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VOICE the georgetown

The Catholic Question Stories of faith and spirituality on the Hilltop

By Caitríona Pagni and Ryan Greene

Georgetown University’s Weekly Newsmagazine Since 1969  October 30, 2014  Volume 47, Issue 11  georgetownvoice.com

the

Voice

Oct. 30, 2014 This week: Editorial ... CISR & Fossil Free model campus dialogue, pg. 3 News ... GU Fossil Free presents proposal to CISR, pg. 4 Sports ... Football falls on homecoming, pg. 6 Feature ... Diversity of Catholic thoughts on campus, pg. 8 Leisure ... Nomadic’s boom climaxes at Walsh, pg. 10 Page 13 ... District Henle, pg. 13 Voices ... Korean Student Association apologizes, pg. 14

God writes straight with crooked lines Catholicism is alive and well among Georgetown student body.

Last week’s key:

–Leila Lebreton

This Week’s Horoscope

– Ambika Ahuja & Tim Annick

Leos, the divas of the astrological calendar, need it to be all about them.

Cripplingly insecure, they overcompensate by projecting a sense of inflated self-confidence. Secretly, they’ll do anything to steal your man or to beat Beyoncé out for the Time Magazine 100 cover. Even so, the Leo is an expert at currying favor and ingratiating themselves with new people.

As weird as the Kim Kardashian–Paris Hilton reunion this year, though, they want you to go big or go home–just as long as their house is bigger.

BLOG

Editor: Ryan Greene

Assistant Editors: Grace Brennan, Marisa Hawley, Kenneth Lee

HALFTIME

Leisure Editor: Daniel Varghese

NEWS

Steven Criss

Assistant Editors: Shalina Chatlani, James Constant, Lara Fishbane

Dayana Morales Gomez

Editor: Julia Jester

PHOTO

Editor: Ambika Ahuja

Assistant Leisure Editors: Micaela Beltran, Erika Bullock, Simone Wahnschafft Assistant Sports Editors: Alex Boyd, Robbie Ponce

Assistant Editors: Sabrina Kayser, Gavin Myers, Joshua Raftis

VOICES

Board: Chris Almeida, Shalina Chatlani, Steven Criss, Lara Fishbane, Ryan Greene, Julia Jester, Caitriona Pagni, Kenneth Lee, Daniel Varghese, James Constant

Editor: Chris Almeida

EDITORIAL BOARD Chair: Ian Philbrick

Editor in Chief

Managing Editor

Mary-Bailey Frank General Manager

Noah Buyon

Technical Director

Tim Annick

Managing Director of Accounting and Sales

Allison Manning

Managing Director of Finance

SPORTS

Editor: Chris Castano

Assistant Editors: Kevin Huggard, Joe Pollicino, Max Roberts

LEISURE

Editor: Josh Ward

COVER

Editor: Christina Libre

FEATURE

Editor: Caitriona Pagni

DESIGN

Assistant Editors: Elizabeth Baker, Sam Kleinman, Manuela Tobias

Editors: Pam Shu, Sophia Super

COPY

Staff: Caitlin Garrabrant, Johnny Jung, Erin McClellan, Eleanor Sugrue

Editors: Rachel Greene, Ryan Miller, Dana Suekoff, Lauren Chung, Maddi Kaigh, Andrew Frank, Jupiter El-Asmar, Bianca Clark, Michael Mischke

Editor: Dylan Cutler

Chief: Eleanor Fanto

Assistant Editor: Leila Lebreton

PAGE 13

editorial

georgetownvoice.com

The georgetown voice | 3

talk divestment to me

In GU Fossil Free-CISR dialogue, a model for campus engagement

Eight members of the student group GU Fossil Free presented a finalized proposal to the university’s Committee on Investments and Social Responsibility, an advisory committee to the Board of Directors, on Monday afternoon. A result of collaboration between both students and faculty, the proposal calls on the university to cease investing in companies involved with the production of fossil fuels and natural gas.

Prior to the presentation, members of GU Fossil Free gathered outside McShain Lounge along with representatives from GUSA and H*yas for Choice, graduate students, and faculty. The rally participants bore signs and shouted slogans thanking CISR for hearing the proposal, which CISR estimates it will vote on by the end of the academic year.

But things could have turned out quite differently.

According Nina Sherburne, a preschool teacher with the university’s Hoya Kids Learning Center and member of GU Fossil Free, the group planned Monday’s rally as either a protest—in the event that CISR refused to hear their presentation—or a positive demonstration of thanks. Fossil Free’s double preparation, however,

illustrates the uncertainty with which numerous campus groups must now approach university administration. The mistrust fostered by proposals that overlook student interests, such as a required third-year meal plan and the combination of three campus diversity centers, is directly to blame.

CISR’s recent exchange with GU Fossil Free, however, was markedly different. Their interaction was characterized by fair-mindedness, engagement, and a desperately needed resemblance to actual conversation. As it relates to student groups and administration, the model seems readily replicable across campus as a way to fairly balance administrative realities with student interests.

Students and administrators alike must recognize that dialogue is not guaranteed to produce a resolution wholly palatable to either side. For instance, CISR has stated that it will likely not put GU Fossil Free’s proposal to a vote until the end of the academic year.

Representatives from GU Fossil Free have confirmed that they hope to lobby the committee into accelerating its timeframe. Approval from the committee

would allow the group to present their proposal to the Board of Directors.

But the crucially present element is engagement.

Representatives from GU Fossil Free expressed gratitude—and, perhaps, no small measure of relief—in response to CISR’s action.

The goal is for the university to transform the insubstantial efforts at student engagement—including those that led up to the Campus Plan and during the planning for the campus construction—in favor of a policy that engages with students fairly and responsibly when students make overtures that require engagement.

Throughout Georgetown’s history, whether in advocating for LGBTQ rights, promoting support services for minority students, or seeking to divest from companies that promote unsustainable environmental practices, the impetus for change on campus has come chiefly from student activism. Divestment has given university administrators an opportunity to redeem themselves and set a precedent of partnership, rather than evasion, when it comes to student engagement. The lesson couldn’t be simpler: When students speak—and they have—they deserve to be heard.

puff puff pass

make hummus, not war

D.C. voters should pass marijuana initiative, but proceed with caution

Sabra protests put strengths and dangers of Israel BDS on display

To reduce racial disparities in D.C. drug arrests, the Council of the District of Columbia voted in July to decriminalize possessing up to 1 ounce of marijuana for citizens aged 18 and older. The Legalization of Home CultivationandPossessionofMinimalAmounts of Marijuana forPersonal UseAct of 2014, Initiative No. 71 on the Nov. 4 ballot, goes a step further. The measure asks D.C. citizens to decide whether persons 21 and up should be legally allowed to possess 2 ounces of marijuana, grow up to six plants, and transfer up to 1 ounce free-of-charge to another of-age individual. The initiative creates no infrastructure to tax or vend marijuana, nor does it permit medical dispensaries.

Widespread marijuana legalization in the U.S. would reduce drug-related crime better than the failed War on Drugs, refocus law enforcement on more pressing societal issues, and stimulate the economy.

A recent report by the marijuana-research organization Greenwave Advisors found that legalized sales could top $35 billion by 2020—which, as the Washington Post contextualized, is over three times the NFL’s annual revenue. While legalizing pot in D.C. echoes this end-goal, and while allowing D.C. voters to decide is laudable, the Council should be circumspect when determining how best to implement the act if it passes.

The chief reason for caution is the distinction between decriminalization and legalization. The former implies a recognition of the disproportionate victimization of young black men that results when marijuana and the law clash. The latter implies not only implicit societal approval, as argued in a recent Post editorial, but also the expectation that D.C.’s legal and political infrastructure is prepared to take on the burden of regulating pot in both a lucrative and socially responsible way.

But answering this question will take more time than Tuesday’s vote allows.

Marijuana has been decriminalized in the District for barely three months, leaving results under-analyzed and implications of outright legalization unassessed. States like Colorado (the first to legalize recreational marijuana) and Washington (which implemented limited legalization followed by legalized dispensaries), have been mixed blessings. While Colorado’s criminal marijuana cases decreased by 65 percent last year after legalization, according to the New YorkTimes,policehaveissuedanincreased number of citations for public smoking and investigated a number of cases of children being given marijuana edibles. This increase has been accompanied by a spillover in charges related to the sale, distribution, and possession of marijuana in neighboring Kansas. Meanwhile, USAToday reports that Washington’s pot business is near flat due to over-taxation and over-regulation.

While none of these transitional issues are reason enough to oppose Initiative 71, they raise concerns about D.C.’s infrastructural capacity to handle legalization in an effective, protective, and fiscally prudent manner. D.C. Councilmember David Grosso (I-At Large) has proposed legislation that would permit the sale and distribution of marijuana in the city as well as create a system to tax and regulate such commerce. As reported by DCist, however, even he has advocated that the Council delay implementation until a regulatory system is established.

While the benefits of legalizing marijuana are irrefutable, and while both voters and activists should affirm the initiative at the ballot box this Tuesday, citizens and the Council should proceed cautiously to both better institutionally manage the consequences of legalization and avoid repeating Colorado and Washington’s mistakes. For the moment, District marijuana legalization is one case in which taking stock must precede toking smoke.

Sabra Dipping Company opened a pop-up Hummus House on Wisconsin Ave. at the beginning of this month, at once inviting both sampling of the unassuming Levantine delicacy and criticism of the Israel-based Strauss Group. The food products manufacturer financially supports the Golani Brigade of the Israeli Defense Forces and owns a 50 percent stake in Sabra.

The IDF’s alleged human rights violations in the West Bank and Gaza Strip during the past summer’s Israel-Gaza conflict quickly turned the store into the latest lightning rod in a public dispute between supporters of Israel and Palestine.

Small-scale protests have been staged outside Hummus House by the U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation, a D.C.-based non-governmental organization, whose protests centered on the Strauss Group’s part ownership of Sabra.

The protests give voice to legitimate concerns about Israel’s worsening human rights record, which was on full display during Operation Protective Edge this past July and August. The violence levied against Gazan civilians by the IDF is both condemnable and inexcusable. Cavalier statements—such as those of Israeli Ambassador to the U.S., Ron Dermer, who declared on the 14th day of the conflict that the IDF deserved the Nobel Peace Prize for its “restraint” in Gaza—didn’t help. Likewise, the slow pace of recovery in the devastated region—hobbled both by Hamas and the Israeli government—is unconscionable. As a result, Israel has increasingly lost support amongst younger demographics and perhaps even, to judge by recent diplomatic tensions, the unreserved backing of the U.S. government.

The demonstrations at Hummus House are part of a wider opposition

movement against current Israeli policy known as Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions. Proponents of BDS seek the economic and social isolation of Israel as a punitive measure. Their ranks recently swelled when 13 Georgetown professors announced their intention to boycott Israeli academic institutions.

BDS is an appropriate and valuable exercise of one’s freedom of expression, and gives teeth to the otherwise helpless consumer as they attempt to shape policy in the far-off Middle East.

Support for such acts must be carefully qualified, however. Both the anti-Sabra protests and the larger BDS movement have at times qualitatively associated Israel’s actions with the South African policy of apartheid. BDS movements against South Africa in the 1980s and 1990s put exogenous political pressure on that nation to reform itself. Claims that Israeli occupation is equivalent with apartheid, however, belong more to projected fears more than current realities. While unjust policies unquestionably merit correction through BDS, unqualified action runs the risk of financially and reputationally harming Israeli businesses not involved in the conflict.

A deeper danger inherent to BDS involves venturing from criticism of Israeli policy into wholesale anti-Israel or antiSemitic sentiment. Neither is consistent with Israel’s national sovereignty nor the deserved security of Jews worldwide. As of now, though, the Hummus House protests should be lauded for their non-violent message and successful avoidance of any conflation of anti-occupation sentiment with broader anti-Semitism. If it is to remain a powerful and morally upright tool of political criticism and coercion, however, BDS must remain firmly anti-occupation rather than vaguely anti-Israel.

news

4 | the georgetown voice

OCTOBER 30, 2014

Carry That Weight emphasizes heavy impact of sexual assault on campuses IAN PHILBRICK Red Square included more than its usual fare of tabling student groups and farmers market tents on Wednesday—pillows and mattresses bearing red tape in the shape of an “X” or painted slogans overshadowed the rest of the crowd. Sponsored and organized by Georgetown University Take Back the Night, GUSA, and Georgetown Sexual Assault Peer Educators, the display was part of Carry That Weight’s national day of collective action.

Uniting college campuses worldwide, Carry That Weight takes its name from the senior thesis of Columbia University visual arts student Emma Sulkowicz, a sexual assault survivor who was raped by a classmate in her dorm room as a sophomore.

In response, Sulkowicz decided in September of this year to carry her mattress around campus until her rapist either voluntarily leaves or is dismissed by the university.

According to former GUTBTN president and current senior board member Haley Maness (NHS ’15), the Oct. 29 day of action was organized in solidarity

“X” MARKS THE SPOT OF SOLIDARITY AMONG STUDENTS. with sexual assault survivors and in an effort to raise public awareness of the issue’s persistence. As reported by the Huffington Post, the national day of collective action involved over 10,000 students at 130 national and international universities.

Kyra Hanlon (SFS ’16), who helped staff the Red Square table, suggested that social media played a key role in driving the event. “Columbia students organized a national day of action … inspired by [Sulkowicz’s performance], and they posted a Facebook event about it … encouraging college campuses to participate in this and to host their own adaptation of Carry that Weight,” she said.

ANDREW SULLIVAN

Hanlon characterized Carry That Weight as a grassroots movement, and helped plan the Georgetown event via Facebook and email. After the event, GUTBTN representatives estimated that up to 200 individuals visited Red Square, carried mattresses or pillows, wore red tape, or contributed to event organization.

“The mattresses and the pillows are representative of where a majority of sexual assaults on campus happen, which is in peoples’ dorm rooms, on peoples’ beds, on their mattresses,” she said. “[It represents the need to] remove the red tape that survivors have to go through to get justice. It’s a really visible, public reminder

SAXA POLITICA: ADMISSION BASED ON ASSETS? a tri-weekly column about CAMPUS NEWS AND POLITICS

It’s college admissions season, and Georgetown’s Nov. 1 deadline for early action admissions is just a few days away. Every year—it seems as if on a fixed schedule— the New York Times cranks out a storyabout a motivatedyoung person who, despite growing up with all the odds stacked well against him, manages to bootstrap his way into Dream University. Last week, they brought us the story of Justus Uwayesu, a Harvard freshman who grew up as an orphan in a Rwandan garbage dump after the country’s civil war.

Beautiful as the piece was, the real story lies in just how unlikely it is for anyone born in less-than-ideal circumstances to graduate from college, let alone from Georgetown. Georgetown is a need-blind institution, which means that it chooses its accepted students irrespective of their ability to pay tuition. But that doesn’t mean very much when, year after year, the same

well-heeled prep schools (the kind that stock $65 Vineyard Vines-branded ties in their bookstore) send off hundreds of their progenies to the Hilltop. The university’s top 10 feeder schools for the class of 2017 were all prep schools that cater to an extraordinarily privileged student body.

While Georgetown professes a desire to increase the number of lower-income students on its campus through initiatives like the Georgetown Scholarship Program, it’s actually doing very little to fundamentally change its socioeconomic makeup.

But is this representation problem Georgetown’s fault?

Some might point to our applicant pool and say that we’re working with what we’ve got. The students who apply to Georgetown mirror those who get admitted, except for the magical “it” factor that the admissions committee decides pushes select applicants into the promised land.

BY JAMES CONSTANT

The university is faced with a tricky conundrum, given the fact that America’s rich tend to stay rich—especially when they graduate from a place like Georgetown. The richer the student body, the more tuition dollars flow in, and the more likely the university is guaranteed that future donors will have fat pockets.

Maybe I’m making Georgetown seem like a titanic conflagration of institutional privilege, because we really are doing better than many others. Unlike our neighbor down the road, George Washington, we don’t use binding early-decision admissions— something that has long been derided as a tool for universities to increase the enrollment of wealthy students who don’t have to worry about weighing tuition costs. GW’s early admissions rate for the class of 2018 was 64 percent, and that group of money-is-no-object students provide a fat, consistent lump of cash.

on campus of sexual assaults, where they happen, and what people have to go through.”

National estimates of sexual assault incidents suggest that one in five women and one in 33 men will be victims of sexual assault during their college careers, numbers with which Georgetown closely aligns. Both Maness and Hanlon praised administrative and government initiatives combating the problem, including Georgetown Health Education Services’ I Am Ready program and federal and state government probes into campus sexual assault.

Hanlon characterized the Red Square event as a message to Georgetown administration. “A solid and growing movement of students will hold them accountable to make policies that don’t marginalize survivors,” she said.

Maness emphasized, however, that awareness of sexual assault is a “continually growing movement,” and that only continued grassroots advocacy will be able to create “big, overarching change.”

Chandini Jha (COL ‘16), another student organizer of the event, stressed that although Georgetown Carry That Weight and

Students should be glad we’re not operating like Washington University in St. Louis, where less than 6 percent of undergraduates receive Pell grants, a federal aid program for low-income students. At the same time, it’s not like we’re excelling in that area, given that only 13 percent of students on the Hilltop receive Pell grants, compared to 30 percent at Columbia University.

So what’s a university to do?

It’s not as if quadrilingual Rwandan refugees with impeccable academic credentials are banging down the doors to Healy Hall.

There’s no easy solution to the problem, but there are plenty of places where an overhaul could cut hidden costs and, therefore, possibly increase socioeconomic diversity on campus.

The university charges students $125 for men’s basketball season tickets at the Verizon Center—a supposedly essential part of the Georgetown experience—and while many students shrug the price off, it can be a barrier that prevents low-income students from par-

GUTBTN are not endorsing any specific policy goals, the cultural importance is significant. “We do believe that this physical ‘carrying of the weight’ of sexual violence needs to translate into student activism and support,” she wrote in an email to the Voice.

Two hours into the action day, a student carrying a mattress approached the Red Square table.

Recognizing him, nearby onlookers erupted into applause. One left the table and ran to join him.

Mattress aloft, the two of them together marched the symbol of their message out of Red Square.

“Part of what this day is really about is just being very visible and public about our support and solidarity with all survivors of sexual assault,” Hanlon said. “We are standing in solidarity with Emma, and our event is inspired by her, but…we really want to make sure that students know that sexual assault does happen at Georgetown.

It happens in our own beds and to our friends. But there’s also a group of students who care about this issue, who want to see change happen. Students can join in this dialogue and really help make that change possible.”

ticipating in the tradition. Similarly, same-day admission to this year’s homecoming barbecue cost $25, even for under-21 students. Is it too much to ask for Georgetown to cut the astronomical price of time-honored traditions?

Another problem is something no student can completely avoid—the high cost of textbooks. Too often, students are required to buy multiple expensive books (often written by the professor) and only end up reading small sections of each— sections that could easily be photocopied and put on Blackboard. Georgetown can help fix this problem by overseeing professor’s textbooks assignments more closely and encouraging professors to scan readings for course reserves.

Georgetown is moving in the right direction—but we’re not there yet. For an administration that hoards millions in its endowment but allows 39 percent of students to graduate with an average of $28,035 in debt, mitigating these issues is the least it can do.

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georgetownvoice.com

the georgetown voice | 5

Student groups gather to support GU Fossil Free divestment proposal delivery RYAN MILLER Georgetown undergraduates, graduate students, and university faculty rallied outside McShain Lounge in Southwest Quad to support GU Fossil Free as it officially presented its divestment proposal to the Committee on Investment and Social Responsibility on Monday afternoon.

“We were really excited to see so many people come out to support us,” said Chloe Lazarus (COL ‘16), a member of GU Fossil Free.

“It was really vibrant. We had lots of chants, we had music, and lots of different organizations were represented, both Georgetown recognized and non-recognized.”

At the rally, GUSA President Trevor Tezel (SFS ‘15) noted the importance of students gathering together in protest in order to spark change. “I hope the Committee got the message,” Tezel said.

After working together for over three semesters, CISR invited GU Fossil Free to present its final proposal for the first time.

“The CISR is an advisory board to the Board [of Directors], and they

are, at least on the path the university put us on, the first ones who need to make a decision about divestment in order for it to move up the ranks,” said Caroline James (COL ‘16), member of GU Fossil Free and of CISR, before going into the meeting with CISR. “We’ve been working with them for two years personalizing this proposal to Georgetown’s specific endowment.”

Though the specific details of the meeting are confidential, Lazarus shared that the group gave its presentation and had a “really constructive dialogue” about the proposal.

GU Fossil Free was not given a specific timeframe for CISR’s decision, but the group wants swift action to take place so that its proposal can appear on the Board of Directors’ agenda in February.

“At this point in our campaign, we are really just trying to tell CISR that this is an urgent matter that needs to be discussed now,” Lazarus said. “It can’t continuously be stalled or delayed. Decisions need to be taken now so that injustice is stopped now, or at least Georgetown isn’t profiting off these injustices.”

THERE’S A HIGH CHANCE THAT MARIJUANA LEGISLATION WILL CHANGE.

TORBEN HANSEN

D.C. voters to decide on marijuana legalization within the District SHALINA CHATLANI On Nov. 4, District voters will determine whether the D.C. Council can move forward with Initiative 71, an act to legalize recreational use of marijuana within D.C. Initiative 71, the Legalization of Home Cultivation and Possession of Minimal Amounts of Marijuana for Personal Use Act of 2014, would legalize possession of up to 2 ounces of marijuana, cultivation of up to six marijuana plants, and the transfer of 1 ounce for citizens 21 and older.

If passed by voters, the act will be brought to Congress for approval.

Adam Eidinger, chairman of the D.C. Cannabis Campaign, argues that while the District’s decriminalization of the drug in July was an important first step, legalization is the most effective way to rid the city of a racial disparity in drug arrest sta-

tistics, prevent wrongful incrimination, and move the city forward with regulatory legislation.

“There will be no more tickets, no more taking of peoples’ property, which is what the current decriminalization does, and we can start to [begin discussion on]...a bill [to regulate it],” said Eidinger. “The D.C. Council could be the first legislative body in America to pass its own tax-and-regulate bill or law for [marijuana].”

In 2013, Councilmember David Grosso (I-At Large) introduced the Marijuana Legalization and Regulation Act, legislation that would tax and regulate “the possession, consumption, purchasing, and transporting of marijuana, not in public, for persons over the age of 21.” It is being reviewed today at a hearing by the Alcohol Beverage Regulatory

James expressed that there is no point in waiting any longer for CISR to make a decision after the group has spent over two years reshaping their proposal—including a compromise on its original demand for immediate divestment from all fossil fuel companies. The new proposal asks for divestment over a three year period from the top 200 companies.

In an email to the Voice, however, CISR indicated actions on the proposal that it may still take.

“As part of the committee’s deliberations, the CISR maypursue additionalresearch,refinementstothe proposal, and other considerations before determining whether or not the proposal merits further consideration by the Board of Directors or the Committee on Finance and Administration,” wrote members of CISR, including Professor James M. Morita, chair of the committee.

Even if CISR elects not to support the proposal when advising the Board of Directors, GU Fossil Free will not halt its action on divestment.

Lazarus explained that CISR must make a recommendation eitherway in support of oragainst the proposal.

“We are really starting to see that students have expressed a clear position on this that Georgetown needs to start taking the first steps towards divesting from fossil fuels,” Tezel said.

Student groups, such as H*yas for Choice and GUSA, have supported the proposal and were all present at the rally to stand behind GU Fossil Free and protest the university’s investment in fossil fuel companies.

“It’s important to support GU Fossil Free because, if you’re looking at intersectional feminist issues, divestment is a really big one,” said Vincent DeLaurentis (SFS ‘17) of H*yas for Choice. “Pollution makes it very difficult for women, especially women of color and low-income women, to raise healthy families.

So in the wider reproductive justice context, you need divestment if you’re going to have true justice for women and true control over your ability to raise a family.”

According to GU Fossil Free, Georgetown would be the first Jesuit university and the first Catholic university with an endowment over $1 billion to divest. The theme of Jesuit values came up multiple times during the rally—even after the members of GU Fossil Free had gone into the meeting to present to CISR, supporters continued to chant, “What would a Jesuit do? A Jesuit would divest.”

“The proposal makes sense,” said DeLaurentis. “Georgetown should really work on better promoting healthy families and healthy environments.”

Administration and the Office of Tax and Revenue.

Grosso believes that D.C. has the infrastructure to legalize marijuana and develop a regulatory system.

“Fortunately, we do have a system in place. The department that is in charge of regulating alcohol would be put in charge of also regulating marijuana. We’d be able to regulate cultivators, retail centers, and enforce laws around underage consumption,” said Grosso.

“We already have medical marijuana in place, so we already are cultivating marijuana in D.C. legally.” He hopes to have his bill go through the council by March.

Dr. Malik Burnett, policy manager of the Drug Policy Alliance, believes that legalizing marijuana would address health concerns.

“Many studies show that incarceration can lead to worse health effects than those associated with usage of marijuana,” said Burnett.

“Marijuana is already in our society...We are trying to legalize it so that people are not continuously incarcerated, ticketed or harassed.”

Still, opponents have raised concerns about the potential consequences marijuana legalization could pose in areas of health, regulation, and enforcement. Grosso ensures that he and his supporters have conducted studies on other

areas that have legalized or decriminalized marijuana, such as Colorado, one of the first states to legalize recreational use of the drug.

Chief John Jackson, president of the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police, cautions that D.C. legislators should take their time in developing an effective regulatory system, citing several problems that have occurred in Colorado since legalization, such as an increase in emergency room admissions due to marijuana by 82 percent since 2008.

“We don’t have governance on edibles—that is outright irresponsible in my opinion,” said Jackson.

“We have just pushed forward, and our governor has been quoted as saying that we were reckless in going as fast as we did.”

Jackson indicated it isn’t just the governor who is unhappy with how legalization was implemented in Colorado. “There are a lot of voters that are woefully disappointed with how this law has manifested itself,” said Jackson. “There are a lot of people who say, ‘Ivoted for it, but I didn’tvote for this,’ ... Everything is not as fantasy and goingwell as itwould appear.”

Eidinger believes, though, that a lot of the issues apparent in Colorado, such as children getting access to edibles, could be solved by self-regulation at home and educating parents.

“I don’t think Colorado is being given a fair chance, because they are kind of an island in the sea of illegality,” said Eidinger.

“People are traveling there and promoting a lot of bad behavior, so what we really need is a regional, a national solution.”

When it comes to how the legalization may affect college campuses, Grosso explains that any legal action is still under the purview of the university. He believes, however, that marijuana-related offenses will probably be treated similarly to alcohol offenses.

“Rightnow,ifsomeoneiscaught on campus with a bag of marijuana, the universityhas to decidewhether or not they’re going to call the police and turn the student in for breaking the law,” said Grosso. “They won’t have to do that anymore...they can refer to their own policies and procedures.”

However, Rachel Pugh, director of media relations at Georgetown, insists that there will be no change to current policies at the university.

“Georgetown University complies with both local and federal laws,” Pugh wrote in an email to the Voice. “Federal law prohibits possession, manufacturing, and use of marijuana. We do not have any plans to change our policies or the student code of conduct.”

DIVESTMENT IS WHAT ALL THE KIDS ARE DISCUSSING THESE DAYS.

VICKI LAM

sports

6 | the georgetown voice

October 30, 2014

Georgetown football comes up short on homecoming JOE POLLICINO

Though many Georgetown students enjoyed the festivities associated with this past Saturday’s annual Homecoming Day, the same could not be said for the Georgetown football team (2-6, 0-3 Patriot League). The Hoyas lost their third consecutive Homecoming game, this time to Bucknell (6-1, 2-0 PL), 22-17.

The Blue and Gray held a 17-16, fourth-quarter lead after junior quarterback Kyle Nolan’s 5-yard touchdown run, but were unable to hold on. Bucknell’s sophomore quarterback R.J. Nitti threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver Will Carter with 7:03 left in the game for the win.

“We’re in it right to the fourth quarter,” said Georgetown Head Coach Rob Sgarlata. “There’s an aspect of being a mature football team and being able to make those plays down the stretch. That’s what we need to get to.”

The Bison opened up the game’s scoring with a methodical 17-play, 97-yard drive that was punctuated by a 3-yard touchdown by sophomore running back C.J. Williams to give Bucknell a 6-0 lead with 4:05 left in the first quarter after a missed extra point attempt. The Hoyas responded quickly as Nolan connected with sophomore tight end Matthew Buckman for a 67-yard touchdown pass that put the Hoyas up 7-6 after one quarter of play.

Both teams exchanged field goals early in the second quarter as Bucknell senior kicker Derek Maurer’s

20-yard field goal at the 12:07 mark gave the Bison a 9-7 lead. Hoya sophomore kicker Henry Darmstadter’s 34-yard field goal quickly regained a 10-9 lead with 9:15 left in the second quarter C.J. Williams’ second touchdown of the game, an 8-yard run with 6:06 left in the half, gave the Bison a 16-10 halftime lead.

Following senior defensive tackle Jordan Richardson’s fumble recovery at the Bucknell 48-yard line with 1:28 left in the first half, the Hoyas seemed poised to put some points on the board before halftime. With 25 seconds left and the Hoyas appeared lined up for a 48yard field goal, the Blue and Gray executed a fake field goal to perfection as Nolan, the holder, flipped a shovel pass to sophomore defensive lineman Phil Novacki for an 18-yard gain to the Bucknell 13-yard line.

After sophomore quarterback Tim Barnes’ 6-yard run out of bounds to the Bucknell 7-yard line, the Hoyas, tried to attempt a pass into the endzone before the half.

This proved fruitless, however, as Nolan was swarmed by the Bison and sacked. With no timeouts left to stop the clock, the Hoyas could not even attempt a field goal as time expired.

“They were just in the right coverage. Dumb mistake on my part. I should have just thrown the ball away, live to play another down and kick the field goal,” Nolan said.

Down 22-17 with 34 seconds left, Georgetown junior linebacker Hunter Kiselick blocked Bucknell’s punt-

FREDDY ROSAS

The football Team has not won a homecoming game since the 2011 season.

ing attempt. However, the Hoyas muffed the recovery, allowing the Bison to recover and run out the clock on the Hoyas’ attempt to win their first homecoming game since 2011.

“I’ve never been around a set of kids in 20 years of coaching that has as much fight as these guys,” Sgarlata said. “There’s 34 seconds left and we block the punt, give ourselves a shot. I have no problems with their effort.

We’ll just keep fighting.”

Special teams play has been a Hoya strength this season, as demonstrated by their successful fake field

goal attempt and blocked punt. Earlier this season, the Hoyas also executed a fake punt attempt against Brown.

“We probably work more on special teams here than most teams. I think it’s really important. It’s a way to gain an advantage,” Sgarlata said.

Although the Hoyas have made significant improvements and strides under Sgarlata in his first year as head coach, the loss sealed their slim chance of winning their first ever Patriot League championship. When asked what Georgetown’s goals were for the rest of the season, Nolan responded quickly.

“We got three tough games ahead of us. If we do a good job—do what we can do—they’re winnable,” Nolan said.

The Hoyas will look to snap their four-game losing streak when they host Lehigh (1-6, 0-2 Patriot League) this Saturday at 12 p.m. The Hoyas have yet to beat the Mountain Hawks, who are suffering from an uncharacteristic down year, since they joined the Patriot League in 2001. In fact, Georgetown has not won a single game against Lehigh since 1925, when Calvin Coolidge was president.

Chris tano’s SPORTS SERMON--Cas “I have a shield, an iron shield” - Manchester United Manager Louis van Gaal I recently came across an online piece written by international soccer writer Kris Voakes in the wake of this weekend’s clásico match between Spanish clubs Real Madrid and Barcelona. In a section of the piece chronicling Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas’ contributions to his sides’ 3-1 victory over their hated rivals, the writer described the Spanish icon as “far from the goalkeeper he could have become.”

The goalkeeper he could’ve become? Pump your breaks, kid. That man is a national treasure.

The notion that San Iker could be regarded as anything other than a living football legend is absolutely ludicrous, and really only serves to illustrate just how short-term the memory of a sports fan can be.

Racking up 486 appearances in a Real Madrid jersey—the most ever appearances—and appearing for Spain at every World Cup final since 2002, all the while captaining both sides, is monumental. Not to mention the fact that the guy just happens to be the third captain in the history of the entire sport to lift the World Cup, Champions League, and Euro Championship trophies all in his career.

Save for the Ballon d’Or, the capital club icon has won it all.

If you need more proof than a full trophy case, I’d direct your attention to a few of his individual performances. Bar the very strange refereeing decisions made during the game, Spain’s triumph over Paraguay in South Africa stands in my mind as one

of Casillas’ finest performances for his national side.

He’s also had his work cut out for him at his club over the last few years. The Real Madrid defense on paper is certainly impressive. But if you watch a game, you’ll quickly pick up on the notion that Los Blancos are not a team concerned with defense. Defenders Dani Carvajal and Marcelo bomb down the wings regularly, trying to contribute offensively. Even during the time of Guti and Raúl, fellow defender Roberto Carlos was leaving the rest of the defense far, far behind. Casillas has always had to deal with a less than sure defense and it’s remarkable he’s reached the heights he has. It’s even more remarkable the nerves only just caught up with him last year.

Fans of the game, however, seem ready to throw all his achievements out the window after a year of uncertainty under a hostile coach. Casillas made mistakes. He most certainly was nowhere near the level we’ve come to expect from the talisman, but one terrible year shouldn’t undo 10 phenomenal ones in the hearts and minds of those who love the game.

Part of the reason the world is ready to move on from el capitano is because we’ve found someone to replace him at the pinnacle of the game. Manuel Neuer is the hot new face in the game. He’s bigger, more German (good ol’ glory hunters), and is trying to innovate how keepers interact with the game.

Neuer fancies himself more of a “sweeper keeper” than

anything else, which, as anyone who’s ever played a game of pickup soccer will know, can be incredibly dangerous. Bayern and German fans’ hearts have jumped into their mouths more than once watching their man between the sticks charge out into the run of play to intercept a ball or dribble around an opponent. His style is certainly unconventional, but it’s new and different. It’s certainly more exciting than Casillas’ more reserved, traditional tendencies.

That’s why if you google Casillas, article after article will be discussing his downfall.

That’s why Keylor Navas is confident of his chances of usurping the starter. Did he have a terrible World cup? Yes. Did he almost lose Madrid the Champions League final? Yes. Does that somehow demote him in the historical hierarchy of goal guarders after all he’s achieved and all he means to both club and country? Hell no.

So, here’s the deal. Casillas is already the goalkeeper he could’ve become. This last year, he has simply fallen further from his lofty standards than one would expect. Keep it in perspective, he’s reached the absolute zenith of goalkeeper-dom and is in excellent company. When we talk about great keepers, we talk about Yashin, van der sar, Kahn, Lehmann, and now Casillas.

At this point, the nickname “el santo” is merely a formality. Expect the Vatican to come calling when Iker hangs up his boots.

sports

georgetownvoice.com

Men’s soccer earns vital six points ROB PONCE

In a week when the Georgetown men’s soccer team (9-3-4, 4-2-1 Big East) desperately needed to prove itself against the Big East’s big guns, the team defeated No. 2 Creighton (11-2-2, 4-1-1 Big East) on Saturday and No. 9 Xavier (10-4-2, 4-1-2 Big East) this past Wednesday with late goals and preserved their hopes of attaining a high seed in the Big East Tournament.

The Hoyas traveled to Omaha, Neb. over homecoming weekend and handed Creighton their first loss in Big East Conference play. Despite a scoreless first half, the Hoyas developed strong attacking play in the second half, however, and with 20 minutes to play, began to threaten Creighton’s defense.

After a defensive takeaway in the 72nd minute, sophomore Joshua Yaro led the counterattack for the Hoyas by finding sophomore striker Alex Muyl near midfield. Muyl connected with senior midfielder Austin Martz who found midfielder Arun Basuljevic open with an opportunity at goal. A composed and clinical finish from Basuljevic gave the freshman his first goal for the Hoyas. The goal was the Hoyas’ first in three contests, having been shutout in both their previous games.

Following their thrilling road victory against the Bluejays, the Hoyas returned home to face Xavier, knocking off the No. 9 team in the nation in dramatic fashion. As the teams took the pitch at kickoff, storm

The Georgetown women’s volleyball team (9-15, 3-8 Big East) fell in their crucial homecoming matchup last Saturday against Marquette (17-6, 8-3 BE), dropping the first three sets of the match 25-22, 25-22, and 25-12.

Although Marquette is considered one of the better teams in the country, Georgetown was able to keep pace early in the game, even taking a 21-20 lead. The Hoyas, however, were unable to convert, falling in the first set 2522 after a strong finish by the Golden Eagles.

Undeterred by the relatively disappointing end of the first set, the Hoyas came prepared for the second set, again taking an early lead. The Hoyas

– BackdoorCut – Chris Almeida’s TRI-weekly column about sports

D.C. Football: Enough to keep you coming back

ELENA PLENEFISCH

MEN’S SOCCER came up clutch when it mattered most against Creighton and xavier. clouds soaked the field with rain. Each team took time to adjust to the slick conditions on the field, but the Hoyas found their rhythm and dominated possession for most of the game. Though both squads had opportunities to strike first, the game remained scoreless at the end of regulation and headed to an overtime period.

In the 96th minute, the Hoyas gained possession and slotted a low cross into the box from the wing. The wet surface caused a Xavier defender to lose his footing and fall on top of the ball. The referee blew his whistle and pointed at the penalty spot, giving Georgetown a chance to secure a second straight victory against a top-10 opponent.

As the referee was momentarily swarmed by Xavier players protesting the call, all eyes turned to junior forward Brandon Allen, who calmly placed the ball at the penalty spot. When the referee blew his whistle, the big lefty struck the shot off the bottom of the crossbar and into the net, notching his 10th goal of

the season and sealing a crucial victory for the Hoyas.

“Seasons go in funny directions,” said Georgetown Head Coach Brian Wiese. “After losing back-to-back games, suddenly everyone starts to get a little bit of doubt. But the ability to get a really gutsy win against Creighton and then to stay disciplined and not get impatient in a game like today’s was really good.”

“This is the Big East—not all games are going to be pretty or easy, but you have find a way to get results. Today, we found one of those ways,” said Wiese. “The fact you get yourself back into the conversation for being in the top two in the league is great.

We’re putting ourselves back into the conversation.”

After picking up six points from their dramatic victories this week, the Hoyas sit tied for third in the conference with just two games remaining in Big East play. The Blue and Gray will now try to keep their momentum as they take on the Saint John’s Red Storm on Shaw Field for a contest this Saturday at 1 p.m.

Volleyball falls to Marquette MAX BOROWITZ

the georgetown voice | 7

led by an early score of 12-7, pushing their advantage over Marquette to as much as 15-8.

Despite the lead, Marquette battled back. After a tense back-and-forth between the two sides, the Hoyas managed to take a tenuous 21-19 lead late in the second set. In the end, the Blue and Gray crumbled once again, and Marquette triumphed 25-22.

Georgetown kept the third set tied at 4-4, but unfortunately couldn’t compete with the strength of the Golden Eagles. Marquette took the set comfortably, outscoring the Hoyas 25-12.

Even though the Hoyas lost, the game featured some impressive individual performances. Senior Alex Johnson led the Hoyas in the match, finishing with a team high 12

kills and 10 digs. Freshman libero Casey Speer put on an impressive performance in her own right, with 26 assists and nine digs. Freshman Terese Cannon added nine digs of her own, while junior Lauren Saar led the squad with 13 digs. The Hoyas certainly didn’t go down without a fight.

“We came out and played hard, competed, and were aggressive,” said Georgetown Head Coach Arlisa Williams.

“Everything that we have talked about all year, that’s who this team was today. We were taking great swings, serving aggressively and digging balls.

I am really proud of them.”

The Hoyas are set to go on the road for the next five games, with their first road match against Creighton (17-7, 10-1 BE) on Nov. 1 at 7 p.m.

This past Monday night, the Washington Redskins traveled to Texas to match up against their most hated enemy, the Dallas Cowboys. Much to everyone’s surprise, the Redskins won.

Great, but is this outcome surprising? Well, let’s start with the way that the Redskins performed this season thus far.

The Skins, caught between the ego of starting quarterback Robert Griffin III and the ongoing name controversy, stumbled out of the gates of the 2014-2015 season. They began the year with a loss to the Houston Texans, the only team that finished the 20132014 season with a record worse than Washington’s. Griffin, injured in the season opener, was resigned to the bench while backup Kirk Cousins took over.

Cousins, while immediately relieving the team of any locker room issues, looked impressive in Week 2, throttling lowly Jacksonville, but quickly came back down to Earth after throwing nine interceptions and only 10 touchdowns over the course of approximately six games. Cousins and Washington lost four straight games after week two.

In Week 7, against Tennessee, Cousins was pulled from the game at the half for third-stringer Colt McCoy. McCoy, despite spending multiple seasons in the NFL, has never seen significant time as a starter. The former Texas Longhorn, however, handled his time running the offense exceptionally, throwing a 70-yard touchdown while completing 11 of 12 passes against the Titans to lead the Redskins to a win. Against Dallas, McCoy was similarly composed, completing 25 of his 30 passes en route to an overtime win.

This result was exceptionally strange, considering that Dallas, usually the butt of many NFL jokes, entered the game with a 6-1 record, their only loss coming against San Francisco in Week 1.

Tony Romo had refrained from his usual late game crumbling and DeMarco Murray emerged as, debatably, the league’s premier back. In a year where no team looks dominant, the Cowboys were in the discussion for a Lombardi trophy.

But, despite all of these factors—Dallas riding the most momentum they’d had in years and Washington stumbling behind their third-string quarterback—the Redskins managed to not only beat the week’s largest

spread, but also win against their nemesis in primetime.

Such is the dilemma of being a Redskins fan. There is always just enough of a silver lining to keep everybody coming back. Every offseason, seemingly, there is a big name signing. Now, of course most of these don’t pan out, often in headline-worthy fashion—Albert Haynesworth, Jason Taylor, Donovan McNabb— to name a few, but the names are enough to keep fans watching.

Last season, the Redskins faithful tuned in week after week to see if RGIII could pull himself together, and were treated to a 3-13 season. This year, many, myself included, were ready to give up on the team, to wait for Dan Snyder to blow it up and rebuild in five years. But, McCoy’s heroics will keep me paying attention.

Let me be clear. I do not think that Colt McCoy is the Redskins quarterback of the future. I do not think that the Redskins will finish this season with a winning record. McCoy has looked good, but I’m not ready to buy into the hype. It was only a little more than a month ago that Kirk Cousins looked like the next big thing.

But, Week 8 gave me just enough hope to tune in next week.

Is there much hope for this franchise in the near future?

No. The Washington professional football team is strapped down by an owner whose ineptitude with personnel decisions and insistence on staying involved has continually stopped the team from leaving the NFL’s cellar. Griffin will be back, and will surely have a lot to say about which members of the team and coaching staff are failing him. The lifespan for a running back’s career is ever-shortening, and Alfred Morris is already 25. By the time the team figures out its quarterback situation, Morris may no longer be one of the league’s top ground threats.

Where are the Washington Redskins going? I have no idea.

They could be headed back to the bottom of the league. They could finish 8-8. Hell, in the NFC East, they might be able to pull off a playoff appearance if the Eagles and Cowboys collapse. There are no deep playoff runs expected of the team as it currently stands, especially with Snyder at the helm.

But I’ll stick around for Week 9, just in case McCoy and the Skins decide that it’s not quite time to die yet.

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8 | the georgetown voice

Don't Stop Believing

October 30, 2014

The Catholic perspective on Georgetown’s religious identity

By Caitriona Pagni and Ryan Greene Early yesterday afternoon, three unidentified men approached the front gates and set up camp in Healy Circle. They carried black signs with white lettering that read “Repent and Believe the Gospel (Mark 1:15),” “Fear Him Who Has Power to Cast You into Hell (Luke 12:5),” and “Jesus Christ is Lord,” the latter in all capital letters. The men claimed to be members of a hyper-Calvinist, biblical All Grace Church. The men shouted that the souls of Georgetown students must be reborn again and said that every time Catholics go to Mass, they “crucify Christ all over again.” They continued to harass students with their anti-Catholic, anti-LGBTQ, and anti-abortion rhetoric even after Georgetown University Police Department officers escorted them away from the front gates and onto the street.

In the past year, Georgetown University has come under public scrutiny of its Catholic identity from all sides.

Whether it’s the Calvinist protesters gathered outside the front gates or alumni like William Blatty (COL ’50), who submitted a petition to the Vatican last fall claiming that Georgetown is not Catholic enough, it seems as though Georgetown cannot escape criticism of its religious identity.

Caught in the middle of this debate are the students of Georgetown, particularly those who are practicing Catholics.

Catholic students on campus widely reject the claim that Georgetown is not Catholic enough. “I think my time at Georgetown has been the time my faith has grown the most,” Kelly Kimball (NHS ‘16) said.

Kimball attended public high school

Dahlgren Chapel One sacred space on the Hilltop

and said that Georgetown’s Jesuit values made the university stand out from the other schools she considered. “Coming to Georgetown was a new experience for me because I had never seen so many Catholic people, especially people my age,” she said.

Kimball, who lives in a house on Magis Row that focuses on Catholic Women and Spirituality and is also a member of the Catholic Daughters, says that at Georgetown, Catholicism cannot be compartmentalized because Catholic identity is integrated throughout all aspects of the Georgetown community.

I think that Georgetown does a really good job of having the Jesuit values pervade everything,” she said. “Everything is done with the Jesuit values in mind. It can be more subtle, for example, everyone here is encouraged to be women and men for others. I think Georgetown operates through its Jesuit values and it’s not something that can be separated from what it does.”

“It’s hard to imagine that we are not a Catholic university,” said Grand Knight of the Georgetown chapter of the Knights of Columbus Christopher Cannataro (MSB ’15). Cannataro attended a Jesuit high school and is currently in his eighth year of Jesuit education. He attends Mass multiple times a week and comes from a family background steeped in Catholicism.

Cannataro cited a class he took with Fr. Stephen Fields, S.J., entitled “Newman and the Catholic Way,” as a particularly formative experience in his Georgetown education. “God in all things is a Jesuit mantra we learn a lot about. How [John Henry] Newman lays out this proof of God which to me is pretty compelling,” he said.

Aside from his personal convictions, which are largely based on Catholic theology, Cannataro views the role of the Knights of Columbus at Georgetown as one of lay ministry to the campus community. “I see Georgetown as a parish. I see Fr. O’Brien and Fr. Schenden as pastors, and they need lay ministers to help in different ways …

I see the Knights of Columbus as a bunch of guys who come together and give back.”

Both Kimball, who is studying to be a chiropractor, and Cannataro, who is planning to pursue a career in law, find that Georgetown’s Catholic values have helped inform their career paths. Kimball said that the School of Nursing and Health Studies teaches its students to be men and women for others and to care of the whole person by providing all-around care for its students.

“They care for us more than our grades.

The NHS lives Jesuit values,” Kimball said.

As a student in the McDonough School of Business, Cannataro hopes that his faith will help him rise above the stereotypes given to those in the business world in his own professional life.

“There are unethical people out there. It doesn’t matter if you are an investment banker at Goldman Sachs or a theology professor at Harvard. We are all challenged by sinning. Some of the crimes of bankers, the Bernie Madoffs of the world, are so egregious that they give a bad name to the profession everywhere. It’s the frontier of where the theology needs to go. It’s the frontier of how the world works because business is the cutting edge,” he said.

According to President of Campus Ministry Fr. Kevin O’Brien, S.J., Georgetown aims to help students see the value in the career path they choose that goes beyond power, money, or prestige. “Any good thing can be corrupted. At the end of your life, you will not carry your job. Your job will end. And at the end of your life, you’re responsible for who you are and the choices you made,” he said. “Power and privilege and money, they can be temptations to self-aggrandizement. They can be temptations to self-involvement, self-promotion.”

“Faith is the most integral part of my many different identities.”

Luke Schafer (COL ‘15), who is a member of the Knights of Columbus, said that his faith is a grounding influence for him as he grapples with the challenges and pressures of Georgetown life. “Even though you might be busy or you might be doing a lot, you take the time each day to recenter yourself and be very reflective and ask yourself ‘Why am I doing what I am doing? Is what I am doing for the greater glory of God?’ Keeping that focus is what centers me.” * * *

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:17 *

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Travis Richardson (COL ‘15) has experienced a long journey with his faith. The son of a Baptist minister and a non-practicing Catholic, Richardson did not become religious until his father and twin brother died during his

late childhood. At that point, he and his mother took up Lutheranism together.

Richardson eventually became disenchanted with the Lutheran Church and its politics, and had a crisis of faith at the age of 17. The crisis led to a two-year period of self-discovery in which Richardson read every major religious text, including atheistic and scientific texts like The Origin of Species.

Richardson officially converted to Catholicism at the age of 19.

“It was my own reasoning that got me from atheism to theism, and then from theism to monotheism … and then from that down to Abrahamic religions. And then it was more thought, deduction, and faith that got me to where I am today,” Richardson said.

Today, faith grounds Richardson’s identity and informs every part of who he is, including his identity as a gay Catholic.

“Faith is the most integral part of my many different identities,” Richardson said. “I identify as Catholic, but I also identify as a cisgender male, and I identify as white, and I identify as gay, and I identify as all these different capacities. But I guess that my faith is the number one identity that I have.”

Richardson now wants to join the Jesuit order and help gay people discover their faith, but he didn’t always know his true calling. He first came to Georgetown not because of its Catholic community, but because he thought it would give him a great start in politics.

Fr. O’Brien, who practiced law immediately after graduating from Georgetown, also took a winding road to his vocation as a Jesuit. “I think God works uniquely with each person.

That was a very central principle for St. Ignatius. God works with each person uniquely and specially,” he said.

Richardson eventually found meaning and selflessness at Georgetown’s nightly Catholic Mass community.

“There is anywhere from about 30 to 40 people who go nightly, sometimes less, sometimes more, but you see the same people every night,” Richardson said. “And it’s kind of like a class that you have daily. You just naturally gravitate toward those people.

You get to know them in a more intimate setting, and that’s what really roped me into the Catholic community.”

Soon, becoming a priest was something Richardson could not get out of his head. He picked apart every priest’s homily and wondered what kind of priest he could be. He contemplated how he could serve a community of faith.

“I realized that there was a deeper calling there, perhaps,” Richardson said.

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georgetownvoice.com Being gay has not stopped Richardson from embracing the Catholic faith, but reconciling his sexuality with the beliefs of some religious people is not easy and remains a daily challenge.

“I, for one, don’t think that faith and homosexuality are incompatible,” Richardson said. “I think it’s completely the opposite. I’m here advocating for gay people to become active members because I found such a welcoming atmosphere in my church setting, as far as my sexuality goes.”

“But, at the same time, I am confronted with the Westboro Baptist Church’s messages or the people who were outside the front gates today with their signs, and things of that nature, which, I know, those things don’t come from God,” Richardson said. “I want to let gay people know that you are loved, you are affirmed.”

Eventually, Richardson found religious brotherhood in Georgetown’s Knights of Columbus and is now their chancellor, coordinating the group’s social justice work in D.C. Joining the Knights, however, was not easy. Richardson initially felt intimidated by the group’s reputation as a conservative student group.

“We definitely had our ups and downs,” Richardson said. “We definitely have disagreements, but all of the Knights really mean well. I’m sure they do. They’re all just looking after people on this campus.”

According to Richardson, the Knights want to improve their image on campus and connect with more student groups. Richardson is working to-

ward dialogue between the Knights and both GU Pride and H*yas for Choice.

Richardson also thinks the idea that Georgetown is not Catholic enough is completely unfounded.

“I’m completely against that argument in every single way because I found my Catholic identity at Georgetown,” Richardson said. “And if Georgetown wasn’t Catholic enough, there is no way that I could do that.” *

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“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.” Luke 6:37 *

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Criticism of Georgetown’s Catholic identity largely focuses on the university’s openness to dialogue on campus, which often includes opinions that differ from Church doctrine. “Georgetown allows for faith questioning and constantly challenges those with faith to reflect on one’s faith.” Brian Monahan (COL ‘15) wrote in an email to the Voice. Monahan is an active member of Georgetown’s Catholic community as a Eucharistic Minister. “I feel that this is why many people criticize Georgetown for not being Catholic. Georgetown encourages dialogue about one’s faith and how it relates to the larger global faith community.”

Cannataro thinks that the diversity of thought on campus has been beneficial to his faith formation. “I never felt uncomfortable as a Catholic student, I felt challenged at times at the diversity

the georgetown voice | 9

of thought on this campus and I think that makes my faith stronger,” he said.

“Georgetown definitely doesn’t push any type of Catholic agenda on people. I think that’s a good thing,” said Kimball. Kimball went on to comment on the message of the protesters from All Grace Church. “Those protesters are not interested in dialogue at all, but I think that Georgetown is.”

Georgetown’s support of dialogue, however, does not stop it from taking a strong stance on moral questions. For example, H*yas for Choice, a pro-choice student group that advocates for the use of contraception and reproductive rights has long fought the administration to receive status as an officially-recognized student group. “For me, a lot of the roadblocks that we’ve encountered are pretty upsetting because, regardless of what half of Americans think, their moral ideology has more value because it’s rooted in longstanding institutions,” H*yas for Choice President Abby Grace (SFS ‘15) said.

Catholic students are also open to dialogue with groups such as H*yas for Choice, but struggle with the question of giving the group official recognition from the university. “I think in any sort of university setting there should be a right to dialogue on these tough issues. I think that H*yas for Choice has a view that should be represented on the campus,” Cannataro said.

“I think that we should be having dialogue about those issues, but I understand why Georgetown as a university can’t support that group,” Kimball said.

Ultimately, regardless of the university’s position on contested topics, Catholics like Fr. O’Brien find solace in

Students hold a counter protest to the demonstrators at the front gates on Wednesday morning.

Dahlgren Chapel Photos by Christina Libre

worki n g t o w a r d the fulfillment of God’s mission.

“In the end, I think that God will ask me ‘whom did you love and whom did you serve?’” O’Brien said. “I think those are questions that are great to ask ourselves every day. When I look back over this day, ‘How did I love today? How did I allow myself to be loved by others? How did I serve? And how was I served by others?’ Those are very good questions to measure a life by: love and service.”

Additional Reporting By Elizabeth Baker

Photo by Elizabeth Baker

leisure

10 | the georgetown voice

OCTOBER 30, 2014

Nomadic Theatre’s boom blows up Walsh Black Box with apocalyptic sex EMMA MARSHALL With its Solo cup-throwing and crocheted blankets, atonal elevator music, yelling and crying, death and life, and truth and fiction, there is no doubt that Peter Sinn Nachtrieb’s boom, Nomadic Theatre’s first show of the season, is a messy play.

This production, directed by Johan Clarke (COL ’15), is busy to say the least, despite its three person cast. It’s a play about life after the apocalypse, but remains relevant pre-apocalypse.

Jo, played by Emily Lett (COL ’17), and Jules, played by Taylor Mansmann (COL ’15), meet under strange circumstances—an internet ad for casual sex turns out to be Jules’ plan to preserve the human race after the impending apocalypse. They are unlikely companions with wildly different personalities, dreams, and beliefs, but when the world does end, there is nothing for them but each other and a basement. This story is mingled with the story of Barbara, Sarah Frasco (COL ’15), who controls Jules and Jo with a series of levers and buttons from a museum exhibit—in the future.

The viewer enters the world of boom—and the theatre—through the future, passing through a futuristic museum exhibit of humanity, imagined by set designer Rachel Lesser (COL ’15). This set extends off of the stage, into the seating and entryway, adding to the boom’s sprawling feeling.

um guide, Barbara, is especially admirable. Situated in the background of the stage throughout the play, and with a fair amount of downtime, Frasco stays engaged and engaging.

When she is the center of the action, Frasco is both funny and unsettling, teetering between the

“You know when i was a freshman, I tried sugar cookie burnett’s—and didn’t die” Once the audience moves past the artifacts they arrive at the main exhibit, which takes place in what looks like a Burleith basement. It is here that the end of the world unfolds for our characters.

While boom is most certainly a comedy, it also “brings a lot to the table philosophically,” ac-

UNDERTHECOVERS: A bi-weekly literary column by Micaela Beltran

“Doll may have been the loneliest woman in the world, and [Lila] was the loneliest child, and there they were, the two of them together, keeping each other warm in the rain.”

Lila, the fourth novel by Marilynne Robinson, unearths a new facet of her stories—all of which take place in the small town of Gilead, Iowa. In her latest novel, she develops the story of a curious but undeveloped character that was presented in the background of her highly acclaimed novels, Home and Gilead. Although the story is written in third-person, Robinson’s prose melds effortlessly with Lila’s voice, bright but not formally educated, as she works through simple questions that challenge everyone, such as, “Why do things happen the way they do?”

Lila continues to take on Robinson’s recurring themes

cording to Clarke. The play raises a number of complex issues, such as the existence of a god, the importance of science, the meaninglessness of death, and the beauty of destruction. At no point does it feel heavy, though. The cast, the lighting, and the set all keep up a bubbling energy that allows for

of poverty, Calvinism, and love—she dares to disseminate her perceptive novels in this day and age, when religion is often frowned upon, and fictional love is usually superficial. She challenges the modern thought process by using the influence of religion as an integral component of her multifaceted fictional characters, suggesting that you don’t need a wide canvas to be a good author. You just need to be exceptional at illuminating small details.

We meet Lila roaming in a cold forest as a lone, dirty child covered in more cuts than clothes and severely weakened by her struggle.

She’s found by Doll, a lonely woman in a similar situation, who eventually becomes her surrogate mother. They form a strong bond from the begin-

serious thought and contemplation while constantly being on the edge of a joke.

With only three actors, and a play that covers such a vast range of topics and moods, Clarke’s cast has their work cut out for them. Frasco’s portrayal of the psychologically fragile muse-

HIRSHHORN

calm professionalism of a tour guide, the caustic attitude of a bitter employee, and the concerned and disconcerting powerfulness of a benevolent god of some sort.

Lett’s embodiment of Jo, a cynical and lonely aspiring journalist, is natural. She moves about the stage with confidence, while

All the lonely people, where do they all come from ning that underlies all of Lila’s loving thoughts, which appear dispersed and rare.

An unlikely protagonist, Lila has fragmented thoughts derived from her tumultuous life and her difficulty in understanding the way the world works.

She grows up in a rugged and poor situation, not uncommon during the Great Depression, but her early childhood is evidently more dejected than most.

Later on, as a grown woman who moves into a shack in Gilead, this past is shown in her rough personality and blunt conversation. But behind her tough facade lies hidden introspection that is often very different from her spoken words. Lila’s endearing thoughts depend on natural metaphors to make sense of the most abstract parts of her world, and her dreamy Midwestern sentence construction resonates in your ears while reading.

“She’d stuffed [his] handkerchief into it, too, because it reminded her of a wound and trying to blot it up or bind it.

The field was turning brown and the milkweed pods were dry and prying themselves open. Everything in that shack she had not hidden was gone, every useless thing.”

Modern devout religious writers with serious clout in the exclusive literary world are few and far between. Robinson has a talent for weaving in Calvinism without being didactic but nevertheless, her faith is present and important. Her spiritual questions incite similar questions in her readers.

The intersection of faith and the high arts is noteworthy, but faith and contemporary creative writing is a more obscure and untrodden territory, making Robinson’s distinguished work even more exceptional. In early

allowing insecurity, fear, and anger to flit in and out of her character with agility. Over the course of the show, Jo seems to develop more nervous tics and anxious tendencies as the tension and exhaustion of post-apocalyptic survival wears on her.

Mansmann is endearingly dorky and desperate as Jules, a scientist who seems doomed to an unfortunate death based on his family history and, as such, is galvanized in his pursuit of survival.

Clarke notes that working with such a small cast is more intimate and says that it gave him “more control of the room.” That intimacy and control seems to have paid off—the cast plays off of each other well and effectively brings laughs and weighty moments in rapid, smooth succession, despite the messiness of the play itself.

With its successful overlapping of the two stories of futuristic museum and present apocalypse, and the two genres of comedy and philosophical wandering together, boom explodes into one enjoyable, cohesive production.

Walsh Black Box Theatre Oct. 30-Nov. 1, Nov. 5-Nov. 8 performingarts.georgetown.edu

eras, art was mainly used as a form of religious expression and admiration, but today, popular art is used almost exclusively as a means for self-expression and discovery. As much of modern civilization begins to move more and more away from religion, it seems that an increasing number of people are finding their way through creativity and art instead. For some, art has filled the role of religion.

Although religion tends to be an uncomfortable topic at times because of modern-day controversies, we should always take note of the functions of religion and the reasons people choose to follow. Lila never directly purports to have any opinion about religion, despite Robinson’s ideology, but it still hovers over that intersection of faith and creativity. And much like its author, the novel is an unconventional creative force that often aligns with conventional perspectives.

Save room for Jesus with Micaela, mfb61@georgetown.edu

georgetownvoice.com

“You know, I’ve always wanted a child. And now I think I’ll have one... on toast!” — Hocus Pocus

the georgetown voice | 11

Decode The Imitation Game Mama Rouge paints the waterfront red GRAHAM PIRO Benedict Cumberbatch has made a career out of playing quirky, troubled geniuses.

Whether it’s the titular character of BBC’s Sherlock, or WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in 2013’s The Fifth Estate, Cumberbatch certainly seems to have a type.

His latest plagued savant, Alan Turing, is no different. Cumberbatch’s performance in The Imitation Game carries the film.

The Imitation Game, as a whole, is competently written and directed. Writer Graham Moore and director Morten Tyldum aren’t exactly household names. Should the film receive Oscar buzz, this work could be their first real hit. Moore’s screenplay follows the story of Turing, the British mathematician and cryptanalyst who, during World War II, led a team of code-breakers at the Government Code and Cypher School at Bletchley Park.

This team was charged with the time-sensitive task of cracking crucial German ciphers during the darkest days of the war.

Moore injects a surprising amount of levity into what is a very dour story. The humor hits on the same beat repeatedly (Turing’s social awkwardness), but Cumberbatch’s endearing naïvete and innocence help the jokes work.

Tyldum isn’t afraid to let the film become emotional and employs a very minimalistic approach to his directing, giving the actors freedom to naturally express emotion throughout their performances.

Cumberbatch takes the spotlight, but his companions are on top of their games as well. Keira Knightley’s Joan anchors the film, and her character simultaneously invokes both sympathy and animosity in the audience. Two British veterans, the always reliable

Mark Strong and the fresh-out-ofWesteros Charles Dance, are wellcast as the military officials with whom Turing often battles.

Turing’s supporting cast— Knightley, Strong, and Dance— aren’t given much development, with the exception of the emotional Matthew Goode as the womanizing Hugh Alexander. Even so, they successfully build the world for Cumberbatch to inhabit.

Cumberbatch is, indeed, in a world of his own with this tourde-force performance. His lines are delivered with the inherent awkwardness expected of the character, but it’s his non-verbal performance that is most impressive. Turing is a deeply conflicted and tragic figure, which Cumberbatch shows with his subtle facial expressions and empty stares. It’s harrowing to watch as the character devolves throughout the course of the movie, and you can’t help but feel sorry for him.

The most interesting part of the movie is, surprisingly enough, not how the mathematicians break the Enigma, but rather what happens afterward. Turing and company are faced with difficult moral decisions as to which German attacks to allow and which to prevent. After an occasionally somnolent first hour, the film comes alive in these moral quandaries. This period is when the group breaks apart and the characters’ true colors are revealed.

It’s also the time when Turing’s life begins to fall apart. The conclusion is devoid of humor, and instead focuses on the emotional turmoil of each character, which makes for a gut-wrenching end.

An attention worthy film focusing on the tragic tale of arguably the most important man in all of World War II, The Imitation Game is more than mere impersonation––it is acting at its finest.

“I’m a high functioning sociopath. do you research.”

IMDB

ZOE SUN Named after Chef Aulie Bunyarataphan’s grandmother—the original Mama Rouge—Georgetown’s latest chic dining option is anything but retrospective. This Southeast Asian bistro offers affordable comfort food with a French flare for a dynamic mixing and matching of flavors from opposite ends of Eurasia.

The decor of Mama Rouge is consistent with its name. The deep red color scheme, bright accent furniture, and a tight seating arrangement give off a warm and cozy vibe one would expect to find in a traditional brasserie on the Rive Droite.

Signature beverages, such as the Thai Basil Soda and Toasted Coconut Milk, elegantly replace the offerings of iced tea and sodas.

The basil in the Thai Soda adds a refreshing twist to what would otherwise be a plain lemon pop.

The latter is a light coconut-flavored drink, without the usual creamy texture of coconut milk.

The presentation of the Chicken Lettuce Wraps—a blend of

roasted chicken and Southeast Asian herbs, such as cilantro and lime wrapped in a lettuce leaf— was surprisingly charming. Despite this charm, the generous dose of soy sauce overshadowed the light and delicate flavors of the appetizer’s fresh ingredients.

The main entrees are not shy in boasting bold spice levels—unique among many American-Asian restaurants.

The Malaysian Massaman, a yellow curry dish with shrimp and tofu, is served with both jasmine rice and a French baguette, tying together the mix-and-match idea of Southeast Asian and French cuisine.

The curry is creamy, but not too heavy and strikes an exciting balance between sweet and salty.

Bean Thread Noodles, a special type of thin crystal noodles served as an entree, is a refreshing, simple customer favorite.

Stir fried with barbeque chicken and vegetables, it provides what we all expect from typical Southeast Asian cuisine: fresh, flavorful, with a spicy flare.

The portion size of the main entrees is generous without be-

ing overwhelmingly large. Be sure to practice your chopstick stills before going to Mama Rogue, however, as the restaurant doesn’t provide forks and knives unless asked.

Typical French desserts, such as Creme Brulee and Pain Perdu, dominate the dessert menu. The Fruit Tartin, a puff pastry topped with a circle of baked apples and a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream, was presented clumsily—more like how a slice of pie would be served at Thanksgiving dinner. The dish, however, compensates in taste what it lacks in appearance, as it is indulgently sweet while unexpectedly light and fresh, consistent with the rest of the meal.

With its sophisticated decor and high-quality food, Mama Rouge finds a niche between an ostentatious French-infused bistro and your local, hole-in-the-wall Southeast Asian fast food joint.

Mama Rouge 3000 K St. N.W. Mon.-Sun., 11:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m. mamarouge.com

Fashion Art Design dresses up Georgetown DINAH FARRELL The surge in Georgetown’s foot traffic during the second annual Fashion Art Design Georgetown was negligible compared to the recent surge in the neighborhood’s creative innovation.

The event, presented by the Georgetown Business Improvement District on Oct. 25, celebrated Georgetown’s diverse array of fashion boutiques, art galleries, and design showrooms. Each of the 15 participating merchants held promotions and special events, from pop-up shops and silent auctions to musical guests and artwork.

The BID’s “idea with this event is to bring together all of the creative, visually inspiring things our retailers are doing for people to explore,” said Communications Director Rachel Cothran.

The D.C. premiere of the documentary Advanced Style was FAD’s signature event. The film is based on a street photography blog following real women over 60, who flaunt their keen fashion sense and ebullience on the sidewalks of New York. These women

epitomize the theme of style, art, and design daily. Their passion for personal expression expands the minds and creative visions for all who watch it. Despite the rose-tinted presentation of the fashion industry, these women challenge viewers to meld playfulness with high fashion, helping to embrace the eclectic and often eccentric ensembles presented at FAD. FAD encourages collaboration between these boutiques and D.C. artists to drive forward Georgetown’s creative culture and mutually push the envelope of fashion, art, and design.

A number of the stores featured in FAD sought to harness that energy through special events. Janus et Cie, a boutique for high-end home decor, challenged 10 designers to use only 3 yards of a Janus textile of their choice to create any item. The results ranged from skirts to lounge cushions.

The eccentric pairings at the event sparked inspiration to act on style and self-expression in ways that contribute to the community. Other events throughout the year similar to FAD, like the French Market in the spring, in-

vest in Georgetown’s artistic community. These exchanges attempt to transform the perception that Georgetown supports high-end brands over independent artists. “[Georgetown] is a hub of fashion, art, and design in D.C.,” Miyahira said. “We have the most of everything here, and that includes the people who work in these establishments, who are some of the most creative people in the city.”

With the steady pulse of ambition across a variety of fields in Georgetown, FAD brings together the people in those fields to be their most creative, honest selves. Lina Plioplyte and Debra Rapoport of Advanced Style urged viewers to become a part of the movement, celebrating ageless style and unceasingly curious creativity.

“Georgetown is a great destination for all things fashion, art, and design,” Showroom Manager of Janus et Cie Katie Pope said.

FAD Georgetown gives an opportunity for artists, consumers, and business owners to share in the diverse creative pursuits in the community: the latest fad in the neighborhood.

leisure

12 | the georgetown voice

CRITICAL VOICES

Have Mercy, A Place of Our Own, Hopeless Records Have Mercy’s second LP, A Place Of Our Own, is a forceful example of emotive rock music and closely follows the band’s debut, The Earth Pushed Back.

In spite of all their album’s strengths, however, the Baltimore four-piece fails to push their sound far enough to earn A Place Of Our Own a spot among this year’s standout albums.

A Place Of Our Own plays to all of Have Mercy’s estab-

Taylor Swift, 1989, Big Machine Records 1989 is not so much a Taylor Swift album as it is a radio-ready electro-pop album that happens to feature Taylor Swift.

If the album does have a redeeming feature, it is the luscious production provided by Max Martin and Shellback, both industry renowned songwriters and producers, and occasional production input from fun. guitarist Jack Antonoff, who proves to have quite the imagination for

lished strengths. Songs craft melodic guitar riffing together with a tremendous vocal performance to tell a sad tale. It’s emo music at its core, but Have Mercy have honed a sharp edge to their music. Every song cuts and jabs the listener, usually culminating in a chilling, loud ending with shouted vocals.

On “Pawn Takes Rook,” for example, the somber beginning grows more and more intense as the guitar and vocals crescendo to a crashing finish. “I’m the pawn and you’re the rook / And you played me like a crook,” closes out the stirring track.

Have Mercy’s tight alt-rock method is a strong reminder of what that vague “indie” label—slapped on every rock band nowadays—should mean in practice. Have Mercy don’t try to be anything other than themselves. They hone in on

their own sound, which falls between genres.

Vocal delivery more than makes up for the often corny, awkward lyrics. Lead singer Brian Swindle expertly transitions between soft crooning and intense, howling breakdowns. It’s as though Swindle aimed to finish recording each vocal track with just enough breath in his lungs to remain standing.

But Have Mercy did all the same stuff on their first album in 2013. There’s no development here. Nothing on this sophomore LP pushes Have Mercy’s obvious uniqueness and creativity even further. Despite its hollering clout, A Place Of Our Own fails to make its own place in Have Mercy’s discography.

this style of synth-pop, reminiscent of CHVRCHES. The team of Martin and Shellback show themselves to be a sensible production duo. The delicate melodies on “All You Had To Do Was Stay,” the sophisticated, urban piano to “Style,” and tasteful guitar flourishes on “Bad Blood” and “How You Get The Girl” highlight their ability to build a track. The ultimate problem with the production is the vocal production. It drains Ms. Swift’s voice of most of its personality and tone.

This lack of personality is the primary flaw in the LP. Many elements that make a Taylor Swift record distinguishable and unique are absent from 1989.

Swift has always relied on her unique vocal tonality to stand out.

Now, that voice is over-produced to the point of unrecognition.

While she retains wisps of her once detail-oriented lyricism

on songs like “Clean,” Swift dips even deeper into the realm of cliches in tracks like opener “Welcome to New York.” Predictably, this track is another pop song about the bright lights of the concrete jungle that never sleeps.

The lyrics are often obscured by the production and bright moments are often lost in the swirl of sounds. Chart-topping “Shake It Off” only serves to be another temper tantrum in the vein of “Mean,” one of Swift’s most distasteful and unartistic works.

Although nothing on ­Swift’s first pure pop production preserves the unpleasant aftertaste of her failed foray into dubstep called “I Knew You Were Trouble,” 1989’s lack of taste isn’t much better.

Voice’s Choices: “Pawn Takes Rook,” “Pete Rose and Babe Ruth” —RYAN GREENE

Voice’s Choices: “Wildest Dreams,” “How You Get the Girl” —JACKSON SINNENBERG

CONCERT CALENDAR THURSDAY 10/30 Lettuce 9:30 Club, 8 p.m., $20

FRIDAY 10/31 Lo Fang U Street, 7 p.m., $15

TUESDAY 11/04 Walk the Moon U Street, 7 p.m., $20

FRIDAY 10/31 Smallpools & Magic Man 9:30 Club, 5 p.m., $18

SUNDAY 11/01 Tigers are Bad for Horses Velvet Longue, 7:30 p.m., $8

WEDNESDAY 11/05 Laura Stevens Black Cat, 8 p.m., $12

REELTALK:

october 30, 2014

Frankly, my dear, I do give a damn

A bi-weekly column about film by Dayana Morales Gomez

There are few things more difficult to talk about than rape.

And there are even fewer more difficult to depict on screen.

Of the films that approach the topic of sexual violence, some merely allude to it, others imply it, and a select few actually show it on screen.

Gone with the Wind remains well-known for its depiction of marital rape. Rhett Butler and Scarlett O’Hara, portrayed by Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh, respectively, enact a difficult scene in the second half of the film. Butler forces himself upon O’Hara—his wife—and carries her upstairs. The rest is left to the viewers’ imagination. The next scene is of O’Hara in bed, with a smile on her face. Butler offers his apologies and a divorce, but she refuses. Being a film from the 1930s, it’s difficult to imagine Gone with the Wind taking a more progressive position.

In 1971, Stanley Kubrick undertook portraying a more violent rape depiction with his adaptation of Anthony Burgess’ A Clockwork Orange. The story isn’t easy to digest: a group of reckless teenagers torture people to death for their own sadistic pleasure. Minutes into the film, Alex DeLarge and the rest of the droogs break into a couple’s home and beat them senseless. DeLarge proceeds to cut the wife’s clothing off as she is held down by one of his buddies. He rapes her on screen in front of her nearly unconscious husband. Kubrick didn’t shy away from disturbing depictions of pain, elucidating a visceral response in the viewer. His movies use this shock factor as their method of approaching the violence rampant in our society.

Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction, released in 1994, was similarly explicit. Boxer Butch Coolidge (Bruce Willis) nearly escapes mobster Marsellus Wallace (Ving Rhames), but runs into him after returning to salvage an irreplaceable family watch. Their chase leads them to a pawn shop and takes a turn for the worse: both men end up tied up. One thing leads to another, as Coolidge escapes and Wallace is left to be raped by the pawn shop’s security guard as the owner watches. Ultimately, Coolidge

kills the owner and lets Wallace shoot the guard in the crotch.

This rape doesn’t have the same haunting effect produced by A Clockwork Orange. The scene shows rape as revenge, pursuing a bigger impact at the expense of commentary on the vulgarity of sexual violence. This use of rape normalizes it as an acceptable, if twisted, form of retaliation.

Perhaps film’s most explicit depiction of rape was in David Fincher’s 2011 adaptation of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara) has to deal with appointed guardians to get money. Her guardian is manipulative and aggressive, raping her before giving the allowance. Salander decides to fight back. In their next meeting, she tases him and rapes him with a dildo. Having recorded their previous encounter, she shows him her prepared blackmail and then tattoos the words “I am a rapist pig” on his chest. The triumph seems damaged because Salander uses rape to combat rape. The reality is that most victims won’t have the desire to rape their rapists, knowing the damage and pain inflicted by this atrocious act.

Maleficent unexpectedly strikes a balance. Using the metaphor of stripping the protagonist’s wings to represent rape, the 2014 Disney film starring Angelina Jolie presents a narrative that is watchable and empowering. A young Maleficent gets drugged by a person she trusts who goes on to cut off her wings.

She becomes more cold and angry, trying to move on from a terrorizing experience.

Though the film overall was a disappointment, it was successful in euphemistically addressing the pain inflicted by rape.

There doesn’t need to be explicit rape to make a point. Shock value isn’t always the answer.

Rape will never be easy to show in film. In an ideal world, its not something we would ever have to depict. We have, at least, moved beyond its romanticization and employment for entertainment to a nuanced discussion of the pain and devastation that it causes.

Get Dayana’s consent at dim23@georgetown.edu

georgetownvoice.com

PAGE THIRTEEN

the georgetown voice |13

– Dylan Cutler

voices

14 | the georgetown voice

OCTOBER 30, 2014

Korean Student Association makes promise for more inclusion TED OH On Oct. 13, the Voice published an article that focused on the role of multicultural clubs on campus and in the community. Among the clubs mentioned, one stood out as having miscommunications between its executive board members and its club members: the Korean Student Association. To address a few of the concerns raised in the article, the KSA would like to give a few words.

First and foremost, we would like to apologize on behalf of every member of the KSA’s executive board.

KSA, in an attempt to create a united Korean community, ended up producing an environment that might have made several Korean-Americans—or anyone else, for that matter—feel excluded.

In trying to foster a second home for international Korean students, we failed to build an environment for non-in-

ternational Koreans to feel included as well. Exclusivity has existed within the KSA, and it is time the KSA takes responsibility for that. The KSA is now working toward a method for providing a more integrated community.

Part of such a method would include thoroughly explaining distinct idiosyncrasies of Korean culture, which will prevent future oversights. Certain exclusions of details in the article may have upset many people who could have thought that some aspects of Korean culture were regulations enforced by the KSA. In any Korean educational and vocational setting, there is a clear distinction made between what are referred to as the sunbae and hoobae. A sunbae is an elder who is in a higher grade or has had more experience.

A hoobae is the opposite: someone who is in a lower grade or has had less experience. This concept is derived

from the Confucian tradition of filial piety, which states that the younger must respect the elder. In return, the elder must also respect the younger—but the former action must come before the latter. Just as one must bow and speak in a formal tone to a sunbae, the sunbaes are to look out for their younger counterparts, give them advice, and be a mentor whenever needed.

The most important thing to note here is that this relationship is not a KSA regulation—it is a part of Korean culture. Therefore, it is more of a personal choice whether you decide to follow this tradition. The KSA is aware that this sunbae-hoobae relationship exists at Georgetown, and, though some may be against this cultural attribute, enforcing an invalidation of this relationship would undermine the very essence of Korean culture and disrespect the community.

Having assimilated themselves into American culture more so than Korean culture, Korean-Americans may find it difficult to adjust to this type of relationship.

This distinction does not aim to draw a line between Korean international students and Korean-Americans, but it is essential to understand that a difference in approach to certain customs exists between the two groups.

One of the events created from this relationship is a non-KSA local meeting of Koreans, held in Seoul, South Korea every summer.

The sunbaes and hoobaes want to engage in an unofficial meet-and-greet mentoring session, especially to help the incoming freshmen. We want to clarify this meeting is purely an independently-organized event, and KSA has no involvement in it whatsoever. It is similar to the Georgetown Admissions Ambassador Program’s summer events that

connect incoming students to upperclassmen.

We would like to reiterate the mission statement of the Korean Student Association: “Unite and introduce the Korean community and culture.” Many have felt that the KSA has been “too Korean” throughout its existence.

But think about it this way: in an American cultural society, we cannot afford to go “soft” in introducing our culture. We need to strive to surpass the already-dominant American culture that veils us in order to break through and demonstrate our Korean culture. In the future, however, the KSA will ensure the inclusion of any and all of those who wish to attend any events hosted by the KSA.

TED OH MSB ‘15 IS co-president of the ksa

American education system perpetuates structural violence LATAZIA CARTER As a student, I am given the opportunity to expand my knowledge every day, but that is not everyone’s reality.

President Barack Obama’s 2015 discretionary spending proposal allocates 55 percent of the $1.16 trillion to the military and 6 percent to education. The discretionary process can be changed annually depending on which programs Congress chooses to fund. Yet every year military functions dominate national spending. I believe the lack of outrage

stems primarily from ignorance, not complacency.

People who live paycheck to paycheck do not have the luxury of researching inequalities—they are living through them. These same people, and countless others, send their children to school in hopes of providing them a better life, but the current education system in the U.S. treats students and youth as profitable commodities, not as the future leaders of this country.

This reality is especially true for public school students. As a public high school graduate from Tennessee,

ELLEN YAEGER

“AND WILL NOT FIGHT HIM FOR CREATIVE CONTROL.”

college and post-graduation options presented to me were limited. On the day of the ACT, my goal was to score a 21 out of 36 to receive the state scholarship worth $4,000 and begin a college education. Joining the military was presented as the next option to fund my education and escape poverty. My teacher asked each of us what we wished to score before the test. I confessed I wanted to score at least a 27. Although I hoped to attend Georgetown if I scored in the 30s range, I believed at the very least, a 27 would allow me to attend a school in D.C. He laughed in my face and told me that not even he scored that high. The experience was demeaning, but I felt inspired to surpass a 27, and I did.

My narrative may insinuate a problem with the individual, but the problem lies on the institutional level as well. We do not invest in our youth, we profit from them.

We spend nearly 10 times more on our military than we do on education. Imagine a family living the American Dream. For every $100 dollars the father spends on building a larger and stronger fence around his home, he buys one of his children a pack of pencils and a few notebooks. To be prepared for school, his

child needs a backpack. If the father truly represented the U.S. government, he would give his child a loan to go buy a backpack. By the time the child enters a less than ideal job, the interest on the loan would far surpass the price of the backpack and its immediate benefits. The other option would be to work for the father in the creation and maintenance of the fence. He would give you a backpack for no cost, but building the fence is dangerous. The child would have to defend the fence with his or her life.

Clearly, option two is too gruesome for a father to do to his children, but the government is more than willing to do so to its citizens.

Problems also lie in the zero-tolerance systems instituted in schools. Zero-tolerance systems treat children as criminals without addressing the economic and social roots of conflict. Restorative justice programs implemented in certain schools in Chicago and other high-risk areas have worked well over time, but need to further develop to become more effective. In order to improve the behavior of youths, we need to invest in them, but there is no profit in that approach. There is, however, a profit in prison systems.

The school-to-prison pipeline predominantly affects the Latino and black communities who are already victims of poverty and other signs of structural and cultural violence. The people profiting from juvenile prisons have reason to donate to state elections to ensure representatives are elected who will take private interests into account. Onethird of incarcerated youth return to prison within a few years and are stigmatized for the remainder of their lives.

The education system in the U.S. is an institution of structural violence, which condemns generation after generation to lives as commodities instead of citizens.

If we want our country to survive, the youth of our country should not have to fight for survival. Unless we alter American spending to focus more on education, the ruin of our country will come from the inside and our incredible fence will stand for nothing.

LATAZIA CARTER COL ‘17 WOULD PREFER TO BE THE OWNER OF BOTH A BACKPACK AND A FENCE

voices

georgetownvoice.com

THE GEORGETOWN VOICe | 15

Transcendentalism on Tumblr is an unattainable ideal SABRINA KAYSER Scroll through your Tumblr feed, and you will probably be inundated with artsy pictures of cappuccinos, road trips, forests, books, and hipster mason jars. These posts project the objects and activities people wish filled their lives. The Tumblr aesthetic, true of a large community within Tumblr, is one that glorifies nature, solitude, and the simple things in life.

This aesthetic appeals to me, but that does not stop me from feeling a sense frustration when presented with it.

What I find worrying is that this focus on reconnecting

with nature and stillness toes the line of escapism.

Many Tumblr users are city dwellers—young, overworked professionals who feel the stress of the fastpaced, urban life. As a society we need to shift some of our attitude. Americans are some of the most overworked people in the world, and stress is practically a modern epidemic (this could just be my European background, with short work weeks and more paid vacations, talking). It is an objective fact that many young professionals and students don’t have enough free time, including the many overcommitted Georgetown students.

“I HEARD THAT THE CABIN DOESN’T COME WITH WIFI.”

KATIE HYLAND

CARRYING ON

I grew up in Maine, the kind of place that makes many Tumblr users start to salivate. When I was a kid, we went on long walks in the autumn woods, ate fresh vegetables from the garden almost every night, had picnics on the beach, read books at night, did art projects, picked blueberries and pumpkins, baked pies, had leisurely breakfasts together on Sunday mornings, and generally lived exactly like the people on Tumblr blogs.

The idealization of the quiet rural life makes me angry. The romanticization of nature has a long history in Western culture, with Romanticism itself and books like Into the Wild. The appeal of “escaping to a cabin in the woods” is still present. This escapist desire, however, exists because it doesn’t take into account boredom and loneliness. Have you ever experienced the intense boredom of frigid February break in a rural New England town?

Maybe you’ve never had to experience it, but I have.

Cabin fever is enough to turn your little sanctuary from the outside world from a heaven into a hell.

All those overworked, stressed-out people on Tum-

Cultural immersion in the Moscow Metro

BY LAURA KUREK

A rotating column by senior Voice staffers

“Why?” was the most common response to my plans to study in Moscow this fall. My answer was three-fold: to submerge myself in a rich language, a culture that has long intrigued the world, and a region the U.S. has lost focus on since the collapse of the U.S.S.R. I would argue that studying in Russia is one of the most authentic cultural immersions one can have in a world as globalized as ours. Unlike other major capitals, Moscow has a relatively low population of English-speakers, especially in the service industry. One has to learn some of the language to get by, which undoubtedly serves as a lesson on culture as well. It is almost impossible to live in Moscow without picking up the city’s mannerisms.

Rarely do you find American students in Moscow being typical American students abroad: the loudest ones at the bar, making little if no attempt

to learn the native language, and posting photos of their international debauchery online.

So then, what does it mean to live like a Muscovite? Let me take you on a ride on the Moscow Metro and show you the basics.

Driving in Moscow is reserved for those who have both the necessary money and nerves. Muscovites take the Metro, a massive transport system that boasts the world’s busiest daily ridership. Designed to be public art, many stations are museums in themselves with statues and massive mosaics.

Get your money out before we approach the ticket window.

Do not say hello or thank you to the attendant—common for most money transactions in Moscow.

Courtesy is expressed by being timely. Hold on as we descend on the escalator at an impossible angle and a speed that feels like an amusement park ride. Soon though, you’ll be running up and down them like a native.

blr don’t seem to understand that sitting around drinking coffee and staring at the rainy woods all day long can get old. These escapists wouldn’t be able to handle the idyllic lives that they fantasize about—part of the reason for these overworked lifestyles is an inability to deal with free time. So often people complain about being unproductive and of wasting time. Maybe this is part of the hardworking, Puritan history of the East Coast, or maybe it’s simply part of the professional and academic worlds, but this drive to be constantly productive has lead to a strong urge to escape, as seen in the Tumblr community.

I am not saying that one should not put effort into creating an enjoyable lifestyle. If you derive satisfaction from living alone in a cabin in the woods, by all means, go ahead and live there. There is no point, though, in moonlighting after romanticized visions of a totally different life. Nothing comes from dreaming without putting anything into action, so put in some concrete effort toward realizing that dream.

I want a less stressful life with more free time to enjoy

Look around. Almost everyone is wearing jeans—a rarity during Soviet times, as it is usually associated with Western style. Notice how most women have heels, hairstyles, and

“

What does it mean to live like a Muscovite? Let me take you on a ride on the Moscow Metro and show you.

”

makeup. The Russian ideal of beauty for women is still very effeminate. Male style is decidedly European: tight pants, leather jackets, and satchels are ever-present.

Over on the up-escalator, a couple is passionately kissing.

This occurence is typical. Metro station make-out sessions next to busts of Lenin are the norm for a culture that values having a significant other. If you date in Russia, be prepared for more

traditional gender roles. Boys are expected to be forward and to make decisions, whereas girls are expected to be soft-spoken and to a need a man’s help.

As we reach the platform, four policemen walk past on patrol. Among their tasks is to watch for male youths dodging the year long military conscription—though many others avoid it by attending higher education or paying sizable sums of money.

Police can and do, however, stop anybody for a passport check.

They also have a reputation for seeking bribes. Always have both on you to avoid problems.

Once on board, do not be alarmed by the apparent silence of the entire car. Many, in fact, are having conversations. Russians speak softer than Americans, especially on the Metro, where being quiet demonstrates respect for others. Make a conscious effort to speak more quietly, as it draws less attention and

my coffee, go on long hikes, and do art projects. The vicious cycle of stress and craziness that many of us fall into is not healthy. But I want to be perfectly clear: idealizing the opposite extreme is unhelpful, inaccurate, and ultimately will not get you to where you want to be.

This is the same attitude that our culture has toward other things, like eating healthy. When did we become so blinded that we forgot our most basic human instincts and had to be taught how to eat well or how to live in a balanced way? We are a culture of extremes, vacillating from epidemics of obesity to fad diets. Is it really so hard to stay balanced?

Rather than overly idealizing the ultimate escape into the wild, or at some expensive zen retreat, maybe we can bring a little bit of that balanced calm into our lives right now and not need to escape them at all.

SABRINA KAYSER SFS ‘17 Thinks you americans are so unaware

acknowledges the culture.

Three women and five men in one Metro car alone are holding flowers: giving loved ones flowers is a huge aspect of Russian culture. Wives can expect flowers on almost a weekly basis. If you give flowers, make sure you have an odd number.

Even is for funerals.

Upon exiting, you will notice many people loitering in the center of the platform. Russians meet friends in the Metro, rather than the street, due to weather and the complexity of metro stations.

The Metro can take you to most anywhere in Moscow. If you are headed for a night out, remember that the Metro closes every night at 1 a.m. and opens at 5:30 a.m. Muscovites, consequently, either start earlier or start later and commit to the whole night.

Each time I ride the Moscow Metro, thousands of passengers pass before my eyes.

I feel the enormity of the city, and I relish my anonymity.

From a seat on one of the biggest transportation systems in the world, I witness culture in motion.

So step aboard, sit down, and soak it in.

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Beware of the Exorcist Stairs: A stencil for pumpkin carving fun.

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Happy Halloween!