The Hoya: The Guide: March 28, 2014

the guide FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

The Veil For some, the choice to wear hijab extends beyond the religious sphere

NICOLE JARVIS Hoya Staff Writer

ALEXANDER BROWN/THE HOYA

Rabia Mizra (COL ’16) started to wear hijab in high school to reactions of both support and scorn from peers.

Khadija Mohamud (SFS ’17), Rabia Mizra (COL ’16) and Nimrah Baig (COL ’14) are just like any other young women studying at Georgetown. They worry about exams and internships. They feel the effects of long hours in Lau, bemoan the quality of coffee produced by The Corp and dream of medical school or the Peace Corps. They, like many students, are trying to strike the perfect balance between work and play, faith and expression. This question of faith, however, is what makes these women stand out from the crowds of blue and gray. Each of them proudly wears the hijab as an outward expression of their deeply held Muslim faith — a faith that has been misunderstood by their fellow Americans for their entire lives.

Hijab might not be a word all students are familiar with, even though they have more than likely seen a few while walking around campus. While it has several meanings, hijab is most commonly used to refer to a covering over a woman’s head and chest that leaves her face, or sometimes just her eyes, exposed. Usually worn by Muslim women after the age of puberty, hijabs come in a variety of colors and patterns, although the overall effect is one of modesty. But this modesty is not just physical: According to Cyril Glasse’s “The New Encyclopedia of Islam,” hijabs act as a separation between man and God. But the hijab is more than just an article of clothing or an expression of faith; wearing one is also a personal decision and, for several, a way to unite American and Muslim identities.

“Hijab is a lifestyle choice — it’s choosing to not only dress a certain way, but to interact with the opposite sex in a certain way, to use yourself in terms of your relationship with God and taking it another step in terms of trying to isolate other factors and go to a basic core of the relationship,” Mohamud said.

Mohamud, a resident of Silver Springs, Md., has spent her entire life in the United States, although her parents are both from Somalia. Interested in the Peace Corps as a postgraduate option, it was after the attacks of Sept.

11, 2001, that she saw she was “somewhat different.” Through attending public school and weekend religion school, she realized it was possible to balance both her Muslim and American identities — and part of that came through proudly wearing hijab.

If you ask 10 different Muslim American women, you will get 10 different answers for why they have or have not chosen to embrace the lifestyle of wearing

“

It wasn’t something you could wear Monday and take off Tuesday and put back on Friday. It was a lifestyle choice” —Khadija Mohamud (SFS ’17)

hijab, each based on intense, personal convictions about the role of Islam in their life. Some are influenced by the positive experiences of family members; while others cite their own beliefs about the role of God in their lives.

For Mohamud, who decided to wear hijab permanently when she was 13 years old after wearing it off and on since she was 6, it was about asserting her Muslim beliefs and demanding respect from her peers.

“I wanted people to know who I am because hijab is something that comes to identify you, and when you wear it, you want people to know that you’re Muslim. You want people to know that you expect a certain level of respect,” she said. “You want people to understand, ‘Hey, I choose to dress modestly and deserve to be treated with respect, because I have respect for myself.’”

See HIJAB, B2

THIS WEEK THEATER REVIEW

LIFESTYLE

A Tale of Tense Truths ‘Doubt: A Parable’ expertly explores suspicion and secrecy

JOSEPH KUPERSCHMIDT Hoya Staff Writer

African Culture Through the Arts

Free fashion show and performance portray cultural roots through music, poetry and dance at Abissa. B3

New Perspective on GUSA Exec

Trevor and Omika reflect on their time so far on the Hilltop and look forward to their senior year. B2

FOOD & DRINK

Perfect Pasta Portions

An Adams Morgan institution, Pasta Mia, a simple Italian restaurant, pleases patrons with a classic menu. B5

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Recklessly Sinning

The Pretty Reckless shows improvement in its new album, “Going to Hell.” B7

THEHOYA.COM/ GUIDE @thehoyaguide

Whether one wears a habit or a hoodie, a person cannot avoid suspicion, and in the absence of proof, none can escape doubt. Such is the struggle of Sister Aloysius Beauvier in her mistrust of Fr. Brendan Flynn in John Patrick Shanley’s “Doubt, A Parable,” which opens this weekend at the Davis Performing Arts Center’s Gonda Theatre.

“Doubt,” which was originally staged offBroadway at the Manhattan Theater Club, premiered on Broadway in 2004, won the Tony Award for Best Play and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and was adapted in 2008 to a film starring Meryl Streep and the late Philip Seymour Hoffman. “Doubt” has the power to haunt audiences, and this production — despite its perhaps unnecessary stress on Flynn’s obscurity — will undoubtedly do just that.

“Doubt” takes place in a fictional school in the Bronx during the fall of 1964. The play begins with a sermon by Fr. Flynn that addresses the issue of uncertainty and effectively lays the foundation for the remainder of the performance. Coinciding with the arrival of St. Nicholas Church School’s first African-American student, Principal Sister Aloysius has begun to suspect the actions of Fr. Flynn of scandalous misconduct due to mysterious meetings between the student and Flynn . The theme of gossip plays a major role in the play, conveying how suspicion and secrecy can taint reputations and how powerful rumors can be. Confident and charismatic, Flynn has gained favor in the church community, but a peculiar incident leads Aloysius to believe that Flynn has abused Donald Muller, the African-American boy.

In Aloysius’ pursuit against Flynn, it remains unclear with whom to place support, condemnation and belief. The clash of personalities and the tensions that result from the struggle give the play a unique quality See DOUBT, B3

OLIVIA HEWITT/THE HOYA

Maddie Kelley (COL ’16) gives a great performance as Sister Aloysius in “Doubt: A Parable” directed by Professor Maya E. Roth, perfectly capturing her intensity.

B2

the guide

THE HOYA

FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

FEATURE

A Personal Choice Faces Public Scrutiny

it was very common for women to get raped, so wearing the hijab was a sort For Mizra, who grew up in Florida as of protection,” Imam said. “The reason the daughter of Pakistani immigrant behind wearing it makes sense. For exparents, the hijab was the next step in ample, if you see a girl wearing shorts or a girl wearing jeans, typically guys will her personal, religious journey.

“It was my way of coming closer to hit on the girl with shorts. It’s that kind God and establishing a closer connec- of mentality.”

For some, whether or not the Quran tion to God. I wanted to be taken seriously and to make a statement about directly emphasizes the importance of how I want to be treated as a female, as wearing hijab is not significant.

“I think that it’s important that when a woman. I wanted to be dressed more modestly, and I wanted to make it clear you’re considering whether to wear the hijab to consider it in a religious context that this is who I am,” Mizra said.

Mizra started wearing the hijab in because that is ultimately what your high school where she faced stereo- goal is — to become closer to God, to typical assumptions from both Mus- develop the type of character that the lims and non-Muslims about going Prophet (peace be upon him) had, to be against traditional dress in favor of a model for society,” Baig said.

Baig, a former president of the Musher personal beliefs.

“Despite differing opinions people lim Students Association, moved to may express, I’m a Muslim who hap- Maryland from Pakistan when she was 2 pens to be American in every way,” years old and sometimes struggled with the concern that her Muslim identity Mizra said.

But that doesn’t mean that not wear- made her an outsider to American sociing hijab signifies that someone isn’t a ety. But as she’s grown up, she’s come to true Muslim; its meaning varies for ev- realize that being a Muslim American is eryone, and it is not necessarily a mea- only a testament to the diversity of the spectrum of the collective American sure of religious belief.

“That’s not to say if you don’t wear identity. Now, she’s studying biology of hijab that you aren’t Muslim or if you global health and is attending medical don’t wear hijab you are less religious school next fall in order to become a because that’s not true. Even though physician scientist. But she still works it’s described as something everybody hard to reconcile her Muslim heritage can understand, the nuances collec- and her upbringing in America, and her tively make hijab mean something very decision to wear the hijab originated different for everyone who wears it,” from a strong religious motivation.

“I think that personally I see the hijab Mizra said.

Sana Imam (COL ’15) was born and as much more a piece of the religion raised in America and identifies as Mus- than of the culture because it is tied to lim. However, she does not see wearing these ideals or values that are promoted

by Islam and an the hijab as a Islamic way of necessary way of living and those expressing her It’s interesting to see are the morals faith, although how the environment you should be deshe understands veloping in your why people do. changes just because you’re character,” Baig “My parents emphasized that wearing a scarf over your head.” said.

No matter how it was a personal women —Sana Imam (COL ’15) these choice. I never come to their defelt the pressure that if I didn’t wear one I wasn’t Mus- cision or how they frame it, the decision lim,” Imam said. “What people tend to to live according to the rules of hijab has forget about religion is at the end of the major implications.

“I understood it wasn’t something day, religion is a very personal and private thing. It’s about your own relation- you could wear Monday and take off Tuesday and put back on Friday,” Moship with God.” This understanding of the hijab’s pop- hamud said. “It was a lifestyle choice. ularity leads back to strong belief in the Once I chose that, I knew I couldn’t look tenets of Islam or adherence to cultural back.”

With the hijab come a variety of biand social norms in the Middle East, where the lines between culture and ased misconceptions. The hijab is a very religion are blurred. And sometimes outward visual expression of faith in the exact dictations of religious Islamic Islam — a faith few in the United States texts are blurred as well; it is unclear fully understand. Non-Muslim Ameriwhether wearing the hijab is mandated cans have been told time and time by the Quran, which never explicitly again that women who wear the hijab are oppressed, that they didn’t choose states that one must be worn.

“There are verses in the Quran that to cover for themselves or that they are may be interpreted to mean that Mus- being forced by dominant male family lim women have to cover their head members to adhere to the practice. The and dress modestly,” said Imam Yahya reality is rarely so black and white.

“Everybody usually thinks that I startHendi, director of Georgetown’s Muslim Chaplaincy. “Of course when you read ed wearing it because it was a family the Quran it also talks about Muslim tradition or because my parents wanted men needing to dress modestly … but me to wear it, but the honest truth is there are verses that may be interpreted, that when I told my parents I wanted to may be understood, to mean that Mus- wear it they didn’t want me to,” Mizra said. “They were wary of the possible relim women have to cover their hair.”

As a female, Imam elaborates on the percussions I would encounter.”

Women grappling with the decision reasons why girls and young women may choose to wear the hijab, based on to wear the hijab often go through trial periods of wearing it to see if they religious texts.

“If you look back into the scriptures, are prepared to take on the responsiHIJAB, from B1

“

ALEXANDER BROWN/the hoya

Khadija Mohamud (SFS ’17) began wearing hijab when she was 13. bilities associated with maintaining the lifestyle full time. The hijabi lifestyle is more than just a manner of dress; it’s how you carry yourself, how you treat other people and how you behave. For Baig, that means no physical contact with men in public and a more modest way of presenting herself. But many realize that the lifestyle is not for them, or at least not at the moment.

“The first time I tried I was a freshman in high school. For numerous reasons, I ended up not sticking with it and within half a year I had taken it off,” Baig said. “Then I got to Georgetown and decided after finishing my sophomore year that I wanted to start wearing it again.”

For many of the hijabis at Georgetown — and elsewhere in the United States — 9/11 and the anti-Islamic fervor that swept the United States afterward were highly influential to how they practice their religion and their dedication to the hijab.

“I’ve had multiple encounters where people come up to me and say some pretty disgusting things, but I never took it personally because I knew it was coming from a place of ignorance. They just didn’t know any better,” Mohamud said.

While most non-Muslims accept women who wear hijab unquestioningly, there are still those who approach hijabis maliciously.

“There was a really troubling encounter I had where a student I did not know called me a terrorist,” Baig said. “It was a really shocking experience for me because I had never really thought of myself as being seen as an outsider because I’ve been living in the States since I was 2 years old.”

Although Imam doesn’t wear the hijab herself, one of her friends experimented by wearing it for only one day, and the responses she received were shocking.

“She wore a hijab to Safeway and her treatment was completely different.

Usually people are really responsive and helpful, but when she wore the hijab, they weren’t willing to help her or at first pretended they couldn’t understand her,” Imam said. “It’s interesting to see how the environment changes just because you’re wearing a scarf over your head.”

But the most common sentiment

they share is one of respectfully defiant self-expression.

“I felt like growing up I was in this position where I was constantly like ‘No, no I promise we’re not like that.’ Or, ‘I promise not all Muslims are like that; the word Islam comes from the word peace,’” Mizra said. “I’ve grown up sort of advocating that this is not how it is.

I’ve reached a point that I shouldn’t have to ask for you to be nice, I shouldn’t have to ask for you to treat me with the baseline respect that everyone deserves.

If you think that a minority represents the majority then you already have a problem and I should not have to ask you to respect me.”

Mizra described less dramatic interactions stemming from similar misperceptions of Islam as “subtle expressions of distaste.”

“I was going to prom and was getting my makeup done by somebody. I kind of wanted a fierce look because I had this awesome gold dress but they ended up putting light makeup on because they said, ‘Oh, I didn’t want to make you look too seductive because I’m sure your father will get mad,’” Mizra said.

Students worry that wearing the hijab can have consequences in their professional lives, too.

“I have had students say [to me], ‘If I continue to wear the hijab, what does this mean for my career and my dreams? I want to be American, I want to be in the foreign service or the military, I want to serve in our law enforcement or our intelligence, but people will look down on me or people might undermine my capabilities or might just overlook me because for them I am connected to them.’ [‘Them’] … meaning the terrorists,” Hendi said.

For students so dedicated to their Muslim faith, it may seem counterintuitive to choose to attend a Catholic university like Georgetown. But for many Muslim students — not just hijabis — Georgetown offers the perfect intellectual refuge where they can learn and grow as students while remaining connected to their religious and cultural roots.

“I’ve never been around a circle of people more educated, more respectful, more understanding. I’ve never felt prouder and happier to wear hijab on campus,” Mohamud said.

“Georgetown has been very welcoming, very supportive and very interested in knowing more about Islam, about Muslim students and about how to accommodate their needs,” said Hendi, who founded the Muslim Chaplaincy and has lead it for more than 15 years.

Georgetown was the first university in the country to hire a full-time Muslim chaplain in 1999 and has worked continuously to improve facilities for Muslim students, through means like adding a prayer room, which opened in 1987 in Copley Hall. Georgetown also incorporates Islam in its promotion of interfaith dialogue.

“The number of Muslim students I would say has tripled since I came to Georgetown. There has been more interest in Georgetown because Georgetown is so accommodating,” Hendi said.

“A lot of the reasons that motivated me to wear hijab came from being at Georgetown,” Baig said. “I think part of the Jesuit tradition is not restricted solely to the religious experience; it’s something broader. Students here have respect for diversity, they’re willing to engage in diversity, they’re willing to tackle things that other people might consider to be uncomfortable, and I think if I had been somewhere without this culture or this tradition I wouldn’t have explored my own faith more deeply, and I wouldn’t have taken that extra step to start wearing the hijab.”

Yet at the same time, some students like Mizra believe that their peers’ education and level of silent decorum stifles potentially beneficial dialogue.

“Back home more people didn’t really know what this meant, so they would ask out of curiosity. They would say things that would not offend me or they might say something that comes off as bad but that’s not what they mean,” Mizra said. “Here, I’ve noticed that people have reached their own opinions about things because they think they’re educated. It’s harder to talk about it here because a lot of people think they know what it is already and won’t ask.”

What the dialogue surrounding the hijab boils down to is choice. No two women have the exact same reasoning for how they have chosen to express their faith and these differences are part of the reason coming up with one easy definition is impossible.

“No one will ever come out and say, ‘That’s it, done deal, women don’t wear hijab.’ Or, ‘That’s it, women wear hijab,’” Hendi said. “It will continue to be debated until the end of time.”

As for the prejudices that have almost become a mainstay of American media culture, Baig has a simple solution.

“I would challenge anyone to take a look at Muslim American women in the U.S. who wear the hijab. I don’t think anyone would look at those women and say they are oppressed. They value their education, they go out and seek employment opportunities, they are active in their communities and active politically,” she said. “They are very confident. They use their values, their beliefs and their own skill sets to make a difference in their own societies and that’s liberating. That’s not oppressive in any form.”

“I would challenge people to get to know a hijabi and see what her life is like,” Baig added. “I think that would make the difference.”

center stage

New GUSA Leaders Show Passion for Path Ahead Emily TROISI

Hoya Staff Writer

After winning the GUSA executive election one month ago and being sworn into their positions last weekend, Trevor Tezel (SFS ’15) and Omika Jikaria (SFS ’15) are just starting their work as president and vice president, respectively. These rising seniors have changed a lot since they first stepped foot on the Hilltop and are eager to give back to the community that has given so much to them.

MICHELLE XU/THE HOYA

GUSA President Trevor Tezel (SFS ’15) and Vice President Omika Jikaria (SFS ’15) reflect on their experiences and look forward to senior year.

What are your strengths and weaknesses as leaders?

TEZEL: My strengths lie in knowing the issues, knowing who is the go-to for what, knowing what needs to get done and trying to set an example of ambitious, energetic leadership and thereby ambitious and energetic organization. I would definitely say that my biggest weakness would be [not] being able to use technology. I … try to surround myself with individuals … who actually know what they’re doing and can create a Google doc.

JIKARIA: I like to think that when I have a project to do, I can execute it and I’m pretty good at setting goals and being able to accomplish them. … My biggest weakness in terms of GUSA would have to be that I don’t have any GUSA experience.

How do you think you have each changed since freshman year?

TEZEL: [My background] is very much a beach town, kind of laidback, you know everyone just kind of doing their own thing, but also not talking about some[thing] really fascinating … and just some of these bigger conversations that I’ve been able to have at Georgetown, I think have helped make me … a more mature person, a more understanding person, and I think above all else, have made me realize how little I know.

JIKARIA: I think I’ve learned what it really means to pursue what you love because I know that freshman year, people try to dabble in different things and all that, and I definitely did that, but I guess over time

I learned what my true passions were and what it means to really pursue them.

What is your favorite memory from your time at Georgetown?

TEZEL: One of the reasons I came to Georgetown is because I was a really big politics nerd. … And I remember one of the first few weeks of freshman year, I got to go to an event where we had congresswoman — now senator — Tammy Baldwin speaking at a College Dems event. I remember being absolutely floored by it and talking to the president of the club afterwards and just being like, “That was so cool, thank you for bringing them,” and they said, “Oh well in a few weeks, we’ll have Dick Durbin coming, senator from Illinois,” and I just think at that moment I realized, wow … I was at the right school.

JIKARIA: I’ve done Rangila for the past three years, and it’s just an event where so many different people come together and dance for this great cause and learn about all this great, new cultural stuff ,and I think the best moment for me was when I was standing in the wings, getting ready to perform. I just had my first “Hoya Saxa” moment and it was November of my freshman year and it was just amazing.

What advice would you have for people who haven’t had their “Hoya Saxa” moment?

TEZEL: I would say that … if you’re looking for it, it won’t be there. I think that if you take the mentality to Georgetown that you want to go out and you want to try new things

… if you are willing to go out of your comfort zone, you’ll find quickly that you have your “Hoya Saxa” moment.

JIKARIA: I’d definitely agree and I’d also say that it’s really important to try to figure out what your personal passions are and to do what you love.

Because if you try to be someone that you’re not, or try to fit a certain mold, you’re never going to fit in. So it’s just important to know yourself.

What is your least favorite thing about Georgetown?

TEZEL: I’d say for me that it’s the increasing prevalence of a careerist mindset. As a school, I think one of the things our Jesuit identity brings is a kind of different perspective on education. … We need to be conscious of what our mission is as a university and be focusing on the students’ experience at Georgetown and not just creating a place where we can turn out good employees in a couple years.

What are you most looking forward to in senior year?

TEZEL: I mean there’s going to be other things, like I’m excited, obviously, for 99 days at Tombs and other … senior traditions, but on the whole, I just think we’ve both been presented with a really exciting opportunity that I don’t know we’ll ever be able to get again in our life … so I have to say that’ll be … the thing I’m most looking forward to next year.

JIKARIA: For me definitely, doing work through GUSA, because a lot of my extracurriculars are winding down, so I’m really excited to just channel a lot of my energy and passion into GUSA.

the guide

FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

THE HOYA

B3

LIFESTYLE FEATURE

TECH TALK

Henry Parrott

Getting Fully Charged

I

n the United States, we aren’t very good with energy conservation. Our first instinct when we feel cold is to crank up the heat, and we complain about anything short of climate perfection. We leave the lights on and keep appliances plugged in when not in use. There’s a good reason for this, namely that our energy costs are relatively low compared to those in many other countries.

If you live on an archipelago like Japan, and must import oil, gas and coal, putting on a sweater starts to look like a much more appealing option as your energy bills sky rocket.

But this trend is changing, and it has caused people to take a serious look at the way that we use energy. The concept of the smart grid is frequently mentioned as people devise more efficient ways to use the energy that we are already generating. With our current energy infrastructure, huge amounts of it are wasted.

While alternative fuels get most of the media attention, simply saving energy would be an excellent step to take while alternative sources are being developed.

Using what is made efficiently is just as important as producing efficiently. But what happens if we apply the same logic to consumer technology?

Battery life typically tops the list of what consumers value the most in their electronic devices.

A smartphone that can control your home temperature, scan your retina and serve as a remote control is limited in its usefulness if its battery is dead before the sun sets.

According to recent patent filings from Apple, the company is looking into tracking each person’s phone use in order to predict his or her needs and limit the phone’s power consumption accordingly. Presumably, software could be developed that takes note of when you typically charge your phone, when you’re using it the most and when you hardly use it at all. By taking note of your charging habits, whether you charge only when your battery dies or if you keep it plugged in all day while you work, your phone could in essence create a power budget that ensures your power consumption is fitting within the brackets of your typical charging schedule.

By measuring these data, the phone can actually control its power use and greatly extend its battery life, with actions such as closing or limiting power to other apps. At the same time, the system could also work to the opposite effect. By figuring out the user’s typical use schedule, the software could prompt the phone to use more power at certain times when the user wants the phone to be more responsive.

The genius of this innovation lies in each phone’s use of battery power to each user’s individual daily life.

Some of these benefits are already available. There are a plethora of third party apps that offer similar functions. If you’re an Android user seeking to extend your battery life, try apps like Battery Doctor (free), Juice Defender (free) or DU Battery Saver (free), to name a few. For iPhone users, popular choices are Battery Life Pro (free) and Battery Doctor (free). While these apps can be helpful and do indeed improve your battery life, what’s exciting about Apple’s patent activity is that the same beneficial effects that these apps have could be greatly enhanced if they built them directly in to the operating system. Then, they would be able to perform the functions more efficiently by having better control over how electricity is being used in the device.

A lot of smartphone users are sometimes made uncomfortable by the idea of releasing control over data on how their phones are used. However, I would be more than happy to give up my data in order to have a phone that could plan my power budget for me and make sure I always had a device that was charged and ready to go.

Henry Parrott is a junior in the School of Foreign Service.

TECH TALK appears every other Friday in the guide.

COURTESY NAA ADJELEY KOME-MENSAH

Clockwise: Participants perform in last year’s Abissa, a celebration of African culture, which showcases traditional dances, singing and poetry readings, as well as a fashion show with students modeling clothes by designers like Alphadi (bottom right), a designer from Niger.

The Art of Africa Abissa promises to be a vibrant showcase of African culture HANNAH KAUFMAN Special to The Hoya

O

n Saturday night at 7:30 p.m., the African Society of Georgetown will open the Lohrfink Auditorium doors to usher in the waiting Washington, D.C. community. At 8 p.m., performances will begin, weaving together a web of cultural African experiences into a vibrant two-hour show. This is Abissa, an annual Georgetown version of the celebrated traditional festival that still thrives along the Ivory Coast.

So what exactly is Abissa? Naa Adjeley Kome-Mensah (SFS ’16), one of the event coordinators for the ASG, describes the two-way relationship of the performers and the audience.

“In Ghana, ‘Abissa’ means ‘to ask.’ Abissa is the audience asking for what our African culture is, and it is us giving it to them and explaining what it means to us.”

Naa-Shorme Aidoo (COL ’14), another event coordinator, speaks of her own experience with this powerful reciprocal exchange.

“I was definitely shocked the first year that we did Abissa when we were setting up and I looked into the audience. I knew I was putting in a lot of work, but I didn’t know that everybody was going to show interest. It was a very vibrant crowd. The fact that I looked out and the house was packed with a diverse group really showed me that Georgetown was interested in learning something new and experiencing the different cultures that are out there.”

Abissa is a dialogue between two cultures. It is an expression of African identity that manifests within the music, words, movements and clothing of the various performers.

Through this diverse sensory experience, the audience can sample many of the rich African

forms dispersed throughout the community.

Artistic Director Binta Ceesay (NHS ’14) outlines the breakdown of the event.

“We have a three-part fashion show, mixed in between various other performances which include dance, singing, stepping and spoken word.”

From a cappella and gospel to clothing and comedy, Abissa is a culmination of the complex components of African society. Performers and models living throughout D.C, Maryland and Virginia are drawn to the event to showcase their talents and pay homage to their heritage, combining their efforts to create a cohesive and intricate picture of African life.

While the event strives to preserve the distinct traits that make up this African community, it also experiments in ways that sometimes break from tradition. President Jescinta Izevbigie (SFS ’14) elaborates on this modern touch.

“The show is Africa re-envisioned. Through fashion, I’m hoping the audience really sees that African style is constantly changing and evolving, and it’s progressing in a way that’s definitely a lot more modernized today. Different individuals are incorporating African elements into different forms and cultures.

You’re definitely going to see a conglomeration of traditional forms and mediums with a more modern twist. That’s what’s so cool about Abissa, that it shows you a more transformative view of African culture.”

Peppered throughout the fashion show are other equally attention-grabbing acts. “We have music performances. We have dances, and we have spoken word as well. We have an African-inspired ballet, interpretive dance and an African-themed step team performance,” Kome-Mensah said.

Pulling from so many different sources, Abissa still maintains a sense of unity through

the underlying pride of the individual performers. It is a menagerie of art forms, each separate piece working as a brush stroke to paint a grander picture of the African identity.

At first glance, Abissa may seem intimidating to an outsider. With a core centered on African values, it’s hard to imagine someone outside of the culture easily interacting with those within. Yet an exchange between races is one of the primary goals that the coordinators are hoping to achieve.

“We don’t just limit ourselves to the African American community. We branch out, so we have Indians, Caucasians and people of Latin American descent in the fashion show.

The models are very diverse,” Kome-Mensah said.

The event is designed to welcome participants and audiences alike into an open African community. It promotes interactions across traditional cultural boundaries in exciting, new ways.

“You don’t have to be African to come,” Izevbigie said. “You don’t have to know anything about Africa. We’re really trying to raise awareness about our culture in the Georgetown community. It’s the best way to bridge cultural gaps and divides. Who doesn’t like free food, music, dance and fashion?”

Whether you’re celebrating your African heritage or curious about an unfamiliar culture, Abissa is an event welcome to all. It is a one-night wonder of immersion into the spirit of an African lifestyle that thrives within the student body. It brings the treasures of a different continent right to our doorstep at the bargain price of nothing, freely offering its cultural gifts to anyone curious enough to try it out. Abissa is a cultural celebration and an enlightening experience, and it is this deceptively small source of diversity that leaves one of the greatest impacts on the Georgetown community.

LIFESTYLE FEATURE

Dark Play a Certain Success DOUBT, from B1 that leaves the audience on edge throughout, since they are drawn into the drama, unsure of which character they are supposed to believe. Tied in with a religious theme, it poses interesting questions about how far we can trust those we generally deem honest.

As Sister Aloysius, Maddie Kelley (COL ’16) gives a stunning performance. Originally played by Cherry Jones and mastered by Streep, the role has a daunting history, and Kelley, rather than crumbling, only adds to this group of bold performances. She packs her character with restraint and intensity, and almost miraculously, she transforms herself into the unbending Aloysius, her body and voice aging 40 years in an effortless manner. This is a complex and challenging role to play, and Kelley does an excellent job in giving depth and vitality to the character.

Continuing with “Doubt’s” possibility for differing interpretations, professor Maya E. Roth, who is the director, chose to cast two actors as Fr. Flynn who will alternate shows.

For the production as a whole, this decision emphasizes well the questions asked in “Doubt.” However, the two characterizations of Flynn are presented as near opposites, which underscores the play’s element of uncertainty.

On one extreme, Flynn, as portrayed by Addison Williams (COL ’14),

who played the titular role in “Hamlet” last semester, begs for compassion. If he is hiding guilt, he has hid it in place where even the audience has trouble finding a trace of it. Clearly a gifted performer, Williams acts with passion, but his interpretation of Flynn restricts how skeptical one can be.

Caleb Lewis (COL ’16) does a solid job in providing a rougher, more aggressive Flynn who fights back against insinuations and accusations. Each actor showcases great skill, but if one sees both versions, it might be hard to avoid assuming that one Flynn is definitely guilty while the other is purely innocent.

Williams believes that the different style of the two actors means that ideally, the audience should see both performances.

“We didn’t see each other perform until last week, and I think that it was important because we really developed independence from each other.

I don’t want to define our two performances, but I think his is a little snappier… We’re definitely leaving it to the audience,” Williams said.

He also thinks that having two actors as Flynn makes the shows very different, and not just because they themselves give different performances.

“It’s the different way we read the characters, but also the different ways that the other actors respond to them,” Williams said.

As Sister James, a teacher who becomes entangled in this situation,

OLIVIA HEWITT/THE HOYA

From left: Marlene Cox (COL ’16), Addison Williams (COL ’14) and Maddie Kelley (COL ’16) perform in this production.

Elizabeth-Burton Jones (GRD ’15) exhibits complete innocence. With this comes some naivete, but Jones never gives an impression of being foolish.

And although she only appears briefly, Marlene Cox (COL ’16) also makes an impact, playing Mrs. Muller in a powerful scene.

Providing a beautiful space for its actors, the set of “Doubt” uses the stage wisely. While minimal and muted, it creates distinct spaces and cleverly highlights the importance of religion in the play; a garden in the shape of a cross remains center stage.

According to Williams, the main challenge of the play was understanding the historical context, which meant that research was of vital importance.

“It was always going to be a challenge because of the period. Given its in 1954 … [and] how the world was moving away from the church. … Most of the cast members had had experience with the Catholic Church through high school or family,” Williams said.“I hadn’t, so I had to do a lot of learning about Catholic practices, church structures as well as the times — it was just after the Kennedy assassination. So just contextualizing historically, socially … that was important.”

Planting the seeds of uncertainty, “Doubt” refuses to give answers.

“Doubt” should be at the very least frustrating, and since this production — filled with excellent performers is maddening — it has done its job well.

B4

the guide

THE HOYA

FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

APPS

LIFESTYLE FEATURE

Food Inequality Uncovered JESS KELHAM-HOHLER Hoya Staff Writer

W

hen journalist Tracie McMillan set out to write about poverty through the lens of hunger, she had no idea that her ideas would spark a national debate on the relationship between food and class in America.

In her widely acclaimed book, “The American Way of Eating,” McMillan argues that fresh and healthy food should be thought of as a social and public good.

“I wanted to open up a discussion where we were talking about food as something that most people already care about, rather than as a luxury product. There was so much talk of food at the time as if it were something like a new pair of sneakers or some other product, rather than as a basic need,” McMillan said in an interview.

Her argument about the lack of availability of food will resonate with students who have experience working with the more underprivileged areas of the Washington, D.C. community. Areas such as Ward 7 are known for being severely deprived of places to buy food, with fewer grocery stores than in the other wards of the city.

McMillan chose to write the book in order to discuss food and highlight how it has become another way in which the poor are disadvantaged, a way that is necessary for health and life.

“To make sure we get water in poor neighborhoods, to make sure we get electricity — we spend public money to do that.

We decided as a country that it’s important

to have those things. So it was pretty bizarre to me that we are totally fine with having neighborhoods where clearly the primary option is junk food. I wanted to bring up this line about how food is still the only basic human need,” McMillan said.

Writing the book was not without its challenges, especially since it involved an extensive amount of undercover, investigative work at companies like Walmart and Applebee’s.

“Initially, the hardest thing was being uncomfortable with doing an undercover project and understanding that to do my best work as journalist, I couldn’t be honest with everyone,” McMillan said. “That was pretty hard because I tend to be an open person. In the field, I was having very intimate relationships with these people, working with them in the day and going to their houses at night, and it took a while for me to feel okay with that.”

When the book gained significant critical response, winning the Sidney Hillman Prize and the Books for a Better Life Award, as well as being a finalist for the James Beard Journalism Award and a New York Times Bestseller, McMillan was surprised that she was not just seen as “an angry woman.”

She had been writing about poverty for 12 years before she began her book and wasn’t used to such positive reception.

“The kinds of things I wanted to talk about were not the things that anyone else wanted to talk about, and I had gotten pretty used to that,” McMillan said.

Certain that she was writing about something that wouldn’t interest enough peo-

GASTRONOMY AT BU

Journalist Tracie McMillan has extensively investigated and written about the implications of limited food availability in impoverished neighborhoods.

ple to make it a success, McMillan thought the book wouldn’t have an impact.

“The most likely outcome was that it would come out, disappear, and I would have to go and find a job,” she said. When the opposite happened, and the book gained much critical acclaim, McMillan was thrilled.

“It gave me more faith in people who buy books. I’d gotten so used to thinking that no one was going to want to read this, that I was this grumpy, crazy lady sitting in the corner that no one wanted to listen to,” she said. “To do all that work and have people come out and say, ‘Actually, we do need to talk about this’ — that, frankly, gave me more faith in America in a lot of ways.”

Even when Rush Limbaugh attacked her and her work, criticizing her for being “overeducated” — “I didn’t understand that. I only have a B.A.,” McMillan responded — elitist, and worst of all, female, McMillan took it as a positive sign that her work was prompting people to discuss the issues she had raised.

“I was really surprised because I didn’t think that people would pay enough attention to the book that it would matter what I said. That Rush Limbaugh jumped onto it showed me that it was actually a good idea, a powerful idea, because this person is willing to spend so much time and energy trying to shoot it down,” she said. “That means it was a powerful idea and not just me in my corner being angry any more.”

Since the book’s publication in 2012, McMillan has continued to write articles that explore the internal logic of the welfare system and the relationship between the availability of food and the poor. She claims that she is still discovering some shocking facts.

“I’m currently working on a feature for National Geographic about hunger in America, and I discovered things like that there are 90 million Americans who go without enough to eat. And of that number, 60 percent of those people have at least one person in the house who works full time,” McMillan said. “So now, poverty and hunger is not something that comes about because they’re not working, but because wages just aren’t high enough. To discover those specifics is pretty shocking.”

To aspiring journalists, McMillan, who was managing editor for City Limits and has done freelance work for publications like Slate and The Wall Street Journal, advises making sure you focus on an area you are passionate about.

“Do whatever. Build a significant expertise in a particular area you are passionate about. Expertise is what makes you able to find good stories. It’s incredibly timeconsuming, but if you have that passion, it pays off,” McMillan said.

McMillan will be speaking about the food movement and poverty in Lohrfink Auditorium on Thursday, April 3, at 6:00 pm. A book signing will follow.

NEW IN TOWN

Women Leaders Empower At Home and on Campus

I

STARBUCKS Free

grew up as an only child, greatly coddled speeches about the different relationships womby my parents who believed that I could en have with their vaginas, is a powerful perfordo anything I wanted. I was afforded many mance I personally recommend all Georgetown luxuries, including my mother’s support and students see at least once in their time on the care as she stayed at home to raise me. Although Hilltop. The students who perform in this play my mother graduated from college and had ca- are amazing women who work to educate the reer prospects, she decided to be a stay-at-home Georgetown community. Sexual Assault Awaremother primarily because that was what all her ness Month includes Take Back the Night Week, friends were doing. Her sisters, her mother and which is full of insightful events relating to genher grandmother had all done the same thing. der violence. Take Back the Night, a student orgaMyanmar, like many countries around the nization that aims to address issues of sexual asworld, has a patriarchal society and my mother sault and domestic violence, puts on both these was never expected to both work and raise a fam- programs. ily.

In the fall semester, one of Georgetown’s most Although she stayed at home, my mother had impactful events is “RU Ready?,” an event intendnothing less than a full life, and she managed to ed to raise awareness about sexual assault and find ways to incorporate a professional element. work toward creating a community of people As I grew older, she participated in capable of helping their loved ones. many business ventures, creating “RU Ready?” is put on by the Sexual small firms and watching them Assault Peer Educators, a group of succeed. She took on these endeavindividuals working together to ors without much support from empower survivors and allies with her family and friends; they all the resources and tools to find thought that she was doing somesupport on campus. I am proud to thing frivolous to pass the time. have many friends in the program, However, she continued to build I view each and every SAPE Eng Gin Moe and a career from home, despite what member as a role model for the others thought. To me, my mother is an ideal work they do. role model. She was a woman who knew herself In October, Georgetown student groups put well; she wanted to raise a child with my father on events to highlight Domestic and Intimate but also wanted to have a life outside of her fami- Partner Violence Awareness Month. In addition, ly. My mother’s determination and perseverance Take Back the Night holds a week called “These make her my personal role model.

Hands Don’t Hurt” in order to raise awareness But it isn’t just my mother who deserves this about dating and intimate partner violence. The recognition. In celebration of Women’s History individuals of Take Back the Night are a small Month this March, I wanted to focus on some group, but they do a lot of great work on campus great female role models in the staff and student on these very important issues. Without groups body right here at Georgetown. Laura Kovach, like these pioneering discussions about these isthe director of the Women’s Center, has been at sues, violations like this could affect many more Georgetown since July of 2008 and has been do- women and go unacknowledged. ing some outstanding work. The Women’s CenLastly, I want to highlight the staff members ter is a great resource to the whole Georgetown and volunteers of the Women’s Center. Many community, and it has countless important pro- students choose to volunteer a few hours of their grams throughout the academic year. For Wom- time to work in the Women’s Center, a magen’s History Month, the Women’s Center has a nificent feat considering how busy Georgetown whole calendar of events, highlighting their students are. The staff members are just as wonown events as well as events by student groups derful; they are always willing to talk to students that focus on women and gender equality issues. to help them plan and advertise their events on A number of groups and events on campus the Women’s Center’s social media. All in all, the play an important role in ensuring that recog- Women’s Center is both a great resource either nition and discussion about women’s issues in its staff members and in its events for all memand rights are not limited to one month each bers of the Georgetown community to utilize. year. Notable programs for the spring semester include “The Vagina Monologues” and Sexual Eng Gin Moe is a sophomore in the School Assault Awareness Month in April. “The Vagina of Foreign Service. NEW IN TOWN appears Monologues,” a play comprised of a collection of every other Friday in the guide.

DIY TIP

Starbucks has completely redesigned its app to make life easier for all the coffee addicts at Georgetown. The interface has been totally redesigned so that the dashboard is more streamlined and the whole app is easier to use. Perfect for coffee lovers, it connects to your rewards card, so that you can access your rewards points through your phone and see the pick of the week. It also includes a handy shake-to-pay feature that instantly brings up your prepaid card so you can pay via your phone. It also has a useful map feature, so that when your caffeine levels are dangerously low, you can instantly find the nearest Starbucks. You need never go without your favorite Frappuccino again.

TRANSIT Free For all those who struggle to make use of Georgetown’s public transport system, Transit is the ideal app. It includes all the features you need to make your travelling easier and can be used in most metropolitan areas including D.C., New York City and Boston. It lets you see at a glance when your next bus or train is arriving and allows you to track it in real-time on the map.

It also allows you to find scheduled departures and itineraries and to star your preferred routes. It’s the perfect app for those who find using public transport, especially in different cities, a little bit more stressful.

STRAVA Free To all those eager runners and cyclists, this is the best app to monitor your progress. It allows you to track your runs and rides with GPS and to connect with your friends to challenge each other to reach certain targets and see how your statistics compare. It gives you all the information you need to monitor how you are doing, telling you how many runs you’ve done, how many miles you’ve covered and how many feet you’ve climbed. With a sleek interface design, it’s the run-lover’s answer to social media, and it even connects to your Facebook and Instagram so you can show off your progress and any beautiful things you see along your way.

CREATIVE PEN OR MAKEUP BRUSH

makeupgeek.com If you’re always late to class because you’re rummaging for that one makeup brush or constantly frustrated because you can never find a pen, there’s an easy and cute solution. Take any clear glass container — mason jars or cheap vases work well — and fill it with either colored sand or coffee beans. Stick your brushes, pens or any similar objects in and you’ll have a convenient way to keep them organized and accessible — as well as a pretty and possibly great-smelling desk display.

BLOOM | EXETER, N.H.

ERIN NAPIER/THE HOYA

the guide

friday, march 28, 2014

THE HOYA

B5

RESTAURANt review

Mediterranean Brunch Caters to Young, Urban Tastes Urbana



2121 P St. NW Cuisine: Mediterranean $$$$ FLOR LEE

Special to the Hoya

Mediterranean restaurant Urbana possessed a welcoming yet robust atmosphere that immediately set the tone for the upcoming meal. Although it was moderately populated when I arrived for Sunday brunch, my party of two was seated promptly.

The menu was a nice mixture of rudimentary brunch dishes with nothing too difficult to decipher.

I appreciated the simplicity of the dishes, since it made the ordering process a lot easier. The selections were nicely divided into their respective culinary categories: appetizers, sweets, egg dishes, salads and sandwiches, stone oven pizzas and sides.

With that said, there is definitely a dish to accommodate every basic preference. Our waiter was very accommodating and was open to answering any questions about the menu.

There were some colorful drinks on the menu, including freshly squeezed juices and an interesting do-it-yourself Bellini. The Bellini is comprised of a bottomless sparkling wine with an assortment of three seasonal purees. The purees come in three different uniquely shaped glasses, which I imagine would make the experience fun and visually appealing. After a good perusal of the brunch menu, we decided to

order the bomboloni ($9), caramelized onion-potato hash ($4) and the parfait ($9) to satisfy both our sweet and salty cravings.

The dishes arrived at our table almost immediately, approximately five minutes after the waiter jotted down our orders. The bombolini, which are essentially Italian donut holes, came with a small side of fresh blueberry compote. The doughnuts were delicious, generously clothed with cinnamon sugar and fried to a satisfying crispiness. To my surprise, they weren’t greasy or oily at all, but rather tasted fresh and light without being too doughy. The blueberry compote, a beautiful purple syrup with preserved blueberries, brought out the slight sweetness of the bread and did not clash with the sugariness of the bombolini’s cinnamon component. This appetizer was definitely my favorite dish of the meal.

The caramelized onion-potato hash tasted average, nothing more and nothing less, which is reflected in its low price on the menu. I almost wish the chef utilized more creativity in its seasoning (there is so much one can do with potato hash). No particular flavor surprised me, other than the expected cooked potato taste. I added some pepper in an attempt to bring out more of the potato’s flavor and remedy the blandness. This side, unfortunately, is probably something one can find

FLOR LEE FOR THE HOYA

Urbana, a popular Mediterranean restaurant, delivers simple and satisfying dishes, but the parfait doesn’t quite match the high expectations set by its impressive display as it lacks the crucial flavors. on the second floor of Leo’s.

My expectations were particularly high for the parfait, since you really can’t dislike the combination of house made granola, Greek yogurt and fresh berries. I thoroughly enjoyed the display of the parfait — the various components of the dish were easily visible and separated layer by layer in a large glass. Unfortunately, the Greek yogurt was too thick and cheesy for my taste. Though original Greek yogurt is known for its slightly cheesy and sour flavor, I still

expected to taste at least some sweetness from the yogurt. Its pasty and thick consistency made it hard for me to consume it alone. I found myself scouring for fruits and granola to add some kind of flavor to the yogurt. The parfait would have been more enjoyable if the yogurt had a slight vanilla flavor. However, I imagine that a health-conscious guest would respect the parfait’s straightforwardness and healthy qualities.

The restaurant seemed to host mostly young professionals. The

high noise level did not interrupt my culinary experience but rather added to the social atmosphere. Given that the restaurant is actually underground, lighting comes from an assortment of electrically lit displays placed around the room. Personally, I enjoyed its secluded nature and trendy interior. For those who possess an appreciation of long walks past beautiful architecture and nature, ditch the bus and walk along P Street until you arrive at Urbana for a nice brunch with friends.

RECIPES

RESTAURANT review

BBQ Chicken & Avocado Quesadillas YIWEN HU FOR THE HOYA

The gnocchi and Gorgonzola at the Italian restaurant Pasta Mia was perfectly cooked and served with a generous amount of the restaurant’s signature, strong, rich cheese sauce.

Generous Portions and Classic Flavors Make Italian Eatery a Hit Pasta Mia



1790 Columbia St. NW | Cuisine: Italian | $$$$ Yiwen Hu

Special to the Hoya

Pasta Mia, which has been on the corner of Columbia Road and 18th Street for more than a decade, holds a special place in the hearts of Italian cuisine lovers in Adams Morgan.

This tiny restaurant owned by an Italian couple has a curiously mixed reputation: heavenly pasta and humongous portions, but allegedly horrible service and notoriously random closings. Nevertheless, on weekdays, a line starts to form 30 minutes before opening time, and on Saturdays, even arriving an hour early might not guarantee a seat in the first round.

Rumor had it that because of leasing problems, Pasta Mia was on the verge of permanently closing. As an avid pasta lover, I immediately rushed to test out all the good and bad hearsays before it was too late. Twice I visited, and twice I was rewarded with cordial service and amazing pasta dishes.

On the first visit, my friend and I arrived 10 minutes after the tag flipped to “OPEN” at 6:30 p.m., and we were lucky enough to get the last seating available. The waiting area soon filled up with people who, still shivering from the cold, craved some steaming pasta. Our pasta wasn’t served until almost 8 p.m., and as we headed out of the restaurant, the people who were seated after the first round were

still waiting for their dinner. Indeed, the service at Pasta Mia was rather slow; after all, the husband is the only chef. However, just wait until the wife comes to take your order, don’t ask for a different pairing of sauce with the pasta and enjoy the warm complimentary bread with olive oil.

Be patient, and you will be rewarded.

We started with the Caesar salad ($6), with a portion size large enough to serve a table of four. The bed of fresh greens came drizzled with a unique homemade dressing, one with a distinctive garlicky taste. It was, however, a bit too oily to my liking. Fortunately, the croutons saved the dish. Crispy and flavorful, these little breadcrumbs complemented the light flavor of the dressing itself.

Twenty minutes after our salad plates were cleared away, our entrees arrived. I ordered the seafood ravioli ($18) whose size was not nearly as daunting as that of the linguine and fusilli. Nevertheless, I underestimated these Italian dumplings; and was stuffed after eating only five of the seven raviolis. The round dumplings were filled with a blend of crab, shrimps, lobster and ricotta cheese. I slowly became addicted as the seafood melded with the richness of ricotta and melted on my tongue. Even more irresistible was its famous cream sauce, in which the ravioli was tossed. The sauce was rich and decadent, and its heavenly taste

insidebrucrewlife.com Although the snow may seem endless, it’s still technically spring and it’s time to refresh your go-to recipes. Put a spin on classic barbeque chicken by pairing it with avocado for a fresh variation. This delicious entree will at least help you pretend that it’s warming up outside.

INGREDIENTS

2 whole flour tortillas 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese 4 tbsp. shredded chicken

2 tbsp. BBQ sauce 1/2 cup avocado chunks

Heat a skillet up on medium heat. Lay 1 tortilla shell in the bottom and sprinkle half of the shell with 2 tbsp. cheese.

Combine the chicken and sauce. Top with 2 tbsp. chicken. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup avocado chunks on top. Sprinkle with another 2 tbsp. cheese.

Fold the shell over and heat for about a minute or two.

justified every calorie it undoubtedly contained.

The second time I visited Pasta Mia, I ordered its other popular specialty, the gnocchi & Gorgonzola ($18).

Even without an appetizer, I only succeeded in finishing half of the portion. The little potato dumplings were cooked al dente, light but also a bit chewy. The gnocchi swam in an imported Gorgonzola sauce, which had the strong flavor of the classic blue cheese variety. As I had been unprepared for the heavy taste, it took me a few bites to get accustomed to the richness. Once I did though, I couldn’t help but succumb to its charm. However, I still preferred the seafood ravioli with Pasta Mia’s signature creamy sauce.

Given its humongous pasta portions, which could easily serve as two to three meals, Pasta Mia has very reasonable pricing. Just be prepared that the reheated dish may not taste quite as good as the night before. The creamy sauces melt into a puddle of oil that provokes a small twinge of guilt. So, a better strategy may be to come with an empty stomach and a determination to indulge all at once in this high-calorie feast.

Pasta Mia has signed another year of lease, but it will be closed in 2015.

To my anxious fellow foodies, here are some final reminders before you go. Arrive early. Bring cash. Do not try to customize your dish. And enjoy.

Flip the shell over carefully and heat the opposite side for another minute or two.

Repeat with the remaining shell and ingredients.

Paloma

cocktails.about.com A perfect, thirst-quenching drink to pair with a quesadilla dinner, this smooth tequila cocktail is more popular in Mexico than a margarita. Light, fruity and slightly fizzy, a Paloma takes under five minutes to prepare and is both refreshing, sweet and strong. For a more fresh taste, substitute a splash of seltzer and grapefruit juice for the grapefruit soda, although sodas like Fresca or Squirt will work for the latter.

INGREDIENTS

2 oz. blanco tequila 1/2 oz. lime juice

6 oz. grapefruit juice Salt (for rimming)

Rim a glass tumbler with salt. Fill the glass with ice and add the tequila and lime juice.

Top it off with grapefruit soda.

Ravenswood Old Vine Zinfandel

bevmo.com Zinfandel, a rich red varietal, has plenty of flavor and body to complement a flavorful entree. This particular label is noted for its aroma of black cherries and currants that add even more of a summer-time feel to a meal. Just don’t get too crazy topping off your glass — zinfandel has a slightly higher alcohol content than many other wines.

B6

the guide

THE HOYA

Forcefield

music review

Hoya Staff Writer

A brief and easy listen, Tokyo Police Club’s latest effort, “Forcefield,” combines constantly energetic instrumentation with mellow vocals to create a slightly dull and monotonous experience. It is when it departs from this formula that the band is most successful.

Tokyo Police Club, an indie rock band from Toronto, formed in 2005 and debuted its first EP, “A Lesson in Crime,” the next year. All eight songs on that record clocked in around two minutes, encouraging a tight and focused experience.

Its newest album, though not as short, demonstrates a similar trend in editing, with the majority of the songs hovering around three minutes. The record itself only features nine tracks.

The one exception is the opening track, “Argentina (Parts I, II, III),” which, as its numbered name suggests, appears to be the band’s attempt at creating a manifesto of its music. It certainly sets the tone for the rest of the album, featuring characteristics that would recur

movie review



Tokyo Police Club

Kshithij Shrinath

throughout the rest of the work.

“Argentina” displays energetic production and instrumentation, including a relentless drumbeat and guitar riffs to separate the three “parts” of the song (though they are pretty indistinguishable as the track flows together).

However, this energetic musical base contrasts with flat, bored vocals from David Monks. He monotonously repeats the line “I don’t want to want you like I want you” five times, deadening the excitement built by the guitar in the background.

This problem persists through much of the album: Though Monks has a clear voice and intonation, he feels too controlled in contrast to the lively background. For example, while the chorus on “Hot Tonight,” the record’s dance track, is filled with zest, Monks appears so eager to get to that stage of the song that the verses sound dull. The worst transgression is in the album’s closing song, “Feel the Effect,” where the line “I feel the effect” is chanted drearily time and again.

The lyricism in “Forcefield” is simple,

PAPER BAG RECORDS

addressing a one-night stand in “Argentina,” a broken relationship in “Feel the Effect” and the dangers of a rich life in “Miserable.” Yet it manages to be chockfull of colorful metaphors about lighthouses and writing names on beaches.

While not particularly weighty, and occasionally repetitive within songs, the lyrics fulfill their purpose and are easy to listen to.

The high point of the album comes right after the halfway point. At this stage, the instrumentation becomes slightly weary with constant drums and electronics ringing at a similar pace during every song, resulting in what appears to be a standard formula for the album.

Yet here, the record shifts gears slightly.

First, with “Toy Guns,” the band appears to reflect on violence and liberation from childhood, an interesting topic all to itself. The lyrical meaning is made all the more impactful by a shift in pace in the chorus, as the song slows down, cutting out the instruments and leaving only clapping to accompany the vocals, an effective touch.

The album experiments further with “Tunnel Vision,” a track which opens with a haunting drone in the background and moves away from the peppy, fast-paced instrumentation of the first half of the album. The song’s description of the vocalist’s tunnel vision is haunting, as it drops him into alcoholism: “I might be dead tomorrow but tomorrow’s not today /… I just want to make it through one more night, tonight.”

On the whole, the record is not revolutionary. It follows established indie music traditions and begins dully. Though most of the album follows a set pattern, with the vocals drawing upon no passion and emotion, the band makes an impact when it manages to depart from

ANCHORSHOP PRESENTS

Tokyo Police Club’s new album is easy listening, but while it experiments with stiles and instrumentals, it fails to provide an exciting music experience.

GIRL MEETS WORLD

Snape Doesn’t Deserve Your Sympathy

T

his is my penultimate column, which feels weird. But since it is my senior year and the end is nigh, it’s time to talk about my biggest pop culture pet peeve: Severus Snape and the people who love him. This is a rant I’ve been sitting on for almost seven years, and it’s time to let it loose.

I love a good redemption arc. The bad guy finding his soul and using his skills for good? It’s a classic story that, when done well, can be very powerful. But Snape’s redemption arc is clumsy and doesn’t leave him as pristine as fans like to think. A quick Google search brings up hundreds of fans who love Snape — who romanticize his story — and they’re wrong.

In “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” Harry uses a Pensieve to access Snape’s memories. Through this, he learns not only of Snape’s undying love for Harry’s mother, Lily, but also that after her death Snape swore to keep Harry alive for that love. He puts himself in incredibly dangerous situations and risks his life for Dumbledore. He’s so courageous that Harry names one of his kids after him.

That’s the perfect, pretty narrative.

But that’s not what really happened.

Snape’s outsider angst fueled him to join the extremely heinous Death Eaters, despite the fact that they were dedicated to destroying Mudbloods. He only had a change of heart — sort of — when Voldemort’s target was Lily (oh, and Snape’s the one who told him about the prophecy; apparently, killing is only wrong when you know the person). Even then, he asks Dumbledore to save Lily and explicitly doesn’t care about James and Harry. Only after Lily dies does he decide to help Dumbledore, but it’s not because he thinks Voldemort is wrong. It’s to honor Lily’s memory. This is the part where people focus on the heroic stuff, but let’s think about what Snape was

Friday, MARCH 28, 2014

also doing at that time: psychologically tormenting an orphaned 11-year-old because he resembled his father.

During that “Deathly Hallows” chapter with the Pensieve, Snape describes Harry as selfish, self-important and arrogant, while Dumbledore counters that all of the other teachers like him. Snape isn’t talking about teenage Harry, who is admittedly a little arrogant; he’s talking about first-year Harry. Harry who was picked on his whole life, who never had a family of his own and who lived in a

Victoria Edel cupboard under the stairs. He’s a child.

Snape never lets it go. Having decided that Harry must be bad news from the start, he spends six years making his life as difficult as possible. That’s a great way to honor Lily’s memory, right?

Before Dumbledore dies, he wonders if Snape might have grown attached to Harry at some point. Snape responds with his Patronus — a doe, in honor of Lily. This is seen as a nobly romantic moment, but I couldn’t help but be struck by how sad it is. For all the good things he’s done, Snape was never motivated by virtue or morality. He was chasing a ghost. It’s creepy.

In exalting Snape, many fans are simultaneously knocking James Potter.

Based primarily on one scene of James bullying Snape, many assume that James was brutish, mean and unworthy of Lily for his whole life.

That’s ridiculous. First, Lily never would have married James if he hadn’t become a better person; Remus and Siri-

us both tell Harry this. Second, he joined the Order of the Phoenix, an incredibly dangerous group, in order to try to make the world a better place. He easily could have tried to sneak through the war without joining a side, as many wizards and witches did. Instead, he fought.

Even when he was misguided in school, he was an incredibly loyal friend.

When he and Sirius found out that Lupin was a werewolf, rather than hurt or reject him, they embraced him and decided to learn incredibly difficult magic in order to make the worst moments of his life more bearable. That’s huge.

James also saved Snape’s life when he almost found a transformed Lupin, which Snape seemed ungrateful for later.

Oh, and the night he and Lily died?

While Snape was willing to sacrifice Harry and James for Lily, James sacrificed himself for Lily and Harry. He was honorable and brave.

This narrative in which Snape is a lovesick, brave hero doesn’t make sense to me. I won’t deny that he had a hard childhood or that he did brave things, but that doesn’t excuse him. There’s nothing heroic about tormenting an orphan.

This is probably an example of how we need to embrace nuance and stop writing characters — and real people — into boxes. Snape, like any real person, is full of contradictions and complex motives that probably he didn’t even fully understand. Painting him as a completely wonderful figure erases some of the most interesting parts of him and also lets him off the hook for bad things he’s done.

Meanwhile, I shouldn’t be totally seized by my impulse to write him off as evil.

But in this case, forget nuance. Snape sucks, James rules!

Victoria Edel is a senior in the College.

GIRL MEETS WORLD appears every other Friday in the guide.

BEST BETS

OPEN ROAD FILMS

Arnold Schwarzenegger stars in yet another action thriller, but the overall film is difficult to take seriously.

Sabotage

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Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger Directed by: David Ayer Flor Lee

Hoya Staff Writer

It’s interesting how easy it is to immediately predict the nature of a movie solely from its beginning scenes.

Straight away, it was evident that David Ayer’s new action thriller “Sabotage” would be laden with bloody chunks of body remnants, prolonged gun fights, ridiculously cheesy lines, but yet completely bereft of a stable and comprehensible storyline.

Starring Arnold Schwarzenegger as John “Breacher” Wharton, the leader of an elite DEA team, “Sabotage” illustrates an intriguing, but nonetheless straightforward situation: After the task force puts down a powerful drug cartel while surreptitiously stealing 10 million dollars of the cartel’s cash supply, the DEA members’ bodies begin to pile up one by one.

As the individual members delve deeper into the investigation, they realize that the murderer may actually be among them, instilling caution and suspicion within the group.

The agents can be described as a raucous and trashy cluster of individuals, which can easily be inferred simply by observing some of their nicknames: Monster, Sugar, Grinder, Neck and Pyro.

A pleasant aspect of “Sabotage” is its ability to stretch out a fairly simple plotline.

In reality, the movie slightly deviates from the trailer and plot description, but I can’t consider that false advertising; everything presented in the trailer and abstract actually happened in the movie, just not the way that I expected. Given the lack of character development, I found it hard to gauge the intentions of each DEA member, which ironically enhanced the suspense of the film — I couldn’t pinpoint the murderer until later on in the movie.

Unfortunately, the sus-

pense and thrill factor was the only positive aspect of “Sabotage.” From the acting and script to the tastelessness and overall monotony of the nonaction scenes, this film was absolutely preposterous.

Schwarzenegger possesses plenty of experience with action flicks, so he excelled in the more belligerent scenes; however, his monotonous and heavily accented tone made the more serious and romantic scenes difficult to watch. Every time he took a momentary break from the action scenes to speak about his tough past or attempt to execute a cheesy motivational speech to his team, I wanted to place the rifle back in his hands.

Throughout the movie, the acting was overdramatized and unconvincing. I think it’s safe to incriminate the writers for this failure, given that Ayer chose to feature pretty experienced actors, such as Terrence Howard (“Hustle & Flow”) and Sam Worthington (“Avatar”).

The film teetered toward the bloodier side of the action flick realm, which explains its R rating. The bloodbath isn’t necessarily a distraction, the movie still did feature some outrageous displays of murders.

I wouldn’t recommend this type of action film for those who would not be comfortable with seeing a body attached to a ceiling by a perimeter of nails.

Although there were enough plot twists to keep the audience guessing about the identity of the real culprit, “Sabotage” would have been stronger with more effortless and fluid screen writing. Though the comedic barbs and one-liners made the audience laugh, so did the moments that were intended to be more serious and profound. The film was fairly entertaining, but overall, very frustrating to watch.

ON CAMPUS

GU Harmony Spring Benefit Concert

Groove theory showcase

Eurofest

Drone Dialogues

WHERE: McNeir Hall When: Friday, 7:30 p.m.

INFO: guevents.georgetown.edu PRICE: Free

WHERE: Gaston Hall WHEN: Saturday, 7:30 p.m.

INFO: : guevents.georgetown.edu PRICE: $7 student/$10 general tickets

WHERE: Copley Lawn When: Monday, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.

INFO: facebook.com Price: $5 entry

WHERE: ICC 302P WHEN: Monday, 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.

INFO: events.georgetown.edu Price: Free with RSVP

GU Harmony, along with several other Georgetown singing groups, is hosting a spring concert.

The concert aims to celebrate musical cultures and to raise money for One Body Village, which seeks to combat child sex trafficking. The organization raises awareness of child sex slavery and provides exploited children in developing countries with homes, medical care and education.

Georgetown’s only coed hip-hop dance team, Groove Theory, is hosting a showcase to present the remarkable dancing skills of its own team, as well as many others. The night promises a fun, exciting and diverse program featuring performances from Georgetown groups as well as hip-hop teams and groups from around the metro area.



The Georgetown University European Club is presenting its biggest event of the year, Eurofest. The event features representatives from all the different European cultures present at Georgetown.

The day will also include great music and live performances. This is one of the biggest events of the year in which to celebrate and get to know part of Georgetown’s international community.

The Center for Eurasian, Russian and East European Studies is bringing Jaroslav Zajícek, deputy chief of mission from the Embassy of the Czech Republic, to Georgetown to give a seminar on freedom. It will include a short documentary about the sacrifice of Jan Palach, who committed suicide as a political protest at the end of the Prague Spring.

the guide

friday, march 28, 2014

Going to Hell The Pretty Reckless Ogechi Nwodim Special to The Hoya

Pretty Reckless, a relatively new band that released its first album in 2010, has had difficulty shaking its debilitating image. The band’s lead singer, Taylor Momsen, had just ended her contract in the CW teen hit TV show, “Gossip Girl,” when the band first released its album “Light Me Up.” While Pretty Reckless wanted to establish itself as a serious rock band, Taylor Momsen’s good girl image seemed to chip away at the legitimacy of the band. Instead of appearing like a badass Joan Jett, she seemed more like a petulant Avril Lavigne. Surprisingly, in its sophomore album, “Going to Hell,” Pretty Reckless does not actively focus on destroying this image of “good girl.”

The over-the-top lyrics, the consistent screeching and the excessively provocative videos were not desperately accentuated in this album like they were in the previous. Instead, Pretty Reckless dynamically embraces both the good girl and bad girl personali-

RAZORANDTIE

THE HOYA

ALBUM REVIEW

MUSIC

New Releases



ties of Momsen.

Pretty Reckless is one of the few rock bands that has proven, even before its second album, that is has the ability to be nebulous with regard to genre. Momsen’s versatile voice can portray the emotions of a country song as convincingly as the anger associated with numerous rock bands.

In “Going to Hell,” the album offers diverse perspectives of what it means to live in hell. In “Follow Me Down,” the opening track, one hears the mewling and moaning sounds of Momsen while she engages in sexual activity.

The use of the confession booth scene firmly determines the song as one of the album’s most provocative. Once the initial shock factor is overcome, the track takes on a very Muse-like aesthetic and becomes a good example of modern rock. One of the most captivating tracks on the album is “House on a Hill.” The track begins with a voiceover of a brainwashed man who despondently states: “We are living in an artificially induced state of consciousness that resembles sleep. Their attention to rule lies with the annihilation of society.”

The track unfolds the story of citizens living in an apocalyptic society who continuously search for any sign of hope. It encompasses the sorrow of living in an endless hell while fusing electric guitar, strings and strong vocals from Momsen.

Another surprise of the album is the sheer vulnerability conveyed by Momsen. In “Burn,” a stripped-down coffeehouse tune, Momsen croons about the prison of an abusive relationship while in “Dear Sister,” another easier tune, she tells of a young girl leaving her family to pursue a

‘FEVER’ the black keys 

REVOLVERMAG

The Pretty Reckless’ new album, “Going to Hell,” shows obvious improvement and development compared to the group’s previous work. semblance of happiness.

While the album explores the wider variety and depth of Momsen’s voice and goes a long way in distancing itself from the less skilled, angry belting of the band’s first album, there is definitely something missing from this successor. The brashness of lyrics and attitude throughout the album is pulled off to mixed success. The thumping hard rock and grunge sounds of tracks like “Why’d You Bring a Shotgun to the Party” have an edge that is hard to resist.

However, the constant pouring out of aggressive, troubled-teen songs can become tiresome. More stripped back, acoustic songs like “Waiting for a Friend” are a welcome relief

from her usual snarling. The brash explicitness of the album, from the highly unambiguous album title to the moaning on the opening track treads a thin line between being deliciously wicked and frustratingly excessive.

Nonetheless, “Going to Hell” is a decent rebuttal to the naysayers regarding the talent and the potential of Pretty Reckless. Despite maintaining its youthful rebelliousness in its lyrics, its sound has developed into something more mature and impressive. This album has established the band as a talent to be contended with, and if the band continues in this upward spiral, it is sure to find success in mainstream music.

ALBUM Review

School of Roses Christon Gray Charlotte Glasser Hoya Staff Writer

Christon Gray, after some sucess the previous year, fully entered the public eye after the release of “Church Clothes,” an album released by Lecrae in 2012 on which his vocal talent was featured. The album was a huge hit in the Christian hip-hop genre, but it was also known for allusions to controversial topics such as corruption



within the Catholic Church. But it was with the release of his own album “Even With Evil With Me” in 2011, which draws on several musical influences including rap, gospel, R&B and jazz, that he first gained recognition. Now, Gray is back to try and confirm his place in the music world with the release of his new album.

“School of Roses” continues the trend of borrowing from several genres. The album demonstrates

COLLISIONRECORDS

Christon Gray experiments with different genres in his album, “School of Roses,” but struggles to compete with similar, big name artists.

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Gray’s incredible range, his vocal abilities and his rapping skill.

More impressively, Gray shows off his musical talent without succumbing to the all-too-common pitfall of many other rap artists: becoming vitriolic and abrasive in his lyrics. Unfortunately, the impressive vocal stylings on the album are not enough to elevate it from the pool of average rap or R&B albums released every year.

Frankly, “School of Roses” sounds remarkably similar to something we’ve all heard a lot of recently, Justin Timberlake’s “The 20/20 Experience,” but sadly it comes in as a second-tier version.

First, “School of Roses” covers the same mix of genres as Timberlake’s last album. It follows so closely on the heels of “The 20/20 Experience” that there is no room for both albums. Gray is a truly impressive vocalist, but he utilizes his range in mostly the same way as Timberlake. They both tend to start off slowly with a falsetto as they beg they girl they’ve lost to come back.

They both often use short, clipped phrases and both tend to be a bit repetitive in some of their lyrics. In short, “School of Roses” attempts to be the next “The 20/20 Experience” but falls short because of Timberlake’s range of songs. It’s not just that Timberlake’s album was released first, it’s that he includes something from every genre of music — even a country song in “Drink You Away” — while Gray fails to take the leap to the next level, making his album is comparatively safe and boring.

“Moving On” is the song that sounds the most like it came off of a Timberlake album. It has the staccato vocals, the music that echoes the rhythm of those lyrics and some rap thrown in. The song has the same subject as a lot of other songs of the same genre — resilience — but it lacks the stylish flair of Timberlake, the earnestness of Macklemore or even the passion that Eminem delivers.

“Convenient,” a track featuring Wes Pendleton, is just confusing.

Gray’s vocals and rapping take on the rough texture offered by Wiz

Ohio rock duo The Black Keys have released the single “Fever” off their new album, “Turn Blue,” to be released this May. The track perfectly encapsulates their acoustic style, and their typical blues-rock sound is given a slightly psychedelic and futuristic edge with the addition of electronic elements. It’s a slight step away from their normally gritty sound, so some fans may be displeased with a song that seems more mellow than usual. Nonetheless, it’s a satisfying track that provides a pleasantly laid-back version of a more alternative-rock sound.

‘pilot’ 50 cent   Following his departure from Interscope Records, 50 Cent is proving that he’s struggling in his new single “Pilot.” The track shows off his highly celebrated rap skills that have won him millions of fans and delivers a casual and well-produced song that does him justice as an artist. This single is certainly more accessible to general pop fans than a lot of his other more recent efforts and is impressively catchy. However, “Pilot” lack a lot of the edginess of some of his other releases.

Despite this, it’s sure to satisfy his many worshipers.

‘i luh ya papi’ jennifer lopez feat. french montana  

COLLISIONRECORDS

Khalifa, and Gray starts to lose a bit of the positive image that Christian music is known for. There’s even a reference to “No Church in the Wild,” the Kanye West-Jay-Z compilation from “The Great Gatsby” soundtrack that makes little sense in context. It seems lost in the album.

There are a few bright spots on the otherwise perfectly average album. The first is “Roses 101 - After All” with its melodic opening, the infusion of some a cappella singing and some great piano. The song is original, even though it’s about a lovelorn man, and its anthem-like quality could really get anyone to sing along. “Windchaser” is another gem. It opens with an angelicsounding chorus and a dub-steplike beat, but somehow it works. In a way, it’s reminiscent of some of Jason Derulo’s music, but it maintains a sense of uniqueness. The last of the bright spots is “Vanish (feat. Swoope).” Combining some ballad-like qualities with clever lyrics and easily understood rapping, “Vanish” makes the audience wonder why Gray didn’t put a few more ballad-like tracks on the album, as it’s where his skills seem to lie.

“School of Roses” is an average album. It has a few flops and a few gems. Gray clearly has impressive vocal skill, and it’s a shame that he doesn’t show it off to the best of his ability with more ballad tracks. For fans of Justin Timberlake and Jason Derulo, this album will sound a bit familiar. But if you’re looking for some clean, R&B-style music, “School of Roses” is for you.

Ahead of the release of her 10th album, J-Lo is clearly trying to come up with a fresh sound. But listening to this single, it’s hard to know whether to laugh, or just cringe. If the track title wasn’t enough to put you off, wait until you hear her repeat it 50 times throughout the song. It’s dull, lifeless and as though she is trying to compete with the rising pop and R&B success of the likes of Rihanna, but with none of her excitement or edge. The repetitiveness unfortunately makes it somewhat catchy to have it playing as background music, and it’s likely to be heard on repeat this summer. Nevertheless, it’s a disappointing effort on J-Lo’s part.

‘no rest for the wicked’ lykke li  It’s impossible to not be won over by the beautiful and haunting vocals of Swedish singer-songwriter Lykke Li. Following her successful electronic and indie-pop single, “I Follow Rivers,” she proves her skill with her production and songwriting yet again with this single. She perfectly combines the raw and at times vulnerable sound of her vocals with a more alternative and often dark instrumental sound.

The lyrics are repetitive but remain powerful, and the final product leaves you wanting to listen again straight away. It’s an impressive, dream-like single, and it should get her much well-deserved attention.

AROUND TOWN Step into spring with joy

mack wilds in concert

ENVIRONMENTAL FILM FESTIVal

EL CHUCHO HAPPY HOUR

WHERE: The Kennedy Center WHEN: Saturday, 6 p.m.

INFO: kennedy-center.org PRICE: Free

WHERE: The Howard Theater WHEN: Sunday, 8:30 p.m.

INFO: thehowardtheater.com PRICE: $13 in advance, $15 at the door

WHERE: Locations vary WHEN: Times vary INFO: dcenvironmentalfilmfest.org PRICE: Prices vary

WHERE: 3313 11th St. NW WHEN: Daily, 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

PRICE: Prices vary

This weekend, experience One Mic: Hip-Hop Culture Worldwide at the Kennedy Center’s Millenium Stage. Originally from Cabo Verde in Africa, artist Shokanti blends hip-hop, theater and social consciousness with the rhythms of his home country. This particular event is only part of the three-week festival that will run this year from March 25 to April 13.

Tristan Paul Mack Wilds, known for his roles in HBO’s “The Wire” and the CW’s “90210,” will be performing songs from his debut LP, “New York: A Love Story.” The Howard Theater is also a fullscale restaurant and bar. Seating is first come, first serve to ticketholders, so make sure to arrive a little early, order some fine American cuisine and enjoy a great night out.

This year marks the 22nd annual “Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital” and 2014’s theme is “Our Cities, Our Planet.”

The films offer a wide variety of genres, ensuring that there is definitely a suitable option for everyone. Information on specific movie times, venues and ticket information can be found on the festival’s website.

Need a break from Los Cuates? Venture off campus to 11th Street sometime this week and take advantage of the happy hour discounts at El Chucho. Have your pick of al pastor, chicken or calabacita tacos, two for just $2.50, or try something more exotic like two tripe and foie gras tacos for just $4. All drinks to pair with your meal are just $4, including the house margaritas.

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SPORTS

THE HOYA

FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

WOMEN’S TENNIS

DOWN TO THE WIRE

Dukes Put Streak in Jeopardy Student-Athletes MADELINE AUERBACH Hoya Staff Writer

A month ago after starting the season 1-5, the chance at a winning record was seemingly out of reach for the Georgetown women’s tennis team (7-7, 1-2 Big East). Now, after a six-match win streak, only one match stands in the way of the Hoyas being over .500 for the first time this season.

The James Madison University Dukes (7-3) will attempt to prevent Georgetown from notching that eighth win in a Friday match set to be a nail-biter.

“They’re always a good team, competitive girls. It’s always a good match. That’s why I’m really looking forward to it,” Head Coach Gordie Ernst said.

The two teams have a deep history, playing one another at least once per year for the past nine years. In those nine matches, James Madison holds the slight 5-4 advantage over Georgetown. Georgetown, however, has defeated James Madison in two of their last three

meetings, but most recently suffered a 5-2 loss to the Dukes.

“We didn’t play well, but they showed up and they came and competed. They made a lot of balls, they were very steady, but I like our chances this year, I really do,” Ernst said.

James Madison is 6-1 in its last seven matches, including commanding wins and close contests.

It defeated George Mason 5-0 and Washington and Lee 8-1, and it edged out Connecticut and Cincinnati in tight 4-3 competitions.

The Dukes’ sole loss of those seven came at the hands of William and Mary. Earlier in February, James Madison beat Navy — a team that defeated Georgetown in January.

Georgetown’s win streak has been helped by strong performances in both singles and doubles play. Though the Hoyas failed to pick up the doubles point in their recent match against the Richmond Spiders, singles play came through as they won four individual matches and the overall match. Even more impressive, the

Blue and Gray swept Providence 7-0.

“Our strengths right now are that we’re match tough. All the girls right now, if they drop a set … it doesn’t rattle them. We have that kind of toughness right now.

We’re also getting some good depth,” Ernst said.

Though the Hoyas’ mental toughness has lifted them above their opponents until now, Ernst believes that a stronger doubles team will be key in future matches.

“Doubles still has to get better, and our serving could be a little better — just the little things,” Ernst said. “But I’m happy with where we’re at right now.”

The Hoyas will play on the Dukes’ home courts Friday, which provides for a tougher match setting. However, Georgetown’s experience will help them overcome any difficulties put forth by the opponent’s home location.

“We’re used to it. We’re veterans.

We have kids who have played all over the country, and it doesn’t bother them that much,” Ernst said.

SOFTBALL

GU to Face Quality Pitching JULIANA ZOVAK Hoya Staff Writer

After a perfect opening weekend to the Big East season, the Georgetown softball team will continue conference play this Saturday and Sunday against Creighton in Nebraska.

The Hoyas (12-12, 3-0 Big East) and Creighton (19-10, 2-0) are two of the four teams who are sll undefeated following their opening series; all four Big East matchups were sweeps.

“Anytime that you can get yourself a good start, put a few wins in the ‘W’-column, there’s a confidence that goes along with that,” Head Coach Pat Conlan said. “Every game that we play from here on out is an important one, and I just think that this is kind of a good springboard for Creighton, which is going to be a tough weekend for us.”

Georgetown is coming off a strong series against Villanova, where it won all three games and outscored the Wildcats 21-5. Junior starting pitchers Megan Hyson and Lauren O’Leary combined for the three wins, and the Georgetown offense found a groove.

“We swung the bats better than we have all season, both power and average, and we just really did a great job making adjustments throughout the game,” Conlan said. “[Villanova] threw three different pitchers at us throughout the weekend, and I think our kids adjusted very well to all of them.”

Senior centerfielder Elyse Grazia-

no was named to the Big East Honor Roll for the second time in her career after a big weekend, where she went 7-11 at the plate, scored five runs and stole two bases. The senior leads the team with 17 runs scored this season. “[Graziano] was lights out this weekend,” Conlan said. “She was seeing the ball really well, she just was always on base, in the middle of every rally that we had and defensively she’s just a stud out there, and a great leader. She just brings a tremendous fire to our team and we’re better for it.”

Hyson also had a strong performance at the plate, extending her hitting streak to eight games and contributed a home run; she leads the team with a .380 batting average and 19 RBIs. Creighton is coming off its own sweep of a weather-shortened series against Butler. The Bluejays displayed some serious offensive power in the series, winning 6-0 and 10-0, respectively.

Junior shortstop Liz Dike was Creighton’s top performer, hitting four home runs while knocking in nine RBIs. For her success last weekend, Dike was named Big East Player of the Week. The junior leads the team with 10 homeruns and 27 RBIs this season.

Creighton’s offensive performance against Butler was supplemented by an equally impressive effort from the defense and pitching staff. Senior pitcher Becca Changstrom struck out 27 in just two games and has a 1.404 ERA this season.

Conlan indicated that she will most likely send out an offensively minded lineup to counter the Bluejays’ quality pitching.

“I think from game to game depending on results and so on that can change, but we really like the lineup that we had [at Villanova], and we stuck with it for three games,” she said.

It will be the first matchup between Georgetown and Creighton with the Bluejays as members of the Big East. Conlan said that the main focus for the Hoyas will be on their own game, although she acknowledged that it can be advantageous to come into a conference game with a fresh slate.

“I’ve always said, we compete against the game, we worry about what we’re doing,” Conlan said.

“Sometimes the good thing is we know nothing about [them], so our kids don’t go in with that preconceived notion of ‘Oh, this is Louisville or oh, this is Notre Dame.’

We’re just going to get off the bus and go play.”

This will be the Hoyas’ seventh week on the road, as conditions continue to prevent them from playing their home opener in Washington, D.C. Even practicing has been difficult on the muddy field at times.

“In the way the Big East schedule fell, we’re on the road an additional two weeks, so this is the longest I’ve ever been on the road, as a player or a coach,” Conlan said.

“But I think our kids are handling it very well, I think we have a good time travelling.”

Deserve Income W

ednesday, the Chicago dis- tiring, former NCAA President Walt trict of the National Labor Byers wrote a book called UnsportsRelations Board ruled that man-like Conduct; Exploiting College Northwestern football players qualify Athletes, in which he said that the as employees and, therefore, have a NCAA was “fully committed to the right to unionize. This decision reig- neo-plantation belief that the enornites the debate in regard to whether mous proceeds from college games student-athletes should be paid. Al- belong to the overseers (administrathough I fully support student-ath- tors) and supervisors (coaches).” letes being paid, I understand most of Personally, I think that the comparthe arguments against it. ison to slavery is a little strong, since Many people are opposed to treat- student-athletes did choose to attend ing athletes as employees, but I don’t the school in the first place. That besee a problem with this. We can’t ing said, from a financial and labor ignore the way that perspective, I find this many universities belief from Byers to be treat their best athincredible because he letes because simply firmly criticized the put, they’re not treatstructure of an associed as amateurs. NCAA ation of which he was athletes are subject to once a president. much stricter codes Seemingly, this of conduct than one perspective should inTom Hoff would expect for an spire widespread sup“amateur” athlete. For port to pay athletes, example, athletes are but people are fixated The Northwestern subjected to intense on athletes not being drug testing that player union is a step employees. many private comAfter debating this panies would never in the right direction. issue many times institute and are not with people I know, completely relevant to athletic com- opponents speak from personal expetition. perience. It seems to me that the An NCAA athlete can’t have too disagreement usually arises from an much caffeine in his or her system idea like, “If I got into an academic inwhen taking a drug test, a thought stitution for academic reasons, then that would probably make everyone someone who likely didn’t get in here in Midnight Mug during exams start for academics shouldn’t get paid.” to cry. Many top-level athletes will At first, this argument makes spend up to 30 hours per week at sense, but I feel that it’s naive when practice for something that isn’t seen looking at all of the factors. It’s imas a job, limiting their abilities to portant to realize the vast impact both perform academically and find that top-level athletes have on their a paying job in whatever free time universities. Even if a player is acthey may have left over. cepted into an academic institution But the university exploits play- for athletic reasons, that doesn’t ers’ inspirational background. Dur- change that the players were accepting any college basketball or football ed in order to generate a large profit game that you watch, you’ll notice an for the university. announcer using a players’ personal In his one year playing for the stories to help create interest in the Hilltop’s basketball team, Greg Mongame. This creates interest in their roe was worth more financially to own sports programs, which in turn Georgetown than I will be during my make money for the university’s ath- entire four years, and it’s important letic department for me to put aside personal perspecTop-level student-athletes are held tive when thinking about that. to strict codes about behavior based With United States labor laws and on what’s best for the larger organi- the NLRB’s ruling as my reasoning, zation, and the organization has no the revenue-earning players should problem using its individual lives get compensated for their financial and accomplishments to promote its contribution to the institution, and larger product. And when the prod- this would be treating a top-level athuct — like high level Division I foot- lete the same as any other student ball or basketball teams — generates employee. Residence Hall Office workmoney, it is based off of the work that ers or card-swipers deserve to get paid the student-athletes do. That sounds because they are performing a duty like employment to me. for a larger, money-earning organizaOne of the most compelling argu- tion that has placed a financial value ments for paying elite student-ath- on their work. A top-level athlete letes has not received the attention should be no different. that it should, but it would not surprise me if the Chicago branch of the Tom Hoff is a junior in the McDonough NLRB took it into consideration for its School of Business. DOWN TO THE WIRE decision. In 1997, eight years after re- appears every Friday.

CREW

After the Offseason, Wildcats’ 3rd Quarter Seals Win Freshmen Lead Hoyas MEN’S LACROSSE

ELIZABETH CAVACOS Hoya Staff Writer

After a snowstorm in the Philadelphia area delayed the game, the Georgetown men’s lacrosse team (3-6, 0-2 Big East) fell to conference rival Villanova (3-5, 2-0 Big East) 13-8 Wednesday.

The first half of the game was evenly paced, but Villanova went on a seven-goal run to pull ahead in the third quarter. Although the Hoyas fought back, the Wildcats’ lead proved to be insurmountable, and they cruised to the 13-8 victory.

Georgetown Head Coach Kevin Warne believes that lapses in his team’s performance are accountable for Villanova’s third-quarter scoring opportunities.

“They did what they needed to do,” Warne said of Villanova. “I’m not sure if we followed the game plan. I think there were breakdowns on our end, whether offensively or defensively, that they capitalized on a lot, and I think that hurts the most. The intensity that we showed a week earlier was not there.”

Before Villanova’s scoring run sealed Georgetown’s fate, the two teams fought, trying to establish a lead in the first half. Freshman midfielder Devon Lewis put Georgetown on the board first, scoring five minutes into the first quarter off of an assist from junior attack Bo Stafford; however, Villanova answered three minutes later. The score would remain 1-1 through the end of the quarter.

Georgetown junior attack and co-captain Reilly O’Connor opened up the second quarter with a goal at 12:21 with an assist from junior midfielder Charlie

McCormick, but again, Villanova tied it up three minutes later. Villanova added two more goals during the second quarter to make the score 4-2 at the half.

At the beginning of the third quarter, O’Connor scored his second goal of the game at 12:19 and was closely followed by senior attack Jeff Fountain, who scored at 11:02 to even the game 4-4.

Georgetown’s efforts to tie the game proved to be in vain though; in a span of eight minutes beginning at 10:25, Villanova scored seven goals to take a commanding 11-4 lead. Freshman attack Peter Conley finally stopped the Wildcats’ streak with six seconds on the clock to make the score 11-5 heading into the fourth quarter.

The fourth quarter followed the pattern of back-and-forth scoring that defined the first half of the game. After a Villanova goal at 8:44, Conley answered at 7:54 with an unassisted goal. Senior midfielder Grant Fisher also contributed two goals. Despite the fact that Georgetown outscored Villanova 3-2 in the final period, Villanova’s six-goal lead at the beginning of the quarter proved to be insurmountable.

Coming into the game, Warne knew that Georgetown’s defense would need to be persistent in communicating and maintaining good positioning to help onball defenders. Warne believes that his players failed to meet these goals, especially during the third quarter.

“I think [a lack of communication] led to a lot of our defensive breakdowns,” Warne said. “We just didn’t talk to one another and we didn’t help each other out. We want to make sure our

guys are accountable for each other and each other’s man on the field, and I didn’t think we did a good job [of that]. We’re a little inconsistent, and we just need to improve that for [Saturday’s game against Denver].”

Despite the loss, Warne was encouraged by the team’s offensive efforts.

“I think you start to see the same guys get some points, and you’re starting to see those guys emerge on the offensive end,” Warne said. “I’m not going to say that our execution was great, but we’re understanding the game plan and knowing what we need to do. [Now] we just need to do it.”

Up next, Georgetown returns home to play No. 6 Big East newcomer Denver. Matching up against a nationally ranked opponent poses challenges in its own regard; a shortened practice schedule for the rest of the week because of to the game delay puts some additional pressures on the Hoyas as they prepare for the weekend.

Warne wants to make the most out the remaining days by focusing on correcting the mistakes that he saw on the field Wednesday.

“I think what you need to do when you have a short week is worry about yourself a little bit more,” Warne said. “We need to be able to pick up ground balls, we need to be able to just stick to the fundamentals, whether it’s defensive positioning, communication, throwing and catching, shooting the ball, dodging — those are all little things that you work on at lacrosse camp, and now they need to come to fruition against the sixth-ranked team in the country.”

CREW, from B10 and that’s always fun and that’s the first order of business.”

Georgetown’s varsity eight finished 1.2 seconds ahead of Boston College, while the second varsity and freshman eight each finished with comfortable 15 second leads over their St. Joseph’s counterparts.

The addition of freshmen resulted in increased depth for both the men’s and women’s teams. For the women, 20 freshmen were added to the roster after rowing separately in the fall.

“We won the scrimmage very handily,” Paris said. “Everybody is a part of that, but I would say that what the freshmen are adding in particular is they’re adding depth to our program.”

For the men, freshman are rowing with the varsity team for only the second season, adding a new dynamic to the team that will require some adjusting.

“There are some new some things … that we’re working through, and I think we’re doing pretty well with it this year,” Johnson said.

For both teams, the freshmen augment a core, more experienced group of rowers. On the women’s team, some upperclassmen have been rowing at Georgetown since Paris began coaching the team three years ago.

“They’ve worked really hard to change and build different cultures here at Georgetown when they’re rowing,” Paris said. “The freshmen are helping us do that, but they’re adding to some strong leadership in the upper class.”

For the women, Georgetown’s varsity eight won two of three races, while the second and third varsity eights finished undefeated against their counterparts. While the results are not official, the finishes point toward more positive outcomes for the team as the season progresses.

JULIA HENNRIKUS/THE HOYA

The women’s rowing team will race in Class of 2006 Cup on March 29.

“We are very excited. We think the team is going to do really well this year, but the most important thing for us is that we keep improving and if we just get a bit better every season and every year, we’ll get where we want to go,” Paris said. “It’s definitely our goal to get to the NCAA championship, and we get there by winning the conference championship. That’s definitely our goal, and we hope to get there as soon as we can.”

The men’s team will be keeping an eye on the future, with the development of young talent and the integration of freshman as important goals for the season.

“Ultimately it’s going to matter how we’re doing at the end of the year, and as long as we can keep progressing and improving, I’m going to be pretty pleased with this group,” Johnson said. “They’ve got some talent, they’ve got some guys who are very willing and they’ve got some guys who have a lot to learn and are learning.”

The women will next race March 29 at the Class of 2006 Cup in Chapel Hill, N.C. Meanwhile, the men will next compete in a scrimmage against Princeton and Syracuse on March 29, in Princeton, N.J., with events throughout the day.

sports

FRIDAY, march 28, 2014

THE HOYA

B9

baseball

women’s lacrosse

Hoyas Drop 4th Depleted Staff Faces Tigers Straight Matchup Tony Baxter

Special to The Hoya

Molly Malone Hoya Staff Writer

The No. 14 Georgetown women’s lacrosse team (3-5) fell to No. 15 Loyola Maryland (7-4, 3-0 Patriot League) 8-5 Wednesday night.

Georgetown opened the game strongly but failed to maintain its pressure late in the second half. While the Hoyas dominated in draw control, total shots and turnovers, they were unable to consistently beat the Greyhound goalkeeper. The game continued the troubling trend of the Hoyas winning a majority of statistical categories but ultimately failing to grab the win.

The game started out promising for the Hoyas as junior attack Caroline Tarzian and freshman attack Colleen Lovett scored within two minutes of each other, just 10 minutes into the game. Both shots were off free positions on the arc. The game then turned into a backand-forth matchup between the Hoyas and Greyhounds, with both teams successfully countering the other’s goals.

After falling behind 2-0, Loyola responded forcefully with two goals of its own. In the first half, freshman goalkeeper Maddy Fisher made two key saves which allowed the Hoyas to go into the half with the lead. The freshman played all 60 minutes in the net and recorded five total saves for Georgetown.

“Maddy is very steady, she has the demeanor of a veteran out there,” Head Coach Ricky Fried said. “She doesn’t let things rattle her and we’re pleased with what she is doing and how she’s doing. I think we need to support her better and give up the shots that we want them to take as opposed to some shots, especially earlier in the game, that we can’t afford to be giving up to a good Loyola team.”

After Loyola had rallied to tie the game at two, Georgetown once again rallied off two goals within minutes of each other.

First it was sophomore attack Corinne Etchison off an assist from senior midfielder Kelyn Freedman. One minute later, Freedman notched a goal of her own, as she hurdled the goalkeeper to score her 14th of the season. This gave the Hoyas their biggest lead of the night, making it 4-2. The Greyhounds would score another goal before halftime, but they entered the locker room trailing the Hoyas 4-3.

Loyola’s defense was unique compared to the other defenses Georgetown has faced this sea-

son. Its setup forced Georgetown to closely approach the arc before making a move. The Hoyas were not able to play their usual spread offense and their ball movement around the outside of the cage could not penetrate the inner arc. Greyhound sophomore goalkeeper Molly Wolf was particularly aggressive and on multiple occasions took the ball up to midfield herself.

“I think Molly Wolf played a heck of a game and we took some poor shots,” Fried said. “Add those two things up and end up 5-for-18. If we’re shooting at that rate, we’re going to have a hard time beating anybody, much less a team of that quality.”

Georgetown dominated possession at the start of the second half but struggled to score. Senior midfielder Hannah Franklin was finally able to crack Wolf on an unassisted shot, fighting off three Loyola defensemen to give the Hoyas a 5-3 lead. Franklin’s goal would be Georgetown’s last of the night, as Loyola went on to score five unanswered.

Greyhound junior attack Annie Thomas contributed two goals and an assist in the rally.

The last goal came with nine seconds left in the game to cement the Loyola victory.

Though the Hoyas ultimately outshot the Greyhounds 18-17, nothing seemed to go in their favor. Misfired free-position shots and turnovers were just two of the factors working against the Hoyas late in the game.

“I think [Loyola] packed it in; they played tight and we shrunk the field to match them. It’s the first time we played a team that packs it in a little bit more and I don’t think we responded very well at all,” Fried said. “When our best players aren’t creating things for us, we’re going to have a hard time at the end of the day.”

Looking ahead, Georgetown will play host to Louisville (6-3) this Saturday in its first Big East game of the season. It will be the first time Georgetown faces a non-ranked opponent since its first game of the season. Although unranked, the Cardinals have many skilled players. Senior attack Nikki Boltja has received Big East Offensive Player of the Week three times this season and leads the team with 37 goals and 10 assists. Teammate sophomore midfielder Kaylin Morissette has 21 goals and 71 draw controls in just nine games this season.

The game is slated to start at 2 p.m. at the MultiSport Facility.

The hits keep coming, but not the type Georgetown’s baseball team was hoping to see. The team had yet another game cancelled this week due to inclement weather. The Hoyas (9-12) were scheduled to travel to Baltimore on Wednesday to take on Coppin State, but ultimately did not make the trip.

Weather issues have been a constant theme of the spring for Georgetown.

Prior to the Wednesday game the Hoyas had already been forced to postpone three games this season. In addition to the lack of games, Georgetown has been hindered by missed practice time. The rain and the snow have taken their toll on the Hoyas and would seem to be a leading cause for the team’s inconsistency throughout the season.

Things are looking brighter this weekend however, as the team will travel to Louisiana to take on Grambling State (6-17, 3-7 SWAC). The threegame series will begin on Friday and finish on Sunday.

Grambling State has had a rough season thus far, but the team enters the series having won three of its past four games. Hitting has keyed the hot streak for the Tigers, who have scored at least eight runs in each game. If the Hoyas are able to silence the Tigers’ bats, they stand a chance to win the game.

In addition to postponements, inconsistency has been another theme of Georgetown’s season. The Hoyas have alternated going on short winning and losing streaks, standing in a range just above and below .500 all year.

Head Coach Pete Wilk is looking to this series as an opportunity to get the Hoyas back on track.

“We absolutely look to this series to gain some momentum,” Wilk said.

Georgetown comes into the series after having dropped two of three games to Towson last weekend. The Hoyas took the first game of the series 6-2 but struggled with pitching in the next two outings, allowing at least eight runs in each game.

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SEASON, from B10 A surprising victory Feb. 1 over a depleted — but still highly-ranked Michigan State squad — along with Trawick’s return, breathed new life into the season and was followed by three more wins in conference. But a pair of losses, first at St. John’s and then at Seton Hall, confirmed that Trawick’s presence did not guarantee that Georgetown would be able to have its way in conference.

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Junior guard Jabril Trawick missed five games with a broken jaw.

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The final stretch of the season reflected that inconsistency. Starks, Smith-Rivera and — to a lesser extent — Trawick were steady. When the frontcourt clicked, there were decisive wins over Creighton and Xavier.

When it didn’t, Georgetown lost at Marquette and, in the final game of the regular season, at Villanova.

With the team on the ropes, attendance at home games also dropped.

At the end of the season, average home attendance had fallen 16.5 percent from last season, reaching its lowest level since the 2004-2005 campaign.

Firmly on the bubble for the NCAA tournament, Georgetown knew that it would have to be successful — if not win — in the Big East tournament at Madison Square Garden to secure a bid.

Seeded in seventh place for the tournament, many observers expected Georgetown to make easy work of cellar-dweller DePaul in the opening round. Instead, the Hoyas gave up an early lead and watched as the Blue Demons’ shooters drained easy baskets around the perimeter. Despite Smith-Rivera’s late game heroics, the 60-56 defeat visibly deflated the team.

After the loss, Thompson gamely said he believed his team merited an at-large NCAA tournament bid but, on Selection Sunday, the best the committee could do was list the Hoyas as one of the “first four out” of the tournament field — a consolation prize at best.

Georgetown got its only break of the postseason when the Barnum and Bailey circus displaced it from Verizon Center, sending its first-

round NIT matchup with West Virginia to McDonough Arena. Packed to the rafters, the atmosphere in the historic building was electric and the Hoyas rolled to a 77-65 win.

But Georgetown simply could not shake the inconsistency that was the hallmark of its season. Facing Florida State in Tallahassee, Fla., the Blue and Gray allowed the Seminoles to shoot 68.2 percent from the floor. With the Hoyas’ frontcourt virtually absent, the season ended with a whimper — a 101-90 loss.

For the seventh straight year, the Hoyas failed to advance past the second round of either the NCAA tournament or the NIT, the longest such streak since John Thompson Jr. took the helm of the basketball program in 1972.

Looking ahead, next year’s roster remains in flux. Incoming freshmen Isaac Copeland and Paul White should help to fill in the front court, and along with L.J. Peak and Tre Campbell they make up one of the top-ranked recruiting classes in the country. Thompson has said that he expects Smith to remain with the team. And no announcement has been made about center Moses Ayegba and forward Aaron Bowen, seniors who both have an additional year of eligibility.

Next season’s personnel may be able to turn around Georgetown’s fortunes, but that will be little consolation for perhaps the biggest disappointment of them all: that Starks — who Thompson described as the “hardest worker he’d ever coached” — never reached college basketball’s biggest stages.

the sporting life

Answers to last issue’s puzzle:

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Injuries have also led to a high degree of uncertainty concerning who will take the mound for the Hoyas this weekend. Other than freshman David Ellingson, Wilk is unsure who he will start.

“I can’t even tell you who is going to start Sunday. It depends on what happens Friday and Saturday,” Wilk said.

“If you think about it, take a step back and look at it, that’s a tremendous impact.”

In addition to pitching struggles, Georgetown had trouble scoring runs all weekend. Sophomore catcher Nick Collins and senior first baseman Steve Anderson have led the team in hitting this year, with batting averages of .337 and .333; the Hoyas will need them to step up this weekend if they are to have a successful road trip.

The series will mark the last nonconference set of the season for the Hoyas. After a game against George Washington next week, Georgetown is slated to begin conference play with a three-game series against Xavier. It will be those games and the ones that follow them that ultimately determine the Hoyas’ postseason fate.

Season Ends in Disappointment

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The starters in both games were unable to go more than 4 2/3 innings in each game, leaving the bullpen with a lot of work to do. Georgetown’s relievers were unable to keep the Hoyas afloat as they surrendered seven earned runs in the second game of the series and three runs in the third. The Hoyas lost the games 10-2 and 8-4, respectively.

Injuries have forced Georgetown to play a higher number of freshmen than usual this year with mixed results. “[The freshmen] have done well at times and they have been freshmen at times,” Wilk said.“It usually pays off to get experience. The more times you have been there helps. That’s human nature.”

The injuries have taken an especially high toll on the Hoyas’ pitching staff, forcing Wilk to come up with some creative solutions.

“We have to manage games [differently]. For instance, last weekend we had to lead [freshman pitcher] Joe Bialkowski into a beating because we had to be lined up for the next day,” Wilk said.

men’s basketball

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Sophomore catcher Nick Collins leads the Hoyas with a .337 batting average this season. Georgetown takes on Grambling State this weekend.

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NFL Focuses on Bottom Line MAJD, from B10 system for competitive reasons.

But money has a way of trumping the product. Owners see a chance to make more money by introducing more playoff games while also making money off of the added fan bases still gripped with the excitement of a playoff run. Adding more teams to the postseason would ultimately diminish the accomplishment of making the playoffs. And while a miracle run by a late-qualifying team might amuse fans without a championship contender, fans of teams who were elite all season long will sour on the notion of their consistently superior team losing to a streaking team. Fans will lose interest in the regular season because they know mediocrity is rewarded just as much as consistent dominance in the long run.

Another troubling idea gaining

support and interest from greedy executives is the installation of an NFL franchise in London. The sheer distance between London and any of the current NFL teams would create a logistical nightmare. Teams placed in a division with the London franchise would be livid at the catastrophic effect the jet lag would have on adjacent games, and thus their seasons.

Playing one game in London is already a hassle for the teams chosen to compete there each season, but as a one-time deal, teams are willing to accept the complications in order to give the growing NFL fan base in England a chance to watch a game live.

This generosity most certainly would not hold up for an eight-game home team schedule. The team that is moved will leave behind bitter fans, and free agents will almost

certainly accept much less money to go to teams stateside in order to avoid the crippling jet lag, creating a far inferior product in London. All reason points to placing a franchise in London being a terrible idea, but once again executives are looking at the rapidly rising fan base in England with big dollar signs in their eyes.

The NFL is an extremely strong product. It is exciting from an entertainment perspective, and resilient from a cultural standing. But just like baseball before it, football is not invulnerable as the national pastime. Executives are already raking in more cash than they need. Reaching for more at the expense of the fans and the product that got them here will only yield losses.

Darius Majd is a junior in the College.

The Sporting Life appears every Friday.

SPORTS

MEN’S LACROSSE Georgetown (3-5) vs. Denver (7-2) Saturday, 11 a.m.

MultiSport Facility

FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2014

LOSING STREAK

TALKING POINTS

The women’s lacrosse team dropped its fourth straight game Wednesday.

See B9

“

NUMBERS GAME

When our best players aren’t creating things for us, we are going to have a hard time.

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Women’s Lacrosse Head Coach Ricky Fried

MEN’S BASKETBALL

7

The number of consecutive goals scored by the Villanova men’s lacrosse team against Georgetown.

A Season to Be Forgotten

EVAN HOLLANDER Hoya Staff Writer

FILE PHOTO: ALEXANDER BROWN/THE HOYA

Head Coach John Thompson III in the postgame interview after Georgetown’s 60-56 loss to DePaul in the first round of the Big East Tournament on March 12.

FILE PHOTO: CHRIS BIEN/THE HOYA

Senior guard Markel Starks (left) averaged 17.3 points per game, while sophomore guard D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera averaged 17.6 points per game this season.

Although expectations were modest from the start, it was hard not to label Georgetown’s 2013-2014 season a disappointment as its curtain closed Monday night in Tallahassee.

The contours of the year were set from last spring, when Otto Porter decided to forgo his final two years on the Hilltop and enter the NBA draft.

While many believed that junior forward Greg Whittington — who sat out last spring for academic reasons — would help fill the gap Porter left behind, he tore his ACL in June, sidelining him indefinitely.

From there, fans pinned their hopes on a talented transfer — former UCLA big man Joshua Smith — who had the size and hands to be the post presence Georgetown desperately needed.

Smith sparkled in his debut, scoring 25 points in an 82-75 loss to then-No. 19 Oregon. Serious concerns began to mount two weeks later, however, when lowly Northeastern toppled Georgetown in the first round of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off in San Juan.

Although Georgetown rebounded to notch decisive wins over Kansas State and VCU in the tournament, the loss to the Huskies demonstrated that the Blue and Gray would struggle mightily on nights where senior guard Markel Starks and sophomore guard D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera were not exceptional.

Whittington’s dismissal from the team Nov. 30 ended

hopes that he would make an impactful late-season return and, although the Hoyas blew out a weak slate of nonconference opponents that visited Verizon Center, they were in for a rude awakening when they visited then-No. 18 Kansas.

Foul trouble — which proved to be a problem all season for the Hoyas — caught up with Smith early on, limiting the sorely needed big man to just five points en route to an 86-64 loss to the Jayhawks.

A softer Big East — stripped by realignment of powers like Connecticut, Cincinnati, Louisville and Syracuse — was supposed to be easier to navigate. In reality, the opening weeks of league play were the worst of Georgetown’s season.

After notching a pair of home wins over DePaul and St. John’s, Smith did not travel with the team to Providence on Jan. 8, where Georgetown was blown out 70-52. Adding injury to insult, junior guard Jabril Trawick broke his jaw and was sidelined for the next five games.

The Hoyas escaped with a narrow overtime win over Butler in their next outing, although Smith again missed the road trip. From there, though, the wheels came off the bus and, without Trawick’s dynamism, Georgetown dropped five games in a row. The stretch was punctuated by Head Coach John Thompson III’s announcement Jan. 24 — after more than two weeks of limbo — that Smith would not play for the rest of the season.

See SEASON, B9

CREW

FILE PHOTO: JULIA HENNRIKUS/THE HOYA

The Hoyas hosted the first round of the NIT at McDonough Arena on March 18.

FILE PHOTO: ALEXANDER BROWN/THE HOYA

Joshua Smith was declared ineligible on Jan. 24 for academic reasons.

THE SPORTING LIFE

Youth Indicates Bright Future NFL Is Following MATT RAAB

Hoya Staff Writer

After a strange fall season that saw the closure of their boathouse because of the government shutdown and a winter hiatus, Georgetown’s men’s and women’s crew teams have taken to the water for the spring.

The return of experienced veterans and an influx of freshman rowers with a semester of experience under their belts will assist the transition from fall to spring. Additionally, a series of preseason meets early in the season have helped to prepare the team for the shorter races of the spring.

The sharp winter weather that has pervaded the D.C. area deep into

March was no match for last fall’s government shutdown in terms of derailing crew practices, and both the men’s and women’s teams have finally begun the shift to spring training.

“It’s an outdoor sport so you have to get used to those things in terms of the winter in the spring,” men’s Head Coach Tony Johnson said. “We didn’t get our dock back in as early as we would like and that is a problem, but some of the cold sort of comes with the territory in February and March.”

With one scrimmage completed so far, the women’s team is looking to build off of earlier gains and establish success under Head Coach Miranda Paris. Races against Buck-

ALEXANDER BROWN/THE HOYA

The Georgetown lightweight crew team raced Delaware last weekend.

Its next race is April 12 against Navy on the Potomac.

nell on March 24 were overall a positive for the Hoyas as they took four of five events in the first spring scrimmage. It was the first time the Hoyas had rowed against the Bison as a conference foe, as Georgetown joined the Patriot League for women’s rowing last July.

“It was a great first performance.

Bucknell finished second in the Patriot League last year,” Paris said.

“We’re very excited to see how we’ll be competitive within that conference, and I think this shows that we started off well. There’s a long season left and there’s a long way to go, but we’ve been working very hard and I think we saw very much the results of our hard work.”

Georgetown was able to showcase a deep roster against Bucknell. Several of the Hoyas’ eight were competitive against the Bison, highlighting future potential for the team.

“We have three eights, our first varsity eight, our second varsity eight and our third varsity eight, and yesterday both the second and third varsity eight beat Bucknell’s second varsity eight,” Paris said.

“So our athletes one through 24 are beating [Bucknell], you know we have a depth that is more competitive than Bucknell’s.”

On the men’s side, the Hoyas were also able display their depth, with three wins in three events and an overall points victory at the Jesuit Invitational on the Cooper River in New Jersey.

“The freshman and second varsity crews did really quite well,” Johnson said. “The varsity conditions deteriorated during the regatta, so by the time varsity team was rowing conditions were not good. But they handled it all right and they won See CREW, B8

A Risky, Greedy Path L

ate last week, billionaire and sion expansion in the NFL. OverexDallas Mavericks owner Mark posure can certainly have a negative Cuban made an apocalyptic impact for any media product, but prediction on the future of the NFL. with all due respect to “Millionaire,” “I think the NFL is 10 years away it is not and never has been the NFL. from an implosion,” Cuban said. Football is simply too big to drop off “I’m just telling you, when you’ve simply from overexposure; the prodgot a good thing and you get greedy, uct would need to be diminished in it always, always, always, always, some way to have the disastrous realways turns on you. percussions Cuban That’s rule number predicts. one of business.”

Cuban may be Cuban was referright about the danencing the NFL’s efgerous path the NFL forts to expand its finds itself on, just weekday television maybe not for the coverage, which has reasons he outlined. already grown to covThe NFL is indeed getDarius Majd er Thursday night in ting greedy, and such addition to Monday greed has introduced night for one game some troubling ideas each week. Given that The NFL should be into discussion. NFL the NFL already domiRoger wary of Cuban’s Commissioner nates the ratings on Goodell’s statements Sunday and Monday, prediction of the earlier this week Cuban sees potenthe posleague’s demise. concerning tial expansion, both sibility of playoff exto Thursday and bepansion in the near yond (most likely to Saturday nights future highlight the type of greedy next) as not conducive to the NFL’s thinking that could diminish the popularity. “It’s all football. At some NFL product enough to drive away point, the people get sick of it,” Cu- interest. ban said.

At 12 teams, the NFL playoffs are Cuban also cites inconvenience to already big enough. More than a fans who are used to planning for third of the teams get to advance their favorite teams playing Sunday to the playoffs, and the wild card as another problem and mentioned system balances the rewards of the decline of “Who Wants to Be a winning the most games with the Millionaire?” after it expanded to hedge of protecting good teams five nights a week as a sign of what with the misfortune of being stuck could happen to the NFL. in a particularly stacked division.

You will not find a bigger fan of It has worked well, and there is abCuban and the acumen he brings to solutely no reason to expand the sports than me, but he is perhaps overstating the influence of televiSee MAJD, B9

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