Editorials

Opinions from the Voice’s official editorial board.

Editorials

We’ve got better Facilities

Last Monday morning, in the wake of D.C.’s 18-inch snowfall, a lone member of Georgetown University Facilities Management’s townhouse crew stood at the corner of 37th and O Streets in front of the Village B apartment complexes, shoveling. He didn’t stop until he reached N Street, clearing the entire walkway by himself.

By the February 27, 2003

Editorials

Vote Morgenstern/de Man

Being an effective leader of the Georgetown University Student Association has nothing to do with slick politicking or bold promises of reform. It requires a strong working knowledge of the University’s administrative system and experience with using GUSA to implement change.

By the February 20, 2003

Editorials

Get on your feet

As part of Georgetown’s increased security efforts in response to the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, a Department of Public Safety vehicle has been stationed at University entrances, Healy Gates and Reservoir Road, 24-hours a day. While the car adequately addresses campus traffic control, it has not been as successful at policing crimes occurring near campus: On Feb.

By the February 20, 2003

Editorials

Free and anonymous

Unfortunately for students, on-campus HIV testing is neither cheap nor anonymous. Currently, the Student Primary Care Clinic does offer testing, but a recently proposed plan would have made it both free and anonymous for students. However, once again the University proved itself incapable of meeting student needs by denying funding for the plan yesterday.

By the February 13, 2003

Editorials

An inexcusable mistake

On Feb. 5, students were unable to access their Georgetown University e-mail accounts for approximately 14 hours. The administration shut down GUMail in order to remove a message sent out to the University community, which contained confidential and sensitive information about three students.

By the February 13, 2003

Editorials

Better than hydro

In his State of the Union address, President George W. Bush explained his National Energy Policy, an energy plan which breaks definitively with Republicans of the past who have not advocated environmentally-friendly policies. Bush claims that he has presented an energy plan that is environmentally sound and progressive in the development of “technology and innovation,” citing his effort to earmark $1.

By the February 13, 2003

Editorials

Change the sexual assault policy

On Jan. 22, the Advocates for Improved Response Methods to Sexual Assault (AFIRMS) group released an analysis of Georgetown’s sexual assault policy and adjudication process to more than 30 student affairs administrators. AFIRMS puts forth a series of valuable recommendations for altering the University’s Student Code of Conduct, adjudication system and disclosure policy and the administration should give them serious consideration.

By the February 6, 2003

Editorials

It starts from the top

Georgetown University Athletic Director Joe Lang’s comments in the Washington Post last week defending embattled men’s basketball Head Coach Craig Esherick angered many Hoyas fans. Amid criticism following embarrassing losses to St. John’s and Seton Hall, Lang praised Esherick for averaging 21 wins in his three full seasons as head coach, extolled the team’s high graduation rate (84 out of 86 players on Esherick’s watch) and argued that it is “unreasonable” to expect the Hoyas to reach the NCAA tournament every year.

By the January 30, 2003

Editorials

Image isn’t everything

In response to complaints of a lack of police presence, last week D.C. Metropolitan Police Chief Charles Ramsey ordered all police cruisers to flash their blue and red rooftop lights at all times, the first mandate of its kind in the United States. The idea came from Ramsey’s recent trip to Jerusalem to observe the anti-terror tactics used by its city police, which include using police car rooftop lights in a similar fashion.

By the January 30, 2003

Editorials

Look who’s talking

Georgetown is too often knocked for its “pre-professional” orientation: So it goes, students here would rather press flesh and pad resumes than learn without a motive or ambition in mind. Still, many of us are ready to wait in excessive lines to hear top speakers, class credit be damned, and over the past months, students have had more reasons than ever to stand in line, thanks to a wealth of fine speakers on campus.

By the January 30, 2003

Editorials

Good riddance

In Dec. 1996, former ANC Commissioners Patricia Scolaro, Beverly Jost and Westy Byrd filed suit against the D.C. Board of Elections and Ethics, claiming its refusal to investigate students’ residential status violated residents’ civil rights by registering students to vote.

By the January 23, 2003

Editorials

Size matters

Last Saturday in front of the United States Capitol, protesters, including over 100 Georgetown students, demonstrated against the impending war against Iraq. Lots of protesters. Just how many protesters, or even a rough approximation of the number, nobody knows.

By the January 23, 2003

Editorials

A more perfect union

According to the Georgetown University Alumni and Student Federal Credit Union’s website, the Credit Union “makes members its main priority.” While the declaration to provide excellent service to students and alumni is an admirable goal, so far this year GUASFCU has fallen far short.

By the January 23, 2003

Editorials

Communication is security

When Jeremy Dorfman (CAS ‘06) took his own life late Saturday night, he left a campus not only in mourning but also in confusion. University administrators quickly released relevant facts and gathered support services for students and should be congratulated for their prompt response.

By the January 16, 2003

Editorials

Don’t forget about us

On Jan. 7, Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Tom Birch was chosen to succeed Peter Pulsifer as Chairman of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 2E, which includes Georgetown and Burleith. Birch will lead an ANC that would seem on first glance to be less student friendly.

By the January 16, 2003

Editorials

Dead men walking

The legacy of former Illinois Governor George Ryan will be difficult to determine. During his four-year term, Ryan switched from staunchly supporting capital punishment to become a key advocate of death penalty reform. Adding to this transformation was his announcement last weekend that he would empty Illinois’ death row.

By the January 16, 2003

Editorials

We’re not in Kansas anymore

Though overall crime is down, theft from automobiles in Burleith and upper Georgetown has recently increased, and students comprise about 30 percent of those victimized, according to Lt. Brian Bray of the Metropolitan Police Department’s Second District. MPD’s biggest concern is the carelessness of residents and visitors who leave their cars unlocked or valuables visible.

By the January 9, 2003

Editorials

Too serious for tactics

On Tuesday, Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) introduced a bill in Congress calling for the revival of the military draft. The proposed draft would apply to all men and women ages 18 to 26, with exemptions granted to high schoolers but not college students. Impaired persons would perform community service instead of military service.

By the January 9, 2003

Editorials

This sanction is a sham

Two weeks ago, the parents of David Shick, a Georgetown student killed during an alcohol-fueled fight behind Lauinger Library in Feb. 2000, released the results of the University’s disciplinary hearing concerning his death. The “respondent,” the University adjudication system’s equivalent of a defendant, was found responsible, and was ordered to write a ten-page reflection paper and to serve a conditional suspension.

By the December 5, 2002

Editorials

One asinine law

The Supreme Court’s docket for the coming term will include a case that deals with two gay men convicted of sodomy in Texas. You may be surprised to learn that sodomy, generally defined as oral or anal sex between adults, is still illegal in 15 states. The Supreme Court ruled 16 years ago that states had a right to regulate “public morals” and upheld sodomy laws.

By the December 5, 2002