The Hoya: April 26, 2016

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

Georgetown University • Washington, D.C. Vol. 97, No. 47, © 2016

tuesday, APRIL 26, 2016

SENIOR DAY

The women’s lacrosse team won 13-12 on a late goal on Saturday.

EDITORIAL Beyond Earth Day, Georgetown should look to promote sustainability.

COMMENTARY When it comes to accessibility, we must all open the door to support.

OPINION, A2

OPINION, A3

SPORTS, A10

BRAVE Seeks to Inspire Charlotte allen Hoya Staff Writer

CLAIRE SOISSON/THE HOYA

The death of men’s lacrosse player Edward Blatz Jr. (MSB ’17) was announced in a university-wide email early Sunday afternoon.

Athlete Edward Blatz Jr. Dies at 21 emily tu

Hoya Staff Writer

Edward Blatz Jr. (MSB ’17), a junior on the men’s lacrosse team, died early Sunday, according to a university-wide email sent by Vice President for Student Affairs Todd Olson and Vice President for Mission and Ministry Rev. Kevin O’Brien, S.J. Blatz is survived by his parents Anne Marie and Edward Blatz Sr. and two older sisters, Elizabeth and Jessica. The cause of death has not been announced as of 3 a.m. today.

In their email, Olson and O’Brien expressed grief over

Blatz’s death and offered condolences to his loved ones.

“This is a loss for our community,” Olson and O’Brien wrote.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Eddie’s family, friends and everyone in our community during this time.”

Blatz graduated from Garden City High School in New York, where he played both football and lacrosse. Blatz led his high school team – the Trojans – to a Long Island Class II football title in 2012 and two state Class B lacrosse championships. He was noted as Garden City’s first all-time leader See BLATZ, A6

Hosted by black female students on campus, the inaugural BRAVE — black, resilient, artistic, vigilant, enough — summit featured a day of speeches, breakout sessions and panels Saturday with black leaders from a range of fields, including Black Lives Matter CoFounder Erika Totten, Federal Communications Commission Acting Chairwoman Mignon Clyburn and Core Health and Wellness Center Founder Dr. Gloria Wilder (GRD ’93).

BRAVE was founded to promote dialogue and uplift black women amid misrepresentations of the community in the mainstream media, according to the summit’s website.

Alexis Oni-Eseleh (COL ’16), one of the summit’s organizers, said it is important for black women to come together and share their experiences.

“It is one thing to have passing conversations about being a black woman, sharing bonding moments with kitchen beauticians, and commiserating when the media inevitably forgets about us. It’s another thing to take our experience and broadcast it in a public forum,” OniEseleh wrote in an email to The Hoya.

Taking place in the Healey Family Student Center, Reiss Science Building and the Intercultural Center, the conference engaged an audience of around 250 people.

The conference included breakout sessions and panels such as “Black Women in Executive Positions,” “Religion and

Project Lighthouse Launches Online mental health program seeks to support students Christian paz Hoya Staff Writer

Student-led mental health program Project Lighthouse officially launched its anonymous online chat service Sunday, responding to 25 students’ messages on its first day of operations.

The new service, available from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily, connects students with student peer supporters to discuss issues ranging from stress and sleep problems to thoughts of self-harm.

The peer supporters, who underwent over 40 hours of training, are trained to actively listen to students and refer them to mental health resources such as Counseling and Psychiatric Services and Health Education Services.

According to Project Lighthouse Executive Director Benjamin Johnson (NHS ’17), the spring semester launch is a soft opening that will run for two weeks until May 6, before it relaunches in the fall semester with additional peer supporters.

“Initial results point to this being a muchneeded resource for Georgetown.” benjamin johnson (NHS ’17) Executive Director, Project Lighthouse

Johnson said the program’s first night was a success.

“Almost everyone who chatted in was successfully referred to appropriate on-campus or off-campus resources,” Johnson wrote in an email to The

NEENA BEECHAM/THE HOYA

Core Health and Wellness Center founder Dr. Gloria Wilder delivered the keynote speech at the inaugural BRAVE Summit.

Communities of Color,” “Health Disparities to Women in Media” and “Generational Feminism and Black Women in Public Policy.”

In her keynote speech, Wilder advocated for the potential of black females to create impactful change in the community.

Wilder said the goals of activists have not changed since she

began advocating for women of color as a teenager.

“The era of change that you are in is very similar to what we were in when I arrived here in Washington, D.C.,” Wilder said.

“We wanted Martin Luther King to have a birthday, a holiday, we See BRAVE, A6

Metro Surveys Sexual Harassment Cases Matthew larson Hoya Staff Writer

Seventy-seven percent of riders sexually harassed on the Metrorail do not report the incident, according to an inaugural survey measuring awareness and reporting of sexual harassment on the Metro released by the Washington Metro Transit Police on April 12.

With data collected from 1,000 respondents over the course of the month of January, the survey reported that 21 percent of riders have experienced a form of sexual harassment, ranging from sexual assault to verbal harassment, in the Washington, D.C. area, higher than the national rate of 18 percent.

The study also found that women were three times more likely to

face harassment, with 28 percent of female respondents reporting incidents compared to 9 percent of men who reportedly experienced harassment.

Released in light of Sexual Assault Awareness Month and International Anti-Street Harassment Week from April 10 to 16, the survey was part of a yearlong collaborative effort between WMTP and advocacy organizations Collective Action for Safe Spaces and Stop Street Harassment to combat sexual harassment on the Metro.

Additional efforts include public outreach through an advertisement campaign, a $40,000 grant by the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities dedicated to See METRO, A6

FEATURED NEENA BEECHAM/tHE HOYA

The online mental health program Project Lighthouse launched this week and received more than 25 messages its first day.

Hoya. “We really didn’t know what to expect for our first night, but are encouraged that initial results point to this being a much-needed resource for Georgetown.”

Johnson said Project Lighthouse’s launch post on Facebook reached around 5,700 people, while its website received 350 unique visitors.

“Our current goals are just getting our operations smooth with the continued training of supporters, and planning for our full launch in the fall semester,” Johnson wrote.

The name of Project Lighthouse is meant to symbolize the service’s goal of guiding people to mental health re-

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

sources, and it was initially launched by the Georgetown University Student Association Mental Health Committee in January of this year in order to better connect students with mental health services and lessen the workload for CAPS and other university services.

CAPS has been criticized for being unable to provide timely services to students in need.

The project, while being student-led, is supported by GUSA, CAPS, HES and other university departments.

According to Johnson, Project Lighthouse serves as a supportive listening resource rather than a counseling service or See MENTAL HEALTH, A6 Published Tuesdays and Fridays

NEWS The Face of GU Workers

A Facebook page sponsored by the Clinton Global Initiative seeks to recognize workers.

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NEWS

Sports

Sexual Assault Discussed A panel hosted by GUSA and Take Back the Night advised expanded CAPS services.

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Championship Hopes The sailing team prepares for the national championships in California.

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NEWS

OPINION

DC Faces Murder Increase A new study listed D.C. as one of the three cities with the highest murder rate increase.

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Fight Consumerism For the sake of social justice, students must combat unethical industry practices.

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Send story ideas and tips to news@thehoya.com

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OPINION

THE HOYA

tuesday, april 26, 2016

THE VERDICT

Earth Day Every Day On Earth Day, April 22, Students for Georgetown, Inc. announced both its plans to compost all waste from food preparation at the Hilltoss and the launch of The Corp Sustainability Committee to further engage with environmental issues and increase sustainability within the organization. As one of the largest student organizations on campus, The Corp’s new commitments to environmental sustainability are admirable. These new initiatives should remind the student body and the university that environmental sustainability at Georgetown can be improved through short-term and long-term commitments.

This editorial board urges community leaders and the university to ensure that the university’s next dining vendor, whether it be Aramark or otherwise, dedicates itself to composting food waste as well as sourcing its ingredients locally. Aramark’s contract with the university ends in May 2016, and it is currently composts its waste from O’Donovan Hall. If the university wishes to continue its commitment to environmentally conscious policy, administrators and students should prioritize selecting an auxiliary services provider dedicated to sustainable food sourcing and waste management.

Environmental sustainability should also play a more prominent role in the 2018 Campus Plan, which will be finalized in the fall semester. With the campus already affected by construction projects such as the Northeast Triangle Residence Hall, as well as proposals to tear down Reiss Science Building and renovate the Yates Field House, the cam-

pus plan must make sure developments are attaining environmental standards.

While future construction and renovation will be held to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Silver environmental standards as noted in the campus plan goals, striving for the LEED Platinum standard — the highest and most resource-efficient level — would both showcase Georgetown’s commitment to sustainability and become more environmentally conscious.

It is reasonable for the university and the larger student body also to advocate for the maintenance of existing green space. Increasing green spaces on rooftops is also a scientific way of regulating heating and cooling throughout the year. Ensuring that more space is allocated for natural vegetation and greenery is a visible and equally beneficial way of showing the university’s commitment to the environment and becoming more sustainable overall.

Schools such as American University and the University of the District of Columbia have already established buildings with green spaces on roofs, displaying how feasible such goals can be.

Increasing Georgetown’s commitment to environmental sustainability can extend far beyond the aforementioned issues. The university and the whole student body should reflect on The Corp’s efforts and consider Georgetown’s evolving role in protecting and enhancing our existing environment.

Although it will be a year until the next Earth Day, Georgetown should always strive to prioritize the growth and future development of its sustainability policy.

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The Queen On-Screen — Beyoncé’s “Lemonade,” dubbed a visual album, aired on HBO this Saturday. The album is available on music-streaming services Tidal and iTunes.

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EDITORIALS

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Founded January 14, 1920

Off the Tracks — A track fire on the D.C. Metro forced passengers on a Red Line train to evacuate Saturday, following a pattern of disruptions in service connected to chronic issues of disrepair and worn equipment.

Farewell to a Legend — Music icon and seven-time Grammy winner Prince died Thursday at age 57, prompting widespread mourning for the legend.

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Laud the Bard — Britain celebrated William Shakespeare in StratfordUpon-Avon this past Saturday in honor of the 400th anniversary of the bard’s death.

Winter is Here — The sixth season of “Game of Thrones” premiered on HBO this Sunday to much fanfare and speculation of whether a key cast member will return.

EDITORIAL CARTOON by Noah Taylor

Arts Need Our Voice With only four music practice rooms in the Healey Family Student Center and two in LXR Hall, there are barely enough available spaces on campus to serve all of Georgetown’s 7,595 undergraduate students. On April 19, the Georgetown University Student Association dedicated its final Hoya Roundtable of the spring semester to these issues concerning the arts at Georgetown, specifically relating to individual student artists and smaller groups.

During the roundtable, students and faculty raised concerns regarding the university’s current commitments to promoting artists and groups on campus. Some asked if there were plans for future performance spaces, while others questioned if existing spaces will be re-evaluated and renovated to accommodate increased use.

These questions emerging from the open forum last Tuesday are hardly new or unique, yet they serve as a key reminder of how the university is still not providing the resources necessary for students’ artistic passions to truly thrive, especially individuals and groups unaffiliated with Georgetown’s performance groups such as the Mask and Bauble Dramatic Society and Superfood.

The limited number of music practice rooms will be particularly concerning if the number of students living on campus increases in the near future. In addition, the practice rooms in the HFSC are especially cramped, lack soundproofing and are not climate controlled, causing instruments to be damaged if left overnight. An example of this can be seen with pianos in HFSC, which students complain are often out-of-tune and receive little

overall maintenance.

Larger and higher-quality practice rooms are available in Reynolds Hall, but they are given priority to those taking performing arts courses or student performance groups recognized by the Performing Arts Advisory Committee.

PAAC is a body that delegates practice spaces and funding for groups affiliated with PAAC such as the Saxatones, the World Percussion Ensemble and others.

The quality and quantity of spaces are two areas where the university can commit itself to enhancing the artistic pursuits of not only student groups, but also individual artists. In the upcoming 20-year campus plan, the university should commit to infrastructure and spaces dedicated to the performing arts. Perhaps existing spaces in both LXR, Reiss, New North Building and other underutilized buildings can be refurbished to become more accommodating, with soundproof walls and temperature control. Such changes would mean that practicing would no longer cause disturbances to nearby students, and instruments would be kept in appropriate spaces where they would not become damaged.

Community members will have another opportunity to comment on the future of the performing arts at Georgetown at a forum to be held April 27 in White Gravenor Hall. We urge students to voice their opinions at the forum and continue lobbying for their demands, and we encourage the administration to make concrete commitments to new spaces in an effort to nurture students’ artistic passions, whether they are in recognized groups or not, at all levels.

Jess Kelham-Hohler, Editor-in-Chief Toby Hung, Executive Editor Matthew Trunko, Managing Editor Ian Scoville, Campus News Editor Aly Pachter, City News Editor Paolo Santamaria, Sports Editor John Miller, Guide Editor Syed Humza Moinuddin, Opinion Editor Nena Beecham, Photography Editor Jesus Rodriguez, Layout Editor Jeanine Santucci, Copy Chief Elizabeth Cavacos, Social Media Editor Meg Lizza, Blog Editor Jarrett Ross, Multimedia Editor

Editorial Board

Syed Humza Moinuddin, Chair Jacob Bennett, Jesse Jacobs, Naaz Modan, Anthony Palacio, Ashwin Puri

Christian Paz Tara Subramaniam Lisa Burgoa Owen Eagan William Zhu Emily Dalton Sean Hoffman Darius Iraj Ryan McCoy Sean Davey Tom Garzillo Kate Kim Vera Mastrorilli Caroline Borzilleri Alyssa Volivar Danielle Wyerman Yuri Kim Emma Wenzinger Sarah Wright Kelly Park

Deputy Campus News Editor Deputy Campus News Editor Deputy City News Editor Business Editor Deputy Business & News Editor Deputy Sports Editor Deputy Sports Editor Deputy Sports Editor Paranoia Editor Deputy Guide Editor Deputy Guide Editor Deputy Guide Editor Deputy Opinion Editor Deputy Layout Editor Deputy Layout Editor Deputy Layout Editor Deputy Copy Editor Deputy Copy Editor Deputy Copy Editor Deputy Social Media Editor

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Lecture Fund Lacks Dialogue To the Editor, The ironies surrounding the Lecture Fund’s recent “Conversation with Cecile Richards” never cease to astound me. Despite the reiterated claims that the Lecture Fund supported a free exchange of ideas and open dialogue, the event was closed to the public and featured no countervoice to Richards hour long speech.

Recent reports have proven that the question and answer session offered little effort to include — or respect — differing opinions. This is all the more alarming considering Owen Eagan’s recent article

(“Richards Event Sees GU, DC Backlash. The Hoya, April 22, A1) about the Lecture Fund’s rejection of Fr. Stephen Fields S.J.’s proposal to invite a prolife speaker of equal standing to exchange ideas with Richards during the event.

The simple truth is that the Lecture Fund was not remotely interested in a dialogue. The only dialogue it wants is one that advances its own secularizing agenda.

The idea that the Lecture Fund is a bi-partisan group representative of the student body is utter nonsense. The Lecture Fund’s recent activities, combined with evidence from the organizer’s social

Evan Zimmet, General Manager Selena Parra, Director of Accounting Emily Ko, Director of Corporate Development Nicky Robertson, Director of Human Resources Daniel Almeida, Director of Sales

Brittnay Logan Senior Accounts and Operations Manager Matt Zezula National Accounts Manager Connor Mayes Local Accounts Manager Alexander Scheidemann Treasury Manager Galilea Zorola Subscriptions Manager Shreya Barthwal Special Programs Manager Elizabeth Sherlock Personnel Manager Walter Lohmann Organizational Development Manager Natalia Vasquez Market Research Manager Steven Lee Public Relations Manager Julie LeBlanc National Advertisements Manager

Contributing Editors & Consultants

Madison Ashley, Sara Bastian, Michael Begel, Isabel Binamira, Alexander Brown, Robert DePaolo, Megan Duffy, Sophie Faaborg-Anderson, Cleo Fan, Jesse Jacobs, Caroline Kenneally, Courtney Klein, Charlie Lowe, Carolyn Maguire, Andrew May, Tyler Park, Monika Patel, Becca Saltzman, Zack Saravay, Joseph Scudiero, Mallika Sen, Kshithij Shrinath, Molly Simio, Natasha Thomson, Ian Tice, Andrew Wallender, Michelle Xu

media accounts, reveal that this event was nothing other than a personal campaign of a select group of students to ornament their resumes at the expense of Georgetown’s Catholic identity.

The recent events are all the more ironic given the fact that the university’s involvement with slavery has been brought back into the public conversation. It seems to me that the same dilemma continues today: a select group of elite students and administrators holding unrepresented students and faculty hostage to their own narcissism.

Louis Cona (COL ’15)

Board of Directors

Kristen Fedor, Chair Jinwoo Chong, Jess Kelham-Hohler, Arnosh Keswani, Katherine Richardson, Daniel Smith, Evan Zimmet Letter to the Editor & Viewpoint Policies The Hoya welcomes letters and viewpoints from our readers and will print as many as possible. To be eligible for publication, letters should specifically address a recent campus issue or Hoya story. Letters should not exceed 300 words.

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

Send all submissions to: opinion@thehoya.com.

Letters and viewpoints are due Sunday at 5 p.m. for Tuesday’s issue and Wednesday at 5 p.m. for Friday’s issue. The Hoya reserves the right to reject letters or viewpoints and edit for length, style, clarity and accuracy. The Hoya further reserves the right to write headlines and select illustrations to accompany letters and viewpoints.

Corrections & Clarifications If you have a comment or question about the fairness or accuracy of a story, contact Executive Editor Toby Hung at (202) 315-850 or email executive@thehoya.com.

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OPINION

tuesday, april 26, 2016

SENSE OF THE MIDDLE EAST

Convoluted Kurdish Question

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very time a politician suggests a new approach to Middle East policy, the Kurdish ethnic group comes up as an unlikely ally. “We need to arm the Kurds now,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R - Texas) said in September. “We need to directly arm the Kurds,” former governor Jeb Bush (R - Fla.) declared in December. Even Democratic candidate former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton agreed, noting that the Kurds “have to be in the fight.”

On the surface, the catch-all phrase “arm the Kurds” may seem a logical step toward a more effective Middle East strategy. But who exactly are “the Kurds”? Would support be conditioned by location, alliances or history? While political discourse often ignores these factors, considering the context and implications of such a foreign policy initiative is imperative to ensuring that it will not damage the interests of the United States and its allies.

In 1916, the Sykes-Picot agreement divided the Kurds, then an autonomous group within the Ottoman Empire, between French-controlled Syria and British-controlled Iraq. The Kurds were further splintered after Kurdish areas in Syria were resettled in 1973, causing the relocation of over 140,000 Kurds to other areas of the country.

After Syria’s 2011 revolution, the Kurdish Democratic Union Party, PYD, consolidated power and established itself as a prominent political and military actor in the ensuing chaos.

Iraqi Kurds have a similarly tragic history, having been subjected to relocation campaigns and massacres by former dictator Saddam Hussein. After Hussein was toppled in 2003, tensions developed between the partially autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government, KRG, and the Baghdad regime, resulting in occasional clashes between Iraqi forces and Kurds.

The country commonly associated with Kurdish hardships, however, is Turkey. Responding to repression and intolerance, the pro-independence Kurdistan Workers’ Party, PKK, orchestrated bombings and assassinations until signing a 2013 ceasefire with the Turkish government.

Tensions did not abate, however, and after Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan cited the conflict against the Islamic State group as a pretext for striking Kurdish positions, the PKK responded with terrorist attacks responsible for hundreds of casualties. In March, a PKK bombing in the Turkish capital of Ankara killed 37 people.

In July 2014, IS group advances provided an opportunity for Kurdish forces to take over the oil-rich Kirkuk region, further establishing its desire for territorial dominance. Due to the Kurds’ active engagement in combatting IS group forces, the U.S. government considers the KRG a reliable actor. However, fears of damaging ties with the Iraqi government have dissuaded policymakers from offering KRG President Massoud Barzani direct financial and military aid. In June 2015, the Senate refused to authorize shipments of weaponry and communication technology to Kurdish forces.

At the same time, the PYD is poised to play a significant role in determining the future of postAssad Syria, but the organization faces staunch opposition to its participation in peace talks from the Turkish government, which believes that legitimizing Syrian Kurds could inspire challenges to territorial sovereignty.

The importance of Kurdish factions in the Syrian Civil War and the fight against IS group necessitates a comprehensive strategy that will orient regional players toward shared objectives. In Iraq, where the primary goals of the Uniteed States are to eradicate IS group and re-establish a unified state, policymakers should prioritize economic and military cooperation between the KRG and the Iraqi regime. While directly funding Kurdish militias might catalyze the coalition campaign, such a policy could deepen a rift between KRG and Baghdad. However, supporting the central government with provisions that specify quantities of supplies intended for Kurdish use could achieve combat objectives while concurrently preserving political ties.

In Syria, the United States must convince Turkey to allow PYD participation in the peace process to ensure the sustainability of negotiated resolution. Officials have urged the PYD to distance itself from the PKK, but the United States should publically back Erdogan in his anti-PKK crusade to assuage the Turkish government’s fears over the Kurds. While this undertaking may prove difficult, counterterrorism cooperation could re-establish trust and provide leverage to steer Turkey toward more conciliatory stances concerning the treatment of Kurdish groups.

While the Kurds have unquestionably suffered under foreign occupation, the United States should not advocate the crafting of an independent Kurdistan, but promote a continuation of the present state system in which Iraq, Syria and Turkey retain respective Kurdish populations.

Such an arrangement would theoretically inhibit self-determination. If the United States pursues the mentioned policies, local Kurdish communities will be seen by their host countries not as burdensome dependents, but as valuable partners integral to proper government functionality.

Determining the future of Kurdish lands will be a convoluted process, marred by a host of pitfalls and undesirable outcomes. It is a minefield that U.S. leaders can navigate, but doing so requires a strategy decidedly more nuanced than simply arming the Kurds.

Matthew Gregory is a junior in the School of Foreign Service. This is the final installment of Sense of the Middle East.

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VIEWPOINT •Genster

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Matthew Gregory

THE HOYA

Fighting for an Accessible World

n the fourth grade, we learned how to line dance.

The boys and girls faced each other at the center of the gym, reaching out to each other with sweaty hands, skipping and twirling down the line. It was in this line that I first understood how truly different I was from my peers — that I would never be able to dance as they could.

I was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy at 3 years old, and have used a wheelchair for almost my whole life. Now at 21, the anger and fear that blossomed in my fourth-grade mind has only begun to die away. A few years ago, I was asked to explain my experience as a disabled person. Disability, I explained, is to inhabit a world parallel to another world populated by my family, friends and strangers, a world rife with experiences and opportunities in which I am unable to participate and enjoy. These worlds are separated by a thin, translucent divide that I would be able to pass through, if not for my wheelchair.

Two months ago I sat in a Paris apartment, face to face with an embodiment of that maddening barrier. Number one on my trip’s preparation list was to find accessible accommodations. Despite our planning, my friend Olivia and I spent our first 36 hours moving from what I thought would be an accessible Airbnb to a truly accessible hotel.

The morning of the move, Olivia took our bags to the hotel via taxi and I waited in the apartment. Three hours later, Olivia

returned and I went to open the door to begin our Parisian vacation. To our horror, I discovered I could not open it. Unable to get close enough to leverage the stubborn doorknob, I was trapped inside. I stared at Olivia through the windows of the door, looking out at the world I could be enjoying, if not for a centimeter of ancient glass.

After 20 minutes, I became desperate. My palms were as sweaty as they had been during the fourth-grade dance. Olivia was equally distraught. The owner of the Airbnb was not responding. Neither was the landlady.

It would have been a funny scenario had it not been such an awful experience. Somehow I was finally able to open the door and Olivia rushed in. Moments later, we left the apartment hastily.

In the following months, my

mind returned to this memory, particularly to the desperation in Olivia’s eyes as she tried her hardest to remove the barrier between us. The divide between my world and hers was just as real to me as it was to her. As I stared up at Olivia through the door and she stared down, I realized that while I view the world from a unique vantage point, so does everyone else. Each one of us inhabits a distinct world that can often feel inescapable to us and appear inaccessible to others.

My world does not run parallel to one great world. Instead, it is part of an infinitely complex braid of individual lives, each as intricately woven as the next.

Just as I navigate a world literally and figuratively not built for me, each person wades through a world that is differently difficult.

And though we can never see the

VIEWPOINT • Martin

worlds of others exactly as they do, we can try and imagine other worlds as best we can. In doing so, we have the opportunity to bring distant perspectives much closer together. Occasionally, we have the opportunity to fuse disparate worlds.

When I arrived at Georgetown, I found myself again feeling like a fourth grader. As my floormates quickly formed into pairs to go to O’Donovan Hallwithout a roommate, saw myself looking down the line of happily dancing duos, embarrassed and unsure how to proceed. Yet as time passed, I stumbled into two communities — Mask and Bauble Dramatic Soceity and the Saxatones — that not only encouraged me to dance, but actively danced with me, gave me leadership roles, put me at center stage and most importantly, carried me into town houses.

Though I did not understand the immense importance of those acts then, I do now. In these moments of synchronized thought and action, in these moments of togetherness, the barriers between our worlds fall. I am lucky enough to be surrounded by people who will fight to bring me into their worlds and whose worlds I will fight to be a part of.

But not everyone is so fortunate.

With graduation approaching and the real world looming closer, we must fight to recognize, respect and open the door to access each other’s distinct worldview.

Nora Genster is a senior in the School of Foreign Service.

VIEWPOINT • Yon

Labor Rights: Building Inclusivity A Consumer Issue On the Hilltop

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s I sit in the back of than 90 percent of water is my macroeconomics used by agriculture and inclass, I behold a sea of dustry. The last 10 percent is illuminated laptop screens. divided between cities and Each screen has the same people. So why should the image: rows and rows of individual’s consumption clothes. I see my classmates be the ideal solution for savmindlessly clicking and ing water? We are running dragging each item of cloth- out of water because water ing into the electronic shop- is being stolen by corporaping basket. It is hard not to tions. cringe when I see the subseWe, as consumers, have quent flood of social justice more power than laborers in stickers as they close their developing countries, who laptops at the end of class. must continue participatI have always heard of ing in the system to survive Nike’s sweatshops, but the — even if surviving is barely issue of labor rights had not living. However, our roles as crossed my mind until I read individual consumers are “Why Students Aren’t Fight- not our most powerful idening Forever 21,” an article in tities. We all know that it The New Yorker from June takes more than one person 2014 that details the culture to change the world, so placof disposable fashion sup- ing the responsibility on ported by the brand. We buy individuals is not the most its cheap clothing that is de- productive way to address stroyed easily, which creates these problems. Instead of a need to buy more clothing navigating this system of — preferably something af- oppression with as much infordable — from Forever 21. tegrity as possible, we need I learned how labor rights to take it down. activists have to play a game Choosing the alternative of tag with the company as lifestyle of living simply it constantly moves from to cause less harm on the country to country, but the world is definitely a welworst aspect is the lack of come decision. It is the way I accountabilaspire to live, ity. We can but the good shame Nike If we want to work feelings that wearers for come from on any of those other the lifestyle the support they give of an ethical causes, we must to abusive consumer are first fix the industrial not enough. sweatshop labor in InEthical shopdonesia, but economy. If we do not, ping is a how do we we may soon not have good suppleidentify a ment to the a world or people for real work we Forever 21 shopper? need to be whom to fight.

I looked doing, which through my is combating closet and rethe power alized that 75 percent of my the industrial economy has clothes were from Forever on our society. However, I 21, which pained me. cannot prescribe an exact I want to be a conscious way of achieving this. Do we shopper, but why is it so need to regulate the system hard? I have good inten- more or abolish it all and tions, but I am also on fi- start over? nancial aid. I try to shop Although actively fightat thrift stores if I have to ing the industrial economy shop, but what good am I is extremely frightening, we doing? Is the onus on me cannot use our identities as as a consumer? At the end ethical consumers as a “copof the day, is one person out.” Fighting could result going to change the world? in losing many luxuries we As I sit in my room, I think, are so accustomed to, but I “Why is it so hard to be an think this is worth it when ethical consumer? Why do we think of the alternative: we have to jump through a dead planet and abused so many hoops?” It is defi- humans. nitely not the responsibility Many people argue that of the laborers in Indonesia there are many social justice to change this, so is it that causes much more pressof the individual consum- ing than ethical consumpers’ instead? tion. However, if we want to And what about all the work on any of those other other things we consume, causes, we must first fix the like water? What about industrial economy. If we do shorter showers? We often not, we may soon not have a hear about people dying world or people for whom to from a lack of water or how fight. the world will run out of water. The solution is to take Sarah Martin is a freshman shorter showers, yet more in the College.

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came to Georgetown antici- Simply asking what a person pating to be on a campus loves gives them the freedom where social life revolved to answer with whatever they around clubs and activities want, whether it be jogging, that were not necessarily exclu- reading or serving on the board sive. Yet this expectation was of a club. shaken after my first days on After becoming an ESCAPE the Hilltop. Extracurricular ac- leader my sophomore year and tivities at Georgetown possess going on every ESCAPE retreat a culture of rejection, making the past two years, I have seen students feel like outsiders dis- the power of bringing others connected from their peers. into an inclusive environment However, after attending near- where people are valued for ly 30 ESCAPE retreats over the who they are instead of what last three years, they do. Even my experiences as early as the have convinced Yet I still see potential first night of me that we can every retreat, to create more do better at crethe barriers ating more ininclusive spaces on between “ESclusive spaces CAPEes” start campus, to nurtue on campus in to come down order to broad- feelings of consolation. and masks are en and deepen gradually lifted our social lives. when everyone, At a Jesuit instill strangers to stitution, students have likely one another, sing the lyrics to “I heard the words “consolation” Want it That Way.” Such incluand “desolation” at some point sivity allows everyone to open during their four years here. St. up to each other and develop Ignatius described consolation deeper relationships — the ones as a deep connection with God I craved during my freshman and others in contrast to the year. The diversity of interests, feeling of desolation, a discon- backgrounds and identities I nectedness and dissatisfaction encountered through ESCAPE that occurs when relation- always baffles me when I realships do not reach the level ize how I would have probably we desire and need. ESCAPE never met such amazing peoDirector Madeline Vitek paints ple otherwise. desolation as being at a party Reflecting on ESCAPE pushed surrounded by other people me to seek inclusive friend but realizing you feel complete- groups that made me feel welly alone. comed and accepted for who I I felt my share of desolation am. While I did find such groups during my first year here. I in my dormitory and choir dove headfirst into social life at group, there is still room for imGeorgetown in an attempt to provement in creating inclusive forge meaningful relationships spaces on campus like ESCAPE. early on, yet consistently enIt can be as simple as grabcountered roadblocks. My New bing one of those new “DinStudent Orientation group and ing alone?” signs to place on I did not connect as deeply as I a table at Leo’s, which encourwished we would, and my com- ages strangers to join if they do mon room on Village C West’s not want to eat by themselves. fourth floor was consistently Inclusivity could mean striking filled with packages, which up a conversation with stranglimited floor bonding. I quickly ers on the front lawn and askbecame exhausted with trying ing about their broader interto insert myself in established ests rather than merely the friend groups while feeling like activities one would find on a an outsider. resume. More student groups When I took the opportunity could be created and committo go on an ESCAPE retreat in ted to being as inclusive as posmy freshman fall, I met other sible, like the Opportunes, an students who shared similar a cappella group that holds its feelings of desolation stemming auditions after other groups from Georgetown’s culture of re- to encourage a wider range of jection. Many planned join Stu- singers who were not initially dents of Georgetown, Inc. or an a chosen to get involved. cappella group yet felt as though I acknowledge that some club they had no alternatives when exclusivity is natural on a camthey failed to meet their goals. pus filled with students who But such desolation was ab- want to do it all. Yet I still see sent in ESCAPE. Everyone was potential to create more incluunited, not by some obligatory sive spaces on campus, to nuractivity or qualification, but ture feelings of consolation and rather by a common desire to connectedness. Crafting such reflect and meet new people. emotions and understandings Conversations among ESCAPE among students of different inleaders and participants were terests and backgrounds should based not on just what some- not seem out of reach. It takes body had done or could do. only a single conversation to fosESCAPE taught me the value of ter consolation and inclusivity. asking someone “What do you like doing in your free time?” Christian Yon is a junior in instead of “What do you do?” the College.

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NEWS

THE HOYA

TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2016

PAGE FOUR

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Capital Bikeshare will become more affordable for low-income District residents. Story on A7.

Your news — from every corner of The Hoya.

IN FOCUS HAIR FOR CHARITY

verbatim

“

There are a lot of issues that spur on college campuses, but then can become a more widespread national conversation.”

Enushe Khan (MSB ’17), GUSA President.

Story on A7.

from

KARLA LEYJA/THE HOYA

Community members raised over $40,000 for St. Baldrick’s Foundation, which works to fund children’s cancer research, by shaving their heads at the MedStar Georgetown Hospital on April 15.

“MOTIVATION MONDAY: LIVE FROM THE WALSH BATHROOM” Need some inspiration? Check out these deep quotes we took from the Walsh bathrooms! blog.thehoya.com

Unsung Heroes Looks to Recognize GU Workers TAYLOR HARDING Hoya Staff Writer

With the mission of increasing recognition for Georgetown’s workers, Facebook page Unsung Heroes captures their personal stories through videos and photography on its Facebook page, which has gained more than 1000 followers since its April 1 launch.

Sponsored by the Clinton Global Initiative University, the page has featured eleven posts to date, including interviews with Food & Service Worker at Leo O’Donovan Dining Hall José Manzanares and Food & Service worker at Leavey Center’s Grab & Go Station Javier Reyes. The posts follow a similar style to the photographs on popular Facebook page Humans of New York.

Febin Bellamy (MSB ’17) initially founded the project as an assignment for philosophy professor Jason Brennan’s “Moral Foundations in Market Society” class last spring.

Since then, Bellamy and his team, consisting of Harrison Williams (COL ’16), Lucas Berry (MSB ’17), Isaiah Jones (COL ’16), Jonathan Carrington (MSB ’17), Naiara Parker (MSB ’18) and Kevin Durham (MSB ’19), have been working on reaching out to campus workers and creating posts.

Bellamy’s inspiration came during a three-week period of studying in the Hariri Building until the early morning, when he began to notice a facilities management worker who cleaned the windows each night. Bellamy eventually became friends with the cleaner, Oneil Batchelor.

Bellamy said his interactions with Batchelor encouraged him to start the Facebook page.

“I started started making conversations with Batchelor every day and got to know him really well,” Bellamy said. “I thought, ‘Why don’t all students get a chance to know their stories as well, and more than just facilities management workers? What about the people at Elevation Burger or the people at Leo’s?’”

After pitching the idea to his classmates, Bellamy began conducting interviews with Georgetown employees from various departments, including facilities management, utilities plant, cleaning and maintenance, transportation and food and service.

Before they launched the Facebook page, Bellamy and his team had archived 60 interviews. Since then, over 15 additional employee interviews have been conducted.

Bellamy said he selects unique parts from the conversations and

includes photographs of the individuals, often in their respective work environments, when he publishes a post. He also aims to have conversations that gradually bring out an employee’s story instead of formal interviews.

“We try to talk broadly at first,” Bellamy said. “Then we ask them about what they do on the weekends or in their free time, which is when they [are] talking about their kids or things that are important to them. I don’t even call them interviews. I just ask if I can talk to them for a few minutes.

According to Bellamy, potential subjects were apprehensive toward being featured when the project began, but are now more willing given the page’s positive reception.

“A lot of times, these workers are just looking for someone to talk to and want someone to hear them out. For students to show that they’re actually interested in getting to know them, that’s very different from what they’re used to,” Bellamy said.

Among Unsung Heroes’ most popular featured workers are Frankie Capers, a food and service worker at Einstein Bros. Bagels who discusses her life-long commitment to the truth, facilities management night worker Memuna Tackie, who discusses passing her citizenship test and learning English from Katherine Leopold (COL ’18) and facilities management night worker Vernetta Butler, who helped three girls who were being followed by strangers. Capers’s feature received around 900 likes.

Bellamy said the employees’ responses to questions give insight into ways Georgetown students can be more supportive of workers.

“One question that I always ask is, ‘What does a thank you mean to you?’” Bellamy said. “I also usually ask what the most memorable moment they’ve had at Georgetown is. One time someone said it was when a student bought her coffee. She had been here for 20 years and the most memorable moment she had was when a student bought her a coffee. If we can do more of that, we can really make these lives and experiences much better.”

Georgetown Individuals Vocal and Energetic for Service President Lauren Bachmann (SFS ’18) said the mission of Unsung Heroes is important in supporting workers.

“It is important to recognize those people who work behind the scenes because they are most often forgotten and deserve appreciation — we are all Hoyas. A simple act of kindness can go a long

UNSUNG HEROES

The Facebook page Unsung Heroes, which seeks to increase recognition for Georgetown’s workers, has featured 11 posts, including food and service worker at Einstein Bagels Co. Frankie Carper. way, and the goals of Unsung Heroes are really wonderful,” Bachmann said.

Bellamy said he hopes the project can move beyond interviews to finding ways to help workers.

“The style that we have used so far is just to get students to understand that [these workers] are human beings — they have stories. I think once students start seeing that, we’re going to continue doing that but it’s going to also be more action. Sort of like, now that we know that they exist, how do we give back to them?” Bellamy said.

Unsung Heroes recently secured funding from StartupHoyas to purchase equipment and fund its expansion to other campuses, after Bellamy and his partner Harrison Williams (COL ’16) presented their idea during the StartupHoyas Chal-

lenge earlier this semester. Unsung Heroes was selected as one of eight finalists from an original pool of 80.

Williams said he is not surprised by the project’s success.

“You have to give this issue a humanizing touch and make students think, ‘Wow, these are people that have the same experiences and thought processes as me and I shouldn’t look at them any differently because I go to Georgetown and they don’t,’” Williams said.

“They’re not our maids, they’re not our servants. I think the popularity comes from the emotional connection.”

Unsung Heroes also recently teamed up with Georgetown Individuals Vocal and Energetic for Service, which seeks to spread happiness in the community, to make

posters for university workers.

The team filmed the project and featured it on the Unsung Heroes page.

Bellamy is currently working to expand Unsung Heroes beyond Georgetown. While Unsung Heroes will remain the parent organization, Georgetown’s chapter will eventually change its name to Unsung Hoyas.

Bellamy said he is pleased with the positive feedback students are giving.

“I hear a lot of students already saying that they see a change in myself and that they think twice when they see a worker and walk past them. That makes me really happy because that’s our whole goal as an organization,” Bellamy said. “Just say thank you. That’s all we want.”

news

tuesday, april 26, 2016

THE HOYA

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GCP Postpones Campus Plan Draft Deadline to July 1 Cheryl Liu

Hoya Staff Writer

The Georgetown Community Partnership Steering Committee postponed its deadline to submit a draft of the 2018 Campus Plan to the Washington, D.C. Office of Zoning to July 1 — two months later than its original goal of April 22 — due to unresolved negotiations regarding MedStar and campus housing.

The committee, which comprises administrators, students, community members and Medstar Hospital officials, agreed to submit the completed campus plan to the Office of Zoning in time for a Sept. 1 hearing.

Agreements in which existing campus buildings and spaces can be used for development and the placement of entrances to Georgetown MedStar hospital still need to be reached.

Georgetown University Student Association Deputy Chief of Staff Ari Goldstein (COL ’18), who is responsible for campus planning and helped lead the “Let’s Not Get Screwed Again” petition in 2015 to ensure increased student voice in the 2018 Campus Plan negotiations, said the committee missed the deadline to continue negotiations.

“There are still pretty significant gaps that exist, specifically in housing between different community members and also on MedStar’s plans,” Goldstein said.

According to Goldstein, the original deadline was moved ahead because of MedStar’s new construction plans, which include building a surgical pavilion and a green space.

“The original deadline was July 1, 2017 to submit to the zoning commission. After Medstar voiced their concerns we rushed the process by a year,” Goldstein said.

Goldstein said the goal now is to finish the campus plan by the middle of summer.

“There is a goal of some to finalize the last elements by the middle of this May and continue with our plan to submit this summer,” Goldstein said.

According to Goldstein, the neighbors hope to increase the number of students living on campus. However, Goldstein said the university does not have the funds to create more housing on campus, as it already borrowed $68.4 million to build the Former Jesuit Residence and the Northeast Triangle Residence Hall.

“We leveraged a lot of debt to build the Former Jesuit Residence and Northeast Triangle,” Goldstein said. “There is a goal to house 90 percent of students on campus by 2025.”

Goldstein said some of the issues regarding campus development stem from the university’s lack of funding.

“We are in a large urban area.

We are a medium-sized school.

Frankly, we have a lot less money than comparable institutions like Harvard or Stanford,” Goldstein said.

The GCP was formed after the 2010 Campus Plan was implemented in 2012 after a lengthy legal battle between several Georgetown resident associations and the university. The Office of Zoning approved the 2010 Campus Plan in July 2012 after more than two years of negotiations between the university and neighbors, which included significant concessions by the university to neighbors, including a three-year on-campus housing requirement for students.

Jack Pelose (COL ’19), a member of the GCP Transportation and Parking Steering Committee Working Group, said the GCP

has had a positive impact on relations between the university and neighbors.

“It is important that when the university submits a campus plan the neighbors know that they have been included and that students can be assured that their interests have been heard and prioritized as well,” Pelose said.

Goldstein said the GCP seeks to foster better relations between the community and the university.

“We can work together on it every step of the way so that by the time we submit it, everyone is on the same page,” Goldstein said. “The 2010 Campus Plan took three years to litigate in court. It was a hugely expensive battle for

the neighborhood and the university.”

Former GUSA President Joe Luther (COL ’16) said while the university should attempt to balance its obligation to students and respect for the community, students should be the first priority.

“I think the university should try to be a good neighbor to the community, but not at the expense of students or the student experience. Students should always be the university’s priority,” Luther said.

Lily Ryan (COL ’18) said the new campus plan should focus less on building new dorms, but instead aim to benefit on-campus residents in other ways.

“My concern is that the university is putting a lot of money into building infrastructure when there are a lot of places where they could also put their money where students and on-campus workers would be better served,” Ryan said.

Seth Maslowski (MSB ’19) said he opposed parts of the campus plan that would increase the number of students living on campus.

“I think the community can be kind of ridiculous with trying to keep students on campus,” Maslowski said. “I don’t think we should try to make our campus more congested than it already is.”

COURTEST GEORGETOWN EXXON

The Georgetown Community Partnership Steering Committee postponed its April 22 deadline to submit a draft of the 2018 Campus Plan to the Washington, D.C. Office of Zoning to July 1.

Panel Talks Sexual Assault Report Profiles Increased District Murder Rate Tala Al Rajjal Hoya Staff Writer

Six university administrators emphasized the need to expand Counseling and Psychiatric Services and better publicize resources available for victims of sexual assault at the third annual Sexual Assault Open Forum in the Leavey Program Room on Wednesday.

Hosted by Take Back the Night and the Georgetown University Student Association, the panelists included Vice President for Student Affairs Todd Olson, Title IX Coordinator Laura Cutway, Georgetown University Police Department Sexual Assault Response and Prevention Coordinator Sergeant Sarah Halpren-Ruder, Director of Health Education Services Carol Day, HES Staff Clinician and Sexual Assault Specialist Jennifer Wiggins and Director of CAPS Dr. Phil Meilman.

The panel highlighted recent changes to support survivors of sexual assault, including the printing of campus resource phone numbers on the back of

“I think that there are a number of things that we as a community need to do overall to invite a different level of experiences to the sexual asault conversation.”

JENNIFER WIGGINS Staff Clinician and Sexual Assault Specialist, Health Education Services

all new GOCards, the provision of a semester’s worth of free CAPS appointments to survivors and respondents and the addition of stickers with information on resources for survivors placed in every public restroom on campus.

Panelists agreed that there is still room to improve sexual assault services, despite strides made in increasing prevention, access and transparency of support measures.

Meilman said CAPS staff needs to be expanded in order to decrease wait times while increasing accessibility.

“In terms of reforms going forward, we want to grow the size of the CAPS staff. I’m pleased to say that that’s already begun and we anticipate that we will continue to do that in the next couple years.

It’ll be incremental but we’re moving in the right direction,” Meilman said.

Meilman said CAPS plans to further develop its outreach programs. According to Meilman, the

ultimate goal of the programs is to end sexual assault on campus.

“Until everyone on campus understands that the university doesn’t tolerate this kind of behavior, then we have a lot of work to do,” Meilman said. “That may be aspirational but it’s a good aspiration and I’d like to see us move in that direction.”

Wiggins, the faculty advisor for Georgetown’s Sexual Assault Peer Educators program, said there is a lack of diversity in the dialogue surrounding sexual assault. According to Wiggins, only 15 of the 60 students involved with SAPE identify as male and few people of color are represented.

“I think diversification is something I’d like to see in the sexual assault [education] community here at Georgetown,” Wiggins said. “Even just taking a look in the room right now, I don’t think there are many students of color who are engaging in this conversation overall.”

Wiggins said she has begun to tackle the issue by collaborating with the Center for Multicultural Equity and Access. As part of this effort, Wiggins has set up office hours in the CMEA, but said a community-wide effort to diversify conversations about sexual assault is required.

“I think that there are a number of things that we as a community need to do overall to invite a different level of experiences to the sexual assault conversation,” Wiggins said.

According to Wilson, SAPE has reached 700 students on campus through its programming this year.

Cutway, who became Georgetown’s first full-time Title IX coordinator when she was hired in January, said there is a need for greater transparency and an increased focus on developing preventative measures.

Cutway said she hopes to clarify on-campus services for sexual assault survivors, such as a flowchart on how to access services, a checklist indicating the confidentiality of services, as well as a

FAQ document.

“I would like to increase reporting by ensuring that students understand the process. I want as much transparency in that process as possible,” Cutway said. “I would also like an avenue for online reporting, and I would like to bolster the website because we’ve heard feedback that it’s not so user-friendly or mobile-friendly.”

Halpren-Ruder said it is important for GUPD to develop a stronger reputation and relationships with students to ensure effective sexual assault responses.

“We want to continue to bridge gaps between the way we’re viewed as law enforcement officers between the students and to continue to build the relationships we have with other departments. The stronger the relationships are, the stronger we are as a resource for everyone here,” Halpren-Ruder said.

As part of its efforts, GUPD has implemented 40-hour training sessions for all incoming personnel as a way to enhance sexual assault responses.

Olson said he is proud of both the work that has been achieved and the university’s attitude toward addressing sexual assault moving forward.

“I’m still very restless and eager to hear what our working groups come up with. I think we need to be restless, while also acknowledging the fact that we’ve done a lot of great work,” Olson said.

Meredith Lostaglio (SFS ’19), who attended the event and volunteers as a SAPE coordinator, said CAPS and HES should focus on preventative measures for sexual assault in the future.

“The administration is taking a lot of steps when it comes to this issue, but a lot of the steps are retroactive in the sense that they deal with survivors, rather than preventing rape. SAPE is one of the few organizations I see on campus that try to deal with the issues that lead to rape, rather than the fallout of rape,” Lostaglio said.

COURTESY LAURA CUTWAY

Panelists, including Title IX coordinator Laura Cutway, discussed the state of the university’s sexual assault efforts.

Gaia Mattiace

spikes. And it’s hard to know after one year. We will have to wait and see.”

Washington, D.C., is one of three Cullen said compiling the study cities alongside Baltimore and Chica- was a rigorous exercise of data collecgo that account for more than half of tion and analysis. the surge in the number of murders “The study itself was quite involved, nationwide between 2014 and 2015, and took time,” Cullen wrote. “We according to a study released last had to gather the data, only some Wednesday by the New York Univer- of which is available publicly, sort sity School of Law’s Brennan Center through the different definitions of for Justice. various crimes to ensure a uniform The second annual report, which analysis, and determine a methodexamined crime in the United States’ ology before we could go about ana30 largest cities through 2015, found lyzing the data and drawing concluthat in Washington alone, the mur- sions from it.” der rate increased by 54.3 percent Georgetown sociology professor from 105 in 2014 to 162 in 2015.

William McDonald attributed the inAccording to the report, although crease in murders to a possible shift the crime rate is at an all-time low in the population cohort of 15- to in the nation with a 0.1 percent de- 25-year-olds and the District’s high crease from 2014, the murder rate population density. leaped 13.2 percent in D.C., Balti“The crime rate will increase even more and Chicago. The reports listed if at the individual level people are these three cities as having declining committing the same number of populations, higher poverty rates and crimes per year,” McDonald wrote higher unemployment rates than the in an email to The Hoya. “In D.C., national average. the population density may have inThe Brennan Center said the surge creased due to gentrification process in murders in forcing lower these three cities income people may have been to share space or caused by small accept tight livnumerical ining conditions.” creases.

Cullen said “Murder rates while the study vary widely from may be useful for year to year, and policymakers, it there is little was intended for evidence of a napublic consumptional coming tion in order to wave in violent dispel the miscrime. These seconception that rious increases crime has been seem to be lorising nationcalized, rather ally over recent than part of a nayears.

KATHERINE CIENKUS (SFS ’18) tional pandemic, “Very few peoMember, Georgetown Against Gun Violence suggesting that ple are talking community conabout the fact ditions remain that the murder rate is half of what the major factor,” the study reads. it was 25 years ago, and that crime According to James Cullen, a re- has fallen across the country,” Cullen search and program associate in the wrote. “Some cities have clearly seen Brennan Center for Justice, the com- a spike in murders, like Washington, peting trends of reduced crime with D.C. That cannot, and should not, be increased murder rates highlight the ignored. But from everything we’ve need for a multifaceted approach to seen in the data, that is a localized analyzing crime. spike.”

“While Washington, D.C., saw Georgetown Against Gun Violence less crime, mostly because burglar- member Katherine Cienkus (SFS ’18) ies and motor vehicle thefts went said gun violence contributes to a down, it saw more violent activ- cycle of crime and poverty nationally. ity, such as robberies and murders,” “As college students in the area Cullen wrote in an email to The Hoya. who have the potential to work on “This was true for many cities, but these issues, we must recognize that illustrates that talking about crime one death by guns is one too many, alone or murder alone often does not and how violence systemically degive a full picture.” stroys communities and continues While Cullen emphasized the dif- the cycle of poverty and violence,” ficulty of making generalizations at Cienkus said. “Awareness is a huge a national level based on a one-year part of the problem, but engagement sample, he acknowledged the incon- is what we should strive for.” sistency present in Washington, BalAllie Little (COL ’18) said as a curtimore and Chicago compared with rent resident of D.C., she is upset by the rest of the country. the increasing rates of murder in D.C. “The data suggests that the nation “The high rate of gun violence obviis on the same trend towards greater ously makes me sad, but it also makes safety, but something is happening me want to empower people to figure in those cities,” Cullen wrote. “We out why it exists, because I don’t like did not study these cities closely and that statistic. I don’t like that we live do not want to guess the cause of the in a city like that,” Little said.

Hoya Staff Writer

“As college students in the area who have the potential to work on these issues, we must recognize that one death by guns is one too many.”

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NEWS

THE HOYA

TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2016

Summit Engages Student Leaders the panel featured Clyburn; Anita Hannon, intergovernmental liaison wanted Nelson Mandela to be free. We in the Office of Congressional and wanted to be able to finish our educa- Intergovernmental Relations; International Finance Corporation attorney tions. We just wanted to be.”

Wilder stressed that young black consultant Adeola Olagunju; Open Sowomen should not let society prevent ciety Foundation senior policy analyst them from seeking to achieve their Nkechi Taifa; and Deputy Mayor for Greater Economic Opportunity Courtgoals.

“When you see injustice, say some- ney Snowden.

Snowden said while working in the thing. Don’t feel powerless when you actually have all the power you’re ever public sector is difficult, it is rewarding.

“Nothing is harder than trying to going to need,” Wilder said. “Have the courage to follow your passion and force the government to do something have the courage to know that nobody that it always doesn’t think it wants to do,” Snowden said. “When you are takcan write this script for you.”

Wilder said society perpetuates a cy- ing on a bureaucracy that has been encle of poverty, which she experienced trenched for many years, it is a battle firsthand as her mother had to work every single day.”

According to Clyburn, public service three jobs while receiving welfare.

“The condition of poverty in the is the most effective method to instigate real change.

United States is a “Not all of the condition that we “The condition things that you put on a certain perthink are yours centage of our citi- of poverty in the you’re going to get zens,” Wilder said. United States is a on the first, second “We do not even or even the third give access to civil condition that we time,” Clyburn said. law to people who put on a certain “But if you want it, are poor.” then you will find Wilder encour- percentage of our a way to maneuver aged alternative to get it. I am sitting solutions to address citizens.” here promoting pubthe issue of poverty.

GLORIA WILDER) lic service because I Wilder completed Keynote Speaker, BRAVE Summit think that it is the her medical resigreatest gift you can dency in a mobile van, as part of an effort to better serve give to your communities and this naunderprivileged Washington, D.C. resi- tion.”

Taifa said young people can make a dents.

“This community had decided that difference if they choose a career that this was important and that in this allows them to pursue their passions.

“One piece of advice that I would one little case of the little mobile van that could, justice would speak to give to young people out there is to some children in Wards 5, 6, 7 and follow your passions, because if you 8,” Wilder said. “I had been the first follow your passions you will not go resident in the United States to do wrong,” Taifa said. “My advice to you is their entire residency on a mobile to demand change and demand that program. After I finished it and people there must be a difference.”

Sarah Santana (COL ’16), who atrealized that you could actually learn a little medicine out in the field, they tended the summit, said she was fasapproved these types of residencies cinated by the summit’s emphasis on across the country and we had more intersectionality.

“I was curious as to how the sumapplicants than we could deal with.”

Wilder said she looks forward to mit would approach intersectionalthe impact future generations of black ity and look at various issues that we women will have on all facets of social don’t necessarily talk about directly justice, including education, econom- at other events on campus,” Santana ic justice, environmental justice, legal said. “I think that it’s really great to hear those experiences because I think justice and health care.

“The beautiful thing about life is that that a lot of the time you don’t really one day you’re going to pass the baton. get a chance to hear about someone’s And you’re going to hope that the peo- vulnerability.”

Shakera Vaughan (COL ’19), who ple behind you are just as swift so you can watch them move ahead of you,” volunteered at the summit, said she found the experience empowering.

Wilder said.

“I chose to volunteer for BRAVE beSpeakers in the “Black Women in Public Policy” panel detailed how they cause I feel like there are not enough are using their positions to help wom- events that celebrate ‘Black Girl Magic,’ and I think that it is very important en of color in the public sector.

Moderated by African American that we are reminded why we are imstudies professor Meredith Anderson, portant,” Vaughan said.

BRAVE, from A1

ARCHITECTUAL LIGHTING

Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority released an inaugural survey earlier this month documenting that 77 percent of sexual harassment cases on the Metro system go unreported

WMATA Releases Survey METRO, from A1 public art addressing the issue and more advanced methods of reporting incidents to Washington Metro Transit Police, including a website, an email address and text messaging system.

The survey found that 75 percent of sexual harassment was labeled as “verbal harassment,” while 47 percent was characterized as “leering.”

Two percent of reported incidents were sexual assault whereas 9 percent were groping incidents.

SSH Founder and Executive Director Holly Kearl said the purpose of the survey was to provide her organization with a baseline for how best to proceed with anti-harassment efforts.

In a press release, Lynn Bowersox, assistant general manager of customer service, communications and marketing of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, said the purpose of the extended efforts to combat sexual harassment is to ensure the welfare of riders.

“Metro is working to make all riders feel safer and more comfortable on the system, and raising awareness about sexual harassment is an important part of that effort,” Bowersox wrote.

Kearl also praised WMATA for taking steps to combat sexual harassment by conducting the survey.

“The fact that they did this survey at all is a huge signal that they are trying to take this issue seriously,” Kearl said. “No other transit system has done this level of surveying on this issue in our country.”

Kearl said she believes more

incidents will be reported with the implementation of a quarterly report system.

“We’ve been trying to let our constituents know that Metro is keeping records of all the harassment,” Kearl said. “You can report something that happened a while ago, you can report something that happened today, something that you witnessed.”

Kearl added while she appreciates Metro’s efforts, its employees are still untrained to handle harassment cases and are perpetrators in some cases.

“They’re actually saying for the first time, if it’s unwanted, it’s harassment. We’re defining it, naming the problem.”

JESSICA RAVEN Executive Director, Collective Action for Safe Spaces

“Something that they have done before and we’re pushing them to do is to train their staff so that when someone does make a report in person that person is able to help them,” Kearl said. “Unfortunately, sometimes we do hear about Metro employees being the harasser.”

CASS Executive Director Jessica Raven said the organization is committed to spreading awareness of the issue at a grassroots level and through the Sexual Assault Education Campaign.

“In the first place we have to make sure people know it’s a problem,” Raven said. “[We should] make sure people

know that police officers and staff are trained to respond to people who have experienced sexual harassment and assault.”

Raven said the Metro’s antiharassment campaign is a step in the right direction toward combatting a culture in which citizens, especially women and the LGBTQ community, have been conditioned to accept harassment as a fact of life.

“These ads on the Metro have been significant,” Raven said. “They’re actually saying for the first time, if it’s unwanted, it’s harassment.

We’re defining it, naming the problem, letting people know that this behavior is unacceptable and they don’t have to tolerate it.”

According to the survey, 41 percent of Metro riders are familiar with the education campaign. Furthermore, those familiar with the campaign are twice as likely to report sexual harassment incidents compared with the 77 percent who indicated they never reported sexual harassment incidents.

Georgetown University Student Association Policy Chair of the Safety and Sexual Assault Team Maddy Moore (SFS ’17), who is also a member of Sexual Assault Peer Educators, said she is grateful for a report detailing sexual harassment incidents on the Metro.

“It wasn’t surprising to know that people are receiving unwanted harassment and attention in public spaces,” Moore said. “I think that’s something that women especially have been subject to this for a really long time, so I’m glad there’s finally a report detailing that.”

Mental Health Site Opens MENTAL HEALTH, from A1

NENA BEECHAM/THE HOYA

Gloria Wilder delivered the keynote address at the inaugural BRAVE Summit, which was attended by around 250 students.

Lacrosse Player Blatz Jr. Dies BLATZ, from A1 in receptions and touchdown catches, and was a member of the AllLong Island First Team in lacrosse and Second Team in football.

At Georgetown, the 21-year-old student was a management major who played defense for the lacrosse team and appeared in 25 games, starting 19 throughout his career.

In a statement released by the athletics department on Monday, Lacrosse Head Coach Kevin Warne mourned Blatz’s death.

“Eddie was a great young man who was well-respected and wellliked by his teammates and the Georgetown lacrosse family,” Warne wrote. “He was a very bright student and a talented player and words cannot express the loss we are feeling right now.”

In the statement, Athletics Director Lou Reed highlighted the play-

er’s influence as a member of both the athletic and wider university communities.

“Our heartfelt condolences and deepest sympathies go to Eddie’s family as together we mourn his sudden passing,” Reed wrote. “This is a tragic loss not only for our Georgetown athletics family but for our entire university. He will be greatly missed by his teammates and coaches and friends on campus.”

Masses were held for Blatz at Dahlgren Chapel on Sunday night.

The university will provide campus resources to students and faculty during this time, with staff available at Counseling and Psychiatric Services, the Office of Campus Ministry and the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program.

A full obituary will be published in Friday’s issue.

a crisis-intervention service.

“I personally see Project Lighthouse as the ‘first line’ for mental health on campus — it’s very approachable, very easy to access, and can serve as a portal to figuring out which on-campus resource would be most effective,” Johnson wrote.

GUSA President Enushe Khan (MSB ’17) said she is excited about the potential of the new service.

“We are super excited about the launch of Project Lighthouse,” Khan said. “We hope that this new peer-to-peer resource will serve as an easy way for students to seek support or talk about any issue.”

Khan said the service’s anonymity is a major advantage for students who want to speak to a peer supporter.

“The anonymity factor helps students who feel uncomfortable sharing their identities when talking about mental health,” Khan said.

GUSA Mental Health Policy Team Chair Sylvia Levy (SFS ’18), who works with the Project Lighthouse team, said the program aims to reach all students.

“This incredible resource is going to make sure that Georgetown students don’t fall through the cracks,” Levy wrote in an email to THE HOYA. “I think we’re well on our way to really helping Georgetown become a more mentally healthy campus. Our

peer supporters, who have been through 40-plus hours of training, are really fantastic and are undoubtedly making a difference.”

Student Chair of the Mental Health Advisory Board William Emery (COL ’19) said Project Lighthouse fulfills one of the MHAB’s ongoing recommendations to improve campus mental health resources.

The MHAB consists of students and staff from across the university.

“Instead of a student having to try to figure out where to go alone, a Project Lighthouse volunteer can talk with them.”

WILLIAM EMERY Student Chair , Mental Health Advisory Board

“One way the MHAB has identified improvement is in increasing student awareness of the resources available to them. Project Lighthouse goes a long way towards making those improvements,” Emery wrote in an email to THE HOYA. Emery said the program’s unique structure builds confidence with students.

“Project Lighthouse volun-

teers are not just there for support; they are trained in on-campus and off-campus resources — and not only for mental health,” Emery wrote.

“Instead of a student having to try to figure out where to go alone, a Project Lighthouse volunteer can talk with them about the available resources and provide them with the contact information for those resources.”

Levy said she hopes Project Lighthouse expands to other campuses. Cornell University currently operates a similar service, called the Empathy, Assistance and Referral Service.

“In the future, I hope we can increase student knowledge of our program and continue to attract talented, passionate people who would like to train to be Project Lighthouse Peer Supporters,” Levy wrote.

“Hopefully other colleges and universities will be interested in the work we’re doing and consider starting their own Project Lighthouse chapters.”

Khan said she hopes the launch is a step toward a cultural shift regarding mental health on campus.

“As a community, we can best support each other by being empathetic. Project Lighthouse is proof that we as students are here for one another.” Khan said. “Project Lighthouse is a major step towards breaking the stigma around talking about mental health on our campus.”

News

tuesday, april 26, 2016

THE HOYA

A7

Groups Launch Green Initiatives Bikeshare Supports Low-Income Residents

Haley Snyder Hoya Staff Writer

In honor of Earth Day last Friday, several offices and student organizations, including Students of Georgetown, Inc. and the Office of Sustainability launched various environmental initiatives, such as the addition of four solar-powered outdoor chargers throughout campus.

In addition, The Corp also launched the Corp Sustainability Committee and a composting program at The Hilltoss, while the Georgetown University Student Association will host the second Annual Georgetown Day Cup on Saturday, where students compete to collect and dispose of the greatest number of red solo cups and aluminum cans.

The solar chargers were a joint effort with University Information Services, Planning and Facilities Management and the Georgetown Energy and Environmental Network. One of the panels is currently situated at the new bus turnaround near McDonough Arena.

“I hope that people will be able to learn from the solar charging stations.”

Jessica lee (sfs ’16) Intern, Office of Sustainability

The Coca Cola Company sponsored three of the chargers, while University Information Services sponsored the fourth.

Jessica Lee (SFS ’16), an intern in the Office of Sustainability, said she

Simon Carroll Special to the Hoya

MICHELLE XU/THE HOYA

Campus organizations, including The Corp, launched various efforts to engage students in campus environmental initiatives. is hopeful this initiative will help students to become more aware of their individual impacts on the environment.

“It creates a new mindset about energy,” Lee said. “I hope that people will be able to learn from the solar charging stations and apply that new knowledge to other parts of their life as well.”

Formerly known as the Corp Green Team, the CSC aims to evaluate and advance The Corp’s sustainability and environmental awareness concerning the operations of its storefronts and products.

The result of a partnership with the Office of Sustainability, the CSC is headed by Katie Harper (SFS ’17) and will include both members of The Corp and the larger Georgetown community, with applications clos-

ing April 28.

According to Chief Operations Officer of The Corp Alex Donovan (SFS ’17), The Corp’s upper management began to explore options for composting last year. Donovan worked closely with Director of The Hilltoss John Dodderidge (COL ’17) to establish a partnership with EnviRelations, a suitable composting vendor.

The monthly composting charge is supplied by The Corp’s own funds.

Donovan said, while she is excited about The Corp’s progress, there is still room for improvement in improving sustainability at Georgetown.

“Georgetown needs to increase its focus on sustainability, and I think the best way to boost that focus is through student-led initiative and projects,” Donovan wrote in an email to The Hoya.

Students Invited to Conventions Lisa Burgoa Hoya Staff Writer

The Georgetown Institute of Politics and Public Policy will accept student applications through May 8 for its newly launched 2016 Convention Ambassadors program, an initiative providing members with access to the presidential nominating conventions in July.

GU Politics will fund transportation and housing for selected students traveling to either the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia from July 25 to 28 or the Republican National Convention in Cleveland from July 18 to 21. Both undergraduate and graduate students are eligible.

According to Lauren Mullins, director of communications of the McCourt School of Public Policy, ambassadors will volunteer in committees and attend events with media outlets and other political organizations to develop a behind-the-scenes understanding of the nominating process.

In addition to serving as spokespeople to political media, members are expected to generate content through social media including Snapchat, Twitter and blog posts documenting their experiences on the trail.

The programming further includes meet-and-greet sessions with prominent political actors from the campaign trail, along with collaborations with other Institutes of Politics representing schools including Harvard University and the University of

Chicago.

Mullins said the program allows participants to witness one of the most instrumental processes in each presidential race.

“I think it will do a lot to make GUSA more accessible to the average student.”

JOE LUTHER (COL ’16) Former President, GUSA

“The whole idea of GU Politics is really kind of pulling back the curtains and allowing Hoyas to see what politics is really like up close,” Mullins said. “I think we want to give Hoyas that experience to help both conventions and open up their eyes to the process while we’re up there meeting with political figures, meeting with other organizations involved in the process and continuing that learning effort on both sides.”

Mullins said although the number of available slots has not yet been established, students accepted on the basis of their political engagement and background will be notified of their selection by May 15. Applicants can indicate their preference for which convention they would like to attend on the application.

“We are looking for kids who are smart and driven and interested in this topic, who are from both parties

and want to go to the convention and experience it,” Mullins said. “I think successful candidates will be familiar with social media, and we will absolutely look for representations from both political parties and from the middle as well.”

Gabriela Barrera (SFS ’19), who identifies as a moderate Democrat, said she is applying to the program to gain knowledge about how the nomination process works.

“I want to leave either convention with a better understanding of how conventions work, from the delegate process, internal political agreements or disagreement within parties and how the voice of independents and third parties candidates will respond to having a position of influence over how both establishment politics and general constituents will begin looking more critically at the two party system,” Barrera said.

Chairwoman of Georgetown Students for Rubio Alexandra Williams (SFS ’19) said she hopes her participation in the program could bolster her voice as a politically engaged millennial.

“Attending this event would help me with my future political ambitions by allowing me to make a name for myself as a millennial who is engaged in the political process and determined to have a voice, by giving me a platform as an ambassador on social media for my peers and millennials around the country,” Williams wrote in an email to The Hoya.

The District Department of Transportation launched a program to enable low-income residents in Washington, D.C., to receive a yearly membership to the bicycle rental service Capital Bikeshare for as low as $5 on April 13.

Through the new initiative, D.C. residents who use certain social service programs, such as the D.C. Department of Human Services, Back on My Feet D.C., Unity Health Care, Whitman-Walker Health, Community of Hope D.C. and the D.C. Center for the LGBT Community, will be connected with Capital Bikeshare to receive discounted memberships.

The government-run bicycle sharing organization, which has more than 350 stations and serves residents of Washington, D.C., Arlington Country, Alexandria and Montgomery County, typically charges customers $85 for new memberships.

A 2014 Capital Bikeshare survey found more than 50 percent of its customers are white and make an annual income of more than $100,000, despite 50 percent of the District’s population being black and 19 percent living below the poverty line.

The program, similar to others offered in cities like Boston, is intended to reduce barriers lowincome individuals face in attempting to use bike sharing programs by not only reducing cost, but also increasing allowed trip time and providing cycling-focused education.

In a press release, DDOT Director Leif Dormsjo stressed the role the Capital Bikeshare community partnership will play in providing residents with an accessible means of getting to and from important engagements.

“It is critical that those with the most need are able to travel quickly and economically to and from their appointments, jobs, training and classes,” Dormsjo said.

Capital Bikeshare Project Manager Kimberly Lucas said Capital Bikeshare will also be providing low-income residents with free helmets and improving program outreach and education.

“By bringing the cost down to $5, we make Capital Bikeshare more accessible for the folks who need it the most,” Lucas said. “In addition, if you’re learning about the community partners program through one of the organizations that you’re already a member of, then you’ll

have someone there who can educate you on how Bikeshare works, show you all the safety materials and provide you with a free helmet as well.”

A 2015 study from the National Association of City Transportation Officials indicated low-income residents encounter barriers to bike sharing programs, including a lack of communication between government officials and city residents, a lack of cash payment options for membership and an absence of bike sharing stations in low-income neighborhoods.

“While evidence suggests that the total cost of an annual bike share membership is not an insurmountable barrier for most lowincome people, many low-income people have difficulties coming up with the lump-sum payment for annual membership,” the report read.

Arlington County initiated a program in 2015 allowing residents to pay for Capital Bikeshare memberships using cash; however, only ten residents joined the program through the new payment option.

Under the District’s new community partnership program, lowincome residents who are matched with the service will be able to purchase Capital Bikeshare memberships using community partners’ credit accounts without requiring a credit card themselves.

At $5, the new Bikeshare membership will be cheaper than the discounted weekly Metrobus pass that the Metro system currently offers to senior residents.

Aidan Thaggard (MSB ’19) said that the new Bikeshare initiative would mitigate the negative effects limited transportation options have on lower-income residents seeking to gain or maintain employment.

“I think definitely one of the primary obstacles in lifting oneself out of the vicious cycle of poverty is being able to consistently be available for work,” Thaggard said. “One of the biggest challenges with being available for work is transportation, because obviously public transportation exists but it’s neither perfect nor attuned to exactly where everyone needs to go.”

Liam Flanagan (NHS ’19) said he envisions the Bikeshare initiative as providing an environmentally friendly alternative to other forms of transportation. “[Capital Bikeshare] is a healthy alternative to other modes of transportation that are not only damaging to the environment but not as specific to the needs of their users,” Flanagan said.

COURTESY CODDESS

The DDOT launched an initiative to make Capital Bikeshare more affordable for low-income residents in the District.

Federal Relations Team Seeks Dialogue, Engagement Christian Paz Hoya Staff Writer

The Georgetown University Student Association executive charged its first federal relations team to advocate for student affairs and engage students on local and federal government initiatives.

The March addition to GUSA President Enushe Khan (MSB ’17) and Vice President Chris Fisk’s (COL ’17) executive, the office is directed by former Executive Officer of the GUSA Senate Kotryna Jukneviciute (COL ’18), and is divided into local advocacy, national advocacy and programming departments.

Within the federal relations team, the National Advocacy team, Local Advocacy team and Programming teams, alongside National & Local Liaison Trey Tadepalli and Secretary of Civil Rights Advocacy Ibilola Owoyele, report directly to Jukneviciute. Jukneviciute meets routinely with Vice President for Government Relations and Community Engagement Chris Murphy.

The National Advocacy team, Local Advocacy team and Programming teams each have secretaries working in more focused areas.

According to Murphy, the team will work with the university’s Office of Federal Relations to advance campus dialogue on national issues such as federal student aid, D.C. statehood and mental health.

According to Jukneviciute, the team has already begun three initiatives: a student leadership alliance to

encourage cooperation between student government at colleges around the country, a mentorship program with D.C. public school students and a partnership with D.C. Central Kitchens to provide storage space on campus for its summer operations.

Jukneviciute said the SLA will develop a website that brings student governments together.

“The Student Leadership Alliance is basically a website bringing different institutions together across the country in a centralized location for advocacy purposes, so basically a resource for us to reach out to different student body presidents from different student governments,” Jukneviciute said.

Khan said she and Fisk saw the need for a new GUSA executive office after she saw common issues arise at college campuses around the country.

“The very first time Chris and I sat down, this was a conversation that we had,” Khan said. “At the time, a lot of it pertained to the conversations we saw were happening about race and inclusion on campuses and we realized there are a lot of issues that spur on college campuses, but then can become a more widespread national conversation.”

Khan said Georgetown is in a unique situation to lead national advocacy.

“Since we are at Georgetown, in D.C., we have access to the actual federal government, which puts us in a unique position,” Khan said. “We realized that since there is that interest

at Georgetown, we have a responsibility to be able to connect students and empower them to be able to do that.”

Murphy said he looks forward to working with the federal relations team on various student-related issues.

“We have really enjoyed the partnership our office has formed with Kotryna Jukneviciute and the other students on the GUSA Federal Relations [Team],” Murphy wrote in an email to The Hoya. “They bring a wonderful energy, ambition and commitment to their work.”

Associate Vice President for Federal Relations Scott Fleming said he plans on meeting with team members to discuss issues the administration should support.

“We have already had terrific conversations about some of the issues coming up down the road in Congress impacting students,” Fleming wrote in an email to The Hoya. “In fact, last evening I met with the GUSA federal relations team and we discussed a number of ideas where I am sure we will work together, most especially in areas of student aid funding and the Higher Education Act Reauthorization.”

GUSA Secretary of Institutional Outreach Zachary Schroepfer (SFS ’19), who oversees the SLA project, said he hopes to facilitate communication among student activists around the country.

“We figured that as students that are in D.C. we have a certain benefit because we are so close to Capitol Hill that we don’t want to just keep for

ourselves,” Schroepfer said. “We want to share with other universities.”

Schroepfer said the SLA will also analyze congressional bills that might impact students and aggregate student advocacy at the federal level to advocate for or against policy proposals.

“For example, if there is a piece of legislation on the Hill on mental health that is good for students then we would have a petition for or against it depending on how it affects college students and then from there we would get student body presidents of different universities to sign on to these petitions,” Schroepfer said. “That way when we go up to different congresspeople and staffers we can say it’s not just Georgetown students who care about this issue.”

According to GUSA Secretary of Local Educational Affairs Kamar Mack (COL ’19), his team focuses on building relationships between Georgetown and D.C. public school students.

“My role is twofold - first, giving Georgetown students more avenues to improve DC education and second, advocating to DC city leaders on behalf of schools needing the most help. My passion for education motivates me because improving our schools will address countless other social issues while opening doors of opportunity,” Mack wrote in an email to The Hoya.

Mack said he is also developing a mentorship program that will match Georgetown students with three Anacostia elementary school students.

Students will guide their mentees

through their college career.

“The idea is to build strong, longterm relationships with their mentees, and the group can grow together,” Mack wrote. “This is extremely important for the Anacostia students because academic and moral development must begin early in order to succeed in secondary and higher education.”

GUSA Secretary of D.C. Statehood Cheryl Liu (SFS ’19) will push for District statehood through partnerships with local government (full disclosure: Liu is a staff writer for The Hoya).

“D.C. statehood should be seen as a bipartisan issue,” Jukneviciute said. “You have thousands and thousands of people who don’t have a voice, who are living in the city and whose vote doesn’t really matter too much, who don’t have representation. I think ultimately that’s a civil rights issue.”

Jukneviciute said she and Secretary of D.C. Programming Sabrina Romulo (SFS ’19) are working to secure storage space on campus for D.C. Central Kitchens’ summer programs for low-income students.

“What we want to do is make Georgetown’s freezer space available to them in the summer because they are very low on freezer space,” Jukneviciute said. “With this, D.C. Central Kitchens would be able to provide more meals during the summer when the students who rely on school lunches and go to school for school lunches will have food during the summer so they won’t be starving when not in class.”

A8

SPORTS

THE HOYA

A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD

BASEBALL

Inconsistent Hitting Dooms Hoyas TYLER PARK

Hoya Staff Writer

Sinead Schenk

Leicester City Embodies Underdog E

veryone loves an underdog. From the U.S. Olympic hockey team defeating the Soviet Union in 1980 to the Boston Red Sox winning the World Series in 2004, defying the odds has always had the inexplicable power to captivate and excite sports fans everywhere. There is even scientific evidence to prove this claim. According to a New York Times op-ed by Sam Sommers, a study conducted to observe this phenomenon found that 81 percent of more than 100 survey respondents were more likely to root for the team reportedly less favored to win.

The popularity of the underdog is a strange sensation, and there is one such Cinderella story currently unfolding in England. The Leicester City soccer club, tagged with a 5000 to 1 shot of winning the English Premiere League at the beginning of the season, currently sits in first place in the league, with second-place Tottenham ranked eight points behind them. After securing a win without its starting striker this past Sunday over Swansea, Leicester City is just three games and five points away from winning the title.

What makes this unprecedented rise so phenomenal? For starters, the team has never finished in the top of the division. Grant Wahl of Sports Illustrated reported that in its 132 years, Leicester City has only earned second place once, and that was in 1929. In 2008, the team ended its season in the bottom three of England’s second-tier league and was consequently relegated to the third division, League One. It barely missed relegation from the entire league last year, if not for a lucky late-season surge. Leicester City also has one of the lowest team payroll in the EPL, valued at about 85 million pounds, which is about a tenth of Manchester Cityha payroll.

Since the Premiere League’s beginning in 1992, only five clubs have ever won the title, and they have almost always been the richest. The last time a non-powerhouse won was in 1995 when the Blackburn Rovers beat out Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United to secure the championship.

Leicester City even went into administration, which is a company’s equivalent of going bankrupt, in 2002 to eliminate 50 million pounds of debt, according to Simon Barnes of The Spectator. Coming from a financial disadvantage makes the team’s success all the more impressive, as the four soccer giants clearly have a history of monopolizing the league, while others are simply fighting relegation.

A recent Forbes article by Brian Goff suggested that this disparity may be narrowing, at least within the league. Due to increasing revenue in the EPL along with distribution of playing talent to reduce actual on-thefield skill disparity, there is growing equality in competitiveness among teams despite the gaping income inequality within the league.

This parity can be attributed to the fact that there is a finite number of “most talented” players at the top, meaning there are only incremental differences in talent after a certain point. Therefore, it is more likely that a lower to middle revenue team will have a skilled enough roster to compete with the soccer giants and have a legitimate chance of toppling them, as Leicester is currently poised to do.

Unsurprisingly, a number of recent articles have covered this topic, discussing the importance of the newly hired manager, the collective unity of the team and the grit and hustle that each and every member has displayed this season. Tales like this one remind us of the value of sports, and how they can capture the attention of audiences across the world in the most surprising of ways.

Sinead Schenk is a junior in the College.

This is the final installment of A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD.

TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2016

Despite strong performances from its top two starting pitchers, the Georgetown baseball team (19-22, 4-5 Big East) lost two out of three games in a series against Butler (12-28, 3-6 Big East) over the weekend.

Junior pitcher Simon Mathews was dominant in his start on Saturday to earn Georgetown’s lone victory over the weekend.

Mathews pitched his second consecutive complete game. He allowed only one run, which was unearned, and won the Big East Pitcher of the Week Award for his performance.

“He’s commanding all three of his pitches, even four of his pitches, competing his butt off,” Head Coach Pete Wilk said. “He’s got a chance at [Big East] Pitcher of the Year, I would think. He’s doing a great job.”

In Friday’s game, Georgetown also received a strong performance from its starting pitcher, as senior Matt Smith pitched seven innings and allowed two runs, one of which was unearned.

Smith struck out five batters and walked two. However, Smith’s performance was not enough to earn the win, as the Hoyas fell 3-2 in a tight 13-inning affair.

Wilk attributed the team’s loss to reckless swings.

“I don’t think we swung the bats well against – to me – what was pretty average pitching,” Wilk said. “I was disappointed with the way, especially in the first two games, that we swung the bats. But you know, that’s part of the season; those are going to go up and down.”

Georgetown built an early 2-0 lead on two RBI singles by junior first baseman Joseph Bialkowski and junior designated hitter Jake Kuzbel. Butler got the two runs back in the bottom of the fourth when senior catcher Chris Marras hit a home run and sophomore left fielder Gehrig Parker scored on an error.

The next eight innings passed without any scoring on either side until Marras hit an RBI single to end the game in the bot-

tom of the 13th inning. Junior reliever Danny Pobereyko pitched 6 and 1/3 innings and allowed just one hit, no walks and no runs to earn the win for Butler.

The Hoyas evened the series on Saturday, winning 3-1 behind Mathews’ performance on the mound. Mathews struck out six hitters and did not walk any in his nine innings of work. He threw just 112 pitches in the complete game and has consistently pitched efficiently this season, which has allowed him to pitch deep into games.

“He throws a lot of strikes, and he gets ahead of all the hitters,” freshman third baseman Ryan Weisenberg said. “He has really good stuff, but I think it’s the command is what’s able to keep his pitch count low and get him through at least seven innings almost every outing.”

Georgetown’s defense behind Mathews was shaky, committing five errors in the field. Mathews was able to limit the damage, but Wilk was not pleased with his

team’s defensive focus.

“Some of them were extremely basic, and our focus doesn’t seem to be there,” Wilk said. “I mean, throwing the ball 65 feet, throwing the ball 85 feet, we’ve got to be able to make those plays. Catching a routine pop up, those little ridiculous plays that aren’t made add up.”

In Sunday’s game, the Georgetown offense produced its highest run total of the series, but its pitchers struggled in a 12-6 loss.

Freshman pitcher Jack Cushing replaced sophomore pitcher Kevin Superko, who has been the team’s Sunday starter for most of this season, to make the start on the mound. However, Cushing struggled, allowing four runs in two innings, before being replaced by Superko, who allowed four more runs in three innings.

Weisenberg had three hits, including a solo home run, to lead the Georgetown offense.

“I’m just starting to treat all my at-bats kind of the same way and try to stay consistent over the

course of a game, no highs and lows,” Weisenberg said. “I’m just trying to approach every at-bat the same way, and I think that’s what I did well this weekend.”

Sophomore right fielder Michael DeRenzi added two hits, including a home run.

Georgetown now turns its attention to a doubleheader this afternoon against Maryland Eastern Shore (12-26, 5-12 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference). The doubleheader includes a makeup game for a contest that was postponed April 13, and as a result, the Hoyas will play their first mid-week doubleheader of the season.

Georgetown won all three of its games against UMES last year, but the team is primarily focused on its own performance.

“You just have to keep the ball out of the middle of the plate.

They’ve got a couple of guys that can hurt you; they run a little bit,” Wilk said of UMES. “If we play our game, I don’t really worry about it too much. We just need to continue to show up and compete.”

GEORGETOWN ATHLETICS

Junior pitcher Simon Mathews threw six strikeouts against Butler on Saturday, marking his second straight complete-game win. Mathews was named Big East Pitcher of the Week.

SAILING

Sailing Dominates National Rankings CHRIS BALTHAZARD Hoya Staff Writer

With only two weekends left in the regular season, the Georgetown sailing team remains in prime position to compete for national championships across all three sailing disciplines.

The women’s team qualified for next month’s national championship after finishing in second place in this past weekend’s Middle Atlantic Intercollegiate Sailing Association Women’s Championships, held at Hobart and William Smith Colleges.

Team members also received individual hardware, as senior Mary Kate Mezzetti was named the MAISA Women’s Sailor of the Year, sophomore Rose Edwards was selected to the First Team AllMAISA Skippers of the Year and freshman Haddon Hughes was named to the Second Team.

Head Coach Michael Callahan believed the team belied its ranking entering the conference championship regatta, in which only George Washington University out-sailed them.

“They’re currently ranked number seven in the country.

They’re better than that. They’re better than the ranking,” Callahan said. “We’re excited about the prospects for a national championship with them.”

The starters, sophomore Rose Edwards, junior Emily Fung and seniors Mary Kate Mezzetti and Tina Redway, have all performed well, and standout fill-in senior Madeline Higgins seems to improve the performance of any member paired with her.

“It’s just a consistency thing for them,” Callahan said. “Typically when one division goes out on the water and sails poorly, the other division will sail well, and then when that division will sail poorly the other division sails well. It would be great if they just sailed well together. The few times we’ve had that, they’ve done great.”

For co-ed team racing, the Hoyas qualified for May’s National Championships, winning the MAISA championships two weekends ago at Old Dominion. The win wrapped up a dominant regular season, which saw them finish second in team racing rankings, according to multiple polls like the Sailing World College Rankings and the Sail1Design Intercollegiate Sailing Association College Team Race Rankings.

Senior Nevin Snow and sophomore Meaghan MacRae have not lost a fleet regatta all season and look to carry this momentum into the national championship by focusing on consistency heading into the upcoming week-

end’s MAISA championships.

“We’ve sailed extremely well against what we might say is the best competition, but one of the toughest parts about sailing is that you’re sailing all day, and the initial round is a round robin against all the teams,” Snow said.

“One of the toughest parts for any team is to continue to win the races you should, in theory, win. … We had troubles with that early on where we would sail down to our opponents’ level at times.”

Snow, who plans to keep sailing after graduation and ease into an Olympic campaign for Tokyo 2020, had high praise for MacRae. “She is so eager to learn, and really understands where I’m at as a senior and really wanting to do well,” Snow said. “She brings maximum effort every day to practice, which is the best thing I could have asked for.”

Much of the team’s success stems from its core group of eighteen seniors; however, impressive depth along with a strong recruiting class, including two of the top co-ed skippers in the country, will look to sustain the program in coming years.

When asked about the sparse media coverage surrounding Georgetown sailing’s remarkable success in recent years,

especially when compared to basketball and soccer, Callahan pointed to what his squad has accomplished, including winning six of the last ten ICSA College Sailor of the Year awards.

“We’re not looking to the glory or anything like that,” Callahan said. “I’m a fan of all sports teams at Georgetown, so we all deserve coverage. But I think sailing has been remarkably consistent over the last sixteen years, with national championships and All-Americans and sailors going to the Olympics, so I think we’ve been a very successful program.”

This year’s national championships will be held in San Diego, Calif., from May 24 to June 3. Callahan said he recognizes the difficulties in setting sights so high, and acknowledges there remains room for improvement — but ultimately believes in his team’s ability.

“It’s realistic for us to try to win a national championship,” Callahan said. “It’s hard: you have to basically sail the best you’ve sailed in conditions you’re not used to. … Luckily some of our sailors are from there but I’ve never coached there before, so you have to be ready for all different types of conditions. And you literally have to sail flawlessly at those events.”

SOFTBALL

GU Snaps Nova’s Win Streak, Loses Series 1-2 EMILY DALTON Hoya Staff Writer

Despite dropping the threegame series 2-1, the Georgetown softball team (9-32, 3-11 Big East) was able to snap Villanova’s (28-14, 11-4 Big East) 17-game win streak in the opener on Saturday with an 11-5 come-from-behind win in Villanova, Pa. After battling back and forth, the Hoyas were able to hold a onerun lead until the bottom of the fifth inning, when the Wildcats scored four runs, two of which came from a two-run home run from Lauren Hanna, taking a 5-2 lead.

While it seemed like the Blue and Gray was about to take another disappointing loss at the time, the team did not let the three-run

deficit faze them.

“The one characteristic of this team that has never wavered is our ability to fight to the last pitch.

We had played well all game, and it was just a matter of time before we broke out,” Head Coach Pat Conlan wrote in an email to THE HOYA. Georgetown kicked off its comeback with an RBI single from junior catcher Gabriela Elvina, driving in sophomore outfielder Theresa Kane. Next, came a tworun single from junior first baseman Alessandra Gargicevich Almeida, an RBI single from senior third baseman Taylor Henry and an RBI double from freshman utility player Kelly Amen, extending Georgetown’s lead 8-5.

The Wildcats switched pitchers in an attempt to stop the bleeding, but the Hoyas kept pushing, scor-

ing off of a fielder’s choice, an RBI single from senior pitcher Samantha Giovanniello and a walk.

The Blue and Gray ultimately claimed an 11-5 victory over the No. 2 Big East team, opening the series with one of its most triumphant wins of the season.

“It was a great win. Villanova is an excellent team, and [senior pitcher] Kate Poppe is the best pitcher in our conference right now,” Conlan wrote. “More than anything, it showed what we are capable of when we click on all cylinders.”

After the Hoyas worked to reclaim the lead and finalize the win, Conlan acknowledged the commitment of her team, noting how its record is no true indication of the strength of the team.

“This is a resilient group, and

you could tell on their faces they were not going to end this game without a win,” Conlan wrote.

Although the Hoyas fell during the next two games, 2-1 and 4-1, respectively, Conlan applauded their ability to keep the score tight throughout both contests.

“Overall, we played three solid games. I was happy with our performance. The difference in these games was a [few] very timely hits and a few errors. Games 2 and 3 could have gone either way,” Conlan wrote.

After a scoreless opening inning in the second game, the Hoyas took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second, when Gargicevich Almeida drove in junior pinch-runner Delaney Osterday off of an RBI single.

The Wildcats answered with two runs, to which the Hoyas were un-

able to respond.

The third game reflected a similarly tight race, as Villanova led 1-0 until the bottom of the fourth when they added three more runs, taking a 4-0 lead.

The Hoyas concluded the game on a positive note, as senior infielder Grace Appelbe hit her second home run of the season, cutting the Wildcats’ lead to 4-1.

“It was a fun series to be a part of,” Conlan wrote. “Any time you play games where you are on the edge of your seat with every pitch is one that I want to be a part of.

[I’m] proud of the team for their never-ending fight.”

The Hoyas are on the road again, as they continue conference play this weekend against Providence.

Opening pitch is set for 12 p.m. on Saturday in Providence, RI.

SPORTS

tuesday, april 26, 2016

the zone

THE HOYA

men’s lacrosse

Bucci Nets Five in Home Loss

Fans Should Not Overreact To Early Stats

CAVALIERS, from A10

and we look at it like we could have just folded at the end, but we put one in with four seconds left to give ourselves a shot,” Bucci said. “That’s sort of who we’ve become, and moving forward, I think this program is going to be in good shape.”

Head Coach Kevin Warne echoed these sentiments and

RAMLOW, from A10

their new shortstop, has had a historic start to this season. Story hit seven home runs in the first six games, a feat that has never been achieved by anyone, let alone a rookie.

It is no doubt an impressive accomplishment, but his critics point out that Story’s home ballpark in Denver, Coors Field, is by far the friendliest MLB park to power hitters. Short fences and high elevation make the ball fly off the bat at Coors. However, Story’s first four home runs came in a three-game series in Arizona. Arizona’s Chase Field is also relatively friendly to hitters, but not exceptionally so. Regardless of the ballpark, Story has some serious pop. However, since that seven home run start, he has only hit one more bomb, his batting average has dropped from .333 to .253 and his slugging percentage dropped from a whopping 1.316 to its current low of .667.

Is this just a regular bump in the road, or a sign of a longer fall from grace? Story’s stats reveal a trend more troubling than a dropping batting average and short home run drought; he has struck out a league-leading 30 times in only 75 plate appearances. He strikes out six times as often as he walks, which is a pretty terrible ratio. Story’s bandwagon fans should hope that he learns a little plate discipline, but they should also take into consideration the aforementioned advice not to freak out. He is a top-tier talent and will go on to have an excellent season, albeit with plenty of ups and downs.

also lauded Bucci’s impact on the program during his five-year collegiate career, especially as a two-year captain.

“Joe Bucci has been a rock, he’s been here for five years, and he really put the team on his back tonight,” Warne said. “[He] said: ‘Hey, this is my night — I’m going to do my part,’ and he was fantastic in a lot of areas. He left a mark tonight, and if we can

WILDCATS, from A10

and freshman Bart Panarese and junior Jack Murphy at third doubles fell in identical 7-6 decisions.

The men’s team started slowly in its contest against Villanova, failing to notch the doubles point early on. Portner and freshman Michael Chen won their first doubles match 6-2, but sophomore Peter Beatty and junior Yannik Mahlangu at second doubles and freshman Bart Panarese and junior Jack Murphy at third doubles fell in identical 7-6 decisions.

“They have good chemistry; they feed off each other,” Head Coach Gordie Ernst said of Chen and Portner’s doubles play. “[Chen]’s just been amazing, [he’s] had an amazing year.”

“What’s really gotten better between us, we understand the movement of each other before,” Portner said. “We know where the other guy’s going to go, where he wants to serve, where the person in net should be.”

Even though the Hoyas lost the doubles point, they went on to win five singles matches.

Beatty, sophomore Mac Rechnan and Sharton all won their matches in straight sets at the second, fifth and sixth singles positions, respectively. Chen and Mahlangu both won their matches in three-set battles to lift the Hoyas to a 5-2 win over the Wildcats.

Georgetown did win its match over Villanova without winning the majority of the doubles matches, but the doubles point determined the outcome of the team’s previous two Big East contests.

“If you look at Big East matches in the past, they’re most of the time coming to 4-3 decisions. Getting that 1-0 lead right off the bat is huge,” Portner said. “Getting

Hugh Ramlow is a sophomore in the College.

The zone appears every other Tuesday.

FILE PHOTO: JULIA HENNRIKUS/THE HOYA

Senior Daniel Khanin lost in the No. 1 singles spot to his Villanova opponent in a 6-1, 6-2 decision Friday. Georgetown went on to win the match 5-2. the point as soon as we get down there as the first thing that we do is going to be a huge momentum swing for us against Xavier.”

According to Ernst, the team’s competitive spirit this season has been one of the program’s main strengths. Ernst explained that if the Hoyas apply this to postseason play, they have the potential to win a title — a feat the program has not accomplished since the 1980s.

“With this particular group … their work ethic is unbelievable,” Ernst said. “The women have never won Big East. The men won it in 1989. … We’re looking to make some history this year.”

Portner explained that the team’s emotional investment in competitive play sets it

SUDOKU

apart this season. With a set of young players ready to partake in their first tournament, the team as a whole is eager to start postseason play.

“We’ve got guys getting pumped up and letting each other know that they’re winning, which really helps out the other courts hearing that someone won a first set or got a break on serve, so I think that’s the biggest difference on this team,” Portner said.

“We’re younger. We have some young guys on this team who are really fired and excited to get to Big East for the first time, so I think they’re going to be extra loud down there.”

Besides the conference competition, one of the biggest challenges for Georgetown will be the weather during the tournament.

Temperatures

will reach up to the 90s in South Carolina, conditions in which the Hoyas have not yet played.

“We get into third sets, playing in the heat in South Carolina, that changes outcomes of matches,” Ernst said.

If the Georgetown teams advance past the first round, both may see the number one seeds in the semifinals.

The number one seed on the women’s side is No. 63 DePaul (12-7, Big East 6-0), while the number one seed on the men’s side is St. John’s (18-5). These matches would take place at 9 a.m. on Saturday. Most recently, the women’s team fell to DePaul on February 20 in a 6-1 decision. The men’s team did not match up against St. Johns this year in the regular season.

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could to win, and it just didn’t fall tonight … but I’m really proud of my guys. They played their tails off tonight, and this will put us in playoff mode for next week versus St. John’s (1-12, 0-4 Big East).”

Georgetown’s final regular season game is Saturday at St. John’s at 1 p.m.

Hoya Staff Writer Cameron Perales contributed reporting.

Squads Control Singles in Wins

Tyler White, the first baseman for the Houston Astros, is almost as big of a surprise as Story. White, a 33rd-round draft pick, was a preferred walk-on at Western Carolina University, his only Division I offer. The 25-year-old barely made the opening day roster for the Astros, beating out Jon Singleton — who is on a $35 million contract — for the starting first base position. White just continues to beat expectations. Now, he already has five home runs and holds a .274 batting average.

White has not received much hype in the media, but he is quietly driving in a lot of runs behind Jose Altuve, Carlos Correa and Colby Rasmus. If White is able to continue to hold his own and the bottom half of the batting order starts playing to its talent level, Houston’s lineup is going to be one of the best in baseball. White, like Story, strikes out too much.

He already has 20 strikeouts in 62 at-bats, but there is a lot to like about him. Quick hands and powerful hips back up a scrappiness that has helped him throughout his baseball career. Now, those skills are making him an early success story for the Astros.

The year of the rookie seemed to be 2015: Chicago Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant, Astros shortstop Carlos Correa and several young pitchers immediately made their mark on the game. But if April is any sort of measure, 2016 will be more of the same, led by talents such as Story and White. Of course, it is only April, and nobody has ever made a career in April.

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build on that, we’ll be in good shape.”

Despite the outcome of the game, Warne said he was proud of the effort put forth by his team and looks forward to build on this heading into the tail end of the regular season.

“This is the team I envisioned when we started out on Jan. 14,” Warne said. “They wanted to win; they did everything they

Tennis

Trevor Story’s stats reveal a trend more troubling than a dropping batting average.

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Defense Protects Late Lead MARQUETTE, from A10

possible, so I think it’s really just staying calm, knowing you can run around anyone and just keeping your feet moving.

I think staying calm is the big thing, we always try to focus on that,” Etchison said.

Part of her confidence in critical situations comes from her

four years of experience playing for the Hoyas. For their last regular season game against Temple on Saturday, Etchison would like to see the Hoyas put forth a more consistent offense.

“I think our defense played a great game, they made some big stops allowing possessions,” Etchison said. “I think

on offense we really just need to execute, we have got to finish shots, we have got to get up a couple more goals.”

Georgetown is set to travel to Philadelphia, Pa., to take on conference opponent Temple on Saturday in what will be their last regular season game.

Opening draw is scheduled for 1 p.m.

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FILE PHOTO: CLAIRE SOISSON/THE HOYA

Junior attack Colleen Lovett, left, had one assist to senior attack Corinne Etchison in Georgetown’s 13-12 win over Marquette. Lovett has eight goals and five assists this season.

SPORTS

Baseball Georgetown (19-22) vs.

Maryland Eastern Shore (12-26) Tuesday, 4 p.m.

TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2016

TALKING POINTS

TRACK & FIELD The track and field team competed in meets on both coasts this past weekend.

See thehoya.com

“

NUMBERS GAME

HEAD COACH GORDIE ERNST

WOMEN’S LACROSSE

Special to The Hoya

The Georgetown women’s lacrosse team (6-9, 4-2 Big East) had a successful Senior Day on Saturday by topping conference opponent Marquette (6-10, 3-3 Big East) 13-12. The Hoyas are now 4-0 all-time against the Golden Eagles and 2-0 at home.

The team recognized its nine graduating players before the opening faceoff. Throughout the game, fans encouraged Georgetown’s seniors by chanting their names and holding up signs featuring photos of their faces.

The freshman standouts — attack Taylor Gebhardt and midfielder Francesca Whitehurst — each had three goals and one assist. Senior co-captain Corinne Etchison, graduate student attack Morgan Rubin and senior attack Kelsey Perselay all tallied two goals on their Senior Day. The Hoyas’ scoring outburst demonstrated the depth of the team’s offense, with eight players tallying points in the game. Four of the eight were seniors or graduate students.

After the win, Head Coach Ricky Fried praised his seniors for their performances on such a big day.

“It’s awesome. I’m really happy for them. It’s a great way to end their regular season career on Cooper Field. It’s really rewarding to be able to see them contribute. Senior Day is an emotional day, but I thought they handled it really well and really stepped up,” Fried said.

Fried praised the team’s transition defense, an aspect of play he described as a trademark for the Hoyas.

“We’re really looking to pressure the ball and force some turnovers to give us some easy opportunities,” Fried said.

While Georgetown edged out Marquette on the stat sheet, the scoreboard reflected a very close match.

Georgetown tallied the first goal of the game, but Marquette prevented the team from going on a run. After five lead changes, the teams entered halftime with a score of 8-7 favoring the Hoyas. The largest lead belonged to Georgetown with less than a minute into the second half after Whitehurst scored two quick goals to put the Hoyas up by three.

The intensity of the competition continued throughout the full 60 minutes. Gebhardt scored her third of the game with just under 11 minutes remaining in regulation to tie the score at 12. With just under five minutes in regulation, Rubin put one away off a free position opportunity to regain the lead.

The Hoyas were able to maintain a prolonged possession and run the clock out at the end of the game to ensure their one-point win.

Georgetown outshot Marquette, generating many opportunities from its quick ball movement on offense.

Georgetown gathered 15 ground balls to Marquette’s 13. The Hoyas secured 15 draw controls to the Golden Eagles’ 11. The Blue and Gray also cleared more successfully and committed fewer fouls than the Golden Eagles over the course of the game.

Georgetown did an impressive job in transition defense, riding Marquette and forcing them to earn every possession.

Etchison acknowledged the Hoyas’ crucial possession in the final moments of the game.

“We really tried to keep running and run the clock down as much as

THE ZONE

The number of women’s lacrosse players who scored in Saturday’s win.

TENNIS

Freshmen Stand Out In Final Home Game BRIDGET MCELROY

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With this particular group ... their work ethic is unbelievable.”

See MARQUETTE, A9

FILE PHOTO: STEPHANIE YUAN/THE HOYA

Junior captain Victoire Saperstein won her first singles match against Villanova 7-6(1), 6-2 this past Friday. She was one of five players on the women’s team to win in straight sets.

Hoyas Defeat Wildcats MADELINE AUERBACH Hoya Staff Writer

In their last matches of the regular season, the Georgetown women’s and men’s tennis teams captured victories against Big East foe Villanova this past Friday. The women’s team (12-4, 2-3 Big East) swept Villanova (11-8, 0-2 Big East) 6-0, while the men’s team (8-8, 2-1 Big East) defeated Villanova (8-11, 3-2 Big East) 5-2.

Coming off those wins, the teams will now begin preparation for the Big East tournament this weekend in Cayce, S.C. The first round of play will begin on Friday, with the No. 4-seeded women’s team taking on No. 5 Marquette (11-8, 1-2 Big East)

at 12:30 p.m. The men — also seeded fourth — will begin play at 4 p.m. against No. 5 Xavier (11-8, 3-3 Big East).

According to junior Jordan Portner, the wins over Villanova have given the Georgetown teams momentum heading into the tournament.

“We feel confident going in; we have a good week of practice,” Portner said. “Everyone feels ready, everyone feels fresh, we’re not worn down or anything. We’re hitting our primes right now, so this is good for us.”

On the women’s side against Villanova, Georgetown’s doubles wins in the first and second slots put the Hoyas on the scoreboard first.

The Blue and Gray then went on to capture all five singles

victories in straight sets. Junior Victoire Saperstein won her first singles match 7-6(1), 6-2. Freshman Risa Nakagawa and sophomore Sara Swift defeated their opponents in the second and third singles slots, respectively. Freshman Cecilia Lynham and junior Sophie Barnard notched victories in their fifth and sixth singles matches, respectively.

The men’s team started slowly in its contest against Villanova, failing to notch the doubles point early on.

Portner and freshman Michael Chen won their first doubles match 6-2, but sophomore Peter Beatty and junior Yannik Mahlangu at second doubles See WILDCATS, A9

MEN’S LACROSSE

GU Falls 8-7 to UVA on Senior Night SEAN HOFFMAN Hoya Staff Writer

Hugh Ramlow

First MLB Month Misleads H

aving been underway for three weeks now, a lot has happened in the 2016 Major League Baseball season, and it has been difficult to sort out team strengths. So what can we take away from the national pastime thus far?

First, the mantra of the month for every fan should be: “Do not freak out.”

The season is 162 games long, and no team has ever won or lost a World Series by its play in the first month. The sample size for every team and every player is still too small, and for most teams, things will level out. The Washington Nationals are a solid club, but they are not going to finish the season anywhere near their current clip — winning nearly 80 percent of their games.

Baltimore right fielder Mark Trumbo, who owns a career .253 batting average, is pretty unlikely to keep up his .381 average for the rest of the season. It is just the beginning of a long season, and whether your team started out looking great or terrible, do not freak out.

Once we all remember to take a deep breath, then comes the big question: “What are we supposed to make of a couple enigmatic, power-hitting rookies?”

Last year, in one of the worst trades in recent baseball history, the Colorado Rockies traded away their perennial, all-star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki. Trevor Story, See RAMLOW, A9

The Georgetown men’s lacrosse team (2-11, 1-3 Big East) fell to the Virginia Cavaliers (77, 0-4 ACC) 8-7 on an emotional Senior Night for the Hoyas. The Hoyas celebrated the careers of four gradating players, including graduate student midfielder Joe Bucci, who tied his career high with five goals in his final home game.

Bucci went into the game knowing he wanted to make a mark on his last contest at Cooper Field.

“Ever since I was little, I wanted to play college lacrosse, and I did that. I had a terrific game on national television on Senior Night, and you know that’s all I could’ve done,” Bucci said.

Bucci’s sensational individual effort set the tone for the team the entire night, as the Hoyas did everything in their power to compete with a traditionally powerhouse college lacrosse team.

The game started out as a tight defensive battle, with the first goal scored 13 minutes into the match. Virginia junior midfielder Zed Williams broke the scoreless tie on an unassisted goal. It took the Hoyas about two minutes to respond with a goal of their own; Bucci notched his first goal of the game with 22 seconds left in the first quarter.

The Cavaliers regained the lead shortly after when junior midfielder Michael Howard scored his first collegiate goal with just four seconds remaining in the period.

Bucci added his second goal of the game at 11:21 of the second quarter, but the Cavaliers’ senior attack James Pannell scored less than a minute later. Virginia added two more goals to close out the quarter, including a goal that came off Georgetown’s failed clearing attempt. With one second remaining in the half, Pannell’s

FILE PHOTO: CLAIRE SOISSON/THE HOYA

Defender and co-captain Nic Mahaney was one of four seniors recognized on Senior Night before Georgetown’s game against Virginia on Saturday. Mahaney has four ground balls this season. second goal of the game gave Virginia a 5-2 lead.

The Hoyas entered the second half with more intensity, playing a more aggressive and defensive game. Sophomore goalie Nick Marrocco stopped all six shots he saw in the third period, and the Hoyas’ offense added two more goals to draw within one.

Georgetown climbed back against Virginia’s tight defense in the fourth quarter. Bucci scored at the 12:44 minute mark to tie the game at five. Following two more

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Cavalier goals, Bucci capped off his offensively dominant Senior Night with his fifth goal, cutting the Virginia lead to 7-6 with 8:05 left in the game.

The Hoyas controlled the hustle stats in the fourth quarter, winning 10 groundball battles, compared to the Cavaliers’ six.

However, Virginia was able to capitalize on its opportunities and extended its lead to 8-6 on a Williams’ goal that came a manup with 4:06 minutes remaining in the game.

Despite Virginia’s late lead, Georgetown still fought to the final buzzer. Sophomore attack Craig Berge intercepted a clearing attempt by the Cavaliers and scored his 10th goal of the season with five seconds left in the game to cut the lead to one.

In his last game, Bucci said he appreciated the team’s resilience and took it as a welcome sign for the program’s future.

“We’ve been in close games, See CAVALIERS , A9