We dug through our archives to find the biggest (or our favorite) stories the Voice covered in our first 40 years.
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May 5, 1970
Students strike, boycott classes
The Georgetown Student Senate called for a two-day boycott of classes to protest for a number of on-campus reforms,
Feb. 6, 1973
Students protest tuition increases … with lemons
Students piled 6,000 lemons in front of the Office of the University President, then occupied by Rev. Robert Henle, S.J., to
Aug. 29, 1978
WGTB equipment sold for $1 to UDC
Apr. 2, 1984
Georgetown wins first (and only) men’s basketball championship
In Coach John Thompson Jr.’s twelfth season, the Hoyas finished their 1983-84 season with a 34-3 record, a Big East
Jan. 11, 1988
Supreme Court rules for Gay People of Georgetown University
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Georgetown had to provide LGBTQ students equal access to university funding and facilities. The Student Senate had initially approved funding for Gay People of Georgetown University (GPGU) in 1979, but it was revoked, leading to the lawsuit. The university requested that the Supreme Court delay an order from the D.C. Court of Appeals requiring Georgetown to recognize GPGU under the District Human Rights Act. Georgetown alumnus Antonin Scalia (COL ’57) abstained from the vote, and the Court decided that the university did not have to endorse gay student groups but must provide them with the same access to funding and university space as other student organizations. This remained the extent of the university’s support until they hired a part-time LGBTQ services coordinator in 2002.
Feb. 9, 1988
Stewards exposed
The Society of Stewards of Georgetown College, a secret, all-male fraternal order, was publicly disclosed when Rev. Joseph Durkin, S.J., the group’s moderator, wrote a letter to The Hoya denouncing the group’s exclusion of women and minorities. “I stand before you all today and say that I am vehemently against the Stewards,” said Rosie Hidalgo (COL ’88), a student speaking against the society at a public forum held after Durkin’s letter. “It’s like a cancer. Unless we stop it now, it will penetrate deeper and deeper into every organization on campus.” A number of prominent students, from the editor-in-chief of The Hoya to GUSA senators, were outed as members. Within the week, a spokesperson for the group announced that it would be dissolved, but the society was restarted a few years later.
Feb. 22, 1991
GU Choice receives club recognition
GU Choice, the original name of H*yas for Choice, was granted university recognition by then-Dean of Student Affairs John DeGioia on the condition that the group only promote discussion and not advocate for reproductive rights. The decision upset many members of the Georgetown community. One group, the Georgetown Ignatian Society, brought a canon lawsuit to then-Archbishop of Washington Cardinal James Hickey to have the university stripped of its Catholic status, a power only the Vatican has. Amidst this opposition and accusations the group had advocated for pro-choice activities, DeGioia revoked the club’s funding in April 1992. University President Rev. Leo O’Donovan, S.J., allowed the group to operate on campus but without university funding.
Nov. 3, 1992
Georgetown alumnus Bill Clinton elected president
Governor of Arkansas Bill Clinton (SFS ’68) defeated George H.W. Bush and independent candidate Ross Perot with 370 electoral votes and 43 percent of the popular vote. The Voice’s Election Day coverage spanned from informally polling (read:
Jul. 1, 2001
John DeGioia becomes first lay president of Georgetown University
John DeGioia (COL ’79) was inaugurated as Georgetown’s 48th president, succeeding O’Donovan and becoming the first layperson to run any of the country’s Jesuit colleges and universities. Having earned his bachelor’s and Ph.D. from the


We like this photo the best.
university, DeGioia also served as senior vice president and dean of student affairs. His inauguration sparked discussions on the tension between Georgetown’s identity as an academic institution and its position as the oldest Catholic university in the country. DeGioia said he has tried to balance the conflict between those identities throughout his tenure. Still in the position, he is the longest-serving president in the school’s history.
Aug. 26, 2008
LGBTQ Resource Center opens
Throughout 2007, students advocating for LGBTQ interests launched a series of campaigns in response to hate crimes on campus. They participated in town halls with university President John DeGioia to fight for more support on campus. Because of the work and dedication of many student activists who collaborated with the university, the LGBTQ Resource Center opened its doors and has since adopted a significant role in university life, representing LGBTQ interests, offering support systems for students, and hosting guest lectures. Since its founding, the Resource Center has also received support from Georgetown Campus Ministry in its mission.
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