The Hoya: Graduation Issue: May 19, 2017

GRADUATION ISSUE

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

Georgetown University • Washington, D.C. Vol. 98, No. 46, © 2017

FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017

SUMMERTIME IN DC

Staying in DC over the summer? Check out our guide on what to do, see and eat.

VIEWPOINT Dean Chester Gillis reflects on 29 years of his Georgetown experience.

GRADUATING IN QATAR The School of Foreign Service in Qatar graduated its ninth cohort on May 4.

OPINION, A2

NEWS, A5

GUIDE

Half of Admitted Students To Enter Class of 2021 CHRISTIAN PAZ Hoya Staff Writer

Georgetown University’s admissions yield for the Class of 2021 jumped from 47 percent to 49 percent this year, following a record low in the university’s acceptance rate and an alltime high in applications received.

The university’s admissions yield refers to the

number of accepted students who submit an enrollment deposit and plan to attend Georgetown in the fall of 2017. The 49 percent number is as of May 15, 2015.

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions’ target enrollment for the entire Class of 2021 increased this year for the first time in seven years to 1,600, up 20 spots from last year. Out of

ALYSSA VOLIVAR/THE HOYA

The yield rate for the Class of 2021 increased from 47 percent last year to 49 percent.

the 3,310 students offered admission for the Class of 2020, 1,633 enrolled, according to Dean of Undergraduate Admissions Charles Deacon (CAS ’64, GRD ’69).

Deacon said the increase in the yield rate is a positive sign for the university, given the record number of applications Georgetown received this year.

The admissions office received 21,459 regular decision applicants to the Class of 2021, up 7.3 percent from the 19,997 applicants Georgetown received in 2016. Georgetown later accepted a record-low 15.4 percent of applicants, an overall 3,310 students.

Deacon said the incoming class’ average SAT scores increased to 1411, up eight points from last year, representing a highly accomplished incoming class.

“Considering the fact that the pool went up and the class being enrolled is 1411 in SAT versus 1403 — that’s eight points higher — it’s a stronger group, but our yield was higher,” Deacon said in an interview with THE HOYA. “So that is really good, and the result is very few waitlist admits.”

Deacon said the university offered enrollment to 1,675 students, anticipating about 75 admitted students to defer or withdraw their place because of a gap year, illness or See YIELD, A6

JESUS RODRIGUEZ/THE HOYA

Alice Rivlin, a Brookings Institution senior fellow and visiting professor of the McCourt School of Public Policy, addressed the school’s graduating class yesterday.

Commencement Speakers Present Varied Experiences JEFF CIRILLO

Hoya Staff Writer

Yesterday’s senior convocation and the McCourt School of Public Policy’s commencement ceremony marked the official beginning of the 2017 graduation season — the crowning event for students nearing the end of their graduate or undergraduate studies at Georgetown.

Alice Rivlin, a Brookings Institution senior fellow and visiting professor of the McCourt School, addressed its graduates yesterday. Rivlin offered two suggestions

for students seeking to address the present polarized state of U.S. politics.

“I would urge this class to do two things: The first is practice the art of engaging with people who think differently from you. … Find the other side or sides and engage them in meaningful dialogue,” Rivlin said. “Second, I would urge you to go into politics at some level — any level. Elected politics will not get better until competent, well-informed, well-motivated young people, like McCourt graduates, decide to make it better.”

Ceremonies are set to

continue today with the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences commencement in the morning, followed by the McDonough School of Business graduate program and the School of Continuing Studies commencements in the afternoon.

On Saturday morning, Georgetown College students will attend their commencement, followed by ceremonies for the School of Nursing and Health Studies, the MSB undergraduate school, and the School of Foreign See COMMENCEMENT, A6

Legacy Students Seniors Bestowed With Academic Honors Twice as Likely To Be Admitted IAN SCOVILLE Hoya Staff Writer

CHRISTIAN PAZ Hoya Staff Writer

This year’s admission cycle saw an increase in the number of legacy students accepted, with 30 percent of legacy applicants offered admittance to Georgetown, compared to a 15.4 percent acceptance rate for all applicants.

Legacy students are expected to comprise 10 percent of the Class of 2021, demonstrating a persistent trend in which children of Georgetown alumni are more likely to be accepted even as the Office of Admissions looks to recruit a more diverse student body.

The legacy acceptance rate was 25 percent for the Class of 2020 and 37 percent for the Class of 2019. Legacy students accounted for 5 per-

FEATURED

cent of this year’s total applicant pool.

Feeder schools, which are defined as the top 10 schools that provide the most applicants to Georgetown, complement legacy status in some cases, according to Dean of Undergraduate Admissions Charles Deacon. These schools end up contributing to a less diverse student population.

While the Office of Undergraduate Admissions does not actively recruit legacy students, it does consider family ties to the university when evaluating students of equal academic standing, and gives preference to students with legacy status in those cases.

Deacon said the current legacy pool tends to be made up of white students from See LEGACY, A6

JESUS RODRIGUEZ/THE HOYA

Five students will be recognized as valedictorians and Dean’s Medal recipients for maintaining the highest GPA in their schools this weekend.

Five students will be honored as valedictorians and Dean’s Medal recipients for maintaining the highest GPA in their respective schools this commencement weekend, with a twoway tie in the McDonough School of Business.

Caitlin Miller (COL ’17), a government and theology major, will deliver the Cohongorouton address, similar to a valedictorian address, at tomorrow’s Tropaia ceremony. Nicole Colarusso (MSB ’17), an international business major, and Katherine Wildes (MSB ’17), an accounting and operations and information management major, will both address the MSB convocation ceremony tomorrow.

Allyn Rosenberger (NHS ’17), a health care management and policy major, will receive the Dean’s Medal for the School of Nursing and Health Studies, while James See HONORS, A6

NEWS

OPINION

SPORTS

Researchers Unveil Findings GUMC researchers developed a new autism spectrum disorder screening method for Latinx families.

A7

Seize the Moment The opportunity cost of doing something rather than nothing is always worth it.

A2

Adieu to Adair Women’s basketball coach Natasha Adair’s departure raises concerns about the program’s future.

A10

NEWS Honoring Faculty and Staff

OPINION Undocumented and Unafraid

SPORTS Season Finishes Strong

The Office of the Provost and GUSA recognized faculty and staff through a series of awards.

A5 Published Fridays

The power of stories can make others feel loved and welcomed, and reaffirm their experiences.

A3

Nine seniors led the baseball team to its third straight 25-win season this past semester.

A10

Send story ideas and tips to news@thehoya.com

A2

OPINION

THE HOYA

VIEWPOINT • GILLIS

Friday, may 19, 2017

VIEWPOINT • HINERFELD

At a Journey’s End, Seize Opportunity in Our Choices Discover What Sets Us Apart O

I

am neither a senior nor graduating, but I am leaving my position as dean of the Georgetown College after nine years.

My own college years, now long passed, shaped my intellect, values and established many life-long friendships. My years as dean have shaped my professional life. It would be rare for a Ph.D. student to desire to be a dean and I was no exception. I wanted to be a theologian and, with my appointment to Georgetown as an assistant professor of theology in 1988, I realized that ambition.

My world as a dean has been vastly different from my time on the faculty.

As a professor, I spent my time preparing and delivering class lectures, publishing in specialized journals and writing books that I hoped someone would read and benefit from. As dean, I have overseen, and hopefully improved, the College curriculum, working closely with departments, programs and faculty. I have spent my time fundraising, interacting with alumni across the globe, strategizing with senior administrators and working daily for students with colleagues in the Office of the Dean.

I believe the maturation of students requires time and attention from faculty and staff. This process can neither be rushed nor accomplished electronically.

Anyone who knows me well knows that I care deeply about students.

From meetings with the College Academic Council to regular student dinners at my house, I have been keenly aware that students come to Georgetown to go to college, with all that it implies — from extracurricular activities, internships, friendships and hardships to parties in my neighborhood, volunteering in the city, leading student groups and competing for prestigious fellowships, all while maturing from freshmen to seniors so they are prepared for adult life and responsibilities.

As a professor and a dean, I have accompanied thousands of students through Georgetown; in a sense, I have graduated with them each year, whether I was grading their thesis or handing them their diploma. Many of them I will never hear from again, but some keep in touch, extending the student years to the alumni years.

Some of my encounters with students have been challenging, such as when

JESUS RODRIGUEZ/THE HOYA

I am tasked with meting out consequences for Honor Council violations.

However, these too can be rewarding, like the student who wept in my arms after I reduced his penalty for an irresponsible freshman transgression. Most have been positive, whether sharing a Georgetown University Grilling Society burger on the lawn outside my office in White-Gravenor Hall or entertaining and being entertained by the Georgetown Chimes at my house.

There is no singular “Georgetown experience.”

The Ignatian phrase cura personalis means that we care for all students where they are in life and that each student is unique. For some students, the “Georgetown experience” means attending their dream school.

For others, it may be intimidating initially. For some, it means being supported by well-to-do parents and not worrying about the cost of Georgetown. For some, it means working in the library, a department office or a local restaurant to defray the tuition burden or simply to have some spending money.

For some, it means dozens of friends with the accompanying social life. For some, it may be lonely at times. For some, it is slew of As with an occasional A-minus. For some, it is Bs and Cs with an occasional A-minus. For some, it is Hoya Hoopla at the Verizon Center. For some, it is meditation in the John Main Center. For some it is late nights in Leavey Center meeting deadlines for The Hoya or the Voice.

For some, it is majoring in English or government or both. For others, it is explaining to peers or parents the choice to major in classics, art history or theology.

For all of our students, being a Hoya means both opportunity and challenge.

Professional graduate programs teach you how to make a living; liberal arts colleges teach you how to live and why life is worth living. As a Jesuit university, our responsibility for undergraduate residential education includes development of the

whole person, not only academic accomplishment.

I believe that the maturation of students requires time and personal attention from faculty, staff and administrators. This process can neither be rushed nor accomplished electronically. I am happy to have made that investment and know the benefits stay with students well beyond the college years.

The Jesuits have supported and inspired me.

We are not the University of California, Berkeley and we are not Brown University — we are Georgetown.

As fine as these and other peer schools are, the Jesuit character of our institution sets us apart.

Jeff Cirillo, News Editor Christian Paz, News Editor Cynthia Karnezis, Sports Editor Dani Guerrero, Guide Editor Meena Raman, Guide Editor Maya Gandhi, Opinion Editor Stephanie Yuan, Photography Editor Peter Shamamian, Design Editor Emma Wenzinger, Copy Chief Tara Subramaniam, Social Media Editor Mike Radice, Blog Editor Jarrett Ross, Multimedia Editor

Editorial Board

Maya Gandhi, Chair CC Borzilleri, Laila Brothers, Daria Etezadi, Ellie Goonetillake, Jack Lynch, Jack Segelstein, Bennett Stehr, Annabelle Timsit

Yasmine Salam Alfredo Carrillo Hannah Urtz Madeline Charbonneau Dan Baldwin Dan Crosson Mitchell Taylor Kathryn Baker Mac Dressman Noah Hawke Will Leo CC Borzilleri Yasmeen El-Hasan Kate Rose Jacob Witt Elinor Walker Anna Kovacevich Karla Leyja Ella Wan Saavan Chintalacheruvu Grace Chung Eleanor Stork Catriona Kendall Juliette Leader Joshua Levy Catherine Schluth Charlie Fritz

JESUS RODRIGUEZ/THE HOYA

myself playing a club sport, writing for an on-campus publication, participating in student government and attending weekly College Democrats meetings. It was overwhelming. With guidance from great mentors, I realized that it was okay to scale back. I learned that “do something” does not mean “do everything.” If I was going to make a difference, I needed to identify what excited me and devote myself to that.

I found my calling in the movement to end campus sexual assault. Though the opportunity cost of following this passion has sometimes manifested itself in poorer academic performance or less time spent with friends, it has always been worth it. I dedicated myself to making Georgetown’s campus a safer, more respectful and compassionate place for survivors of sexual assault, and to me nothing could be more important. I hope I am leaving Georgetown better than I found it.

To new Hoyas, the best advice I can give is to do something: You define what these years will mean. Though this school will sometimes beat you down, remember that we will never have these opportunities again. Also, remember

that when you are evaluating opportunity costs, sleep always wins. Always.

To returning Hoyas, you know as well as I do that this school will sometimes succeed in beating you down, but realize that it does not need to be this hard. The exclusivity and stress that drive our campus culture are often selfinflicted. Your mentorship is vital. You have so much to offer your fellow Hoyas.

Try to open doors for the people just behind you, and better yet, pull them through with you. Together, we can make the Georgetown experience more inclusive and rewarding for all.

And to my fellow seniors, thank you for demonstrating to me the opportunity cost of not attending Georgetown.

I am the woman I am today because of you. In four years, you have taught me a lifetime of lessons about perseverance and hard work. I am humbled to walk across the stage with you tomorrow. I cannot wait to watch you go out and set the world on fire.

Olivia Hinerfeld is a senior in

the School of Foreign Service.

EDITORIAL CARTOON by Elinor Walker

Professional graduate programs teach you how to make a living; liberal arts colleges teach you how to live and why life is worth living.

I return to the classroom and scholarship with projects on my plate: To produce a long-overdue second edition of my book on Catholicism in the United States America and to finish my incomplete book manuscript on interreligious marriage. I shall return to the solitary efforts of a scholar in the sparse study carrels of the Woodstock Theological Library leaving behind — somewhat happily, somewhat wistfully — the meetings, budget decisions, travel, fundraising, speech-making and entertaining of a dean’s life.

I regularly tell prospective students that Georgetown is special. It is the place where you meet the people who will dance at your wedding. Indeed, it is, because you make it special. So dance.

Chester

outgoing College.

Gillis

dean

is of

Toby Hung, Editor-in-Chief Ian Scoville, Executive Editor Marina Tian, Executive Editor Jesus Rodriguez, Managing Editor

n Aug. 28, 2013, thenPresident Barack Obama stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to address a crowd of tens of thousands in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington. That event happened to coincide with my first class at Georgetown — “Microeconomics.” It was my first day of college, and I faced a dilemma: Should I see the President of the United States acknowledge a momentous day in our nation’s history, or should I begin my collegiate career with perfect attendance?

Deferring to my inner goodytwo-shoes, I decided to go to class. Ironically, the professor opened with a lecture on opportunity cost: the loss of potential gain when an alternative decision is made. I left that class with a deeper recognition of what I had just given up.

I have frequently returned to that dilemma throughout my four years at Georgetown.

Should I attend an event or go to class? Should I go to class or spend time with friends?

Should I spend time with friends or sleep? Should I exercise or sleep? I eventually learned that the biggest mistake I could make was to get overwhelmed by my choices and do nothing. In the words of Yogi Berra: “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.”

There are rarely right answers to the scenarios listed above — except when sleep is involved: always choose sleep. What matters is that we make a choice to do something and jump in wholeheartedly.

Like many first-year students, I interpreted “do something” to mean “join every club in existence.” As a result, I soon found

Campus Life Desk Editor Academics Desk Editor City Desk Editor Business Desk Editor Deputy Sports Editor Deputy Sports Editor Deputy Sports Editor Deputy Guide Editor Deputy Guide Editor Deputy Guide Editor Deputy Guide Editor Deputy Opinion Editor Deputy Opinion Editor Deputy Opinion Editor Deputy Opinion Editor Cartoonist Deputy Photography Editor Deputy Photography Editor Deputy Photography Editor Deputy Design Editor Deputy Design Editor Deputy Design Editor Deputy Copy Editor Deputy Copy Editor Deputy Copy Editor Deputy Copy Editor Deputy Blog Editor

the the

Daniel Almeida, General Manager Gabriella Cerio, Vice President of Corporate Communications Maura McDonough, Vice President of Operations Emily Marshall, Director of Alumni Relations Brittany Logan, Director of Financial Operations Karen Shi, Director of Human Resources Sagar Anne, Director of Sales Galilea Zorola Matt Zezula Tara Halter Brian Yoffe

Senior Accounts and Operations Manager Treasury Manager Accounts Manager Accounts Manager

Contributing Editors & Consultants

Madeline Auerbach, Kara Avanceña, Chris Balthazard, Isabel Binamira, Elizabeth Cavacos, Tom Garzillo, Lauren Gros, Shannon Hou, Darius Iraj, Yuri Kim, Dan Kreytak, Andrew May, John Miller, Syed Humza Moinuddin, Tyler Park, Becca Saltzman, Sarah Santos, Jeanine Santucci, Kshithij Shrinath, Emily Tu, Emma Wenzinger

Board of Directors

Matthew Trunko, Chair Daniel Almeida, Amelia Fattore, Toby Hung, Syed Humza Moinuddin, Selena Parra, Paolo Santamaria 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 600-700 words. The Hoya retains all rights to all published submissions.

Send all submissions to: opinion@ thehoya.com.

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 Ian Scoville at (202) 602-7650 or Executive Editor Marina Tian at (480) 334-9672. Both editors can be reached by email at executive@ thehoya.com.

News Tips News Editor Christian Paz: Call (310) 435-0181 or email news@thehoya.com.

Guide Editor Meena Raman: Call (201) 468-1698 or email guide@thehoya.com Sports Editor Cynthia Karnezis: Call (847) 722-5250 or email sports@thehoya. com.

General Information The Hoya is published once a week during the academic year with the exception of holiday and exam periods. Address all correspondence to: The Hoya Georgetown University Box 571065 Washington, D.C. 20057-1065 The writing, articles, pictures, layout and format are the responsibility of The Hoya and do not necessarily represent the views of the administration, faculty or students of Georgetown University.

Signed columns and cartoons represent the opinions of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the editorial position of The Hoya.

Unsigned essays that appear on the left side of the editorial page are the opinion of the majority of the editorial board.

Georgetown University subscribes to the principle of responsible freedom of expression for student editors.

The Hoya does not discriminate on the basis of age, gender, sexual orientation, race, disability, color, national or ethnic origin. © 1920-2016. The Hoya, Georgetown University weekly. No part of this publication may be used without the permission of The Hoya Board of Editors. All rights reserved. The Hoya is available free of charge, one copy per reader, at distribution sites on and around the Georgetown University campus.

Editorial: (202) 687-3415 Advertising: (202) 687-3947 Business: (202) 687-3947 Facsimile: (202) 687-2741 Email: editor@thehoya.com Online at www.thehoya.com Circulation: 4,000

OPINION

friday, may 19, 2017

THE HOYA

A3

VIEWPOINT • mejÍa orta

VIEWPOINT • MClean

Our Love of Others Defines Us Sharing in Resilience, Solidarity

O

n a Kairos retreat, a contemplative retreat rooted in Ignatian spirituality, during my senior year of high school, my theology teacher gave a stirring reflection in which he revealed the difficult life lessons he learned from losing his young son and — years later — his wife to cancer. The lesson I learned: Always, always, always say, “I love you,” to those you love. “Write down that mantra,” my teacher instructed us teenagers.

“Say it out loud,” he urged.

Repeat those words over and over so you will never forget them. Never regret a missed opportunity to tell someone you love them.

Always, always, always say “I love you.” Those seven words became a daunting but driving force in my life.

Having spent four years on the Hilltop, I finally understand what John Thompson Jr. meant when he compared Georgetown to heaven. I love this place with all my heart and it will always be a part of who I am. However, this was not always the case. It took me a while to call the Hilltop my home.

During my first year here, I often felt lonely and out of place. It was not until an ESCAPE retreat later that year that I realized I was not alone: there were many others having difficulty adjusting to Georgetown. I thought back to my freshman floor friends who seemed to have everything together, and I wondered if they too were secretly struggling.

So I decided to put what my high school teacher taught me into practice: I told my friends how much I love them. Much to my surprise, they all let down their guards and returned

the sentiment.

That was the first time I was able to call Georgetown my home. I found my home because I shared my love.

I started doing this with other groups I was involved in, whether it be ESCAPE, Hoya Blue or Relay for Life, and I was shocked at how receptive and appreciative people were of this. These past four years have been filled with happiness I never thought possible and lows I never saw coming, but one thing has gotten me through all of it — the love I have felt here on the Hilltop.

You are a reflection of those you surround yourself with; when they are happy, you will be too.

My time at Georgetown has been the best four years of my life, and I know that is true for so many of you.

That’s why everyone is so sad to graduate; no one wants to leave this incredible place they now call home. But instead of letting this feeling get you down, I want you all to recognize that being sad to graduate is the best possible feeling to have at this moment. It means you loved your time here and don’t want it to end. At graduation, rather than lamenting the fact that it is over, celebrate just how amazing these last four years have been.

Always, always, always say “I love you.” Keeping this phrase in mind, I challenge you all to go find a friend who has had an ef-

fect on your life here at Georgetown. Now, sit them down and tell them all the reasons why you love them and what they have meant to you over these past four years. I know that this may be difficult and a bit awkward at first, but I cannot even begin to describe the overwhelming joy that will overcome you when you see just how happy this makes your loved ones. You are a reflection of those you surround yourself with; when you lift them up and share your love with them, this will reflect in you, and you too will find happiness.

So I want to take the time right now to express my love for the best thing that has ever happened to me, Georgetown.

I love you, Mom and Dad, for making incredible sacrifices every day to send me here. I love you, Relay for Life, for fighting for a cure for cancer and for becoming my family on the Hilltop.

I love you, The Tombs, for somehow making a creepy cellar one of my favorite places on campus. I love you, Lau 2, for being a great place to pretend to do work.

I love you, Georgetown rats, for putting my masculinity in check every time I see you. I love you, Chicken Finger Thursdays, for being the primary way I have noticed a week has passed these last four years. But most importantly, I love anyone who I am lucky enough to call my friend. You are why I love Georgetown.

You are a reflection of those you surround yourself with; when they are happy, you will be too. Never forget: Always, always, always say “I love you.”

Trevor McLean is a senior

in the College.

Jesus Rodriguez/The Hoya

S

tories are power. Our journeys at Georgetown University have been marked by moments of bravery, resiliency and solidarity. As we graduate, we leave behind networks of people who have shared their struggles with us and who have listened to ours.

We are connected through a shared bond of trust, which transcends mental borders and allows us to see and understand each other.

However, the power of stories lies not only in making others feel loved and welcomed, but also in our actions that reaffirm their experiences. Reflecting on my time at Georgetown, I feel lucky to be able to recall countless times when my Hoya family showed love for me and resisted in solidarity with me. Those manifestations of love allowed me to proudly say that I am undocumented and unapologetically fight for a better Georgetown for future UndocuHoyas.

Undocumented Some argue that “undocumented” is a temporary civil status and not an identity. But being undocumented has allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of who I am as a person. It has also shaped my academic interests and fueled my interest in immigrant-related advocacy. A piece of paper does not define me. Having it does not define you. It is merely another way to divide and dehumanize people. It has as much power as we give it.

Being undocumented does not mean that our existence is not documented.

We are present. Our stories are recorded daily, reflected in the daughter who fought for her parents’ right to be here and the mother who crossed borders so that her children could have a better chance at success.

These are narratives of resiliency. At Georgetown, we are Hoyas for others: in this spirit, we should uplift the experiences of the undocumented community and support immigrant rights.

No human being is illegal.

Unafraid Being unafraid does not mean that I am not fearful.

Being unafraid is a state of mind, pushing me out of the shadows and allowing me to not let fear rule my life. Being unafraid enables me to share my story and speak out for immigrant rights despite the harsh realities that come from outing myself. Being unafraid empowered me to continue the fight for equity for UndocuHoyas.

Becoming unafraid is a process: It requires both a level of comfort with vulnerability and people who are willing to listen. I am grateful to Georgetown, and the people here, for

Jesus Rodriguez/The Hoya

providing me with a brave space to be unafraid. I became unafraid at Georgetown because I was loved, heard and affirmed. I was loved by my friends and mentors who always stood by me. I was heard by my fellow Hoyas and professors as I shared my story. I was affirmed by faculty and staff who joined in the process to make Georgetown a more inclusive space for undocumented students.

As I leave Georgetown, I hope that this brave space remains so that other UndocuHoyas can thrive and be unafraid.

Becoming unafraid is a process: It requires a level of comfort with vulnerability and people who are willing to listen.

Unapologetic As my academic journey comes to an end, I will remain unapologetic in highlighting that my narrative is not the norm. I recognize that there are thousands of undocumented students who do not graduate from high school and countless more who are unable to pursue higher education — their voices and struggles matter.

I am unapologetic in acknowledging that my experience these past four years would be different if it were not for other undocumented students, friends, allies and mentors — like Cinthya Salazar, a former liaison between administrators and students without documentation — who paved

the way for me to walk across the stage and receive my diploma. I am an unapologetic undocumented Mexicana from East Los Angeles who, as of tomorrow, will be a Georgetown alumna with an aching fire to make a difference. I will unapologetically continue to fight for immigrant communities, for my friends and for my family. We are here to stay.

I have shared my narrative over and over again throughout the years; this vulnerability has allowed me to build bridges with the institution and my fellow Hoyas. After the results of the 2016 election, I felt lost. But not once did I feel alone. In a moment when I worried for my family, friends and community, my fellow Hoyas made me feel welcomed. In the weeks that followed, I witnessed the power of belonging to a community like Georgetown — alumni, students, faculty and staff came together to ensure the safety and well-being of students.

“Together in unity we walk in solidarity. Georgetown is our sanctuary, home and a community,” we sang to the tune of “Ode to Joy” as, on Dec. 2, we marched to Healy Hall to deliver an open letter to the President’s Office; the letter called on the university to protect the rights and dignity of all Georgetown students, including those without documentation. I will carry with me moments of solidarity like this beyond Georgetown as a reminder of the love and resiliency that exists within people. I invite you to do the same.

Clara Mejía Orta is a senior

in the College.

VIEWPOINT • LAM

The Moments That Make Us Hoyas

“W

hen did you realize you were a Hoya?” is common question I was asked on the Hilltop — a question which helped me define the precise “moment” I felt I belonged here. This was the moment I felt I was not just a college student anymore, but a part of this community as a Georgetown student.

During my five semesters on the Hilltop, I have struggled to answer this question and pinpoint this “moment.” When I transferred to Georgetown in the spring semester of my sophomore year, in fact, I was far from feeling “at home.” I was scared.

I was scared that my status as a transfer would hinder my ability to find a community — that transferring during spring semester would make it difficult to break into new friend groups and that Georgetown would not be the school I had long dreamed it to be. When my cab pulled up at the corner of 37th and O Streets on Jan. 5, 2015, I did not have the slightest feeling that I was

a Hoya or that I had found my way home.

For much of my first semester, I desperately sought out that moment.

I attended a number of club information sessions, wrote more applications than I knew I was capable of writing and arguably overcommitted myself in hopes that after getting into clubs on campus, I would have that moment when I would be a Hoya.

Yet what I failed to recognize then was that one moment, one club or even one facet of campus was not what defined me as a Hoya or my Georgetown story. My Georgetown story, in fact, was a reflection of many moments — big and small — that collectively helped me find my home on the Hilltop.

The moments when I ran into past professors and they inquired about my job search showed that as much as they cared for me as a student, they cared for me as an individual, too.

During class discussions, I was constantly reminded of the brilliant minds that surrounded me. In the middle of Leo’s, I was often

engaged in deep life talks I never knew I could have in a college dining hall. Even during senior year, I found some of my closest friendships. These moments, among others, are the reasons I have found my way home, and they are at the center of how I knew I was a Hoya.

Perhaps it’s for this reason that, even when I was officially finished with my undergraduate classes last week, I did not necessarily feel done: Georgetown has always been more than just classes, papers and assignments for me. Georgetown has been about these moments, which — although they may seem disjointed or incomprehensible at times — have contributed uniquely and meaningfully to my time on the Hilltop.

Four years ago, when I graduated from high school at Iolani School, my teachers told me, “You can take the student out of Iolani, but you can’t take Iolani out of the student.”

Four years later, as I prepare for my life outside of Georgetown, these words ring true of my college

experience as well. I am comforted to know that even as I venture into another chapter of my life, Georgetown will continue through me and through the people and relationships that made each moment at Georgetown so special. If there is anything my story can attest to, it is the power of this community that — in loving and embracing every part of who I am — helped me, a sophomore spring transfer student from Hawaii, find her home here too.

Surrender to every moment on this campus.

Challenge and be challenged, listen, understand and find ways to love.

Along the way, there will be moments when you will feel alone, when you will try and you will fail. Embrace and reflect on those moments, too. Many semesters down the line, you will recognize — as I did — how all of these big and small moments contribute to your Georgetown story and are uniquely what makes you a Hoya.

Nicole Lam is a senior in the College.

Jesus Rodriguez/The Hoya

A4

OPINION

THE HOYA

VIEWPOINT • ARULEBA

FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017

VIEWPOINT • GRANVILLE

Learn to Love the ‘In Betweens’

I

Jesus Rodriguez/The Hoya

Personal Ties Forge Community

G

eorgetown reminds me to always check the mail. However thin the envelope might have been, its contents have led me to this moment today. Since making my decision to attend Georgetown, there have been a number of moments along the way that will make me cherish this experience for a lifetime.

Yet, what I did not quite understand before arriving at Georgetown was what made the Hilltop special. We often hear about the accolades of distinguished alumni like Bradley Cooper (COL ’97) or faculty, including former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and political strategist Donna Brazile, but I have come to realize that it is the individual people brought together in this community who make it special.

The friendships that I have made on the Hilltop, with students from all over the world, are what pushed me every day to be my best self despite the challenges I may have faced along the way.

They are the ones that are there for me in tears and in joy — in As and in Ds. Though the Ds part is a joke, in all seriousness, there is one thing you cannot escape when you talk about Georgetown students: passion.

A moment that comes to mind when I think about that passion is my dedication to sharing professional development resources with lowincome students like myself.

As a member of the student board of the Georgetown Scholarship Program, I put all this work into planning an event on imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome occurs when you are uncomfortable being yourself because you have the idea that you are not qualified to be in a space or get an opportunity, and that sooner or later, you will be found out as an imposter.

Despite my hard work, on the night of the big event, only eight people showed up. I thought my passion to make a difference had gone to waste. But when I got home and logged onto Facebook, I saw that a freshman girl who had attended the event had shared a long reflection. She described how much the event affected her, teaching her not to downplay her accomplishments, but rather to use them as examples of great things she has done, and the power she has to do more — all while encouraging others to do the same. My passion for this topic had touched one person and that was enough for me.

I see myself in her reflection. I too had experienced moments like this early on in my Georgetown career, where student-led action resulted in deep personal growth. As a young sophomore, I had the opportunity to go on a trip led by seniors to Ferguson, Mo., for a weekend of actions to address police brutality.

When I was on the ground those days with Hoyas from across the country, I got a look beyond the dominant media depictions of Ferguson; it also allowed me to realize the power of building communities across boundaries to effect change for the better, no matter where we find ourselves. When I returned to Georgetown, I realized that this formative experience was possible only because I was in the right city with the right people at the right time. Living in our nation’s capital with fearless Hoya mentors during the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement, I grew into my identity.

Another moment that comes to mind is when, at the beginning of my junior year, through the recommendation of my mentor and confidant Special Assistant

to the President Fr. Raymond Kemp, I had the honor of being appointed to the Working Group on Slavery, Memory, and Reconciliation by University President John J. DeGioia. Through the Working Group, I had the privilege of meeting some of the descendants’ of the slaves who were sold in 1838 to finance the university’s debt.

After hearing the descendants’ appreciation for students pushing forward this dialogue, I began to truly grasp the effect of our work and the moment that was playing out in our university’s history. I observed the importance of reflection, the power of faith in justice and the bonds forged through community in diversity come to life.

I cannot say that just one moment defines my Georgetown experience, but I can say that, for me, every moment that Georgetown has given me mattered — from my first Georgetown lesson on mail to my Los Angeles roommate calling hoodies “jackets.” Although many of the people I found on my freshman floor seemed to be distant from the Bronx neighborhood I call home, I quickly learned that the diverse experiences of each Hoya are what makes the Hilltop truly transformative.

Georgetown is special not because of its prestigious reputation or its fancy buildings like Healy Hall. Georgetown is special because of our commitment to cura personalis: We care for the whole person, and we are community of students working to live our lives for others — and that is why Georgetown will always be my home.

Ayodele Aruleba is a senior in

the College. This viewpoint was adapted from a speech given at the Georgetown Admissions Ambassador Program weekend.

am terribly afraid of the “in betweens” in life — the gray spaces: having one foot in the door, one foot out and not really belonging anywhere.

Yet, that is exactly where I found myself when I transferred to Georgetown my sophomore year.

After I made the decision to transfer, I spent the summer of 2014 lingering between schools. After being waitlisted, extended waitlisted and then granted spring admittance, it was a miracle when I received a call from the Office of Admissions telling me I could attend Georgetown for the fall semester, just a few short days before classes started.

Needless to say, I arrived on campus frazzled, overwhelmed and thinking I did not belong. In my mind, I was not smart enough, had not accomplished as much as my classmates and was under the impression that no one wanted to be friends with a transfer student — a waitlisted transfer student at that.

Though I met some nice people during my first semester, I did not have a set social group or feel as though I was part of the community. I joined the clubs I thought would help me with my aspiring political career, rather than ones I would thoroughly enjoy.

I missed the small classes at my first school and the close relationships I had developed with my professors. I called my mom, crying, multiple times a day and spent too many weekend nights watching reruns of “The West Wing” alone in my dorm room.

As graduation has drawn closer and closer, the feeling of being in between has returned quite intensely.

In theory, everything about Georgetown was better than my first school.

Yet, I had come all this way, so close to where I wanted to be, only to still fall short.

I knew that it was up to me to break out of the halfway point: The only way to find my place was to completely immerse myself in all aspects of student life, no matter how uncomfortable it would be at first.

I became more involved with the Georgetown University Student Association, utilized the incredible resources at GU Politics, signed up for more shifts for my on-campus job and

Jesus Rodriguez/The Hoya

became a frequent guest at my professors’ office hours.

It was through my deeper involvement that I developed the incredibly meaningful relationships that transformed campus from a place where I felt alienated into my home. I did not meet people who I could just have fun with on the weekends, but the most kind-hearted and loyal friends. They challenged me to think differently and dared me to stray from the ordinary.

Some of my professors have also been true blessings during my time at Georgetown — always supportive, always encouraging and always available with an open door. It would be impossible to count all the ways that they have carried me through a difficult time or provided me with the parental guidance I missed, being over 3,000 miles away from home.

When I think about leaving the Hilltop next year, it is the distance from the people that I love that will be the hardest adjustment. I will miss bumping into friends, administrators and teachers as I run around campus, impromptu dinners on M Street, late night Vittles runs and just being surrounded by the most incredible support system.

As graduation has drawn closer and closer, the feeling of being in between has returned quite intensely. Part of this is due to the uncertainty of the future. Though I am excited for my next chal-

lenge, I am not ready to leave behind the people, the memories or the feeling of belonging.

When I return home tomorrow, I know I will leave as a better person than who I was when I first walked through the front gates three years ago. Georgetown has tested my limits, but it has also taught me how to turn my weaknesses and insecurities into motivation to work harder and be better. It is here I learned the true meaning of compassion. Difficult times are inevitable, but we have all experienced suffering before in different forms and can guide each other out, hand in hand.

The only way to find my place was to completely immerse myself in all aspects of student life.

And because of this, part of me will always be at Georgetown. One foot in the door and one foot out, to anchor me in the place I hold dear, but also to push me in a new direction. I still remain anxious in gray spaces. But this, I think, is the one place where I can find solace in lingering in between for a long time to come.

Samantha Granville is a

senior in the College.

VIEWPOINT • PALMQUIST

Crafting Your Story in Life’s Spontaneity

T

wo years ago, I made a deal with myself: Transfer or graduate early. I remember the day I spoke to my dean about my intentions to graduate early, initially my backup plan if transferring did not work out. My dean was helpful, but of course he asked me about my motivations to leave. I gave some rambling explanation about finances and a desire to jump-start my career, but those were only the “alternative facts.” In reality, my family could make it work. Law school could wait. I just hated where I was.

I am not going to whine about how I have had it harder than everyone — or even anyone. I have friends who experienced real hardships during their time in college, including homelessness or death in the family. I simply had the quintessentially horrible freshman year: a bad roommate experience, a fake friend, a terrible long-distance relationship and the realization that what passed for smart in my bucolic hometown was not always going to cut it on the Hilltop. I decided that the solution was to leave Georgetown as soon as possible.

I knew that college would be full of both personal and academic challenges. Staring at the Lauinger Library cubicle

graffiti sucks for everyone, but it sucks even more when you are 3,000 miles from home, feel like a social pariah and have no clue what is going on in your classes because your high school did not have things like economics, Chinese or textbooks from the 21st century.

The fact that financial circumstances had driven me to turn down my dream school and attend Georgetown in the first place made me arrive feeling like I belonged somewhere else. My lousy year only augmented this sentiment. I did not think there was anything I could do to make myself happy here, so I stopped trying.

And that is when everything changed.

I made a new friend. Cheesy, I know. But it’s the most unexpected things that will change the trajectory of your time at Georgetown. Many people have made my experience better since May 2015, but this friend was really the nexus of it all.

She became the first person I talked to when I awoke at noon, and the last person I laughed with before I fell asleep at 6 a.m.

She introduced me to her social circle and broke the preconceived notion I had of all Georgetown students as pretentious, affluent snakes. She made me realize that, despite my objections, I did indeed

emerge from freshman year with a few friends and positive experiences. The timing of our friendship was pretty amazing, but the best part was that I never could have predicted, forced or expedited it. It just happened.

I am not necessarily the person you want to look to for sage advice. There is a 40 percent chance I will sleep through my own graduation and I have probably eaten stolen dining hall M&M’s for breakfast. Even if I tried to write a step-by-step guide of how to duplicate our serendipitous friendship, I probably could not. Too many sleepless nights on the floor of Alumni Square laughing about Tinder pranks and face morphs has not been good for my memory.

I cannot tell you much, but I can tell you this. If my transformation at Georgetown has taught me anything, it is that, one day, a haphazard, unpredictable decision will change your outlook on life. What sucks is that you will have no idea what it is until long after you have done it.

Please reach out to me if you want to hear our entire loud, annoying friendship story but, basically, I sat down one day to eat the free ice cream that my friend was advertising on her Snapchat story. I had given

up trying to force new friendships; I just wanted fattening food. I did, however, make the off-handed decision to eat the free snacks of a Snapchat contact whom I barely knew. The rest of the story fell into place and completely changed my mindset.

Obviously, I ditched the transfer applications, but I am still graduating early — inshAllah. My collection of Georgetown friendships and experiences are not going to vanish just because I have a diploma.

Besides, I am no longer worried about the future. I have realized that the secret to happiness is that there is no secret: Just eat junk food and talk to strangers until one of them changes your life.

So whether you are a senior who is dreading graduation, a junior who cannot wait to leave this godforsaken place or a freshman doubting your college decision, there is no definite solution to assuage your apprehension. But one day you will do something random. Then three, seven or 24 months later, you will realize that eating the blueberry cheesecake ice cream was the best thing you ever could have done for yourself.

Matt PALMQUIST is a senior in

the College.

JESUS RODRIGUEZ/THE HOYA

NEWS

FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017

PAGE FIVE

THE HOYA

A5

INSIDE THIS ISSUE A report from Georgetown showed that elite universities can afford to admit more Pell Grant recipients. Story on A7.

Your news — from every corner of The Hoya.

IN FOCUS COMMENCEMENT DAY verbatim

“

Georgetown’s intellectual culture, its values, and its fantastic students combine to make it an ideal home for my teaching and scholarship.”

Computer science professor Cal Newport, a recipient of the Distinguished Associate Professor award. Story on A7.

from our blog

GEORGETOWN BARS: NOW AND THEN Take a walk down memory lane with 4E’s guide to Georgetown’s bustling nightlife and bar scene of decades gone by.

JESUS RODRIGUEZ/THE HOYA

This year’s commencement weekend kicked off yesterday with the McCourt School of Public Policy’s commencement ceremony. Ceremonies will continue this weekend with events for all undergraduate and graduate schools.

blog.thehoya.com

GU Recognizes SFS-Q Graduates 62 Students Faculty, Staff WILLIAM ZHU Hoya Staff Writer

ALFREDO CARRILLO Hoya Staff Writer

The Office of the Provost and the Georgetown University Student Association recognized outstanding members of the university’s faculty and staff through a series of honors awarded at the end of the 201617 academic year.

Computer science professor Cal Newport, English professor Daniel Shore, security studies professor Christine Fair, physics professor Emanuela Del Gado and psychology professor Rebecca Ryan were recognized by the Office of the Provost with this academic year’s Distinguished Associate Professor awards after being nominated by department chairs, unit heads and academic deans.

The distinction recognizes associate professors who, at an early stage in their careers, have made remarkable achievements in research and teaching, according to the Office of the Provost’s official web portal.

Department chairs and units heads nominate candidates, who a team of university and endowed chaired professors judge. The team then forwards selections to Provost Robert Groves for approval.

Newport, whose most recent book, “Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World,” was a Wall Street Journal Business Bestseller, highlighted the value of Georgetown’s academic culture and students in his work.

“Georgetown’s intellectual culture, its values, and its fantastic students combine to make it an ideal academic home for my teaching and scholarship,” Newport wrote in an email to THE HOYA. “I’m proud to be a part of this institution and honored that they selected me for this distinction.”

Shore, who is currently working on building “Six Degrees of Francis Bacon,” a digital representation of the Early Modern Social Network that allows users to identify connections and relationships between contemporary historical figures, lauded the university for supporting his endeavors.

“Georgetown has done a remarkable job of supporting my work, both in the classroom, where I get to explore difficult texts and pursue complicated

ideas with brilliant and engaged students, and in the library carrel, where I get to try out new methods of inquiry and push the limits of disciplinary knowledge,” Shore said.

“I’m grateful that Georgetown has honored me for the work it has made it possible for me to do,” Shore said.

In addition to these recognitions, GUSA presented the annual Dorothy Brown Award, honoring a faculty member whose contributions show a strong commitment to the educational advancement of students, to biology professor Heidi Elmendorf on April 28.

Elmendorf, who was previously awarded the D.C. Professor of the Year Award on 2014 by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, co-founded the biology of global health major in 2009 and also serves as director of the educational partnership between the biology department and the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, a Washington, D.C. public high school.

Elmendorf is also a finalist for the $250,000 Robert Foster Cherry Award for Great Teaching sponsored by Baylor University. As a finalist, Elmendorf received $15,000, as well as $10,000 for her department.

She will also present a series of lectures at Baylor and Georgetown during fall 2017.

In addition to nominating faculty members for the Dorothy Brown Award, students were also given the opportunity to nominate staff members for the three Staff Appreciation Awards, created last year and presented by GUSA on April 28: the Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam Award, the Patrick Healy Award and the Unsung Hero Award.

Per an email sent by GUSA to the student body, the Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam Award, first awarded in 2008, recognizes an individual who has influenced student life through programs and initiatives that support students and allow them to thrive on campus. The Patrick Healy Award is presented to an individual who has fostered inclusivity on campus, and the Unsung Hero Award recognizes a staff member who has shown outstanding commitment to serving Georgetown community without seeking recognition.

The School of Foreign Service in Qatar graduated its ninth senior class in a commencement ceremony featuring members of the Qatari royal family and university officials May 4.

This year’s graduating class consisted of 62 students, with 40 women and 22 men receiving the Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service degree, the same degree given to students in the SFS on the main campus.

The BSFS degree program trains students to resolve important global issues and develops their knowledge of the world in combination with critical thinking and communication skills.

This year’s commencement follows last year’s record-high graduating class size of 68 students. The class of 2017 will join more than 340 graduates who have graduated from the university since its opening

in Qatar’s Education City in 2005.

His Excellency Sheikh Abdulla bin Ali Al-Thani, a member of the Qatari royal family and a member of Georgetown University’s board of directors, gave the commencement address.

Sheikh Abdulla also serves as an adviser to the Amiri Diwan of Qatar, the center of the country’s government.

Sheikh Abdulla discussed the importance of cooperation and said it was an integral component to success, much like how Qatar relies on cooperation with neighboring states in an effort to bring progress in the Arab world.

“Great achievements require collaboration,” Sheikh Abdulla said.

Sheikh Abdulla said he was proud watching the members of the class of 2017 overcome challenges during their undergraduate careers.

“They broke through obstacles on the road to graduation and the dreams

that lie beyond,” Sheikh Abdulla said.

SFS-Q Dean James Reardon-Anderson said commencement marks the graduating class moving closer to making a difference in the world.

“They broke through obstacles on the road to graduation and the dreams that lie beyond.”

SHEIKH ABDULLA BIN ALI AL-THANI Member, Board of Directors

“It is a time when we reflect on the achievements of our senior students,” Reardon-Anderson said in his commencement address. “I want to congratulate the Class of 2017 on their accomplishments to date, and wish them

well for the future, as they continue on the path to being lifelong learners, and engage the unpredictable world that lies before them.”

University President John J. DeGioia travelled to Qatar along with other members of the university leadership to attend the event.

DeGioia said he hopes that the graduates will use their education to carry out Georgetown’s mission and make the world a better place for everyone.

“During their time here at Georgetown, our students have contributed to our scholarship and learning in significant ways, enlivening our mission with their passion and talents, and engaging in service to impact the lives of people across our world,” DeGioia said. “We are deeply proud of all they have accomplished and who they have become, and wish them all the best as they begin this next stage of their journey.”

GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY

Sixty-two students graduated from the School of Foreign Service in Qatar on May 4. The students comprise the school’s ninth graduating class and join more than 340 alumni who graduated from the SFS-Q.

A6

news

THE HOYA

FRIday, MAY 19, 2017

Legacy Admits and Feeder Schools Slow Diversity Efforts LEGACY, from A1 the East Coast, demonstrating the need to engage younger, more diverse alumni and students from a greater range of schools.

Legacy students “are more likely to be white, whereas in 20 years they are much more likely to be various students of color,” Deacon said. “We’re so anxious to get new graduates involved because they are much more diverse than the traditional alumni body would be. That’s one of the positive representations of the university in different communities across the country.”

Although the profile of the admitted legacy pool is similar to the overall profile of all admitted students, Deacon said socio-economic and racial diversity remains an issue.

“Diversity is a lagging factor. It is more typically because you’re talking about people who graduated 20 years ago, you’re talking about the ‘Old Georgetown,’ and it has been changing along the way,” Deacon said.

Deacon said the legacy tip factor is taken into account when applicants are outstanding candidates.

“If you have three or four or five competitive candidates who look pretty much the same, at the edge there will be a tip factor for some legacies if they have a long record of being involved with the university,” Deacon said. “They annually give to the annual fund, or do alumni interviews or are active in their club activities.

There are records kept of that.”

Deacon said the projected shift in the demographic

makeup of alumni is coupled with a shift in feeder schools that provide a significant number of applicants to the university.

“Out of 21,500 applicants, about four or five thousand are schools from which there is one applicant,” Deacon said.

“Most Georgetown alumni have done well, and they want their children to do well, so they live in school districts with good schools or they will send their kids to private schools or maybe to the network of historic Jesuit schools.”

For example, in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, public schools like Walt Whitman High School and McLean High School; private schools like Gonzaga College High School, Georgetown Preparatory School and Georgetown Visitation Preparatory

School; and magnet schools like Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology dominate the regional application numbers.

These typical feeder schools differ from target schools used to encourage more diverse communities to apply to Georgetown.

Deacon said the admissions office has begun to look at magnet and charter schools to supplement traditional feeder schools.

“The best route to more competitive colleges for students from lower income backgrounds is through the magnet school process, if they are able to,” Deacon said. “They become in and of themselves, feeder schools, even if they are not elite.”

Deacon said Georgetown relies on target schools to

drive diverse applicants to apply each year, but as students in elite private schools or top public schools tend to apply to top-tier schools, Georgetown ends up competing for the same pool of students.

“It’s a challenge. Obviously, it is very much connected to socio-economics,” Deacon said. “If you are saying Georgetown is not diverse enough, we ought to be visiting nontraditional, lower income high schools, the question is which ones? Where do you begin?”

Deacon said magnet schools like the Bronx High School of Science and charter school networks like the BASIS Schools of Arizona are emerging as good indicators of diversity and academic excellence, though some charter schools can end up excluding students if admissions are administered

through a lottery system.

Charter schools “take advantage of public funds and yet are in very elite communities.

They are actually able to create elite private schools using public funds,” Deacon said. “On the one hand, charter schools give us places to point to, but on the other hand, we know that kids get left behind further by that process.”

According to Deacon, when students choose Georgetown over other highly competitive schools, they tend to come from non-traditional schools.

“When we win from Harvard, it’s more likely to be a [Georgetown Scholarship Program] student, than it is an affluent family,” Deacon said.

“That’s one of the nice things, that there are no preconceived notions in most cases of what’s best.”

Speakers Represent Varied Experiences, Careers COMMENCEMENT, from A1 Service in the afternoon. Commencements conclude Sunday with the Medical School and Law Center ceremonies.

This year’s speakers include a wide range of accomplished figures, each of them set to receive honorary doctorate degrees during their visits and to impart their perspectives on graduating students.

The College: Sister Mary Scullion, R.S.M. Georgetown College graduates will be addressed by Sister Mary Scullion, R.S.M., co-founder, president and executive director of the nonprofit organization Project HOME. Scullion co-founded the organization with current Associate Executive Director and CFO Joan Dawson McConnon in 1989. Today, the organization operates 700 units of housing for people experiencing homelessness nationwide, as well as three businesses staffed by formerly homeless employees, according to the Project HOME website.

Previewing her speech in a question-and-answer interview posted to the Georgetown College website, Scullion offered advice for soon-to-be College graduates about how to pursue lives motivated by a pursuit of social justice.

“In addition to getting an excellent academic education, it’s equally important to work directly with, know and walk beside people in our society and in our world who are struggling and suffering — be it people on the street, immigrants or refugees,” Scullion said. “Touch the pain and suffering around us, and through that, help to affect the injustice and suffering, but you too will be transformed. Students often lead by example.”

College Dean Chester Gillis said Scullion’s speech will resonate with the graduating students and the school’s Jesuit values.

“I expect Sister Scullion to deliver a speech very much in keeping with Georgetown’s mission and values.

She has devoted her life to helping the homeless. She is Jesuit educated (St. Joseph’s University) so she knows firsthand what the Jesuits stand for,” Gillis wrote in an email to The Hoya.

Scullion will also receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree. She is scheduled to speak Saturday at 9 a.m.

School of Continuing Studies: Nate Silver Nate Silver, editor-in-chief of the politics and statistics blog

FiveThirtyEight, will deliver the commencement address for students in the SCS. Silver, a leader in the budding field of data-driven journalism, was named one of the 100 Most Influential People in the world

by Time magazine in 2009 after he successfully predicted the outcome of the 2008 U.S. presidential election in 49 out of 50 states.

Since Silver founded FiveThirtyEight as an election polling analysis blog in 2008, the website has grown to include blog coverage of politics, sports, economics, science and culture.

SCS Dean Kelly Otter said the school is excited to welcome Silver, particularly because of his data-driven approach and contributions to journalism and sports.

“Mr. Silver has fundamentally changed these industries by merging data analysis with an ability to succinctly communicate an important message. We look forward to honoring him because he has influenced the way that these disciplines are taught and has inspired students to pursue truth through the use of data,” Otter wrote in an email to The Hoya. “Now more than ever, we think that’s incredibly important and worthy of distinction and celebration.”

Silver will receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree this weekend.

School of Foreign Service: Anne Applebaum Washington Post political columnist Anne Applebaum, who is also a visiting professor at the London School of Economics, is scheduled to address graduating students from the SFS on Saturday at 6 p.m.

Applebaum, a Washington, D.C. native, was awarded a Pulitzer Prize in 2004 for her historical nonfiction book on the Soviet Gulag system, “Gulag: A History.”

In recent months, Applebaum’s column has focused on the global rise of populism and isolationism, and included sharp criticism of President Donald Trump’s campaign and administration.

In a July column, she endorsed Trump’s Democratic opponent, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, saying Trump’s administration would welcome authoritarian leaders like Russian President Vladimir Putin. In a column published Tuesday, Applebaum said Trump is “unfit to be president.”

Applebaum will receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree on Saturday.

McDonough School of Business: Gregory Gerard Coleman Graduates from the MSB’s undergraduate and graduate programs are set to hear their respective addresses from two alumni: Gerard Coleman (GSB ’76), president of global media and news organization Buzzfeed, and Arthur Minson (GSB ’92), president and CFO of workspace design company WeWork. Both will also receive honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degrees.

MSB Interim Dean Rohan Williamson said the careers of Coleman and Minson serve as examples of “how our graduates can thrive” after leaving Georgetown.

“The Class of 2017 has accomplished so much during their time at Georgetown. It has been a pleasure witnessing their successes, and I look forward to seeing how they apply all they have learned here to making their unique stamp on the world,” Williamson wrote in an email to The Hoya.

School of Nursing and Health Studies: James Shelton III Students graduating from the NHS will hear remarks delivered by James H. Shelton III, president of the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative,

a limited liability company launched by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

The company invests in three broad initiatives: science, education and technology. Shelton, former deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, now leads the company’s education initiative, which seeks to break down barriers to highquality education through investment.

Shelton’s work focuses on “developing breakthrough products and practices that address the needs of each student, bringing together the best teachers, researchers, advocates and engineers to tackle pressing problems,” according to the company’s website.

Other commencement speakers scheduled for the weekend include Arizona State University regents professor Emeritus Robert Cialdini, who will address the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences on Friday; National Cancer Institute chief oncologist Worta McCaskill-Stevens and University of Hawaii, Manoa law professor Charles Lawrence III, who will address Georgetown Law graduates.

All of the commencement ceremonies are available for livestreaming at the university commencement website.

Valedictorians Highlight Yield Rate Marks Increased Friendships, Academics First-Generation Presence HONORS, from A1 Pavur (SFS ’17), a science, technology and international affairs major, will receive the Dean’s Medal for the School of Foreign Service. Neither the NHS or SFS formally name valedictorians.

Miller’s achievement was a result of her perseverance in her academic studies.

“I always operate that I just try to do my personal best,” Miller said. “I love meeting with professors, talking about ideas, just the process is a joy to me. The process of receiving comments on papers and things, and things I didn’t do so well, things I can improve on.”

In her address tomorrow, she plans to focus on the role of the Georgetown community in developing its students.

“At Georgetown, all of us have been blessed with people who already see us as the best person we can become,” Miller said. “People who see within us our potential, our capacity, and by seeing us this way they reveal that possibility to us. They show us what we can achieve, even if we are not able to see it in ourselves.”

Pavur focused on the importance of Georgetown’s student body in his convocation address today. Georgetown’s diversity offers students rare opportunities, according to Pavur.

“That’s the biggest reflection for me, that I was able to make friends with a lot of people who weren’t exact mirror images of me and who weren’t part of my bubble,” Pavur said.

In November, Pavur was awarded a Rhodes scholarship to pursue a Ph.D. in cybersecurity at Oxford next year.

Colarusso and Wildes plan to deliver a joint address in the structure of a Jesuit Examen, with one offering reflections on the past and the other on the future. Wildes said she hopes to advocate the importance of balance in her ad-

dress.

“Georgetown has a culture that’s very focused on high achievement and intellectual curiosity, and I think learning to say ‘no’ to certain things so that I could say ‘yes’ to other things has been a really important part of my experience,” Wildes said.

Taking advantage of the diversity in Georgetown’s community is important to success, according to Wildes.

“Use kind of the shared experiences that we have here and kind of the openness that everyone comes with when they come to college as a platform for exploring our differences,” Wildes said.

Colarusso said it was a combination of academic passion and support from family and friends that led to her academic success.

“It’s kind of just a combination of things, but I would stress more so than anything, surrounding yourself with people that can help you along the way,” Colarusso said.

An interest in interdisciplinary studies unites this year’s group of valedictorians. All five students are either double majors or are majoring in interdisciplinary fields such as international business, healthcare management and policy, or science, technology and international affairs.

A passion to study the two things that affect people’s lives most — their nation and their faith — drove Miller to study government and theology.

“I study nations and God, the two things that motivate people, what people live and die for,” Miller said. “In a certain way it is my wish to understand people better that causes me to study both.”

Rosenberger said she hopes to unify a passion for health care and policy to improve the lives of others.

“I am particularly interested in public health policy and looking at the ways in which

law and policy can be used to improve the health of communities,” Rosenberger said. “I’ve always been really passionate about health and ensuring marginalized people in vulnerable communities have access to the things that build healthy communities.”

Although exploring diverse subject matters is important, pursuing one’s passions outside of the classroom is equally important, according to Pavur.

Pavur said he was able to explore his passions in hackathons outside of the classroom.

“I love going and making something new, and kind of forcing myself to learn something on the spot, normally sleep deprived and caffeinated, it’s a lot of fun, and so I think that was a big part of my Georgetown experience,” Pavur said.

Rosenberger said working to coordinate the OWN IT summit, which seeks to empower female students, has had the most significant influence on her outside of the classroom.

“Every year it celebrates feminism and cultivates a new group of competent young women to go out in the world and engage with some of the most important issues of our time, and participating in that planning process and engaging with both our attendees and speakers just has had the most profound impact on me,” Rosenberger said.

To Miller, commencement is not a celebration of individuals, but rather the collective Georgetown community.

“When we’re celebrating, we’re not celebrating each individual isolated person, we’re celebrating this type of community that we have here, this community of support and interconnection,” Miller said. “It’s those interpersonal relationships that help us get to wherever we are in our lives and will continue to be the fabric of that.”

YIELD, from A1 financial constraints. Since 1,633 students already enrolled, the projection suggests about 40 students will be accepted from the waiting list. Currently, about 75 of 100 students offered a spot on a wait list remain.

All students will receive a final answer by the end of June.

“We have already made some activity on the waiting list,” Deacon said. “We have admitted 25 people from the waiting list. Last year at this time, it was 80. So therefore, one of the results of having a better yield is having few spaces left for the waiting list.”

The incoming class represents every state except North Dakota and a record 172 black students, up 30 from last year. The number of Asian students and Hispanic students also increased from 206 to 227 and 169 to 183, respectively.

“We had a significant jump in black students,” Deacon said. “That’s really good, because that is a population that tends to be really hard to recruit. We are up all across the board in students of color.”

Deacon also reported high yield rates in students admitted to the Community Scholars Program, a five-week academic summer program for first-generation college students, and the Georgetown Scholarship Program, a university program that provides financial support for over 625 undergraduates, many of whom are first-generation students, through access to resources and support networks.

The CSP reported a 75 percent yield, with 15 more students planning to enroll than expected, while 67 percent of students admitted to GSP and offered the

program’s 1789 Scholarship, which offsets the cost of attendance usually covered by a student loan, plan to enroll.

“I don’t know if the word is out that Georgetown has a great program, but that’s the area that we did really well in,” Deacon said.

The number of foreign nationals enrolling in fall 2017 decreased slightly to 125 from last year’s 127.

Deacon said this small drop raises flags about future changes in international students considering Georgetown for higher education.

“The only number that didn’t tick up was the number of foreign nationals which is an interesting story — 125 versus 127. It didn’t go way down, but it didn’t go up,” Deacon said. “There’s been this issue about whether the climate in the country is going to impact at all the number of foreign nationals who want to come here. That number is interesting.”

Deacon said international student enrollment and applications have traditionally been driven by residents of China as a result of strong economic growth and interest in U.S. education, especially during the time span between 2004 and 2014 in which Georgetown saw a significant jump in international applications. Still, as Chinese interest in Georgetown slows, Deacon said the admissions office is looking to other Asian countries to attract.

“The large jump from 2004 to 2014 was largely influenced by China, and Asia in general. The economy in China is contracting; the growth there is probably peaking,” Deacon said. “Next is India, so we’re spending more time travelling to India. That population is particularly attuned to high-tech areas, and since we don’t have engineering, that’s probably going to limit

how big a jump that will be for us.”

The total size of the student body will not change and remains tied to the 2010 Campus Plan’s 6,675 undergraduate student enrollment cap, meaning the admissions office shifted to accepting more freshmen than transfer students this cycle to fill the additional 20 seats in the Class of 2021. This increase reduced the number of transfer students accepted this year from 170 to 150 admits.

The undergraduate schools reported steady yields, with the McDonough School of Business recording the highest rate of 54 percent. The School of Foreign Service reported a 51 percent yield, the School of Nursing and Health Studies recorded a 49 percent yield and Georgetown College yielded 45 percent of its applicants.

Deacon said the MSB’s yield rate has leveled, mirroring the similar trend the MSB observed over the past two years in steady applicant numbers.

He said the lack of substantial growth in yield or applications for the MSB could reflect a shift in applicants’ interest for the humanities and social sciences, as Georgetown College experienced a bump in applicants this cycle, and a stabilizing job market and improving national economic environment.

“The pressure students were facing after the financial crisis was going into a program where they could get jobs afterward,” Deacon said. “It seems that that may be reversing a little bit.

People see there is more uncertainty than there used to be. So committing to something fully as opposed to being just generally welleducated is something people are beginning to think about.”

NEWS

FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017

THE HOYA

A7

GUMC Proposes Autism Screening Method MADELINE CHARBONNEAU Hoya Staff Writer

A new method for autism spectrum disorder screening in children of Latinx families, developed by Georgetown University Medical Center autism specialists, was presented at the International Meeting for Autism Research in San Francisco from May 10 to 13.

The new screening method includes conducting interviews with families of children who may have autism to determine if further testing was warranted, as opposed to the standard method of requiring parents to fill out a questionnaire asking them to describe their child’s behavior.

Many parents, especially those in Latinx and immigrant communities, found the questionnaires problematic, according to Deputy Director of GUMC Center for Child and Human Development Bruno Anthony, who led the research team.

“What we learned very

clearly through the parents was that they did not like filling out forms,” Anthony said. “Sometimes they were hard to understand, there were literacy issues, there was concerns about where those forms would go and trust issues. What they really preferred was having a faceto-face discussion and having somebody talk them through the forms so that they could understand them.”

Rather than asking parents to fill out forms, Anthony’s team encouraged doctors to meet with parents and their children to conduct interviews to determine if the children needed to undergo further testing for autism. Doctors were reluctant at first, believing the interviews would take too long, according to Anthony. To quell these concerns, the team offered “family navigators” in lieu of doctors to conduct the interviews.

“We started the process by having family navigators who were bicultural, bilingual people from the com-

munity who actually had kids who had some kind of developmental problem, which they had sought services for in the past. So they were very knowledgeable, and they were able to link and engage very well with the Latino families,” Anthony said.

As the 18-month study progressed, doctors at the hospital gradually took over the interviewing duties, having discovered that the interviews were reasonably short.

Since the study was completed at Unity Health Care Upper Cardozo Health Center in 2014, the Washington, D.C. hospital fully implemented the new model for testing for autism. Anthony believes that similar methods have the potential to work at health care facilities across the nation, but only if they are carefully implemented and the surrounding community is considered.

“Each place that wants to do it has to go through the same process that we went through — talking with

families, thinking about their staff needs, thinking about the things that would get in the way, the things that would facilitate, and see how this kind of method would work,” Anthony said. “I think it can, but it has to be done in a way that makes sense to the site and the community around it.”

Though important, screening is only the first step for children at risk of autism, according to Anthony. He said it is important that families follow up with further testing and early prevention measures if necessary.

“The important thing is what happens when there’s concerns raised about the outcome. So if the form suggests that the child might be at risk, then there has to be the next step, which is the most important in getting the family to agree to go to the next stage of assessment, which is more intense,” Anthony said. “Screening is only the first step.”

FILE PHOTO: DAN GANNON/THE HOYA

GUMC researchers have developed a new method for autism spectrum disorder screening.

Report Calls for Increase in Pell Grant Admissions HANNAH URTZ Hoya Staff Writer

Elite universities can afford to admit a much larger amount of lowincome Pell Grant recipients without significantly hurting their graduation rates or budgets, according to a report released by the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce on May 2.

The report, authored

by CEW Director Anthony Carnevale and Martin Van Der Werf, CEW associate director of editorial and postsecondary policy, finds that 69 percent of the most selective private colleges ran average annual budget surpluses of $139 million over the last four years, but fewer than 20 percent of undergraduate students they admit-

ted were Pell Grant recipients.

The report also finds that many Pell Grant recipients are statistically qualified to attend top-tier universities, scoring at or above the median mark on standardized tests of students at selective colleges.

“Highly-qualified Pell Grant students are being turned away from the opportunity for an elite college education, which is more and more open only to the wealthy,” Carnevale said in the May 2 press release.

According to Van Der Werf, he and Carnevale both believe that admitting a class with at least 20 percent receiving Pell Grants is a fair and reachable goal for all colleges and universities. Most selective U.S. colleges fall

significantly short of this goal. Overall, more than 72,000 additional Pellreceiving students would have to be admitted to 346 colleges and universities to meet that standard, according to the report.

About 13 percent of all Georgetown students were Pell Grant recipients in the 2014-15 school year, the most recent year for which data is available, according to a U.S. News and World Report analysis. To reach 20 percent Pell students, Georgetown would need 536 more students receiving Pell Grants.

“Competitive pressures keep elite colleges from admitting low-income students even when they are qualified,” Van Der Werf wrote in an email to THE HOYA. “If the colleges themselves won’t change their admissions poli-

cies, it’s worth considering whether we should require a minimum enrollment standard of 20 percent Pell Grant recipients.”

Recent attempts have been made to increase low-income representation in elite universities.

Bipartisan federal legislation proposed in September 2016 by Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) and Sen. Christopher Coons (DDel.) would require colleges with the lowest ratio of Pell Grant recipients to admit more low-income students. The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, but never came to a vote.

Van Der Werf said such a federal bill has the potential to bring Pell-receiving student enrollment to about 20 percent in selec-

Congratulations to Our Incoming Analysts Shaked Atia Research

Misty Li Institutional Equity

Jennifer Blumer Corporate Treasury

Robert Munroe Global Capital Markets

Lena Duffield Investment Management

Bethan Saunders Institutional Equity

Daniel Eatroff Investment Banking

Ashley Schammel Investment Banking

Madeline Ecker Global Capital Markets

Erica Tsai Investment Management

Grace Kim Fixed Income Caroline Kjorlien Investment Banking

Morgan Stanley’s mission is to build a community of talented, innovative thinkers who can design and deploy state-of-the-art financial products and services to our clients across the globe. Our employees come from a variety of backgrounds and interests — all are high achievers who demonstrate integrity, intellectual curiosity and the desire to work in a collegial atmosphere. We give employees responsibility early, so they can quickly make an impact on our business and the world at large. © 2017 Morgan Stanley

tive U.S. colleges.

Increasing the amount of low-income students at selective colleges and universities would allow for increased access to better academic resources, higher graduation rates and greater post-graduation earning potential, as well as increased equality across the socio-economic spectrum, according to Van Der Wertf.

“If selective colleges enrolled more Pell Grant recipients, a high-quality postsecondary education would be spread across a broader group of students, instead of preserving elite educations for students who, for the most part, are already elite,” Van Der Werf wrote.

Van Der Werf said he recognizes a major barrier to reaching the 20 percent solution. With mandated

20 percent Pell Grant enrollment, elite colleges would have to accept a substantially different group of students than they would otherwise select, choosing lowerscoring Pell students over slightly higher-scoring others. However, he said this obstacle can be overcome.

“Some of the finest universities in America enroll more than 20 percent Pell Grant students, including Columbia, Emory, [New York University], [University of Southern California], Amherst, Smith, the University of California at Berkeley, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,” Van Der Werf wrote. “If these universities have figured out a way to make this work, other elite universities can do so, too.”

A8

sports

THE HOYA

friDAY, may 19, 2017

softball

GU Finishes 8th in Conference, 3rd Straight Losing Season olivia callis Hoya Staff Writer

After a series of losses against Big East foe Butler, the Georgetown women’s softball team (11-36, 4-16 Big East) has ended its season on a 15-game losing streak. In a season marked by close losses due to an inability to convert hits into runs, the Hoyas finished last in a conference led by St. John’s.

Reminiscent of the softball team’s nine wins to 35 losses in the 2016 season, the Hoyas failed to improve and concluded another season at the bottom of their conference.

Heading into the beginning of the 2017 season, the Blue and Gray had a nearly even split of experienced players and newcomers on the team, with nine returning players to balance out the seven new additions. To kick off the season, the team made the trip to Miami for the Felsburg Invitational.

The invitational, however, served as an omen of the months ahead for the Hoyas.

Playing in five games over the

course of two days, the Hoyas did not pull off a single win.

This trajectory continued into the following week, as Georgetown traveled to South Carolina for the USC Upstate/Furman Classic. Again, the Hoyas lost every matchup they entered, including two 9-0 losses to Colgate and USC Upstate.

Georgetown’s prospects improved as it went on to tally three wins in the East Madeira Invite, and another in the Texas A&M Invitational. All of these wins, however, were within a point of swinging the other way, an indicator of how tight this season was for the Hoyas.

Entering Big East play against Creighton, the Blue and Gray stood at 7-16 in season play. The series against Creighton started out promising, with Georgetown taking the first game before ultimately dropping the series.

This pattern repeated itself in a later Big East series against Seton Hall, in which the Hoyas were able to rack up six points and hold their opponents to just one in their first outing. In

the very next game, however, Georgetown fell 10-2 before losing another game and, ultimately, the series.

This losing skid remained consistent for the entirety of Georgetown’s season. Following its April 8 win against Seton Hall, the team went on a 15-game losing streak, unable to win another game for the rest of the season.

One of the Hoyas’ biggest struggles this season was converting hits into big plays when the team needed them most.

“Sadly, that’s been the theme of our year, we out-hit a lot of people. Unfortunately, our hits are not necessarily always clutch hits. When we play really well, it just feels like some higher power doesn’t want Georgetown to win softball games,” Head Coach Pat Conlan said.

Georgetown saw top threeworthy performances individually from several of its players this season. Sophomore infielder Mallory Belknap finished out the year in third place for individual batting in

the Big East with a .376 average. Additionally, Belknap was second in the Big East for hits, averaging 1.33 hits per game.

Junior outfielder Theresa Kane is tied for the lead in Big East standings for triples with four triples and tied for third in bases stolen.

“Usually, between [Kane] and [Belknap], whenever anything good happens on our offense those two are usually involved,” Conlan said of her team’s leaders.

Another consistent presence for the Hoyas this season was freshman pitcher Anna Brooks Pacha. Brooks Pacha, who dominated time spent in the circle for Georgetown, is third in the Big East for innings pitched and second for total strikeouts, with an average of 8.01 per game.

“She has been our go-to pitcher; she’s shouldered quite a bit of a load for us this year, and we’ve been very fortunate to have someone of her pitching caliber be able to do that,” Conlan said. “She has an excellent skill set, but she’s still a freshman and still learning

COURTESY GUHOYAS

Senior outfielder Theresa Kane finished second on the team with a .321 batting average and 50 hits. how to compete in a college game and win games. I have no doubt that she’s going to have a fantastic career, and she’s already off to a good start.”

Despite the Blue and Gray’s poor record, Conlan insists that many of Georgetown’s games this season were very competitive and that there was more to her team’s performances than meets the eye.

Speaking to the discrepancy between her team’s level of play and its record, Conlan pointed to the difficulty of putting every aspect of a winning game together at the same time.

“We’ve been playing well this year,” Conlan said. “But there’s always just one part of our game that’s not as good as the others, and that’s what’s been our Achilles’ heel.”

TENNIS

Hoyas Ousted in Early Rounds of Big East Tournament Christopher gay Hoya Staff Writer

COURTESY GUHOYAS

Junior Peter Beatty was named All-Big East Conference for the second time in his three-year career. Beatty finished the season with three consecutive singles wins.

Both of the Georgetown tennis teams wrapped up their seasons in the Big East Championship with contrasting results on the last weekend in April.

The Georgetown men’s tennis team (8-14, 0-3 Big East) started the tournament with a victory over St. John’s (11-15, 2-1 Big East) by a score of 4-2, before falling to Butler (18-6, 3-1 Big East) 4-3 in the next round. After winning the doubles point, the Blue and Gray saw strong victories from juniors Peter Beatty and Marco Lam at No. 1 and No. 3, respectively. After dropping the first set, Lam rebounded to take the match in three sets. Freshman Ian Witmer closed out the win for the Hoyas with straight set victory at No. 6.

Head Coach Gordie Ernst cited the men’s team’s effort for its victory.

“Our guys fought really hard out there and believed in themselves, which I have been trying to get them to do all year. It was 93 degrees out there,” Ernst said. “Our guys were in much better shape, as St. John’s hadn’t played in a match in about a month. They also had some turnover at the coaching position.”

feature

After defeating St. John’s, Georgetown fell to Butler. The Bulldogs eventually went on to win the Big East Championship. Once again, the Hoyas started off strong by grabbing the doubles point. Butler quickly responded by winning the next three singles matches.

Beatty and Witmer responded for the Hoyas by grabbing victories at No. 1 and No. 6, thus setting up winner-take-all match at No. 3. After splitting the first two sets, Lam lost the third set 6-3, giving Butler the victory over Georgetown.

Ernst said that the weather conditions made the match more difficult for his players, especially for Lam who already played a three-set match the day before in the team’s victory over St. John’s.

“It was hot, and unfortunately Marco started to cramp up in the third set,” Ernst said.

Despite the loss, the men’s team can take many positives from the season. The team had an up-and-down season but was able to perform at a high level in the tournament. Narrowly losing to the eventual champion is an indication of the team’s progress throughout the year.

The Georgetown women’s tennis team (13-6, 1-2 Big East) lost in the first round to Seton Hall (8-10, 1-4 Big East)

by a score of 4-1. Georgetown dropped the early doubles point and never responded, losing three of the next four singles matches to give Seton Hall the victory. Sophomore Risa Nakagawa recorded the lone victory for the Blue and Gray with her 6-1, 7-5 victory at the No. 3 position. The Hoyas went on to defeat Villanova (10-17, 3-3 Big East) in the backdraw.

In many ways, the women’s season was the reverse of the men’s, as the women’s team had a strong regular season but a disappointing Big East Championship. Coming into the tournament as one of the favorites, an early loss to Seton Hall was a disappointing finish to the season.

Nevertheless, several individuals recieved recognition for their performances. Senior Victoire Saperstein and Nakagawa both earned All-Big East Conference this year. The Big East recognized 12 players as All-Big East Conference, and this year marks the second consecutive year that Saperstein has earned the award.

“It was a disappointing end to the season, but we can take many positives from the seasons,” Ernst said. “We’re adding some new good recruits and expect many of the same girls to be back next year.”

commentary

Celtics Challenge Cavaliers Rebuilding Process Begins Dan Baldwin Hoya Staff Writer

After the buzzer sounded, Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas congratulated Washington Wizards Head Coach Scott Brooks and his players for a hard-fought series and jogged back into the locker room. As monumental of a win this was for Thomas and his Celtics, he understood his team’s most daunting challenge stood waiting in the Eastern Conference Finals.

LeBron James has led the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers to a perfect 8-0 record in the NBA playoffs. The play of the Cavaliers in the first round of the NBA playoffs struck doubt in many pundits’ prediction as to whether this team would reach the Finals for its third straight season. However, James dispelled any such notion when he dismantled a balanced Toronto Raptors team in four games.

In the 2017 postseason, James has elevated his game to new heights, averaging 34.4 points per game, 9.0 rebounds per game, 7.1 assists per game, 1.5 blocks per game and 2.1 steals per game.

As a three-time NBA champion and three-time Finals MVP, James has fulfilled his promise to the city of Cleveland by breaking a 52-year title drought last season. Driven by more than a desire to win, James has his eyes set on chasing and eventually surpassing the legacy of Michael Jordan.

To accomplish this feat, James must eliminate this hungry Boston Celtics squad and then, presumably, a loaded Golden

State Warriors team led by Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant.

This is why there was minimal celebration by Thomas and his teammates following their 115-105 Game 7 win over the Wizards. Thomas understood that to accomplish his goal of winning an NBA championship he must take down the greatest NBA player of this generation.

Thomas has shown unmitigated toughness throughout this postseason. Before Boston’s series with the Chicago Bulls, Thomas’s sister, Chyna, died in a one-car accident. Support flowed from the NBA community to Thomas, who chose to play in Game 1 of that series.

Playing with a heavy heart, Thomas has averaged 25.4 points per game, 6.5 assists per game and 0.9 steals per game, including a 53-point performance in Game 2 against the Wizards on what would have been Chyna’s 23rd birthday.

Despite the fact that Thomas has proven himself a legitimate NBA star during this run, he remains unsatisfied. He recognizes that the odds are stacked against him and his young Celtics. Nevertheless, Thomas utilizes the doubt of outsiders as fuel for his fire.

Even though Boston is the youngest No. 1 seeded playoff team in the last 40 years with an average age of 26 years, it has gained invaluable experience this postseason. The Celtics lost the first two games of their first-round series against the No. 8-seeded Bulls. This led Thomas to reach out to Kobe Bryant and ask for assistance in reviewing game tape. Boston responded by winning four

straight games to move to the second round. The Celtics rallied from an early 16-0 deficit against the Wizards in Game 1.

They regrouped mentally after John Wall’s game-winning shot in Game 6 to put forth a great effort in Game 7 and move onto the Conference Finals.

The Boston Celtics are certainly up to the task of preventing James from reaching his seventh-straight NBA Finals.

However, Boston did not fare well against Cleveland in the regular season, losing three of its four games, including a 23-point loss in the final week of the regular season.

The length and size of the Cavaliers ought to prove problematic for a small Celtics team.

Thomas stands at a mere 5-foot9 and Avery Bradley at 6-foot-2, compared to Cleveland’s Kyrie Irving and J.R. Smith, who stand at 6-foot-3 and 6-foot-6, respectively. Thomas and Bradley will have difficulty contesting shots by Cleveland’s lanky guards. Brad Stevens most likely will use a combination of Bradley’s tenacity and Marcus Smart’s physicality to guard Kyrie Irving.

Jae Crowder draws the unenviable job of trying to slow down James. Crowder, who stands at 6-foot-6 and 235 lbs., is strong enough to handle James, who is slightly bigger at 6-foot-8 and 250 lbs. However, James’ burst of speed when attacking the rim can cause issues for Crowder as he lacks the speed and athleticism to keep James out of the paint.

Regardless, no matter how tall the task, Thomas and the Celtics will refuse to back down.

A

s 10 years without an NCAA Tournament run past the second round went by for the Georgetown men’s basketball team, a fan base of Hoya Madness slowly transformed into Hoya sadness. The coach running the helm, John Thompson III, increasingly failed to lead his team to success under the shadow of his father’s 1984 National Championship.

The 2016-17 season was the straw that broke the proverbial camel’s back. Georgetown (14-18, 5-13 Big East) won three straight Big East contests to improve to 13-10 after January 31st but faltered later on.

While many fans believed the Hoyas controlled their own destiny to March Madness, they went the other direction, losing eight of their last nine contests and causing outcry both on the Hilltop and nationally.

Finally, after 13 seasons with Thompson, including three of the last four without play in the NCAA Tournament, the time came. Mediocre play under high expectations could no longer be justified.

Georgetown parted ways with Thompson to regain success.

Athletic Director Lee Reed and Georgetown alumnus and former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue (CAS ’62) led the search for the next head coach.

Potential names surfaced the rumor mill, including Harvard’s Tommy Amaker, Notre Dame’s Mike Brey, Texas’ Shaka Smart, Rhode Island’s Danny Hurley and Xavier’s Chris Mack. In the end, the coaches stayed with their current pro-

grams and the Hoyas looked elsewhere.

The search ended with someone near and dear to the Hoya pride, one of the biggest components of its sole national championship run, along with Coach Thompson Jr. The Hoyas matched with NBA Hall of Fame player and former Hoya Patrick Ewing (COL ’85).

Matthew Sachs For the first time, in what seemed forever like, Georgetown regained the spotlight. On campus and across the sports world, students and the media raved about the new hire, the return to the Hilltop for arguably the greatest Hoya ever.

At the press conference, reporters asked Ewing about his new plan of attack in coaching and recruiting for the Hoyas.

Ewing responded, “I haven’t even started working yet.” But soon enough, his work had started. Days later, Ewing flew to Connecticut to meet with former Georgetown commit Tremont Waters in hopes of getting him to recommit.

Ewing realized that to keep the spotlight, the team would need to perform like in the good old days. So, after assembling his coaching staff, he went out and recruited. Ewing’s first commit came with

point guard Jahvon Blair from Canada. Blair’s passing ability and 6-foot-4 stature makes him an ideal combo guard for Georgetown, especially since graduate student and junior guards Rodney Pryor and L.J. Peak are not returning.

The Hoyas then landed another guard to pair with Blair — South Dakota graduate student transfer Trey Dickerson.

Dickerson provides Georgetown specifically with point guard depth.

Finally, Ewing signed New Mexico decommit, Chris Sodom, a four-star center for the Class of 2017, providing the team with much needed size following Bradley Hayes’ departure The recruiting class of Blair, Dickerson and Sodom, as well as three-star wing Antwan Walker seems to be completed. While the Hoyas have two more open scholarships, one more graduate transfer and a possible recommitment from Waters are most realistic to fill the spots.

Georgetown knew that with a coach like Ewing at the helm, high school players looking to get to the pros would pick up the phone for the Hall of Fame player. His reputation has brought life and relevance back to an ailing program. The upcoming season may be one for rebuilding, and a hold-over until Ewing gets a full pool of players to recruit from.

But one thing is certain — with Ewing there is hope, something that Georgetown has not had in years. And with Ewing, a new and intriguing chapter in the storied history of Hoyas basketball has begun.

THE HOYA

friDAY, MAY 19, 2017

COMMENTARY

baseball

Identity Found In Experiences CAVACOS, from A10

moments in the most meaningful way. That, undoubtedly, has been my time writing for the sports section of The Hoya.

One of my favorite things about the sports section is that very few of our writers, if any, want to pursue sports journalism as a career. I would say that most of us — myself included — have definitely toyed with the idea, but ultimately, we are all united by a common passion for something that is not a means to an end.

As washed-up former high school athletes and lifelong diehard sports fans, we know what it is like to measure our lives as a series of moments. We carry fleeting feelings and memories from our times playing for or rooting for teams — both good and bad — that enrich our lives with a sense that we are a part of something bigger than ourselves.

I thank The Hoya for helping me realize how it is the ordinary moments that made my time here extraordinary.

During my time with The Hoya, there have been truly incredible moments.

I remember the pride I felt seeing my name in print for the first time. I remember, in the beginning of my sophomore year, sitting in the same space as Patrick Ewing (CAS ’85), Allen Iverson and Dikembe Mutombo (SLL ’91), among others, at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Thompson Athletic Center, wondering how in God’s name I was considered qualified to be there with a press pass. I remember receiving the 3:30 a.m. text message while I was studying abroad in Italy confirming that I would be The Hoya’s newest senior sports editor and having no idea how it was going to change my life for the better. There have been countless laughs shared and dollars spent at The Tombs’ trivia nights, game

watches and trips to the Verizon Center, all shared with my best friends.

Of course, there have also been terrible moments.

There was the crushing blow of scrambling to get an interview with Abby Wambach, my hometown childhood idol, at last year’s OWN IT Summit just to learn that she had gotten arrested days before her appearance. There was the realization of ‘Oh my God, we’re actually going to lose to Arkansas State in McDonough Gymnasium right now.’ There were the countless nights of crisis management and breaking news in The Hoya office, the lost hours of sleep, and, of course, the 5 a.m. walk home from the office one early Friday morning just to discover that someone had thrown up on the front door of my apartment.

So, as a writer who has spent the past four years trying to put the intangible feelings that accompany being a sports fan into words, I leave Georgetown largely at a loss to describe how spectacular my time here has been. And of course, as an annoying cynic, it irks me greatly that a cliche is somehow the best descriptor of the absurd, wonderful, frustrating, transformative college journey I have had.

My life is a series of moments. And their value is not in how they have measured up to another Georgetown student’s experience, or how instrumental they were in securing my future career. I realize their value in reminiscing about them with my friends during our final days here, in reflecting on them for my final article and in envisioning future happy hours and Homecoming weekends when I’ll revisit them again.

I am forever indebted to The Hoya and to my sports family not only for giving me an identity and a purpose at Georgetown, but for helping me realize how it is the ordinary moments that made my time here extraordinary.

Elizabeth Cavacos is a senior in the College. She served as senior sports editor in spring 2016 and senior social media editor in fall 2016.

She graduates Saturday.

A9

COURTESY GUHOYAS

Sophomore infielder Ryan Weisenberg, top, collected 29 hits and drove in 23 runs through 42 games this season.

Senior pitcher Nick Leonard’s 48 strikeouts ranked third on the team. Leonard appeared in 18 games.

New Personal Heights Reached BASEBALL, from A10

Michigan (20-26, 9-12 MAC), winning the Big East Player of the Week Award for the first time in his career and notching his 100th career RBI and 200th career hit as a Hoya.

Most notably, however, Kuzbel maintained an onbase streak for 44 consecutive games throughout the season, the second-longest such streak in the country until it ended with an 0-3 effort against Butler on May 15.

“He’s a great kid with the right priorities,” Head Coach Pete Wilk said of Kuzbel. “He’s had some challenges, he’s had some injuries — certainly a lot of injuries he’s had to play through. He played a lot of positions for us in his four

years here, always trying to make sure his bat stayed in the lineup.”

Senior infielder Eric Garza is also enjoying his best year as a Hoya after starting only 22 games last season.

To date, Garza is hitting .297 with 12 doubles, three home runs and 25 RBIs. While Garza did not see much playing time to begin the season, the senior capitalized on the opportunities he was given to solidify his role in the everyday lineup.

“I wasn’t playing much earlier in the season; I was just waiting for my opportunity and trying to be a good teammate,” Garza said. “And then I got it, and luckily took advantage of it.

It’s just cool trying to help the team, be the best player I can be, the best teammate

COMMENTARY

I can be, and hopefully that helps win games.”

Senior pitchers Simon Mathews and Nick Leonard and senior outfielder Beau Hall were also major contributors to Georgetown’s current winning season.

Mathews leads the team with 85 and 1/3 innings pitched and 78 strikeouts, while Leonard ranks first among Georgetown starting pitchers with a 3.61 ERA. Hall has notched three home runs this season, tied for fifth best on the team.

Collectively, one of the Hoyas’ brightest moments came when they defeated No. 15 St. John’s 13-5 on May 6. The Hoyas tallied 13 hits in the contest and capitalized on the Red Storm’s (37-8, 11-4 Big East) four defensive errors to defeat the

Big East powerhouse. The win, marked by a potent offense, solid defense and great starting pitching illustrated the strengths of Georgetown’s 2017 team.

Currently, Georgetown’s record remains 27-24 and 4-11 in the Big East, as the Blue and Gray face UMBC and then Xavier in a threegame series to conclude the 2017 regular season.

Although the conference play results have been disappointing for the Hoyas, their season was far from a failure. Terrific talent from position players and pitchers alike, coupled with the leadership qualities illustrated by the team’s nine seniors and two graduate students, combined to create a successful season with even more yet to be achieved.

COMMENTARY

Adair Leaves GU After 3 Seasons Writers Forge Lifelong Bonds ADAIR, from A10

of the last two seasons.

Before Adair arrived at Georgetown, she spent two seasons coaching at the College of Charleston — also in the CAA — before departing for Georgetown, presumably because she viewed it as a more prestigious opportunity. Three years later, she now departs Georgetown for a school in the same mid-major conference she had previously left.

Adair unquestionably felt a strong personal connection to Delaware. In her introductory

press conference, she cited the school’s strong leadership and fan base as driving forces behind her decision. I certainly understand that rationale, and it is perfectly within her right to pursue greater opportunities. Going even further than that, I believe that Adair should be celebrated and thanked for turning around a program that was in chaos when she arrived.

However, for Georgetown and Athletic Director Lee Reed, Adair’s departure must be troubling. Even though the programs’ results are similar,

Adair viewed the job at Delaware as a superior opportunity to her job at Georgetown.

Now, the next hire is critical for Georgetown to build on the improvements that Adair made and continue to restore the program’s reputation and status in the landscape of college athletics.

The first step will be to retain the current players and recruits who had committed to Adair’s program.

The Hoyas are expected to return four starters from last season — senior guards Dorothy Adomako and DiDi

ELLA WAN/THE HOYA

Nathasa Adair’s 37 wins ranks fourth among all Georegetown women’s basketball head coaches. Adair closes her Georgetown coaching career with two consecutive winning seasons.

AUERBACH, from A10

Tyler Park Burton, senior forward Cynthia Petke and junior guard Dionna White. In addition, the team will add senior guard Mikayla Venson, a transfer from Virginia who led the Cavaliers with 15.1 points per game and a single-season school record 70 three-pointers. Georgetown has also signed three prospects to National Letters of Intent to join the team next season. If the new coach is able to retain the current roster, the team should still be in position to continue its upward trajectory.

I wish Adair the very best of luck with the Delaware program moving forward, and I thank her for her contributions to the team and the school. However, it is worth examining the circumstances behind her exit. One coach’s departure certainly does not signify the downfall of an athletic department, and, unless this becomes a consistent trend, Georgetown probably has nothing to worry about. Still, the school must ensure that it is doing everything it can to maintain and strengthen the perception of its athletic program nationwide.

Tyler Park is a junior in the

College.

Leavey 421.

There is a special bond that connects members of The Hoya; perhaps it is because of the hectic nature of the production office or the hilarious memories that people collect when working there. I think it is a little bit of both. The Hoya would not be The Hoya without the crazy, but it also would not be The Hoya without the fun.

As I reflect on my time here, I can say that there are few parts of my Georgetown experience I want to change.

However, if I had to choose one thing I could change, it would be to become more involved with The Hoya earlier on. There is nothing wrong with sending in stories from across campus, of course. After this reflection, I’ll have written 93 stories for The Hoya, and a lot of those were completed during those first two years I was a writer.

But there is something special about being in Leavey 421 with fellow writers and editors. I will remember all those stories I wrote when looking back at my time on The Hoya, but I will remember much more than just a series of 750word articles. I will remember the trips downstairs to Vital Vittles to buy sour candy, the game watches on laptops in the sports section of the office, laughs over the clip of “The Office” when Kevin spills the chili — iconic — and an endless supply of BuzzFeed quizzes. I will remember an incredibly supportive group of people

eager to help one another and produce the highest quality journalism possible. I will remember some of the best people I know at Georgetown.

I mentioned earlier that it took all four years for me to realize how special The Hoya is to me, and this is why. I love journalism, and every time I saw my name as a byline in a Tuesday or Friday issue, I felt extremely proud and rewarded. However, the real reason why The Hoya is one of the most special parts of my Georgetown experience is simply the people.

The people with whom I have become friends by being on the newspaper are ones who will be in my life long after we graduate on May 20, and for that, I am very grateful. Together, we complained about Georgetown sports, scrambled to get interviews, got together to watch games, planned our own senior send-off event and teamed up for many nights of Tombs trivia.

It’s sad that my four years at Georgetown are coming to an end, but I cannot help but be happy about what the future brings, because I know these people are the ones who are going to stick around.

Madeline Auerbach is a senior in the College. She served as deputy sports editor in fall 2015 and spring 2016 and contributing editor in fall 2016 and spring 2017. She graduates Saturday.

SPORTS

Baseball Georgetown (27-25) vs. Xavier (26-25) Friday, 12 p.m.

Cincinnati, Ohio

FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017

TALKING POINTS

TENNIS The tennis teams concluded their seasons at the Big East Championship last month.

A8

“

NUMBERS GAME

I cannot also help but be happy about what the future brings.”

MADELINE AUERBACH, HOYA STAFF WRITER

COMMENTARY

11

The number of players the baseball team is graduating after this season.

COMMENTARY

Elizabeth Cavacos

Little Moments Define Memories

A

s an annoying cynic who hates both emotions and cliches equally, I am infuriated by a social media phenomenon that involves slapping cheesy, decontextualized quotes onto everything. I always roll my eyes at all-too-deliberately crafted Instagram captions and pictures of those beautiful calligraphic sayings that pop up on my Facebook feed, if I do not just ignore them altogether.

But the thick layer of nostalgia that has settled over everything during the past few weeks actually compelled me, in spite of myself, to give one of these quotes a second look.

I’ve seen variations of it in several places, but it’s something along the lines of: “Life is measured in moments.” I was not expecting this to resonate with me so deeply, and I am vaguely annoyed that it has, but I cannot seem to get it out of my mind.

The reality is that there are simply too many favorite memories to chose from.

Whenever a period of my life draws to a close — on the last day of a job, the waning minutes before midnight on New Years Eve and especially now, as my graduation

from Georgetown looms at the end of this week — it is extremely difficult for me to pick out milestones or big measurements to articulate what made that period of time worthwhile.

My time here has been an absolute blur and I have felt overwhelmed during these last few weeks trying to piece it together whenever someone asks me what my favorite moment or favorite memory was. I always freeze up on the spot — the weight of four years’ worth of memories makes those questions nearly impossible to answer.

The reality is that there are simply too many favorite memories to choose from, and a majority of them have not been grand accomplishments or checked-off bucket list items. They have been moments. When I reflect on my time at Georgetown, I do not have one pivotal memory that stands out more than the rest. I do not have one symbolic anecdote or a catchy lede that I can use to launch into a life lesson or broader message. I have moments — a series of often ordinary recollections and feelings that have made for an extraordinary four years.

I guess a better question, then, is not what my favorite memory at Georgetown is, but rather what has shaped all of these small See CAVACOS, A9

COURTESY GUHOYAS

Natasha Adair was named the fourth head coach of the Delaware women’s basketball team on Sunday. Adair finished with a 37-54 record in three years as Georgetown’s head coach, including two WNIT appearances.

Adair’s Departure Raises Concerns

G

eorgetown women’s basketball Head Coach Natasha Adair left the university to accept the same position at the University of Delaware on Monday.

The announcement triggered Georgetown’s second search for a head basketball coach in the span of two months, following the firing of John Thompson III and the hiring of Patrick Ewing as men’s basketball head coach in April.

After three seasons of improvement, Adair undoubtedly leaves the pro-

gram in a better place than when she arrived. However, her departure raises a series of questions for the program and the school.

Under Adair, the Hoyas improved their win total from four in 2014-15 to 16 in 2015-16 and finally to 17 this past season. Adair, who became the program’s fourth head coach in four seasons when she was hired, built a strong team-oriented culture during her tenure, stabilizing an inconsistent program.

Coaching changes are a constant part of the land-

scape of college sports.

Coaches frequently leave their current jobs to pursue what they view as greater opportunities, usually for a more prestigious program or conference.

Adair’s choice to leave the Hilltop for Delaware is a curious move from a career standpoint and raises questions about Georgetown’s status in the college sports landscape.

The Blue Hens compete in the Colonial Athletic Association, which is traditionally viewed as a “mid-major” conference, not one of the premier

athletic conferences in the country. Delaware has made four NCAA Tournament appearances in their history, the same number as Georgetown. In the last two seasons, Delaware has posted a record of 32-29, with no postseason appearances. In the same span, Georgetown had a record of 33-27 under Adair, with back-to-back appearances in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament. In addition, Georgetown beat Delaware head to head in each See ADAIR, A9

COMMENTARY

BASEBALL

Seniors Lead Successful Season MITCHELL TAYLOR Hoya Staff Writer

Despite finishing with a losing record in conference play, the Georgetown baseball team’s 2017 season was marked by several success stories and milestones. Nine seniors and two graduate students embodied the values of hard work and dedication, leading the Hoyas (27-24, 4-11 Big East) to their third straight 25-win season.

Among those leaders were graduate student outfielder Zach Racusin and senior infielder Jake Kuzbel, who were both named to the 2017 CoSIDA Academic All-District Team for their efforts on and off the field.

The award is given to student-athletes who maintain a 3.30 GPA or above while also contributing to their team’s performance.

Racusin has served as one of Georgetown’s most consistent hitters, with a .343 batting average through the team’s first 51 games.

Racusin was twice selected to the Big East Weekly Honor Roll and his 72 hits currently lead the conference.

For Kuzbel, highlights from the season included collecting four hits on his birthday in a comeback victory against Western See BASEBALL, A9

Madeline Auerbach

Finding Unity In Dedication

M

COURTESY GUHOYAS

Senior pitcher Simon Matthews ranks first on the team with 85 1/3 innings pitched and 80 strikeouts in 13 starts. Matthews has pitched two complete games this season.

Visit us online at thehoya.com/sports

any things have changed during my time at Georgetown: friends, classes, professors, living arrangements, jobs, internships — the list goes on. However, one thing in my life has been constant throughout my entire Georgetown experience: being a part of THE HOYA, and specifically, a member of THE HOYA’S sports section.

Looking back, I would love to be able to say that I knew THE HOYA would be my home from the first day I joined, that it would be the source of some of my best friends and give me a feeling of true belonging at Georgetown.

Unfortunately, I cannot.

In fact, it took me all four years to finally realize how special THE HOYA is to me.

My first two years as a staff writer were enjoyable, but predictable. Se-

nior editors assigned me stories and I conducted the interviews, wrote the articles and sent them in an email from the comfort of my dorm. I barely knew anyone in the sports section, and anyone who I did recognize on THE HOYA was coincidentally an acquaintance from another part of my Georgetown life — a class, club or dorm.

It was not until my junior year that I accepted a more involved role in the sports section. After being a writer for two years, I became a deputy editor, forever changing my experience with THE HOYA. I was no longer sending stories from afar. Instead, I was actively working alongside other members of THE HOYA, some of whom I had never crossed paths with until I sat next to them in See AUERBACH, A9