GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY’S NEWSPAPER OF RECORD SINCE 1920 thehoya.com
Georgetown University • Washington, D.C. Vol. 101, No. 18, © 2020
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2020
Yovanovitch Speaks at GU After Georgetown Puts Fall Nursing Abroad Programs on Hold Testifying Against Trump MARGIE CULLEN Hoya Staff Writer
In her first public appearance since testifying in the impeachment hearings of President Donald Trump in November, former Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch received an award for diplomatic excellence and called on young people to join the foreign service at a ceremony Wednesday. Yovanovitch received the 2020 J. Raymond “Jit” Trainor Award for Excellence in the Conduct of Diplomacy at the Feb. 12 event in Gaston Hall. Yovanovitch, who served as U.S. ambassador to Ukraine from 2016 to 2019, testified at the impeachment hearing Oct. 11 that Trump targeted her for removal. Yovanovitch said she was removed as part of an organized attempt to persuade Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to investigate the family of Trump’s political opponent former Vice President Joe Biden. Biden’s son Hunter served on the board of the Ukrainian gas company Burisma from 2014 until the beginning of 2019. The House of Representatives voted to impeach Trump on Dec. 18, charging him with abuse of power and with obstruction of Congress. On Feb. 6, the Senate voted to acquit the president on abuse of power and on obstruction of Congress. On Feb. 13, Trump admitted that he asked his personal attorney Rudy Giuliani to travel to Ukraine to gather damaging information about his political rivals, which he had repeatedly denied
during the impeachment inquiry, according to CNN. Despite the divisiveness of the impeachment process, it has brought renewed attention to Ukrainian foreign policy, which Yovanovitch hopes will be beneficial for both nations.
“The quiet work of diplomacy can be more effective, and less resource intensive, than just about any other tool.” MARIE YOVANOVITCH Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine
“There is one more silver lining with all the focus on Ukraine. I’m not one of those people that think that all news is good news, but with all the focus on Ukraine, it has meant that there is continuous bipartisan support for a strong Ukrainian policy,” Yovanovitch said. “I think that is important for Ukraine, and for us.” Although Yovanovitch briefly mentioned her impeachment testimony, she urged young people to join the foreign service and called for state department reform for most of her address. Political leaders must reform global institutions, but they should adhere to their founding tenets of service and truth to survive, according to Yovanovitch. “Without a doubt, our in-
STUDENTS ATTEND SANFORD EVENT
ternational institutions need a reboot, but they don’t need the boot. We need to reform them, to accommodate the challenges,” Yovanovitch said. “But the principles upon which they were established remain our true north: rule of law, generosity of spirit, an understanding that we are stronger together, and a commitment to bring us resources on the line together for others, to make the world a more democratic, more prosperous, more secure place.” Yovanovitch gained experience in diplomacy outside of her Ukrainian ambassadorship. During her career in the foreign service, she worked as the ambassador to the Republic of Armenia from 2008 to 2011 and as the ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic from 2005 to 2008. At the event, she encouraged young Americans to join the foreign service. Building international relationships through diplomacy is one of the most valuable techniques for conducting foreign policy, Yovanovitch said. “The quiet work of diplomacy can be more effective, and less resource intensive, than just about any other tool in the governmental toolkit,” Yovanovitch said. “It sounds so old fashioned in our high-tech world, but diplomacy is that human interaction, and creating relationships of trust is more important than ever. It’s not as exciting as sending in the marines, but it’s cheaper and usually more effective.” See YOVANOVITCH, A6
Hoya Staff Writers
This article directly references content that is potentially upsetting. Please refer to the end of the article for on- and off-campus resources.
KIRK ZIESER/THE HOYA
Story on A5.
NEWS
Bus Routes To Change Neighborhood bus route cancellations prompt backlash. A7 Undocumented Student Services GU appoints new director for undocumented students. A8
SPORTS
THE GUIDE
Hoya Staff Writer
Study abroad programs in Australia and Ireland for students in Georgetown University’s Nursing & Health Studies Department of Professional Nursing Practice were put on indefinite hold for the fall 2020 semester, marking the third wave of study abroad complications in four months. University officials decided to cancel the Australian Catholic University School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine program after curriculum changes at the host university were deemed
no longer compatible with the NHS curriculum, according to an email obtained by The Hoya. Study abroad programs must meet specific guidelines of course material, fieldwork and observation, to be approved by the Office of Global Education. The University College Dublin College of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems program in Ireland was also canceled after increasing domestic applications prevented international students from participating in the program. Scheduling changes in the Australian program would leave nursing students un-
prepared for future coursework, according to Kelley Miller Wilson, the bachelor of science in nursing program director. “The Australia Nursing Study Abroad program was also put on hold due to curriculum and clinical placement changes that would no longer give NHS nursing students the necessary curricula and clinical experience to allow them to continue their studies without additional coursework upon their return to the Georgetown Main campus,” Wilson wrote in an email to The Hoya. See STUDY ABROAD, A6
OLIVIA CHUANG/THE HOYA
The School of Nursing & Health Studies has placed an indefinite hold on its fall 2020 nursing study abroad programs in Australia and Ireland because of complications at host institutions.
GradGov Faces Bias Complaint From VP HARRISON MCBRIDE AND JAIME MOORE-CARRILLO
Former Republican presidential candidate Mark Sanford raised concerns about the national debt at a Feb.12 event.
HARRISON MCBRIDE
Georgetown University Graduate Student Government Vice President Heerak Kim filed an official complaint with the university Feb. 10 accusing two GradGov officials of discrimination and harassment based on his religious and political leanings. Kim submitted a complaint to the Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity & Affirmative Action against GradGov President Lewis May and GradGov supervisor Owen Agho the day after GradGov scheduled Kim’s impeachment hearing. GradGov decided to pursue impeachment after tweets from Kim containing Islamophobic, racist, antisemitic and homophobic language surfaced in January, according to a GradGov Executive Board statement. GradGov unfairly punished Kim for voicing his Christian and conservative beliefs, Kim
wrote in his email to IDEAA. charge, Kim wrote. “It is wrong that I am disKim’s description mischarcriminated against by Grad- acterizes the severity of the Gov and the Office of Grad- interaction, according to May. uate Enrichment of The “Apparently at one point Graduate School, based on in the conversation I, like, my RELIGION (conservative booped him in the chest, evangelical Christianity) and sort of for emphasis, and he my POLITICAL AFFILIATION was like, ‘Oh, you physically (Republican assaulted me,’ Party),” Kim and then called wrote in his for my resignaemail obtained tion,” May said by The Hoya. “It in an interview is wrong that with The Hoya I was treated on Feb. 4. with violence May denies (physical asall of Kim’s acsault) because cusations, Joof my religion seph Scrofano, and political May’s lawyer, affiliation. wrote on behalf The physical of his client. assault by Mr. “We have Lewis May repno comment JOSEPH SCROFANO resents Hate at this time Lawyer to GradGov Presidentl Crime against other than to me.” say Mr. Kim’s allegations are At a Jan. 30 GradGov Senate completely false. Mr. Kim is meeting, May reportedly con- abusing the legal process,” fronted Kim outside of the Scrofano wrote in an email to room at the start of the meet- The Hoya. “An associate judge ing, according to Kim’s IDEAA in the District of Columbia complaint. Kim alleges that Superior Court denied his Agho ordered May to prevent frivolous motion for a temKim from entering and that porary restraining order this May physically assaulted him morning.” during the confrontation. Agho serves as the associate When Kim reported the phys- director of graduate student ical altercation to Agho the affairs in the Graduate School next day, Agho ignored the of Arts & Sciences. Agho was
“We have no comment at this time other than to say Mr. Kim’s allegations are completely false.”
FEATURED
out of the office at the time of publication and could not be reached for comment. GradGov’s calls for Kim’s resignation represented a coordinated attempt to punish him for his opinions, he wrote. “On Saturday, February 1, 2020, Mr. Lewis May emailed me a demand to resign from my post from Vice PResident of GradGov. This represents retaliation for my having reported his physical assault the day before,” Kim wrote in his message. “Mr. Lewis May acted with support and endorsement of Mr. Owen Agho, the Supervisor of GradGov. Thus, Mr. Owen Agho participated in retaliation against me for filing report of physical assault motivated by discrimination against me for my RELIGION and POLITICAL AFFILIATION.” Once an IDEAA complaint has been submitted, IDEAA staff members assess the complaint and determine necessary action. Staff members can decide to mediate between the involved parties or pursue further investigation into the complaint, according to the IDEAA Grievance Procedures to Investigate Allegations of See GRADGOV, A6
OPINION
End Event Censorship Georgetown must recommit to free speech protections. A3 Working-Class Representation Congress is disproportionately wealthy and elite. A3
EDITORIAL
Blair’s Best Jahvon Blair drops a career-high 30 points in Hoyas’ comback win. A12
Send Emergency Alerts Improve communications about campus emergencies. A2
Comedy at Georgetown Tour Georgetown’s humor scene through its comedy groups. B2
Conservatism at GU Conservative faculty and students report being underrepresented. A5
GUIDE
FEATURES
A2
OPINION
THE HOYA
HOYA HISTORY • Feb. 13, 1969
SFS Dean Selection Shocks Student Body The oft-dormant student body of the SFS has been shocked into action by administration actions in nominating a search committee for the dean of the SFS. After considerable student agitation, which included extensive contact with the appointed members of the search committee urging them to refuse to sit on the unacceptable committee and persistent attempts to convince the members of the executive committee to rally behind Dr. Jesse A. Mann, dean of the School of Foreign Service, to demand reconstitution of the search committee, the Rev. Edwin Quain, S.J., acting president of Georgetown, announced the postponement of the first meeting of the search committee scheduled for last Wednesday. Fr. Quain called for the executive committee to present to him a resolution concerning the alteration of the composition of the appointed search committee which he would pass on to the university faculty senate. The recommendation of the university senate will be presented to the Board of Directors of the university for a final decision. The Rev. Gerard J. Campbell, S.J., former University president, appointed the members of the committee after consultation with the president of the univer-
sity senate, professor of government Dr. Valerie A. Earle, a procedure approved by the senate last May. Bill Hemsley (SFS ‘69), a student member of the SFS executive committee, relayed strong student displeasure concerning the selection of the search committee to the administration. Jim Scott, an SFS academic representative, claims that this action is “a direct affront to the executive committee of the School of Foreign Service” because the executive committee had requested in a resolution of Dec. 10 that they be allowed to nominate twothirds of the ten-member search committee. Much of the student feeling is directed against the actions of Dr. Earle. By Oct. 25 she had selected four nominees, yet she voted for the executive committee resolution asking to appoint two-thirds of the members of the search committee. When questioned at the Dec. 10 meeting, it is reported that she stated that she had no previous agreements with the administration which would interfere with the implementation of the committee’s resolutions.
C C C C C
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2020
THE VERDICT Free Beer on Tap — Apartment residents in the Indian state of Kerala turned on their faucets last week to receive a stream of rum, brandy, and beer coming out. Kerala also happens to have the highest alcohol consumption rate in the country.
Flipping Backwards — Despite no one asking for them, smartphone companies such as Samsung and Motorola
are bringing back flip phones — this time with more breakable screens. The reinvented flip phones will begin to be available this week.
Fantastic Fur-riends — A video from California on Saturday showed two animals — a badger and a coyote —
traveling together underneath a highway. While scientists say that such a friendship is relatively common, the spectacle warmed hearts around the world.
Buried Bombs — 5 Construction workers in Charleston, S.C., found an unexploded artillery shell from the Civil War while working on a project. U.S. Air Force and local police forces were able to safely remove the explosive and no one was hurt.
Time Traveling Keanu — The author of a Ukrainian textbook inserted a picture of a photoshopped Keanu Reeves in a
historical picture last week, claiming that it was to see if his students were paying attention. The publisher says Keanu’s appearance was a mistake, but the Keanu meme looks at home in this piece of academia.
EDITORIAL CARTOON by Advait Arun
Joanne Peartree Hoya Staff Writer
For letters to the editor and more content, visit thehoya.com/category/opinion.
EDITORIALS
Expand Winter Break Housing As spring break approaches, Georgetown University students have the option to remain on campus, return home or travel. Students living on campus do not have this choice over winter break, however, when they are required to leave their residences. But some students struggle to find a safe place to go. With the exception of those living in university-owned townhouses, students must vacate campus residences over winter break for the maintenance and deep cleaning of these spaces, according to a university spokesperson in an email to The Hoya. This policy presumes all students have a safe alternative, when in reality many students face potentially threatening home situations. To support the physical and mental well-being of all students, the university should permit students to remain on campus over winter break if they are uncomfortable returning home for any reason. One junior in the College who identifies as queer expressed a need for winter break housing in an email to The Hoya. Because returning to their home in New England would exacerbate their PTSD, this student has struggled to make alternative plans when Georgetown requires them to vacate their residence. “Personally, it would greatly help my mental health to know that I will have safe, constant housing. I’ve been lucky to have older friends who live off-campus and were willing to let me stay in their apartments while they went home, but to be frank it was a bit humiliating to have to explain why I wasn’t going home,” the student wrote in an email to The Hoya. Georgetown should allow any student to request to remain in their residence over break and, if the university feels a need to have the residences vacated for a few days while they are cleaned, Georgetown should offer the students on campus a place to stay for that short period. It is well worth reworking a maintenance schedule to ensure that students do not have to return to potentially threatening home situations. Incoming Georgetown University Student Association Vice President Bryce Badger (MSB ’21) brought attention to the need for winter break housing during his recent executive campaign.
“The idea of staying on campus started off as a way for supporting our queer students on campus,” Badger wrote in a message to The Hoya. “For some of us, going home over winter break is either dangerous to our physical safety or isn’t an environment which is best for our emotional well being. My first year at Georgetown, I was scared to go home after coming out to my parents. I didn’t want to face them or the inevitable questions, fights, and both intentional and unintentional insults that would ensue,” Badger wrote. This experience inspired Badger to push for winter break campus housing for all students who need it, according to Badger. Georgetown already allows some students with demonstrated financial need to stay in the Georgetown University Hotel over winter break, according to a university spokesperson. This program exists mainly for students in the Georgetown Scholars Program, a campus organization that provides support, advising, networking and mentoring to over 600 Georgetown undergraduates, most of whom are first-generation college students or come from low-income family backgrounds. This program for students with demonstrated financial need is important and should continue to operate without change. However, Georgetown should also create an option for students who request winter break housing for any other reason, including unsafe home situations. It is well worth any financial cost for Georgetown to protect students’ safety. Other Washington, D.C. institutions such as American University and The George Washington University already provide online forms through which students may request to remain in campus residences during break. Georgetown should catch up to its peers by offering winter break housing to any student who requests it. No student should be required to go somewhere where their physical or mental health is threatened. The university should begin planning immediately to establish a program for any student to remain on campus during winter break for the 2020-21 school year — students’ well-being depends on it.
Editor-in-Chief Kiera Geraghty
Managing Editor
Jake Wexelblatt Doris Zhang Samuel Nelson
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Alert Students About Fires
In the early morning of Feb. 8, a fire broke out in Georgetown University’s Henle Village apartments. Yet the university failed to inform Henle residents when the fire occurred, according to resident Ben Gaver (COL ’22). The university’s lack of communication during the Feb. 8 fire poses serious concerns about student safety. Georgetown must be more transparent and proactive in its communication with students about campus emergencies. Though a university spokesperson confirmed the occurrence of the Feb. 8 fire in an email to The Hoya, the university has failed to offer any information about the extent or the cause of the fire and its reasons for not informing Henle residents about the incident. Hyung Joon Nam (NHS ’21), who lives two floors above the apartment in which the fire occurred, was aware of the fire because he heard the fire alarms and smelled smoke, he wrote in a message to The Hoya. The residents were then instructed to wait at Epicurean and Company for about three hours before being allowed back into their apartments, according to Nam. At no point on Feb. 8, however, were the residents in the rest of Henle’s towers notified about the fire, according to Gaver. “I was unaware that there was a fire via the university, but I could hear voices, the fire alarm ringing in the distance and saw tons of chaos going on outside my window,” Gaver said in an interview with The Hoya. Grace Nguyen (NHS ’21), who also lives in Henle, told The Hoya she was unaware of the incident until she saw a burnt couch in the courtyard the next day. Henle residents should not be learning about a fire in their complex by walking past a burnt couch. Georgetown has a responsibility to alert the entire university of a fire when it is happening and to notify all residents at the site of a fire about the plan going forward in a timely manner. Despite having emergency communication systems in place, the university did not use them Feb. 8. HOYAlert, the university’s emergency alert system, texted students the morning of Feb. 7 with a severe weather warning for rain and
Board of Directors
Founded Jan. 14, 1920
General Manager
David Towell
Director for Human Resources Director of Sales Director of Financial Operations
Sarah Cox Frank Collier Molly Evers
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Madison Carter, Rebecca Hollister, Darcy Palder, Javon Price, Alexis Smith, Jonathan Wiersema Academics Desk Editor Harrison McBride
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wind, but when a fire occurred in an on-campus apartment less than 24 hours later, no alert was issued. HOYAlert has notified students about previous campus fires, such as the Jan. 5 Healy Hall fire. Students have received alerts for less pressing incidents; they should have received a text Feb. 8. Emergency alert systems are useless if they cannot reliably inform students about serious safety concerns. While students outside the specific tower were not directly affected by the Feb. 8 fire, it is deeply concerning that Georgetown did not contact residents of other Henle towers about the incident until Feb. 12. The university should have sent an alert about the fire as they combated it. When Director of Residential Services Bill Huff finally emailed Henle residents Feb. 12 to notify them that a fire watch was being instituted throughout the complex, this communication was too little, too late. “GU police officers will be walking around Henle Village checking stairwells and exterior of the buildings for fire or smoke throughout the evening,” Huff wrote. While it is important the university is taking action to prevent further fires in Henle, it is unacceptable that residents must rely on campus police officers to somehow visually detect a fire as it occurs. This response indicates an alarming lack of faith from the university in its own apartments’ fire safety systems; students should not have to rely on a patrol the university threw together last minute if a fire breaks out overnight. The entire university should have been notified about the fire Feb. 8, and Henle residents should have received information about fire safety in their complex sooner than four days after the incident. Georgetown must communicate with students more quickly and transparently about emergencies. Such a procedure would reduce confusion during and after emergency incidents and heighten students’ sense of safety while living on campus. The university’s response to the Feb. 8 fire was unacceptable. If a fire happens in our apartment complex, please notify us.
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Kiera Geraghty, Palmer Hudson, Deepika Jonnalagadda, Aditi Joshi, Yumna Naqvi, David Towell
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OPINION
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2020
MOLECULAR MUSINGS
THE HOYA
A3
REPRESENTATION GAPS
Maintain Homeostasis
Sarah Reuter
F
ollowing the pre-med track at Georgetown University requires becoming well acquainted with chemistry. Though weekly quizzes, titration experiments and Monday night orgo exams are not among my fondest college memories, I will begrudgingly admit that five semesters of chemistry classes have proven useful. Chemistry has helped me understand biological processes, and its principles can be applied to understand life at Georgetown. Dynamic equilibrium describes the state of both college students and reversible chemical reactions. For a reversible chemical reaction, the concentrations of reactants and products remain fixed under constant environmental conditions. Le Chatelier’s principle explains that if a variable contributing to equilibrium is changed, the equilibrium position shifts to counteract that change. If the concentration of reactant molecules is reduced, the concentration of product molecules will decrease to restore the proper balance. Le Chatelier’s principle can also serve as a model for maintaining equilibrium in one’s life at Georgetown. As a college student, maintaining homeostasis involves knowing when to take a break, finding enough time to sleep and prioritizing self-care amidst one’s responsibilities. It can be difficult to maintain homeostasis, however, when multiple midterms are scheduled for the same week or when extracurricular responsibilities become overwhelming. In cells, Le Chatelier’s principle is enforced by the laws of thermodynamics, but as students, we have to be more purposeful about making adjustments when the equilibrium positions of our lives shift. During my time at Georgetown, daily runs with the Georgetown University Running Club have allowed me to resist changes in my equilibrium on particularly stressful days. Every day at 5 p.m., I can be found at the John Carroll statue. The meeting time and place of GRC is a constant amid the hubbub of classes, running experi-
F
ments in a lab, other extracurricular activities, requirements of being a functional human being — such as grocery shopping, laundry, sleeping — and the rest of the busyness of life at Georgetown. On stressful weeks — such as the ones in which the midterm gods conspire to schedule major assessments in every class — daily GRC runs help me feel grounded and find a new equilibrium position amidst the intensified pressure. At Georgetown, many preprofessional clubs encourage professional connections and competitive leadership positions. But no one shows up to the John Carroll statue in running clothes at 5 p.m. to network or to boost their resume. We come to spend time with one another and to come up for air after a long day. Our running routes take us to national monuments, to the White House, down Embassy Row, and through the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. Hourlong runs past these stunning national landmarks facilitate conversations that move far beyond small talk, allowing me to truly get to know the thoughtful, loving and hilarious people who comprise our community. I love hearing about other people’s days on our runs — highlights, challenges, interesting classes and things they’re looking forward to — and I have been thankful to have had such a reliable support system on my bad days and my good ones. The laws of thermodynamics, as expressed by Le Chatelier’s principle, allow biological systems to resist environmental perturbations. The application of this principle to the busy life of a college student can similarly facilitate resilience in the face of pressures. The consistent support of the running club has allowed me to resist the shifts to my equilibrium threatened by stressful labs, high-stakes exams and demanding extracurriculars. Running has become a critical component of my self-care. I encourage all Georgetown students to find their own means of abiding by Le Chatelier’s principle, be it a run, a coffee break, a good book or a nap. Prioritizing self-care activities like these allows college students to intentionally resist threats to their equilibrium position and mental health. Maintaining homeostatic equilibrium is critically important for chemical systems, cells and college students alike. SARAH REUTER is a senior in the College. Molecular Musings appears online every other Wednesday.
Money is power, and the U.S. Congress serves as the prime example of this principle. The median net worth of members of Congress stands at over half a million dollars, with over 40% of members classified as millionaires.
Elect a Working-Class Congress
Trevor O’Connor
D
espite living in the richest country on earth, almost half of Americans lack the cash on hand to afford a $400 emergency. Wall Street celebrates as the stock market skyrockets to ever-higher levels, yet almost a quarter of U.S. residents lack retirement savings and almost 4 in 5 U.S. workers live paycheck to paycheck. While official unemployment dips to record lows, over 1.7 million workers rely on a $7.25 minimum wage to make ends meet. Stock indexes often fail to reflect the pocketbooks of working-class Americans. Yet the members of our legislature rarely come from the most economically disadvantaged communities. To fight for structural change, we must elect more working-class people. Money is power, and the U.S. Congress serves as the prime example of this principle. The median net worth of members of Congress stands at over half a million dollars, with over 40% of members classified as millionaires. Yet less than 3% of American
households have a net worth of over $1 million. If the United States reflected Congress, over 130 million people would be millionaires — almost half of the U.S. population. Over a dozen Congress members sit on a net worth of over $20 million, with Rep. Greg Gianforte (R-Mont.) boasting a net worth of over $135 million. Meanwhile, the median net worth of the American household is $97,000 and almost 40 million Americans live in poverty. The wealth gap between legislators and the public matters. If the financial composition of Congress proportionally reflected the United States, each Congress would pass one to three more major progressive economic policies, according to a 2012 study in Legislative Studies Quarterly. These progressive policies include bills that strengthen unions, raise the minimum wage and deliver more resources into poorer communities. According to the study, members from working-class backgrounds were more likely to support pro-union legislation, regardless of party. This underrepresentation of working-class members not only fails to reflect the United States, but also skews the economic objectives of Congress toward protecting accumulated wealth rather than investing in economically disadvantaged communities. Simply put, if you’ve lived the experience, understood the struggle and identi-
fied with the average American rather than the wealthy elite, you’re more likely to champion policies that benefit at the bottom. Members’ backgrounds inform their current policy goals. Institutional barriers, however, prevent many workingclass people from gaining higher offices. Those who are working-class are often denied the time, resources, and energy to invest in a campaign which consumes one’s waking hours and evaporates their emotional and financial reserves. For those balancing two to three jobs on top of child-rearing, such a task is nearly impossible. Campaigning may aid the movement to reduce economic inequality, but it doesn’t pay the bills. Not only do working-class people lack the capital to selffinance campaigns, but also many struggle to gain funding from those who can. The average Senate victory now costs over $10 million. It’s nearly impossible for those without extensive donor networks to run a viable campaign. Due to the class segregation of our society, those who are poor are less likely to have connections with those who are upper class, meaning less access to large donors. While a grassroots method can be effective, it’s also difficult to go against the funding powerhouses and war chests of incumbents who can accumulate millions of dollars before a competitor is even announced. With-
out organized money, campaigns need organized people. However, organizing people requires time and other resources that come easier to the economically privileged. Yet change is happening: The 2018 midterms brought in new members and smaller pocketbooks. Rep. Sharice Davids (D-Kan.) withdrew savings from her 401(k) and moved in with her mother to run for Kansas’ 3rd Congressional District. On the campaign trail, she told stories of failing to afford $600 insurance premiums. Similarly, Rep. Jared Golden (D-Maine) and his wife lived on a combined $17,000 in 2018. Such backgrounds allow legislators to not only understand the majority of Americans’ economic conditions, but to also champion structural economic change once in office. If we want a Congress that reflects the U.S. socioeconomic landscape, we must elect more working-class people to Congress to represent working-class Americans. Collectively, we must rid ourselves of the idea that those who are wealthy and well connected are the ones who best fit the role of an elected official. Indeed, true representation looks more like your street than any hall of power. Trevor O’Connor is a senior in the College. REPRESENTATION GAPS appears online every other Tuesday.
VIEWPOINT • OSMAN
VIEWPOINT • PARKER
Assist Refugees in Lebanon
Recommit to Free Speech Policy
or over three months, the Lebanese people protested against a government that failed to meet their basic needs and demands. Even though newly elected Prime Minister Hassan Diab’s Hezbollah-backed government was formed Jan. 21, Diab’s cabinet has many political and social issues it must address. Although Lebanon must provide for its citizens first and foremost, the country must address the fact that it has the highest refugee per capita population in the world. Lebanon’s government must make a sincere effort to adequately care for the millions of Syrian and Palestinian refugees who have lived inside the country’s borders for years but still have few rights protected by the national government. Lebanon is undoubtedly a nation like few others in the world with its pristine mountain peaks overlooking the glistening Mediterranean shoreline, historic Phoenician artifacts contrasted with chic resorts and casinos, and Christian and Muslim villages dotting its coast. Despite offering so much beauty, Lebanon fails to have a system in place to remove trash from the streets, provide basic health care for those most in need or deter politicians and business moguls from stealing billions from the nation’s treasury. It comes as no surprise that, on top of these failures, the government has failed to issue any official statements about the future fate of refugees living in Lebanon. Because these protests have been Lebanon’s largest since the devastating civil war from 1975 to 1990, now is the time to raise the refugee issue. The
protests prove that the people of Lebanon want the government to restructure itself and change its understanding of what good governance looks like. Diab’s cabinet can approach Lebanon’s sociopolitical issues Lebanon, including the need to find an adequate response to the presence of millions of refugees. With Lebanon’s GDP to debt ratio one of the highest in the world at 152% and more Lebanese citizens living outside the country than inside it, tackling the issue of nearly two million Palestinian and Syrian refugees in a country with a population of six million will certainly be a tall task. Three hundred thousand refugee children were not in school in 2018, Palestinians who have been in the country since 1948 still do not have citizenship and cannot own property or pursue many vocations simply because of their refugee status and over two-thirds of those same people are considered “poor or extremely poor,” according to a recent U.N. Refugee Agency report. Such living conditions create a cycle of poverty families will continue to struggle withs if the government never properly invests in assistance for refugees.. If the new government demonstrates a serious commitment to the refugee issue, it can use this commitment as leverage with the international community. A clear obstacle to dealing with the refugee issue in Lebanon is the financial crisis that the nation is facing. The international community might offer much-needed financial support to Lebanon in exchange for the country offering refugees a viable path to future success.
The newly formed government will likely face immense hurdles in the near future, as the United States has recently said it plans on withholding financial support because of the cabinet’s ties to Hezbollah. Similarly, the $11 billion promised to Lebanon in 2018 by international donors under former Prime Minister Saad Hariri has not yet gone through due to political mismanagement. Lebanon’s government must construct a viable plan for supporting refugees well into the future. The government should enable these marginalized people who only ask for opportunities to succeed to help the nation prosper for generations to come. Carefully addressing the refugee crisis will surely lead to more prosperity for the Arab state. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East has helped fund education for generations of children, but those same children are unemployed upon graduation because of political favoritism toward Lebanese citizens in the job market. Syrian refugees face a similar fate, as discrimination toward them is rooted in the vivid memory of the Syrian National Army having control of much of Lebanese affairs until their military forces withdrew in 2005. The greatest costs in these political debacles are the futures of everyday people. A child does not choose to be a citizen or a refugee, but the Lebanese government has chosen to ignore those who are most vulnerable within their borders. YOUSSEF OSMAN is a junior in the School of Foreign Service.
O
n Jan. 22, 2020, Georgetown University prohibited an event hosted by H*yas for Choice from being held on campus. This action — an unequivocal violation of the Speech and Expression Policy — sets a dangerous precedent for censoring activism and organizing work at Georgetown. Students and faculty alike must unite to protect our rights on campus. The event in question was a Papaya Workshop, an event designed to destigmatize and demystify the process of an abortion — a very common medical procedure. A papaya workshop is an educational tool meant to illustrate the procedure for nonclinical audiences using papayas as uterine models. The intention of the workshop was not to train students on how to provide abortions, but simply to demystify the process. Two days before the event was supposed to take place, I received an email from the Center for Student Engagement informing me the room reservation for the event had been canceled and that I was being called into a meeting with CSE staff. At this meeting, we were told we could not reserve a room for our event. In an email summarizing the meeting, the CSE wrote, “The classroom reservation was not approved because consistent with the institution’s Catholic and Jesuit identity, it is not appropriate for Georgetown University classrooms to be used for the demonstration or training of abortion procedures.” Though H*yas for Choice was able to find a location downtown to host the event, the university’s blatant censorship of content is a viola-
tion of its own Speech and Expression Policy and is unacceptable. Georgetown’s Speech and Expression Policy explicitly states, “Restrictions shall not be placed on individual’s reserving classrooms for the purpose of limiting, managing or controlling the content of the gathering.” In canceling our room reservation to limit the content of our gathering, Georgetown undoubtedly violated this policy and infringed on our rights as students at this university. The university claimed it canceled this event to comply with the institution’s Catholic and Jesuit identity. However, this argument is rebuffed by the existence and the content of the Speech and Expression Policy. The policy is precisely what is supposed to protect students and faculty from overbearing Catholic censorship, and the policy even states that “Georgetown’s identification with the Catholic and Jesuit tradition, far from limiting or compromising the ideal of free discourse, requires that we live up to that ideal.” If everything on campus had to comply with the institution’s Catholic and Jesuit identity, we would not have GU Pride or the LGBTQ Center, professors would not be able to discuss contraception in class and the interreligious dialogue Georgetown so prides itself on would be moot. This freedom from censorship is the exact reason that the Speech and Expression Policy exists and why the cancellation of the Papaya Workshop is so disturbing. From this incident, it seems as though the university currently has full discretion over
which events to identify as inconsistent with university values and to subsequently censor. Nowhere in any of its policies is it stated that an educational event meant to demystify the process of abortion is prohibited — administrators simply decided to exercise their unrestricted authority over students in this particular instance. This sort of unchecked power has dangerous implications, not just for H*yas for Choice and other unrecognized organizations, but also for all community activism on campus. Community activism has always been an integral part of life at Georgetown. It’s why we have the Just Employment Policy with the guarantee of a living wage, the LGBTQ Center and, most recently, a promise to divest from fossil fuels. All of these organizing efforts put pressure on the university to make positive changes on campus but could have been easily shut down if the university were allowed to censor the content of gatherings it didn’t like or agree with. The university’s prohibition of a Papaya Workshop on campus was a dangerous step in the direction of suppression. If this censorship continues, the university will fundamentally alter the rights students, faculty and staff have on campus. The university must clarify the extent of its authority over student action and recommit itself to adhering to its own free speech policy. This is bigger than any one workshop. This is about the future of free speech and activism at Georgetown. TALIA PARKER is a senior in the College and the president of H*yas for Choice.
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2020
‘I love you, Leezy’: Honoring Former Editor Lisa Burgoa YASMINE SALAM Hoya Staff Writer
Lisa Burgoa (SFS ’19) always had a gift with words. Whether she was comforting a friend during a difficult time, teaching English to her mentees at D.C. Schools Project or writing a story that sent shockwaves across campus, Lisa was thoughtful and generous with her language. “She always knew the right combination of words to pick me up when I was feeling down,” Sara Burgoa (COL ’21), Lisa’s younger sister, said. On Jan. 27, at 22 years old, Lisa died. Affectionately called “Leezy” by her close friends, she was a loving sister and daughter, intimate friend, talented coworker and wise mentor to innumerable people around her. “She truly embodied unconditional love. She was the kindest person I’ve ever met — and that’s no exaggeration,” Shannon Theobald (COL ’19), one of Lisa’s closest friends, said. At Georgetown University, Lisa was known as a devoted friend, passionate reporter for The Hoya and dedicated tutor with DCSP. Celine Calpo (COL ’19), Lisa’s best friend, lived with Lisa in Darnall Hall 410 as part of the Explore D.C. Living Learning Community. Calpo said their inseparable bond began when she unpacked a Vampire Weekend poster, which was one of Lisa’s favorite bands. The duo lived together all four years at Georgetown. Their time living together revealed Lisa’s quirks, like an intense love for ketchup, Calpo recounted. “She’s going to hate me for this — but one time she toasted a waffle and put ketchup on it. She ate ketchup with almost everything: She ate it on toast, she ate it with chicken, French fries,” Calpo said. “I just think the waffle thing was the most incriminating instance — it’s just so great. She was a Heinz fan.” Reminiscing on what Lisa meant to her, Theobald remembered her infectious laugh and witty sense of humor. She also
noted her passion for food, music and deep chats. “Lisa is eating too much dark chocolate and dancing around the living room. Lisa is late night, raw, honest conversations,” Theobold wrote in an email to The Hoya.
DRIVEN BY JUSTICE
Lisa’s love of language began young as she grew up speaking Polish with her mother and Spanish with her Bolivian father, she explained in her college essay, published by HuffPost in 2015. Born in Utah, Lisa spent her early years in Santiago, Chile, before moving to Texas, Oklahoma and finally south Florida, where she attended high school. Throughout her childhood, Lisa embraced her rich cultural heritage, which remained central to her identity throughout college. Even before attending Georgetown, Lisa relished the opportunity to explore her background. “I found myself persisted by the same questions that shadow all immigrants - preservation versus assimilation, English versus the language of my ancestors,” Lisa wrote in her essay. “I traced the dual-ethnic features of my face, the green eyes reminiscent of the toothless old women in flowered babushkas I met in Poland, the long, flat nose and sun-kissed tan skin recalling my Incan ancestors in Bolivia. My heart, I realized, beat the one word that was the same in any language: Lisa. Lisa. Lisa.” At Georgetown, Lisa cultivated her intellectual curiosity by studying international development, inequality and labor issues. She was driven by a commitment to social justice, according to Calpo. Beginning freshman year, Lisa spent every Saturday morning tutoring for DCSP, a mentoring and advocacy program that allows students to tutor English language learners across Washington, D.C. Lisa was inspired by her Bolivian heritage and immigrant background to give back to her new community. “Tutors came and went every
COURTESY BURGOA FAMILY
Celine Calpo (COL ’19), left, was Lisa Burgoa’s (SFS ’19) roommate and one of her best friends during their four years at Georgetown.
semester, but Lisa was a constant rock of the program for years,” fellow DCSP tutor and close friend Bethania Michael (SFS ’19) said. Lisa’s generosity inspired others around her to follow her lead in attempting to alleviate social inequality. “It was through Lisa that I got involved with the DC Schools Project — she encouraged me to tutor and later even coordinate the program she tutored in. I can say with a lot of confidence that Lisa was one of the best tutors DCSP has ever had,” Ruby Vega (SFS ’20), Lisa’s Darnall neighbor and close friend, wrote.
always with a funny title. A lot of times our work was thankless and full of stress, but Lisa used these newsletters to publicly shine a light on the people who were doing the work,” former Senior News Editor Aly Pachter (COL ’19) said. Former Editor-in-Chief Ian Scoville (COL ’19), who joined The Hoya at the same time as Lisa and saw her produce and edit countless stories, remembers her raw talent and skill. “My predecessor as Editor in Chief used to always say that Lisa should have his job, as well as everybody else’s,” Scoville wrote. “Lisa was not only the
“THERE FOR ME WHEN I NEEDED SOMEONE THE MOST”
COURTESY MAYA GANDHI
Lisa Burgoa, left, was a mentor to former Editor-in-Chief Maya Gandhi (SFS ’19) and elevated marginalized voices with her work. Social issues also permeated Lisa’s passion for stor-telling. As a writer, she gravitated to stories that unearthed silenced topics. “Lisa told a lot of stories that needed to be told that no one else was willing to tell,” Maya Gandhi (SFS ’19), former editorin-chief of The Hoya who worked with Lisa as a deputy editor, said in a phone interview. “She was both an incredibly bold investigator but also really willing to uplift stories that no one else was paying attention to.”
WRITING FROM THE HEART
At The Hoya, Lisa was admired as a talented writer, diligent editor and inspiring mentor. Throughout her three years in the newsroom, she moved from working on the neighborhood beat and city news in the News section to running the Opinion section and then developing an in-depth Features unit. She was seen as a legend and caring mentor in the newsroom. Lisa’s impact at the newspaper was immeasurable. From serving as an integral part of The Hoya’s GU272 investigative reporting team in Maringouin, La., to curating an internal newsletter that uplifted stories of staffers from diverse corners of the paper, Lisa was essential to improving The Hoya’s content and culture. “These newsletters were a work of art in themselves — detailed, insightful, human,
most talented writer, but the most humble, down to earth, and nurturing leader.” Former Chair of the board Marina Tian (NHS ’19) echoed Scoville when remembering her first impressions of Lisa through a comment by former Editor-inChief Toby Hung (COL ’18). “My earliest memory of Lisa is from a production night during my time as Guide Editor, when Toby mentioned to the room in passing that Lisa was going to win a Pulitzer one day,” Tian wrote. One of Lisa’s many legacies at the paper will be her conviction that The Hoya’s work had an impact. She taught staffers how to use their stories to spotlight injustice and report on silenced topics. Her personal work is a reflection of this ethos, which ranged from investigating remains of enslaved people found under Arrupe Hall to interviewing students involved in sex work. Yet for Lisa, writing was not just a way to deliver the news but an essential art form, which Pachter described as “beautiful, haunting and never-quite-finished.” “I think what I learnt from her is to try to make my writing have a purpose and be beautiful and artistic. Not just journalism for the sake of reporting, but journalism for the sake of writing,” former Executive Editor Christian Paz (COL ’19) said.
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For everything that Lisa can be remembered for, the loyalty and comfort she gave so many of her friends and family will be missed the most. She inspired all her friends to be kinder people through her actions, according to Hanh Nguyen-Le (SFS ’19), one of Lisa’s first friends at Georgetown. “Lisa taught me to be kind to people,” Nguyen-Le wrote. “She cared about others through sharing chocolates, gifting books and sending articles. Her bed was always available for others to crash on and her room was always available for people to come in, even just to find a safe space or use her mirror.” Calpo and Lisa were like songbirds — they would constantly sing Vampire Weekend and Cat
Stevens lyrics back to each other while studying and routinely say her trademark greeting “Morning beaut!” while setting her alarm on snooze for five more minutes. “Lisa made me really soft,” Calpo said. “She always told me she loved me and I would never hesitate to say I love you back.” Julia Friedmann (SFS ’19), who worked with Lisa in a honey and tea shop in Eastern Market, acknowledged Lisa’s humility and tenderness. “I think Lisa embodied so many qualities that most of us wish we could have,” Friedmann wrote. “She was there for me when I needed someone the most. She always lifted me up, and so many others around her, and it’s going to be hard to move through life without someone as truly good and creative and smart and kind as Lisa.” As Sara Burgoa reflected on her sister’s special character, she noted that Lisa’s memory will carry her forward. “The world lost a really brilliant and thoughtful person and those of us whose lives were graced by her friendship, love, and kindness should feel grateful to have known her,” Sara Burgoa wrote. “Though it feels really painful that I’ll never get to see her again, I’ll think of her whenever I read a good book, listen to a beautiful song, or hear a funny joke. Lisa inspired me to be the best version of myself that I can be.” On her flight to D.C. after she learned about Lisa’s death, Theobald saw the most radiant rainbow that reminded her of Lisa’s shining spirit and the lessons she imparted to her. “More than anything I want to embody her kindness. Her thoughtfulness. Her love. Lisa never hesitated to say I love you. Lisa taught me that family is chosen, and she will always be mine,” Theobald wrote. “Her last lesson to all of us is to take care of ourselves – to tell all the people we care about how much we love them. I love you, Leezy.”
COURTESY BURGOA FAMILY
Sara Burgoa (COL ’21), left, remembers her older sister Lisa’s loving friendship, inspiring words and comforting presence.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Policy head for the Red Cross discussed new challenges to cyberwarfare and climate change at an event Feb. 11. Story on A9.
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Lisa dreamed of being a writer despite her time spent on a campus with a decided pre-professional bent, according to Hoya colleague and friend William Zhu (COL ’19). “The quality of her work was stunning. Her skill at prose was incredible,” Zhu said. “She wanted to write fiction books eventually. I am just sad I won’t get to read any.” Lisa firmly believed that excellent writers had to be avid readers. She was attached to her Kindle, and among her favorite things to read were Jewish folklore, true crime novels and magazine profiles. She was also a huge NPR fan and known to give customized book recommendations to her closest friends as gifts for the holidays. “She cared about literature – God, she was always reading. She cared about stories – I think that’s why she loved journalism. She cared about finding different sides of the truth,” Theobald wrote. Lisa continued her passion for writing after graduating from Georgetown. She joined the speech writing firm West Wing Writers as an associate, where she wrote speeches for highprofile politicians.
IN FOCUS
RUSSIAN POLICY
From my perspective, each year’s Black History Month is better than the last.” Jameela Sylla (MSB ’20) on this year’s Black History Month celebrations. Story on A7.
from our blog
LONELY AND LOVESICK? Here are our monogamous methods on how to not feel blue on the day meant for two! blog.thehoya.com
ALEXA VILLALPANDO/THE HOYA
The event titled “Sanctions Against Russia - Successes, Failures, and Future Prospects,” hosted by the Georgetown Collaborative Diplomacy Initative, featured guest speaker Anastacia Galouchka, an expert on Russian foreign policy.
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Conservative Faculty, Student Voices Feel Underrepresented at GU DARIA CRAWFORD AND ANGELA PEREZ Specials to The Hoya
During the 2016 presidential campaign, professor Michael Czinkota, a self-identifying conservative who teaches classes in international trade and international business in the McDonough School of Business, hung a “Faculty for Trump” sign outside of his office door. Instead of stirring controversy, the sign led to 15 students gathering in Czinkota’s office for productive and meaningful debate, according to Czinkota, who donated twice to President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign. “What I have encountered is, people are polite,” Czinkota said in an interview with The Hoya. “People hold open doors, people say good morning, which is not ubiquitous. I tell my students that we can have any kind of discussion that we want.” An electronic survey of 228 Georgetown University undergraduate professors conducted by The Hoya during the fall 2019 semester showed that professors at the university largely identify as Democrats. While underrepresentation of conservative viewpoints in the classroom is quantitatively and anecdotally apparent among faculty members, this minority status affects students differently than it does professors, as some students in conservative-leaning groups on campus report being judged for their political views.
AN IDEOLOGICALLY SKEWED FACULTY
Among Georgetown faculty members with political party registration, 71.4% identify as Democrat, 13% as Independent and 4.5% as Republican, according to an electronic survey administered by The Hoya. The survey had a margin of error of 6%. The national trend for political party registrations and ideological leanings of college professors skews Democratic and liberal, according to data from the Higher Education Research Institute, an institution that conducts longitudinal research on higher education in the United States. As of 2014, the ratio of liberal to conservative professors at four-year universities is 6 to 1, according to research by Samuel Abrams, a professor of politics at Sarah Lawrence College who used data from HERI. The breakdown of Georgetown professors’ political affiliation is alternatively expressed by examining nonstudent Georgetown employee donations to political campaigns and other political causes. Less than 3% of these employees donated to Republican or conservative-leaning causes, while 95% donated to Democratic or liberal-leaning causes, according to an analysis
RIGHT TO LIFE/FACEBOOK
Conservative-leaning student groups like GU Right to Life report being stigmatized for displaying their views while tabling in Red Square. Students have reported getting glares from passersby. of Federal Election Commission data from 2016 to 2019. Although the relative absence of conservative faculty members is somewhat concerning to Czinkota, he has not felt that his beliefs are unwelcome at the university because of a widespread culture of civility and open communication. Despite his political preferences and donations to the Trump campaign, Czinkota said he rarely incorporates political news into his teaching, except in instances when it is directly relevant to curriculum topics. Czinkota remembers one class in which he was able to tie the themes of the course to Trump’s international trade policy following the president’s decision to impose tariffs on Europe and Latin America. “Pretty much the entire session was sort of back and forth between conceptual, ‘What is a tariff, why do we do tariffs?’ and real-time, ‘What has the President done, why has he done it, what effect will it have?’” Czinkota said. Similar to Czinkota, law professor John Hasnas recognizes that he is in the ideological minority at Georgetown. Hasnas does not subscribe to party politics, however, instead identifying with the philosophy of classical liberalism, supporting policies that favor a limited government role in the lives of civilians. Political tension among colleagues at Georgetown is nonexistent, according to Hasnas. The only bias that Hasnas perceives is in the process of hiring new faculty members. “Our relationships are based on mutual goals,” Hasnas said in an interview with The Hoya. “We’re working together; we respect each other. I think most faculties it’s like that. If there’s some kind of bias at work it’s not among the faculty. It’s who gets to join the place.” In 2016, Hasnas wrote an ar-
ticle in The Wall Street Journal calling for universities, including Georgetown, to change their hiring practices to ensure ideological diversity among staff because of his concern about the lack of conservative professors. Though he recognizes efforts by Georgetown to prioritize diversity in some respects, he still feels that ideological differences are not valued enough when the university hires faculty. “There is a hiring priority on diversity, but there is no emphasis on intellectual diversity,” Hasnas said. “There is never any push to hire people who think differently. It’s not that there is necessarily any prejudice against conservatives, it’s just that intellectual diversity is not one of the goals we’re pursuing.”
A STUDENT BODY DIVIDED
While some conservative professors are not particularly bothered by their political minority status, some students on campus have experienced more palpable tensions with their ideologically opposed counterparts. Kaitlyn Reynolds (COL ’21), a moderate conservative and member of GU Right to Life, a student organization that works to protect human life from conception to natural death, noted that she felt unwelcomed when displaying her pro-life beliefs in Red Square. While tabling for the club, Reynolds recalls glares and hostility from passersby. “People would walk by and these people would give me nasty looks like they hated my guts,” Reynolds said in an interview with The Hoya. “It’s always just been, like, the general attitude and disposition, feeling like I am the enemy or that our group is anti-women.” Rizana Tatlock (COL ’22), the director of communications for Georgetown University College Republicans, felt similarly stigmatized while tabling for GUCR on Constitution Day. “We were just handing out
free Constitutions, and there is nothing inherently partisan about it,” Tatlock said in an interview to The Hoya. “But people were giving us such dirty looks as they walked past us.” GU Right to Life, unlike GUCR, is not a political organization with a specific party affiliation, according to Reynolds. Club members come from a variety of political backgrounds, although its membership does skew toward being conservative, Reynolds said. The club has expanded beyond activities like marches against abortion, to events like diaper drives and hospital volunteering. Director of Communications and Media for H*yas for Choice Chloe Kekedjian (COL ’22) disagrees with Reynolds’ apolitical characterization of GU Right to Life. The mission of GU Right to Life as an attempt to limit reproductive rights is in direct contrast with the mission of H*yas for Choice, according to Kekedjian. “We can’t speak on what it means to be pro-life, but we largely see it as anti-choice, as their focus is largely on restricting reproductive rights,” Kekedjian wrote in an email to The Hoya. “Their mission actively goes against our fundamental belief that all people have a right to bodily autonomy.” Kathryn Baker (COL ’20), who formerly tabled for GU Right to Life and identifies as a liberalleaning independent, agrees with Reynolds’ claim of political diversity within GU Right to Life but denies having experienced similar antagonism. (Full disclosure: Baker previously served as an executive editor for The Hoya). “I think plenty of people at Georgetown are sympathetic to the pro-life cause,” Baker said in an interview with The Hoya. “More broadly, I think this university just wants to support student activism and political engagement on both sides of the aisle. I’ve never had a faculty
member or higher-up at Georgetown shame me or make me feel unwelcome on this campus.” Despite her own experiences tabling for GUCR, Tatlock also says she has not experienced resistance when she expresses conservative views. Some conservative students, however, may temper what they say to others because of their ideological minority status, according to Tatlock. “I don’t shy away from the fact that I’m conservative, and I’ve never really had much pushback or negative experiences with it,” Tatlock said. “I know that there is this kind of idea that we are a minority on campus, and for a lot of people that means watching what they say.”
BIPARTISANSHIP: A CASE WITH(OUT) STANDING
In recent years, both studentand university-led organizations have been created at Georgetown to help ameliorate political tension. Groups like Georgetown’s Institute of Politics and Public Service and the Georgetown Bipartisan Coalition have attempted to encourage political discourse on campus. GU Politics, founded in 2013, promotes such discourse by hosting various discussion-oriented events and by enlisting political leaders from both sides of the aisle to guide students in conversation. GU Politics invites leading government officials to spend a semester with students through discussion groups, talks and office hours as a part of its flagship Fellows Program. This semester’s class of fellows includes former Democratic Rep. (N.Y.) Joe Crowley and Republican political operative John Rogers. One of the goals of the Fellows Program is to bring diverse viewpoints to Georgetown, including diversity of political ideology, according to Carly Henry, chief of staff at GU Politics. “Past fellows have included
members from both parties (and even both the Obama and Trump White Houses), and we’ll continue to bring this diversity to campus,” Henry wrote in an email to The Hoya. “Our Institute grows by prioritizing balanced classes of fellows.” GBC facilitates bipartisan discussion and political understanding among Georgetown students by hosting a variety of events, often co-hosted with GU Politics, GUCR or GUCD. GU Politics’ philosophy is informed by a desire to educate the student body on political issues and bring new opinions to campus, according to Henry. “All of our programming is aimed at exposing them to how politics actually works, helping them build their professional network, and giving them insider access to major players in the political space,” Henry wrote. “Perhaps one of the most beneficial things we do is expose students to opinions outside of the ones they hear every day.” Kekedjian, however, believes that equal representation of political beliefs is not necessary for good political discourse and that students should instead engage in discussing salient topics. “Over-focusing on representing conservative viewpoints misses the point,” Kekedjian said. “If Georgetown students are largely liberal, that shows a trend for where future political discourse is going.” When students are willing to engage in debates on contrasting political viewpoints, it shows mutual respect for one another, according to Hasnas. “When people disagree with you, that’s not a sign of disrespect. If someone is disagreeing with you and talking to you, that means that person thinks that your mind is worth changing,” Hasnas said. “What you should be upset about is if someone ignores you or won’t listen, then they’re treating you with disrespect.”
MYROSLAV DOBROSHYNSKYI/THE HOYA
Among undergraduate GU professors, 71.4% identify as Democrats, 13% as Independents and 4.5% as Republicans.
Sanford: Government Must Take Former GUSA Exec Candidate Steps To Reduce National Debt Wins Open Senate Seat in Election YALDA ZARRABI Hoya Staff Writer
The U.S. government needs to increase its efforts to reduce the national debt, former Rep. Mark Sanford (R-S.C.) said at a forum event Wednesday. In September 2019, Sanford launched a sincesuspended presidential campaign for the 2020 Republican Party nomination, challenging the incumbent President Donald Trump, former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld (R), former Rep. Joe Walsh (R-Ill.) and businessman Rocky De La Fuente. The event, titled “Reflections on Running: Mark Sanford (R-S.C.),” was hosted by the Georgetown Institute of Politics and Public Service, Georgetown University College Republicans and Georgetown Bipartisan Coalition. The forum was moderated by Mo Elleithee (SFS ’94), the executive director of GU Politics and former communications director and chief spokesman for the Democratic National Committee. Sanford centered his campaign, which he ended in November 2019, on working toward reducing the national debt, something Sanford believes to be a pressing issue that will impact future generations. “We are at a much more precarious spot than people realize, and we are indeed at a tipping point,” Sanford said. “I would say it was the debt and the spending that got me fired up, and it’s what’s driven my interest in
politics.” The United States currently faces a record-high $22 trillion public debt projected to rise to $28.7 trillion by 2029, according to NPR. Despite current positive economic growth and relatively low unemployment, the magnitude of the deficit matches deficits in times of recession or war, according to NPR. The American people need to recognize the gravity of the increasing national debt before it turns into a more significant crisis, according to Sanford. “What I am discouraged by is the degree of pander that is now in politics. People are not dumb, and if they are left in the choice between more versus more, they’ll choose more,” Sanford said. “I fear that the only thing that may wake us up is a real economic stalling.” Sanford first became involved in national politics when he served as the U.S. representative for South Carolina from 1995 to 2001 and later served as governor from 2003 to 2011. Sanford made national headlines when he reportedly disappeared in 2009 after claiming to be hiking along the Appalachian Trail. Instead, Sanford was in Argentina with a mistress. Sanford then resigned as chair of the Republican Governors Association and did not run for a second term. Sanford later served as a U.S. representative for South Carolina from 2013 to 2019. His decision to return to the political arena stemmed
from a desire to impact public policy and restore his political career, according to Sanford. “I felt something with regard to the trajectory of our country and the trajectory of our civilization, and I wanted to say something,” Sanford said. “I also didn’t want the end of my political resume just to be a disgraced former governor. I wanted something beyond that.” Sanford lost his primary bid in his 2018 reelection race to Katie Arrington. Trump backed Arrington in a tweet that also described Sanford as unhelpful to the president’s reelection bid. Arrington went on to lose the general election to current Rep. Joe Cunningham (D-S.C.). Trump, of whom Sanford is frequently critical, is dangerous to the political stability of the United States in many ways, according to Sanford. “I’m not a fan of the president. I’ve been very transparent about that,” Sanford said. “I mean I think he’s disastrous on many different levels for our country and for our civilization.” Authenticity and adherence to one’s principles and beliefs in the realm of politics are essential to good governance, according to Sanford. “You got to be you in the world of politics,” Sanford said. “If not, you become a skeleton of a human being, and you’re walking around not really believing stuff you’re talking about.”
LIANA HARDY Hoya Staff Writer
The Georgetown University Student Association Senate swore in its newest member, Julio Salmeron-Perla (SFS ’22), Feb. 9 after the former executive candidate and senator won a write-in election Feb. 6. Salmeron-Perla will fill the vacant seat previously held by Zev Burton (SFS ’22), who resigned from his post Nov. 11 citing concerns surrounding institutional reform and GUSA culture. No student ran an official campaign for the empty seat, leaving room for a write-in candidate to win the election. Salmeron-Perla previously served as a senator in the 201819 GUSA Senate and lost his reelection campaign in spring 2019. Salmeron-Perla had previously run for the position of GUSA president alongside his vice presidential candidate Gabby Elliott Brault (SFS ’21) after they petitioned to join the executive election ballot Jan. 24. However, Elliott Brault withdrew from the race Feb. 1 and Salmeron-Perla suspended his campaign two days later. Salmeron-Perla expressed surprise at his recent senate win in an interview with The Hoya shortly after his confirmation. “I feel a bit in awe because I wasn’t really campaigning for senate,” Salmeron-Perla said. “I guess after we withdrew from the executive race, some of my friends thought that I could still do some work in GUSA for the things that my campaign was for.” During their executive election campaign, Salmeron-Perla and Elliott Brault emphasized
the need for reform within GUSA. A large part of their platform involved implementing new policies on sexual misconduct, mental health resources and inclusivity. With a focus on helping survivors, SalmeronPerla and Elliott Brault specifically wanted to increase trust in GUSA by providing students with a safe space and support from specially trained GUSA members who could assist survivors through the Title IX process. The pair also pushed for more communication, transparency and efficiency within GUSA running with the slogan: “GUSA is broken, let’s fix it together.” Salmeron-Perla hopes to continue to promote his platform by collaborating with others in the senate, including Speaker Juan Martinez (SFS ’20), he said. “I especially look forward to working with Speaker Juan on continuing to promote transparency in the senate and in the administration,” SalmeronPerla said. Salmeron-Perla will be up for reelection to join the 2020-21 GUSA Senate in April, according to Martinez. In the meantime, the speaker hopes to work with Salmeron-Perla on his proposals for the student body, he wrote in an email to The Hoya. “I believe the 14th Senate would be willing to collaborate with Senator Julio SalmeronPerla on his vision for GUSA,” Martinez wrote. “Unfortunately, the timeliness of this special Senate election means that Senator Salmeron-Perla will be up for re-election in April. Regardless, I welcome any and all
legislation that he believes will work to benefit the student body.” Since Salmeron-Perla enters the senate so late this academic year, he has limited options to join committees and less time to propose legislation, according to Policy and Advocacy Committee Chair Daniella Sanchez (COL ’22). Because Salmeron-Perla did not officially run for the senate seat and now has little time to enact policy, GUSA should rethink the purpose of some write-in elections, according to Sanchez. “In the future, there is no need for write-in elections to be held if no one ran for the vacant position, especially considering there is such limited time in our terms,” Sanchez wrote in an email to The Hoya. “For now, we will continue our dedication to projects and advocating for the student body as effectively as possible regardless of the vacancies or elections.” As a former GUSA senator during his freshman year, Salmeron-Perla has experience working with the senate and hopes to adjust to the changes that have been made in the past year, he said. “I’ve been out of the senate for a year, and I’ve seen that there have been a lot of structural changes, so I’ve got to get myself acquainted with the different organisms in the senate and meet with the senators,” Salmeron-Perla said. Two more senate seats remain vacant after the resignation of Alexandra Mucher (COL ’22) and Zumanah Mahmud (MSB ’23). The seats are set to be filled in a special election later this semester.
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Kim Alleges Yovanovitch Awarded for Diplomatic Courage Harassment for His Christian Views YOVANOVITCH, from A1
GRADGOV, from A1 Discrimination and Harassment. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act prevents IDEAA from commenting on an ongoing investigation, according to the IDEAA Grievance Procedures. Before initiating impeachment, the GradGov Executive Board denounced Kim’s tweets and called for his immediate resignation in a letter Feb. 1. After Kim declined to resign, GradGov circulated a petition among GradGov senators to initiate impeachment proceedings Feb. 3. The petition to proceed with the impeachment process met the 60-signature threshold Feb. 9, according to GradGov Director of Advocacy Henry Watson, who was appointed by May to oversee the impeachment process. An impeachment vote is scheduled for the GradGov Senate meeting Feb. 20, Watson wrote in an email to The Hoya At the Feb. 20 meeting, Kim will have the opportunity to speak to the senate to refute the claims, according to the GradGov Constitution. A majority vote of senators present is then needed to remove Kim. A graduate student contacted GradGov on Jan. 18, notifying them of inappropriate tweets posted on Kim’s public Twitter account, such as the following Jan. 2 and Jan. 17 tweets. “Do you think Iowa’s farmers will experience adverse
Acts of God if they support Pete Buttieg, who pushes Transgenderism and gay rights in America as his top priority? No Rain? Harsh weather? Locusts? Look at what Act of God is doing in Australia,” a Jan. 2 tweet reads. “Is the National Republican Party going to become a SLAVE of the JEWS and go after every Republican leaders whom the Jews call “anti-Semitic”? Jesus is antiSemitic because Jesus Christ called Jews “Children of the Devil” in the Gospel of John! Will you oust Jesus from America?” a Jan. 17 tweet reads. Kim has served as GradGov vice president since he was electHEERAK KIM ed in 2019 VP of GradGov after running unopposed. Kim, a secondyear master’s student in the School of Nursing & Health Studies, is also running for Congress in Virginia’s 8th District as a Republican candidate. The location of the impeachment hearing, scheduled for 5 p.m. on Feb. 20, has not yet been confirmed, according to Watson. The meeting will be open to all graduate students.
“It is wrong that I was treated with violence (physical assault) because of my religion and political affiliation.”
Resources: On-campus resources include Health Education Services (202-687-8949), Counseling and Psychiatric Services (202-6876985) and the Center for Multicultural Equity and Access (202687-4054). Additional off-campus resources include The Trevor Project, a national 24-hour, toll free confidential suicide hotline for LGBTQ youth (866-488-7386).
The ceremony was hosted by the Trustees of the Trainor Endowment and the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy, a program in the School of Foreign Service that offers a certificate in diplomatic studies. Yovanovitch joined the ISD as a senior state department fellow after she left her ambassadorship in 2019. Yovanovitch’s decision to enter the national spotlight after deciding to testify as part of the house impeachment inquiry displays courage under pressure and political opposition, according to Tom Pickering, chair of the ISD and an introductory speaker at the event. “This was never easy, and now in this particularly tense and fraught time of a clear schism in the American political life, she made the choice of her oath,” Pickering said. “In that regard, her courage in coming forward, her being the first to testify
in the house, her dignity on the platform through long periods of stressful questioning was a remarkable example of bravery, not just intellectually but physically.” All foreign service officials should strive to embody Yovanovitch’s bravery and commitment to her country, according to former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, whose prepared introductory remarks were read by ISD Director Barbara Bodine. “At a difficult moment in our country’s history, Ambassador Yovanovitch was called upon to speak the truth. In doing so, she demonstrated to the American people and
the world the finest quality one can hope for in a foreign service officer: courage, honesty, and a deep devotion to the constitution,” Albright wrote. “Ambassador Yovanovitch has inspired me, but
more importantly, she has inspired a new generation, including the students at the School of Foreign Service, and at Georgetown University, to follow the example of public service she has set.”
AARON GREENSTEIN FOR THE HOYA
Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch received the 2020 J. Raymond “Jit” Trainor Award for Excellence in the Conduct of Diplomacy at a Feb. 12 event in Gaston Hall. Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright’s prepared remarks were read at the event.
AUSTRALIAN CENTRE
The Australia nursing study abroad program was put on hold because the host institution’s curriculum no longer adhered to university guidelines. Georgetown put a hold on the other nursing abroad program in Ireland because the host institution is not able to accomodate foreign student enrollment after a surge in domestic interest. Students originally planning to study abroad expressed disappointment in the holds.
Hold on Australia, Ireland Programs Frustrates Nursing Students STUDY ABROAD, from A1 The program curriculum for Georgetown nursing students was especially designed in collaboration with ACU’s School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine and included opportunities for students to participate in fieldwork, a key component of nursing requirements. Geraldine Sackey (NHS ’22), who had hoped to study abroad at ACU in fall 2020, said she was disappointed to learn the program would not run, after meeting the Jan. 17 application deadline for NHS students.
“We had to do so much just to apply, and we finally got the program and told our families, and then it just got canceled,” Sackey said in an interview with The Hoya, “This program aligned with my goals. I told my family members and then they just canceled it.” Since September, an unprecedented fire season in Australia has killed at least 33 people and destroyed 3,000 homes, according to The New York Times. The fires present no imminent danger to ACU students. The fires did, however, also prompt concern for Georgetown admin-
istrators, according to the email sent to nursing students. For the nursing programs in Ireland, increased domestic demand prompted UCD to refuse all foreign applicants to their nursing programs for the first time, according to Wilson. “Administrators learned that UCD in Dublin is no longer able to provide any clinical placements for foreign nursing students due to the increasing demands of their homeland students,” Wilson wrote. “While this has not been the case in the past, it has effects on the fall 2020 program.”
The program holds come after Georgetown canceled programs in Hong Kong and China in the last three months. In January, the university announced the cancellation of all study abroad programs in China because of concerns about the spread of the coronavirus after national advisories. In November 2019, the university also suspended study abroad programs in Hong Kong after widespread protests in the city. Students in the Chinese programs are working with the university to formulate
alternative plans for the current spring semester after news of the cancellations. The university also plans to provide alternatives for the fall semester for the NHS students affected by the latest cancellations, according to a university spokesperson. “The NHS, in collaboration with the Office of Global Education, will continue to explore possible alternatives to allow NHS nursing students to study abroad during their time at Georgetown,” a university spokesperson wrote in an email to The Hoya.
The alternative plans organized by the university, however, are not sufficient for nursing students who require specially scheduled clinical experience, Rhiannon Leonardo (NHS ’22), an applicant to the ACU program, said in an interview with The Hoya. “Those are for non-nursing and that just doesn’t work with the nursing schedule because we have to be in clinical classes, so any other program that the university offers just wouldn’t work for us,” Leonardo said.
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Black History Month Events Nearly Double for 2020 ASHLEY ZHAO Hoya Staff Writer
KIRK ZIESER/THE HOYA
A federal judge sentenced former Georgetown parent Douglas Hodge to nine months in prison, two years of supervised release, 500 hours of community service and a $750,000 fine.
Judge Gives GU Parent Longest Admissions Scandal Sentence ELIZABETH BRENNEMAN Hoya Staff Writer
Former Georgetown University parent Douglas Hodge was sentenced Feb. 7 for conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, receiving the longest prison term of any parent who has been sentenced for money laundering in the college admissions scandal. Hodge, the former CEO of investment company Pimco, was sentenced to nine months in prison, two years of court supervision, 500 hours of community service as well as ordered to pay a $750,000 fine. Hodge pleaded guilty to bribing athletic coaches to get two of his children into Georgetown and two into the University of Southern California. Hodge carried out the bribery with the help of Rick Singer, the ringleader of the national college admissions scandal. Hodge claims not to have known the full extent of the corruption, believing that he was making donations to the schools, according to an Feb. 9 op-ed he wrote for the Wall Street Journal. “I unfortunately made payments that facilitated Mr. Singer’s scheme, believing that I was supporting the university while also helping my children,” Hodge wrote. “But I also knew that Mr. Singer was providing my children with a false athletic brand. I believed that Mr. Singer was directing my payments to underfunded athletic programs.” The charges come as part of the “Varsity Blues” college
scandal, a national college admissions investigation that has exposed alleged misconduct by parents who sought to improve their children’s college admissions chances. Hodge is among four other Georgetown parents charged in the scandal. Hodge has since realized that his actions had undesired and unintended consequences, according to his op-ed. “I deeply regret my conduct, and I am sorry for the shame I have brought upon myself, my wife and my children, who did nothing to deserve the consequences they have suffered as a result of my actions,” Hodge wrote. “I also understand that a larger circle of students and families have been affected, and I regret the harm I’ve caused.” Hodge paid $325,000 to former Georgetown tennis coach Gordon Ernst for the admission of two of his children as tennis recruits, according to court documents. Hodge later spent $525,000 to get two other children into USC as soccer and football recruits, and then tried to bribe a fifth child into Loyola Marymount University but was unsuccessful. Georgetown learned of Ernst’s misconduct in 2017 and took appropriate measures to ensure the integrity of future athletic recruitment, according to a university spokesperson. “In 2017, Georgetown’s Admissions Office discovered irregularities in the athletic credentials of two students who were being recruited to play tennis. Neither student was admitted,”
the university spokesperson wrote in an email to The Hoya. “Georgetown immediately put former coach Gordon Ernst on leave, initiated an internal investigation, established a new policy concerning the recruitment of student athletes, implemented audits to check whether recruited student athletes are on team rosters, and asked Mr. Ernst to resign.” Georgetown implemented the Office of Admissions and Departments of Athletics Policy on Recruitment of Student-Athletes in Nov. 2018. The Department of Athletics and Office of Admissions will perform periodic audits to check if recruited studentathletes are not on the roster of the sport for which they were recruited at Georgetown. For any students identified, the head coach of that team must provide a written explanation as to why the student is not on the team, according to the policy. The admissions scandal became public knowledge in March 2019 after prosecutors in Boston charged 50 parents for various actions of admissions fraud. The university dismissed two students in May in connection with the scheme. Hodge is the second Georgetown parent formally sentenced in the admissions scandal. Stephen Semprevivo was sentenced in Sept. 2019 after bribing Ernst to fraudulently place his son Adam Semprevivo onto the university tennis team. (Full disclosure: Semprevivo previously served as a cartoonist for The Hoya.)
Faculty Remembers Former NHS Academic Dean Lyons GIULIA TESTA Hoya Staff Writer
Marianne Lyons, associate dean for student academic affairs at the School of Nursing & Health Studies, died Feb. 7 after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Lyons was a member of the Georgetown University community for 13 years and had served as a nurse and administrator at the hospital, as well as as a senior administrator at the NHS, according to a universitywide email sent by Carole Roan Gresenz, interim dean at the NHS on Feb. 7. Lyons encouraged the best from her colleagues and students and embodied Georgetown’s Jesuit values, according to Patricia Cloonan, former dean at the NHS. “She believed that each of us has different gifts, and she worked to shine a light on the myriad talents of our students, staff and faculty,” Cloonan wrote in an email to The Hoya. “She embodied Georgetown’s ideals of ‘men and women for others’ and we were blessed to have her as a friend and colleague.” Lyons encapsulated the university’s mission every day by academically advising students and educating the Georgetown community, according to Brian Floyd, assistant dean of academic affairs at the NHS. “Dean Lyons was a shining example of the meaning of cura personalis and always stressed to us the importance of caring for the whole person through our student advising efforts while also developing our students in service for others,” Floyd wrote in an email to The Hoya. Lyons received a master’s degree from the Maryland School of Nursing in Nursing Education in 1981 and began working at Georgetown in 2008. As an associate dean of enrollment management, Lyons supervised the administrative marketing and
admissions teams to develop campus and online programming. She also worked with faculty who provided undergraduate and graduate NHS students academic advising, according to Lyons’ LinkedIn. Lyons worked hard to make every member of the Georgetown community feel welcome at events and create a sense of community, according to Gresenz. “She was an ever-present leader at school events, making sure that alumni, parents and families, students and faculty, and friends of the school felt genuinely welcome at commencements, family weekends, GAAP weekends, and reunions,” Gresenz wrote in a school-wide email. “Within St. Mary’s Hall, she tirelessly worked to nurture a strong sense of community.” Lyons was always an advocate for her students and supported them with her kindness and compassion, according to Allan Angerio, associate dean at the NHS. “It was an honor to work with Dean Lyons who would always say ‘ we are here for the students,’” Angerio wrote in an email to The Hoya. “She touched all of our students with her wisdom and love, as she did each of us.” Lyons’ kindness and compassion towards everyone around her will be remembered by each person she worked with, according to Jennifer Ericson, assistant dean of academic affairs. “Marianne was more full of goodness than anyone I’ve ever known,” Ericson wrote in an email to The Hoya. “She was a wonderful colleague, mentor, and friend. I will miss her every day but will continue to carry out our work with gratitude and love, in her memory.” While at Georgetown, Lyons led the NHS to launch Georgetown’s first online degree program in 2011. She also supported fundraising efforts for St. Aloysius Gonzaga, a Jesuit high
school in Nairobi for students who have lost parents to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, after traveling on a university sponsored trip to Kenya, according to the university-wide email. Lyons’ career dedicated to service has left a lasting impact on all who worked with Lyons, according to Floyd. “Because of the life Dean Lyons lived, the public service she rendered to our community, and kindness and compassion she provided for our students, staff and faculty that was the mark of her distinguished career, for which we all have a richer understanding of who we are as Americans and our journey as a people,” Floyd wrote. “Dean Lyons will be deeply missed, but her legacy is one that will surely endure.” Lyons’s courage, leadership and commitment to the common good inspired Floyd throughout the 10 years he worked with her, he wrote. “I was inspired daily by her dedication to the integration of learning, faith and service to those in our community,” Floyd wrote. “Her values were infectious and she will always remain a positive reminder to me of why I do what I do.” NHS Communications Director Bill Cessato worked alongside Lyons for 13 years and will miss her positive and inspirational presence in St. Mary’s, he said. “Stories brought tears to our eyes and smiles to our faces,” Cessato wrote in an email to The Hoya. “It is clear Marianne meant so much to each of us, and it is very difficult to imagine St. Mary’s Hall without her.” Lyons is survived by her four sons Matthew, John, Daniel and Michael, as well as her mother, three brothers and three grandchildren. Donations may be made to St. Aloysius Gonzaga instead of flowers to the family, according to Legacy.com.
Black student affinity groups and Georgetown University have scheduled almost 50 events celebrating Black history and culture, nearly double the number of events held last year, in observation of Black History Month this February. The schedule of events was organized by the Black Leadership Forum, a coalition of student organizations that plan events that impact Black students on campus. The docket of activities this year includes speaker and discussion events, student reflections, office hours with administrators and social gatherings, among other programming. Several of the events are collaborations between different student groups, which demonstrates Black History Month’s emphasis on unity, according to Georgetown University Women of Color Treasurer Jameela Sylla (MSB ’20). “The overarching goal behind celebrating Black History Month is to further foster empathy, unity, and compassion within the Black community at Georgetown,” Sylla wrote in an email to The Hoya. “Considering our community is small but spread throughout multiple cultures, it is empowering to see us dedicate ourselves to supporting and uplifting each other.” The events for this month are sponsored by a variety of groups across campus, including preprofessional organizations, residential communities, affinity groups, performance clubs and university programs, among
others. Some events will also be co-hosted with other Washington, D.C. universities. Many clubs, including GUWoC, are hosting new events for this month. The increase in events being held by student groups on campus shows the consistent progress student groups have made in engaging the Georgetown community in celebrations of Black history and culture, according to Sylla. “From my perspective, each year’s Black History Month is better than the last,” Sylla wrote. “Each year, our organizations find bigger and better ways to further engage our community, and unify us all.” The Ella Jo Baker Distinguished Lecture represents one of the most significant events. The event, which will feature University of Chicago professor of political science Cathy Cohen, who studies post-civil rights black politics and social movements, will be held in Lohrfink Auditorium on Feb. 20. Black History Month also serves as an important reminder of the contributions of Black people throughout history, which can often be overlooked at predominantly white institutions like Georgetown, according to Whitney Maddox, assistant director of student leadership and racial justice initiatives at the Center for Social Justice Research, Teaching and Service. “It is so easy and convenient for predominantly White institutions like Georgetown to have classes where Black authors are not on the syllabus, to have speaker events with not one Black person on the stage,
and departments with no Black professors,” Maddox wrote in an email to The Hoya. “For so many, Black History Month serves as a reminder that Black people literally built the infrastructure of this country and contributed so much to its fabric.” While some may question the existence of Black History Month when not all communities have similar heritage months, such a month is necessary as Black voices continue to be marginalized, according to Maddox. “I have heard many people question why Black people get a month when other identities do not, but ask yourself what are you doing to ensure that Black people never have to advocate to be seen, heard or valued on this campus and in this world,” Maddox wrote. “When White supremacy is dismantled, then we can talk about doing away with Black History Month.” While the events being hosted this month are important celebrations of Black history and culture, the Georgetown community should remember to foster an ongoing appreciation of Black culture throughout the year, the BLF wrote in a Feb. 10 email to the student body sharing the schedule of events. “Throughout the month, we will actively appreciate the service, art, literature, innovations, and resiliency of Black people across the globe,” the BLF wrote. “It is important to remember that Black history is not just limited to the month of February, because the celebration of Black history and Black peoples’ contribution to the world is endless, immeasurable, and ongoing.”
Proposed WMATA Bus Route Cancellations Spark Debate CLARA GRUDBERG Hoya Staff Writer
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority has announced a more detailed set of plans to merge and cancel bus routes that serve the Georgetown neighborhood, triggering backlash from students and community members. The service changes come as a part of WMATA’s budget proposal for fiscal year 2021 and will affect three bus routes servicing the Georgetown area. Route D1 (Glover Park-Franklin Square Line) will be eliminated under the new plans. Route G2 (P StreetLeDroit Park Line), which stops directly outside Georgetown’s front gates and Route D2 (Glover Park-DuPont Circle Line) will be consolidated, shifting the closest stop from the front gates of campus to 35th and Q Streets. Removing the campus Route G2 stop will discourage students from commuting to work and traveling beyond the Georgetown neighborhood, according to Advisory Neighborhood 2E Commissioner Kishan Putta, who is running to represent Ward 2 on the Council of the District of Columbia. “Right now the G2 is a really popular way for people to get across our city and Georgetown students in particular,” Putta said in an interview with The Hoya. “It’s always been there for Georgetown, for decades, and I fear that a lot fewer students will take the G2 now, it has been a convenient way for students to get to DuPont Circle and beyond.” Students and workers who live off-campus in Petworth will face longer commutes under the bus reroutes including more transfers and walks, according to Jordan Brown (COL ’21), who commutes to campus. “These cancellations will make my commute much more difficult. The G2 is the only WMATA bus that goes directly to Georgetown’s campus, which makes our campus accessible to the rest of the city,” Brown wrote in an email to The Hoya. The Georgetown administration does not support WMATA’s proposal and are organizing a response, according to Vice President for Government Relations and Community Engagement Christopher Murphy. “The university is deeply concerned about WMATA’s proposal and is working with community and student leaders to ensure our voices are heard on this important issue,” Murphy wrote in an email to The Hoya. Without making route changes, WMATA may have to raise fares for 94% of bus riders instead of establishing a $2
weekend flat fare on Metrorail and eliminating transfer fees for 66,000 trips per day, according to Ian Jannetta, a WMATA spokesperson. Despite criticism, mergers like that of Route G2 and Route D2 will increase efficacy and cut costs to encourage more riders, Jannetta wrote. “Most of the proposed changes include restructuring of routes to improve efficiencies and eliminate redundancies, as is the case with the proposed combination of the G2 and D2 routes,” Jannetta wrote in an email to The Hoya. Minimal access public transportation in Georgetown has long frustrated students and neighborhood residents. The university is a transit desert, or an area where the demand for public transportation is greater than the supply because most students do not have personal vehicles or the financial means to frequently use ride-sharing services such as Uber or Lyft. Georgetown does provide its own free transportation service for students that runs routes from campus to Metro stations at Rosslyn and Dupont Circle as well as the Georgetown University Law Center, the U.S. House of Representatives, university offices on Wisconsin Avenue and stops in Arlington, Virginia. The G2 route, however, offers more consistent weekend service is more accessible than Georgetown’s transportations shuttles, according to Advisory Neighborhood 2A Commissioner Patrick Kennedy, who is also a candidate in the Ward 2 Council race. “Although Georgetown University operates its own shuttle service, the G2 serves a distinct need, operates reliably year-round with no dropoff in service outside the academic year, and uses newer,
low-floor buses that are more reliably ADA accessible,” Kennedy wrote in a message posted to the online Georgetown Forum message board. The reroutes will especially impact low-income students and staff, who do not have the means to use more expensive modes of transportations like rideshares, according to Brown. “Route G2 is the only WMATA bus that goes directly to Georgetown’s campus. Georgetown is already notoriously inaccessible and set apart from the rest of the city and these cancellations and reroutes would only make it worse,” Brown wrote. “Lower-income students who rely on public transportation to travel the city and the workers who keep our campus running would be the hardest hit by these changes.” WMATA has not been responsive to residents’ concerns, according to Putta, who has testified with groups of community members at hearings considering the proposal. “Either they’re not thinking about these people, or they don’t care to reassure them,” Putta said. “We went down to testify in December, we went down to testify in January, everytime telling them, ‘people are scared,’ and you’re not doing anything to reassure them.” WMATA will not come to an affirmative decision until after residents can express their opinions on the service changes, according to Jannetta. “Metro has begun an extensive, multi-week public outreach period where customers can make their voices heard,” Jannetta wrote. “No decisions will be made until all public comments have been delivered to the Metro Board for their consideration.”
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Proposed service changes would shift the closest bus stop from Georgetown’s front gates to the intersection of 35th and Q streets.
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GU Appoints New Director Provost Names GU Faculty For Undocumented Students As Distinguished Professors JIMMY O’MEARA Special to The Hoya
Jennifer Crewalk was named the associate director for undocumented students as part of the Center for Multicultural Equity and Access in a Feb. 6 university news release, after the former director stepped down Jan. 31 Crewalk previously served as co-director of Casa Hispanica, a living-learning community at the University of Pennsylvania that seeks to cultivate Spanish language immersion and cultural exposure. In her new position at Georgetown, Crewalk will provide support for students and coordinate legal information and resources for the undocumented community. Crewalk will work in the Center for Multicultural Equity and Access as well as serve as director of group initiatives in the university’s Division of Student Affairs. Building advocacy and awareness for the undocumented community are top priorities for Crewalk, she wrote in an email to The Hoya. “I’m looking forward to focusing on community healing, the present needs of our students, but also ask all of us to be visionaries for what is possible for the near future,” Crewalk wrote. “Our undocumented students are the freedom fighters of this moment and time, and they are helping to awaken people to how important it is for our communities to be conscious.” The CMEA seeks to support students of color in a variety of ways with someone to talk to about personal issues or concerns, affordable options for textbooks, printing or summer housing and community building. The first associate director for undocumented students
Arelis Palacios left her position Jan. 31 to pursue a doctoral degree at the University of Texas at Austin. Palacios announced her departure in October 2019, after being appointed to the position in 2017. Crewalk’s appointment in the CMEA will help the university to fulfill its commitment to undocumented students, according to Charlene Brown-McKenzie, director of the center. “Georgetown provides Undocumented Student Resources to ensure the dignity and care of all members of the university community,” Brown-McKenzie wrote in an email to The Hoya. “Jennifer brings a wealth of experiences that will further bolster this support for undocumented students across Georgetown’s campuses.” In addition to CMEA programming and efforts, student groups on campus have led advocacy efforts for undocumented students. In November 2019, Hoyas For Immigrant Rights launched the #HomeIsHere Walkout cosponsored by over 40 student organizations on campus. Crewalk’s appointment will help expand efforts already in place by groups such as HFIR including upcoming undocuweek programming from April 3 to April 7, according to HFIR President Arisaid Gonzalez (COL ’21) and Vice President Anahi Figueroa (COL ’21). “We would like to welcome the new director for undocumented students, Jennifer Crenwalk to Georgetown,” Gonzalez and Figueroa wrote in an email to The Hoya. “As HFIR, we hope to work with Jennifer to foster community and advocacy within our communities, as well as continuing to support UndocuHoyas at Georgetown.”
Crewalk, who earned her master’s degree in intercultural communications from the University of Pennsylvania and her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Rutgers University, is currently completing doctoral work in educational psychology at George Mason University. As part of her doctoral work, Crewalk is researching the risk, resilience and resistance associated with being a trainer for an undocumented student ally program, according to Brown-McKenzie. “Jennifer comes to Georgetown with experience and passion that will serve her well as the new Director for Undocumented Students,” BrownMcKenzie wrote. The university has also undertaken recent initiatives to support the undocumented student community on campus, including signing on to an October 2019 amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court calling for the continuation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. The university has additionally held conversations with other universities around ways to protect undocumented students on college campuses throughout the country. By building awareness for of undocumented students on campus and encouraging other communitied to recognize their privledge, Crewalk hopes to build a larger advocacy base on Georgetown’s campus, she wrote. “Building a conscious community can educate and move people toward awareness of their own privilege,” Crewalk wrote. “When people acknowledge their own privileges, they can better advocate for others.”
GRACE BUONO Hoya Staff Writer
The Office of the Provost recognized five members of Georgetown University’s faculty as distinguished associate professors in a Feb. 5 announcement by Provost Robert Groves on his blog. Three of the recipients, history professor Kathryn de Luna, psychology professor Adam Green and chemistry professor Kaveh Jorabchi, are faculty members in the College. Finance professor Alberto Rossi in the McDonough School of Business and professor of energy and environment and Director of the Science, Technology and International Affairs Program at the School of Foreign Service Joanna Lewis also received the distinction. Recipients of the provost’s distinguished associate professor award for accomplishments in education, created in 2016, are first nominated by department chairs and unit heads before being reviewed by a committee of senior faculty. The committee then forwards selections to the provost for approval, according to the Office of the Provost’s official web portal. The award recognizes the achievements in research and teaching by Georgetown faculty members across the different schools, according to Vice Provost Reena Aggarwal, who serves as the chair of the review committee for the award. “The Committee recognizes faculty who are at the frontier of pushing knowledge in their fields,” Aggarwal wrote in an email to The Hoya. “They are not only doing amazing scholarship, they are also excellent teachers, offering cutting edge courses and/ or mentoring students. We want to recognize and reward ‘rising stars’ who perform at an extraordinary level, and are contributing to Georgetown, their profession, and the broader community.” The strong sense of community present at Georgetown creates an environment conducive to the kind of research and academic work that the award recognizes, according to winner Jorabchi. “The supportive environment at GU has been an important
factor in the development of my work,” Jorabchi wrote in an email to The Hoya. “I connect with the student-centered philosophy of GU and am inspired by the community spirit of the university.” Jorabchi, whose lab regularly works with undergraduate and high school students in addition to graduate students, focuses on improving methods of detecting and quantifying chemically complex samples of trace substances through his research. In the last few years, he has received grants totaling $1.5 million from organizations includingtheNationalScienceFoundationandtheNationalInstituteof General Medical Sciences. While the award itself is only granted to certain associate professors, it serves as a recognition of the cooperative work and research conducted by all members of the Georgetown academic community, according to de Luna. “This award appears to honor a few individuals but it is actually a recognition of our wider intellectual networks; faculty are constantly learning from colleagues, from collaborators and co-authors, from graduate students and undergraduate students,” de Luna wrote in an email to The Hoya. De Luna, who specializes in the histories of eastern, central and southern Africa before the 20th century, has conducted fieldwork among fifteen societies in five countries in eastern and southcentral Africa. Her 2017 book “Collecting Food, Cultivating People: Subsistence and Society in Central Africa” received the Henry A. Wallace Award from the Agricultural History Society in 2017 and the CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title award in 2018. The third winner from the College, Green, a cognitive neuroscientist whose work is helping to form a new discipline known as the Neuroscience of Creativity, is seeking to combine behavioral, neural and genetic analyses to better understand how the brain learns and makes connections between ideas and events. The award is indicative of the great support Georgetown offers for research and aca-
demic pursuits across all fields, according to Green. “We get to chase knowledge, ask these big questions that we’ve been wanting to ask since we were five years old and that we’re supported in that sort of search for knowledge without kind of the direct forcibility of a more applied form of materials, research or something like that or something that you would have in the industry if you were doing research,” Green said in an interview with The Hoya. Rossi, the winning professor from the MSB, serves as an associate editor for the Journal of Financial Econometrics, the Journal of Empirical Finance and the International Journal of Financial Engineering. Rossi is currently researching machine learning, financial technology, empirical asset pricing and household finance and has been a keynote speaker at finance conferences around the world, according to his website. Lewis, the fifth winner, has worked on energy and climate issues in China for about 20 years and has consulted for foundations and governmental, nongovernmental and international organizations on similar projects, according to her university biography. She also heads Georgetown’s U.S.-China Climate Research Dialogue and the U.S.-China Energy and Climate Working Group, among other projects. Her 2014 book “Green Innovation in China” won the 2014 Harold and Margaret Sprout Award from the International Studies Association. The recognition granted by this award, as well as the continued support of the Georgetown community, will enable recipients to further develop their research and connections, according to Jorabchi. “Scientific discussions with students and popping into the lab to participate in experiments are the most joyful parts of my day. Discussions with my colleagues in the Chemistry department have also influenced my teaching and research,” Jorabchi wrote. “I hope to further grow this integrated network of people and activities that influence all aspects of professional life at GU.”
Women Run Top US Law Journals, Celebrate 19th Amendment SAMANTHA SINUTKO Special to The Hoya
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
After the former director of undocumented students stepped down Jan. 31, the university named Jennifer Crewalk as the new associate director of undocumented students Feb. 6.
Venture Fellows Program Expands, Includes Undergrads MADDIE BERRY Hoya Staff Writer
Undergraduate students began internships this January as part of the 2020 cohort of the Georgetown University MBA Venture Fellows Program, after the initiative expanded to include undergraduate students for the first time in fall 2019. Through the program, which was founded in 2015, student fellows intern at a local venture capital firm part time during the spring, full time during the summer and part time in the fall. The current 2020 cohort of fellows consists of ten MBA students and five undergraduate students, according to Eric Young assistant dean at the MBA Career Center. The decision to expand the program to undergraduate students comes after David Wilson (MBA ’19), a past fellow and principal at Franklin Advisory, worked with Estelle Spanneut (MSB ’21), a current 2020 fellow, to pitch the idea to Jeff Reid, the founder of Georgetown Entrepreneurship Initiative, and Ben Zimmerman, chief operating officer and associate director of Georgetown Entrepreneurship. The program provides students the chance to gain experience in a field with high barriers to entry and allows students to make meaningful connections, according to Young. “The inspiration behind the program was to provide
an onramp for MBA students into the very competitive, selective and hard-to-access world of VC,” Young wrote in an email to The Hoya. “The Venture Fellows Program was designed to be a win-win for students and employers.” The program not only benefits undergraduates, but also gives firms the chance to recruit young talent, according to Wilson. “I knew this would be a great opportunity for the venture firms in the area (knowing how great the McDonough undergrads are) as well as for the undergrads to get plugged into VC,” Wilson wrote in an email to The Hoya. The initiative is managed by the Georgetown MBA program as part of Georgetown Entrepreneurship, and includes a network of faculty, advisors and representatives from local venture capital firms. In total, eight local firms offer internships as part of the program. Students must go through an application process as well as multiple interviews to gain acceptance into the program, according to the Georgetown Entrepreneurship website. Local venture capital firms ultimately make the decision as to whether to accept or reject a candidate. The opportunity to work for venture capital firms is valuable for Georgetown students, according to Spanneut, who helped expand the program to undergraduate students. “Venture Capital is typically an industry that is relatively
inaccessible to undergraduates, but through the Venture Fellows program and other programs like VCIC, Georgetown Entrepreneurship has really facilitated our exposure to the startup investment world,” Spanneut wrote in an email to The Hoya. The program provides more support from advisors and peers than a typical program, and gives students the chance to learn news skills during the internship, according to Christine Steele (MBA ’20), a 2019 fellow “Being part of the venture fellow program gave me the opportunity to connect with my classmates who were also participating in the program” Steele wrote in an email to The Hoya. “We shared our experiences at our respective firms and gave each other feedback and advice on how to approach our internships.” The move to include undergraduate students in the program is important to expanding the popular fellowship that sets the MSB apart from peer business schools, according to Young. “It’s been incredible to see the success of many of the past Venture Fellows who graduate and land jobs in venture capital,” Young wrote. “Some have come back to campus to hire Venture Fellows of their own. It’s a testimony to the hard work of students, the generosity and investment by employers, and the spirit of Hoyas helping Hoyas.”
Editors-in-chief of the top-16 law school journals — for the first time all women — convened Feb. 3 to acknowledge women’s advancement in law in honor of the 100th anniversary of women’s suffrage. The event, hosted by Duke Law at the Duke University in Washington, D.C. offices, brought together top legal scholars, university deans and all but one of the editors-in-chief of the top journals to celebrate the changing role of women in the law with speakers including Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The cohort of entirely female editors is a momentous moment, especially since it coincides the 100th anniversary of the ratification of 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote, according to Georgetown University Law Center Dean William Treanor. “I participated in a symposium with all of the women editors in chief, which was a very powerful way to celebrate the centennial of the 19th Amendment. I was proud that the Georgetown Law community was so well represented,” Treanor wrote in an email to The Hoya. Women have been historically less inclined to apply to leadership positions than men. However, the sight of 16 female editorsin-chief together will hopefully encourage women to pursue law in the future, according to Wake Forest Law School Dean and former GULC law professor Jane Aiken. “The fact that women took over the top 16 journals is a message to everyone out there: act, move forward, put your name in. Those are really important messages that we need to get to women,” Aiken said in an interview with The Hoya. “It’s pretty remarkable that this happened. I mean, it’s one thing when you have a majority of the top 16. But what are the chances that you would get all 16?” This phenomenon of allfemale leadership, however, can be considered a statistical anomaly, as the majority of the top-16 editor-in-chief positions
will return to male students next year, according to Aiken. At the event, the editors distributed the joint issue “Women and the Law,” a collaborative publication in which each law review sponsored an essay about female experiences in law. Duke Law Journal Editor-inChief Farrah Bara launched the “Women and the Law” publication began, according to the former editor-in-chief of the Georgetown Law Journal Grace Paras (LAW ’20). While the top law journal editors-in-chief have collaborated in the past, this is the first year that they have ever published together, according to Paras. “The fact that we came together and did that is the most significant part of it,” Paras said. “It just shows the strength of women in leadership. And it’s a little stereotypical, but I think in a good way it shows how collaborative of a leadership style it can be.” In 2018, women made up more than a third of lawyers in the United States, but men were still the highest earners, according to the U.S. Census. While the gender gap is closing in entrylevel legal positions, there is still a lack of gender equality in the
top positions when considering roles of partners at large firms, according to statistics from the American Bar Association. Despite the gender gap in law across the nation, women make up the majority of law students at GULC, according to Toni Deane (LAW ’21). She succeeds Paras as editor-in-chief, marking the first time a woman of color has held the position, according to Treanor. “Though the percentage of women in the law is continuing to grow, it’s shocking how few female partners are in big law firms. I hope this role further proves why women should not, and cannot, be inhibited from pursuing what we put our minds to,” Deane wrote in an email to The Hoya. “Though progress is evident here at GULC, we clearly need to do more to impact the greater legal community.” The all-female slate of law journal editors-in-chief will potentially spark a change in gender dynamics of the legal field, according to Paras. “I hope that this kind of brief happy moment when we are all women can be maybe a sign of a spark of women, who not only get into law school or get into law review, but then who achieve the top positions,” Paras said.
@UVALAW/TWITTER
For the first time, the editors-in-chief of the top 16 U.S. law journals are women. They joined to celebrate women’s suffrage Feb. 3.
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2020
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Skeletons Discovered During Q St Basement Renovation Project CLARA GRUDBERG Hoya Staff Writer
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Residents are concerned that access to Duke Ellington Recreational Field will be limited if management is transferred from D.C. Public Schools to the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation.
ANC 2E Unanimously Passes Ellington Field Resolution ANNA FERRAZZI AND CLARA GRUDBERG Hoya Staff Writers
Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E passed a resolution urging District of Columbia government agencies to prioritize student access to Duke Ellington Recreational Field on Feb. 3. The resolution comes after the District of Columbia Department of Parks and Recreation announced it would take over management of the field from District of Columbia Public Schools in July. The plan sparked concerns that community members and public school students could be excluded from using the field. The resolution, which passed unanimously, establishes three principles that those managing the field should follow, regardless of which agency eventually manages the field. ANC 2E Commissioner Kishan Putta, whose district includes Ellington Field, introduced the resolution. First, field access should be primarily reserved for students, according to the resolution, which was read aloud at the Feb. 3 meeting by ANC 2E Chair Rick Murphy. “Public School students and in particular, students of, in no particular order, Hardy Middle School, School Without Walls, Duke Ellington and Hyde-Addison Elementary School should have first priority access to the field,” the resolution reads. “Specifically, no agreements should be entered into with any non-public organization that would deny or
reduce access to the field to DCPS students for school related activities.” The second principle calls on the Washington, D.C. government to allocate adequate funds for general field upkeep. Additionally, the resolution asks officials to draw up a usage plan for public review. Lastly, the plan should address local concerns that the field transfer would bring increased traffic and new lighting fixtures to the neighborhood, according to the resolution. “Before any significant decisions concerning the management and future use of Ellington Field are made, there should be a proposed usage plan available for public review, including traffic, environmental and light studies and active outreach to and discussions with residents and schools who may be impacted by the usage plan and the residents and schools used should be given great way,” the resolution reads. Georgetown University holds a contract that grants the varsity track and field team access to Ellington Field and has been coordinating with local government agencies to address the transfer, according to Christopher Murphy, vice president for Government Relations and Community Engagement. “The university’s track and field program has a non-exclusive right to use the track at Ellington Field for certain hours,” Christopher Murphy wrote in an email to The Hoya. “The university is working closely on the matter with
ANC 2E, the Burleith Citizens Association, and DPR. We are hopeful that neighborhood and city leaders can negotiate a solution that is acceptable to both the community and DPR. And we are working with both to ensure that whatever is decided our right to use the track is honored.” In September, DPR granted the Maret School, a private day school in Northwest D.C., exclusive access to Jelleff Field, a recreational space in the Georgetown area. The field allocations drew similar concerns that public school students’ field use would be limited. Residents fear the Ellington field transfer may exclude some community members from using the space if DPR grants exclusive usage rights. Sparse communication from the D.C. government has left students, parents and community members confused how field access will change with the potential transfer, according to Valerie Jablow, a parent of a student at Duke Ellington and a member of the school’s PTO. “Because DPR and DME have refused to release the terms of the agreement of the transfer to the public before the transfer occurs, the public is expected to simply hope and pray that the rights of DCPS students [with respect to] *their own field* are preserved and that whatever use the community has enjoyed for decades there will, maybe, somehow, continue,” Jablow wrote in an email to The Hoya. “That’s not exactly democratically heartwarming.”
Fire Breaks Out in Henle Village, Prompting GU Investigation JEMIMA DENHAM Special to The Hoya
The Office of Planning and Facilities Management initiated an investigation into the cause of a fire that occurred in a Henle Village apartment Feb. 8. All five residents were in the apartment when the fire began early Saturday morning but none were harmed. The cause of the fire is currently unknown and a commissioned team is investigating the fire, according to a university spokesperson. The fire had already generated smoke before the residents were able to evacuate the building, according to Conor Nicholson (MSB ’22), one of the residents of the apartment where the fire started. “I couldn’t see past three feet in front of me there was so much smoke,” Nicholson said. “I didn’t really think — I just ran outside.” D.C. Fire and Emergency Services Department and Georgetown University Police Department evacuated some students living in Henle in response to the fire alarm. Most students were able to return to their apartments by 5:20 a.m., and residents of impacted apartments were relocated to area hotels, according to the spokesperson. Matteo Palacardo (MSB ’22), one of the residents in the affected apartment, was
relieved he and his roommates were able to evacuate in time. “It was a terrifying experience, and I’m just really glad we managed to get everyone out safe,” Palacardo wrote in a statement to The Hoya. Commissioners are currently working to repair the fire-damaged apartments, according to a university spokesperson. “A fire response team of internal services and external consultants are working to investigate the cause of the fire and remedy any impacts to the affected apartments,” the spokesperson wrote in an email to The Hoya. Last spring students living on campus were relocated to the Georgetown University Hotel and Conference Center following structural roof issues due to moisture buildup. Eighty-five students living in Alumni Square last spring semester were moved to the facility for the remainder of the semester. The Office of Facilities Operations in conjunction with GUPD instituted a fire watch starting Feb. 12 in light of the recent fire and concerns about student safety in Henle, according to a Feb. 12 email sent to all Henle residents from Director of Residential Services Bill Huff. “GU police officers will be walking around Henle Village checking stairwells and exterior of the buildings for fire or smoke throughout
the evening,” Huff wrote in the email. “The fire watch has been instituted to ensure that all residential units within Henle Village are providing the highest level of safety and protection.” The watch comes after other campus fires this year, such as the recent fire in Healy Hall on Jan. 5. The Office of Planning and Facilities Management investigated the fire, which broke out in a private office in the Kennedy Institute of Ethics in Healy Hall and was extinguished by the building’s sprinkler system. Smoke from a mechanical failure triggered a fire alarm in Healy in February 2019. The alarm led to a complete evacuation of the building. D.C. Fire and EMS determined the smoke resulted from a defective fan belt on a heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit instead of from a fire. In addition to the fire watch, the Office of Facilities Operations will test fire alarms to ensure that the system is functioning properly, according to Huff. “This precaution is not a cause for concern; the fire alarm system is going through a testing process to be certain it is operating at full efficiency,” Huff wrote. “Beginning this evening, Facilities Operations and Siemens staff is testing each of the smoke detection devices within the units to be certain of their operation.”
The skeletal remains of four humans were found in the foundation of a Q Street home on Feb. 4, launching a police response and an archaeological investigation. The discovery was made during a minor basement renovation at 3317 Q St. NW. The home lies in an area formerly occupied by cemeteries, leading to previous discoveries of human remains over the past several decades, according to NBC4 Washington. The block of Q Street where the discovery was made is across the street from Volta Park, a recreation center which occupies the land of the Old Presbyterian Burial Ground, a cemetery for prominent D.C. figures until its demolition in 1909. The area where the remains were found used to serve as a black cemetery during the 19th century, raising suspicion that some of the remains may belong to Yarrow Mamout, a formerly enslaved man who lived on Dent Place, adjacent to Q Street, who became a renowned businessman in the Georgetown area who died in 1823, according to Jerry McCoy, a special collections librarian at the D.C. Public Library. The location of his remains is currently unknown. “He was an educated individual. He read and spoke Arabic. He had been kidnapped in West Africa and brought to Maryland,” McCoy said to NBC4 Washington. ‘[It] would be an incredible discovery if that was able to be determined
through DNA.” The project developer notified Advisory Neighborhood 2E02 Commissioner Joe Gibbons of the skeletal remains shortly after the discovery. Gibbons then instructed those in the house to call the Metropolitan Police Department to determine if the bones were a part of a crime, he said. “He said ‘Joe, I found some skeletal remains, or what appears to be skeletal remains, what should I do?’ because it’s not a common occurrence for a developer,” Gibbons said in an interview with The Hoya. “I said, ‘Well, I know what you should do, you need to stop, get the workers around, and call MPD,’ because MPD has to ascertain whether it’s a grave or whether it’s a recent crime scene.” After some initial police work, district officials called in the city archeologist for the District of Columbia Ruth Trocolli. The skeletons appeared to be from the 1830s, Trocolli told the Georgetowner. However, the investigation has not concluded. The forensic process includes documentation and comparison with other remains from the premises, according to Andrew Trueblood, director of the D.C. Office of Planning. “The District of Columbia’s Archaeologist is documenting and removing human remains discovered in an unrecorded 19th century burial ground spanning properties on the 3300 block of Q St., NW,” Trueblood wrote in an email to The Hoya. “The remains will be loaned to the Smithsonian’s
National Museum of Natural History Anthropology Department and analyzed against other remains found at this burial ground.” Since human remains had been discovered on the 3300 block before, during the renovation project to add new stairs on the ground level, the homeowners took special precautions, according to Gibbons. “They did a dig about three or four years ago, but unfortunately one of the previous owners put a swimming pool back there without permission and pushed all the archeological remains all over the place,” Gibbons said. “That’s why there was some sensitivity to it, not that there would be anything there, but you never know.” In a similar occurrence, human thigh bone remains were unearthed at Georgetown University in 2014 during the construction of Pedro Arrupe, S.J. Residence Hall. Although the university was aware of the potential discovery before breaking ground on the dormitory, Georgetown did not publicly disclose the bone. The land had been a mid 19th century segregated burial site, intended exclusively for black people, including slaves. Discoveries of this nature should not be taken as a surprise considering the Georgetown neighborhood’s long history, according to Gibbons. “There is history all around us and beneath our feet here in Georgetown, so I wouldn’t really wanna dig too far on your campus either,” Gibbons said.
Evolving Battlefield Necessitates NewAid Tactics, Expert Says HARRISON LEE
Special to The Hoya
Rapid evolutions in cyberwarfare and the advent of climate change require new, sustainable methods for delivering aid to vulnerable populations, Head of Policy and Humanitarian Diplomacy of the International Committee of the Red Cross Hugo Slim said at an event Tuesday. The Institute for the Study of International Migration, a Georgetown University research center, held the event titled “War and Humanitarian Action in the 2020s” in McGhee Library in the Intercultural Center on Feb. 11. During his talk, Slim discussed the implications of modern warfare and the evolving aid practices in his role at the ICRC. The ICRC organizes numerous assistance programs to support vulnerable populations affected by conflicts, according to its website. The ICRC has recently committed to integrating economic, social and environmental sustainability into their aid projects. Developments in cybertechnology have led aid organizations like the Red Cross to reevaluate their traditional wartime policies, according to Slim. “I think one other thing that’s worrying us at the ICRC is, if so much warfare is going to happen in virtual space — in cyber attacks through computer systems — how can we embody and make present in that space humanitarian norms, humanitarian regulations?”
Slim said. “How can we sort of flag and put a Red Cross or a Red Cross Crescent on a hospital in cyberspace?” The anonymous nature of cyberweapons has complicated battlefield dynamics and raised concerns about accountability, according to Slim. “We’ve always had false flags and covert operations — hidden operations — in warfare,” Slim said during the event. “Cyber seems to particularly require anonymity because you don’t want the other person knowing how you’re in or that you’re in or who’s in that system.” The increase in self-operating weapons has generated human desire to control the deadly technology, according to Slim. “We are saying that, for us, human control means that at any time, when these very sophisticated weapons are in operation across a battle space, semi-autonomously or whatever, many at the same time, there must still be the ability for human command to set the scope of their activities,” Slim said. Over 30 countries have defensive supervised autonomous weapons, according to The New York Times. A wellknown example of the autonomous weapons, the Israel Aerospace Industries Harpy, is designed to crash into the sources of enemy radar signals without a direct human command. Such weapons can destroy their targets before a human-directed counter strike can be deployed. Prior to joining the ICRC in
2015, Slim served as a senior research fellow at the University of Oxford, researching humanitarian ethics and civilian protection. He has also authored several books, with his most recent, “Humanitarian Ethics: A Guide to the Morality of Aid in War and Disaster,” being released in 2015. Worsening global climate trends also necessitate a transformation in humanitarian policy, Slim said. Humanitarian organizations must pivot toward better long-term aid practices. “We’re asked to do it in a sustainable way. We’ve got to keep that system continuity going as well so it’s not just someone giving somebody a glass of water anymore,” Slim said. “We’re gonna make things that you can go on using. This is not a ‘truck-and-chuck’ operation. We’re gonna try and create systems of water, food, health, whatever, that continue. And of course the last one is we have to adapt to climate change and green our own organization. It’s a new ethic for us, to green the ICRC.” In the face of cyber warfare proliferation, personal interactions between war victims and aid workers must remain a central focus of humanitarian work, according to Slim. “What really changes what we are to one another is contact, that face-to-face contact,” Slim said. “We know from decades of humanitarian advocacy that it is the face, not the numbers, that make the difference.”
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Hugo Slim, Head of Policy and Humanitarian Diplomacy of the International Committee of the Red Cross, emphasized the importance of adapting current aid tactics to address cyberwarfare and climate change.
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SOFTBALL
Georgetown Opens Season Hoyas Drop 5 Straight Games With 14-Point Win Over SJU In Spite of Diller’s No-Hitter KELTON MILLER Hoya Staff Writer
With the entire starting close defense squad returning from last season, the Georgetown University men’s lacrosse team held Lafayette College scoreless through the first 25:24 of play while the Blue and Gray offense put away nine unanswered goals. The Hoyas went on to a 17-3 victory in their season opener in Easton, Pennsylvania on Saturday, Feb. 8, with nine different Georgetown players finding the back of the net. The Hoyas (1-0, 0-0 Big East) came out swinging, netting six goals in the first period against the Leopards (0-2, 0-0 Patriot League). Senior attacker Jake Carraway slotted the first goal just over a minute into the game. The fate of the game hung in the balance as the next nine minutes did not see any goals by either side. In the last five minutes of the quarter, Georgetown scored five quick goals, setting the tone for the rest of the game. Of the streak of rapidfire goals, three were scored by sophomore attacker Dylan Watson, one by Carraway and one by sophomore defender Alex Mazzone. Georgetown’s offense slowed down slightly in the second quarter as the Hoyas scored three goals from junior midfielder Colin Munro,
Watson and sophomore midfielder Declan McDermott. All three goals were assisted by fifth-year senior attacker Robert Clark, adding to his two from the first period to bring his assist count to a team high of five. Lafayette finally broke the seal with a goal near the end of the second period, bringing the score to 9-1. The third period saw less action on the offensive end of play, with Georgetown notching a game-low two goals in the quarter as Lafayette fought to cut the deficit. Although the Hoyas only found the back of the net twice in the period, the Leopards were unable to come out on top, losing the period 2-1. Georgetown’s goals were scored by Carraway and sophomore midfielder Peter Thomson, bringing the score to a commanding 11-2 lead for the Hoyas. Georgetown found its rhythm again in the final quarter, scoring six more goals to close out a dominant season opener. Watson scored the first two tallies followed by Clark, who notched his first goal of the game. Carraway recorded his fourth goal of the game with 10 minutes left as freshman attacker Cade MacLeod and junior attacker Niko Gekas put away the final two goals. Lafayette tallied the final goal of the game with just under two minutes remaining, bringing the final score to 17-3.
Sophomore attack player Dylan Watson led the team with six goals and an assist. Since the matchup, Watson has been recognized as the first Big East Attack Player of the Week for this season. Mazzone joins Watson in earning honors with a selection to the Weekly Honor Roll. Carraway, who was named to the Preseason All-Big East Team, contributed an additional four goals and an assist. Carraway comes off 88 points from 57 goals and 31 assists last season, tying Georgetown’s single season record. Notably, the Hoyas outperformed the Leopards for ground balls, winning the battle 42-20. Georgetown also dominated on the offensive end, recording 52 shots and putting 30 of them on goal. Georgetown also held up defensively, allowing Lafayette 22 shots, only nine of which were on target. Junior goalkeeper Owen McElroy played 49 minutes, collected three saves and allowed just two goals. The Hoya defense forced 13 turnovers, led by freshman defender James Donaldson who forced three. The Hoyas will return to action on Saturday, Feb. 15 at 3:30 p.m at the University of Maryland Baltimore County. Georgetown will make its home debut the following Saturday versus Fairfield University at Cooper Field at 12 p.m.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
GU Drops to Butler, Tops Xavier To End Losing Streak BRENDAN DOLAN Hoya Staff Writer
After dropping its 10th consecutive game in a 60-42 loss to Butler on Feb. 7, the Georgetown women’s basketball team snapped its losing streak with a 63-50 road win over the Xavier Musketeers on Feb. 9 to notch the Hoyas’ first victory of 2020. The Hoyas (5-19, 2-11 Big East) came out of the gate slowly against Butler (17-6, 9-3 Big East), as the Bulldogs raced out to a 10-0 lead in the opening three minutes in Indianapolis, Ind. Sophomore guard Nikola Kovacikova tallied the Blue and Gray’s first points of the day after knocking down a pair of free throws. Down 12-2 fewer than five minutes into the action, graduate student guard Taylor Barnes buried two consecutive three-pointers to put the Hoyas back in the game. Yet again, Georgetown would fall further behind and trail by double digits after a Butler three-point buzzer beater made it 21-10 at the end of the first quarter. Georgetown failed to cut into Butler’s lead to begin the second quarter and quickly fell behind by 16 points. The Hoyas were not able to keep up with the Bulldogs’ offensive efforts, managing just seven points in the quarter. While Butler did not catch fire offensively either, they headed to the locker room up 34-17. Down by as many as 20 points early in the third period, Georgetown would finally respond with a 12-4 scoring run to get itself back in the game. Kovacikova sparked the run with a jumper in the paint, which was followed by another three-pointer from Barnes as Butler’s advantage hovered around the 15-point margin. Senior forward Anita Kelava also helped Georgetown repeatedly throughout that stretch, hitting three consecutive buckets. Kovackiova’s transition layup off a steal by senior guard Marvellous Osagie-Erese cut Butler’s lead to 11 and forced the Bulldogs into a timeout. Despite these efforts, Butler responded in the final 4:20 to outscore the Hoyas 9-1 and extend its lead to 18 before the final buzzer of the third quarter sounded. Both teams struggled to find the basket in the opening two and a half minutes of the fourth quarter. Despite Barnes breaking the scoreless period with a fastbreak layup, Georgetown could not gain momentum as Butler continuously answered with timely buckets to reassert its control. After trading buckets with Butler up until the three minute mark, Georgetown failed to bring the game within less than 16 points and walked
JOANNA LACOPPOLA Hoya Staff Writer
In a weekend characterized by five straight losses and offensive struggles, the Georgetown softball team was unable to win even behind junior pitcher London Diller’s first career no-hitter in a full-game performance against Boston College. On the weekend, the Hoyas were outscored 16-1 in its five games to open the season. The Hoyas (0-5, 0-0 Big East) played two games on opening day of the Florida Gulf Coast University Kickoff Classic, losing 3-0 to the University of Connecticut (3-2, 0-0 AAC) before falling 4-0 to the University of Delaware (4-1, 0-0 CAA) on Friday, Feb. 7. Against UConn, the Blue and Gray offense struggled to support its pitching efforts, tallying three hits and suffering 12 strikeouts. Diller started the game for the Hoyas and recorded a careerhigh eight strikeouts on the day. After giving up two hits and two runs, Diller was relieved by senior pitcher Katie Vannicola in the bottom of the fifth inning. Vannicola allowed one run in one inning pitched, followed by senior pitcher Casey Kozak who came in and closed out the game with two strikeouts and no hits. The game went scoreless into the bottom of the fourth, when UConn hit a single to score its player on first base following a fielding error by Georgetown’s senior right fielder Ciara Sullivan. The Hoyas faired worse in the fifth inning, as UConn scored two runs off a double into center field. Despite a single from sophomore infielder Kiki Besnard followed by a single up the middle from senior first baseman Noelle Holiday in the top of the sixth, the Hoyas were unable to score any runs, dropping the game 3-0 after leaving five runners on base on the day. Sophomore pitcher Cassie Henning started off the Hoyas’ game against the Delaware Blue Hens, going for six innings. Henning recorded two strikeouts and allowed six hits, with the Blue Hens scoring four runs. Kozak relieved Hennings in the final inning and held the Blue Hensto four runs, not allowing any hits. The second game of the day did not prove more successful
GUHOYAS
Junior pitcher London Diller powers a pitch toward home plate. Diller recorded a career-first no-hitter in a full-game performance against BC. for the Hoyas, despite six players managing hits compared to three in the earlier game. Georgetown saw a promising opportunity in the bottom of the third, as senior outfielder Alexa Dolby and junior outfielder Macy Cartwright stood on second and third with two outs. The momentum for the Hoyas, however, was halted by a fly out to right field by Besnard and the Hoyas would go on to leave six players on base in the game. With one run in the top of the first and three runs in the top of the fourth thanks to a pair of triples and a Georgetown error, Delaware pulled off the 4-0 shutout. Saturday, Feb. 8 started off better for the Hoyas, as they gained an early 1-0 lead in their first game against Long Island University (2-3, 0-0 Northeast Conference). Cartwright scored on two sacrifice plays, one being a bunt from Besnard and the other a fly from Holiday to record the Hoyas’ only run for the day. LIU went on to score three runs off a home run, ultimately coming away with the 3-1 victory. Saturday’s second game furthered Georgetown’s troubles as the FGCU Eagles (4-1, 0-0 ASUN) quickly earned a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first and advanced the score to 4-0 by the bottom of the second. The bottom of the sixth saw the Eagles score their fifth run, extending the lead to the final score of 5-0. Sophomore infielder Mae Forshey and freshman
catcher Nora Campo led the way for the Hoyas with a hit apiece, accounting for the two Georgetown hits in the game. Henning started off on the mound, pitching the first inning before being relieved by Vannicola, who would go for four innings before Kozak came in to finish. The third day of competition saw the Hoyas’ best game of the weekend against Boston College (2-3, 0-0 ACC), with Diller recording the first no-hitter of her career after pitching the whole game. She struck out eight, tying her career best, and walked three. The strong performances of both Diller and the Eagles’ starting pitcher Susannah Anderson kept the game scoreless until the bottom of the fifth. The Eagles managed to get two players on base due to a fielding error by Georgetown and a walk by Diller. A sacrifice bunt advanced those runners to second and third base. A ball grounded out to shortstop allowed their runner on third to make it home, giving the Eagles the 1-0 lead. The Hoyas were unable to record any hits, ultimately losing their final game and finishing the weekend 0-5. Georgetown will look to improve its record as the team travels to South Carolina next weekend to compete in the Winthrop Tournament. The Hoyas’ first of five games will be on Friday at 10 a.m. against Boston University.
IN TRANSITION
Small-Ball Experiment Should Work for Rockets FILE PHOTO: KIRK ZIESER/THE HOYA
Graduate student guard Taylor Barnes rushes past a defender. Barnes led the Hoyas with 17 points against Butler and 18 against Xavier. away with the 60-42 loss. Barnes led offensively for the Blue & Gray, posting 17 points in her 36 minutes of action as the only Hoya in double digits. On Feb. 9, Georgetown’s struggles to start the new year finally came to an end in its win against Xavier (2-21, 1-11 Big East). The Hoyas started the first quarter off strong, racing to a 13-3 lead. Jones connected from deep twice during this run as Xavier failed to find an offensive rhythm with just seven points by the time the first quarter came to a close. Up 14-7 to begin the second period, Kelava drew one in the paint and hit the free throw to put the Hoyas up 10. Xavier then began its comeback, outscoring the Blue and Gray 9-2 over the next three minutes to make it a three point game. Though junior forward Tatiana Thompson helped momentarily stop the run by hitting a jumper, the Musketeers posted five unanswered points to tie the game at 21. Both teams battled throughout the remainder of the period, yet Georgetown closed down the stretch with a 9-4 run to give them the 30-25 advantage heading into the break. While the Hoyas initially maintained their lead in the third, a quick six point spurt from the Musketeers allowed them to take the 38-37 lead. Coming out of a timeout, Barnes converted a timely and one for the Hoyas to put them back up. Shortly thereafter, Kovacikova would add a pair of free throws to push the lead back to five. On its last possession, how-
ever, Xavier hit a jumper in the paint as time expired to pull back within one possession. Both teams traded three pointers to begin the fourth. The Hoyas then went on a 10-0 run to create the necessary separation and prompted Xavier to burn two of its timeouts. The Musketeers would be held scoreless for the ensuing two and a half minutes before knocking home a triple. Jones all but put the game out of reach on the next possession with a three-pointer after she pulled in a defensive rebound just inside the three minute mark. Georgetown hung on down the stretch to win 63-50 in its second conference victory and first of 2020. Unlike their last showing, four Hoyas ended in double figures. Barnes led the way with 18 points, while Jones, Kelava and Kovacikova followed suit with 16, 12 and 10 points. After the game, Head Coach James Howard praised the performance of these players as crucial in snapping the team’s double-digit losing streak. "It was a great effort today, I thought they came out ready to play. It was Brianna Jones' birthday and she was locked in,” said Howard in an interview with GUHoyas. “To have four players score in double figures, and two with double-doubles in Brianna Jones and Nikola Kovacikova is key. If we continue to get that type of effort, we have a chance to win a lot more games." Georgetown will look to build upon its victory as it hosts rival Villanova next Sunday at 2 p.m. at McDonough Arena.
Vikram Sud The immediate reaction by basketball analysts to last week’s four-team trade between the Warriors, Timberwolves, Rockets and Hawks was filled with skepticism and uncertainty towards the Rockets’ move. The team had essentially traded starting center Clint Capela for small forward Robert Covington, leaving the Rockets without a viable starting center. On the surface, this trade seems like a puzzling decision, especially given the quality of centers the Rockets could play in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs, such as Anthony Davis, Rudy Gobert and Nikola Jokic. The Rockets have instead chosen to double down on their emphasis on threepoint shooting and hope this strategy of increasing their pace can offset their lack of size, much to the intrigue of the league. So far this season, however, the Rockets have been underwhelming following the addition of two-time NBA MVP Russell Westbrook and are currently the fifth seed in the West. Considering their struggles and the skillset Covington brings as a strong defender and shooter, investing in skill over size is ultimately a chance worth taking. Coming into the season, the primary concern for the Rockets centered around how two ball-dominant former MVPs,
James Harden and Westbrook, would coexist after multiple seasons as leaders of their past teams. While initial results were somewhat rocky, both players have had stretches this season that have matched the level of play each showed in their MVP seasons. Notably, Westbrook reduced his volume of three-point shots, an aspect of his game that was highly criticized given his lack of efficiency from deep, especially compared to Harden and P.J. Tucker. Consequently, Westbrook’s improved play has created a situation in which maximizing spacing and freeing up the paint will be beneficial for the Rockets. Therefore, it makes sense why they believe a player like Capela, who primarily plays at or around the basket offensively, could be expendable for a premier shooter in Covington. This strategy is sound, as Covington’s presence on the perimeter should free up driving lanes for both Harden and Westbrook while giving them an extra shooter to pass to when defenses tightly cover them. In addition, Covington, a former first-team all-NBA defender, will be crucial in guarding wings such as Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, LeBron James and Luka Doncic in potential playoff series. Despite several positives, the trade is not without risks for the Rockets. First, the Rockets gave up a first-round draft pick to acquire Covington, sacrificing potential for a future acquisition of a star player in favor of Covington. The Rockets are also vulnerable defensively with the loss of Capela as Tucker is now the most likely candidate to guard their opponents’ tallest players. Tucker, standing at 6’5”, finds himself at quite the
height disadvantage against formidable opponents such as the Lakers, whose front line consists of multiple players at 6’10”. Capela was a strong defensive presence, and his absence could leave the Rockets more vulnerable in the paint. Capela was also the leading rebounder on the team, and, so far in the three games the Rockets have played without him, they have been outrebounded significantly. Having one of the best rebounding guards of all-time in Westbrook, however, should help mitigate this issue. Despite the risks, the Rockets needed to make a substantial move to give them a chance to compete with the Lakers and Clippers, the two presumed favorites in the playoffs. The Rockets have not lived up to preseason expectations and currently will not have home-court advantage in the first round of playoffs. The status quo seemed unlikely to be a formula for postseason success for the Rockets. General Manager Daryl Morey likely realized the team’s need for change and considered this trade a potential opportunity to give the team a shot against the dominant Lakers and Clippers. Notably, in Covington’s first game, the Rockets were able to notch an impressive win in Los Angeles against the top-seeded Lakers. Whether or not the Rockets’ small-ball experiment works in the playoffs, it is a smart calculated risk and, if it does work, it could perhaps spark a new style that other teams will try to emulate. Vikram Sud is a senior in the College. IN TRANSITION appears online and in print every other Friday.
SPORTS
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2020
WOMEN’S LACROSSE
THE HOYA
A11
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Hoyas Erase 11-Point Deficit to Top DePaul DEPAUL, from A12
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Senior attacker Michaela Bruno charges down the field. In the Hoyas’ win against SJU, Bruno tallied four goals off of six shots on goal.
Georgetown’s 3 Hat Tricks Secure Win Over SJU SJU, from A12
the first half with a hat trick. Georgetown went into halftime with an insurmountable 15-2 lead. The Hoyas did not miss a beat coming out of halftime as Lynch was able to clinch a hat trick of her own, scoring her third goal in the first minute of the second half. In what was a much lower-scoring second half, Georgetown and St. Joseph’s went on to score three more goals each, with the game ending 19-5. Georgetown fittingly outshot St. Joseph’s with 29 shots to the Hawk’s 14. The Hoyas also won the turnover battle, forcing 19 turnovers from their opponent. Junior defender Wynne Whitley led the team by forcing four turnovers. In goal, senior Micheline DiNardo had two saves to earn her first win of the season.
The stellar performance by the Hoyas earned the praise of Head Coach Ricky Fried, who knows his team’s capability for success. “This team has worked hard and has improved each week, and today was the same. We started strong and played with a lot of energy and enthusiasm,” Fried said in an interview with GUHoyas. Georgetown will be playing at home again next weekend against No. 14 University of Pennsylvania. Last season, the Hoyas lost to the Quakers on the road by just one goal in the regular season, falling 7-8. Georgetown, however, came out on top in its rematch against Penn by beating the Quakers in a double overtime victory in the first round of the NCAA Tournament 13-12. The start time for the game is slated for 1 p.m. at Cooper Field on Saturday, Feb. 15.
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After the U-12 timeout, Blue and Gray went on a 13-2 run led by two Blair triples to claim their first lead of the game at 59-57. Behind over 10,000 fans at Capital One Arena, the Hoyas utilized their home court advantage to spark the late comeback led by Blair. With four minutes left to play, junior forward Jamorko Pickett converted a three-pointer to extend the Georgetown lead to 66-61. DePaul responded with three points from foul shots to pull within the range of a basket, but once again, Blair made a jump shot to maintain the Georgetown lead at four with two minutes on the clock. Muresan sealed the game by making both free throws, ending the contest at 76-72. Ewing praised Muresan’s efforts to put away the game for the Blue and Gray and earn the team’s fourth conference win, emphasizing the importance of the team’s play down the stretch. “We needed to get the ball in, he was able to get the ball and then knock down two huge free throws to seal the victory,” Ewing said in an interview with GUHoyas. The night ended with career highs for two Hoyas; Blair’s career scoring performance and freshman center Qudus Wahab’s career-high blocks per game. Blair has played his best games of the season in the absence of McClung, recording 71 points over his last three appearances. In the matchup with DePaul, Blair played
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the entire 40 minutes and shot 11 of 18 from the field, earning recognition on the Big East Weekly Honor Roll for his performance. The 6’11” freshman center also left the floor with a personal best, utilizing his height for a career-high six blocks in 23 minutes of play. Joining Blair in double digit scoring, Yurtseven
finished the game with 16 points and eight rebounds while senior guard Terrell Allen had 12 points and a season-high nine assists. The Hoyas concluded the game shooting 44.8 percent (26-58) from the field with an improved 54.2 percent (13-24) in the second half. On the day, the Georgetown defense forced 15 turn-
overs from DePaul compared to its 14. While holding the Blue Demons to 15 turnover points, the Hoyas notched 23 turnover points of their own. Georgetown travels to Indianapolis next Saturday, Feb. 15 when they play the Butler University Bulldogs. Tipoff is set for 2:30pm at the Hinkle Fieldhouse and will be broadcasted on FOX.
FOOTBALL
2nd Signing Day Finalizes 28-Player Class SIGNING DAY, from A12
coaches as they look toward their collegiate careers. Graham Hill, a 6-foot-5-inch tight end recruit from Plano, Texas, will come to the Hilltop from Prestonwood Christian Academy. His high school honors include a profile in the USA Today High School Sports section as the top recruit of the week and recognition on the All-District First Team for his 128 tackles, two interceptions, and six forced fumbles in 2019. Overall, Hill has a wide range of experiences in various positions and will be a flexible player for the Hoyas, according to Chris Cunningham, his high school coach. “As a junior, Graham started out as a receiver and defensive back, but in his senior season we moved him to linebacker, and he ended up being allstate,” Cunningham said in a phone interview with The Hoya. “He is ready to do whatever a team needs him to do, and with his size and abilities, he is one of the most versatile players I have ever coached.” Cunningham also noted that Hill’s versatility can largely be attributed to his work ethic. “He’s a grinder and a workhorse, he’s always in the weight room, he gets in early and leaves late,” Cunningham said. “He’s going to buy in wholeheartedly into whatever it takes to prepare him for the
position and the role that it barger wrote in an email to The takes at Georgetown.” Hoya. “Even though he was preDefensive lineman Noah viously an All-State tight end, Gick will join the Hoyas from he moved to tackle. He could Tuscarora High School in Lees- have said no. Instead, he led by burg, Va., just 40 miles west of example and it paved the way Georgetown’s campus. Head to a state championship apCoach Rob Sgarlata offered him pearance.” a roster spot at Georgetown on Three-star recruit Brian BalNov. 2, 2019, and he commit- estra is also featured in the inted to play for coming freshthe Hoyas on man class, Jan. 26, 2020. hailing from Gick, a threeJesuit High year starter School of and senior New Orleans, captain, carLa., as an inries with him coming offena number of sive lineman. accomplishHe received ments which competing ofinclude unanifers from Yale mous First University, Team 4A AllDartmouth State OffenCollege, Corsive Lineman nell Universihis senior seaty, and the Air son as well as Force AcadCHRIS CUNNINGHAM Prestonwood Christian Academy recognition emy. Balestra Football Head Coach on the Allfirst received Region First a recruitment Team. offer from the Blue and Gray on Gick’s other offers ranged May 21, 2019 and announced from the University of Penn- his commitment on Jan. 24, sylvania and the College of 2020 after his official visit to William to in-conference rivals campus. Balestra’s high school Lehigh University and Lafay- coach Mark Songy touched ette University. Much like Hill, upon how Balestra was capable his high school coach Brandon of filling multiple positions Wheelbarger praised Gick for throughout his high school cahis adaptability. reer, a skill that translates well “Noah is a selfless player. To on the collegiate stage. benefit the entire team, Noah “He understands the game changed positions,” Wheel- well, from an offensive stand-
“He’s going to buy in wholeheartedly into whatever it takes to prepare him for the position and the role that it takes at Georgetown.”
point, played multiple positions upfront…really each spot. He was very versatile and we were able to move him around on both sides of the line whenever we had injuries,” Songy wrote in an email to The Hoya. “He played center as a junior, but we moved him to right tackle as a senior because that was his most effective spot. From there, he was able to set the edge for our zone plays and he was a dominant player there.” Balestra’s road to Georgetown was not traditional — Balestra originally committed to play for the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., before changing his mind and deciding to come to Georgetown. “I liked the Air Force Academy a lot, but as time went on I wasn’t really feeling it,” Balestra said in an interview with VSN Louisiana via Twitter. “So then I weighed on all my options, and when I went up to Georgetown I really just fell in love with everything about it. The campus, football, everything, it just fit me.” Hill, Gick and Balestra represent just a snapshot of the 28-player freshman class that carries with it a number of high school honors and state and district championships. Coming off a difficult 2019 season that saw a losing record of 5-6, the football program looks to this new recruitment class and the upcoming 2020 season as opportunity for improvement.
ON THIN ICE
MLB Sets Precedent for All-Star Games WELCH, from A12
Last issue’s solutions
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Junior guard Jahvon Blair rises up for a dunk in front of a home crowd. Blair tallied a career-high 30 points on 11-of-18 shooting along with four rebounds and two assists in the Hoyas’ four-point win.
dunks to be traded until time expires. Like in the NHL, it is an exhibition more than a game. The NFL is by far the most lucrative league of the major North American leagues measured in attendance and television ratings, but its Pro Bowl is notoriously ignored for its total lack of stakes and effort. At least in basketball and hockey, the all-star games forego competitiveness for a dazzling display of offensive skill. Lack of effort in football simply creates amateur-level play. This year, the completion percentage of passing in the Pro Bowl was abysmal; the teams traded interceptions, and there was, of course, no defensive or special teams scoring. Again, football resembles hockey as players are not eager to risk bodily injury without substantial incentives in a sport defined by physicality. The aforementioned leagues
should take some inspiration from the most successful allstar display in sports — MLB’s All-Star festivities. While 8.23 million watched the Pro Bowl, the MLB reports that a combined 24 million watched the Home Run Derby and All-Star Game in 2019. Most importantly, there were actual displays of effort in the game. This year, there were double plays, bases stolen, no errors, even the first bunt by a nonpitcher in the history of the all-star game — all indicative of interested participation and strategic play from the participants. Baseball is supposed to be a dying sport, so the MLB has clearly unlocked some secrets of the All-Star Weekend. First, baseball benefits from its lack of physicality; players may put in some effort without risking an injury that may jeopardize current or future seasons. Even the skills competition this year saw broken records, when
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. broke the all-time record of home runs in a single round and in the entire Derby, which indicates that more than just self-preservation is on the players’ minds. Other leagues should consider changing the timing of their all-star games, so they are at a less critical juncture in the season but still ensure the stakes of playing are high. Second, the MLB has not been shy with its incentives. The winner of the Home Run Derby wins $1 million, whereas the winner of the NBA Slam Dunk Contest receives a comparatively paltry $105,000. Furthermore, the MLB offered the winning league of its allstar game home-field advantage during the World Series up to the 2016 season after a 2002 All-Star Game that was severely lacking in effort. Perhaps this policy overvalued the all-star game, but it was surely effective. Third, the players that are
the most skilled in the league want to be there. In fact, for this year’s game in Cleveland, the state of Ohio taxed the players who participated, some paid more in taxes — calculated on the basis of the total salary of the players — than they received for participating. Some players paid to participate in the all-star game. Effective marketing, incentives and treatment by the respective leagues all contribute to the desirability of participating. Overall, players do not become all-stars because of their skill alone. Rather, a commitment to winning, competitiveness and passion make skilled players great. The allstar games do these players a disservice by failing to display these attributes among the best of the best. Maddy Welch is a senior in the School of Foreign Service. ON THIN ICE appears online and in print every other Friday.
Sports
Women’s Lacrosse Georgetown vs. Pennsylvania Saturday, Feb. 15, 1 p.m. Cooper Field
FRIDAY, FEBR UARY 14, 2020
The Hoyas break their 10-game losing streak with a 63-50 win over Xavier on the road, notching their first victory of 2020.
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FOOTBALL
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Blair’s 30 Points Fuel Win Over DePaul
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Incoming offensive lineman Brian Balestra poses with his National Letter of Intent on signing day. Balestra joins the Hoyas from New Orleans, La.
GU Signs 14 Recruits For 2020 Season The Georgetown football program welcomed 14 new players to its program on National Signing Day on Wednesday, Feb. 5. The newcomers join another 14 committed players from the early signing period in December, rounding out the Blue and Gray’s new class of 28 players to fill positions left vacant by a 16-person senior class. At Georgetown, offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator Alex Kolt helps oversee the recruiting process for the Hoyas, identifying holes in the team’s roster and conducting a nationwide search for young talent. This year, Knox identified the team’s need for more defensive players and spoke to the importance of putting together a
well-rounded recruiting class. “Any time you’re building a class, you’re building a football team, it starts on the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball,” said Kolt in an interview with Georgetown Athletics. “We have a pretty sizable senior class on defense in the secondary so that was a big point of emphasis.” This year’s newly recruited players, hailing from the Washington, D.C. area to Hawaii, will officially join the team this July when summer practices begin, but by signing their National Letters of Intent they have officially agreed to come to Georgetown next fall. The players headed to the Hilltop bring with them a number of high school accolades and have received praise from their See SIGNING DAY, A11
Hoya fans stood in noticeable anticipation at Capital One Arena on Feb. 8 as senior guard George Muresan took to the line with two seconds on the clock as Georgetown clung to a two-point lead over DePaul University. Muresan calmly sunk his two free throws to propel the Blue and Gray to the 76-72 victory in a game the Hoyas once trailed by 11 points. With sophomore guard Mac McClung sidelined for his third straight game due to a foot injury, junior
guard Jahvon Blair led the scoring with a career high 30-point performance. Head Coach Patrick Ewing saw the team’s performance as a positive in an unpredictable season, specifically commending Blair’s careerbest performance along with each players’ individual contribution in the win. “This was a great team effort. Everyone helped. Jahvon - he had 30 points, and we needed all 30 of them, but it wasn’t just his points,” Ewing said in an interview with GUHoyas. “Guys stepped up, guys did everything that we needed for them to do. We
Just 28 minutes into its season opener, the No. 19 Georgetown women’s lacrosse team had posted 15 goals over the St. Joseph’s University Hawks behind two Blue and Gray hat tricks to enter halftime with a 15-2 lead, a first-half advantage larger than any of the 2018-19 season. In front of 344 hometown fans, the Blue and Gray emerged victorious with an offensively dominant performance from the opening whistle, besting the Hawks 19-5. Last season, Georgetown (10, 0-0 Big East) also opened up against St. Joseph’s (0-1, 0-0 Atlantic 10), that time on the road in a much closer affair.
The Hoyas came away with the win against the Hawks by a much smaller margin of three goals in a 12-9 victory. The Hoyas finished their 2018-19 season at 12-9, with a 3-2 record in Big East play. Georgetown won the Big East Championship after beating Denver University (1-0, 0-0 Big East) 9-8 in a thrilling double overtime finals. The Hoyas would go on to advance to the second round of the NCAA Tournament in their postseason. Georgetown’s season last year earned the team the No. 19 ranking going into the 2019-20 season, the secondbest ranking in the Big East behind No. 10 Denver. The Blue and Gray played up to their ranking as 10 Hoyas
23-17. The Blue Demons continued to convert baskets, but the Hoyas stayed within six points as Yurtseven capitalized on back-to-back dunks in the 15th minute of play. The Hoyas tallied five straight points to close out the first half trailing the Blue Demons 38-32. In the second half, the teams emerged more evenly matched, as DePaul and Georgetown exchanged several baskets out of the locker room to keep the Blue Demon’s advantage hovering in single digits. See DEPAUL, A11
KASSIDY ANGELO/THE HOYA
Hoyas Topple Saint Joseph’s 19-5 Hoya Staff Writer
still turned the ball over a little more than I wanted but it was a great win.” The visiting DePaul Blue Demons (13-11, 1-10 Big East) opened the game with offensive intensity to silence Georgetown (14-10, 4-7 Big East) early on. The Blue Demons accumulated a 10-point advantage just over five minutes into the opening half off shooting 7-for-9 from the field. With 9:45 on the clock, Georgetown trailed DePaul 23-12 until Blair and senior center Omer Yurtseven found the bottom of the basket to bring the score to
Senior forward George Muresan shoots a pivotal free throw in the last two seconds of play at Capital One Arena. Muresan successfully sunk both free throws to ice the game for the Hoyas, pulling in one rebound and notching two points in his two minutes of play.
WOMEN’S LACROSSE
AUSTIN BARISH
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Point win margin for both men’s and women’s lacrosse in their season openers.
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Hoya Staff Writer
Hoya Staff Writer
When I went up to Georgetown I really just fell in love with everything about it. The campus, football, everything.”
Incoming Offensive Lineman Brian Balestra
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WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
contributed goals in the 14goal victory this weekend. The team’s strong opening performance points toward the potential for another Big East Championship title this season. From the opening whistle at Cooper Field on Feb. 8, Georgetown began with intensity and did not hesitate in scoring, as senior attacker Michaela Bruno tallied an unassisted goal after just over a minute and a half of play. This goal was the first of four for Bruno, who finished the first half with a hat trick. Sophomore attacker Ali Diamond and senior midfielder Nathalia Lynch then scored two more unassisted goals for the Hoyas. After just three minutes of play, the Hoyas
sat up 3-0 over the Hawks. St. Joseph’s responded to the deficit with a goal of its own, but the Hoyas’ offense proved to be too much for the Hawks’ defense to contain. Georgetown scored five more goals in the following 10 minutes before St. Joseph’s was able to score again, leaving the score at 8-2. With an already commanding lead, Georgetown practically ended the game in the first half, scoring seven more goals in the final 15 minutes of the opening half without surrendering any more goals to St. Joseph’s. Two of these goals came from junior attacker Cameron McGee who, along with Bruno, finished See SJU, A11
GUHOYAS
Senior midfielder Natalia Lynch anticipates a pass from a teammate. Lynch contributed three goals and one assist as well as forcing one turnover in the game against Saint Joseph’s. Lynch was one of two other Hoyas who recorded hat tricks on the day. Visit us online at thehoya.com/category/sports
ON THIN ICE
Maddy Welch
All-Star Games Lack Excitement, Competitive Edge The NHL, NBA and NFL each have their All-Star Weekends in January and February, sparking the annual debate about whether these games are worth the watch. Sports fans wax poetic about the all-star games of eras past, but for most of my memory they have been low-effort events with disinterested players. In the NHL, all-star game problems start with attendance. The league’s biggest stars have skipped the game in recent years, including Alexander Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby and Jonathan Toews. For skipping the game, players must serve a one-game suspension, but this hardly seems to be an effective deterrent. These players miss the games primarily to rest up for the playoffs and to take extra rehabilitation time for nagging injuries. An extra day gained from a suspension might be welcome to accomplish these goals. Unfortunately, these reasons for skipping are related to age and chances of making the playoffs, common attributes of all-stars. The players who actually make it to the game have little incentive to try their best. The NHL All-Star games fall about 50 games into the season, when the wear and tear of the sport begins to set in
for the players. In 2016, the NHL decided to change the format of the all-star game from the traditional 5-on-5 to 3-on-3 to encourage more goal scoring. Although goalies tend to look incompetent under these conditions, the NHL found a way to add s ome excitement. The NHL is not the only league plagued by recent lackluster all-star games. The NBA game has generated numerous iconic moments in years past, including the 2003 All-Star Game in which Michael Jordan was on the cusp of winning All-Star MVP in the final all-star appearance of his career. Jordan scored on a fadeaway jump shot with five seconds remaining in the game, putting the East up by two points. Kobe Bryant answered with five points to send the game into two overtime periods where the West ultimately prevailed. This captivating moment only happened because the all-star game was a high-effort endeavor that the players were proud to win. Today, there seems to be an unspoken agreement that neither team will play defense to allow unearned, albeit spectacular, See WELCH, A11