Ustun said that allies around the Natali, who holds the Minerva Chair world need to develop a unified plan at the Institute for National Strate- to aid the Kurds and put an end to gic Studies at the National Defense the violence in the area.

University, Kadir Ustun, the research “The U.S. and the allies including director at the SETA foundation and Turkey have failed to find a common Mutlu Civiroglu, a journalist whose strategy … to support the Syrian opfield of work involves Turkey and position and create credible alterSyria. natives to the Assad regime,” Ustun The group discussed Turkey’s re- said. “The chaos and vacuum created lationship to the turmoil between by the civil war in the past few years the Islamic State group and the have created a breeding ground for Kurds in Iraq. terrorist organiTurkey finds itzations.” self at a nexus, According with its status to Utsun, the as a geographic current United neighbor to the States stratconflict and a egy suffers key NATO ally from “bombof the United and-walk-away States, which resyndrome,” a cently began airtendency to instrikes against tervene militarthe Islamic State ily in a country group in Syria and then not folKADIR Ustun and Iraq. low up with aid Resarch Director at the SETA Foundation “Turkey is exor infrastructure pected to play an important role in improvements. [world events],” Director of the Mid“There is no actual political goal dle East Institute’s Center for Turk- or political strategy defined, at least ish Studies Gonul Tol said. “A few what we can see publically by the days ago, it was signaled that Turkey U.S. that will resolve the issues on might become part of the military the ground,” Utsun said. coalition. Now there is a huge debate The panelists’ initial speeches on what exactly [they] will do.” were followed by a question-and-anCiddi said that the panel discus- swer session, during which the panel sion was meant to help elucidate the fielded questions about decisioncurrent events in the region during a making in Turkey, Iran’s involvetime of decision-making. ment and the Turkish position.

“It is a timely topic, we think, beDeniz Citak (SFS ’17), who attendcause of Turkey’s proposed role for ed the event, said that he found the what is happening in northern Syria discussion to be both fascinating and Iraq with the spread of the ISIS and informative. threat,” Ciddi said. “[This panel is de“I studied Persian and I’m really signed to] shed light on some of the interested in the Middle East and I’ve most urgent questions that are being studied some Arabic, so obviously asked.”

ISIS and the Middle East are going to The discussion began with re- be topics [I’m concerned with] and I marks from each speaker, with Na- think Turkey is real interesting,” he tali beginning by examining the said. divide between the Kurdish people.

Citak, who is half Turkish, was inNatali said she is unsure if regional trigued by the topic.

Kurdish groups such as the Kurdish “Currently, our government’s a Regional Government and the Kurd- little unsure of what to do with the istan Workers’ Party, also known as question of ISIS and Turkey despite PKK, can work together to fight a its proximity has been very hesitant common enemy. … and I guess that was because of the “I actually am pretty skeptical hostages who are now out, so we’ll even about how far this so-called alli- see,” Citak said.

Special to The Hoya

“The chaos and vacuum created by the civil war ... have created a breeding ground for terrorist organizations.”

NATASHA THOMSON/THE HOYA

The panel included Denise Natali (top), of the Insititute for National Strategic Studies at the National Defense University, and Kadir Utsun (bottom), research director at the SETA Foundation.

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THE HOYA

friday, september 26, 2014

Uber Announces Charity Initiative Tom Garzillo

Special to The Hoya

ARIANA TAFTI FOR THE HOYA

The university notified GERMS about a case of bacterial meningitis on campus an hour before the rest of the student body found out. The EMT service was not given special notification about ricin on campus last spring.

Contact Varies Between GU,GERMS Deirdre Collins Special to The Hoya

After a failure to notify the Georgetown Emergency Response Medical Service of previous campus health emergencies, university officials informed the EMT service of the test results confirming a case of bacterial meningitis an hour before emailing the rest of the student body last Thursday.

Last March, however, when thensophomore Daniel Milzman produced ricin in his dorm room in McCarthy Hall, the university did not inform GERMS prior to informing the rest of the student body.

“We knew about the meningitis as it was happening. There were GERMS members that responded to the meningitis call, knew about the incident earlier than university officials,” GERMS Director of Public Relations Manavi Bhagwat (NHS ’16) said. “We were finding out the information as the university did because for a long time, tests were still coming out as they were trying to test if it was bacterial or not. We found out that it was bacterial about an hour before other students.”

The GERMS crew on duty became aware of the case of possible meningitis before the rest of the university when they received an emergency call last week. Since the group operates [under] the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, the members on call were prohibited from informing students or other GERMS members to protect patient confidentiality.

“The university and GERMS communicate on a very regular basis,” GERMS Captain Brian Monahan (COL ’15) said. “As an organization that provides a campus service, we feel that it is important to have regular and productive communication with various university departments who play an important role in managing the day to day operations at Georgetown.”

Despite this regular communication, GERMS officials were not in-

formed about the presence of ricin on campus last March until the university sent out a campus-wide email.

Monahan and Bhagwat said they are confident that the university would have informed GERMS had they thought the ricin posed a risk to the health of the student body.

“GERMS leadership at the time of the ricin incident was provided information on a need-to-know basis and at no point was patient or GERMS provider safety in jeopardy,” Monahan said. “Given the circumstances surrounding the incident, GERMS was pleased with how the incident was handled by all involved.”

The lack of communication between the university and GERMS, which is often the first method of care for students, in all medical

“We were finding out the information as the university did.”

MANAVI BHAGWAT (nhS ’16) GERMS Director of Public Relations

emergencies creates concerns for some students.

Jason Gusdorf (SFS ’16) said he feels that a communication lapse could create a potential risk for students.

“It concerns me that GERMS doesn’t always have access to certain important general medical information during campus-wide emergencies,” Gusdorf said. “It’s the organization in charge of immediate student medical services and I would like them to be as prepared to help students as possible.”

Alexa DiAngeles (COL ’16) said that she thinks that GERMS should be alerted about serious health issues on campus because they work directly with a large number of students.

“I think they should be allowed to know [about health risks] because if they’re getting calls, they’re in direct

contact with students, they’re going to be the ones that can tell if this is spreading,” DiAngeles said. “These are very difficult situations to handle and very unexpected situations.”

Alisha Dua (COL ’16) said that she thinks that it is important for GERMS to know about serious health risks for the sake of its own members.

“I would think they should be the first people to know … for their own sake,” Dua said. “Their chances are way higher that they’d be exposed.”

Although GERMS is not always given a priority notification, the group regularly works closely with the Georgetown Hospital Emergency Department.

In the past week, GERMS has worked with several on-campus departments as well as physicians at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital to create a protocol for treating students with symptoms similar to those of meningitis.

Monahan facilitated additional discussions with the hospital as well as with internal university departments such as Student Health and the Department of Emergency Management to ensure GERMS was prepared to respond to possible outbreaks.

“Georgetown EMS maintains patient and crew safety as our utmost priority,” Monahan said. “The nature of emergency medical services is that they are unexpected and unpredictable. There have been countless times where GERMS has had to modify its normal operations.”

James Welsh, Assistant Vice President for Student Health Services at Georgetown, commended GERMS’s exceptional abilities that have allowed it to implement emergency procedures following this recent campus emergency.

“GERMS is an extremely important organization to our university,” Welsh wrote in an email to The Hoya.

“All of us (students, faculty, staff, visitors) rely on their exceptional training, organization, skill and response to ensure the health and safety of our community. We are very lucky to have them.”

GUPD BLOTTER Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2014 Theft, Harbin Hall, 5:30 p.m.

A student reported the theft of his wallet from the listed location. No suspects or witnesses have been identified.

Alcohol Violation, Mortara Building, 11:24 p.m.

Alcohol Violation, Village C, 1:16 a.m.

An intoxicated male observed urinating outside of the listed location was identified as an underage student. This case has been referred to student conduct.

Theft, McCarthy Hall, 4:27 p.m.

An underage student was found in possession of an alcoholic beverage.

This case has been referred to student conduct.

A student reported that an unknown person removed two pairs of pants that were left unattended in a laundry room. No suspects or witnesses have been identified.

Friday, Sept. 19, 2014

Theft, Lauinger Library, 5:10 p.m.

Alcohol Violation, LXR, 1:17 a.m.

An intoxicated male observed urinating outside of the listed location was identified as an underage student. This case has been referred to student conduct.

A student reported the theft of his laptop. No suspects or witnesses have been identified.

Alcohol Violation, LXR, 11:55 p.m.

An underage student was found to be in possession of alcohol. This case

has been referred to student conduct.

Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014 Alcohol Violation, Darnall Hall, 12:21 a.m.

GERMS responded to the area and transported an underage intoxicated student to the emergency room. This case has been referred to student conduct.

Sunday, Sept. 21, 2014 Alcohol Violation, Ryan Road, 1:17 p.m.

Two underage students were found in possession of alcohol. This case has been referred to student conduct.

This blotter is compiled weekly by the Department of Public Safety.

Uber, the popular ridesharing service, announced its “Ride for a Cause” charity initiative Sept.

19, partnering with five D.C. area charities to donate $1 for every ride through Sept. 28.

“Uber has always been committed to giving back to the communities we serve,” Uber spokesperson Taylor Bennett said. “We’re constantly exploring new ways to provide even greater value to our partners and a better experience to our riders.”

At the end of each ride, passengers can choose one of the five charities to receive the donation from Uber. In addition to the $1 per ride option, every person who refers a friend to Uber will have $2 donated to the charity of his or her choice. When the program ends, the charity with the most selections will unlock an additional $10,000 donation.

The five participating charities are Best Buddies, Fight for Children, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, National Park Foundation and So Others Might Eat. Bennett explained that Uber aimed to partner with diverse charities for the initiative, in order to offer customers a variety of donation options.

“We chose both local and national charities that advocate for a range of causes,” he said. “Best Buddies, Fight for Children, IAVA, National Park Foundation and So Others Might Eat are all fantastic charities with wonderful missions.”

According to Bennett, Ride for a Cause has already raised thousands of dollars.

SOME spokesman Tracy Jefferson said that the money from Uber will go toward assisting the children cared for by the charity.

“Each dollar that we raise will be directed to providing nutritious snacks for kids in our afterschool program,” Jefferson said.

Fight for Children, a nonprofit organization focused on providing D.C. children with better quality education, will put the money towards Joe’s Champs, the wing of the organization focusing on preschool quality in high-need neighborhoods.

“We’re a well-known brand with a strong social media presence, and I think we have a good program and a message to promote,” Fight for Children External Relations Director Jeff Travers said.

This is not Uber’s first charity effort in the D.C. area. Last November, Uber offered free rides to and from community partners as an

opportunity for riders to donate or volunteer without having to pay for transportation. In December, Uber donated $1 toward gifts for D.C. families in need for every UberBLACK user who took a ride on Dec. 16.

Travers noted that corporate partnerships with charities were increasing.

“I’ve been working in nonprofits my whole life,” he said. “More and more, companies are looking to help charities and market their brand.”

Recently, Uber has faced pushback from city councils across the country and received a ceaseand-desist letter from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles in June regarding concerns over its regulatory status.

The D.C. Taxicab Commission has also called for increased regulation of the ride-sharing service, which is not registered with the DCTC. “We would much prefer that Uber operate within the regulatory system as opposed to outside of it,” DCTC spokesperson Neville Waters said. “Our job is public safety and consumer protection, so in order to perform our duties it would be critical to know who is driving and what kind of vehicles are on the road.”

Jefferson, however, praised Uber for its charity initiative.

“We’re happy to be a part of the initiative and excited about possibly working with Uber moving forward,” Jefferson said.

Students were appreciative of Uber’s charity efforts, though Dan Akselrod (SFS ’18), a frequent user of the service, was skeptical that it would affect the company’s ridership.

“I think it’s great that Uber is using their growing popularity to contribute to charitable causes,” he said. “However, I do not think that this one initiative will encourage people to use Uber. If people care about the charities, they will just continue to support them in ways they already have.”

Jim Nealon (MSB ’16) thought the initiative was a good way for community members to give back, though he hoped it would be a starting point for further volunteerism.

“Considering how quickly Uber has expanded and how many college students use the service on a regular basis, I think this is a great idea,” Nealon said. “Of course, this campaign should not be a substitute for participating in actual volunteer service. However, I think this is a small thing that can get people in our community involved and talking about how we can better serve the D.C. community.”

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THE HOYA

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Young Alumni Donations Increase Kshithij Shrinath

of saying, ‘I want to give back to Georgetown,’ even if it’s a small amount,” Newhall said.

Contrary to the nationwide Georgetown announced eartrend of declining donations lier this year that it had raised from recent graduates, George- $1.2 billion as part of its 10-year town University has seen in- For Generations to Come camcreased participation from young paign, which has a goal of $1.5 alumni, allowing the university billion to fund scholarships and to sustain its master planning construction projects across the projects. university. The campaign is exThe Chronicle for Higher pected to run until July 2016.

Education reported earlier this Newhall emphasized the immonth that a study of donors portance of donations in contribfound that fewer than half of mil- uting to the future of the univerlennial alumni had ever given sity for alumni. back to their university, with 75 “There’s so much construcpercent stating that they would tion and master planning going give to another organization be- on, it’s important to plan for the fore their alma mater. future. That means … making Vanessa Otarola Kehoe (NHS sure the Georgetown experience, ’08), senior director of Class Pro- making sure our degree means grams and Reunion Campaigns as much as, if not more than, at the Office of Advancement, what it did when we graduated,” found the findings of the study he said. odd.

Though the construction proj“With our young alumni, we ects scattered across campus rehave actually seen a different quire significant funding, Kehoe trend,” Kehoe wrote in an email. noted that recent alumni tend At Georgetown, 33 percent of to prioritize scholarship proalumni who grams over had graduatconstruction ed in the past projects, as five years do65 percent of nated to the young graduUniversity in ates gave to 2014 alone, scholarship an increase programs last from 26 peryear. cent in 2010.

“Young VANESSA OTAROLA KEHOE (NHS ’08) Additionally, alumni seem Office of Advancement the rate of to be more young aluminterested ni donations was the same as for in supporting scholarship, and the general alumni population, we always encourage alumni to 33 percent of whom also donat- donate where their hearts leads ed in 2014. them,” Kehoe wrote.

Kehoe explained that each Even with the positive trend class has a committee in charge at Georgetown, the Chronicle of keeping alumni connected pointed to the significant burwithin the class and with the den of student loans, which afuniversity, which she credited fect 37 percent of households with the improved rates. headed by individuals under 40, “In the past few years, com- as limiting donations. mittee members have directly Acknowledging the difficult asked their classmates to donate economic situation, Newhall ento Georgetown, which has been couraged alumni to give back in incredibly impactful,” she wrote. other ways than financial dona“Furthermore, the Office of Ad- tions. vancement has gotten more “The 1634 Society is not a creative with giving communi- fundraising group. Even the cations (and e-communications) money we collect is more of a and has been improving the on- symbolic thing. We deal more line giving experience in an at- in getting alumni and current tempt to make giving easier and students to give back in other faster.” ways, giving their time, giving Tyler Newhall (COL ’15), last their experience to students,” year’s president of the 1634 Soci- he said. “[That is] one thing ety, which focuses on promoting that we really like to stress, alumni giving and fostering con- coming back and giving whatnections between students and ever you can, whether that’s graduates, also pointed to efforts time, whether that’s sharing aimed at encouraging students your wealth of experience.” to give back during their time Hannah Merrill (COL ’18) at Georgetown. He cited the an- agreed with Newhall, seeing nual marquee event, the One for donations as a chance to give Georgetown campaign, during back. which the 1634 Society aims to “I would want to give back to see a $1 donation from 50 per- the university because I think cent of the freshman class. that would be my way of helping “The one dollar is really a sym- them improve their educational bolic thing. … But the idea is, we facilities that gave me a lot while want to get people into the spirit I was here,” she said.

Hoya Staff Writer

“We always encourage alumni to donate where their hearts lead them.”

CHARLIE LOWE/THE HOYA

GUSA Director of Outreach Eng Gin Moe (SFS ’16) and Deputy Director of Outreach Rodrigo Gonzalez (SFS ’15) lead the Multicultural Council’s first town hall, which aimed to solicit feedback on the council’s agenda.

Cultural Council Solicits Input Toby Hung

Special to The Hoya

The Georgetown University Student Association hosted its inaugural Multicultural Council Town Hall on Tuesday in the Healey Family Student Center, soliciting suggestions for the council from members of various campus cultural groups.

Representatives of the Multicultural Council, which was created in August to facilitate communication between GUSA and cultural groups on campus, outlined their agenda for the year and invited students to participate in various working groups.

GUSA’s Director of Outreach Eng Gin Moe (SFS ’16) and the GUSA Multicultural Deputy Director of Outreach Rodrigo Gonzalez (SFS ’15) lead the council, which also includes six representatives who are leaders in their respective cultural groups.

“The whole purpose [of the Council] is to develop a constant and direct line of communication between cultural groups and the GUSA executives,” Moe said. “We are institutionalizing a commitment to cultural diversity.”

Gonzalez said that being a part of the council has helped him fulfill a personal goal.

“It stands from the fact that when I came here as a freshman, I immediately gravitated towards the Latino-Hispanic groups on campus. I felt

like I was a bit of an outsider there,” Gonzalez said. As a result, he founded the GU Mexican Students Association in his freshman year. “I would be helping other groups with what I did for my own.”

The coordinators outlined the structural makeup of the committee, which consists of four working groups.

The academic working group deals with the creation and integration of multicultural topics into classes; the funding group aims to examine and reform how cultural groups are currently funded; the institutional group works to solve issues with the university including heritage funds; and the programming group helps with cross-collaboration between cultural groups and promoting active multiculturalism.

The council’s meetings will be open to all students and are scheduled to occur biweekly.

Some students in the audience raised concerns about whether or not cross-cultural interactions would actually increase following the creation of the council, while others posed questions about how cultural groups of all sizes would be equally represented by the committee. Moe said many of these issues will be minimized since the council is organized into working groups rather than being structured by cultural groups.

“The working group structure ensures cross-cultural communication,

so that the individuals in a cultural group won’t just stick to that group,” Moe said.“One important thing to know in the beginning is that we will all try to support each other equally.”

GUSA President Trevor Tezel (SFS ’15) said he has high hopes for the council to resolve issues from previous years resulting from the nonexistence of such a program.

“The idea behind a multicultural council is to advocate to administrators what cultural communities traditionally haven’t had as much access to,” Tezel said.

The committee currently provides a schedule of events on Google Calendar which broadcasts events from all cultural groups so that they are not limited to just the members of a particular group.

Council leaders also discussed various initiatives, such as the creation of alternate funding structures and the autonomy of cultural groups from the Students Activities Commission, the current advisory board under which they are governed.

Moe, a previous SAC commissioner, is in favor of a new cultural group advisory board.

“The nature of funding is that there is a limited amount of money for all these great groups that want to do so much,” Moe said. “Cultural groups want to do a lot of great programming, but SAC may not be the right fit for them.”

New Publication Highlights Local Entrepreneurship Laura Owsiany Hoya Staff Writer

Venture Capitol, a new online journal dedicated to entrepreneurship, launched this semester through the efforts of two students whose converging reflections on Georgetown University’s stock career industries led them to create something more iconoclastic.

Sonia Vora (SFS ’15), co-founder and co-editor-in-chief, initially drew inspiration for the site from Princeton University’s science and tech research journal, Innovation.

When she observed the uniformity of recruiting season, where students flock to internships in consulting and finance regardless of academic interest or personal passion, she was spurred to action.

“I realized that all my friends didn’t really know what job opportunities were available to them outside of banking and consulting, and that was driving a lot of people to go into those industries even though they didn’t really have an interest in either banking or consulting,” Vora said. “I was kind of shocked to hear that my friends who had never expressed interest in these industries before felt like they were driven to these types of jobs because they didn’t have a choice.”

But Vora was adamant that there was another option.

By March, Vora had connected with Kevin Brosnan (COL ’16), cofounder and co-editor-in-chief of Venture Capitol, through Georgetown University’s Initiative on Innovation, Development and Evaluation and began work on the site.

Brosnan had also noted a lack of diversity in Hoyas’ perceived career prospects and a particular vacuum in the tech industry.

“It was really astonishing to me, when I first got here to Georgetown, that Georgetown considers itself an elite university, but the tech community is so marginalized and so underdeveloped here,” he said.

“Georgetown is comfortable with its identity of being a school that puts kids into banking or puts kids into finance.”

Venture Capitol seeks to disrupt the status quo of perceived typical Georgetown career paths — a report released by the Cawley Career Education Center showed approximately 25 percent of surveyed students in the class of 2013 went to financial services and consulting — and bring Georgetown’s potential as a startup-friendly school into the spotlight.

“Venture Capitol is working to foster interest in innovation and social entrepreneurship on campus so that current and future students will be able to further develop this community,” Milan Chang (COL ’17), one of the Venture Capitol editors, said.

While many entrepreneurship groups on campus already emphasize computer programming to increase innovation in the Georgetown community, Vora says Venture Capitol, as a reporting mechanism, does not compete with other startup-centric groups on campus, instead bringing the opportunities these groups present into broader focus.

“Our thesis is that there already is a startup ecosystem at Georgetown, but it’s not highlighted enough. So, we’re trying to bring more awareness that these kinds of events and opportunities already exist,” Vora said.

Six months later and newly staffed with 30 Georgetown students, Venture Capitol now high-

COURTESY DANNY PIERRO

Clockwise from top left: Milan Chang (COL ’17), Kristen Bandos (COL ’16), Ann Yang (SFS ’15), Samantha Rhodes (COL ’16), Etana Solomon (MSB ’18), Collin Smith (NHS ’15), Sonia Vora (SFS ’15), Kevin Brosnan (COL ’16), Danny Pierro (COL ’15). lights three areas: Campus, Community and City.

“Campus” will focus on entrepreneurship events on campus and student startups, but also commercial research done by the Office of Technology Communication. Vora says this type of research has grown nationally, and is a unique, yet understated part of Georgetown’s innovation ecosystem.

“Community” emphasizes alumni startups that Vora hopes will inspire students toward entrepreneurship in a practical way. “[It offers] a template for current students to also follow in order to kind of launch their careers and startups, but also to build a network of people and stories that students can utilize to find out more about startups,” she said.

Finally, “City” will cover startup opportunities and events in Wash-

ington, D.C. The site has already explored General Assembly and WeWork among the city’s tech and startup platforms.

Venture Capitol plans to publish a new article every other day to raise awareness now and possibly change campus career culture in the future.

“While in the future we would love to have a broader audience and maybe act as a vehicle for how kids get involved in their own initiatives and bring about their own start ups… right now we’re really just trying to make people aware of what’s out there for them,” Brosnan said.

Beyond developing Georgetown’s startup culture, Brosnan hopes highlighting opportunities in an atypical industry will inspire Georgetown students to explore other marginalized industries.

“While kids who are interested in

the creative arts or creative sciences might not necessarily be sparked by an interest in tech, hopefully this larger movement of kids who are willing to be a little bit more daring or are willing to leave their comfort zone will inspire Georgetown students to explore more avenues when it comes to post-graduate opportunities,” he said.

Venture Capitol welcomes writers, photographers and designers to contribute to the site, as well as any suggestions or comments. Staff writer applications will reopen next semester.

“We want kids who have been intimately involved in tech to join us, we want kids with no technological ability, no tech knowledge to join us, because like we said, it’s all about perspective and it’s all about creating a broader community,” Brosnan said.

BUSINESS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2014

BUSINESS BITS VITTLES VENDORS

This week, Associated Wholesalers Inc., the largest vendor for Vital Vittles, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Although the company was bought out by C&S Wholesale Grocers, a much larger organization with increased capabilities, the bankruptcy had a minimal, but not insignificant impact on inventory levels. Certain products experiencing shortages have been ordered through different vendors, but once the sale of AWI to C&S is finalized, inventory levels will return to normal.

LEADERSHIP SCHOLARS

MSB professors Paul Almeida and Michael O’Leary will collaborate with four presidential centers to design and facilitate the curriculum for the President Leadership Scholars program. The PLS program will sharpen leadership skills of individuals who have at least 10 years’ experience in the public, private, nonprofit or military sectors. Placing emphasis on leadership qualities necessary for a president, including acting effectively and efficiently in high-stress, high-consequence environments, the program will develop practical leadership skills that will make a positive difference in society.

FIXED INCOME REFORMS

This Saturday, the Georgetown Entrepreneurship Initiative will host the first annual Undergraduate Venture Capital Investment Competition.

Students will work in teams and act as venture capitalists reviewing real entrepreneurial companies. The winning team will be selected to compete in the national Undergraduate Venture Capital Investment Competition in November. Georgetown’s team has won for the past two years the competition has been held.

Stipend Aids Entrepreneurs With Debt KIM BUSSING Hoya Staff Writer

StartupHoyas recently announced its new Georgetown Startup Stipend Program, which aids aspiring entrepreneurs with student debt, no strings attached.

The program, funded by a donation from the Schramm family, aims to give students the fiscal support they need to pursue a startup after graduation. While the program will not pay off all loans incurred at Georgetown, the graduates will receive a stipend covering payments for the first year or two depending on the case after they graduate, allowing them to focus on their ideas instead of personal financial concerns.

“The goal is to help more Georgetown students to actually pursue their dream,” Jeff Reid, founding director of the Georgetown Entrepreneurship Initiative, said. “So many students are excited about entrepreneurship, but their student loan debts make them nervous, and because of that anxiety, [they] feel like they have to go work for some big company.”

While Georgetown — and specifically the McDonough School of Business — is known for prepping students for consulting or finance careers, StartupHoyas strives to ensure students are not choosing these postgraduate routes just because they offer the most security in terms of salary.

“There’s nothing wrong with those careers, but I hear students all the time say that they don’t want to go into banking, but they feel like they have to for a lot of reasons. This program, this startup stipend, will give them enough money to alleviate their fears,” Reid said. “They still have all the challenges an entrepreneur would have; they just don’t have to worry about paying those debt payments.”

The money is given to accepted students upon graduation and every couple of months thereafter. The final amount given to a specific applicant is calculated based on what his or

her loan payment would have been.

However, unlike a loan, students do not have to pay the money back, regardless of whether their business succeeds.

“Our goal is to allow them to take that risk, to take that chance. We know some of them will fail, and that’s ok,” Reid said. “They’ll give it a try, and they will probably learn so much. Even if they do fail, it is worth the effort.”

Although there are no official numbers for how many applicants will be accepted into the program, Reid maintains that the focus is not to make a competitive application process but rather an opportunity for as many students as possible to pursue their dreams. The application will not require a formal business plan, although proof of validity is required.

“We need to see that they’ve been working on it for a while, that they’ve talked to customers, that they know what they’re doing,” Reid said. “We know that there will be a lot of things that could change over a few months [in terms of their business model].

That’s the way the world of entrepreneurship works. But we want to see that at least there’s something that has credibility to it.”

Reid proposed the scholarship idea to the Schramm family, who immediately embraced the concept.

While at Georgetown, Victoria Schramm (COL ’12) had classmates in the same scenario that the new program helps address, but they ultimately decided to take a job at a bigger firm instead of pursuing their passion.

“People told her that they went to work for some big company and that they hated their job. They wished they had done something with a startup, but they hadn’t because of student loan debt. The idea resonated with her,” Reid said.

Schramm, who was heavily involved in entrepreneurship as an undergraduate and was president of Kairos, a group of student entrepreneurs from around the world, wanted to give students the chance her peers

did not have.

“With new programs every year, Georgetown students are starting companies more than ever before,” Schramm said. “With all of this success, we simply can’t have these entrepreneurs being forced to abandon their companies for financial security in a job they dread. It’s a loss of our talent and our values as an institution.”

Reid, however, is aware that, just like Schramm’s peers, students posed with the choice of taking an offer at a larger firm or creating their own venture might opt for the less risky option, but he hopes that this new program will increase the likelihood of choosing the latter.

“It’s a difficult decision for a stu-

dent to turn down a job offer or not go through the recruiting process.

We want to help them vindicate themselves for starting a company,” Reid said. “We have students who do that every year, and we’d like to have more.”

Although the application has not been released yet, students are encouraged to express their interest through the StartupHoyas website and make use of the resources available through StartupHoyas, including mentoring and advising.

“This program is for the students who really do want to start something right out of school. It’s an amazing opportunity to do that. We don’t want things like student loan debt to be an impediment to that,” Reid said.

Georgetown Partners With 1776

COMMENTARY

Benefits of Apple’s Watch Questioned E

COURTESY TERESA MANNIX

Victoria Schramm (COL ’12) announced the Georgetown Startup Stipend Program at last Friday’s Entrepreneurship Day.

DAVID BROWN & KRISTEN FEDOR

Hoya Staff Writer & Special to The Hoya

For many, its actual necessity is in quesarlier this month, Apple Inc. CEO Tim Cook delighted fans when he tion. Critics have already mocked the announced toward the end of a spe- device, stating that it is effectively a gloricial media event that there was “one more fied smartphone strapped to your wrist. thing” he wanted to discuss. By alluding Furthermore, many believe the usefulness to the famous line that the company’s co- of the device is crippled by its battery life, founder and former CEO Steve Jobs used which Apple says will last for “about a day,” to introduce revolutionary technology, requiring you to charge your watch, along Apple’s message could not have been more with your other devices, every evening.

However, it is important to remember clear: the company was going to announce that people were highly skeptical of devicsomething big.

For the first time since the death of Jobs es like the iPad — calling it just a big phone in 2011, Apple introduced the world to a — which is now hugely popular and has completely new product: the Apple Watch. created a multi-billion dollar tablet sector.

While the smart watch trend has yet to New, at least for Apple. catch on, Apple has an almost The Apple watch perfect record of taking niche comes at a time when technologies and turning just about every major them into mainstream mustconsumer electronics have devices. If any company firm has already released can make a smart watch cool, its take on the “smart it’s Apple, and it’s clear the watch.” However, the company invested a great deal consumer feedback from of time and energy into the these devices has been deappearance of the watch. cidedly tepid. Even those Henry Parrott Created under the superviinterested enough to pursion of designer Jony Ive (the chase one often say that behind the MacBook, after using it, they just If any company can mind iPhone, iOS 7 and more), the don’t see the point. Many consumers aren’t sure make a smart watch watch is considered by many to be better looking than just if they are ready to pay cool, it’s Apple. about any wearable device a premium (the Apple on the market. However, like watch starts at $350) for one more device that they must charge, up- all of Apple’s products, design comes at a grade and keep track of. To many, the con- price, and the Apple Watch is very much a cept just seems like an expensive headache. luxury.

An even pricier version comes in 18 Apple has set out to change this. In the face of competition from Android Wear karat gold and retails for an estimated and Google Glass, Apple hopes to be the $1,200. While wealthy consumers are hisfirst to usher in the age of mainstream torically willing to splurge on their wrist wear, the Apple Watch is still a significant wearable technology.

To take full advantage of it, the watch risk for the company as they try to promust be tethered to an iPhone 5 or later mote a product that is not guaranteed in order to control the music player on to be popular to a higher socioeconomic your phone, track your activity and fitness consumer class.

The question that remains is whether with heart rate measurements, send and receive messages, answer and make calls, or not a post-Steve Jobs Apple can still conrecord audio and serve as a handheld por- vince the world it must pay a premium tal to third-party apps. Apple has already for one more piece of trendy technology. demonstrated some innovative apps for While the Apple Watch may become covthe device, including drawing doodles eted, it still could add to the difficulties of that show up on a friend’s wrist, adjust- a world where paying attention and staying your home thermostat and sending ing focused are already difficult, where vibrating “love taps” or emojis to other we are perpetually assaulted by notificafriends with Apple Watches. It can make tions, where our responsiveness to social payments via the new Apple Pay system, media is required and where we are utwhich was announced at the same event, terly reliant on devices with unreliable control Apple TV and act as a remote for battery life. connected smart home devices. You can even check the time without having to HENRY PARROTT is a senior in the School of Foreign Service. pull out your phone.

Continuing the spirit of entrepreneurial education on campus, Georgetown has recently partnered with 1776, a startup incubator and venture capital fund based in Washington, D.C. The partnership will provide students and faculty with a direct link to the District’s unique entrepreneurial ecosystem as well as access to the facilities, events and internships offered by 1776.

“1776 provides Georgetown students and faculty with valuable connections to the real world of entrepreneurship, both locally in D.C. and globally with their worldwide startup network,” said Jeff Reid, founding director of the Georgetown Entrepreneurship Initiative and professor of entrepreneurship.

“This partnership will benefit the entire Georgetown community as we continue to promote entrepreneurship across the various schools and units on campus.”

Connecting the most promising startups with the resources they need to excel, 1776 brings expertise and experience in the startup world to students’ doorsteps. The entrepreneurial platform serves as a hub for startups specializing in education, energy, health care and government challenges. The group brings experts from a vast background of interests and industries to provide mentorship opportunities to students.

“1776 provides Georgetown students with an incomparable opportunity to interact with innovators in our community,” Dean of Georgetown School of Continuing Studies Kelly Otter said. “I look forward to seeing students’ ideas come to fruition with the mentorship and guidance of 1776’s vast network of entrepreneurs.”

Jesse Flores (COL ’16), a current intern at 1776, plans events at the center to engage the community in different entrepreneurship activities. He commented on the atmosphere 1776 provides that existing on-campus study spaces lack.

“When it comes to what 1776 can offer, a lot of it is open working space with people around you that are doing pretty much the same thing,” Flores said. “Everybody in there is just as passionate and just as driven to get their idea to where they’re trying to get it to be.”

Students also might be interested

Visit us online at thehoya.com/business

COURTESY STARTUP HOYAS

Donna Harris, co-founder of 1776, accepts a sign from members of the Georgetown Entrepreneurship community. in taking advantage of the different kinds of technology 1776 supplies.

These perks include access to the Microsoft Innovation Lounge that opened last spring, which features the latest Microsoft software and devices.

The partnership is experiencing a growing on-campus interest in entrepreneurship — over 100 students signed up for Startup Hoyas at the recent Student Activities Fair.

This growing community of entrepreneurship is not exclusive to the McDonough School of Business, but characteristic of all schools. Associate Dean of Planning at the School of Continuing Studies Kristen Consolo described securing the partnership as a collaborative process. The Georgetown Entrepreneurship Initiative, McDonough School of Business, Georgetown Law Center, School of Continuing Studies and Office of Community Engagement all had a role in the development of this new opportunity.

Manager of Communications at the School of Continuing Studies Andrew Glass emphasized the opportunities that 1776 brings to faculty as well as students.

“It’s definitely something that throughout the process we thought was very important to offer to our entire community because these entrepreneurial ideas don’t just come from students,” he said.

Current students are excited about the opportunities that could emerge from the partnership, particularly the networking tools and

educational opportunities.

“1776 is going to provide great opportunities to Georgetown students from every school, not just the MSB. Entrepreneurship is something everyone should learn as it teaches you a different way of approaching problems, which is applicable in real life just as much as it is in business,” Vlad Kondratiuk (MSB ’16) said.

However, to many students, entrepreneurship remains enigmatic.

“Entrepreneurship has always been an interesting topic to me, but I don’t know the process of creating a business,” Sarah Stolz (COL ’16) said. “I am always thinking of products that would be really useful to me in everyday life, but they aren’t always practical in a business sense. So, I just pass them off, thinking they would be impossible.”

According to Reid, 1776 is valuable for Georgetown and fits with the overall mentality of the campus community. There is already substantial interest among both students and faculty in signing up for events and utilizing the 1776 space.

“Anyone can attend 1776 events and learn a lot, but the best way to learn about entrepreneurship is through internships. There are a lot of postings on both the 1776 website as well as the Startup Hoyas website from companies that are looking for students to provide new perspectives on problems,” Reid said. “If you’re willing to roll up your sleeves and provide a way to help, a lot of startups would love to have you.”