Editorials

Opinions from the Voice’s official editorial board.

Editorials

Back down on taxes, step up on START, DADT

On Dec. 6, after weeks of negotiation, President Obama announced a deal with Republicans that will extend the Bush tax cuts for all Americans, including those who make over $250,000, for two more years. This “compromise” was undeniably one-sided. Obama surrendered on one of his central campaign promises.

By the December 9, 2010

Editorials

Crimes of opportunity knocking on our doors

In the last month alone, a string of six robberies in Georgetown’s Village A apartments, an attempted abduction, and at least 12 reports of laptop theft have left students questioning their safety and security. The actions taken by Associate Director of Public Safety Joseph Smith and DPS in response to these crimes are steps in the right direction, but Georgetown students and administrators still have a great deal of work to do to get campus security up to par.

By the December 2, 2010

Editorials

A surplus of city services in D.C.’s budget cuts

Even before he takes office in January, D.C. Council Chair and Mayor-elect Vincent Gray (D) will be a part of the strenuous process of dealing with D.C’s budget problems. Over the next two years, his administration will have to slash 583 million dollars from the District’s ballooning deficit by either raising taxes or cutting popular programs and services. While neither option is likely to win him friends, Gray must take a hard look at next year’s budget to bring services in line with the economic realities of a city still struggling to exit the recession.

By the December 2, 2010

Editorials

The national drinking age is too damn high!

According to the FDA, the mixture of caffeine and alcohol in drinks like Four Loko, Joose, and Moonshot leads to more dangerous drinking behaviors, especially in teens and college students. After many states had already banned alcoholic energy drinks, the FDA ruled on Nov. 17 that the added caffeine is an “unsafe food additive,” effectively forcing drink makers to remove the caffeine from their products. This decision is both shortsighted and impractical.

By the December 2, 2010

Editorials

Time to call in support for student veterans

For most of us, last Thursday was an ordinary day on the Hilltop. The clock struck 11:11 for two minutes of silence as many of us were walking to class, talking to friends, or catching a quick bite to eat. Few students took the time to notice that last Thursday was Veterans Day, an important holiday for our nation, but even more so for those who have worn the uniform of the United States Armed Forces.

By the November 18, 2010

Editorials

Ayegba’s NCAA suspension is a personal foul

While flying halfway across the world from his native Nigeria last fall, Moses Ayegba was probably thinking about pursuing his education in the United States and the excitement of playing Division I College Basketball. He probably never would have guessed that the plane ticket he held in his hand would cost him nine games of eligibility, the bulk of Georgetown’s pre-conference schedule.

By the November 18, 2010

Editorials

GU scheduling gobbles up entire fall semester

Next Monday, students at top universities across the country will pack their bags and head home, but many Georgetown students will be stuck on the Hilltop until classes end on Wednesday. In fact, many Hoyas will not even have the opportunity to visit their families this Thanksgiving. And none have had more than a long weekend off from Georgetown’s grueling fall semester.

By the November 18, 2010

Editorials

Proposed funding reform (mostly) a safe bet

Many student clubs at Georgetown struggle to make do with meager budgets. As a response, the Georgetown University Student Association’s Finance and Appropriations Committee has floated the possibility of raising the annual Student Activity Fee to increase the amount of funding available to student clubs.

By the November 11, 2010

Editorials

Time to get serious about online textbook listings

As we begin the process of pre-registration this week, students are once again being forced to make important academic decisions based on inadequate information. Many courses on MyAccess violate federal law by not specifying the required textbooks.

By the November 11, 2010

Editorials

AU candidates should learn from mistakes

On Nov. 2, Georgetown students elected Jake Sticka (COL ’13) to be one of seven commissioners on Georgetown’s Advisory Neighborhood Commission. Sticka will now represent students on crucial issues ranging from alcohol licenses to the University’s construction plans for the next decade.

By the November 11, 2010

Editorials

A liberal’s guide to the new Republican majority

After two years of scaling back reforms to meet the demands of Republican dissent and obstruction, Democrats find themselves once more in the minority in the U.S. House of Representatives. They now face the same choice Republicans did two years ago: either return to the core values of their party, or continue attempting bipartisanship.

By the November 4, 2010

Editorials

University keeps mum on DMT contradictions

Now that almost two weeks have passed since Charles Smith (SFS ‘14) and his friend John Perrone were caught cooking dimethyltryptamine in Smith’s dorm room, a clearer picture of the dramatic, early-morning evacuation of Harbin Hall and their arrest has emerged. Unfortunately, very few of the facts we now know have come from Georgetown itself.

By the November 4, 2010

Editorials

Searching for a Rabbi, students find their voice

eorgetown’s Rabbi Harold White has left a lasting legacy at this university. The community will be sad to see him go, but White’s departure may leave the community with one last gift. To select his replacement, the University is using a student-driven process—one that would serve as an excellent model for future hiring decisions.

By the November 4, 2010

Editorials

Aramark cooks up healthy profits, but lousy food

Aramark, Georgetown’s dining services provider, has sacrificed both quality and variety to achieve cost savings for itself, a fact that is plain from student responses to the ongoing Campus Dining Survey.For example, of the 690 students that had completed the survey as of Wednesday night, only eight percent were “happy with Leo’s.”

By the October 28, 2010

Editorials

Alarming errors in University’s DMT response

Early Saturday morning, residents of Harbin Hall woke to the sounds of Department of Public Safety and Metropolitan Police Department officers shouting and pounding on their doors. Authorities had found a dimethyltryptamine lab, which contained several highly flammable and explosive chemicals needed to produce the illegal drug, in a room on the ninth floor.

By the October 28, 2010

Editorials

Future funding reform not a SAFE bet for GUSA

The University owes its students $3 million, plus nine years’ interest. That’s the sum it promised to contribute to the Student Activity Fee Endowment in 2001. But it never did, and for the last 10 years, the Student Activities Fee Endowment has stagnated without its support. With that money, the endowment today would be much closer to maturing.

By the October 28, 2010

Editorials

Georgetown supports a community of scholars

Every fall, over one million young Americans become the first person in their family to attend college. The first-generation college students who come to Georgetown do so through incredibly hard work, often overcoming huge obstacles on their own. Once they arrive at Georgetown, students continue to face enormous financial, social, and academic pressures.

By the October 21, 2010

Editorials

Hysteria stalls sex education at Hardy Middle

Last week, a seventh grade sex education survey at nearby Hardy Middle School caused so much hysteria that the principal put any future sexual education programs on indefinite hold. A minority of parents feel that the survey—which included questions about gender identity, sexual activity, pregnancy, drug use, and sexual orientation—was inappropriate for their 12-year-olds.

By the October 21, 2010

Editorials

GPB brings fall concert to the worst venue in D.C.

For the first time since Coolio came in 2007, the GPB will host a fall concert. GPB and the Senior Class Committee should be applauded for bringing Lupe Fiasco—students’ first choice in last year’s GPB artist survey. However, with so many concert venues in D.C., GPB and SCC should think critically about whether on-campus concerts are the most effective use of their funds.

By the October 21, 2010

Editorials

Popular IDEV certificate deserves SFS support

Less than two years ago, the International Development Certificate in the School of Foreign Service was thriving. It sponsored campus events, hosted résumé reviews, and helped students connect with alumni working in development-related fields. But today, the program is a mere shadow of what it used to be—and what it could be.

By the October 14, 2010