The Hoya Guide: Sept. 7, 2012

the guide september 7, 2012

the weekly magazine for life on the hilltop

Keeping Faith Religious Pluralism At Georgetown

Short Films Pack A Big Punch

G4

Take It From a Senior: Supreme Regrets G12

Singing Country Blues With the Avetts G15

CAMPUS this issue 8 ONE MANY FAITHS lifestyle 3 food&drink 10 arts & 12 entertainment d.c. shorts film fest | center stage

zaytinya | life beyond leo’s

“bachelorette” | avett brothers

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At a Jesuit university where crosses adorn every classroom and the majority of students are Catholic, a diverse array of religious groups have carved out a home for themselves on the Hilltop. Though non-Christian students struggle to gain access to resources and greater on-campus recognition, they say that their experiences as Muslims, Jews, Hindus, atheists and otherwise are bolstered by Georgetown’s emphasis on interfaith dialogue and Jesuit ideals.

COVER PHOTO BY ERICA WONG

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the guide Sarah Kaplan, Executive Editor Steven Piccione, Managing Editor Leonel De Velez, Photo Editor Emory Wellman, Layout Editor Emily Perkins, Copy Chief Zachary Gordon, Deputy Guide Editor Sheena Karkal, Deputy Guide Editor Charlie Long, Deputy Guide Editor Bethany Imondi, Contributing Guide Editor Sari Frankel, Deputy Photo Editor Zoe Bertrand, Deputy Layout Editor Jessica Natinsky, Deputy Layout Editor Kyle Hunter, Deputy Layout Editor Phoebe Lett, Deputy Copy Editor Hunter Main, Deputy Copy Editor Jamie Slater, Deputy Copy Editor

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MariahByrne Page 7

“To me, gallo pinto signifies more than just a plateful of awesome; it also represents the transformation of two pretty boring — and at this point, sort of stale — foodstuffs into one perfect concoction.”

omglol :/ :) :l :P saywhat?

MADE IN HEAVEN Kim K. says Kanye is her “perfect match.” Hopefully she’ll finalize her divorce soon so they can take their relationship to the next level.

MORE THAN A BLUE CRUSH Kate Bosworth announced her engagement to fiancé Michael Polish, showing off a picture of her ring.

MODEL ATHLETE Andy Roddick retires from his tennis career. His new career: Broklyn Decker’s full time husband.



ROYAL ENCOUNTERS Pippa Middleton and Chase Crawford chatted for 10 minutes while she was in NYC, proving that Gossip Girl is his real life.

“

Don’t get fat and lazy.

— MADONNA, TO FANS IN PHILLY.

”

lifestyle

Editors’ Picks GANGNAM STYLE

POLITICAL CONVENTIONS

Does anyone understand this Korean pop song and its frenetic neon music video? Psy, who displays an amazing collection of suit jackets, has some insane horse-like dance moves that we’ve been trying to master, with limited success. Expect to hear it a lot at parties this weekend; you might want to give the video a few views beforehand.

STARCASM.NET

USATODAY.COM

GOOGLE MAPS’ SELF-DRIVEN CARS

Michelle Obama killed it this past Tuesday with her speech at the Democratic National Convention, speaking of her and the president’s modest upbringings and how student loans allowed them to get college educations and have successful careers. Alternatively, at the Republican National Convention, Clint Eastwood gave a winded speech to an empty chair about his views on Obama’s follow-through, or lack thereof, on the promises he made during his last campaign.

HONEY BOO BOO CHILD

This past month, Google reported that their self-driving cars, which collect street views for Google Maps, have logged over 300,000 miles since starting two years earlier. What makes this incredible is that there have been no reported accidents where these cars were at fault. This project has opened up the viability of self-driving cars as passenger vehicles.

A past cast member of “Toddlers & Tiaras,” Alana Thompson (Honey Boo Boo Child is her self-given nickname), now has her own spin-off show, “Here Comes Honey Boo Boo.” Now, the intricacies of her everyday life are on display for the world, which continues to spread her notoriously ridiculous phrases and clips.

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Weather Underground can even send you push notifications, updating you about severe weather in your area. Using neighborhood weather stations, you’ll always have the most detailed weather report available.

ZACH GORDON Hoya Staff Writer

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ShopSavvy is a new app that allows you to scan the barcodes of anything you are contemplating buying, and it will tell you if there’s a cheaper option at another local store or online. Great for those that are more price conscious, this app is easy to use and incredibly useful, especially for active shoppers. It also offers local deals and coupons, allowing for even more savings.

9.7.12 | the guide | 3

lifestyle Celebrating the short list Local Film Festival Showcases the Little Guys Martin hussey Hoya Staff Writer

A

grieving mother drives across the desert to visit the grave of her son, recently killed in action.

Along the way, she encounters a young undocumented immigrant around the age of her dead child. Despite not sharing a common language, she befriends him, seeing her son reflected in the stranger.

This may sound like the plot of a melodramatic Hollywood film starring a beloved middle-aged actress and an up-and-coming foreign actor. It’s not.

Instead, it’s the premise of Child of the Desert, a 20-minute short film written and directed by Los Angeles-based filmmaker Iliana Sosa.

Child of the Desert is one of 140 films featured at the D.C. Shorts Film Festival, which began yesterday and runs through Sept. 16. The films are presented in 16 showcases, each of which lasts 90 minutes and features between seven and nine short films. According to D.C. Shorts founder and director Jon Gann, the festival, now in its ninth year, is the largest of its kind outside of California.

Sosa added that D.C. Shorts is distinctive because of its focus on short films.

“At a lot of film festivals, shorts are not given the same weight as features.

If you’re an aspiring filmmaker, [attending the festival is] a great way to see what other people are doing and to

improve your own work and see what works and what doesn’t.”

Gann also placed a strong emphasis on local filmmakers: 11 films in the festival feature D.C. natives as actors.

Among those is Diana El-Osta, who produced her documentary The Capital Buzz with a group of seven other filmmakers. The film focuses on the rise of urban beekeeping in the D.C. area.

El-Osta noted that D.C. provided a unique atmosphere for filmmaking.

“The opportunity to showcase the city in its springtime grandeur was wonderful. It was great for us as filmmakers to capture the city in full bloom,” she said.

The festival will showcase a variety of shorts, ranging from dramas and animated comedies to documentaries and horror stories. Yet despite the diverse genres and themes, all films share one key attribute — a full story is crammed into a movie-watching experience that will last between five and 20 minutes.

According to participants, the time constraints serve to enhance, rather than limit, the quality of stories showcased at the festival.

“The really good short films are intense from beginning to end,” said Shawn Wines, a Los Angeles-based filmmaker whose comedy High Maintenance will appear next week. “The best

COURTESY ALLEE SANGIOLO

THE CAPITAL BUZZ Urban beekeepers are rare, but this short film by Diana ElOsta brings their experiences in Washington to the masses.

4 | the guide | 9.7.12

COURTESY SHAWN WINES

HIGH MAINTENANCE This 17-minute comedy tells the story of a husband who struggles when his mother moves in. short films take you on a journey with festival includes films from 21 countries the characters, so you have to tell a full that focus on such diverse issues as race, story in a very short amount of time.” religion, disability, sexuality and age.

Fellow filmmaker Tyler Bastian, who The filmmakers in attendance at this is based out of Salt Lake City, agreed. year’s festival are as diverse as their films.

“The medium of a short film forces Some directors are experienced at makpeople to ing feature tell a great films and story and have only “The opportunity to showcase the recently entell it well.

There is tered into city in its springtime grandeur no time shorts. Othwas wonderful. It was great for to waste. ers produce And at a shorts beus as filmmakers to capture the festival like fore jumpD.C. Shorts, ing into city in full bloom.” you’re gomore ambiing to be extious proj — Diana El-Osta posed to all ects. Accordof the amazing to the ing stories very quickly,” he said. festival’s website, first-time directors are Bastian’s documentary Everything Is responsible for 65 of the films showcased Incredible chronicles the story of a po- this year. lio-stricken Honduran man attempting Mike Liu, a New York-based filmmaker to build a helicopter. whose animated comedy Shinobi Blues The program of 140 films was pared will debut at the festival, is among those down from over 850 submissions dur- making their film festival debut. ing a two-month screening process that “D.C. is my first film festival, so I’m reensured both quality and diversity of ally excited. It’s a big honor to be a part films, according to Gann. In the end, the of it and have it be my first one,” he said.

lifestyle Others, like Sosa, have achieved success in the independent film industry. Child of the Desert won best short film at the USA Film Festival in Dallas earlier this year. The film also stars accomplished indie film actress Dale Dickey, who won a Spirit Award for her work in Winter’s Bone, a 2010 film starring Jennifer Lawrence.

Child of the Desert is the latest segment of an ongoing project for Sosa, whose upbringing in El Paso, Texas — a city with significant immigrant and military communities — inspired her to explore how those groups might interact.

“I wanted to give a more humanistic approach to those issues,” she said.

Though Sosa’s work grew from a lifelong passion, other films are conceived in minutes.

“I was lying in bed at 11 o’clock one night while I was working on a feature film, and I just had an idea and wrote the script that night, and we shot it about three weeks later,” Atlanta-based filmmaker Britt Pitre said of his short Schrodinger’s Box. Many filmmakers, however, were inspired simply by their love of film as a method of telling stories. “I knew I wanted to do something funny, and I let myself think of the films that I liked growing up that were just fun comedies,” Wines said of his High Maintenance, which tells the story of a husband and wife trying to conceive when the wife’s mother moves in with them.

Just because the films are short doesn’t mean they aren’t still emotionally impactful.

COURTESY MIKE LIU “There is a lot of succinctness and beauty in a short film, and I think that audiences really SHINOBI BLUES Mike Liu’s animated work tells the of a discharged ninja who must take care of his daughter like a appreciate that,” Gann said. normal man. Hilarity ensues.

georgetown babel

Idioms for Idiots: For Those Who Could Care Less

U

ntil a few weeks ago, I had never actually used the phrase “play it by ear,” even though I’ve heard the idiom spoken by other people countless times. So when I finally included the words in conversation as I was making plans, I decided that I should probably confirm that I was saying it correctly, since I had caught some people pronouncing it as “play it by year.” Thankfully, my instincts were right, and I was spared the profound embarrassment of having walked around for years not being able to speak my native language correctly. I admit that the shame would have been mostly self perceived, because I assume other people couldn’t care less about my vernacular understanding.

Speaking of which, there are a lot of idioms used incorrectly. Although some people do this sarcastically, most probably just go with whatever they interpret or whatever they think they hear. I would guess that

some may have done a double take word already represented in an acroat the end of the previous paragraph nym, as in “PIN number” or “ATM mawhen I wrote “couldn’t care less” be- chine,” is also reasonably common.

In the case of “I could care less,” cause they’re so accustomed to hearing others misuse the expression as the error stems from some people us“could care less.” Whenever I’m talk- ing the phrase ironically. The same may be true for the ing to someone who development of “irsays that, I think, regardless,” which is “Well, technically grating to the ears that means that you and grammatically recould care a lot more, dundant. Regardless, but I’ll just smile and the misuse of these not say anything beAllie Doughty expressions gradually cause I don’t want to became popular and be that pretentious, grammar-obsessed girl who corrects is now used fairly often.

My personal favorite is the comeverybody.”

People make all kinds of idiomatic pletely botched rendition of an idiom. blunders on a regular basis. There’s I know I’m not the only kindergartenthe classic misspelling of one word er who replaced “for which it stands” within a phrase, such as “tow the in the Pledge of Allegiance with “for line.” This saying has become so Richard Stands.” Then again, six-yeargarbled over the years that both this olds have an excuse, and their malaversion and the original “toe the line” propisms aren’t really the same as a have become acceptable, despite their bunch of adults frequently miscondistinct meanings. The repetition of a struing “for all intents and purposes”

as “for all intensive purposes.”

Which brings me to my point: Idioms are called idioms for a reason, which is to say that they make no logical sense to an outside culture or group of people. When translated to another language, no one will understand what you are trying to say. Like Georgetown language students thrust into a foreign setting, to outsiders our idioms are incomprehensible. In fact, it seems fitting that the words “idiom” and “idiot” share a common root: “idios,” which originates from ancient Greece and means “one’s own” or “personal.”

Essentially, whether you could or couldn’t care less doesn’t really matter, because there’s no changing the linguistic patterns of a large population. These idioms are entrenched in our culture. “Dog-eat-dog world” or “doggie-dog world?” Same difference.

Allie Doughty is a senior in the College.

GEORGETOWN BABEL appears every other Friday in the guide.

9.7.12 | the guide | 5

lifestyle

centerstage

STAGING A REVOLUTION Country’s Oldest Theater Troupe Shines

NICOLE JARVIS Hoya Staff Writer

Emma Clark (SFS ’13) and Lorrie Damerau (COL ’13) were gogetters from the beginning. Active in theater throughout high school, the pair began auditioning for acting roles as soon as they arrived at Georgetown. Since then, the two have become active members of Mask and Bauble Dramatic Society. Now the associate and executive producers, Clark and Damerau are gearing up for a new season with a selection of shows that dare to amaze audiences.

How did you guys get involved with M&B? EC: Freshman year I auditioned for everything right away. Auditions are the very first weekend and it’s a lot to jump into as a freshman, and it’s a bit overwhelming, but I had decided I wanted to be involved in theater my whole time here. So I auditioned and got cast in the musical that was happening that fall, “Caroline or Change.”

I stayed with it because I loved the community; I loved the chance for growth and the chance to try other positions beyond just being an actor.

SPOTLIGHT What’s on your iPod now?

Emma: Every diva ever known, Coldplay, Civil Wars.

Lorrie: An embarrassing amount of musical theater.

Favorite quote?

Emma: “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” — Eleanor Roosevelt Lorrie: “Every child is an artist.

The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” — Pablo Picasso Favorite food?

Emma: Coffee ice cream.

Lorrie: I’m a foodie so this is difficult — sushi!

6 | the guide | 9.7.12

LD: I did theater all throughout high school and was always an actor, and I got to school and tried out for everything, same as Emma, and I didn’t get anything because I am a really bad actor. I took that as a sign that I should take a break from theater in college, but I was absolutely miserable without it. I knew someone from high school who was very involved in M&B and was really great in starting to get me involved.

I did a lot of our midnight theater, and I was encouraged to apply to direct the musical my sophomore year. I actually got that and have pretty much been involved with M&B every since.

What can we look forward to this season from M&B? LD: This year is very exciting for M&B because we actually have a season theme, “If You Dare.” All of our plays this season really speak to themes of growing and taking chances.

EC: We have four different projects going on with just M&B. Our first show is “The History Boys” by Alan Bennett.

It was a Tony winner back in 2006 and was also made into a movie, so it’s pretty recognizable. That show will debut in October. Then we are going on into our One-Acts Festival, which features the work of a student playwright. We also have a student-written adaptation of “Polk Street Stories,” which is about a LGBTQ neighborhood in San Francisco, co-produced with [nomadic theatre]. And our final show is the musical “Spring Awakening,” which I think a lot of people are pretty aware of. The show deals with similar issues as “The History Boys” and bookends the season with really relatable questions for the community and where we all are

REBECCA GOLDBERG FOR THE HOYA

BUILDING LASTING FRIENDSHIPS Like-minded leaders spend hours together on intricate productions, adding experience both on and off stage. in our lives right now. I think they are pretty accessible productions and are really exciting.

What has been your favorite part of being involved with theatre at Georgetown?

“Spring Awakening” covers some pretty racy material for a Catholic school, doesn’t it?

EC: I’m just going to go ahead and say the people and the relationships.

It’s such a community when you put so many hours into something, and you are all striving toward this one goal where you all have to be so open to each other, and it’s just an amazing learning process. You create these bonds that are really hard to describe and hard to find elsewhere.

LD: We have never felt stifled by this community. We have been able to put on some really edgy work and some really amazing shows that come as a complete surprise on a Catholic campus.

EC: I think the other thing that is so important about Georgetown theater is that we really learn how to use theater to create dialogue and provoke conversation among communities. So something like “Spring Awakening” can really help create this dialogue and that’s something that’s so important to us. We are going to make sure that all the advertising material has the appropriate warning so the audience doesn’t come to see “Spring Awakening” expecting “The Sound of Music.”

LD: One of my favorite things is seeing people grow as a result of Georgetown theater. What you can learn doing theater at Georgetown is amazing. I have learned so much about leadership and managing and working with people and different groups. I’ve loved watching the members of M&B grow a little bit as a result of every show and the people they become, and it’s really rewarding to know that our club can provide that for so many people.

lifestyle surviving endless summer

Spilling the Beans: The Costa Rican Staple

T

his semester, I’m studying abroad in Costa Rica. I would say that since I arrived in July, I’ve eaten rice and beans an average of 15 times a week, leaving only six meals a week when it’s not served. Before going abroad, I assumed that the American belief that Latin Americans consume an extraordinary amount of rice and beans was a stereotype. Costa Ricans, or “Ticos” in the local vernacular, however, are incredibly proud of this respected combination. The plain yet tasty staple is never served as a main dish, but rather as a side with literally every meal. After being in the country for about two months, gallo pinto — a special way of cooking the two parts together — is the only food that has been introduced to me as truly Costa Rican. I believe it.

Obviously, Costa Rica isn’t the only country that serves rice and beans, but at the very least, the meal symbolizes the time I share with my host family and my host mom’s incredible cooking.

Everything this lady makes is offthe-charts delicious. And as a girl with

an insatiable sweet tooth, I couldn’t becoming the meal I look forward to have asked to be placed in a better most because I know what’s coming home. Since I’ve been here, my host and I know it’s delicious.

To me, gallo pinto signifies more mom has made some of the best rolls I’ve ever had, cookies, at least four than just a plateful of awesome; it cakes, two types of popsicles and two also represents the transformation types of homemade ice cream. I live in of two pretty boring — and at this point, sort of stale — foodstuffs into dessert heaven.

But I digress. In addition to the one perfect concoction, like a kind incredible number of sweets piled of ugly caterpillar transforming into a beautiful butterfly. around our home, I From what I have been have never walked into able to tell, gallo pinto the kitchen without is made by cooking there being what seems the week-old rice and like a pound of rice in beans together to let the rice cooker and a the beans’ flavor really full pot of beans on MariahByrne soak into the rice. This the stove. While plain can otherwise be conrice and beans is served with lunch, dinner and the leftovers sidered leftover magic. Although, to my host mom gives me to take to be fair, all my host mom’s cooking school, gallo pinto is a special brand seem like magic to me. Honestly, I of the mixture that my host family think I’m eating better here than I reserves for one special day of the ever have, and I don’t see rice and week. Without fail, Sunday morn- beans getting old any time soon.

And, according to science, that’s ing breakfast is two scrambled eggs, half a plate of gallo pinto and a glass fine! While rice and beans are both of whatever fresh fruit juice my host rich in proteins, the two foods are mom has recently made. It is quickly considered nutritional comple-

Georgetown’s Expanding Music Scene

I

t’s a familiar sight: Healy’s Gaston Hall filled to capacity with students, staff and members of the D.C. community assembled to listen to an American politician, a foreign dignitary or even the occasional celebrity. Students count such experiences among the high points of life at Georgetown, complementing academic work that in many cases focuses on politics or international affairs.

On Friday afternoons since 2003, McNeir Auditorium — though smaller than Gaston — has also found itself packed with students, faculty members and community members looking for something a little different.

They’re assembled to listen to worldclass performers who come to campus as part of the Friday Music Series. This fall, installments of the Friday Music Series encompass genres as diverse as the Great American Songbook, medieval music and 17th- and 18-century Italian music.

“We’re standing room only,” professor Anthony DelDonna said. DelDonna, a professor in Georgetown’s music department, has coordinated the Friday Music Series for the last five years and points to a great deal of expansion during that time.

“It’s definitely grown exponentially,” he said.

DelDonna has sought to integrate the

programming of the Friday Music Series with the curriculum of the music department, an academic institution that, he is quick to note, has existed since the beginning of Georgetown’s existence as a university and today offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in American musical culture as well as a music minor and opportunities for students to participate in musical performance ensembles.

“There’s a lot of music being made here,” he said.

The debut of this year’s concert series on Sept. 21, a collaboration with the Lauinger Library Special Collections unit, will feature pianist and singer Steve Ross, performing selections from the Great American Songbook. The Friday Music Series has also collaborated with the Center for Latin American Studies to bring Brazilian guitarist Rogério Souza and his band to campus Sept. 28.

In the past, similar collaborations have served to draw in audience members from outside the Georgetown community. The first concert of the spring semester will feature members of the Washington National Opera. Though the majority of the audience at Friday Music Series concerts are typically Georgetown students, faculty and staff, DelDonna expects the opera’s appear-

ance toattract D.C. residents who do not have any connection to the university or community and who have begun to make up an increasingly large portion of the audience at Friday Music Series concerts.

DelDonna attributes the program’s recent success partly to increased publicity, which includes outreach to media publications and partly to the development of a quality program over several years. Though working with popular musicians to find time in their schedules is never easy, he believes that a reputation for quality has also aided in attracting performers. “I think word has spread among artists,” he said.

With attendance rising and a steady stream of talented artists giving concerts through the Friday Music Series and also, in some cases, continuing their work with the music department through collaborations with student groups, the series has begun moving out of its initial home in McNeir Auditorium and into larger venues for some shows, such as Dahlgren Chapel.

DelDonna hopes that a Friday Music Series performance will someday be able to grace Healy Hall.

“I’d love to fill Gaston,” he said.

ments because they provide different specific types of protein. Both foods also provide significant amounts of fiber, while beans are further full of potassium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, copper and some other stuff. I don’t totally understand all of this because I haven’t taken a biology class since freshman year of high school, but from what I can tell, I’m going to have a good metabolism, pretty solid bones and teeth, healthy blood vessels and some rocking cell tissue at the end of this semester. Couple that with my 45-minute walk to and from school every day under the scorching Central American sun — Hello, nice legs and tan! — and I’m going to be pretty hot stuff when I get back to Georgetown.

Watch out, boys.

So, dear rice and beans, thank you for keeping me full and happy, as well as making me a healthier person without really trying. I love you. Sincerely, Mariah.

Mariah Byrne is a junior in the School of Foreign Service. SURVIVING ENDLESS SUMMER appears every other Friday in

PETER BRIGHAM Hoya Staff Writer

chris bien/the hoya Eya: ensemble for medieval music

INSPIRATION Hungerford and Mondel of Ensemble for Medieval Music.

9.7.12 | the guide | 7

Finding space for faith

SHEENA KARKAL Hoya Staff Writer

I

t is 3:30 a.m., and Erva Khan (COL ’15) struggles out of bed to silence her alarm. In the murky darkness of predawn, Khan wraps a headscarf around her hair and stands facing east, preparing to begin her fajr, the dawn prayer.

COMING TOGETHER The Jewish Student Student Association shares the Makóm room with Hindu students like Jerjurikar (NHS ’13), left, and Banerjee (COL’13).

Khan is a devout Muslim and a board Association, said.

Quarters became even more cramped member of Georgetown’s Muslim Students Association. She is also one of the later in the semester, when Jewish stumany non-Christian students studying, dents decided to share Makóm with the socializing and praying at one of the na- Hindu Students Association, which had outgrown its home in McSherry Hall. tion’s best-known Catholic universities.

“JSA was really nice to share their Georgetown’s student body comprises students from a variety of faith tradi- space with us, but we’d definitely like tions. They range from Catholics, who our own place,” HSA Vice President Neha make up the vast majority of undergrad- Jejurikar (NHS ’13) said.

This situation is set to change soon, acuates, according to the Registrar’s Office, to Protestants, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, cording to a Sept. 5 email sent by Fr. KevSikhs, Mormons, Baha’is and atheists. in O’Brien, S.J., vice president for mission Life as a non-Christian student at a Catho- and ministry, to the campus community. lic, Jesuit university comes with a unique The Office of Campus Ministry is currently planning an interfaith prayer center set of challenges and benefits.

Often the most pressing issues con- to be housed in the Leavey Center, featuring specific spaces fronted by nonChristian students “The fact is that this is a Je- for the Jewish and Muslim commuhas to do with suit university. But it’s not nities as well as resources. On a in which small campus that they’re just promoting kitchens students will be already pressed able to cook meals for space, it is difCatholicism, but to look according to their ficult for diverse within ourselves and conreligious customs. religious groups The space will also to carve out their sider our faith.” house an interown areas for liv— Erva Khan (COL ’15) faith chapel. ing and worshipEven so, resourcing.

Many Jewish students, for example, es remain strained, especially for groups struggle to adhere to their religion’s di- who are not part of the three Abrahamic etary constraints while living on cam- faiths — Christianity, Judaism and Islam. pus. Last year, the university established Georgetown does not have a Hindu chapMakóm: A Jewish Gathering Space in the lain or a designated Hindu prayer space, Leavey Center to replace an off-campus though the number of students at HSA’s Hillel House — which featured a full weekly puja prayers is about 35, accordkitchen — that previously served as the ing to HSA secretary Abhilasha Banerjee center of Jewish student life. While stu- (COL ’13). By comparison, about 40 students appreciate how much closer the dents attend JSA’s Shabbat every Friday, space is to the center of campus, Makóm and 50 students are active members of MSA. lacks a kitchen to prepare kosher food.

“We definitely have a voice here, as Storage is also a logistical difficulty, and catering for weekly Shabbat meals is part of those three big Abrahamic faiths.

But the Buddhist and Hindu groups difficult to organize.

“Catering food is expensive, and we don’t have that, which is probably very no longer have a kitchen to make food. frustrating,” Khan said.

Issues of representation spill over into … It can be hard to keep kosher. You run out of options at Leo’s. So it can be very the theology department as well.

“Being at a Catholic institution, there tedious and hard work for the students who do [keep kosher],” Sapir Yarden (SFS is an emphasis on Abrahamic faiths in ’15), co-president of the Jewish Student general. … People giving speeches often

just talk about Christianity, Islam and Judaism,” HSA president Anwesha Banerjee (COL ’13) said. “[Hindu students] would like to be on that list, too. … Even in ‘Problem of God,’ the texts we pulled from are from Western authors and faiths.”

This semester, two courses focusing on non-Abrahamic faiths — “Introduction to Buddhism” and “Hindu Religious Tradition” — are offered to nonmajors in the theology department. The department includes three full-time faculty teaching courses on Judaism and two teaching about Islam. Both of the professors of Islam are Catholic.

Meanwhile, in Georgetown’s “Problem of God” class, a course commonly taken to fulfill the university’s theology requirement, discussions can be uncomfortable for students who don’t ascribe to any faith tradition.

“I thought the class would be more about the existence of God, but it was like ‘Religion 101,’” Dennis Mai (COL ’15), who identifies as an atheist, said. “It was like everyone just assumed God existed.”

Yarden had a much more positive experience with her “Problem of God” class.

“I don’t think they try to pressure you into a certain religion. A lot of the Jesuits I’ve spoken to are really interested in what you think, what you want and how you want your experience to be,” Yarden said. “It’s a good thing that they give you the resources to learn everything. I’m so happy that there is a theology requirement, because people who don’t know much about [religion] have a chance to learn something new and different.”

According to Fr. Dan Madigan, S.J., one of the two theology professors teaching courses about Islam, this is exactly the goal of the requirement.

“The purpose is to get you into the God talk. So I think it’s important for the Christian students to read outside their tradition. I think everyone in the course ought to have their boundaries broadened,” he said.

Madigan, who spent seven years teaching in Rome to students of different faiths, said that his experiences with interfaith dialogue there influence the way he teaches at Georgetown. Many of his students were Muslims who had come to the city specifically to learn about Christianity.

“Rather than dismissing the questions and saying, ‘That is the way it is,’ I learned an awful lot by explaining things that did not seem to go together,” he said. “Everything I say has been formed in conversations with Muslims. The conversations and the teaching and learning together have made my preaching much more holistic.”

Khan has had a similar experience at Georgetown.

“The fact is that this is a Jesuit university. But it’s not that they’re just promoting Catholicism, but to look within ourselves and consider our faith. … The Jesuit ideals are universal ideals, even without religion,” she said. “Coming here, I feel like I’m learning more about religion and God and becoming more religious. I’m being questioned on my

ALL PHOTOS ERICA WONG/THE HOYA

THE FAITHFUL Erva Khan (COL ’15) and the Muslim Students Association gather in the Muslim Prayer Room in Copley Hall for their daily prayers. Sapir Yarden (SFS’15), co-president of the Jewish Students Association, works hard to provide her peers with kosher food. faith, but not in an attacking way, but to [help me] understand.”

This perspective is shared by many of Khan’s peers. Despite the shortage of resources and space, leaders of nonChristian religious groups said their organizations benefited from the interfaith dialogues Georgetown tries to promote.

Jejurikar, who helped organize a discussion panel for MSA and HSA last spring, said that the university’s emphasis on interfaith talks has been a boon to her organization.

“If we went to a nonreligious school, it’d be hard to find that kind of support

and that kind of faculty. [HSA] might just [have been] a very tight-knit group without much interfaith dialogue and involvement,” she said.

Aamir Hussein (COL ’14), a Muslim student who sits on Georgetown’s interfaith council, believes the group’s greatest successes often come outside the classroom.

“We focus on dialogue and making it more of an occurrence in common settings,” he said. “We want to build faith into conversation, break students into groups of three of four, have them meet twice a month and give them guidelines to discuss faith. It will help build deep

connections and provide a better understanding of themselves and other people.”

According to Anwesha Banerjee, this Jesuit ideal of interreligious understanding has helped these non-Catholic students feel at home on the Hilltop.

“If we involve students [from] other organizations, they will also get to know about us and understand us. I think that being a Catholic and Jesuit institution helps that,” she said. “[Jesuit] values encourage interaction between Hindus and Muslims, even though neither of us are Catholic. As much as we are Hindus, we are also Georgetown students.”

food&drink Classic Dishes, Modern Atmosphere bethany imondi Hoya Staff Writer

 ZAYTINYA

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701 9th St. NW cuisine: Turkish price: $$$$

ost power players in Washington are known for their clout on the Hill. José Andrés, however, is not a traditional player. Rather than leaving his mark on the passage of legislation, Andrés makes an impression as one of the area’s most innovative culinary minds.

Born and raised in Spain, Andrés trained as a chef there, which included a stint under renowned chef Ferrán Adria at the restaurant El Bulli. After moving to D.C., Andrés launched Jaleo, a Spanish tapas restaurant that remains one of the hardest reservations to secure in the area. Although not requiring a reservation request months in advance, Zaytinya, another of Andrés’ D.C. spots, is a dining destination that epitomizes the chef’s commitment to exposing diners to exotic flavors and high-quality cuisine.

Meaning “olive oil” in Turkish, Zaytinya sits on the corner of 9th and G Streets in Chinatown. Although the restaurant is expansive, with two floors of tables and an outside patio, reservations are highly recommended. At 7 p.m. on a recent Friday, the restaurant was filled with diners. Despite the crowd, the noise level was mod-

erate and conversation flowed easily.

The kitchen is immediately visible to diners. This open kitchen not only sends a waft of Mediterranean scents like garlic and oregano through the establishment, but it also allows diners to get a glimpse of what is on the menu. During our visit, lamb shoulder roasted on a rotating display to whet appetites.

Whereas Jaleo serves up tapas, Zaytinya offers a menu of mezze, small plates inspired by the cuisine of Turkey, Greece and Lebanon. Because of the extensive offerings, it can be difficult to decide what to order; however, the staff is extremely knowledgeable about the menu and considerate of patrons’ tastes. When inquiring about the crab cakes, our waitress informed us that the recipe extended back to a woman in Greece highly regarded for her cooking, but who was not considered a chef.

Unlike most crab cakes, with the proportion of crab often paling in comparison with the amount of breadcrumbs and fillers, each of the order’s three cakes contained a generous amount of plump, local blue crabmeat. The cakes came atop a roasted garlic yogurt sauce, which was

blogbites

Bethany Imondi /The Hoya

BANG FOR YOUR BITE Although small, the dishes at Zaytinya are delectable. a Mediterranean substitute for tartar sauce, much lighter and sweeter than the traditional mayonnaise-based accompaniment.

Without reading the description, many of the menu items are difficult to identify by their traditional Turkish names, perhaps explaining why the easily identifiable falafel is one of the most popular selections.

The chickpea fritters come six to an order and are served hot out of the fryer with a tahini sauce. Biting into the falafel, the crisp coating gives way to a green interior mixture of chickpeas, parsley and cumin, among other ingredients. The inclusion of lemon in the sauce helps provide an acidic balance to the fried plate.

If, by the time the falafel has arrived, the table has already devoured the basket of made-to-order pita bread, request another round of the unlimited offering.

Ripped apart and opened to make a pocket, the warm bread makes a great pouch

for a handmade falafel sandwich.

Also fried but worth ordering is the batinjan bil laban. Three eggplant rounds are crisped to a golden brown and the interior practically melts in the mouth. The same garlic sauce served with the crab cakes complements the eggplant beautifully.

After seeing and smelling the roasted lamb in the kitchen, the lamb mezze offerings have elevated appeal. Our waitress could not say enough about the lamb kleftico: roasted lamb with feta cheese, wrapped in phyllo dough and served with a yogurt dill sauce. The feta provided a salty bite to the tender meat, while the phyllo provided a contrasting crunch. The sauce is similar to tzatziki.

With mezze prices ranging from $7 to upwards of $14, it is easy to leave Zaytinya with an empty wallet. Regardless of the cost, Andrés dishes up excellent food and service, ensuring that your stomach is anything but empty.

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banana bread balls

baked french toast with chocolate and blackberries

vanillakitchen.blogspot.com

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Want a sweet dessert without the large portion? These mini treats look like gourmet truffles, combining bananas, cream cheese and chocolate in one bite.

It is easy to rely on a bowl of cereal for breakfast, but with this recipe, you can create a warm and comforting baked French toast that will have you jumping out of bed to enjoy. vanillakitchen.blogspot.com

10 | the guide | 9.7.12

jeroxie.com

food&drink

Mediterranean Fusion Misses the Mark

life beyond leo’s

Italian Food Made Easy

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jasmine wee Hoya Staff Writer

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gora, a Mediterranean fusion restaurant in Dupont Circle, is a neighborhood gem. Stepping inside the red-bricked interior, one finds a relaxed but polished setting. Similarly, the food served is rustic yet elegant. The restaurant’s menu, while quite expansive, consists almost completely of mezze. These small plates of food make it easier for customers in smaller groups to sample a greater array of Mediterranean cuisine.

Our party of two was offered bottled water and piping hot pita bread soon after we sat down. Nothing in a restaurant makes a better first impression on me and my stomach than some fresh bread. For starters, I opted for the beet and orange salad while my friend chose imam bayildi, an eggplant stuffed with onions, tomatoes, pine nuts and garlic. The beet and orange salad was extremely light but packed a flavorful punch, with the namesake ingredients providing a refreshing contrast to the heavier lemon mashed potatoes and onions. On the other hand, the stuffed eggplant was neither as strong nor as interesting in flavor as the salad, but it still made a morethan-acceptable appetizer dish.

For our main course, we ordered a plate of steamed vegetables consisting of artichokes and seasonal veggies, seared scallops and midye tava (fried mussels). The scallops were the best of the three, glazed with tamarind and served with saffron yogurt sauce. The sauce and spices combined to create a dish that was texturally flavorful, yet does not overpower the freshness of the scallops. The fried mussels retained a great natural seafood flavor as they were only lightly fried in olive oil and a splash of beer — unlike at some restaurants, where foods are smothered in batter until all

 agora restaurant 1527 17 St. NW. cuisine: Mediterranean Fusion price: $$$$ the diner can taste is Budweiser. We were, however, let down by the veggies. This dish was nothing special, and I probably could have made it myself in my little townhouse kitchen. It seemed the only ingredients were vegetables, lemon juice, olive oil and parsley.

Overall, it seemed that Agora’s vegetable dishes were a bit hit-or-miss, but all the seafood we had was delicious. All ingredients were fresh and packed with flavor; in fact, despite the small portions, I was so full by the end of the meal that I couldn’t even finish the delicious mussels, begrudgingly giving the rest to my friend. The restaurant also looks out for the dietary needs of their clients, with all except one dish either gluten- or dairy-free. The prices are also quite reasonable, with the fried mussels costing as much as a Wisey’s Hot Chick.

Only about a seven-minute walk away from the Dupont Circle GUTS bus stop, Agora is great for all group sizes, but especially for groups of two or three since the plates are small and allow for sampling of dishes.

If you’re looking for simple, unpretentious and relatively affordable Mediterranean cuisine, then Agora is your pick.

YELP.com

s I settle into my brand new stairs at Leo’s. This column is for Henle, excited to finally have the culinarily curious — for those an apartment, I am faced who have some time to spare to with a daunting reality: I need to make themselves a decent meal, cook for myself. With the regret yet who aren’t Rachael Ray. If that I cannot go to Epi every night you’re in the mood to cook someand the acknowledgment that I thing that takes a little longer wish to limit my time and intake than three minutes, with the reat Leo’s, I, like many other Hoyas sources of a college student, then adjusting to their new living situa- look no further. Just blast some tions, must begin to seek alternate Beyoncé in your kitchen and get forms of nourishment. I like cook- ready for a simple, yet delicious meal. ing, but I rarely have For the inaugural time to cook a fullrecipe, I give you the fledged meal; still, “Oh-So-Fancy Orzo.”

I’d prefer something It’s like if spaghetti more than a quick and marinara sauce PB&J as “dinner.” studied abroad toSo no, this is not BrendanQuinn gether and then a recipe for the percame back exclusivefect English muffin pizza. Nor am I attempting to join ly listening to cool Euro-music. the ranks of kitchen greats such as Whip up this delicious dish for a molecular gastronomist José An- group of friends; a box of orzo is drés or Dowager Empress of Butter typically enough for eight so you Paula Deen. I merely wish to pro- can appease the Italian grandvide my fellow Hoyas with a bridge mother within you. between making Café Milano in their kitchens and coming to the Brendan Quinn is a junior in the Coldelightful discovery that there is a lege, his column LIFE BEYOND LEO’S Jetson’s-esque soda machine down- will appear every Friday in the guide.

oh-so-fancy orzo ingredients a box of orzo tomato sauce olive oil balsamic vinegar salt parmesan cheese

2 cloves raw garlic 2 small onions rosemary and/or oregano 28 oz. chicken stock pepper

1.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Cook the orzo as directed on box.

2.

While the orzo cooks, prepare your sauce. Start with a cup of tomato sauce as a base in a large saucepan. Mix in some olive oil and balsamic vinegar (a couple tablespoons at most). Dice up onion and garlic as desired and then mix them into the sauce. Add in some rosemary and/or oregano. Double the amount if your herbs are fresh.

3.

Stir thoroughly and add in your chicken stock to achieve the desired consistency. If the sauce is too watery for your taste, you can thicken it with more tomato sauce, a dash of mustard and/or a splash of moscato wine to really have a party. Stir well and finish off with salt and pepper, to taste.

4.

Once the orzo has finished cooking, drain and combine with sauce in a baking dish and top with parmesan to taste. Place the dish in the oven or microwave for a short while to get the cheese to melt and crust before serving, being careful not to burn the cheese.

UNEVEN EXPERIENCE Agora, located in Dupont Circle, has Mediterranean food that may not be worth the price tag, with some delightful dishes and other mediocre ones.

9.7.12 | the guide | 11

arts&entertainment Elevating the Ordinary kaley beins Hoya Staff Writer

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work of art can be any imaginable thing, and this is the beginning of modern painting.” This quote from American artist George Bellows fittingly introduces his exhibit in the National Gallery of Art. The exhibit encompasses eight entire galleries in the West Building of the National Gallery and, shows the range of Bellows’ skill in both art and observation.

Born in 1882 in Columbus, Ohio, Bellows moved to New York at the age of 22.

He painted life as he saw it and, in doing so, captured the human experience.

Although Bellows is arguably most well known for his depictions of New York’s clandestine boxing matches, the exhibit at the National Gallery demonstrates the wide range of his work. From staged portraits to industrial workers and gentry enjoying Central Park, Bellows’ work explores a variety of life stories. Even his use of muted colors cannot detract from the vibrancy of his work — a vibrancy visible in the motion of his pieces.

Bellows’ strong brush strokes and charcoal lines as well as his selection of subjects bring his art to life through movement. In his 1907 painting titled “42 Kids,” one boy dives off a platform into a river as another splashes a friend. Likewise, in “Tin Can Battle, San Juan Hill, New York,” the boys are blurred in their ostensible motion across the canvas.

In addition to the recurrent motion in many of his works, another characteristic of Bellows’ art is his inclusion of people in nearly every piece. Even his set of four paintings of the construction of Penn Station highlights groups of workers, allowing the building to fade into the background.

However, despite Bellows’ fascination with people, the faces of the individuals in his paintings are unfocused, blurred or cartoonish. Each face appears as though the viewer is observing it through a translucent windowpane. Based on George Bellows’ preoccupation with the struggles of impoverished New York residents, his reluctance to show subjects’ faces may be an attempt to interact with the viewer; the anonymity of the faces allows the audience to relate to the working class and, perhaps, to see themselves in similar positions.

Two of the most interesting portraits that the Gallery displays are Bellows’ “Nude Girl, Miss Leslie Hall” and “Paddy Flannigan.” Although the two were painted a year apart and Leslie Hall’s pose is said to mimic the woman in Edouard Manet’s “Luncheon on the Grass,” placing these Bellows’ portraits side by side, the National Gallery practically begs for a comparison.

12 | the guide | 9.7.12

In keeping with Bellows’ well-worn theme, the position of these paintings creates a subtle commentary on social class.

Although Hall is the wealthier of the two, she appears feeble and meek. Hall hunches over as she stares with sunken, worried eyes. Conversely, Paddy looks strong despite her emaciated frame.

George Bellows continued his social and political commentary by painting instances of German aggression. Although he did not immediately support American entry into World War I, Bellows clearly harbored fierce anti-German sentiment. His paintings from this period include “Massacre at Dinant,” which depicts Germans indiscriminately slaughtering a crowd.

Bellows’ demonization of the Germans reflected public opinion at the time, a public opinion that was validated in the reparations against Germany in the Treaty of Versailles.

The variety of George Bellows’ work in the National Gallery, from his depictions of the struggles of poverty to the swiftness with which time passes, shows that he cannot be boxed into a single category. As an artist, he is much more than the raw energy in his paintings of boxing matches or the frantic motion of New York’s apartments. The National Gallery’s exhibit, running from June 10 to Oct. 8, explores the complexities of the man who knew no boundaries. As you reach the final room in the exhibit, a quote from Sherwood Anderson, an American writer, attracts your attention: “[Bellows’ paintings] keep telling you things. They are telling you that Mr. George Bellows died too young. They are telling you that he was after something, that he was always after it.”

ROTTENTOMATOES.com

ART IN MOTION Bellows interprets social issues through art.

take it from a senior

The Pursuit of Happiness And Elena Kagan

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he moment I fell in love with neither British nor a teenager. I can Elena Kagan was during her say, however, that Justice Kagan Supreme Court nomination. serves a role shared by only eight She handled a question about her other individuals in our entire nawhereabouts on Christmas from tion: that of determining the meanSen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) with ing of laws and, most importantly, poise and a measure of humor, ex- of the Constitution.

Whatever your opinion on the plaining, “You know, like all Jews, I was probably at a Chinese restau- court’s intended and actual power, Justice Kagan is one of the most rant.”

On Aug. 5, 2010, after a 63-37 vote powerful women serving in our in the full Senate, Kagan was con- government today, and she had firmed as the 112th associate justice just walked past the sandwich shop and the fourth female justice. Near- where I was eating.

Not sure if my eyes had deceived ly two years later, I found myself at our local Booeymonger with Marya me, I ran outside to find that I had Pulaski (COL ’13), a dear friend of indeed spotted her. There she was, flanked by her friend mine from an Alterand former governor native Spring Break of New York, Eliot trip we had taken Spitzer, and an unto Immokalee, Fla., identified woman. I back in March. As snapped a photo to we caught up on prove it. each other’s lives, DiegoSoto Since she was only luck would have it a few yards away, I that I was looking out the window when the five-foot- could have chased her down. I could have risked being tackled by a Suthree Elena Kagan walked by.

I will preface the following with preme Court police officer and elimthe fact that I transferred to George- inating any opportunity to join the town in the fall of 2011. Supreme bar. I could have introduced myself Court justices — or other important and embarrassed myself with my expolitical figures, for that matter — citement. I could have told her that do not to my knowledge normally John Paul Stevens is my favorite juswalk most streets. In the past 12 tice. I could have told her that I will months at Georgetown, I have never forget her Chinese restaurant heard speeches from many signifi- response to Graham’s question. This cant — and some not so significant was my “Call Me Maybe” moment, — individuals the likes of Secretary and I let it pass me by. That is my of State Hillary Clinton, current biggest regret.

But, as Marya pointed out, stronRepublican vice presidential candidate Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and ger than my regret is my deep gratitude. I am grateful for the many Ann Coulter.

Marya can attest to how shocked I things Georgetown has allowed me was at that moment. “I think one of to do. Among many other factors, the funnier parts about it was that had Georgetown not accepted my you were so insanely star struck, transfer application and had I not and I was still just pumped about attended that spring break trip with having seen Heidi Klum in SoHo Marya, I probably would never have the other day,” she told me. “You had an opportunity to publicly tell went through different stages: first a story as embarrassing as this one.

With that, I would like to invite shock, then elation and then the need to tell everyone about it. Then Justice Kagan to join me for coffee there was denial and finally just one of these days. Call me maybe? deep gratitude.”

Here I was, a 21-year-old acting Diego Soto is a senior in the College. like a 13-year-old girl who had just TAKE IT FROM A SENIOR is a rotating seen a member of One Direction column that appears every other week walk by, except she — Kagan — was in the guide.

personalessay Meditations on the MTA R eal New Yorkers don’t stand on escalators.

They don’t walk up them, either. They run. Because that deafening screech is the 4 train pulling into the 59th Street station, and missing it means it’ll be a bad morning.

Actually, real New Yorkers never have a good morning. And they certainly don’t say “Good morning.” Ever. To anyone.

Not to the middle-aged blonde woman with the choppy haircut who drinks a venti chai latte every day. (Her name is Janet; it says so on the side of her Starbucks cups.)

Not to the burly, balding businessman next to her who can’t complete his Sudoku puzzle today and so tilts the screen of his iPhone toward him, shielding himself from the laser beams of judgment that Janet, or anyone else who saw him beat his personal record of 3.5 minutes on the expert level last week, may shoot at him.

And they certainly don’t answer the guy in the tan overcoat and Yankees cap who grins and says, “Good morning, sexy,” to everyone who passes by. Real New Yorkers pretend not to see him.

Same goes for the beggars that come rolling through the subway cars, shaking cups of change and performing “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” or something by Beyoncé. Real New Yorkers know precisely when to jam their eyes shut and pretend to be asleep as the homeless walk through the subway car.

Though it may look like it, real New Yorkers are never really sleeping. They sit with their eyes closed, cursing the subway for its screeching (was it this loud yesterday!?), which never fails to overpower the song playing on their iPod, no matter how much they raise the volume.

Or they’re reading: The Times, The Wall Street Journal or perhaps the latest Danielle Steel novel (Janet seemed to like it; it took her only four days to finish it) are all possibilities. But don’t be mistaken, real New Yorkers never really read either. They stare at a single sentence, perpetually rereading it as they silently wish diarrhea upon the sassy medical assistant in sky blue scrubs who’s complaining about her boyfriend or boss loud enough for the next car to hear.

Real New Yorkers always have exact change, for they order their morning coffee the same way at the same place every day. They can easily spot the novice: rummaging through pockets for a nickel or dime, throwing crumpled bills onto the counter, waiting for change right as his train pulls in. If — and it’s a big if — he makes it in time, they watch him squeak through closing doors, coffee bubbling up out of the pinprick hole in the lid, spilling a little and burning his hand when the train jerks into motion.

Real New Yorkers avoid this whole situation by counting out the proper amount of money the night before and placing it where it’s easily accessible in their wallet, which they leave at the corner of their kitchen island next to their banana for lunch. Every morning it’s one fell swoop and they’re out the door. Not at 6:30 or 6:35, but 6:32. On the dot. That gets them to the subway with four minutes — give or take 30 seconds — to purchase their coffee and bagel, then walk to the blackened piece of gum stuck to the platform floor that marks where they wait, the precise spot where the doors will open up in clear view of a seat. Real New Yorkers have this spot committed to memory, by number of steps or the feel of the air — and they could find it blindfolded if they had to.

That same gum spot waits for them that evening, when they do it all over again in reverse. The swipes of MetroCards, the sounds of nearby mariachi bands, the brush of a stranger’s leg against theirs serve as reminders that their home is in the motion.

It’s uncertain whether real New Yorkers ever stop moving.

But one thing is for sure — they don’t stand on escalators.

“Real New Yorkers never have a good morning. And they certainly don’t say ‘good morning.’ ever. to anyone.”

would you like to submit a personal essay? send it to guide@thehoya.com

arts&entertainment

by zach ashenfarb

CAROLYN SHANAHAN/THE HOYA

STEVEN PICCIONE/THE HOYA

9.7.12 | the guide | 13

arts&entertainment behind the screens

The Most Valuable Players in Comedy

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y passion is television, and as though he rules the world along no matter the genre, I can with his roommates, even though find something worth he is consistently shut down by girls watching. But even if you aren’t as and ridiculed by guys. avid a watcher as I am, there is one 4. Abed Nadir | ‘Community’ The alpha TV lover makes you genre that is appealing to TV-watchlove TV more through his repeated ers of all experience levels: comedy.

What follows is a list of the funni- references and perfectly timed est comedy characters currently on quotes. Abed (Danny Pudi) is one TV. I want to be clear, however, that of the more intriguing characters these choices were made in a highly on TV, demonstrating pitiful social subjective manner. Not to mention skills and a noticeable lack of emothat my options were limited to the tion. These “flaws,” however, make shows I watch (although with my him more genuine, and you can’t list including 31 titles, I’d say that’s a help but find yourself wanting to be pretty substantial selection). I would his friend and experience his odd honestly be disappointed if there quirks along with his occasional weren’t people scrutinizing and deep philosophical thought.

5. Schmidt | ‘New Girl’ criticizing my choices.

This is a character you hate to love.

1. Ron Swanson | ‘Parks and Recreation’ The fact that Schmidt Arguably the man(Max Greenfield) is a liest man on televifrequent contributor sion, Ron Swanson to the “douchebag (Nick Offerman) jar” pales in compariconsistently provides son, however, to how hilarity with his lack funny his catch phrasof interest in others’ lives, his love of the EduardoGueiros es and one-liners are.

The hilarious way in traditional crafts and which he — surprishis hatred of government and non-animal-based foods. ingly successfully — hits on girls The man with the perfect mustache reinforces his position as the absoalso has a softer side, occasionally lutely stereotypical “douchebag,” showing his affection for some co- but the softer side he shows with workers (though not many), making his friends reveals a truly lovable him all the more likeable. Oh, and character.

The Swanson Pyramid of Greatness 6. Andre | ‘The League’ This is the guy every group of is wonderful too, but that speaks for friends has, the one who is repeateditself. ly ridiculed and whose best efforts at 2. Liz Lemon | ‘30 Rock’ Tina Fey plays a character ex- fitting in just result in more mocktremely similar to herself in the ery. Andre’s (Paul Scheer) unbelievunladylike and disorganized yet ably bad sense of style, paired with caring and cautiously optimistic the banter he instigates through Liz Lemon. Perhaps this similarity mere existence, make this character is what allows her performance to deserving of a spot on this list.

So that’s what watching 31 shows be so organic and convincing. In addition to being the center of self- can do for you. There will always be mockery, Lemon brings the plot to- a handful of actors (Donald Glover, gether, connecting characters and Rainn Wilson and Aziz Ansari, for allowing them to develop their sto- example) that are just a few special ries through interactions with her, episodes or a good season away from however ridiculous these interac- cracking my list. This fall promises plenty of good comedy, and these tions may be. leading funnies are sure to make 3. Adam Demamp | ‘Workaholics’ The loudest of the three Worka- you laugh. holics takes inexplicable overconfidence to a whole new level. Adam Eduardo Gueiros is a junior in the (Adam DeVine) has no outstand- College. BEHIND THE SCREENS aping skills or intelligence (or self re- pears every other Friday in the spect, for that matter), but he acts guide.

14 | the guide | 9.7.12

Always A Bridesmaid But Never Funny ALLIE DOUGHTY Hoya Staff Writer

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summary of the plot, not to mention with the wedding gown. the title, of novice writer and director The visible talent of the male leads is limLeslye Headland’s Bachelorette may ited to the script’s unaffectionate portrayal warrant the assumption that it’s merely a of their characters. Trevor (James Marsden) rip-off of Bridesmaids. Rest assured, Head- is the studly best man whose lack of a conland’s screenplay was adapted from her science almost equates him with Regan’s off-Broadway play “The Bachelorette” and nastiness. Clyde (Adam Scott) is the sharpwas circulating the movie scene four years witted guy who mysteriously broke Gena’s before Bridesmaids was released. This is heart years ago, and Joe (Kyle Bornheimer) not to say that either stole material or even is the high school weed-dealer-turneda simple concept from the other; Bachelor- computer-programmer who follows Katie ette is infinitely more crass and practically around like a puppy dog. every single character is unlikable for the Fisher and Bornheimer constitute the majority of the film. best pairing by far, possibly due to the fact The plot follows the forthcoming wedding that each of their characters seems to have of Becky — played by a soul despite playing Rebel Wilson, who a major role in all the seems to be making vile, hapless episodes her way into every enon the eve of Becky’s semble comedy of the nuptials. The slightest year — although the amount of compasBACHELORETTE movie focuses less on sion in Bornheimer’s the bride and more persona is enough starring: Kirsten Dunst, Isla on the other three to make a noticeable Fisher, Adam Scott. members of her high distinction between school clique, who his character’s ability affectionately called to empathize and the themselves the B-Faces. Yet while Becky has other groomsmen’s flippancy. Of the ladies, grown up and seems comfortable with her- Fisher is the most competent, pulling off her self, the other girls are either fiercely com- surprisingly multidimensional character petitive about being the first to succeed, and somehow evoking laughter and sympainsecure to the point of self-destruction thy simultaneously. or both. With her rapid-fire insults and Headland’s strengths clearly lie in creatblunt narcissism, maid of honor Regan ing witty dialogue, since the chaotic scenes (Kirsten Dunst) is any wedding planner’s on the streets of a sometimes indiscernible worst nightmare. Meanwhile, snarky, bit- New York City are significantly less imprester Gena (Lizzy Caplan) and ditsy, fun-lov- sive. The most memorable moments involve ing Katie (Isla Fisher) have yet to kick their swift banter among the intoxicated characteenage recreational drug habits. Such a ters. toxic combination leads to foreseeable In Bachelorette, unlike in most succomplications, including a catastrophe cessful comedies, the viewer doesn’t care about any of the characters enough to be concerned about what will happen to them. In fact, in some scenes you’ll likely find yourself rooting against them. One scene pretty much sums up the bridesmaids from hell — when the three should be standing next to the bride at the wedding ceremony, they sit on the sidelines, Gena smoking a cigarette, Katie swinging around a bottle of champagne and Regan with vomit on her dress.

It’s a shame that such a promising cast was wasted on a disappointing production.

ROTTENTOMATOES.COM It could have been a fun party if only the characters had been written as people with BRIDESMAIDS FROM HELL The drug-addled, beating hearts and sensible values. so-called “best friends” are easy to hate.

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arts&entertainment

Stars Fails to Shine

New Releases

MAIREAD REILLY Hoya Staff Writer

Abby reutzel

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ou may not have realizd it, but you’ve probably heard Stars before. The Torontobased five-piece band, who released their sixth full-length album Tuesday, is a fixture on soundtracks for network television shows and indie films alike. And unfortunately, their latest work, The North, provides just that type of unconscious experience; you may hear it in the background and find it pleasant, but you won’t be scrambling to Shazam it.

For fans, the record will be instantly recognizable. The first track begins with one of Stars’ trademarks: an audio clip of someone speaking. This one, Google tells me, is from a Canadian author’s well-known radio documentary called “The Idea of the North.” Though the reference may be lost on most of the American audience, the words evoke the idea of distance, isolation and a long journey that sets the tone for the rest of the album The North starts off with two strong tracks, giving an ebullient feel to the album. “Theory of Relativity” is danceable and clever, with enough synths to last the rest of the album. “Backlines” incorporates more of a rock feel with a catchy guitar riff and, at just over two minutes, ends before you want. The celebratory feeling dies down for the album’s title track, which fails to carry the momentum and warmth of the openers. “North” is chilling in lyrics too, with vocalist Torquil Campbell lamenting that “It’s so cold in this country/You can never get warm.”

Stars are at their best when Campbell and female vocalist Amy Millan sing together, as they do on “Do You Want To Die Together,” “The Loose Ends Will Make Knots” and the album’s closer “Walls.” Campbell and Millan’s rapport adds depth to the lyrics; they sing to each other while

‘END OF THE LINE’ I SLEIGH BELLS

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The newest single from the Brooklyn-based indie duo Sleigh Bells is a fun listen, but not the best song from their second studio album Reign of Terror. The song is light and flowing, thanks to Alexis Krauss’ vocal style and the electronic backing. Still, make sure to add this one to your weekend mix despite the mild sophomore slump.

CONSEQUENCEOFSOUND.NET

THE NORTH is very similar to Stars’ other albums, making it nondescript. sounding like neither is actually listening. The two perfect this effect in “Loose Ends,” a songconversation that conveys the poor communication of a failed relationship.

Despite a few likable tracks, the album as a whole is too similar to Stars’ previous releases to be memorable. The atmospheric synths blend together too easily and Millan’s voice is often especially lost in the instrumentation. By the fourth or fifth track on the album, it becomes difficult to notice when one song ends and the next begins; a result not of perfect thematic fluidity but of repetitive arrangements.

The mood of the album fluctuates drastically, and the work lacks cohesion from beginning to end. The North as a whole could be good for doing homework, or maybe cleaning-the-apartment background music. Otherwise, you’re better off picking just a few tracks to download.

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PASTEMAGAZINE.COM

THE CARPENTER is a rollercoaster.

you have the Avett Brothers.

With the release of The Carpenter, their seventh studio album, that wonderfully incongruous recipe for crowd-pleasing Americana has changed.

The Avett Brothers, formed in 2000 in North Carolina by brothers Scott and Seth, first gained national buzz with the 2009 release of I and Love and You, an album that reaches as much for infectious hooks and engaging fraternal harmonies as it does for universal truths. The album was a critical success, receiving an incredible amount of radio play and leading them to be named the “Artist to Watch 2009” by Rolling Stone Magazine.

Working with producer Rick Rubin allowed the band to create a more pop-infused sound that reached a larger audience and won them a spot performing with Bob Dylan and Mumford & Sons at the 2011 Grammy Awards.

The Carpenter is the second Avett Brothers album produced by Rubin. Impressive

BILLBOARD.COM

‘YET AGAIN’ | GRIZZLY BEAR 

Grizzly Bear’s newest single “Yet Again,” off the eagerly anticipated Shields, isn’t anything too different or revolutionary.

The song is a pretty good listen, but it is unnecessarily long thanks to an instrumental section at around the fourminute mark. The highlight of this single is most definitely Ed Droste’s vocals.

STEREOGUM.COM

‘SLEEP ALONE’ | TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB 

The three-piece Northern Irish rockers return from the shadows with their newest album and its lead single “Sleep Alone.” They stick to their usual formula and we are treated to a fun, upbeat song with a darker message hidden beneath the pop and electronic riffs. The song swings up and down and is a definite treat to listen to.

Avetts Return With Strong Album little bit of banjo punk-rock sensibility, a tendency toward infectious beats, impressive songwriting abilities and a rapidly growing, devoted fan base: Put it all into a Mason jar, shake it up a bit to a honky-tonk tune, and

Hoya Staff Writer

SOUNDCLOUD.COM

mary nancy walter Hoya Staff Writer

marketing efforts for the album have been underway for months: partnerships with Cheerwine, appearances in Gap television spots, and well-marketed releases on National Public Radio’s All Songs Considered and First Listen programs went hand-in-hand with intimate videos of band members at home with their families and visiting sights on the road.

This new release is a development of a more polished, careful style. Gone are the days when Scott and Seth need to stomp around on stage, breaking banjo strings with every song and screaming until their voices crack. The Carpenter flirts with more piano melodies, catchier hooks and a heavier electric guitar presence. The band is growing up; they have families of their own and more serious careers than ever before. This album has the potential to make them superstars, so they had better start acting like it.

The Carpenter, like every Avett Brothers album, takes the listener on a journey: from emotional highs to lows to frenetic songs of

frustration to quiet tunes of peace and resignation. There is enough banjo and kick drum to keep longtime fans hooked: “Live and Die”, released on All Songs Considered in July, features just that. “Pretty Girl from Michigan,” which the band has been playing under different titles and in different styles since 2008, offers a bluesy song of lost love reminiscent of Elvis Presley and Fats Domino. “Winter in My Heart” adds to the list of peaceful Avett ballads, with Scott’s rich vocals floating over a few quiet guitar chords and cello notes. Overall, the album offers something for both new Avett fans and longtime devotees.

Despite the varied styles and themes in The Carpenter’s songs, there is one common element that will keep fans coming back, just like it always has: The band’s expertly crafted lyrics have always been sung with incredible feeling. This album is no different. Coupled with an impressive and diverse album promotion program, The Carpenter will be a force to be reckoned with.

15 | the guide | 9.7.12

bestbets

highway to nowhere — charlie long

on campus

PRESENTING LEONEL FERNANDEZ, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC Friday, Sept. 7 at 11 a.m. — Riggs Library

The Center for Latin American Studies presents “Latin America and the Caribbean: Challenges and Opportunities” with Leonel Fernandez, the former president of the Dominican Republic. President Fernandez’s talk is open only to Georgetown students, faculty and staff, and it requires an RSVP or ticket.

185 FOR HEROES RECEPTION Saturday, Sept. 8 at 4 p.m. — Copley Lawn

Team 185 consists of two runners and three bicyclists who, in support of wounded combat veterans, will be travelling 185 miles in seven days (equal to a marathon each day). Come out on Saturday to show your support for these amazing athletes with Georgetown Running Club.

DELOITTE CONSULTING PRESENTATION Wednesday, Sept. 12 at 5 p.m. — Lohrfink Auditorium

Jim Moffat, chairman and CEO of Deloitte Consulting, will give a presentation about his company. The event is open to Georgetown students, faculty and staff, and it’s a great opportunity for anyone planning on applying to Deloitte for a job or internship.

FILM AND ORGANIZED CRIME Monday, Sept. 10 at 6:30 p.m. — ICC Auditorium Professors Fruhling and Mohor will discuss their findings from their latest book about the representation of organized crime in popular films. This visit follows the professors’ presentation at the Inter-American Development Bank. They will have copies of the book and an RSVP is required.

around town friday

saturday

sunday

It’s been 100 years and the Titanic still makes headlines.

The National Geographic Museum’s exhibit, “Titanic: 100 Year Obsession,” delves into the history of the ship and so many scientists’ fascination with it. The exhibit includes a replica of one of the ship’s lifeboats and so much more about the ship’s 712 survivors and 1,496 victims.

Attend the grand opening of Union Market, the highly awaited year-round market with over 40 vendors from the D.C. area. Explore the new bazaar on Sunday afternoon from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. for an artisan ice cream competition that will award the best ice cream maker with the 2012 D.C. Scoops title.

Head to Adams Morgan and visit this all-day festival celebrating the neighborhood. The first festival since the presentation of a new streetscape and larger sidewalks, the festival will feature vendors, crafts, food, and live musical and dance performances. Bring some spending cash and experience this great neighborhood.

WHERE: National Geographic Museum WHEN: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily INFO: nationalgeographic.com PRICE: $6 for students METRO: Farragut North

WHERE: Sixth Street and Florida Avenue NE WHEN: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

INFO: unionmarketdc.com PRICE: Free METRO: Union Station

WHERE: 18th Street in Adams Morgan WHEN: 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.

INFO: adamsmorgandayfestivaldc.com PRICE: Free METRO: Woodley Park/Adams Morgan

joanie greve & emily manbeck Hoya Staff Writers