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THEHOYA.COM
Georgetown University • Washington, D.C. Vol. 106, No. 1, © 2024
GUPD Continues Dahlgren Chapel, Observatory Statue Vandalism Investigation Aamir Jamil and Maren Fagan Senior News Editors
The Georgetown University Police Department (GUPD) is investigating two Aug. 29 incidents of vandalism as potential anti-Catholic hate crimes. During one incident, the large processional crucifix in Dahlgren Chapel of the Sacred Heart — used during Masses to symbolize the presence of Jesus — sustained damage after it was moved and placed against a door. The other incident involved a statue of the Virgin Mary in the gardens of the Heyden Observatory, which university staff found on the ground on the morning of Aug. 30. Surveillance footage shows an individual entering the chapel at 11:40 p.m. Aug. 29; as of Sept. 3, GUPD had not yet identified this individual nor determined their connection to the vandalism, according to a university spokesperson. GUPD is unaware if the two incidents are connected. Fr. Mark Bosco, S.J., Georgetown’s
vice president for mission & ministry, and Jay Gruber, the university’s associate vice president of public safety, wrote the vandalism was concerning in all circumstances and especially for religious spaces. “Anti-Catholic acts and desecration of religious symbols are deeply concerning, hurtful and offensive,” Bosco and Gruber wrote in an Aug. 30 letter to the Georgetown community. “Acts of vandalism, especially of sacred spaces, have no place in our campus community.” Bosco said that as the investigation continues, there is some evidence that the suspect may not be associated with Georgetown. “If that is true, it brings me some consolation that it is not the work of a fellow Hoya,” Bosco wrote to The Hoya. CC Mesa (SFS ’26), a member of Catholic Women at Georgetown, a campus ministry faith organization, said the See VANDALISM, A7
RUTH ABRAMOVITZ/THE HOYA
Pro-Palestinian protestors marched across Georgetown University’s campus and rallied in Red Square and outside Leo J. O’Donovan Dining Hall Sept. 4 in opposition to university free speech and protest policy enforcement.
Students March Across GU at SJP Rally Aamir Jamil, Ruth Abramovitz and Jasmine Criqui Senior News Editor, GUSA Desk Editor and Executive Editor
M AAMIR JAMIL/THE HOYA
The Georgetown University Police Department is working to investigate two Aug. 29 incidents of vandalism on campus.
ore than 150 pro-Palestinian protestors marched across Georgetown University’s campus Sept. 4 in a rally to protest perceived university censorship of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), a student organization that supports Palestinian liberation. SJP announced the rally after the Center for Student Engagement (CSE), the university center
that liaises with all universitysponsored organizations, reminded organizations of the enforcement of a policy that requires student organizations to pay for Georgetown University Police Department (GUPD) security at events when the university deems it necessary. According to a Sept. 1 post on SJP’s Instagram account, the group also received notice Aug. 27 from the Office of Student Conduct that it was in violation of the Code of Student Conduct, charged with disruption of official university functions — actions that disrupt or obstruct official functions such as teaching and proceedings — and violation of
university policies and regulations. The Sept. 4 rally began in Red Square, before protesters marched past the Intercultural Center, Reiss Science Building, Regents Hall and Harbin Hall and held another rally in front of Leo J. O’Donovan Dining Hall, blocking the intersection of Library Walk and Tondorf Road. Protesters ended the march in front of Healy Hall. An organizer serving as a media liaison for SJP said the group held the rally to protest the enforcement of the paid security policy and the student conduct charges. “We’re having the rally today mostly just because Georgetown
has, as of very recently, as of the very first day of school, been trying to repress Palestinian voices on campus, specifically SJP, as it pertains to advocating for the end to the genocide in Gaza,” the organizer told The Hoya on behalf of SJP. In its Oct. 7 attack in southern Israel, Hamas killed over 1,100 Israelis and took over 250 hostages, 111 of whom have not been released; Israel’s military response has killed over 40,000 people and has left over 92,000 people injured, displacing over 85% of Gazans. Civilians who live in the Gaza Strip experience a See PROTEST, A7
Collective Bargaining Negotiations Begin Between GU, RA Union Maren Fagan and Aamir Jamil Senior News Editors
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
Starting with the Class of 2028, all undergraduates will take the “Race, Power, and Justice at Georgetown” course and two others to fulfill the new “Pathways to Social Justice” requirement.
Core’s‘PathwaystoSocialJustice’ Replaces ‘Engaging Diversity’ Nora Toscano
Academics Desk Editor
Georgetown University’s new “Pathways to Social Justice” core requirement for undergraduates came into effect with the beginning of the Fall 2024 semester. Beginning with the Class of 2028, all undergraduates will take three courses to fulfill the requirement: a mandatory onecredit seminar, “Race, Power, and Justice at Georgetown,” and two additional courses that draw upon themes such as marginalization, inequity and identity. The new requirement replaces current sophomores’, juniors’ and seniors’ “Engaging Diversity” core requirement of
two of a wide array of courses — one each for “Engaging Diversity: Domestic” and “Engaging Diversity: Global.” University faculty began working to revise the undergraduate diversity requirement in 2020; the main campus executive faculty approved the change from “Engaging Diversity” to “Pathways to Social Justice” in February 2023. The university also held a pilot class for the “Race, Power, and Justice” course last semester. Heidi Elmendorf, an associate professor of biology and the co-chair of the main campus Core Curriculum Committee, which approves university core
The Georgetown Resident Assistant Coalition (GRAC), the organization that represents Georgetown University resident assistants (RAs) in collective bargaining negotiations, began its first round of negotiations with university officials Aug. 29. The negotiations came after Georgetown RAs formally voted to unionize April 16, accepting representation from Local 153 of the Office of Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU). During these negotiations, RAs and the university discussed contractual proposals regarding scope, length and confidentiality. Sam Lovell (CAS ’25), an RA in Copley Hall, said the RA union
movement’s development from brainstorming ways to improve their working conditions to holding collective bargaining negotiations is an important advancement for RAs. “We had this vision that was really just that, a vision, six months ago, and if you told us that we would be here in six months, I don’t think any RA would have believed you,” Lovell told The Hoya. “Today was the first day that we met, the very symbolic stage of ‘now we’re actually going to make some changes and improve on what we have to say.’” A university spokesperson said the university is committed to working with RAs and OPEIU during contract negotiations. “We deeply value the contributions of Resident Assistants (RAs) to our living and learning community,”
a university spokesperson wrote to The Hoya. “Georgetown continues to work in good faith with OPEIU to negotiate a collective bargaining agreement.” According to RAs present at the meeting, approximately 30 RAs attended at different points to support members’ bargaining and voice their opinions. OPEIU Local 153 officials are aiding GRAC in negotiating the new contract. GRAC negotiators primarily proposed articles recognizing the RAs as parties of the contract, setting the length of the contract to two years and imposing a confidentiality agreement. Lovell said the two sides made headway regarding recognition and confidentiality, yet could not reach a tentative agreement on the length of the contract, with the university
curriculum classes, said the committee found after surveying Georgetown students and faculty that they wanted more from the diversity requirement. “They wanted there to be some self-examination,” Elmendorf told The Hoya. “They wanted the course to allow them to move beyond initial conversations. They thought that there were a lot of initial conversations, but they weren’t really gaining the skills to move forward and do new things.” Elmendorf said the community members the committee surveyed also thought the diversity requirement should better ensure See PATHWAYS, A7
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HAAN JUN (RYAN) LEE/THE HOYA
Georgetown University resident assistants under the Georgetown Resident Assistant Coalition began collective bargaining negotiations with the university Aug. 29 after voting to unionize in April.
NEWS
OPINION
GUIDE
SPORTS
McCourt School
Race, Power and Justice
Praise the Lorde
Football in Focus
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Georgetown’s school of public policy will open a new building at the university’s Capitol Campus.
History professor Adam Rothman urges students to pursue justice, including through the new “Pathways to Social Justice” requirement.
Clayton Kincade (SFS ’25) reflects on a turbulent summer and its soundtrack, Lorde’s “Melodrama.”
Georgetown football looks to build on last season’s 5-6 record and continue its upward trajectory in the Patriot League.
Inflation Comes to Wisey’s
Learn Through Service
Twist and Shout
Field Hockey Falls
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Neighborhood eatery Wisemiller’s Grocery and Deli raised its prices in August for the first time in two years.
Max Derogatis (MSB ’27) believes charity and community service are necessary facets of a Jesuit education.
Caroline Woodward (CAS ’27) praises the rip-roaring disaster scenes and exciting plot of “Twisters.”
Published Fridays
Appalachian State held Georgetown’s field hockey team scoreless in the Hoyas’ season opener.
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