The Hoya: October 25, 2013

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GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY’S NEWSPAPER OF RECORD SINCE 1920 thehoya.com

Georgetown University • Washington, D.C. Vol. 95, No. 16, © 2013

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013

GAME ON!

AFTER THE STORM

One year later, Hurricane Sandy’s legacy still haunts life back home for many students. GUIDE, B1

A FIVE-PAGE SECTION PACKED WITH GAMES TO START YOUR WEEKEND ON A LIGHTER NOTE See B10

Clear and Convincing Sets a New Standard

COURT IN SESSION

MADISON ASHLEY Hoya Staff Writer

ALEXANDER BROWN/THE HOYA

Elevation Burger, Subway and Salad Creations in Hoya Court, which were originally scheduled to open by the beginning of the fall semester, are nearing the final stages of construction. After initial delays pushed the deadline back to mid-October and then late October, the three new restaurants will open next week.

More than one year ago, the student body overwhelmingly voted in support of raising the evidentiary standard for Student Code of Conduct violations from “more likely than not” to “clear and convincing.” Since Vice President for Student Affairs Todd Olson implemented this policy in February, student leaders say they have noticed a significant improvement in the way cases are adjudicated. Yet challenges, such as raising the evidentiary standard off campus, persist. Former GUSA executives Clara Gustafson (SFS ’13) and Vail KohnertYount (SFS ’13) spearheaded the campaign to change the standard, which applies to all disciplinary violations except sexual assault. Their predecessors, Mike Meaney (SFS ’12) and Greg Laverriere (COL ’12), began pushing to raise the evidentiary standard and laid the foundation for the referendum during their term as GUSA executives. Effects of the change have been

especially visible on the Residential Judicial Council, one of the bodies responsible for handling disciplinary violations. “With the change to clear and convincing, we had the opportunity to codify within our constitution and within our training materials what exactly we need to find someone responsible for an infraction CLARA GUSTAFSON of the Student Code of Conduct,” RJC councilmember Nicholas Adams (SFS ’14) said. This included holding an additional training session in which councilmembers worked to define “clear and convincing,” which does not have a self-evident threshold like that of “more likely than not.” “For me, it’s the responsibility not of the student to prove to me that they’re innocent, but whoever wrote See CONVINCING, A6

Decriminalization on Council Agenda GWU Cited for ‘Need-Blind’ Deceit GENE CHOI

Special to The Hoya

Special to The Hoya

After news broke earlier this week that The George Washington University had misrepresented its admissions policy as need-blind, GWU responded that it is not able to cover all need because of its relatively small endowment of $1.375 billion. Despite Georgetown’s smaller endowment of $1.286 billion, university officials maintained that financial background never factors into admissions decisions for Georgetown applicants. The GW Hatchet reported Oct. 23 that GWU’s stated need-blind policy did not represent its admissions process. According to newly hired Associate Provost for Enrollment Management Laurie Koehler, the process is more accurately called “read needblind,” a system in which financial decisions are not considered in the first round of applicant review but may be a factor later on. According to The Hatchet, students who would otherwise be admitted but are not among the university’s top choices may end up being waitlisted if they are in severe financial need. According to Koehler, this affects up to 10 percent of applicants each year. “One of our competitive disadvantages is not having the resources to undergird student aid,” Koehler wrote on the school’s website. Georgetown Dean of Undergraduate Admissions Charles Deacon explained that Georgetown is able to remain need-blind despite its small endowment by accounting for financial aid in its operating budget. Only 22 percent of financial aid comes from the endowment and annual donations, with the rest incorporated into the budget. In contrast, a majority of GW’s financial aid is not counted as operating expenses, according to an operating budget report from The Hatchet. Director of the Center for College Affordability and Productivity Richard Vedder pointed to the fact that Georgetown has a higher endowment per student, thanks to its lower enrollment. At Georgetown, the perstudent endowment is approximately $67,000, while it is approximately $51,000 at GWU. @thehoya

HUNTER MAIN/THE HOYA

GWU exaggerated the extent of its need-blind admissions policy. Vedder, however, doubted that Georgetown could be fully needblind. “Like GW, it doesn’t have a mammoth endowment,” Vedder said. Director of Media Relations Rachel Pugh held to the claim that Georgetown’s admissions process is completely need-blind and the university admits students regardless of their ability to cover tuition costs. “The financial aid office never tells admissions about the financial need of any applicants,” Pugh said. “There is a true ‘firewall’ between the offices on this matter. Georgetown is passionate about our meeting-full-need policy.” Deacon compared this policy to what GWU does. “When you say you do need-blind admissions, that means you actually are reviewing all the applicants all the way through to the end and picking the best of them,” Deacon said. “You’re not coming back at the end and being sensitive to need.” Vedder characterized GWU’s previous claims to be need-blind as dishonest. “I think it is misleading to say, ‘We have a need-blind system,’ when, to the general public, that term means that financial considerations will not play any role in the admissions decisions,” Vedder said. GWU spokeswoman Candace Smith, however, said that the issue See GWU, A5

See MARIJUANA, A5

GENE CHOI FOR THE HOYA

A bill that would decriminalize marijuana possession has the support to pass the D.C. Council and the approval of Mayor Vincent Gray.

California Jesuit Schools Cut Elective Abortion Coverage JOANIE GREVE Hoya Staff Writer

Loyola Marymount University and Santa Clara University, two Jesuit schools in California, ended faculty healthcare coverage for elective abortion this month. When these changes take effect in 2014, therapeutic abortions and access to contraception will continue to be covered while a third-party plan still covers elective abortions. Loyola Marymount dropped elective abortion coverage in 1988, but according to the National Catholic Register, the coverage somehow reentered the university’s healthcare plan between 1988 and 2013 without public discussion. “We believe that the right to life and dignity for every human being is a fundamental part of Catholic beliefs … and that this vision needs to be evidenced in LMU’s policies and procedures,” LMU President DaPublished Tuesdays and Fridays

vid Burcham and Chair of the Board Kathleen Aikenhead wrote in a letter to faculty members. But while the Loyola Marymount

It’s a little mindboggling that they allowed it in the first place.

KAYLA CROSS

The D.C. Council is poised to pass a bill that would decriminalize the possession of small amounts of recreational marijuana in the District. The “Simple Possession of Small Quantities of Marijuana Decriminalization Amendment Act of 2013” was introduced by mayoral candidate and councilmember Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6) and councilmember and former Mayor Marion Barry (D-Ward 8) in July. It seeks to eliminate criminal penalties for those caught with less than one ounce of marijuana and to reduce the fine to $100. The current penalty is a six-month jail sentence, a permanent criminal record citation and a $1,000 fine. The bill is supported by six other council members — Anita Bonds (D-At Large), Jim Graham (D-Ward 1), Jack Evans (D-Ward 2), Kenyan McDuffie (D-Ward 5), Mary Cheh

KELLY THOMAS (SFS ’15) Right to Life Treasurer

decision was made by a board of trustees vote, Santa Clara University’s new plan was announced by SCU President Fr. Michael Engh, S.J., in a letter to faculty and staff, which has triggered criticism from SCU faculty members. “It was a complete shock,” SCU School of Law professor Stephen Diamond told THE HOYA. “The decision

by the president was unilateral and without consultation from faculty. We weren’t given the courtesy of notice or even the chance to comment in advance. There was simply no due process whatsoever.” Mary Hegland, an SCU professor, disagreed with Engh’s decision. “The male Jesuits running Santa Clara University feel they know what God wants regarding women, women’s bodies and women’s reproduction,” Hegland told the San Jose Mercury News. “We have many women working at SCU who are not Catholic or — even if Catholic — do not believe that abortion is against God’s will.” Although Engh announced that there would be a series of open forums discussing the decision, faculty members questioned why the forums are being held after the decision was already made. See ABORTION, A6

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