The Hoya: The Guide: January 31, 2014

the guide FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2014

THIS WEEK

Worlds Apart

LIFESTYLE

Service in Serbia

Milosh Popovic (SFS ’16) discusses launching a tennis mentoring program in Serbia for autistic teenagers. B2

FOOD & DRINK

Presidential Plates

New restaurant Lincoln impresses with seasonal American dishes and an energetic ambience. B5

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Provocative Television

A new HBO show takes a refreshing look at modern, gay relationships. B6

Teenage Love

Rainbow Rowell proves that you’re never too old for teenage romance stories with ‘Eleanor & Park.’ B6

THEHOYA.COM/ THE-GUIDE @thehoyaguide

International students struggle with the gap between two cultures LINDSAY LEASOR Hoya Staff Writer

E

laine Ding (SFS ’15) sits in the Cawley Career Center surrounded by her peers, waiting for an information session to start.

Similar to other Georgetown juniors, Ding is starting to consider her postgraduate options and has been actively taking advantage of the resources the university offers. Except, unlike most of her peers, Ding is from Hong Kong and finds out after the presentation, that the company, whose spokesperson she had just listened to for the last hour and half, does not sponsor work visas for international students who wish to stay in the United States after they graduate.

Approximately 10 percent of Georgetown’s undergraduate population is international, making up a diverse group of talented young adults pulled from all corners of the globe. Yet while diverse, the members of the international population at Georgetown share two traits with one another: Very few receive

financial aid, and all of them are introduced to a different culture when they reach the Hilltop.

International students’ first encounter with life at Georgetown starts well before the first day of classes. They arrive on campus a week before the other freshmen and participate in International Pre-Orientation, a four-day program that consists of information sessions and social events. This program has the added, but not necessarily beneficial, effect of separating domestic and international students before the semester even begins.

For Leonor Dominguez (MSB ’15), this setup was ideal. After growing up in Venezuela, Dominguez found herself drawn to Georgetown for what she admired as the “customizability” of an American education. The opportunity to spend time with friends and those similarly undergoing a cultural transi-

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FEATURE

Poised to Perform

tion was a welcome opportunity.

“I absolutely loved the international orientation. I felt at home with my friends and it helped me gain stability before everyone else arrived. It was quite a honeymoon experience,” Dominguez said.

Muriel van de Bilt (SFS ’17) grew up in Brazil and attended a Portuguese-speaking school. For her, the opportunity to meet and develop friendships with other international students made all the difference when first coming to campus. While students from California may fret about the distance between See INTERNATIONAL, B2

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FEATURE

Upcoming BMDT Show Celebrates Women in Dance ALLIE HILLSBERY Hoya Staff Writer

I

nside of Walsh’s Black Box Theatre, Georgetown’s Black Movements Dance Theatre focuses on the rehearsals and preparations for its upcoming show. The contemporary, modern dance company was founded in 1981 by several female African-American students who wanted to use their passion for dance as a medium to express their heritage. Since its founding over 30 years ago, the company has expanded to include both male dancers and dancers from a variety of ethnic

backgrounds. The 18 undergraduate members, their faculty advisors and several guest collaborators have been hard at work since October on their spring concert, “This Woman’s Work,” which will be held at the Davis Performing Arts Center on Feb. 7 and 8.

“In keeping with the tradition of Black Movements Dance Theatre, most of our pieces are based on theatrical storylines, so the theme of ‘This Woman’s Work’ really focuses on the elements of women and those challenges that we are met with in everyday living as well as in the larger framework of what we do as

DANIEL SMITH/THE HOYA

This semester’s Black Movements Dance Theatre show will showcase a range of dance styles including tap, ballet and hip-hop.

women,” BMDT’s Artistic Director Alfreda Davis said. “The three elements that we’re focused on are strength, compassion and struggle.”

Bernadette Nelson (SFS ’14), a dancer for BMDT and the group’s publicity and public relations director, expressed her enthusiasm for the theme of the show, which she believes will be universally appreciated by the audience.

“I’m really excited for the depth of this theme. I think that the pieces speak to issues that affect women but that are also very pertinent in terms of current events,” Nelson said.

“The theme kind of transcends the show, and I think that everyone in the audience can somehow connect with it because you have a woman in your life — whether it’s a sister, or a mother, or a friend, or an aunt or a grandmother that you connect with in some way. I think that some element of the show will speak to that and resonate on an emotional level as well as an artistic level.”

Davis has high hopes for next weekend’s performance and a clear vision of what she hopes people will take away from it.

“I always want the audience to be inspired. I want them to be inspired to engage each other. I want them to be inspired to talk beyond the concert, not just about the dancers and their ability, but about the message.

I want it to transcend someone’s ability to dance,” Davis said. “I also want people to know that we do great work here at Georgetown. We may not be a big arts consortium, but in the dance program here, we do very viable work. We take our approach to our work very seriously, and that is something that we want to be reflected in the show.”

For “This Woman’s Work,” BMDT will be doing two joint pieces with Georgetown’s other academic dance See BMDT, B3

REBECCA GOLDBERG/THE HOYA

Following the success of last year’s performance, the Chimes are set to host the 41st Cherry Tree Massacre in Gaston Hall.

Cherry Tree Festival Keeps on Killing It JESS KELHAM-HOHLER Hoya Staff Writer

I

t all began with the Chimes running a costly bar tab at Tombs in 1974. Prompted by a need for money, the Chimes began brainstorming the most interesting way to raise funds: by getting a bunch of a cappella groups together once a year. Now, 40 years later, the Chimes are leading the way with the 41st annual Cherry Tree Massacre a cappella festival, the largest of its kind on the East Coast. A much-loved Georgetown tradition, the event features Georgetown’s own significant a cappella talent, as well as groups from many other East Coast universities.

“The group works tirelessly to put it on. It’s immensely important for us as a group; it’s our lifeblood,” the Chimes Epus, Tom Lane (COL ’14), said. The hard work certainly pays off, and

while it may be the “lifeblood” of the Chimes, it is also a beloved Georgetown tradition.

Without a doubt, the most important aspect of the festival is the way music can bring people together. Chimes member Charlie Plissner (COL ’15) believes that the tradition is an important event for bringing together the Georgetown community.

“It’s a really cool example of how the performing arts and musical groups come together in a great way and can produce something different. I haven’t seen a performance like this anywhere else,” Plissner said.

Fellow Chimes member (#239) Peter Fanone (COL ’15) also emphasized the remarkable nature of the festival.

“Cherry Tree brings university groups together to the Hilltop to show us what they’ve got, and whereas most colleges don’t hear See CHIMES, B4

B2

the guide

THE HOYA

FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2014

FEATURE

Unexpected Barriers Cloud American Dream ing in extracurriculars on campus, an opportunity he did not have back the two coasts and Southern stu- home. dents may joke about adjusting to “From the first moment, I noD.C.’s harsher climate, they are still ticed among the internationals, you surrounded by people they, for the could pick from two giant categomost part, understand. ries: people who had no interest in “In the beginning, it is easier to be spending any time with American friends with the internationals. We students, and those who didn’t even are all facing the same change: mov- see nationality as being a criteria for ing away from home, speaking 24/7 friendship,” Dona dalle Rose said. a whole different language,” van de “That is sort of the micro-reality of Bilt said.

Georgetown F o r that maybe s o m e , students however, don’t realthe culize is going ture shock, on between language internationbarriers als.” and friendDona dalle ELAINE DING (SFS ’15) ships deRose also enveloped during IPO make transition- countered an almost shocking lack ing to New Student Orientation and of appreciation of international regular college life difficult. students and their diverse backFollowing IPO, international stu- grounds. While domestic students dents join with the other incoming are clearly defined but what state freshmen for NSO. However, connect- they’re from, Dona dalle Rose noing with people who didn’t just hop ticed that everyone clumped all the off an intercontinental flight can students coming from abroad as bring more challenges than expected. one thing: international.

“The most surprising thing to me “They put us all in the same catewas the lack of diversity on campus gory, but I think you may have more because I came from an internation- divisions between international al school, so for me, all of my friends students than you do American stuwere from different countries,” Ding dents,” Dona dalle Rose said. “Why said. “When people asked me where are the two categories one country I was from, they weren’t expecting and then all the rest?” a country. They were expecting a The one thing the majority of state. And that really shocked me.”

Georgetown students are aware of With an inclusive IPO experi- when it comes to their international ence juxtaposed with the cultural brethren are preconceived notions crash course of NSO, international of international students’ affluence. students tend to remain with the This stereotype stems from the lack friends made during the former of financial aid that is both granted rather than the latter — a divide and available to international stuNico Dona dalle Rose (SFS ’15) was dents by the university. starkly aware of.

According to Dean of Student Dona dalle Rose grew up in Milan, Financial Services Pat McWade, 55 Italy where he attended an Ameri- percent of the domestic student can international school. Interested population receives need-based fiin international relations, he was nancial aid, and 41 percent receives attracted by the environment of need-based scholarships. With a U.S. universities and the more flex- limited amount of financial aid exible curriculums available here. He tended to international students, also wanted the overall experience many students — international and of studying, living and participat- American — make assumptions INTERNATIONAL, from B1

“I was not used to being underage again.”

about the group.

“International students don’t get financial aid when they come here, so if you put them all together and you let them bond with each other a few days before everyone else comes, then they tend to stick together and it fuels the international student stereotype that they’re rich and wealthy,” Ding said.

These stereotypes, however, don’t always hold. Dona dalle Rose found wealth to be less of a factor in social status at Georgetown than it was at his school in Milan. He characterized the major driver of social status here to be achievements, whether in school, internships or extracurriculars.

“I found it strange and interesting that status comes from something else,” he said.

“But status is always something bad in general.”

International students even feel themselves subjected to what Dona dalle Rose describes as a “social fetish” for having international friends.

While it may seem interesting to surround themselves with friends from across the world, Dona dalle Rose said that those who make such an effort to have international friends are often those that begin friendships on the foundations of stereotypes.

“They’ll come to me and say, ‘Oh Mama Mia, Nico!’ Sure, I’m Italian, but really, after two years, is that the only thing you know about me?”

Dona dalle Rose said.

As international students attempt to establish their new lives in the United States, many of their first difficulties are the little conveniences that many American students see as an afterthought. And with family so far away, international students usually find themselves sweating the small stuff.

“Logistically, there is a lot of assimilation to do in terms of things like setting up a bank account, setting up a phone and insurance. I had to do all these things by myself, which is hard,” Ding said.

Dona dalle Rose, who hopes to stay in the United States and doesn’t want to go back to Italy after graduation, also faces the prospect of stunted job opportunities. He originally was impressed by Georgetown’s international relations options, but careers that interest him aren’t available because of his citizenship.

“As an international student, I don’t have access to any American government jobs,” Dona dalle Rose said.

With knowledge of these challenges ahead, a great deal of courage is required to leave everything familiar behind and embrace a new culture.

“To Italian friends, sometimes you are a bit of a stranger. It’s funny because here you’re known as the Italian and there you’re known as the American. It’s frustrating because you’re neither,” Dona dalle Rose.

“I think any individual, NICO DONA DALLE ROSE (SFS ’15) if given the option to stay in that safe, cozy environnever celebrated Thanksgiving. And ment that they’re used to or explore everyone goes home for Thanksgiv- something exciting new, different, ing and internationals don’t have and potentially scary, most people anywhere to go. Little things like would choose the comfort,” Lonthat are hard to get used to,” Ding don native Beatrice Fabris (COL ’16) said. added.

Beyond cultural differences, inDespite these challenges, the externational students face real chal- perience of studying abroad — not lenges in the search for jobs and for a semester, but for four years — internships. Many post-graduation is worth it for most international opportunities that are taken for students. granted by domestic students are Dona dalle Rose, in fact, offered closed for internationals. Although advice to his fellow internationals. many international students want “Some students were trying to be to stay in America after graduation, exclusive and anti-American, and they encounter unexpected road- my advice was exactly the opposite,” blocks. he said. “Having American friends Ding is interested in going into ed- and enjoying the American side of ucation, and has recently frequent- the experience doesn’t affect your ed the Career Center to try and find identity as much as some people the ideal program for her interests. like to think. Don’t go in with any But Teach for America, New York expectations or preconceived noTeaching Fellows and Knowledge tions. Make friends just based on is Power Program are only open to whether you like them or not.”

Americans.

“No one is a global citizen. You’re “Just because I’m not American just a hybrid of things. Everyone is, doesn’t make me any less of a good even those who have never left the teacher,” Ding said.

United States,” Dona dalle Rose said.

Inconveniences abound on the social scene, too.

“I was not used to house parties because I was used to going clubbing,” Ding said. “I was not used to being underage again.”

“I still don’t understand Americans’ drinking habits. I feel that the whole drinking age just makes people drink more, if compared with home, where drinking is legal and my friends and I drink less on a regular basis,” van de Bilt added.

And times of celebration for American students can be at least foreign, if not lonely, for some internationals.

“A lot of [American] holidays confuse me. Like, what is Thanksgiving? I

“No one is a global citizen. You’re just a hybrid of things.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THOSE PICTURED

Left to right: Beatrice Fabris (COL ’16) , Elaine Ding (SFS ’15), Leonor Dominguez (MSB ’15), Nico Dona dalle Rose (SFS ’15) and Muriel van de Bilt (SFS ’17).

CENTER STAGE

With Grant, Student Strives to Address Autism in Serbia JACQUELINE KIMMEL Hoya Staff Writer

While other students are soundly asleep as the sun is rising, Milosh Popovic (SFS ’16) is on the phone with tennis coaches in Serbia. The Serbian-born student recently received a grant from the Georgetown International Relations Association to launch a tennis mentoring program for disabled students in Belgrade. Popovic’s plan is to create a program similar to one he began in his hometown of Princeton, New Jersey, in which high school students taught autistic children to play tennis. Although the prospect of coordinating a program halfway around the world while carrying a full course load might be daunting for some, Popovic couldn’t be more confident.

COURTESY MILOSH POPOVIC

Milosh Popovic (SFS ’16) won a grant from the Georgetown International Relations Association to fund a tennis mentoring program in Serbia for autistic teens.

Can you introduce your program and the grant you received?

This all started my junior year of high school when I coordinated with my high school tennis team and my local tennis club to start a tennis program for autistic kids.

We got high school tennis players in the local area to volunteer to help autistic children learn to play.

After a couple of months, what I noticed is that people were continuing to coach all through high school, even after they had gotten their mandatory volunteer hours, because they had made strong bonds with the kids.

So the Georgetown International Relations Association, a nonprofit, was giving out a global development grant for any program that was trying to solve an international development problem globally.

I saw inclusivity of the disabled community as an important issue worldwide. And I thought, where better to start than a place where I am familiar with the terrain — I know the culture and I know the language. So I met with the Board of Directors for a local special education school in Serbia and I worked with getting them connected to a local tennis club. Over spring break, I will go and meet the children and their families. It is very important for me to have a personal connection with them and not just work from abroad. One issue in Serbia is that not many people know what disability is.

Can you explain your relationship with Serbia?

I moved to America from Belgrade in 1998 because of the civil war. I don’t remember much of it, but I remember three months after we came to this county, Belgrade

was bombed. The image of my city being destroyed had an impact on me, but also drew me closer to my roots. I’ve always had an attachment to Serbia and I still have a lot of family back there. The ability to work on a program in Serbia is my way of giving back for all of the opportunities I have been given here in America. The willingness to give back to my roots definitely fuels my passion and motivation to start this program.

What results did you see from your high school program?

I got many more high school students to learn about disability; although people went to school with people with disabilities, they didn’t really know them. Not only did the autistic kids in the program learn a lot from the mentors, but the mentors learned a lot as well.

The mentors were brought down to earth by the opportunity to teach tennis. They could share teaching something they love with the community.

Why are sports a good way to encourage children?

You not only learn skills, but being able to teach somebody something that they can’t learn in the classroom helps forge a closer bond.

Sports, especially tennis, are very mental and require concentration and focus. These skills are good to develop for anybody. But also, the idea of being on a team, through the group doing drills, allows everybody to support each other.

Having this camaraderie not only bridges the gap between the high school students and the disabled community, but also between the disabled people in the program.

This can develop strong bonds and

friendships that are more difficult to acquire in the classroom.

What difficulties have you faced with figuring out the logistics in Serbia while on campus?

Serbia is an Eastern European country, so bureaucracy poses many challenges. The reason I have to go back there over spring break is to prove that this is a real goal and that I am not just doing this for myself, because there is often a lot of skepticism with any Western aid coming in. But for me having ties with the region, that helps. I’m looking forward to the face-to-face interaction which is the last step I need to really solidify the program.

This interaction will show that I really do care about these kids and I’m not just doing this for self-aggrandizement.

What is your vision for the program in the future?

It’s all very idealistic in a sense because of all of the bureaucracy in Serbia. But I think this one small step can get people talking about disability and promote discussion.

It can open up high school students to the disabled community and vice versa. Maybe even the Serbian government notices. Maybe the Minister of Education notices and they start sponsoring programs like this. Again, this is really far down the road, but for me, impossible is nothing. The fact that I’ve gotten high school students in Princeton, who normally just do things to get their hours, to actually enjoy and willingly participate in the program is no easy task. The fact that the program is in its 5th year shows that I can continue that success elsewhere. What better place to start then where my roots are?

the guide

FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2014

THE HOYA

B3

THEATER REVIEW

PARDON MY FRENCH

Nicole Jarvis

In Pursuit Of Lost Creativity

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have always harbored a secret (or not so secret) desire to be a writer. Some might try to say that I already am — after all, I’ve been writing for the guide since my freshman year and maintained a blog my entire time abroad. But that’s not the kind of writing I am talking about, despite how easily writing about an art exhibit or my love of burritos is one thing that happens to come quite easily to me. Writing an original and creative story that other people find joy and meaning in is a whole different ball game — one that I have found myself struggling with time and time again.

It’s not like I haven’t tried.

The past three years, I have signed up for National Novel Writing Month (also known as NaNoWriMo) as a personal challenge to jumpstart my writing juices. Three times I have tried and three times I have failed to write more than a few sentences. I have blamed this on a bunch of different things — November is terrible timing academics-wise, traveling gets in the way, 50,000 is a LOT of words, but no matter how I try to spin it I’m no closer to finishing my “Great American 21st Century Novel.”

I think what frustrates me the most about my perceived failure as a writer is how I feel like I have no idea how to approach being creative anymore.

When I was little, I could create detailed and fantastic worlds and stories at the drop of a hat. I could spend hours, alone or with friends, playing out dramatic storylines rife with danger, intrigue and character development. Did they make sense? Probably not. But they were big and complicated and I was entirely invested in their twists and turns.

Playing with my five year old cousin, I see the same sort of unbridled creativity. Almost every sentence that comes out of her mouth when we play begins with the word pretend.

Sometimes it’s straightforward like, “Pretend you’re my pet puppy and I have to take you to the vet,” or, “Pretend Simba falls in the lake and gets eaten by sharks and they can’t save him.” Or sometimes it’s totally out of left field, like, “Pretend they [her stuffed animals] get married with their ears.” I doubt even Maggie could explain what that one means but I would be able to keep up and contribute to her crazy stories instead of just nodding and acting like I’m playing along.

I wish I could explain where all my youthful creativity went.

Maybe somewhere along the way I stopped spending time curled up under my desk pretending to be an orphaned Inuit girl trapped in a whiteout blizzard with only my trusty pet Polar Bear to protect me and started spending more time sitting at my desk, applying that same energy to learning trigonometric proofs or the taxonomic family of the Warty Sea Cucumber.

It also may just be part of growing up. One day you’re digging in the bushes in your backyard for dinosaur bones, the next day you’re joining LinkedIn and developing opinions about economic theory.

But I really don’t like this idea that growing up means giving up the best parts of being a kid.

Who says I can’t be both a mature “grown up” and an excited, energetic kid? So this semester, besides making personal efforts to focus on improving my grades, turning in my articles on time and never using the word “busy” to describe my life, I am going to do my damndest to find my inner crazy kid, get my creativity back and finally figure out how to tell the stories that have been jangling around the back of my brain for years.

Keep on the look out — someday you won’t just see my name as a byline, but on a book cover.

Nicole Jarvis is a junior in the College. PARDON MY FRENCH appears every other Friday in the guide.

COURTESY ALLY MCANDREWS

Villanova professor and lawyer Dennis McAndrews looks to an American tragedy for inspiration in his one-man, speculative play. Though the plot presents a fictional conclusion to the story, it is nonetheless rooted in historical fact.

An Alternate Ending One-Man Show Extrapolates Beyond the Confines of History EMILY TROISI Hoya Staff Writer

W

hat would have happened if John F. Kennedy had survived his attempted assassination in 1963? How would Kennedy reflect on his presidency and America in 2014, at the age of 96? These are just a few of the questions Dennis McAndrews hypothesizes about in his one-man, one-act play, “If JFK Survived Dallas: Presidential Reflections at Age 96,” which he will be performing at Georgetown’s McNeir Auditorium Saturday at 8 p.m.

McAndrews became inspired to write the play in January 2010, after reading the book “Lessons in Disaster” by Gordon M. Goldstein. The book explores possible routes Kennedy would have taken regarding the Vietnam War, a concept that fascinated McAndrews, a self-described “political science junkie.”

“I’d always kind of wondered whether Kennedy would have gotten us into Vietnam and the book did explore some of that.

We were approaching, at the time, the 50th anniversary of his election as president, so I thought, well, why not? Let’s give a shot at writing a play. I always did a reasonably good Kennedy imitation even from when I was a kid so I thought, ‘Well I’ll take my idea, with my Kennedy imitation at work, get a Kennedy-looking wig and see what happens,’” McAndrews said.

While the play does present McAndrews’ perspective on what would have happened if Kennedy had only been wounded in Dallas, it also offers a factual telling of his short-lived presidency. McAndrews made sure to consider his audience when writing both parts of the play, which he explains saying: “Certainly people in your generation would not be as intimately familiar with his presidency as people of

my generation — I’m 60. So I thought for people who didn’t live through Kennedy’s presidency, it would be good to really introduce the play by informing them of the factual history of what occurred, hopefully in an entertaining way.”

“If JFK Survived Dallas” is sure to be entertaining, seeing that McAndrews made a distinctive effort to highlight Kennedy’s incredible sense of humor. However, perhaps a more somber feature of Kennedy’s presidency that McAndrews emphasizes is the skepticism JFK developed regarding his administration and the ways in which he was “steamrolled” into making controversial decisions.

“He got some very bad advice within a few months of becoming president when all his advisors told him to support an invasion of Cuba by Cuban refugees; it was a dismal, dismal failure at the Bay of Pigs,” McAndrews said.

McAndrews respects Kennedy by showing how he could have changed the course of history had he acted differently, but humbles the main character at the same time by noting Kennedy’s limitations as president.

“Some things change, some things are different, so perhaps the theme is that people can make a difference, but they don’t necessarily control all events,” McAndrews said.

While Kennedy may not have had the power to control all events as president, McAndrews certainly does as a playwright.

Audience members can expect to see a few changes to history, such as a quick withdrawal of troops from Vietnam, a delay of civil rights and an obvious absence of important policies implemented by President Lyndon Johnson. McAndrews’ vast knowledge of Kennedy and his administration gave him the confidence to make these revisions to history, but he was sure to fact check, nonetheless.

“I was very confident about probably

90 percent of my facts but I then would go about fact checking to make sure that what I was saying was true or what I was predicting had an adequate basis in fact,” McAndrews said.

McAndrews has been performing his one-man show for over three years, while also holding two day jobs: one as a managing partner of his own law firm and another as a political science professor at Villanova University. He believes that both professions have helped him in his theatrical endeavors.

“Courtroom work and teaching have a theatrical component to them. And both of them involve developing a comfort level of presenting, whether it’s point of view or whether it’s information or even a personality,” McAndrews said.

Aside from his additional occupations, McAndrews’ family has also helped his one-man show become a success. The collection of over 200 videos and photographs of Kennedy that play in the background while McAndrews speaks were obtained by his daughter, Jacqueline (COL ’11), and are played by his daughter, Caitlin (SFS ’06).

The lively addition of pictures and videos is just one of several adaptations to the ever-developing play, which will feature another major revision in two to three months: By this time, McAndrews will have finished a second version that will include six to eight supporting characters, such as Jackie Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Bobby Kennedy and J. Edgar Hoover.

Brimming with historical conjecture, delightful humor and supposedly one heck of a Kennedy impression, “If JFK Survived Dallas” is sure to offer a compelling understanding of our 35th president. To learn more about the play, visit www.ifjfksurviveddallas.com and be sure to come out this Saturday at 8 p.m. to McNeir Auditorium to experience it firsthand.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FEATURE

Strength and Struggle on Stage BMDT, from B1 group, the Georgetown University Dance Company. There will also be performances and choreography by world-renowned guest artists Kevin Iega Jeff, Christopher Huggins and Ralph Glenmore.

“It’s really a groundbreaking effort by the department of performing arts to bring in these major artists,” Davis said. “To bring in three artists of this level in one season, we’re really, really proud of that.”

BMDT shows span a wide range of dance genres and feature everything including tap, ballet, hip-hop, spiritual, jazz and lyrical pieces.

They also have the poetic talents of Vivian Ojo (SFS ’14), who writes spoken word pieces that the dancers often combine their performances with.

“It’s pretty unique to our company,” Student Co-Director Courtney Hodge (COL ’14) said. “It’s always great because her pieces connect to our theme and tie everything together.”

“The focus that I always want the dancers to have is that they believe in their artistic product, because when you believe in what you’re doing, the delivery of that message will reach the audience very clearly,” Davis said of the talented students she mentors in the performance studies class.

This semester, BMDT has two student directors who started working with professor Davis on the concept

of “This Woman’s Work” over the summer.

“It’s the student co-directors every year who choose the theme. We look at the company and see what fits our leadership style and kind of get ideas for how we want the theme to go,” Lena Al-Marzoog (MSB ’14) said.

Al-Marzoog and Hodge will be involved in the spring concert from start to finish. Both have choreographed pieces, they will handle administrative tasks and will join their fellow company members on stage for the final performance.

Many of the dancers were in ballet slippers before they were forming complete sentences and said that joining a dance group at Georgetown was never something that they had given a second thought.

“It was just natural, when I went to college, I had to find somewhere to dance. That’s why I joined. I stayed because these people became my family. When I’m having a bad day, chances are I’m texting someone in the company. This has become more than just dancing,” Hodge said.

“We’re here all the time, but it’s also really fun because you’re working with people who you love to dance with, hang out with, socialize with, and it’s a great time for the newer members to feel they’re a part of the company and to get used to the feel of the company,” Al-Marzoog said. “So, it’s always nice to see how everyone adjusts and how everyone gets closer through the process.”

DANIEL SMITH/THE HOYA

Lauren McManus (SFS ’16) and members of the Black Movements Dance Theatre rehearse in the Walsh Black Box Theatre.

B4

the guide

THE HOYA

Friday, JANUARY 31, 2014

arts & entertainment feature

A Cappella Concert Turns 41 CHERRY, from A1 more than what their own groups have to offer, Georgetown gets some of the best a cappella groups in existence to perform on their front door,” Fanone said. “You can’t deny that’s a pretty unique opportunity.”

“I think the addition of those new groups year after year certainly helped with building a nice community on campus,” Chimes member Connor Joseph (COL ’16) said. “Every time a new group has come to campus, whether it’s been the Saxatones or the Capitals G’s, that’s another chance to add to the Cherry Tree show to showcase Georgetown’s musical talent.”

While a cappella has become more popular recently, with the advent of “Glee” and “Pitch Perfect,” Plissner says that this was certainly not always the case.

“The whole reason it was called the Cherry Tree Massacre was because back in the day, a cappella wasn’t such a cool

thing. It wasn’t as popular, so they needed a way to kind of shock people, to make them go ‘what is this?’” Plissner said. “So they came up with this weird, odd name and began putting up the posters around campus.”

However, Plissner concedes that the name might also be based on George Washington cutting down the cherry trees — due to the fact that the festival has been traditionally held on President’s Day Weekend. At the time, the name of the festival was a shocking move, regardless of its origins.

Today, the Chimes look for the event to be fresh and exciting, while still maintaining its original concept. Although the song choices have changed, Plissner believes that the idea behind the Cherry Tree Massacre has remained the same. The festival will be held in Gaston Hall this time, the same place it was held in its very first year.

However, Joseph argues that the audience will not simply be getting a repeat of last

REBBECA GOLDBERG/THE HOYA

Connor Joseph (COL ’16) practices a solo in preparation for this weekend’s Cherry Tree Massacre, the largest East Coast university a cappella festival.

Gluten freedom

Perfecting Wheatless Brunch in the City

E

veryone always says that and its “sibling,” Tryst, is a few breakfast is the most impor- doors down so you can get a cup tant meal of the day. Unfor- of coffee while you wait your tunately, most college students turn at The Diner. Diners are exchange a well-balanced break- quintessential of my home Long fast for an extra 15 minutes of Island, so finding one not too sleep. Even I, an avid breakfast far away in Adams Morgan is a lover, frequently find myself dream come true. They’re open substituting an actual meal for 24/7 so you can get breakfast a quick granola bar and a cup whenever, and you don’t have to of coffee on my way to class. I drag yourself out of bed before take full advantage on week- noon. I would definitely recomends, however, by brunching mend their gluten-free pancakes my way through D.C. If you’re with strawberries and powdered not a morning person, don’t sugar or any of their egg dishes worry: Most of these places will with grits. If you’re feeling a serve you until the later portion little bit more adventurous, defiof the afternoon. nitely go for the Here’s my take on Migas, which is bathe best glutensically eggs made free breakfasts and tex-mex to perfecbrunches in the tion.

District for a college budget. Trust China Garden me: They’re worth 1100 Wilson Blvd., waking up for.

Rosslyn Christina Wing This is a sign of Eastern Market whether or not you are a true (gluten-free) foodie: dim sum.

225 Seventh St. SE Eastern Market is less than a If you have never had it before, 20-minute ride from the Rosslyn plan on taking a quick walk over Metro and is the perfect place to the Key Bridge to Rosslyn this spend part of your weekend. Not weekend. For those who are not so surprising based on its name, in the know, dim sum is a trait’s a market. It has indoor and ditional Chinese brunch served outdoor merchants selling ev- by people pushing around food erything from pickles to art- carts in the restaurant. Since alwork, as well as a farmer’s mar- most all of the noodles are riceket in the warmer months. But based and some of the dumpunknow to most people, it also lings are also in rice wraps, it is houses Market Lunch, a small a great place to try something counter-style food establishment delicious, be cultural and avoid that serves up some of the best gluten. My personal favorite is pancakes that I have ever eaten. sticky rice in the lotus leaf. HonEven if you’re not gluten-free, I estly, I don’t really know what’s highly recommend their blue- in it, but it tastes wonderful. berry buckwheat pancakes. They (Side note: Chinese New Year bealso have lunch items including gins Jan. 31, which is a wondercrab cake sandwiches, soft shell ful reason to visit China Garden.)

No one has any excuse for why crabs and burgers, so there is something to please everyone. they can’t eat a good breakfast But seriously — order the blue- on a weekend, even if he or she is gluten-free. Remember, breakberry buckwheat pancakes. fast is the most important meal of the day — or at least on weekThe Diner ends. Happy brunching!

2453 18th St. NW The Diner is everything that I could ever want from a food Christina Wing is a sophomore in establishment, except that it the McDonough School of Busidoesn’t take any reservations. ness. GLUTEN FREEDOM appears But trust me, it is worth the wait every other Friday in the guide.

year’s performances.

“Every year, the personality of the Chimes is reflected in the set and in some of the shenanigans,” Joseph said. “So it’s a different show every year.”

The event has managed to maintain, if not strengthen, its reputation as one of the most important university a cappella festivals, with other university groups still eager to participate. This year, Duke University will be sending one of its groups, Duke Lady Blue. Lane notes the importance of the process of seeking out and working with other groups.

“We get emails and send out emails all the time to groups who are touring.

With YouTube too, it’s so much easier to find groups you like and who you want to work with,” Lane said. “It’s a blast, not only working with them but hanging out with them after and partying too.”

Organizing and preparing for this spectacle takes a great deal of work and dedication.

“We start picking our set back in November, then we start arranging all the music,” Plissner said. “What we don’t get from other people we arrange ourselves.

This year I think we arranged all [five pieces] ourselves. We come back from break a few days early and lock ourselves in a room and learn the music.”

The Chimes credit their strong support base — made up of both alumni and the current student body — for making their preparation and the show itself such a success.

“Our last show is our alumni show, so we have anything from 40 to 80 alumni here from the 1950s all the way to now. When I was a freshman our founder, Chime #1, was here, and I think people enjoying seeing that. It’s a unique feeling,” Lane said.

Joseph believes that the support of the student body is important not only for the performers, but also for showing how appreciated the arts are at Georgetown.

“Georgetown has this reputation of not really being an arts school, but I think that there is a huge amount of support for the arts here,” Joseph said.

“The turnout is a testament to the student body. You don’t just have a cappella; you have Rangila [and] all the theater programs here. Georgetown has a lot of camaraderie among students. Just look at DCAF,” Lane said.

With opening night not far off and only a few tickets left to spare, the Chimes singers are excited to perform and put on the festival.

“More than being our show, this is definitely Georgetown’s show,” Joseph said.

DIY Tip

APPS evil apples Free

Cards Against Humanity is always a crowd favorite because it’s just really fun to be awful.

Now, you can take the game on the go with Evil Apples, a simple app that lets you play on your phone. Already anumber one game in the United States, it’s the perfect way to release your evil side.

Playing against friends is free, while playing random games against strangers online requires in-app purchases.

beats music 7 Day Free Trial, $9.99 per month With the rise of streaming players like Spotify and Rdio, Beats Music offers another alternative for mobile users. The app has a sleek interface and tailors a music experience to you.

One of its prominent features is called The Sentence; you can enter your mood, where you are and whom you’re with and can start listening music to fit that situation. With over 20 million songs just a tap away, Beats Music is a striking addition to a crowded industry.

EIDETIC Free Memorizing things — whether words for a French quiz or a phone number — is hard. Eidetic understands that and tests you at set intervals to optimize your memory, whether you’re cramming for a test in one day or casually trying to remember a fact over a weeklong period. For example, the one-day version tests you 10 times a day to ensure retention. It promises to be more effective than other brain-training apps by using items that have meaning and context. This is the perfect app for stressed-out Georgetown students.

Making the most of your tiny kitchen

buzzfeed.com Is your Henle kitchen just too small for your cooking prowess? Do you have too many spices for your cabinet space? If you need an easy way to get your ducks in a row, make yourself some magnet spice jars! Head to Target and pick up some plain magnets, strong glue and small jars. Just glue the magnets to the bottom of the jars, fill them up and label them. Then attach your magnetic jar to the outside of your fridge so that you can see the label on its base. This is an easy way to make your fridge do more than just chill your Burnett’s for the weekend.

CABIN IN THE SNOW | LAKE TAHOE, NEVADA

ALEXANDER BROWN/THE HOYA

the guide

friday, JANUARY 31, 2014

THE HOYA

B5

RESTAURANt review

Seasonal Plates Worthy of a Presidential Name LINCOLN



1110 Vermont Ave. NW Cuisine: American $$$$ Karl Pielmeier Hoya Staff Writer

In an 1887 letter describing the deceased United States President Abraham Lincoln, William H. Herndon wrote that “Lincoln’s voice was, when he first began speaking, shrill, squeaking, piping, unpleasant; his general look, his form, his pose, the color of his flesh, wrinkled and dry” But Lincoln, the Vermont Avenue restaurant opened in 2011 by proprietor Alan Popovsky is far from dull and lifeless. Rather, it is a stunning celebration of America’s 16th president, and is bursting with energy and style.

The floors are made of a dazzling array of pennies — whoever said that they never amounted to anything? — and the Emancipation Proclamation, backlit in a soft blue, spans a wall underneath demure Mason jar chandeliers. Additionally, the wall in the adjoining room is a breathtaking American flag mural a la Jasper Johns. In the center of all of it, the restaurant boasts a massive, custommade white leather chair, a piece that designer Maggie O’Neill based off the colossal white seat of the Lincoln Memorial. Lincoln, much like the man to whom it pays tribute, is incontestably iconic.

Bright colors and life radiate throughout the all-American eatery.

Perhaps, however, it is too lively. While

its design is impeccable, Lincoln’s noise level is startlingly high; people chatter incessantly while music booms in the background. At times, I couldn’t hear my dining companion from just across the table.

Then again, maybe Lincoln’s diners are just raving about the food, for it is quite good. The restaurant serves seasonal American small plates in a “free flow” style. In other words, whatever is finished in the kitchen is served to the tables. Plates come one after the other.

Sharing is encouraged and manageable: For small plates, portions are quite generous. Executive chef Demetrio Zavala receives all ingredients from local farms and even makes a few menu nods to Honest Abe’s favorite dishes.

Pumpkin tater tots ($7) were a decent start, although they were almost arbitrarily seasoned, some noticeably more flavorful than others. But they were forgettable in comparison to the succulent Pennsylvania duck sausage ($10) wrapped in airy puff pastry and served with sharp piquant mustard. Honeycomb and poached lobster made quite the pair in the gem lettuce salad ($14), but while its blood-orange dressing was citrus fresh, it was not nearly as perky as the North American blue mussels, paired with broccoli rabe, bacon gremolata, garlic root and roasted shallots

KARL PIELMEIER/THE HOYA

Lincoln, an American restaurant that pays tribute to the 16th president, isn’t afraid to be creative with its dishes, such as the honeycomb and poached lobster gem salad with blood-orange dressing. ($12).

The favorite of the night was roasted lamb ragu ($15); its combination of meltin-your-mouth gnocchi and hearty vegetables was reminiscent of a childhood winter. When the waiter asked if we had enjoyed the dish, my dining companion described it as unbelievable. Although that might be a little too much praise, such a reaction shows that Lincoln’s kitchen is clearly doing something right.

The olive oil doughnuts paired with bruleed fruit, farmers cheese, lime scent-

ed honey and powdered sugar ($6) or the bourbon pecan bread pudding make for a succulent way to finish the meal.

The wait staff is similarly above par.

Water was refilled promptly. Waiters were efficient and friendly. Dishes were served quickly and waiters were available to answer any questions.

In the end, Lincoln was lively and lovely — it might even be on the way to building its own D.C. legacy. The restaurant is definitely worth a return trip, and not just for the meals: With its vast drink

list, Lincoln is especially ideal for happy hour. Sunday brunch is offered, as well as a specified gluten-free menu.

Lincoln now has a sister presidentialthemed restaurant that pays homage to Theodore Roosevelt. Teddy and the Bully Bar is bringing progressive cuisine to 19th Street, and Popovsky has shared that a Kennedy eatery is currently in the works. With such new additions, Lincoln might have to take the back burner to its younger siblings. After all, there is far more American history to be eaten.

RECIPES

RESTAURANT review

JULIE MCCRIMLISK FOR THE HOYA

Don’t leave Ambar, a Balkan-inspired restaurant, without trying the grilled calamari, a flavorful and chewy dish seasoned with fresh herbs, diced pepper and lemon vinaigrette.

Balkan Bistro Infuses New Flavors Into Tapas and Other Tired Trends AMBAR



523 Eighth St. SE Cuisine: European $$$$ Julie McCrimlisk Special to The Hoya

There seem to be two crazes sweeping restaurants these days: tapas-style menus and brussel sprouts. Ambar checks both of these boxes, but the new Balkaninspired restaurant also offers much more.

I stepped into Ambar, the bustling new restaurant on 8th street, not quite knowing what to expect, nor even quite sure what fell under the umbrella of “Balkan cuisine.” As I entered, I felt as though I was stepping into a little urban-chic French bistro. While the same vibe seems to be rapidly replicated in nearly every new restaurant emerging in D.C., Ambar placed a twist on its décor with several sleek features that gave the space a modern flair, and the menu was truly unique.

Our server suggested that we each order three plates, with each plate ranging between $8 and $12, but in all honesty we could have ordered far less. We started the evening with a spicy crab kajmak and lavash chips ($10). The kajmak was good, though I have to admit we were having some serious regrets when we spied the bread basket on the table next door, which we had foregone for the dip. The crab kajmak was good but it lacked the “spice” promised on the menu.

Despite this slight letdown, every dish that followed was amazing.

The cheese pie ($6), roasted mushroom crepes ($8) and chicken and sausage flatbread ($9) followed the

baked tilapia

foodnetwork.com Increase your recipe repetoire with this flavorful baked tilapia uses only five simple ingredients and has a straightforward recipe. If you’re planning a classy dinner to accompany the “House of Cards” premiere or something simplistic yet elegant to throw together for friends, this meal only takes 22 minutes to cook.

INGREDIENTS

Butter cooking spray 4 (6 to 8 oz.) tilapia fillets Salt and black pepper

1 lime, grated zest and juice 2 tablespoons butter

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and coat a cast-iron pan with butter spray.

Pan sear on low heat. Season each fillet with salt, pepper, lime zest and lime juice.

kajmak. The cheese pie featured layers of flaky phyllo dough stuffed with a melted mixture of exotic cheeses served atop a cucumber yogurt — nothing not to like. The mushroom crepes, a thick layer of sauteed mushrooms folded inside a tender crepe with melted Gouda drizzled over top, disappeared within minutes. The savory chicken and sausage flatbread appeared on a long wooden board, shaped like an oblong pizza, but that is where the similarities ended. The soft, chewy dough was covered with a rich spread, not quite the usual tomato sauce one often finds atop pizzas, and sprinkled with bits of richly seasoned sausage and pickled onions.

Then the brussel sprouts appeared. I’ve had a lot of brussel sprouts: They seem to be this year’s hottest food fad, featured on the menu of every restaurant in D.C., yet these managed to differentiate themselves. While everyone appears to be going for the caramelized brussel sprouts tossed with bacon or pancetta, Ambar ensured the brussel sprouts ($7) retained their crunchy texture and placed them on a bed of creamy lemon and garlic yogurt sauce.

We also ordered the calamari ($9), which was amazing, with fresh herbs, diced pepper and lemon vinaigrette. Beware if you are not a seafood fan — I thoroughly enjoyed the chewy calamari, but the rest of the table had been looking for fried calamari, not grilled.

Our last round of dishes included a tender, grilled duck

breast with an orange-glazed onion ($11), stuffed-sour cabbage ($9) and a Balkan kabob ($10).

The duck breast was wonderfully sweet,as the kitchen layered slices of tender duck breast with thick, orange-glazed onions, but the stuffed sour cabbage was the real winner. A truly authentic Balkan dish, the pork belly and jasmine rice wrapped in sauteed cabbage leaves and served with a thick yogurt dressing was fantastic. Yet, I also have to include a shoutout to the Balkan kabob. While the kabob was the last dish on our table and we all barely had room to take more than a bite, it was definitely one of my favorite dishes of the night. The kabob included an array of mini sausages, each with a strong, sharp taste, sprinkled with cheese and served atop a bed of roasted peppers and onions.

Overall, the food was spectacular and only improved as the night progressed. However, the service was slow, with our final dish arriving approximately two hours after we had ordered it. Luckily, at that point we were so full we could barely enjoy more than a bite, and I believe the dishes were well worth the wait. I would highly suggest Ambar if you are looking to try something a bit different.

The restaurant offers something for everyone with a wide range of vegetables, seafood and meat.

Ambar has taken on many of the dining trends sweeping D.C., but it has managed to do it right — you’re not going to get the same experience somewhere else.

Add a pat of butter on each fillet and leave it in the oven for 8-12 minutes.

placido pinot grigio

wine.com A lean and flaky fish like tilapia needs to be balanced by a zesty and refreshing white wine to balance with its delicate flavor. An ideal choice would be Placido Pinot Grigio ($8.99). A fruity white with aromas of pears, citrus and grapefruit, it is a light and delicious choice to pair with the meal. Described as full, fresh and lively, it perfectly suits the subtle flavors of the fish.

crazy rave

cosmopolitan.com The name says it all. A fruity cocktail that is simple to make and requires only a few ingredients, this drink conjures up memories of summer when you need something to take your mind away from the freezing weather. Impress your guests with this delicious concoction that’s more interesting and delicious than your typical Burnett’s and soda mixtures.

1 oz. raspberry vodka 3/4 oz. mango rum 3 oz. pineapple juice 2 oz. cranberry juice Lemon wedge to garnish Shake all the ingredients together and pour into a cold glass over lots of ice. Stir and garnish with the lemon..

B6

the guide

THE HOYA

FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2014

BOOK REVIEW

Eleanor & Park Rainbow Rowell VICTORIA EDEL

novels to date. Acording to her bio, “She always writes about people who talk a lot. And people who feel like they’re screwing up. And people who fall in love.”

Rowell’s book is a gorgeous love story of two misfits, Eleanor and Park, who form an improbable bond in the face of adversity from their peers and their families.

Rowell’s book switches between their two perspectives as it slowly tells the story of how they come together. Park, half-Korean and nerdy, is a bit of a loner who enjoys having a seat on the bus all to himself. But then Eleanor shows up — fat, frizzy-haired, mismatched — and sits next to him, invading his safe space.

But over time, and despite themselves, the two come together. A bond forged over “Xmen” comics and The Smiths turns into an intense first love, but, of course, things are never that easy. Eleanor is poor, and lives with many siblings, her mother and an abusive stepfather in an apartment that barely fits them all. They don’t even have a phone, let alone enough food to eat. The novel cleverly conveys how Park struggles to connect with Eleanor, who can be incredibly introverted and confusing, simultaneously pushing him away and wanting him.

Overall, it’s a beautiful account of first love. Like almost all first loves, it’s intense and consuming, and doomed from the start.

You’ll breeze through the pages, eager to find out what happens next. Eleanor and Park are the type of smart, interesting high school kids I thought I was four years ago but definitely wasn’t, so it’s lovely to spend some time in their smart, incisive heads.

Hoya Staff Writer

Many people over the age of 17 look down on young adult books. Except for the random outlier — “The Hunger Games” and “Twilight” are probably the most notable examples — most people think that novels geared towards teenagers are inherently inferior, too sappy or shallow or corny. I know this to be true because I was one of those people; even before I’d graduated from high school, I thought I was too mature to read young adult books, which was silly.

Those are awful reasons to miss out on Rainbow Rowell’s “Eleanor and Park”, which was released last year and which received a Printz Honor — an award given by the American Library Association to the best books written for teens — this week.

The author, Rowell, lives in Nebraska and has published four

ST. MARTIN’S PRESS

Rowell’s young adult novel explores the beauty of unlikely love.

TELEVISION REVIEW

 Eleanor is also just an amazing character to find in a young adult book — or any book, really. Most books don’t have main characters that are fat and/or poor, so Eleanor brings a refreshing change of pace. It’s hard for her to see herself as beautiful, so it’s really empowering to read Park’s account of how much he loves her and how beautiful he finds her. It’s a feeling most people can relate to — not thinking you’re attractive even when people tell you that you are — and Rowell brings those experiences to life in a way that’s never patronizing or stale. Eleanor is a rich, interesting character, whose weight doesn’t define her but makes for an interesting aspect of her struggles.

The novel also maintains a high amount of suspense. From the title alone, you can guess that they’ll get together, but from there it’s impossible to tell what will happen next. The ending was a complete surprise for me, but it made sense and left me with a lot to think about long after I closed the book.

Overall, read this if you’ve ever felt like a misfit, if you’ve ever had a consuming, insane love, if you’ve ever wanted to have a consuming, insane love or if you need to be reminded that sometimes the best, freshest stories being told are written down in books technically intended for people younger than you.

Rowell’s other books definitely seem like they would be worth checking out, including “Fangirl”, about a girl whose love of fandom gets in the way of her life (it was the first read of the Tumblr book club, fittingly enough).

If it’s half as smart and well-written as “Eleanor and Park”, it will be another enjoyable read.

FINDING THE OFFBEAT

The Hidden Musical Gems of 2013

L

ast past year was an interesting one in the realm of music. There were albums that impressed (Laura Stevenson’s “Wheel”), those that fell short (Arcade Fire’s “Reflektor”) and those that simply confused (Miley Cyrus’ “Bangerz”). But a certain characteristic seemingly united each one: experimentation. Though 2013 had its highs and lows, many artists chose to take creative risks with the albums they released, which resulted in some of my favorite albums both of the year as well as the decade. Some of this experimentation was innovative, fusing conventional genres to create unequivocally great albums, while other artists failed miserably in this pursuit. However, since my name is Joy and I’m an optimist, I want to explore some of the victories produced in 2013 by reviewing three albums that truly stood out.

‘6 FEET BENEATH THE MOON’ King Krule Perhaps my favorite album this year came from 19-year-old British musician Archy Marshall aka King Krule. He originally emerged onto the scene in 2011 with a self-titled EP that took inspiration from hiphop and electronic music and immediately gained attention. Aside from this unique aspect of his music, Krule’s heartfelt, solemn tracks are reminiscent of those crafted by The Cure’s Robert Smith. In August 2013, his album “6 Feet Beneath the Moon” continued along this trajectory, producing emotional, jazzinfused songs. The most intriguing part of this album is in its transition away from the electronic roots of his EP into his own brand of jazz.

Replacing his electronic beats with

a full band, he masterfully crafted a soulful work that was quite refreshing. Considering his young age, Archy certainly proved his musical prowess with new release.

Highlights: “Border Line,” “Has This Hit?,” “Baby Blue,” “Ocean Bed” ‘RUN THE JEWELS’ Run the Jewels In 2011, Jay-Z and Kanye West put out “Watch the Throne,” an album that consisted of the two rapping predominately about how awesome they are. It was fun, reckless and well-executed.

Joy Jackson Approximately two years later, Atlanta-based rapper Killer Mike and Brooklyn’s El-P collaborated to form Run the Jewels. This duo produced an equally reckless selftitled album that quickly became the soundtrack to my summer.

Essentially, these two acted as the antithesis to “Watch the Throne.”

Where Jay-Z and West boasted of material wealth and status, Run the Jewels focused on the authenticity and original essence of rap music. Though not lyrically groundbreaking, the ferocity with which they performed each track consistently left me playing it on repeat. I was lucky enough to have attended their Atlanta show in August and can confirm that each rapper performs with

just as much energy as is demonstrated on the album.

Highlights: “Banana Clipper,” “Sea Legs,” “Job Well Done” UNNAMED ALBUM Jai Paul On my birthday last year (April 14), I received one my favorite gifts ever. An album mysteriously appeared on BandCamp by a producer known as Jai Paul. It consisted of 16 songs that took music critics by surprise and had listeners wanting to know more about this elusive figure. Each song utilized an odd sample or off-beat rhythm to produce Jai Paul’s own strange concoction of music. Jai Paul, like King Krule, blended electronica with hip-hop, tending toward the latter on most songs. Though it was promptly removed from the website, the album spread like wildfire. It was later revealed that the songs had been leaked from a stolen laptop which belonged to Jai Paul. He confirmed this, asserting that whatever was released was not an album, but a series of unfinished songs that weren’t meant for release. Oddly enough, this “album” became one of the most critically acclaimed works of the year. Essentially, Jai Paul unwillingly produced a masterpiece that made numerous lists, including Pitchfork’s Top 50 Albums of 2013. This feat in and of itself makes Jai Paul’s the best “not-really-an-album” album of the year.

Highlights: “Jasmine,” “Str8 Outta Mumbai,” “Genevieve” Joy Jackson is a freshman in the School of Foreign Service.

FINDING THE OFFBEAT appears every other Friday in the guide.

BEST BETS

HBO

A new HBO series set in San Francisco explores gay relationships and the nuanced challenges on which television rarely focuses.

Looking



Starring: Jonathan Groff, Murray Bartlett HBO | Sundays, 10:30 p.m.

MEAGAN WANG

Special to The Hoya

There are always those movies that you wish you hadn’t gone to see with your parents — I still have scarring memories of watching “Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle” with my family. “Looking,” HBO’s new dramedy about the lives of three gay best friends may be one of those shows to watch with caution when around people other than your friends.

Exploring relatively uncharted territory, series creator Michael Lannan delves into the modern and fast-changing culture in San Francisco by following three best friends: Dom (Murray Bartlett), Patrick (Jonathan Groff) and Agustin (Frankie J. Alvarez).

Sarah Condon and Andrew Haigh team up to produce this bold and revealing series. While having worked on films like “Black Hawk Down” and “Gladiator,” Haigh is most well-known for directing “Weekend,” a British romantic drama about a weekend-long relationship between two men which received praise for its provocativeness and realism. Sadly, “Looking” does not seem to live up to the expectations set by Haigh’s previous work, although it may be unfair to even compare the two. Both stories are about gay men, but the smilarities mostly end there. “Looking” tells a completely different story — one that could be considered to be part of a completely different category.

Restraining himself from glamorizing the sex scenes or romantic relationships, one can tell Haigh wants to portray the story in a gritty and realistic way when he includes a Grindr-triggered sex scene and OKCupid dates.

This series jumps straight in, opening with a rather explicit sex scene involving Patrick in a park in San Francisco. Patrick, the youngest of the three friends, is the most naive and inexperienced in terms of sexual relationships. Living in a more exploratory phase of his life, he quickly discovers that he is not looking for any commitment in a relationship. While Agustin moves in with his boyfriend right at the outset, the couple’s relationship is made slightly more ambiguous when they partake in a threesome.

Dom, who is 39, struggles with getting older, failed, past relationships and difficult career ambitions.

With each character at a very different stage in his life, the friendship of the group allows for advice and perspective to be given on each other’s problems. We quickly get a glimpse into their past romances in order to better understand their current stages in life. Whether they are looking for something serious, a hookup or somewhere in between, each character’s sex life is certainly not lacking. But the portion of the show revolving around sex comes at a sacrifice: Character development and self-awareness is severely lacking.

Although the first two episodes are engaging, they’re still shaky enough to not net a consistent audience. However, the story promises to unfold over time, and the show is therefore one with which you must be patient. The first two episodes paint the backdrop for the future direction of the show, which will be the development of each character as they try to find what they are looking for. Clearly, the show is asking for you to give it time.

The refreshing part about “Looking” is that each character’s role is not defined by their being gay.

While it is a show about gay men, many more themes are explored beyond homosexuality. In many shows, like “Will and Grace” and “Modern Family,” the gay characters’ identity fits clearly into stereotypes of the gay best friend or the gay son-in-law. In “Looking,” while the show revolves around gay culture, the fact that it takes place in such a setting allows the viewer to see these characters beyond just their sexual orientation. Their identity is associated with their career stages, life development and personal relationships.

If you are looking to explore a new type of show, take the time to watch “Looking” because it explores a topic that has not been developed as successfully as other popular TV show themes. For those who cried when “Sex and the City” ended and who have found themselves addicted to “Girls,” “Looking” is something to keep in mind the next time you’re looking to take a break from homework and studying.

ON CAMPUS

‘PROOF’

‘THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES’

‘DEAR HARVEY’

‘THE CAR POOLERS’

WHERE: Poulton Hall, Stage III WHEN: Thursday, 8 p.m.

INFO: guevents.georgetown.edu PRICE: $12 General, $8 Student

WHERE: Devine Studio Theatre WHEN: Thursday-Saturday, 8 p.m.; Sunday 2 p.m.

PRICE: Free

WHERE: Gonda Center WHEN: Saturday, 7:30 p.m.

INFO: guevents.georgetown.edu PRICE: Free

WHERE: Spagnuolo Art Gallery WHEN: Wednesday, noon to 7 p.m.

INFO: guevents.georgetown.edu PRICE: Free

The third play in the Mask & Bauble 2013-2014 season is perfect for those good with numbers. Originally written by David Auburn, the production details the mystery of the mathematical proofs left behind by professor Robert after his death and the race for his daughter Catherine and former colleague Hal to prove that Robert composed the proofs.

Sponsored by Georgetown’s Take Back the Night, this performance of Eve Ensler’s “The Vagina Monologues” is put on solely by Georgetown women. It is presented in association with V-Day 2014, an international event to raise awareness about violence against women. All proceeds from the performance will be donated to the V-Day 2014 Spotlight Fund and the D.C. charity My Sister’s Place.

This staged reading is a tribute to Harvey Milk, the first openly gay person to be an elected official. Performed by professional actors and members of the Georgetown community, the work uses the “writings of Milk with stories from the people he knew and the lives he changed.” It is co-sponsored by the GU LGBTQ Resource Center, The Tagliabue Initiative for LGBTQ Life and Health Education Services.

As part of his “Suburbia Mexicana” project, Alejandro Cartagena takes birds-eye photographs of the back of pickup trucks carrying laborers on their daily commute. The exhibit, co-sponsored by the department of Spanish and Portuguese, examines “the interdependence of humans and landscape in the face of urban expansion.” The exhibit will run through April.

the guide

friday, JANUARY 31, 2014

Intelligence

THE HOYA

TELEVISION Review

MUSIC

New Releases



Starring: Josh Holloway, Marg Helgenberger CBS | Mondays, 10 p.m.

Christopher Coughlin Special to The Hoya

New to the 2014 CBS lineup is “Intelligence,” a show that adds a sci-fi twist to a typical action-drama series. Josh Holloway returns to prominence in his first main television role sincehe played Sawyer on the hit show “Lost”.

In “Intelligence,” Holloway stars as Gabriel Vaughn, an operative for the United States Cyber Command and one of the USCC’s most valuable assets.

Vaughn is essentially hooked up to the grid: He can access all information on the web, connect to Bluetooth wirelessly and perform background checks on people — with his mind. With an implanted computer chip in his brain, Vaughn is described as 2014’s Manhattan Project because of the threat he poses as the most dangerous weapon in an increasingly technological world.

Yet Vaughn is far from some emotionless robot; he is preoccupied with finding his supposedly dead wife, who was believed to be a coconspirator in a recent terrorist attack.

Lillian Strand (Marg Helgenberger) is director of the USCC, and Riley Neal (Meghan Ory) is a former Secret Service agent selected to protect Vaughn from anything (including himself) that could jeopardize either his safety or the security of the technology he possesses.

Neal and Vaughn initially seem to go at each other’s throats because of their inharmonious personalities, but they make a great

team when they start to open up and work together. Although the series is just taking its first steps, it will be interesting to see how the dynamic between these two pans out, as well as what becomes of Vaughn’s wife.

“Intelligence” narrowly avoids becoming formulaic, mainly because of its unique yet subtle sci-fi component. The technology that Vaughn is fitted with single-handedly makes “Intelligence” different from other action programs.

The show is set in the present day, so it doesn’t attempt to create a confusing, futuristic world unfamiliar to viewers. In fact, apart from the technology that Vaughn has, there are hardly any science fiction aspects to this show, an attempt to cater it to a wider audience.

What makes “Intelligence” really work, though, is its fantastic cast and excellent writing. The acting is superb, especially Holloway’s. He portrays Vaughn with an ambitious and confident demeanor, which is absolutely necessary for this show to be successful. Marg Helgenberger also gives a memorable performance as Lillian, who is a dominant official.

The screenplay is also a strength of this show. It’s very sophisticated and intelligently written,while also being easy to follow.

This show is not without flaws though. While unique in its science fiction component, “Intelligence” immediately gives off a “been there, done that” feeling.

This sci-fi element can only go so far in distinguishing the show from other action-dramas, and

Ready to Fly

Jamie Grace Charlotte Glasser Hoya Staff Writer

Jamie Grace — the youngest nominee at the 2012 Grammy Awards, and known for “Hold Me featuring tobyMac” and her first album, “One Song at a Time” — makes Christian rock dynamic and bubbly. Her music focuses on inspiration and attempts to spread a positive message, drawing from Grace’s own struggles with Tourette’s Syndrome and the impact that it has had on her life. Now, Grace is releasing her follow-up album, “Ready to Fly,” continuing in the same vein. It is fun, upbeat and centers a lot on Grace’s own faith. While this theme may cause listeners to instantly dismiss

‘WHAT IS LOVE’ LEA MICHELE  In the first single off Lea Michele’s debut album, “Louder,” Michele manages to embody all of the searing emotions that accompany a love gone awry. In her first release outside of “Glee,” her gentle, powerful vocals perfectly encompass the song’s heavy message.

With the recent tragic death of her fiancee, Cory Montieth, the emotions of the song are justifiably intensified.

Fans of Michele will certainly be won over with the lyrics, vocals and meaning behind the song.

CBS

Josh Holloway and Marg Helgenberger star in a new sci-fi drama about a high-tech intelligence operative with a computer chip in his brain. while the initial episodes have been captivating, it seems that the storyline has the risk of going stale and losing its originality quickly.

Also, “Intelligence” seems to be lacking a sense of emotional connection to the characters. The fastpaced action and unfolding plot almost neglects the development of a relationship between characters and viewers. Given that every episode is an hour long and that

four episodes have already aired, the viewers should definitely be invested in these characters by now — but they’re not.

Overall, “Intelligence” is a promising new television series, and while it has some weaknesses, the show has a bright side and makes a solid impression. If “Intelligence” makes it through a full season — or even has a multiple season run — it will be interesting to see where the story will go.

album review

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this album, the strength and positivity of many of the tracks gives it some intrigue and makes it worth a listen, even for those not normally drawn to the genre.

The first track is a little unexpected.

“So Amazing (Prelude)” is 28 seconds of irrelevance. Although the track has a cool, old-school radio kind of sound, the introduction to the album is totally unnecessary and the lyrics are hard to understand without listening to at an excessive volume.

Next is “Beautiful Day”. It’s cookiecutter pop music, essentially, with a lyrical twist that God is Grace’s refuge.

It is much more modern and hip than often associated with Christian music — it’s a far cry from a Gregorian

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chant or a Christmas carol — and for that reason, it is surprisingly fun. The title track of the album is very similar.

“Ready to Fly” has a lot in common with “Beautiful Day,” although it has some melodic surprises, such as a tuba playing in the background. This gives the music some depth, which is compounded by a short shift to a minor key that differentiates the two songs.

By far, the best track on the album is “Little Ol’ Me,” which discusses how all individuals are an important part of God’s plan. For someone who rarely, if ever, listens to Christian pop music, the message was a nice change from the living-for-the-weekend-type songs that are often chart toppers. It may not be your style, but it’s hard to not be impressed with Grace breaking into the music industry with this type of material.

With a country feel, “White Boots” is a collaboration with Morgan Harper.

The addition of a gospel choir to the chorus gives depth to the song and makes it a pleasurable listen. The song

JAMTOUR.COM

After being the youngest nominee at the 2012 Grammy Awards, Jamie Grace is releasing her second album. With upbeat, positive messages, Grace is giving Christian pop a refreshing twist.

‘RADIOACTIVE (FEAT. KENDRICK LAMAR)’ IMAGINE DRAGONS GRAMMYS 2014 PERFORMANCE  In a surprise twist, Kendrick Lamar and Imagine Dragons collaborated at the Grammys to give an explosive fusion of “Good Kid Maad City” and “Radioactive.” With fog, strobe lights, the vocals of Imagine Dragons and the impressive lyricism of Kendrick Lamar, the performance had the likes of Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake and most notably, Taylor Swift, dancing on their feet. It was definitely one of the most explosive performances at this year’s show. Although the single does not encompass the high dynamism of the performance, it gives listeners a little taste of the 2014 Grammys.

With the tremendous original success of “Radioactive,” this is a sure hit.

‘INVISIBLE’ HUNTER HAYES  GOTEE

is a departure from the Top 40 feel of the rest of the tracks, making it an asset for the album.

The track that probably has the biggest chance of making it big is, fittingly, “Do Life Big.” It has a little more of a dance-party feel than many of the others, so it will surely be the most popular with the masses. It also has a theme lots of music fans can stand behind: stopping to smell the roses.

Finally, Grace promotes changing your life in a big way. She is setting big goals for herself, similar to her other song, “Fighter,” where she tells stories about the struggles of both herself and others to encourage resilience in her fans.

This has proved to be a successful message for her fellow pop stars, and will likely serve her well.

All in all, “Ready to Fly” isn’t a bad album. If it were a secular pop album, it probably wouldn’t be anything to write home about. The positive messages about faith, getting the good things in life you deserve and trust are not often found in pop music, making the album stand out. Its positivity saves it from being passed over due to its mediocre music, lyrics and repetitive nature.

For fans of Chris Rice and Tenth Avenue North, this album will be a hit. If you’re a pop fan, give this a try for its positive message and uplifting feel. The genre may not be to your liking, but it’s a refreshing break from the common themes currently repeated in pop music, and for that reason, deserves a listen.

The golden boy of country has done it again.

In this heartfelt track, Hunter Hayes delivers encouraging lyrics about the pain associated with loneliness and bullying. Though this may not be an upbeat track, it certainly will be a radio hit for Hayes, who has struggled to make a mark and earn a place in the spotlight. A gentle, brooding track, his voice is sure to win over many listeners. This single will definitely garner attention for his upcoming album, released later this year.

‘GIRLS’ JENNIFER LOPEZ  Looking to prove she’s still Jenny from the block, Jennifer Lopez has produced this R&B pop track destined for a club playlist. More gritty and with less of a pop-princess feel than some of her recent work, it is doubtlessly intended to be everyone’s new favorite dance track. Featuring the title line from Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun,” this single will not reach nearly the same level of fame, but it is a satisfying tune nonetheless.

AROUND TOWN van gogh repEtiTIons

Chili Cook-Off

chinese new year parade

upright citizens brigade

WHERE: Phillips Collection, 1600 21st St. NW WHEN: Through Feb. 2 INFO: phillipscollection.org PRICE: $12 General, $10 Student with ID

WHERE: Hill Country, 410 Seventh St. NW WHEN: Saturday, 1 p.m.

INFO: hillcountrywdc.com PRICE: $10

WHERE: Sixth Street NW and I Street NW WHEN: Sunday, 2 p.m.

INFO: washingtonpost.com PRICE: Free

WHERE: Sixth and I Historic Synagogue WHEN: Sunday, 7 p.m.

INFO: sixthandi.org PRICE: $20 in advance, $25 at the door

An art exhibit from the iconic Vincent van Gogh will wrap up this Sunday in Washington D.C. “Repetitions” is a unique collection showing the different renderings van Gogh made of some of his most famous works. This is an amazing display revealing the precise and detailed work that went into creating his wellknown masterpieces.

Come taste and vote on the various chilis submitted by amateur cooks. Hosted by Hill Country Barbecue Market D.C., it is a great opportunity to try some seriously delicious food. All proceeds will benefit “Cohn’s Kitchen + One City Eats,” which serves to educate, empower and develop the youth and young adults in D.C. as the next generation of culinary and restaurant professionals.

Celebrate the New Year in Chinatown and immerse yourself in traditional Chinese culture. This year will be the Year of the Horse, and the festivities will be complete with music and exciting entertainment. The event features the traditional Chinese Dragon Dance, Kung Fu demonstrations and live musical entertainment. A good place to view the parade is along Seventh Street.

One of the nation’s most successful comedy groups, the Upright Citizens Brigade, will make a stop this weekend in D.C. The TourCo cast is hand-picked from the best comedians in New York City and Los Angeles, and the hilarious group of performers — Amy Poehler was once among their ranks — will be sure to make you laugh.

B8

Sports

THE HOYA

Friday, january 31, 2014

women’s basketball

down to the wire

GU Falls to Big East Rival NFL Must Eliminate

Archaic Traditions

Morgan Birck

Special to The Hoya

After a low-scoring first half, the Georgetown women’s basketball team could not overcome a 17-point deficit to beat Villanova (15-5, 5-4 Big East).

The Hoyas (7-14, 1-8 Big East) struggled to score against the Wildcats’ league-best defense and ultimately fell by a final of 59-49.

Georgetown’s slow start on offense was the difference maker in the game according to Head Coach Jim Lewis. The Hoyas shot a measly 27 percent on field goals in the first half, scoring only 6-of-22 attempts.

Additionally, Georgetown only shot 52 percent from the free throw line on the game.

“During the course of a season, a team typically plays right at their average or better or a little below,” Lewis said.

“Today, we were far below our average in terms of the offensive end of the floor. There are no excuses.”

Villanova had their own offensive troubles early on. With 7:21 remaining in the first half, the Wildcats led just 1312. Georgetown kept Villanova shooting from outside the arc where the Wildcats made only six of their 27 attempts. Villanova soon began to pull away though, going on a 20-3 run to end the half. The Hoyas went into the locker room facing a 32-15 deficit.

Villanova currently possesses the top scoring defense in the Big East, holding opponents to an average of 56.8 points per game - a full five points lower than the next closest team, Creighton.

“In the first half we gave up too many second opportunities, so they were hitting a lot of threes off of offensive rebounds and kick-outs,” senior co-captain and forward Andrea White said. “We’re letting a lot of people getting wide open looks, so we need to improve on that.”

Georgetown’s offense, however, started the second half strong, going on an 11-2 run in the first five minutes. The Hoyas continued to outscore the Wildcats 34-27 in the second half. Unfortunately, it was not enough and the Hoyas trailed for the remainder of

N

JULIA HENNRIKUS/THE HOYA

Senior forward Andrea White had eight points and 15 rebounds in Georgetown’s 54-49 loss to Villanova. the game.

“We knew our offense would come, it just didn’t come and sustain itself as long as it could have,” Lewis said.

Freshman center Natalie Butler played strong in the post, racking up 19 points and 14 rebounds for the game. It was her 17th double-double of the season. White led the team with 15 rebounds, finishing with eight points. Freshman forward Faith Woodard was the second leading scorer with 11 points on the game.

“Natalie played a phenomenal game. She was nine-for-10, so she was big for us,” White said.

The Hoyas had a strong defensive performance against the formidable Wildcat offense. The Blue and Gray were able to, for the most part, control Villanova’s three-point shooting. In the entire second half, the Wildcats scored only two points in the paint.

Despite the loss, the Hoyas did outrebound the Wildcats.

Georgetown grabbed an impressive 60 rebounds while Villanova managed just 31.

Georgetown did not give up, and Lewis recognized the team’s effort.

“I will always acknowledge effort, and we had tremendous

effort tonight,” Lewis said. “We held them to 28 percent field goal shooting. They made some timely shots, they got to the line too much, and they live with a lot of three-pointers, which obviously can add up. I give them credit, but I really don’t want anyone to lose sight of the quality that we are defensively.”

The Hoyas will now go back to practice to prepare for Marquette. Georgetown will have to win eight of its nine remaining regular season games to get over .500 before the Big East Tournament.

“Tomorrow we’ll start improving on the areas that we were deficient in today. And then the next day, we’ll start improving on how our game plan versus Marquette will make us a better team,” Lewis said. “It’s always a combination of things the next day. It’s just like a game; it’s the next play. How do you get better?

Well, you get better the next play.”

The Hoyas will travel to Milwaukee to take on the Marquette Golden Eagles (13-6, 4-4 Big East) on Saturday. Marquette is currently on a 2-game losing streak following losses to Creighton and DePaul.

Tipoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.

o matter how well the methods of a we, and more importantly, the players, think business are working in the present, about delivering such a hit.

The league also should eliminate the three the best organizations embrace change and learn to evolve in anticipation of the fu- and four-point stances for linemen, despite ture. A professional sports league like the NFL protests from football traditionalists. In the is no different, especially when the game of trenches, offensive and defensive linemen start football itself has evolved so much in recent with at least one of their hands on the ground years. Peyton Manning threw for 55 touch- ☺—hence the name of the three or four-point downs this season, beating the previous record stance—and their heads down. If I were to deby five, and no one was nearly as surprised as sign a starting position with the goal of causone might expect. ing head injuries, I think this would be the one.

I believe several new rules must be imple- Many linemen start off every play by colliding mented to reflect the changes the sport has helmet-to-helmet with their counterparts, undergone. which, you know, might not be a good idea.

First, and least controversially, the league Obviously, forcing linemen to start a play should eliminate the extra point. I can’t think with their hands off of the ground would be of a decent reason to keep the PAT, other than a major change, and it might actually decrease that ever-annoying quip, “It’s tradition!” Some a player’s strength when driving forward on will say that we are losing the each play. Anyone who says real meaning of football and that isn’t a loss is lying, but the current game’s ties to it’s a necessary loss. Our its past, but those ties disappresident just said that he peared long ago. Punters and wouldn’t let his son play prokickers used to be among the fessional football, and thoumost important members of sands of other parents are a team, which might provide starting to think the same a legitimate reason for why way. I wish that such changTom Hoff we call it “football.” Extra es weren’t needed, but the points were never a sureNFL might be extending its thing in the old days, but life as a business and retainSimple rule changes ing its appeal to the masses kickers missed a grand total of four extra points in the enimplementing such rules. will protect players byLastly, tire 2013 season. the NFL must ban The only PAT I can disand modernize the kickoffs. If you hate me for tinctly remember is one this one, then you have comNFL. from Week 11 of the 2012 pany, because I hate myself NFL season in a matchup befor writing it. I love kicktween the Patriots and Colts. The play stands offs. I love how Devin Hester was seemingly out only because Rob Gronkowski got injured 90 percent of the Bears offense in 2006, and I on the play, and it essentially cost him the rest loved the surprise onside kick in the 2009 Suof the season. If a diehard NFL fan like me per Bowl between the Saints and Colts. But, can’t remember more than one PAT, is it really again, times have changed, and we can’t deny necessary? Give every team seven points for a that forever. We’re entertained by watching a touchdown unless they elect to attempt a two- game that robs players of the careers that they point conversion, which would work the same have worked their whole lives to achieve, and as it always has. kickoffs injure players more than any other Second, adopt the penalty box idea from kind of play. hockey. The next time that either Brandon

The potential good news about such Meriweather or Bernard Pollard delivers a a rule change is that kickoffs already matter helmet-to-helmet blow — sure to happen the less than they used to. Now that the kickoff next time either steps on the field -—the im- point is the 35—yard line and not the 30, a guy pending 15-yard penalty and fine from Roger like Devin Hester could never have as much Goodell might not suffice, especially if the of- of an impact today as he did in 2006. Since fensive player is injured. A few weeks ago in kickoffs already matter less, let’s just finish the the divisional round of the playoffs, New Or- deal. Non-surprise onside kicks should stay, leans Saints safety Rafael Bush delivered a dirty and so should punts. But each drive after a hit on Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Percy score or at the start of a half — unless the “kickHarvin. Harvin walked away uninjured, but it ing” team elects to try an onside kick — should looked as if he had been concussed. A friend start at the 20. It is extremely unfortunate, but of mine noted that the play and subsequent begrudgingly necessary, that the NFL take a penalty could have actually been worth it for little bit away from the game we love in order the Saints if Harvin had been unable to return. to protect the players who make it great.

Bush, a good safety, would still have been able to play that day while Harvin wouldn’t. But if Tom Hoff is a junior in the McDonough Bush had been removed from the game for a School of Business. Down to the wire apquarter or a half, then that might change how pears every Friday.

women’s soccer

Portland Drafts Georgetown Senior in Third Round MENGES, from B10

ALEXANDER BROWN/THE HOYA

The Portland Thorns took senior defender Emily Menges in the third round of the NWSL draft. This season, Menges earned first team All-American and all-Big East honors and led her team to the NCAA tournament.

established following the failure of two previous leagues — the Women’s United Soccer Association and Women’s Professional Soccer. Eight teams competed in the league last year, and an expansion team is scheduled to begin play in Houston this season.

“This league has attracted the best players in North America and some of the world’s finest, making it the strongest women’s league in the world,” Georgetown Head Coach Dave Nolan wrote in an email.

Despite knowing that the Washington Spirit — the local NWSL club — had scouted her throughout her senior season, Menges didn’t spend much time thinking about where she would end up until the days before the draft.

“The week before the draft, Dave reached out to the coaches to see where people’s heads were at and what was going on,” Menges said.

“He gave me a good idea of when I was going to get drafted and where.”

Menges attended the draft in Philadelphia with her father. She had been named a first-team All-American the previous day but was now left to wait in order to find out where the next stop in her career would be.

“It was a cool experience, but [it] was stressful,” Menges said. “It was extended over a couple of hours, and it was a lot of stress having a bunch of people [get drafted] and then a gap.”

That there was any gap at all between the top picks and Menges was due to her decision to remain at Georgetown until graduating with a psychology degree in May. Though she’ll miss around two months at the beginning of the season, it was an easy choice to make for the senior.

“A lot of girls either graduate early or put it off until next year,” Menges said. “I didn’t want to be one to put it off, and Georgetown doesn’t offer online classes, which is what some of the other girls do.”

A few hours after her childhood friend Crystal Dunn was taken first overall by the Spirit, Menges finally received word that Portland Thorns FC had selected her with the 25th pick. It was exactly the news that the senior had been waiting to hear.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better place to go,” Menges said.

Thorns FC is affiliated with the Portland Timbers of Major League Soccer. In addition to the first-rate facilities that come with the MLS connection, Portland boasts a first-rate roster. The club won the inaugural Women’s National Soccer League Championship last year and is home to U.S. national team players Rachel Van Hollebeke and Alex Morgan.

For Menges, the opportunity to play with Van Hollebeke — the starting centerback on the national team — is a dream come true.

“It’ll be kind of surreal at first.

She’s the best centerback in the world,” Menges said. “I talked to [Thorns Head Coach Paul Riley] and he said that I would learn so much from her. So as long as she’s willing to teach me, it’ll be great to work with her.”

Portland also attracts big crowds.

The club’s home opener last year drew 16,479 spectators, their season finale 17,619. That’s a far cry from the dozens that Georgetown plays in front of at Shaw Field.

“We’re not going to just have parents and closest friends anymore,” Menges said, laughing. “I don’t think I can even wrap my head around it yet. I’ve never been in that kind of environment.”

However, Menges knows she has a long way to go before she gets the chance to play in front of the big crowds and bright lights. In addition to focusing on finishing up her degree this semester, Menges will have to prepare for the week of preseason training that she’ll attend over spring break. Her spot on the Thorns’ roster is not guaranteed, and it is vital in proving to the coaching staff that she belongs.

“I have to take it one step at a time,” Menges said. “I have to make the team. I’ll have to work harder than I’ve ever had to work in order to keep up with the pace. I hope to go in and get some playing time. After that, we’ll see.”

It’s difficult to predict where Menges will end up, as women’s professional soccer is a tough and unpredictable field. But one thing is certain: If she can perform like she has in four years on the Hilltop, a long and fruitful career awaits.

sports

FRIDAY, january 31, 2014

THE HOYA

B9

Track & field

The sporting life

Unionization Represents Team Splits for Nationals Step in Right Direction H Molly Malone Hoya Staff Writer

istoric steps were taken at Northwest- basketball stars were receiving a quality ern this week, where — supported by education, then such large quantities of aththe United Steelworkers Union and letes at universities such as the University with the backing of National College Players of North Carolina would not be reading at a Association President Ramogi Huma — North- third grade level.

Other NCAA protests — such as the techniwestern football players filed union cards. The move to join a labor union represents an un- calities of what constitutes an employee — also precedented step by college athletes to seize ring hollow. If they cared about the education rather than the money, the NCAA would not control of their interests from the NCAA. In the past, I have expressed my belief that, mind student athletes bargaining collectively for the most part, college athletes are proper- over safety and compensation. The NCAA is ly compensated for their work. Low revenue afraid, of course, of losing a portion of their sports get preferential placement in classes, revenue share to athletes or risking the athand many receive scholarships — often full letes striking altogether. Obviously such a rides for higher revenue sports like football potential conflict would not be ideal for the and basketball. Many calling for athletes to get NCAA, but as a neutral party I say let the chips fall where they may. If student paid ignore the fact that many athletes — particularly those are effectively being paid tens with the potential for a proof thousands of dollars for tufessional career — are willing ition. Those who argue this is to risk their future for their insufficient compensation are convictions, let them strike. If ignoring the reality that promthe NCAA truly believes that inent college athletes need the the current system is fair, let system that is in place to develDarius Majd them prove it; let’s see if they op the skills necessary for the will stand by their convictions professional game. the revenue is threatI have reservations concernUnion offers best when ened. Plenty of less-talented ing fairness when it comes would be willing to to basketball. It doesn’t seem chance for change athletes step in for the thrill of competright to force NBA-ready taling at the college level if the ents to spend a year in college in the NCAA. current student athletes strike. before making money, but at I may feel that many student athletes are the very least, they have the option to play professionally overseas for a season. I do not rewarded handsomely as is, but my stance have these reservations when it comes to foot- is predicated on the reality that there is curball, because players need college seasoning rently no system in place to quantify whether to survive in the NFL. No teenager is ready for the NCAA or the student athletes are getting the NFL; without college football, these play- enough out of the current arrangement. I am ers would never get the opportunity to have a a firm believer in capitalist principles, and as such, I support athletes receiving more comprofitable livelihood in the sport.

Having said all of this, I see no issue with pensation if it can be objectively determined college athletes unionizing, and the NCAA’s that they deserve it. If the two sides in quesresponse to the actions at Northwestern does tion were allowed to bargain on an equal footnothing to dissuade me. Furthermore, their ing, I believe the appropriate compromise remarks are hypocritical and cripple any might present itself. If the NCAA would rathshred of integrity the organization claims to er pay athletes more money than let them hold. Chief Legal Officer Donald Remy stat- strike, clearly student-athletes would be deed that “this union-backed attempt to turn serving of better compensation. What it all student-athletes into employees undermines comes down to is trying to find the true value the purpose of college: an education.” The of those who participate in college sports—a notion that the NCAA cares about student- union represents the best way to determine athletes beyond their ability to increase the that. organization’s bottom line—let alone that they care about education—is almost insult- Darius Majd is a junior in the College. THE ing. If the NCAA really cared if football and SPORTING LIFE appears every Friday.

aTHLETICS

Northwestern Conundrum Poses Challenges for NCAA UNION, from B10 athletes are employed by their respective universities. The NCAA has long held that those who participate in collegiate athletics are students, not employees. “Student-athletes are not employees,” NCAA Chief Legal Officer Donald Remy said in a statement.

“This union-backed attempt to turn studentathletes into employees undermines the purpose of college: an education.”

Even if the NLRB rejects the unionization bid, some of the changes the Northwestern players want have a good chance of becoming reality. The implications of it are impossible to predict, but it doesn’t take too much imagination to see them touch Georgetown and its signature basketball program.

In an interview with The Hoya, Georgetown Athletic Director Lee Reed agreed that the student-athletes must have a greater role in NCAA decision-making.

“I think we need to do all we can — and I think that’s what the administrators are doing,” Reed said. “First, [we need] to really get the student-athletes more involved in the governance process. [Second,] I’m all for driving more dollars to their bottom line. ”While no Georgetown athlete has publically commented on the CAPA, the Athletic Department has taken a neutral stance on players’ involvement in the movement. Reed has doubts, however, whether Georgetown

athletes will attempt to unionize.

“We wouldn’t encourage or discourage our student-athletes to pursue a union status,” Reed said. “We wouldn’t do either. But I do think our student-athletes think about the world just a little bit differently.” In a statement issued in response to the players’ attempt to unionize, Northwestern denied that student-athletes are employees. In the same statement however, the university also praised the team for initiative and emphasized players were not unhappy with the university, but rather the national system as a whole.

Reed echoed Northwestern’s sentiments.

“My position on unions is this: This is what the incubator is all about,” Reed said. “It’s about being able to give our student-athletes what they need … so they can be really good at critical thinking and determine what is in their best interests.”

With billions of dollars in revenue generated by college athletics, the question of reasonable compensation has captured public attention. For Reed though, the debate is nothing new. “We are the only country in the world where we try to have amateur sport in a higher education context,” Reed said. “You can go back to the start of the NCAA … and there has always been tension between sport, amateurism and education.

The reason it has been around so long is because everybody on both sides agrees that it is worth the tension to try and get it right.”

Georgetown’s track and field team will participate this weekend in the National Invitational Tournament hosted by Penn State in State College, Pa, as well as the Patriot Games hosted by George Mason in Fairfax, Va. The National Invitational Accepted Entries were released this past Tuesday. Of the 52 events, the Hoyas qualified for the majority, including 35 individual qualifications and eight relay qualifications, as well as one jump representative. The large Georgetown presence should lead to a strong showing in the meet.

In addition to the overwhelming number of Hoya participants invited to the meet, Georgetown also has eight athletes in the number one spot including senior Eghosa Aghayere in the men’s triple jump and senior Hansel Akers in the men’s 500-meter dash. Though Aghayere is Georgetown’s only jumper, he is at the top of the field, so success should not be hard to find. As for the running events, the large pool of Georgetown athletes will inevitably end in many top-ranked finishes, especially in the team’s strongest area — middle distance.

“All of our athletes are running well at this point,” Track and Field Director Pat Henner said. “Penn State has been great to us, they are one of the country’s best indoor tracks and we’re looking forward to it.”

While Georgetown hopes to put up quality times and finish at the top of each event, the competition that the team will face is impressive. Take, for example, the host of the meet: Penn State.

The Nittany Lions men’s team was recently ranked seventh in the first official rankings released by the USTFCCCA. “Penn State has a great allaround team and there’s going to be a lot of other great teams there,” Henner said. “Teams like Stanford and Iowa State are coming so this is a great opportunity to go on a fast indoor track with great competition.”

The last time the Hoyas and the Nittany Lions met — three weeks ago at the Father Diamond Invitational — the Nittany Lions finished ahead of the Hoyas on numerous occasions.

Georgetown and Penn State’s head-to-head matchups are always tough to predict because both teams have strong middledistance runners. While the Blue and Gray came up short last time, they hope to change the scene this weekend.

Though the opponents will be tough matchups, the Hoyas are coming off an exceptional meet in which the team had 13 first-place finishers at the fourth annual Hoya Spiked Shoe Club Invitational. Although Penn State and other attendees are more challenging opponents than who Georgetown faced last week, confidence is sure to carry over to the National Invitational.

The team will split up this weekend; with almost half the runners will attend the National Invitational while the others will attend the Patriot Games.

The Patriot Games are a great opportunity for Georgetown to gain experience early on in the season. Though some of the top-ranked runners will not be there, the less-experienced runners will be given a chance to perform in the spotlight.

“It’s something where we have some athletes that are trying to qualify for NCAA [championships] and score points at the Big East meet,” Henner said. ”I think all these meets will serve us well.”

Meets such as the Patriot Games are invaluable to a young team like Georgetown and will be sure to help runners. When the Hoyas last matched up against George Mason three weekends ago in the Father Diamond Invitational, they fared very well, grabbing seven firstplace finishes. The team looks to continue this streak against the Patriots and gain not only top finishes, but experience.

It is still early in the season, but the Georgetown’s women’s team is ranked 20th in the country. With two runners already named Big East Athlete of the Week, the season is off to a flying start. As the athletes split this weekend, the team hopes to reconvene with an abundance of top three finishes.

“Both our men and women’s distance medley relay squads have a great opportunity to qualify for the NCAA Championships this weekend” Henner said. “I think that in the mile, the 800 and the 3000, we have some outstanding athletes that will really compete well with the top-ranked schools.”

With a chance to qualify for championships, as well as a great opportunity to upset top teams, Georgetown will set the bar high this weekend. One great weekend of racing would not only set the tone for the season, but also leave the Hoyas in position to make some noise in later, more important meets this season.

tennis

Elite Opponents Await GU Madeline Auerbach Hoya Staff Writer

The Georgetown men’s and women’s tennis teams will both be traveling for their matches this weekend. After a close 4-3 win over Boston College, the men’s team (2-1) will challenge the George Mason Patriots (1-0) in Fairfax, Va. Meanwhile, the women (1-3) will head north to take on BC (2-0) and the Boston University Terriers (1-0) after a 4-3 loss to Navy.

Hoping to pick up their third win in a row, the men will be traveling with significant momentum after their tight victory last weekend, courtesy of freshman Jack Murphy. With a similar lineup slated to compete, the men will be taking a similar approach to George Mason.

“Never change a winning formula,” Head Coach Gordie Ernst said. “We’re not going to change anything.”

After being named Big East Men’s Tennis Player of the Week the previous week, Murphy went on to play a key part in the victory over BC. This week, Murphy’s fellow freshman Yannik Mahlangu earned the same award. Mahlangu and Murphy joined forces for a doubles win last Friday. He picked up a straight-set victory later in the match.

Ernst has high expectations for all his players, not just the impressive freshmen; the focus is now helping them achieve their full potential.

“If we get everyone playing as well as they can play, then

we can knock off good teams,” Ernst said.

George Mason will battle Georgetown with a talent level just as threatening as Boston College’s. This past week they were projected to finish fifth in the Atlantic 10, as determined by the league’s head coaches.

Additionally, the Patriots finished with a respectable 14-7 record during their 2012-2013 year.

“It’s going to be the same kind of team,” Ernst said. “George Mason is every bit as good as Boston College. It’s going to be another great match.”

George Mason is the first in a string of matches the Hoyas will compete in over the course of the coming weeks. On Feb. 8, the Georgetown will face off against Yale for the first time in five years. The Blue and Gray lost the previous two matchups 4-3.

“What an opportunity that will be,” Ernst said of the match.

The men’s roster doesn’t have any significant injuries that will hurt them for the George Mason match. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the women.

With back-to-back matches in Boston this weekend, Ernst may make some line-up changes on each day to rest the players and allow the injured to recover.

The women’s squad fell just short against Navy, dropping the match 4-3. Despite securing the doubles point early, the Hoyas competing in the singles matches failed to earn the three points to needed to clinch the victory. Ernst believes that his squad may have been uncomfortable in the role of favorite

for that match.

“Our girls played with a lot of pressure against Navy because we were the favorite,” Ernst said.

“I think that affected us a little bit.”

On Saturday they will face off against BC, a match-up that will certainly pose a challenge for Georgetown.

“BC is very good — I mean, they’re one of the best teams in the Northeast, if not the best team,” Ernst said.

The BC women’s team is playing their second home match of the 2014 season after handing Dartmouth a 5-2 loss last Saturday.

The Hoyas will stay in Boston on Sunday to take on BU. Though the Terriers don’t have the same reputation as the Eagles, BU is coming off of a 7-0 victory over the University of Rhode Island.

“They’re not BC, but they’re still good,” Ernst said of the team. “They’re definitely going to be two tough matches.”

Still, Ernst has confidence in his team. Georgetown got the doubles point against Navy; if they could repeat the feat this weekend, it would be a significant help against the Boston squads.

“If you win that point then you just need three out of the six singles matches to win the whole thing,” said Ernst. “I hope we won’t feel that pressure and just play loose, and if we do that we’ll be right there with them.”

The men’s match is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. on Saturday, and the women’s starting times have yet to be announced.

FOOTBALL

Sgarlata Takes Interim Role KELLY, from B10 our careers have progressed,” Lembo said in a statement. “Kevin has been both a mentor and a great resource for me through the years.”

In addition to his turn at Dartmouth, Kelly was special teams coordinator and linebackers coach at Navy from 2002 to 2005 and defensive coordinator at Marshall in 2000 and 2001. He has also spent time at Syracuse, Tulane, Northeastern, Bowdoin and Southern Connecticut State.

Kelly arrived at Georgetown in 2006 to replace Bob Benson, who resigned after six straight losing seasons and became defensive coordinator at Towson. Benson now serves as the associate head coach at the Colorado School of Mines.

A Football Championship

Subdivision school that does not offer football scholarships and plays at the 2,500-seat MultiSport Facility, Georgetown has had just one winning season since 1999.

Lembo alluded to these difficulties in his statement on Kelly’s hiring.

“I am also grateful for [Kelly’s] efforts to make my alma mater’s football program competitive despite some inherent challenges there,” Lembo said.

Although Kelly’s win-loss record at Georgetown was badly underwater, he helped three players — Alex Buzbee, Andrew Schaetzke and Robert McCabe — develop into All-Americans and 25 others become all-Patriot League competitors.

“Coach Kelly was always there for his players! Especially when they were down. He was there when we needed him most,”

senior defensive back Stephen Atwater wrote on Twitter. “What did I admire most about Coach Kelly? Definitely his high level of organization combined with his elite people skills.”

In its announcement, Georgetown said it would conduct a national search for Kelly’s replacement. In the meantime, Reed has tabbed assistant head coach and defensive coordinator Rob Sgarlata (COL ’94) to serve as interim head coach.

Sgarlata has spent his entire coaching career on the Hilltop, including time leading the offensive and defensive lines, receivers and tight ends. He was promoted to defensive coordinator under Benson in 2004.

A standout player at Georgetown, Sgarlata led the team in rushing in his junior and senior years and was a captain in 1993.

SPORTS

MEN’S BASKETBALL Georgetown (11-9) vs. Mich. State (19-2) Saturday, 3 p.m.

New York, N.Y.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2014

TRACK AND FIELD The Hoyas will travel to State College, Pa., for the National Invitational Tournament.

See B9

TALKING POINTS

“

NUMBERS GAME

Never change a winning formula. We’re not going to change anything.

”

Tennis Head Coach Gordie Ernst

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Struggling Georgetown Travels to New York EVAN HOLLANDER Hoya Staff Writer

As it tries to stave off its sixth straight loss, Georgetown (11-9, 3-6 Big East) faces arguably its toughest opponent yet tomorrow: No. 7 Michigan State (19-2, 8-1 Big Ten).

The Hoyas, who dropped a 65-60 decision to No. 9 Villanova on Monday, have not won since a Jan. 11 overtime victory at Butler. The losing streak now stands at five games.

In that time, they’ve been hit with the news that junior center Josh Smith is academically ineligible for the season and have dealt with short absences for junior guard Jabril Trawick and senior center Moses Ayegba.

The Hoyas’ hopes against the Spartans will rest partially on the shoulders of Trawick, who returned Monday night against the Wildcats but had not practiced before the game. Ayegba, who sat out against Villanova due to a onegame NCAA suspension, returns to the lineup Saturday.

CHRIS BIEN/THE HOYA

Junior guard Jabril Trawick returned from an injury in a loss to Villanova.

Trawick will likely be tasked with shutting down sophomore shooting guard Gary Harris, who leads Michigan State with 18.3 points per game. The Spartans, who are coming off a 71-69 overtime victory over Iowa on Tuesday, average 79.2 points per game and are ranked sixth in the country in assists.

Like Georgetown, however, Michigan State is missing some of its best players.

Senior center Adreian Payne and junior forward Branden Dawson — the Spartans’ second and fourth leading scorers, respectively — are both sidelined with injuries.

In a loss against archrival Michigan on Saturday, Michigan State relied heavily on senior point guard Keith Appling, as well as two players used to playing more sparingly: sophomore forward Matt Costello and junior guard Russell Byrd.

To counter Harris and Appling, Georgetown will need strong play from senior guard Markel Starks — who joined the Hoyas’ 1,000-point club Monday — and sophomore guard D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera, who shot poorly against Villanova.

If Starks and Smith-Rivera are firing on all cylinders, the Blue and Gray may be able make up for their scoring dearth in the post. However, Georgetown will have to avoid fouling frequently and improve its ability to draw fouls, something Head Coach John Thompson III emphasized after Monday night’s game.

The Hoyas and Spartans have met only once before, a Sweet 16 game in the 1986 NCAA tournament. Coached by Jud Heathcote, the Michigan State squad beat up on Georgetown, ultimately winning 80-68.

Many observers believe a win over the Spartans on Saturday is critical to the Blue and Gray’s NCAA tournament hopes. ESPN analyst Joe Lunardi has Georgetown currently sitting on the outside of the projected field of 68 teams.

Saturday’s game also marks the first of three trips to New York for the Hoyas this season. They will be back to Madison Square Garden on Feb. 16 to face St. John’s and again in March for the Big East Tournament.

Tipoff against Michigan State is set for 3 p.m. The game will be televised on Fox Sports 1.

60

The number of rebounds by the women’s basketball team in its 59-49 loss against Villanova.

FOOTBALL

ALEXANDER BROWN/THE HOYA

Former Georgetown football Head Coach Kevin Kelly accepted a position as Ball State defensive coordinator on Thursday. In eight seasons at Georgetown, his record was 24-63.

Kelly Leaves for Assistant Job EVAN HOLLANDER Hoya Staff Writer

After eight seasons on the Hilltop, Head Coach Kevin Kelly is leaving Georgetown’s football team to become defensive coordinator and inside linebackers

coach at Ball State.

Kelly, who became head coach for the 2006 season, notched a 2463 record with the Hoyas. His only winning season came in 2011, when the team finished 8-3 and Kelly was named Patriot League Coach of the Year.

THE KELLY FILE Year

Record

Win Percentage

2006

2-9

.182

2007

1-10

.091

2008

2-8

.200

2009

0-11

.000

2010

4-7

.364

2011

8-3

.727

2012

5-6

.455

2013

2-9

.182

“While on the Hilltop, he embraced the challenge of coaching this program in the highly competitive Patriot League and has helped to build a strong foundation,” Athletic Director Lee Reed said in a statement Thursday morning.

The only coach in school history to have a winless season — a 0-11 campaign in 2009 — Kelly was unable to replicate his 2011 success the past two years. In 2012, the Hoyas were 5-6, and the squad slumped to 2-9 last fall.

Ball State, on the other hand, has been surging forward under fourth-year Head Coach — and Georgetown alum — Pete Lembo (GSB ’92). The Cardinals, who play in the Football Bowl Subdivision, finished 10-3 and lost in the GoDaddy Bowl this season.

Lembo and Kelly met in 1995 while they both served on Dartmouth’s coaching staff.

“Since that time, we have maintained a very close friendship as See KELLY, B9

WOMEN’S SOCCER

ATHLETICS

Menges Takes Game to Next Level in Pros Union Bid TOM SCHNOOR Hoya Staff Writer

Last December, while most Georgetown students toiled away in Lau studying for finals, senior defender Emily Menges was in a far more pleasant place: Sunrise, Fla. But this was no leisurely vacation; Menges — along with junior midfielder Daphne Corboz — was in town to train with the Under-23 U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team.

It was the culmination of a whirlwind season for Menges. The centerback captained Georgetown’s women’s soccer team to the second round of the NCAA tournament and its highest national ranking in program history, earning a Big East Defensive Player of the Year award, a first-team All-American spot and a place on the national team.

But if all turns out the way she hopes, things might just be getting started. Portland Thorns FC selected the senior in the third round of the National Women’s Soccer League draft on Jan. 17.

The U.S. team’s camp in December was the first time Menges had trained with the national program, a rare occurrence in an era where U.S. Soccer fields teams in age groups as young as under-15.

“It was kind of weird going in where everyone knew each other,” Menges said. “I didn’t know what to expect, and I’ve never

played at that level before. These are the best players in the country — it’s a whole different environment.”

For Menges, the differences were most evident in the intensity of the players who — though technically her teammates — were also competing for a limited number of roster spots.

“It’s cutthroat,” Menges said.

“At practice on the Georgetown team, you don’t want to hurt people. I got the feeling that at the U-23 camp, people are going to be way more aggressive. They’re going to want to earn their spot, and that’s just something I’m going to have to get used to.”

Despite the adjustment period, Menges found the camp helpful.

U-23 National Team Head Coach Steve Swanson met with her for a debriefing at the end of the week and emphasized that the Long Island native needed to work on developing her first touch. Swanson is also head coach at the University of Virginia, the team that eliminated the Hoyas from the NCAA tournament last November.

So it wasn’t until after returning from Florida and taking some time to enjoy the holidays that Menges turned her attention to the NWSL. The National Women’s Soccer League, which stretches from Boston to Seattle, played its inaugural season last year. It was See MENGES, B8

Foreshadows Changes ANDREW MAY Hoya Staff Writer

CHRIS GRIVAS/THE HOYA

Emily Menges trained with the U.S. U-23 team last December.

She led a Hoya defense that recorded ten shutouts last season.

Members of the Northwestern football team took formal steps this week to begin the process of forming a players’ union for college athletes. Ramogi Huma, president of the National College Players Association, filed a petition to the National Labor Relations Board on behalf of the Wildcats’ football team Tuesday, according to ESPN’s “Outside the Lines”.

If the NLRB certifies the group, the College Athletes Players Association — backed by Northwestern quarterback Kain Colter and former University of Massachusetts basketball player Luke Bonner with support from the United Steelworkers — would be officially recognized by the federal government. The proposed CAPA would represent Division I football and basketball athletes at private universities, including Georgetown.

Current NCAA rules forbid college athletes from being paid for their athletic contributions. Instead, they are compensated with scholarships and living expenses.

If successful, the CAPA seeks to reverse the status quo by securing financial compensation for players. In addition, the union wants to be a part of NCAA decision-making on issues concerning the well-being of studentathletes, such as guaranteeing scholarships to players who were injured while playing.

In order for the union to be formed however, the NLRB must determine that collegiate See UNION, B9

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