GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY’S NEWSPAPER OF RECORD SINCE 1920 thehoya.com
Georgetown University • Washington, D.C. Vol. 98, No. 13, © 2016
tuesday, october 18, 2016
WINNING WAYS
The women’s soccer team kept its unbeaten streak alive Saturday.
EDITORIAL The work of Unsung Heroes should inspire more student engagement.
PANEL ON BIAS REPORTING A discussion in Makóm advocated for easier reporting avenues.
OPINION, A2
NEWS, A5
A10
DC Raises Unemployed Benefits paula hong
Special to The Hoya
As the unemployment rate in Washington, D.C., continues to hover above the national average, Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) increased benefits for the unemployed in D.C.’s Unemployment Insurance program beginning Oct. 1, implementing the first change to the policy in over a decade.
“If we want to do anything to guarantee African Americans the right to stay here, we have to have increases like this.” MAURICE JACKSON Professor, Department of History
According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, D.C. maintained a 6 percent unemployment rate in August, higher than the 4.9 percent national average during the same period, as reported Sept. 20. Overall, the District ranked 46th in terms of unemployment rates per state. The new benefits affect individuals who lose employment due to layoffs or other factors beyond their control by boosting the maximum weekly benefit amount for eligible claimants from $359 to $425 for as long as 26 weeks, or up to $1,700 monthly for six months. The changes further include a 14-percent increase in weekly benefit payouts for part-time workers in an effort to assist claimants holding part-time jobs. The last adjustment in the policy occurred in 2005, when maximum weekly benefits were lifted from $309 to $359. These gains coincide with Bowser’s push for a higher minimum wage, which resulted in the D.C. Council’s unanimous passage of a plan in June designed to increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2020. The current D.C. minimum wage is $11.50 an hour. Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia attorney Drake Hagner, who works for its Public Benefits Law Unit, said the expansion of benefits was long overdue as the District lagged behind other states in maximum weekly benefit amounts, placing 38th out of all states with unemployment benefit systems despite its relatively high living costs. “It’s been far too long,” Hagner said. “The rate has been way, way too low especially given the costs of living in D.C. and the surrounding area, which is where most D.C. workers live.” Georgetown Center on Education and the Workforce Director of State Initiative Neil Ridley praised the change as unique among what other states are doing to provide longerterm benefits for their residents. “Another key change is to ensure that most, if not all workers who qualify for UI benefits are going to receive up to 26 weeks if they need it,” Ridley said. “It’s not just about See BENEFITS, A6
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JINWOO CHONG/THE HOYA
As the student-led Smoke Free Georgetown petition gains ground, Associate Vice President for Benefits and Chief Benefits Officer Charles DeSantis has said that the university administration intends to work toward making campus tobacco-free.
Senate to Address Smoke-Free Referendum cecia soza
Hoya Staff Writer
The university intends to plan for a tobacco-free campus by the 201718 academic year, according to Associate Vice President for Benefits and Chief Benefits Officer Charles DeSantis. The Smoke Free Georgetown campaign, which was launched by Mac Williams (NHS ’17) and Georgetown University Student Association Senator Henry Callander (COL ’18) two weeks ago, surpassed
the 300 signatures required for the GUSA senate to vote on the referendum proposal. The senate vote is expected to take place Sunday. If approved, a campuswide referendum would provide the university with students’ opinions, which would assist the university’s process of going smoke-free, according to DeSantis. “A student vote would articulate the student position as well as assist in the governance process as it moves through our system
of shared governance,” DeSantis wrote in an email to The Hoya. The current main campus policy prohibits smoking in all indoor locations, including all residence hall rooms, apartments and townhouses. Those who choose to smoke must do so in designated outdoor areas and are responsible for proper disposal of cigarette ashes and butts. The Georgetown University Medical Center is currently the only smoke-free area at Georgetown. The Georgetown University Law Center
has specific smoking locations. Since the launch of Smoke Free Georgetown, the petition has received endorsements from Georgetown Relay for Life and the cardiac health advocacy group Heroes for Hearts, according to the Smoke Free Georgetown Facebook page. The petition aims to improve the quality of health in the campus community, following in the footsteps of other universities that have already enacted full smoking bans, See SMOKING, A6
SFS Sees Uptake in Foreign Language Minors christian paz Hoya Staff Writer
One in four seniors in the School of Foreign Service has declared a foreign language minor since the SFS began recognizing foreign language minors this fall, with Arabic, Chinese, French and Spanish language courses remaining the most popular choices among students. Eighty-six out of about 350 students in the Class of 2017 have formally submitted minor declarations, according to SFS Associate Dean and Director of Undergraduate Programs Mitch Kaneda. Seniors remain the only SFS students able to minor in a foreign language, after a policy change announced last semester. The Class of 2018 and Class of 2019 will be able to declare language minors in future years. Arabic minor declarations have increased to 49 from an average 15 to 20 minors. French minors jumped from 59 total declared students last fall to 95 this semester. The policy change from April marked the first time the SFS has permitted minors in any subject outside the SFS undergraduate core. Previously, students had to exclusively pursue majors in one of eight programs in addition to pursuing interdisciplinary certificates. Students are also required to pass a foreign language proficiency test. The SFS Academic Council played a significant role in pressing for access to language minors, according to Kaneda.
“This is an example of student leadership and the act of students, faculty and deans working together, that made a real difference,” Kaneda wrote in an email to The Hoya.
“We are looking forward to having more SFS students in upper levels as they complete a minor.” GWEN KIRKPATRICK Chair, Spanish and Portuguese Department
Spanish and Portuguese Department Chair Gwen Kirkpatrick said the minors have not shifted enrollment numbers drastically as Spanish was already a popular language. “I think it is still too early to know whether it will change enrollments. We usually have quite a few SFS students in upper-level courses and in the Barcelona and Quito summer programs, so I’m not sure a change will be noticeable initially,” Kirkpatrick wrote in an email to The Hoya. “But we are looking forward to having more SFS students in upper levels as they complete a minor.” Kirkpatrick said the minor opportunity is part of the department’s work to diversify course offerings. Professor of Spanish Cristina Sanz said many students enrolled in upper-level language
FILE PHOTO: MICHELLE LUBERTO/THE HOYA
The Arabic, Chinese, French and Spanish language departments have proved popular with SFS seniors looking to minor in foreign languages. courses declare minors since they have already taken required courses. “We have always had a substantial number of SFS students in upper level courses,” Sanz wrote in an email to The Hoya. “To the fact that a few are now
declaring a minor does not mean they wouldn’t have taken those courses anyways before the recent changes.” The Italian department received nine new minors from See MINORS, A6
NEWS
Opinion
sports
Canal Plans Announced The Chesapeake and Ohio Canal will undergo an 18-month restoration starting next month. A5
Obama Looks to Space In unveiling his plan for future spaceflight missions, Obama demonstrates his faith in NASA. A3
Blowout Loss The football team dropped its third straight game 35-3 to Lehigh on Saturday. A10
NEWS DCPS Food Services Criticized
OPINION More Than Talk
SPORTS Public Transportation Failure
Auditor Kathy Patterson’s office condemned DCPS’ privatized food services. A5
The university must show a greater urgency in getting students to undergo sexual assault training. A2
Published Tuesdays and Fridays
The WMATA system inconvenienced thousands of Nationals fans last Thursday. A10
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