DANIEL SMITH/THE HOYA
the guide FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 2016
Black Georgetown Remembered
KSHITHIJ SHRINATH Hoya Staff Writer
E
va Calloway was a lifelong Georgetown resident: Born in the neighborhood in 1899, she grew up on Prospect Avenue near the grounds of the university. Throughout her childhood, Calloway heard the ringing of the bells from the Healy Hall clock tower and organized her life around those tolls. Yet, for over 80 years, Calloway never crossed the front gates at 37th and O; she never found herself on the Hilltop; she never imagined that she would be welcome. Her first steps on campus came in the 1980s, when she — as part of the Older Georgetown Fellowship Group — was invited onto campus and was served by students at a Christmas party. As she stood outside Healy Hall, she took a moment to gaze up at its immense facade. “Georgetown University, during my childhood days was a great inspiration, [but] I never realized that I would ever get
an opportunity to enter that college,” said Calloway — who died in 2003 at the age of 104 — in an interview before her death. “As I stepped outside the college and viewed the clock, I never thought I would have a chance to stand under that clock.” Calloway’s story is one of hundreds compiled in the landmark 1991 book “Black Georgetown Remembered,” which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year with a special edition released by the Georgetown University Press. An exhaustively researched and illuminating work, “Black Georgetown Remembered” — authored by Kathleen Lesko, Valerie Babb and Carroll Gibbs, and edited by Lesko — tells the often-overlooked story of the black experience in Georgetown, from the town’s origins in 1751 to the post-emancipation days to the 1940s gentrification that substantively altered the racial makeup of the neighborhood. In no way can an article do justice to the extensive research conducted by Lesko, Babb and Gibbs to create this book, nor can it properly capture all the complexity of cultural heritage and economic disenfran-
chisement latent in the Georgetown neighborhood. Our presentation choice, then, is through pictures. We display pictures of buildings and community spaces that appear ordinary now but held great significance as cornerstones of the black experience in Georgetown. Then, on your next stroll through the neighborhood, perhaps you will pause at the tennis courts at Rose Park and marvel that the Peters sisters began their legendary careers in tennis there. Or you might pass by Mount Zion United Methodist Church and recognize the significance of its 200th anniversary this year. And perhaps, through these images, you will have a chance to glimpse the assured confidence that — according to history professor Maurice Jackson, who wrote the foreword for the 25th anniversary edition — characterizes black Georgetown. “When you saw the people at the [Feb. 24 Gaston Hall] program, you just saw such pride in the neighborhood,” Jackson said in an interview with THE HOYA. Georgetown University has been an insti-
tutional pillar of the neighborhood since 1789, and as Eva Calloway’s story demonstrated, no history of black Georgetown would be complete without an examination of the university and its relationship with the surrounding community and the workers that sustain its operations. “Black Georgetown Remembered” serves as a marker of the university’s complicated history; but in the year of Freedom and Remembrance Halls, and when these complex relationships rise to the forefront again in the form of the upcoming Campus Plan negotiations and Georgetown Solidarity Committee’s recent petition on workers’ rights, the book offers an even more salient reminder: this time, of the importance of remembering. “Remember the beauty of what once was, but also the beauty of what we went through, using that to understand our history and culture,” Jackson said. “Remember the institutions. Remember the bad times, along with the good.” See REMEMBERED, B2
THIS WEEK FOOD & DRINK
FEATURE
I Saw the Light
Hiddleston discusses role in Hank Williams biopic JIWON NOH
Hoya Staff Writer
Espita Mezcaleria
Mexican restaurant and bar Espita Mezcaleria recently opened its doors in the Shaw neighborhood. B5
ALBUM REVIEW
Domo Genesis
Odd Future rapper Domo Genesis released an impressive debut album. B7
THEHOYA.COM/ GUIDE @thehoyaguide
In January 1947, Hank Williams’ mother Jessie Lillybelle Skipper was driving her son back from a performance in Fort Deposit, Ala. Williams, drunk and asleep in the backseat, awoke to his mother’s declaration that she “just saw the light” of Montgomery in the distance. “I Saw the Light” would become the title of one of the singer-songwriter’s most iconic songs, and now, 68 years after the track’s first release, it is the title of the new biopic from director, producer and writer Marc Abraham. Based on the book “Hank Williams: The Biography” by Colin Escott, George Merritt and William MacEwen, the film focuses on the man behind the music, from Williams’ rise to fame as one of country music’s most popular and influential performers to his tragic death at the young age of 29. Tom Hiddleston, a British actor best known for his role as the villanous Loki in the Marvel universe, may seem like an unlikely choice to portray the American icon. Hiddleston himself admits as much. “I was born in London in 1981,” Hiddleston said in an interview with THE HOYA this week. “He was born in Alabama in 1923. … There’s a gap there.”
SONY PICTURE CLASSICS
Elizabeth Olsen and Tom Hiddleston play Audrey Sheppard Williams and Hank Williams in “I Saw the Light,” a biopic of Williams’ life and career as a musician. Hiddleston, eager to step outside his comfort zone, said he was eager to challenge himself with the uncharacteristic performance. He worked tirelessly to prepare for the part, and adopted an en-
tirely new persona. His suave, mellifluous British accent, one of his most distinctive features, is replaced by a charming See WILLIAMS, B3
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the guide
THE HOYA
friday, april 1, 2016
Black Georgetown: ‘RemembeR The BEauty’ ALL PHOTOS BY DANIEL SMITH/THE HOYA
Slavery iN GEORGETOWN
3410 Volt a: Georgetow Former slave qu arters. n numbe red 1,449 and 277 fr c u s a ee blacks laves f slave in 1800. e site o attie until h T : O e lock of John B 3200 b licly by . b n u a p b e ld tions he 800s slave trad -1 the mid
Pre-Emancipation Community
1334 29th: M ount Zion Uni ted Methodist 125 black co Church, formed mmunity mem in 1816 by bers, is the ol D.C. It celebra dest black co tes its 200th an ng re gation in niversary this year.
POST-EMANCIPATION EXPANSION
1425 28th: The site of Pride’s Pharmac y was central to the revitalized Herring Hi ll neighborhood that housed a majority of black residents in Ge orgetown.
mley e segregated Wor 3331 Prospect: Th oup gr a 85 and now School, built in 18 ts en sid re k ucated blac of townhouses, ed Avenue. west of Wisconsin
GENTRIFICATION AND DECLINE
Old Stone House: A pu sh for preservation spiked housing prices and taxes, making the area unaffordable for black residents.
n trying to buy 1505 26th: Whe me, Morgan his childhood ho lined, declined Brown was redrced to move. for a loan, and fo
1700
and Grain erly the Lee Feed 29th and M: Form was the ich wh Alfred Lee, by d ate er op e, or St 40s. s in America in the 19 oldest black busines
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2906 O: The Mount Zion Community Hous e, bought by freed slaves in 18 11, became a key community ce nter.
1865
Rose Park: Tennis stars Roumania an d Margaret Peters who dominated , in the 1940s, be gan their careers these courts, whi at ch were named af ter them in Octob er.
1930
etown’s alleys, tionism attacked Georg rva se Pre lk: Wa er nd Poma used university rly Bell’s Court, which ho me for s wa at wh ing includ iction notices. nts were served with ev ide res all , 50 19 In rs. worke
the guide
friday, april 1, 2016
ON THE RECORD
THE HOYA
B3
FEATURE
Sam Abrams
Moving From Pop To Hip-Hop
O
ne was a 13-year-old Canadian YouTube star with pop stardom in his future. Another was a teen heartthrob in U.K. band One Direction, touring the world with hit love songs like “That’s What Makes You Beautiful.” A third was the youngest member of Disney Channel’s own Jonas Brothers band. In an unlikely turn of events, Justin Bieber, Zayn Malik and Nick Jonas have all found themselves at the peak of their respective careers, and near the top of the hip-hop world at that. Bieber’s journey up the hip-hop charts was perhaps the most predictable, given that he was discovered by Atlanta R&B legend Usher doing covers of famous Ne-Yo and Chris Brown songs on YouTube. As far back as January 2010, with his hit single “Baby” featuring a PG rap verse by Atlanta’s own Ludacris, it was clear that Bieber had an affinity for hip-hop. Soon after, Kanye West and Raekwon appeared on his “Never Say Never: The Remixes” album. When Nicki Minaj’s stardom began to rise in 2012, Bieber grabbed her for “Beauty and a Beat.” Even though he was collaborating with rappers, all of these songs were well within the pop genre. Recently however, Bieber has taken up rapping himself, and has engaged with traditional hip-hop motifs including sex, alcohol and fast cars in his life outside the studio. Since 2014 alone, Bieber has abandoned a pet monkey at German customs, painted racist graffiti on a wall, patronized a brothel, mysteriously collapsed backstage at an arena show, vomited onstage, been videoed urinating in a bucket while yelling “Fuck Bill Clinton,” inexplicably worn a gas mask in public, gone shirtless through airport security, been photographed biting a stripper’s nipple and allegedly assaulted his own bodyguard and a limo driver during childish tantrums, all per an unflattering Rolling Stone cover story. On Travi$ Scott’s song “Maria I’m Drunk,” Bieber somewhat shockingly raps, “Yeah, I’ve been drinkin’ all night, Take a shot, all we got is Don Julio … Girl I just wanna see what that booty do.” Despite, or perhaps because, of this total departure from his teen sweetheart days, Bieber has been able to revive his career. His most recent album, “Purpose,” has sold 1.6 million copies and has seen four separate songs hit No. 1 on the charts. The world seems to prefer the Bieber that swigs Hennessey while performing with Rae Sremmurd to the mop-headed “Baby” crooner of just six years ago. Malik’s introduction to the hip-hop world has been far more recent and sudden than Bieber’s. Just one year ago, the English singer left One Direction to pursue a solo career, to the dismay of millions of passionate — and very young — pop fans. After signing to RCA Records, home of Snoop Dogg, A$AP Ferg, G-Eazy and many other hip-hop leaders, Malik released his first single, “PILLOWTALK.” Presumably an ode to his very famous girlfriend, supermodel Gigi Hadid, Malik touches on intimate material that would have been out of bounds during his boy band days, even throwing in a few expletives to emphasize his newfound independence and manhood. Capitalizing on his status as a sex symbol, Malik also hops on the remix to Chris Brown’s hit “Love You Back to Sleep” alongside Usher, bringing us predictably not-safe-for-work lyrics. In just six years, Malik has gone from guest starring on Disney Channel’s “iCarly” to collaborating on forthcoming work with hip-hop artists ranging from singer The Weeknd to traditional rappers Big Sean and even Kendrick Lamar. While his individual success may never match that of One Direction, Malik has forged an impressive start to his solo career by latching on to the hip-hop scene. Nick Jonas’ road to hip-hop success was by far the most unlikely. Known as the baby of the three-man Jonas Brothers band, Jonas displayed possible star power on its hit song “Burnin’ Up.” Few could have predicted his collaboration with Sage The Gemini, a Bay Area rapper of “Gas Pedal” fame, on successful single “Good Thing.” Unlike Bieber or Malik with their legal trouble and bad-boy image, respectively, Jonas has maintained his choir-boy reputation while still managing to infiltrate the crossover pop-hip-hop genre. Aided by remixes from Tinashe and B.o.B. of his smash single “Jealous,” Jonas has branched out from pop into R&B seamlessly. Bieber, Malik and Jonas have plenty in common. All three artists are in their early 20s and have experienced recent career breakthroughs due in part to their embrace of R&B and hip-hop influences. But while Bieber has surrounded himself with established rappers and has the scandals and arrests to prove his commitment to his new persona, Jonas has found a niche as a sweetheart R&B hook singer, and Malik has received accolades for his shift into a brooding R&B artist without picking up any of Bieber’s bad habits. It is hard to say who will be next to make the jump from pop to hip-hop, but it appears that these three are here to stay.
Sam Abrams is a junior in the School of Foreign Service. He is an alternating columnist of ON THE RECORD, which appears every other Friday.
SONY PICTURE CLASSICS
British actor Tom Hiddleston, Elizabeth Olsen and Cherry Jones play country music legend Hank Williams, his wife Audrey Sheppard Williams and his mother Jessie Lillybelle Skipper in the new biopic “I Saw the Light.”
Hillbilly Hiddleston Biopic sheds light on country music pioneer
WILLIAMS, from B1 Southern drawl. Hiddleston conducted extensive research on Williams and country music, living for months in Tennessee with a country singer. There, he learned to play guitar and sing in Williams’ distinct style. The preparations paid off: His performances in the film are some of its finest moments. The film begins as Hiddleston sings an a cappella rendition of the blues, honky-tonk classic “Cold, Cold Heart.” Face shaded by a widebrimmed hat and swathed in theatrical lighting, the music legend comes to life in Hiddleston’s captivating gaze and crooked smile. It is a stunning scene, and it sets the tone for the rest of the film. The movie combines the compelling story of a troubled music legend with a mesmerizing leading actor and excellent supporting cast. Hiddleston brings real passion to a difficult role about a difficult life: one marked by alcoholism, womanizing, illness and opioid addiction. Abraham has crafted a beautiful and accurate portrayal of Williams’ life. Hiddleston conveys the pain and desperation that accompanied Williams’ declining mental and physical condition. Still, his music was always exceptional, and Hiddleston’s surprisingly impressive vocal talent and rhythm guitar expertise, skills he acquired only after being cast as Williams, shine throughout. These elements stand in stark contrast to Williams’ increasingly dark personal life, and Hiddleston masterfully balances the two. Abraham was careful to keep the focus on Williams’ humanity, and not succumb to the hagiographic tendencies that too often derail celebrity biopics. Williams’ musical career is legendary — he recorded 35 singles that placed in the Top 10 of the Billboard Country & Western Best Sellers Chart, 11 of which ranked No. 1. His illustrious music career and widespread suc-
cess speak for themselves. “I Saw the Light” focuses on the man behind the fame. “I wanted to show that despite the fact that he was a genius and was able to translate his personal pain, adversarial relationships and the very difficult things that occurred in his life, he was a man,” Abraham said. “A person, a human being walking the planet, facing the same TOM HIDDLESTON Actor, “I Saw the Light” things that everyone else does.” Abraham and Hiddleston both agreed on the necessity of telling Williams’ story with a human perspective. “The reason his music had power and
“As a public figure, he was magnetic. As a performer, electrifying.”
made a connection was because they were from a real place,” Hiddleston said. This film, he said, is focused on showing that real place. What truly makes the film stand out, beyond its inspired cast, is Hiddleston’s nuanced and passionate interpretation of Williams. “There’s an interesting tension between his external charisma and internal vulnerability,” Hiddleston said. “As a public figure, he was magnetic. As a performer, electrifying. But behind that, he was a very tortured soul.” Hiddleston conveys the complex emotions of both extremes, and the film rides on the strength of his commitment to authenticity. The film is not a blockbuster, but it portrays Williams’ life as it was: glamorous, tormented and above all, human. Hiddleston manifests the character’s internal vulnerability, and delivers a performance that will withstand the test of time.
SONY PICTURE CLASSICS
Maddie Hasson plays Billie Jean, a young singer who became Williams’ second wife after his divorce from Audrey Sheppard Williams.
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the guide
THE HOYA
Friday, april 1, 2016
Feature
This week’S TOP FIVE
Top Five Batmen
1
ben affleck ‘Batman v superman’
Though Zack Snyder’s “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” divided fans and critics, one uncontested strong point of the film is Ben Affleck’s captivating turn as Bruce Wayne. The character makes a limited number of appearances in the full garb of the caped crusader, but Affleck turns up to deliver a brooding, nuanced portrayal of Batman’s real identity as billionaire playboy and business magnate.
2 SLENDER SEVEN
Founded in 2014, baked goods company Slender Seven returns to the farmers market this spring with its natural, gluten-free, vegan cookie dough.
Cookie Dough Returns To the Farmers Market Alex Prior
Hoya Staff Writer
Recently, baked goods company Slender Seven has been garnering attention for its delicious and healthy baked goods by offering its samples at the farmers market and Taste of The Hilltop. Slender Seven operates with the philosophy of “cook simply, eat healthy and feel happy,” and founder Nikki Azzara passionately adheres to all her claims. Each simple recipe posted on the Slender Seven website is made with seven healthy ingredients or fewer — the chickpea-based cookie dough for which they are so famous is 100 percent natural, egg-free, gluten-free, vegan, low-sugar, free of trans fats and safe to eat raw. However, the heart of Slender Seven is Azzara, a 2014 graduate of Wake Forrest University who founded the company in 2013 when she was a senior. “I was taking an entrepreneur class in the business school and I’d had this idea for a while of doing something with the recipes that I enjoyed making,” Azzara said in an interview with The Hoya. I had always been very health-conscious, and kind of all of these things made it come together.” Azzara originally created the recipe for her chickpea cookie dough when trying to recreate a black bean brownie recipe that she found online. “I tricked my family into eating them without telling them what it was, and they were really good,” Azzara said. “My mom’s famous recipe is blondies, like cookie bars, and I wanted to make the black bean brownie version of those, so I decided to come up with the same thing using chickpeas. And that just evolved into chickpea cookies.” According to Azzara, healthy eating has always been a big part of her life. “I was brought up super healthy. My dad was a stay-at-home dad and he’s always been very health conscious. … We never had fast food as children,” Azzara said. “I’ve still never had fast food in my life.” Azzara spoke about her rare passion for Slender Seven, the result of her job-hunting process after she graduated. “[I was] just trying to find something that I was passionate about … but then I realized that I didn’t want to build someone else’s brand. That was the reason I was really trying to make Slender Seven work,” Azzara said. After launching the Slender Seven website through the entrepreneur class at Wake Forrest, Azzara began considering making it a long-term project.
“I wanted to start monetizing the brand. I wasn’t making money off of it in college, and I wanted to make it a sustainable business,” Azzara said. “I had had the recipe for chickpea cookies on the website, and looking back I should’ve known — it was one of those recipes that everyone was like ‘Oh my God, will you make these for me?’” Azzara soon transitioned to focus on her current specialty: the edible cookie dough. At a crowdfunding campaign last year, she networked with others to build her brand and ultimately raised $10,000 for Slender Seven. This campaign helped her get into Union Kitchen, a food incubator in D.C., which Azzara now uses to make and package her dough for distribution. Whole Foods reached out to Azzara last summer and began selling Slender Seven products at its branches because of high customer demand. “I was able to get into stores just purely based on the fact that people were asking for [my product],” Azzara said. “It established some credibility for me.” However, Azzara said she has encountered challenges throughout the process, as she started Slender Seven on her own. “There’s a lot of unknown that I have to figure out on the day to day. … Just small things like shelf life and inventory is a big challenge that I deal with every week, or making sure I get into stores to sample consistently,” Azzara said. “There’s no delegating of responsibility because it’s just me.” Azzara is now creating her own spot in students’ hearts after her debut at the farmers market. She works beside the beloved Swizzler hot dog company, which she credits for helping her get a spot as a pop-up vendor at the market. Azzara’s presence on campus through the farmers market even helped her secure a spot selling her cookie dough on the shelves of Vital Vittles. “It’s actually surprisingly delicious,”Caroline DeRosa (COL ’19) said. “I’m not going to lie — I was skeptical at first with the whole chickpea thing, but I love it. I would definitely recommend it to my family and friends.” As someone who is currently living through the successes and setbacks of being a young business owner, Azzara encourages other student entrepreneurs to be persistent. “I work in a kitchen with people where everyone is doing what they love, and it’s such a positive, inspiring place. It’s difficult and there’s a lot of manual labor, and it’s very intense, and people are doing things on their own,” Azzara said. “But at the end of the day, everyone loves what they’re doing and it’s really rewarding. … My biggest piece of advice is just take the risk, do it. Worst case you fail, and you learn from it.”
Christian bale THE ‘DARK KNIGHT’ TRILOGY
Over the course of Christopher Nolan’s critically and commercially acclaimed trilogy, Christian Bale holds down the fort as Gotham is plagued by unyielding corruption from every branch of power. Bale brings an understated gravitas to his Bruce Wayne, as the character experiences the emotional effects of loss and trauma to a degree rarely seen in comic book adaptations. Although Bale’s infamous Batman voice was hardly a fan favorite, this performance ultimately broke new ground in depicting an emotionally developed and complex superhero.
3
WARNER BROS
adam west ‘batman: the movie’
The campy, family-friendly depiction of Batman in the character’s first silver screen appearance, “Batman: The Movie,” is a far cry from the thematically charged adaptations of today. Likewise, Adam West’s goofy and over-the-top performance was in keeping with the vibe of the original television series. Though fans of the superhero now head to the theater with far different expectations, West’s portrayal nonetheless sparked the general public’s first interest in a live-action Batman.
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WARNER BROS
michael keaton ‘BATMAN’
Tim Burton’s big-screen adaptation of the DC superhero cast Michael Keaton in the titular role, giving rise to the popular phenomenon of Batman as a conflicted soul, tormented by the conflict between his public and private personas. The Internet of today would likely not respond warmly to the casting of Keaton due to his relatively lean stature, but the actor delivered a surprisingly commanding turn in the role.
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WARNER BROS
20TH CENTURY FOX
val kilmEr ‘batman forever’
Joel Schumacher’s “Batman Forever” was a box office success that went largely unappreciated by critics, and part of the reason may have been Val Kilmer’s middling turn as the caped crusader. The script called for cheesy one-liners from Kilmer that did not help in endearing the character to audiences. However, his performance reflected the duality of the character in his social presence and privately solemn disposition, a trend that would carry over in many later adaptations.
WARNER BROS
“Listen, if it rains.” - Guillaume Apollinaire
SLENDER SEVEN
Slender Seven’s healthy cookie dough products have become increasingly popular over the past two years, and are currently available at Whole Foods.
Sarah harper/tHE hOYA
the guide
friday, April 1, 2016
THE HOYA
B5
RESTAURANT review
Innovation and Oaxacan Tradition Collide Espita Mezcaleria
1250 9th St NW | Cuisine: Mexican | $$ Mary Cate Whelan
salsa would definitely be appealing to those seeking a flavorful and zesty heat. Our entrees arrived promptly after we finEspita Mezcaleria, a modern Mexican ished the appetizers. I ordered the maitake restaurant and Mezcal bar — an establish- mushroom and chicken tacos. The mushment serving a distilled alcohol similar room taco was served with salsa borracha to tequila — opened this month in the and pickled white onion. The bright red salsa Shaw neighborhood following months of drizzled over the mushroom and white onanticipation. The restaurant’s concept is ions on a bed of a perfectly-sized flour tortilla. inspired by the Oaxaca region in Mexico, Biting into the taco, I immediately noticed from the recipes to the Mezcal to the decor. the spice. The salsa borracha was drizzled on Backed by general manager Josh Phillips, the taco in perfect moderation, complementone of the few certified “Master Mezcali- ing the bitter, savory taste of the onions and ers” in the world, and executive chef Alexis the mushrooms. The flour tortilla was soft Samayoa, who has artfully developed sev- and light, yet sturdy, holding together all en classic styles of mole, Espita Mezcaleria the generous ingredients in the taco without offers traditional Mexican dishes with an breaking. innovative twist. The chicken taco was topped with a bright Walking into Espita Mezcaleria, I was red and orange bell pepper sofrito. Again, instantly transported from a busy road to the sturdy tortilla held all the ingredients toa chic and trendy eatery that resembles gether, allowing the juicy, marinated chickan art gallery with en to blend with the a quirky industrial freshness of the bell interior. Espita peppers. The dish Walking into Espita Mezcaleria, Mezcaleria suggests perfectly balanced I was instantly transported from that one should the heaviness of the “eat with their eyes chicken with the a busy road to a chic and trendy first.” The restaulightness of the peprant’s designer, Ra- eatery that resembles an art gallery. pers and the tortilla. chel Aikens of Reid Unlike the salsa and & Taylor Studio in mushroom taco, the New York City, helped to mold a modern chicken taco was milder in spice level. environment that blends with authentic My friend adventurously ordered the pipiOaxacan art. Yescka, an Oaxacan street art- an, a country-style pork rib drenched in a ist, painted two huge and colorful wall mu- roasted tomato, serrano and hoja santa mole rals for the restaurant. Even the restroom and topped with pumpkin seeds. The dish is walls are painted with an Aztec-style mural, served with fresh heirloom corn tortillas. I creating an authentic Mexican vibe. sampled a bite of the dish and was impressed The vast menu offerings were certainly by its unique flavor. The mild but flavorful impressive. I started the meal with two vari- green mole had a pesto-like aroma. The texeties of the seven modern salsas the menu ture of the mole-coated pork almost melted offers: pistachio and borracha with fresh in my mouth. When I reached in to sample heirloom corn chips. The fresh corn chips another bite of the perfectly executed pork, alone were enough to satisfy me. The crisp, my friend fended me off, insisting he wanted golden brown chips were dusted with the it all to himself. perfect amount of salt, giving it an addicWhile the food and vibe of the restaurant tive quality. The pistachio salsa, the mildest were pleasantly unique, the dishes were of the salsas, blends with roasted tomatillo, certainly on the pricier end and difficult serrano, sherry and mint. The combination to afford with the average college student’s of the fresh ingredients formed a thick tex- budget. In addition, although the restauture. The pistachio salsa had a rich, buttery rant was not completely full, it was overflavor, balancing perfectly with the crunch bearingly loud. of the chip. The fresh and spicy food combined with The borracha salsa, made with mezcal, or- the edgy ambience and good service alange and chipotle moritas, was on the spicy ready have me itching to return to Espita end of the salsa selection. The mezcal was the Mezcaleria. For those craving spicy, authenstar ingredient in the salsa; I tasted it imme- tic Mexican cuisine, this Shaw neighbordiately upon the salsa touching my tongue, hood restaurant will definitely do the trick. followed by a fiery kick. The mild tortilla chip Be sure to make reservations in advance, balanced the overpowering heat of the salsa. as the restaurant only opens for dinner and Although I am not a huge fan of spice, the seats fill up fast.
Hoya Staff Writer
MARY CATE WHELAN/THE HOYA
Conceptualized around Mezcal, a Mexican beverage similar to tequila, Espita Mezcaleria offers a twist on classics in an industrial atmosphere.
RESTAURANT review
Sophistication at a Price Bar à Vin
1035 31st St. | Cuisine: French | $$$ Nick Biggs Chiropolos Hoya Staff Writer
The latest product of M Street’s constant turnover rate of shops and restaurants is the new Bar à Vin, a discreetly located wine bar near the waterfront at 1035 31st St. NW. With no noticeable sign outside the establishment, Bar à Vin is attached to Chez Billy Sud, the beloved French eatery that opened just last year. Despite its hidden location, Bar à Vin excels with its extensive drinks selection, warm atmosphere and impressive food menu. As suspected from its name, Bar a Vin’s interior and menu draw strong inspiration from France. It has a dim — though very elegant — interior of dark wood panels, bricks and old-fashioned wallpa-
Bar à Vin
The restaurant is aimed at attracting an older and more sophisticated clientele.
per. The chandeliers hanging from the ceilings, candles on the tables and the fireplace surrounded by cozy armchairs bathe the bar in warm light. The bar menu includes an extensive wine list of mostly French imports, with whites, reds, roses and champagnes by the glass. In addition to the wine, Bar à Vin offers a short — mostly French and Belgian — beer list, traditional French aperitifs and a cocktail list, many of which are ginbased. To complement the drinks, there is also an accompanying food menu featuring hors d’oeuvres, fromages and charcuteries — cured meats. On a Tuesday evening, the 50-seat bar was about half-full, mostly with professionals either in groups or by themselves enjoying a drink. My friend and I were Bar à Vin certainly the youngest clients. The menu Bar à Vin, one of the newest restaurants on M Street, offers an impressive food menu prices also reflected this older clientele, as alongside an extensive and thoughtfully curated drink selection. the prices were much steeper than those of a typical college student’s budget. Nevertheless, the quality of the offerings did from the seasoning without overpower- the tap was not working, and instead ofing the taste of the fresh goat cheese. fered a bottle of a similar wit beer ($7) that not disappoint. My friend and I agreed that our glasses was not on the menu. The beer was a soft We ordered a plate of smoked duck prosciutto ($10) and a plate of la cachet ($9), of wine were both excellent, even though amber color and had a fairly light taste, a “provencal goat cheese, honey, olive the quantities were far from generous. which left me desiring a heavier Belgian oil, lavash” cheese that our server recom- Having studied abroad last semester beer after the rich wine and meat. Howevmended. The meat and cheese came with in Lyon, France, I often drank Côtes du er, the beer menu seemed to be dominated bread, and we each paired the food with Rhône wine from the region, but the glass by light beers and did not leave many opI had at Bar à Vin tions for darker flavors. With the limited a glass of red wine. was probably bet- selection and apparent problem with the I ordered the 2011 ter — albeit more tap, customers would probably be wiser to Domaine de la Côte While the prices are obviously expensive — than sticking to Bar à Vin’s specialty of wine. It de l’Ange from the Côtes du Rhône renot the cheapest in town, Bar à any of the Côtes du is additionally noteworthy that Bar à Vin Rhône wine I drank offers a few selections of wine flights and gion of France ($13) Vin offers very high-quality wine at restaurants or several pages of bottles. Yet, with prices while my friend ordered a 2011 Pas- and small plates in an impressive bought in grocery starting around $30, my friend and I destores while I was cided just to stick to single glasses. cal Granger Gamay setting. there. The wine While the prices are obviously not the Noir from Beaujowas very dark red — cheapest in town, Bar à Vin offers very high lais ($9). though smooth in quality wine and small plates in an impresThe food came first. We indulged in a plate of eight thick the mouth — with fruity undertones and sive setting. Thus, for students above 21 slices of prosciutto, four pieces of bread, a note of sweetness. My friend described seeking a more refined alternative to the a small bowl of crackers and the goat the Beaujolais as being slightly spicy, not typical Georgetown options, this wine bar cheese, which had a soft, hummus-like very dry and containing a somewhat acid- provides a sophisticated setting for a gettogether with friends, a sure way to impress consistency. The prosciutto was fresh, soft ic aroma. Afterwards, I also decided to try one of on a date or even a calm place to go study and somewhat chewy with a mild smoky flavor. However, the highlight was defi- the European beers. I initially opted for with a nice glass of wine. For anyone looking to expand their wine nitely the goat cheese, which made a very the Brouwerji Van Steenerge draft wit nice medium between meat and bread (wheat) Belgian beer ($7). However, the palette, it is definitely one of the best locaas a spread. It had a slightly sweet flavor server quickly returned to inform me that tions in the neighborhood, if not all of D.C.
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the guide
THE HOYA
FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 2016
ABROAD WITHDRAWAL
MOVIE REVIEW
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Starring: Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill Directed by: Zack Snyder AUSTIN HONG Hoya Staff Writer
Zack Snyder’s second installment in the DC Comics cinematic universe, three years after “Man of Steel,” needed to do just one thing: set itself distinctly apart from the seemingly never-ending stream of Marvel superhero movies. In that regard, “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” was an outstanding success. The movie brings together two of the world’s most iconic superheroes, but from an entirely different angle than audiences have seen before. With excellent performances, spectacular special effects and thematic ingenuity, “Batman v Superman” is a promising preview of the planned Justice League series. The opening scene shows Bruce Wayne, played by the controversially casted Ben Affleck, tearing through the streets of Metropolis as the city crumbles around him during Superman’s battle with General Zod, as seen in 2013’s “Man of Steel.” Here, Snyder shows audiences the human story — not Superman fighting evil and saving the world, but the orphaned children, the innocent victims and the untold devastation left behind when a god fights among men. This focus on the implications of the superheroes’ actions becomes the central crux of the story. You never fear for Superman’s physical well-being — after all, he is indestructible — but you do worry how the world will react to his presence. A reccurring theme in the original Superman comics is that people of all religions have been waiting for a messiah for millennia, and when one drops from the sky, the ramifications on politics, religion and philosophy must be explored. Though Snyder’s direction is by no means perfect, his vision does reach beyond the popcorn flick. This darker, more serious approach to the superhero story is
exciting, especially compared to Marvel’s previous movie magic, which is beginning to wear thin. Wisecracking superheroes saving the world and casually risking life and limb were novel six years ago, but innovation has seemingly stalled in favor of a working formula. Indeed, this ambitious approach manifests itself in what is usually Snyder’s strength: the film’s visual presentation. “Batman v Superman” is packed with visual symbolism, striking images and mythological allusions, all contributing to the grander scale of the movie. However, this occasionally detracts from the story, as Snyder sometimes sacrifices realism and logical continuity for a cool image or a neat metaphor. This is most obvious in Wayne’s dream sequences, in which appearances can disorient and confuse the viewer. Perhaps Snyder intended to further plunge the viewer into the absurdity of the world created, but the effect seems to have been lost on viewers. Regardless, the film captures the visual translation between comic book and film, creating a world that is simultaneously believable and fantastical. There is no question that the movie’s acting is its strongest element. Henry Cavill and Gal Gadot, of “Fast and Furious” fame, fill their roles as Superman and Wonder Woman convincingly, though their parts were limited in range. Jesse Eisenberg puts forth a solid performance as Lex Luthor, though his twitchy, psychopathic genius is a little too reminiscent of Heath Ledger’s unforgettable Joker in 2008’s “The Dark Knight.” However, the real star in the film is Affleck, who gives comic book fans the truest Batman to have ever played the role on screen. He dominates the role with terrifying authenticity, filling rooms with a muscular, commanding presence that
Elizabeth Harvey
WARNER BROS PICTURES
demands attention. Affleck’s Batman has been fighting Gotham criminals for 20 years, and Affleck’s physical presence is matched only by the cunning and preparation that has quintessentially defined the Batman character. If Superman is the movie’s messiah, Batman is a demon loosed from hell. Ultimately, however, the movie’s greatest flaw is its occasionally weak execution. The story arc is strong and compelling, but it is often marred by campy dialogue. Movie characters should not talk like comic book characters, and some lines were physically painful to hear, housed as they were by strong acting. Furthermore, the frequently overdramatic score highlighted the exaggerated dialogue. The only character who seemed immune was Wayne; this dynamic may arise from both Affleck’s close relationship with the film’s screenwriter Chris Terrio, who also wrote the Affleck-directed “Argo,” and what I suspect is Affleck’s guiding hand in the direction of his own scenes. Like Snyder’s similarly ambitious “Watchmen,” “Batman v Superman” tackles larger issues and sweeping moral conundrums usually unseen in other comic book adaptations. With a goal so lofty, it can hardly be blamed for the occasional trip. Even so, the movie generally delivers on visual impact and acting, creating a comic book world that feels true to the source material.
MOVIE REVIEW
Remember
Starring: Martin Landau Directed by: Atom Egoyan ELEANOR TOLF Hoya Staff Writer
Atom Egoyan’s “Remember” feels like a number of films in one. At its heart, it is a psychological thriller complicated by a main character with increasingly worsening dementia. The story, rife with unpredictable plot twists, tells the story of 90-year-old Zev Gutman, played by the talented Christopher Plummer as he sets off on a vengeful journey to find the Nazi guard who killed his family in Auschwitz. Benjamin August’s script is complex and unique, capturing the pain, guilt and nostalgia of confronting one’s past. Nonetheless, the farfetched nature of the plot is, at times, hard to look past. Egoyan is no stranger to the strange. His repertoire is a mixed bag of the critically acclaimed, the panned and the cult favorites. While his early films, like “Exotica” and “The Adjuster,” were sexually charged dramas, “Remember” is more in line with his more recent, thriller-based works. The story begins in a retirement home as Zev attends the last Shiva of his wife Ruth, marking a year since her death. The experience baffles the old man, whose dementia has left him with constant confusion and anxiety. The audience learns about Zev’s life as he does, through the help of his friends and family. The 90-year-old widower, father and grandfather was once a prisoner at the Auschwitz concentration camp, where the rest of his family was murdered. At the home, Zev has grown close to Max (Martin Landau), a fellow Holocaust survivor. Max is still in complete control of his mental faculties, but is bound to a wheelchair. Together, they devise a plan to get revenge on Otto Walisch, the man behind
the death of their families. Through explicit instructions, letters and financial preparations, Max guides his confused friend on a journey across the country to find and murder their enemy. However, everything is not as it seems. In contrast to the style of his early work, Egoyan’s style in “Remember” is simple, with few flourishes or tricks. This approach is compelling, and enables the story to maintain a sense of realism throughout its many twists and turns. This is August’s first screenplay, which explains some of its naivete. Zev is able to bypass the rules and regulations of modern day society and law, solely because of his loveable old age. The story is full of unrealistic moments, but the young writer’s unique take on the often-overdone revenge storyline is still impressively engaging. August has mentioned that he wanted to write a movie featuring older actors, who are typically relegated to supporting roles. Plummer and Landau, two of the most revered actors in Hollywood, deliver powerful performances that prove quality acting has no expiration date. Landau is unwavering in his commitment to the role; unfortunately, the physical limitations of his character limit his number of scenes. The dementiaridden mind of Zev allows Plummer to express both past and present emotions, a balancing act that he maneuvers incredibly gracefully. Instead of viewing memories of Auschwitz via cliched flashbacks, we watch a man tackle his decades-old demons as if they were happening now. “Remember” cannot be written off as just another Holocaust film. Here, the Holocaust’s most important role is to provide a backbone to an intricate mystery; it is as much a story about old age and memories
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as it is about the genocide. At times, the thrilling nature of the movie seems at odds with its protagonist. How can someone with dementia participate in such an active and mentally complex story? Although the genre and Zev’s handicap seem paradoxical, the complications make for an innovative story propelled by doubts and confusion. That being said, this script comes with a number of moments that defy reality. The most painful plot hole revolves around a Glock pistol that Zev easily obtains, despite his obviously diminished mental capacities and the seller’s clear concerns. Moreover, Zev proceeds to carry the gun across the Canadian border unquestioned; even a police officer who confronts him has no qualms about Zev’s possession of the weapon. The themes of mental health and the horrors of Auschwitz imbue this film with complex emotions that typically go untouched in tales of retribution. Zev is filled with doubt in every step he takes in his journey. Egoyan fills “Remember” with attentiongrabbing intricacies. However, these plot twists cannot exist without suspensions of disbelief. For some movie buffs, “Remember” may be reminiscent of Hitchcock’s classic thrillers: the plot feels improbable at points, but we still can’t look away.
Going Away Or Getting Away?
A
s classes resume after the spring and Easter breaks, campus has been flooded by tanned, refreshed students. It is almost certain that, while walking across campus, you will overhear a conversation between these individuals that sounds something like this: “Hey! How was [insert tropical-locationwhere-the-drinking-age-is-18 here].” I myself am one of these people, though unfortunately am not so much tanned as peeling. I had the good fortune of being able to spend five days with my friends in sunny Puerto Rico during spring break, and it was a wonderful trip. I bring this up because, for me, Puerto Rico was more than a much-needed dose of sunshine and relaxation. It was my first time traveling since returning from a semester abroad in Florence. My arrival at John F. Kennedy International Airport for the 5 a.m. San Juan-bound departure felt much like seeing an ex-boyfriend for the first time since breaking up; it was strange and somewhat disarming to consider where and who I was the last time I had been there, compared to where and who I am now. To my surprise, upon our arrival in Puerto Rico, things felt strangely familiar; It was just like being abroad again. I had the exhilarating freedom to traverse the unknown with my friends and to revel in an independence tempered only by my ever-shrinking wallet. I had never been to Puerto Rico, and it was a beautiful island to discover. On our first day, we wandered the sloping, rambling cobblestone streets of el Viejo San Juan, the historic colonial quarter of Puerto Rico’s capital city. After a few days of relaxing at the beach, we decided to go on another adventure. Led by our friend who grew up in Puerto Rico, we drove for an hour into the forest to the Rio Arriba so that we could hike along a trail to a picturesque waterfall. Again, things felt quite the same as they had when I was living in Florence. As our group of friends scrambled over rocks and waded through streams – slipping, falling and pulling each other up – I couldn’t help but remember the hike we embarked on in Split, Croatia. These experiences have shown me the immense capacity that exploring a foreign space offers for bonding with people, whether you are studying abroad or simply vacationing. In encountering the unfamiliar, you are forced to let your guard down, be yourself and trust fully in those around you. This is why so many people who return from studying abroad highlight the relationships that they built when they tell people about their experience; the importance of maintaining these special relationships is one of the many things that I have realized since coming back to Georgetown. The differences between being abroad and being on campus were thrown into relief by my spring break trip to Puerto Rico, which was rather inconvenient considering that I’ve spent the past half semester readjusting to Georgetown. The ailments of abroad withdrawal — having to find summer subletters, being slammed with midterms, networking for internships and exterminating the mice in Henle — have been partially alleviated by the arrival of beautiful weather — and more importantly, the farmers’ market — but I have yet to find a substitute for the rush of getting on a plane and lifting off in the air, leaving the stress of “real life” behind me. Nor have I found the same liberation of landing in a new place and knowing that, as I walk down the jetway, I have a clean slate in front of me. So far, my column has discussed how studying abroad has inspired me to change how I live life, but this week I’m wondering: are there ways in which my experience could be negative? Is studying abroad just a form of escapism? There is an element of travelling that does offer you the chance to run away from your problems. But, as I learned from hiking in two places that couldn’t be more different, there is also an element that offers you the chance to be fully honest with yourself. The value of studying abroad lies in striking a balance between escaping and experiencing.
Elizabeth Harvey is a junior in the College. ABROAD WITHDRAWAL appears every Friday.
NEW NETFLIX RELEASES TEAM FOXCATCHER
UNBREAKABLE KIMMY SCHMIDT
THE RANCH
Tackling the true story of John E. Dupont’s coaching of Mark Schultz in preparation for the 1986 Olympics, this newly launched documentary promises to uphold the success of its predecessor, the Netflix original series “Making a Murderer.” Director Jon Greenhalgh’s film employs interviews and archival home videos to guide spectators through the tragic events that led to the murder of Schultz’s brother, Dave.
Following the numerous award nominations that the popular sitcom’s first season managed to pick up, Netflix is enthusiastically coming back with the second season of Tina Fey’s brainchild. Armed with contagious yet innocent exuberance, Ellie Kemper, who plays Kimmy, transforms a mundane New York City into her colorful playground.
Playing Colt, a semipro quarterback affected by Peter Pan syndrome, Ashton Kutcher makes his appearance on Netflix in the new multi-camera comedy from “Two and a Half Men” creators Don Reo and Jim Patterson. The sitcom combines crude jokes and dramatic scenes, ultimately offering viewers an insight into the concerns of the struggling American middle-class.
STARRING: DAVE SCHULTZ, NANCY SCHULTZ
STARRING: ELLIE KEMPER, TITUSS BURGESS, JANE KRAKOWSKI
STARRING: ASHTON KUTCHER, DANNY MASTERSON
NETFLIX
“The Ranch” stars Ashton Kutcher as a semipro quarterback.
the guide
friday, april 1, 2016
THE HOYA
album review
Mind of Mine ZAYN
DaNIEL Smith Hoya Staff Writer
To leave a boy band because of creative differences is one of pop music’s most tired cliches. There is no better example than Zayn Malik. Videos of old One Direction concerts show a disengaged Malik, relegated to the background except for a few impressive high notes that take the casual viewer by surprise. Considered by some to have had the most vocal talent of the group, Malik puts forward a solo debut to mark the beginning of a musical career he can finally call his own. “Mind of Mine” is a departure from the restrictive but entirely lovable hit factory that was One Direction. While 1D’s other four members had clear indie-rock influences, Malik’s rhythm-and-blues-infused pop veers into the lane of the newly-revered Justin Bieber while maintaining a distinct flair and plenty of room for experimentation. That experimentation is the product of the creative freedom Malik never had before. With restrictions set on his hair color and beard to maintain the image meticulously crafted by One Direction’s management, the control over Malik pervaded all aspects of his life, especially music. In his first interview after leaving the band, Malik said, “Would you listen to One Direction, sat at a party with your girl? I wouldn’t. To me, that’s not an insult, that’s me as a 22-year-old man.” Now 23 years old with a solo career, Malik is free to make music for a new audience. The maturity of the music doesn’t reflect someone he is trying to be, but rather someone he has been all along. The R&B songs are smooth and provocative. On “Wrong,” R&B singer-songwriter Kehlani and Zayn trade taunts disguised as verses, dueling before coming together in a seductive sparring match sure to surprise those expecting just another 1D track. The instrumental’s trailing hi-hats and heavy bass line ooze maturity, intro-
MUSIC
New Releases
ducing the listener to a new side of the singer. The album’s production is spearheaded by James “Malay” Ho, known for his partnership with Frank Ocean. Malay’s touch shines on songs like “It’s You” and “Truth,” echoing his work on Frank Ocean’s “Channel Orange” with wavy guitar chords and organ synths while allowing for Zayn to showcase a strong falsetto. From the boy who sang Mario’s “Let Me Love You” in his audition for “The X-Factor,” the record is much more R&B than any other genre. But it occasionally steps into grooves of dance-floor pop — see “LIKE I WOULD” and “lUcOzAdE” — and classic love songs. “fOoL fOr YoU” evokes an old-school vibe with a chord progression that recalls The Beatles while boasting some of Malik’s best vocals. Few, if any, songs on “Mind of Mine” would feel comfortable on a One Direction album — a testament to the legitimacy of Malik’s creative differences and the newfound liberty granted by his solo career. While one could imagine “fOoL fOr YoU” and hit single “PILLOWTALK” as 1D cuts, Malik’s autonomy peaks on “INTERMISSION: fLoWer,” an intermission where he sings in Urdu. Such an open homage to his Pakistani heritage would never have appeared during the One Direction years; he has yet to comment on the track, but its inclusion on the album points back to the experimentation and freedom Malik now enjoys. Subtler examples of Malik’s South Asian influences appear sprinkled throughout the album. On many songs, one can find the use of raga, a South Asian vocal method characterized by melodic runs and trills. “INTERMISSION: fLoWer” displays the clearest use of raga, but the chorus of “It’s You” and the album’s introduction “MiNd Of MiNdd (Intro)” also show the mark of Malik’s roots. Where “Mind of Mine” falls short is its lyricism. The lyrics on “TiO” lack any semblance of subtlety, hammering the listener with the phrase “take it off” 30
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times. As the album’s worst track, it is sure to convey the image of a try-hard rather than someone who is naturally seductive. But Malik had a team of songwriters working for him while he was in One Direction, and no one really listens to pop albums for lyricism, anyway. He reportedly wrote on all the songs on “Mind of Mine,” and while he definitely reveals himself to be a novice songwriter, the songs maintain a fun, easygoing quality. “BLUE” has some of the album’s weakest lines — “She plays with my heart and emotion / I give her my love and devotion / She gave me her thought and a notion” — but is conversely is the album’s peak of creativity, with the familiar arpeggios of Bach’s “Suite No. 1 in G Major” serving as background vocals. And even though the first and second verses have nearly identical lyrics, the second verse is a darker, more soulful rendition that is almost unrecognizable from the first. Overall, “Mind of Mine” is a solid foray into solo stardom with a strong R&B base and a healthy amount of variety. One could paint Malik’s departure from One Direction as selfish or calculating, but the sheer difference in his new music from his old should be a signal of how deserving he is of a solo career. “I’ve done this before / But not like this,” he sings on standout track “BeFoUr.” And he’s right.
nick jonas ‘close’ Following on the heels of his streak of hits like “Chains” and “Jealous,” Nick Jonas’ latest single “Close” offers a sleek mid-tempo that hints at explicit themes without ever quite stating them. The track nods to the urban-inspired production of Justin Bieber and more recently, Zayn Malik, with the inclusion of filtered steel drums and an extended vocal arrangement. Swedish singer Tove Lo provides a welcome feature on the song, elevating the track to something more memorable than the standard lead single.
meghan trainor ‘watch me do’
album review
Genesis Domo Genesis Nick Harrison Hoya Staff Writer
Rapper Domo Genesis’ eponymous album “Genesis” is aptly named: Although he has been rapping for years, it is his first solo studio album. Domo, a rapper from the Los Angeles area, is primarily known for being a member of the hip-hop collective Odd Future, comprised of artists such as Tyler, the Creator, Earl Sweatshirt and Frank Ocean. Although they had released mixtapes in the past, Odd Future released their only studio album, “The OF Tape Vol. 2,” in 2012. However, the members of the group have since gone in different directions, leading fans to speculate whether they have officially disbanded. Thus far, Domo Genesis has perhaps been less memorable than other Odd Future members, from the skilled rapper Earl to the unpredictably silly Tyler. Domo’s solo mixtapes, such as 2010’s “Rolling Papers” and 2011’s “Under the Influence,” have been quite impressive but did not stand out from other examples of stoner rap. 2012’s “No Idols” was a noteworthy mixtape, but mostly as a result of the powerful and experimental beats from its producer, The Alchemist. “Genesis” gave Domo an opportunity to hone his rapping style and further his success outside the shadow of Odd Future. Fortunately, the album shows Domo’s growth as an artist, as it is a strong and cohesive album with an upbeat vibe and introspective themes. Domo explores his uncertainty about his future throughout the album, but
manages to express his message in a positive way. Acknowledging this doubt, Domo expresses pride in his career progress and excitement for what is to come through his lyrics. “One Below” features an intro from Domo’s mother expressing her pride in her son over a slow, relaxed beat. She says “Bye-bye, baby boy, time for a lift off,” cueing an energetic drum interlude before Domo begins rapping with newfound vigor and enthusiasm, perhaps signifying a new stage in his career. Despite the overall positive vibe of the song and the album as a whole, Domo does show insecurities about rapping, through lyrics such as, “The same gift that got me paper, I be stressing from it.” Yet this very insecurity is what makes his message more genuine. He admits on “One Below” that he feels lost and has far to go, but he seems to be happy pushing further with his rap ambitions — “If this what comes from being lost, then I’m proud of it,” he raps. These themes dominate many of the songs and tie the album together as a whole. On “Wanderer,” Domo initially wonders if he is crazy, but interjects hopeful tones as he begins to doubt himself less. Domo also questions his path in life in “Questions,” asking himself, “Are you afraid to let your dreams and life intersect?” “Dapper,” the album’s first single, featuring Anderson P However, in the midst of the introspective themes and relaxed atmosphere of the album, one single, “Go (Gas),” seems anomalous with its feature artists — Wiz Khalifa, Juicy J and Tyler, The Creator — bragging
BEST BETS evolution of the d.c. food scene
If making wise food choices is an important component of your life, don’t miss this informative and compelling journey through the evolution of the sophisticated food scene of Washington, D.C. Front-line members of the D.C. food community — ranging from top chefs to restaurateurs — will share their views on the local restaurant scene and offer some suggestions for your future gastronomic ventures.
Where: Lohrfink Auditorium When: March 30 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Price: Free info: hoyalink.georgetown.edu
If Meghan Trainor’s latest single “No” gave any indication of a shift from her typical sugary doo-wop sound, her latest hype track, “Watch Me Do,” proves that couldn’t be further from the truth. The funk-infused track is reminiscent of Christina Aguilera circa the “Back to Basics” era, although with some of the old school flavor of Bruno Mars. Although “No” is poised to dominate the charts for the foreseeable future, “Watch Me Do” is a welcome return to form for Trainor.
Groove Theory: seventh Annual Hip-Hop Showcase Come support your favorite Georgetown hip-hop groups as they take the stage alongside various teams and crews coming from the entire metro area. Among the participants who will be delivering performances are GU Step Team, Hoya Break Squad and D.C.-based hip-hop troupe Afta Shock.
Where: Gaston Hall When: April 1 at 7:30 p.m. price: $10 General | $7 Student info: guevents.georgetown.edu
ODDFUTURE
about their fame and drug use with a repetitive, catchy beat. Another weakness of the album is that the hooks are not as catchy as those on other rap albums. “Faded in the Moment” simply has many repetitions of “Yeah, yeah, yeah,” and other songs are not particularly memorable. Nevertheless, the album makes up for its lack of catchy hooks with its upbeat atmosphere and contemplative themes. Domo finally seems to have found his voice in this album and it is by far his most personal work. Themes of self-doubt are present throughout, yet Domo manages to convey them in a positive manner and appears to be overcoming his fears. Although listeners who seek hard-hitting, aggressive rap songs may be disappointed, hip-hop fans who approach this album with an open mind will thoroughly enjoy it. Domo Genesis fans will also likely be impressed with his growth and look forward to his future work.
fifth harmony ‘the life’ Fifth Harmony’s “Work from Home” may have provided a taste of the group in all of their sexuallycharged, R&B glory, but their latest single, “The Life,” proves that the band isn’t shifting far from their bubblegum pop roots. The ladies sing about “getting down on a beach in Dubai” and “eating good, getting lit” over upbeat, danceable production that builds to a tropically tinged chorus. If this track and the single that preceded it are any indication, Fifth Harmony is likely set to dominate the radio this summer.
Cherry Blossom festival
The President’s Book of Secrets
The event of the year has finally arrived, and visitors are joining Washingtonians in greeting the blessings of the spring season. More than 3000 cherry blossoms, orderly occupying the banks of the Tidal Basin, form the background of a city-wide festival of cultural events and amazing exhibitions.
Join David Priess, who served in the Bush and Clinton administrations, for a unique immersion into the secret stories surrounding the President’s Daily Brief. As you consider whether to spend two hours of your afternoon with a person with whom every living former president and vice president has shared their personal PDB experiences, remember that no major foreign policy decisions are made without consulting this document.
Where: Tidal Basin When: March 20 to April 14 Price: Free info: washingtondc.org
Where: International Spy Museum When: April 6 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Price: Free info: washingtondc.org
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THE HOYA
friDAY, APRIL 1, 2016
women’s lacrosse
Softball
GU Opens Big East Schedule Hoyas Brace for Top Conference Rivals Claire Schansinger Hoya Staff Writer
The Georgetown women’s lacrosse team (2-7) will play its first conference game against Vanderbilt (4-6, 0-1 Big East) on Saturday in Nashville, Tenn. After beating George Mason (5-2) 15-12 on March 16, Georgetown has lost its past two games against No. 19 John Hopkins (8-4) and Loyola (6-5, 3-0 Patriot League). Vanderbilt is currently on a four-game losing streak, falling to No. 2 Florida (10-1, 1-0 Big East), Boston University (5-5, 3-1 Atlantic Ten), Johns Hopkins and Stanford (6-2, 1-0 Pac-12). In the 12-9 loss against Loyola, senior midfielder Kristen Bandos scored five goals, putting her at 18 goals this season to lead her team in the scoring column. Freshman midfielder Francesca Whitehurst scored two goals and recorded an assist, boosting her total to 11 on the season. Senior attack Corinne Etchison, who has 10 total goals, tallied an assist, while freshman midfielder Morgan Ryan and sophomore midfielder Hannah Seibel each added a goal. The Hoyas hit 2-of-6 free position attempts, but committed 17 turnovers to the Greyhounds’ nine. Georgetown has only scored 76 goals compared to 104 by opponents, and the offense has taken 197 shots compared to opponents’ 209. Georgetown has not won at home so far this season and hopes to achieve success by taking its talents on the road. Head Coach Ricky Fried emphasized the need for his team to fix the small errors in recent games. “The biggest thing is limiting our mistakes,” Fried said. “We went over a lot of films on what we are doing wrong and the mistakes we are making. Basically, the mistakes are very correctable and small and aren’t because we need to be more athletic or more skilled.” Vanderbilt junior attack Kelly Chandler leads her team with 24 goals, while senior attack Mallory Schonk has scored 20. Junior goalie Callahan Kent has started and played all games in goal, recording 93 saves for a .477 save percentage. The Commodores have scored 104 goals compared to 245 from opponents, but have a .424 shot percent compared to
emily dalton
conference, and it’s going to be a tough weekend, but I think if we bring our A game and play at the After dropping two games out level that we’re capable of playing, of its three-game series against that it should be very competitive, St. John’s (16-13, 2-1 Big East) last and I’m looking forward to that.” weekend, the Georgetown softball In terms of preparation for this team (6-21, 1-2 Big East) remains weekend’s series, Conlan said she confident as it heads into a sec- is concerned with keeping a conond weekend of conference play stant, positive mentality and workagainst DePaul (11-20, 3-0 Big East). ing hard to get better every day. Reflecting back on their games And rather than relying on indiagainst the Red Storm — ranked vidual talent, the No. 1 in preHoyas are lookseason polls — ing to depend on the Hoyas realtheir entire rosized they have ter to carry them what it takes to through. compete with, “We need evand ultimately erybody to step beat, the powup. We’re only erhouse teams 12 [players] deep they will face and 12 strong this season. right now, so we “During the need everybody first game, we to bring their A Taylor Henry had a realization game,” Conlan Senior Third Baseman that we were betsaid. ter than this team. In the first few However, the team’s veterans innings we were outhitting them will still need to lead the team. and outscoring them,” senior Henry, for example, aims to set the third baseman Taylor Henry said. best example she can for her team“Our pitchers got tired, but we mates, particularly during the knew in that second game that we tough conference schedule. were the better team. Our mental“I’m just trying to do what I can ity stayed the same, we were just to help the team win, to be a leadable to execute better. We knew we er and to set the tone before each could beat them.” game,” Henry said. “The younger Head Coach Pat Conlan agreed, girls follow me, [senior infielder] stating that it was her players’ Grace [Appelbe] and [senior belief in each other, and in them- pitcher] Sam [Giovanniello] and selves, that helped them come the tone that we set, so it’s really away with a win during the second important to be pumped up and game. positive and to know that even “The kids believed. They real- though our preseason wasn’t the ized that our backs were against best, we can beat any team in the the wall with the 16 walks that we conference.” gave up, which is almost unheard Henry said she and the team of in our game, and it was still a were eager to compete against Big fairly competitive game despite all East’s best. that,” Conlan said. “If we can cut “We’re just really excited,” down on those and continue to Henry said. “We’re playing the play as hard as we are and swing top two teams in the conference to good bats, then good things are during the first two weekends, going to happen.” and being able to take wins from As Georgetown travels to face them is going to be huge for the DePaul this weekend in Chicago, rest of our season. If we get out on the team will focus on making a high and can get wins, we know pitching improvements in order to we can beat anybody in the conmaintain its competitive edge and ference, so it’s pretty exciting.” reduce its opponents’ on-base perGeorgetown’s first game centage, especially against a formi- against DePaul will take place todable DePaul team. morrow at 12 p.m. in Chicago, Ill. “I think we need to cut down on The second and final game will our walks,” Conlan said. “DePaul, take place on Sunday at 11 a.m., year after year, is at the top of the also in Chicago.
Special to The Hoya
“I’m just trying to do what I can to help the team win, to be a leader and set the tone before each game.”
FILE PHOTO: CLAIRE SOISSON/THE HOYA
Senior midfielder Kristen Bandos scored five goals in Georgetown’s 12-9 loss to Loyola on March 22. She has 18 goals this season. .408 by opponents. Vanderbilt averages 27.2 shots per game and has converted 17 free position shots. Fried acknowledged Vanderbilt’s ability, but said that his attacking line should be able to break through. “Vanderbilt is a very athletic team. On the attack, they have some very skilled players and our goal is to make sure we focus on us. Offensively, we should be able to push the ball a little more and take advantage of the youth on their defensive end,” Fried said. The Hoyas are 7-0 all time against the Commodores, and last season was the first time the teams have met since 2002 after Vanderbilt joined the Big East. In the teams’ last matchup, Georgetown won 10-6 as junior attack Colleen Lovett scored three goals and Etchison scored two. The Hoyas outshot the Com-
modores, 26-24, and the teams tied on the draw with nine each. Vanderbilt held the 19-14 advantage on ground balls and forced 16 Hoya turnovers while committing 15. Junior goalie Maddy Fisher, who had three saves against Loyola on March 22, took the win in the cage against Vanderbilt with an impressive 11 saves in the game. After Vanderbilt, Georgetown will play two more Big East games at home against Florida and Villanova (2-9, 0-1 Big East). “We have to have more sense of urgency,” Fried said. “We struggled through non-conference play but based on where we are right now, we still have the opportunity to meet our goals. We just need to make sure we’re staying positive as we get into Big East play.” The Hoyas’ game against Vanderbilt will begin at 1 p.m. tomorrow in Nashville.
tENNIS
The water Cooler
New Rules Aim For Safety Squads Enter Final Stretch of Season I n the season that knows no end, the NFL has made the news again for a slew of recent rule changes and several eyebrow-raising comments by evidently out-of-touch owners. Of the seven major rule changes that were enacted by the league last week, three stand out for their desire to improve player safety and on-field conduct. Like most things the NFL does, however, the results emanating from these rules are likely to be mixed. The first rule completely bans chop blocks. A chop block occurs when one offensive lineman attempts to chop at or below the knees of a defender who is already engaged with another offensive lineman. While this block used to be more prevalent in the early days of the NFL, it has increasingly fallen out of favor thanks to legislation by owners and rules committees, as well as its tendency to cause serious injury to major lowerbody ligaments. The NFL should be applauded for taking this measure, as it is a small but meaningful way to protect the safety of defensive players. The second major rule change will move touchbacks, kickoffs that go through the back of the end zone, to the 25-yard line instead of the 20. The reasoning behind such a decision was clear: Kickoffs are one of the most dangerous plays in football because of the momentum the players of the kicking team are able to gather. This further incentivizes a returner to knee the ball in the end zone or let it go through the back, which will reduce the quantity of returns and thereby injuries as well. This rule has not been made permanent but will be in place this season as a trial run of sorts; owners will decide whether or
not to make it permanent after the 2016 season. Similar logic has certainly held true the past few seasons since kickoffs were moved from the 30- to 35yard line. For example, in 2010, the last season before kickoffs were moved to the 30-yard line, only 16.3 percent of kickoffs were touchbacks. In 2015, a staggering 56 percent of kickoffs went for touchbacks. Some in the league may think that all five-yard increments are created equally and subsequently that moving touchbacks out to the 25 will push that 56 percent mark even higher, but there are reasons to be wary.
Michael Ippolito Moving the ball farther down the field changes the incentives for each team because the benefit gained by the receiving team is a direct cost to the kicking team; this is a zero-sum trade-off. Kicking teams may be less likely to concede a touchback because it will cost them five additional yards. Though estimates vary, a well-regarded paper by economist David Romer estimates that the difference between firstand-ten from the 20 and first-and-ten from the 25 is about a quarter of a point. While this may not seem like much, over the course of a season, it can surely have an effect to the tune of a couple of touchdowns. As a result, teams could train their kickers to kick the ball just shy of the goal line and force a return because they do not want to cede those five extra yards.
Even Commissioner Roger Goodell believes this new rule could backfire. Hopefully, the league will do the right thing and scrap the rule after this season if there are fewer touchbacks and more injuries on kick returns. The most controversial rule change, however, deals with players’ onfield conduct. Beginning this season, a player will be ejected if he acquires two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties. Also an experimental rule, it also holds dangerous possibilities, especially because of the subjective nature with which these penalties can be called. While more common fouls like roughing the passer and facemasks will not warrant an ejection, acts like taunting and using abusive or foul language could. This is a problem because interpretations of language are different for every person. What draws a flag from one official may not for another, but that massive gray area will be a cause for concern. Additionally, this rule does not seem to apply to coaches in their interactions with players or officials, so a bit of a double standard now exists: Why can coaches berate officials using certain vocabulary, but players cannot use those same words in dealing with their opponents, with whom they may have an off-the-field relationship? As usual, the NFL claims to have the best of intentions behind these rules, and in this case it is hard to doubt its sincerity. Ultimately, though, it is likely that these temporary rules will end up doing more harm than good should they be made permanent.
Michael Ippolito is a junior in the College. The water cooler appears every Friday.
Madeline Auerbach Hoya Staff Writer
Following a 7-0 conference victory over Seton Hall (6-6, 1-1 Big East) for the Georgetown women’s tennis team (8-4, 1-3 Big East) and a loss to George Washington (8-7, 2-0 Atlantic Ten) on the Georgetown men’s side (5-7, 1-1 Big East) last week, both tennis teams will take on St. Francis this Saturday on the Georgetown Visitation Courts. Both the St. Francis men’s (8-5) and women’s (3-10) teams are coming off losses to Duquesne last Friday, with the men’s team losing 4-3 and the women’s team losing 1-6. “This is the first time we’ve ever played them, and I expect tougher play on the men’s side from looking at their results,” Head Coach Gordie Ernst said of the upcoming St. Francis matches. “I know that our girls are anxious to play, though, because we’ve had a little dip in the schedule with Easter break.” The women’s team dominated its entire last match against Seton Hall, notching the doubles point early with a trio of doubles wins from junior captain Victoire Saperstein and freshman Risa Nakagawa, freshman duo Sydney Goodson and Cecilia Lynham and the duo of sophomore Casey Marx and graduate student Liselot Koenen. The momentum from the doubles point helped Georgetown sweep singles play with all six matches going in the Hoyas’ favor. Saperstein won at first singles in a 6-3, 6-4 victory, while Nakagawa endured a three-set battle in which she fell in the first set 6-2, but won the second and third with scores of 6-3 and 6-1, respectively. Sophomore transfer Sara Swift defeated her opponent in a 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 finish. Lynham, junior Sophia Barnard and Goodson all won their singles matches as well. “Seton Hall is a conference match, and we’ve had tight losses against conference teams lately and so just coming out and really proving to ourselves that we do belong in the top-four top-five spots for a seed in the Big East is awesome,” Saperstein said. Ernst added that both the men and women’s teams are progressing at impressive levels, and the Seton Hall win in particular proves that the women’s side is capable of postseason success. “They’ve played enough now to not deal so much with nerves,” Ernst explained. “I have a lot of confidence in them, and we could make a run on both sides. Both teams are playing well.”
Saperstein, who was just named Big East player of the week, explained that her personal achievements take a backseat to the team’s accomplishments as a whole. “I wasn’t the only one out there playing,” Saperstein said. “My doubles partner also won in doubles 6-0 and won in singles. Everyone wins, everyone deserves it. I think they just picked my name out of a hat.” The men’s team recently fell in a tight match against George Washington in a 5-2 finish. The cross-town rival has been a tough opponent for the Blue and Gray in recent years. “They’re good,” Ernst said before the team’s 5-2 loss March 25. “They get these good foreign guys on full scholarships. … They’re definitely tough.” George Washington notched the doubles point early, securing wins in four out of the six singles matches that followed immediately after. Sophomore Peter Beatty won his match in third singles in a competitive three-set battle. Beatty notched the first set 7-5 but would go on to lose the second set 2-6. However, Beatty fought in a 10-point tiebreaker and eventually won the tiebreaker 10-8. Freshman Will Sharton captured Georgetown’s only other singles victory on the day in the sixth singles slot over George Washington senior Cahit Kapukiran. “He’s been up and down a little bit but he beat a really good player from GW[U], so I’m really happy for Will,” Ernst said. Sharton is not the only freshman in the Georgetown tennis program that has impressed this season. On the women’s side, Nakagawa, Lynham, Goodson and Swift — who is a newcomer as well because of her status as a transfer — have all earned roles in the starting lineup. “I mean they’ve been just incredible. I’m so proud of them this year. And then our transfer Sara also, who is technically considered a freshman as well, they’ve just adjusted so well and most of them are starting in the lineup, which is a big deal your freshman year,” Saperstein said. “I’m so proud,” Ernst said. “When you have newcomers come in and get good wins, the best thing is that they’re still winning even when they’re not playing that great, and that shows that [they’re] playing to win instead of worrying about how they’re playing which means they’re competing, which is great.” All the matches against St. Francis will take place starting at 10 a.m. on the Georgetown Visitation Courts.
SPORTS
friDAY, April 1, 2016
upon further review
D1 Lacrosse Deserves a Spotlight MCLAUGHLIN, from B10
round draft options for the Minnesota Vikings. In this dry season for sports, when March Madness is winding down, the NBA playoffs haven’t begun and football is nowhere in sight, what excuse do you have not to get in on the excitement of college lacrosse? At first glance, it is understandable that some people might be put off by the idea of lacrosse fandom. A considerable proportion of Georgetown’s student body hails from the East Coast or New England area, meaning there is a good chance if you are reading this, you were dragged to a high school lacrosse game at some point in your life. PSA: this is not the same game you were forced to watch your mildly athletic high school friends play. The talent gap between college and high school lacrosse is extraordinary. Turn on any Division I lacrosse game this weekend, and you will be sure to recognize the difference in speed, stick skills and creativity in no less than one offensive possession. With a breakneck pace and bruising physicality, watching lacrosse at the Division I collegiate level is like viewing a hybrid of ACC basketball and SEC football — and with no shortage of highlights. It is rare for a half of college lacrosse to go by without a single behind-theback shot attempt, and some of the country’s best attack players break ankles better than Cleveland Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving — for example, Johns Hopkins sophomore Shack Stanwick.
The saying is true — lacrosse is the fastest-growing sport in America — meaning there is now a team for everyone to root for. There has never been a better time than now to become a fan of college lacrosse. The saying is true — lacrosse is the fastest-growing sport in America — meaning there is now a team for everyone to root for. Since 2009, 92 new college programs have been established, expanding as far west as Colorado and as far north as Vermont. This year, in a symbolic moment of the sport’s growing appeal, Hampton University became the first historically black college or university to join Division I lacrosse. Having a Division I lacrosse program has also suddenly become a status symbol for the nation’s most prolific athletic programs. Last year, the Big Ten held its inaugural lacrosse season, boasting a conference made up of Michigan, Ohio State, Johns Hopkins, Maryland, Rutgers and Penn State. Most importantly, college lacrosse has finally solved the parity problem that had plagued the sport for decades. No longer is the game dominated by the ACC, which had for a generation acted as the lacrosse counterpart to the SEC in football. Last year, Denver became the first school west of Chapel Hill to win a national title, which caused the floodgates of college lacrosse parity to open. Richmond’s varsity program is two years old, yet it upended national powerhouse Duke just a few weeks ago. High Point established its Division I program in 2013, and this year it has beaten five-time national champion UVA. Last year, a thenNo. 19 Johns Hopkins team with a .500 record made the Final Four, and this year eight different conferences are currently represented in the top 20 rankings. Hands down, college lacrosse has never been this competitive. So what is America waiting for? It is early April. College basketball ends this Monday. College football spring games are a month away. The NFL Draft is not for weeks, and the NBA playoffs are still several weekends out. Meanwhile, this weekend in college lacrosse is ACC rivalry week. No. 17 UNC is at No. 11 Duke, and No. 2 Notre Dame is traveling to No. 7 Syracuse. It is going to be great lacrosse. You have several hours to kill before watching the men’s basketball Final Four games anyway, so you might as well spend them watching the fastest sport on two feet.
Jimmy McLaughlin is a sophomore in the College. Upon further review appears every other Friday.
THE HOYA
B9
FEATURE
Keklak Recovers, Breaks Records KEKLAK, from B10
recovery period. “I joined a gym that summer and they had yoga classes, so I did that. I thought maybe this would help me make peace with my injury, but I think it really helped me physically. Going a couple weeks helped me relax, and I actually think it was the yoga that helped me run again. There was one day where I had to run, so I went and ran and it didn’t hurt. I did the run and remember
texting [Director of Cross Country and Track and Field Michael Smith] and he responded that, ‘We got this.’ I think we both realized that this was the turning point,” Keklak said. Throughout her recovery period, along with writing poetry and doing yoga, Keklak would visit Smith in his office when she needed someone to confide in. Smith described his relationship with Keklak as a coach and mentor. “I look at coaching first as that we
are teachers and that we work with people during a very pivotal, changing time in their life — it is impossible to just see them as athletes,” Smith said. “To engage them on this journey to push themselves as far as they can in athletics, it is not a journey that you can isolate strictly when you talk about training. There are times when you become focused on developing the whole person and through that they can advance their athletics. Injury is a great loss, injury is mourning, and when you
COURTESY GEORGETOWN SPORTS INFORMATION
Graduate student Andrea Keklak was a part of the squad that won the women’s distance medley relay event at the NCAA indoor track championships. She ran the 1200m leg of the event in
see them having to work through that, those feelings can be very confusing. So when it comes to someone being hurt, I try to be the clear communicator of how they can get through it.” Keklak was cleared to run competitively in time for the 2015 cross country season, and she jumped back into racing and slowly progressed throughout the season. At the 2015 Big East cross country championship, Keklak finished in fifth place overall with a time of 19:58.3. Keklak carried over that late-season momentum into what turned out to be a record-breaking season for the transfer from Princeton University. At the Penn State Nittany Lion Challenge, Keklak broke the Georgetown school record in the 1,000-meter race, crossing the finish line with a time of 2:42.76. Keklak proceeded to break the school record in the mile at the Boston University David Hemery Valentine Invitational, winning the event at 4:33.24. To cap off a monumental season, Keklak, along with Martin, junior Emma Keenan and graduate student Katrina Coogan won the NCAA championship title in the women’s distance medley relay. Recording a time of 10:57.21, the foursome made history by clocking in the ninth-fastest DMR in NCAA history. Yet, through all of this success, Keklak said she knows her time as a Hoya must soon come to an end. “It’s funny because I actually cleaned my room the other day and found my old numbers and papers I wrote when I first got here,” Keklak said. “That feels like a different life. But it also feels like it was yesterday. You just feel this nostalgia going into this last season, like we are going to race five or six more
BASEBALL
Hoyas Travel for Weekend Series BASEBALL, from B10
who have stepped up early in the season to help the Hoyas compete. Wilk said he has been impressed with the depth of his pitching staff so far this season. “I know personally I’ve never had a staff this deep at Georgetown; I’ve been here a while,” Wilk said. “I think we’re blessed to have the level of talent and the depth that we have currently. Now, that can all change, an injury here and there and that will change things in a hurry. But right now, our strength is on the hill, and hopefully it will continue to be so.” Georgetown will play a threegame weekend series against William & Mary (12-11, 3-1 Co-
lonial Athletic Association) in the coming days. Three of the Hoyas’ regular starting pitchers — Mathews, sophomore Kevin Superko and senior Matt Smith — figure to be available for the series, with several relievers waiting in the wings. With just four games remaining until Georgetown begins Big East play, the team is searching for consistency as it continues to prepare. “We need to get back to playing the game consistently,” Wilk said. “If you want to sum it up, I think if we can get back to executing offensively and taking advantage of the situations that the game has put us in, then we’re going to do well. If we fail at executing in those situations, we’re going to come up on the short end again.”
Sophomore right fielder Michael DeRenzi will lead the Hoyas on offense against the Tribe. DeRenzi leads Georgetown’s regular players in several categories, including batting average, hits, doubles, triples, slugging percentage and stolen bases. DeRenzi received only sporadic playing time last season, but has made significant improvement this season. “He’s one of the best athletes I’ve seen in college baseball, so the improvements he’s made have been so fast,” Mathews said of DeRenzi. “Last year, [in] a couple of games he played early in the season, he could barely make contact, and now he’s leading the league in hitting, hitting balls hard all over the place and
running all over the field. So you just have to sit back and watch that kid, he’s amazing.” Georgetown will have to prepare for William & Mary’s strong offense, which features five regular starters with batting averages higher than .340. Mathews said he and his teammates are focused on their energy levels as they move toward conference play. “We want to really bring the energy every single game,” Matthews said. “It’s a long season, and closer to the halfway point we’re really focusing on bringing the intensity to every game.” The first game of the series will be played Friday in Williamsburg, Va. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Men’s Lacrosse
GU Preps for Reigning National Champs DENVER, from B10
our margin for error is pretty small this year. So we have to really dig in and be disciplined and be really really fundamental and make everything really simple,” Warne said. “I think that’s how you have to do it. You can’t go crazy trying to have some weird scientist game plan. You have got to keep it simple, have a few keys and let your guys fly around.” Denver’s ability to score goals is no secret: It currently ranks eighth in the country in scoring offense, led by junior attack Connor Cannizzaro, who is in his second year at Denver after transferring from the University of Maryland after his freshman season. He had a breakout first season for the Pioneers in 2015, setting their single season points record with 57 goals and 33 assists. He has continued his success this year, tallying 34 points so far this season as the centerpiece of Denver’s offense. The high-powered attack also features two other Tewaaraton Watchlist members, junior midfielders Tyler Pace and Zach Miller, rounding out an elite unit that averages 13.13 goals per game. Georgetown will look to slow down Denver’s efficient attack to keep the game within reach. “They’re going to score goals. I think the one thing is, how can we limit them, how can we help [sophomore goalkeeper] Nick Marrocco see the shots he needs to see,” Warne said. “We’re going to do some things schematically to make them work a little more, but we understand they’re going to play offense for a minute and a half, two minutes at a time.” Since joining the Big East, the Pioneers have gotten the better of the Hoyas, sitting on the winning end of a 3-0 record the last two seasons. The most recent matchup be-
tween the two teams came in last season’s Big East championship game when the Hoyas fell 16-8. Despite Denver’s recent success and elite status, Berge said that Georgetown’s players are approaching this game just like every other game on the schedule. “I think we have to attack it like every other game. We’ve played top-five ranked teams all year, and we’re not going to come out
scared,” Berge said. “Obviously they’re the defending national champs and a great team, that’s no secret, but that means we need to capitalize in every area — whether that’s offense, defense, face-offs and in the cage. We just have to give our individual best effort for the team and that gives us the best chance to win.” Warne said Denver presents a great opportunity for his team to face yet another high-caliber op-
ponent, and the team is excited to prove itself against a top conference rival. “The guys are getting excited to show off our product and what we can do and play to our potential on national TV,” Warne said. “I’m looking forward to it.” The Hoyas will host the Pioneers at Cooper Field this Saturday. Opening faceoff is set for 11 a.m., and the game will be televised on CBS Sports Network.
CLAIRE SOISSON/THE HOYA
Sophomore goalkeeper Nick Marrocco made 10 saves in Georgetown’s 9-8 loss to Marquette last Saturday. Marrocco has made 93 saves this season for a save percentage of .495.
SPORTS
Men’s Lacrosse Georgetown (1-8) vs. Denver (7-1) Saturday, 11 a.m. Cooper Field
FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 2016
TALKING POINTS
SOFTBALL Georgetown will travel to Chicago this weekend to play DePaul in a two-game series. See B8
“
NUMBERS GAME
I have a lot of confidence in them, and we could make a run on both sides.” HEAD COACH GORDIE ERNST
MEN’S LACROSSE
0
The number of home games both lacrosse teams have won this season.
BASEBALL
Hoyas Host Top Big East Foe GU Snaps Skid At Coppin State CAMERON PERALES Special to The Hoya
Following a heartbreaking 9-8 loss to Marquette (6-1, 1-0 Big East) this past weekend, the Georgetown men’s lacrosse team (1-8, 0-1 Big East) will take on No. 4 Denver (7-1) at home this Saturday. The Hoyas’ game against the Golden Eagles was decided in the final seconds — freshman attack Chris Donovan scored what would have been a game-tying ninth goal, but it was waved off due to a shot clock violation with only eight seconds remaining in the game. Sophomore midfielder Craig Berge, who tied his career high
with three goals in the loss, acknowledged the adversity the team faced in its most recent game and throughout the season. “Marquette was a tough ending and a tough way to lose, but you’d rather lose those games than get blown out by 10 goals,” Berge said. “We learned a lot from it, learned that we have to get out to quicker start and not go down and put ourselves in a hole. But, you know, if we end up losing a game, we have to take that opportunity in the future to win and forget about the past.” Georgetown will move forward in Big East play against conference favorite and defending na-
tional champion Denver. The Pioneers have been ranked in the top five throughout the season and have not lost a conference game since joining the Big East in 2013. Denver opens its conference schedule against Georgetown after suffering its first loss of the season to No. 18 Penn State (6-3, 0-0 Big East) last Saturday. Head Coach Kevin Warne stressed that the game plan against the Pioneers is not overly complicated and that simplicity is key in overcoming the challenge Denver presents for Georgetown. “I think, as we talked about,
TYLER PARK
led Georgetown with two hits, but the team only totaled six base hits over the nine-inning game. The Georgetown baseball Wilk said he was concerned team (12-14, 0-0 Big East) got a about his team’s energy level in boost from an unlikely source on the game against the Patriots. Wednesday, as freshman third “I wasn’t very pleased on Tuesbaseman Cristian Sanchez posted day,” Wilk said. “I think we lost three hits in his first career varsi- to an inferior team, and I got on ty start, leading his team to a 5-4 our guys about energy and effort win over Coppin State (4-18, 2-3 level and consistency and they reMid-Eastern Athletic Conference). sponded on Wednesday.” “It was pretty terrific,” Head Sanchez’s performance helped Coach Pete Wilk said. “It was a the Hoyas bounce back to beat great example of Coppin State on a kid seizing an Wednesday. The opportunity that “It was a great freshman had came up for one example of a two doubles and reason or anotha single, driving er and stepping kid seizing an in three of the up, and I think Hoyas’ five runs he did a great opportunity. ... I for the victory. job [Wednesday]. was very pleased “Cristian’s a I was very, very great kid, he’s pleased to see to see that.” been working that.” hard for us, finalThe win over ly got a chance PETE WILK Coppin State to compete yesHEAD COACH snapped Georgeterday and I town’s four-game thought he took losing streak, including a 2-1 loss advantage of it. I’m impressed to George Mason (8-17, 1-2 Atlan- with him,” junior pitcher Simon tic 10) Tuesday. Mathews said. Freshman pitcher Jack CushOn the mound, Georgetown ing took the loss on the mound junior pitcher Nick Leonard for Georgetown against George earned his first win of the seaMason. Cushing went four in- son. He threw 5 1/3 innings and nings and allowed only two hits surrendered only three hits and and one run, but he struggled one run, striking out four batwith his command, walking four ters. batters and lasting only four inLeonard, who was making only nings. his second appearance of the seaPatriots junior pitcher Tyler son, is not one of Georgetown’s Kardas earned the win by throw- regular starting pitchers. Howing five shutout innings, allow- ever, he is one of several pitchers ing only two hits. Sophomore See BASEBALL, B9 second baseman Jake Bernstein
Hoya Staff Writer
See DENVER, B9
DANIEL KREYTAK/THE HOYA
Freshman attack Chris Donovan scored two goals in Georgetown’s 9-8 loss to Marquette last weekend. Donovan has scored eight goals and has notched one assist so far this season.
UPON FURTHER REVIEW
FEATURE
Keklak Reflects on Injury, Career DANIEL BALDWIN Hoya Staff Writer
Jimmy McLaughlin
College Lax Impresses In 2016 H
idden behind the hysteria of the NCAA basketball tournament lies a different kind of March Madness that most Americans have never seen or heard of. Tucked secretively into midday broadcasts on channels like ESPNU and ESPN3, one of the most impressive showcases of competitive collegiate athletics is on display every weekend — and almost nobody tunes in. Between crushing hits and SportsCenter-worthy behind-the-back goals, sports fans are missing out on watching what some have started to call “the fastest sport on two feet.” Wake up, America — you’re missing out on college lacrosse. This season alone has been chock-full of storylines that ESPN has curiously left off SportsCenter in favor of NFL draft talk and D’Angelo Russell. Undefeated Brown University, currently ranked No. 3 in the nation, is on a scoring binge this season that has the team looking like the Golden State Warriors of college lacrosse. Upsets have been plentiful all year round, as seven of the top 20 preseason teams are no longer nationally ranked. All across the nation, outstanding lacrosse is being played — an Inside Lacrosse report this week claimed that never in Division I history have there been this many contenders for lacrosse’s No. 1 ranking. The next six weeks are likely to lead to another historic championship season for college lacrosse, and America is missing it to listen to Mel Kiper and Todd McShay debate third See MCLAUGHLIN, B9
Blood. Sweat. Tears. Trophies. Records. To the average cross country and track fan, this is what graduate student Andrea Keklak has given to the Georgetown cross country and track and field programs. However, behind all those awards lies a classic comeback story after Keklak sustained a devastating injury. As Keklak approaches her final season of wearing Georgetown’s colors competitively, she reflected on her journey recovering from iliotibal band syndrome — a condition that causes knee pain and inflammation and is common among runners — at the end of 2014. “We had just finished cross country, and that first week of training coming back for the indoor season I remember really clearly I was on an hourlong run with Sarah Cotton and the outside of my knee started hurting,” Keklak said. “At first I was like it will be fine, but over the course of the run it got worse and worse. She eventually ran back to the house, and I had to walk back because it hurt too badly. I took the week off, and it still hurt, and that’s pretty much the short story of how the next six to seven months went.” Keklak proceeded to train using methods other than running, such as swimming and CrossFit. However, Keklak’s teammates missed her presence and tried to provide emotional support for their friend. Senior Heather Martin expressed the sympathy she had for her teammate over the course of her recovery. “I live with her, so I know it was difficult for her living
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Graduate student Andrea Keklak has earned five All-America honors during her career. Keklak placed fourth in the women’s mile at the NCAA championships with a time of 4:38.44. in a house with girls on the team and seeing other people run and have success,” Martin said. “It’s very hard to watch. In the end she came back and had an amazing year, so she obviously stayed in it mentally while she was injured even if it didn’t seem like it at times. She came back and has been running even better this year.” As Keklak rested and tried
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to recover from her IT band syndrome, she utilized the opportunity to extend herself beyond the sport she has come to know and love. She spoke about how this allowed her to become a deeper person. “I was taking a poetry class that semester, so I hung out with people from that class, and we did some things together,”
Keklak said. “Honestly, poetry itself is therapeutic, which sounds a little funny, but you just write about things you are feeling and trying to put abstract feelings into words.” Other forms of less intensive physical activity also helped Keklak through the See KEKLAK, B9