4 28 2011

VOICE the georgetown

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COMEAU COMING UP BIG FOR LACROSSE PAGE 6

TATE TUCKER SINGS THE BLUES PAGE 10

Georgetown University’s Weekly Newsmagazine Since 1969 w April 28, 2011 w Volume 45, Issue 1 w georgetownvoice.com

Photo Contest

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STUDENTS DENIED VOTES IN CITY COUNCIL ELECTION

2011

2 the georgetown voice

april 28, 2011

comments of the week “IT’S OBVIOUSLY THAT VEE AND HOLLIS ARE BESTIES. I’M SURE HOLLIS WILL NOT ONLY MISS VEE, BUT ALSO COMMISERATES IN HIS RELEGATED STATUS ON THE TEAM AS SECOND-BEST. IF HE GETS PICKED HE’S OUTTA HERE. IF HE’S SMART, HE WOULD WAIT A YEAR OR TWO AND COME OUT WITH A MUCH HIGHER SALARY AND A BETTER PICK.“

It may be our last issue of the year...

BUT

— GTOWNHOYA, “HOLLIS THOMPSON DECLARES FOR NBA DRAFT, WILL NOT HIRE AGENT”

“Yikes. This is the bunny that would bring the Halloween razorblade-in-candy scare to Easter.”

VOX POPULI

—Rachel, “Site news: Gone Easter egg hunting”

“My deepest condolences to the Harbin freshman whose Hugo Boss shoes were stolen from his room. When is the solidarity march?”

—Not Greg Monroe, “Campus Crime Watch: Going postal”

“Because all students paid into the

activities fee, the energy savings should not go directly to the small percentage of students that live in the townhouses. And speaking of clubs, putting the money in the GUSA fund actually allows the hundreds of thousands of dollars the panels will save to go back to student organizations.”

—@Jacob, “Endowment commission closes in on consensus”

Talk Back

blog.georgetownvoice.com || georgetownvoice.com

Voice Crossword “April Showers” by Scott Fligor

Across 1. Sherpa’s Home 6. “Chicago Hope” Emmy Winner 11. Wonderful, in slang 14. Wipe out 15. Where Key saw bombs bursting

16. U.N. workers’ grp.

17. “Il Principe” writer 19. Slugger’s stat 20. General Bradley 21. Fathered, biblically 22. German donkey 23. Greek love god 25. Hamlet’s murderer 27. Magical institution

NEVER . STOPS . BLOGGING . blog.georgetownvoice.com

Have a great summer, Georgetown! answers at georgetownvoice.com

31.U.S. trademark court: abbr.

32. Drink suffix 33. Tough guy 35. Brian McKnight’s hit “Back ___” 38. First item to be bided on?

40. Skinny one 42. Algerian city 43. Not princes 45. Only five-time U.S. Horse of the Year 47. Pre-freshmen experience 48. He “fiddled while Rome burned” 50. Milton and Shelly 52. Title girl in a 1968 Turtles’ hit 55. Eighties Mustangs 56. Not right 57. Joe Jackson’s “___ Really Going Out With Him” 59. Miles van der ___ 63. Otologist’s concern 64. Carnival treat 66. High school lang. test 67. Colgate competitor 68. Sports broadcaster Rodney 69. Took the cake, perhaps 70. Professor’s summons 71. Poles, e.g.

Down 1. Jules Verne’s Captain 2. Persian paradise 3. Spotted cavy 4. “Every man…can tame ___”: Burton 5. Oahu offering 6. Farm animals 7. Uncommon blood type, informally 8. Permitted Islamic practices 9. Fight with 10. National Democratic Institutes’ cousin org.

11. Throne heirs?

12. “Tiny Alice” dramatist 13. Bubbles over 18. Stops abruptly 22. Poetic muse 24. Dorm supervisors 26. Theta preceder

27. Two quarters 28. Stench 29. Bargain-hunters come-on 30. Yes or no follower 34. Phones the folks 36. Boss Tweed sketcher 37. Son of Seth 39. Representative 41. Western economic coalition 44. Sellout sign 46. 60’s scientific satellite 49. Baltimore baseballer 51. Jerusalem’s land 52. Justice Kagan 53. Minimum 54. First name in cosmetics 58. Flower stalk 60. “___-day” 61. Modern wall hanging 62. One can cross them 64. Metric system abbr.

65. Child abuse agency: abbr.

ARE YOU A LOGOPHILE? Share your love of words and help us write crosswords.

E-mail crossword@georgetownvoice.com

editorial

georgetownvoice.com

VOICE the georgetown

Volume 45.1 April 28, 2011 Editor-in-Chief: Tim Shine Managing Editor: Sean Quigley Blog Editors: Samuel Buckley, Leigh Finnegan, John Flanagan News Editor: Holly Tao Sports Editor: Daniel Kellner Feature Editor: Kara Brankeisky Cover Editor: Iris Kim Leisure Editor: John Sapunor Voices Editor: Kate Imel Photo Editor: Max Blodgett Design Editors: Michelle Pliskin, Catherine Johnson Projects Editor: John Sapunor Crossword Editor: Scott Fligor Assistant Blog Editors: Ryan Bellmore, Vincent Tennant Assistant News Editors: Neha Ghanshamdas Assistant Sports Editors: Abby Sherburne, Kevin Joseph Assistant Leisure Editor: Mary Borowiec, Heather Regen, Jeffrey Niedermaier Assistant Photo Editors: Julianne Deno, Matthew Funk Assistant Design Editor: Kathleen Soriano-Taylor Associate Editors: Julie Patterson, Jackson Perry Contributing Editor: Nico Dodd

Staff Writers:

Gavin Bade, Thaddeus Bell, Nick Berti, Geoffrey Bible, Rachel Calvert, Eric Pilch, Sadaf Qureshi, Adam Rosenfeld, Melissa Sullivan, Nick Thomas, Mark Waterman

Staff Photographers:

Sam Brothers, Jackson Perry

Staff Designers:

Megan Berard, Richa Goyal, Ishita Kohli

Copy Chief: Aodhan Beirne Copy Editors:

Claire McDaniel, Kim Tay

Editorial Board Chair: Jackson Perry Editorial Board:

Gavin Bade, Ethan Chess, John Flanagan, Sean Quigley, Rachel Calvert, Samuel Buckley, Jackson Perry

Head of Business: Keaton Hoffman The Georgetown Voice

The Georgetown Voice is published every Thursday.

the georgetown voice 3 A SAFE SPACE

Endowment Commission shows its chops In its final vote on Tuesday night, the Student Activities Fee Endowment Commission made the right move in recommending close to full funding for the Healy Pub, an idea backed by widespread support from students, but it should also be applauded for putting together a set of proposals that responds to popular demand for student space without ignoring the other diverse and creative proposals put forth by the student body.

In particular, the commission deserves credit for the amount of work it accomplished over such a brief timespan. With only six weeks to deliberate the proposals between the initial meeting on March 15 and its final vote on April 26, the commission was able to solicit a wide range of proposals from student groups and evaluated them in a just and transparent manner. Through its town halls and open

meetings, the commission received and considered input from a broad portion of the student body and gauged a prevailing desire for more student space.

Besides its final recommendations, the commission deserves praise for resisting the tendency to form a premature consensus and fairly considering a wide range of potential options, including the ultimately successful petition by Georgetown Energy to construct solar panels on University townhouses. The decision to designate a secondary group of recommendations consisting of grants for the Social Innovation and Public Service fund, improvements to study space in Lauinger, funds to jump-start the construction of a student center in New South, and an omnibus grant for the improvement of student spaces across campus represent a recognition of the variety of worthwhile propos-

als brought before the commission which also further the broader goal of creating and improving student spaces on campus.

The results of the commission’s work reflect a successful balance between students’ desire for more campus space and GUSA’s desire to create a sustainable and long-lasting project. Solar panels for University townhouses are a creative and cost-effective way of improving the University’s energy independence. The Healy student space, if ultimately approved by the University, will at minimum create a vibrant hub for student interaction in the heart of campus, and might even singlehandedly reinvigorate on-campus life at Georgetown. The endowment commission should be praised not only for its final recommendation, but for the thorough and transparent process it took to get there.

DECENT PROPOSAL

Dialogue on sexual health issues works Earlier this month, Georgetown’s Health Education Services rolled out a new initiative to foster improved sexual health education on campus. Although the process is not complete, it is encouraging to see that H*yas for Choice was involved in the creation of a program that would both improve sexual health education at Georgetown and respect the University’s Catholic identity. If this plan gets off the ground, it will demonstrate that student engagement with the University on touchy issues like sexual health can succeed.

The centerpiece of the proposal is the formation of a student group of peer educators that will create programming, including presentations in dorms, about sexual health at Georgetown. And while University-recognized student groups are still prohibited from advocating for the use of contraceptives, the move toward a peer educators program shows that

the administration recognizes the need for comprehensive sexual health education. Furthermore, according to GU Men Creating Change Co-Chair Jared Watkins (COL ‘11), Health Education Services has promised to make clearer the fuzzy line between education about contraceptives, which is allowed, and advocacy for their use, which is not.

The tranquil atmosphere surrounding this new initiative is vastly different from the last time that the administration’s position on sexual health was challenged. Last spring, student group Plan A: Hoyas for Reproductive Justice protested using extreme methods, including having three members tape their mouths shut and chain themselves to the statue of John Carroll in Healy Circle. The group demanded “comprehensive sexual health education,” in addition to an end to the University’s ban on the sale of contraceptives on campus.

Although protests are certainly an important tool for student-led movements to raise awareness, affect campus opinion, and push an often-distant administration to respond, a confrontational approach alone is unlikely to be effective. Because most Georgetown students are not involved in on-campus activism, student movements that rely too heavily on protests with the intent of shaming the administration risk alienating the student body.

For example, after the protest last year, which happened during a visiting weekend for accepted students, the president of the Georgetown College Democrats publicly disapproved of Plan A’s tactics.

Future protest movements should consider the lessons of the fight for sexual health education. While the University is often dismissive toward student causes, active engagement with the administration can achieve more than chains and duct-taped mouths ever will.

BUSH LEAGUE

This newspaper was made possible with the support of Campus Progress, a project of the Center for American Progress, online at CampusProgress.org. Campus Progress works to help young people — advocates, activists, journalists, artists — make their voices heard on issues that matter. Learn more at CampusProgress.org.

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The University subscribes to the principle of responsible freedom of expression of its student editors. The Georgetown Voice is produced in the Georgetown Voice office and composed on Macintosh computers using the Adobe InDesign publishing system and is printed

by Silver Communications. All materials copyright the Georgetown Voice. All rights reserved.

On this week’s cover ... Photo Contest 2011 Cover Photo: Keaton Bedell

GOP defense of DOMA deflects real issues When the Justice Department announced in late February that it would no longer defend the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, a law prohibiting federal or interstate recognition of samesex marriage, it put itself on the right side of the struggle for equal rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans.

The Defense of Marriage Act denies federal benefits to same-sex couples who simply want the same rights as their heterosexual peers, and it tramples on the constitutionally guaranteed right to the equal protection of laws.

What’s more, the law violates the “full faith and credit” clause of the Constitution by allowing states to disregard what is considered a legal marriage contract in other states. The founding fathers envisioned a federal system in which contracts would be uniformly applied throughout the country, not

wantonly subjected to the prejudice of certain state legislators.

After the Justice Department’s announcement, the Republican majority in the House of Representatives, not content to let the President’s principled decision stand, elected to single-handedly take up the law’s defense. The Republican-controlled House hired Paul Clement, President George W. Bush’s former solicitor general, and high-powered Atlanta law firm King & Spaulding, to defend the law at an hourly rate that would have saddled taxpayers with up to $500,000 in legal fees.

King & Spaulding dropped the case on Monday after an organized campaign directed criticism at the firm and put pressure on its major clients. Clement resigned from the firm and will take up the House’s case at another law firm, Bancroft PLLC, which was founded by Viet Dinh, a professor at Georgetown

Law School and another former Bush administration official.

In refusing to let the Defense of Marriage Act die, Republicans are prioritizing an issue which has nothing to do with the promises they made to win the House in 2010: to create jobs, to tackle the rapidly increasing government debt, and to speed a tepid economic recovery. Again and again, Rep. John Boehner ’s (R – Ohio) House has allowed social causes that energize the Republican voting base to trump more pressing issues.

House Republicans should give up their wasteful bid to preserve the Defense of Marriage Act. It is irresponsible to devote so much time and money to the defense of an immoral and unconstitutional law. It’s time for Republicans to recognize that there are greater goals to pursue than the continuation of backward and outdated prejudice.

news

4 the georgetown voice

april 28, 2011

Students encounter problems at the polls

by Samuel Buckley After an aggressive voter registration drive by District student advocacy group D.C. Students Speak, a number of Georgetown students reported problems casting their votes in Tuesday’s special election to fill an open at-large seat on the D.C. City Council.

Vincent Orange narrowly edged out Sekou Biddle in the election. Many students who had previously registered to vote in the District were told their names were not on the voting rolls for

Precinct 6, which covers most of the University, along with West Georgetown and Burleith.

Ricky Garza (SFS ‘13) said that his name was not on the Precinct 6 voting rolls despite the fact that the D.C. Board of Election Ethics’s online registry indicated that he was registered to vote in the precinct.

Garza was eventually able to cast a provisional ballot using his school insurance as proof of residence.

Several students who attempted same-day registration at the polling place at Duke Ellington School of the Arts were also turned

Sam Brothers

Many students who tried to vote at Duke Ellington were turned away.

away because they lacked proof of their residence in the city.

According to election guidelines issued by the DCBOEE, firsttime voters must present proof of residence in the form of a utility bill, bank statement, or some form of government-issued identification.

After a number of students at American University had difficulties providing these documents during last year’s Advisory Neighborhood Commission elections, the DCBOEE amended their guidelines. However, students may use certain University-issued documents as proof of residence, according to Allysoun McCaughlin, the DCBOEE’s public affairs manager.

“Basically ... we have that shorter list of documents that are prescribed in the statute, and our office of general council has the additional authority to determine that other documents satisfy [the guidelines],” McCaughlin said.

Andrew Klemperer (SFS ‘13) said several students in a group he was voting with were not allowed to vote after they could not pro-

SAFE proposes student space

by Ryan Bellmore On Tuesday night, the Student Activities Fee Endowment commission finalized and published its proposal to GUSA’s Finance and Appropriations Committee on how to spend the $3.4 million endowment.

The commission recommended spending $3.23 million on student space in Healy, including reviving the Healy Pub, and $170,000 on the installation of energy-saving solar panels on University townhouses.

The final report emphasized the student space aspect of the Healy proposal above the creation of a pub, saying that it “is not about returning drinking to campus.”

“It’s about getting students back into Healy,” GUSA FinApp representative Colton Malkerson (COL ’13) said.

Despite the Healy proposal’s popularity among students and commissioners, feasibility concerns remain. The administration has made it clear they are unwilling to allow alumni fundraising for space in Healy, according to a letter sent from the proposal’s backers to the commission. This summer a Healy Student Space working group will conduct a fea-

sibility study using an independent consultant.

The original Healy proposal requested $3.4 million for the project, but Healy Student Space spokesperson Chris Pigott (COL ‘12) said he was happy with the $3.23 million allocated.

If Healy Student Space is deemed unfeasible, the money will be redistributed to secondary proposals. The Georgetown University Social Innovation and Public Service fund and the New South Student Center would each receive $1.5 million, while the remaining $230,000 would go toward refurbishing Lauinger Library or to an omnibus space proposal.

The second primary recommendation will give money to Georgetown Energy to install solar panels on 43 University townhouses. The energy produced by the panels will be sold to Pepco, and GUSA will be able to spend the proceeds on student activities. If the solar panel project is not feasible, the money will instead go toward the omnibus space proposals, which would potentially include minor renovations like outdoor benches and tables.

FinApp must put the proposals to a student referendum before any

money can be spent, but they expect the referendums to pass.

“This commission has so much influence because of that process, because of the bylaws that have been established,” endowment commission chair Andrew Curtis (MSB ‘11) said, referring to the commission’s strict adherence to the mandate outlined by GUSA. “In my time in GUSA, [SAFE] has been by far the most transparent [process],” said Malkerson, citing the openness of meetings and town halls.

Nick Troiano (COL ’11), an advocate of the SIPS fund, reacted differently after his proposal was given a secondary recommendation.

“Although we are disappointed with the outcome and have serious reservations about the process, we are thankful to the commission for their consideration,” he said.

However, Taylor Price (MSB ‘10), who submitted the proposal for the New South Student Center, was satisfied that student space received credit from the commission.

“I think that the commission signaled that student space was a priority,” he said. “If Healy gets funded, that’s great. That’s a win for the student body.”

vide sufficient documents to prove their residence in the District.

“They thought you had to be able to prove residency in order to be able to cast a provisional ballot,” Klemperer said.

McCaughlin said that even voters who cannot provide any accepted proofs of residence are allowed to cast provisional ballots. In this case, voters must follow up with the DCBOEE to verify their residence.

“If they did not have the identification, they should have been allowed to cast a special ballot,” she said.

After attempting to vote with Klemperer’s group, John Flanagan (SFS ’14) contacted the DCBOEE, alerting them to the problems students had encountered at the polls. (Disclosure: Flanagan is an editor of Vox Populi, the Voice’s blog). The board promised to contact the precinct to clarify the policy, and McCaughlin said that polling places were contacted shortly thereafter. Students reported being able to cast provisional ballots later in the evening.

McCaughlin said that misinterpretations of the rules by precinct volunteers may have been responsible for students being turned away from voting.

“We see that too often, where a poll worker thinks they know [what the rule is] and is well intentioned, but in fact they should have been allowed to cast a ballot,” she said.

It is unclear why such a large number of students did not show up on voting rolls.

D.C. Students Speak Chair Scott Stirrett (SFS ‘13) said that it is important for students to make themselves familiar with their rights as voters in the event of disputes with polling officials.

McLaughlin also emphasized the importance of contacting the DCBOEE promptly if disputes arise at a polling station.

“If there’s a problem that happens in a precinct, we prefer to resolve it on the spot,” she said.

“I hope that the students who were turned away went back and cast ballots.”

Campus farmers’ market debuts

Max Blodgett

Yesterday afternoon, the new Georgetown Farmers’ Market, which is planned to become a weekly event in the Fall 2011 semester, held its pilot market in Healy circle from 2 to 5 p.m. Among the vendors, all of whom hail from the D.C. area, were Beechwood Farms, which sold fresh fruits and vegetables, Wollam Gardens, which sold fresh poppies and tulips, and Sweet Nuthouse, which offered specialty nuts. Many vendors offered free samples, including quinoa salad from Whole Foods Market.

-Leigh Finnegan

news

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the georgetown voice 5

GUSA, administration discuss student advocacy

by Chris Heller Students behind the Georgetown University Student Association’s Student Advocacy Office met with administrators Monday in the latest push to provide advice for those navigating the University’s disciplinary and appeals processes.

At the meeting, James Pickens (COL ’12) and Ace Factor (COL ’12) presented a plan to use the SAO to offer free and confidential information and advice to students accused of conduct violations. According to Factor, administrators who attended the meeting—including Director of Student Conduct Judy Johnson, Director of Student Affairs Anne Koester, Associate Vice President of Student Affairs Jeanne Lord, and Director of Residence Life Stephanie Lynch—seemed open to the proposal.

“They were really receptive,” Factor said. “They really liked the idea.”

However, an application for student advisors, which Pickens and Factor originally planned to release as early as the end of this month, has been delayed by the talks, which will continue through the summer, according to Rachel Pugh, the University’s director of media relations.

“We will not send the applica-

tion out until it is ready, and we are still working on coordination with the University,” Pickens wrote in an email. “The application will certainly go out before September, and we hope to have the office up and running by NSO.” The pair of students, who joined GUSA President Mike

always be there to help give those changes a voice,” GUSRI Director James Butler (SFS ’11) wrote in an email. “We’ve already met with members of the GUSA executive to ensure that we don’t end up with two groups of student advocates that can help accused students with charges or appeals.”

Ace and James support using the Student Advocacy Office for advice and information on student issues.

Meaney’s (SFS ’12) cabinet after an unsuccessful presidential campaign last February, also reached out to the Georgetown University Student Rights Initiative, a student-run group with no official ties to the University. The groups hope to work together in coming months.

“GUSA has unique connections to the higher-ups within the University administration that they can use to help advocate for needed changes, and GUSRI will

According to Butler, GUSA also offered to work with GUSRI to print and distribute a student rights guide before the beginning of the fall semester.

“The goal is for all students, especially new freshmen, to be able to understand the system so they aren’t blindsided when they start the new academic year,” he wrote.

While the SAO would be a first for Georgetown, the idea is not new to D.C.-area universi-

Freedom of speech not a trivial pursuit

The first edition of “What sucks: Tombs trivia’s most offensive team names” on Vox Populi, the Voice’s blog, provoked a large outcry of responses both denouncing and defending the names. Many commenters called for the Tombs to ban team names with jokes about sexual assault, sexual orientation, or natural disasters, among other potentially offensive topics.

Debate on the offensive names has since spilled outside of the blog to other online platforms.

Adeline Joshua (SFS ’13) turned to Facebook to organize students against the team names. She created an event denouncing the names, which has the support of approximately 150 people who marked “attending.”

“I think the Tombs should ban the offensive team names

ties. Earlier this semester, Factor and Pickens met with students at American University’s Student Advocacy Center, which has existed since the early 1980s, to figure out how to adapt the service to Georgetown. Since 2009, American’s student advocates have advised more than

because they call the integrity of their establishment into question by allowing it to happen, and belittling the seriousness of issues like sexual abuse undermines the high standards we as Georgetown students should hold ourselves up to,” Joshua wrote in an email.

The United Feminists, Take Back the Night, and Hoyas Anonymous have launched another project called “I am Jane Hoya Campaign for Change.”

The sponsors made flyers directed at those Tombs trivia teams with offensive names.

One flyer reads, “I am Jane Hoya. I think I’m gay. When your jokes target LGBTQ individuals, I think twice about coming out. Your words inhibit my identity.”

The team names at the Tombs have certainly been offensive and derogatory to a

number of people. Imagine if you were a part of the “one in four”—the estimated fraction of Georgetown students who are sexually assaulted during their time at college—and you heard the trivia name “It’s not rape if you say, ‘Surprise!’” Names like

Saxa Politica

by Geoffrey Bible

A bi-weekly column on Georgetown news and politics this one show a lack of care and respect for other students who have faced horrific, damaging experiences.

However, the idea of taking away the ability of trivia teams to name themselves as they choose is even worse than these teams’ sense of humor. In the Facebook event calling to ban the offensive names, many of the comments posted by people

Max Blodgett

200 students facing disciplinary sanctions.

“We get overwhelmingly good feedback,” Matt Kabak, a junior at American who will become the center’s director in May, said. “It’s the competency of our advocates.

We hire people that mesh with our organization really well.”

Like American’s Student Advocacy Center, the SAO will be staffed by volunteer student advocates who will be required to hold weekly office hours. who opposed the petition were deleted.

As Georgetown students, we should strive to respect and care for each other, and having team names at the Tombs that belittle the effects of sexual assault or make jokes about the tsunami in Japan certainly work against that goal. But we should not sacrifice our right to free speech and order to censor some team names that we find offensive.

Campaigns such as Joshua’s help to start a dialogue on campus about issues such as sexual assault, but inhibiting an open dialogue by blocking speech that some may find offensive only perpetuates the beliefs that are held. Deleting what is perceived as an offensive comment or not allowing people to use certain team names at trivia night will not make them more willing to see how people are hurt by their words.

“Whenever anyone has any conflict with the University, the doors of the Student Advocacy Office will be open for people to come in and ask us for advice,” Pickens said.

However, despite the two groups’ efforts to coordinate their services, competition between SOA and GUSRI may still occur if they remain separate entities. Butler believes that GUSRI’s status as an independent organization is an important quality and, as a result, may be more attractive to students.

“I believe that students would probably prefer to talk openly and honestly about their disciplinary charges with an independent group rather than one run through GUSA and the University itself,” he wrote, adding that the group has already helped students earn acquittals during disciplinary hearings. “Thanks to our independent status and funding, we don’t have to worry about censure or loss of grants when we point out bad policy or advise students on utilizing their rights to the fullest.”

Factor and Pickens are nonetheless optimistic about the future of the SAO. “We hope to make this a cooperative process with them,” he said. “But we’re pushing forward regardless of what [GUSRI] does.”

Censoring offensive team names at the Tombs would also contradict the University’s speech and expression policy, which says, “A University is many things, but central to its being is discourse, discussion, debate: the untrammeled expression of ideas and information.”

The concept of freedom of speech should always be upheld on our campus—even if we are offended by what someone says. Offensive speech creates a learning opportunity and a time for dialogue. Without allowing it to happen, many issues would simply be ignored and overlooked.

Hopefully, those who use offensive team names will come to realize that their insensitive names hurt other people, but it’s not our job or right to make them change their ways.

Do your best to offend Geoffrey at gbible@georgetownvoice.com

sports

6 the georgetown voice

april 28, 2011

Comeau coming up big in his sophomore season

by Kevin Joseph Standing just five feet, eight inches tall, Travis Comeau does not look like your stereotypical, hulking Division I lacrosse player. The sophomore attack does not act like a typical lacrosse star either, remaining humble while displaying his friendly and polite demeanor. Yet the Alberta, Canada native has made a name for himself as one of the premier scorers in the Big East over his first two years on the Hilltop.

Comeau grew up playing box lacrosse to supplement his love for hockey. The variant of lacrosse is played on a hockey rink with smaller nets and a tighter playing field.

Despite the differences, it helped Comeau to establish his inside game, developing his skills near the goal.

Now with the Hoyas, the sophomore is always in the middle of the action offensively, recently reaching 25 goals for his second straight season. As a smaller player, however, he takes quite a beating over the course of a game.

“Obviously, he’s not the biggest guy to come down the pike, but he’s got an awfully big heart,” head coach Dave Urick said.

Comeau’s undeniable physical toughness is built upon those childhood days playing box lacrosse and hockey. These early experiences helped him to develop a unique style, one that helps him score against tight defensive situations.

His transition to field lacrosse started only in 2008, when he flourished under the tutelage of former Hoya AllAmerican Brodie Merrill at the Hill Academy in Ontario. There, Merrill taught him a different type of toughness, the kind Urick instilled in him during his days on the Hilltop.

“Coach Merrill realizes that everyone has potential. It’s a matter of finding that right mindset,” Comeau said. “One of the biggest successes

he had as a player was simply being mentally tough. You’ve got to have that mental toughness.”

Merrill started the Hill Academy to allow Canadian hockey and lacrosse recruits to gain further exposure by American universities. His coaching methods take a lot from his playing days under Urick, resembling it so much that Comeau refers to it as another year on the Hilltop.

For Merrill, Comeau’s stardom as a lacrosse attack and standout hockey goalie at the fifth-year school foreshadowed his success at Georgetown, but he realizes such early success is not common.

“Travis plays with a lot of toughness and grit; he’s not afraid to take a check or make a play,” Merrill, who played until 2005, said. “It’s pretty rare for someone his size to have his kind of success, especially so early on…but I’m not surprised. He’s got great instinct and is extremely coachable.”

Spectators, in large part, would never believe a crafty attack like Comeau could be in just his third full year of organized field lacrosse, but Urick takes it a step further. Urick, who has coached the Hoyas for 22 years, compares his star left-handed attack to another southpaw who holds the Hoya record for career goals with 144: his son and current Georgetown assistant coach Scott Urick.

“Travis plays to his strengths.

He’s a finisher,” the elder Urick said.

“He reminds me a lot of Scott in some ways, especially since they’re both left-handed.”

This season, despite Comeau and sophomore counterpart Davey Emala’s success, has been one marked by devastating one-goal losses to Syracuse, Loyola, Harvard, and Notre Dame. However, it all started with a thumb injury to the two attackmen’s classmate, Zac Guy, which forced

Courtesy GEORGETOWN SPORTS INFORMATION

Travis Comeau scored 11 goals in a three game stretch earlier this season.

the upstate New York native to redshirt the season.

“He [Comeau] and Zac are very good friends,” Urick said.

“He [Guy] is a bona fide natural attackman. They just had that chemistry and seemed to have developed an awareness of each other on the field.”

Hopes for a formidable offensive core consisting of the two friends and graduate student Rickey Mirabito were crushed after the first game of the season against Jacksonville.

However, Emala’s emergence this season means that the Hoyas can re-

load with Guy feeding Comeau and Emala for goals next season.

This summer marks a transition period for the Hoyas, as they will have to bring in new leaders because of the impending graduation of senior goalie Jack Davis, senior defenseman Barney Ehrmann, and Mirabito. Nevertheless, the continued progress of Guy and Emala should transform this Hoya team, as they take the reins and try to rebound from a disappointing 2011.

As for Comeau, he plans on playing more box lacrosse this summer, to hone his skills close to

the net. He is also taking Guy and Emala to Canada so they can experience the high-intensity sport and grow with him.

“I’m kind of holding my breath on that one,” Urick said with a laugh.

The Hoyas wrap up this season with Big East battles against Rutgers and Villanova. Then, the Blue and Gray will prepare for a changing of the guard, where Comeau said he hopes to make an impact over his final two years. Two years and 50 goals in, the Canadian is already off to a great start.

the Sports Sermon “I don’t care if my momma was out on the court, I’d hit her too.”—Chris Paul on protecting his livelihood.

Thompson Jr. era to depart early for the NBA. Since John Thompson III took over his dad’s old job, Jeff Green, DaJuan Summers, and Greg Monroe have all left promising teams for an NBA contract.

Many players make the premature jump from student-athlete to professional very successfully.

Green and Monroe were both selected early in the first round and have established themselves as valuable players in the league. For every success story, however, there are several cases of failure and underachievement. Summers, for example, fell to the second round of the draft and has been unable to secure a spot in the struggling Detroit Pistons’ rotation.

cannot be taught at the next level.

While certain skills can be learned Last year, stunningly talented in NBA practice facilities, imporcenter Greg Monroe shattered the tant mental aspects of the game, blue and gray hearts of Georgelike confidence and leadership, town fans when he opted to leave can only be acquired through for the NBA after his sophomore game experience, something that season. The talent drain potentially is difficult for early draft entrants hit the Hilltop again last week, to come by in their preliminary when emerging swingman Hollis seasons in the league.

Thompson declared for the draft afAtlanta Hawks forward Marter just two seasons with the Hoyas. vin Williams, who entered the Unlike Monroe, Thompson has not league after his freshman season hired an agent, which makes him at UNC, is a perfect example of eligible to return to campus if he this phenomenon. Drafted secwithdraws his name from the draft ond overall in 2005, Williams has

by May 8, so there’s a chance we failed to make an impact in the may see Thompson on the Verizon NBA, never really progressing Center court next season. from the sixth man role he held Nevertheless, Thompson’s on the talent-loaded Tar Heels. unexpected declaraPerhaps another Pete Rose Central tion raises an imporseason at UNC as tant concern about the team’s go-to Da bettin’ line the effect that the alplayer would have Dookies Margin Hoyas lure of massive proallowed Williams to (underdogs) (duh!) fessional contracts (favorites) develop a more aghas had on college gressive mentality Royal Wedding Bouncy Castle and ultimately led basketball.

While G-town day the NBA has experito a more memoraGabbert $$$ Newton enced a resurgence ble NBA career.

Miami Gloria James Boston in the overall talent With no hopes level and number of stars in the Still, it’s often problematic of a first round selection and league over the past few years, to judge a decision to enter the plenty left to prove at the collecollege basketball is suffering, as draft purely on a player’s subse- giate level, Hollis Thompson’s promising players forgo their last quent professional achievement. decision to leave early for the few seasons of NCAA eligibility For most prospects, the decision NBA is simply nonsensical from for a shot at the pros. One only is made (quite understandably) a sporting or financial standhas to look back to this season’s for financial reasons, not because point. When Williams ditched shockingly awful final between of an inflated ego or distaste for UNC for the draft, he was at Butler and Connecticut to see that college life. Without knowing the least guaranteed a sizeable rookthe talent pool in the NCAA is as financial pressures on a particu- ie contract. Thompson, meanweak as it has ever been. lar student-athlete, it’s difficult while, will be fortunate to even Georgetown offers perhaps to fault a player for pursuing a make an NBA roster at this stage one of the best examples of how multi-million dollar contract. in his development. As fans of the increase in early entrants When a budding college star both Georgetown basketball and has robbed fans of some excep- bolts for the NBA, though, he not Hollis Thompson, we can only tional teams. The Hoyas used to only deprives his school of an- hope that he reverses his decibe known for graduating their other season of his services—he sion and continues to improve athletes, with Allen Iverson be- misses a crucial opportunity to his game with the Hoyas for at ing the only player in the John build on aspects of his game that least one more season.

by Daniel Kellner

sports

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the georgetown voice 7

Lacrosse looks to start new streak Hoyas find bright spot

by Melissa Sullivan For the Georgetown women’s lacrosse team, winning has been a frequent and comfortable achievement recently. After getting off to a 2-5 start, the No. 16 Hoyas broke off a six-game winning streak, which improved their record to 8-5 overall with an unblemished 6-0 record in the Big East.

This past weekend, however, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (7-8, 4-2 in the Big East) put an end to the Hoyas’ momentum, defeating them 13-10. The Hoyas struggled until midway through the second half, trailing the Fighting Irish by as many as seven goals. Despite an admirable comeback attempt, the Hoyas could not pull out a victory to retain their undefeated conference record.

Despite the loss, the Hoyas are still optimistic as they hit the final stretch of the regular season. Senior captain Mary Beth Brophy knows that the team will look back on this game positively.

“The loss against Notre Dame was really disappointing, especially since we were 6-0 in the Big East,” Brophy said. “It is better to lose to Notre Dame over the weekend rather than in the Big East tournament. … We were able to realize that we are the bigger team in the big picture.”

The team faces a short turnaround from their trip to South Bend and will play Maryland, the defending national champions today. The Terps come to the Hilltop with an undefeated 17-0 record. They won convincingly against the North Carolina Tar Heels in their most recent game to take home their third consecutive ACC tournament title.

But the Hoyas are not intimidated by the Terps’ impressive resume.

“Something that Maryland is really good at … is capitalizing on other team’s mistakes,” Brophy said. “We’ve incorporated different strategies after Notre Dame to minimize mistakes and really look to possess the ball.”

Head coach Ricky Fried agrees that the loss has taught the Hoyas some important lessons.

Courtesy GEORGETOWN SPORTS INFORMATION

Jordy Kirr’s goal and pair of assists weren’t enough to topple the Fighting Irish.

A black eye for a Buckeye Most college athletic programs will insist that winning isn’t everything. Wins and losses are certainly important, but what truly matters is that the values, principles, and integrity of the university are upheld. At least that’s what they say.

Such a philosophy is easy to uphold when a school’s hallmark program isn’t winning consistently or performing up to expectations.

But with the recent suspension of Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel, the old argument over athletic department ethics is back in the limelight. To put it in perspective, let’s consider the cases of Michigan head football coach Rich Rodriguez and Tennessee basketball coach Bruce Pearl.

Rodriguez was under NCAA scrutiny from the moment he arrived in Ann Arbor to coach the

Wolverines, with West Virginia fans and alumni crying foul over a shady buy-out deal and a document-shredding controversy during his departure from Morgantown. Once settled at Michigan, Rodriguez didn’t do himself any favors by going 3-9 in his first year, the worst season in Wolverine history. With the Wolverines’ fan base already up in arms, the NCAA announced apparent rule violations during Rich Rod’s second disappointing season, and he was fired soon after a Gator Bowl loss.

Pearl experienced a similar fall from grace. He been extremely successful until the start of the 2010 season, when the NCAA found him guilty of several major recruiting violation. Pearl served an eight game suspension to start this season before guiding his team into

“I think the biggest thing is, you have to show up and play with a purpose for the entire 60 minutes,” he said. “We need to be focused the entire time, play with a lot of energy, and play with a consistent purpose.”

Given the Terps’ No. 1 ranking, a victory for Georgetown could have major consequences for postseason seeding.

“If we win [this] game, it will put us in a good position for an atlarge [bid] as opposed to having to win the Big East Tournament,” Fried said. “They are very fast, they are very athletic, so we will have to shorten the game by possessing the ball for a lot of the time.”

The end of the regular season marks the beginning of the Big East Tournament, a competition Georgetown has dominated in recent years.

Nevertheless, Brophy thinks that this season’s tournament will be different from previous years because many teams are talented and will be eager to secure an automatic bid in the NCAA Tournament.

“What’s different from this season to last is that it doesn’t really matter what seed you are going into the tournament because you are going to have to battle,” she said.

Fellow senior captain Jordy Kirr said she is excited to play in her final tournament with the Hoyas.

“We win the Big East tournament pretty much every year,” she said. “We are really excited to have it here and we’re coming in with a lot of confidence.”

But the Hoyas know they will first have to take care of business and finish their regular season with a determined and focused approach, making sure not to get ahead of themselves.

“We are taking it one game at a time,” Kirr said. the NCAA tournament, where they were crushed by Michigan in the first round. Pearl was fired within a week of the loss not for a lack of wins, but for bringing shame to the university.

The firings of Rodriguez and Pearl were justifiable decisions.

However, it is blatantly clear that

Double Teamed

By Adam Rosenfeld a rotating column on sports similar—and in some cases more severe—rules violations are treated completely differently with programs that hold national championship aspirations.

On Monday, the NCAA publicized its findings that showed Tressel had been found guilty of multiple NCAA violations, adding another layer to a lengthy controversy that began as Ohio

by Nick Thomas The Georgetown baseball team (19-24, 2-13 Big East) continued a disappointing stretch by dropping their fourth straight game, losing 11-3 to George Mason on Tuesday. An impressive long-relief outing from Bobby Kirby proved to be in vain, as the team was unable to rally back from an early five-run deficit.

The Hoyas found themselves in a hole from the start, as starter James Heine gave up five hits and three walks en route to five George Mason runs.

“He fell behind and didn’t have command of his breaking ball, and they hit fastballs,” head coach Pete Wilk said. “If you pretty much key in on fastballs, normally those guys are going to barrel it up.”

Wilk summoned Kirby to replace Heine in the second inning, and the sophomore capitalized on the opportunity. Utilizing a newly developed sidearm delivery, he pitched five impressive innings, giving up just two earned runs.

“For him to make that adjustment in the course of a week, and throw it in a game with confidence and locate it, was very impressive,” Wilk said.

The team looked like it might mount a comeback in the fifth inning, as a fielder’s choice by sophomore centerfielder Justin Leeson and a double from sophomore second baseman Andy Lentz knocked in two runs, cutting the deficit to three. But Georgetown’s pitching woes proved to be too much, and six more

State prepared for the Sugar Bowl this past winter. Tressel was notified last summer that five of his players had broken NCAA rules by exchanging autographs and memorabilia for tattoos. Tressel sat on the information. When news of the player’s misconduct finally broke in the winter, Tressel acted surprised and claimed no knowledge of the incident, which he has since admitted was a lie.

When a press conference was called to discuss the matter in public, an Ohio State administrator joked that he hoped Jim Tressel didn’t fire him. The university has good reason to adore their football coach. Tressel holds the second highest winning percentage in Big Ten history and won a national championship in 2002. In light of his success, the school at first only suspended Tressel two games for his actions. When that punishment came off as a bit too light, Tres-

runs from George Mason put the game out of reach.

After the game, the team was disappointed with the loss, but had a quick turnaround as they headed home to face Navy the following night.

“I think Navy is an incredibly big game for us,” Wilk said. “I can’t wait for tomorrow, I think we’re going to be a much better team.”

Proving their coach’s words to be prophetic, the Hoyas ripped into the Midshipmen on Wednesday, pouring it on for a 17-2 win.

Seven different players had multi-hit days, but junior starting pitcher Tommy Isaacs set the tone for the Hoyas, fanning four and walking none in three sparkling innings. Backed by Isaacs, the offense jumped off to an early start and never looked back.

Sophomore right fielder Paul Bello singled in two runs in the second to get the team on the board, and came around to score, giving Georgetown a 3-0 lead. The fourth inning, however, proved to be the decisive one, as the team plated five runs to make the score 10-0. A walk and a stolen base from Leeson set the table early, and four more hits put the game away.

Though Georgetown would score seven more runs in the seventh and eighth innings, a stellar day from the pitching staff made all the extra runs unnecessary.

Freshman Alex Baker threw two innings of hitless ball to relieve Isaacs, and a committee of four relievers each threw an inning to close the game out.

This weekend, the Hoyas head to Louisville for a threegame series starting Friday night.

sel announced he would suspend himself for the first five games of next season.

Simply put, Tressel ought be fired for his blatant disregard of NCAA rules. He may be a beloved figure in Columbus, but the university had no qualms about firing legendary coach Woody Hayes the day after he punched a Clemson player on national television during the 1978 Gator Bowl. If Ohio State claims to stand for more than winning football games, they should similarly dismiss Coach Tressel.

Tennessee spent a season debating whether or not to fire their winning coach, but eventually did the right thing. Anything but the same from Ohio State would demonstrate that coaches could either uphold the values and integrity of their university, or just win.

Add a sticker to Adam’s helmet at arosenfeld@georgetownvoice.com

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feature

georgetownvoice.com

Laura Golojuch (COL ‘13) “Under the Bridge”

James Li (MSB ‘13) “Meeting at the National Zoo” Washington, D.C.

photo contest

0 2011

2

Mimi McCormick (COL ‘13) “Don’t Worry Be Happy Feet” Jamaica

Alex Hanson (SFS ‘11) “Kids in Muslim School” Kigali, Rwanda

2

on the cover:

Photo Contest Winner Keaton Bedell (COL ‘13) “Levitation”

3 color

Victoria Milo (COL ‘12) “A Bright Abigail”

Mimi McCormick (COL ‘13) “Skimming the Seas”

1

black & white

3

1

the georgetown voice 9

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Freshman rapper Dreams big with mixtape

by Nico Dodd

It’s no secret that Tate Tucker (SFS ’14) loves the west coast.

From his lucky San Diego Chargers hat to tracks like “West Coast Girls” and “L.A. Sunrise,” the freshman rapper is constantly California dreaming. In fact, Tucker is so eager to get back to Los Angeles that he cancelled a performance at Dartmouth College scheduled in May after his last exam.

“I have extreme homesickness,” he said, grinning.

Right now, though, things are going quite well for Tucker here on the east coast. After spending the semester posting tracks to his YouTube page and performing at different campus venues like Hoya Court in the Leavey Center and Epicurean restaurant, the Santa Monica, Calif., native released his debut mixtape, Blue Dreams, last week to widely positive response.

Tucker came into the campus spotlight this December when he posted a video online of himself freestyling for Lupe Fiasco in Michael Eric Dyson’s “Sociology of Hip-Hop” course. The video quickly spread around campus, and was eventually featured on hip-hop blogs around the country. The thing is, Tucker originally had no intention of bringing his rap game to this level.

“I didn’t rap at my high school graduation,” he said. “I was like, ‘I’m not going to be a rapper. I’m going to be a diplomat in the SFS.’” Tucker started rapping in middle school, but it wasn’t until high school that he started rapping at parties and battling MCs from other schools. When he started school at Georgetown

this fall, he began to grab attention by freestyling at a few parties. After his performance for Lupe, there was no turning back.

“After the Lupe thing, people were all of a sudden like, ‘You’re a rapper,’” said Tucker.

All of Blue Dreams was produced by Will Henderson (MSB ’14), who met Tucker through a mutual friend. Henderson is no stranger to the music scene—last summer, he collaborated with Westchester, N.Y. rapper Triple J on the mixtape Of Mics And Men. Over spring break, Tucker stayed at Henderson’s house in Westchester, where they recorded Blue Dreams in four days.

“We just locked ourselves in the basement for ten hours a day,” said Henderson.

Until now, Tucker had not released any material besides the freestyles he’s recorded in his New South dorm room.

“Now that we have something solid that’s studio quality, you can only go up from there,” Tucker said. “We got what we wanted, a nice fan base, and people are spreading it still.”

Blue Dreams been downloaded over 1200 times since Tucker and Henderson posted it on free mixtape site datpiff.com on April 18.

“People like it a lot more than I thought they would, especially at Georgetown,” Tucker said, adding that he has received positive feedback from fans in Europe and Australia.

For Blue Dreams, Henderson’s beats sample rock groups like Fleet Foxes, Radiohead, and Passion Pit, as well as classic beats from Ol’ Dirty Bastard and Souls Of Mischief.

“I remember when Will asked me what beats I wanted,

Henderson makes the beats. Tucker gives the beatings.

Matt Funk

I wanted them very positive, like upbeat,” Tucker said. “The intricacies of the beat, all that, it really reflected his talent, but it just kind of… I feel like it came together to reflect the both of us.”

Tucker’s lyrics deal with subjects like his life as a west coast transplant, girls, and having a good time.

“You can party to it. You can do homework to it,” Tucker said.

“Some songs will get stuck in

your head, and it’s only going to get better from here.”

This summer, Tucker is looking forward to bringing his music to a new audience.

“I have a couple shows in L.A. for some store openings, and the name is starting to spread in L.A. as well,” Tucker said. “I haven’t been able to push my music there, so it will be really cool to be on the west coast. ‘Cause my fan base is really D.C., like very east coast, like

kids from Connecticut and you know, over here. So I haven’t even touched upon that market that much.”

In addition to working a summer job, Henderson plans to make new beats for Tucker and collaborate with Triple J on a new project.

But as of now, neither freshman is looking much further than Georgetown Day. “I am so excited,” said Tucker. “I hope it’s not overhyped.”

Landscapes fails to illuminate

by Jeffrey Niedermaier Human life is carried out on diverse backdrops. However, in the drama and hustle of it all, rarely do we get the chance to step back and appreciate these landscapes. A stroll over to the Illuminated Landscapes exhibit at the Pepco Edison Place Gallery on 8th and G Streets allows one to do just that for free.

The exhibit showcases the work of the Washington Society of Landscape Painters, a group of painters in the greater D.C. area that has strived since 1913 to keep 19th-century painting techniques alive, hosting annual “paintouts” in the great outdoors, or en plein air, as francophilic society members might say.

The exhibit is decidedly diverse. The paintings cover a range of styles, from realism to impressionism, and stretch over an even wider range of subjects. Some are familiar cityscapes, like Richard Whiteley’s “C&O Canal at Georgetown,” while others are pastoral stretches of countryside, like Daniel Wise’s “Dusk,” a throwback to Monet’s iconic haystacks. A majority of the paintings are from the midAtlantic region, but the exhibit does an impressive job highlighting the region’s diversity.

Andrei Kushnir’s “Potomac River from Plummers Island” has an exotic, almost Amazonian feel, and the crashing waves in Christine Lashley’s “Silver Sea” capture the essence of a mythical sea serpent’s abode.

Megnwalsh.com

This is what D.C. looks like when Al Franken takes off his glasses.

But when it comes to talent, the gallery is anything but consistent. Some of the painters masterfully execute technique. Others merely give it their best shot.

If by some chance you feel the inescapable urge to own one of these works of art, prices vary from $300 to $15,000.

And yes, nearly every landscape featured has its price, for Illuminated Landscapes is just as much a sale as it is an exhibit. The only criterion for inclusion appears to be membership in the society, and each artist’s work is displayed in isolated clumps along the gallery walls. Like at a used car dealership, prices are displayed prominently.

Ironically enough, the landscapes were actually very awkwardly illuminated. Gallery lights created distracting glares and casted obtrusive shadows on the works, hinder-

ing their presentation. Each artist appears to have selected the frames for his or her own paintings, further detracting from any semblance of cohesiveness the exhibit may have intended to create.

The gallery is small— roughly 1,200 square feet— and odds are you won’t need to spend much time observing the paintings. Some of the techniques are impressive, but there is nothing really new here. Aside from the odd TVsatellite or modern grain silo in the background, the painters aim shamelessly to replicate Monet or Van Gogh or Brueghel. Although some of these attempts are admirable, you are probably better off seeing the real thing in a more ideal setting at the National Gallery just a few blocks away.

Or better yet, step outside and experience real landscapes illuminated by the springtime sun.

“his soul is still dancing.”—the Bad lieutenant: Port of call new orleans

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Lincoln-themed restaurant loses the nibble war

by John Sapunor Lincoln. Often hailed as the greatest American, the name carries connotations of freedom, perseverance, liberation, and food. Wait, food? Some might assume that Honest Abe’s slim figure was the result of his relentless dedication to performing the duties of leadership leaving little time for peripheral activities such as eating. But that’s where they’re wrong. A new restaurant in McPherson Square, called Lincoln, boasts a menu ostensibly full of all the munchies craved by the face of the penny, a man who presumably boasted a metabolism

matched only by world-champion competitive eater Takeru Kobayashi.

Lincoln’s decor offers a contemporary interpretation of the man under the hat. The floor is covered in real pennies and the bright art pieces set a tone that would surely please Abe. The dark, atmospheric lighting recalls the clubs the former head of state probably hung out in while taking time off from the endlessly annoying responsibilities of running the country and trying to win the Civil War. And right in the middle of the restaurant sits a monstrous white leather chair that looks like something right out of a film by Stanley Ku-

cuRBeD.coM

“Yes Mrs. Lincoln, but what did you think of the quail and waffles?”

Baked and Wire-d

During pre-registration a few weeks ago, I was hell-bent on taking one specific philosophy class. It seems odd, considering that I’m not a philosophy major, and generally find the subject to be a pointless, theoretical pain in the ass. But the title of this class alone was enough to make me, and, my guess is, a good chunk of the television-watching population of Georgetown, slide it all the way at the top of my prereg list—“Philosophy and The Wire”.

Having previously offered courses like “Philosophy of Star Trek” and “History of Television,” Georgetown is no stranger to television in the classroom. And using The Wire as teaching material is also not a novel concept—last year, Johns Hopkins University, located in the show’s

home city of Baltimore, made headlines when it used the show as the subject matter of a class investigating the problems of today’s American cities. Other elite universities, like Duke and Harvard, have also offered classes on urban sociological issues that use the HBO drama as teaching material.

It may seem a little odd that a television show is getting so much attention from academia, even one as phenomenal as The Wire. There are plenty of highly-rated, critically-acclaimed shows out there—well, maybe not plenty, but there are at least a few—and most of them do not have their DVD box sets on numerous textbook lists. The main reason for this is also the thing that makes the show as good as it is: its unusually

brick, who probably would have been Abe’s favorite director if he had lived a century later.

The water was served in old fashioned mason jars from which Huck Finn might have drunk moonshine, and the menu looked promising, boasting items like macaroni and cheese and fried quail with waffles. The first dish on the table, “House baked bread,” with a scrumptious spread, was disappointingly puny—just a single piece of what might as well have been Wonderbread split into four sections and toasted.

I pictured Lincoln taking a bite out of this miniscule appetizer and began to question how genuine his supposed gastronomical passion was. But I tried to keep an open mind as the waiter brought out the entrees.

Still excited to see what dishes my childhood hero would have craved during a long wagon ride back to the White House, I was willing to forget about my disappointment with the house bread. But my hopes of having a hearty, American meal were quickly shot down as the first entree, a miniature chicken pot pie, was placed before me.

The menu classifies entrees as “small plates,” and that’s not an understatement. I wolfed the tiny serving down in a nanosec-

poignant, realistic, and often terrifying depiction of the city of Baltimore sheds light on interesting and troubling sociological issues. Although the show’s basic premise follows a drug-dealing ring in the city’s housing projects and the police force that attempts to infiltrate it, each

Idiot Box

by Leigh Finnegan a bi-weekly column about television season broadens the scope toward city-wide institutional problems like politics and the education system. The show’s creator, former police reporter David Simon, expertly weaves the large-scale issues in with “the game” of drug dealing.

The city’s bigwigs come out looking no better—and often considerably worse—than any member of the heroin-slinging

FlIckR

Lincoln’s waitstaff is not happy when you tip them in floor pennies. ond. Then came the fried quail and waffles—tasty, yes, but they left me hungry for much more.

Unfortunately, at over 12 dollars a plate, my wallet and my patience could not muster up the courage to order any more food.

The food had vanished, and I, fool that I am, could not comprehend why the food portions purportedly enjoyed by the great emancipator had been so un-American. I suddenly found myself empathizing with John Wilkes Booth, for above all else, this country needs a leader who takes pride in America’s supersized, artery-clogging delights.

But my anger subsided when I reasoned that the selections of-

fered at Lincoln could not have been based on Abe’s actual favorite dishes. As I took one last look at the discombobulated servers walking across the penny-gilded floor, my stomach still rumbling with unsatisfied hunger, I pictured the ghost of the greatest American president seated in the huge leather chair at the center of the room, scowling with disapproval at the meager offerings of the restaurant that bears his name. So, Lincoln (the restaurant), bulk up the portions, lower the prices, and get your workers in order before you dare to name yourself after the greatest American president.

Barksdale family.

With its gritty, insightful look at America’s urban systems, and bolstered by its nuanced characters and exceptional narratives, The Wire garnered praise from multiple critics not only as arguably the best television show ever aired, but for its merit as a work of fiction—a rare honor for a work in the same massmarket medium as Sex and the City. Despite its acclaim, however, the show was cancelled after its fifth season in 2008 due to substandard ratings (I don’t need to remind you that Sex and the City made it through six seasons and two god-awful movies).

Though the show only ran for five seasons and hasn’t been on the air for three years, the ivory tower is still abuzz about it. The class at Johns Hopkins makes sense—the school is in Baltimore—but

most Georgetown students have been about as close to the crime-addled, blood-soaked, dope-dealing corners as residents of Wichita, Kansas (think about it—how often do you go making friends in Anacostia?).

And the Hopkins course was augmented with guest lectures from Simon other speakers whose jobs were featured on the show. Making a philosophy class out of it seems a tad less intuitive, but not by much—if Kant intended his principles to be applied anywhere, why not use them to shed some light on a compelling, well-researched show that frequently touched on lofty philosophical ideas while depicting problematic urban issues?

Email Leigh at lfinnegan@ georgetownvoice.edu if you want someone to watch re-run marathons of The Wire with. Seriously though, she could use the company.

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C r i t i c a l V o i ces

Thao and Mirah, Thao and Mirah, Kill Rock Stars When two solo artists come together for an album, the result usually falls short of the lofty artistic goals they strive for, but Thao and Mirah, a joint effort from Thao Nguyen, founder of San Francisco alt-folk group Thao and the Get Down Stay Down, and singersongwriter Mirah is the rare collaboration that truly impresses.

The synthesis between the two women’s styles is remarkable, with each track exploring new layers of unity as the vocally-driven artists push each other to greater and greater heights.

They reach the pinnacle of their achievement on the album’s first track, misleadingly named “Eleven.” Merrill Garbus, who co-produced the album, provides the gut-pulling style that she fea-

tures in her own music with tUnEYaRdS and juxtaposes it brilliantly with the more heartfelt, melodic stylings of the two singers. But on subsequent tracks, the two women focus on their stronger side: sweet folksy music. Think the Dixie Chicks with less twang and more flavor, or the Indigo Girls with more flair for experimentation.

“Likable Man,” the album’s third to last cut, explores some of the same methods used in the controlled dissonance of “Eleven.”

With dulcet vocals in the front, the percussion draws the listener in by jarring just a slight count off the melody, while the horns act as if they are accompanying an entirely different album. Tracks like these might be hard to stomach for those unaccustomed to harmonic dissonance, but the duo’s willingness to cross the boundaries of traditional female pop vocalism and experimental rock will satisfy more adventurous listeners.

In the final song, “Squareneck,” the musicians’ chemistry comes full circle. The track is a pure, raw song that sounds like the pair just brought a couple of percussion instruments into a barn and pushed the record button. Keeping this rustic feel from start to finish, the artists’ enjoyment shines through like rays of sunshine beaming

Senior Week Shenanigans

In a few short weeks, the graduating seniors of the Class of 2011 will happily abandon campus in pursuit of exciting summer plans, relinquishing all of their Georgetown territory to the rising senior class. But before they leave, they’ll spend their last days on campus drinking, dancing, and partying their way through one last University-sanctioned event—Senior Week. While underclassmen stress about finals and summer internships, seniors will be kayaking at Jack’s Boathouse, revisiting freshman dorms to reunite with old floor mates, and raging at a Harry Potter themed keg party at McDonough Gymnasium.

The tradition began in 1923, a rare instance of Georgetown being ahead of the game—even as late as the 1980s, most universities only afforded a day or two for graduating seniors’ revelry. An article published on April 29, 1923 in The

Washington Post declared that “a great throng [was] expected,” for the first senior week in Georgetown’s history, as alumni from all over the country were to return to campus to join in the celebration. At that point, though, Senior Week appears to have consisted of little else than open houses held by fraternities, baseball games, and a dinner attended by the entire faculty.

By 1925, the event had already expanded significantly, according to an article in the Post on April 19 of that year entitled “Student Activities Flourish on the Hilltop.”

The dinner had been upgraded to a “tea dance” followed by a prom, both of which were to be held at the impressive Mayflower Hotel that had opened earlier that year. By 1962, Senior Week included trips to amusement parks, boat cruises, a parent-faculty cocktail party, and a Luau on Kehoe Field. In 1975, activities shifted to a hayride, scavenger

from the giggling Teletubbies baby.

Don’t believe me? Just try listening to the buoyant Thao and Mirah without slipping a smile.

Voice’s Choices: “Eleven,” “Sugar and Plastic,” “Squareneck” —Paul Quincy

Fucked Up, David’s Town, Matador Records In a little over a month, Fucked Up will release David Comes to Life, the much-anticipated follow-up to the Toronto-based hardcore group’s Polaris Prize-winning Chemistry of Common Life, which promises to have an even broader appeal than that album’s hardcore crossover: more complex melodies, more ornate arrangements, and more guest appearances. And it’s a rock opera.

This seems a little unusual hunt, block party, and the “Georgetown Crawl” in which, according to an article published in the Hoya on April 25, 1975, participants were “required to drink two beers at each of fifteen stations that [would] later be set up on campus.” But believe it or not, some people were displeased with the increasing importance of alcohol in the week’s

throwback Jack

by Sadaf Qureshi

a bi-weekly column about Hoya history events. Bill Gillett, a 1980 graduate complained in an article in the Hoya on May 24, 1980, “Why do we have only a very narrowly-focused celebration based on drinking and getting drunk?”

All these festivities, not so different from our own, were met with some more serious challenges along the way. While Senior Week is traditionally a time of shared camaraderie between alumni and

for a hardcore group–the punk subgenre is renowned for terse, simple songs with large helpings of screaming. But Fucked Up have never been a group content to play off the standard conventions of their style. Their vocals may follow in the lineage of At the Drive-In and The Nation of Ulysses, and their politics may be proudly leftist, but their riffs are more classic rock than two-chord punk, and frontman Damian Abraham is a regular, well-tempered guest on Fox News’s Red Eye talk show. That is to say, if any contemporary hardcore group were to embrace the very bombast that punk was born in opposition to, it would be Fucked Up. David’s Town, released last week on Record Store Day, is not that opera itself, but rather, an example of the group’s dedication to their craft. The eleven tracks here—all written and recorded

by Fucked Up and guests—make up a fake “compilation” of firstwave style punk songs by fictional bands from the the fictional 1977 setting of David Comes to Life.

The group’s reenactment of the style of early British punk— think the Buzzcocks, The Jam, The Damned—is impeccable; everything from the album’s mod revival presentation to the graduating seniors, the return of alumni to campus presented conflicts. In mid-February of 1960, the University announced that during Senior Week, seniors would be required to surrender their rooms on campus to visiting alumni who would be simultaneously celebrating class reunions. In a letter to the editor published in the Hoya on March 3, 1960, an understandably unhappy student from the Class of 1960 protested, “the news of our not being able to remain in our rooms until graduation…came as a shock to the entire class. … A profound lack of consideration was evident in the indirect manner in which the seniors learned that they would not be permitted to use their rooms during Senior Week.”

All of this commotion occurred before seniors in the School of Business or the School of Foreign Service could partake in the fun.

Senior Week was organized by and for seniors in the College until discussion of integrating members

kitschy names of the “groups” to the warm, vintage-sounding studio trickery places the album perfectly in the world of Fucked Up’s pending rock opera.

The only tip-off of the hardcore group’s involvement here is the guitar. The dense interplay of Mike Haliechuk and Josh Zucker’s axe work on songs like “Garden City” and “It’s Hard to Be a Dad” re-imagine first-wave punk in a post-hardcore world.

And that reimagining is exactly why this seemingly throwaway release—it’s limited to just 2,000 copies and is intended as an addendum to the proper album coming soon—deserves the attention it’s getting. Tracks like “Byrdesdale Spa FC” and “Bull Thunder” are some of the best garage rock songs in a crowded 2011 field, freshening up a genre that has mined the same tropes for far too long. David’s Town is full of technical smarts, and its sense of humor is more palatable than the juvenilia that has long hallmarked the genre it replicates.

But the best news? The real statement is yet to come.

Voice’s Choices: City,” “Bull Thunder”

“Garden

—Matthew Collins of the other schools into the experience began in 1963. According to a January 17, 1963 article in the Hoya, those in favor of integration argued that “the University would benefit from closer relations between the undergraduate schools,” while those opposed to integration sought to “preserve the tradition” and make merry with members of their own division of the University. Finally, after a two hour debate, the proposal to include all undergraduate divisions of the University in Senior Week was passed by a vote of ten to three.

This rite of passage, once considered a privilege, has become standard protocol for outgoing seniors. Hopefully, the class of 2011 will make their Senior Week one that goes down in history as well. That is, if anyone can remember it.

Email Sadaf at squreshi@georgetownvoice.com if you need to find room and board for some drunk alums.

page thirteen

georgetownvoice.com

the georgetown voice 13

An open letter to all residents of Georgetown

Dear neighbors,

As you know, Georgetown students are entering the home stretch of the semester, and we need to be on our “A” game this weekend. Of course, we’re not talking about studying—we’re talking about drinking. You see, tomorrow is Georgetown Day, our most cherished annual tradition, and we all need to be in peak condition to gather on the front lawn and get outrageously sloshed. On behalf of the student body, we would like to ask you to please keep the noise down tonight. We have a very special day ahead of us, and it is important that we get up early tomorrow to begin a long day of outdoor boozing on the right foot.

We all know how crazy Thursday nights can be, but we would really appreciate it if the rest of the community would give us a break and take the night off, for once.

In exchange for remaining quiet tonight, we promise that all of tomorrow’s noisy crapulence will remain inside the front gates on Healy and Copley lawns.

Hell, we’ll even be sure only to drink on the Village A rooftops Saturday night, too. This should be your ideal weekend—since we’ll all be passed out somewhere on campus by 7:00 p.m., you’ll have the whole neighborhood to yourselves!

We hope we can do this the easy way. Otherwise, we aren’t afraid to call the cops after 10:00 p.m. if you’re being too rowdy or have the television on a bit too loud.

Georgetown Day is an important college tradition, and in order for the seniors to go out strong (and wasted) and for the uninitiated freshman to live up to their full potential, you’ll need to calm down a bit over the weekend. We’ve already made arrangements with our teachers to turn a blind eye to what’s in our coffee mugs in class Friday morning, but you, our neighbors, are the uncertain variable in this equation. The administration might be willing to compromise with you on the Campus Plan, but this is one day we cannot afford to let you ruin. We’ve all been working hard to reach Georgetown Day—spending endless hours in Lau, weeks preparing group presentations, months learning every country, city, and river in the world, and all year doing keg stands, car bombs, and drinking questionable jungle juice.

If you are unable to keep your volume down tonight, we hope that SNAP intercedes before MPD arrives so that you can avoid the harsh $500 fine and 90 day prison sentence that comes along with a noise violation. Be forewarned: we’re pretty sure any noise you make between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. is bound to disturb at least one student’s pre-boozing snoozing.

We thank you in advance for your restraint Thursday night and hope the authorities won’t have to get involved. We already have our alarms set and our best sun dresses, jorts, and sleeveless shirts picked out for the day. We would shake your hand tomorrow morning for being so respectful, but we’ll already be double-fisting Natty.

Sincerely, Students of Georgetown

voices

14 the georgetown voice

april 28, 2011

Endowment commission casts a controversial vote Money with a mission

by Nick Troiano and Clara Gustafson Vice President Joe Biden often says, “Don’t tell me what you value; show me your budget, and I’ll tell you what you value.” When looking at the final recommendation from the GUSA Endowment Commission, which passed up supporting the Georgetown Social Innovation and Public Service Fund in favor of allocating $3.2 million to the Healy Pub proposal, it’s difficult to tell what, exactly, our community values.

The commission had the opportunity to get behind a more balanced proposal— one that would have suggested allocating $2 million to developing student space and $1 million to the SIPS Fund—but by a single vote, the commission elected not to even consider it. This proposal would have impacted many students by expanding student space, and at the same time, empowering students to positively impact the world by investing in their own ideas and potential.

How the commission overlooked a transformative idea to enable students to create positive change and instead simply settled on reviving a campus pub was essentially a result of the following guideline issued by the GUSA FinApp committee: “All students paid the fee [to create the Endowment] and therefore the Endowment should benefit all students…”

The commission’s singular focus on finding a proposal that affected the most students was the principal reason why so many proposals, like the SIPS Fund, were passed up by the Endowment commission in favor of student space projects, like Healy Pub, which were seen to have “universal benefit,” since any student, as the commission astutely observed, can occupy space.

This was an overly simplistic framework that sold the potential of the endowment commission short. The commission decided to remove from consideration proposal after proposal that they did not think would directly affect enough students. In doing so, they tied their own hands so tightly that after over two months of hearing dozens of proposals, when it came time to vote on different slates of recommendations, the commission had only four proposals left to choose from: reviving Healy Pub, renovating part of Lauinger Library, contributing to New South Student Center, and putting solar panels on University townhouses.

Commissioners themselves were lamenting their own lack of creativity, after realizing that on the final evening of deliberations, they actually had little to deliberate about. Rather than realize their initial purpose, to solicit and recommend ideas from various stakeholders to determine the fate of the student activity fee dollars intended to support a wide range of projects and activities, the commissioners constrained themselves to being a commission on student space.

Space can certainly provide many

things—a place to study, socialize with friends, meet a professor, and in the case of the Healy proposal, grab a beer. And the lack of student space is a problem on campus. But providing space is a primary responsibility of the University, not of students themselves through student activity fees.

Indeed, within the next ten years, the University will have made large progress to solving the student space problem by constructing the 30,000 square foot New South Student Center, without needing a dime from the student activity fee endowment. It is much less likely that over the next ten years, progress will have be made on the variety of other ideas presented to the Commission—including the SIPS Fund, which aimed to allocate over $100,000 each year to support student-led nonprofits and social businesses, alternative spring breaks, service initiatives, re-

Tapping into thirst for space

by Tom Bosco

The merit of a single idea is based on three different factors. First, it has to be the right idea. Second, it has to be the right time.

Third, it has to be the right place.

On Tuesday night, the GUSA Endowment Commission—of which I was a member—made the correct choice in allocating the full amount of the $3.4 million available to both the Healy Student Space proposal and the Georgetown Energy proposal in its primary recommendation.

However, while I am signing my name to the Endowment Commission Report because I respect the process that has unfolded and believe that the Commission has reached consensus, I still believe the secondary proposal—which has a realistic chance of receiving funding—is misguided.

The Social Innovation and Public Service Fund, proposed by GUSA Senators Clara

Healy Student Space may reinvigorate student life on campus, but at what cost? search projects, and much more.

Like us, you may remember vividly how President DeGioia pointed out during new student convocation how lucky we are to be living in a prosperous country and receiving a world-class education.

It’s a privilege enjoyed by a fraction of a percent of the world’s population. President DeGioia instilled in us a sense of purpose to leverage our education to be men and women for others. The SIPS Fund was a proposal to unlock the potential of Georgetown students and their ideas to do just that.

To us, there was no proposal as worthy of consideration and support because there was no proposal as fundamental to why we are here at Georgetown: not just to occupy space, but to get out into the world and make a difference. Spending the endowment money should not be about maximizing individual benefit, but rather improving our community as a whole and fostering the virtues we pride ourselves on. We hope the GUSA Senate will reconsider the comission’s recommendation as the process continues.

FLICKR

Gustafson and Nick Troiano, was made a secondary proposal, receiving $1.25 million if the Healy Space fails to materialize, which, in my opinion, is a very real possibility.

With that said, however, it is worth looking at the SIPS proposal in context of the three aforementioned factors. To begin with, SIPS is a great idea. It is quintessentially “Georgetown”—it fully promotes the idea of men and women for others. It would fund student social entrepreneurship, advance Alternative Spring Break programs, co-sponsor campus events, and provide student loan-repayment assistance to certain students.

Moreover, it is the right time for the SIPS Fund. Due to the current state of the environment, economy, and the education system in America, entrepreneurship and social change need to be available to students not just at Georgetown, but also at all ages.

Still, when it comes to the third factor— place—the SIPS proposal fails.

SAFE Reform opened up $3.4 million of Student Activities Fee money to be redistributed back to the student body. The money was initially for student activities, and it should be spent for that purpose.

The SIPS fund only impacts a very small

portion of campus, and does very little for the majority of the student body. At full capacity, SIPS, according to my rough estimates based on direct funding to businesses and students, event co-sponsorships, a community service day, and the SIPS forum, the SIPS fund will impact about 500 of the over 7,000 undergraduates of Georgetown.

There’s just not enough bang for its buck.

If SIPS gets the $1.25 million allotted to it in the secondary proposal, it will be affecting about 6.62 percent of the undergraduate population yearly—for 36.76 percent of the total money available.

The money distributed by the endowment commission was originally put into the endowment with the goal of improving the undergraduate experience at Georgetown.

With that in mind, the highest quality recommendation should do the most to improve the undergraduate experience.

Proponents of SIPS have not agreed that the goal of the funds should be best improving the undergraduate experience. Instead, they wanted the endowment commission’s goal was “about realizing the very mission of Georgetown University—to empower students to lead and serve others.”

While that is a noble goal, in this circumstance, those are not the appropriate ends.

The appropriate ends are a proposal that makes the undergraduate experience the best it can possibly be.

SIPS funnels Student Activities Fee money out of the hands of student activities and into the hands of Georgetown students who will be concentrating their efforts outside the front gates. It is not the purpose of the money, and is not making the undergraduate experience better for everyone.

Additionally, while SIPS would help the small amount of people who are interested in its capabilities, it wouldn’t even be able to affect every single person who wants access.

Even though every student has paid into the Endowment since 2001, SIPS would not be open to all students—while everyone can apply, only a select few will receive funding because of monetary limitations.

Space proposals hit the nail right on the head. They affect a large amount of people, they can be used directly for student activities, and they address a Georgetown undergraduate’s most glaring need: student space. A quick glance at peer institutions around the country shows that Georgetown’s student space facilities greatly pale in comparison to our counterparts like Duke, Harvard, and Vanderbilt.

The secondary proposal should not have given money to SIPS. The $1.25 million will be better served to improve the undergraduate experience by further expanding the New South Student Center, Lauinger Library, or the omnibus space fund.

I will be signing my name to the Endowment Commission Report because I wholeheartedly believe that the Healy Space/ Georgetown Energy split is the best way to spend the money. If the Healy Space proposal never materializes, however, I will be voting “no” for SIPS on the student-wide referendum. I urge every undergraduate who wants to better the undergraduate experience to do the same.

voices

georgetownvoice.com

the georgetown voice

15

Look who’s coming to dinner: An open invite to new elites

by Emma Forster “Are you smart enough to eat here?” When I go out to eat, these are not typically the first words out of the host or hostess’s lips. But then again, Number 68 Project isn’t your typical restaurant. Part of a new “pop-up” restaurant fad, this originally London-based dining experience has made its way to the District and brought with it a new outlet for creative chefs, intrepid diners, and elitist aspirations.

The Number 68 Project is just one of many pop culture phenomena that has recently complicated our understanding of elitism. Exclusive clubs and organizations of

the past were shrouded in a web of obstacles and secrecy, making it difficult for the average person to seek them out. Now, however, we are given access to these exclusive groups with the click of a button.

Washington was quick to hop aboard the trend with the Number 68 Project, the brainchild of cultural director Hosan Lee and culinary director Jill Richmond. The allinclusive “Cultural Dinner Series” ran every Sunday from February through April with each meal consisting of five to seven courses with beverage pairings. The project’s mission, according to its website, was to use “food and drink as a vehicle to bring people together for

Emma better hurry up, there’s only one seat left!

FLICKR

A colorful past When I heard that Sean Penn had won the Academy Award for best actor for his role in Milk, I was curious to see how Penn’s portrayal of a dairy farmer garnered the attention of the Academy. It was only later that I learned that Milk, contrary to my assumption, is a biographical film detailing the life and struggles of Harvey Milk, a gay rights advocate and the first openly gay person to be elected to public office. Call me ignorant, but how was I supposed to know that?

The fact is, I have never really learned about gay history. Growing up in an extremely conservative home, my exposure to gay issues was limited, and school wasn’t much more informative.

While my high school textbooks spent a great deal of time discussing the struggles of other minori-

ties in the U.S., from the push for women’s suffrage to the civil rights movement, the plight of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans was absent.

It is this glaring omission of the historical struggle of LGBT that California Democratic Senator Mark Leno is seeking to rectify with California Senate Bill 48.

Essentially, the law mandates the inclusion of the historical contributions of LGBT Americans in the California curriculum. On Apr. 21, the law passed through the Senate with a partisan majority of 23-14, but still needs to clear the Democrat-controlled Assembly before it can be signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown.

Lawmakers believe the bill will help curb the bullying of gay students and lower the high suicide rate for queer youth.

Let the Voice be your voice. We accept opinions, letters to the editor, personal experiences, and creative writing that are exclusive to the Voice. Submissions do not express the opinion of the board of the Voice. The Voice reserves the right to edit submissions for accuracy, length, and clarity. To submit, email voices@georgetownvoice.com or come to the Voice office in Leavey 413.

Opinions expressed in the Voices section do not necessarily reflect the views of the General Board of the Voice.

the sake of meaningful dialogue around the dinner table,” with each evening structured around the exploration of a theme selected from a fortune cookie. In order to request an invitation to a Number 68 Project dinner, prospective diners were asked to answer questions such as “What is your idea of earthly happiness?” and “Living or dead, who would you invite to your ideal dinner party?”

Any Georgetown student, especially one who has applied to an internship or a job, is no stranger to questions like the ones required to earn a coveted seat at the Number 68 Project dinner table. Overachievers that we are, I doubt there is more than a handful of us who haven’t written from the perspective of our favorite color or explained what we would do with the superpower of our choosing at least once or twice. Unlike the standard cover letter, these questions aim to dig into our psyche and reveal just how witty, creative, and smart we really are.

Selection and elitism has always been an inherent part of nearly every group; everything from sports teams to college admissions to Greek societies has some form of application and acceptance or rejection process. However, when everyone is running marathons, acing the Leno, himself openly gay, hopes the law will allow gay students to feel included in the fabric of American society.

“We are second-class citizens and children are listening,” he said in an interview. “When they see their teachers don’t step up to the plate when their classmate is being harassed literally to death, they are listening and they get the message that there is something wrong with those people.”

Carrying On

by Keaton Hoffman A rotating column by Voice senior staffers

Evangelical Christians and other social conservatives are outraged that students in public schools will be exposed to a sexualized education that will guide impressionable students to the conclusion that being gay is an acceptable lifestyle choice. Republican State Senator Doug La Malfa believes students should be shielded from an LGBT-inclusive curriculum. “I’m deeply troubled kids would have to contemplate at a very, very early age, when many of us are teaching absti-

SATs, and meeting a general standard of financial security, how can anyone hope to stand out? And on the reverse side, how can an organization hope, with so many overqualified applicants, to attract and secure the cream of the crop?

What we face in the microcosm of university life—and later the professional world—is a hyperaware sense of competition that is no longer necessarily based on the traditional foundation of wealth, class, or even hard work. Even more than in the meritocracy of the past few decades, in our society, success depends on a hybrid fusion of all of these elements. In a market overstocked with top-tier students, toppaying jobs, and top-end chefs, one answer that has become more prevalent is a sense of modern elitism.

It’s a standard principle of supply and demand: by limiting the availability of a position you instantly up your ante. In fact, though, by limiting the appearance of supply, organizations have made themselves more exclusive and therefore more desirable.

All of this is self-perpetuating.

The more elite clubs attract the more elite people who then lend their status as proof of a given society’s, restaurant’s, or school’s superior nature. Once a niche gains a certain amount of credibility, it has nence ... what is sexuality,” he said. It should be noted that the law does not indicate an age to introduce LGBT history, leaving this choice to the discretion of California school districts.

Critics of SB 48 also claim that Californians, in their passage of Proposition 8, which overturned a court decision legalizing same-sex marriage, have already decided that they do not want to normalize homosexuality. Californians disapproving of homosexuality think the legislature has no right to force LGBT history down students throats.

In 1966, the California Board of Education faced similar opposition when it included accounts of the civil rights movement and the contributions of black Americans in high school textbooks. Now, such education is considered crucial for students to understand an important aspect of American society and history. Similarly, though it may be unpopular, the inclusion of LGBT history in public schools’ social studies curricula is critical.

The U.S. is currently undergoing a second civil rights movement for members of the LGBT community. Five U.S. states and the District of Columbia have already removed bans on same-sex

the potential to accumulate interest until it reaches mythological proportions—just look at the secret societies of the nation’s top universities, or the Freemasons. Are we, in buying into this elitism, creating a caste system for ourselves?

And, even more troublingly, if we hope to succeed in our goal-driven society, do we have a choice but to keep working toward these coveted spots?

The very fact that these elite, secret, or invite-only opportunities are becoming more prevalent puts the power in our hands. Today’s elitism is far more ambiguous and far less concrete. To “Request an Invite” to dine with the Number 68 Project, all you have to do is go to their website and fill out a simple questionnaire. As the Chinese fortune cookie at one of the events read: “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always gotten.” If this new elitism is purporting the notions of innovation, change, experimentation, and selfbetterment, then sign me up.

Emma Forster is a sophomore in the College. If she doesn’t get an invite to the Number 68 Project, she’s holding out for the 69 Project this Friday. marriage, New York is again contemplating legalization, Delaware and Hawaii recently passed laws establishing civil unions for samesex couples, and the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, which banned openly gay Americans from serving in the military, is being repealed. Now, more than ever, is it necessary to educate youth about the LGBT community and their struggle for equal rights in this country.

SB 48 is just one law in one state, but it’s an important step in the ongoing movement for integration and acceptance of the LGBT community. Other states ought to follow California’s example, especially those that are purportedly gay-friendly, like Massachusetts. Likewise, the University needs to make sure to include LGBT history in its history curriculum.

It’s time for Americans to stop their ignorance and learn something. Hopefully, future Americans won’t have to wonder if Milk is skim or whole.

Keaton Hoffman is a sophomore in the SFS. He felt awkward when he showed up to Milk with a box of Lucky Charms.

Dino-Jack and Coke

Saxa on the Beach

Georgetown Day Drink Suggestions 2 oz. Jack Daniels Whiskey 10 oz. Coca-Cola

Carrollpolitan

1 oz. Vodka 1/2 oz. Triple Sec 1/2 oz. Rose’s Lime Juice 1/2 oz. Cranberry Juice

2/3 oz. Peach Schnapps 1 & 1/3 oz. Vodka 1 & 1/3 oz. Cranberry Juice 1 & 1/3 oz. Orange Juice

Jack and Tonic

2 oz. Bombay Sapphire Gin 5 oz. Tonic Water 1 Lime Wedge

FIND THESE AND OTHER RECIPES ON VOX POPULI