Diplomat talks Mideast

The United States Ambassador to the United Nations discussed instability in the Middle East as “the defining issue of our time” during a Wednesday speech in Gaston Hall.

By Pierre Thompson November 15, 2007

News

Breaking barriers in journalism

Raghida Dergham caught her break as a journalist in 1979 when she interviewed President Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines. Looking down at her after the interview, he told her she could not make it as a journalist.

By Dylan Richmond November 15, 2007

News

GU alcohol policy still a working group in progress

Two months after the University’s announcement of a new alcohol policy was met by uproar among students, the working group formed to address their concerns will meet for the first time today.

By Dan Newman November 15, 2007

News

City on a Hill: Don’t drop the flag fee

When Mayor Adrian Fenty announced cabs would switch from the zone system to meters, D.C. residents rejoiced without considering the effect this change would have on taxi drivers. The Washington area’s disregard for taxi drivers was on display again when commuters complained about D.C.’s new $4 flag drop fee. Instead, passengers should recognize that the flag fee is necessary to help taxi drivers transition from the zone system to the meter system.

By Will Sommer November 15, 2007

News

Millions stolen from city tax department

Two city tax officials were arrested last Wednesday for allegedly stealing tens of millions of dollars in what law enforcement officials called the largest fraud in District of Columbia history. The full extent of the scam is not yet known, but it has already resulted in the resignation of four top officials in the Office of Tax and Revenue.

By Juliana Brint November 15, 2007

News

Finding humanity in technology

In the weeks after Hurricane Katrina, a group of tech-savvy citizens created the Katrina People Finder, a website that helps family members of New Orleans residents locate their loved ones. The project suffered from mass input problems as millions of e-mails flowed into the server until an anonymous good samaritan corrected the problem.

By Molly Redden November 15, 2007

News

Henle robberies blamed on broken door

Thieves broke into two Henle apartments early Wednesday morning, stealing three laptops and a wallet, according to students in the apartments.

By Marco Cerna November 8, 2007

News

Taking back gender identity

“Will I get beaten up tonight for walking around on campus with a pink undershirt?” Associate Director of Student Programs and LGBTQ Community Resources Coordinator Bill McCoy asked as he grabbed his t-shirt for emphasis. As part of the “Gender Motivated Violence and Perspective” panel on Wednesday night, McCoy focused on how violence affects those who express gender in a non-traditional way, including transsexuals.

By Brittany Keates November 8, 2007

News

Same-sex ed

District of Columbia public schools will teach lessons on sexual orientation and same-sex behavior in health education classes, according to new guidelines released two weeks ago by the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE).

By Crystal Chung November 8, 2007

News

Numero UN-o

The story is familiar to Georgetown students: the powerhouse team in the 80s slowly declined and was nearly forgotten as of a few years ago. A dramatic turnaround, however, has boosted the team to recent success.

By Ohm Gore November 8, 2007

News

D.C. soccer stadium still up in the air

Seven companies submitted proposals to Washington Mayor Adrian Fenty’s office this Saturday seeking development rights to Poplar Point, a 110-acre bare stretch of land lying along the Anacostia River and, the city hoped, the future site of a new soccer stadium. The city opened the site to competition after negotiations between the city and MacFarlane & Partners, the principal owner of D.C. United, ended over the summer.

By Molly Redden November 8, 2007

News

All hands on the police dept.’s deck

Following fifteen homicides in the two-week period before Halloween, District of Columbia Police Chief Cathy Lanier declared last weekend the fourth “All Hands on Deck” weekend since June last Thursday. The initiative, which requires all patrol officers to work eight-hour shifts during a 48-hour period, has been met with criticism from officer labor representatives and skepticism from community members.

By Juliana Brint November 8, 2007

News

Saxa Politica: Let students see more syllabi

Pre-registration—that time of year when, for once, we plan for more than a few hours in advance. In choosing courses, students look at course titles, then move onto course descriptions and syllabi, which offer the most information about a class. However, many syllabi are notably absent. Students must have a course syllabus available to them at pre-registration in order to choose classes correctly.

By Dylan Richmond November 8, 2007

News

Immigrants spark debate

The District of Columbia City Council recently passed a resolution condemning Virginia’s Prince William and Loudoun Counties for their harsh policies on illegal immigrants. The deep division among local jurisdictions is emblematic of how the larger issue of immigration is addressed in communities around the country.

By Crystal Chung November 1, 2007

News

Ten million dollar grant boosts ICP

Charlene McKenzie has a story for every student in the pictures on her office wall. Pointing to a picture of an African-American girl kayaking down a river during an Institute for College Preparation trip, the program’s director, McKenzie said, “We almost had to turn around and go back on that trip. The poor girl was hyperventilating and couldn’t calm down, yelling that she could never get on a plane. 95 percent or more of the children we work with have never been on a plane, have never even left D.C.”

By Alisha Crovetto November 1, 2007

News

G’town students court the Supremes

Though not wearing costumes, the 17 Georgetown students huddled around the GUTS bus stop in front of Leo’s at 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday had woken up early for a special Halloween treat: a private meeting with Associate Justice Stephen Breyer.

By Juliana Brint November 1, 2007

News

Nobel writer gets GU degree

Georgetown University awarded Nobel laureate Orhan Pamuk an honorary degree before a full Gaston Hall on Monday. Pamuk became the first Turk ever to win any Nobel Prize when he won for Literature in 2006.

By Molly Redden November 1, 2007

News

Bookalicious

A group of Georgetown students rapped their way to first place and $1500 in a music video competition sponsored by a children’s book charity.

By Sarabeth Boak November 1, 2007

News

Influential diplomats at GU

Diplomats gone wild

By Marco Cerna November 1, 2007

News

City on a Hill: Safe as (fire)houses

The District was reminded of the dangers of firefighting Monday when four firefighters were injured in a rowhouse fire. That makes a recent report by Washington's Office of the Inspector General even more disheartening. According to the report, firefighters aren't even safe in their firehouses.

By Will Sommer November 1, 2007