Editorials
Facebook confessions reveal campus tensions
The Georgetown Confessions Facebook page has garnered a huge following in recent weeks, with 1,144 likes at the time of publication. The page allows users to submit anonymous “confessions,” which are then posted for public consumption. Far from a harmless Internet fad, Georgetown Confessions has become the latest forum for debate concerning race and class issues.
The Hill protects Monsanto, undermines justice
Last Tuesday, President Obama signed HR 933 into law with little fanfare. A continuing resolution designed to provide stopgap funding to the government for the next six months, the spending bill managed to include an unjust provision that protects biotech companies in the event that their genetically engineered (GE) crops are found to be harmful.
Unpaid internships unlawfully exploit Hoyas
The season of applying for summer internships is upon us, and with it come questions about the legality of these positions. Many will be unpaid, forcing cash-strapped students to choose between valuable work experience and making enough money to pay rent. Considering the legal, economic, and ethical status of unpaid internships, the consensus is clear: Pay your interns.
District living wage legislation shows promise
This Wednesday, businesspeople and activists crowded into City Hall for the D.C. Council’s public hearing for the Large Retailer Accountability Act. This groundbreaking piece of legislation would require large retailers, or firms with stores larger than 75,000 square feet whose corporate parent rakes in profits upwards of $1 billion, to pay their D.C. workers a living wage.
President disappoints on environmental front
In February, President Barack Obama forcefully declared that the U.S. government can no longer afford to ignore key environmental issues. Unfortunately, EPA insiders have made public that his administration is looking not only to delay implementing clean energy regulation, but also to reduce restrictions and allow for more lenient greenhouse gas emission standards.
Gtown should pursue serious housing reform
On Feb. 24, GUSA passed a resolution introduced by Sen. Abigail Cooner (SFS ‘16) to increase the transparency of Housing Services’ room change policy. While the bill successfully identifies an issue that continues to plague students—the lack of a clear operating procedure for filling housing vacancies—it is limited in scope and effect.
Tougher stance required to prevent wage theft
Worker rights activists gathered at City Hall on Monday, March 4 in a display of support and solidarity for workers testifying about their experience with wage theft in the District. The Wage Theft Coalition presented the D.C. Council with wage claims amounting to $260,000 owed to a group of forty workers.
Maryland progresses with disposable bag tax
Last Friday, Maryland legislators introduced a bill in the House of Delegates that would impose a 5-cent fee on both paper and plastic disposable bags, the first tax of its kind at the state level. Modeled after D.C.’s own 2009 bag tax, the proposed fee would both reduce pollution of Maryland’s waterways.
Stewards scandal highlights need for integrity
Last week’s election erupted into controversy when an anonymous source revealed presidential hopeful Jack Appelbaum (COL ‘14) to be a member of the Stewards Society. Exposing Appelbaum and his campaign manager to be members of this secret society was irrelevant and ultimately accomplished nothing beyond distracting student voters from the issues at hand.
Sequester woes offset by D.C. emergency fund
Last month, D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray made an announcement thousands of city officials across the nation wish they could make themselves. The District had accrued a $417 million surplus in fiscal year 2012, and has put it all away in its emergency fund. This brings its rainy day savings to almost $1.5 billion.
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