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

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Saxa Politica: Talking racism at GU

Recent Georgetown University Student Association presidential elections have been rife with controversy, but usually the problem is voting irregularities or last-minute disqualifications. This year, however, the main issue was accusations of racism.

By February 25, 2010

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On the Record with Councilmember David Catania

D.C. Councilmember and Georgetown alum David Catania (I-At Large; SFS ‘90, LAW ‘94) talked to the Voice on Wednesday about his run for re-election, his recent work on same-sex marriage and medical marijuana legalization, and his time at Georgetown. Voice: You recently introduced legislation authorizing same-sex marriage in the District, which ultimately passed the City Council in January. However, Congress has 30 legislative days to review the bill. Do you think there is any possibility that Congress will intervene in the matter?

By February 18, 2010

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Appeal rejected, Philly P’s likely to close

Philly Pizza and Grill can be closed by the city at any moment, following Tuesday’s Board of Zoning and Adjustment hearing which rejected the restaurant’s appeal to reinstate its certificate of occupancy. In its decision, the BZA upheld the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs’ move to revoke Philly Pizza’s certificate of occupancy on the grounds that it is zoned as a sit-down restaurant, but in fact is operating as a fast food establishment.

By February 18, 2010

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Graduate unemployment rises

Georgetown graduates looking for jobs in the midst of the recession had less luck than their recent predecessors, according to a report released by the Georgetown Career Center on Tuesday. The percentage of graduates reporting employment within six months of graduation fell from 62 percent in 2008 to 57 percent in 2009, while the number of graduates still seeking employment rose from seven to 12 percent.

By February 18, 2010

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City on a Hill: Marion Barry’s ninth life?

It’s time to play “Name That D.C. Councilmember.” If you were told a current councilmember propositioned a colleague for sex 562 times, paid his girlfriend with Council money, and then tried to stop her from talking to investigators, who would you think it was? If you guessed Marion Barry (D-Ward 8), you’d be right.

By February 18, 2010

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GUSA presidential campaign kicks off

After winning last year’s Georgetown University Student Association presidential election as sophomores, Calen Angert (MSB ‘11) and Jason Kluger (MSB ‘11) moved quickly on an ambitious—but often controversial—agenda. They are now running as incumbents for the first time in recent memory.

By February 11, 2010

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Landmark vote: GUSA consolidates power over activity fee

The Georgetown University Student Association Senate passed a bill to strip advisory boards of their votes in the allocation of the Student Activities Fee by a vote of 19 to four at their Monday night meeting. The bill, which faced strong opposition from the advisory boards, gives GUSA’s Finance and Appropriations Committee sole control over the allocation process. In the previous system, the seven members of the Finance and Appropriations Committee and one representative from each of the six advisory boards voted on allocating the funds from the fee at the annual spring Budget Summit. Under the new bill, however, members of the Finance and Appropriations Committee will analyze the advisory boards’ positions and then propose a budget, which must then be approved by two-thirds of the general Senate and by the GUSA president.

By February 11, 2010

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Campus copes with blizzard

Amid a series of massive snow storms that have broken the 1899 record for seasonal snowfall in the District, Georgetown University has canceled classes at its campuses for a fourth consecutive day. In addition to preventing faculty and staff from safely reaching campus, the most recent blizzard has disrupted food deliveries and frustrated professors’ lesson plans. In an e-mail to the Voice, Provost James O’Donnell explained the University has been discussing potential closures with faculty every day, and that every day there are a few faculty who are in favor of keeping school open. But the general consensus has typically been in favor of closing the University, especially at the beginning of the week.

By February 11, 2010

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With snow, businesses struggle

Many Georgetown businesses have struggled to stay open through the record-breaking snowstorms of the past week. Most businesses that have tried to maintain normal operating hours have had difficulty staying stocked and fully staffed. Many businesses—including Sweetgreen, Fed Ex, AT & T, Subway, Kitchen #1, Wingo’s, and Saxby’s—were closed Wednesday afternoon. Of the stores that remained open, many are struggling to get employees to work safely.

By February 11, 2010

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Saxa Politica: GU Diversity

The Admissions and Recruitment Working Group, which was formed last spring as part of the University’s diversity initiative, recently released a list of recommendations to increase diversity in Georgetown’s admission’s and recruitment process. As President DeGioia and Provost James O’Donnell review the group’s recommendations, they should give special consideration to the value of socio-economic diversity, which is often overlooked.

By February 11, 2010

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GUSA executives seek re-election

Georgetown University Student Association President Calen Angert (MSB ’11) and Vice President Jason Kluger (MSB ’11) announced their intention to run for reelection last Sunday. Incumbents running for reelection is unprecedented in recent GUSA history, according to GUSA Parliamentarian Sam Ungar (COL ’12). “There is apparently no evidence that any president has run again since at least 2003, and none have won re-election since at least 2000,” Ungar said.

By the February 4, 2010

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Father Witek, S.J. passes away

Father John Witek, S.J., an Asian history professor who had taught at Georgetown for over 35 years, died Sunday morning at the age of 76. Witek died of cancer, according to Father John Langan, S.J., Jesuit community rector. Witek’s academic accomplishments include editing a Chinese-Portuguese dictionary written by the first two Jesuits in China and the Monumenta Sinica, a collection of letters sent between travelling Jesuits in the sixteenth century.

By February 4, 2010

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IPOL concentration removed

Beginning with the class of 2012, the Trans-State Actors in World Politics concentration will no longer be offered to International Politics majors in the School of Foreign Service, Dean Bryan Kasper announced last week. Professor George Shambaugh, the International Politics Field Chair, said that the decision was made with faculty-wide consultations. According to Shambaugh, there was no significant opposition to the decision.

By the February 4, 2010

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GUSA Fund chair appointee from SAC

In the midst of a public and bitter battle between the Georgetown University Student Association and the advisory boards that disperse funds for student programming over the fate of the funding allocation process, GUSA President Calen Angert (MSB ’11) has nominated Kate Petersen (COL ’11), a former Student Activities commissioner, to be the first chair of the GUSA Fund.

By February 4, 2010

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Man falls from Leavey bridge

On Sunday afternoon, a man unaffiliated with the University fell off the Leavey Center bridge, after allegedly shoplifting textbooks from the University bookstore. According to Joseph Smith, associate director for the Department of Public Safety, the suspect had shoplifted two textbooks, each valued at $177. Smith said he dropped a duffel bag containing the textbooks over the side of the bridge before climbing over the bridge wall. The suspect did not attempt to jump directly off the bridge, but rather tried unsuccessfully to climb down it before falling.

By February 4, 2010

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City on a Hill: Jelleff’s field mice

Tempers flared, voices were raised, and motives were questioned. Monday’s meeting of Georgetown’s Advisory Neighborhood Commission was like any of their other meetings over contentious issues, except for one thing: no one blamed Georgetown students.

By February 4, 2010

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Science building to be done by 2012

A $6.9 million grant from the National Institute of Standards and Technology will allow Georgetown to proceed with construction of its new science building—which has been on hold since 2008 thanks to the recession—and has given the project a deadline: 2012.

By January 28, 2010

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GUSA prepares to take financial control

The bill stripping the six advisory boards of their votes on the Funding Board has passed through the Georgetown University Student Association’s Ways and Means and Financial and Appropriations Committees, but GUSA senators are bracing for a contentious vote when the bill comes up again in the general meeting of the full Senate at the beginning of next month.

By January 28, 2010

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Lessons in satire

In the wake of an article published in the Georgetown Heckler that prompted protests and accusations of racism this past December, Georgetown administrators are planning to hold a discussion about satire and civility. The upcoming event will include faculty members, at least one student, and an outside speaker.

By January 28, 2010

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Philly P open late despite promise

Despite public promises from its owner to close at midnight, Philly Pizza and Grill has continued operating into the early morning on some nights. At a hearing on Jan. 12th the D.C. Board of Zoning Adjustment permitted Philly Pizza to remain open until the next hearing on Feb. 9 under a stay of enforcement, granted after the D.C. Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs revoked Philly Pizza’s certificate of occupancy and charged that it’s violating its zoning agreement by acting as a fast-food establishment.

By January 28, 2010