Opinion

Thoughts from the Georgetown community.

Editorials

Endowment growth a welcome development

Well-endowed has never been the first adjective that comes to mind when describing Georgetown, but that is slowly changing. Last week, the University’s endowment was ranked 67th largest in the country by the National Association of College and University Business Officers, up four spots from 2009 and a full 10 spots from 2004. This climb reflects prudent fiscal management and bodes well for Georgetown’s financial future.

By the February 3, 2011

Editorials

Outage response leaves students in the dark

It’s been a rough couple of weeks for students living in the East Campus. On Wednesday night students in LXR and Nevils were hit by a power outage that lasted into Thursday morning. The situation was exacerbated by the largest snowstorm of the year, which hindered efforts to restore power. The well-being and safety of the students, who were forced out of their pitch black rooms into the storm, should have been the top priority of administrators that night, but, as is often the case, the University’s response was marked by poor communication and poor planning.

By the February 3, 2011

Editorials

University stuns with capable Cairo response

Students studying abroad in the Middle East understand that living in the tumultuous region comes with a degree of risk. But for the 15 Georgetown students studying in Cairo, that risk became a reality on Sunday. The University’s decision to pull the students out of the country when it did was appropriate, and it conducted its evacuation effort amidst massive protests with surprising quickness. Georgetown should be commended for its well-organized response, but its support should continue as these students adjust to the rest of their semester.

By the February 3, 2011

Voices

Carrying On: Need for freedom of Twitter?

Once something is on the Internet, it’s there forever. From awkward pictures to secret government communiqués, the Internet has revolutionized the spread of information. Two summers ago, the Internet transformed the death of a young Iranian woman named Neda into “probably the most widely witnessed death in human history,” according to Time. Thanks to Twitter and YouTube, the unintentional martyr became a global symbol for the growing opposition to the oppressive Iranian regime. A mere decade ago, the death of a civilian in the chaotic streets of Tehran would have quickly become a statistic. Today, a photo shot on a cheap cell phone can crisscross the world in a matter of seconds, tweeted and re-tweeted across every national, lingual, and cultural boundary.

By January 27, 2011

Voices

The Golden Globes reveal the golden era of television

As I settled in to watch the 68th Golden Globes two Sundays ago—I was one of dozens who did so—I couldn’t help but notice an unusual occurrence. No, it wasn’t host Ricky Gervais’ scathing monologue, in which he told Johnny Depp that the trend of three-dimensions in movies applied to everything except the characters in The Tourist. Nor was it Robert De Niro’s awkward acceptance of a lifetime achievement award, which featured off-the-cuff immigration jokes and heavy silence from a crowd that is usually prone to courtesy laughs.

By January 27, 2011

Voices

Obamacare is not sufficient for frustrated future physician

For the last two years, Democrats and Republicans have drawn battle lines over health care reform. As a pre-med student, I look with dismay upon this current mess, but Tuesday’s State of the Union address offered an encouraging sign when Presdient Barack Obama indicated his willingness to consider the Republicans’ suggestion of medical malpractice reform.

By January 27, 2011

Voices

It’s all relative: Finding family in a Finnish playboy

When I was a young child, my older sister had a necklace with a bird on it that had been a gift from my father’s cousin. It was a small ceramic bird that whistled when you blew into its mouth. Throughout my childhood, this bird symbolized the mystery of my father’s rarely mentioned cousin. His name was Raimo, and he lived in the city of Turku, Finland making these bird-whistles that we saw in every crafts store during our summers in Scandinavia.

By January 27, 2011

Editorials

Obama on message with energy and education

Much of the talk in the media leading up to Tuesday’s State of the Union address focused on how many of his goals President Barack Obama would concede going forward, given the new makeup of Congress. Even with his approval rating back above 50 percent, it was unclear if Obama would reaffirm the more progressive ideas in his agenda or commit only to moderate goals. It was reassuring that the president did not disappoint his supporters and crafted a refreshing, sensible speech that transcended political squabbling and presented a new path for the nation.

By the January 27, 2011

Editorials

Athletes’ priority enrollment needs limits

For student athletes, class registration is a balancing act between meeting Georgetown’s extensive academic requirements, qualifying to play under NCAA standards, and leaving enough time for hours of practice and study. In order for athletes to have more control over their schedule, the University offers some of them priority registration, which allows them to enroll in classes before the registration period for the general student body. Unfortunately, as the Voice reported in its Jan. 20 issue, athletes’ priority registration has become a detriment to the academic experience of some students.

By the January 27, 2011

Editorials

Keep Wal-Mart’s rotten business model out of D.C.

The largest retailer in the world, Wal-Mart has always promised to bring low-cost goods to suburban and rural Americans. Recently, the company has announced plans to build four locations in the District of Columbia. However, given the company’s poor labor practices, historical intolerance of unionization, and damaging effects on the surrounding community, the D.C. Council should demand that Wal-Mart amend its predatory business practices before it opens its doors in the District.

By the January 27, 2011

Editorials

Support businessmen and women for others

Few Georgetown programs capture the spirit of the school as perfectly as the Compass Fellows program. The fellows, a group of 30 freshmen and sophomores who each create a socially conscious business, are determined to be successful while following the Jesuit ideal of men and women for others. But oddly enough, this quintessentially Georgetown program operates without much institutional support from the school.

By the January 20, 2011

Editorials

Don’t let the Campus Plan go up in smoke

On Dec. 30, Georgetown filed its 2010 Campus Plan with the D.C. Zoning Commission. The plan includes renovations to Lauinger Library, a new student center in New South, and a new athletic training facility on campus. President John DeGioia said the campus plan “represents modest, targeted growth opportunities that will meet our strategic needs for the next decade, enabling us to further strengthen our position as one of the world’s leading universities.” But for the Citizens Association of Georgetown and the Burleith Citizens Association, even modest University growth has become unacceptable, and both groups have expressed strong, and unjustified, opposition to the plan.

By the January 20, 2011

Editorials

Tunisian uprising is a message of change

When Mohamed Bouazizi lit himself on fire over a month ago to protest the confiscation of his fruit and vegetable cart in the resort city of Sidi Bouzid, almost nobody could have predicted the immense popular uprising that would soon engulf Tunisia. After sustained protests spread across the nation and into the capital of Tunis, Tunisians—from middle class professionals to the urban poor—eventually succeeded in ousting the authoritarian United States-backed regime of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.

By the January 20, 2011

Voices

Late bloomer close to realizing her gasoline fight dream

For most people, their sophomore year of high school was a time of sweet sixteen parties and the increased independence that came with learning how to drive. For me, it was the year I had no friends and watched Zoolander every weekend.

By January 20, 2011

Voices

Big Brother: Leo’s edition

The Leo J. O’Donovan Dining Hall is many things to many people. It is a study spot, a breeding ground for awkward situations, a prime observation point for Like A Little posts, and a veritable feast of subpar foods. Regardless of how students view Leo’s, it is one of the most familiar places on campus.

By January 20, 2011

Voices

A petition to the Academy on behalf of How to Train Your Dragon

I’ve never been big on award shows, nor do I consider myself a movie buff. I admit that I have made bets on Oscar ballots, but I would be willing to bet on anything, as long as I can make it a competition among my family or friends. This year, however, I plan on following the Academy Awards with as much passion as I bring to family-night Scattergories. How to Train Your Dragon, reeling from its defeat at the Golden Globes, will most likely go head to head with Toy Story 3 for Best Animated Film.

By the January 20, 2011

Voices

A student’s search for artifacts a century after rediscovery

I always imagine that great wonders in this world are discovered intact, uninhabited, and preserved. I imagined that American explorer Hiram Bingham stumbled upon Machu Picchu much like Disney explorers unearth El Dorado or Atlantis, but as I sat on a large stone slab—perhaps once monument to a priestly order or perhaps just a stone—I learned Bingham’s discovery of Machu Picchu was actually a rediscovery.

By January 20, 2011

Voices

Pooh preview delights, but fans will have to bear letdown

After watching only seconds of Disney’s new trailer for Winnie the Pooh, which features copious honey references, a so-depressed-it’s-kind-of-funny Eeyore, and as much nostalgia as possible, I looked into purchasing a ticket for opening night. Apparently the pre-order service is not provided six months in advance.

By December 9, 2010

Voices

Two of a kind? Born as a twin, living as an individual

One September day of my senior year in high school, my twin sister and I were riding the Metro when a stranger did a double take and walked over to where we were seated. Right on cue, he began rattling through the usual list of questions, and some new ones.

By December 9, 2010

Voices

Capitol punishment: Resume requires political betrayal

Last semester, like so many other Georgetown students eager to get their foot in the political door, I braved the Hill as a congressional intern. Although I was reluctant to sacrifice my class-free mornings and Friday afternoons, the prospect of observing the democratic process was too exciting to pass up.

By December 9, 2010