Opinion

Thoughts from the Georgetown community.

Editorials

University needs to address assaults

Despite the shocking number of sexual assaults at Georgetown this semester, the University administration has yet to comment on the crimes. Thus far, administrative officials have not publicly announced plans to address the numerous safety issues for students both on and off campus.

By the April 21, 2010

Voices

The Love Song of Maxwell Q. Maxwell (and biceps)

It all began in first grade, when our class learned how to (roughly) translate the English alphabet into Egyptian hieroglyphs. I wrote a poem for a girl named Alphonsine* in Egyptian hieroglyphs. Sure, I got sick of writing hieroglyphs after the first two lines (the little eagle things are hard, man), and eventually decided to finish the last two lines in plain-old English, but hey! I was hot stuff—four lines of panty-melting, swoon-inducing, first-grade creativity. Mentally, ladies were putty in my ink-stained, booger-laden hands.

By April 15, 2010

Voices

Great Britain: Greatest Hits

It is a long-standing tradition that as a columnist studying abroad, I am permitted one column per semester to devote to the foreign land where I live. Since I used up all of my armchair sociology on essays for the Berkley Center, I’ve decided to take a slightly less self-indulgent route with this column. Having spent the past fortnight on a road trip around Britain with my uncle, I’m going to provide you with some more useful insight than “Why I think Catholics and Protestants still don’t get along in Glasgow.” I’m going to try my hand at travel writing.

By April 15, 2010

Voices

Let me know, Monroe: Will you stay or will you go?

I love college, but if someone offered me a $2 million-a-year job, I wouldn’t hesitate for a second—I’d be gone. Sadly, that job offer isn’t coming my way any time soon. It’s absurd to consider it even a possibility. None of my sophomore classmates have any kind of skills that valuable. That is, except for one. Greg Monroe must love college more than Asher Roth, because that job offer has been in his hands for weeks now, and he’s still sitting in class. Professional basketball and its riches await the 6-foot-11-inch center, who has until April 25 to declare for the NBA draft.

By April 15, 2010

Editorials

Administration should spring for diversity

At this week’s Georgetown University Student Association meeting, Senator Nick Troiano (COL ’11) objected to the Academic Diversity Working Group’s proposal requiring all students to take two courses on the grounds that “diversity can be fostered, [but] it can’t be mandated.”

By the April 14, 2010

Editorials

Misguided idealism of Georgetown, Divest!

While many of the concerns and grievances articulated by the new campus group Georgetown, Divest! are valid, its demand that the University divest its money from companies profiting from human rights violations in Israel is logistically impractical and ultimately unreasonable.

By the April 14, 2010

Editorials

Don’t derail historic DCPS teacher raises

It’s no secret that Marion Berry has seen some scandalous activity in his day. So when the embattled councilmember describes anything as “the worst mess involving the city government that I’ve seen in my 31 years in city government,” it’s time to take notice.

By the April 14, 2010

Voices

The nanny diaries: From Mexico, with love

In a speech to his constituents in Las Vegas this past weekend Senator Harry Reid (D-Nev) promised that “we’re going to come back, we’re going to have immigration reform now.” This proposition was most likely politically motivated—as the 2010 census will confirm, over a fifth of the Nevada electorate is Hispanic. In San Diego, my hometown, nearly a third of the population is Hispanic. Needless to say, their vote and their issues are too great for any successful politician to ignore. While it can be easy to think about immigration as a purely political issue, the personal impact of immigration policy deserves attention, too.

By April 14, 2010

Voices

Internships: Opportunities or virtual slavery?

Yesterday, I spent about half an hour interviewing over the phone. If I’m lucky and the interview turns out to be a success, I will have the opportunity to spend the summer away from my family and friends, in “accommodations” provided by my employer, working 40-hour weeks, and earning exactly zero dollars. This might sound terrifying to some people. Modern-day indentured servitude, others might call it. And yet I’m kind of hoping I get the job.

By April 8, 2010

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