Georgetown Drops In U.S. News Rankings
The verdict is in: U.S. News and World Report’s list of America’s Best Colleges, published last week, has placed Georgetown at No. 25. Georgetown, ranked number 23 last year, has steadily declined in rankings over the past few years. Harvard and Princeton Universities tied for the number-one spot, with Yale, University of Pennsylvania and Duke University filling spots three, four and 5, respectively.
-Bailey Somers
Lock Yourselves In
Vice President for Safety and Security David Morrell told campus press Wednesday that he views Georgetown as a generally safe campus that could become even safer if students learn to lock their doors. Morrell cited the formation of a student advisory committee, the placement of student guards in McCarthy and Reynolds Halls and a revamping of campus alert systems as this summer’s successes. Morell said that his office has also pressed the city to begin replacing lighting in West Georgetown and worked with Lauinger Library officials to better publicize Safe Rides.
Morrell also touted the spring arrest of two burglary suspects, one of whom confessed to over 100 thefts, as examples of what can happen when students and Department of Public Safety work together.
While he briefly mentioned the threat of international terrorism, Morrell emphasized that “there have been no specific threats against Georgetown.”
-Chris Stanton
Prof. Esposito Honored By Pakistan
Professor John Esposito was recently chosen by the government of Pakistan to receive one of its most prestigious honors, the Hilal-I-Quaid-I-Azam award. Esposito, one of the founders and current director of the Georgetown Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding was among only a few foreign nationals chosen to receive the award. Esposito is known for his study of terrorism and his ability to make Islam accessible to the public.
Tara Dankel (SFS ‘03, GRD ‘04), a former graduate student of Esposito, said that he concerns himself with “everything you want to know about Islam but were afraid to ask.”
-Geoffrey Pickering
CAPS Director To Leave Georgetown
Dr. John Kolligian Jr. announced August 16 that he would be leaving his position as Director of Counseling and Psychiatric Services, to become the Director of Student Mental Health at Princeton University for family reasons. After arriving at Georgetown in July 2003, Kolligian oversaw an information systems upgrade and hired new staff members to deal with campus outreach and sexual assault. He said that he is pleased with the progress he has made as director and is optimistic for the future.
“We’d like to think we’re on the road to a more communicative partnership with places like Residence Life, the Dean’s Office and even the faculty,” he said.
-Geoffrey Pickering
