When John J. DeGioia is officially inaugurated as Georgetown’s 48th president and as the first lay president of a Jesuit institution in the United States, he will face a number of important challenges. Ideally he will keep the needs and desires of students, the most important part of this institution, at the forefront of his mind. DeGioia’s early actions?including visiting students at the annual SAC fair in September?have shown that he seeks to understand and work with students more. His continued attention to the following issues will ensure that student life at Georgetown continues to improve:
Facilities, space and the neighborhood: With the University continuing to move forward on its master plan, building new buildings and re-allocating space, DeGioia should ensure that students receive their long-needed and long-awaited facilities and prevent them from getting lost in bureaucratic red tape. This includes a performing arts center, renovated and up-to-date dorms, classrooms and athletic space, as well as ample room for student activities, clubs and organizations in New South and Leavey.
DeGioia must also support students and their right to live freely in the surrounding neighborhood by making available the resources to win the University’s lawsuit against the BZA. He should recognize that if students do not feel welcome in the neighborhood, they will not feel welcome at the University.
Catholic identity and diversity: Balancing the delicate relationship between the University’s Catholic identity and the need for diversity will require a great detail of attention. DeGioia must take the lead in maintaining a safe environment for students of not only the Catholic faith, but of all faiths and backgrounds. His support of diversity programming on campus and a focus on the Catholic ideals that promote unity, acceptance and understanding must be a primary focus, rather than the politics of the church.
Money and financial stability: Although former University President Leo J. O’Donovan, S.J., made great strides at improving the financial affairs of the University, the recent downturn in the economy means DeGioia still has his work cut for him. He must build upon the success of the Georgetown Forever capital campaign in order to provide the financial resources that will, among other things, attract the best faculty members to teach here. In addition, he must not ignore the funding initiatives put forth by students, most notably the plan to allow alumni donations to go directly to student activities.
DeGioia has yet to take a firm stand on many of these issues, but the inauguration marks the end of his transition time into the presidency. Now is the time to take strong action to support students and to prove whose interests he really has in mine. We hope it’s ours.
