The Georgetown Voice, December 4th, 2015

VOICE

The Georgetown

December 4, 2015

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DECEMBER 4, 2015

THE GEORGETOWN VOICE

staff editor-in-chief Daniel Varghese Managing editor Kevin huggard

Volume 48 • Issue 8

news

executive editor Christopher Castano Features editor Graham piro news editor liz teitz assitant news editors lilah burke, caitlyn cobb, thomas stubna

culture

executive editor Joseph pollicino Leisure editor Brian mcMahon assistant leisure editors Tatiana Lebreton, Caitlin Mannering, Maneesha Panja, Sarika Ramaswamy Sports editors Alex boyd, robert ponce Assistant sports editors Santul Nerkar, Tyler pearre, phillip steuber

opinion

Executive editor chris almeida voices editor charles evain assistant voices editor Joseph Dipietro

halftime

Leisure editors Mike bergin, jon block assistant leisure editor danielle hewitt Sports editors Jay benjamin, Matt jasko assistant sports editors jonny amon, chris dunn

“Kala” by Pam Shu

design

contents

Editorials

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Carrying On; The Time of My Life Graham Piro

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Good Cause, Bad Timing Eric Henshall

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The Sound of Silence Annie Wang

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Lookbook: Fall//Winter 2016 Design Staff

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Best of Movies & Music of 2015 Voice Staff

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Executive editor megan howell cover editor patricia lin Spread editor johnny jung assistant design editors abbey Roberts, eleanor sugrue, vance vaughn

copy

editors Sharon Mo, Hanh Nguyen, Amal Farooqui, Maddi Kaigh Anna Gloor, Clara Cecil, Greer Richey, Hannah Wingett Dana Suekoff, Rachel Greene, Matthew Soens, suzanne trivette

online

online editor sahil nair social media editors naba rahman, tiffany tao

Staff writers

Ben barrett, amanda christovich, brendan crowley, elizabeth cunniff, isabel echarte, rachel eshelman, nicholas gavio, anna gloor, andrew granville, christian hallmark, susanna herrmann, amelia irvine, cassidy jensen, Laura Isaza, noah nelson, brendan pierce, justin plumb, Brendan saunders, isaiah seibert, tyler walsh

staff designers

erin annick, emma francois, Allison kaufman, yuna ko, samantha lee, Patricia lin, May li, Abbey roberts, Vance vaughan

business

editor@georgetownvoice.com Leavey 424 Box 571066 Georgetown University Washington, DC 20057

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The opinions expressed in The Georgetown Voice do not necessarily represent the views of the administration, faculty or students of Georgetown University, unless specifically stated. Columns, advertisements, cartoons and opinion pieces do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editorial Board or the General Board of The Georgetown Voice. The university subscribes to the principle of responsible freedom of expression of its student editors.

general manager tim annick senior associate, finance and alumni outreach naiara parker senior associate, accounts and sales jessica ho

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THE GEORGETOWN VOICE

read more on georgetownvoice.com retweet of @whalers26

Brooklyn’s Talented Cast Triumphs Caitlin Mannering reviews Brooklyn, a touching romantic tale told across two continents, filled with beautiful scenery and memorable performances from Saoirse Ronan, Emory Cohen, and Domnhall Gleeson.

fox searchlight pictures

Leisure GSP Winter Housing Receives Support

Sahil nair

news

Lilah Burke reported on a new Winter House initiative that will provide housing over winter break to up to ten students with unstable living situations. While campus residences are closed during the vacation, Georgetown Scholarship Program is renting an Airbnb near campus for students to stay in free of charge.

Crossword Puzzle ACROSS:

By Kathleen Coughlin

1. Played in the water 5. Musical repeat 9. Strip 14. Opera solo 15. Baker’s need 16. International criminal court locale 17. Split 18. Fix 19. Solo 20. Digit 22. Important glands 24. Count 25. Bites 26. Scenic route 28. Dined 29. Elderly 32. Inexperienced 33. Oneness 35. Dessert in pumpkin, apple, or cherry 36. Baby sheep 37. Brooch 38. Fluid buildup 40. Cryophobe’s fear 41. Painter Freida 43. Ventilated

Last issue’s solution

44. Chili bowl owner 45. Caviar 46. School assignment 47. Cain’s brother 49. Long term memory 50. Competence 53. Due 57. Canned chili brand 58. Piquant 60. 365 days 61. Cliff dwelling bird 62. Fencing sword 63. Sicilian volcano 64. Resource 65. Sen. counterparts 66. Pops

DOWN: 1. Draped garment 2. Small bird 3. Am not 4. Spun (3 words) 5. Farce 6. Again 7. Bear’s home 8. Slightly faster than andante 9. ___ as a tack

10. Part of the UK 11. Stravinsky ballet 12. Chicken of the Sea product 13. Foot part 21. Baltic port city 23. Attempt to slim down 26. Steady 27. Middle East country 28. Like a crone 29. Musical production 30. Sailor 31. Kaput 32. Flippant 33. Cover the furniture 34. Like beer or bread dough 39. Disappointed 42. God of war 46. Excites 47. Slant 48. Sire 50. Toward the ocean 51. Parent groups 52. Labels 53. Make ready 54. Second Greek letter 55. Touch down 56. Time periods 59. Mimic

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EDITORIALS

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DECEMBER 4, 2015

Beat ‘Cuse

Overcoming the Hoya Blues

It is a tough time to be a college student. The gloom and gray of early winter, along with the dread of quickly approaching finals, are enough to suck the life out of even the most optimistic student. The rush of move-in and homecoming has faded, and end-of-the-year celebrations, including our very own Georgetown Day, are still five long months away.

But this year has been especially challenging for college students. Campuses across the nation have become sites of bitterness and division as students and faculty face off along protest lines. Georgetown is no stranger to these protests, as Hoyas continue to battle each other over the results of the recent #BuiltOn272 demands and the sit-in at President DeGioia’s office. Especially on the Hilltop, things have never looked so bleak.

Hoyas have little to unite around these days. Sports filled that role at one point, but early exits by the men’s and women’s soccer teams from the NCAA Tournament and a deflating season opening for men’s basketball have driven away some who were once interested. Unlike big-time football schools, where students, alumni, and fans devote an entire day of the week to bonding together and celebrating their program, unity among Hoyas is rare and fleeting. The 4,062 fans at Tuesday’s men’s basketball game against Maryland Eastern Shore represented the lowest turnout at a men’s basketball game since 2005, but no one can be blamed for not showing up. Sports culture at Georgetown is at an all-time low.

And yet, against all odds, something amazing is happening. Students and faculty, fans and non-fans alike, are all congregating over a rivalry that was thought to have

died years ago. Facebook groups are blowing up with desperate Hoyas willing to pay big money for a basketball ticket. Leo’s is replaying rivalry games from the past on the projector. Everyone is talking about Syracuse.

Since the 1970s, hating Syracuse has been one of the few rituals that all Hoyas take part in. This game is one of the rare opportunities for people who would otherwise have nothing in common to come together and form a community, and it might not happen that many more times. The next home game in the rivalry will not be for another two years, when this year’s juniors and seniors will have already left, and many of the current freshmen will be abroad. We get this experience just once during our time on campus, twice if we’re lucky. It would be a shame not to take advantage of it.

Are we uniting over hate? Lord Voldemort and Emperor Palpatine would certainly be pleased. But it’s less about the hate than the love for a Hoya tradition that spans almost 40 years, a tradition that we all thought was lost. It’s about the love for something we can all share and experience together. It’s about connecting to a practice that has lasted generations, and that, hopefully, tomorrow’s Hoyas will continue for years to come.

It’s irrational, it’s silly, and it’s cheesy. But it is a chance to be irrational, silly, and cheesy together. That’s what a rivalry is all about. It’s not about the hate. It’s about the magical effect it has on a group of people that regular day-to-day campus life cannot produce. It’s not just a game, and it’s not just about the basketball. It’s about being a Hoya. It’s about being together, and we don’t have many opportunities to be together right now.

Rules of Engagment On Thursday, December 1st, the Working Group on Slavery, Memory, and Reconciliation hosted a TeachIn on Georgetown’s history with slavery in Gaston Hall.

According to the event’s Facebook page, the purpose of the Teach-In was to increase familiarity with Georgetown’s relationship to slavery in its past.

This Editorial Board fully endorses the Teach-In. With recent events, such as the renaming of Mulledy and McSherry Hall still fresh in mind, the Teach-In is a valuable method for educating the campus population about the relationship between Georgetown and slavery. This is undoubtedly key for understanding Georgetown’s history.

Where this Board takes issue with the event is how it was promoted by the University. While the Facebook event was created well ahead of time, an email about the event did not go out to the entire campus population until the day before the event. The Facebook event was a smart use of social media to promote the event, but the University must take the initiative earlier on informing all of campus. It is unacceptable to be notified only a day in advance of such an event’s occurrence.

Moreover, this past week, GUSA voted against adding a referendum to the February GUSA Executive Ballot, which would have called for the student body to vote on Georgetown’s divestment from fossil fuels. The referendum had been called for by GU Fossil Free (GUFF) in a YouTube video that was posted on Nov. 2nd.

The unity will not last. No matter how the game plays out, everyone will return to their ordinary isolated homework routine when the sun rises on Sunday. This experience that used to take place several times over the course of six months, is now only available for two hours every other year. And it is exactly because this game is so rare, and because it May li is so short, that makes it all the more meaningful.

The Editorial Board encourages anyone connected to Georgetown to splurge for a ticket and to get excited. We understand that everyone is busy, and that the pressure of finals is growing by the minute, but take two hours out of your Saturday afternoon to be a part of something special, part of a feeling that is becoming harder and harder to create. It’s something that can’t be dismissed. Buy into this rivalry. Go all in. Give yourself over to the overwhelming sea of blue and gray ready to fill Verizon Center. Allow yourself to be irrational, silly, and cheesy together. You may not have the chance again.

Expanding Campus Dialogue

This Board does not agree with GUSA’s decision to vote against the referendum on divestment. The GUSA acronym stands for the Georgetown University Student Association, and its primary function must be to act as an organization that represents the student body. Voting against the referendum expressly defeats GUSA’s main purpose.

The reasoning that GUSA gave, according to Speaker of the Senate Enushe Khan (MSB’ 17), was that, “Most senators seemed to lean towards the idea that the referendum ballot should not be used as a polling tool, since this particular referendum does not seem to have a predictable voting outcome.” However, GUSA’s decision fails to account for the 2000+ signatures that the initiative received when it was released to the entire student body. For almost a third of the student body to sign the petition shows a significant interest from the larger population. Voting against the referendum defeats the purpose of GUSA. Both of these examples are indications of the status of student engagement on Georgetown’s campus. Georgetown has extremely outspoken individual student groups; however, the majority of campus is too easily shut out of important dialogues. While this Board does not always agree with their methods, groups like GUFF and the Working Group on Slavery, Memory, and Reconciliation contain examples of passionate members of the Georgetown community mobilizing around an issue that they feel strongly about.

These groups, and the University, must focus on expanding student engagement. Any decision regarding issues as important to Georgetown’s past as slavery, or as important to Georgetown’s future as divestment, must incorporate as many nuanced views as possible.

That is the priority of a campus dialogue.

Georgetown’s student body is a passionate and outspoken one. It is now the responsibility of the University to effectively engage the body, and ensure that dialogues in the future involve all students and productive for the future of Georgetown.

emma francois

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THE GEORGETOWN VOICE

Carrying On: Voice Staffers Speak

The Time of My Life

Managing Expectations of University Life

I learned the value of holding the high ground during battle very early in my life. On any given snow day, my front lawn would become a war zone. Trees were valuable sources of cover, mounds of snow sandbags and valuable sources of ammo, and the driveway a cavernous point of contention between my brother and myself. Conflicts would range from whenever we finished shoveling the driveway to the onset of night. Peace treaties were perpetually negotiated at the kitchen table over hot chocolate, provided that there were a sufficient amount of marshmallows on hand to keep both sides at the table.

They were promptly discarded at the first entrance into the snow the next day.

The stakes during these battles fluctuated depending on our moods. On some days, we were fighting for the fate of the world, on others, the fate of our front yard.

We would spend hours fighting off invasions of imaginary battle droids, or some evil James Bond villain, or if we were extremely creative, an army of Orcs straight from Mordor. Whatever the situation, I didn’t think my life could get any better, or more intense, than those snowfilled days.

Unfortunately, I soon learned that not all of life involved throwing snowballs at invisible armies. Snow days went from enjoyable outdoor adventures to experiments to see how long I could sleep on a day off from school.

Invasion of battle droids quickly took a backseat to school

Megan howell

during the teenage years, which brought with them the required amount of angst and self-consciousness. The wonderful, innocent, naive days of yore were replaced by the be-all and end-all nature of the dreaded college application process.

As maturity slowly set in, I distanced myself from my more imaginative early years. The extensive mental preparation for Georgetown involved the acknowledgment that I now possessed sole agency for my actions, a scary thought indeed. The idea of an awkward, constantlyslightly-out-of-place person like myself adjusting to an entirely new social situation was daunting. I was told my concerns were typical, and also for naught: college was going to be “the best four years of my life.”

As the first semester of my sophomore year comes to a close, those seven words have stuck with me, like a refrain.

Freshman year was an amalgam of various experiences, some great, some bad, and some I struggle to remember for reasons I would prefer not to disclose in a widely-read publication. One thing was clear, however. My formative years were far from over, as I realized that I had learned more than I ever could have asked for over one year. And yet, it hadn’t felt like one of the best years of my life.

I was disappointed in myself because I wasn’t always having an incredible time. As I was trapped in Lau for entire nights during finals, or as I sat in my room with a dearth of plans on a Friday night, or as I found myself

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feeling lonely or isolated, I continually asked myself if this was supposed to be the zenith of my life. Life was dominated by existential crises and questioning of my selfworth. The best years? Maybe for everyone else. Simply put, life had the high ground over me. Plus, how could college compare with the innocence of youth? Surely my days defending the world from certain doom at the hands of some Orc army (you’re all welcome, by the way) were my greatests hits.

Sophomore year was supposed to be the turning point, but instead I discovered that the sophomore slump was real, and it was happening. I still wasn’t in love with Georgetown. I had been told so many times during freshman year that I would find that moment where everything clicked and I fell in love with Georgetown. It didn’t happen. Being overwhelmed by relationships and work became the norm, to a point where I was able to adopt a numbness just to get through the day. I lost friends I never thought I would have to say goodbye to.

But much like the rest of my experience at college, I came to realize that I wasn’t special or unique, or alone.

My struggles were felt by many others, a fact that I learned through various outlets: ESCAPE, reflections at GIVES meetings, or late-night dorm room conversations. My nights staying in indulging in self-pity and hand-wringing were neither productive nor enriching. Instead, I found myself wallowing all too often, bemoaning my inability to fit in. The problem was not Georgetown, the problem was me. I had crafted a narrative in which I did not fit in on the Hilltop, and I crafted my actions to cater to this story, using it as an excuse whenever I experienced social or professional rejection.

At some point, I cannot say when, I realized the trick to surviving college. It isn’t the best four years of my life.

In fact, it shouldn’t be. Instead, college should be looked at as the four most formative years of my life. Every belief and value I had held so near and dear in high school was questioned and strengthened or replaced. I failed at more things first semester of freshman year than I had in all my eighteen years prior.

Whether I wanted it to or not, Georgetown opened my eyes to reality. I may not have reached a point where I’ve felt completely content on campus, but part of me may not ever want to. That would mean an end to introspection and constant attempts at self-betterment, at which point I would stop growing.

This place has taught me how to constantly stay on my toes and deal with the idea that I’m not special. At least going forward I’ll be a bit more prepared for whatever tricks college, and life beyond have up their sleeves. After all, if I can defeat an army of battle droids with nothing but a few snowballs and my brother at my side, then I can handle whatever Georgetown wants to throw at me. As long as there is hot chocolate afterwards.

BY GRAHAM PIRO

He is a sophomore in the College.

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VOICES

6 THE GEORGETOWN VOICE

A referendum on divestment at this time would be futile at best and counterproductive at worst.

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DECEMBER 3, 2015

Good Cause, Bad Timing

A response to GU Fossil Free’s criticism There is no doubt that climate change is one of the pivotal issues of our generation. But along with twelve of my colleagues in the GUSA Senate, I voted against holding a referendum to ask the student body whether Georgetown should divest its endowment from fossil fuel companies. Divestment would demonstrate our commitment to protecting the environment, but a referendum on divestment at this time would be futile at best and counterproductive at worst.

GUSA has held a nonbinding referendum twice in recent memory. In the spring of 2012, the Disciplinary Review Committee composed of students, faculty, and administrators had recommended raising the evidentiary standard for Code of Student Conduct violations from “more likely than not” to “clear and convincing.” Despite support from GUSA and the Student Advocacy Office, Todd Olson, the administrator responsible for making the change, continued to limit student engagement. The following September, the student body voted overwhelmingly in favor of raising the standard, and three weeks after the referendum, Dr. Olson raised the evidentiary standard for on-campus incidents.

The following year, the University proposed housing students in satellite dormitories, potentially as far as Arlington, Virginia, to meet housing requirements mandated by the 2010 Campus Plan. The GUSA President and his chief of staff joined with other student leaders to place a referendum on the ballot in time for the September GUSA Senate elections in which 93 percent of students opposed a satellite campus. One month later, administrators took the option off the table and opted to renovate the former Jesuit Residence instead.

The referenda in 2012 and 2013 both addressed pending decisions in which administrators had previously ignored or dismissed student concerns. Although the Disciplinary Review Committee had recommended raising the evidentiary standard, Dr. Olson had yet to make his final decision when the referendum was held. Likewise, the satellite campus proposal was in its conceptual stages when the “One Georgetown, One Campus” campaign mobilized against it. Fortunately, administrators chose to side with students when the referenda showed a united student body.

In contrast, the Board of Directors has already made its decision about divestment. The Committee on Investments and Social Responsibility rejected GU Fossil Free’s proposal in January in favor of divesting only from the coal companies with the most detrimental impact on the environment. The Board of Directors then established a working group, which affirmed the recommendation despite input from Fossil Free, before unanimously agreeing to the working group’s watered-down version of divestment.

While Fossil Free was understandably disappointed, they were unable to convince the GUSA Senate that a referendum would persuade the Board of Directors to reconsider their decision. If Fossil Free’s tireless advocacy and a petition signed by over 2,500 members of the community did not convince the Board that there was broad support for divestment, it remained unclear to me how a survey run by GUSA would change their minds. During previous referenda, student input had the potential to be the tipping point in the decision-making process; asking the University’s governing body to reopen a matter it recently settled and to reconsider a proposal it already rejected is unlikely to succeed.

A referendum is one of many options student leaders use to pressure and persuade administrators to adopt policies favorable to students. It is not a poll, but an advocacy tool, best used when the question is salient and the student body is united. Previous outcomes have shown that administrators do care about the results of these referenda, but if GUSA employs them too frequently and administrators ignore the results, they may lose their legitimacy.

Moreover, the timing of the vote—concurrent with the election of the next GUSA President and Vice President—would no doubt focus the campus conversation on divestment at the expense of other concerns, as happened in previous years. Divestment is an important issue, but it is one of many, along with sexual assault, off-campus conduct reform, the 2018 Campus Plan, sustainability, student safety, club funding, dining, and

mental health, among others. The Senate was concerned that a renewed focus on divestment, an already finalized decision, would divert the student body’s attention from other issues where student input could be crucial in that ensuring administrators make decisions that align with student interests.

Past referenda also considered policies directly related to student life and students rights. GUSA’s core mission and fundamental purpose is to focus our advocacy on issues central to student interests. Divestment is not one of those issues. It is, fundamentally, a question about climate change and the University’s role in responding to a global crisis. Students should be and have been stakeholders in these discussions, but the University’s investment portfolio has no direct effect on the student experience.

As a member of the Speech and Expression Committee and an advocate for free speech, I am disappointed that Fossil Free criticized GUSA’s decision on free speech grounds, comparing this vote to “censorship.”

GUSA did not foreclose further discussion, as Fossil Free has suggested, but merely opted against administering an official poll of the student body.

Fossil Free retains access to the same means of dialogue and communication that are open to every student group and were effective in bringing attention to divestment in the first place.

GUSA has long believed that divesting from fossil fuel companies is the right thing to do, which is why the Senate called for divestment in the fall of 2013. I hope Fossil Free continues its advocacy and that GUSA can remain a valued partner. But instead of prioritizing issues where our voices are least likely to have a tangible impact, let’s look to the future and focus on protecting student rights and ensuring that student life on the Hilltop is as rich and vibrant as possible.

BY ERIC HENSHALL

He is a senior in the College.

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THE GEORGETOWN VOICE

Asking more from GUSA and Georgetown

Erin Annick

In mid-November, the GUSA Senate voted against having a referendum on divestment appear on the spring executive ballot. As a non-binding poll of collective opinion, this referendum would have allowed students the opportunity to show support for or disapproval of fossil fuel divestment. By vetoing this measure, the GUSA Senate effectively denied students the right to voice this opinion.

The referendum was meant to highlight the importance of student voices on the topic of divestment. In June 2015, Georgetown’s Board of Directors voted to partially divest the University’s endowment from direct holdings in coal only. Though students had worked on a proposal for divestment for two years through the proper channels, it was an immense struggle to get divestment on the table as a consideration during the Board meeting in June. Once the student-authored proposal was put on the Board agenda, students were not allowed a voice in the Board meeting or even allowed to explain their proposal and answer questions to the full Board. As stakeholders at this University, students should have the right and responsibility to have a seat on important University decisions such as divestment. Not only do we pay tuition, but we also provide the sole purpose for the University’s existence. I am not arguing that students should always get their way, but denying our right to voice our collective opinion on these issues in an impactful way means denying our own importance at this institution. The referendum, on the other hand, would have been a student-driven method to allow students this means of group expression.

During the first Senate meeting at which this referendum was discussed, senators also expressed concern that the referendum included biased language. However, the final version of this referendum, presented to the Senate in the second meeting to discuss this measure, had been edited to remove potentially biased language and had even had a GUSA senator’s edits.

Senators also worried that a referendum on divestment would take away

from other, timelier issues being discussed on campus (e.g., sexual assault policy reform, race on Georgetown’s campus). I agree that all of these issues need attention, especially considering recent social events around the country, but divestment would not take away from these topics. Instead, divestment stands as another intersectional social justice issue that needs to be addressed.

Georgetown students are intelligent and are more than capable of considering multiple issues at the same time. If the GUSA Senate was concerned about a lack of bandwidth to fully address all issues that students care about, the solution is not to start knocking issues off the docket, thereby reducing the ability of students to exercise their constitutionally-guaranteed right to be involved “with the Governance of the University.”

Moreover, GUSA senators also voiced that divestment, being a complicated issue, would require substantial education for the student body and as such should not be on the referendum. In order to address these concerns, third-party groups volunteered to write and disseminate an unbiased, educational packet on divestment. The Senate chose to reject this measure. Furthermore, students are capable of doing their own research when forming their opinions on divestment. These sources of education would surely have been sufficient to ameliorate the concerns of the GUSA Senate.

Lastly, senators thought that the referendum on an Executive ballot would “politicize” the issue of divestment. The problem is that divestment is already a political issue; whether a referendum occurred before, during, or after the GUSA Executive Election, the GUSA Executive would be asked about the issue and would have to develop a position in regards to it. Further, fossil fuel divestment is an issue that relates to the student body and that is garnering discussions both globally and locally. Our elected student officials should ultimately have some position on it.

A referendum of the student body would have given students, important stakeholders in this university, the chance to express their positions on this issue. In light of recent news, including evidence of ExxonMobil’s cover up of the devastating effects of fossil fuels, the Paris climate talks in December, and escalation of divestment campaigns across the country, divestment has become a polarizing issue on many college campuses including this one. What is unclear, however, is the extent to which students agree with divestment as a policy change. A referendum of the entire student body would have been the most accurate means by which the opinions of the student body can be measured, because it would give every undergraduate student the opportunity to say “Yes, I am in favor of this,” or “No, I am not.” By rejecting a referendum, GUSA impeded students from expressing their support or dissent on this timely issue.

As students with the opportunity to attend such a prestigious university, we must leverage our position to help make our world a more habitable place for ourselves and for others. Divestment is one powerful tool that universities and institutions around the world have to help achieve this end, and one that has been successful in the past—such as in the Apartheid era. By leaving our investments in fossil fuel companies, we are making the choice to be complicit in the crimes of fossil fuel companies, the oppression of communities around the world, and the destruction of our planet.

This is the reality of our situation. Either way, our investments take on a political and social meaning. We should choose instead to use our position, our money, and our influence to move our University and our world towards a more climate-friendly and just society, a decision that students should wholeheartedly be a part of.

VOICES

The Sound of Silence

Denying our right to voice our collective opinion on these issues in an impactful way means denying our own importance at this institution.

BY ANNIE WANG

She is a senior in the College.

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DECEMBER 4, 2015

fall // winter 8

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THE GEORGETOWN VOICE

street style

(From left to right) On Emma: Forever 21 sweater, Loft pants, Sorel shoes; On Kala: Abercrombie & Fitch dress, stylist’s jacket, Forever 21 earrings, Michael Kors watch, Vince Camuto shoes; On Shawn: Madison 88 scarf, Graham & Spencer shirt, Levi jeans, Nike sneakers, Skagen watch; On Jonah: J. Crew sweater, Billabong pants, Sperry shoes; On Nehal: Anthropologie top, Zara leggings, River Island coat, H&M belt, Irish boutique necklace, Frye boots; On Luis: Forever 21 shirt, Forever 21 jeans, H&M coat, Sonoma shoes.

Art Directors

Photographers

Assistants

Models

Megan Howell Eleanor Sugrue

Pam Shu Sophia Super

Dinah Farell Johnny Jung Allie Kaufman

Nehal Abdelrahman Shawn Allen Jonah Birnberg Kala Deterville Emma Francois Luis Sorto

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On Nehal: J. Crew hat, Free People top, Anthropologie sweater, stylist’s necklace, Zara leggings, Free People shoes.

On Kala: Free People scarf, Brandy Melville sweater, model’s necklace, Topshop skirt, stylist’s tights, Vince Camuto boots.

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DECEMBER 4, 2015

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THE GEORGETOWN VOICE

casual

On Jonah: Old Navy top, Old Navy sweater, Old Navy vest, Ralph Lauren jeans, Sperry shoes.

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DECEMBER 4, 2015

On Emma: Gap jacket, Juicy Couture dress, Halogen shoes; On Luis: model’s custom suit, Stafford shirt, model’s shoes.

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THE GEORGETOWN VOICE

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DECEMBER 5, 2015

Best of 2015: The Voice 's Top 10 Movies & Albums 1.Mad Max: Fury Road

Fury Road is a brilliant revival of a franchise long considered to be dormant. Tom Hardy takes over for Mel Gibson as the eponymous Max, and he delivers an extremely physical and understated performance.

The real star of the film is Charlize Theron, who portrays Imperator Furiosa, a surprisingly feminist character determined to save the wives of the evil Immortan Joe from a life of captivity. The story is nothing innovative, but its simplicity allows for the film’s action scenes to thrive. Writer and director George Miller creates some of the most visually stunning and exciting action set pieces in any film in recent memory. Fury Road is not just the best action film of the year; it’s one of the best of all time.

- Graham Piro

2.The Martian Director Ridley Scott has distilled Andy Weir’s much-beloved but jargon-heavy novel into a thrilling and powerful movie without sacrificing any of the grittiness and intelligence that launched the book to such meteoric heights. Scott transforms the rust-red expanses of Jordan’s Wadi Rum desert into a Mars as elegant as it is desolate. Damon shines with one planet to himself and another looking on in tortured anticipation. The relationships strike all the intended emotional chords, and the action scenes are all that much more exhilarating due to the desperate moments the audience spends alone with Damon’s astronaut, as he fights to stay alive in a hostile world.

-Kevin Huggard

4.Ex 5.Bridge of Spies Machina Director Steven Spielberg and stars Tom

Ex Machina, a brilliant low-budget science fiction offering from writer and director Alex Garland, is a realistic look at the impacts of artificial intelligence on hu3.Inside Out manity. The film is contained to mostly Inside Out centers on the personified one location, and chooses to build the emotions of Riley, an 11-year-old girl. plot with a slow-burn style that is equal Her life takes a turn when her family parts intriguing and visually arresting. Alimoves from Minnesota to San Francisco, cia Vikander portrays Ava, a stunningly and we watch her emotions struggle to beautiful creation of artificial intelligence. deal with the new situation. In usual Pix- Her performance anchors the film. The ar fashion, the film combines stunning film moves slowly, allowing the viewer to animation with an original and heartfelt connect to the characters and understand storyline. Almost psychoanalytical in na- the intricacies and implications of Ava’s ture, its storyline remains fun and simple creation. Its ending is incredibly crafted, enough to be understood by younger and it leaves the viewer simultaneously audiences, while still keeping older view- questioning the message of the film ers entertained. The main message to and feeling extremely take away from the film is that it’s OK satisfied. to be sad sometimes, something adults -Graham and children alike aren’t reminded of Piro enough. This is a daring, heartwarming, and mature movie by Pixar, and it pays off.

-Tatiana Lebreton

9.Spy 10. Avengers: The Melissa McCar- Age of Ultron

6.Straight Outta Compton

Straight Outta Compton tells the story of N.W.A., from the group’s inception to its dissolution. Led by O’Shea Jackson, Jr. playing his own father, Ice Cube, the cast delivered faithful and energetic performances. The film takes on too many years and storylines to be taut, but, at its core, it remains a powerful underdog story, driven by the meteoric rise and complex relationships of an iconic group. Armed with authentic attention to detail and a familiar soundtrack, Compton has value for both the N.W.A. faithful and the uninitiated.

The group and its stars were too large to contain easily, and director F. Gary Gray did well to include as much detail as possible to give the film a sense of realism.

-Brian McMahon

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Hanks and Mark Rylance find critical and commercial success with Bridge of Spies, a simmering drama set against the backdrop of the Cold War. The film makes its mark with dialogue and aesthetic appeal rather than ostentatious effects. The tension between Hanks and Rylance is excellent, and the two grow closer together despite their differences over the course of the movie. The action scenes are necessary when they do appear, driving the intricate narrative, rather than veering away from it. When a film boasts the work of Hanks, Spielberg, and the Coen brothers, expectations are bound to be high, and Spies did not disappoint. -Brian McMahon

7.Spectre

Daniel Craig’s Bond is back in the latest 007 film, Spectre. The film, directed by Sam Mendes, is, in a word, beautiful: everything from Bond’s Aston Martin DB10, to Madeleine Swann’s flowing gowns, to stellar settings and crisp cinematography make Spectre a fun, aesthetically-pleasing addition to the franchise. The action scenes are exactly what one would expect from a Bond film: fast-paced with ridiculous stunts, great gadgets, and cunning, Bond-esque humor. Overall, Spectre is a great addition to the Bond series, and earns a spot here for its cinematography, action, wit, and classic 007 intrigue.

-Erika Bullock

8.Dope

Dope brilliantly subverts the typical coming-of-age story about a teenager finding his place in society. Malcolm, Jib, and Diggy are different: they wear retro clothes, play punk music in their band, and have large aspirations to leave The Bottom, their local crime-ridden neighborhood. But after being invited to a party by a local thug, they find themselves immersed in a world of drugs, women, and violence they battled relentlessly to avoid.

Writer and director Rick Famuyiwa injects the proceedings with a sense of humor to keep the film grounded. Likened to The Breakfast Club, Dope is original, engaging, and makes you wonder who you’ll meet at your next alumni function. -Jonny Amon

thy-starring Spy was one of 2015’s biggest surprises. The film boasts a star-studded cast, led by McCarthy, Rose Byrne, Jude Law, and Jason Statham, who steals the film in a hilarious turn as an inept secret agent. The plot may not break new ground, but McCarthy’s endearing performance sells the movie. Writer and director Paul Feig, of Bridesmaids fame, proves again that he is adept at writing comedy films that star strong female characters. Rose Byrne chews the scenery as the film’s main villain, and the banter between her character and McCarthy’s character is great to witness. McCarthy’s self-deprecating sense of humor makes Spy one of the most fun films of 2015.

-Graham Piro

Another addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Age of Ultron may not live up to the standard of the first Avengers film, but it is still a worthwhile summer blockbuster. It has action, highlighted by the brawl between the Hulk and Iron Man in the middle of a packed city, emotional intensity, and the quips everyone loved from the first Avengers film. The film feels a little too jammed at times, but writer and director Joss Whedon delivers memorable set pieces and great character moments in spades. Age of Ultron sets up the future of the MCU brilliantly, and it provides a great ride for audiences while doing it. -Charles Evain

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THE GEORGETOWN VOICE

1. To Pimp a Butterfly - Kendrick Lamar Kendrick Lamar’s latest LP is not for the faint of heart. The Compton native directs his wide eyes outside of the small circle of his own personal experience. Where the focus in good kid, m.A.A.d city, Lamar’s preceding offering, is limited to the streets Lamar inhabited as he grew, To Pimp a Butterfly is limitless, frantically attempting to grapple with every problem plaguing American society.

Lamar captures a litany of deep, nuanced positions in just 80 minutes. The music constantly shifts between the genres of funk, jazz, and hip-hop in a way that is absolutely captivating. In To Pimp a Butterfly, Lamar proves that he is the voice for an entire generation.

-Daniel Varghese

2. Surf - Donnie Trumpet and the Social Experiment One can debate its coherence, but there is no questioning the musical achievement that Surf represents. Donnie Trumpet and The Social Experiment’s debut effort is a collaboration in the truest sense — 57 different people are credited. Jazz, soul, and rap collide in a frenetic mix of styles and talents loosely unified by the relaxed, ethereal sound that threads through the album. It lacks the linear qualities of Acid Rap, but this album was never intended to be a sequel.

Where Chance the Rapper’s individual masterpiece seemed to come from the sidewalk, the dorm room, and the passenger seat, Surf is made to feel like it floated down from somewhere in the skies.

-Kevin Huggard

6. Hamilton (Original Broadway Cast Recording) The driving force behind the hit Broadway musical Hamilton is creator Lin-Manuel Miranda’s energy.

All 46 tracks on the album exude Miranda’s passion and literal genius (he received the MacArthur Genius Grant earlier this year). Every line of Miranda’s rap musical about Alexander Hamilton is packed with references to everything from Biggie Smalls to Les Miserables. Miranda’s lyrical mastery ropes listeners in as they meet the tragic Aaron Burr and the fiery Alexander Hamilton. A complex portrayal of very real events drives the album forward. You’ll never appreciate American history more than after you listen. When tickets for the show are going at a hefty $700 a pop, the cast recording is the best alternative to seeing the show live.

-Danielle Hewitt

3. If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late - Drake Drake’s If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late showcases Drake’s development as an artist. The usual melancholy production from OVO Sound’s 40 and PartyNextDoor takes a back seat to harder, more driven beats by Boi-1da and others, dictating a shift in Drake’s flows away from the mellowness of Nothing Was The Same.

This stronger style is evident on tracks like “10 Bands,” “Energy,” and “6 God.” However, Drake still punctuates his new sound with the old, with several tracks taking after his signature emotional and mellow style. Drake may have released IYRTITL to make a quick buck, but he succeeded in evolving and varying his sound ever so slightly along the way.

-Sahil Nair

7. Every Open Eye - CHVRCHES This sophomore album from the Scottish band CHVRCHES is a synth fan’s dream. Every Open Eye covers the spectrum of electronic music ranging from bubbly pop to darker, new wave-style tracks. The trio remains loyal to the style of their first album while expanding their musical genre. Incredible tracks include “Down Side of Me,” which uses enchanting hooks, expanding the sound that they presented to the world in Bones of What You Believe, the band’s debut album. Although the album can feel a little generic and safe at times, CHVRCHES still takes enough risks to make the album a rewarding experience. Every Open Eye presents another interesting chapter in the life of CHVRCHES, revealing a new and unexpected expression of the synth-electronica genre.

-Mike Bergin

5. Cherry Bomb - Tyler, the Creator 4. I Love You, Honeybear - Father John Misty Father John Misty has lived up to his paternal monicker in his newest LP, imparting wisdom and mystery throughout the 11 songs that make up the album.

Misty may not always be the smartest person in the room, but he is certainly the most aware, of both himself and everything around him. The first half of his album serves as self-criticism; the second a critique of the society he lives in, in all of its confusion and complexity. This confusion serves as the basis for the core of the album. Misty is both sensitive and complacent, questioning and confident. His lyrics may mock modern American life, but the music he makes could be described as nothing short of Americana.

-Chris Dunn

While Tyler, the Creator may have gained his fame through his hip-hop collective Odd Future and their crazy antics, his third studio album shows his musical maturity and willingness to keep pushing the boundaries. Tyler blends traditional rap beats, jazz chord progressions, and synthheavy instrumentals with his deep voice throughout Cherry Bomb. His lyrical content also shifts greatly in Cherry Bomb compared to his past albums. In a song like “2Seater,” Tyler raps about driving his BMW, while “F*cking Young / Perfect” tells of Tyler’s desire for a younger girl. Cherry Bomb takes Tyler in a new direction from his darker days of rapping about murder into a world of jazz, soul, and rap about money, girls, and cars.

-Ryan Miller

8. In Colour - Jamie xx It begins with a swell, which breaks into a pointed beat.

Then, like a car stalling, the high cymbals cut and make way for a short, deep drum fill. This is the beginning of “Gosh,” the opening track of Jamie xx’s solo debut album, In Colour.

The producer begins to add ornamentation to the song’s meticulously cultivated beat and before long has a melody. But just as quickly as it comes, the melody dissipates and is replaced by an outro of distorted, unintelligible words. Almost every song on the album finds precarious balances, where the raw potential within the music is unbearable, yet the beat almost never drops. In Colour holds you in sonic suspense. You cannot help but grab on tighter.

-Daniel Varghese

9. Currents - Tame Impala The Australian rock band Tame Impala doubles their emphasis on penning silky, synthy, bass-driven grooves with Currents. Ditching the up-tempo, anthemic guitar riffs which brought them popular success, Currents creates a cohesive, melodic soundscape.

The album’s slower, more reserved rhythms pair well with the distant, lonesome lyrics. This marks a shift to a decidedly more pop-inspired sound and structure, which can be chalked up to Parker spearheading the album’s writing, vocals, and production. The hyper-detailed production and isolated lyrics of the album represent a height in artistic achievement for the renowned act.

-Jay Benjamin

10. I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside: An Album by Earl Sweatshirt - Earl Sweatshirt From the opening notes of “Huey,” the Odd Future rapper invites listeners into his dark world of isolation, distrust, addiction, and depression. The instrumentals trudge along throughout the album, creating an unpolished, harsh sound that matches the content of Earl’s verses. In “Grief,” Earl describes his retreat inside, and the instrumental outro showcases that unfinished feeling in the production heard throughout the album. The album reaches its climax with “DNA” and fellow Odd Future member Na’kel’s verse about a friend who died. I Don’t Like Shit never veers from its introspective nature and, by doing so, succeeds in capturing Earl’s feeling of aloneness.

-Ryan Miller

Best of check out pages 14 & 15 for The Voice's best albums and movies of

2015

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