Editorials

Opinions from the Voice’s official editorial board.


Editorials

Court ruling stands up to agricultural lobbyists

Last Friday, in a decision fiercely contested by agricultural lobbyists, U.S. District Court Judge Sylvia Rambo ruled that the Environmental Protection Agency’s  efforts to reduce contamination in the Chesapeake Bay... Read more

Editorials

Students excluded from dorm planning process

This past Sunday, GUSA President Nate Tisa (SFS ‘14) came forward with the news that the University is considering establishing an off-campus residence in order to fulfill the Campus Plan... Read more

Editorials

Living-wage bill a necessity for the District

On July 10th the D.C. Council approved the monumental Large Retailer Accountability Act, which would require that retailers that generate corporate sales in excess of  $10 billion and occupy a... Read more

Editorials

Revisions to conduct policy leave students in the dark

Last Thursday Vice President of Student Affairs, Todd Olson, sent an email to the student body hailing the changes made to the Code of Student Conduct that have gone into... Read more

Editorials

Amendment to sexual assault policy insufficient

Over the past year the Division of Student Affairs, along with GUSA, has critically reexamined Georgetown’s sexual assault policies, seeking ways to improve how sexual assaults are addressed on campus.... Read more

Editorials

D.C. United stadium a burden for the District

With the signing of a tentative agreement with D.C. United to create a new 20,000 seat soccer stadium at Buzzard Point in Southwest Washington, D.C., it appears as though Mayor... Read more

Editorials

Prospects for North East Triangle Disappoint

Administrators and architects unveiled a plan for the North East Triangle, the latest attempt to placate the neighbors by moving students back on campus. The dorm, to be situated on one of the few green spaces on campus, has been a point of contention since plans for it were released in July.

Editorials

Gtown Catholic identity strong among diversity

Last June, William Blatty (COL ’50), author of The Exorcist, started a petition to sue Georgetown in canon court to strip it of its Catholic status. Blatty filed a complaint with the Archbishop of Washington, in May, claiming that Georgetown does not comply with Pope John Paul II’s decree on Catholic higher education.

Editorials

New university ranking system inconsequential

Last week, President Obama unveiled his plan to make college more affordable. His proposal aims to reduce tuition costs by creating a rating system based on a school’s overall value to students. While there are laudable initiatives included in his plan, the proposal is far too modest to effect students and their families.

Editorials

Sexual assault education shortchanges students

In the past year, the University has worked with student organizations to educate students about sexual assault on campus. AlcoholEdu has been replaced with an alternative online workshop that includes sexual assault education. NSO has included discussions of the issue, in addition to requiring RAs to address University sexual assault policy.

Editorials

Forward with decriminalization in the District

It’s time for the United States to end the war on marijuana. Despite $20 billion in annual spending to fight the inflow of cannabis and maintain incarceration rates, the usage of marijuana remains unchanged over the past decade. As scientific investigation continues to prove the efficacy of medical marijuana, public opinion is starting to turn against prohibition.

Editorials

NSA surveillance threatens freedom of the press

Through the leak of documents by Edward Snowden regarding formerly classified surveillance programs: PRISM, Blarney, Oakstar, Lithium have come to the attention of the public. Although President Obama assured that these programs only collect metadata, it was reported that these programs retain the content of emails between domestic U.S. citizens.

Editorials

University should fully embrace Gtown Day

Last Thursday,Todd Olson agreed to student demands to repeal the one-keg restriction at campus parties, calling the measure a reasonable and promising approach to bringing student social life back onto campus. Though the keg ban was a misguided policy from the beginning, we applaud Olson’s decision to recognize the on-campus social scene.

Editorials

Congressional spending cuts threaten Hoyas

Although Georgetown’s comparatively small endowment limits its ability to award financial aid, the shortfall is made up in federal aid in the form of Pell Grants, work-study, and student loans. Unfortunately, because of the deep discretionary spending cuts represented by the sequester, in the coming year Georgetown will suffer $117,417 in cuts...

Editorials

Media, politicians miss mark on Boston tragedy

As the nation reeled from the shock of last Monday’s Boston Marathon bombing, and even now as it begins to heal, American media sources have not only failed in their mission to keep the public informed, but also in their duty to simultaneously uphold the standard of decency and sensitivity towards victims required by such a tragedy.

Editorials

Vote ‘Yes’ to free D.C.’s budget this Tuesday

Next Tuesday, April 23, D.C. residents will vote on whether to amend the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to allow the District government to spend local tax revenues without having to wait for congressional approval. The Voice Editorial Board emphatically urges a “Yes” vote on Proposed Charter Amendment VIII.

Editorials

Dahlgren vandalism disrespects GU’s identity

On the night of April 13, Dahlgren Chapel was broken into and vandalized. While the intruder has yet to be identified and the motive remains unclear, this sort of vandalism against the religious and historical heart of our University should be interpreted as nothing less than an attack on the entire Georgetown community.

Editorials

Alexandria redevelopment unequal and unfair

Last Saturday, Alexandria’s City Council voted six to one to approve a contentious development project that will raze 2,500 affordable housing units and replace them with stores, offices, and 5,000 new apartments. Unfortunately, only 800 of these new units will be reserved for the existing low-income residents, uprooting thousands of families.

Editorials

NSO must require sexual assault education

Last week, it was announced that NSO would not include a mandatory sexual assault workshop, as recommended by the GUSA Sexual Assault Working Group. Instead, there will be a voluntary discussion incorporated into the Welcome Week schedule, and sexual assault prevention elements will be added to the compulsory NSO Show and online AlcoholEdu program.

Editorials

Gun control bills founder on student security

Last Thursday, Maryland’s legislature successfully passed one of the nation’s strictest gun control bills. When it is signed into law in the coming weeks, it will be an encouraging sequel to a similarly tough state bill signed into law in Connecticut last Thursday and certainly, a preview for serious gun control legislation at the federal level.