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EDITORIAL
THE HOYA
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2011
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Encouraging Student Efforts
Founded January 14, 1920
To the Editor:
Each May, over 1,000 students walk across the stage at graduation without ever having stepped into a science class at Georgetown. As science currently stands, some students avoid the chemistry, biology and physics departments at all costs. In fact, students in the School of Foreign Service are unofficially deemed “safe from science.” This attitude pervades even in the College, where the math and science requirements are arguably the easiest of all general education requirements to fulfill — thanks to Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate credits. The scientific truth, though, is that when students skip out on this variety of classes, they miss out on the comprehensive education Georgetown has to offer. Science pervades our daily lives, whether in the form of health and medicine, ecology or the environment. Phrases like “stem cell research” and “the ozone layer” are frequent political sound bites. The informed global citizen needs to understand these concepts in order to be able to speak intelligently about them. More importantly, science exposes students to a more analytical approach to the world. Learning to categorize and comprehend data forces us to develop conclusions backed up by solid facts. These skills improve any argument, whether it be within an English or government paper or while formulating a presentation for marketing. While most of this conundrum stems
from the current core curriculum, the lackluster undergraduate relationship to chemistry, biology and physics results mainly from a shortage of non-major science courses. Science classes are rarely taken as electives when they are not mandatory to complete a major or general education requirement. Students may take humanities out of academic interest, but the early-morning lectures, long laboratories and potential grade point average sacrifice associated with the hard sciences often repel many a student’s exploration. Upper-level courses generally have rigorous pre-requisites and require extensive background knowledge. Sadly, this leaves only the tough introductory and a few non-major courses for the casual scientists to explore. While the classes intended for non-majors have their merits, there are simply too few of them. There is so much potential to create more interdisciplinary hybrids through team-teaching courses that would expose the student to scientific thought in another form. With the New Science Center set to open next year, it is imperative that Georgetown revolutionizes its approach to the sciences. Creating more options for non-majors while changing the core requirements among the schools would make critical lessons from chemistry, biology and physics classes a part of the student body’s vocabulary. It’s time that Georgetown students lose their blissful ignorance and end the days where students are “safe from science.”
As I reflect on the start of senior year, I realize more and more that Georgetown is a place for constant innovation by topnotch students. I have recently heard about a fantastic way to bring students with great ideas for public service and social innovation financial support. The Social Innovation and Public Service Fund is designed by Georgetown students for Georgetown students. Some of the people I respect most at Georgetown created the SIPS Fund because so many talented students here want to
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dents were not able to pursue this opportunity since funding was so limited. SIPS funding could support seed money for nonprofits and social ventures, funding for alternative break service trips, research grants and whatever else applicants propose. As the students organizing and promoting SIPS Fund tirelessly devote themselves to this mission of increasing opportunity for Hoya innovation, I write in full support of their efforts.
THE VERDICT by The Editorial Board World’s Largest Paint Party — The Program Board will be selling the everpopular DayGlow bus tickets for $20. Whatever, Whenever — ZaarlyU, a Craigslist-like service that allows students to barter various goods at their set prices, will launch this fall on the Hilltop. Close Call — Albrecht Muth, accused killer of Q Street resident Viola Drath, was forced to stay in jail after threatening to bomb Northwest D.C. Virus in 3D — Georgetown’s AMC Theater introduced the IMAX Experience with the opening of “Contagion.” Park Place and the Boardwalk — The Waterfront Park finally opened up this week, providing an outdoor space for the community to fully enjoy the waterfront and autumn weather.
“Constructional Integrity” Article posted Sept. 13, 2011 Comment posted Sept. 14, 2011 The Hoya Truth: Make no mistake, this is just about property value and keeping cars from going down neighborhood streets faster than 15 mph. First off, the tracks are not maintaining campus character as 1) They’re off campus; 2) Students are a smaller part of the population where the tracks exist; 3) The historical character was in the day hops and others taking the trolley, was a practical means to get across West Georgetown. If you’re not going to add the trolley back, there’s no point to wasting $12 million on cobblestones.
SIPS should receive additional funds. Without any more financial support from the endowment, this exercise in our Jesuit identity will fail. By contrast, the New South Student Center already has a proposal for some of the monetary support it needs. Included in the 2010 Campus Plan, the university is working on fundraising for the center. SAFE proposal money, though, could make the difference between just a new space and one fully outfitted for student needs. Any headway that can be made regarding the student center in New South should also be a priority, as we all know space is one of the highest commodities on campus. But we can’t deny that the second primary proposal last spring to install solar panels on 43 townhouses was arguably the most feasible and most easily sustainable. Despite being the most economically friendly and greenest proposal, it still remains relatively unknown across campus. By allocating a larger portion of the endowment to this eco-friendly endeavor, Georgetown would put itself ahead of the pack in environmental initiative. Naturally, all of these suggestions lack the widespread popularity that the idea of a pub in Healy Hall inspired. But brewing a mix of increased social entrepreneurship opportunities, greener campus life and better student space is something we can all raise our glasses to.
“A Decade’s Worth of Apologies” Article posted Sept. 9, 2011 Comment posted Sept. 13, 2011 Anonymous: I can’t really fault you for your instinctual feelings. Rationally you know they are wrong, and you are trying to fight them. Still, you were a child, and the 9/11 attacks had such a strong impact at exactly the wrong time in your life. “Cigarette Theft Costs Vital Vittles Over $1,000 in Losses” Article posted Sept. 13, 2011 Comment posted Sept. 14, 2011 Anonymous: Only $1000? For 90 cartons? Considering a pack of cigarettes costs around $6, and there are 10 packs per carton, that means that the average consumer (ie smokers) would pay $5400 for that many cigarettes. $4400 is kind of a ridiculous mark-up. You’d think the Corp would be in a better financial position if that’s the kind of profit margin they work with on all their products. “Last Call Looms for Healy Pub” Article posted Sept. 2, 2011 Comment posted Sept. 2, 2011 Anonymous: “We take seriously the need to improve student gathering space and we want our students to feel welcome on campus,” Olsen said. It is disgraceful that an administrator in Olsen’s position can tacitly admit that campus is not currently situated to welcome students, and yet there are no repercussions for him, DeGioia, or any other member of the administration. The only things on campus that work are student run. Sure, they may not be perfect, but compare the Corp to Housing. GUASFCU to Facilities. GERMS to the Health Center. Maybe it’s time to turn the asylum over to the inmates. Things could only get better.
Policies & Information
Eamon O’Connor, Editor-in-Chief Lauren Weber, Executive Editor Connor Gregoire, Managing Editor Glenn Russo, Campus News Editor Sarah Kaplan, City News Editor Pat Curran, Sports Editor Sarah Amos, Guide Editor Katherine Foley, Opinion Editor Meagan Kelly, Photography Editor Laura Engshuber, Online Editor Shakti Nochur, Layout Editor Suzanne Fonzi, Copy Chief
Editorial Board Katherine Foley, Chair
Deputy Campus News Editor Mariah Byrne Deputy Campus News Editor Upasana Kaku Deputy City News Editor Anne Skomba Jonathan Gillis Deputy News Editor for Features Deputy Sports Editor Lawson Ferguson Deputy Sports Editor Evan Hollander Deputy Guide Editor Peter Brigham Deputy Guide Editor Alex Sanchez Deputy Guide Editor Bethany Imondi Deputy Opinion Editor Martin Hussey Deputy Photography Editor Chris Bien Deputy Photography Editor Michelle Cassidy Deputy Online Editor Stephen Levy Deputy Layout Editor Remy Samuels Kavya Devarakonda Deputy Layout Editor Nikita Buley Deputy Copy Editor Sam Randazzo Deputy Copy Editor
Contributing Editors
Madeleine Colavita, Kavya Devarakonda, Michael Clark, Kavya Devarakonda, Laura Engshuber, Eddie Fearon, Michael Palmer, Michael Palmer, Brian Shaud Mairead Reilly, Elizabeth Rowe, Jeremy Tramer
DEVEN COMEN (COL ’12)
Off the Web
Spread the Wealth After fantasizing last March about the possibility of enjoying a cold brew without having to walk past the front gates, we endorsed the Healy Pub proposal to be the primary beneficiary of the $3.4 million Student Activities Fee Endowment. Now that University President John J. DeGioia has all but quashed the idea of knocking back a few in the halls of Healy, it is time to turn to more reasonable alternatives. Under the schema worked out by the SAFE committee last spring, the Healy Pub and the solar energy proposals were deemed the favorites to receive the endowment. According to the committee, the $3.4 million in the endowment — after passing a student referendum this winter — would be divided between the two. The solar energy proposal was allocated the $170,000 it requested, which left the lion’s share of $3.23 million to Healy Pub. But now that a bar beneath the clock hands is off the table, it now falls upon the commission to make the most of the money available to the greater student body. The Social Innovation and Public Service fund draws upon Jesuit ideals to serve others by providing seed money so that students can get a head start on their social entrepreneurship initiatives. Last spring, advocates for the SIPS fund secured $1.25 after requesting $1.5 million in case the pub plan fell through. Though this is a feat in itself,
serve domestic and international communities but often lack the financial resources to realize their projects. The current proposal respectfully requests $1.5 million from the Student Activities Fee Endowment resources to help make strategic investments in Georgetown students and their ideas that advance our Jesuit commitment of service to others. Personally, I was lucky enough to win one of three Berkley Center’s Education for Social Justice fellowships to research social justice abroad this summer in India. However, over 200 additional stu-
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