The Hoya: New Student Guide 2013: August 22, 2013

from the editor Simply by picking up this New Student Guide, you’ve done something that we offer as our magazine’s first tip for success on the Hilltop: Care.

For now, it’s fine if that care concerns where to get an oncampus job or an off-campus bite to eat; when to buy basketball tickets or what to expect at parties. After all, the classroom experience is sometimes the most familiar part of transitioning to college.

There are countless positions and perspectives on campus, but perhaps the most out-of-place student at Georgetown is one who flaunts disinterest. Sure, every college has its rebels without a cause, and there’s no shame in being undecided — whether about your major, political affiliation or Wisey’s sandwich order. But gone are the days when it’s cool not to care, and apathy is less popular on the Hilltop than just about any point of view.

This New Student Guide offers a window into many of the opportunities that you might soon find yourself caring about.

Our staff savors the opportunity to share insight through hindsight about freshman year. There’s a certain “ah-ha” moment when your anxiety and uncertainty at college become comfort and familiarity, and we hope this magazine helps facilitate that process.

With issues twice weekly and a 24/7 website produced by a staff of well over 100, our newspaper is premised on the fact that people are passionate about Georgetown. And while the national news media are evolving, that passion on the Hilltop and reflected in THE HOYA’s pages shows no sign of changing after 93 years. There are many ways to contribute to the paper and much to gain by doing so, and I encourage you to pursue the chance to join our team next month.

I hope you find this New Student Guide useful for navigating freshman fall and making the most of your time at Georgetown.

I’m nowhere near qualified to tell you what to care about, but then again, part of what makes college so great is having the freedom to figure that out on your own.

Hoya Saxa,

Danny Funt, Editor-in-Chief

“

It takes a passionate and versatile team to produce The Hoya, and Georgetown’s newspaper of record maintains a staff as strong as ever. Well over 100 students contribute to the editorial and business functions of the paper, which are constantly expanding to better serve a print and online readership that nears 10,000. The exhilarating rush of breaking news, the adrenaline of production nights and the sense of pride in sustaining a 93-year-old institution make working at The Hoya an experience at Georgetown unlike any other.

“

table of contents Campus To-Do List..............................6 The Year Ahead......................7 GUidance...............................8 Academic Tips.....................10 Money....................................11 Campus Dining....................12 Party Scene..........................13 Student Groups...................14 News Brief............................18 Learn the Lingo...................20 Hoya Sports.........................22 Georgetown History.........24

City Local Dining........................28 Errands................................30 Exercise................................31 D.C. Colleges.......................32 Getting Around..................33 Nightlife...............................34 Neighborhoods..................36 Museums & Arts................38 Sports in the City...............39

Production Staff Danny Funt

Emma Hinchliffe

Editor-in-Chief

Executive Editor

Hunter Main

Victoria Edel

Managing Editor

Online Editor

Remy Samuels Issue Layout Editor

Eitan Sayag Campus Editor

Alexander Brown Photo Editor

Michael Lindsay-Bayley Director of Sales

Contributors Chris Bien, Kim Bussing, Patrick Curran, Chris Grivas, Evan Hollander, Penny Hung, Nicole Jarvis, Sarah Kaplan, Sheena Karkal, Hanaa Khadraoui, Braden MacDonald, Hiromi Oka

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Healy Hall is the iconic image of Georgetown, but there’s an unusual campus tradition of stealing the building’s clock hands and then mailing them to the Vatican. The hands were stolen once again in spring 2012, and the perpetrators remain at large.

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There are many distinguished speaking venues on campus, from Lohrfink Auditorium in the Hariri Building to the steps of Old North. There’s something special, however, about Gaston Hall, which was visited last year by Bono, Hillary Clinton and Hamid Karzai, among many distinguished guests. The Healy venue fits about 750, and competition can be fierce to get a seat for high-profile speakers.

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It’s currently undergoing renovations, but many consider Dahlgren Chapel one of their favorite buildings on campus.

The Christmas tree lighting in the winter in Dahlgren Quad is a special moment for many students.

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The steps of Old North, the oldest building on campus, have been used for 14 speeches

by U.S. presidents, starting with George Washington. Most recently, President Obama delivered a major climate change speech at Dahlgren Quadrangle on June 25.

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freshman to-do list

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Party at Club Lau, an incredible transformation of Lauinger Library into a dance floor. The magic can wear off after the first time, so make the most of it now.

Sit in John Carroll’s lap and run through the Dahlgren fountain. Don’t feel awkward about it, either — everybody’s doin’ it.

Be adventurous at the Student Activities Fair. Sure, you can’t possibly do 20 extracurricular activities, but at least explore things inside and outside of your comfort zone.

Tag along when the campus decides to spontaneously race to the White House.

It last happened on election night in November 2012, and you’ll never forget joining thousands in a celebration outside 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Walk to the monuments late at night with friends. They’re not too far away, and the view of the Lincoln Memorial on a pretty night easily makes the three-mile trek worthwhile.

Join in on the fun at Midnight Madness. It’s your first chance to experience the passion of Hoya Paranoia, and the men’s and women’s teams never fail to put on a show. D.C.-native Wale made a surprise appearance in 2010.

Attend a speaker event, even if it isn’t for President Bill Clinton (SFS ’68) or Bradley Cooper (COL ’97). Georgetown draws an incredible range of visitors, and these free events are part of what make college on the Hilltop so special.

Learn the fight song. Yes, that might seem more difficult for some than acing Map of the Modern World, but joining in on the chorus at sports events will distinguish true fans from the rest.

Burst the bubble and venture downtown. It’s easy to be lazy and stay put in the Georgetown area, but you now live in a huge and historic city that’s definitely worth exploring.

Volunteer in the city. Going to Georgetown is a privilege, and many in the District are much less fortunate. If you take some time to give back, you’re fulfilling what it means to be a Georgetown student.

fall semester

September 4 – The Hoya’s Recruitment Information Session

Come learn about joining Georgetown’s newspaper of record. THE HOYA’s editors and publishing staff will give you an inside look at the paper and answer any questions you have before applying. All are welcome.

September 26-29 – Homecoming Weekend

Alumni return to campus for a few days of university-sponsored festivities for the Georgetown spirit weekend. It is anchored around the Homecoming football game, which will be against the Princeton Tigers. The tailgating event is a fan favorite.

October – Georgetown Men’s Basketball Season Tickets on Sale

After Midnight Madness, the Athletics Department makes a big push to sell Georgetown men’s basketball season tickets. The deal is quite favorable for students, and a packed Verizon Center makes home court advantage truly intimidating to opponents.

October 18-20 – Parents Weekend

Parents and families descend on the Hilltop to catch a glimpse of the Georgetown experience. This is the first time most freshmen see their parents after New Student Orientation. Activities are myriad, and students of all years tend to participate.

October 25 — Midnight Madness

Around the country, basketball-crazed campuses celebrate the first day of sanctioned team practices. Georgetown’s Midnight Madness, officially known this year as the Basketball Tip-Off, fills McDonough Gym for a festive pep rally featuring team introductions, exhibitions and performances.

the year ahead spring semester February – GUSA Executive Elections

Undergraduates will elect the next president and vice president of the Georgetown University Student Association. Campaigning in the preceding weeks can capture students’ attention or leave you eager for the relentless electioneering to end.

March – Sophomore Housing Selection

The Class of 2017 will select its housing for sophomore year. Unlike freshman year when rooms were assigned by the housing office, rising sophomores can select their dorm assignments following a lottery for selection order.

April – The 89th Annual Diplomatic Ball

“Dip Ball,” as it’s known around campus, is a black-tie event for students, faculty and diplomats hosted by the School of Foreign Service.

Students enjoy the chance to re-live prom (kind of), while also schmoozing with the D.C. diplomatic corps at this downtown event.

April 25 – Georgetown Day

Georgetown celebrates the last Friday of classes with a campus-wide festival. It is a tradition that many consider among the highlights of the year.

May 17 – Commencement

The Class of 2014 will graduate from Georgetown. Each school has its own commencement ceremony. Commencement speakers are typically not revealed at Georgetown until late in the spring.

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GUidance At Georgetown, simply because you’re likely on your own for the first time, you’ll find that there are a lot of things you figure out along the way. How long you can last without doing a load of laundry? How late you can wake up and still make it to your first class on time? How many shots you can take without overdoing it? It may seem like common sense after a few months, but discovering what works for you takes trial and error. In this section, we give you some tips on how to spend more of your first few months doing rather than guessing. Sprinkled throughout the rest of this guide are a few shorter — but equally useful — keys to success.

GeorgetownOne

Feeling Sick

Soiled Linens

The importance of your GOCard, especially during freshman year, cannot be overstated. It’s been said that the three basic human needs are food, water and shelter, and while you don’t need to show your card to drink from a water fountain, both O’Donovan Hall and your dormitory require a swipe for entry. From getting packages at your RHO to getting in shape at Yates Field House, a surprisingly large number of everyday activities require you to have the blue-andwhite piece of plastic on hand.

In addition to granting you entry into certain buildings, your GOCard can also hold two types of money: debit dollars and flex dollars. Debit dollars turn your GOCard into a debit card that can be used at every retail location on campus and off-campus vendors like Wisey’s, Chipotle and even Shake Shack in Dupont Circle and Whole Foods on Wisconsin Avenue. You can add money to the card through machines at prime campus locations or online.

The number of flex dollars you receive every semester is linked to your meal plan; for example, the standard 14-meals-a-week plan automatically grants you $75 to use only at on-campus locations.

Because flex dollars are intented to be used to substitute for a meal at Leo’s, some items at Vital Vittles or Hoya Snaxa are not allowed to be “flexed,” such as ice cream, unfortunately. (Coffee, thankfully, is still fair game.)

Getting treatment when you’re sick isn’t as easy as walking into the on-campus hospital and asking to see a doctor. For students, the place to go is the Student Health Center, which is located in Darnall Hall. For most ailments, you’ll need to schedule an appointment; the easiest way to do so is by calling (202) 687-2200. If you’d rather use the Internet, make sure to visit the health center as soon as possible to request a PIN, which you will need to make an appointment online.

The health center also offers physical exams, immunizations and tests — nearly everything you’d find at your doctor’s office at home.

Although it is your go-to when ill, the Student Health Center is also notorious for slow and occasionally inefficient service. Be warned that a trip to the campus doc is not a 15-minute endeavor.

Psychological and psychiatric problems are handled by Counseling and Psychiatric Services, also known as CAPS, which is located in Darnall. Don’t be afraid to utilize this service; college can be a difficult adjustment, and there’s no shame in wanting to talk about the problems that may come along with it. Other than ongoing consultations and medication follow-up sessions, CAPS services are free.

Medication prescribed by a clinician at Georgetown can be refilled at the Student Health Center, but CVS on Wisconsin Avenue is often your best bet.

If you came to school armed with rolls of quarters to use in washing machines and dryers, you’re out of luck — debit dollars on your GOCard are the only way to pay for laundry on campus. Each freshman dorm has at least one laundry room, so you will never have to go outside with your dirty clothes or sheets this year. It’s unnecessary to stay in the laundry room to watch over your clothes while they’re being washed; the washer doors lock when in use, so returning at the proper time is enough to deter any potential thieves. Plus, people waiting for a spare machine appreciate punctuality. Although it may cost more money than you’d expect — $2.50 for washing and drying a load in surprisingly small machines — don’t be tempted to overload the machines. A flooded laundry room or a damp, wrinkled set of clothing is not worth it.

Another option is using Soapy Joe’s Laundry Service. Each week, the company picks up your laundry in your dorm’s lobby, washes it, folds it and returns it the next day.

It’s a convenient service that can save you some much-needed time, and it accepts GOCard for payment.

If you’d rather not let your clothes out of sight or pay a premium for service (washing and folding costs $1.49 per pound, and an unlimited plan costs around $350 per semester), doing laundry on your own is a better option. After all, you can only delay doing your own laundry for so long in life.

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staying smart There is probably a whirlwind of things on your mind lately: making friends, decorating your dorm, seeing if your roommate resembles who you met on CHARMS. But don’t forget that you’re here for classes, too. Here are a few tips for managing the college workload.

Go to class For larger classes, many professors will not take attendance. But even for classes in which your grade is only determined by one final exam or paper, attendance is still important. First of all, you’re paying to go to class, not just to take that final and get a grade. If you cram at the end of the semester, you increase the likelihood of forgetting everything you learned. Your professors and teaching assistants are a helpful resource; why stay up all night chugging through your textbook when you can learn from an expert twice a week? Professors who don’t take roll aren’t saying that attendance isn’t important; they’re saying that it’s to be expected of college students.

Spread out your work The nice thing about college courses is that they don’t convene every day (barring intensive languages and some science courses). If you plan ahead, you can spread your assignments out to avoid feeling overwhelmed. A lot of students find that doing part of the work one night and part on another helps ease stress.

Form study groups Especially for classes with difficult problem sets or hundreds of pages of reading, a study group can really ease the burden. Check with your professor on his or her policy regarding collaboration on homework, but most of the time, students will be allowed to work on assignments together. Having someone to work through a problem set or review notes on readings can make all the difference come midterm season.

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Find your own favorite place to study In the first few weeks of school, explore different places to find where you’re most comfortable studying. Simply because your friends are studying in the common room doesn’t mean you have to study there, too; it’s important to find a place where you can concentrate. Some popular study destinations include Lauinger Library (each of the six floors has its own vibe and noise level), the Hariri Building, Regents Science Building, the Bioethics Research Library in Healy Hall and Sellinger Lounge in Leavey Center. Don’t be afraid to wander off the beaten path — some students concentrate best in an empty classroom in Old North

or at Dahlgren Memorial Library at the medical school. Others feel more at ease in a coffee shop like Saxbys on O Street or Starbucks in Leavey.

Go to office hours For some, seeking out a teacher outside of class in high school was reserved for a dire situation. But in college, office hours aren’t just for clarifying class material — they’re crucial for developing any sort of relationship with your professor, which enriches the experience and can pay off later. Some professors are known for grading students who regularly attend office hours more leniently. It will also come in handy to know a few professors should you need letters of recommendation for jobs or grad school.

Don’t leave reading until the final When your professor doesn’t collect homework or check if you do the reading each class, it can be tempting to postpone reading night after night. Beware: course work in college can really build up. You don’t want to find yourself with 500-plus pages of reading and a paper and two exams and an in-class presentation … all due in a matter of days. Plus, some professors grade based on participation, and it will be hard to participate without preparing.

Exams are always around the corner Yes, it’s the start of a semester right now, but it’s important to keep in mind that midterms will be here soon enough — some as early as the first week in October.

Professors will almost always announce the dates of the midterm(s) or finals well in advance. It’s a good idea to start preparing a few weeks leading up to the test, even just by oganizing notes or making flashcards.

Leave time for other things in your life Balance is key in college. While it’s important to remember to study and do your homework, college is about a lot of other things — don’t forget your friends, extracurricular activities and health. If you only focus on academics, it becomes easy to lose sight of other needs. If you ever feel overwhelmed, remember that your residential assistant, dean, professors and friends are all there to help. Care for the whole person, in and out of the classroom.

jobs and cash College is expensive — and we don’t just mean your tuition bill. What can sneak up on you are the day-to-day expenses that you probably never anticipated. Between school supplies, books, toiletries, groceries (because few want to eat in Leo’s all the time) and going out, you might find yourself with a wallet that’s a bit too light. Still, there are ways to avoid, or at least delay, being overly strapped for cash.

Here’s how you can best make some money and save what you do have.

Making Money

Saving Money

Get an on-campus job The best place to look for on-campus jobs is the student employment website, seo.georgetown.edu, where the library, Alumni House and a variety of academic offices and departments post jobs for which you can easily apply online. Lauinger Library in particular tends to hire a large group of freshmen. Yates Field House is also a popular employer, and if you have a Work-Study award, you can likely get a paycheck for working with volunteer programs at the Center of Social Justice such as DC Reads or ASK mentoring.

If you want to be a student guard — the students who swipe GOCards for building entry — head to police. georgetown.edu to apply through the Department of Public Safety website. If you want to work for housing and give out packages and keys, head to the Residence Hall Office (RHO) in your building. On-campus jobs will range from D.C. minimum wage — $8.25 an hour — to around $10.

Discounts, discounts, discounts Be smart when you spend your money, and take advantage of student discounts. Qdoba, which serves Mexican food, has half-price Mondays with a student ID; Eat & Joy, which offers Turkish food and a variety of other options, has half-price Tuesdays; and Wingo’s has half-priced wings on Wednesday if you say the secret password found online. With a student ID, you’ll also get a free fountain drink at Chipotle. You’ll also get a student discount at some retailers like J. Crew.

By signing up for Amazon Student, you receive six months of free two-day shipping.

Get an off-campus job Bring your resume down to M Street and try to get a job at one of the many retail locations or food services.

Georgetown Cupcake is known for hiring a lot of Georgetown students, and working at Vineyard Vines, J Crew, Urban Outfitters or another nearby store may lead friends to envy your employee discount.

Get a paid internship This will be difficult at the start of freshman year, but it’s something to remember down the road. Washington is full of lobbying firms, law offices, PR firms and other private sector employers who pay their interns. If you’re looking for an internship — paid or unpaid — careercenter.georgetown.edu is a great place to start the quest, though many freshmen benefit from getting acquainted on campus before venturing out into the internship arena. It can be tempting, but don’t bite off more than you can chew.

Plan ahead Don’t go to Safeway starving and unsure of what you’re going to buy because you may recklessly spend money on things you don’t need. Instead, go on the store’s website, find the weekly specials and try to plan what you want to buy from there. For example, never buy granola bars or snacks at full price — they’ll end up being on sale before too long. Make sure you get a rewards card, which will also help you save little by little. Also, if you need to head somewhere downtown, learn how to navigate public transportation — you’ll travel for a fraction of the price of a cab.

Know when the money counts A salad from Sweetgreen may seem expensive, but if you can’t remember the last time you had a vegetable, it may be worthwhile. Likewise, if you want to make classy dinner for your friends, don’t feel bad splurging on something a little more expensive than Franzia. But if you’re expecting a raucous pregame, you don’t need vodka more expensive than Burnett’s.

And while it’s tempting to buy an iced coffee from the Corp every time you pass by, investing in a coffee pot and making strategic trips to Safeway will prevent you from having to run to Midnight MUG and Vital Vittles every day.

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on-campus dining As you made your way down M Street to Georgetown’s campus for the first time, you probably imagined grabbing lunch at Sweetgreen, buying groceries at Dean & DeLuca and dining in style at Bistro Francais. But soon enough, your bank account will be drained and you’ll have to return to closer and cheaper pastures to keep your daily calorie count and spending in check. That’s why you need to know how to make the best of your on-campus options.

Leo J. O’Donovan Hall

Meal Swipes

Debit Dollars

O’Donovan Hall, or Leo’s, is nowhere near as bad as its reputation, having a variety of different kinds of food.

Nonetheless, because it’s the only dining hall on campus, you may find a few months into the year that its selection is getting monotonous. But as long as you find some staples you consistently enjoy and you aren’t afraid to experiment, Leo’s should suit you well throughout the year.

Highlights are the stir-fry station and Chicken Finger Thursdays.

Midnight MUG/Uncommon Grounds/More Uncommon Grounds Meal Swipes

Debit Dollars

These three Corp-run services are the easiest way to get your caffiene fix. Midnight MUG is arguably most important of the three locations due to its prime location on Lau 2 and its late hours. Uncommon Grounds (UG) is in Leavey Center and is definitely the most comfortable and sizable storefront. ICC Galleria’s More Uncommon Grounds (MUG) is a useful pit stop for students and faculty caught in the rush-hour haste of morning classes.

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Grab ’n’ Go

Meal Swipes

Debit Dollars

With two locations — one near the front doors of Leo’s and one at the far end of the furthest hallway in the back corner of the Leavey Center — Grab ’n’ Go offers sandwiches, salads, chips and fruit for the overscheduled student who needs to grab lunch but doesn’t have time to wait at Leo’s.

While the quality of the food pales in comparison to even Leo’s, the convenience is appreciated, and you won’t feel bad about using a meal swipe to grab a couple bags of Doritos.

Epicurean & Co.

Meal Swipes

Debit Dollars

Located on the ground floor of Darnall Hall, Epicurean’s excellent sushi and extensive salad and buffet options are a nice alternative to Leo’s. Pizza and made-to-order sandwiches (and possibly the best fries in Georgetown) are also available. Beginning this year, Epicurean will be open nearly 24/7, closing only for a brief period Sunday night to early Monday morning. It’s pretty far from the center of campus, but it’s an appealing option after the closure of fan-favorite Tuscany Cafe.

Vital Vittles/Hoya Snaxa Meal Swipes

Debit Dollars

These Corp-run convenience stores are the go-to place on campus to pick up some basic dorm snacks. Need a bag of chips or a slushie? Hoya Snaxa, located underneath an archway in the Southwest Quad, is your best bet.

Looking for more substantial groceries like cereal, yogurt or toothpaste? Vital Vittles, located in the front of the Leavey Center, has a more expansive collection of goods to suit virtually every need — even Ping-Pong balls and Solo cups for partygoers.

Hoya Court

Meal Swipes

Debit Dollars

Hoya Court used to be home to the only name-brand fast food on campus, but over the summer, Georgetown replaced Taco Bell, KFC and Pizza Hut with Elevation Burger and Salad Creations — both a step up from the previous options — which will join Subway in the area’s cafeteria-style setup. Perhaps more exciting, though, is that all three restaurants will now have expanded hours to better fit student schedules. A Cosi and Starbucks are located down the hall.

party scene Is it legal for me to drink?

Unless you took three gap years after high school, sorry, but no.

OK, so it’s illegal, but where can I do it anyway?

If you’re like the thousands of new students who have come before you, you’re likely more than a little curious about the party scene here on the Hilltop. Does everyone drink? How can I sneak a keg into New South? Should I buy a toga? Luckily, we have the answers for those of you thirsty for this bit of knowledge.

If you do choose to drink in your dorm room with friends, history suggests that it’s unlikely that you will get caught; resident assistants are not known to do random room checks. But simply minding your own business is not a defense for underage drinking if you are caught. If you’re making a lot of noise, if people keep coming and going or if an accident happens, the RA on duty will notice, and you will get in trouble.

What happens if I do get in caught?

How much trouble am I in?

If you are written up by your RA, he or she will document the situation and forward it to the hall director, who will decide what disciplinary measures to take.

Assuming your transgression was limited to drinking in your dorm and being disruptive, your punishment will likely not include anything more than sanction hours, a fine and/or taking AlcoholEdu (again). Repeated violations, however, can end up on your transcript and jeopardize your ability to study abroad or secure oncampus housing.

But drinking in my double in VCW is pretty lame. Where can I go to par-tay?

Especially in the beginning of the semester, freshmen tend to walk (or stumble) in packs around West Georgetown and on-campus apartment complexes, listening for the faint sound of a tapped keg. For freshmen this is generally acceptable behavior, and if your group is not too big, upperclassmen will usually graciously let your crash their party. Later in the year, this tactic doesn’t work as well, so find someone on your floor with an upperclassman friend willing to hook you up at the door.

If you’re envisioning scenes from “Animal House,” Georgetown’s lack of a Greek system may disappoint you. Don’t worry, though, because that doesn’t mean people off campus don’t throw their fair share of ragers. An added bonus: Unlike at many other college parties, you likely won’t have to pay for a cup when out at Georgetown.

My friend has had way too much to drink. What do I do?

If someone seems seriously ill, call Georgetown Emergency Response Medical Service (202-687-4357). Georgetown’s student-run EMTs arrive faster to the scene than D.C. Fire and Rescue, and the ride to the hospital is free.

Does everyone have a fake ID? No. Some do, some don’t. The social scene on campus is lively enough that you don’t need to venture out to bars.

I’ve got one! I’ve got one! Where can I use it?

First, THE HOYA cautions you against using a fake ID by stating the obvious — it’s illegal.

Penalties for using a fake ID are stiff — you could even get arrested. Honestly, all fake IDs are pretty much just varying levels of bad, and any experienced bouncer will be able to tell it’s not real. If your heart is set on drinking, however, it’s best to have an upperclassman buy alcohol for you.

If you have an ID and want to try it, there are a number of places to avoid (McFadden’s, Old Glory, Dixie Liquors), but above all, DON’T go to the Tombs; getting your forehead stamped at the Tombs on your 21st birthday is practically a rite of passage at Georgetown. Don’t let your impatience ruin it.

Where am I likely to bump into my classmates?

Modern and Bandolero on M Street are popular Thursday-night spots. Rhino Bar and Pumphouse caters to both Georgetown students and an older crowd. Mason Inn in Glover Park, owned

by Georgetown alum and future Healey Family Student Center pub operator Fritz Brogan (COL ’07, LAW ’10), has been known to attract students on a given weekend, especially if the bar is having an event.

Do I have to drink?

Of course not! Plenty of Georgetown students don’t. Seriously, we’re not just being politically correct. Some choose to opt out of drinking and partying, and that’s cool. Others choose not to drink but party with their friends anyway, and no one notices the difference. Do whatever makes you feel comfortable.

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student groups GUSA • Georgetown University Student Association

The Corp • Students of Georgetown Inc.

Few of the high school stereotypes for student government apply to the Georgetown University Student Association. The work of Georgetown’s student representatives involves advocacy, not legislating, but GUSA maintains an important position at the negotiating table when student interests are on the line.

President Nate Tisa (SFS ’14) and Vice President Adam Ramadan (SFS ’14) head the GUSA executive, while the GUSA senate is made up of students representing residential districts. Many freshmen run in senate elections, and freshman dormitories will soon be littered with campaign posters. The election season, however, really heats up in February for the executive race. You might not know much about candidates running for senate, but the executive election can be expected each year to capture much of the campus’s attention.

GUSA was active this summer in lobbying against federal student loan hikes, as well as amplifying student input on proposals for a new campus dormitory. Look for GUSA to make a move on the university’s free speech policy, which has received harsh reviews from national watchdog groups.

The largest student-run business in the country, The Corp (pronounce the P) owns and operates three coffee shops, a grocery store, a catering business and a bodega – with plans for a salad and smoothie restaurant in the Healey Family Student Center. Student of Georgetown Inc., as it’s formally called, also offers a summer storage service and airport transportation for Easter and Thanksgiving.

The hiring process is extremely competitive. Hundreds of students apply each fall and spring to be baristas, marketing gurus, caterers and the like. The application asks both serious and silly questions, which you will again field if you get an interview. Even if you make it to that round, a job offer is tough to obtain.

Once you’re in, though, you’re a part of one of the most close-knit organizations on campus. Corpies – as employees are often called – are known for spending a lot of their time together. When it’s 1 a.m. and a long night awaits, they’re the ones you’ll turn to for a bagel and a shot of espresso.

GUASFCU • Georgetown University Alumni and Student Federal Credit Union The Georgetown University Alumni and Student Federal Credit Union, referred to as the credit union or “gwas-fa-coo,” is a studentoperated bank headquartered near the entrance of Leavey Center. GUASFCU is the largest student financial institution in the country, with more than 11,000 accounts and assets in excess of $15 million.

GUASFCU celebrated its 30th anniversary last year, and its hiring selectivity nearly rivals that of The Corp. The credit union continues to expand. It added an ATM in Walsh last year, and now offers check deposits via one’s mobile device.

GERMS • Georgetown Emergency Response Medical Service Georgetown Emergency Response Medical Service, known simply as “germs,” responds to more than 1,000 calls per year. Student volunteers are certified EMTs, having completed a rigorous training and application process.

Although it is often associated with alcohol-related issues, GERMS responds to all varieties of emergencies. While an ambulance ride from GERMS is offered gratis, medical expenses at the hospital are still to be expected. You’ll get used to seeing students walking around in the blue uniform; GERMS has responders on duty 24/7.

arts Ballet Folklorico Mexicano de Georgetown Ballroom Dance Team Black Movement Dance Theatre Black Theatre Ensemble Gracenotes Superfood Georgetown Art Aficionados Georgetown University Dance Company Georgetown University Step Team Children’s Theater Groove Theory GU Bindaas GU Harmony GU Jawani GU Melody

The Chimes Hoyawood Invisible Children Georgetown Mask & Bauble Dramatic Society Nomadic Theater Pep Band Performing Arts Advisory Council Ritmo y Sabor Students Helping Honduras Tappin’ Jacks The Capitol G’s Georgetown Improv Association The Phantoms The Saxatones World Percussion Ensemble

political College Democrats College Republicans Georgetown Aspiring Political and Policy Leaders GUSA Election Commission Hoyas for Liberty Women in Politics

academic Academic Resource Center Business School Undergraduate Program Office College Academic Council Cawley Career Education Center College Academic Council Financial Aid Peer Counseling Georgetown Quantitative Models Working Group Young Scholars National Society of Collegiate Scholars SFS Academic Council Undergraduate Bioethics Society

advocacy AIDS Coalition Amnesty International Breast Cancer Outreach Center for Multicultural Equity and Access Diversability EcoAction Educating Students About Social Equality Georgetown Conservation Corps Georgetown Donors Georgetown University Women of Color Global Zero Grassroot Hoyas GUPride GU STAND H*yas for Choice Hoyas for Troops Invisible Children J Street U Relay for Life Students for Justice in Palestine Students Stopping the Trafficking of People Take Back the Night Truth and Human Rights in North Korea United Feminists

Right to Life

cultural groups

religious

African Society of Georgetown Armenian Student Associations Asian American Student Association Black Student Alliance Caribbean Culture Circle Chinese Students and Scholars Associations Club Singapore Cuban American Student Association French Cultural Association Georgetown Chinese Students Alliance Georgetown Hawaii Club Georgetown Irish American Society Georgetown Israel Alliance Georgetown PorColombia Club Filipino European Club Hellenic Association Korean Student Association Mexican Student Associations Georgetown University Signs Turkish Student Association Vietnamese Student Association International Students Association Iranian Cultural Society Japan Network Jewish Students Associations Klub Polski Latin American Student Association Lebanese Student Association Movimiento Estudiantil Chican@ de Atzlan Muslim Students Associations NAS Arab Society The Brazilian Club South Asian Society Taiwanese American Student Association Thai Society

Campus Ministry Catholic Chaplaincy Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Retreats Georgetown Buddhist Meditations Sangha Georgetown Orthodox Christian Fellowship Knights of Columbus Brothers for Christ GU Catholic Sisters for Christ Hindu Students Association Ignatian Retreats Interfaith Student Council Jewish Chaplaincy Muslim Chaplaincy Orthodox Christian Chaplaincy Protestant Chaplaincy Secular Student Alliance

South Asian Society

other Bakers at Georgetown Big Hunt Breaking the Bubble ESCAPE Georgetown Gaming Georgetown Gastronomes Georgetown Hip-Hop Association Georgetown Medieval Georgetown Parliamentary Debate Team Georgetown Program Board Georgetown University Anime Club Georgetown University Astronomical Society Georgetown University Chess Club International Community Garden Club Computers and Electronics Club Georgetown University Grilling Society Lecture Fund Mock Trial and Law Team Roosevelt Institute Georgetown University Student Investment Fund Hilltop Tacos International Relations Club Outdoor Education Philodemic Society Residential Judicial Council Student Activities Commission Thinking Beyond the Beltway Tocqueville Forum What’s After Dark Blue & Grey Net Impact The Triple Helix

sports Club Field Hockey Club Ice Hockey Club Baseball Club Golf Club Swimming Georgetown Cricket Club Georgetown Fencing Georgetown Figure Skating Club Men’s and Women’s Club Basketball Men’s and Women’s Club Soccer Men’s and Women’s Squash Men’s and Women’s Club Volleyball Georgetown University Ping Pong Club Club Boxing Team Club Equestrian Club Rock Climbing Club Tennis Cycling Team Fishing Club Men’s and Women’s Club Lacrosse Men’s and Women’s Club Water Polo Men’s and Women’s Rugby Club Softball Georgetown University Triathlon Running Club Hoya Blue Men’s and Women’s Ultimate Frisbee Tae Kwon Do Club

pre-professional Georgetown Advertising and Market Association Georgetown Entrepreneurial Organizations Georgetown Opportunities for Leadership Development Georgetown Pre-Law Society Georgetown Speechwriting Advisory Group Georgetown University Minority Association of Pre-Health Students Pre-Dental Society Real Estate Investors Club Hilltop Consultants Smart Woman Securities

campus media Georgetown University Television The Anthem The Fire This Time Georgetown Public Policy Review The Georgetown Voice The Hoya The Independent WGTB Ye Domesday Booke

Club Boxing

social justice After School Kids Program Alpha Phi Omega Alternative Spring Break Best Buddies Georgetown Caring for Children With Cancer Center for Social Justice Community-Based Learning Cristo Rey Tutoring CSJ Advisory Board for Student Organizations CSJ Global Immersions Programs Dance D.C. DC Reads DC Schools Projects First-Year Orientation to Community Involvement Georgetown Individuals Vocal and Energetic for Service Georgetown Solidarity Committee Habitat for Humanity Georgetown University Math and Science HandsOn Enrichment (GUMSHOE) Georgetown University Mentors and Tutors Georgetown Development Initiative InterHall Council Urban Debate League GirlTalk GlobeMed Circle of Women Turning the Page Hoya Outreach Programs and Educations Hoyas for Immigrant Rights Hoyas for RBI Hoyas Global Initiative Leaders in Education About Diversity Male Development Association NAACP PeaceJam Prison Outreach Project Sunshine Georgetown St. Elizabeth’s Outreach Strive for College Sursum Corda Literacy Program UNICEF Georgetown Your Classroom, Your World

news brief Despite Controversy, Tisa and Ramadan Take GUSA Executive GUSA President Nate Tisa (SFS ’14) and Vice President Adam Ramadan (SFS ’14) have worked hard to advocate for students since they took office in February, but their election was not an easy one. In the week leading up to Election Day, an anonymous Facebook account, “Steward Throat,” posted private correspondence between members of a secret society, the Second Society of Stewards, which revealed GUSA presidential

candidate Jack Appelbaum (COL ’14) to be a member. When all candidates were asked to reveal membership in any similar group, Tisa and Ramadan both denied any affiliation. After accusations by the campus community, Ramadan admitted membership in a private society unaffiliated with the Second Society of Stewards. The pair have been able to form a team in their executive staff that includes many former opponents.

LGBTQ Community Pushes for Rights In 1987, Georgetown students sued the school for recognition of a student group, Gay People of Georgetown University. In 2008, Georgetown opened its LGBTQ Resource Center to address hate crimes and homophobia on campus. In the five years since, Georgetown has become a much more welcoming environment for LGBTQ students.

Craig Cassey (COL ’15), who was elected to Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E last year, is the youngest openly gay elected official in the country. Tisa was the first openly gay student to be elected president of the Georgetown University Student Association, and he is only the second openly gay student body

Contraception to Be Provided by University Health Plan In 2012, Rush Limbaugh famously called former Georgetown Law student Sandra Fluke a “slut” for her advocacy to provide contraception to women insured by religious institutions. After much debate, Georgetown agreed to comply with the Affordable Care Act’s exception for religious institutions, which allows students, faculty and staff covered by Georgetown insurance to receive contraception directly through their insurance provider rather than through the university. The move has been criticized by the Right to Life student group and alumni who say it does not sufficiently allow for Georgetown’s religious freedom as a Catholic institution, but has been applauded by H*yas for Choice and others who support access to women’s healthcare.

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president at a major Jesuit university.

Within GUSA, Tisa has launched the Safe Spaces Program to train student advocates to deal with sexual assault and discrimination in on-campus residences.

Students have joined in the gay rights movement on a national scale. When the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in March for cases that would decide the future of gay marriage, dozens of Georgetown students joined protesters outside the court.

Despite these advancements, GU Pride and other campus groups continue to work to further support the rights of LGBTQ students and maintain that there is much left to accomplish.

Mascot-in-Training Sent Home

Georgetown’s mascot-in-training, Jack Jr., or “J.J.,” was sent away from campus after the university decided this summer that he was unfit for mascot duties. An evaluation of J.J.’s behavior and a lawsuit filed by parents whose child was bitten by the dog last fall factored into the

decision. The predecessor remains on campus with his caretaker, Fr. Christopher Steck, S.J., in New South.

The move drew substantial backlash from students and alumni, and it is unclear what if any dog will step in for J.J., and how it will be managed going forward.

what to look for Changes on Campus: A Look at What’s to Come 2010 Campus Plan Agreement In order to understand Georgetown news throughout the next year, you’ll need to know three words: 2010 Campus Plan. This plan, which the university and its neighbors agreed to in July 2012, outlines the university’s goals over the next 10 years. Some key components include Georgetown’s commitment to housing 90 percent of students on campus by 2025, this summer’s ban on cars for undergraduates and the push to bring social life back to campus. While last year’s plans focused on early stages of preparation to enforce the campus plan agreement, this year is sure to see more concrete steps toward its implementation.

Northeast Triangle Dormitory

Student Space

As the year begins, battles over the university’s proposed Northeast Triangle dorm across from Reiss Science Building will likely resume. Although Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E approved the building’s design in July, the Old Georgetown Board, which must approve all construction, postponed a decision until September, when Georgetown would be prepared to present more dorm options. Alumni and students have criticized the design’s modern style and location on one of the last green spaces on the north side of campus. After OGB’s meeting in early September, progress on the dorm will likely begin in earnest.

Construction on the Healey Family Student Center in New South, which began in June, will get underway this fall. While the student center is intended to provide an on-campus social hub, construction eliminated space previously used by student groups for storage, recreational practice and meetings. The Office of Campus Facilities moved from the Office of Planning and Facilities to the Office of Student Affairs in July, suggesting a more student-centric approach to campus space. Georgetown University Student Association President Nate Tisa (SFS ’14) said that his administration would make space a priority this fall.

GUSA Aims to Amp up Advocacy During Fraught Times The Georgetown University Student Association is heading into this year with an ambitious agenda. After spending much of the summer advocating for Congress to come to a deal on student loan interest rates, GUSA will shift its focus back on campus. The Georgetown Student Tenant Association, launched in August, will begin acting as an advocate for students in dealings with negligent or unfair landlords. GUSA also plans to work with Student Affairs on a rewritten Code of Student Conduct, which will drastically affect student disciplinary procedure.

A major part of Tisa and Ramadan’s campaign platform was a promise to push for a campus-wide free-speech zone, as free speech without limitations is currently only guaranteed in Red Square. Tisa also said he would prioritize support for genderneutral housing on campus.

GUidance GERMS is a vital campus service; however, calling emergency responders does not protect you if police find you to have been doing something unlawful. The rules on this are murky, but you still shouldn’t let fear of legal consequences stop you from calling for medical help. In these cases, “safety first” is on point.

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Georgetown Booeys: Short for Booeymonger. The sandwich shop on Prospect Street known for its cheap pitchers of beer and unexpectedly appealing weekend brunch.

Brown House: A house on N Street notorious for throwing over-the-top parties. See ragers.

Burleith: The neighborhood north of Georgetown that starts at Reservoir Road. Many upperclassmen live off-campus here, so you may find yourself in Burleith for a party or two, although police are strict on noise in the area.

Corpie: One who works for The Corp, the largest student-run business in the country. Students of Georgetown Inc., as it’s formally called, owns and operates coffee shops and grocery stores on campus. Many Corpies are identifiable by their Corp Storage T-shirts, a reference to their popular summer service. ’Cuse: Short for Syracuse University, Georgetown’s old Big East rival. We still hate them, but already miss them. Juice ’Cuse.

The Dirty D: Slang for Darnall Hall, the freshman dorm best known for the caramaderie of its isolated residents.

DPS: Department of Public Safety, a.k.a GUPD. Pronounced “dops.” They’ve upped their police authority in recent years.

East Campus: The area two blocks from the front gates made up of LXR Hall — a dorm for sophomores and transfer students — and Nevils — a recently upgraded apartment complex.

Epi: Short for Epicurean, the sandwich/buffet/sushi restaurant and bar underneath Darnall Hall. Most frequented by residents of Darnall and Henle and hospital employees. Now open 24/(almost)7.

The Esplanade: The giant grassy lawn on top of Leavey Center.

A true hidden gem and a great place to sunbathe or read away from the crowds of Healy Lawn.

Exorcist Steps: The stairs next to Car Barn that connect M Street and Prospect Street, made famous by the climax of the film “The Exorcist.” Frequented by those looking for an extreme workout.

Foggy Bottom: The neighborhood where The George Washington University is located, about a 20-minute walk from Georgetown. Home of good food, fun bars and the nearest Trader Joe’s.

Georgetown Day: The Friday before classes end in the spring, marked by day-drinking, sunbathing, tank tops and falling asleep before sundown. For many, the best day of the year.

GERMS: Georgetown Emergency Response Medical Services.

Call them when you sprain an ankle, break a bone or are having alcohol-related issues. Ambulance rides are free.

GERMed: The act of having your friends call GERMS for you because you are excessively drunk. Something to avoid.

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Grab ‘n’ Go: A service through Leo’s that lets you trade in a meal swipe for a meal you can take with you. This convenience, however, comes at the cost of quality and variety.

GUASFCU: Georgetown University Alumni and Student Federal Credit Union. Pronounced “gwas-fa-coo.” Many students have savings or checking accounts through the Credit Union, which has ATMs around campus and an office in Leavey Center.

Guggernaut: A raucus series of parties thrown at the end of spring classes that draws hundreds of students. See rooftops.

GUGS: Georgetown University Grilling Society. Pronounced with a soft “g.” They grill up massive burgers on Fridays (and for special events) throughout the fall and spring.

GUTS bus: Georgetown University Transportation Shuttle bus.

Provides service to Dupont Circle, Rosslyn, Wisconsin Avenue and the law center. Georgetown’s mobile app recently began tracking these buses.

Healy Lawn: Name for the lawn in front of Healy Hall, often filled with students during the warmer months of the year.

Georgetown JJ: Officially Jack Jr., JJ was Georgetown’s mascot-in-training until he was unexpectedly removed from the position and sent from campus after a safety incident . He will be missed.

JTIII: John Thompson III, coach of the men’s basketball team.

Son of legendary Georgetown Head Coach John Thompson Jr. and known for his modified version of the Princeton offense.

Late Night (Leo’s): The period after dinner but before close when Leo’s serves the day’s leftovers. Frequented by athletes and those with busy schedules.

Lau 2: Second floor of Lauinger Library. Most “studying” done here is an excuse to socialize. Home of the Corp’s Midnight MUG coffee shop.

Leo’s: Colloquial for O’Donovan Hall, the only dining hall on campus, which is named for former university president Fr. Leo O’Donovan, S.J. The quality of the food at Leo’s is subject for constant debate, and drives away a fair number of upperclassmen.

Map: Short for Map of the Modern World, the one-credit course all SFSers must pass in which they learn every country and capital in the world. Sporcle.com, the popular, timewasting quiz website, is considered a useful study tool for memorizing the enormous amount of material in Map.

MSBro: Denizens of the MSB who don’t have class on Fridays and tend to get the most out of their three-day weekends.

Often spotted in tanks, suits or pastel.

Prospect crawl: The act of walking up and down Prospect Street on weekend nights searching for a party. Most often done by freshmen. A good girl-to-guy ratio is often necessary for the crawl to be successful.

Rooftops: The apartments at the top of Village A with patios featuring a beautiful view of the Potomac. A great place to throw parties, most notably Guggernaut.

Rangila: An annual event thrown by the South Asian Society that brings together hundreds of students to perform and watch South Asian Dance RHO: Residence Hall Office, where you pick up your packages, rent vacuums and receive help getting back into your room when you lock yourself out.

SafeRides: Service that will pick you up off campus and drive you home without charge. Also runs a shuttle to Burleith.

n Dictionary SNAPS: Student Neighborhood Assistance Program. A coalition of students, professors and neighbors who drive cars around the neighborhood shutting down parties without getting the police involved.

Snaxa: Short for Hoya Snaxa, the snack shop in the Southwest Quad run by the Corp. Renowned for their slushies.

College Life Andre: Cheap champagne popular when making brunch.

Beer goggles: Thinking someone is more attractive than they actually are when you’re drunk.

Brunch: The best meal of the week. Head to champagne brunch at a restaurant or soak up a hangover with eggs and waffles at Leo’s.

Burnetts: Cheap vodka available in a mind-blowing number of flavors, from citrus to hot cinnamon.

Case race: Two teams race to finish a case of beer. More difficult than it sounds.

Day-Glo: Dance party that comes through the city once a year where party-goers are blasted with fluorescent paint.

DFMO: Dance-floor make-out. Often facilitated by beer goggles.

Floorcest: When two floormates hook up. Can be earthshattering for fragile freshman groups.

Jungle juice: A mysterious blend of alcohol and juice that can be surprisingly potent. Proceed with caution.

Kegger: A party with a keg (or two) of beer. Georgetown no longer limits how many kegs of-age students can have for parties on campus.

Kegs & Eggs: A less classy brunch where you consume large amounts of beer and eggs. Popular on gamedays.

Natty: Short for Natural Light, a cheap beer consumed by students looking to save a buck. Easily bought in bulk (see below), making it a party staple.

Natty Caddy: A cart that carries three cases of Natty.

Safeway: Grocery store on Wisconsin Avenue. All Safeways in the District have their own nickname; the Georgetown location is known as “Social Safeway.”

Pregame: To drink before you go out in order to ensure a baseline level of alcohol consumption and avoid running hefty bar tabs.

Vittles: Short for Vital Vittles, the Corp’s grocery store in Leavey Center. If it’s not alcohol, they probably have it somewhere in stock.

Postgame: To hang around with your friends after the party and continue to drink. May include cheap pizza.

Waterfront: The area adjacent to the Potomac running parallel to K Street. Good for runs and romantic walks.

Completed significant renovations in 2011.

Wisey’s: Short for Wisemiller’s, the sandwich store across the street from East Campus. Most well known for the Chicken Madness, Hot Chick, and chocolate-chip and Oreo cookies.

Yates: Short for Yates Field House, the gym on campus located behind the business school. Offers everything from yoga and boxing classes to ping pong tables and intramural sports.

Membership is automatic for students.

Rager: A crazy party with dancing, overflowing alcohol and many DFMOs. Sexiled: To be exiled from one’s room while one’s roommate is getting some action.

TAs: Teaching assistants, deployed on many intro classes. Get to know them — they have more sway than you think.

Walk of Shame: The act of walking home the morning after.

Yopro: Young urban professional. Known as “yuppie” by older generations, but many millenials prefer this term.

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men’s basketball “A rebuilding year” and “lowered expectations” are words the Georgetown men’s basketball team has gotten used to hearing before the last couple of seasons.

They’re also words the team has gotten used to defying.

The graduation of starters Chris Wright, Austin Freeman and Julian Vaughn cast a long shadow over the expectations for the 2011-2012 season, but seniors Jason Clark and Henry Sims stepped up, sharpshooting junior Hollis Thompson scored when it counted and the Hoyas ended the season ranked No. 15 in the nation.

Despite the surprise success, the next year’s expectations were similarly muted. Clark, Sims and Thompson were gone, and the team, lacking a senior, appeared to be destined for an unspectacular season.

And while a first-round NCAA tournament exit may have dampened the reputation of the 2012-2013 season, the highs — picking up the regular-season Big East title in the last year of the league as we know it, finishing up the year ranked No. 8, closing the Carrier Dome on the back of the transcendent Otto Porter Jr. — leave no doubt that the season was a success.

That being said, the usual chorus of naysayers may actually be on point this year. The loss of Porter to the team (if not the city and arena) hurts the team more than any loss in recent memory, even if he and transfer Brandon Bolden are the only departures.

While Coach John Thompson III’s system doesn’t require a star player to succeed, having one — especially of Porter’s caliber — is always an advantage.

Junior Greg Whittington, who missed conference play last year due to academic ineligibility, was set to take over Porter’s role as the team’s go-to scorer until he tore his left ACL in practice. This puts pressure on guards Markel Starks, a senior, and D’Vauntes

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Smith-Rivera, a sophomore, to pick up more of the scoring load than they may have anticipated.

Inside, senior Nate Lubick will look to showcase his impressive court vision at forward, while the Mikael Hopkins, who started at center in a shakey season last year, may have the chance to play more in his natural position.

This — and perhaps the success of the entire season — depends on if the Hoyas are ready at center. UCLA transfer Josh Smith showed flashes of brilliance in the summer, league but it’s unclear if his conditioning issues and year off will leave him rusty.

It’s unclear when Smith will be eligible to suit up; most expect somewhere mid-season.

Look for junior Jabril Trawick, whose aggressive defense needs to be compounded by an uptick in offensive production.

While Georgetown has plenty of excellent defenders, the loss of Whittington hurts the team tremendously, as his long arms and quickness make him a menace on the perimeter.

While the team has largely stayed the same from last year, the league around it has not.

Even with exciting new league members Creighton, Xavier and Butler, the new Big East is not the basketball powerhouse that it once was, with the holdovers coming largely from the old league’s basement.

Worst of all, however, is the orange hole in the conference where Syracuse once was. It has yet to be announced if the two will have a non-conference matchup this year.

This year marks the beginning of a new era in Georgetown basketball, and while it’s exciting to see a hoops-centric conference in a football-dominated national landscape, the competition is undoubtedly a step down.

But it is still Georgetown basketball. It is a still Verizon Center. And it is still a season when the naysayers may once again be proven wrong.

hoya saxa Women’s Basketball

Although Georgetown is best known for its men’s basketball squad, the women’s basketball team has knocked around in the Big East as well, reaching the Sweet 16 two years ago. After former Head Coach Terri Williams-Flournoy left for Auburn, longtime assistant Keith Brown has led the rebuilding process in the top job. That process will most likely continue this winter, as standout guard Sugar Rodgers graduated and was selected in the second round of the WNBA Draft.

Men’s Soccer

The Hoyas have had tremendous success in recent years under Head Coach Brian Wiese, who led the team all the way to the national final last year, where Georgetown fell to Indiana. Despite graduating five seniors, the Hoyas return standouts Steve Neumann and Brandon Allen and also boast a tested goalkeeper in Tomas Gomez. With a highly touted recruiting class, the Blue and Gray can expect another successful season this fall.

Women’s Soccer

While Georgetown’s men reached the College Cup last season, the women’s squad wasn’t far behind, making it to the NCAA tournament’s second round. Junior Daphne Corboz — a first-team All-American and the Big East offensive player of the year last season — is poised for an even better 2013. With Head Coach Dave Nolan able to work with all but two of last year’s starters, a deeper run in the tournament is a definite possibility.

Football

The Blue and Gray may have inspired Georgetown’s fight song, but they have proved less than inspiring on the field. Failing to build on 2011's surprise success, last year’s squad was plagued by injuries at the quarterback position, which saw four different Hoyas start over the course of the year. Senior Aaron Aiken is likely to solidify his grasp on the starting spot, but the rest of Georgetown’s offense — and defense — will also need to take a step forward if the team wants to take the Patriot League in 2013.

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georgetown: a history Facts & Figures Motto Utraque Unum Undergraduates 7,550 Rhodes Scholars 23 Endowment $1.142 billion First Year of Coeducation 1969 Big East Titles Won (Men’s Basketball) 7 Capacity, Verizon Center 18,398

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When you walked through the front gates for the first time, the first thing you saw was probably a giant, seated statue. You didn’t know who it was at first, but soon enough your chipper tour guide told you that the man overlooking O Street was John Carroll, founder of Georgetown and the first Catholic Bishop in America.

But after learning his name, you were probably more interested in learning about the dining hall food and the best freshman dorm than Georgetown’s history. That’s why we’ve put together an overview of Georgetown’s past 224 years.

Though Georgetown was founded in 1789, the first classes weren’t held until 1792. Then, after receiving the first federal university charter from Congress, the university granted its first two bachelor’s degrees in 1817.

In the 1800s, Georgetown ran into a few challenges — namely, the Civil War. Because of the school’s location in Washington, D.C., students dropped out to serve in both the Union and Confederate forces.

Enrollment dropped to only 17 students between 1859 and 1861, and university buildings served as temporary hospitals and lodging for soldiers. President Abraham Lincoln spoke to Union troops from the steps of Old North in 1861 — one of 14 presidents, including Barack Obama, to speak from the venue — and at the end of the war, Georgetown chose

blue and gray as its colors to signify unity between Union and Confederate soldiers returning to campus.

Throughout the next century, Georgetown expanded its educational offerings, forming the School of Medicine in 1851, the Law School in 1870, the School of Nursing in 1903, the School of Foreign Service in 1919 and the School of Business Administration in 1957. THE HOYA published its first issue in 1920.

In that time, Fr. Patrick Healy, S.J., served as the first president of Georgetown with African-American heritage — or any major university in the United States — from 1873 to 1882, though his mixed-race ancestry only came to light in the 1960s. During World War II, Georgetown housed the Army Specialized Training Program, a federal effort to recruit junior officers from universities. In 1969, Georgetown began to accept women to all of its schools after first limiting them to the School of Nursing and other select programs.

Throughout the next few decades, Georgetown grew from an all-white, all-male, all-Catholic local school to a coed, diverse and internationally recognized university.

University President John J. DeGioia became the first layperson to lead Georgetown in 2001, and over the past decade, the school has grown to be the university you’re entering today.

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around the neighborhood 13

Many students salivate over Wingo’s, and speedy delivery service makes this O Street restaurant even more enticing.

Wingo’s claims to have been a favorite of former President George H.W. Bush and his staff. Order far in advance for service on Super Bowl Sunday.

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An entire New Student Guide could be devoted to The Tombs. From the 99 Days Club to trivia nights on Tuesdays, The Tombs has established itself as the preeminent bar for upperclassmen.

Celebrating your 21st birthday there is a rite of passage for Georgetown students.

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At Wisey’s, the last few years have seen the emergence of the Hot Chick, a chicken finger sandwich that has arguably eclipsed the shop’s celebrated Chicken Madness in popularity.

Just several years ago, such a statement would have been considered blasphemous.

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Cafe Milano may be out of the price range of most students, but it’s known to attract a who’s who of District insiders, from diplomats to politicians. A foiled bomb plot in 2011 with ties to Iran was thought to have targeted Cafe Milano in a scheme to assassinate the Israeli ambassador to the United States.

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eating out

Quick Eats

Coffee, Tea and Dessert

These are a Georgetown student’s go-to spots for a quick meal. While chains like Five Guys and Chipotle are acceptable options for the quick and cheap, here are some potentially less-familiar eateries to suit your cravings.

You’ve probably already heard of Georgetown Cupcake, but the neighborhood has a whole lot more to offer in baked goods than what you’ve seen on TV. Check out these establishments if you’re looking for something to satisfy your appetite in between meals.

Booeymonger specializes in quality, filling subs that won’t break the bank. Five-dollar pitchers of beer for weekday happy hour also make Booey’s a popular after-class hangout.

Saxbys is a smaller coffee shop and popular off-campus study spot. Try one of its specialty lattes on a colder day, and sample the frozen yogurt for a sweet tooth fix.

Wisemiller’s, located just across from Walsh, is perfect for a quick sandwich or snack. Check Wisey’s out and decide if you’re Team Chicken Madness or Team Hot Chick — students are perpetually debating about which of these sandwiches reigns supreme.

Ching Ching Cha offers a complete menu for a tea aficionado but features plenty of options for a less experienced patron. The laid-back Chinese tea house is also a cozy study spot, with filtered sunlight a welcome alternative to Lau’s cavernous levels.

Wingo’s offers low-priced wings in a variety of flavors, from classic spicy buffalo to Parmesan garlic. Despite its name, Wingo’s has a diverse menu; the chili cheese fries get particularly good marks. If you know the word of the day (found on Wingo’s Facebook page), your order is 50 percent off on Wednesdays.

Baked and Wired is arguably the best cupcake shop in Georgetown and offers some stellar caffeinated beverages to boot. While all of the oversized options are delicious, try something outside your comfort zone instead of the usual red velvet.

Sweetgreen, founded by three recent Georgetown alumni, is salad heaven; the quality of the ingredients guarantees you won’t go wrong no matter what you order. Try the Kale Caesar salad for a healthier spin on the classic and the fro-yo for a sweet finish.

Kitchen No. 1, with its large portions and inexpensive dishes, is your first choice for Chinese take-out. It has delicious dumplings and a tasty General Tso’s chicken.

Quick Pita is open late — 3:30 a.m. on weekend nights and 1:45 a.m. otherwise — and will satisfy your late-night craving for Middle Eastern fare. The Special Sandwich, with large portions and inexpensive dishes, is worthy of its title.

You’ll be surprised how often late-night weekend joints like Quick Pita come in handy.

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Thomas Sweet features delicious ice cream and frozen yogurt made from high-quality ingredients with a range of delicious toppings. Definitely worth the short trek up Wisconsin Avenue.

GUidance Pizza places in the surrounding neighborhood are a sensitive subject for many Georgetown students. First the closure of Philly P’s in 2010, then Tuscany Cafe this past summer. Many wonder what, if anything, can fill the void left by these beloved pizzerias.

Splurge-Worthy Spots

Student Favorites

These more upscale establishments are useful for when your parents are in town (or when you just want to treat yourself after a particularly stressful week).

Whether it’s for a weekend meal with a large group of friends or a more private affair with that special someone, these casual sit-down eateries offer a vibrant atmosphere and tried-and-true dishes to satisfy your palate.

Filomena Ristorante is homey yet elegant, with dishes that make you feel like you have your own Italian grandparent whipping up something special. You really can’t go wrong with any of the classics on the menu.

Bodega is a tapas bar good for sharing a more casual meal.

The garlic shrimp is impeccably marinated and cooked, but if you’re looking for something heartier, split an order of paella. Be sure to get the sangria if you’re here for happy hour.

Das Ethiopian, with its classy vibe, is a solid choice to sample D.C.’s famous Ethiopian fare. Scoop up some beef key wot or marinated veggies with delicately spongy, slightly sour injera bread on a platter to share. Admittedly, Georgetown isn’t the best place to try this type of cuisine — head to U Street to sample something a little bit closer to the real deal.

Rasika West End, sister to Penn Quarter’s Rasika, is one of the most acclaimed — and busiest — restaurants in the city.

Come here for authentic Indian cuisine from all parts of the country and the trendy ambiance.

Cafe Milano often sees famous politicians and diplomats in its dining room, so if you’re willing to pay the exorbitant prices, you may find yourself sitting next to a member of Congress. The fare is classic Italian; try the carpaccio and a light pasta dish.

1789 is another frequent spot for powerful people closer to campus. The crowd is as close to the Georgetown stereotype as you can get, and jackets are required for men.

Have the decadent lamb or scallops as your meal to suit the mood.

The Tombs is the place alumni ask you about when they learn where you go to school. With a preppy feel and hearty dishes, the underground (literally) eatery is more than just everyone’s favorite Georgetown bar — the burgers and chili are some of the best in the area.

Tackle Box offers fresh seafood with delicious sauces, not to mention a generous happy hour. Grab a spot upstairs for table service and some prime M Street people-watching.

Thunder Burger & Bar is great for when you’re craving a juicy quarter-pounder with generous toppings. The selection extends way beyond beef — the bison burger is particularly recommended. If you’re not in the mood for a burger, the menu has a number of other scrumptious options.

Peacock Café, if you’re willing to pay a few extra dollars, is the best option for weekend brunch. They have a pleasant outdoor seating area, but you should be prepared to wait for a table. Try the Peacock Eggs Chesapeake, made with crabmeat, for an indulgent treat.

Los Cuates is your typical Mexican eatery. With popular sizzling fajita platters and strong margarita pitchers, this place is great for small groups; just try not to fill yourself up too much on the delicious chips and salsa.

Mai Thai is popular for its reasonably priced but large portions and flexible seating for large groups. If you’re eyeing the Pad Thai, go with the Drunken Noodle instead for its spicier, more flavorful kick. Your entree is free on your birthday.

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errands

Groceries

Shipping

Dry Cleaning

Safeway From fresh produce to frozen pizza, Safeway, the largest conventional supermarket in the area, has every food-related product you’ll need — and more. Three years after extensive renovations, the market still looks great, and its selection is unmatched. Although the walk up Wisconsin is pretty, it’s not as fun on the way back when you need to carry your grocery bags — take the Wisconsin Avenue GUTS bus instead, which stops in front of Epicurean.

1855 Wisconsin Ave. NW

FedEx Office Printers in Lau not quite advanced enough for your big presentation?

FedEx Office offers comprehensive printing and copying capabilities to ensure everything runs smoothly.

But that’s not all you can find here — it can supply everything from custom signs to passport photos. The usual shipping company options, like packing, are also available.

3329 M St. NW

GT Quality Cleaners Quick and inexpensive, GT Quality Cleaners is a convenient way to avoid burning your favorite shirt on the ironing board, and if that suit isn’t fitting as well as you’d like, you can get it altered here. Customer service, however, has received mixed reviews, so consider exploring other options.

3345 Prospect St. NW

UPS Store It doesn’t get any more convenient than Georgetown’s UPS Store, which can be found in Poulton Hall directly outside the front gates. In addition to providing packing and shipping services, the UPS Store is also a good place to get office supplies and stamps.

1419 37th St. NW

Hairstyling

Trader Joe’s Just over the Rock Creek Parkway in Foggy Bottom, Trader Joe’s emphasizes easy-to-prepare and inexpensive products, making it the ideal place for college students to shop for food. Its large selection of microwavable meals are great for those times you don’t want to make the trek to Leo’s but would rather not order pizza or Chinese food again. Trader Joe’s may makes eating well easy, but that doesn’t make getting there any less difficult — catching the Circulator heading to Dupont Circle is your best bet on the way down M Street, while taking a ride on the WMATA 32 or 36 bus is the most convenient way back.

1101 25th St. NW

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Pharmacy CVS From vitamins and Advil to prescription drugs, CVS — open 24 hours — can provide whatever you need when under the weather. This extends beyond the health sphere; stop by if you’re running low on shampoo, pretzels or anything else you can think of.

1403 Wisconsin Ave. NW

Georgetown Hairstyling A quintessential men’s barber shop can be found just two blocks from the front gates. A basic cut is $23, and it accepts both appointments and walk-ins. It’s one of the few places in Georgetown where residents and students interact, and the barbers make a point of trying to learn your name.

1329 35th St. NW O Salon Across the street from Wingo’s may not be where you’d expect to find a high-quality hair salon, but that’s exactly what you’ll get from O Salon.

If you only trust the person who cuts your hair at home, this could be the place that finally causes you to cut ties with your local salon. It may be pricy, but for that special occasion, O Salon is your best bet.

3212 O St. NW

exercise Yates Field House Walk

Run

Bike

Hike

If you’re someone who just wants to get in his or her 45 minutes of elliptical time while reading a magazine — and there’s no shame in that — then Yates is the place for you. It’s pretty mediocre as far as atmospherics go but perfectly satisfactory in terms of equipment: a few dozen cardio machines, a weight room and a 200-meter indoor track. As an added bonus, the walk up the hill to get there is a workout in its own right The C&O Canal Path and Capital Crescent Trail Walk

Run

Bike

Hike

The gravel canal path and paved Capital Crescent Trail run roughly parallel to each other along the Potomac for about three miles before the CCT splits off and curves upward toward Bethesda.

Each is a haven for D.C.’s walkers, runners and bikers, an exceptionally friendly lot who will smile as they pass you and occasionally even match your pace for a quick conversation.

Both trails are pretty well shaded, but the canal path can get especially humid and buggy in the summer.

The National Mall and Tidal Basin Walk

Run

Bike

Hike

Some things about living in Washington can get old pretty quickly — the humidity, the politics, the joke of a subway system — but a sunrise run around the monuments is not one of them. Hitting the Mall early will ensure you avoid the crush of tourists, and all the white marble looks especially impressive in the early morning light. It’s four miles to the Lincoln Memorial and back, five if you loop around the Washington Monument and seven to do a full loop of the Monument and the Tidal Basin.

This is an exceptionally pretty route in the spring, when D.C.’s famous cherry blossoms are in full bloom, though this is also the time when you’re most likely to accidentally run into a tourist.

Rock Creek Park Walk

Run

Bike

Hike

This narrow strip of woods and roadway bisects the city, running from the Lincoln Memorial up to Silver Spring. If you stick to the main path, you’ll be running near traffic for most of your workout, but the further north you get, the more room there is to explore some of the trails less travelled. A warning: This trail can get suprisingly crowded.

Great Falls Park Walk

Run

Bike

Hike

Though it’s only about 15 miles from D.C., Great Falls Park feels refreshingly far removed from the hustle and bustle of city life. Straddling the Potomac on both the Virginia and Maryland sides, the park offers plenty of trails for everyone from the most avid hiker to someone seeking just a gentle stroll. The most famous destination is the Billy Goat Trail, which features unparalelled views of the Potomac and plenty of rock scrambling.

It’s a 30-minute drive to get there, but you can also take public transportation if you don’t mind walking two miles to the park from Potomac, Md. Outdoor Education Walk

Run

Bike

Hike

For the real adventurers out there, Georgetown’s Outdoor Education program organizes hiking, camping, rock climbing and ski trips throughout the semester. They’re a cool crowd, but you can also rent Outdoor Ed equipment if you’d rather go camping on your own.

Shenandoah National Park, a frequent destination, is only a two-hour drive from D.C. and boasts some of the best hiking and views in the region.

Down Dog Yoga Although Yates offers free classes, an increasingly popular option among yoga aficionados is Down Dog Yoga, located next to Dean & DeLuca just off M Street.

Down Dog holds classes four or five times a day, good for any schedule. The studio is heated to around 95o F to ensure that you’ll sweat when taking part — though this is already guaranteed by the intensity of the sessions. Just starting out? Most of Down Dog’s classes are open to all levels, and they offer unlimited classes for $50 your first month.

You wouldn’t guess it from looking at all the men and women in business suits flooding Farragut Square on a weekday morning, but D.C. is actually an athletic city — and Georgetown is no exception. Whether you’re a runner, biker, hiker or just someone who enjoys a brisk walk, the District and its surroundings offer a wealth of opportunities to work up a good sweat.

GUidance Basketball season tickets went digital last year, giving ticket holders the opportunity to transfer their ticket for a given game to another student online. Although most freshmen invest in the season package, savvy and selective fans who can only attend a few games each year rely on scalping.

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4 1

d.c. colleges The District is seldom thought of as a college town, but with eight major universities with a combined student body that makes up one-sixth of the city’s population, it’s clear that Washington is a major academic hub.

The George Washington University

With more than 10,000 undergraduates and a top-25 law school, The George Washington University in nearby Foggy Bottom is Georgetown’s closest peer in D.C. Although GW lacks much of a centralized campus, you’re likely to encounter plenty of Colonials on a night out in the city. Looking for GW on the U.S. News & World Report college rakings? You won’t find it — the school admitted in 2012 to misreporting admissions data, causing U.S. News to remove GW from its rankings.

Howard University

Howard University is one of the most prestigious historically black colleges and universities, or HBCUs, in the country.

Known for its rich tradition (especially regarding the civil rights movement) and vibrant student life, Howard’s homecoming draws over 100,000 people and features some of the most festive celebrations — from a parade to multiple concerts with starstudded performances — in the District.

American University

American University can be enigmatic for Georgetown students, and the Tenleytown campus can make American seem a bit isolated. The Methodist school is known for passionate aspiring politicos — The Princeton Review designated American as the most politically active student body last year, a distinction to which many Georgeotwn students took exception.

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Gallaudet University

If you took a tour of Kendall Green, Gallaudet’s beautiful campus, you probably wouldn’t notice anything unusual. That’s because, despite serving the deaf and hard of hearing, Gallaudet offers a familiar college experience. The school of more than 1,800 undergraduates competes in Division III NCAA sports; its football team originated the huddle to avoid having hand signals identified by opponents.

The Catholic University of America

The Catholic University of America is considered to have a more conservative religious identity than Georgetown. The previous two popes visited the campus in Brookline, a neighborhood known as “Little Rome” for its numerous Catholic institutions.

More than 80 percent of its undergraduates identify as Catholic, compared to about 40 percent at Georgetown.

Trinity Washington University

Serving until 2004 as a Catholic women’s college, Trinity Washington University is located adjacent to the Catholic University. Trinity attracts many of its students from the D.C. area.

The University of the District of Columbia

UDC is the only public university in Washington. Located in North Cleveland Park, UDC students almost exclusively commute to campus. The university suffers from many of the problems found in the District’s public school system and has a graduation rate of around 10 percent.

transit

One of your best friends when it comes to getting around is your phone. Google Maps and Hopstop are two mobile applications that can help you figure out how to get from point A to B via Metro or bus. Another necessity is a SmarTrip card, which will save you money and time. SmarTrip cards are sold at some Metro stations but can also be picked up at CVS and other retailers. They cost $10 but come preloaded with $5, and you can use them on Metro and the bus. Because you have to pay $1 extra per trip if you use a paper fare card on the Metro, get your SmarTrip card as soon as possible.

Metro

Metro has five lines that take you to destinations across the city. The university runs shuttles (GUTS buses) that serve the Rosslyn (Blue and Orange lines) and Dupont (Red line) Metro stops. While the bus will get you where you need to go on the weekdays, the shuttle runs infrequently on Saturdays and doesn’t run at all on Sundays. If you’re ever wondering where the bus is, you can track the GUTS bus on the NextGUTS app within the Georgetown mobile app. If you can’t wait for the GUTS bus or if it’s a weekend, you can cross the Key Bridge to Rosslyn, which will take about 15 minutes, or walk to the Foggy Bottom stop (Blue and Orange lines) at The George Washington University’s campus down M Street.

Bus

You can also catch a bus right next to campus. The G2, which goes to Howard University, stops outside the front gates, while the D2 and D6, which leave from Reservoir Road by the Georgetown hospital, go to Dupont Circle and the Stadium-Armory Metro stop, respectively. You can also catch the 32, 36 and the Circulator buses from Wisconsin Avenue and M Street. The 32 and 36 take you into the heart of downtown D.C. via Pennsylvania Avenue, and the Circulator, which, at $1, is your cheapest public transportation option, has lines that go from Georgetown to Union Station and Rosslyn to Dupont.

Georgetown also has weekend night shuttles that go to Burleith, West Georgetown and M Street on Thursday through Saturday and to Adams Morgan and Dupont Circle on Friday and Saturday. Service begins at 10 p.m. and ends at 3 a.m.

Taxi

New D.C. taxi regulations require all cabs to have credit card readers by the end of August, so if you forget to bring cash on your way to Union Station, you’re no longer in much of a bind. It’s still not a bad idea, however, to carry money with you, especially if you plan on splitting a cab with friends.

Taxis often lurk for patrons by the front gates, but if you need to catch a cab early in the day or need to get one at a specific time, your best bet is to call for one ahead of time. Apps such as Uber and Hailo can also help you get a taxi if none is close to campus, and all of their vehicles accept credit cards, which you can program into the app and then use your phone to pay.

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boogie nights D.C. certainly isn’t Manhattan or Miami, but it’s still a cosmopolitan city with vibrant nightlife. If you expect to see the sun rise from a rooftop bar or have your cover waived because you look especially fetching, you’ll be disappointed: the going-out culture is straightlaced, and everything shuts before 3 a.m. But between Dupont Circle, Adams Morgan and the U Street Corridor, you’re sure to find plenty of places to keep entertained when Georgetown bars get old, house parties get tiresome or the Department of Public Safety gets too aggressive in breaking them up.

As a tourist, Georgetown would probably be your last nightlife destination in the city, but because it’s so close to campus, its bars and clubs are among your peers’ favorite hangouts. If Georgetown had a flagship bar, it would definitely be The Tombs. Situated only a block from the front gates, the underground nauticalthemed bar is the only destination for students celebrating their 21st birthdays, probably because of the famous head-stamping ritual and birthday-cake-flavored shots. Just a few blocks from the front gates stands Rhino Bar and Pumphouse, a mammoth establishment that looks and feels a lot like a huge college house party most Friday and Saturdays. And for those in search of a clubbing experience at spitting distance from the dorms, Modern, located just a few doors down from Rhino, is an uninspired but popular go-to. By late 2014, the New South Student Center will be home to the first on-campus pub since Leavey Pub, successor to the storied Healy Pub, closed in 1994.

Straying from Georgetown is recommended for a taste of D.C.’s best nightlife. Quite possibly the city’s best-kept secrets are its rooftop bars: open and airy in the hot summer and fall months but cozy and warm with space lamps and torches in colder months. Eighteenth Street Lounge in Dupont and Marvin on U Street are both examples of D.C.’s finest rooftops. But the P.O.V. Lounge, found at the summit of the W Hotel near Penn Quarter, commands some of the most breathtaking views of the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial in the city, the whole experience made even more unique by the delicious cocktails and diverse range of music. Madam’s Organ, located in — you guessed it — Adams Morgan, has a great rooftop too, but its real appeal lies in its four stories of dance floors, each with a different vibe, and daily live music.

Due to city’s large population of young professionals year round and college interns in the summers, another indispensable D.C. drinking activity is happy hour. Most happy hours run from 5 to 7 p.m., but there are also some that run from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., like at Bossa, located right next to Madam’s Organ, with its delicious caipirinhas and mojitos. Others have extended hours, such as Rhino’s 5-to-9 offering on Fridays. Also close to campus, New Orleans-themed Bayou in Foggy Bottom is another after-class favorite. And Chadwicks, located across from the Washington Harbour, claims to be the only D.C. establishment to offer a happy hour seven days a week, including from 4 p.m. until close on Tuesdays.

The classic clubbing experience is done well enough in the District. Some classic bottle service and high-heel hangouts are Shadow Room in Foggy Bottom, Heist in Dupont and Josephine’s, which reopened last year after a major facelift, downtown.

For a city that technically lies south of the Mason-Dixon line, D.C.’s gay and lesbian club scene is impressive. Town Danceboutique, found near U Street, has long been the college favorite for LGBT clubbing because it is 18+ on Fridays, but its rival Cobalt has started opening its doors to under-21 patrons on Thursdays, adding a great option to the scene. Nellie’s Sports Bar, also on U Street, offers hilarious karaoke nights, a more relaxed vibe and a fabulous rooftop all nights of the week. And Number 9, with a two-for-one happy hour on weeknights, is a more upscale option for the LGBTQ scene.

A word of caution: the drinking age is, after all, 21, and it’s strictly enforced in the District, for better or for worse. Bouncers won’t hesitate to reject IDs they think are fake, nor will they hesitate to get the police involved. Be smart about where you go and what you do.

Adams Morgan

A hotbed of food and nightlife, Adams Morgan is also one of the most diverse neighborhoods in Washington. Centered around 18th Street, Adams Morgan is the go-to location for any type of cuisine, from Ethiopian to Caribbean.

To get a feel for the neighborhood, try Adams Morgan Day. Held on the second Sunday of September, the street festival features live music, exotic food, free dance lessons and even Chinese lion dancers. For a specialized culinary experience, venture to The Grill From Ipanema. The family-owned Brazilian restaurant offers traditional dishes with a special focus on the country’s history as told through food. A more casual but equally delicious choice is Amsterdam Falafel. The student favorite packs each falafel with spice and offers more than 20 toppings and sauces. Plus, the restaurant is perfect for a college student’s budget.

Tryst, a small cafe with all-day brunch, smoothies, comfort food and a bar, is everything a coffee shop should be. Whether you’re searching for a new study spot after finally ditching Lau or simply want a latte that’s not overly sweetened and/or bitter, Tryst is a gem.

Tryst’s sister restaurant, The Diner, is open 24/7. Craving omelets or bread pudding French toast for dinner? In the mood for short ribs at 7 a.m.? The Diner is your answer.

Adams Morgan is a stellar shopping destination, too. Mercedes Bien Vintage offers consignment vintage clothes and accessories, specializing in those from the ’50s and ’60s. Crooked Beat Records, a true treat to music lovers, has remained faithful to vinyl and features in-store shows by lesser-known artists.

Dupont Circle

Dupont Circle, closer to campus than Adams Morgan, is a mecca for locally grown food and exercise. Freshfarm Market, open on weekends, has been hailed as one of the top farmers’ markets in the country and features over 40 vendors hawking everything from produce to soap. Take a break from the market to get your savasana on at one of the many yoga studios in the neighborhood — Bikram Yoga, Epic Yoga DC and Yoga District are all great options and even better excuses to get off campus.

Switch up your brunch routine at Darlington House with warm donut holes with caramel and cinnamon dipping sauces or smoked salmon benedict. Sweet Diablo, a Portuguese bakery and cafe, serves traditional desserts like egg tarts and dark chocolate cakes, which are naturally gluten-free. Stop by for a quick coffee and panini for lunch, too.

Along Massachusetts Avenue sits Embassy Row, where flags denote each embassy’s country. Embassy Row is the hub of Halloween bustle, where you’ll have the opportunity to visit each embassy and trick or treat. On other days of the year, embassies will sometimes have events that are open to the public; keep an eye out for those opportunities.

Anderson House, now home to the Society of the Cincinnati, is a preserved tribute to the turn of the century and Gilded Age Washington. Visitors can take tours through the house itself and the attached museum; the library contains texts dating back to the Revolution.

End your day at Kramerbooks, one of several intriguing bookstores in the area. The independent bookseller, open until 1 a.m. during the week and 24/7 on weekends, also contains a full cafe and restaurant, Afterwords. When Friday night rolls around, try Cafe Japone.

The Japanese restaurant/dive bar offers reasonably priced sushi and sake, but the real draw is karaoke.

neighborhoods Capitol Hill

Foggy Bottom

Capitol Hill isn’t just for power-hungry staffers and interns — it’s also a great place for people who are, you know, actually hungry. And you might just run into your congressman while you’re out and about.

Eastern Market is one of the city’s real gems, and you’d be doing yourself a disservice if you didn’t make it out there a few times a year. On the weekends, there’s a flea market and farmers market outside of the building, but throughout the week you'll find even more fruits and vegetables, delicious baked goods, intricate pastas and delicious crepes inside.

Fine Sweet Shop and Market Lunch are the ones responsible for those top-notch baked goods and breakfast foods. Buy birthday presents, make a special dinner or just see a side of the city you may have overlooked.

Nearby, former “Top Chef” competitor Spike Mendelsohn runs two booming restaurants. We the Pizza serves up classic pies with inventive twists — the white pizza has fontina cheese on it, the mushroom slice is embellished with thyme.

Or you could go all out and get barbecue pizza topped with pulled pork.

Good Stuff Eatery, which recently opened in Georgetown, has already made its mark on Capitol Hill after opening only five years ago. Enjoy one of the amazing toasted marshmallow, caramel, berry or malt milkshakes, a sumptuous burger or country fries. Get the Prez Obama burger, covered in cheese, bacon and mayo, or try something healthier like the Michelle Melt, which substitutes a regular patty for a turkey burger.

When you want to take a break from indulging in all that food, head over to Capitol Hill Books, a used bookstore on C Street piled high with amazing reads. Drama nerds ought to visit the Folger Shakespeare Library and see a play at its on-site theater.

Looking to bump into your representative? There’s always the Capitol itself and its office buildings, where you can catch a congressional hearing — most of which are open to the public. If you’d like to catch him or her in a less formal setting, your best bet is to try Charlie Palmer Steak.

A 20-minute walk away, this neighborhood should not be the playground of GW students alone. Named for the fog that often blows in from the river, you'll find something to do in this bustling neighborhood every day of the week.

First, this historic area is home to the Kennedy Center, where you can catch national tours of musicals as well as shows and concerts meant just for that stage. Use your student ID to get a discount on tickets, or see a show at the Millennium Stage, where it's always free. There’s also DAR Constitution Hall, the largest concert hall in D.C. The historic building has seen the likes of Bruce Springsteen, U2, the New York Philharmonic, Frank Sinatra and every president since Calvin Coolidge. This fall, you can see Dane Cook, Jack Johnson or the Weeknd, among others.

Foggy Bottom also features the Corcoran Gallery of Art. While it's not free like the Smithsonian, the gallery still has a high-end collection of artwork that’s made accessible by talented curators.

Tired of Safeway? Foggy Bottom offers the closest Trader Joe’s — just be careful what time you go to get your organic produce, or you’ll quickly find yourself surrounded by stressed-out yuppies heading home from work.

Washington Circle’s Burger Tap and Shake has, as you may have guessed, inventive burgers and shakes (and a number of beers on tap). Try the BTS shake, made with Butterfingers, Twix and Snickers, or have the Blueberry-Pomegranate for something fruity. The Apache Sweat Lodge, which contains a triple dose of heat from green chiles, pepper jack cheese and the mysterious XXX sauce, will excite your taste buds so much that Five Guys may never taste the same.

Looking for a place to get a cup of coffee and unwind? Head to M.E. Swing Coffee House to find one of the best roasts in the city. If you’re looking for something a little stronger or a place to watch your favorite New York sports teams, go to the 51st State Tavern, where they’ve got Yankees and Mets baseball, Giants and Jets football, Rangers and Islanders hockey, and Knicks and Nets basketball perpetually on its many television screens.

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U Street

Chinatown/Penn Quarter

One of the most culturally diverse and historically interesting parts of the city is the U Street corridor. Historically, it’s almost always been a cultural center for D.C.’s black community — in the 1920s, it was known as “Black Broadway,” and jazz great Duke Ellington grew up nearby. Following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., the area broke out in riots, which changed the city and the neighborhood forever.

Today’s U Street continues to be the musical center of the city as well as one of the best places to try food you can’t get anywhere else in the District.

First, the music. The two places a Georgetown student is most likely to head to see a concert are the 9:30 Club (where the headliner starts at, you guessed it, 9:30) and Black Cat. In recent years, Macklemore, Animal Collective, Sarah Bareilles, Lady GaGa and other artists have played at the 9:30 Club, while Black Cat typically gets more underground acts. Black Cat also has some awesomely nerdy happy hours where they show episodes of “Doctor Who” and “Buffy” or a Harry Potter movie. This fall, catch Bastille, Alt-J, Deerhunter, Superchunk or other acts at 9:30. Smaller venues on the corridor include U Street Music Hall, DC9 and the Velvet Lounge. If jazz is your thing, there are also a variety of historic jazz venues.

Now, the food. Ben’s Chili Bowl is a city landmark — it’s the only building in the area that survived the 1968 riots.

As the sign in the front of the store will tell you, the only people honored with free meals are the Obama family and Bill Cosby, but that hasn’t stopped other famous people from stopping by, too. Grab a chili dog, chili burger or chili fries — and don’t worry, vegetarians, they make veggie chili, veggie burgers and veggie dogs.

U Street is also the best place to indulge in authentic Ethiopian food, which is probably like nothing you’ve had before.

Instead of a fork, a giant piece of bread is your utensil; your food will come piled in the middle of it. We recommend both Dukem and Etete to get your fix of this unique cuisine.

There’s one other U Street landmark you need to visit: Busboys & Poets. This restaurant/bookstore/cafe not only has delicious food and interesting books but frequently holds open mic nights, poetry readings or events with authors.

Chinatown isn’t just where you’ll get off the Metro to head to a Georgetown basketball game at Verizon Center — it’s full of museums and restaurants that make it one of the most intricate places in the District.

The most visually striking feature of the area — besides, perhaps, the giant LCD screens attached to Verizon Center — is the Friendship Arch, a Chinese style gate built in the 1980s to symbolize friendship between Beijing and the United States. Huge, intricate and beautiful, it’s one of the last explicitly Chinese things about a neighborhood that has become increasingly gentrified.

But don’t worry, there are still a few more remnants of the old neighborhood left more than just the Chinese letters accompanying the Starbucks and Subway signs. Da Hsin Trading Co. is a traditional Chinese grocery and herbal store, but if you want someone else to make your Chinese food, go to China Boy, a hole-in-the-wall gem where you can get authentic and cheap Chinese food unlike any other restaurant in the city.

Directly across from Verizon Center are the National Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum, which exhibits portraits of famous Americans past and present — including every U.S. president — and some of the best art the nation has to offer. Like all Smithsonian museums, they’re both free.

If you’re willing to shell out some money, though, the Newseum is worth a visit. Forgive it its punny title — this huge museum is full of artifacts from throughout American history that provoke a lot of discussion on how the media cover and become interwoven in events. Don’t worry if you can’t cover the whole thing in one go — your ticket is good for two days.

The restaurant Hill Country serves some of the best barbecue in the city. Try the Longhorn Brisket Chomp and some of its amazing macaroni and cheese and wash it all down with a cool lemonade. If you’re looking for something fancier (but pricier), Chef Jose Andres’ myriad restaurants dominate the area; Jaleo has delicious tapas and Zaytinya has amazing Mediterranean fair served in small plate sizes. Something on the menu is bound to appeal.

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museums One of the great things about moving to Washington, D.C., is the wealth of artistic and cultural resources now at your disposal.

Even if you grew up locally, the freedom that comes with being a college student gives you a unique opportunity to explore the vibrant culture this city has to offer.

Smithsonian Institution Free Kruger, which will be installed until December 2014. The Freer and Sackler Galleries house an expansive collection of Asian art and serve as an interesting counterpoint to the Western art that otherwise dominates the museum system.

The National Gallery of Art, while not actually a Smithsonian museum, offers the most wide-ranging collection of art and sculpture in the region. With two wings, one featuring modern art and one featuring pre-modern art, and free admission, there’s no downside to popping in to visit this D.C. mainstay any time you want.

The easiest place to dive into D.C.’s museum scene is definitely the Smithsonian museums at the National Mall, the largest museum complex in the world. There are 11 museums along the Mall, including the National Air and Space Museum, the National Museum of Natural History and the National Museum of American History. From spaceships to missiles to dinosaurs to Michelle Obama’s 2008 Inaugural Ball gown, there’s truly something for everybody. The National Museum of the American Indian, the newest addition to the Smithsonian family, shouldn’t

be overlooked — in addition to its eyeopening exhibits, it has an amazing cafe with everything from buffalo burgers to American Indian fried desserts. The best part about these museums is that all of them are entirely free of charge.

The Smithsonian’s main art museums around the Mall are National Portrait Gallery and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. Earlier this year, the Hirshhorn, which highlights modern art, featured an amazing exhibit of art

by Chinese dissident Ai Weiwei; currently recommended is a striking, immersive installation by conceptual artist Barbara

Corcoran Gallery of Art

Phillips Collection

Dumbarton Oaks

$8 with student ID

Donation

$5 with student ID

Because the Corcoran Gallery of Art, the largest non-federal art gallery in D.C., is associated with the Corcoran College of Art and Design, it frequently presents students’ artwork alongside works by established and historically significant artists, a unique opportunity to see some of the local art created in the District. By and large, Georgetown students aren’t known for being particularly artistic, but seeing a piece by someone your age next to a masterpiece by Monet might just cause you to pick up a paintbrush yourself.

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One overlooked gem is the Phillips Collection, located two blocks away from the GUTS bus stop in Dupont Circle. Visiting the permanent collection only costs what you want to donate. Displaying the personal collection of art collector Duncan Phillips, the country’s first modern art collection has two especially noteworthy pieces: Renoir's "Luncheon of the Boating Party" and the Rothko Room, which features four canvases by the celebrated abstractionist Mark Rothko displayed in the manner he intended — hung close to the ground in a small room with low ambient lighting.

Also off the beaten path are museums like Dumbarton Oaks, a stylish home with beautifully expansive gardens. If you need a place to walk around and clear your head, there are fewer spots more scenic than here.

The Bliss family was fond of Byzantine and pre-Columbian art, and they bestowed their home to Harvard to establish a research institute that still exists today focusing the subjects. If you like shiny gold backgrounds and mosaics of Jesus with very large eyes — not to mention gorgeous Colonial Revival architecture — this museum is not one to be missed.

sports in the city

Washington Nationals • MLB

Nationals Park (Blue/Orange/Green Line – Navy Yard) The capital’s newest sports franchise has also been its most successful in recent seasons. Managed by veteran skipper Davey Johnson, the Nationals had the best record in baseball last season. The former Montreal Expos moved to the District in 2005, and their best players — ace pitcher Stephen Strasburg, 25, and slugger Bryce Harper, 20 — are among the best young stars in baseball. Unfortunately for students, discounts have evaporated as the franchise has soared up the NL East standings. Still, many Hoyas “ignite their Natitude” on fall evenings. Games against the rival Philadelphia Phillies are a particularly big draw.

Washington Redskins • NFL

FedEx Field (Blue Line – Morgan Boulevard) The Redskins snapped a skid of lean years last season with an appearance in the wild-card round of the playoffs. A fanbase long angry at the machinations of owner Dan Snyder beginninghas found a savior in quarterback Robert Griffin III. Named offensive rookie of the year last season, Griffin tore his ACL at the end of the year but is likely to return in time for the Skins’ first game this season. The long slog to Landover often keeps Georgetown students away from games, but a potent offense should make you rethink staying at home when the Redskins are in town.

Washington Wizards • NBA

Verizon Center (Red Line – Gallery Place/Chinatown) The Hoyas have long shared their home court with the National Basketball Association’s Wizards. This season, they’ll share a familiar name in former Georgetown standout Otto Porter, who stayed in the District after being drafted third overall in June’s NBA draft. Owned

by Georgetown alumnus Ted Leonsis (CAS ’77), the Wizards carry the burden of five straight losing seasons, although their 29-53 record last season was their best during that skid. Porter joins two other ’90s-born lottery picks, point guard John Wall and shooting guard Bradley Beal, on the roster. With the former Hoya’s proficiency in the paint, this might be the season when a dynamic trio emerges in Washington.

Washington Capitals • NHL

Verizon Center (Red Line – Gallery Place/Chinatown) Leonsis’ empire extends to the Washington Capitals, who have been more successful than the basketball team with which they share Verizon Center. The Capitals are anchored by the league’s leading goal-scorer, Alex Ovechkin, who notched 32 goals in the shortened 2013 season and who has earned three Hart Trophies as the NHL’s most valuable player. All of his success, though, hasn’t been enough to lift the team past the conference semifinals in recent season. With some younger players showing breakout success, especially defensively, last season, that move seems to be difficult — but in reach nonetheless.

DC United • MLS

RFK Stadium (Orange/Blue Line – Stadium-Armory) The fifth team in the District’s pro sports scene, DC United is a particular hit for Georgetown students, who enjoy the club’s various student discounts. Although the squad went to the Eastern Conference finals a season ago, injuries have plagued DC United this year, and the team’s three best players have almost never shared the pitch. The team’s coach, Ben Olsen, is young and is rebuilding for next season, when the team has a good shot of hitting its stride.

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