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What’s happening on campus and in D.C.

News

City on a Hill: Keep D.C. occupied

If there’s one thing the Occupy Wall Street and Occupy D.C. protestors have achieved, it is shaking up the establishment. House Minority Leader Eric Cantor denounced them as “mobs” that pit Americans against Americans. President Obama’s thoughts were a bit more understanding. He said the protestors are “giving voice to a more broad-based frustration.”

By October 13, 2011

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RJC reformed, students have concerns about Conduct Code

After a yearlong absence, the Residential Judicial Council, a student-staffed disciplinary body, is up and running again with numerous structural changes aimed to increase the number of cases RJC sees and make the body a more integral part of student conduct proceedings at Georgetown.

By October 13, 2011

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Lack of transparency in SAC spurs new student group

On Tuesday, student group leaders received an email announcing the formation of the Student Group Union, a student group alliance created in response to perceived transparency issues with the way the Student Activities Commission allocates group funds. Emma Green (COL ’12), a former Philodemic Society treasurer, is heading the initiative. In the email, Green wrote that the SGU would be a way to increase dialogue among student organizations and with the administration.

By October 6, 2011

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New South Student Center may use SAFE funding

At a forum on the proposed New South Student Center on Monday, architects from SmithGroup, Georgetown University Student Association senators, and University administrators revealed updated designs for the project and indicated that students would still have more opportunities to provide input on the final design of the center.

By October 6, 2011

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New science building a welcome change, but Reiss renovation vital

Georgetown’s new Science Center, conceived and designed from the start to emphasize interdisciplinary learning and research, has excited science faculty with the prospect of increased opportunity for cross-department interaction and easier exchanges of ideas once the building opens. But while they look forward to the advantages of moving into the state-of-the-art space, department chairs are emphasizing the importance of continued funding and support for science programs at Georgetown as the school attempts to stay competitive among top-tier institutions.

By October 6, 2011

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Saxa Politica: Illegitimate legislators

This week the Georgetown University Student Association swore in the 27 newly elected student senators elected to serve their fellow classmates for the coming year. Their friends and their fellow residents have likely congratulated them for their victories. But are congratulations truly in order after this election? The answer is both yes and no.

By October 6, 2011

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D.C. mourns another victim lost to gender violence

Last Sunday, a candlelight vigil was held in Dupont Circle to honor the late Dr. Gaurav Gopalan, a gay man and prominent member of Washington, D.C.’s LGBT community He was found dead in women’s clothing on an 11th Street sidewalk two weeks ago, a victim of gender violence.

By September 29, 2011

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City on a Hill: D.C. schools still struggling

As time goes on, more and more cracks have begun to show in ex-D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee’s educational reforms. Even as investigations into the citywide standardized test cheating scandal continue, the focus turned this week to the sad state of many middle schools in the District.

By September 29, 2011

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Dean Martin Iguchi talks new programs, ideas for NHS

The School of Nursing and Health Studies operated without a permanent dean for one year, from June 2010 to June 2011. After a year’s search for a new dean, Dr. Martin Iguchi was appointed Georgetown’s new Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Studies in July. Iguchi said that during his tenure, he will work on expanding the school’s online nursing master’s program and establishing relationships with health-related community-based organizations inside and outside of D.C.

By September 29, 2011

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GU alumni donations recession-proof

While many universities’ alumni donations have been impacted by the economic downturn, the Georgetown Fund, Georgetown’s alumni giving fund received more donations during the 2011 fiscal year, which began on July 1, 2010 and ended June 20, 2011, than in the 2010 fiscal year.

By September 29, 2011

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SAC commissioners, student leaders discuss changes

On Wednesday night, Student Activities Commission board members and student group leaders came together for a forum to discuss SAC funding guidelines. SAC has drawn heavy criticism in the past for its funding guidelines, which were created in the spring of 2010 at a closed meeting that involved no student group leaders. The meeting was meant to be an opportunity for SAC and student leaders to create a better system for both SAC and student groups.

By September 22, 2011

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Professors discuss suitability of diversity requirement at GU

Last February, Georgetown University’s Initiative on Diversity and Inclusiveness’s Working Group on Academics released a recommendation calling for the implementation of a diversity course requirement in the Georgetown core undergraduate curriculum. Though the group had anticipated the requirement beginning in the 2011-2012 academic year, professors and faculty at Georgetown are still divided on whether the course is a good idea, making the plan’s future uncertain.

By September 22, 2011

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Saxa Politica: Hold GUSA to promises

It’s that time of year again, when we elect a number of our fellow classmates to senatorship in the Georgetown University Student Association. As regular as the yearly elections are, so are the outlandish promises made by candidates as they vie for the few votes necessary to win (one student only had to garner four votes to win one of last year’s GUSA Senate elections).

By September 22, 2011

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SaxaNet problems, expansion

The University Information Systems set up a new wireless network, SaxaNet, in 18 University buildings to address the lack of wireless connectivity on Georgetown’s campus, but a number of students have had trouble connecting to the network at all. UIS is also looking to expand wireless coverage to areas on campus that are not currently provided wireless access.

By September 22, 2011

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Pop culture supplements the humanities

This semester, Georgetown is offering an array of popular culture-themed classes, from “Philosophy and The Wire” to “Videogames in Critical Content.” While the courses are in high demand, the idea of merging TV and movies with serious academic questions has drawn criticism and ridicule.

By September 22, 2011

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Aramark is “union strong,” negotiations underway

On Tuesday night, the Kalmonovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor hosted “We Are One Georgetown,” a victory event celebrating campus food service provider Aramark’s employees’ successful unionization efforts. The first stage of negotiations between the union, called Unite Here, and Aramark, one of the largest food service providers in the United States, began over the summer and will continue into the fall, with union workers hoping to come away with a new contract that emphasizes fair wages and affordable health care.

By September 15, 2011

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City on a Hill: Teach a man to fish

On Tuesday, the U.S. Census Bureau announced that there are now more Americans living in poverty than in any time since collection of the statistic began 52 years ago. This problem is especially pronounced in D.C., where the poverty rate is 17.6 percent, which is 2.5 percent higher than the national average. In response to this problem, Mayor Vincent Gray’s office has begun Sweat Equity, a new and unprecedented effort that takes homeless families on the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program and puts them to work renovating the District’s vacant buildings and apartments. When the work is done, the participant’s family can move into the residence with two years of city-subsidized rent.

By September 15, 2011

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More GU entrepreneurs: the prepster and the social networker

Over the past few years, the McDonough School of Business has seen a surge in student entrepreneurship initiatives, ranging from technology start-ups to bloggers and potential magazine CEOs. Some companies, like Sweetgreen and LivingSocial, have seen success after their founders graduated from Georgetown, but several current undergraduate entrepreneurs have found a way to mix business success with academic responsibilities.

By September 15, 2011

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GU adjusts to changes for Catholic Mass

After nearly four decades, the Roman Missal, the book that contains the rites and prayers that Catholic priests use in celebrating Mass, is undergoing significant change. According to Jim Wickman, the director of music and liturgy at Georgetown, Georgetown Campus Ministry will be working on making the transition to this new Missal smooth for Georgetown University parishioners.

By September 15, 2011

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Healy Pub talks to continue between University, students

After working on the design plan and the rough cost estimates for the proposed Healy Pub this summer, students in the Georgetown University Student Association’s Healy Space Working Group will be meeting with University President John DeGioia in the coming weeks to discuss a revised vision of the pub. While DeGioia and Vice President of Student Affairs Todd Olson expressed doubt about the viability of the Healy Pub project due to concerns about serving alcohol to students, the working group says that the revised plan should assuage the University’s concerns about the pub.

By September 8, 2011