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After GUSA Senate Vote, April Referendum to Probe Gender-Inclusive Housing Aamir Jamil

GUSA Desk Editor

The Georgetown University Student Association (GUSA) Senate approved a resolution, 23-4, to hold a referendum on whether students support establishing gender-inclusive housing at an April 2 special session. The referendum, which will run April 11 through April 13, will ask students whether they support Georgetown “establishing comprehensive gender-inclusive housing,” including allowing students to live with roommates of different genders and having the university ask whether students would support LGBTQ+identifying roommates during first-year roommate selection. If the referendum passes — which would require a simple majority of students to vote in favor and at least 25% of the student body, or about 1,625 students, to vote — it would force Georgetown’s Board of Directors, which oversees the university’s operations, to vote on

the measure at its next meeting. GUSA President Jaden Cobb (CAS ’25) said he, Senate Speaker Megan Skinner (SFS ’24) and Senator Ethan Henshaw (CAS ’26) brought the referendum before the Senate because they felt the university was not moving fast enough to establish gender-inclusive housing. “Some of the things that they’ve been giving us have not been sufficient to get this policy done, so it’s time for us to fight for the 6,500 students that we represent and really be the voice of the student body,” Cobb said at the meeting. “Referendums are used to push the boundaries. It’s our strongest weapon as a government.” If the board of directors approves the policy, the Office of Residential Living will add a question to firstyears’ living preference questionnaire asking whether students would affirm LGBTQ+ roommates by Fall 2024 and would establish genderinclusive housing by Fall 2025, according to the resolution. See GUSA, A7

GUHOYAS

University President John J. DeGioia (CAS ’79, GRD ’95) announced his support for a ceasefire in Gaza and the return of hostages in the Middle East. He is among an early group of academic leaders calling for a suspension of hostilities.

DeGioia: Free Hostages, Ceasefire in Gaza Jack Willis and Catherine Alaimo

Executive Editor, Senior News Editor

CW: This article discusses violence and death in Israel and Gaza. Please refer to the end of the article for onand off-campus resources.

G EVIE STEELE/THE HOYA

Georgetown University undergraduates will vote April 11 to 13 on a resolution that would expand gender-inclusive housing.

eorgetown University President John J. DeGioia (CAS ’79, GRD ’95) commemorated various religious holidays with a call for access to humanitarian aid in the Middle East, the return of hostages and an immediate ceasefire in Gaza

in an April 1 email to the Georgetown community. DeGioia said his call for a humanitarian response comes especially as Christians, Muslims, Jews and Hindus reflect during a sacred time in their faiths. Joining university presidents from the University of Notre Dame and Wesleyan University, DeGioia is among an early group of academic administrators calling for a ceasefire. DeGioia said there must be further action in addition to the initial steps of securing safety and resources for Palestinians and releasing hostages.

“In the Middle East, it begins with access to humanitarian aid, the return of the hostages, and an immediate ceasefire in Gaza,” DeGioia wrote in the email. “And we must recognize that so much more will be required if we can support the choices of ‘life…reconciliation… justice…relationship…dialogue.’” Calls for a ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages have been part of global diplomatic discourse and action, with the United Nations Security Council passing a March 25 resolution calling for a pause in fighting throughout Ramadan coupled with the release of hostages. Akanksha Sinha (SFS ’23), a staff

member at the Center for Social Justice and an organizer with Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine (FSJP), said though DeGioia’s call for a ceasefire has reassured them, they feel it should have come sooner. “I am happy to see President DeGioia join other University presidents as the first few to call for a ceasefire,” Sinha wrote to The Hoya. “At the same time, I do grieve the fact that it has taken upwards of 40,000 deaths and nearly 100,000 injured to have this call for a ceasefire issued,” Sinha added. See GAZA, A7

At Iftar, GU Students Celebrate Ramadan, Reflect on Faith Daniel Greilsheimer Senior Sports Editor

GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY

Georgetown University Police Department (GUPD) chief Katherine Perez, who joined the university last April, will leave April 6 to take on a new role outside Georgetown.

GU’s First Female Police Chief Perez Will Depart University Catherine Alaimo and Lauren Doherty Senior News Editors

The chief of the Georgetown University Police Department (GUPD) will depart her position this week. Katherine Perez started her role as GUPD’s first female chief of police in April 2023. A university spokesperson said Perez’s final day will be April 6, and she has accepted an outside offer of employment. Perez said she enjoyed her time at Georgetown as she cherished working closely with members of the campus community alongside a strong support system. “I will miss my day to day interactions with students,

staff and faculty,” Perez wrote to The Hoya. “I have learned so much and appreciate all of the assistance I have received over the past 12 months.” Associate Vice President for Public Safety Jay Gruber, who served as GUPD chief from 2012 to Perez’s arrival last year, will serve as interim chief of GUPD as the university conducts its search to replace Perez, according to a university spokesperson. “A search for a new chief is underway; it will include a number of colleagues from across campus,” the university spokesperson wrote to The Hoya. Gruber said he greatly values Perez’s leadership and devotion to her work. “We are grateful for Kathy’s

dedication and contributions to the Georgetown community during her time here and we wish her success in her new role,” Gruber wrote to The Hoya. “She was an excellent supportive colleague here at Georgetown and she will no doubt be successful in her new endeavor.” Perez’s career in law enforcement has spanned over 40 years. Before joining the Georgetown community, Perez worked at the Hartford, Conn., Police Department for over 20 years, ultimately assuming the rank of captain, before becoming the first chief of police of the City of District Heights Police See GUPD, A7

Georgetown University welcomed hundreds of guests for its University Ramadan Celebration and Iftar on April 2. Muslim Life hosted the event to commemorate the spiritual month of Ramadan, a time of religious reflection, interfaith community building and the renewal of commitments to works of justice, in the Leavey Ballroom. The program featured a presentation on the customs observed during Ramadan, as well as a dua — a

supplication to God — by Imam Yahya Hendi, the university’s Muslim chaplain, and prayers by several Georgetown community religious leaders. Iman Saymeh, a Muslim residential minister who opened the speaking program with her reflections on the holy month, said she hopes students leave the iftar with their minds open to new experiences. “Our friends who came tonight, you came for a reason,” Saymeh said at the event. “Yes, you got food. I hope you liked it, but you got to connect. And some of you

might have been somebody’s guest, but your heart brought you here. I ask you to diversify your experience when you’re here at Georgetown.” Ramadan, a time of heightened religious observance for Muslims, is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar and ends April 9. Many practicing Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset, a practice which serves to bring observers closer to God through spiritual discipline. University President John J. DeGioia (CAS ’79, GRD ’95) delivered a speech at the celebration and said See RAMADAN, A7

DANIEL GREILSHEIMER/THE HOYA

At Muslim Life’s April 2 iftar, community members celebrated the holy month of Ramadan, with spiritual leaders from various faiths offering brief prayers and reflecting on their traditions.

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