The Hoya: The Guide: August 29, 2014

the guide FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 2014

LAUINGER The past, present and future of Georgetown’s ‘ugly’ library PATRICK CURRAN Hoya Staff Writer

T

he low, sprawling District of Columbia skyline boasts few true icons.

A Google search of the city’s skyline reveals exclusively shots of the National Mall and Tidal Basin. The Washington Monument and Capitol building are the only distinguishing features of a profile shaped by congressionally mandated height restrictions, a conscious decision to accentuate the Mall.

It makes for a dull view of the rest of the city — except if you turn your gaze to the riverfront, where the towers of Georgetown University lend some character to the flat western horizon.

But Swift Potomac’s Lovely Daughter did not always boast the same prominent skyline featured in this publication’s nameplate. Years ago, the Jesuits planned a grand gesture to complete the university’s profile as an elite institution and Washington icon: A massive, regal structure cast in dark gray stone; an award-winning building from one of the world’s greatest architects; a place for students to socialize, learn and admire one of the most beautiful features of their storied campus.

Chances are, you know this building by another name: Lau. That’s right, Joseph Mark Lauinger Memorial Library — doom of the claustrophobic bookworm, easy target of the amateur architecture critic and mortal enemy of the peppy tour guide — was once revered as a triumph of modern university design, a complement to Healy Hall’s famous spires.

What went wrong? How could a building with such great aspirations become so universally reviled? Lauinger’s past is an illustration of the importance of town-gown relations in the university planning process. Its future, however, offers a distant glimmer of hope through those dense concrete walls.

See LAUINGER, B2

THIS WEEK CAMPUS FEATURE

LIFESTYLE

A Day to Give Back The CSJ hosts its annual service day in Ward 7

ALLISON HILLSBERY Hoya Staff Writer

Kicking Up a Storm

The Corp brings live music to campus with its first live Fall concert, including student and professional acts. B3

Community Values

This year’s Community Service Day promises to engage students in active service to help the local community. B4

FOOD & DRINK

A Taste of Indian Gourmet

Rasika West End delivers authentic and delicious Indian cuisine at reasonable prices in the District. B5

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Setting Off ‘Sparks’

Imogen Heap is back in musical form with her latest album. B6

THEHOYA.COM/ GUIDE @thehoyaguide

O

rientation and the beginning of a new school year mean that both new and returning students have the opportunity to decide how they want to devote their free time this year.

Almost every year since 1997, the Center for Social Justice has been using this kickoff period to introduce students to community service opportunities with its annual Community Service Day. “[CSD is] an introduction to service and social justice issues in Washington, D.C., for first-year students,” Sarah Jones (COL ’09), a Georgetown graduate and the CSJ’s current special projects coordinator, said. “Through the connections freshman and transfer students make with site leaders, GU faculty and staff and community members, CSD participants learn about the many avenues through which they can pursue social justice work at Georgetown, in Washington, D.C., and beyond.”

CSD joined New Student Orientation after leaders were inspired to show new Hoyas Georgetown’s strong tradition of serving the surrounding D.C. area. The event focuses on service and reflection under the slogan, “One D.C., United in Service.”

The first year of CSD centered around 11 service sites and boasted around 300 student participants. In 2011, over 10 years since its inception, the impact of CSD became more tightly focused on the neighborhood of Ward 7, in accordance with the university’s comprehensive Ward 7 Initiative, a long-term service outreach partnership between Georgetown volunteers and various education and health organizations in the area. Last year, CSD sent participants to 14 different community organizations and attracted over 650 GU student and faculty volunteers, as well as 100 community partner volunteers. This year’s event is expected

COURTESY OF SARAH JONES

Last year’s Community Service Day offered Georgetown students an exceptional opportunity to interact with and support the local community in a variety of ways. to be equally well attended. CSD volunteers will be sent to 13 different sites to address a variety of needs. Homes for Hope, Inc. is an organization that provides permanent housing, transitional housing and supportive services to the chronically homeless. D.C. Prep is a charter school working to provide quality education to children despite the extreme income disparity in D.C. Several outdoor spaces are also on the list, including River Terrace Park, Fort DuPont Park and Ke-

nilworth Aquatic Gardens.

“Community Service Day is a celebration of service work and Georgetown’s partnership with the Ward 7 community,” Jones said.

Shreya Barthwal (MSB ’17) participated in CSD last year and recalls the event as a very positive experience.

“It was my first year and I wanted to meet See SERVICE, B4

B2

the guide

THE HOYA

FRIDAY, august 29, 2014

FEATURE

The Ongoing Brutal Struggle of Lau

LAUINGER, from B1

To call Georgetown’s situation in the late 1960s “dire” would hardly do justice to its precariousness.

Never mind the growing unrest over the war in Vietnam, which would claim the lives of 17 graduates before its end. Forget the ongoing resistance to women’s admittance in the College, even as women became integral participants in virtually every other program and school. Political protests, a floundering capital campaign, the resignation of the university president — all trivial compared to one terrifying reality: Georgetown feared for its very accreditation.

An accrediting team was scheduled to visit campus in 1967, and the university’s facilities remained woefully inadequate for its burgeoning student population. Chief among the administration’s concerns was the aging and undersized library system, which provided merely hundreds of seats for thousands of students, becoming a veritable madhouse during exams.

As Vice President for Planning T. Byron Collins, S.J., put it quite simply in a 1966 Washington Post interview, “We simply have to show [the accrediting team] substantial progress on the new library if we’re going to be accredited.”

Originally sketched out in early 1950s mockups as a stone building

in the Collegiate Gothic style — think a boxier version of Copley or WhiteGravenor Halls — plans for the library took a drastic turn when the university commissioned architect John Carl Warnecke in 1965.

Warnecke, famed for Lafayette Square and the John F. Kennedy Eternal Flame, among other projects, brought a thoroughly modern vision for the space on 37th and Prospect streets. But as a member of the District Fine Arts Commission and a Georgetown resident, he kept the campus classics in mind while sketching his design.

“The most important exterior aspect of the library is its relationship to the older buildings on campus, especially the Healey [sic] building, which will be its nearest neighbor,” Warnecke wrote in November 1965.

While Warnecke’s descriptions of the building’s “pronounced vertical emphasis” and “dark gray local granite” played up its status as a tribute to Healy, his sketches revealed a building quite dominant in its own right.

But as anyone who read 2010 Campus Plan agreement news over the last three years knows painfully well, there’s much more to large-scale university planning than having a good idea.

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The plans for a new library on 37th

COURTESY GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY ARCHIVE

Photos taken of the construction of Lauinger Library, which began in June 1967 and, in total, cost the equivalent of around $43 million today.

Street were met with fierce resistance from neighbors and local planning commissions, in a familiar story.

Wary of the potential for the university to take over the western end neighborhood, the university’s neighbors had fiercely opposed a proposal to expand the front lawn’s walkways and green space out to 36th Street. The Fine Arts Commission, from which Warnecke recused himself, suggested the library be built on the current site of Alumni Square, which would effectively stymie any eastward expansion of the main campus. The National Capital Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals concurred, citing concerns that the new structure would detract from the view of the Potomac from Healy. By 1966, hopes for the library on the Potomac that administrators had envisioned were slim.

However, Georgetown was not without public allies in the new project .

Washington Post architecture critic Wolf Von Eckardt issued a resounding endorsement of the university’s plan in 1966 — albeit, at the expense of a certain beloved dormitory.

“Warnecke loves [Healy], too, and drew up a somber gray concrete fortress in Louis Kahn Modern,” Von Eckardt wrote upon viewing the sketches. “[It is] a triumph of good taste compared with that hideous orange brick box, called the South Building on the Potomac bluff, which is an insult to nature and architecture.”

After nearly a year of negotiations, during which Warnecke agreed to cut down the planned height of the library’s top tier by 14 feet, each of the zoning commissions acquiesced to the 37th Street location.

Ground was broken on the $6 million project (equal to around $43 million today) in June 1967. The university obtained federal grants to fund approximately one-third of the cost, with the rest coming out of the capital campaign launched midway through the decade.

The university’s financial straits worsened in the closing years of the 1960s, prompting fears that the new library would meet the same fate as Healy — whose gray stone face hides a plain red brick rear, a victim of budgetary constraints. At times, the school risked its credit by running with a deficit as high as $1.5 million (around $10 million today). Departmental funding increases slowed to a crawl as administrators turned to austerity measures to ensure the school did not fall too deeply in the red.

Even the 1968 decision to allow women into the College was made with finances in mind.

“The tuition of 200 or so new students over the next four years would represent a significant increase in revenue,” Georgetown historian Robert Emmett Curran wrote in his 2010 threevolume history of Georgetown.

Yet the new building, admittedly constructed of a cheaper concrete composite, rose in spite of the university’s financial struggles.

The library was finally dedicated in 1970 in honor of Joseph Mark Lauinger (CAS ’67), a Vietnam War casualty and son of longtime Georgetown board of directors member P.C. Lauinger.

The brand-new Lauinger Library —

that’s a hard ‘G,’ according to University Librarian Artemis Kirk — received positive reviews from architecture critics and students alike, with the latter appearing to be happy simply to have a functioning library.

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Lauinger wasn’t perfect, but it was good. More importantly, it was serviceable, a long-awaited study space for the legions of frustrated undergraduates. But as any current undergraduate knows, positive impressions of the library in the modern era are few and far between.

Brutalism, controversial even in its heyday, has fallen out of favor with most. Evidence of the Brutalist trend dots the District’s federal agencydominated landscape, as mocked by a recent Buzzfeed article. Despite being adopted by so many of these buildings, from the Federal Bureau of Investigation to the Department of Health and Human Services, the style’s ubiquity has not earned Lauinger a break with students, who often compare it to a prison or military bunker.

Even those charged with pitching the university to prospective students have some difficulty addressing the library.

“When it comes up on tours, I just admit that it’s an ugly building but that its internal configuration is ideal for the needs of all different types of students,” said Kevin Brosnan (COL ’16), a tour guide for the Blue & Gray Tour Guide Society.

Kirk, a fan of her workplace, is not sure why exactly the building finds itself the subject of so much derision.

She suspects that the building material might have an outsized impact on the library’s appearance.

“Perhaps Lauinger would look different if it had a stone exterior, rather than the composite,” Kirk said. “Even if Healy is dirty, it doesn’t look dirty.

Even if Lauinger is clean — which it has been — it doesn’t look clean.”

The exterior is far from Lauinger’s only problem. The “concrete fortress” Von Eckardt spoke of lovingly appears to be just that — a fortress. The library remains a sunless environment for anyone seeking an open computer or group study area on the first or second floors, while gorgeous views of the Potomac on higher floors are wasted on private meeting rooms.

Structural design aside, one of the most common complaints about Lauinger mirrors that which provoked its original construction. There simply is not enough space in the 1,800-seat structure to hold all the students who want to study there. Georgetown has, once again, outgrown its library.

“We’ve become a research university,” Kirk said. “We’ve added graduate programs galore. We’ve more than doubled or tripled the size of the student body. The building, which was designed in a different way for a very different population, could not have anticipated what was going to come.”

study environment for many undergraduates. Despite this, Lauinger is still the most-frequented study spot on campus, and those who use the library find that its employees do not adopt the same foreboding appearance. The library’s 2009 student survey garnered hugely positive reviews of its services, and library staffers have earned a reputation among some student groups for their helpfulness.

Dan Silkman (COL ’15) has worked with the library as part of the Georgetown University Historical Society, which he helped found. The fledgling group meets with staffers from the archives monthly to learn about some aspect of the university’s history and discuss the promotion of awareness among the university community.

Hearing Silkman talk about Lauinger, you would hardly know that he does not like the building itself.

“The staff at the library is underutilized and totally underappreciated.

People complain about the library atmosphere, and never give the staff a chance,” Silkman said.

All-stars though they might be, Kirk and her staff work in an arena many consider painfully outdated.

Renovation plans are in the works.

The university commissioned architecture firm Bowie-Gridley to help establish a master plan for the library in 2009, which aims to emphasize light and open space, while somehow preserving the basic Brutalist structure.

An addition that will nearly double the capacity of the library mimics another feature of the Georgetown skyline — the terraces of Village A. Sketches depict a thoroughly modern interior, complete with hallways stretching from Healy Lawn to the riverside and massive windows overlooking the Potomac.

While the building will of course retain its Brutalist style, it will be transformed “into something that’s still Brutalist, but says ‘We’re now in the 21st century,’” Kirk said.

Other major projects, including the construction and renovation of new residence halls in accordance with the 2010 Campus Plan agreement, stand above the Lauinger renovation on the university’s to-do list. Real changes might not come until the next capital campaign, which Kirk expects to be completed around 2025.

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For now, the library staffers are making do with what they have.

For Kirk, that means taking student input seriously and doing what she can to make more open study spaces, including helping to establish Midnight MUG in 2003 with Students of Georgetown, Inc. She sees it as her job to ensure the building is as welcoming a place as possible for students.

“You’re all there for a similar purpose. … There’s something comforting about a place where you can go where you share some element of camaraderie — even if you never say a word to anybody,” Kirk said. “The library provides that.”

The confluence of dated design and massive population growth has made the library a claustrophobic

Patrick Curran wrote this piece in the spring semester of his senior year.

He graduated in May.

center stage

From DC to London, Taking Artistic Passion Abroad JAcQUELINE KIMMELl Hoya Staff Writer

Sing? Act? Dance? Psychoanalyze? Alexandra Waldon (COL ’15) can do it all.

Following professional training, Waldon came to Georgetown to extend her education. The psychology and theater double major has not only been in a Georgetown show every semester, but is also very involved in the Phantoms, a campus a cappella group. This past semester, Waldon studied at the prestigious London College of Music and Dramatic Arts (LAMBDA), where she envisioned a career performing on the London stage.

GUPHANTOMS.COM

Alexandra Waldon (COL ’15) has starred in numerous Georgetown theater productions.

What is your involvement with theater?

I’ve been doing theater all my life. I was trained to be a theater person and go to college for theater. I travelled all over the country to interview for all of these musical theater programs. But instead I decided on Georgetown, which ended up being one of the best decisions of my life.

Georgetown had a small but in a positive sense intimate and budding theater department. That was the most attractive thing for me because I didn’t want to be a fish in the sea of 250 chorus girls at Tisch. I wanted to be a part of the department’s growing process.

At Georgetown, what we do is straight plays, so I’ve gone from mostly musical theater with dancing, music and singing to mostly dramatic plays. And, of course at such an international school like Georgetown, there are a lot of shows with underlying political and social climates: plays that make a statement. This really attracted me. They are not like gaudy, selfish theater, which just showcases the actors’ talent.

In the spring, I went to the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts. I did a classical acting program there, so there was a lot of Shakespeare, restoration and classical work. It was more traditional conservatory work, so I got a chance to supplement the acting I’ve done at Georgetown with more traditional acting classes.

Why did you decide to go to LAMBDA? I knew I wasn’t going to have a typical college study abroad experience where I was speaking another language and partying. My family is British, so I was very familiar with London. I am a dual citizen there, so I was able to study at what is known to be the second-best conservatory in the world. The connections I made there and the knowledge I gained will definitely help me if I decide to pursue acting in London in the future,

which is a very feasible option.

I will probably take a year off to audition in New York, but after that I want to go to grad school in London because they have some of the best programs in the world. I love the theater in London, they are doing incredible stuff over there. When I was there, I was seeing a show a day, and I loved it.

What would be your dream job?

I used to always want to say I would do improvisational sketch comedy like SNL, but I am just not that good at it. So realistically, I really just want to be working. I want to be in work. You know, acting is such a hard job.

It’s so scary. Especially since I am graduating from a school like Georgetown, where everyone is going into finance and political jobs and have jobs lined up years before they graduate. To graduate knowingly and willingly without a job is frightening. Especially because I have to start auditioning after I graduate, which has such a high level of rejection.

For a normal Georgetown student, that level of rejection only happens once or twice, but I will be having it 20 times a week. So, I want to be working. Ideally, I want to be in pushier, edgier, grunge stuff in cities.

How was your school different in London?

In London, we had very specific, targeted classes. I would wake up every day and have vocal classes, moving classes, I had an entire class devoted to warming up your vocal chords before an audition. I would come home after a day doing what I loved, and I was so enthused.

You just don’t feel that way after a day of academic classes. But the first few weeks I got there, I wrote to a director at Georgetown and told him how much I missed being on campus.

I had never appreciated Georgetown as much as I did when I was in London.

What has been your experience in the Phantoms?

When I got to Georgetown, I thought a cappella was super nerdy. But, I thought, “What am I going to do to keep singing?” I met some people at NSO, and I thought, “These people are super weird.” But when I started talking to them, they were also amazing. Phantoms has been amazing and has afforded me so many opportunities. I mean, we are the official a cappella band for the White House; I’ve performed for the president five times. We’ve gone on amazing tours, got to meet people from all of these other schools. I have never experienced the high life as much as I have while on a cappella tours.

What was your favorite experience with the Phantoms?

My favorite probably is D.C. A Cappella Festival. It is always sold out, and I will remember the experience of singing a solo in front of that many people for the rest of my life. I only audition if a song is gut-wrenchingly special for me, so I will never forget the emotion of those moments.

So I hear you are also in a band. Can you tell me more about that?

I was just in New York with two of my friends who are Phantom alums. They have an established band and needed a female vocalist, so they contacted me. We do small gigs - I am actually going back to the city to perform with them in late August. What they are doing is incredible, incredible music: kind of like indie-rock folk. I love to perform with them, although we don’t have a name yet.

Here, I am hoping to start a band with my roommate. We have a stage in the back of our house, and I am hoping to make house shows a thing. Washington, D.C. has such good music, and I want to be a part of that. I just want to jam.

the guide

FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 2014

THE HOYA

B3

LIFESTYLE FEATURE

’BAMA ROGUE

Jasmine White

Finding Good in Goodbyes Raised by a single father in Birmingham, Ala., Jasmine’s choice to attend a university outside her home state was a difficult and surprising decision. As she breaks tradition, leaving behind her family, she reflects on the effects of her choice, and what compelled her to leave the Deep South and head for the East Coast.

‘A

nywhere. Not too far from me,” my father replied when I asked him where I should go to college.

He was lying on the bed with his eyes closed, so that I couldn’t read him. But his choice was obvious: the big state university, only a 45-minute drive from our front yard. Nothing else seemed to be an option.

The final week of March had left us both in a frenzy of emotion. For seven days straight, I had opened letters and emails with trembling fingers, wondering which one would lead to my destiny. My father, on the other hand, became more and more distant with each acceptance letter, finally realizing that I had no intention of staying home.

I had already heard from the big state university back in early December: I was accepted with a somewhat decent scholarship.

It was the only in-state school I applied to, and it is the only time I can remember my father being excited about a college’s response. His eyes were full of pride; a sense of accomplishment lay resting in the line of his smile. Later on, even as numerous universities with lower acceptance rates and higher scholarship offers granted me admission, I never once saw that look come onto his face again.

A part of me feels guilty. I am leaving my father alone. Whom will he come home to in the evenings? Whom will he eat dinner with at night? His weekends — whom will he spend them with?

For 18 years, it has just been the two of us, depending on one another. Now suddenly, it seems as if I’ve ditched him.

Another part of me is excited, as if I am a pioneer. It’s very rare for someone in my family to decide to go to school far away, and being different gives me a strange sort of thrill. Despite my own excitement, a few people close to me have remained skeptical.

“You know it gets cold there, right? What’s wrong with Alabama? Why do you need to go all the way up there?”

I am confronted with these types of questions frequently.

Still, I try to make it a point that my decision to go to school out of state is not out of dislike or disloyalty to the place where I have grown up. Home will always be home. Southern culture will always be at the root of who I am.

Birmingham will forever be in my blood — no matter how far north I go. I couldn’t get rid of it, even if I tried.

But, the South is safe. It is familiar. It is everything I don’t want my college experience to be, and I have known that from the beginning, even if my father didn’t. The fact that my future isn’t obvious is what makes me excited about every day that is to come.

It’s with this in mind that I am able to deal with the fact that my father will be lonely without me, and I will be lonely without him.

These feelings are, of course, inevitable. But what we are experiencing now is a separation that must occur, although neither of us expected that it would come so soon.

Even now, several months after I signed my enrollment form, it’s still difficult for me to imagine being away from home for so long. It will be December when I return. The seasons will have changed. My father will have aged, if only slightly. And as for me — who will I be?

The truth is, I don’t know. And I’m ok with that. In fact, I could want nothing more.

Jasmine White is a freshman in the College. ’BAMA ROGUE appears every other Friday in the guide.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: MICHELLE XU/THE HOYA, COURTESY CORP, ALEXANDER BROWN/THE HOYA, COURTESY CORP

The talent at the first Kickback covers a wide range of styles and genres with a mix of both professional and student talent. Clockwise from top left: Funke, COIN, Evan Floyd, MisterWives.

Falling Into the Music The Corp pioneers new campus concert

HANNAH KAUFMAN Hoya Staff Writer

F

rom respectfully sitting at New Student Convocation to wildly cheering “Hoya Saxa” in the stands of a basketball game, Georgetown University students thrive on tradition to connect to and unite with their community.

Every year, certain events are designed to foster this spirit and give students a sense of belonging on campus, but this semester, Students of Georgetown Inc. is starting things off in an entirely new direction. Kickback, the first ever Corp-sponsored fall concert, is an experiment that breaks the norm and redefines the boundaries of the Georgetown institution.

On Sept. 1, Copley Lawn will be transformed into one large music festival. Opening the event will be the cover band Unforgiven, a local group known for playing at venues like Saloon and Gypsy Sally’s.

Next on stage are three student acts: indie-rock folk singer Peter Fanone (COL ’15), the Georgetown duo Tigers are Bad for Horses and DJ Evan Floyd (MSB ’14).

Following these groups is the professional lineup, with indie-

pop group COIN opening for the two headliners. After COIN, MisterWives will take center stage to perform its unique folk-pop music.

The group has recently gained attention for its hit song “Reflections” as well as “Vagabond,” which is used in the introduction to the MTV show “Finding Carter.”

To end the musical portion of the day is The Knocks, a DJ duo whose popular song “Classic” brings back much-needed summer vibes.

While campus life in the spring already has annual music concerts like the Spring Kickoff Concert, the fall semester is decidedly lacking in arts-driven events. Kickback’s broad array of groups and inexpensive tickets — tickets purchased early are only $10 — allow almost anybody to join in and enjoy a day of campus-wide entertainment.

“Maybe you’re there for the food, maybe you’re there for The Knocks or maybe you want to check out COIN or support one of your favorite student acts. We’re trying to build something that is appealing to anyone on campus,” Corp CEO Sam Rodman (MSB ’15) said. “The ultimate goal is to tie us together in an event that takes place in the beginning of the semester so that everyone can go into it excited for

COURTESY PETER FANONE

One of Kickback’s featured performers, indie-rock singer Peter Fanone, strums his guitar and belts out a tune.

COURTESY THE CORP

the fall months to come.”

The impact of Kickback on Georgetown extends far beyond its front gates as well.

“For the community at large, it is something for local stores, shops and food vendors to be involved with. They can gain exposure to Georgetown students who may have never known about some of these places,” Fiona Kane (COL ’16), a Corp student act liaison, said.

While music may be the main draw for the event, Kickback has much more to offer, thanks to many of its sponsors and the surrounding community.

Food options are delicious and diverse, with dishes being offered from local vendors like Surfside, Peruvian Brothers, Captain Cookie, the Big Cheese and Sprinkles, along with larger vendors like Kind Bar, Coke and the New York Fatwich Bakery. Quirky art projects will also be scattered throughout the festival for students to participate in. The Georgetown University Art Aficionados will provide giant coffee cup installations to be spray-painted and drawn on by anybody who passes by. Zipcar will be rolling in several cars to be drawn on by students with temporary paint.

With its relaxing summer atmosphere and unique layout, Kickback is already giving rise to a meaningful tradition that affects a large portion of Georgetown students.

“I think that this event could shape what welcome week at Georgetown becomes in the future. It could show future freshmen that Georgetown really is a place where arts can thrive, and that is something a lot of us have worked hard to prove,” Mary Ellen Funke (SFS ’15), of Tigers are Bad for Horses, said. “Kickback could be the thing that drives this movement forward.”

While it may seem intimidating for student bands to perform next to big names like the MisterWives and The Knocks, Kickback actually gives them an opportunity that they almost never would have gotten before.

“We’re really trying to give these student acts a stage that they don’t often have otherwise. The truth is that student acts don’t even often perform at Georgetown. They perform in the local area, and it’s not that often that they get the chance to perform on stage for their campus,” Rodman said.

Not only does the concert aim to showcase lesser-known, talented Georgetown musicians, but it has also chosen its professional acts for almost the exact same reason.

“We wanted to choose bands that would get bigger over time so that you can get in on the ground floor and see these fantastic artists before they get more famous. We chose artists that don’t get enough airtime but that we absolutely love,” Rodman said.

For the three student groups and the headliners alike, Kickback is about growing together and making lasting connections. The concert itself is a just-emerging tradition, yet it is gaining popularity and is sure to become one of the main campus events in years to come. Its featured bands are coming together to share their love of music and reach a wider audience.

Ticket prices will increase to $12 over the weekend and then $15 on the day of the event. Semester classes are kicking off in full swing, but this one-day music festival reminds us not to lose sight of the artistic diversity engrained in our campus identity.

“We just want good vibes to start out the new school year, and what better than one last kickback before we all start heading into Lau?” Kane said.

B4

the guide

THE HOYA

Friday, AUgust 29, 2014

APPS

campus feature

Star Walk 2 $2.99

This app is the new and improved version of a stargazing tool that has already won an Apple Design Award. Star Walk 2 uses astronomical data and top-rate technology to provide detailed, three- dimensional graphics that depict exactly what stargazers are looking up at in the night sky. If you hold your phone up and point the camera at the sky, Star Walk 2 follows your movements in real time, pointing out any noteworthy celestial bodies. The app also provides current data on the stages of the moon, timing of sunrises and sunsets and the elevation of different planets. Use it to woo someone special or impress new friends on ESCAPE with your increased knowledge of planets and constellations.

COURTESY SARAH JONES

This year’s Community Service Day will include many of the same features as last year’s, such as the barbecue for the community and volunteers after completing a number of services to support the community.

Celebrating Local Service SERVICE, from B1 people with similar interests,” said Barthwal. “It was really cool — you got to match your interests to what you wanted to do. I’m really interested in the environment and they sent me to a district near Anacostia and we did clean up. We took weeds and other invasive species out of ponds, trying to reduce the human impact in the area. It was a lot of fun and I met a bunch of awesome people.”

But it’s not all work and no play.

COURTESY SARAH JONES

The community celebrates the volunteers with dance groups.

A highlight of the day is the Community Service Barbecue and Celebration, which follows the day’s service events.

“After the day’s service projects, students, faculty and staff come together to celebrate service and Georgetown’s larger commitment to living as men and women for others,” Jones said.

“Volunteers will enjoy performances from student groups, including GU Jawani and Corpus Collective; a photo booth with an inflatable Jack the Bulldog; fun tables and activities from CSJ programs and student groups; and reflections from GU students and staff.”

“It was really cool to have the barbecue at the end,” Barthwal said.

“We met people in other groups and got to hear about what they did.”

But while the program is only hosted once a year, it is meant to encourage a desire to give back not only throughout college careers, but throughout student lives. The CSJ emphasizes that there are plenty of ways to stay involved all year long.

“CSD aims to engage first-year students with Washington, D.C.,cin a meaningful manner, introduce students to avenues to pursue service and social justice work at Georgetown, and strengthen Georgetown’s relationship and commitment to Ward 7,” Jones said.

Students can continue to donate

their time and talents by working with younger children as tutors and mentors through D.C. Schools Project, D.C. Reads or the After School Program. They can also advocate for their community in one of over 50 CSJ student organizations. In other words, there are an immense number of ways that Georgetown students can dedicate some of their time to the wider community.

There are opportunities to combine service and academic work via the Community-based Learning or the Fourth Credit Option for Social Action programs. Another popular option is to go on an Alternative Spring Break trip to learn about and serve a community outside of D.C. Hundreds of current students help out in the community and on campus through involvement in Campus Ministry, the Center for Multicultural Equity and Access, the Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor and many other university departments.

This year, Community Service Day is Saturday, Aug. 30. Take advantage of this opportunity to impact the community, see more of D.C. and spend time with like-minded peers.

You can register online to be a volunteer or a site coordinator. The kickoff celebration and registration begins at 9:30 a.m. in Red Square and the barbecue will be held afterward on Copley Lawn.

Damsel in Denmark

The Delight of Danish Pastries Uncovered

H

aj from Kobenhavn! I’ve been in sugar remonce and crunchy poppy seeds this lovely city for a little over intensified the sweet taste. The little bit a week now, and I am proud to of sugar helped to jump-start my day, say that I’ve only gotten lost twice and without the expected delayed sugar rush. locked in a bathroom once. I’d call that On my second day of Danish lanquite a success and a great use of the guage and culture class, my professor data plan that I requested from my par- Tina surprised us with flodebolle. I had ents before leaving. accidentally set my alarm for p.m. inBut in all honesty, my truest success stead of a.m., so I rushed to make it for has been my ability to eat at just about the second half of my first class, which every bakery between my building and resulted in skipping breakfast. For my school. If you thought that walking from empty stomach, these chocolate-covered Darnall to O’Donovan Hall was bad, you marshmallow sweets were definitely a can’t understand just how much my dai- welcome sight. ly trek for something sweet to start and The best way for me to describe these end my day requires. small treats are as the original MalloThroughout all of my bakery and cafe mars. With a marzipan base topped with visits thus far, I have yet to fluffy marshmallow and eat a cheese or berry Danthen covered with chocolate ish. Since I only have four and sprinkled with coconut, short months here, I want to these taste galaxies better immerse myself in the coun— even if they also came in try’s rich culture of pastries store-bought packaging. It and coffees — the authentic could’ve been my hunger ones. I thought I had a great overtaking my senses, but start at the cafe down the I’m already counting down street, Joe & the Juice, only Christina Wing the days until the Christmas to later find out that it’s the season, when all of the local Danish equivalent of Starbucks. How- bakeries will have fresh versions of these ever, that does not discount its Ginger in their pastry cases.

Latte. It sounds a little weird, and the As for right now, I just sat down to a taste is surprising at first, but it’s incred- homemade croissant from the Demoibly delicious. The spice from the ginger cratic Coffee Bar located inside of the cuts some of the creaminess from the Copenhagen Public Library to get me milk, simultaneously highlighting the through the rest of my homework asstrength and boldness of the espresso. signments (and writing this column on I hope someone from The Corp is deadline). reading this so I can order one in JanuHere’s a fairly exact play-by-play as I ary 2015 when I return. And if it needs eat my first croissant in Copenhagen, a taste tester, I will volunteer as tribute. from a place that I’ve been waiting to try For take two, I consulted my new friend for months: Christina, whose mom is from Denmark.

Walks into cafe: “Wow, these croisI asked her what I had to eat before leav- sants are so pretty, but I just came in for ing Copenhagen. She suggested frosnap- coffee.” per: a pastry typically eaten for breakfast Walks up to the counter: “Hi, can I that is covered with poppy seeds, filled have a cup of black coffee?” with remonce and twisted to perfection.

Sits back down to write column: “I Although my mouth already started don’t need a croissant, I am stronger watering once she described it, I waited than this.” until the next morning when we stopped Turns around to find baker taking out for one on our way to class. It might not fresh ones: “Who am I kidding?” have been love at first sight (it’s hard to compete with sugar-glaze-covered cin- Christina Wing is a junior in the Mcnamon buns), but it definitely was lust Donough School of Business. DAMSEL IN at first bite. The texture combinations of DENMARK appears every other Friday in the fluffy dough, sticky baked-in butter, the guide.

N3twork Free What are syllabus week and the first weekend back on campus for if not binge watching television? When else this semester will you have the amount of free time and lack of eminent deadlines required to do some serious vegging, sans all of the guilt? If you’re tired of HBO Go and Netflix, give N3twork a try.

It’s a personal TV network that recommends quality internet videos and quickly figures out what you will love.

Anything N3twork finds for you can be easily watched in the moment, saved for later or shared with friends. The app is also compatible with Apple TV and Airplay.

Forks over knives $4.99 If you’re one of the many vegetarians on campus struggling to find options for food, or you’re simply someone who enjoys experimenting with new dishes, this app is the perfect cooking guide for you. With over 130 meals to choose from, this electronic recipe book provides anyone following a plant-based lifestyle with an abundance of delicious ideas for meals. A convenient way to find tempting recipes without scouring the internet, this app is an essential for any student. The list is updated and added to every week, ensuring that you’ll always have a new, tasty platter to try. Instructions are made simple with an easy-to-follow layout and a premade shopping list for all of the ingredients you’ll need.

Lifestyle tip

Fabric board for dorm wall

thegoldengirlblog.com Add color to your apartment this year with do-it-yourself wallpaper, using only fabric and starch. After cutting the correct amount of fabric, apply a bottom coat of starch to the wall you want to decorate. Immediately apply the fabric, and hold it in place with tacks while coating it with another layer of starch. Remove the tacks when dry.

Try mixing fabric colors and patterns to give your space a personal touch. This is the perfect method for adding a splash of color in a place where wallpainting is not actually allowed. Be the envy of your neighbors with this easy home decor project.

AN ANCIENT STONE BRIDGE | HUANG LONG XI, CHINA

MICHELLE XU/THE HOYA

the guide

friday, August 29, 2014

THE HOYA

B5

RESTAURANt review

DC Hot Spot Tempts With Quality Indian Gourmet Rasika West end



1190 New Hampshire Ave. NW Cuisine: Indian $$$$ yiwen Hu

Hoya Staff Writer

Every city known for great food has a handful of restaurants that are considered “must-gos” — one cannot be labelled a foodie without trying these restaurants. In Washington, D.C., there are several such places, one of which is Rasika.

Located in Penn Quarter, Rasika is famous for its gourmet Indian cuisine. It’s so popular that online reservations, which require a customer’s credit card information, need to be made two weeks in advance. Its sister restaurant, Rasika West End, situated next to Dupont Circle, is less crowded, but weekend reservations still need to be secured a week in advance.

My party of two arrived at Rasika West End around 5:30 p.m. on a weekday evening, by which time the restaurant had already seated a considerable number of diners.

We were ushered to a table next to the stairs leading up to the inner library. The interior decorating was spectacular — be it the library seats or the window seats, every corner of the restaurant appeared creatively, yet also elegantly, designed.

Although I’m an amateur in the world of Indian cuisine, I know enough to be aware that the experience isn‘t complete without trying the Indian breads. The waiter highly

recommended the roti ($3). However, I ordered a bread basket with three different naans ($3): plain, garlic and onion and sage, which I substituted for a third type of bread, paratha ($3-$4). The basket arrived full of a healthy portion, with two enormous halves of each bread. Of the three, my personal favorite was the garlic naan, closely followed by the plain one. Both had a simple taste that went well with the curry I ordered, but the former’s twist definitely made it special.

Now that I know a little more about Indian cuisine, though, I regret not having followed my waiter’s suggestion. It is roti, rather than naan, that is made daily in Indian homes. The paratha is also worth trying, since it is very distinctive from the other breads.

The other important component of Indian cuisine is unquestionably its curry. The chicken tikka masala ($17) lived up to both its reputation and my high expectations. It was presented in a small square bowl, but proved to be a very satisfactory portion, especially when we dipped our naan into the delicious sauce after finishing off the chicken. The dish was cooked to perfection — the savory flavor of the curry had seeped into the chicken, which had an incredibly tender texture. The curry itself was thick and decadent, but it was so well seasoned that I

YIWEN HU/THE HOYA

Rasika West End offers numerous authentic Indian dishes such as golden cod and naan bread, as well as less traditional plates, all delivered at a much higher quality than many of the District’s other Indian offerings. tore one piece of naan after another to dip into the sauce, without a thought to all of the extra carbs I knew I was ravenously consuming.

Rasika is most famous for its black cod ($28), which, curiously, is not actually an Indian specialty.

The dish came with two chunks of golden cod and a large amount of couscous. Unfortunately, I was not impressed by the cod — while seasoned well, the meat was so fishytasting that no amount of seasoning could cover that unpleasant note. In other words, although the texture was soft and tender, the fish itself was not very fresh.

The side of couscous, however, was good — heavenly either by itself or mixed with the masala.

The star of the whole meal was the renowned palak chaat ($11). It was seasoned crispy spinach with yogurt sauce topping: yes, simple as that. It’s quite remarkable how these simple ingredients, when combined, produced a flavor so heavenly that it left me craving more. I once thought that one comment on Yelp (“It was so good that I would come just to order one palak chaat and a glass of wine”) was an exaggeration — but it wasn’t.

It spoke the truth and so much more.

We finished our meal with the

date and toffee pudding ($10), which was topped with whipped cream. I failed to taste the date flavor, but enjoyed the sweet taste of the toffee. The drinks we ordered were equally wonderful. I’m not at all a mango person, but I nonetheless preferred the mango mocktail that my partner ordered to my passion fruit punch.

Satisfying as the whole meal had been, I now realize that it was indeed Indian gourmet. I cannot vouch for Rasika’s authenticity, but I can vouch for its memorability and high quality without a second of hesitation.

RECIPES

RESTAURANT review

ALLISON HILLSBERY FOR THE HOYA

While surrounded by many Chinese restaurants, Momiji offers a refreshingly different menu of Japanese dishes at reasonable prices, including sushi as well as a variety of meat and fish dishes.

SIMPLE RISOTTO

Small Japanese Joint in Chinatown Manages to Impress

INGREDIENTS

Momiji



505 H St. NW | Cuisine: Japanese | $$$$ Allison Hillsbery Hoya Staff Writer

Us California girls love our sushi, and so the unofficial mission of my first years in Washington, D.C., is to find a great sushi place. In the spirit of this quest, I was very excited to check out the sushi in D.C.’s Chinatown. I was initially skeptical — Japanese food in Chinatown sounds a little like sacrilege — but after tiring of the slightly disappointing rolls at Mai Thai and Vittles, I was ready to venture outside the Georgetown bubble and give the restaurant Momiji a try.

My date and I took a taxi and had no problem finding the restaurant, despite its slightly hidden main entrance. The place was completely packed on a Friday night, which seemed to bode well for the food we were about to be served. The interior of the restaurant was cozy and charming, with lots of smaller tables and a small hibachi bar. The decor was simple and appealing, true to the restaurant’s Japanese identity.

The line of people waiting for tables would probably be better described as a small, benign mob.

The restaurant’s intimate interior meant that there was no clear

waiting area or obvious path for the overflow of hungry patrons, and we were at first confused by the lack of a hostess podium.

Luckily, we had called ahead and made reservations, so once we had found and we were seated immediately.

As duly noted, I love sushi, but my date was there for the lauded hibachi and had specifically asked for two seats in front of the grill.

Unfortunately, there were not enough people ordering hibachi that night, or perhaps the chef was off duty, because while we could still order the dishes, there were no cool onion volcanoes to be displayed.

Nonetheless, he ordered the steak hibachi ($21) and was otherwise very happy with it. I stole a few bites for journalistic purposes and found the meat to be pleasantly tender and seasoned deliciously. The plate also included a large pile of fried rice, a mound of grilled vegetables and two pieces of hibachi shrimp. The portions were generous and the flavors were on point — a genuinely solid dish.

For myself, I ordered a soda and the maki combo ($15). The soda never came, but the sushi entree arrived promptly and was accompanied by some very good miso soup.

squidoo.com Pasta and pizza may be cliche staples of the typical college student’s diet, but this risotto recipe will really help you step up your game. Forget about takeout tonight and whip up this easy, yet impressive, Italian dish.

This is the basic idea, but feel free to change up the vegetables or add some chicken if you’re feeling doubly inspired.

1 onion 6 strips of bacon, chopped

4 cups hot vegetable stock 3.5 oz frozen peas 10.5 oz risotto rice

Coat bottom of a medium pot in olive oil.

Chop the onion and bacon and fry them together until nearly browned. Add the rice and brown slightly.

Service and lack of pyrotechnics aside, the sushi at Momiji was certainly among the best I have had in D.C. My combo included six pieces each of a salmon roll, California roll and Christmas roll (made with tuna and avocado). All three rolls tasted fresh and looked beautiful — they definitely fit the bill for what I was used to getting at home.

I did a little looking around at what people nearby ordered and was definitely impressed with the extent of Momiji’s menu, which also includes several teriyaki dishes, tempura options and a long list of signature rolls. If I go back, I would definitely order the restaurant’s Valentine roll ($14), which is made with shrimp tempura, spicy tuna, avocado and the chef’s special sauce. The pieces of the roll also, predictably, come in the shape of little hearts.

Momiji is a good place to dine before a basketball game, as it is located just a few blocks away from Verizon Center. If you’re in the mood for a little dessert afterward and want to make it a night out on the (China)town, you’re also just a short walk away from It’Sugar, the legendary sweet shop full of giant candy. Either way, Momiji is definitely a promising start to a great evening.

Slowly add some of the stock so it just covers the rice, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Keep adding the stock when the rice becomes slightly dry, a little at a time, stirring continuously.

After about 15 minutes, add the peas and cook for a minute or two more. Serve warm, sprinkle with parmesan if desired.

Tiramisu Martini

allrecipies.com Tiramisu is the classic end to an Italian meal, so why not keep it traditional while also mixing it up a bit?

This surprising cocktail combines the flavors of one of Italy’s most delicious desserts with the crisp alcoholic punch of the drink made famous by Bond.

INGREDIENTS 1.5 oz Kahlua

1.5 oz vanilla-flavored vodka 1.5 oz creme de cacao

Pour all liquor into a cocktail shaker with ice.

Cover and shake until the outside of the shaker is frosted.

Strain into a chilled martini glass and serve.

Tempranillo

bevmo.com It might surprise you that a Spanish wine pairs so well with a classic Italian dish, but this match is definitely one made in culinary heaven. Tempranillos are full-bodied reds and can certainly stand up to a hearty dish like risotto. This particular label is made from grapes grown in Castilla-La Mancha in the heartland of Spain and is noted for its slight chocolate and cherry undertones.

B6

the guide

THE HOYA

FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 2014

MUSIC REVIEW

MUSIC REVIEW

The Golden Echo



Kimbra

HANNAH KAUFMAN Hoya Staff Writer

After her recent success with Gotye in their duet “Somebody That I Used to Know,” Kimbra again slips into the spotlight with her second album, “The Golden Echo.” The New Zealand singer picks up the tempo from her debut album “Vows,” switching her R&B, jazzy style for elements of electropop. The track plays down her soulful, sultry voice and trades it in for experimental beats that are reminiscent of ’90s pop music and contemporary artists like the synthpop duo La Roux.

The track opens with the song “Teen Heat,” which sets the stage for the ’90s modern mix that permeates the rest of the album. Both “Teen Heat” and “Love in High Places” add ambient, more instrument-heavy tunes to the classic pop lyrics and beats. This throwback theme is fittingly named in the song titled “90s Music,” which showcases contempo-

rary synthetic beats that again break the ’90s mold and introduce a modern twist to the song.

Kimbra experiments on many of the tracks with unexpected rhythms and a stronger bass sound, yet she also returns to her clearly preferred decade in songs like “Nobody but You” and “Miracle.” These songs revolve around the theme of love and romance, sticking to an upbeat tempo and pop sound that make them perfect easy listening.

It’s interesting to note that the lyrics in “Miracle” take on a slightly more religious tone, with lines like “I’m rising up/ Sometimes I feel so far away/ But it’s like somebody sent you.” This motif appears again in “Madhouse,” where Kimbra sings, “Chaos and disorder!/ I’m a mess then I’m a messiah.” Although they’re not the focus of the album, these spiritual tones underlie many of the tracks, distinguishing it from many of the other pop albums currently on student playlists.

FINGERS ON BLAST

In her latest album, electropop artist Kimbra breaks from her usual sultry melodies and replaces them with upbeat ’90s-inspired tracks.

CONSEQUENCE OF SOUND

Whereas the majority of the album focuses on playful, fast-paced music, Kimbra takes time to slow it down in her songs “Waltz Me to the Grave” and “Goldmine.” “Waltz Me to the Grave” more closely reflects Kimbra’s work in her first album by shifting to a deeper, sultrier melody and refraining from adding the synthetic notes common to the bulk of the tracks.

This combination of tones on the album allows Kimbra to show off her range of talents while giving fans of her original material something to enjoy.

For those whose only knowledge of Kimbra comes from that charttopping duet with Gotye, the variety of styles of musical production might surprise. The clever combination of electronic pop layers of sound with more soulful, distinctive vocals often confronts the listener with a surprisingly distinctive sound, albeit not quite as unique as her earlier material, Tracks like “Love in High Places” perfectly exemplifies this type of cross-over.

In “Goldmine” and its fast-paced companion “Carolina,” Kimbra sings a message of freedom and carefreeness that make these tunes the perfect tracks for lingering summer vibes. Unlike “Waltz Me to the Grave,” “Goldmine” shifts the focus away from powerful vocals and back to instrumentals, giving a pleasant variety to the album overall.

While her debut album had stronger, more unique vocals, Kimbra’s sing-along tunes and upbeat ambience on “The Golden Echo” makes it appealing to a wider audience. She has shifted away from the familiar grounds of jazz and soul music, but Kimbra definitely makes herself at home in the experimental waters of

THE BEAT

RAC Puts a New Spin on Old Hits

W

ho is RAC? I was offered a ticket to see them and find out, so why would I turn down a free concert?

In retrospect, I’m definitely glad I didn’t.

Remix Artist Collective is a band based out of Portland, Ore. Its strategy is to take songs by other artists — both chart toppers and lesser-known tracks — and dub its own style of music over the lyrics. Currently, RAC’s hits include interpretations of “Let Go,” “I Wanna Get Better” and “Cheap Sunglasses.” Its unique sound comes from its indie roots and keeps the music very light. The songs I heard were the type that you can play continuously during summertime festivities.

In the weeks leading up to this

GOLDENSCISSORS.COM

RAC’s surprising covers put an enjoyable twist on chart-toppers.

concert at the 9:30 Club, I did my RAC homework and — for the first time ever — I loved doing homework.

The concert was on a Thursday night, and Thursday nights at 9:30 Club tend to draw excessive crowds

Bryson Greene who are excited to see the great bands and performers. My two friends and I met up at the venue early, beating the masses and getting a glimpse of who was opening.

The starting act was a band called Prides, hailing from across the pond in Glasgow, Scotland. The synthpop band, which is made up of three members — Stewart Brock, Callum Wiseman and Lewis Gardner — nearly stole the show right from the start. They played with an energy that filled the room and prompted me to wake up the next day and immediately download all of their music.

Their instruments include the electric piano, guitar and drums.

They have a sound that really pops, grabs your attention and fills the room with a strong bass drum and an even stronger electric piano. Although I was impressed by how well Prides performed, I was not ready for RAC to blow the roof off the building a few minutes later.

As I grabbed my beer at intermission and walked back to our prime location a few rows back, I noticed

that everyone was sporting that new trendy European haircut and skinny jeans. If you had dropped a bomb on the 9:30 Club that night, you could have wiped out the entire population of hipsters in Washington, D.C. But, hey, I’m not judging — they clearly have great taste in music.

As soon as I found my group, RAC took the stage and a roar emitted from the crowd. The song “Let Go” filled the amplifiers and I was immersed in unreal music for the next hour and a half. Two Door Cinema Club’s “Something Good Can Work” came on next — with an RAC spin, obviously — and my jaw dropped.

After, they played “Houdini” by Foster the People, and no offense to them, but I think the RAC version added something special to the tune.

The night was one of the best I have spent at 9:30 Club because the vibe was amazing, upbeat and unique because of the style of music and because of the crowd. The crowd was there not to continuously smash into each other like people do at some ridiculous rave, but to have a good time and enjoy the company of each other and the band.

RAC is currently wrapping up its tour over the next few months, but if the band ever comes back to D.C., I will be the first to enthusiastically alert the entire student body.

Event Rating: A Songs to listen to: “Let Go,” “I Wanna Get Better,” “Houdini” Bryson Greene is a senior in the College. THE BEAT appears every other Friday in the guide.

BEST BETS

WIKIMEDIA

Imogen Heap’s newest album, “Sparks,” shows she still retains her signature sound after her last album five year ago.

Sparks Imogen Heap



IAN TICE

Hoya Staff Writer

Five years may have passed since the release of her last full album, but as this new work shows, Imogen Heap hasn’t changed a bit.

“Sparks,” her newest release, features the same beat-heavy tracks with short, pronounced hooks that first made her popular in the mid-2000s.

This deluxe version of “Sparks” comes after the original version’s release in July and expands on Heap’s sound with instrumental versions of each song. These instrumental versions, which are not to be missed, provide a venue to showcase her incredible melodies and songwriting ability, allowing you to appreciate the original versions of the songs even more.

No one song on “Sparks” stands out; there’s no instantly powerful song like “Hide and Seek,” the 2005 track that gained Heap immediate success. Nonetheless, highlights on the album include “You Know Where to Find Me,” the opening track, “The Listening Chair” and “Lifeline.” These three tracks demonstrate Heap’s signature hooks. The songs contrast the upbeat, building melodies with her slow, rhythmic voice, seamlessly melding the two. The enchanting layers of vocals that flow throughout “The Listening Chair” create a musical sound that somehow manages to draw together choir-like vocals with a thoroughly modern electronic method of production.

While it may be on the slower side, “You Know Where to Find Me” is one of those songs you can immediately sing along to. The toning down of the instrumental and vocal layers allows you to really hear the more vulnerable side of Imogen Heap’s vocals. It is undoubtedly easier to listen to than “The Listening Chair,” whose winding five minutes of lyrics and clashing melodies take much longer to comprehend but is still worth the effort.

“Lifeline,” the first single off the album, brings to the table a catchy chorus with its punctuated and even overly pronounced words. This combination of song type on one album is a testament to Heap’s musical versatility and ongoing experimentation with her artistic abili-

WIKIPEDIA

ties.

The only song resembling what you might hear on the radio today — and this album’s most popular track — is “Run-Time.” Imogen Heap trades her normally slower vocals for faster ones, achieving almost-danceable music. Though the song may be more radio ready, it’s less Heap and more generic, which will probably disappoint her original fans; you’ll want to listen to it once, for sure, but it may not have you rushing for the repeat button.

While “Run-Time” succeeds at least in part, “Sparks” has its fair share of flops. “Telemiscommunications,” her duet with deadmau5, falls flat. The track, which was originally included on deadmau5’s 2012 album “> album title goes here <,” seems boring when compared to the album’s highlights. It’s a disappointing result for a collaboration that should have produced some exciting new music.

Other tracks that aren’t Heap’s best work include “Neglected Space” and “Cycle Song.” The whispering vocals of “Neglected Space” never reach an exciting peak like her other songs are normally able to do, and they just leave you wanting more. The barely there vocals on “Cycle Song” with almost indistinguishable words leave you wishing she would enunciate more, even though it does showcase an unexpectedly twangy melody that’s not usually heard in Heap’s music.

While not all the songs on “Sparks” are perfect, there’s enough old school Imogen in them to bring you back to middle school and make them worth a listen. In fact, there’s so much same old, same old, you actually end up wishing she would have branched out a bit more and introduced some new sound to her music. Still, these songs guarantee a certain longevity — much like the rest of Heap’s catalogue — and can remain on your playlist for years to come.

ON CAMPUS

STUDY ABROAD OPEN HOUSE

CLUB LAU

HEALTH, HUMAN RIGHTS AND HOMELAND

THE E.U. AT THE CROSSROADS

WHERE: Car Barn 230 WHEN: Friday, 2 p.m.

INFO: studyabroad.georgetown.edu PRICE: Free

WHERE: Lauinger Library WHEN: Saturday, 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.

INFO: library.georgetown.edu PRICE: Free

WHERE: ICC 141 WHEN: Wednesday, 5:30 p.m.

INFO: eventbrite.com PRICE: Free

WHERE: ICC 701 WHEN: Thursday, 12 p.m.

INFO: eventbrite.com PRICE: Free

Mildly interested in the prospect of going to school in a different country? Then you should mark your calendar for this general information session offered by the Office of Global Education. The OGE is happy to talk to students about the options they have when it comes to studying abroad, as well as everything they need to do to make their travel dreams a reality.

Before you start seeing the library as your own personal dungeon for the semester, take advantage of the one opportunity you will have to party it up among the stacks. Get your dancing clothes on, round up some friends and head over to the library for the annual (and infamous) night of fun at Club Lau. Snacks and beverages are provided — just make sure to bring your GOCard.

Palestinian-Humanitarian Ramadan Assi will be giving a talk on campus next week, presented by the Science, Technology and International Affairs Program and co-sponsored by the Center for Contemporary Arab Studies. Assi has a background of over 15 years of humanitarian efforts and research in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, North America and the Caribbean.

Stephan Leibfried, a professor of public and social policy at the University of Bremen, will be delivering a lecture on “The European Union at the Crossroads: Completing Integration or Hastening Disintegration.” He will be focusing on modern national welfare state and the choices that the EU will need to make in the coming years.

the guide

friday, august 29, 2014

THE HOYA

Album REVIEW

My Everything Ariana Grande Lindsay Leasor Hoya Staff Writer

After a stunning VMA performance and taking home her first Moonman for Best Pop Video, Ariana Grande (aka “Mini Mariah”) is just getting started on what promises to be an incredible career. She goes beyond the mold of your average millennial pop star because of one thing: her amazing voice.

In her highly anticipated sopho-

more album, “My Everything,” Grande delivers a more mature sound, securing her place as the pop princess to watch in the coming years. Jam-packed with beautiful ballads, hip-hop vibes and EDM beats, this album showcases some of the best popular music production to date.

“My Everything” opens with a gentle intro track, setting the emotional tone for the album. This ponytailed pop star has quite a bit to

SUPERMUSIC

Ariana Grande’s impressive vocals bring real style to her album, and her collaborations with other artists make it a sure success.

MUSIC

New Releases

 say about the boy(s) in her life, making her smash hit with Australian rap queen Iggy Azalea, “Problem,” the perfect choice for the album’s first full track.

The next two songs on the lineup showcase Grande’s vocal talent, particularly “Why Try,” a power ballad about the bittersweet pains of love. Grande captures a multitude of emotions on this album that can be very relatable both to those still watching her Nickelodeon episodes and to even more adult audiences.

While Grande is a standout performer herself, the real gems of this album are the collaborations.

With more than half the tracks featuring a guest artist or producer, each track presents a different sound and feel than the one before it. Grande teams up with some of the best up-and-coming names in hip-hop and EDM, pairing stunning pop vocals with other modern sounds that will likely secure her a few more hit songs from this album. For example, her duet with The Weeknd, “Love Me Harder,” which definitely has the potential to reach the top 40, creates emotional intensity as the song goes back and forth between the artists.

“Break Your Heart Right Back,” featuring Childish Gambino, contains a sample of the Diana Ross classic “I’m Coming Out” and a fun clicking rhythm in the background. On her track with Big Sean, “Best Mistake,” Grande steps out of her pop ballad comfort zone and tries more of a hip-hop vibe, focusing on lowerrange vocals. By featuring different artists across the spectrum of popu-

‘The Devil In I’ Slipknot 

ENTERTAINMENTWISE.COM

lar music, Grande is able to dabble in musical styles that showcase the versatility of her voice and talents.

The only track on the album that seems a bit out of place is “Just a Little Bit of Your Heart,” a mellow piano ballad co-written

by Harry Styles. Most of the songs on “My Everything” celebrate love or autonomy, but this song strays slightly from the album’s theme.

While the sound is about right, the lyrics paint an image of powerlessness in love that does not fit with Grande’s style. Her fans probably won’t believe, nor should they, that Grande is cool with having an unfaithful man in her life, as the song suggests.

The final, titular track is reminiscent of the tone from the intro track, tying the album together nicely. With soft pop vocals and a sweet message about recognizing the love we have for another person, Grande concludes her sophomore album by baring all. But even with as much emotion and talent as she shares on these tracks, it is sure to leave her fans eagerly anticipating her next album.

Album Review

Benjamin Booker Benjamin Booker Jess Kelham-Hohler Hoya Staff Writer

The gritty vocals of The Strokes meet New Orleans blues in Benjamin Booker’s self-titled debut album, which, since Booker has performed his single “Violent Shiver” on “Late Night with David Letterman” in April, has received an extensive positive critical reaction, and for good reason.

This is the type of album that takes the listener on an unexpected journey through distinctive American music styles. From the more rock-influenced, headbanger “Violent Shiver” to the mellow and extremely soulful “Slow Coming,” Booker clearly makes the most of his debut album by showing off his considerable musical skill and variety.

Whatever the style, Booker’s raw voice gives any of the songs an addictive quality, and his confident ease with rhythm is irresistible, solidifying his blues influence even further. It’s no wonder that Booker has received former White Stripes frontman Jack White’s seal of approval — Booker demonstrates a similar

ALTSOUNDS

Following the release of its most recent single “The Negative One,” Slipknot returns with the song “The Devil In I” to get fans pumped for its upcoming album “The Gray Chapter.” After a minute-long instrumental introduction, lead singer Corey Taylor starts off with a slow build and then launches into a heavy metal chorus of strong guitar and drum rhythms accompanied by loud, powerful singing, the kind of music that has made this band famous. A short guitar solo rocks the second half of the song, and the single ends with a slow fadeout. Although Slipknot doesn’t do much to experiment with its sound, its loyalty to its genre pays off with this familiar yet refreshing song.

‘I Can’t Take It’ Dillon Francis  Dillon Francis’ newest song from his upcoming album “Money Sucks, Friends Rule,” is definitely the right choice if you’re looking for electro house music to relax to and blow off some steam. The single starts with a deep, throaty chant that quickly rises in pitch and builds up to a smooth drop. Its simple lyrics comprised of repeatedly chanting “I can’t take it no more” make it an easy song to sing along and jam out to as the beat drops.

‘Bang bang’ jessie j, ariana grande, & nicki mInaj  



desire to integrate his vocals with the occasionally aggressive guitar strumming and drum thumping. While this may cause uneasiness for those who prefer a cleaner, more perfectly produced record sound, it is ideal for those who love songs that directly translate the sound and experience of hearing live music.

Listening to “I Thought I Heard You Screaming,” you’d imagine you were hearing the voice of some aged, chain-smoking blues artist rather than a young New Orleans-based man. It is one of the few songs that intensely slows down its pace, stretching poetic lyrics into a three-minute record that lulls you into a sense of comfort before the album confronts you with the next rockabilly-meets-punk single, “Old Hearts.”

Another track, “Have You Seen My Son,” impressively demonstrates how much sound and energy a singer and a remarkably small two-man band can make. The song refuses to lose its energy and pace throughout, even including a guitar solo in the middle that acts as more of an outcry of sound, drifting between desperate and aggressive strumming to more articulated and anguished playing.

In many of the songs, the urgency of Booker’s singing makes it impossible not to get caught up in the energy of the track.

Despite opening with a more dragged out guitar riff, the song “Always Waiting” quickly builds into a fast-paced rhythm.

Booker’s voice, coming in with a chant of “All is broaching, all is broaching … all is searching, all is searching” pulls slightly against this pace in an intriguing and powerful way. It’s the kind of song that demands the

B7

OTHERPUBLICRADIO

New Orleans-based blues and rockabilly singer Benjamin Booker shows off impressive vocal power and skill in his debut album. listener gets up and starts jumping around his or her room, no matter his or her mood.

Despite the many successful singles on the album, the standout one undoubtedly has to be “Violent Shiver.” Booker boldly opens his album with a powerful guitar riff and a rocker set of lyrics that integrate perfectly with the instrumentals. There is something beautifully rebellious in the way his grainy voice confidently chants, “We found a way,” during a song that prides itself in the chaotic sounds it pounds out.

To get the best experience out of the album, it’s best listened to the entire way through. In order to understand the skill behind the rhythm, styles and incredibly well-written lyrics, it is essential to listen to how Booker has organized the tracks, throwing in slower blues-inspired mus-

ings to break up the gritty and thumping rock-inspired pieces.

The complexity of the album doesn’t end there. Each song is full of contradictory influences that pay off with an idiosyncratic sound. “Violent Shiver” isn’t the only track that embraces youthful rebellion as Booker proudly declares “Where I’m going, I never know” — the album also features a song titled “Kids Never Grow Older,” a song that opens with deceptively mellow and quiet vocals before exploding into a defiant commotion of sound. This combination of energetic, unruly lyrics and more old school music influences was a risky move on Booker’s part, but it pays off.

Booker has created a debut album that is exciting, unique in sound and genre, and well worth a listen.

This fun and upbeat collaboration for Jessie J’s new album “Sweet Talker” is sure to cause its listeners to get up and dance. The message of girl power and confidence is prominent in the simple lyrics and catchy tune. Jessie J’s verse and chorus have both a jazzy, soulful feeling and a modern pop vibe that smoothly transitions into Ariana Grande’s verse.

Grande’s solo keeps up the sassy defiance, and Nicki Minaj’s rap solo complements the other two women by adding another layer of fast-paced, feisty attitude to the track.

‘I Swear’ Sistar  “I Swear” is a single released by the South Korean girl group SISTAR. The majority of the lyrics are sung in Korean and only mix sporadically with English phrases, but that doesn’t hinder the pop song’s feel-good summer mood. While the “I Swear” lyrics do get repetitive after a certain point, the song is still a fun alternative to your usual music taste.

The music video builds on the idea of one last day of summer fun, and after reading a translated version of the lyrics, you can’t help but try to sing along to the cute pop rhythms. With its feminine feel, this dainty, playful single will appeal to anybody daring enough to listen to music in other languages.

AROUND TOWN She Kills Monsters

Genome: Unlocking Life’s Code

Bleachers, MisterWives Concert

WHERE: Atlas Performing Arts Center WHEN: Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m. and Sunday, 3 p.m.

INFO: rorschachtheatre.com PRICE: $20 with Student ID

WHERE: National Museum of Natural History WHEN: Friday until Labor Day, 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

INFO: mnh.si.edu/exhibits/genome PRICE: Free

The Bleachers and the MisterWives are rising bands playing at the 9:30 Club for an unbeatable price. The Bleachers’ “I Wanna Get Better” brings back summer vibes and is complemented by the folk-disco-pop style of MisterWives, whose more famous songs include “Reflections” and “Vagabond.” If you’ve attended Kickback already, come see MisterWives for an encore!

Three artists will be showcasing their work throughout the week. Doba Afolabi is a graphic artist who experiments with blended boundaries and vibrant shades. Chris Malone offers a wild array of kooky, colorful sculptures, while Leslie Printis offers experimental oil paintings. Together, their work creates a unified exhibit that is sure to impress.

WHERE: Washington Monument Lodge WHEN: Tuesday, 7 p.m.

INFO: 930.com PRICE: $20

WHERE: Zenith Gallery Salon WHEN: Fridays and Saturdays, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. until Sept. 6 INFO: zenithgallery.com

This play is about a girl named Tilly who turns to Dungeons & Dragons to express her greatest terrors and desires. After she dies unexpectedly, her older sister is left to solve Tilly’s secrets. This dark comedy that holds real relevance in today’s age of video games.

The Human Genome Project took billions of dollars and was finally completed in 2003. Ten years later, its story continues as technology improves and DNA exploration advances. Visit the Smithsonian and find out where life begins before this summer exhibit ends.

ZENITH GALLERY EXHIBITION

B8

Sports

THE HOYA

Friday, august 29, 2014

Men’s Soccer

FILE PHOTO: ALEXANDER BROWN/THE HOYA

Sophomore forward Alex Muyl will look to fill Neumann’s second forward position next to Brandon Allen. As a freshman, Muyl tallied four goals and nine assists on the season.

Hoyas Attempt Revenge on 2012 NCAA Champs MEN’S, from B10 the starting 11 against Indiana.

This means that top recruits like midfielders Christopher Lema and Arun Basuljevic will need to wait before making their college debuts.

“All of [the freshmen] are just getting used to the pace at which the game happens at the college level.

It is different,” Wiese said. “Experience is going to have to carry the day in a highly charged environment.”

Wiese also confirmed that sophomore forward Alex Muyl will be moved from his midfielder spot to

the central role vacated by graduated forward Steve Neumann, who now plays for the New England Revolution in the MLS. Muyl’s position will likely be filled by one of a trio of experienced players: Senior midfielders Tom Skelly and Austin Martz and junior forward Melvin Snoh are all candidates for the starting honors.

These players, along with Muyl, will be part of an attack led by junior forward Brandon Allen, who was named the Big East Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.

Georgetown’s opponents enter the season with a number of ques-

tion marks. The team did not return its top three leaders in points, meaning that the Hoosiers’ offense will rely on new players. Indiana will be concerned about its defense, especially against the highpowered Georgetown attack. The team allowed 1.73 goals on average last season. In contrast, Georgetown averaged just 0.48 goals per game — while the Hoyas scored an average of nearly two goals a game.

Despite Georgetown’s apparent statistical advantage, Wiese believes that the chaotic atmosphere in Bill Armstrong Stadium will provide a challenge to the visiting

team.

“They will be figuring things out, as are we,” Wiese said. “But they are playing at home and are expecting 5000 to 7000 thousand people there. The environment will be as great a test as the actual opponent.”

In addition to dealing with their opponent’s raucous fan support, the team will also have to keep their emotions in check during a game that carries special significance. A number of players from the 2012 College Cup loss will see the field Friday. According to Wiese, the Hoyas are trying to overlook this painful history in order to

prevent it from overshadowing the game at hand.

“It has never really come up. This group is doing a good job of taking every game for what it is and not trying to make something into a grudge match. The danger of doing something like that is that your emotions can start clouding the game,” Wiese said.

Kickoff in Bloomington is at 8 p.m. The Hoyas will then travel to South Bend, Ind., to play the nearunanimously chosen preseason No. 1 Notre Dame on Sunday, Aug. 31 at 2 p.m.

field hockey

women’s soccer

Retooled Team Heads To North Carolina Elizabeth Cavacos Hoya Staff Writer

Last season, the Georgetown field hockey team struggled on its way to its 10th consecutive losing season. In the offseason, a coaching overhaul and a move to the MultiSport Facility will hopefully bring success to the listless program.

While the Hoyas had been forced to play miles to the north at the University of Maryland in recent years, their return to the Hilltop will instill a homefield advantage to games this season.

The change of scenery, in addition to a returning group of young players that stepped up late last season, is being met with excitement by the team’s revamped coaching staff.

Head Coach Shannon Soares is enthusiastic that the team has an opportunity to rebuild its identity during her first season at Georgetown.

“For us, I think it’s all about the opportunity that’s ahead of us and how excited we are for that challenge,” Soares said. “We’re a brand new staff, [and] we have a different mentality and a different way of how we’re going to play the game.”

After finishing 0-7 in the Big East in 2013, Georgetown was selected to finish sixth in the Big East Preseason Poll for the 2014 season. However, the Hoyas are not fixated on the rankings. Instead, they are concentrating on their opponents, including an early October date with reigning NCAA champion Connecticut, according to Soares.

“For us, we’re not really dialed into the ranking,” Soares said. “We’re dialed into what’s ahead of us and doing our job as a team and playing our style of hockey.”

Georgetown returns a majority of its starters this season, including last year’s leading scorer, junior forward Sarah Butterfield. In 18 games, Butterfield scored six goals and 13 points. In addition, sophomore goalie Rosalie Nolen will return to the cage, after playing in all 18 games her first season and recording a .653 save percentage. The Hoyas now have the opportunity to

build upon their talented base by finetuning their fundamentals.

Soares believes that making these core improvements is a crucial part of developing the team’s overall style of play.

“The one thing that we’ll continue to focus on and really delve into is the … small details and being really refined when it comes to details,” Soares said.

In addition to the progress Georgetown has made during preseason practices, a pair of positive showings in exhibition matches against Virginia Commonwealth University and La Salle has Soares feeling encouraged. “[Our players] have done a great job of coming into every practice and coming into every playing opportunity fighting and with a little bit of a chip on their shoulder mentality, and that’s been awesome,” Soares said. “They fought back in the VCU match and they Shannon Soares fought back in the Head Coach La Salle match, and as coaches that’s something that’s been really exciting [for us].”

Georgetown will begin its season on the road against Appalachian State on Friday, Aug. 29 at 3 p.m. The Hoyas will be looking to earn another victory over the Mountaineers after notching a 3-2 win during their 2012 season opener.

The Mountaineers are coming off of a disappointing 2-16 season. After starting the season 2-3, Appalachian State lost 13 consecutive games.

The Blue and Gray will then remain in North Carolina to face off against Davidson College on Aug. 30. The Wildcats have been a perennial challenge for the Hoyas, with the past four matchups between the teams ending in Georgetown defeats.

During its opening weekend, Georgetown’s primary concern will be gauging the progress it has already made and identifying the issues it may still need to address as the season continues, according to Soares.

“I think both Appalachian State and Davidson are really well-coached teams,” Soares said. “They always are competitive, so I think it’ll be a great opportunity to kind of see where we are.”

“We’re a brand new staff, [and] we have a different mentality.”

FILE PHOTO:ALEXANDER BROWN/THE HOYA

Senior forward Vanessa Skrumbis scored two goals in a three-minute span during Georgetown’s 3-1 victory over the University of San Diego.

Seniors Lead Scoring Effort WOMEN’S, from B10 a midfielder who we made into an outside back. [Junior] Marina Paul was a midfielder who we made into a center back. And we’ve got [junior] Neela Mohan who’s a returning player but who has had a little bit of bad fortune with injuries, and right now she’s in as the fourth defender.”

All of these summer changes make the 120 minutes of scoreless defense even more impressive.

Another good sign lies in the link-up play between Skrumbis and Corboz, who together picked apart San Diego time and again with well-timed, incisive runs.

Freshman defender Drew Topor similarly impressed with her passing ability.

The home opener against North Carolina State is part of a tough early-season run for the Hoyas, though Big East powerhouse programs await them in the conference part of the season.

Despite their unranked designation, Nolan does not underestimate the Wolfpack.

“It’s a very good coach [Tim Santoro] who took over the team last year, too late really to make major changes to how they were doing things,” Nolan said. “He’s now had a good year, 15 months, to start to do things the way he wants them done, and he’s now managed to bring in a couple

kids of the type that he wants. … It’s one of those games that probably could go either way.”

Georgetown’s last meeting against the Wolfpack ended in a 2-0 Hoya victory in September 2013.

Corboz and the rest of the new-look Hoyas are full of confidence after their California trip, and are looking toward a successful campaign.

“I think that we have a good group,” Corboz said. “Everybody wants to step up, and everybody needs to step up for us to have a good season. I think as a team we really do want to continue the tradition that Georgetown set, everybody before us, that we are a top-20 team now and that’s a standard we want to keep set-

sports

FRIDAY, august 29, 2014

Summer Meets Prepare Team

USMNT Stars Return to MLS I

MATT RAAB

Hoya Staff Writer

t’s no secret that Major League with physical and bruising play Soccer is one of the least- is something he learned from watched leagues in profes- the much more physical EPL, and sional sports. It had an extremely Howard has been a mainstay at low attendance of about 6 million Everton for over a decade. On the people in 2012, which stands out European mainland, Julian Green when compared to the next low- is rising through the ranks of est in attendance, the NFL, which dominant Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich. had about 17 million people.

With all the success U.S. playHowever, the success of the 2014 U.S. Men’s National Team at ers have enjoyed overseas and the World Cup in Brazil brought the fact that almost half of the soccer to new heights in the Unit- World Cup roster plays outside ed States. For example, the NBA, of the United States, it is difficult whose finals have consistently to explain what attracts stars like brought in high ratings over the Dempsey, Zusi, Beasley, Jones and past few years, averaged 17.9 mil- Bradley to the MLS. Stadiums are lion viewers in the Spurs’ decisive smaller, games are less competitive and soccer victory over the is genuinely conHeat in Game sidered a minor 5. By comparisport in America son, the World — all issues that Cup match beare nonexistent tween the U.S. in England, Gerand Portugal, many, Spain and a mere group Italy. stage game, was However, after ESPN’s highestPaolo Santamaria USMNT Coach Jurated World rgen Klinsmann Cup match ever, averaging 18.22 The return of Bradley begrudgingly sighis support million viewers and Dempsey bring nalled for Dempsey’s and peaking at return, Amerinearly 23 milMLS respect. ca’s leaders have lion. found that being Stars like Clint Dempsey, Tim Howard, close to home, earning solid wagDaMarcus Beasley and the emer- es and playing in front of a growgent Julian Green electrified ing fan base is a good alternative crowds all over the United States. to the European scene.

This journey to elevate the MLS Every goal, completed cross and near score sent viewers into a to the level of the four other major professional leagues will not frenzy.

It seems likely that the support be easy. However, Dempsey and of the USMNT will continue to in- others’ dedication to the MLS has crease and the team’s popularity brought much more attention to will rise, but what will it mean for the American game. An addition of three franchises for an expanthe MLS? Arguably the best U.S. player, sion to 22 is in the works, and the Clint Dempsey plays for the Se- signings of international stars attle Sounders, and defensive stal- David Villa, Frank Lampard and wart DaMarcus Beasley plays for Kaká will draw the focus of many foreign soccer fans. the Houston Dynamo.

Dempsey and his fellow U.S. Among other big names, midfielders Michael Bradley, Graham team stars are on a mission to Zusi and Jermaine Jones play for transform the MLS from a develMLS teams as well, which many opmental league into a destinasee as a waste of potential inter- tion league. This decision to come national exposure and experi- back may waste their opportunience against better competition. ties to improve their personal While stars here are role players play, but if the U.S. begins to inoverseas, American players would vest more money and time into still vastly improve their play fac- soccer, we will see more televised ing the best players and teams in MLS games, a higher median salthe world, instead of trading the ary and hopefully a better, locallyprestige of European clubs — Tot- grown USMNT. These choices are about more tenham, Schalke and Roma in Dempsey, Jones and Bradley’s cas- than a game — they are about es — for the money accompanying changing a culture and ultimately bringing American soccer the designated MLS roster spots.

Tim Howard and Jozy Alti- popularity it deserves. dore play in the English Premier League, where Howard is consid- Paolo Santamaria is a freshman ered one of the best goalkeepers. in the College. SAXA SYNERGY apAltidore’s ability to dominate pears every other Friday.

SUDOKU

9

9

8

1

3

5

8 9

5 6 2

9 3

8

4

1 7

3 2 1

9

4

8

6 3

2

5

9 8 4 5

1 2 7 6 3 5 8 4

5

Answers to last issue’s puzzle:

6 3 1 9

5 7 4 9 8 2 1 6

3 8 4 1 5 2 7 9 6 2 7 3

B9

track & field

saxa synergy

5

THE HOYA

5 7 8 2

4 3

6 9

1 8 3 2 9 4 5 7 6 1

7 3 4 6 2 9

5 1 8

4 8 5

2 1 6 9 8 3 9 2 5 7 6 7 1 4 3

The Georgetown track and field team’s campaign still had plenty to go, even after the academic year ended in May. The team took advantage of lateseason opportunities to add a series of accomplishments and accolades to its season, capping off a successful run through the Big East with individual successes in the NCAA regional preliminary meets, along with winning representation at the NCAA championship in Eugene, Ore., and on the world stage.

The Hoyas entered 29 students into the NCAA East Preliminaries in Jacksonville, Fla., which ran from May 2931. The total was a new high for the program.

“I’d say we exceeded expectations,” Assistant Coach Mike Smith said. “Everyone we wanted to get qualified for that regional meet we got qualified, and the NCAAs first round were a huge goal for us.”

The Hoyas qualified for eight different races in Florida, highlighted by 14 athletes in the middle-distance races across both squads.

“We had four athletes coming into the regional 800, which is more than any team in the U.S., and that’s a huge thing for us we got two of them through to the national meet,” Smith said of the women’s side. “I think we could’ve gotten one more, then-freshman Sabrina Southerland was on her way qualifying and she fell, but she was going to get in. So we were really close to getting three [into] the 800, and that’s an event that we’re known for at Georgetown.”

Ultimately, the Blue and Gray sent six runners to the NCAA championships, held June 11 to 14 at Hayward Field, home of the Oregon Ducks and one of the premiere track facilities in

the U.S. Graduated senior Chelsea Cox and then-junior Andrea Keklak both qualified at the 800-meter distance, while then-junior Max Darrah and graduated senior Dylan Sorrensen qualified for the 3000m steeplechase.

Graduated seniors Rachel Schneider and Andrew Springer qualified for the 1500m and 10,000m races.

Darrah said that team’s accomplishments exceeded even its own expectations. “[When] we all came into regionals, it wasn’t that we were really hoping to make it to nationals, we were almost expecting to make it to nationals,” Darrah said. “We had seen some of the workouts that we had done earlier in the season and they were all indicative of very fast times and this ability to compete with the best.”

Darrah and Sorrensen ran in the same heat at both preliminary and national races, and would finish seventh and ninth, respectively, in their heat, outside of the top-five finish required for advancement to the finals. After returning from injury in the fall and an extended illness in the spring, Darrah was grateful of what he had accomplished, but not completely satisfied.

“I was really hoping to make it to the final and ultimately be a first team All-American, do better than I was two years ago [where] I made it to the final and placed 11th overall,” Darrah said.

“So I was pretty disappointed in the race but it was a good effort considering where I came from at the beginning of the year and all the progress I had made up to that point.”

Schneider finished 13th overall in the 10,000m race, while Keklak and Cox both ran in the 800m but were unable to advance, with times of 2:07.72 and 2:16.69, respectively.

Rachel Schneider was the sole Hoya to reach the final heat. She grabbed the seventh and final spot in the 1500m fi-

nals heat with a time of 4:18.37. However, she would fall off her pace slightly in the finals, finishing ninth overall with a time 4:21.15. Though the Hoyas failed to grab any major awards at the tournament, their presence at the NCAA championships had value.

“Being at the NCAA meet is a huge honor,” Smith said. “I think our NCAA meet was okay, it’s so difficult to even qualify for that, so I would say that our NCAA performance could have been better but our main goal was just being there.”

The Blue and Gray earned a variety of other accolades outside of their participation in the NCAA postseason. Six Hoyas received All-American honors, and two qualified to participate in the United States Track and Field Junior World Championships. Then-freshmen Jonathan Green and Sabrina Southerland ran standout championships at the event, also held in Eugene, in late July. Green won the 10,000m race and Southerland placed second in the 800m, earning both spots on the USA roster at the IAAF Junior World Championships. Green finished 23rd at the event, while Southerland was able to advance.

“At the Worlds meet [Southerland] made it to the second round, that was exciting for us as well, she was honored to represent our country,” Smith said.

The team’s performances over the summer proved that the men’s and women’s rosters had the talent and muscle to run successfully on the national stage. This has left some hopeful for continued improvement in the near future.

“We want to be one of the best track teams in the country,” Darrah said.

“We want people to know that we’re not going to settle for second best anymore, we want to be the people being hunted because we know we’re capable of being the best.”

football

New Coach Prepares for Wagner Nick Barton

Special to The Hoya

The Georgetown football team will open up its season this Saturday against the Wagner College Seahawks. The Hoyas struggled last season, finishing with a 2-9 record, but ended on a high note with an impressive win against the College of the Holy Cross.

In response to the overall disappointing campaign, Georgetown made several personnel changes. Last year’s defensive coordinator, Rob Sgarlata (COL ’94), will serve his first game as head coach Saturday, taking over from Kevin Kelly.

Sgarlata knows the program well, as this will be his 18th season with Georgetown.

Head Coach Sgarlata and his staff will rely on junior quarterback Kyle Nolan to control the offense. The gun-slinging Nolan tossed for over 1,000 yards last season while rushing for another 200 yards.

“He was forced into action his freshman and sophomore years,” Sgarlata said. “From a physical standpoint, he has all the tools.”

Nolan lost his two favorite targets from last seasons, Zack Wilke and Daniel Sprotte. This likely means that junior wide receiver Jake Decicco will need to move into a starring role. The backfield also suffered some losses, losing leading rusher Nick Campanella as well as primary backup Dalen Claytor. Junior Jo’el Kimpela will likely start in the backfield after rushing for 222 yards in a season derailed by injuries.

“Jo’el is markedly faster than last year,” Sgarlata said. Kimpela and Nolan are the only returning players with a rushing touchdown last season.

On the defensive side of the ball, senior linebacker Patrick Boyle hopes to repeat his 2013 campaign where he recorded a team-leading 98 total tackles.

Starting alongside Boyle is senior and defensive captain Nick Alfieri, who was the only player on last year’s team to force two fumbles. Sgarlata was impressed with Alfieri’s ability to penetrate the offensive line and stop the running back before the line of scrimmage.

“Nick stepped into that leadership role very well during camp,” Sgarlata said. He finished just behind Boyle in tackles, and

FILE PHOTO: JULIA HENNRIKUS/THE HOYA

Senior linebacker Patrick Boyle, who led the team in tackles in 2013 with 98, will anchor the defense along with fellow senior linebacker Nick Alfieri. both linebackers would like to see their tackle tallies hit triple digits.

In front of the linebackers is 6-foot, 4-inch, 255-pound junior defensive lineman Alec May. May wreaked havoc in the opposition backfields last year, accumulating 12 tackles for loss while sacking the quarterback seven times. May’s fellow linemen, junior Jordan Richardson and senior Richard Shankle, will also look to continue their success from the past season.

The Hoyas’ defensive secondary was a spot of weakness last year, managing just six interceptions as a unit. However, they did have several crucial defensive stops over the course of the year. On special teams, the Hoyas will be searching for a replacement for kicker and punter Matt Maczura, who was a clutch player last season.

Georgetown has a good sense of its opening day opponents, as it also began the 2013 season against its fellow Patriot League members. Wagner College played the Hoyas in its 2013 home opener in Staten Island, N.Y., winning the game

28-21. Wagner’s season crumbled after its opening win, only emerging victorious in two of its final 10 games. Wagner returns many redshirt players, and is at a similar level to the Hoyas in terms of experience.

One of the major keys for the Hoyas on Saturday will be the turnover battle. The Hoyas had a turnover differential of negative three last year. The number is not awful, but historically, it is very difficult to have a winning record when turning the ball over more than the opposition.

The Hoyas also missed major opportunities to capitalize on the impact plays that they made, as they only recovered 40 percent of the fumbles they forced.

Another crucial factor for the Hoyas will be to establish the rushing game as the basis of their offense. The Hoyas averaged just 3.5 yards per carry least year while their opposition rushed for an average of 4.4 yards.

This week’s matchup, Sgarlata’s first at the helm, kicks off at the MultiSport Facility at 12 p.m., and could be a great starting point to a more successful year.

capitals hill

Ovechkin’s Defense a Liability COLUMN, from B10 that plagued the Capitals last season were primarily not his fault. Weak team defense certainly increases the chance of being on the ice for a goal against. In addition, the plus-minus statistic does not account for many factors, including the quality of goaltenders or defensemen.

However, while his plus-minus may not be a fair or accurate representation of his defensive play, it may at least indicate certain flaws in Ovechkin’s game. He deservedly made headlines last season after a string of poor defensive performances that did little to salvage his reputation as a liability without the puck.

Ovechkin called himself “the worst

player out there” during a 5-2 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Jan. 30. He finished the game with a minus-5 rating.

Later in the season Head Coach Adam Oates chastised Ovechkin after a 5-0 loss to the Dallas Stars. “Ovi quit on the play,” Oates said in reference to Ovechkin’s lazy play that led to a goal against.

Opinions vary on the degree that Ovechkin is an overall hindrance to the team. After all, he did provide 51 goals last season. In the offseason, team management has focused its efforts on team defense. A management overhaul saw Brian MacLellan take over as general manager. His first order of business was to sign Barry Trotz — a coach known for being defensively oriented. In addition,

MacLellan signed a pair of marquee defensemen, Brooks Orpik and Matt Niskanen. These moves give the Capitals a far more defensive look going forward.

While Ovechkin may be prone to weak defensive play, these moves will likely fortify the team around him.

With management shifting its focus to preventing goals, the Russian will be able to focus on what he does best — scoring them. This could be a deadly combination that could make Ovechkin’s plus-minus the last thing on opposing teams’ minds.

Daniel Litke is a senior in the School of Foreign Service. CAPITALS HILL appears every Friday.

SPORTS

FOOTBALL Georgetown (0-0) vs. Wagner (0-0) Saturday, 12 p.m.

MultiSport Facility

FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 2014

The women’s soccer team takes a win and a draw from early season tourney.

See B10

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CALIFORNIA DREAMING TALKING POINTS

Jeff [Green]... embodies all that it means to be a Hoya.

Intercollegiate Athletic Director Lee Reed

NUMBERS GAME

1

The margin of defeat in the 2012 NCAA Men’s Soccer College Cup, which Georgetown lost to Indiana.

MEN’S SOCCER

Indiana Rematch Looms ANDREW MAY Hoya Staff Writer

In a rematch of the NCAA 2012 College Cup final match, the Georgetown men’s soccer team will open its season Friday against the Indiana Hoosiers in Bloomington, Ind. The game will mark the beginning of the 2014 regular season

and follows two preseason exhibition games. In their 2012 encounter, Indiana struck for a goal in the 64th minute and held on to win 1-0, securing the national championship for the Big Ten team.

The ninth-ranked Hoyas (0-0) played No. 15 Pennsylvania State and No. 3 Virginia in away matches and emerged with a 1-0-1 preseason record.

FILE PHOTO: ALEXANDER BROWN/THE HOYA

Senior midfielder Tom Skelly is one of the top candidates for a starting spot following the graduation of forward Steve Neumann.

The Hoyas spent much of their game in Happy Valley holding possession in the opposing third of the field, creating enough chances to manufacture a 3-1 win over the Nittany Lions. Virginia then played host to the Hoyas on Aug. 23 for both squads’ final warm-up match. The offense waited until late in the game to find the back of the net. Shortly after Georgetown conceded in the 75th minute, senior defender Jared Rist scored to tie the match 1-1.

Preseason, of course, does not count for anything real at the end of the day, but Georgetown Head Coach Brian Wiese believes that positive results against two strong opponents signal good things to come once the games start to matter.

“I thought the whole team was really positive. Hopefully the preseason will be a good indicator for the rest of the fall for us,” Wiese said.

Wiese was impressed not only with the team’s in-game performance, but also with the players’ conditioning and focus when they first arrived for summer practices.

Wiese also heaped praise on a “humble but also very hungry” group of freshmen players.

Despite this encouraging new influx of talent, Wiese does not plan on using any freshmen in the See MEN’S, B8

CAPITALS HILL

Caps’ Ovechkin on Thin Ice A

lexander Ovechkin’s goalscoring prowess has made the Russian forward the definitive face of the Washington Capitals franchise. Often lauded as the National Hockey League’s best pure goalscorer, Ovechkin has amassed 422 goals in 678 career games. Last season, his 51 goals were good enough to win the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy — an award given annually to the league’s top goal scorer. However, another statistic has Capitals fans worrying. Ovechkin finished third to last in the NHL in the plusminus statistic with a minus-35 rating.

Plus-minus is a statistic used to measure a player’s effectiveness both offensively and defensively.

When a goal is scored, each player on the ice for a scoring team is awarded a plus while each player on the team scored against is given

a minus. Power-play goals (scored when the opposing team temporarily loses a player because of a penalty) and penalty shot goals do

Daniel Litke

With Ovechkin on the ice last year, the Caps were outscored by 35. not count toward this total.

How should Ovechkin’s poor plus-minus be interpreted? Is the Capitals’ best player also a huge

defensive liability?

Ovechkin’s defensive performance may not be as detrimental to the team as his plus-minus indicates. Since plus-minus does not include power-play scoring, Ovechkin’s prowess in that area is discounted. Ovechkin scored 24 of his 51 goals last season on the power play. His power-play goals alone would have constituted a good season for an average NHL forward.

In addition, it is difficult to interpret plus-minus as an individual statistic. The Capitals were criticized for much of last season because of their porous defense.

They had the ninth-worst goals against record in the NHL, surrendering 240 goals in 82 games.

While Ovechkin may be part of the problem, the defensive flaws See OVECHKIN, B9

GUHOYAS

Green (COL ’12) received his degree in English with a minor in theology from Georgetown University President John J. DeGioia.

Green Birthday Gift: $1M to IAC SAM ABRAMS Hoya Staff Writer

On the occasion of his 28th birthday on Thursday, Aug. 28, former men’s basketball star forward Jeff Green (COL ’12), contributed a $1 million donation to aid in the construction process of the John R. Thompson Jr. Intercollegiate Athletics Center.

“We are extremely grateful to Jeff.

If you look at the lineage of this program, from Patrick [Ewing] to Alonzo [Mourning] and so many others, it is clear that across the board, these guys have a huge appreciation for this university,” Head Coach John Thompson III told THE HOYA. Green, who was recruited by former Head Coach Craig Esherick in 2003, played under Thompson until his junior year, when he left the Hilltop for the NBA. The fifth overall pick in the 2007 draft, Green returned to Georgetown for several summers in order to take classes and finish his degree in English with a minor in theology.

It is this type of academic commitment that has impressed Thompson.

“That’s what Jeff is about. Here, we teach our student-athletes to be men for others, and to respect the relationship between academics and athletics,” Thompson said. “Jeff left [school] early, as he should have, but he really wanted to come back and get his degree, which speaks volumes about his values and work ethic. Now he’s helping make the experience of future Georgetown athletes better, and for that we are fortunate.”

Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Lee Reed concurred with Thompson’s

assessment of Green.

“Jeff is not only one of the legendary names from our men’s basketball program, but he embodies all that it means to be a Hoya,” Reed said in an official statement.

The leading member of Georgetown’s 2007 Final Four team, Green thought it fitting to donate back to the school he loves, and in honor of John Thompson Jr., the father of Thompson.

“I’m very fortunate to be in a position to give back to the university and to the program that has done so much for me,” Green said in an official statement. “The environment created by coach Thompson and his staff helped shape me both academically and athletically. Georgetown and Georgetown basketball is at my core and is part of who I am.”

The 2007 Big East Player of the Year’s gift forms a part of a $62 million building effort that will begin with a groundbreaking ceremony for the Thompson Athletics Center on Sep. 12.

Just two days before, on Aug.26, legendary Hoyas center Patrick Ewing (CAS ’85) and sports agent David Falk donated $3.3 million to the same cause.

The Thompson Athletic Center, funded entirely by philanthropic means, will house the new Georgetown Athletics Hall of Fame and men’s and women’s basketball coaches’ offices. The four-story, 144,000-square-foot structure will also contain weighttraining, sports medicine, team meeting and practice facilities for all varsity programs.

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Hoyas Finish California Trip, Prepare for Home Opener CHRIS BALTHAZARD Hoya Staff Writer

Fresh off of a West Coast trip to begin the season, the No. 20 Georgetown women’s soccer team will play in its home opener today at 3 p.m. against N.C. State on Shaw Field.

The Blue and Gray (1-0-1) opened their season with the Torero Classic, first beating San Diego 3-1 and then drawing against Long Beach State 0-0 after two extra periods were not enough to settle the match.

Star senior midfielder Daphne Corboz sees reason for optimism after the road trip, especially after holding on late against Long Beach State.

“I think it was a trip we really enjoyed. We obviously would have loved two wins but coming out I feel that we’re fortunate with a win and a tie,” Corboz said.

The opener against the University of San Diego had a slow first half but turned into a goal-scoring frenzy early in the second period, with two Hoya goals from senior forward Vanessa Skrumbis and one San Diego goal in a three-minute span.

Corboz then finished a breakaway one-on-one opportunity with the keeper to seal the win.

The draw against Long Beach State was a different sort of affair.

“Long Beach was a good team, very well coached,” 11th-year Head Coach Dave Nolan said. “They did a good job on Daphne, double- and triple-teaming her. I think ultimately the travel of the weekend caught up to us. And we were actually really comfortable up until the last 15 minutes of regulation, when we felt our legs went away from us a little bit. And then in overtime I definitely think Long Beach were the better team.”

Despite managing just a draw, putting up a clean sheet bodes well for the Hoyas, as the departure of the Class of 2014 required the replacement of the team’s entire starting back four defenders, and a defensive midfielder as well. To compensate for these losses, the Hoyas have had to shuffle players out of their natural positions.

“We did some work on it in the spring and we pulled some players from different positions to try to mold them into defenders,” Nolan said. “[Senior] Jessie Clinton was a forward who we made into an outside back. [Junior] Sarah Adams was See WOMEN’S B8

FILE PHOTO: ALEXANDER BROWN/THE HOYA

Senior midfielder Daphne Corboz scored one goal and added two assists in a 3-1 victory over the University of San Diego. Corboz is a nominee for the MAC Hermann Trophy Award.

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