Georgetown Explained

Breaking down what you need to know about life at Georgetown University and in D.C.

Georgetown Explained: Sexual Health Resources on Campus and in D.C.

It’s no secret that our beloved Jesuit institution isn’t the biggest fan of sex; just a few years ago, the Code of Conduct condemned staying the night with a sexual... Read more

By Alaena Hunt March 29, 2025

Georgetown’s low ranking in free speech report, explained

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) released its 2025 College Free Speech Report on Sept. 5, with Georgetown ranked 240 out of the 251 colleges studied. The report’s... Read more

By Izzy Wagener December 9, 2024

Georgetown Explained

Georgetown Explained: Philanthropy

Georgetown University received a $10 million gift from the Leonsis family to the Medstar Georgetown Hospital and the MSB in September. This donation, which is evenly split between Medstar’s Verstandig... Read more

By Alex Cohen November 2, 2024

How to vote from college, explained

For college students, especially those who attend school out of state, voting in the Nov. 5 elections is not as straightforward as going to a polling center or ballot drop... Read more

By Aubrey Butterfield September 28, 2024

Code of Conduct changes, explained

For over a year, Georgetown has been revising its rules governing student conduct. Starting this academic year, the university is implementing the revised version of the Code of Student Conduct—the... Read more

By Eddy Binford-Ross and Franziska Wild September 14, 2024

Georgetown Explained: How Georgetown prepares for emergencies

Georgetown’s location is a confluence of potential emergencies—with the typical cyber and physical safety concerns of college campuses, the mid-Atlantic’s weather hazards, and the unique security issues of the Washington,... Read more

By Eddy Binford-Ross October 5, 2023

Georgetown Explained

Georgetown Explained: Georgetown’s application process

With students preparing for Georgetown’s Jan. 10 regular decision deadline, debate over the application has returned to the forefront.

By Yihan Deng October 23, 2022

Georgetown Explained

Georgetown Explained: Marijuana policies

Washington, D.C. has relaxed its marijuana laws significantly in recent years, but Georgetown’s official drug policies have not followed suit.

By Margaret Hartigan March 5, 2022

Georgetown Explained

Georgetown Explained: 2022 D.C. mayoral elections

Though less than 2 percent of Georgetown students are from D.C., all are impacted by the laws made by the city’s elected officials. In the absence of congressional representation, D.C.... Read more

By Nora Scully, Franziska Wild and Jupiter Huang December 3, 2021

Georgetown Explained

Georgetown Explained: GUSA’s Replace, Repurpose and Restructure Referendum

Following years of debate, GUSA has passed a referendum asking students to vote on whether GUSA should restructure itself. The vote on this referendum will be held on Nov. 6,... Read more

By Franziska Wild October 27, 2021

Georgetown Explained

Georgetown Explained: Getting around D.C.

Washington, D.C. is reopening. Ready to explore it? You could walk or take an Uber, or you could try getting around like a real Washingtonian. Equipped with D.C.’s range of... Read more

By Megan O'Malley and Margaret Hartigan September 24, 2021

Georgetown Explained

Georgetown Explained: Fall COVID-19 policies

In addition to mandating vaccinations, Georgetown has introduced new logistical difficulties in dining, quarantining, and policy enforcement as it attempts a full return during an ongoing pandemic.

By Nora Scully and Margaret Hartigan September 21, 2021

Georgetown Explained

Georgetown Explained: Mutual Aid

COVID-19 placed unprecedented burdens on college students and their families, many of whom struggled to cover costs for basic necessities not included in financial aid packages even before the pandemic. ... Read more

By Maya Kominsky and Megan O'Malley August 27, 2021

Georgetown Explained

Georgetown Explained: Everything we know about COVID-19 and Fall 2021 policies

In just a few weeks, Georgetown students will be returning en masse to campus for the first time since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the spring of 2020.... Read more

By Annemarie Cuccia August 14, 2021

Georgetown Explained

Georgetown Explained: Inside Georgetown’s 2020 COVID-19 response

The Voice can offer a behind-the-scenes look at Georgetown’s COVID-19 plans over the past year based on email exchanges with the DOH.

By Annemarie Cuccia March 14, 2021

Georgetown Explained

Meet Georgetown’s Board of Directors

An explainer piece on Georgetown's Board of Directors

By Annemarie Cuccia December 29, 2020

Georgetown Explained

Georgetown Explained: Domestic violence resources

The Voice explains resources available for students experiencing domestic violence or interpersonal violence.

By Allison Grace O'Donnell November 4, 2020

Georgetown Explained

Georgetown explained: GUPD

The Voice explains Georgetown's on-campus police force GUPD and the criticisms it has received over the years.

By Sarah Watson October 24, 2020

Georgetown Explained

Georgetown Explained: Climate activism and sustainability

While Georgetown has, at times, been considered a leader among college campuses in environmental sustainability, its level of commitment to certain sustainable causes over the years has varied. For the... Read more

By Isaac Solly September 26, 2020

Georgetown Explained

Georgetown Explained: The GU272

Since Georgetown University’s long history with slavery re-entered public view five years ago, faculty, administrators, student activists, and descendants of those enslaved by the Jesuits have grappled with the significance... Read more

By Caroline Hamilton August 28, 2020