DC Council to Take Up Bill To End Legacy Admissions
Ruth Abramovitz GUSA Desk Editor
The D.C. State Board of Education (SBOE) approved a bill to outlaw legacy and donor admissions preferences at certain private universities in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 19, advancing the bill to the D.C. Council. Over 30 Georgetown University students, many of whom were members of Hoyas Against Legacy Admissions, a student group advocating for the end of legacy admissions at Georgetown, testified at the hearing before the SBOE, an elected body that advises the Washington, D.C. government on educational issues. After the board approved it by a vote of seven yeses to one abstention, the Furthering Admissions Inclusion and Representation (FAIR) Act will next be introduced to the D.C. Council, bringing student efforts to end
legacy admissions at Georgetown University closer to fruition.
Felix Rice (CAS ’26), co-founder and a lead organizer of Hoyas Against Legacy Admissions, said such legacy admissions policies produce a student body that is less racially and socioeconomically diverse than the nation.
“We have an admissions system that for the past several decades has consistently admitted a group of students that don’t reflect the diversity of our country and legacy is a big part of that,” Rice told The Hoya If the council passes the FAIR Act, the city would withhold funds and other economic development incentives, such as loans and contracts, from most District universities that practice legacy and donor admissions preferences — including Georgetown, American University, Catholic University and See LEGACY, A7
COURTESY OF HOYAS AGAINST LEGACY
The D.C. State Board of Education approved a bill to end legacy admissions after Georgetown University students testified.
A “Dear Colleague” letter from the Department of Education gave all educational institutions, including Georgetown University, two weeks to end diversity initiatives and race-related programming, creating potential concerns for campus life.
FederalPolicyCouldEndRace-BasedPrograms
Maren Fagan and Aamir Jamil
Executive Editors
The U.S. Department of Education gave educational institutions two weeks to end diversity initiatives or risk losing federal funding, potentially impacting student life and funding on Georgetown University’s campus.
In a Feb. 14 letter to all educational institutions, the department ordered schools to comply with the administration’s interpretations of federal law regarding race and end potentially
GU Community Grieves Israeli Hostages in Red Square Vigil
Ajani Stella Academics
Georgetown University community members mourned Israeli hostages killed in Gaza in a vigil and prayer service Feb. 20 in Red Square. The vigil included speeches and prayers grieving for the hostages whose bodies Hamas returned to Israel earlier that day, including two young brothers, Ariel and Kfir Bibas, and peace advocate Oded Lifschitz. University senior vice president and chief of staff Joseph A. Ferrara (GRD ’96) and other members of the administration attended the vigil along with around 20 students.
Talia Zamir (CAS ’25), co-president of the Jewish Student Association (JSA), a student organization fostering Jewish community, said the vigil provided attendees space for grief and solidarity
in the face of heartbreak. “It’s too much to bear these questions, so we bear them together, and the days tick by and we live in the same nightmare as we have to watch our people return home in boxes,” Zamir said at the vigil. “In the happiest embraces, there are pangs of sorrow, and today the sunlight is saturated in sadness.”
Hamas handed over the four hostages’ bodies to Israel as part of a ceasefire agreement in which it pledged to release 33 of the 251 hostages it took during its Oct. 7, 2023 attack — in which its members killed almost 1,200 Israelis — in exchange for Israel freeing about 1,900 prisoners. Hamas has now released 145 hostages since the beginning of the war.
Zamir said the vigil was important
because the unity of the Jewish community makes the events in Israel deeply impactful and painful.
“We are one people, and even if we don’t live in the same country, we are one and we feel as one,” Zamir told The Hoya. “I don’t feel like I have to deal with these things that I’m feeling alone, because I have a community to lean on, so I think it’s important to share that with other people as well.”
Georgetown’s Office of Jewish Life, the Georgetown Israel Alliance (GIA), a student organization celebrating Israeli culture, and Chabad Georgetown, a local Jewish affinity organization, organized the vigil alongside the JSA.
Ayelet Kaplan (CAS ’28), who helped organize the vigil, said the event
See VIGIL, A7
“discriminatory” programming that involves race. Georgetown may risk its federal funding if the Department of Education finds it is noncompliant with the law.
In the letter, Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary for civil rights in the Department of Education, said federal law prohibits educational institutions from using race in decisions related to any aspect of university administration and student life.
“The law is clear: treating students differently on the basis of race to achieve nebulous goals such as diversity, racial balancing, social justice or equity is illegal
under controlling Supreme Court precedent,” Trainor wrote in the letter. “Federal law thus prohibits covered entities from using race in decisions pertaining to admissions, hiring, promotion, compensation, financial aid, scholarships, prizes, administrative support, discipline, housing, graduation ceremonies and all other aspects of student, academic and campus life.”
While the letter is not binding and does not create any new legal standards, similar letters have often indicated the direction of policy for institutions to follow.
At Georgetown, programming that may be affected by the letter could include the Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity & Affirmative Action (IDEAA), which promotes diversity initiatives through academic and employment measures; the Office of Student Equity and Inclusion (OSEI), which supports diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives on campus; or the Center for Multicultural Equity and Access (CMEA), which supports students who have faced historical barriers to education. See EDUCATION, A7
GU Institutes File Religious Freedom Lawsuit Against Government
Nora Toscano Senior News Editor
Two Georgetown University institutes filed a lawsuit on behalf of 27 religious denominations and associations against the rescission of policies that protected places of worship from immigration raids under the administration of President Donald Trump.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Jan. 20 that immigration officers would be able to enter schools, health care facilities and places of worship to conduct raids, rescinding a policy of the administration of former President Joe Biden which considered these “sensitive locations” as protected from DHS intervention. The suit argues that this repeal impedes worshippers’ right to practice religion without fear, violating the First Amendment and federal law.
The two Georgetown institutes involved are the Center for Faith and Justice (CFJ), which centers a religious approach in combating inequality, and the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection (ICAP), a Georgetown University Law Center organization that advocates for individu
al rights and democracy.
Jim Simpson, the executive director of the CFJ who spearheaded the organization’s efforts on the lawsuit, said the policy contradicts the U.S. Constitution.
@GEORGETOWNMCCOURTSCHOOL/INSTAGRAM Two Georgetown University organizations filed a lawsuit against federal policies that allow immigration raids in places of worship.
‘Love Hurts,’ So Does the
Isabelle Cialone (CAS ’27) says “Love Hurts” broke the hearts of romantics
Cooley Coming out on Top
The Hoyas men’s basketball team defeated Head Coach Ed Cooley’s former school, Providence College, in a redemption game.
Take Student Voices Seriously in GU Presidential Search and Beyond
Georgetown University’s continued refusal to take student voices seriously in its search process for a new university president is concerning and reflective of the disconnect between the university administration and students.
The issue of student representation in the presidential search process is not new: The Editorial Board has already argued that the presidential search committee is too detached from undergraduate campus life, given that it includes no students and only two professors who teach undergraduates. While the Board primarily recommended including students on the search committee, it was somewhat heartened by hearing from a university spokesperson that the committee would consider student input, including from listening sessions for students.
“Student perspectives, feedback and recommendations regarding Georgetown’s presidential search are valuable, and the search committee would appreciate hearing from any interested students. This feedback is treated as confidential and reviewed only by the presidential search committee,” the spokesperson wrote to The Hoya.
“Student input will help to guide the development of the position profile and the search committee’s conversations with potential candidates.”
Yet the committee’s actions do not square with this sentiment. Of the 11 listening sessions the committee has scheduled, only one is reserved for undergraduates; to add insult to injury, undergraduate students have been assigned the last date and time block of all three days — 12:00 p.m to 1:00 p.m. Feb. 28, the Friday before spring break.
The Editorial Board urges the committee to do better and make a genuine effort to involve students in the selection of a president who will profoundly shape the university’s future. If the committee actually seeks student input as the Board hopes it does, it needs to offer students more opportunities to contribute their input rather than making superficial attempts to capture student voices.
Yash Agarwal (CAS ’27) said he was frustrated to learn the undergraduate listening session will occur while he is off campus.
“There needs to be more overall student representation in this process,” Agarwal told The Hoya. “But even so, the listening sessions should at least occur during times when students are actually on campus.”
Ethan Henshaw (CAS ’26) is the current presi-
HOYA HISTORY
dent of the Georgetown University Student Association (GUSA), Georgetown’s student government. Henshaw said student input is necessary in the search process.
“It’s crucial that the university gets this decision right, and that simply won’t be possible without proper input from students,” Henshaw wrote to The Hoya. “Absent any binding legal issues or insurmountable logistical hurdles, I still believe there should be a student on the search committee, to make sure that our concerns are being addressed.”
Ultimately, the university’s decisions have undermined students’ ability to effectively participate in this search process. More concerning, there continues to be a disconnect between the university administration and student life, with little meaningful attention given to student needs.
Wisteria Hu (SFS ’27) said she feels detached from the president search process and believes student opinions will not have any real impact on the results — should they be heard at all.
“The timing of the listening session and the lack of effort to provide alternatives make it seem like student input is trivial to them, considering it’s the Friday before spring break, and I don’t know of anyone who can make it,” Hu wrote to The Hoya
Students understand the university has multiple constituencies and stakeholders — from the Catholic Church and donors to graduates and faculty — to balance when selecting a new president. Still, given the next president will be able to change this campus and its students for years to come, the university must acknowledge student concerns and make a true effort to hear student voices. The presidential search committee is engaged in a crucial decision; de facto excluding one of this campus’ key stakeholders from providing input will only limit the committee.
Students are the beating heart of this campus. It is in the administration’s best interest to listen to their concerns. Failing to do so will only lead to ineffective university policies, a new president who cannot meaningfully address student needs and a growing divide between the administration and its student body for the future.
The Hoya’s Editorial Board is composed of six students and is chaired by the opinion editors. Editorials reflect only the beliefs of a majority of the board and are not representative of The Hoya or any individual member of the board.
Search Committee Formed to Name Next President
October 22, 1975
In light of Fr. Henle’s resignation the University’s Board of Directors has established a Presidential Search Committee charged with submitting to the Board candidates for Fr. Henle’s replacement.
Of the Committee’s twelve members only three—Rev. Michael P. Walsh, S.J., Mrs. Julia Walsh, and Rev. Martin D. O’Keefe, S.J., all members of the Board of Directors, have been named. The committee will consist of three members of the Board, three faculty members, three students, one administrator, one alumnus and 1 member of the Washington community.
The Search Committee will not meet for another three weeks to a month, according to Fr. Walsh, the Search Committee chairman. “It will take time to appoint the members from the different constituencies,” the Massachusetts Jesuit added in a telephone interview last night.
At this time the committee has no names under consideration nor has it developed any guidelines concerning what kind of man they are looking for, Search Committee members revealed.
The Committee will spend its
first meetings establishing the qualities they are looking for in a new president, and then will begin to consider specific names.
Outside of the stipulation that the next president must be a Jesuit, the Committee received no instructions from the Board of Directors, Board member Charles Rossotti said.
Sources close to the committee have revealed that the next President will most likely be a Jesuit from the Maryland Province and almost certainly from the East coast. “If they pick an outsider he will most certainly have had to have close connections with the East coast in the past,” the source said.
The three students on the Committee will be divided among the three University campuses—undergraduate, law and medical—as will the three faculty members. The student members will be chosen from the respective campus student governments and the faculty members will be named by that individual faculty senate.
As of yet Undergraduate student body President Dave Ralston does not know who he will propose to the Board, but said that it would be “someone with strong convictions about
the kind of man we need and someone who can work closely with the other students on the committee.” Ralston said he expects the Undergraduate representative to work to get the student members to act together and “to head coordination of student input.”
Concerning student representation on the committee, Ralston said he felt “it could be better but it’s three times as good as last time.” The last Presidential Search committee originally had no student members, though one was later added. Ralston added “the three students must act together to get something accomplished. “
The faculty has yet to name anyone members to the Search Committee. Fr. Francis P. Dinneen, S.J., Linguistics professor and President of the Faculty Senate, said that it will be a while before they are chosen. Dineen explained, “Each campus has a caucus and each caucus will have to meet first. “ Normal procedure is for each caucus to propose a faculty member for the Committee and for the faculty senate to approve the names.
Wayne Saitta
all submissions to: opinion@thehoya.com. The Hoya reserves the right to reject letters or viewpoints and edit for length, style, clarity and accuracy. The Hoya further reserves the right to write headlines and select illustrations to accompany letters and viewpoints.
CORRECTIONS & CLARIFICATIONS
If you have a comment or question about the fairness or accuracy of a story, contact Executive Editors Patrick Clapsaddle, Maren Fagan and Aamir Jamil at executive@thehoya.com.
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Students are the beating heart of this campus. It is in the administration’s best interest to listen to their concerns.”
The Editorial Board “Take Student Voices Seriously in the Presidential Search and Beyond” thehoya.com
On Feb. 14, Kevin Warren (MSB ’84) and Jeanne Ruesch, the chair and vice chair of the presidential search committee respectively, notified members of the Georgetown community that they will have the opportunity to participate in this search process by attending listening sessions or submitting written feedback. Undergraduate students have been assigned a one-hour listening session on Feb. 28 from
tend the undergraduate listening session for the presidential search on Feb. 28. 85.7% students said they were not planning to attend, 1.6% said they would and 12.7% said they are unsure.
Patrick Clapsaddle, Maren Fagan and Aamir Jamil, Executive Editors
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Annikah Mishra, Opinion Editor
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Elizabethe Bogrette, Guide Editor
Caroline Woodward, Guide Editor
Caleigh Keating, Sports Editor
Sophia Lu, Sports Editor
Isabel Liu, Science Editor
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Board of Directors
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EDITORIAL CARTOON by Heather Wang
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Founded January 14, 1920
Work for Your GU Dreams
Admit it. Once the honeymoon was over, you fancied a divorce.
Has Georgetown University lived up to your expectations, despite the happy, rosy, bombastic pictures you post on Instagram?
Many say it takes until at least February for first-years to get settled. It is now February, but you still have yet to find the “dream school” you conveyed to your interviewer.
The tour guides told you that Georgetown professors are really friendly and will take you out for coffee or lunch, but you have not been among the lucky few.
Sophomores often experience a slump after having powered through the previous year. You might think it’s time for a reset or to look into transferring somewhere else. I can’t stop you from applying, but I genuinely hope that you won’t give up on Georgetown.
It is in your hands to make this place your dream school. As with any community, we have our imperfections. However, what is different at Georgetown is that there are many who genuinely care. The Jesuit values and other beliefs embedded into campus life consistently remind each one of us that we are people for others. We respect everyone’s individuality and maintain open minds to be proven wrong.
Do you feel that others don’t care much about you? Then start with you caring about others. Is there someone you have noticed spending a lot of time alone?
Have you approached them to start a conversation? If you want to be in a community that will accept you for who you are, it starts with you accepting others for who they are. Furthermore, think about your relationship with your professors. Have you cared to know them beyond their syllabi and grading criteria? What excites them for their research? Which musician do they like? Don’t wait for things to happen. It is about expanding your community beyond your peers. Your lifelong mentor is out there, so say hello if you run into them on campus.
Just as important, think about your actions within the classroom. Have you refrained from speaking up in case others might laugh at what you have
to say? Or is it you who judges others? If you are able to have a non-judgmental reaction and engage open-mindedly, you will be able to create a culture of inclusiveness.
Do you feel like you need to compromise your morals or sleep schedule to avoid receiving a bad grade on an exam? I hope that you will choose to proudly take a lower grade if you have fallen short. Otherwise, you will condition yourself to take shortcuts every time for your entire life.
Tired of the GPA and resumebuilding cultures? They got you started with that in high school for your college applications. The game has changed. Medium good in many is no good. Identify your very own niche, become extremely good in just that, and you can become a top graduate without doing more work. When talking to advisors, does your university official or your dean seem to care? Make sure they get to know you, and you get to know them. These are the people to whom you should be the most honest and upfront. Convey to them your dreams and your challenges, and they will be delighted to be there for you during your college journey.
Finally, do you feel that there are too many “fake” people?
Ask if you have been your true authentic self. Ask if you have been exacerbating fakeness. You might realize that the really attractive people are those who are unabashedly authentic. After all, authenticity is the primary advice our 48th president John J. DeGioia (CAS ’79, GRD ’95) often used when speaking to students. Even if you look to change schools, what will remain constant is you. So the change has to originate from within. Why not give Georgetown a chance by changing your mindset and shedding old habits? If you were able to make Georgetown your dream school, flag me down during Commencement, and we’ll shake hands. If it is just not working, flag me down any time, and we’ll have lunch on me.
Mitch Kaneda is a Senior Associate Dean and the Director of the Undergraduate Program at the Walsh School of Foreign Service.
INSTITUTIONS AND THEIR ILLS
VIEWPOINT • EYOB
Consider What You Lose Leaving the Hilltop
In 2023, I arrived at Georgetown University as a first-year with my heart set on majoring in public policy. Thus, in my first semester, I took “PPOL-2000: How Public Policy Works.” To this day, it was one of the most engaging classes I’ve taken. I developed a genuine interest in the mechanics of legislation and the capacity it has to shape lives. Others interested in this may look to a government major, but for me, while the government major lays the groundwork for understanding institutions, public policy feels immediate, hands-on and deeply connected to the world beyond academia. It wasn’t just about studying systems; it was about actively working within them. I left weekly lectures thinking I had found my path. So, when I first heard about the new public policy major, I was all in. I was aware of the logistics: moving to the downtown campus for junior and senior year, a city apartment, my own kitchen (though my culinary prowess is limited to instant ramen), internships at my doorstep and the prospect of adulting before actual adulthood. It sounded like leveling up.
But after experiencing life on the Hilltop, doubt slowly crept
Judge Merits of DeGioia’s Decisions
Georgetown University’s primary responsibility in admissions should be to make entry into the university as meritocratic as possible, for as many people as possible, while sustaining itself as an institution. We should strive to enroll the best students in the world, regardless of ability to pay. Indeed, great students are the largest part of what makes an educational institution great. Yet, according to legal filings, recently retired university President John J. DeGioia (CAS ’79, GRD ’95) allegedly compiled an annual “president’s list” of around 80 students with close relations to the wealthiest families and corporations in the United States, forwarding it to the admissions office, where almost all received guaranteed admission.
This practice has received fair criticism, but may require a closer examination. Georgetown, despite being an elite private institution, has been historically underfunded (especially in its student life) when compared to its peers. Understanding this context — and the negative consequences that come from it — leads to a different evaluation of DeGioia’s actions.
Notably, some of this criticism has come from the Georgetown University Student Association’s (GUSA) leaders, President Ethan Henshaw (CAS ’26) and Vice President Darius Wagner (CAS ’27). Writing in The Hoya, Henshaw and Wagner, along with Felix Rice (CAS ’26) and Asher Maxwell (CAS ’26), passionately aspersed the “president’s list” and the university’s broader admissions.
“Georgetown robbing seats from the most qualified applicants to give to the children of the rich and powerful is upsetting enough, but it is only one part of the system that Georgetown has created that excludes working- and middle-class students at every step of the process,” the group wrote. “Georgetown
charges exorbitant tuition while offering insufficient financial aid packages, which fail to yield workingclass applicants.”
Morally, we agree with Wagner and Henshaw. It is crass to admit students for their ties to money. But in practice, Georgetown has long needed a substantial increase in funding, which DeGioia has delivered.
Over his 20-year tenure, DeGioia grew Georgetown’s endowment by $3 billion, enabling the university to admit more low-income students and offer more robust financial aid packages. Yet, even so, Georgetown’s endowment is significantly smaller than its academic peers. In 2001, before DeGioia became president, Georgetown’s endowment was valued at just $70 million. For reference, in the same year, the University of Chicago’s endowment stood at $3.5 billion and Columbia University’s at $4.3 billion. Despite DeGioia’s successful efforts to grow the endowment, it is still the smallest among private universities in the national top 25, save for Carnegie Mellon University.
A small endowment restricts a university’s ability to provide a highquality and worthwhile education, not to mention the financial aid it can give its students. Indeed, in 2016, Georgetown identified that its financial aid packages for lower-income students are less competitive than those of peer institutions, leading to lower enrollment from such students.
As Henshaw and Wagner highlighted, this quagmire leaves Georgetown less financially diverse than peer schools, lagging behind them in the percentage of its student body that receives Pell Grants. Since an overwhelming majority of Pell Grant recipients also receive substantial additional financial aid, this percentage serves as a key measure of how financially accessible the university is to those it admits under its need-blind policy.
In this context, then, DeGioia’s approach becomes more understandable: As Dean of Admissions Charles Deacon (CAS ’64, GRD ’69) explained in a memo to admission staff, admitting students with ties to wealth provides a solution to Georgetown’s comparative financial shortcomings.
“The university is under-funded and under-endowed, and we need to do a better job of enlisting the support of America’s wealthiest families and corporations in assisting us,” Deacon wrote. “Special interest admits should provide this type of opportunity to enhance and strengthen our future.”
A viral Fizz post, written anonymously by a student allegedly on “near-full financial aid,” puts it more simply. “I don’t mind them admitting rich legacies,” the post reads. “Someone’s gotta pay for tuition, and it’s not me.” If admitting these 80 “president’s list” applicants helps Georgetown secure donations from the wealthy and channel that money to lowerincome students, perhaps it is understandable after all. While we are not arguing that admitting students based on wealth is fair, we simply recognize why it might happen.
We urge student leaders to keep Georgetown’s financial situation and DeGioia’s enormous effort to grow Georgetown’s endowment in mind in discussions and policy proposals in reaction to the “president’s list.” It is student leaders’ responsibility to not only morally critique the university but to also understand its unfortunate functional constraints.
We argue that the university’s admissions should aim to enroll the best students in the world, regardless of ability to pay. It seems DeGioia was trying to enable Georgetown to do just that.
Saahil Rao is a sophomore in the School of Foreign Service, and Zadie Weaver is a first-year in the College of Arts & Sciences.
in. It revealed itself in late-night conversations sprawled out on dorm room floors, spontaneous debates in Intercultural Center classrooms and the small rituals that stitched my days together — grabbing Whisk with my friends or sitting on the lawn when it was just warm enough to pretend it was summer. Somewhere in the chaos, I realized I wasn’t ready to trade the community I had built on the Hilltop for apartment walls and a new lounge area. This community is the one reason I’m no longer pursuing the public policy major: It requires students to move to the downtown campus. I overestimated how long my first and second years would feel and underestimated how close I’d get to my friends. I didn’t anticipate how many oncampus opportunities I’d have to leave behind — the chance to build relationships with my favorite professors and take part in student organizations have become central to my experience. Georgetown Political Strategy, for example, has allowed me to consult for a nonprofit and advocate for causes I care about. While I could do this from the Capitol Campus, the student organizations are ultimately based here, and having to leave early from one of these
prized meetings to catch the bus home sounded uncompelling. Many of my classmates share this same sentiment. While some immediately rejected the idea of moving downtown, others, like me, were initially committed to it but reconsidered as the year transpired. For us, staying on the Hilltop means attending Rangila at Gaston Hall, participating in discussion groups in the GU Politics living room and, most importantly, spending time with students who aren’t all studying the same thing. The diversity of thought here, like overhearing a philosophy major and an economics major debate the implications of a recent White House foreign policy decision, is one of the best parts of Georgetown. After considering this, I deviated from my initial plan and declared a double major in government and Black studies. Government keeps me grounded in the systems I’m fascinated by, while Black studies forces me to interrogate those systems critically. Studying both of these topics allows me to engage with public policy in a way that acknowledges and challenges the structural inequities woven into U.S. governance. In deciding not to pursue the public policy degree, I’ve realized
that college isn’t just a stepping stone to the “real world” — it is the real world. The choices we make here aren’t purely academic; they shape how we navigate life beyond campus. For me, that meant staying grounded in the bustling and diverse nature of the Hilltop. As Georgetown continues to evolve and introduce new programs, I hope it remains mindful of how much students value the connections they form here. While opportunities like moving closer to the heart of Washington, D.C., can offer enriching professional experiences, it is important to consider what you risk leaving behind. Community isn’t just a backdrop to academics; it’s an essential part of the college experience. So, to my fellow students — what makes Georgetown feel like home to you? What aspects of your college experience are you willing to sacrifice for professional growth and what parts are non-negotiable? The answers may not always be clear, but it’s important to take the time to reflect on them before deciding on your major. Ultimately, I chose to stay not just for what I’m learning on the Hilltop, but for who this environment is helping me to become.
Sara Eyob is a sophomore in the College of Arts & Sciences.
Welcome back, advice lovers. This week, we’re tackling friend crushes and working through some of your questionable drunk decisions. So, if you’re struggling with some long-repressed feelings or had a particularly bad night out last weekend, this week’s column is for you! And as always, submit any questions you’re dying to have answered to the anonymous form found on The Hoya website, and I’ll do my best to help you out.
I’ve had a crush on my close friend for three years and they don’t know. What should I do?
Since you’re writing in with this question, it sounds like some part of you wants to tell them! The idea of changing a friendship dynamic can be scary, but there’s nothing wrong with sharing the way you feel. If you decide to tell them, be direct and honest about what you want, and see how they respond. Worst case scenario, your friend doesn’t feel the same way, but that’s not the end of the world. Approaching this conversation maturely and listening to what they have to say will go a long way in preventing hurt feelings. A good friend will prioritize maintaining your friendship over any awkwardness that might arise. If you’ve been friends for three years, chances are they value you as a person and don’t want to throw away that relationship, even if they don’t feel the same. If your feelings are reciprocated, congratulations! Thanks to your communication skills, you’ve prevented another three years of mutual pining. Whatever happens, I think you’ll feel lighter having gotten these feelings off your chest. Good luck! One of my friends has been going through a rough time, but in the past, she hasn’t wanted to accept a lot of support from the people around her. I want to help her get through this but I don’t want to stress her out more by pushing too hard. How do I balance this?
It can be really difficult to balance what you think is helpful with what another person actually needs from you. Some people prefer to process things on their own, and it sounds like your friend might be one of them. Even if she doesn’t ask for your support, it can be incredibly meaningful for her to know you have her back. Reach out to her, ask how you can be there for her, and listen to what she tells you. It can be hard to communicate what you need from your friends when you’re going through a difficult time, but by making an effort to stay present in her life in small ways, like reaching out regularly to get meals, you can show her she has someone to talk to if she ever wants to open up. You’re a good friend for wanting to help her through this, and I know she’ll appreciate having someone to fall back on when things are difficult. It can make a huge difference to know someone is there for you, even if you’re not completely comfortable accepting the help. Keep looking for ways to show her you care! Last weekend I got drunk at a party and said some pretty mean things I regret to someone I have a complicated history with. I feel terrible about it and I wish I could take it back. I don’t want other people to think this
reflects my true character, and I don’t know what to do. Before you do anything else, you should reach out to that person and apologize for what you said. It doesn’t have to be long or involved, but sending a sincere apology text that shows you regret what you said can mean a lot to someone who is hurting. Hopefully, this will clear the air and help you move past any unresolved emotions you still have about them. As for what other people think, that’s not really important. The only relevant person in this situation is the one you’re apologizing to. It’s always helpful to remember that other people spend a lot less time focusing on you than you think. If you heard this story about someone else, would you spend any more than a second thinking about it? Probably not! Your true friends already know (and love!) your character and won’t judge you for making a mistake. It seems like you really regret what you did, which is the first step to not repeating past mistakes, so keep that in mind for the future and you’ll be fine.
Caroline Brown is a junior in the College of Arts & Sciences. This is the second installment of her column “Calling in With Caroline.”
Amid Shifts in US-China Relations, Students Find Opportunities for Exchange
Lena Maillet Features Editor
As anxieties ramp up around U.S.-China tension, Chinese students at Georgetown University seek to combat misconceptions while the university hopes to continue student exchange programs.
Ever since starting middle school in Beijing, Alan Ke (CAS ’27) knew he would be going abroad for college.
Full disclosure: Alan Ke served as a news writer for The Hoya from January 2024 to May 2024.
Ke’s school, the Experimental High School at Beijing Normal University, offered different tracks to students planning to pursue degrees in China and internationally. Ke’s middle-class family had sacrificed for him to pursue higher education, which they saw as a gateway to future opportunities.
For Ke’s parents, the choice for him to move to the United States for college was an investment in his future. For Ke, it was a way to pursue his studies in classics and escape the rigidity of Chinese universities.
“There was a trend that more and more people from the middle class are starting to go abroad. Especially now there’s a lot of cheaper options if you include not just the U.S., like in the U.K. or in Japan, it would be much cheaper –– much, much cheaper. And anyway, there have been a lot of students who can find a way to come to the U.S. after undergrad,” Ke told The Hoya Ke is one of 892 Chinese students at Georgetown University, of whom 106 are undergraduates, making China the leading source of foreign students at Georgetown.
In the past 15 years, Georgetown has seen a surge in enrollment of Chinese students, with only 171 total enrolled in 2009. This growth reflects a broader trend among U.S. universities, such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where Chinese student enrollment increased from 680 in 2015 to 811 in 2024.
Chinese students The Hoya interviewed said unique personal and social histories have shaped their paths to Georgetown, with many drawn to elite academic education and job opportunities in the United States.
Yet as U.S.-China competition and enmity ramps up, these students’ paths to and time on the Hilltop have also been shaped by the broader implications of deteriorating U.S.-China relations. Indeed, since 2022, the number of Chinese international students at Georgetown has declined from 1,002 to 892.
After President Donald Trump issued a Jan. 20 executive order intensifying the security screening and vetting of foreign nationals applying for U.S. visas, the university began warning international students about more intensive screening and potential delays on entering the U.S.
Georgetown’s guidance on U.S. Immigration Policy and Regulatory Updates cautions students that the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice and the Director of National Intelligence will be treating foreign nationals with increased caution to “ensure that such individuals are vetted and screened ‘to the maximum degree possible,’” in line with the first Trump administration’s policies.
Dennis Wilder, a professor of Asian studies and a senior fellow at Georgetown’s Initiative for U.S.-China Dialogue on Global Issues, which seeks to foster discussion among students from both countries, said all Georgetown students benefit from Chinese students’ perspectives.
“One of the things that I notice is that when American students get to know Chinese students, they get a very different perspective,” Wilder told The Hoya. “Having Chinese students in the classrooms and on our campus is important.”
Moving to Secure a Bright Future
In 2017, Harry Yang (SFS ’25) moved from Beijing to Connecticut — almost halfway around the world — to start high school.
Full disclosure: Harry Yang served as a staff writer for The Hoya from September 2023 to May 2024.
“It was really an interesting time when I came because I really felt that people around me didn’t understand the background of what China’s like, and frankly speaking, I didn’t have a lot of understanding of what Americans really are like. And so it was a very interesting cultural crossover,” Yang told The Hoya Kevin Liu (MSB ’26) said a desire to leave China, particularly to avoid the notoriously difficult “gaokao” college entrance exam and the pressure of the Chinese education system, drove his decision to study in the U.S.
“People told you, you can go to China or to the U.S.,” Liu told The Hoya. “It’s a much more plain and obvious path.”
The United States is a top destination for Chinese students, with 290,000 Chinese nationals attending U.S. universities and colleges in 2023.
Yuming Lu (GRD ’25), a graduate economics student originally from Beijing, said American universities attract students because they offer more academic opportunities than Chinese universities.
“In the ranking view, the top schools, like Tsinghua or Peking University, they’re lower than MIT or Harvard,” Lu told The Hoya. “Families want the best universities for their kids.”
Yang said his journey to the U.S. was filled with obstacles:
The U.S. government had twice rejected his application for a student visa with no explanation, his ability to speak English was lacking and his peers could not fathom life in his home country.
Yang said that this lack of understanding of China was clear upon entering the classroom, as he observed what he perceived as an approach driven by US national interest.
“They definitely don’t understand each other, is what I think. They definitely come from two different states of interest. They definitely come from two different perspectives. And I do feel like, just to be honest, the things I’ve seen in the US, at least, what’s being taught in the classroom is not a holistic approach.”
Liu said his experience at Georgetown has allowed him to broaden his personal perspective and professional goals thanks to the university’s Jesuit values of a global, holistic education.
“I think that I’m fairly confident that I have the mentality to deal with a variety of things,” Liu said. “Georgetown has been somewhat helpful in that aspect.”
Cultural Exchange Amid Tense U.S.-China Relations
Relations between China and the United States are complex and increasingly fractious, as politicians across Washington have framed China as an economic, geopolitical and ideological rival of the United States.
Trump’s return to the White House has led many experts to be pessimistic about U.S.-China relations. Tension between the two nations has increased in recent years, as President Trump has criticized China’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. enforced sanctions against Chinese technology companies and the nations have been embroiled in a heated trade war.
These increased tensions have resulted in a national drop in enrollment of Chinese students at U.S. universities, with enrollment dropping from 373,000 in 2019 to 290,000 in 2024, and congressional backlash to connections between American and Chinese universities.
On Jan. 13, for example, the University of Michigan announced it would close its joint institute with Shanghai Jiao Tong University after criticism from a House of Representatives committee focused on U.S.-China relations.
Wilder said this pressure on universities is a product of politicians using China as a scapegoat for economic problems in the United States.
“I think a lot of it has to do with American politicians who have blamed China for things,” Wilder said. “There is also the notion that Chinese have stolen
American jobs — that the United States used to have a furniture business, the United States used to have a lot of other manufacturing capability — and those things have gone to China.”
Wendi Wang (SFS ’26) said political tension and misunderstandings over U.S.-China relations means she sometimes feels disconnected from U.S.born students at Georgetown.
“It’s less direct offense, but more ignorance,” Wang told The Hoya. “You just feel that no matter how hard working you are or how many accomplishments you made, you don’t really get the recognition you deserve, you don’t receive the response that should be equivalent to your accomplishment.”
Despite this tension, U.S.-born Georgetown students have continued to engage with China, both in study abroad programs and in student exchanges. Last semester, five Georgetown students studied abroad in China, with four in Shanghai and one in Beijing.
Centers like the Initiative for U.S.-China Dialogue on Global Issues also hold on-campus events and student dialogue programs that increase Hoyas’ understanding of Chinese society, Wilder said. The Initiative is currently running two student exchange programs, sending cohorts of Georgetown students to visit China during spring break and after the end of the spring semester.
“We are simply having our students exposed to other students from China to try and understand their perspective and to give Chinese students our perspective,” Wilder said.
However, some students are critical of the Initiative’s emphasis on addressing international issues rather than simply fostering personal engagement
Julio Wang (SFS ’25), a native of Shanghai who previously worked as a student assistant with the Initiative, said he wishes it targeted younger undergraduate students in cultural conversations rather than targeting upperclassmen and graduate students.
“If you only talk about policy issues with graduate students who have dedicated their whole college-level education to studying this issue, they are not the people who need this dialogue,” Wang told The Hoya. “The people who need a dialogue are the first-years or sophomores who just come in and know literally nothing about China.”
“It’s good to let them meet some ignorant Chinese college students, first-years or sophomores who also know nothing about the U.S., but who can engage in a civil dialogue and talk
about this kind of common interest,” Wang added.
Challenges in Cultural Understanding at Georgetown
However, despite Georgetown’s emphasis on foreign affairs and various initiatives around USChinese understanding, some Chinese students find that the environment around such dialogues is unproductive.
Yang said his peers sometimes automatically accept many stereotypes of the Chinese government onto Chinese international students, adding that multiple classmates have asked him whether he is a member of the Chinese Communist Party.
“There is this stigma of if you support certain policies of the Chinese government, or sometimes when you think from the perspective of China, you will be considered a member of the ruling party,” Yang said. “It’s the exact same thing as if you were Republican or Democrat in the United States. It’s not an insult if you call someone a communist — it’s a political reality.” Yang said he believes Chinese media spreads similarly one-sided narratives about the United States.
“There’s not enough mutual understanding and respect among the two sides,” Yang said.
Julio Wang added that many U.S.-born students only seem willing to engage in dialogue with Chinese students if it is in relation to Chinese policy — ignoring personal connections that could be made in favor of controversial geopolitical issues.
“When you happen to come from a different country, suddenly the questions they ask me are all about, ‘What do you think about Taiwan?’ No, I don’t. Like, honestly, that’s not me. Only 0.001% of me is thinking about Taiwan,” Julio Wang said. “I think about friends and the food and the city and can tell you more about that. So why does that aspect of me disappear and I suddenly become a representative for the Chinese government at Georgetown, just because I’m probably from China?”
A university spokesperson told The Hoya that Georgetown emphasizes the need for collaboration and further engagement among students from different backgrounds.
“Georgetown’s approach to its international activities reflects the Jesuit tradition of openness to engagement and the belief that dialogue and scholarship can increase international understanding, even when there may be significant differences or disagreements,” the spokesperson wrote to The Hoya Wilder fears the new Trump
administration could slow down or stop what he believes to be essential exchanges.
“We are worried that the Trump administration may decide to do more restrictions on Chinese students in the United States,” Wilder said. “There are already restrictions against Chinese students who have an association with the Chinese military. If a student has been to a military university in China or is associated with a Chinese defense firm, they can’t come to the United States.”
“The less Chinese students we have on campus, the less opportunity for our students to learn about China from them,” Wilder added.
Yang said fellow seniors who are Chinese international students fret about their uncertain futures in the United States, as Chinese nationals are struggling to obtain a green card to work in the country after graduation as the Trump administration presents a much harsher stance on immigration.
“There’s been discussion among my peers of how it’s going to be like, ‘What’s our future within this country?’” Yang said. “And it’s sort of complicated, because it seems like Trump, on one hand, wants people who have been educated or have expertise in something to stay in the U.S., but at the same time, his overall immigration policy seems to be sort of hostile.”
Yang said the presence of Chinese students on Georgetown’s campus is essential because it generates open dialogue and fosters learning and understanding among both U.S. and Chinese students, which could be the key to strengthening future pathways between the two nations.
“Sometimes, when I talk to my friends, I think we all realize that just by them having a friend who’s actually from China and has different opinions and a different life experience and different perspectives on things, it’s really helpful,” Yang said. “I think having this kind of cross cultural understanding is really important in the next 50 years.”
Julio Wang said that despite the political friction between China and the U.S., moving conversation beyond the political to the personal is the best way to assuage conflict between the nations.
“Even in this kind of adverse environment, there are good sparks that are helping this by helping this dialogue,” Wang said. “For the people-to-people level, I have not lost faith yet. I think this is where the differences are made.”
Catherine Alaimo and Paulina Inglima contributed to this reporting.
ILLUSTRATION BY ARIA ZHU/THE HOYA
In the past 15 years, Georgetown has seen a fivefold surge in enrollment of Chinese students.
Nursing Clinical Tardiness Policy Spurs Student Transportation Concerns
Shivali
Vora Senior Science Editor
A recently enacted policy penalizing absences or tardiness in clinical classes for students in the Georgetown University School of Nursing (SON) raised student concerns regarding the lack of university support for transportation to clinical sites.
The policy, which began in spring 2025, says nursing students will be sent home if they arrive 15 minutes or later after the scheduled start time for patient care, resulting in an unexcused absence and failure for the clinical day. Even one such unexcused absence results in clinical probation, a drop in one letter grade for the course and possible course failure.
In light of this policy, students have raised concerns about the university’s failure to provide transportation, reimbursement or related resources to get students to their clinical sites.
Charlotte Smith (SON ’26) said she believes it is unacceptable for the university to not assist with
transportation given the SON’s significantly smaller size compared to other undergraduate schools.
“Considering we are the smallest major and school at Georgetown, there is no reason that transportation is not at least paid for, if not organized by the school,” Smith wrote to The Hoya Shrishti Chhajlani (SON ’26) said clinical experiences are integral to the SON experience, especially in the final two years of the program.
“Clinicals are attached to our didactic lectures, and it’s seven or eight hours once a week where we go to a hospital and apply material we’ve learned in lecture in real life,”
Chhajlani told The Hoya
Although clinicals are a requirement for all SON students, students are responsible for arranging their own transportation to and from clinical sites across the Washington, D.C.-Maryland-Virginia area. Some students are required to travel up to 35 miles each way to get to and from clinicals and the university.
A university spokesperson said recent changes to the SON handbook were developed in consultation with the Academic Council, students who represent classmates to the administration.
“The School of Nursing recently updated the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) handbook related to attendance for lab and clinical experiences to provide guidance for students who may become ill or have life events that impact their attendance,” the spokesperson wrote to The Hoya. “The school engaged with faculty and undergraduate students on its Academic Council, who provided valuable consultation and feedback which was incorporated into these changes.”
The spokesperson said SON students will continue using the existing transportation policy.
“Students are required to provide their own transportation to and from the clinical setting and are advised of this requirement,” the spokesperson wrote.
One of Chhajlani’s clinical experiences this semester is in Germantown, Md., nearly two hours from the university by public transportation. With start times as early as 7 a.m. for many clinical days, according to Chhajlani, nursing students must often depart campus by 4:45 a.m.
Chhajlani said Georgetown’s lack of access to public transportation makes even Metro-accessible clinical sites hard to reach.
“Georgetown itself is not very accessible, so getting there is always a nightmare, especially in the mornings when it’s still dark and we’re a group of girls,” Chhajlani said. “If we’re taking an Uber, it costs between $50 and $70 one way.”
While the Georgetown University Transportation Shuttle (GUTS) route to Rosslyn begins service at 4:45 a.m., the route to Dupont Circle does not start service until 6 a.m.
Kyra Masone (SON ’26) said she was involved in a car crash while travelling via Uber with a group of students to her clinical site in Maryland.
WorkshopSparksConversationonDignifiedMenstruation
Sasha Ahmad Science Writer
The global human development (GHD) program at Georgetown University hosted a workshop organized by the Global South Coalition for Dignified Menstruation — an advocacy and education organization striving for universal tolerance and awareness of menstruation — and deliberated on the enduring issue of menstrual inequities in social, cultural, economic and environmental contexts Feb. 13.
Emily Friedman (GRD ’25), a second-year GHD student, led the workshop, which centered on personal stories and their translations to major social notions of shame, human rights violations and alienation for menstruating people across the world.
Friedman said she was in Nepal working in a youth group program when a young girl approached her with tears in her eyes, telling her that she didn’t want to go home and face the stigmatization of being on her period.
“Our wider discussion was sparked in what we could do to be careful of cultural boundaries, while recognizing that this is discrimination and sexual- and gender-based violence,” Friedman said at the workshop.
The girl told Friedman that to return home was to consign herself to the typical fate of sleeping apart from her family and with the animals in an outer cowshed, in observance of cultural separation practices where periods are considered dirty.
The experience provoked Friedman’s interest in the concept of menstrual dignity — which the Global South Coalition for Dignified Menstruation defines as a “decolonized, innovative, holistic, transformative, inclusive and feminist human rights and life cycle approach for equality and justice in all aspects of life” — motivating her to anchor content in the transformative experiences of attendees with the organization. Their “train the trainer” model is an innovative mode of disseminating information and awareness about menstruation throughout communities globally, with structured workshops led by passionate female speakers and leaders.
Friedman said this mission of promoting menstrual dignity should be a key human rights issue for all.
“We are trying to get people to acknowledge menstruation as a dignity, as a human right. To reinforce this network of people, especially men and non-menstruators, in why it is critical,” Friedman said. “Dignified menstruation is everyone’s business.”
Friedman said the biological realities of menstruation are equally important as the drastic social conditions that shape how people from various cultural backgrounds view periods.
“Menstruation is the shedding of the innermost lining of the uterus every month in anticipation of fertilization. It’s interesting that when we talk about period blood in so many situations as dirty or unsanitary, it is the lining which actually fed all of us in the womb,” Friedman said.
A defining feature of the workshop was its emphasis on the individual experiences of attendees, enabling participants to reflect on their pasts and think of both the positives and negatives of menstrual experiences.
“From here, we’re going to draw out our menstrual journeys, creating a ‘river’ with the positives on one side and the negatives on the other,” Friedman said. “These will guide our discussion.”
Friedman led the group through an activity designed to foster an environment of trust and retrospection on vulnerable experiences that many menstruators are conditioned all their lives to keep secret.
Chantal Braunwalder (GRD ’26), a first-year GHD student, said she was intrigued by this new lens through which to view menstruation.
“It feels personal, but also ubiquitous,” Braunwalder told The Hoya “Menstruation is not viewed holistically and not adjusted to how women actually function. Breaking the stigma and shame and having more empowering experiences talking about it, is important for an issue that touches all of our lives.”
A notable dimension of this workshop was to distinguish between cultural awareness and recognition of human rights abuses. Each of the tables in the room represented a re-
gion of the world, and participants were asked to take a seat at the table which most aligned with the place they call home.
James Skeeter, a venture capitalist and Friedman’s partner, said he attended the workshop as an ally looking to educate himself after spending most of his life in a male-centric environment.
“What I really learned was how little I knew. There’s an empathy gap I’m working to bridge, and it will take a life of learning to do that, but these types of sessions are great for it,” Skeeter told The Hoya. “This feels like a very central and intersectional issue that is at the root of many female empowerment dynamics.”
Throughout the workshop, Friedman reinforced that a main premise was upholding the right to menstruate safely and with respect in all societies, regardless of tradition or public perception.
“It is not a sign of weakness, and blood is not a disease,” Friedman said. “This blood is clean and pure, and allows us to exist.”
MedStar Director Emphasizes Implementation Science
Pooja Narayan Graduate Desk Editor
The scientific director of MedStar Health Research Institute (MHRI), which collaboratively conducts medical research, highlighted the importance of bridging the gap between theoretical research and applied medicine at a Georgetown University event Feb. 14.
Dr. Hannah Arem, scientific director of implementation science at MHRI and associate professor of oncology at Georgetown, explored strategies to expedite the research-to-medicine process as part of the Grand Rounds Lecture Series sponsored by the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. Arem focused on how implementation science, the study of integrating research findings into everyday practice, can reduce disparities in cancer survivorship.
Arem said investing in implementation science can more efficiently integrate evidence-based results into healthcare.
“On February 13, my clinical group was traveling to a hospital in Maryland, which is about 50 minutes away, when our Uber was involved in a head-on collision at about 6:00 a.m. on the Clara Barton Parkway. Our driver was travelling the wrong way down a one-way street and caused a major accident on the way to our clinical,” Masone wrote to The Hoya. “So, not only are we expected to pay for our clinical transportation (this Uber was about $55), but we are not even sure we can get there safely.”
Masone said SON student representatives have been advocating for solutions for many years — to no avail.
“From what I have heard, our student leaders have repeatedly asked year after year for transportation, reimbursement or vouchers and it has been shot down without any explanation except for ‘we’re working on it,’” Masone wrote. “I’m not quite sure how organizing transportation or reimbursement takes 4+ years to im-
plement, especially considering that other students are already receiving what we are asking for.”
Masone added that Georgetown’s lack of responsibility for this contrasts with its support for other courses and student activities requiring transportation.
“In one of my non-nursing classes last year, the class was provided about $300 in Uber vouchers to get 20 students to the Kennedy Center, which is about 2 miles away and the average Uber costs about $1015 to get there,” Masone wrote. “Our hospital site is more than 25 miles away and the university provided us $0.”
Chhajlani said there is a wide range of solutions the university can implement, any one of which would make nursing students’ lives significantly easier.
“They can provide parking so that students can bring their own cars,” Chhajlani said. “They can give us money to take Ubers. They can provide any sort of transportation.”
Trump Policies Threaten Climate Change Prevention
Ellie Ward Science Columnist
Climate change currently feels like a growing avalanche, an ever-ticking time bomb counting down to irreversible damage. Amid the range of policy changes under the administration of President Donald Trump — alongside a series of devastating natural disasters, from hurricanes to wildfires — the relationship between climate science and shifting policy is a pressing, if foreboding, topic to watch.
Experts on climate change study the phenomenon using a variety of metrics, including ocean levels, natural disaster rates and carbon emissions. Most notably, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has used increasing global temperatures to predict drastic jumps in the effects of climate change. In 2015, based on the severity of these increases, the international community set a target of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. Climate experts predicted such an increase would be associated with major ecological costs, including a 14% loss in biodiversity, a 24% increase in global population exposed to flooding and $63 billion lost to increased food insecurity.
To reach this goal, the IPCC recommended a 43% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 2019 to 2030, with a peak necessary by 2025 to prevent another catastrophic increase in the impacts of climate change. Now, global temperatures have increased by 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to the preindustrial average, and emission rates have increased notably since 2019.
In this keystone year for emission peaks and having crossed over the long-maintained 1.5-degree benchmark, the new administration has the potential to either heed the warnings of leaders in climate science or increase emissions into dangerous territory.
In the short time since Trump’s inauguration, most notable among these policies are the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and a declaration of a “national energy emergency.”
“And in very few cases we end up at the end of this pipeline, but there are many studies that stop along this way that never make it through the end,” Arem added.
“By thinking about implementation from early on in the study design stage, we can hopefully make this a shorter timeline.”
Kenneth Tercyak, director of the Lombardi Center’s Interventions for Managing Parenting and Cancer Team, which aims to support the families of cancer patients at Lombardi, said implementation science is crucial to ensuring that theoretically proven medicine has real-life benefits.
“Even when effective cancer prevention, screening and treatment interventions are developed, tested and found to be successful, not all will reach the groups that need them most,” Tercyak wrote to The Hoya. “They also might not be implemented effectively in healthcare settings. Dr. Arem’s groundbreaking research is addressing this gap directly.”
Arem said assessing the practicality of a treatment is as important as ensuring that it works.
“Even if we know something’s
“The reason we do this is it takes an average of 17 years to get from research to practice,” Arem said at the event. “We think about our priorities, we brainstorm. It takes a year or two to put a grant together and get it submitted, get it reviewed.”
a wonderful treatment, if it’s really not feasible for that patient to come in 10 times, it’s not going to happen.” Arem said. “Similarly, we might be asking providers to do something that they’re just not going to have time for in a 15-minute visit. This thing that you thought was going to really revolutionize practices is down to minimal to no impact.”
Arem said MHRI is currently conducting audits and receiving patient feedback to expedite the implementation process.
“We meet with them monthly for the first six months, we give them statistics about their own practice and screening rates,” Arem said. “It’s been shown to be very effective in addressing disparities as people see their own data and how that’s changing over time.”
Arem’s recent studies incorporate patient feedback into designing follow-up visit schedules and assessing social risk factors for marginalized populations.
Maisha Huq, a postdoctoral fellow at Lombardi researching equitable cancer prevention who attended the event, said implementation science can increase accessibility in all industries.
“I attended because implementation science is a large part of my
portfolio, and Dr. Arem is doing very impactful work to promote access to care through implementation science,” Huq wrote to The Hoya. “Every team — whether in academia, medicine, business — should have an implementation science researcher.”
Arem said scaling back medicine that no longer serves community needs is another difficulty implementation science can address.
“People always ask about de-implementation,” Arem said. “What are we doing that doesn’t work? And how do we get rid of it? I think one of the examples that I like is the annual gynecologist visit for our PAP smear. That’s no longer what’s recommended, but that’s what was done for so long that sometimes it’s hard to change that and move to the new recommendations. But that is an area where there’s a lot of active work as well and grants being submitted.”
Arem added that studying unpredictable, context-dependent barriers to healthcare can provide insight to shape treatment more effectively.
“We know patient navigation and cancer care is an evidence-based practice and that’s something that I think there would be potential for considering the future studies,” Arem said.
Trump’s executive order to withdraw from the Paris Agreement caused concern due to its perceived weakening of a global, multilateral
effort to reduce emissions. It indicates that the administration is unlikely to commit to any of the internationally established greenhouse gas reduction goals or clean energy financial efforts. In declaring a national emergency over the energy crisis, the executive branch will be able to take more expansive and immediate measures to reallocate funding and increase energy production by loosening regulations, including those surrounding the burning of fossil fuels. This declaration opens up the possibility for increased greenhouse gas emissions despite no indication that the United States is facing a fuel shortage. Climate actions enacted by former President Joe Biden, including through the Inflation Reduction Act, are likely to be the first regulations on Trump’s chopping block. These actions do not set the stage for bringing down global temperatures after a 2025 peak or preventing warming past the 1.5-degree limit, which has already been reached in 2024. In fact, a 2024 report by Carbon Brief predicted that Trump’s actions would lead to almost 5 billion additional tons of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. However, Gina McCarthy, former climate adviser under Biden, suggested that a number of Trump’s proposals are unlikely to hold up in court. Furthermore, many climate protection measures, such as geothermal energy and carbon dioxide removal, have garnered bipartisan support. The decisions of city mayors, businesses and state governments also have the potential to offset national action that may worsen climate change. While the implementation of these proposals is still uncertain, 2025 will be an important year to commit to a turning point in climate protection. Otherwise, each increase in global temperatures will bring with it increasingly dire and irreversible consequences. Further increases could see the loss of coral reefs, worsened droughts and extreme heat waves. These nascent policies will set the stage for the role the United States will play in these critical next few years for the future of the planet.
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
The Trump administration is not taking the ruinous consequences of climate change seriously, says columnist Ellie Ward.
SASHA AHMAD/THE HOYA
A Georgetown University graduate program hosted a workshop on menstruation and human rights.
IN FOCUS Hiring Freeze Affects GU Students
Bill to Abolish Home Rule Sparks Concern
Patrick Clapsaddle Executive Editor
A proposed bill to repeal Washington, D.C.’s self-governing status signaled concerns for Georgetown University students and District residents regarding government responsiveness to local policy issues.
The Bringing Oversight to Washington and Safety to Every Resident (BOWSER) Act, introduced by Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) Feb. 6, would repeal the 1973 District of Columbia Home Rule Act, which transferred some powers originally held by the U.S. Congress to a local District government. Students at Georgetown have questioned the possible repercussions of the bill on local affairs and students’ work with the D.C. government.
The U.S. Constitution grants Congress direct oversight over all of the District’s affairs, as D.C. is the seat of the federalgovernment.However,homerule gives the D.C. Council political authority on local matters such as state tax, the municipal budget and crime policy.
Joe Massaua (SFS ’25) said Lee’s characterization of the District as crime-ridden was neither fair to its citizens nor representative of the efforts made to reduce crime and poverty, referencing legislation such as the Secure D.C. Omnibus Amendment Act of 2024, which aimed to address increasing District crime rates.
“D.C. has a strong history of self-government (when permitted) and their critiques are not substantive,” Massaua wrote to The Hoya. “Ward 2 Councilmember Brooke Pinto’s SECURE DC bill made great strides, and Mayor Bowser’s investments into education, while not perfect, have cut into the root causes of poverty and crime. Of course, there is always more to do to build a safe city, but I firmly reject the notion that D.C. is ‘crime-ridden shambles.’”
Lawmakers included Advisory Neighborhood Commissions — a local government entity for D.C.’s neighborhoods — in the home rule charter as a means of increasing representation in the District’s governance. ANCs advise both the D.C. and
Nico
student-run WGTB Georgetown Radio, collaborated withProspectRecords,arecordlabelrunby Georgetown students, to host the concert. The event raised over $1,000 and featured four bands, including student bands Baltimore Avenue, Sense Memory and Wonk, aswellaslocalbandPinkyLemon.
Daisy Casemore (University of Edinburgh), the organizer for the event and lead singer for Wonk, said she was inspired to organize a charity concert last semester.
“I knew that I wanted to do something,” Casemore told The Hoya. “Last semester I tried to make it happen but didn’t have enough time.” Casemore, an exchange student from the University of Edinburgh, said her band organically came together during the fall semester and quickly began planning for a charity concert benefiting MAP.
federal governments on local matters, and many D.C. government agencies, such as the District Department of Transportation, are required to consider ANC guidance. If the bill to abolish home rule were to pass, it would likely abolish ANCs as well.
Massaua added that, as a former member of Georgetown’s ANC representing the Georgetown, Burleith and Hillandale neighborhoods, the possible elimination of ANCs threatens important local policy work.
“ANCs are vital for neighborhood functioning, serving the most local needs of residents from liquor licenses, sanitation, public transit and housing,” Massaua wrote. “With the potential elimination of ANCs, D.C. will lose a legion of hundreds of quiet unpaid public servants who care deeply about their neighborhoods.”
Maeve Kramer (CAS ’26), a D.C. resident, said eliminating the localized structures of the District’s government would decrease efficiency and progress.
“If you cut out that middleman that is suited to deal specifically with local D.C. issues, I have to imagine that would absolutely become a problem,” Kramer told The Hoya. “You wouldn’t be able to get anything done in D.C. communities because, if you had to go through the national government, they wouldn’t care. I have to imagine that would make everything slower, more bloated or just eliminate the possibility of doing anything at all.”
Ogles said the bill is necessary to address perceived problems with government corruption and crime in D.C., blaming such problems on Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, and the 13 current members of the D.C. Council, 11 of whom are also Democrats.
“The radically progressive regime of D.C. Mayor Bowser has left our nation’s Capital in crime-ridden shambles,” Ogles wrote in a Feb. 6 press release. “As such, it seems appropriate for Congress to reclaim its Constitutional authority and restore the nation’s Capital. The epicenter of not only the United States Federal Government but also the world geopolitics cannot continue to be a cesspool of Democrats’ failed policies.” Asher Maxwell (CAS ’26), who is a
“I wanted to do something to help raise money because I felt pretty useless,” Casemore told The Hoya. “I had done a benefit concert before in Edinburgh for MAP as well and that was successful, so I just thought, ‘Why not?’”
MAP, a United Kingdom-based charity, has worked with local Palestinian communities to deliver health care services to those affected by conflict, occupation and displacement since 1982. Today, the organization’s work focuses on addressing health disparities amid the Israel-Hamas war. Casemore said that although initial ticket sales were slow, she was shocked to see dozens of students purchasing tickets at the door.
“I was pushing tickets so hard and they weren’t doing great, and then on the day we sold, I think it was 119,” Casemore said. “It was overwhelmingly gratifying on the night, and then I could just enjoy it, instead of stressing out about it, because it’s hard to double up as performer and promoter.”
Rob Cline is a member of Pinky Lemon, a Washington, D.C.- and Philadelphia-based band that performed at the concert. Cline said he felt a responsibility as an artist to use his platform in a meaningful way.
“What’s really the point of doing this if we’re not going to use the small platform that we do have to help in some way?” Cline told The Hoya. “Us, and a lot of other D.C. bands, have been trying to do what we can, and for us that’s raising money by putting on shows.”
Cline said playing in Bulldog Alley allowed him to bring the D.C. music scene to the forefront at Georgetown’s campus.
“It’s nice to kind of bring the D.C. scene onto campus and give people a
constituent of Ogles’ and an organizer with Hoyas Against Legacy Admissions, a student organization advocating for an end to legacy and donor preference in the university admissions process, said Ogles’ bill wrongfully targets D.C. residents while ignoring the needs of his constituents in Tennessee.
“As a constituent of Congressman Ogles’, let me say that the last thing the people of Middle Tennessee need is their congressman spending his time on an authoritarian takeover of a city far outside of our district,” Maxwell wrote to The Hoya. “Both D.C. and Tennessee would be better off if Congressman Ogles minded his own business and let D.C.’s citizens govern their city.”
Darius Wagner (CAS ’27), an organizer with Hoyas Against Legacy Admissions and vice president of the Georgetown University Student Association, said the passage of the bill would significantly impede the organization’s work with the D.C. government to ban legacy admissions.
“Our main goals are through the D.C. City Council and through the mayor’s office, so, inevitably, it would be a significant disruption to how we’re able to achieve our goal through passing legislation,” Wagner told The Hoya “The prospect is just daunting, but we still remain confident that, as the law exists, we can get over the finish line.”
Massaua said eliminating home rule would only increase barriers to student advocacy efforts by relegating policy decisions to Congress.
“The elimination of Home Rule will throw a wrench into student advocacy,” Massaua said. “Abolishing Home Rule is a policy that has not been well thought through, as it would add many new bureaucratic inefficiencies to an already broken institution: Congress.”
Kramer said she is unconvinced Congress would be able to address the needs of District residents.
“Congress is already busy doing nothing,” Kramer said. “I don’t understand what they would do particularly differently or better. I’ve never been convinced that the national government would be better suited to govern or have any say about individual communities in D.C.”
taste of that,” Cline said. “People were asking us about other shows, we were telling them about other venues like Songbyrd, Pie Shop, The Pocket and these cool venues in the city if you can manage to get off campus.”
Chandler Paulk (CAS ’28), one of the concert’s attendees, said he enjoyed seeing a new venue on campus.
“It was my first time in Bulldog Alley and I was really surprised with the setup,” Paulk wrote to The Hoya. “I’m not exactly sure what I was expecting but it definitely surpassed my expectations.”
Cline said the venue itself and the student turnout on the night of the concert made it all the more successful.
“We love playing college shows, and as a venue, Bulldog Alley is cool,” Cline said. “Good sound, cool stage, nice space and we had a packed house so can’t ask for much else.”
Paulk said the variety of music styles represented by the bands added to the audience’s experience.
“I really enjoyed the bands and especially the fact there was a variety of different types of music presented,” Paulk wrote. “There was definitely a really nice dynamic feeling that came from having the various bands — I was never bored!”
Paulk said he believes performances like the benefit concert help enrich Georgetown’s community.
“It really shows what art and community can do in the face of tragedy and how music can be a form of organizing aid,” Paulk wrote.
WHAT’S NEW IN MULTI?
Elyse Ellingsworth Events Desk Editor
A history professor explored his forthcoming book and urged historians to recognize anti-colonialist history narratives in a Feb. 19 webinar.
Esmat Elhalaby, a colonialist historian and assistant professor of transnational history at the University of Toronto, discussed his recent work, “Parting Gifts of Empire: Palestine and India at the Dawn of Decolonization.” Fida Adely, director of the Georgetown University Center for Contemporary Arab Studies (CCAS), which conducts research and hosts events related to the Arab world, moderated the event.
Adely said the book’s images and examples are important in contextualizing the time period Elhalaby discusses in his writing.
“It’s important that there are such powerful images — such a powerful intervention and disruption of thought,” Adely said. “It’s helpful for us to think about what the implications of this history that you’ve written are for us as we navigate the present moment.”
Elhalaby’s book focuses on Britain’s post-World War II partitions of two of its colonial territories: Mandatory Palestine, the area including what is now Israel, Gaza and the West Bank, and British India, the Indian subcontinent including what is now India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Mandatory Palestine was divided between Egypt, Jordan and the new state of Israel, while British India was partitioned into India and Pakistan. Both partitions triggered mass migration and widespread violence.
Elhalaby said his book uses the partitions of Mandatory Palestine and British India to ex-
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amine the history and politics of anti-colonialism.
“A great deal of historical work has tracked the mobility of British imperial bureaucrats and imperialist ideas in the making of the partitions of Palestine in India,” Elhalaby said at the event. “Less attention, however, has been paid to those who sought, in one way or another, to stop those events, or call them ‘structures,’ from developing in a way that they did.”
According to Elhalaby, recentering the histories of partition is essential to better understanding nationalist movements during the colonial and postcolonial periods.
“Attention to the activities and ideas of Africans and Asians themselves, then, might be useful for rewriting the history of empires and attempts to end empires. I try to capture the reading practices and attachments to social, cultural and political activity that characterized nationalist intellectuals who sought to serve an international cause,” Elhalaby said.
Elhalaby said academics in Africa and Asia combatted widely-spread, false theories through collaboration and creation.
“It was extremely difficult for African and Asian intellectuals to counteract those spurious theories and histories — how did they do it?” Elhalaby said.
“The answer was often in their own institutions, their own periodicals, departments, institutes and colleges.”
Elhalaby added that academic institutions were often closely linked to colonial enterprises, rendering such work difficult.
“We were bequeathed, quite reluctantly and at the cost of our own institutions, a set of schools and institutes attached
to the Christian missionary enterprise, and the companies, armies and states of European capitalists,” Elhalaby said.
“Beginning in the 19th century, and accelerated in the middle of the 20th, there was a concentrated effort to produce new knowledge beyond the imperial frame — in Beirut and Jerusalem, there were deliberately conceived alternatives to the sectarian missionary schools in their midst, and meetings between intellectuals provided the opportunity to make these efforts collaborative,” he added.
Adely said resistance to colonialism was in part defined by the interactions and collaborations in academic institutions that were intended to subvert European establishments.
“The colonial period was a period that created a set of encounters that were different and that led to this kind of South-South intellectual exchange,” Adely said. “There needs to be this critique of the idea of encounters, the idea being that there had always been interaction throughout Asia, Africa, but that there was a new kind of interaction that was created in this context of colonialism and anti-colonialism.”
Elhalaby said that students and scholars need to actively resist the ideas that are presented from a colonialist perspective.
“The scholarly practice and intellectual culture in North America and Europe and the global North — the imperialist core — need to practice some humility,” Elhalaby said. “Not just in the face of the past that I seek to account for in this book, but in honor of our comrades and colleagues, living and recently deceased, who resist against actually-existing colonialism today.”
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LEGACY, from A1
Legacy Admissions Bill Advances Federal Policy Ending Support for RaceBased Programs May Impact GU
George Washington University. The bill permits priority consideration for the descendants of the GU272+, the enslaved people whom Maryland Jesuits sold in 1838 to ensure Georgetown’s financial stability, while exempting historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) including Howard University.
Abdi Hernandez (MSB ’28), a firstgeneration student who testified in support of the bill, said ending legacy admissions would provide a pathway to Georgetown for firstgeneration, low-income (FGLI) students who are often overlooked.
“I really do believe that there should be more people of my background in this college, in this community,” Hernandez told The Hoya. “I go to any classroom now, and there’s nothing but people that don’t look like me. Essentially, I just want people that are from my circumstances, from my environment, which honestly is a marginalized, lowincome environment.”
Fifteen percent of students enrolled in Georgetown’s Class of 2028 are Pell Grant recipients, a record high for Georgetown, while the nationwide percentage of undergraduate students who receive Pell Grants is 34% as of 2024. 49% of students in the Class of 2028, the first class admitted following the end of affirmative action, self-identify as students of color, while 53% of the Class of 2027 identify as students of color.
A university spokesperson said the university will continue to evaluate its admissions policies to ensure a representative student body.
“This past year, the university began considering students’ Pell eligibility as part of its holistic and comprehensive admissions
process, which resulted in attracting more low-income students to the University,” the spokesperson wrote to The Hoya. “We continue to consider other changes to our policies and have met with students who are advocating for action by the D.C. State Board of Education.”
Other students testifying urged the Board to consider legacy admissions’ impact on D.C. public school students and legacy students themselves.
Will Mead-McCaughan (CAS ’27), a student testifying in support of the bill who grew up in D.C., said ending legacy admissions would give high school students across the District applying to Georgetown a more equitable chance of admission.
“I think that legacy admissions actually hurts D.C. students more than your average student because D.C. public schools are not particularly strong, and most of the students who go to Georgetown from D.C. are private school students — I was a private school student,”
Mead-McCaughan told The Hoya. “I don’t think that should be the case.”
Lily Odenwelder (CAS ’26), a legacy student who testified in support of the bill, said that, in addition to creating an unrepresentative student body, priority admissions harm legacy students directly by instilling self-doubt.
“As much as I do believe in my abilities, there is a nagging thought in my mind about if I even deserve to be here as much as everyone else because of that potential boost that could have affected my admission,”
Odenwelder told The Hoya
The bill will likely now pass to Phil Mendelson, the D.C. Council chairman, who can refer it to a council committee for a hearing or can leave it in abeyance, or temporary deferral.
Rice said Hoyas Against Legacy Admissions will shift their work toward encouraging
councilmembers to cosponsor the bill after it is introduced, aiming ultimately for a vote on the legislation.
“If we get as many co-sponsors as possible — enough that if they all voted for it and it passed — then that makes it a lot easier to get a hearing and a vote,” Rice said.
Asher Maxwell (CAS ’26), another founder and organizer with Hoyas Against Legacy Admissions, said efforts from Georgetown and other local universities to lobby the council against the bill will be a major obstacle for its success in council.
“We know part of our problem is that the universities have been proactively lobbying Council members to ensure we don’t even get a hearing, because they know if the council hears the student testimony that the SBOE heard last night, they’ll lose,” Maxwell wrote to The Hoya
According to D.C. public records, the Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area (CUWMA), an educational alliance between D.C. universities which includes Georgetown, hired lobbyists to push for the bill’s rejection.
Odenwelder said the university’s reluctance to end legacy admissions justifies action from the D.C. Council.
“It really feels like the university is digging in on its harmful values,” Odenwelder said. “We need this step of going to the D.C. government to try and get this stopped at Georgetown, because it seems like things are just worse than ever.”
Rice said the SBOE’s passage of the FAIR Act is a testament to student organizers’ efforts.
“The fact that a bill that a bunch of 18- and 19-year-olds wrote in a Lau 2 study room is going to become introduced legislation in D.C. — it doesn’t feel real to me,” Rice said.
GU Jewish Community Holds Vigil For Israeli Hostages Killed in Gaza
VIGIL, from A1 celebrated the memory of the hostages and honored the lives they could have led.
“Their pure, innocent lives were cut far too short by unimaginable cruelty and evil,” Kaplan said during the event. “Ariel and Kfir, with your fiery orange hair and bright joyful smiles, I am so sorry we failed to bring you back alive, we failed to protect you. You had your whole lives ahead of you, and we will never, ever forget you.”
Full Disclosure: Ayelet Kaplan is a copy editing assistant for The Hoya.
Rabbi Ilana Zietman, the director of Jewish Life, said the vigil was one of many ways for students to express themselves and feel supported amidst the tragedy of the hostages’ deaths.
“In some ways, having clear moral convictions is the appropriate response, and in other times sitting in the not knowing and the sadness and the loss and the not being sure how peace will ever come is also important,” Zietman told The Hoya.
“I think it’s important for people to process in the ways they need to.” Mollie Sharfman, the Jewish
chaplain-in-residence for Darnall Hall, said the vigil gathered the Jewish community together in solidarity.
“The main thing was to be together in a public space, to show our feelings, to represent the community here on campus, to know that we’re here and there’s such diversity on campus, and this is an integral part of the community,” Sharfman told The Hoya
Rabbi Menachem Shemtov, codirector of Chabad Georgetown, said holding the vigil in Red Square showed public support for Israel and the Jewish community, especially in the face of rising antisemitism.
“It’s extremely important for the Jewish community to feel that they’re not excluded from public spaces, where they can stand up for the truth and what we believe in and for who we are, and not have to hide it or that it’s something to be ashamed of,” Shemtov told The Hoya. “So it’s extremely important for events like this to happen out in the open, so others can see, be part of it, and feel that they are able to openly support Israel, support the Jewish community, and be proud of who we are.”
“Let’s show the world that we’re
EDUCATION, from A1 Georgetown could also be penalized for supporting student racial affinity organizations on campus.
A university spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment regarding specific programming the university offers but said Georgetown is committed to supporting the diversity of students and staff on campus while remaining in federal compliance.
“We are committed to providing an academic and work environment where all members of our community can thrive, are treated fairly, welcomed and respected and do their best work,” the spokesperson wrote to The Hoya. “University staff are closely monitoring updates to federal policy. Georgetown complies with federal regulations.”
Taylor Lowe (SFS ’25), the president of the Black Student Alliance — a student group that connects and protects Black students on campus — said the Trump administration’s targeting of initiatives that support diversity and inclusion ultimately hurts minority students.
“As a President of an organization that would be a target for ‘anti-DEI’ and other such movements promoted by our current administration, I am fearful for the future of my organization,” Lowe wrote to The Hoya. “This would directly impact my club as well as many others on this campus, which do good work to ensure that our respective student populations are safe and catered to in a campus environment which does not automatically make them feel that way.”
Nitya Gupta (SFS ’27), the politics and advocacy co-chair of the Asian American Student Association (AASA), said the letter demonstrates how politicians fail to understand the experiences of minorities.
“Not just as a student club, but these attacks against education towards the Asian, Brown and Black experience in the U.S., in our classes and in our lives continue to perpetuate the erasure of our history,” Gupta told The Hoya.
“I think that’s something that we are scared of, but we’re going to be working even harder to combat these problems through student life.”
Ethan Henshaw (CAS ’26), the president of the Georgetown University Student Association (GUSA), said student government is communicating with the university on the school’s response.
“We are only a student government and can only influence so much change, but we have been discussing the executive order and looking for ways in which GUSA can be helpful,” Henshaw wrote to The Hoya. “It is our hope that the university will not bend to these threats, but in the case they do, we are happy to use all of the resources available to us.”
Corey Madison (CAS ’27), the Georgetown chapter president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), a civil rights organization, said the decision presents an obstacle for all students to receive equal opportunities.
“This decision is unfortunately a microcosm for bigger changes and divides that are bound to come under the Trump administration,”
Madison wrote to The Hoya.
“It’s more important than ever for students, especially here at Georgetown, to resist the rollback of DEI programs and instead actively operate with diversity, equity and inclusion in their daily lives.” Lowe said the letter comes at a time when the university has not provided navigation for students or student organizations who would be affected by the laws.
“While I am doing what I can to change that, and inspire my fellow Black students and allies to do what theycantocombatthisunprecedented era of social regression, there is only so much I can do,” Lowe wrote. “The Georgetown Administration must defy the students’ expectations and do more to protect its population.”
“If it does not, it will only confirm what many students of color know to be true; that Georgetown does NOT have our best interests at heart,” Lowe added.
Gupta said initiatives targeting racial diversity only make it more crucial for AASA and other affinity organizations to continue their work.
“AASA and students in general will just try to continue doing what we’ve been doing,” Gupta said. “I don’t think we should try to self-censor ourselves or stop what we’re doing because of fear of the government taking back our funding and our endowment. I think it’s actually more important than ever that we hold these events and create these spaces for people to find each other, talk about these issues and create solidarity between groups.”
GU Institutes File Freedom of Religion Lawsuit Following Protection Repeal
A1
RELIGION, from
not afraid,” Shemtov added.
Unlike previous events related to the Israel-Hamas war, members of university administration attended the vigil.
Zamir said Ferrara’s presence at the vigil showed support from the university and was important to the Jewish community.
“It was really important for him to be there, and he has always made a point of showing up for us as a community, which I am incredibly grateful for,” Zamir said. “Even just being there, it was good to see, because it can feel really lonely sometimes.”
Zietman said she hoped the entire Georgetown community could come together in mourning and collectively heal from the conflict.
“My hope is that people here can see each other’s grief,” Zietman said. “No matter our differences on the politics of this, there’s so much grief, and to not see it really adds to the pain of this and won’t actually help us move forward as a community.”
“I want us to be able to look at each other and see each other’s humanity in this,” Zietman added.
“That’s the only way we’re going to be able to move forward.”
“The First Amendment to the Constitution, which has been in place since 1791, protects Americans’ freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of assembly, and I think all three of those are under attack when armed ICE agents are going into houses of worship,” Simpson told The Hoya. “I think a lot of people of faith — Christians, Jews, Muslims, I think other faiths as well — a core tenet to their beliefs is that we are called to treat everyone with dignity, respect, love, compassion, empathy and care.”
Kelsi Corkran, the plaintiffs’ lead counsel and ICAP’s Supreme Court director, said in a Feb. 11 press release that the lawsuit seeks to protect the right to practice religion regardless of documentation status.
“Plaintiffs represent millions of Americans across dozens of denominations rooted in the Jewish and Christian faiths,” Corkran said in the press release. “They have come together to file this suit because their scripture, teaching and traditions offer irrefutable unanimity on their religious obligation to embrace and serve the refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants in their midst without regard to documentation or legal status.”
The 27 denominations listed as plaintiffs in the suit represent millions of people and tens of thousands of places of worship. In addition to arguing that the new immigration policies will in-
cite fear for worshippers, the lawsuit asserts that they interfere with other services at places of worship, such as meal programs and homeless shelters.
Kathleen Bonnette is the CFJ’s academic program manager, an adjunct lecturer in theology at Georgetown and a Catholic theologian. Bonnette said multiple denominations of Christianity affirm the notion that every person should be free to worship without fear.
“In our faith tradition, we hold that all human beings have dignity first of all, and so that means that every human being is a reflection of God and the divine,” Bonnette told The Hoya
“So it’s really important to be able to practice our faith in a way that invites the participation of every person who wants to participate, and without fear or arbitrary limitations.”
“Christ calls us to welcome a stranger, and that’s an absolutely fundamental aspect of our faith tradition,” Bonnette added. “If we’re not able to follow that, then we’re not able to fully practice our faith.”
Simpson said the lawsuit is unique, as religious denominations rarely file freedom of religion suits.
“All the time that I’ve worked in this space, the faith communities are usually very supportive of efforts like these, other lawsuits and other actions that are taken on behalf of civil and human rights of various different groups, constitutional rights,” Simpson said. “But very seldom do they have the need
to be, nor do they get the opportunity to be, at the forefront of some of that work.”
Emma Mitchell (GRD ’27), a CFJ student fellow, said students should be mindful of how their individual faith communities are responding to changing immigration policies regarding worship spaces.
“I encourage students who are or have been members of faith communities to look into what their own faith communities are doing at this time,” Mitchell wrote to The Hoya. “Are communities you belong to represented in the 27 plaintiffs in this lawsuit? Has your community made any other statements concerning the recent attacks on migrants and undocumented people?”
“I think that students’ putting themselves and their identities, be they religious identities or otherwise, into context of these situations is crucial work for us to engage our whole selves in relationship with our communities,” Mitchell added. Bonnette said she hopes the lawsuit will show people what freedom of religion means in practice.
“I am hopeful that it will make a statement about what it means to practice faith freely, and that it will counter the narratives that freedom of religion is about being able to impose your beliefs on somebody else, but rather, freedom of religion is about opening up the space for everyone to be able to practice or seek the divine in the way they see fit,” Bonnette said.
AJANI STELLA/THE HOYA
Members of the Georgetown community attended a Feb. 20 vigil held by the Office of Jewish Life, the Georgetown Israel Alliance and Chabad Georgetown to honor the Israeli hostages killed in Gaza.
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
Georgetown University’s programming that supports diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives could be threatened following a U.S. Department of Education “Dear Colleague” letter.
New Minor Will Offer Survey of Islamic Civilizations, Cultures, History
Ajani Stella Academics Desk Editor
The Georgetown University department of Arabic and Islamic studies will inaugurate an Islamic studies minor beginning in the Fall 2025 semester, members of the department confirmed to The Hoya on Feb. 13.
The minor will center on the history, literature and culture of Islamic civilizations through six courses that do not require an Arabic language background, distinct from the department’s current language-based Arabic major and minor. The department began the formal process for creating the minor in spring 2024, and the university approved the program Nov. 12, 2024.
Felicitas Opwis, director of graduate studies in the Arabic and Islamic studies department, said the department saw that students were interested in studying Islam without learning Arabic but did not have a place to do so.
“We thought, ‘Let’s provide a program that, in this regard, caters to the needs of those students who would like to know more about Islam and its intellectual history and everything else but who do not necessarily want the language component,’” Opwis told The Hoya. “And out of that consideration, we then thought about developing a minor.” Opwis said the minor aims to show students that Islamic studies encompasses more than studying Arabic.
“I hope that they get a better understanding of all of the varieties of Islam, and that while, yes, Arabic is a very important component of Islam and the Islamic historical developments and civilizations that stand
behind it, it’s not all of it,” Opwis said. Rodrigo Adem, an Islamic studies professor, said the minor builds on Georgetown’s liberal arts curriculum by centering Islam in the study of history and culture.
“There is this actual Islamic civilizational component to the humanities, so we want to include all those Islamic heritages,” Adem told The Hoya. “The minor has literature, poetry and religion. Some of that might be theology or philosophy or mysticism — it could be considered part of a well-rounded education.”
“We should all be expanding the corpus of materials that we’re using to study the humanities. Chinese, Indian, Roman, Greek — these are foundational cultures,” Adem added.
“They represent for us the historical development of human thought.”
Sara Omar, director of undergraduate studies in the Arabic and Islamic studies department, said students interested in politics, international affairs or journalism would especially benefit from the minor because it provides context for U.S. relations with the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
“It’s a natural fit because you need to have an understanding of the culture and the history and the context of the region before you pursue any government study, before you pursue anything related to the region, really,” Omar told The Hoya.
“It gives you a backdrop to the modern conversations that are taking place,” Omar added. Omar said the minor will supplement students’ other academic interests, making it an appealing program across all undergraduate schools.
“You might be interested in security studies, but what can you gain
New Law, Justice, Society MinorProgramtoLaunch In Fall at Capitol Campus
Nancy Britten Hoya Staff Writer
Georgetown University’s College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) will inaugurate the law, justice, and society (LJS) minor, an interdisciplinary program focusing on legal theory and practice, in the Fall 2025 semester, faculty members confirmed to The Hoya on Feb. 13. The LJS minor will include law-related coursework, handson professional training and internship experience at both the Capitol Campus and the main campus, involving interdepartmental coursework. A working group that included CAS and Georgetown University Law Center faculty developed the minor, which is the first minor program involving the Capitol Campus.
Joseph Hartman (GRD ’15), a government professor who served on the working group, said the minor’s interdisciplinary structure differentiates it from traditional pre-law programs.
“You focus not only on caselaw, institutions and legal structures, but also bring in history, theory and philosophical questions of justice that you would deal with in law school,” Hartman told The Hoya. “It allows us to cut across disciplines and come at law not from my perspective in constitutional law or jurisprudence, but law and society in the sociology department, or law and literature in the English department or Islamic law.”
Sue Lorenson, vice dean for undergraduate education in the College, said the minor would prepare students for a variety of legal careers because law is naturally interdisciplinary.
“Law intersects with a wide range of disciplines — including government, policy, education and the nonprofit sector,” Lorenson wrote to The Hoya. “By combining theoretical inquiry with practical experience, the program prepares students not only for law school but also for careers in fields where legal knowledge is essential.”
The minor involves elective courses across various departments, as well as required courses at the Capitol Campus. Students will enroll in a four-credit law internship seminar, where mentors will support student work in legal institutions; a one-credit law colloquium, featuring a guest speaker series with legal practitioners, academics and Georgetown graduates; and two one-credit courses focused on skill-based legal training.
Anthony Clark Arend (SFS ’80), chair of the government depart-
by studying the history of the region that may inform your understanding of security studies today?” Omar said.
“So it is interdisciplinary in the sense that it’s definitely offering students a more well-rounded education: context, history, culture, language.”
Adem said the program will also support Muslim students to look at their religion through an academic lens, potentially adding another dimension to their faith.
“It allows people to talk about their religion and contemporary discourse,” Adem said. “It’s not just something in the past, it’s not just something that one personally believes, but you can talk about it in time and space and have a history. Sometimes people find new texts, they find out new things about the past.”
Adem added that he hopes the minor will display the depth of Islamic studies beyond religious texts and theology.
“Some people, when they think of Islamic studies, they might only think of scripture — the Quran or Islamic law — but I think now we can talk about a variety of courses that encompass literature and history and philosophy,” Adem said.
“There’s a growing understanding in our department that the full buffet of options should be available.”
Omar said she believes students will appreciate the minor’s offerings, and she hopes the department can launch an Islamic studies major in the future.
“It’s going to take some time to take off, but I think there’s a need for it,” Omar said. “And we have plenty of faculty who offer courses in Islamic Studies. I think it’ll be a successful minor.”
Professor Profiles Russian History Research in Book Talk
Ruth Abramovitz GUSA Desk Editor
ment, said the minor is especially necessary in the current political moment, as legal institutions increasingly face challenges.
“The rule of law is under great threat today — both at home and abroad,” Arend wrote to The Hoya. “Now, perhaps more than ever, we need a minor like this to help prepare students to navigate this changing landscape.”
“Given its liberal arts tradition, Georgetown is especially well equipped to offer the law, justice, and society minor as students and faculty work together to serve both the domestic and global communities,” Arend added.
Carla Shedd, an associate sociology professor who also served on the working group, said the Capitol Campus’s central location will directly connect students in the minor with legal institutions, policymakers, legal practitioners and advocacy organizations in the city.
“As an urban sociologist, I always think about the city as a laboratory, the city as this social field that can reveal so much to us,” Shedd told The Hoya. “The Capitol Campus is right there, next to all the courthouses and Judiciary Square.”
“One of the huge benefits is having this program and it being an option for people to get exposure to practitioners,” Shedd added. “So you would have a judge who might come right off the bench and then be your speaker in the colloquium that evening.”
Hartman, who was a private litigation attorney before becoming a professor, said the skill-based training will equip students with practical legal strengths, including argumentation, research, negotiation and writing.
“Having been a practicing lawyer and an academic for a long time, one of the neat things about law is that you really do combine very practical, handson, concrete issues, with fairly abstract and theoretical matter,” Hartman said. “It’s like the melding of those two.” Shedd said the current legal and political climate is an opportune moment for students to appreciate diverse viewpoints and the intersection of law and justice through the minor.
“We’re in a really important moment to understand all these changes,” Shedd said. “But to get knowledge about the history, to think about the structures and to be prepared to think critically about our actions, behaviors and interpretations of what’s happening in the world moving forward makes it an exciting moment.”
A Georgetown University School of Foreign Service (SFS) professor presented his newly published book about the Eastern front during World War II at an event Feb. 13.
Michael David-Fox, the director of the Center for Eurasian, Russian and East European Studies (CERES), a department within the SFS, published “Crucibles of Power: Smolensk under Stalinist and Nazi Rule,” which explores the impact of power relations on residents of the Smolensk region. Smolensk, currently a part of western Russia, saw immense fighting and shifts in power between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union during World War II.
David-Fox said his research for the book surveyed the bulk of the Smolensk Archive, the archive of the region’s communist party.
“This Smolensk archive was extremely valuable for several generations of U.S. historians of the Soviet Union, recreating that form of study,” David-Fox said at the event. “But it was very fragmented, only about 1% of the materials that had been transported went on to Munich and Frankfurt.”
“That was my original idea for the book, to look at the other 99%,” he added.
David-Fox said he took a multifaceted approach to his analysis, including examining local and regional history, emerging grassroots movements, linguistics and the overarching tensions between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany.
“Many years of occupation, World War II, or the Holocaust, or the German occupation regime — I tried to leverage the insights that could be gained from looking at all of them as they interact, all those fields as they interacted,” David-Fox said.
David-Fox added that the book provides a richer understanding of the region by tracing the lives of individual people.
“I began to think more about how regimes or systems, which is the way the Nazi-Soviet comparison traditionally worked, limit our understanding of those two systems of power because they can’t fully capture power dynamics as they’re manifested in the lives of local and regional actors,” David-Fox said.
David-Fox said the book examines how past experience under Stalin in the 1930s informed individuals’ actions during German occupation, citing Boris Menshagin, the mayor of Smolensk, as an example.
“Ultimately, Menchagin justified, I think even to himself, serving Berlin in precisely the same kind of moralistic term he used to justify serving Moscow,” David-Fox said. “Under both regimes, he carried a public position of local prominence.”
Boris Menchagin, David-Fox said, gained local recognition in the Stalinist era by saving the lives of local professionals by serving as their defense attorney during their trials in the Great Terror of 1937, a violent campaign targeting suspected threats to the Communist Party.
David-Fox said the book explores the overlap of multiple levels of power —– local, regional and central — to understand the lived experience of residents of Smolensk, including how the Soviet Union’s expectations for the war clashed with local social structures.
“The Soviets were a shockingly weak underground,” he said at the event. “That explains a lot about the Soviet system, because they put intense pressure on those district and regional levels to fulfill raid outposts, to fulfill campaigns, to commit violence, but they had very few levels, and so they tended to be very heavy-handed, because they didn’t have the fine instruments of power.”
Charles King, a professor of
international affairs and government who moderated the event, said the impact of World War II is frequently downplayed in the study of the Soviet Union.
“The second big contribution here is recentering the Second World War experience in how we talk about Russia, how we talk about the Soviet Union, both as a matter of historiography and as a matter of populism,” King said at the event.
Greg Doty (GRD ’26), a CERES master’s student who attended the event, said the biographical focus of the book animates the historical analysis.
“It was a very interesting book, extremely well written, very narrative,” Doty told The Hoya. “So it’s really more engaging than a dry history book would be, because it’s a lot of biographical information about these people.”
David-Fox said the biographical focus allowed him to relate his research to contemporary Smolensk, both in light of the collapse of the Soviet Union and the current Russia-Ukraine war.
“So that was the idea — how am I going to trace this down to the present day? And I do it through the lives of the main characters, which allows me to kind of bring it down to the war in the present day,” David-Fox said.
Finance Experts Join Psaros Center as Public Policy Fellows
Peter Sloniewsky
General Manager
Three financial policy experts will join Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business (MSB) as distinguished fellows working at the intersection of finance and public policy, the MSB announced Feb. 10.
Joining the Psaros Center for Financial Markets and Policy, the MSB’s center for bipartisan financial policy research, are Rostin Behnam (COL ’00), former chairman of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), which regulates futures markets; Lael Brainard, a former director of the White House National Economic Council, vice chair of the Federal Reserve Board and undersecretary of the U.S. Department of the Treasury; and Patrick McHenry, a 10-term member of the House of Representatives from North Carolina who served on the House Financial Services Committee.
Reena Aggarwal, professor of finance and director of the Psaros Center, said the initiative will advance the center’s impact and allow fellows to connect with students.
“The fellows’ expertise will be instrumental as we continue to advance our mission to shape the future of global finance by impacting policy and practice,”
Aggarwal wrote to The Hoya “They have diverse backgrounds and experiences at the intersection of policymaking and the financial markets, having served across presidential administrations, regulatory agencies and Congress.”
Aggarwal said the fellows will engage the Georgetown community through mentoring students and offering in-class guest lectures.
“The fellows are especially looking forward to the opportunity to engage with our students and mentor the next generation of leaders,” Aggarwal wrote. “Their experience and expertise in both the private and public sector is most valuable for our students.”
Paul Almeida, dean of the MSB, said the new fellows will be instrumental in expanding the global mission of business programs and initiatives at Georgetown.
“Last week, our school hosted a conference at our new location in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on the topic of the future of Dubai as a global business hub,” Almeida wrote to The Hoya “We were pleased to have both Reena Aggarwal, the director of the Psaros Center, and distinguished fellow Rostin Behnam among our speakers at the event. This is an example of how the policy discussions we frame from Washington, D.C., impact
business around the world.”
Brainard, who serves as director of the global economy and development program at the Brookings Institution, a D.C.based public policy think tank, and previously worked as deputy national economic adviser in the Clinton administration, said her mix of public and private expertise will be especially relevant for pre-professional discussions.
“I know many students at Georgetown are also interested in public service, just as I was as an undergraduate. Many combine public service with private-sector careers, which is something I’ve done as well,” Brainard wrote to The Hoya
“At Georgetown, you have the tools, and if you have the sense of mission, there are so many ways to contribute,” she wrote.
“You can work at the state and local level, in the federal government or even in the private sector, where many companies play a role in expanding opportunities for Americans.”
Behnam, who has also worked as an advocate managing climate risk, said his past nonpartisan work at the CFTC will have continued relevance at the Psaros Center.
“As chair of the CFTC, I frequently had to resolve policy-related issues that were multifaceted and had numerous constituents, often with
very different points of view,” Behnam wrote to The Hoya
“One of my steadfast principles as chair, and one that I will bring to the Psaros Center, is hearing every position, regardless of who is bringing it to the table. In my view, digesting all points of view leads to the most balanced and informed decision, and that is critical to policy making,” he added. In a virtual introduction video posted Feb. 11, McHenry, who revamped cryptocurrency governance while a member of the House of Representatives, said he plans to explore market economics in his role at the Psaros Center.
“The Psaros Center is unique,” McHenry said in the video. “It has a higher view than day-to-day politics or the passage of a law or the passage of a regulation.”
“It wants to look at the overall health of the markets, and whether or not our financial markets maintain the United States as the global leader in the deployment and use of capital.” Aggarwal said the Psaros Center represents an important part of Georgetown’s larger policy work.
“Finance has no boundaries, it is global in nature, and financial policy has to reflect the global landscape,” Aggarwal wrote.
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
A new Islamic studies minor studying the history, literature and culture of Islamic civilizations will launch in the Fall 2025 semester.
Panel Centers Importance of Activism
Ari Citrin Student Life Desk Editor
Georgetown University student leaders and a professor emeritus urged community members to remain committed to activism throughout the second Trump administration at a Feb. 20 event.
The Justice and Peace Studies (JUPS) program hosted the panel, featuring four student activists and Mark Lance, professor emeritus in the philosophy and JUPS departments and Faculty & Staff for Justice in Palestine (FSJP) leader. Student organizations represented among panelists included the Georgetown RA Coalition (GRAC), the organization that represents Georgetown residential assistants in collective bargaining; Students Demand Action (SDA), a gun violence awareness and advocacy group; and H*yas for Choice (HFC), an unrecognized student organization that advocates for reproductive rights.
Lance said FSJP’s work has been complicated by the Trump administration’s approach toward activism.
“ A lot of my work, and certainly the work of FSJP, has been contrary to the policies of the past administration as well as the current one,” Lance said at the event. “U.S. imperialism is a pretty common core between Democrats and Republicans, but organizing in the context of a neoliberal managerial regime versus a fascist regime is very different.”
“ I want to say I’m not using that word lightly or loosely,” Lance added. “I did a chart recently of specific moves that happened in the first 30 days of Hitler’s regime and things that have happened in the first 30 days of the Trump regime and it’s absolutely chilling how similar they are.”
Ahead of the 2024 presidential election, an ABC News/Ipsos poll
reported 49% of registered voters viewed Trump as a fascist, rhetoric echoed by then-Democratic candidate and former Vice President Kamala Harris.
Since taking office Jan. 20, Trump has fired a Biden-appointed member of the National Labor Relations Board, which enforces labor law regarding unionization, effectively preventing the agency from continuing its activities.
To preempt concerns about labor rights under the Trump administration, Miranda Xiong (CAS ’25), the interim organizing lead for GRAC, said GRAC hopes to extend its proposed contract length to four years instead of two years.
“Our initial reasoning for doing two years was because we wanted the chance for RAs to renegotiate based on whatever changes,” Xiong said at the event. “But recently we’ve also been considering four years to take advantage of the momentum that we have and let it extend until there’s another administration that comes along that’s more friendly to labor.”
Full disclosure: Xiong served as The Hoya’s photography editor from Fall 2022 to Spring 2023.
Miya Yoshida (SFS ’28), a member of HFC who spoke alongside HFC co-president Sydney Hudson (SOH ’26), said HFC is continuing to fulfill its mission of expanding access to contraception and reproductive health resources on campus.
“I think we all work together to keep each other informed on the latest news and events and policies being dropped that will affect our organization, so I think that that network protects us,” Yoshida said at the event.
“It’s kind of hard and overwhelming as a university organization that’s not even recognized by our university to think about how we can deal with something
so much bigger than ourselves. At the end of the day, what makes me feel satisfied and fulfilled is knowing that I have a body and if I can go deliver emergency contraception to even one person, I’ve already done so much,” she added.
Xiong said she thinks organizers will need to consider concealing their efforts amid increased surveillance.
I think surveillance culture is something that’s probably going to get worse in the next few years, targeting organizers specifically,” Xiong said.
“Just being more discreet, being more careful with who you’re speaking to, things like that, I think unfortunately are already becoming realities, especially as you continue to engage in organizing and as the administration continues to crack down.”
Raphaella Alioto Grace (CAS ’28), an organizer with Georgetown’s SDA branch, said SDA is focusing on building gun violence awareness on campus using cost-effective, high impact efforts such as art displays.
“We’ve been learning recently how we can do stuff where we don’t necessarily need to use all those resources to spread information,” Grace said at the event.
“Last night we made soul boxes, and each box represents somebody we lost due to gun violence. We put them all together as a collage, and we’re going to hang them in The Corp.”
“Spreading that awareness at the cost of $20 for that paper shows that it’s not always about the resources, but how we use them and how we come together to demonstrate those things,” Grace added.
Lance said organizers should collaborate across issues to fight against restrictive policies put in place by the Trump administration.
I think it’s really, really important that we all support one another, that we all be in this together,” Lance said.
New Boutique Hotel to Center History Of Georgetown Neighborhood, Canal
Claudia Amendoeira
Special to The Hoya
A new boutique hotel is set to open in the Georgetown neighborhood at the end of February.
Canal House, managed under the Marriott Bonvoy chain, will open its doors a few blocks away from the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal and aims to honor the Georgetown neighborhood’s history and charm. The property will feature 92 guest rooms, 10 specialty suites, a private courtyard, two townhouses attached to the main hotel and a library lounge.
Jessica Suess, area director of sales and marketing at TPG Hotels & Resorts, a company that manages certain Marriott properties, said she hopes the hotel will become a staple in the neighborhood.
“Our catchphrase is ‘the light neighborhood.’ So we want to be a fresh voice and a historic neighborhood,” Suess told The Hoya. “Our demographic is very broad — from business travelers to families to students. A tribute collection is a unique boutique lifestyle brand that kind of welcomes everybody.”
Every room in the hotel features pictures of the canal sourced from the Library of Congress archive, a historic map of Georgetown and a drawing of the “American Beauty” rose, the official flower and oldest state symbol of Washington, D.C. Suess said incorporating these symbols throughout the hotel serves as a tribute to the
region’s design heritage.
“The rose is actually D.C.’s flower, so you’ll see roses throughout the hotel.”
Suess said. “So definitely a lot of tie-in to local design as a tribute hotel.”
Mark Namdar, Canal House’s general manager and dining curator, said the bar menu of the C+O Lounge, the hotel’s restaurant, will feature craft cocktails like a Potomac Mule and Virginia whiskey made with locally sourced alcohol and oysters from the Potomac.
“Initially, I was going to do a menu that is very D.C., but then I started looking at the history of the Canal,”
Namdar told The Hoya. “There was this tree called pawpaw that used to grow wild in the canal. I said, ‘How can I integrate it in the menu?’ So I am adding it in the form of a sauce.”
Historically, the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal was a vital transportation route for coal and food, and vendors lined its banks to provide supplies for travelers.
Among the most common local foods available were rockfish, oysters and pawpaw fruit sourced from the surrounding area.
Namdar said that although Douglas Development, a Washington-based commercial real estate firm, has owned the building since the 1980s, construction on Canal House only began a year and a half ago.
“Our ownership group, Douglas Development, has owned this office building since the 1980s actually, and then during COVID-19 they had the idea of converting it into a hotel. But they officially
Physician, Researcher Explores Identity, Belonging as Positive Forces in Health Care
Bridget Galibois Staff Writer
A researcher and nephrology physician encouraged health care professionals to embrace the intersectionality of identities at an event Feb. 19. Georgetown University’s School of Health (SOH), School of Nursing (SON), Center for Health Equity — a center dedicated to health care justice and community service — School of Medicine and Disability Cultural Center co-hosted the event. Dr. Justin Bullock centered his identity as a gay and Black physician with bipolar disorder as he explored the pillars of identity safety — a method of creating an environment welcoming to all identities — fostering inclusive spaces of belonging.
Bullock said engaging positively with both others and oneself are necessary conditions to a sense of belonging and identity safety.
“There are three main pillars of identity safety,” Bullock said at the event. “One is a community-level pillar. One is an interpersonal pillar. One is an individual-level pillar. The community-level pillar is belonging.”
“Many of us have heard the term belonging, but I think there’s really two main definitions of belonging — one is, ‘I belong, I fit in because I am similar to these people,’ and the other is, ‘I belong and fit in because I’m welcomed as my authentic
self,’” Bullock added.
Chloe Smith (SON ’26), who helped organize the event, said she wanted to continue to bridge the gap between students and careers in health care, and felt inviting Bullock to speak would contribute to diversifying the perspectives presented to students.
“Last year we actually had a nurse visit, and a lot of her words and verbiage were very resonant with my experience,” Smith told The Hoya. “Because I’m trying to get into nursing, it’s important to hear varying experiences.”
Recalling an experience working on a liver transplant, Bullock said consideration for doctors’ well-being can be rare.
“One of the surgery fellows one day came up to me and said, ‘Justin, what’s wrong? Justin, are you okay?’
I said, ‘Yeah, no, I’m fine.’ He’s like, ‘No, seriously, are you okay?’ And he is, to this day, the only person who has ever, throughout my entire medical experience, meaningfully asked me if I was okay,” Bullock said. “I was tearing up trying really hard not to cry. And he was like, ‘Justin, you’re fine, you’re doing fine, it’s okay.’” Bullock added that such outreach is essential despite stereotypes portraying physicians as having no need of personal support.
“As I reflected back on this interaction, you know, there are all these stereotypes about surgeons and them being super tough and not crying, all these things. And for me, all I needed in that mo-
ment was just to be fine.” Zach Lee (CAS ’25), another organizer of the event, said he felt inviting Bullock would foster discussion of diversity and disability studies in health care.
“I’ve always been interested in disability studies and its intersectionality,” Lee told The Hoya “I think there’s so much to learn from this minority community, and I know in the health care field is probably where a lot of this harm comes from. I consider myself very privileged, and I want this to be a part of my pre-med education, by inviting experts and people who can talk about it and educating others.”
Bullock said lived experiences create better providers and that being a person first helps him provide better care to his patients.
“What we call ‘agency to serve’ is this idea that all of us have lived experiences that make us better,” Bullock said. “Providers make us better. Every human with identities can have such better medical care. I’ve been very fortunate that, since I started sharing about my mental illness, I’ve had a lot of opportunities to connect with so many people everywhere.”
Bullock added that he was grateful for how his mental illness makes him a better, more empathetic physician.
“I truly believe that my bipolar disorder is the most human part of myself, and for that I will always be grateful,” Bullock said.
Trump Targets DC Crime, ‘Tent Cities’
Allister Adair
Special to The Hoya
President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order directing local authorities in Washington, D.C., to increase enforcement against petty crime and remove homeless encampments, the White House announced Feb. 10.
federal government.
“People are getting killed; people are being hurt,” Trump said. “You have a great police department there. But somehow they’re not utilized properly. We should govern D.C. I think the federal government should take over the governance of D.C. and run it really, really properly.”
individuals, such as Miriam’s Kitchen, a local nonprofit that serves food to homeless people. Gadkari said she was surprised by how much help these organizations provide to local homeless individuals.
broke ground on construction a year and a half ago,” Namdar said.
According to Canal House’s website, room reservation prices range between $300-$400 per night beginning in March. However, prices in May — graduation season for college students in D.C. — currently reach over $1,000.
Suess said the hotel, in partnership with Marriott, is looking forward to booking with the first customers in the upcoming months.
“You can book a room at our hotel with Bonvoy points,” Suess said. “We already got our first reservations for graduation weekend, which is really exciting.”
Lola Mourot (CAS ’25), who visited the hotel, said she felt the King Terrace room set the hotel apart from other hotels in Washington because of its airy atmosphere.
“I have personally never seen a room like that in any hotel in D.C.,” Mourot told The Hoya. “It’s really unique because of how much light it gets, and the view over the canal is really amazing too.”
Suess said Marriott guidelines require the Canal House design to follow certain regulations given its placement within the larger Marriott brand.
“We do have more freedom than an AC Marriott hotel would, but the corporate design team does make sure we’re still staying within brand guidelines,” Suess said. “It’s a collaborative project, and they help us tie in local designs.”
Trump, who labeled the nation’s capital as unsafe and mismanaged during his 2024 presidential campaign, will leverage the federal government’s jurisdiction over the District’s parks and monuments to clear encampments — colloquially known as “tent cities” — and to prosecute crimes with greater severity. While some officials and community members have expressed satisfaction with the policies, others are concerned about the effect they will have on homeless populations in Georgetown and the greater D.C. area.
Christine Wood (SON ’27) is the co-president of Georgetown University’s Homeless Outreach Programs and Education (HOPE), which supports homeless people through advocacy campaigns and service opportunities. Wood said she is worried the crackdown on encampments could jeopardize HOPE programs and harm the individuals with whom they work.
“As co-president of HOPE, I am concerned about the impacts of the executive order on our unhoused community members,” Wood wrote to The Hoya. “The executive order would disrupt established communities and support networks for people experiencing homelessness.”
“Instead, local officials should prioritize expanding affordable housing, strengthening emergency shelter systems to make them safer and more dignified, implementing outreach programs that build trust and help connect people to services, and addressing upstream factors like raising minimum wages and improving access to health care,” Wood added.
On Feb. 19, Trump said governance of D.C. should return to the
According to the annual Pointin-Time (PIT) count, which helps city officials track changes in the number of homeless people, there were 5,616 homeless people in the District in January 2024.
Meanwhile, rates of most crimes within D.C. have decreased significantly in recent years, with violent crime hitting a 30-year low in 2024, but federal and local officials nevertheless see more room for action.
Mayor Muriel Bowser said in a press conference that the federal government is entitled to prosecute adults for crimes committed within the District.
“There are parts of the system that the federal government has more control over, or control entirely over, and that’s the prosecution of adults,” Bowser said.
Bowser added that encampments are illegal and homeless residents should access the city’s network of shelters.
“We try to work with our residents to get them to a place where they want to come inside,” Bowser said.
Clearing out encampments, which frequently fluctuate in size and move from place to place, will be a logistical challenge, according to civil rights attorney Joseph Cammarata.
“It would take resources, law enforcement and other personnel to come in and move the people from the encampments,” Cammarata said.
In addition to challenges and expenses, removing encampments may also impair nonprofits and government services as they provide essential services to homeless individuals.
Pria Gadkari (CAS ’27), the service and outreach chair of Georgetown Running Club, coordinates events for organizations that support homeless
“We attended the Miriam’s Kitchen orientation two weeks ago and were all incredibly impressed by how thoughtful and well-run the organization was,” Gadkari wrote to The Hoya. “Not only do they serve hundreds of meals a day, but they also provide case management services, hygiene care, clothes and other necessities.”
The executive order, however, may upend the routines and services of programs like Miriam’s Kitchen. Removing large encampments will displace homeless residents from the city center — within walking distance of Miriam’s Kitchen and other services — to locations far across town.
A spokesperson for Miriam’s Kitchen said removing encampments will harm the relationship between service providers and many homeless individuals for whom they work.
“Clearing encampments damages trust and relationships that outreach teams have worked hard to build with residents,” a representative wrote on the nonprofit’s website.
The impending executive order and the displacement it will cause will leave Miriam’s Kitchen scrambling to adapt, especially as details remain uncertain. Wood said HOPE’s services ultimately stem from a desire to uplift all members of society.
“Service to those in our community who are experiencing poverty and homelessness is not only an act of necessity, but an act of humanity and an act of love,” Wood said. Wood added that services for homeless individuals are necessary, warning that disbanding the encampments will make it difficult to assist the community.
“If encampments are disbanded, it would become more difficult to connect with and assist community members,” Wood said.
BRIDGET GALIBOIS/THE HOYA
Dr. Justin Bullock, a researcher and nephrology physician, explored the importance of intersectionality and identity in health care spaces at an event Feb. 19.
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
The Justice and Peace Studies program hosted five panelists to discuss the role of activists and activism during the second Trump presidential administration.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
BASEBALL
With Loss to Butler, Georgetown Hoyas Drop Further Down Big East Rankings Hoyas Build Mettle in Season Opener
Colin Liau Sports Staff Writer
Despite a valiant effort from the Georgetown University men’s basketball team, the Butler University Bulldogs’ offense proved too much to handle and the Hoyas fell, 97-86, away at Hinkle Fieldhouse on Feb. 15. The Hoyas were resilient, bringing the game within reach on multiple occasions, but time and time again, elite shotmaking and smart basketball from the hosts kept Georgetown at bay. The Hoyas (15-10, 6-8 Big East) navigated much of the contest without star player Thomas Sorber, who left the game late in the first half after an awkward fall and did not return. The loss to the Bulldogs (12-13, 5-9 Big East) was a tough one to stomach for the Hoyas, who will be taking on some of the best teams in the Big East in the coming weeks. The hope for Hoyas fans will be that first-year center Sorber will not miss an extended period of time.
The first-year sensation helped the Hoyas get off to a strong start, scoring the team’s first 6 points and working the two-man game to a T with graduate guard Micah Peavy, who assisted all three of Sorber’s buckets and ended the contest with a team-high 10 assists. The team was otherwise slow to start on offense, particularly from the arc, but luckily for Georgetown, the Butler team struggled with the same 3-point shooting woes. The Hoyas built some separation thanks to back-to-back 3-pointers from sophomore forward Drew Fielder and sophomore guard Malik Mack, putting Georgetown up 17-11. However, Butler refused to let the Hoyas pull ahead any further, as tough shots from guard Finley Bizjack and forward Pierre Brooks II kept them within striking distance. The Hoyas continued to hold on to a fragile lead for most of the first half and generated some good looks, though it probably would have been prudent to feed Sorber more. He was giving Butler problems in the pick-and-roll, going a perfect 5-for-5 from the field before his unfortunate injury with about five minutes to go in the half.
Sorber’s injury was a huge blow to the Hoyas — not only was the offense erratic without him, but the defense suffered greatly due to Butler’s size on the interior. With Sorber out of the game, the Butler offense caught fire, stunning the Hoyas. The hosts embarked on a commanding run and scored 11 of their last 13 shots to take a commanding 4635 lead at the break.
The start of the second half necessitated a response, and Peavy delivered. As he has done for much of the season, Peavy shouldered the offensive load for Georgetown in the second half, getting to work early with a pair of triples.
@GEORGETOWNHOOPS/INSTAGRAM
To add injury to insult, in their loss to Butler, Georgetown also lost first-year center Thomas Sorber to a leg injury.
However, momentum shifted to Butler when Fielder picked up his fourth personal foul while trying to hold up against Butler center Andre Screen.
With Fielder out of the game, Screen unleashed on the interior and was an instant match-up nightmare for whichever Hoya stood in his way. Georgetown continued to rack up fouls, some needlessly far from the basket, and quickly suffered the consequences: Butler was in the bonus not even midway through the second half.
Fouls plagued Georgetown for the rest of the game, as Peavy, Mack, Fielder and first-year forward Caleb Williams each racked up 4 fouls, while junior guard Jayden Epps fouled out. The Hoyas finished with a total of 29 personal fouls, which allowed Butler to score 28 points from the free-throw line alone.
Georgetown otherwise played well, winning the points in the paint battle, forcing more turnovers and only giving up 7 of their own and dominating on the offensive boards with 17 offensive rebounds to Butler’s 6. However, the easy points from the charity stripe and Butler’s scorching hot shooting were enough for them to take the win.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
The Hoyas certainly pushed their hosts, and at one point cut the lead to just 6 at around the nine-minute mark of the second half thanks to consecutive threes from Mack and free throws from Epps. Contending with a size disadvantage, Head Coach Ed Cooley experimented with zones and a full-court press to throw Butler off rhythm.
Though the defensive strategy worked at times to help the Hoyas get easy points and keep the game within reach, the Butler offense would not be denied. Brooks led the way with 30 points, and four other players scored in double digits. The Hoyas at times gave away cheap fouls and gave up too much space for the opposition to work with, but, at certain points, it just seemed like the rim was twice as wide for them.
Epps and sophomore forward Jordan Burks had encouraging offensive performances off the bench, each scoring in double figures. However, for a team that prides itself on the defensive end, the lack of continuity and consistent effort on defense left something to be desired.
The Hoyas will be back at Capital One Arena for a matchup against the Providence College Friars (1214, 6-9 Big East) on Wednesday, Feb. 19 at 7 p.m.
Hoyas Suffer Blowout to Bluejays
Ethan Herweck Sports Staff Writer
The Georgetown University women’s basketball team fell to the No. 24/25 Creighton University Bluejays 70-48 on Feb. 15, dashing hopes of turning their season around.
The Hoyas (11-14, 4-10 Big East) entered the matchup against the Bluejays (21-4, 13-1 Big East) having lost four of their last five games, including a loss at home against Creighton on Jan. 29.
The game began with backand-forth scoring by both teams, but neither pulled ahead. Senior center Ariel Jenkins led the early action with a powerful offensive rebound and strong tip shot.
The Hoyas took their first lead of the game after graduate guard Kelsey Ransom scored 5 straight points in the waning minutes of the first quarter. After allowing a few last-minute Creighton shots, Georgetown closed the quarter with a 13-11 advantage. Although Ransom started the second quarter strong, splashing a 3-pointer on a pass by junior guard Victoria Rivera, the game quickly spiraled out of control. Georgetown was locked out offensively, as Creighton embarked on a 20-3 run, with the Hoyas only making a field goal during the seven-minute stretch coming from a Rivera layup.
With two minutes remaining in the half, Georgetown found themselves down 31-19.
First-year guard Khadee Hession was able to slim the lead slightly with back-to-back 3-pointers. Still, the Hoyas entered halftime down with a 31-25 deficit.
The beginning of the third quarter did not see a change in momentum, as Georgetown allowed a 7-0 Creighton run out of the break. The Hoyas gave up another unopposed 7-0 run despite countering with a pair of 3-pointers, including another by Hession. Their inconsistent nature of play continued, as Georgetown hit another three before allowing yet another 7-point run by Creighton to end the third quarter trailing by 57-34. Shortly after another Hession jumper, Ransom began the fourth quarter on a prolonged hot streak,
scoring the team’s next 8 points and inching closer to the Bluejays’ lead. Still, Georgetown entered the final two minutes of the game down 19, unable to rescue themselves from a poor performance.
The 70-48 loss represents the Hoyas’ largest loss thus far in 2025. Georgetown shot only 32.2% from the field and 37.5% from the free-throw line for the game.
Despite the loss, Ransom scored 20 points to go along with 10 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals. Jenkins led both teams in rebounds with 13.
The Hoyas face Villanova University (16-11, 10-5 Big East) next in Villanova, Pa., on Feb. 19, looking to snap their three-game losing streak.
Nate Seidenstein Sports Staff Writer
The Georgetown University baseball team came closer than they ever had to the NCAA tournament and Big East conference championship last season.
On May 25, 2024, the Hoyas took an early lead into the third inning of the Big East championship game against the St. John’s University Red Storm. After allowing a late rally, however, St. John’s won 4-2, taking home the Big East pennant and heading to the NCAA regionals.
Entering his fifth year at the helm of the Hoyas, Head Coach Edwin Thompson has built a perennial Big East contender out of one of the historically least successful programs in major conference college baseball. In each of the past three seasons, the Hoyas have won 30 games and made the Big East tournament, but Georgetown still remains the only Big East team never to have made an NCAA tournament appearance. The Hoyas only made their first conference championship appearance in that game last year.
Opening the season with a three-game series at the reigning regular season Big South champion Presbyterian College Blue Hose (2-2), the Hoyas (2-2) dropped the opening two games of a doubleheader before picking up their first win of the season the following day.
The season opener was a backand-forth affair.
Georgetown tied the game in the eighth inning off first-year right fielder Dylan Larkins’ single down the third-base line and a subsequent Presbyterian error. However, the Blue Hose walked it off on a basesloaded walk in the ninth, taking the game by a score of 7-6.
Georgetown’s starting pitcher, graduate transfer JT Raab, went 5 innings, striking out 3 and allowing 4 runs on 6 hits and a walk in his team debut.
Just a couple hours later, the teams returned to action, with the Hoyas jumping out to an early lead on senior catcher Owen Carapellotti’s RBI single up the middle. Senior Matthew Sapienza started and went 3 innings and conceded 2 runs, both earned, on 4 hits. Graduate Griffin O’Connor entered the game in the fourth and allowed 4 earned runs in that frame.
After an RBI single in the sixth, the Blue Hose led by 5. The Hoyas continued to fight, rallying in the seventh and scoring 4 runs via some station-to-station baseball, but could not get another run across to tie the game. Presbyterian clinched the series and swept the doubleheader with a 6-5 win.
In the final game of the series, Georgetown rode a shut-down performance from the bullpen to hold the Blue Hose at bay. After scoring in the second, Presbyterian did not cross home plate again.
In the fourth inning, the Hoyas
took the lead on a two-run home run by sophomore second baseman Tristan Head. Head also recorded another RBI in the seventh on a single, leading the Hoyas to a 5-1 win.
Georgetown returned to action Feb. 18, playing the George Mason University Patriots (1-3) in a game rescheduled due to the threat of inclement weather. The Hoyas chased out the Patriots starter after only a third of an inning, en route to batting around and putting up 6 runs in the first. They would add 6 more through the third for a 12-3 lead.
George Mason did find some offense, but the Georgetown lead seemed safe, with the Hoyas entering the bottom of the ninth leading 15-9. After racking up two RBI hits in the inning, the Patriots had the bases loaded with two outs. The Hoyas walked and then hit the next two George Mason batters respectively, and suddenly the lead was down to one. Firstyear pitcher Ethan Rucker entered and struck out the first batter he faced, Owen Clyne, for the save and a 15-14 win for the Hoyas.
Thompson, while disappointed to lose the Presbyterian series, understood that winning would not come instantly for a relatively young team without much experience playing together.
“We lost 75% of our at-bats and 60% of our innings. We’re a very young team and it’s going to take time for us to gel,” Thompson told The Hoya ahead of the matchup against George Mason. “One atbat here and there and maybe we could have won all three games.”
Thompson also credited the leadership of returners, including graduate outfielder Kavi Caster and Carapellotti — both of whom were selected to the preseason all-Big East team — and the additions of experienced transfers, including Opening Day starter Raab.
Carapellotti, one of the few starters on the team who has played all four years for the Hoyas, recognized his role as a leader on a different team than last year’s Big East runner-ups.
“We don’t have the same kind of power production as last year,” Carapellotti told The Hoya. “I think we’re going to be very good at situational hitting and just putting the ball in play.” This year, the Hoyas are set to visit some of the premier contenders in college baseball, including No. 2 University of Virginia and No. 9 Florida State University — both of whom reached the College World Series last year. They will host Big Ten contenders University Maryland and No. 11 University of Oregon in stand-alone games at Capital One Park as well.
Thompson said he hopes the tough schedule will bring more tournament consideration.
“Last year we were probably two games away from an at-large bid,” Thompson said. “We’re playing a very tough, national schedule this year.” In addition, Carapellotti said the team believes they have unfinished business from last year’s Big East title game.
“Along with the other seniors, if you’re getting that close and then only having one more crack at it, it just fuels the fire,” Carapellotti said. “The big goal is the Big East championship, and then, once we get there, we move past that to Regionals.”
Speaking about lingering playoff memories after coming so close to the tournament last year, Thompson concurred with his star catcher.
“This year is this year and we want to win now,” Thompson said. “Obviously, we know we’re capable of winning, and we’re hungry.”
The Hoyas will host their first home games of the season against Sacred Heart University (0-3) in a three-game series at Capital One Park, beginning Feb. 21.
WOMEN’S LACROSSE
Georgetown’s Hard-Fought Effort Falls Short Against Maryland
Siena Holowesko Sports Staff Writer
Despite an incredible effort, the Georgetown University women’s lacrosse team (1-2) ultimately fell short in a hard-fought 9-7 battle against the No. 9 University of Maryland Terrapins (1-1) Feb. 18. The matchup was Head Coach Caitlyn Phipps’ first game against her former team after departing College Park following an illustrious playing and coaching career to coach the Hoyas in September 2024.
Maryland wasted no time asserting their offensive power, netting the game’s first goal less than a minute in. Junior attacker Gracie Driggs answered back at the 10:50 mark, tying the game 1-1 and setting the tone for an intense first quarter. Maryland regained the lead with a goal at 7:49 to close the quarter 2-1.
The Terps expanded their advantage in the second quarter with two quick goals in the first five minutes, putting them up 4-1. But the Hoyas did not back down.
A burst of energy saw Georgetown claw back with two consecutive goals in the eighth and seventh minutes,
respectively, cutting Maryland’s lead to 4-3. Unfortunately for the Hoyas, the Terps capitalized on late goal scoring opportunities, stealing three unanswered goals before halftime to enter the break with a 7-3 lead. The third quarter started as a defensive stalemate, with nearly 10 scoreless minutes to begin the period. Maryland, however, broke the silence with a goal, increasing their lead to 8-3.
Shortly after, sophomore attacker Anne McGovern reignited Georgetown’s offense with her first goal of the night, rallying the Hoyas to end the third quarter 8-4.
The Hoyas carried their newfound momentum into the fourth quarter with three straight goals, narrowing the gap to a nail-biting 8-7. McGovern and sophomore attacker Lauren Steer led the offensive charge during the run, with McGovern notching her second goal and Steer her first goal of the evening.
Despite Georgetown’s lategame push, Maryland sealed the match with a final goal with 4:49 left to go, securing a 9-7 victory for the Terrapins over their
former assistant coach. Driggs and McGovern led the Hoyas’ scoring efforts with two goals apiece, while senior midfielder Maley Starr, graduate attacker Hanna Bishop and Steer each added one apiece. On the Hoyas’ defensive end, first-year Christina King made her presence felt with two caused turnovers, and senior goalie Leah Warehime stood tall in the net, recording eight saves.
In a positive sign for Georgetown, the Hoyas outshot the Terps 22-19, showcasing the team’s offensive potential against a top-10 opponent.
“What an incredible effort by our team tonight,” Phipps told Georgetown Athletics. “So proud of the way they competed and fought until the final whistle. We learned a lot about ourselves and are going to continue to push to get better each day.” The Hoyas hit the road again Saturday, Feb. 22, when they head to Williamsburg, Va., to face the College of William & Mary. The opening draw is set for 3 p.m., as Georgetown looks to bounce back and build on the momentum of their spirited second-half comeback attempt.
GUHOYAS
Georgetown celebrates after holding off George Mason for the last few innings in a close 15-14 contest Feb. 18.
GUHOYAS
Despite Kelsey Ransom’s 20 points, Georgetown lost to Creighton Feb. 15.
Yankees Search for Identity After Offseason of Change
HERMAN, from A12
is not worried, that means Judge is practically dead.
Second, if Yankees’ touted shortstop prospect Roderick Arias gets a single hit or steals a single base, you should assume that he is the next coming of Derek Jeter. No, it does not matter that he is only 20 years old — even younger than your favorite columnist — or that the Yankees already have a shortstop. Arias is going to win the AL Rookie of the Year Award unanimously and hit a walk-off single to right field in game seven of the World Series. You heard it here first.
Third, if recently-acquired closing pitcher Devin Williams takes the mound with even a hint of a five o’clock shadow, you have to start shouting — preferably in an obnoxious New York accent — about how he is not a “real Yankee” and “doesn’t respect the pinstripes.”
The fact he dares toe the line on the Yankees’ outdated facial hair policy means that he is apt to blow a dozen saves in 2025 while simultaneously serving as a clubhouse cancer.
Fourth, if you happen to glance toward third base and see a blank shell of a person, just cry. The Yankees are planning to play with only eight defenders on the field at a time this season, obviously. Oh wait, my sources are telling me that the last one is not an overreac-
tion at all — somehow, it is late February and the Yankees do not have a competent third baseman. Life is not supposed to mirror Abbott and Costello’s “Who’s on First” comedy skit. If you have not watched it, go do that now. I’ll wait.
Long story short, the third baseman in “Who’s on First” is named “I Don’t Know.” And evidently, I Don’t Know got traded to the Yankees, because he is currently their starting third baseman. It’s fine. Everything is FINE.
Fifth, if starting pitcher Gerrit Cole throws a single ball, you should realize that he is old, decrepit and no longer in control of his fastball. His 2023 Cy Young season? A fluke. He might as well retire.
Sixth, if rising star Jasson Domínguez — who is recovering from Tommy John surgery — takes even a single spring training game off, you can be sure his rehab is going terribly. In fact, his arm most likely fell off. Ignore the fact that everyone takes spring training games off. Just assume the worst: He is never playing again. Seventh, and most importantly, if the Yankees lose a single spring training game, the season is over. We are not making the playoffs, much less the World Series, and we should sell the entire team before April. In fact, we should just cancel the season. Alternatively, you could also just turn the game on this afternoon and enjoy the fact that baseball is back — but we both know that is no fun at all.
Hoyas Commandingly Crush Cooley’s Former Team
PROVIDENCE, from A12
a 7-0 Georgetown run in the opening minutes of the half forced Providence Head Coach Kim English to call a timeout and delivered Georgetown its largest lead of the game at 59-34.
The Friars’ frustration began to show and tempers flared between the teams as the second half wore on, with fouls galore. The referees gave out five technical fouls in the second half, including one to English. Fielder and Providence forward Oswin Erhunmwunse were each assessed a technical after a skirmish at the 4:52 mark, and Hoyas sophomore guard Curtis Williams Jr. and the Friars’ Mela were each T’ed up after an incident at the 1:06 mark.
Although Providence strung together some runs of momentum in the second half to cut into the Hoyas’ lead, they could never get within striking distance. As the clock wound down, the enthusiastic crowd broke out into chants of “We love Cooley” and Georgetown cruised to a dominant final score of 93-72, delivering a meaningful win to their head coach over his former team.
In a starry night for the Hoyas, Peavy again shone the brightest. The graduate transfer delivered his second standout performance against Providence this season, tallying a career-high 30 points, along with 7 assists, 7 rebounds and 6 steals. Fielder had a standout game as well before fouling out with 4:44 left, putting 17 points and
9 rebounds up on the board. In a true team effort for the Georgetown squad, Epps and Burks also reached double figures, with Epps tallying 18 and Burks scoring 13, another career-high for the Hoyas.
Georgetown shot the ball much better than Providence in their highest-scoring Big East game this season, shooting 50.8% from the field and 43.5% from the arc compared to figures of 37.1% and 31.3%, respectively, from Providence. The Hoyas also posted a 36-26 advantage in points in the paint despite their size disadvantage and had a 22-16 advantage on the fast break.
Cooley said he was proud of how the team joined together to pull out the win in the face of challenges such as injured players and the emotion of the past week, and that the win was a step in the right direction for the overall trajectory of the program.
“This to me was a really signature win for me as a coach. And not so much because of the opponent, but because of the adversity we were facing,” Cooley said in a postgame press conference.
“Really proud of our men. A year ago today, I think we were 1-13 in the league. Literally 1-13. And it’s a process to build in another program. It’s a process to reestablish an identity.”
The Hoyas will now embark on a road trip where they will play some of the top teams in the Big East, starting with a matchup against a hot Creighton University Bluejays (18-8, 11-4 Big East) team Feb. 23 at 4 p.m. in Omaha, Neb.
Ransom Tallies Double-Double Against Villanova
VILLANOVA, from A12 to get a rhythm going. Come the third quarter, however, the story was different. Jenkins found a cutting Rivera for an easy 2 points to start the quarter. Ransom then ripped through a double team to locate Jenkins for an easy layup. Rivera and Jenkins proceeded to execute a pick and roll to perfection, culminating in an and-1 basket for Jenkins, cutting the Hoyas’ deficit to just 6 points. A few minutes later, Jenkins showed off her shooting range, draining a three to bring the Hoyas within 3 points.
The fourth quarter began with the Hoyas trailing by just 6. Georgetown spent the entire game trailing and needed to find a way to get over the hump to take the lead in the final quarter. After Rivera hit a 3-pointer midway through, the Hoyas did just that, taking a 57-55 lead. The Wildcats responded to tie it up, but Ransom continued her scoring flurry, draining another 3-pointer to give the Hoyas their first 3-point lead.
The Wildcats did not let the Hoyas pull away without a fight, responding with a 3-pointer to tie the game at 60. After a Villanova free throw, the Wildcats took a slim lead. Ransom responded by knocking down an extremely difficult left-handed shot off the glass to regain the lead for Georgetown. But, unfortunately for the Hoyas, the shot seemed to wake up the Wildcats once and for all. Villanova scored 8 straight points, and Georgetown did not have enough time to respond, culminating in a final score of 70-65, with Villanova coming out on top.
Despite the loss, a number of Hoyas had standout performances. Ransom provided the Hoyas with an impressive double-double, scoring 25 points and securing 10 rebounds. Jenkins did the same, with 16 points and 11 rebounds. Hession added another 11 points, and Rivera scored 9. Georgetown shot 42% from the field, 41% from 3-point range and an immensely impressive 93% from the charity stripe.
The Hoyas will hope to bounce back from their tough loss when they return home to McDonough Arena to face the Marquette University Golden Eagles (18-8, 10-5 Big East) on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m.
Georgetown Bounces Back with Win Against UPenn
PENN, from A12 specialist Ross Prince won the first draw of the quarter and converted
defender Ty Banks forced a turnover, and
both Plath and Banks posted 2 ground balls. Prince also showed a strong performance, winning 10 of his 16 faceoffs. Foley said the victory was due to the team’s preparedness and discipline.
today was a team-wide victory from top to bottom,” Foley told The Hoya. “It started with a great week of practice Monday through Friday. And as a unit, we were dedicated to one thing and one thing only — coming out with a win, no matter if it was pretty or ugly.”
MEGHAN HALL/THE HOYA
Sophomore forward Jordan Burks celebrates the Hoyas’ dominance against the visiting Providence Friars on Feb. 19.
Graduate guard Kelsey Ransom once again showed her all-around dominance on the hardwood with 25 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals against Villanova.
@YANKEES/TWITTER
Outfielders Cody Bellinger, Jasson Domínguez and Aaron Judge pose for team photos at Yankees spring training.
Overreacting, Once Again, To The Yankees’ SpringTraining
York Yankees play baseball today. At 1:05 p.m., the Tampa Bay Rays will venture to George M. Steinbrenner Field and take on the Yankees in both teams’ first matchup of spring training — a game that does not matter, at all. Except it does matter for two reasons.
for the 2025 season. But second, and more importantly, it is a baseball game. Therefore, it matters, and I care about it. It is that simple. I have two choices of how to spend my day: I can stress about midterms or I can stress about baseball. I choose baseball. I always choose baseball. So in the classically Georgetown University spirit of stress, I’m going to tell you exactly how to overreact to every little thing that happens in spring training. Otherwise, why are you even watching?
First, if the Yankees’ two-time American League (AL) Most Valuable Player Aaron Judge receives so much as a paper cut, you are obligated to throw your television remote at the wall. Then punch the couch a few times, for good measure. You see, a paper cut means he is unquestionably out for the entire season. And if Yankees’ manager Aaron Boone says in a press conference that Judge is fine and he
See HERMAN, A11
Michael Santos
Sports Staff Writer
As the Villanova University Wildcats (15-11, 9-5 Big East) went on a run to end the second quarter against the Georgetown University women’s basketball team (11-14, 4-10 Big East), the Hoyas looked to be in danger of letting the game slip away from them before halftime. Georgetown, however, battled back in the second half behind the resurgence of senior center Ariel Jenkins and the continued strong performance of graduate guard Kelsey Ransom. Ultimately, the strong second-half performance on the offensive end was not quite enough for the Hoyas, and the Wildcats won 70-65 in thrilling fashion.
Turnovers set the narrative of the first few minutes for Georgetown, as the team amassed 4 turnovers, and Villanova forced a held ball while holding possession in the first 2:14 of the game. The Wildcats did not perform much better offensively, and the Hoyas found themselves down by just 3 points with seven minutes remaining in the first quarter. Ransom finally removed the lid from the basket for Georgetown with 6:59 to go in the opening quarter when she scored a tough left-handed basket. Villanova responded on the subsequent possession with their
Georgetown vs. Johns Hopkins
Tuesday, 4 p.m. Cooper Field
Caleigh Keating Senior Sports Editor Ed Cooley finally got the chance to defeat his past program. Two seasons after the Georgetown University men’s basketball team head coach departed from 12 seasons as head coach at Providence College, Cooley finally got his win over the Friars on his fifth try as Georgetown (16-10, 7-8 Big East) delivered a convincing 93-72 win over the Providence Friars (12-15, 6-10 Big East) Feb. 19. The win came at an emotional time for Cooley, after his mother, Jane Cooley, passed away Feb. 17. The arena held a moment of silence for Cooley’s mother ahead of the game.
Junior guard Jayden Epps said the team had a strong desire to deliver a win for Cooley during a difficult time for the coach and his family.
“When you’re playing for a guy like that, when you’re playing for somebody who just cares about people genuinely, it’s easy to go out there and play hard for him and give it your all for him,” Epps said in a postgame press conference. “We wanted to win this game for coach, we know how much it meant to him, we know what he’s going through, so we went out there and got it done.”
Ahead of the game, the Hoyas’ first win against Providence since early 2021 seemed like it would be an uphill battle, with the team missing
two key starters, first-year guard Caleb Williams due to concussion protocol and first-year sensation center Thomas Sorber due to a lowerbody injury. Sorber was present with a boot on his left leg during the game, but neither player is expected to miss much time. Sophomore forward Jordan Burks replaced Sorber, and Epps returned to the starting lineup after playing limited minutes in the past few games due to his lingering lower-body injury.
Although Georgetown won the tipoff, Providence got on the board first with a layup from guard Bensley Joseph. Georgetown sophomore forward Drew Fielder wasted no time making himself known to the Friars,
knocking down a 3-pointer for the Hoyas’ first basket of the game and showcasing tough defense in the paint, disrupting the Friars by racking up 4 defensive rebounds and a block before the first media timeout. Joseph, who would go on to score 14 of Providence’s first 20 points, starred for the Friars in the next stretch, tallying 11 straight points, including three 3-pointers. The Hoyas, however, would not let Providence run away with the momentum early, and graduate guard Micah Peavy, who Cooley touted as an “NBA firstround pick” in a postgame press conference, slammed down a pair of dunks to electrify the crowd and cut Providence’s lead to 3.
Providence then extended their lead to a 20-15 advantage after a layup and a pair of free throws from forward Ryan Mela, but the Hoyas responded with a pair of 3-pointers from sophomore guard Malik Mack and Epps off of a clutch Fielder steal to tie the game and take the lead, respectively, at the 7:54 mark. The Hoyas would never relinquish that lead again, and took off on a 19-3 run to end the half littered with buckets by Peavy and punctuated by a Burks buzzer-beating 3-pointer, sending Georgetown to the locker room at the half with a commanding 48-31 lead. The second half only spelled continued success for Georgetown, as
second 3-point field goal to put the Wildcats up 6-2. Junior guard Victoria Rivera then fooled the Villanova defense with a silky smooth inand-out dribble move before rising up and draining a mid-range jumper. Unfortunately for the Hoyas, the Wildcats responded again with their own jumper to keep the Hoyas at bay. As the teams continued to battle defensively throughout the first quarter, points were at a premium. Ransom continued finding ways to generate bas-
kets, getting to the free-throw line a number of times to keep the Hoyas in the game. As the horn sounded to signal the end of the first quarter, Villanova held a strong lead of 17-10. Villanova, to start the second quarter, drained a 3-pointer, increasing their lead to 10 points; the Hoyas, however, began to battle back. First-year guard Khadee Hession hit a 3-pointer from way downtown, and a few possessions later, Ransom drilled another three. Ransom continued to showcase offensive
firepower, getting to the freethrow line again to cut the Wildcats’ lead down to just 6 points. Despite their best efforts, the Hoyas could not finish the second quarter strong. Villanova went on a run in the final minutes of the half and secured a 10-point lead heading into the break.
After halftime, the Hoyas continued to hang around, this time thanks to the help of Jenkins, who found herself in foul trouble in the first half and struggled
See VILLANOVA, A11
Rain, sleet and snow couldn’t stop the Georgetown University men’s lacrosse team (2-1) from taking down the No. 13 University of Pennsylvania Quakers (0-1) by a score of 8-6 on Feb. 15 at Cooper Field. After losing to then No. 8 Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore on Feb. 8, No. 14/15 Georgetown came into the game looking to rebound against the Quakers, who were taking the field for the first time in the 2025 season. Penn opened with an early offensive effort, firing a shot wide within the first minute. Two minutes later, Georgetown sophomore goalie Anderson Moore replied with a save, setting the tone for a defense-heavy first quarter.
At the six-minute mark, the Hoyas struck first with a topright goal by junior midfielder Joe Cesare. Just 28 seconds later, graduate attacker Fulton Bayman added another goal, sprinting up the field and rifling a shot past the Penn goalie to give the Hoyas an early 2-0 lead. The Quakers answered with a goal at the 1:31 mark, reducing Georgetown’s advantage to 2-1 at the end of the first quarter.
Penn midfielder Leo Hoffman
scored a quick goal to tie it up at the 10-minute mark to start the second quarter after a Georgetown miscommunication about man-marking the shooter. As snow started falling, both teams felt a heightened intensity, with numerous turnovers on each side. Georgetown Head Coach Kevin Warne called a crucial timeout with 2:48 left in the half to reset the Hoyas’ offensive approach. Following the timeout, the Hoyas continued their momentum with 2 goals from junior midfielder Jordan Wray and graduate attacker Aidan Carroll. With 43 seconds remaining, the Quakers tightened the Hoyas lead, making it 4-3 at the half. Bayman opened the second half with a bang, netting a goal 48 seconds in to increase Georgetown’s lead to 5-3. Just over a minute later, Penn swiftly responded with a goal, but the Hoyas maintained their composure. In the remaining five minutes of the quarter, Hoyas’ first-year attacker Jack Ransom and Wray each scored, making the tally 7-5. But the Quakers retaliated with every Hoya goal, and Penn’s late goal at 2:16 reduced the Hoyas’ lead to 1 going into the final quarter. The Hoyas quickly padded their lead as first-year faceoff
Eilat Herman Hoya Sports Columnist
Liv Villella Special to The Hoya
WOMEN’S