The Hoya: April 27, 2018

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

Georgetown University • Washington, D.C. Vol. 99, No. 26, © 2018

FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 2018

YEAR IN REVIEW

Take a look at this year’s top stories in news, arts and entertainment, features and sports.

EDITORIAL Arming GUPD would put the Georgetown community in unnecessary danger.

NEW SENATE ELECTED Eighteen new GUSA senators were elected in the association’s first school year-based race.

OPINION, A2

NEWS, A8

B2-B3

Corp Hit by Cyberattack, Losing Files Conflicts of Interest FBI investigating incident; D.C. and campus police responded Spotlight Ambiguity In SAC Bylaws JEFF CIRILLO AND CHRISTIAN PAZ Hoya Staff Writers

Students of Georgetown, Inc.’s internal network of Google accounts was hacked on the night of March 21, leaving the student-run business commonly known as The Corp without access to internal documents, records and email communications for about a day. The Metropolitan Police Department and the Georgetown University Police Department responded to the incident the following morning. MPD referred the incident to the financial and cyber crimes unit of the FBI, which is investigating the case, according to MPD and FBI spokespersons. The Corp did not comment on any aspect of the law enforcement investigation or response. The attack, confirmed to THE HOYA by The Corp last week, underscores the vulnerability of campus organizations to malicious cyberattacks, particularly as clubs increasingly store internal data on digital platforms. On the night of the attack, the yet-unidentified hacker or hackers accessed The Corp’s internal network of Google accounts, called a G Suite. The Corp uses the suite for email communication, as well as storage of important documents concerning daily operations including schedules, employee handbooks, policy documents

CHRISTIAN PAZ

International Relations Association, a non-profit that provides IRC with significant external When representatives from funding. the International Relations Indeed, a review of meeting Club faced the Student Activi- minutes from the 2017-18 acaties Commission on Monday, demic year and interviews with March 19 to explain why IRC current and former SAC commembers had travelled to Pan- missioners point to apparent ama City earlier that month conflicts of interest between IRC without required SAC approval, and SAC, and a larger problem the club had for a student already argued commission their case a “Groups get one charged week earlier to with keepthe commis- commissioner to ing clubs sion, which represent them before and other included four students accurrent IRC SAC, but sometimes it countable. members. Current and At the time feels like certain groups former comof the March 19 missioners, SAC meeting, have three or four.” both IRC two commismembers sioners, both and not, RICARDO MONDOLFI current IRC have exFormer Chair, Student Activities Commission members, had pressed conalready pushed fusion over for a lesser sanction on the when they should participate club’s international travel dur- in discussions and when club ing a March 12 meeting, while affiliations might present a contwo other IRC members had ac- flict of interest. tively participated in SAC’s discussion over possible sanctions WATCHING THE WATCHDOG on the club. The SAC deliberaComposed of 13 undergradutions appeared routine, even ate students chosen through as four IRC members discussed an application and interview and voted on sanctions for an process, the Student Activities organization to which they belong. Two also held ranking See SAC, A6 positions in the Georgetown

Hoya Staff Writer

FILE PHOTO: SUBUL MALIK/THE HOYA

Th internal Google network of Students of Georgetown, Inc., was hit by a cyberattack on March 21, leaving the business’s student employees without access to key documents and records. and other materials, according to Alex Gong (SFS ’20), CEO of The Corp. Soon after gaining access at about 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 21, the hacker deleted the entire G Suite later that night, wiping out important data, files and all Corp employees’ Google accounts. The Corp’s accounts and data were fully restored within a day of the hack, according to Gong. No files were altered or permanently lost, and no sensitive employee or customer data were compromised as a result of the

incident, Gong said. “Protecting that information will continue to be a priority for us moving forward,” Gong wrote in a statement to THE HOYA. Typically, G Suites that have been deleted cannot be recovered. Google technicians managed through an “unconventional process” to restore the suite, according to Ricardo Mondolfi (SFS ’19), the chair of The Corp’s board of directors. Before the G Suite was restored, the company’s senior leadership could not be certain

whether their files would be recovered or whether The Corp’s storefronts would be able to operate without them. A spokesperson for Google declined to comment, citing the confidentiality of customer service matters. The cyberattack underscores the vulnerabilities of Georgetown’s other entirely studentrun organizations, which may operate with lackluster cybersecurity protocols. See CORP, A6

Concerns Continue Over SFS-Q Pelosi Stresses Unity, Broad Migrant Worker Conditions Tent in Democratic Party COSIMA SCHELFHOUT

ELIZABETH ASH

“What we’ve seen at Georgetown-Qatar is the norm erosion of our ethical standards.” So wrote Ian Almond — a world literature professor at Georgetown University’s campus in Doha, Qatar, who is currently on leave — in a November 2017 letter sent to Provost Robert Groves concerning the treatment of migrant workers at the Qatari campus. Almond published the letter on his Facebook page in February after receiving no reply. In his letter, Almond was incensed by what he viewed as the lamentable conditions for migrant workers at the Qatari campus. The 122 migrant workers who staff Georgetown’s Qatari campus work in a number of areas ranging from office management to facilities to dining. Yet according to Almond, these workers face deplorable conditions. A few days after publicly posting his letter, Almond received a response from Groves, according to Almond’s Facebook page. Groves’ reply included a link to a February letter to the editor published in the Georgetown Voice discussing steps the university has taken to protect workers at its Qatari campus. Almond, in his letter, claimed workers were paid

A unified Democratic Party is essential as the party heads into the 2018 midterm elections, argued U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (DCalif.) at a student town hall hosted by the Georgetown University Institute of Politics and Public Service and the McCourt School of Public Policy on Tuesday morning in Gaston Hall. Outlining a path to retake the House, Pelosi encouraged Democratic candidates to create a distinct platform from the Republican Party as a whole in the congressional election. “Our message to our candidates and members seeking election is show our purpose,” Pelosi said. “Know your purpose. Know your subject. Have a plan, and connect to the people. This is about connecting to the aspirations and the apprehensions of the American people.” Pelosi currently serves as the minority leader of the House of Representatives, and under former President Barack Obama from 2007 to 2011 served as speaker of the House as the first woman to serve in that role. Pelosi answered questions from a panel of students who

Hoya Staff Writer

Hoya Staff Writer

FEATURED

SCHOOL OF FOREIGN SERVICE

Critics say poor working conditions at Georgetown University’s Qatar campus are antithetical to the university’s values. between 1000 and 1700 riyals per month — the equivalent of $250 to $400 — and forced to sleep in cramped accommodations “with four or sometimes eight to a room.” The average wages of migrant construction workers in Qatar can be as low as $160 per month, according to Vox. Almond said he found these conditions antithetical to the university’s values. “This situation is intolerable,” Almond wrote in the letter. “It mocks and undermines everything we do and claim to be at Georgetown.” Georgetown, which opened

its Qatari campus in 2005, is one of six U.S. universities that have branches in a 14-squarekilometer community development in Doha known as “Education City.” The Education City initiative is supported by the Qatar Foundation, an organization for Qatari development founded and governed by the Qatari royal family. Qatar has long been dogged by accusations of mistreatment and exploitation of its migrant workers, who are predominantly from Asian countries such as India, Nepal See SFS-Q, A6

sat on stage with her, from posts generated by social media and from the audience. The questions touched on gun control legislation, proper size of government, net neutrality, disability advocacy and the future of the Democratic Party. GU Politics Executive Director Mo Elleithee moderated the discussion. Pelosi emphasized the importance of voting in the midterm elections in November,

saying that voting can help shape the nation’s politics. “You are helping to shape this future. Weigh in. Do not miss this opportunity because right now is probably a bigger opportunity than ever,” Pelosi said. “If you don’t vote, you don’t count.” Pelosi emphasized the importance of using shared values to unify the Democratic See PELOSI, A6

KEENAN SAMWAY FOR THE HOYA

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) answered student questions at a town hall event Tuesday.

NEWS

OPINION

SPORTS

A Convenient Truth Former Vice President Al Gore expresssed optimism for the future of the environment in a Gaston Hall address. A5

Recognizing Genocide Georgetown must recognize the Armenian genocide as part of the healing process. A3

Big East Champions The Georgetown women’s golf team captured its second consecutive conference title last weekend. A12

NEWS Remembering Chernick

OPINION Coming to Terms With History

SPORTS Overtime Victory

SFS professor Marc Chernick passed away at age 62 from a heart attack while at a peace meeting in Colombia. A5 Printed Fridays

Nabil Kapasi (SFS ’20) reminds readers to balance ancestors’ flaws and contributions. A3

Women’s lacrosse defeated Marquette 9-8 in overtime, clinching a spot in the Big East Championship. A12 Send story ideas and tips to news@thehoya.com


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