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Leisure

Internet IRL: They see me trollin’

Those who take advantage of free speech can be inspiring. They can also be really awful, and sometimes really, awfully interesting. One of the greatest enjoyments I’ve derived from editing Vox Populi is observing how commenters respond to different posts. Many posts float by without being noticed, but others quickly erupt in an avalanche of opinions, humorous one-liners, and royal personages. And then, of course, there are the obligatory trolls. Trolling demonstrates the full potential of the first amendment in a domain where censorship is focused on larger problems, like covering up nipples and taking the fun out of hit singles by Cee-Lo Green

Leisure

Banger Management: Mixing up success

In 2008, Chris Anderson, editor-in-chief of Wired, declared that “free has emerged as a full-fledged economy. Offering free music proved successful for Radiohead, Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, and a swarm of other bands on MySpace that grasped the audience-building merits of zero.” Although Anderson cites artists of various styles, in no genre is “free” more prevalent than hip-hop. Mixtapes, which don’t directly generate any money for rappers, have become just as important to hip-hop stars as studio releases—if not more so.

Sports

Starks steps up to fill Hoyas’ point guard void

Markel Starks, like most of his teammates, sat on the bench in shock as he watched Georgetown’s leader break his hand against Cincinnati. As Chris Wright’s backup, however, Starks was more affected by the senior’s injury than any of his fellow Hoyas.

Sports

The Sports Sermon: Keep the Faith

When I heard Chris Wright, the Hoyas’ most important player, had broken his hand after colliding with a Cincinnati player, I immediately thought, “This can’t be happening again.” But as a junior, I have become accustomed to an annual letdown at the end of the season.

Sports

Lacrosse hopeful after early loss

As one of the nation’s elite programs, the Georgetown men’s lacrosse team needs no added motivation for success. Last year’s controversial snub by the NCAA tournament committee, however, as well as the loss of a number of All-Big East players to graduation.

Sports

Hoyas limp into Big East

After stumbling to a 21-9 (9-7 Big East) season record following a promising start, the Georgetown women’s basketball team is preparing to head up to Hartford, Conn. for the Big East Tournament. With a first-round bye, the Hoyas will look to get back on track in their first game at the XL Center on Saturday.

Features

Georgetown’s women’s squash team wins national championship

Harling Ross had not gotten a win at the national squash championships in Princeton, NJ. So on Feb. 20th, she stepped onto the court against her Connecticut College opponent feeling she needed a victory, not only for herself, but also for the team.

Sports

Backdoor Cuts: Hoya legends deck the hall

The Syracuse game last Saturday was a momentous occasion, and not just because of our men’s basketball rivalry with them or the stakes of the game. It was also a chance to honor a group of athletes who have contributed so much to the University simply by playing sports.

Voices

Warm weather brings about Georgetown day dreaming

There are few people on campus awaiting spring break more eagerly than I am. Only halfway through my midterm minefield, I already have my blinders on, focusing all my extra energy on thinking about 10:05 a.m. on Friday when I’m finished with my last test. Making things worse, it’s getting nice out. While the temperature is still hovering only around 50 degrees in the past few days, it’s nice enough for me to look out the Lau windows and feel especially miserable.

Voices

The Future M.Vee.P.

Sometimes, sophomore Vee Sanford reminds us what makes him such a likeable basketball player. Against Syracuse in the Big East Tournament last year, he introduced the Hoya faithful to his beautiful teardrop floater, which he has since used to similar effect against Memphis in December and against Syracuse again on Saturday. Vee, however, does not see a lot of playing time. When point guard Chris Wright broke his hand against Cincinnati last week, most analysts believed that Sanford, along with fellow backup guard Markel Starks, would pick up the bulk of Wright’s minutes against the Orange. In the end however, Sanford played just five minutes, compared to Starks’ 24.

Voices

Protests must defend Planned Parenthood and women’s rights

When Wisconsin approved an anti–union bill, protests flared up across the state. These protests soon spread to other states, as well as Washington, D.C., as other state legislatures attempted to pass similar bills. When violence and human rights abuses began in Egypt and Libya, protests erupted in front of the respective embassies. Yet legislation in at least five states and a national bill to limit women’s reproductive rights, have gone without widespread protests.

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News

Gray, students to talk noise law

Mayor Vincent Gray has agreed to meet with students to discuss D.C. Council’s “nighttime noise prohibition” Disorderly Conduct Law, among other issues, the DC Student Alliance, a student advocacy group of elected representatives from 15 Washington-area universities, announced yesterday in a press release.

News

Thefts down as DPS ups patrols

A wave of on-campus thefts that began last semester has slowed, thanks in part to the Department of Public Safety’s multi-faceted crime-prevention response. Thirty thefts have been reported this semester, compared to 64 between October and November.

Editorials

SAC makes changes, but more are needed

This past Monday the Student Activities Commission passed a constitutional amendment allowing it to amend funding guidelines partway through the semester. This change and another reform meant to improve the appeals process were in response to vocal discontent with SAC’s new funding process. But this was a small step, and true reform will require SAC to scrap its new programming arc approach, while increasing its transparency and feedback to clubs.

News

Under pressure from clubs, SAC adopts changes

The Student Activities Commission voted Monday on a package of resolutions and changes to its constitution, several of which came in response to widespread criticism of the new funding guidelines.

News

On the record: GUSA president and vice-president

On Monday, Georgetown University Student Association executives Mike Meaney (SFS ‘12) and Greg Laverriere (COL ‘12) sat down for separate interviews with the Voice to talk about their upcoming term. Interviews conducted and transcribed by Matt Kerwin.

Editorials

Support bill to make birth control more accessible

Georgetown students may complain about the inability to buy any form of birth control on campus, but for some D.C. residents contraceptive medicine is even less accessible. However, a bill before the D.C. City Council would enable women to obtain the pill directly from a pharmacist. The D.C. Council should pass the bill, ensuring that as many of the District’s women as possible are able to take control of their reproductive health.

Editorials

Gray’s patronage, spending, raises questions

Vincent Gray swept into the D.C. mayor’s office partly on his promise to weed out corruption and restore legitimacy to the city’s government. Two months into his term, Gray has failed to uphold that promise. The unscrupulous behavior of his administration may not be criminal, but it has seriously eroded what little trust D.C. residents still have in their government. Gray needs to clean up his image.

News

Saxa Politica: Back to the GUSA future

Georgetown University Student Association presidents only occupy their post for one or two years, making it difficult for them to leave a mark on student life or deliver on optimistic campaign promises. The incoming GUSA executive, Mike Meaney (SFS ’12) and Greg Laverriere (COL ’12), would do well to heed the words of their predecessors—eschew flashy plans for those that will leave positive impacts.

Sports

Georgetown can’t overcome Wright’s absence against Syracuse

On an emotional Senior Day, with their leader sidelined by an injury, and in front of a record home crowd, the script was set for Georgetown to pull off a storybook comeback against their archrival. But there was no Hollywood ending for the Hoyas, as the absence of Chris Wright proved too much to overcome. Syracuse (24-6, 11-6 Big East) prevailed 58-51 as Georgetown (21-8, 10-7 Big East) faltered in the clutch. The normally sharp-shooting Hoyas saw their hands go cold for the second game in the row in front of a crowd of 20,276, the most ever for a Georgetown game at the Verizon Center.

Sports

Baseball’s four-game split is right on track

Despite posting a disappointing 24-31 overall record and a 5-9 record in the Big East last year, the Georgetown baseball team enters this season with some minimalist goals, but a mild sense of confidence. Georgetown has struggled in Big East play in recent years, often finishing last.

Sports

The Sports Sermon: The big one

During the Roy Hibbert and Jeff Green era, the Hoyas played plenty of big games. Every game in their Final Four run, of course, was huge, but even for regular season matchups, screaming fans consistently packed the Verizon Center thanks to the constant position at the top of the conference standings.

Sports

Hoyas lose their leader in defeat

On a day when students arriving early to the Verizon Center were given “gray-out” t-shirts to wear to Saturday’s game against Syracuse, the Georgetown men’s basketball team seemed to have their sights squarely on the Orange. But, in what can only be described as a classic trap game.

Features

The doctor is out: Saying farewell to Porterfield

On Friday afternoons, Dan Porterfield’s office in Healy Hall becomes an informal salon where students stop by to discuss classwork, mull over career concerns, or simply to partake of the ice cream that constantly fills his freezer. The tradition spans years, an emblem of the welcoming, receptive persona Porterfield’s colleagues and students consistently describe.