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Meet Your 2017 Mr. Georgetown Candidates!

If the competition to find a ticket were not fierce enough, the competition for the crowning of Mr. Georgetown Class of 2017 promises to be one of the fiercest ever. From its promises of song to dance to talents never before seen in Gaston Hall, this year’s lineup is sure to make the judges’ decision a difficult one.

Will they have you looking like this?

Or like this?

Without further ado, 4E presents your candidates for this year’s Mr. Georgetown Pageant:

  • Name: Navneet Vishwanathan, Mr. SAS
  • Hometown: Nanuet, N.Y.
  • School: SFS
  • Major: International Economics
  • What do you love most about your organization? The best thing about SAS is deep cultural involvement and the environment that it builds. SAS really is a home away from home because of how uniquely I’m able to relate to the community and express my heritage and upbringing with similar peers. On top of that, SAS does a great job of extending this to the greater Georgetown community through Rangila and other programs that allow me to share my background with everyone. All that and the food of course, food is the best. Food is good.
  • If you were to write an autobiography about your life so far, what would the title be? Not a biography, a cookbook. “Big Data, Baseball, and Masala: A guide to spicing up your regression models.”
  • What is your most beautiful feature? My beard. It’s my most distinguishing feature and TBH is pretty luscious. I shampoo it daily with a pineapple- and lemon-based beard wash with chunks to exfoliate. After that I use a pine-scented balm to tame and moisturize it.

  • Name: Matthew Amberger, Mr. GUGS
  • Hometown: Staten Island, N.Y.
  • School: MSB
  • Major: Finance/OPIM
  • What do you love most about your organization? The thing that I love most about GUGS is the sense of community that permeates the club. Despite members having such varying backgrounds and career paths, we all share the common bond of loving barbecuing and eating delicious food.
  • What is your favorite meme in the Georgetown meme page? My favorite meme in the Georgetown meme page was the one that was actually directed at GUGS. It was at a time when it was popular to send a DM to any club/business asking something that people really didn’t know the answer to. In this case, it asked, “Why are our burgers so round?” I found this to be so funny because we get asked this question all of the time, and while the answer is obvious to our members, we realize our burgers definitely aren’t “normal.” The real answer to the question is that we are required to serve our burgers well-done, so by having them rolled into a ball, they can stay juicy while still being a full meal.
  • If you were to write an autobiography about your life so far, what would the title be? The autobiography title would be “Yes, but Without the H.” I can’t count the amount of times that I’ve introduced myself and people thought my last name was actually hamburger. To be fair, for the past three years I’ve been in a club dedicated to making burgers, so it’s very fitting, but this funny interaction has been around since I was in kindergarten. While many things have changed since the first time it happened, this little joke has been one of the few constants in my life.

  • Name: Austin Rose, Mr. Club Soccer
  • Hometown: Frederick, Md.
  • School: College
  • Major: Government
  • What do you love most about your organization? Soccer has always been an important part of my life, and I love getting to play with a great group of guys at Georgetown. Admittedly, I peaked in my middle school rec league, but I still like to get out there to stretch my legs for a solid 10 minutes before returning to the bench.
  • What is your favorite meme in the Georgetown meme page? The “send nukes” meme. I really respect Jawad for actually sending the message to professor Kroenig, and I think such healthy dialogue between a progressive student and an outspoken neocon represents what Georgetown is all about.
  • If you were to write an autobiography about your life so far what would the title be? “The Chronicles of Yeah Boiiii.” I’m a very upbeat and enthusiastic person, and every once and a while I like to let out a big old “Yeah Boiiii” when I’m feeling high on life. I also really identify with the Yeah Boiii Youtube legend, and have been practicing for years to emulate his tone and endurance.

  • Name: Ari Goldstein, Mr. JSA
  • Hometown: San Francisco, Calif.
  • School: College
  • Major: Government
  • What do you love most about your organization? I love how good JSA is at including and celebrating the diversity that exists within Georgetown’s Jewish community. Some Hoyas identify as cultural Jews, some as religious Jews, others as spiritual Jews, and still others as political Jews or familial Jews, but JSA has always treated this diversity as our strength, fostering a culture of both dialogue and celebration. I actually think that’s no small feat for an organization that’s supposed to represent an entire community. Also, we have monthly brunches with bagels and lox, which is my other favorite thing.
  • If you were to write an autobiography about your life so far what would the title be? I’d probably call it “National Treasure: Book of Secrets,” for obvious reasons.
  • Who is your favorite Georgetown alum? Definitely Benjamin Franklin Gates, AKA Nicolas Cage’s character in the “National Treasure” movies. There’s no way he could have stolen the Declaration of Independence without studying American history (and maybe stealing the clock hands?) at Georgetown.

  • Name: Matt Linz, Mr. Club Swim
  • Hometown: Randolph, N.J.
  • School: College
  • Major: Biology
  • What do you love most about your organization? There’s a pretty strong sense of community. It runs the whole spectrum; we all bond for 10 hours driving to Club Swimming Nationals in Atlanta every April, but we also ask each other for feedback on memes.
  • What is your most beautiful feature? Maybe my sense of humor … but probably my butt. Hopefully that’ll explain itself during the group dance portion of Mr. Georgetown!
  • Who is your favorite Georgetown alum? Jackie Kennedy Onassis. I love how gracefully she carried herself. I think it’s a little-known fact that she took continuing education classes in American history here. My favorite high school teacher instilled in me a fondness for president and president-adjacent factoids; I have a head full of trivia.

  • Name: Max Wolfgang Rosner, Mr. Knights of Columbus
  • Hometown: South Side of Chicago, Ill.
  • School: College
  • Major: Theology/Government
  • What do you love most about your organization? It’s the only organization — at least that I know of — that works toward social justice and views a sheathed sword as a socially acceptable fashion accessory.
  • What is your most beautiful feature? My calves. Louis XIV believed a strong, toned, hairy set were the pinnacle of beauty. I got to play the Sun King for a dance performance in my French history course last semester. It was a liberating experience.
  • Who is your favorite Georgetown alumn? Trevor McLean. (Disclosure: Trevor McLean is a judge for Mr. Georgetown 2017.)

  • Name: Dan Fain, Mr. Ultimate Frisbee
  • Hometown: Madison, Wis.
  • School: College
  • Major: Economics
  • What do you love most about your organization? I love that for four hours every week I get to practice with my best friends and forget about everything else going on in my life.
  • What is your most beautiful feature? My calves. Fourteen years of Irish dance have sculpted them well.
  • Who is your favorite Georgetown alum? Preston B. Whitmore. It’s hard to beat someone who rediscovered the lost city of Atlantis.

  • Name: Tyler Kranawetter, Mr. GIVES
  • Hometown: Laguna Hills, Calif.
  • School: College
  • Major: Biochemistry
  • What do you love most about your organization? I love the inclusive atmosphere of friends GIVES creates. Anyone can join and be my friend, and I’m always desperate for more friends.
  • What is your favorite meme in the Georgetown meme page? It’s the truest of feelings, but GIVES won’t do that to you!
  • What is your most beautiful feature? My blue eyes because my parents both have brown, so I am genetically very lucky I ended up with them.

  • Name: Ben Costanza, Mr. Phantoms
  • Hometown: Rochester, N.Y.
  • School: College
  • Major: Government
  • What do you love most about your organization?As a musical style, a cappella is incredibly unique, as it promotes both individualism and community. Each person is responsible to have a complete mastery of his or her own part; however, that part is meaningless by itself. Only when sung with those of the other group members does it gain true value — and become art. Regarding the Phantoms specifically, we sing “Like a Prayer” by Madonna sometimes, and that’s pretty fun.
  • What is your favorite meme in the Georgetown meme page? This one because it has the least amount of likes, making it the most exclusive and therefore the most valuable.
  • Who is your favorite Georgetown alum? It’d have to be a three-way tie between Leo O’Donovan (for his hall’s chicken fingers), Antonin Scalia (for his Supreme Court appointment capping off an evolution of the social and political standing of Italian-Americans in the United States), and my friend Ed Crotty (for telling funny jokes).

    • Name: Cameron Perales, Mr. APO
    • Hometown: Laguna Hills, Calif.
    • School: College
    • Major: History/Classical Studies
    • What do you love most about your organization? What I love most about APO is that we’re a family of people who are committed to helping others as best we can. Service to others is at the core of what we stand for as an organization, and its truly rewarding to see the impact we can have on our community, and that impact brings us together in a deep and authentic way.
    • What is your favorite meme in the Georgetown meme page? This one. Why? Because traffic on the 5 and the 405 are a way of life. #WestCoastBestCoast
    • What is your most beautiful feature? Once my middle school nurse abruptly paused in the middle of talking to me about my broken thumb, held up my entire hand and examined it for a long 30 seconds. After she finished she said with a tinge of jealousy that I have perfect nail buds. So I guess I have that going for me, which is nice.
      • Name: Danny Frumento, Mr. NSO
      • Hometown: Valley Stream, N.Y.
      • School: College
      • Major: Government/Theater
      • What do you love most about your organization? NSO has the ability to shape new students like no other organization on campus can. Someone’s experience in NSO can completely shape the rest of their time at Georgetown. The friends they make and the memories they share will be lifelong, and it was an honor being able to have a hand in impacting so many new students and families’ lives.
      • What is your favorite meme in the Georgetown meme page? I’m a lonely soul, and sometimes a fella needs some love.
      • If you were to write an autobiography about your life so far, what would the title be? “It’s Been Downhill From There: A Story of How I Peaked in High School” … because I peaked in high school.

        • Name: Nick Na, Mr. FOCI
        • Hometown: Atlanta, Ga.
        • School: SFS
        • Major: International Political Economy
        • What do you love most about your organization? Everybody’s going to probably say “I love my organization because community” or “it’s the people” or maybe they’ll even throw in the casual “cura personalis.” I’m going to be edgy and say I love FOCI for its fo-love for fo-puns because fo-tastic focians are fo-eva using them at all our focials. fofofofofofofofo.
        • What is your most beautiful feature? I’d have to say my most attractive feature is my big toe. Back in Atlanta, they used to call my toe “biggie smalls” because it’s the biggest of all my small toes. Its sensual curvature and mellifluous scent can even excite old ladies on New Jersey beaches.
        • If you were to write an autobiography about your life so far, what would the title be? “Pretty Boy Swag.” Self-explanatory.

          • Name: Max Hartley, Mr. GOLD
          • Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
          • School: MSB
          • Major: Finance/Accounting
          • What do you love most about your organization? GOLD (or Georgetown Opportunities for Leadership Development) is a great organization designed to help young people on campus blossom into well-balanced and capable leaders. What I love most about GOLD is being able to see every person who joins GOLD grow as both a leader and person as well as apply what they learn in their other activities.
          • What is your favorite meme in the Georgetown meme page? As an RHO worker, I can’t say this is a direct quote from my resume, but what I can say is that working at the RHO has provided me a vast array of both technical and people skills that are unparalleled through any other on-campus experience.
          • If you were to write an autobiography about your life so far, what would the title be? “Living Life to The Max,” because who wouldn’t want their autobiography to then become a made for TV Disney movie with the movie title already included. I guess I also like having no regrets, but that is strictly secondary.

            • Name: Jesse McNeill, Mr. Outdoor Ed
            • Hometown: Chevy Chase, Md.
            • School: College
            • Major: Environmental Biology
            • What do you love most about your organization? Chill peeps. Good vibes.
            • What is your most beautiful feature? I have a 1.7-inch nipple hair. Very impressive.
            • If you were to write an autobiography about your life so far, what would the title be? “Why Am I Sweating? A Memoir.”

              • Name: Alex Roberds, Mr. Pep Band
              • Hometown: St. Louis, Mo.
              • School: SFS
              • Major: Regional and Comparative Studies
              • What do you love most about your organization? I know you’ll get a lot of this, but I love the community that pep band creates for its members. I love being in a group that cares so much about Georgetown, music, and each other.
              • What is your favorite meme in the Georgetown meme page? It has to be this one. I think most people can relate to this one. I think it could say “three hours later” and it would still work for Georgetown. People are very passionate about their political beliefs, which can lead to some serious (and often entertaining) debates.
              • What is your most beautiful feature? Definitely my eyes. I’ve never been able to get a consensus on what color my eyes are. I get a variety of answers, most typically blue or green (or both), sometimes hazel and even gray. Regardless of what color they are on any given day, though, you’re certain to get lost in them.

                • Name: Johnathan Marrow, Mr. Philodemic
                • Hometown: Princeton, N.J.
                • School: College
                • Major: History
                • What do you love most about your organization? In the Philodemic, we take ideas as seriously as we take people. Anyone can show up and argue on a side of our debate and we’re forced to listen and hear them out, to respond and engage. It’s a tradition we’ve been carrying on for 187 years: It never gets old and it’s always worthwhile. Plus, we dress fancy, have some funny titles, and we’re generally a bunch of radical conformist eccentrics. And I like to talk a lot.
                • Who is your favorite Georgetown alum? William Gaston, Georgetown’s first-ever student … and first-ever dropout. Also a U.S. congressman. Setting the standards for Hoyas since 1791.
                • What is your most beautiful feature? My modesty. It’s one of my best qualities ever. No one has better modesty than me.

                  • Name: Larenz Griggs, Mr. BSA
                  • Hometown: Atlanta, Ga.
                  • School: College
                  • Major: Psychology
                  • What do you love most about your organization? I love how proud we are of our identities. Though everyone is different in some kind of way, we’re all one huge family at the end of the day, and that’s hard to come by.
                  • Who is your favorite Georgetown alum? My favorite Georgetown alum is Ettian Scott, because he took me under his wing when I was an underclassman and helped me in numerous ways to maneuver throughout Georgetown. He is one of my closest friends, and we still stay in contact.
                  • What is your most beautiful feature? My most beautiful feature is probably my unapologetically, outgoing/weird personality. Though I’m a student-athlete, most people I meet say I don’t fit the stereotype. I’m extremely silly and love to laugh. I’d also rather watch anime or “Game of Thrones” before watching ESPN. Not to mention, I enjoy poetry slams and going to jazz restaurants.

                    • Name: Brian Bies, Mr. Escape
                    • Hometown: Potomac, Md.
                    • School: MSB
                    • Major: Marketing/Management
                    • What do you love most about your organization? The people. There’s a story blog campaign on the ESCAPE Facebook page called “Essence of ESCAPE.” It is about sharing the stories, backgrounds, and experiences of the 42 Leaders part of this year’s Leaders (Team 27 Universe). They are relatively short posts, but they better illustrate how inspiring the ESCAPE community is to be a part of: 42 Posts, 42 Awesome Humans! I met my best friend on ESCAPE — ESCAPE brings people from all across campus, regardless of creed, faith or identity; it is wonderful to see the magic of ESCAPE in this way.
                    • Who is your favorite Georgetown alum? I know, “National Treasure” is a movie and “Scandal” is a TV Show, but they epitomize how great Georgetown is: Ben’s love of history, wanting to do something greater than himself (#JesuitValues), and he is portrayed by the iconic Nicolas Cage. Olivia Pope is a badass (no other word for it), as she is passionate and determined: She developed her reputation as the best fixer in D.C. because she accomplishes what no one else can! Who doesn’t want to be like Kerry Washington/Olivia Pope?
                    • What is your most beautiful feature? I just asked one of my housemates/best friend at Georgetown, Daniel Ernst, and he immediately said, “your eyes,” which is funny because I don’t actually know the color of my eyes! Depending on the circumstances, some people will say they are green, and others will say they are brown.

                    So, whose got your vote? Come out on Nov. 4 to find out who will be crowned ~King~.

        Photos Courtesy of Georgetown Program Board; electricalalliance.org
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Best Bets — Oct. 3, 2014

bestbetscover

On Campus

C Street Brass

When: Today, 1:15 p.m.
Where: McNeir Auditorium, New North Building
Price: Free
Info: cstreetbrass.com

C Street Brass is a lively brass quintet that brings a contemporary twist to classic jazz. Originally from Pittsburg, this funky group of five often combines older styles like jazz with newer genres like dubstep, bringing their sound to the forefront of modern music. Join the talented quintet for this incredible afternoon of complex yet completely free music.

GU Nightclub Opening Party

When: Tonight, 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Where: Bulldog Alley
Price: Free
Info: Facebook

GU Nightclub is ready to revive the social scene on campus. Join the new DJ club for a pumped-up night of fun and dance. This musical event provides everybody with free entertainment — a refreshing alternative for those who are growing tired of off-campus weekend activities. All you need is your GOCard, and then you’re ready to party!

Abenomics: How Japan Will Revitalize Its Economy by Empowering Women

When: Oct. 7, 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Where: Fisher Colloquium, Rafik B. Hariri Building
Price: Free
Info: Eventbrite

Join Chief Japan Strategist for Goldman Sachs Kathy M. Matsui for an in-depth discussion of Japanese social and economic culture. Matsui will focus on the correlation between gender roles and economic patterns, offering her own advice about how to achieve progress and change. Matsui is an expert in the field of economics and was named one of the “10 Women to Watch in Asia” by the Wall Street Journal.

Lecture by Ardo Hansson, Governor of the Bank of Estonia

When: Oct. 9 from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: Executive Conference Room, ICC 700
Price: Free
Info: guevents.georgetown.edu

Ardo Hansson is a prominent figure on the Estonian economic scene. His lecture will offer an expansive look into the financial problems currently facing Europe, analyzing the global economic crisis and how Europe has responded to it. He will discuss how different regions have recovered, shedding light on each country’s method of rehabilitation.

Off Campus

“Driving Miss Daisy”

When: Friday – Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m.
Where: Ford’s Theater
Price: Starting at $15
Info: fordstheatre.org

Has Ford’s Theater been on your list of historical places to see in Washington, D.C.? Forget just going for a quick tour — make an actual night of it by getting tickets to see “Driving Miss Daisy.” This classic Pulitzer Prize-winning play explores the themes of class differences, cultural boundaries, generation gaps and race through the interactions between the two leads. Tickets are currently being sold online. Don’t miss out! 

“The Devil in His Own Words”

When: Wednesday – Saturday, 8 p.m.
Where: 545 7th St. SE
Price: $15
Info: www.taffetypunk.com/shows

Taffety Punk Theatre Company’s one-man show “The Devil in His Own Words” has already opened to enthusiastic approval. Actor Marcus Kyd portrays Lucifer’s journey from fallen angel to master of hell in an incredibly rich and complex script. The script is composed of cross-century texts from all over the world, promising to do justice to this dense history.

D.C. Palestinian Film and Arts Festival

When: Oct. 2 to Oct. 5
Where: Goethe Institut, 812 7th St. NW
Price: $8 for students, $10 for general admission
Info: dcpfaf.org

This cultural festival features screenings of both short and feature-length films, including “A World Not Ours,” “Where Should the Birds Fly?” and “Suspended in Time.” The event will be running all weekend and is a great chance to get off campus and explore another area of Washington, D.C. Lena Seikaly, an acclaimed jazz vocalist, will be closing out the festival on Sunday night.

(E)merge Art Fair

When: Oct. 2 to Oct. 5
Where: 10 I St. SW
Price: $10 for students, $15 for general admission
Info: emergeartfair.com

The fourth edition (4E?) of this annual exhibit will be held at the Capitol Skyline Hotel this year. The fair helps emerging art professionals from around the globe showcase their work and connect with important collectors and curators here in Washington, D.C. If you like art and want to get an early glimpse at some up-and-coming artists, then this event is the one for you.

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We Came. We Saw. We OWNed It.

GUWILgraphic

“I think there is a hunger and a thirst for answers to these questions about women and leadership and solving what is a problem. There are not enough women in leadership.” –Norah O’Donnell (COL ’95, GRD ’03) 

Georgetown University Women in Leadership’s inaugural summit has been one of the most highly anticipated events of the semester. Students, both female and male, waited anxiously for tickets to go on sale in late February. Within 24 hours of the Eventbrite going live, every ticket to the summit had been snatched up and the event’s Facebook page became a frenzy of people looking to score a ticket from those lucky enough to get in on the action early. The anxious attendees were finally satisfied at 8:45 a.m. this past Saturday when orange, pink and purple adorned a packed Lohrfink Auditorium and the crowd became silent, awaiting the first panel of speakers.

If you didn’t have the chance to take part in the summit or you want to relive the experience you had this weekend, we’ve got you covered. After spending all day at the event, we’ve tried to narrow down all of the great moments into a top 10 list that will knock your socks off.

The 10 Best Parts of the OWN IT Summit

1. The Dynamic Duo

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Helen Brosnan (COL ’16) and Kendall Ciesemier (COL ’15) were the co-chairs of the OWN IT Summit, and oh they OWNed IT! From delivering killer intros to being fangirled by many of the distinguished speakers, these two absolutely ran the show and did it well. Throughout the day, Brosnan and Ciesemier – and the entire Summit Team – orchestrated the behind the scenes logistics while making it a point to engage the summit attendees whenever they could. I wonder what they’ll come up with for OWN IT 2015!

2. The Alums

When sitting in on the panels, it was hard not to notice the abundance of women who have previously called the Hilltop their home. Maria Shriver (CAS ’77), Kara Swisher (SFS ’84), Norah O’Donnell (COL ’95) and many more made their way back to the Hilltop to address the summit attendees. It was great to see how excited the women were to be back on campus!

3. The Tech

They did tech, and they did it big. Upon registering, the smart phone-equipped (read: EVERYONE) downloaded the Usher Id App to check in to the panels and experiential sessions of the day. Attendees were also able to share contact information over Bluetooth with the app. In addition to the mobile app, each breakout room had projector screens filled with stats and graphs about the attendees throughout the day. Those who attended the event made thousands of connections via the app and took advantage of all of the technology available.

4. The Poem 

If you don’t know Azure Antoinette, OPEN A NEW WINDOW AND GOOGLE HER AS FAST AS YOU CAN. Every second you wait is just one second more you don’t get to experience this brilliant and hilarious poet. To kick off the summit, Antoinette performed a poem specifically written for the OWN IT Summit. She brought the house down. Not only did she deliver a stunning performance, but I think she befriended nearly everyone at the summit!

5. The Food

FOOD

At Georgetown, it’s expected that events provide food options that are average at best. NOT THIS ONE! The quality of the food was right in line with the rest of the event: extraordinary. Attendees had access to complimentary crepes, cupcakes, ice cream and snacks from tech-driven vending machines. At lunch, everyone was given delicious Jetties sandwiches. Not to mention, everyone got to enjoy it all on the lawn on a beautiful spring day.

6. The Panels

Some of the biggest names in the biggest industries took the stage in Lohrfink Auditorium to speak about their personal and professional experiences, covering subjects ranging from business to media to technology. Panelists spoke on advancing women in leadership positions within their field. The panels sparked conversations that inspired the audience with every word. They also provided PRIME Instagram opportunities.

7. The Hashtag

#ownit2014. It seemed like the OWN IT Summit took over social media for a few hours on Saturday. And in many ways it did. Filtered snapshots of the MSB, perfectly-cropped close ups of Maria Shriver (CAS ’77) and angled selfies with Judy Smith were strewn across our news feeds, all accompanied by the #ownit2014 hashtag. On Saturday, #ownit2014 was the number one trending hashtag in Washington, D.C.!

8. The GUWIL Bags

Every summit attendee left the MSB at 5 p.m. with a complimentary GUWIL bag in hand. The bags were filled with information about the summit, plus deals from local stores and restaurants. I’ve already started planning my buy one get one free burrito bowl Chipotle visit.

9. The Office Hours

I know. I doubted it too. I mean, the office hours I go to usually leave me with more confusion than before. These were a little different. Attendees met with some of the most accomplished women in their respective fields in groups of 6 to 12 and got to have personal conversations with their heroes.

10. Judy Smith

The real Olivia Pope was there. Need I say more?

Photo: Sofia Layanto|The Hoya, twitter.com, georgetown.edu

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4E’s Guide to Jesuit Heritage Week 2014

Healy_Hall_at_Georgetown_UniversityThis week Georgetown will celebrate the 14th annual Jesuit Heritage Week! Hopefully most Hoyas have already met and/or taken a class with some of the Jesuits on campus.  (Side note: You should definitely plan to, because the Jesuits on campus are both giftedly smart and incredibly fun. Plus, a lot of them will most likely provide you with great food; personal thank you to Fr. Steck for New South’s quesadilla and brownie nights!) But even if you haven’t, make sure to come out to the great events this week celebrating Jesuit Heritage Week!

This year, Georgetown is expanding this week all the way to the campus in Doha, Qatar. For the first time, Georgetown students can join Hoyas from across the world in enjoying Georgetown’s special identity and great traditions.

Filled with various events, the week begins Sunday night with an opening mass in Gaston Hall at 8:00 p.m. On Monday, events include the “D.C.-Doha Dialogue,” which features members of the Society of Jesus and students in Washington, D.C., and Qatar talking through telepresence technology – which, thanks to a quick Google search, seems to be just a large Skype session – about the meaning of a Jesuit education. Also on Monday, English professor John Glavin will lead a main campus tour of Jesuit iconography.

A particularly exciting event, though, takes place on Tuesday with guest speaker Rev. Greg Boyle, S.J., author of Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion and the founder and director of Homeboy Industries, the largest gang-intervention program in the United States. Boyle will share his experiences in helping young people in the Los Angeles barrios to avoid gang life through Homeboy Industries and how these individuals have positively influenced his own faith. With Fr. O’Brien’s seal of approval – he mentioned that “Father Boyle is a remarkable Jesuit and human being … deeply committed to the poor and marginalized in Los Angeles” – this event is sure to inspire many.

On Wednesday, be sure to also stop by the Spike-a-Jesuit event, a students versus Jesuits volleyball game. And practice up, Hoyas! Who knows what secret weapon these Jesuits might have?

1353522688_volleyball_spike_knocks_out_two_people

Also on Wednesday, if you are attending or watching the Georgetown vs. Villanova men’s basketball game, look out for more Jesuit versus student competition on the court during halftime!

Closing out the week, on Feb. 1, the Georgetown Jesuits will invite students and their families to an evening of storytelling.

Enjoy the week to come and be sure to check out the full schedule of events here: https://missionandministry.georgetown.edu/jesuitheritageweek/

Photo: https://www.gifbin.com/987097, wikipedia.org

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Change Takes Change: Living on One

“What can I do?”

“If each individual can help a single other individual…we can change the world.”

Imagine living on nothing but one dollar a day. Just one dollar. The same dollar you may use for the Circulator, to tip at Uncommon Grounds, or collect in an old Tombs mug you have for spare change. The idea is pretty daunting, but for some it’s more than just a thought, it’s a lifestyle  of extreme poverty.

Poverty is a painful reality for people all over the world. There have always been organizations to help give back, but there are none I have ever come across like the one I have the privilege to introduce to you now.

Four college students spent their entire summer living in Guatemala, each on only one dollar a day. They came to better understand the constraints of this level of poverty, and with this understanding they felt a call to action. The campaign for Living On One is now spreading across America with the purpose of informing our society about the lack of opportunity and the hardships that these poverty-stricken people groups are forced to endure.  Innovative ideas like microfinance are just the beginning. There is no end to what can be achieved here, but the awareness of the masses is key.

At the heart of the Jesuit value system Georgetown subscribes to, there is the saying “Men and women for others.” There is no better way to help advocate for others than to fight against global poverty. Check out Living On One’s trailer, help if you can, but if nothing else remember those people groups around the world and hope for a better future for us all.

Interested in seeing the film? The D.C. premiere is taking place right here on campus. Next Wednesday, October 3rd, come to Gaston Hall for a screening and Q&A with the filmmakers, hosted in partnership with The Hoya.

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Igniting Georgetown One Speech at a Time

Tonight kicks off the inaugural Ignite Talks, a collection of talks given by Georgetown students about their diverse passions and interests. To learn more about the Ignite Georgetown talks, we reached out to Colleen Wood (SFS ’14), an organizer of this year’s talks. Ignite Georgetown will be held tonight at 8 p.m. in Reiss 103.

Georgetown is home to many interesting people who have fascinating life stories, hobbies, and adventures. I’ve noticed that students cluster by joining clubs and taking classes specific to interests that have already been developed. In a nutshell, Ignite Georgetown seeks to stir up the pot by having students share their diverse personal and professional passions. The hope is that each five-minute presentation will enlighten the crowd in some way — tonight we’ll hear ten speeches ranging from hip-hop production to the history of Batman. Ignite is unique in that it empowers students to be in control of the intellectual culture at Georgetown. Those delivering speeches perfect their presentations, but also hundreds of students who aren’t making a speech come out to support their friends and learn something new.

To learn more, visit Ignite Georgetown’s Facebook page.

Photo: Courtesy Colleen Wood