Voices

Voices is the Op-Ed and personal essay section of The Georgetown Voice. It features the real narratives of diverse students from nearly every corner on campus, seeking to tell some of the incredibly important and yet oft-unheard stories that affect life in and out of Georgetown.

Voices

Carrying on: Insecurity of the unknown

Among Georgetown seniors, the conversations tend to get a little repetitive—who did what with whom at Tombs last night, who’s going to Tombs tonight, how awesome it is to be... Read more

By March 20, 2013

Voices

To invest in America’s communities, divest from fossil fuels

Two weeks ago, I attended the Power Up! Divest Now! Student Convergence at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania. Students working on divestment from across the country gathered to learn from each... Read more

By March 13, 2013

Voices

Chavez sparked the revolution, time to set it on fire

Hugo Chavez is dead. As a Venezuelan of my generation it’s a reality I find difficult to accept, or even wrap my head around. Chavez came to power in 1999—in... Read more

By March 13, 2013

Voices

Unregulated drone wars threaten U.S. prestige abroad

The Senate has finally confirmed John Brennan as the director of the Central Intelligence Agency, yet controversy over the Obama administration’s drone program still lingers. The criticism came to a... Read more

By and March 13, 2013

Voices

Carrying on: Birth of a self-made man

The thought of being my own boss is surreal. Taking on some kind of entrepreneurial endeavor, making my own hours, being responsible for a group of people, and doing things... Read more

By March 13, 2013

Voices

Soundoff: Debt debate is completely unnecessary

Everyone says it’s tough to find common ground between Democrats and Republicans today in Washington, but when it comes to the national debt the leaders of both parties basically stand... Read more

By February 27, 2013

Voices

Soundoff: Fix the debt now or risk sinking later

The federal debt is mounting. It has exploded since 2000, rising over 250 percent. At face value, it’s difficult to see the immediate effects of irresponsible government spending. What are... Read more

By February 27, 2013

Voices

Carrying on: Majority, but still a minority

Since the Super Bowl, I’ve been a little obsessed with Beyoncé. I know I’m not alone in this, as it’s basically the only thing the Internet can talk about. What’s... Read more

By February 27, 2013

Voices

50 years on, still living in the illusion of a post-racial society

Many have claimed President Barack Obama is the fulfilment of Dr. King’s half-century old dream, pointing to the election and reelection of the first black head of state as the coming of a post-racial society—an America no longer concerned with race, but instead views all individuals based on the content of their character.

By February 27, 2013

Voices

Carrying on: Talkin’ ‘bout my generation

At the end of every year, Lake Superior State University releases a list of “banished words,” or words which have been so overused throughout the preceding 365 days that they have lost all meaning and should never be said again. When I looked at 2012’s list, though, I was disappointed.

By February 20, 2013

Voices

Arabic department mimics chaos of Tahrir Square

Since I can remember, I have wanted to study Arabic. The Arab world has always had some inexplicable draw for me: I am fascinated by its culture, food, and history. So when I chose to attend Georgetown, I immediately enrolled in Intensive Modern Standard Arabic.

By February 20, 2013

Voices

Academy shoves ‘torture’s handmaiden’ into a Hurt Locker

The Academy Awards definitely has a high school lunch table element to it. It’s the biggest bling-out of the Hollywood year where the celebrity elite applauds each other’s artistic efforts and secretly hopes nobody else wins. Somebody’s bound to get snubbed—this year, however, the nominations have stirred special indignation.

By February 20, 2013

Voices

Double assault: Losing the battle on rape in the military

The highly publicized The Invisible War, a nominee for Best Documentary Feature for the 85th Academy Awards, is making citizens and military personnel alike painfully aware of the extent of male and female sexual assault in all branches of the military.

By February 13, 2013

Voices

Historic papal resignation opens path to modernity

When Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation I was surprised, to say the least. As most people are aware, the papacy is a modern-day monarchy with its leaders ruling for life.

By February 13, 2013

Voices

99 bottles of beer in Tombs; Carrying on

On Saturday night, I made the bold decision to sign up for the 99 Days Club. Initially, I was not entirely sure why I did it. I might as well have gone up to the bartender and written a check for a few hundred dollars and it would have been the equivalent.

By February 13, 2013

Voices

Dixie vilifiers not ready to make nice with the South

Growing up in a semi-rural town near Richmond, Va., I was constantly bombarded by everything country, from country music on school buses to Confederate flags on every Southern pride shirt.

By February 13, 2013

Voices

Lacking in documents, not lacking in American pride

On Monday, Jan. 28 a bipartisan group of senators held a press conference to reveal their plan for comprehensive immigration reform. The key points of their five page plan include... Read more

By February 6, 2013

Voices

A frank portrait of anorexia; carrying on

Those in the medical community will tell you that anorexia nervosa is characterized by depression, a negative self-image, and appearing underweight. I can tell you that there is a paralyzing... Read more

By February 6, 2013

Voices

Part-time professors deserve their full-time rights

Our education shapes us. What we learn and how we learn determines who we are and how we think. And while books, newspapers, and the internet are important sources of... Read more

By February 6, 2013

Voices

“Defenders of the Faith” betray Islamic history in Timbuktu

Around 10 days ago, jihadists of Ansar Dine “Defenders of the Faith” fled from a remote yet remarkable city in West Africa, leaving a smoldering and spiteful legacy in their... Read more

By February 6, 2013