GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY’S NEWSPAPER OF RECORD SINCE 1920 thehoya.com
Georgetown University • Washington, D.C. Vol. 98, No. 25, © 2016
FRiDAY, January 22, 2016
A FAREWELL TO BOWIE
Following the death of the British rock star, DC reflects on its history with Ziggy Stardust.
Fr. Richard Curry, S.J., Dies Beloved Georgetown professor and pioneering philanthropist dies at 72.
EDITORIAL To address sexual violence on campus, students must be proactive.
NEWS, A4
OPINION, A2
GUIDE, B`
GU Admits Student Tax Form Error Emily tu
Hoya Staff Writer
The Georgetown University Student Employment Office sent out student employee W-2 forms to incorrect addresses this week. A W-2 form indicates the annual amount of taxes withheld from an employee’s paycheck and is used to file federal and state taxes. It contains sensitive information including a Social Security number, which is often used in cases of identity theft, as it is treated as a form of identification for personal records including bank accounts, credit cards and loans. According to the payroll office, all W-2 forms are to be mailed to each employee’s permanent address as stated on MyAccess by the end of January 2016. Student employees may also access their forms online in the Georgetown Management System.
“I hope Georgetown will take responsibility for putting the identity and security of its student workers at risk.”
NAAZ MODAN /THE HOYA
Project Lighthouse, announced by the Georgetown University Student Association Mental Health Committee this week, will allow students to communicate with trained peer supporters on concerns regarding mental health through a unique online chat forum.
Project Lighthouse Announced
bethan saunders (sfs ’17) Affected student
Director of Payroll Services Claudette Richardson declined to comment regarding the reasons behind the error and the office’s response. In an email sent to student employees Jan. 21, Associate Vice President for Benefits and See W2, A6
Sarah Griffin Hoya Staff Writer
The Georgetown University Student Association Mental Health Committee announced the creation of the Project Lighthouse mental health initiative Jan. 13, which will implement a peer-to-peer online chat service to let Georgetown students anonymously communicate with trained supporters on issues such as stress culture, sleep problems and thoughts of self-harm.
The initiative plans to welcome its first class of peer supporters through an eightweek training period from February to March, garnering support and resources from professionals in Georgetown’s Counseling and Psychiatric Services and Health Education Services. After training volunteer peer supporters, Project Lighthouse will conduct a beta test in early April to evaluate student interest and begin plans to transition into full ser-
vice by final exams in May. The initiative will tentatively be in operation every day of the week on evenings and nights, from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. GUSA Deputy Chief of Staff Ken Nunnenkamp (MSB ’16) said Project Lighthouse’s creation follows longstanding planning for a peer-driven mental health initiative, inspired by programs at other schools such as Cornell University’s Empathy, Assistance See LIGHTHOUSE, A6
Survey Seeks to Address Campus Sexual Violence Syed Humza Moinuddin Hoya Staff Writer
Georgetown University released its first Sexual Assault and Misconduct Climate Survey to the student body Jan. 14 to gather relevant data on the prevalence of sexual violence on campus and to promote a better understanding of the issue among community members. It is the university’s first initiative of 2016 to bring renewed attention to the issue of sexual assault. The survey will remain open to students until Feb. 6, and its results will be published in May 2016.
GUSA Opposes Security Bill Molly Cooke
conduct outside of its current jurisdiction, which includes
The Georgetown University Student Association met with student government leaders from other Washington, D.C. universities Thursday to discuss a proposed bill that would allow for expanded jurisdiction for private security officers, including campus police. The bill, which was introduced by D.C. Councilmember Kenyan McDuffie (D-Ward 5) Dec. 16, includes new regulations for special police officers, which include campus security, housing project staff and hospital officers. Under the bill, the Georgetown University Police Department would have the ability to enforce the code of
“We have serious concerns about the extent to which police can be trained to control offcampus areas, concerns about civil liberties.”
Hoya Staff Writer
Connor rohan (COL ’16) GUSA Vice President
buildings that the university owns, operates or leases. “A campus or university special police officer … may exercise his or her authority as an officer outside the property or area he or she is appointed to protect,” the bill reads. “[This is] pursuant to a public safety plan submitted
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to, and approved by, the Chief of Police.” The bill was introduced in response to the death of Alonzo Smith, a D.C. resident who died while in the custody of private security guards, with the aim of increasing training requirements for special police. The bill is co-sponsored by Councilmembers LaRuby May (DWard 8), David Grosso (I-At Large), Elissa Silverman (I-At Large), Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3), Anita Bonds (DAt Large) and Phil Mendelson (DChairman). Student association presidents from George Washington University, American University, Howard University and Catholic University attended the consortium
See SURVEY, A6
FEATURED
NAAZ MODAN/THE HOYA
A new bill introduced by D.C. Councilmember Kenyan McDuffle (D-Ward 5) would extend the jurisdiction of the Georgetown University Police Department beyond the front gates of campus.
President John J. DeGioia announced the survey’s release through an email to the student body Jan. 14. The Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity and Affirmative Action initiated the survey in partnership with the Office of Assessment and Decision Support and the Office of the Provost. The survey comes from a template developed by the Association of American Universities in late 2014. It was specifically tailored to Georgetown through the work of the Sexual Assault Working Group and a misconduct climate
NEWS Q&A with Title IX Coordinator
The university’s first full-time Title IX coordinator Laura Cutway plans to collaborate with student groups. A5
NEWS John Q. Pierce Retires
Sports Rivalry Revived
NEWS IPPS Fellows Share Goals
OPINION Let Lighthouse Lead the Way
University Registrar John Q. Pierce announced his plans to retire to the student body Jan. 9. A4
The IPPS fellows for the spring 2016 class discuss their ambitions for the current semester. A5
The Georgetown men’s basketball team will face an old Big East rival in UConn on Saturday. B10
Project Lighthouse gives students the opportunity to take control of campus mental health issues. A3
See POLICE, A6 Published Tuesdays and Fridays
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