Opinion

Thoughts from the Georgetown community.

Editorials

Plan A should seek concrete concessions

Last Tuesday, Vice President of Student Affairs Todd Olson met with representatives from Plan A: Hoyas for Reproductive Justice—the recently formed pro-contraception coalition—following a dramatic protest, in which students chained themselves to the statue of John Carroll.

By the April 7, 2010

Editorials

Democracy shines in GPB’s spring concert

While some students may pass on this year’s Spring Kick-off Concert to avoid a trip back to middle-school angst with headliner Third Eye Blind, the Georgetown Programming Board should be commended for their remarkable competency in organizing this year’s concert.

By the April 7, 2010

Editorials

DDOT on track with separated bike lanes

Although the thought of more balding professionals clad in excessively tight clothing may be cringe worthy, the District Department of Transportation has wisely released a new plan to expand cycle tracks downtown.

By the April 7, 2010

Voices

A Savage approach to sex-ed

Everything I learned about sex I learned from Dan Savage. I wish that was a gross exaggeration, but it’s not. I’ve spent most of my life ignorant of, misinformed about, or terrified of sex. For the uninitiated, Dan Savage is an internationally-syndicated sex and relationship advice columnist. Think a male, gay, “Dear Abby” who instructs readers on how to pull off things like threesomes and polyamory instead of successful dinner parties.

By April 7, 2010

Voices

Plan A: Hoyas for Reproductive Justice resorts to plan B

Based on reader comments on the Voice’s and The Hoya’s websites, students reacted almost uniformly to students chaining themselves to the statue of John Carroll as part of a Plan A: Hoyas they agreed with the protest’s cause, but not with the way in which it was executed. And with protesters demanding the on-campus sale of condoms as if it was a matter of life or death and shouting fabrications at families visiting for Georgetown Admissions Ambassador Program weekend ... it was hard to disagree.

By April 7, 2010

Voices

Georgetown achieves non-Christian dharma

As I toured Georgetown one final time before making my college decision, the question “Would I fit in at a Catholic university?” lingered in my mind. I was raised Hindu, but my religion never played a large role in my life. During my childhood, I was introduced to my religion’s core values and beliefs, but never explored anything beyond the basics. However, that’s not to say that I don’t appreciate religion’s role in society. Religion can unite communities and restore people’s faith.

By April 7, 2010

Editorials

Healthcare reform a welcome success

At a rally held less than a week before this past Sunday’s monumental healthcare vote, President Barack Obama declared that the American people were “waiting for us to act ... waiting for us to lead.”

By the March 25, 2010

Editorials

SAC should embrace accountability

The Georgetown University Student Asssocation and the Student Activities Commission are at a negotiating standstill—it’s time for them to resolve this conflict.

By the March 25, 2010

Editorials

Make recycling easier for GU students

In his book The Daily Planet, environmental activist Paul Griss observed “just as we cannot blame others for destroying the environment, so we cannot look to others to protect the environment.

By the March 25, 2010

Voices

Turnitin.com turns profit on students’ work

Georgetown University prides itself on a strong ethical tradition. In my own journalism masters program, an ethics class is one of two mandatory graduation requirements. The University also boasts a policy-oriented ethics institute whose mission is to “serve as an unequalled resource for those who research and study ethics, as well as those who debate and make public policy.”

By March 25, 2010

Voices

One student’s premeditated path to medicine

Even before you get to college, people ask what you want to major in, a choice that could set out what you’re doing for the rest for your life. You did pretty well in all your math and science classes in high school: all APs, all fives, no big deal. So you say that you’ll go pre-med. Hey, after all, a doctor’s salary doesn’t sound too shabby.

By March 25, 2010

Voices

Oh V.P. Magoo, you’ve done it again!

Vice President Joe Biden is one of the most recognizable men in the country. He is Barack Obama’s right-hand man. He helped pass universal healthcare. But when he said, “this is a big fucking deal” on national television, Biden cemented his place in my heart. Biden was embracing the president in front of television cameras and microphones, and he probably thought that he was speaking out of range when he blurted out this statement to his boss. He was not.

By March 25, 2010

Voices

Agoraphobia on the Hilltop: Unreasonable insularity

Ask Georgetown students to list the top five reasons they chose this school, and the one thing that almost everyone will include is the location. Here we have the best of both worlds: a beautiful campus on a hilltop overlooking our nation’s bustling capital. But how often do Hoyas really venture beyond the brick paths of M Street and cross over to the cemented reality of what is commonly known as Pennsylvania Avenue? Not very often.

By March 25, 2010

Editorials

Spring for transparency in the District

Washington’s local government is theoretically supposed to be open to the public, but corruption scandals and everyday laziness often prevent the District from achieving that goal.

By the March 17, 2010

Editorials

No love or benefits from Catholic Charities

A famous bearded carpenter once said: “So in everything you do, do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” As wise as Bob Villa is, the actual credit for that line belongs to an older, swarthier carpenter—Jesus.

By the March 17, 2010

Editorials

Epicurean: Take food safety seriously

You might expect that a restaurant that deals with raw fish and cafeteria-style service would take care to stay sanitary. However, that doesn’t seem to be the case at Georgetown’s own Epicurean.

By the March 17, 2010

Voices

This Georgetown Life: The Blarney Stone, Voice Staffers’ Legendary St. Patty’s Days

My friends and I began drinking around 10:30 a.m., and after a few beers we were ready to “go to the parade.” By noon I was six beers in and showing no signs of slowing down. The last thing I remember from that day is downing Irish car bombs with my friend and her mom at six in the evening. I woke up the next morning to see the DVD menu for Atonement playing on a loop on my computer screen and a half-eaten hero resting on my chest.

By the March 17, 2010

Voices

You had me at hello, so why the silence now?

In many cultures, a casual hello is expected during sidewalk run-ins, a wave across the bar to a classmate is the norm, and even a smile to a current fling wouldn’t be out of the ordinary. But at Georgetown we suppress the wave, the hello, the smile. We walk with heads held high and cell phones held higher, not because we really have so many people to text or call, but because the cell phone is a barricade behind which we feign ignorance to passing glances and mumbled hellos.

By March 17, 2010

Voices

Of mice and men: A boarding school bildungsroman

A few weeks ago, I woke up suddenly in the middle of the night and heard a soft, yet distinct, rustling sound coming from the corner. I looked to my right—no, it wasn’t my roommate, she had taken two Nyquil before falling asleep and hadn’t stirred since. As my mind continued to race, I quickly settled upon the only possible conclusion: it was the resident mouse paying me my nightly visit.

By March 17, 2010

Voices

Checks and balances? Not at GU

When I first heard that the Georgetown University Student Association wanted to strip the advisory boards of their votes on the Funding Board, I thought it was a joke. I know GUSA senators sometimes demonstrate an inferiority complex about their perceived inefficacy, but this seemed to be an outrageous power grab, even for them. Moreover, I was convinced that it couldn’t be done.

By March 17, 2010