This week has seen some exciting developments in the lives of two distinguished members of the Georgetown community, both named John.
- The new film John Q. may at first glance be a stirring tale of a man determined to save his son at all costs, but this morality play has a Georgetown connection. Few realize John Q. is actually based on the real-life exploits of University Registrar John Q. Pierce IV. As few today remember, Pierce’s tenure as registrar began with a bloody 1978 coup, known as the “Waitlist Revolution.” After storming the basement of White-Gravenor in a flurry of gunfire, Pierce ended former Registrar Generalissimo Idi O’Reilly, S.J.’s reign of terror. However, a few minor facts have been changed in the film: White-Gravenor becomes hospital. Evil Registrar becomes evil HMO administrator. At least the names remained the same … sort of. But, hey, who doesn’t want Denzel playing them on the big screen?
- In the surprise announcement of the winter, Georgetown University founder John Carroll announced he will be participating in this coming fall’s installment of Survivor. According to his cbs.com biography, since founding Georgetown, Carroll returned to further his education at Midland Lutheran College in Fremont, Neb. on a track and cross-country scholarship. “Yeah, Georgetown was pretty kickin’ and all back in [17]’89, but since then I decided to get back to my roots,” said Carroll. Rest assured, however, once his time on Survivor is up, he’ll be returning to Jesuit education, attending Creighton University Law School in Omaha, Neb.
