Archive

Improv alumni celebrate 15th anniversary

If you’re an acquaintance of anybody in the Georgetown University Improv Association, you may have noticed a slight change in your Facebook events during the past few days. Suddenly, your invitation to Improvfest this weekend was missing half of its title. Originally, it boldly advertised an extra-special guest headliner: the all-caps-worthy “MIKE BIRBIGLIA.”

By Leigh Finnegan February 10, 2011

Rapids needs more raucuousness

Ever since the massive success of 2009 smash-hit The Hangover, a series of R-rated comedies have attempted to imitate and capitalize on the blend of well-crafted, raunchy dialogue and situational absurdity that made the movie such a success. With Cedar Rapids, director Michael Artera takes imitation one step further, borrowing Hangover star Ed Helms.

By Samuel Buckley February 10, 2011

Herbivores take over D.C.

Last week, Washington was overwhelmed by what many claim to be the greatest culinary innovation ever to come out of American kitchens: barbeque. This celebration of the grill—and all other things carnivorous—was part of the annual D.C. Meat Week. But after a week’s worth of fatty protein, D.C.’s vegetarian and vegan community is striking back, combatting some of that high cholesterol with the second annual D.C. Meat-Free Week.

By Mary Borowiec February 10, 2011

Critical Voices: Cut Copy, Zonoscope

With Zonoscope, Cut Copy is going on a trip. The Melbourne-based electro-pop group’s sophomore release is brimming with journey images and metaphors, from song titles like “Where I’m Going” to lyrics like “take it from me/we’re on a path to eternity.” And while Zonoscope is still filled with the ecstatic, feel-good, summer-y beats that fans have come to expect, this release is Cut Copy’s attempt to be taken more seriously.

By Claire Ferguson February 10, 2011

Critical Voices: Mother of Mercy, IV: Symptoms of Existence

Philadelphia metallic-punk outfit Mother of Mercy is not for the faint of heart. MoM delivers a distinct blend of straightforward hardcore punk and darker, brooding rock sounds influenced by the likes of Danzig and Samhain. After years of creating impressive music and touring with punk forefathers, last year Mother of Mercy signed with premier hardcore and punk label Bridge 9 Records.

By Matthew Decker February 10, 2011

Fade to Black: We don’t need no education

Just over a week ago, three Georgetown graduates made their mark on the Sundance Film Festival. Hoyas contributed to two entries, earning two prizes and sending shockwaves through the indie film world. While Georgetown can take pride in these ambitious filmmakers’ success, their graduation from a school that lacks a film program proved yet again that when it comes to getting ahead in the movie business, a degree from New York University’s Tisch School of Arts is often not as important as raw talent.

By Mark James February 10, 2011

Amuse-bouche: The joy of popping

There are some foods that America’s giant, faceless, agri-beast processed food industry can make just as well as the average person. The Pillsbury Grands Flaky Layer Butter Tastin’ biscuit, for example, is a thing of beauty. Frozen pizza and Stouffer’s macaroni and cheese are both mostly high-fructose corn syrup, and not coincidentally both delicious. However, there is one processed food that is an affront to all that is good, right, and beautiful about eating: microwavable popcorn.

By Molly Redden February 10, 2011

Students to decide fate of GUSA’s $3.4 million fund

On Sunday, the Georgetown University Student Association announced plans to create an Endowment Commission that will propose how to spend the $3.4 million left over from the Student Activities Fund Endowment.

By Chris Heller February 10, 2011

Still a ways to go for GU’s Diversity Initiative plans

Despite outlining a plan of action to promote “community in diversity” in September, only some of the suggestions made by last year’s Diversity and Inclusiveness Initiative Workng Group have been adopted by University officials, with others seeing little recent progress.

By Matt Kerwin February 10, 2011

Editorials

Repeal and replace arbitrary noise ordinance

When the D.C. City Council passed the now infamous amendments to the District’s disorderly conduct law, the changes were meant to clarify what one subcommittee had called a “vague and ambiguous” statute. But the new measure only creates more confusion and questions by greatly increasing penalties and police discretion in noise violations. College students can be especially vulnerable to the vagaries of law enforcement, and it is essential that student leaders and University officials press the D.C. Council to revise the amendment.

By the Editorial Board February 10, 2011

Job prospects on the rise for future grads

Even though the job market is recovering slowly, the Georgetown University Career Education Center will be busy this month. Director Mike Schaub is confident that this year will be successful for job and internship applicants, pointing out positive trends in data culled from the class of 2010.

By Jeffrey Niedermaier February 10, 2011

Editorials

GUSA presidential candidates should think big

The two-year administration of Georgetown University Student Association President Calen Angert (MSB‘11) and Jason Kluger (MSB’11) is coming to a close, and soon a new slate of candidates will vie to replace them. In the past, GUSA presidential candidates have drawn up long lists of promises, ranging from Zipcars for students to more silverware in Leo’s. Such initiatives may sound nice, but it is time to recognize that the GUSA president needs to take the lead on some of the major issues on campus.

By the Editorial Board February 10, 2011

News Hit: DMT suspects to plead guilty Fri.

John Perrone and Charles Smith are expected to plead guilty in D.C. District Court this Friday to charges related to the DMT lab found in Smith’s Harbin doorm room last semester, according to filed court documents.

By Rachel Calvert February 10, 2011

City on a Hill: Is the noise law anti-student?

“Unfair and unconstitutional.” “We live in America, not the mid-20th century U.S.S.R.” “I believe in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and this law infringes on all of my inalienable rights.”

By Juliana Brint February 10, 2011

Editorials

Dan Snyder v. City Paper: One jerk’s crusade

The National Football League is the most popular professional sport in America, drawing the interest (and money) of millions of fans who live and die with the success of their favorite teams. This passion causes players, coaches, general managers, and even owners to become some of the most scrutinized public figures in America, a role for which they are compensated greatly. By suing the Washington City Paper over a series of critical articles, Daniel Snyder has shown that he is incapable of handling the criticism he is rightly subject to as owner of the Washington Redskins.

By the Editorial Board February 10, 2011

Hoyas withstand Brooks’ barrage, hold off Providence

It’s not often that a player scores 43 points in a college basketball game and can’t lead his team to victory. It’s also not common for a team with an 18-point second half lead to have a chance to lose the game on the final possession. The latter was the case for Georgetown, but fortunately for the Hoyas they managed to stop Providence’s Marshon Brooks the one time they needed to.

By Tim Shine February 5, 2011

Page 13 Cartoons

The Funny Page

Fresh comics! Come and get 'em!

By Brendan Baumgardner February 3, 2011

Messages provide necessary link to home

My dad got a Droid for Christmas last year. I guess it was about time—he’s been toting around a five-pound Nokia since 1997—but it still kind of perplexes me that my 66-year-old father has a cooler phone than I do. I spent Christmas morning envying the sexagenarian as he sat next to the tree fandangling away on his touch screen.

By Emma Forster February 3, 2011

Phones are damaging English

Having grown up with instant messaging and texting, I don’t bat an eye at slang as diverse as “irlol” (or “in real life laugh out loud”) and “iucmd” (my friend Matt’s favorite, meaning “if you catch my drift”). Yet I was shocked a few weeks ago when my dad sent me a text message for the first time. It read “miss yu, yu have pro status as spanish tutor lv dad.” I had helped my 14-year-old brother Sam study for a Spanish exam over Christmas break, and it was nice to be informed he did well. However, I was more interested in those dropped vowels. I love my dad, but I don’t consider him to be the most culturally adept person. He uses email, but I’ve always found his communication there to be very precise. As recently as a few months ago my brother was still showing him how to open the text messages he had received, so I wasn’t prepared for his sudden embrace of text slang.

By Eric Pilch February 3, 2011

Declining music sales require industry adaptation

You may or may not remember the band Cake, best known for a pair of novelty hits at the end of the ‘90s. But apparently someone does. The group’s latest album, Showroom of Compassion—released ten years after their last charting single (“Short Skirt, Long Jacket” got to 124 on the top 200) and 13 years since anyone thought they were relevant—hit number one on the Billboard charts last week. It was far from an impressive accomplishment, however: at just 44,000 units sold, Cake’s sixth album was the lowest-selling number one since the advent of SoundScan in 1991.

By Matthew Collins February 3, 2011

Qatar student discovers treasures in Moroccan medina

Morocco, If you were a person, you would be one with multiple personalities. In the past two months, I have discovered your ethnic richness, multi-linguistic culture, and different moods. You can be the hottest person in the world and at times, the coldest, conservative, liberal and sometimes in-between. Most importantly, you have, in your own charming way, allowed me to explore your various characteristics in a series of epic adventures.

By Fatima Muneer February 3, 2011

Collars come off for Jesuits’ annual grudge match

The Society of Jesus has a diverse and colorful history, and for the past 10 years the students of Georgetown University have organized Jesuit Heritage Week in order to celebrate and make visible the school’s Jesuit character. While all of the week’s events are meaningful, one gathering is far more important and consequential than the rest.

By Adam Rosenfeld February 3, 2011

The Sports Sermon: Back and better than ever

Georgetown has won five games in row. That means they’re back, right? Or do the Hoyas have to win six in row to officially be “back”? What if they were never gone? The team certainly wasn’t looking too good a couple of weeks ago.

By Nick Berti February 3, 2011