Opinion

Thoughts from the Georgetown community.

Editorials

Let students speak out on party rules

If the University expects students to abide by a suddenly strict alcohol policy, there should be good reasons for it, and students deserve to hear what these reasons are.

By the September 20, 2007

Letters to the Editor

Voice website offensive

As a member of the Georgetown alumni, I wanted to comment that I find your website header of someone walking over the University seal offensive.

By September 20, 2007

Editorials

Petraeus falls into the quagmire of lies

General David H. Petraeus’ testimony on the Iraq War last week couldn’t have been better. Unless, of course, he had announced that the surge had actually done what it was supposed to do—or rather, what he was supposed to do.

By the September 20, 2007

Voices

Spreading our moment

Many of us at Georgetown wish to help these billions of people by committing our undergraduate studies to understanding the complex dimensions of global poverty and development, evaluating the mistakes and successes of the past and exploring innovative ways to effectively and responsibly address them in the future. The International Development Certificate provides a broad framework of study for student wishing to work in this field. Unfortunately, only students in the School of Foreign Service are allowed to pursue it. Students in other schools at Georgetown University should also have access to the certificate and its benefits.

By September 20, 2007

Letters to the Editor

How Hoyas can change the party policy

By this point, every Georgetown student could probably extemporize a five to ten minute speech elaborating the new alcohol policies that have been put in place, and provide a detailed, well-reasoned argument as to why each of them sucks magnificently. What is not clear, however, is how the student body can engender any sort of change. While the ‘GU Students for Stopping the Madness’ Facebook group has some worthwhile events planned, I believe that the most assured way of getting the administration to change these policies is to hit them where it hurts the most … the wallet.

By September 20, 2007

Voices

Peace out and we’re selling your stuff

While most parents get empty nest syndrome, mine were too excited about my departure. They celebrated my empty room with constant house parties, a month long vacation touring China and Japan and what seems to be an epic redecoration project. But worst of all, they’ve started to sell my stuff.

By September 20, 2007

Voices

It’s a people-watching party

My window is my favorite part of my Village A apartment. My room is too small to hold two desk and two beds, so I put my desks by the window in the living room, directly across from the old Jesuit residence, west of the library. The view has become quite a distraction. I’d much rather people-watch out my window than study Italian or stare at my computer screen.

By September 20, 2007

Voices

Carrying On

Let’s say you’re a freshman, eagerly awaiting the substance-induced rebellion promised you by multiple viewings of Animal House. You could binge drink like so many other freshmen, but why go the cliché route? Not to mention you’re as terrified of the new campus alcohol policies as every other student. You’ve been Just-Say-No-ed enough to stay away from hard drugs. Cigarettes might be the right rebellion statement, but you know the health risks and don’t want to end up an addict (and if, like me, you come from the land of a thousand smoking bans called California, this message has permeated your entire being.)

Then a friend invites you to a hookah bar.

By September 20, 2007

Editorials

Partying so hard it’s a crime

The University of Chicago is called the school where fun goes to die, but Georgetown may soon knock those Midwesterners off of their pedestal.

By the September 13, 2007

Voices

Not quite ruining the world

I’m not a business major, but I’m fascinated by Company X.

In 2004, Company X announced its goal of becoming 100 percent fueled by renewable energy, to reduce the energy demand in its stores by at least 25 percemt, and to produce zero waste—all by 2020.

By September 13, 2007

Editorials

The best $18,000 vacation ever

Although study abroad students won’t be on campus, they will be unfairly forced to pay full Georgetown tuition.

By the September 13, 2007

Voices

Talking with strangers

After twelve hours, I finally arrived at Georgetown from Switzerland, the only country I have ever lived in. As I stepped out of the airplane, my skin started to get wet and sticky, it smelled weird and I had difficulty breathing. First I thought I had a terrible disease, but then I realized I was simply experiencing humidity for the first time. Very strange sensation indeed.

By September 13, 2007

Letters to the Editor

Voice needs more research on environmental rating

Will Sommer must be joking in his recent article slamming Georgetown’s new science building (“Building blues,” News, September 6). That the University would pursue a LEED rating is commendable on its own, and the fact that this building will be certfied LEED Silver makes the project all the more deserving of our support.

By September 13, 2007

Editorials

Nothing can stop UIS (except spam)

UIS must continue to expand its capacity in order to preempt the next incident rather than scrambling to react to it.

By the September 13, 2007

Voices

An education with my Savior

“Oh my God! There’s a Jesus on that cross!” This was my first thought during the journey into the world of the Catholic university. I was prepared to make my college experience an exercise in “living outside my comfort zone,” beginning with my first-ever Roman Catholic Mass the day before my first class at a university I had long dreamed of attending. I was prepared for a tradition that wasn’t my own, for the open discussion of spiritual ideals and their place in modern society. I was not prepared for a large crucifix.

By September 13, 2007

Letters to the Editor

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”

It’s about time that someone put their foot down on the new alcohol policy on and off-campus here at Georgetown. The University and the Metropolitan Police Department don’t understand that the new ramped-up policies set in place to “protect” the students and neighbors are actually making everything worse.

By September 13, 2007

Voices

Carrying On

“I asked for salami, not pepperoni! How the HELL do you confuse salami for pepperoni?”

Suffering the preceding comment, smiling and apologizing is one of the joys of being a waiter. This past year I have been a server at a gourmet pizzeria, a Chinese bistro and an American “neighborhood-style” restaurant. Each had its own training system, tip-out schedule and scripted table greeting. After a year of mindlessly asking strangers if they would “care to start off with something to drink,” I’m out of patience.

By September 13, 2007

Voices

The Italian Job

It was Kamilla’s idea to get on the bus. We couldn’t read Italian; there was no schedule. “We’ll just see where it goes,” she said. “We don’t even have to buy a ticket. We’ll sit in the back and if they start checking we’ll be like, ‘oh, in Italy you have to buy a ticket for the bus?’”

By September 6, 2007

Editorials

Disappointing in any language

The recent changes to the SFS language proficiency requirement threaten to produce less-prepared graduates and eventually damage the SFS’ top-notch reputation.

By the September 6, 2007

Voices

Still frustrated in New Orleans

Children are taught to take pride in our country and to have faith in what our government can and will do for us, due to the simple fact that we are all American. However, the wide-eyed and innocent faith that I once held in my democratic government was shattered in one day.

By September 6, 2007