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Georgetown University • Washington, D.C. Vol. 107, No. 18, © 2026
FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2026
GU-Q Students Demand Greater Hilltop Support As Iran Conflict Continues Noah De Haan Senior News Editor
Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) students praised their campus administrators and called on Georgetown’s Hilltop Campus to broaden support for GU-Q as the Iran war enters its eighth week. After Iran threatened to target U.S. universities in the region, GU-Q moved online in early March and later announced April 1 that campus operations would continue remotely for the remainder of the semester. As GU-Q administrators grapple with the ongoing impacts of the conflict, students in Qatar called on the university’s Hilltop campus in Washington, D.C., to actively communicate with them and officially denounce the war. Mosab Alony (SFS-Q ’27), a GU-Q student who left Qatar after the war began, said he wishes main campus administrators provided more frequent updates and words of encouragement to GU-Q students. “Even though, yes, we did have some emails or some words sent out
from the D.C. campus, it would have been nice to have maybe something more regular,” Alony told The Hoya. “Because, for instance, our dean in the Qatar campus was sending regular updates weekly, sending out words of support, words of love and wisdom.” “Two paragraphs, three paragraphs, just letting us know we are thought of, even miles and miles away, far away from where we are — I think that would have mattered a lot,” Alony added. A university spokesperson said the Hilltop Campus has collaborated with administrators in Qatar to support GU-Q students, including facilitating departures. “Since the conflict began, University leaders in D.C. and Doha have coordinated closely and remained in regular contact,” the spokesperson wrote to The Hoya. “A team of colleagues from across the University has worked tirelessly to support students, faculty and staff at GU-Q. This comprehensive See QATAR, A7
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
GU-Q students called for greater attention to the Iran war.
MATTHEW GASSOSO/THE HOYA
In a petition launched April 23, Georgetown University resident assistants alleged the university is retaliating against their collective bargaining agreement, though a university spokesperson contested the union’s characterizations.
RAs Allege Mistreatment, Union Busting Chloe Taft
Senior News Editor
Georgetown University resident assistants (RAs) are petitioning the university to roll back policy changes made this year, alleging that administrators are retaliating against their unionization efforts. The Georgetown Resident Assistant Coalition (GRAC) is accusing the university of weaponizing the union’s collective bargaining agreement (CBA) to worsen living conditions and punish RAs for minor infractions. RAs operate under a contract signed in April 2025 following concerns
about uneven working conditions and poor labor management. Anna Holk (CAS ’27), a GRAC steward, said the petition asks the university to respect the CBA. “Considering the sum of actions over the course of this year, we’re asking the university to take a different stance towards the RA union,” Holk told The Hoya. “We’re asking them to respect our right to collectively organize and bargain, and we’re asking them not to use the collective bargaining agreement as a tool to justify making the workplace more hostile.” The petition contends that new policies — which include requiring
more RAs to remain on campus during breaks, ending RAs’ ability to choose their suitemates and delaying the release of summer RA positions — are designed to negatively affect RAs’ quality of life. RAs say these changes ignore the CBA’s original goal of protecting RAs and fostering a healthy work environment. The RA union’s representation, OPEIU Local 153, also sent a letter to the university April 20 demanding Georgetown stop what it called “union-busting actions.” A university spokesperson contested GRAC’s characterization of the Office of Residential Living’s (Res Living)
policies, saying the university disagreed with the allegations. “We disagree with these characterizations and note that many of the statements are not accurate,” the spokesperson wrote to The Hoya. “The CBA is publicly available and outlines how infractions are consistently handled as agreed upon by the union and the University. Additionally, it established multiple avenues for both informal and formal discussion and resolution of issues of mutual interest and concern.” See RAs, A7
GUTS Drivers, GU Reach Bus After Conduct Reform, SNAP Pickup Location Agreement Doubled Proactive Contacts Ajani Stella and Jacqueline Gordon Executive Editor Features Editor
and
Senior
Georgetown University will not require shuttle bus drivers to travel to an off-site depot in Maryland every day, a university official confirmed to The Hoya April 17, ending a four-month dispute with the drivers’ union. In January, university officials said they expected drivers to begin picking up and dropping off buses at a Hyattsville, Md., location rather than at the Hilltop Campus, prompting the union to send a cease-and-desist letter. Georgetown University Transportation Shuttle (GUTS) drivers had protested that the move to Maryland would cost them time and money, which they said disrespected their position as university employees. The university originally reaffirmed its plan in March, but has since reached an agreement allowing drivers to choose where they clock in; all drivers opted for Georgetown. The Maryland depot — approximately 15 miles from the Hilltop — is the headquarters of Abe’s Transportation, the thirdparty company that manages Georgetown’s buses, which the university planned to subcontract drivers through last semester. Charlie Grab — the director of the Office of Transportation Management (OTM), which oversees GUTS — said the agreement was a result of three-way negotiations
between the university, Abe’s Transportation and GUTS drivers. “I was able to get approval to move forward with the concept and see if everyone truly could be in agreement, knowing that all three sides had to flex a little bit,” Grab told The Hoya. “Once I got the financial approval and the nod that this seems like a workable solution, then the focus returned to the drivers to really see where we could meet in the middle.” Grab offered drivers the choice between clocking in at Georgetown or in Hyattsville, according to an April 9 form obtained by The Hoya. Under the new plan, which aims to limit inconvenience, three drivers volunteered to bring the buses to and from the Abe’s depot in Hyattsville when service is needed, though they will remain based at the Hilltop. A university spokesperson said the plan will satisfy both parties’ needs. “Following good faith discussions with GUTS drivers and their union representatives, we have reached a new, mutually beneficial operational plan for GUTS,” a university spokesperson wrote to The Hoya. “We are grateful that this has been a collaborative process. With this new plan in place, we look forward to continuing to meet the transportation needs of the Georgetown community.” Michael Fleming, a GUTS driver who helped lead negotiations, said productive engagement with administrators came as a relief. “I was ecstatic about it because it was finally somebody in management sitting down and
talking to us — instead of talking at us — and working with us,” Fleming told The Hoya. “I am excited about it. I think we’re headed in the right direction. We’ve still got a little ways to go, but not much.” Throughout Fall 2025, GUTS drivers engaged in a protracted campaign against a university plan to outsource their employment to a third-party vendor. In December, the university pledged to allow the drivers to remain university employees, retaining their benefits. Grab said the three bus drivers who volunteered to shuttle the vehicles were central to reaching an agreement. “Having folks that are willing to move buses after the traffic dies down to make sure they’re fueled or whatever they need right to be ready for the next service day — that was the biggest thing,” Grab said. “It came together where everyone flexed a little bit, but we got it done. We got it to a place where everyone’s satisfied and, operationally, I’m confident it’s not going to be detrimental.” University administrators previously planned to require GUTS drivers to pick up and drop off buses in Hyattsville beginning Feb. 1, but kept pushing back the start date after the union representing GUTS drivers protested. As recently as March 26, university officials had said they would move forward with the requirement.
Opal Kendall Executive Editor
After Georgetown University formalized its off-campus living expectations, a university-run neighborhood patrol more than doubled its proactive contacts with students living in the surrounding area, according to data reviewed by The Hoya. The Student Neighborhood Assistance Program (SNAP) both responds to complaints and actively patrols for possible conduct violations, including amplified noise. The rise in cases comes as students complain that SNAP unnecessarily escalates disciplinary consequences for noise violations, stifling student social life. Any formal interaction between students and SNAP staff is considered a contact, which employees may elevate to an incident report if they believe it may involve a conduct violation. In Fall 2025, campus administrators began requiring university employees to submit an incident report for every violation they witnessed, without any warnings. A university spokesperson said SNAP, which is housed under the Office of Neighborhood Life, plays an essential role in mediating relationships between Georgetown students and neighborhood residents. “Through the university’s 24/7 community helpline, SNAP responds to a variety of issues and often is able to respond and address concerns before the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is contacted, reducing MATTHEW GASSOSO/THE HOYA the chances a student is given a In the fall, the university began requiring SNAP to submit an incident See SNAP, A7 report for every violation they witnessed, without any warnings.
See GUTS, A7
NEWS
OPINION
GUIDE
SPORTS
Badar Khan Suri Fundraiser
Wagner-Missaghi Proves Effective
Same Show, Different Beef
Hoyas Narrowly Defeat Villanova
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A2
B5
A10
GU-Q Hits Record Low Admit Rate
Venture Beyond the Comfortable
May Day Rocks Copley Lawn
Hoyas Empty at Frontcourt
A8
A3
B7
A12/A11
A fundraiser for Badar Khan Suri, the previously detained Georgetown researcher, raised at least $8,500 to support his legal expenses.
Georgetown University in Qatar admitted a record-low percentage of applicants to the Class of 2030, drawing praise.
The Editorial Board argues that, despite little institutional change, the Wagner-Missaghi administration has bettered student life.
Aamir Jamil (CAS ’27) urges students to explore their interests, follow their curiosities and engage with their environment.
“Beef” season two struggles to capture the same essence as its first season, argues Grace Ko (CAS ’27).
In celebration of labor rights, several student groups dazzled Copley Lawn with sharp vocals, says Juan Almanza (CAS ’29).
Published Fridays
The Georgetown women’s lacrosse team snatched a 9-8 victory against Villanova University, extending a Big East winning streak.
Following the transfer portal’s closure, Georgetown men’s basketball faces significant unanswered openings.
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