Opinion

Thoughts from the Georgetown community.

Voices

Yoga’s not about looking good in your lululemon

Georgetown students love their exercise. Anyone who goes to Yates around 5 p.m. knows that you have a better chance of getting into Otto Hentz’s Problem of God class than finding a vacant treadmill. The alternative is sharing the sidewalk with the swarms of outdoor runners—huffing and puffing along, looking miserable. But Georgetown has another category of over-zealous athletes, easily recognizable by the yoga mats sticking out of their backpacks.

By February 24, 2010

Voices

My brother Kyle: A special lesson in human value

As the Winter Olympics come to a close, the time comes once again for us to return to our routine TV schedules, oblivious to the physically disabled who are competing in the Winter Paralympics. The games resemble the Winter Olympics, with patriotic fanfare and fierce competition, except these athletes are, of course, handicapped. With only five sports—alpine skiing, biathlon, cross country skiing, wheelchair curling, and sledge hockey—the Paralympics is a minor spectacle compared to the lavish and gaudy celebration that precedes it.

By February 24, 2010

Voices

Real fans tailgate … why don’t we?

A couple of days into the new year, I found myself standing in the middle of a massive parking lot wearing three pairs of pants. I tried to shield myself from the harsh, freezing wind by taking shelter against the side of a Winnebago that probably had not seen a good day since the Carter Administration. Around the lot, men huddled over fires in metal trash cans, evoking scenes from every post-apocalyptic film ever made.

By February 24, 2010

Editorials

Vote Wagner-Hampton on Tuesday

The Voice editorial board endorses Matt Wagner (SFS ’11) and Emmanuel Hampton (COL ’11) in this year’s Georgetown University Student Association executive election.

By the February 18, 2010

Editorials

GU has mixed record on snow response

During the record breaking snowstorms that left 36 inches of snow in their wake, the University performed well in keeping critical services up and running.

By the February 18, 2010

Editorials

Congressional funds needed for Metro

Last Friday’s nearly disastrous Red Line derailment was merely the latest in a string of unacceptable Metro accidents and near misses.

By the February 18, 2010

Voices

Constantly risking Winter Olympic absurdity

For the sake of the modern world, I really hope the ancient Greeks were wrong in their religious beliefs. Maybe the gods have been ignoring our lack of animal sacrifices for the past couple millennia, but all those myths about an angry god not getting enough worship and going on a killing spree make me a little nervous for the future of civilization.

By February 18, 2010

Voices

What would Betty Freidan do?

When I was younger, my mom refused to let me watch two Disney movies: Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. I asked her years later about what I thought was a strange prejudice against the delightful animated fairytales, and she explained that she didn’t want me growing up absorbing stories of women being saved by a white knight.

By February 18, 2010

Voices

It’s easy to quit smoking—I’ve done it tons of times

It’s mid-February, which is the perfect time to evaluate all those attempted resolutions of only six weeks ago. The new year ushers in a sense of determination that has the potential to last, but usually disappears within a few weeks, a few days, or even a few hours—usually about when that New Year’s Eve whiskey buzz turns into a New Year’s Day headache. I, like so many before me, took it upon myself to throw away that nasty habit that comes at an unreasonable price in packs of twenty.

By February 18, 2010

Voices

No on-campus cura personalis for sick Hoyas

You wake up one morning to find your throat as raspy as Bob Dylan’s. You trudge to class, yet you can’t help but cough at the least opportune moments and, despite your best attempts, you are that loathsome person whose nose just won’t stop running. But it’s not a cold. It can’t be. Georgetown students can’t afford to get sick. We have classes, commitments, jobs, and social lives. Maybe it’s nerdy, but in general, the only thing that we Hoyas hate more than the flu itself is missing a day of school.

By February 18, 2010

Editorials

No remorse in shutting down Philly P

What do you call a take-out pizza place poorly masquerading as a sit-down restaurant? Closed. In the aftermath of this week’s snowstorms, Philly Pizza & Grill, which was supposed to have its final Board of Zoning Adjustment hearing this Tuesday, has been granted a stay of execution until February 16.

By the February 10, 2010

Editorials

Guards should swipe for student safety

The Department of Public Safety has started a well-intentioned “pilot” security program in Copley Hall this month, requiring student guards to verify students’ GoCard photographs and then swipe each card before allowing them access to the building. The new procedure addresses some of the biggest weaknesses of the student guard program, and should be expanded to all residence halls.

By the February 10, 2010

Editorials

Circulating from Dupont to Rosslyn

Tired of waiting for those dinky blue Metro Connection buses? You’re in luck: Georgetown students and residents will soon have a new, affordable way to get to the Rosslyn Metro Station. Last week, the D.C. City Council approved preliminary plans for a Circulator route that will run from Dupont Circle to Rosslyn.

By the February 10, 2010

Voices

Some extremely inconvenient truths

It snowed a hell of a lot this week. Amid the record-breaking snowfalls, school closings, and panicking weathermen came the unfortunate but predictable conservative reaction that this kind of anomalous blizzard somehow debunks the theory of “global warming.” The argument—that rare instances of severe cold prove that temperatures are not in fact trending upwards over the long term—is seemingly raised after every dramatic winter storm.

By February 10, 2010

Voices

Party and bullshit: The hassles of entertaining

It started out as a nice evening with a few friends at a Nevils apartment, as it always does. Then someone’s friend’s little sister brought her Harbin cluster-mates, someone’s cousin and all his friends and acquaintances showed up, and a few dozen texts and tweets later, the apartment was flooded with thirsty, rowdy strangers.

By February 10, 2010

Voices

Hoya pride swallowed amid a crowd of apathy

As a fan, it’s hard to repeat the same chant over and over again. It’s time we switch it up a little. “WE ARE GEORGETOWN” and “HOYA SAXA” are good when thrown into the mix, but we need to diversify our portfolio further. How about getting into the other team’s head. Call out a specific player—“SMITH IS RATTLED” will work, for example, when Smith messes up twice in a row. Or try the simple “CRY ABOUT IT” when a player thinks he’s doesn’t deserve a foul. Get creative—you have four whole syllables to work with.

By February 10, 2010

Voices

Rebuttal: A look at the pro-life perspective

Andrew Zipperer’s recent article, “Protesters’ pro-life arguments prove ill-conceived,” (Georgetown Voice, February 4, 2010) showed a vast and astounding ignorance about the pro-life movement it attempted to analyze. While it’s honorable that Zipperer made some effort to understand the protesters he met at the January 22 March for Life, he failed to deliver a balanced or holistic view of the pro-life movement.

By February 10, 2010

Editorials

Don’t give GUSA power over your funds

The long-standing rift between the Georgetown University Student Association and the advisory boards that dole out funding to clubs has come to a head, with potentially disastrous implications for student organizations.

By the February 4, 2010

Editorials

Pass medical pot; Support democracy

Twelve years after District of Columbia voters expressed their overwhelming support for legalizing medical marijuana, the local government is finally poised to put the will of the people into effect. A bill currently under review by the D.C. Council would provide long-awaited relief to those suffering from many serious ailments while minimizing the risk of congressional interference.

By the February 4, 2010

Voices

The ethics of Super Bowl advertising

Was there ever really a time when athletes could be considered paragons of morality? Years before Tiger Woods slept with every cocktail waitress in the greater Orlando area, the American public gave up trying to look up to sports stars as role models. And between Janet Jackson’s nipple, Prince’s giant penis-guitar, and any beer commercial ever, the Super Bowlbowl should have even less moral credibility.

By February 4, 2010