Guest Speakers at Georgetown

I am often amazed when reading the weekly Georgetown blast e-mail that describes the vast array of eminently qualified speakers who come to our campus, each vying for our attendance at their presentation. A few weeks ago one e-mail in particular caught my eye: former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair was to speak at the Common Word Conference. My friends and I were in line at Gaston Hall bright and early the next morning. By 8 am, the line wrapped around campus—Georgetown students were not going to miss out on such an event.

As I later sat listening to the conference in historic Gaston Hall with some of my best friends, I gained a further appreciation of just how incredible it is that I can wake up, roll out of bed, walk up two flights of stairs, and see some of the world’s most famous leaders address the University community—and all for free! Prime Minister Blair was joined by the former Prime Minister of Norway, the former Prime Minister of Malaysia, and the Grand Mufti of Bosnia. They spoke to Georgetown students and faculty about the compelling need for interreligious dialogue and understanding in order to achieve peace in the world.

These leaders emphasized the requirement of translating words into action in order to promote and implement the great ideas discussed at the conference. Georgetown students have the privilege, ability and desire to take what they learn and apply it beyond the classroom. The conversation of ideas offered by these important political leaders are comparable to those shared by classmates every day in dormitories, Leo’s dining hall, on Healy lawn, and other places Hoyas congregate.

Inspired by this extraordinary conference, I realized that I also have a responsibility to further this exchange of ideas on our campus. I therefore immediately increased my involvement in the Interfaith Council, a group of students representative of different faiths, who gather together to promote interreligious dialogue, service, and understanding. I can't wait to see who will be on campus next!

Margaux McGrath
COL' 12
Glenview, IL

Diplomatic Ball 2009 – “Architects of Peace”

Each year in the spring, the School of Foreign Service (SFS) hosts a black tie affair called the Diplomatic Ball, where Georgetown students from all four undergraduate schools, diplomats from around the world and distinguished Georgetown faculty come together at a prestigious location for an exciting and classy evening.

Known to Georgetown students as “Dip Ball,” this event is one of the SFS’s most unique traditions and is something I wished to attend before I ever set foot on the Hilltop. I can vividly recall navigating the SFS website as a prospective student and thinking of what an incredible opportunity I would have to interact with ambassadors at this formal event, an opportunity I knew I would not be able to find at any other school.

My excitement for Dip Ball inspired me to get involved with its planning upon coming to Georgetown. I have served as a member of the Diplomatic Ball Committee on the SFS Academic Council for the past two years and have witnessed firsthand the detailed planning that goes into producing a fabulous event for around 800 people. This year, all of our hard work paid off, as Dip Ball 2009 was a tremendous success! Because 2009 marked the 90th anniversary of the founding of the SFS and the end of Dean Gallucci’s thirteen years of service to the SFS, we had much to celebrate at this year’s Ball, which took place on April 3rd.

Each year, Diplomatic Ball is held at a gorgeous venue that is kept secret until about a month before the event when tickets go on sale. Students eagerly await the unveiling of the prestigious location, because of the impressive history of past venues, which includes the National Building Museum, the Old Postal Pavilion and the Embassy of the Republic of France. This year was no different, as we selected the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium on Constitution Avenue in downtown DC to hold the 2009 Dip Ball. We felt that the Mellon Auditorium’s historical significance as the location in which NATO was signed by President Truman in 1949 made it the perfect place to hold this year’s Ball.

The theme of Dip Ball 2009 was “Architects of Peace,” which highlighted both the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium’s unique and magnificent architecture as well as its history as the place of NATO’s signing almost exactly sixty years ago to the day of our event. At the same time, we saw this theme as symbolizing the uniting of students and diplomats to build the foundation of the future and promote peace.

From 8pm to 12 midnight on April 3rd, nearly 700 Georgetown students dressed in elegant gowns and tuxedos joined ambassadors, foreign dignitaries and other diplomats and distinguished guests from forty different countries for an incredible evening of music and dance.

I attended this year’s Dip Ball with five of my best friends and we had an unforgettable night, dancing to the music of the Georgetown Jazz Ensemble, enjoying the delicious array of hors d’oeuvres and devouring way too many of the addictive desserts. Attending Dip Ball each year reminds me of how lucky I am to be studying international politics at Georgetown and how at no other school would I have the opportunity to spend a Friday night at a black tie affair at a prestigious and historical location in Washington, DC, interacting with the diplomats of today and tomorrow.

Tamara Smallman
SFS ‘10
Short Hills, NJ

Study Abroad at Georgetown

Sitting and looking over the city of Florence at night with three new friends, I found myself amazed that I was actually in school at that moment in time. I spent last semester studying abroad in Strasbourg, France, and I learned so many different lessons during that time that I never could have learned inside a classroom in the United States.

As a student from an international background, I was determined from the very beginning of the college admissions process that I would study abroad. I am lucky enough to have participated in two study abroad programs, the first was the Georgetown Business and Politics Program in Paris for six weeks over the summer, and the second was spending the entire fall semester in Strasbourg.

Both were great because they were so different in many ways. Clearly, there is a contrast between life in central Paris and life in the small Alsatian town of Strasbourg. I lived with a host family while in Paris and the daily interactions with them helped me to really learn about French culture and life. The family that I lived with was very friendly, and I bonded with my host sister, who is the same age as I am and often took me out with her friends. While in Paris, I lived right near the Jardins de Luxembourg and the Rue Moufftard, which had excellent food markets. Some of my best afternoons were spent wandering the streets and going for long walks, finding some of the best bistros and shops when I made a wrong turn.

In Strasbourg, I directly matriculated into two French universities, Universite Marc Bloch and Institut d’Etudes Politique. Thankfully, all of the classes were able to count towards credit for both my Government and Art History majors. Because of this, I was able to study abroad without being concerned about academic requirements. Direct matriculation means that I took classes with all French students, and French professors, and obviously, they were all in French. Needless to say, the first two weeks were very overwhelming, but my comprehension quickly caught up to the necessary level.

One of the best things about studying in Strasbourg was the ability to travel throughout Western Europe. My class schedule was very flexible, so I was able to have three day weekends that helped traveling. We went to Amsterdam, Munich, Paris, Nice, and all throughout Italy. The French academic calendar has a week off in October, so some friends and I traveled around Italy, from Florence to Rome to Cinqueterre. While in Florence, we were able to meet up with some Georgetown friends who were spending the semester at Georgetown’s Villa de Balze. When we were touring the villa, we could have been tricked into believing that it was a five-star hotel! The three-course lunch was one of the best meals during our whole trip!

I really cannot stress how important it is to think about studying abroad. I know that some people think that college is so short, and that they have so much fun at Georgetown that they cannot think of leaving. I am one of the biggest advocates of Georgetown that you will ever meet, but the amount that I grew as a person during last semester could not be compared to a semester on the Hilltop. By immersing myself in another culture, one with another language and social standards, I had to really be outgoing and willing to stretch myself from my comfort zone. I encourage all applicants to look at the website for Georgetown’s Office of International Programs to learn more about what is available!

www.oip.georgetown.edu

Meghan Keneally
COL '10
London, England

Traditions At Georgetown

It’s St. Patrick’s Day and the sea of green clothing has provided me the inspiration for writing this blog entry. Given the tune of the day, it seems appropriate to discuss the traditions and celebrations at Georgetown. Georgetown as a university is draped in tradition. From the distinguished professors, to the role the university has played as one of the premier academic institutions in the world, Georgetown has had a long life from which its reputation has blossomed. What I would like to touch more on today however, is the type of annual traditions within Georgetown that give it the character that I have come to love. My childhood was spent divided between a number of countries including the US, Singapore, Belgium, and Hungary, so from a personal standpoint, I did not have too many traditions to speak of, largely because of a lack of consistency in location. As a result of this, I have come to appreciate just how great the traditions like Midnight Madness, and Georgetown Day really are, and just how large of a role they play at the school which I have called home for the past two and half years.

I am an avid sports fan. I have played sports my whole life and knew that if I was not going to play sports competitively in college, I needed to have a good sports base to follow in order to fill this void. As a result, the tradition that I have come to appreciate the most is Midnight Madness. For those of you not too familiar with college basketball, Midnight Madness marks the first day that teams can officially practice with their coaches during the year. Georgetown has a large celebration lasting from about 9pm to 12am that includes performances by many of the school’s performing arts groups such as Groove Theory (a hip hop dance group), the Step Team, and the Georgetown cheerleaders. The event is usually professionally DJ’d and often includes celebrity appearances of the likes of Jerry Rice or Patrick Ewing, both of whom had children that went here. Though doors open at 9pm, the event starts far before that with students lining up as early as noon to get a spot in line for tickets. A little before midnight, both the Men’s and Women’s varsity basketball teams are introduced and the teams usually do some entertaining activities such as dunk or three point contests.

For me, Midnight Madness was when it really clicked how great of a school I was attending. The environment is electric and you are surrounded by thousands of your classmates all cheering for the same common cause. This was the first time I truly felt that connection to my fellow Hoyas, and I can say with complete honesty that I get the same butterflies in my stomach year after year on this night. There is no way I can fully communicate these feelings to you, you will just have to come to Georgetown to experience it for yourself.

Georgetown Day is another tradition with similar effect and following. Georgetown Day is traditionally held in the spring on the last Friday of classes. It is essentially a massive celebration on our front lawn (hopefully in good weather), with students of all classes celebrating their achievements of the year. For seniors, it is a nostalgic moment, marking one of the last times they will be with all of their friends before heading off into the working world. For freshmen, it is a refreshing break before final exam crunch time, and is a sign of the good things to come in their remaining years on the Hilltop. For everyone, it is an opportunity to enjoy our beautiful campus and to remind ourselves just how lucky we are to be here.

The last tradition I will talk about is Halloween, which also plays a unique role on our campus for several reasons. One of the peripheral benefits of being in the nation’s capital is having access to all of the resources that come with this. Halloween is no exception to this, with Georgetown students taking full advantage of Embassy Row as a trick-or-treating destination. Students embark en mass to Dupont Circle to enjoy the opportunity to partake in a youthful activity with a more sophisticated twist. In addition to trick-or-treating, Georgetown’s Groove Theory has a perennial performance each year of Thriller by Michael Jackson. This is usually held in Gaston Hall during the intermission of the showing of the movie The Exorcist. In case you weren’t aware, this movie was largely filmed at Georgetown, and students make sure to applaud each and every glimpse of Healy Hall.

I could go on talking about Georgetown traditions forever as it seems that each club or group has their own. It’s great to know that coming into Georgetown you are joining a community where these types of activities take on a significant importance to the community, and that you will have the opportunity to enjoy them, as well as add to them, from your first day on the Hilltop. Good luck with your decision process, I hope we will see you at a GAAP weekend this spring.

Matt McKenna

MSB '10

Mahtomedi, MN

Summer Internships

It’s daunting to begin thinking about a career when you’re only 20 years old. Fortunately at Georgetown, students have the resources of the Georgetown University Career Education Center to utilize in the job hunt. As a junior in the McDonough School of Business, this time of year is full of internship recruiting. I just completed the process myself, and while relieved to be finished and secured an opportunity for the summer, I am very glad that I had the chance to go through the interview season. This summer I will be working in New York City at Credit Suisse in Equity Research.

Students can check out the Career Center from their first days on the Hilltop. You can schedule a visit with a career counselor who specializes in a particular subset of careers. These staffers will provide guidance and advice to help you learn about a certain path, and later on can put you in contact with alumni and recruiters who are interested in working with Georgetown students. Also, the Career Center staff can edit resumes and cover letters, as well as conduct mock-interviews to help you prepare for the interviews themselves.

As a Finance and Accounting double major, I began looking at a variety of fields within both my majors, settling on Finance after attending firm information sessions in the fall and speaking with recent graduates and friends. Upperclassmen tend to be terrific resources, and my friends at the Georgetown University Alumni and Student Federal Credit Union have been invaluable sources of advice. Job postings are made available for part-time and full-time positions as well as internships. Opportunities span careers as diverse as journalism, consulting, Teach for America, the Peace Corps, healthcare, Non-Governmental Organizations, and the CIA.

I began searching and applying for positions in January, with the majority of my first-round interviews being held on campus. Although occasionally a little intimidating, it was a great experience to hone my interview skills and meet professionals from different backgrounds. Final round interviews are often held at a firm’s office, and I was fortunate enough to visit New York City for my final round interviews with Credit Suisse. These “superdays” often consist of multiple interviews with individuals from different levels of the firm.

Given the challenging job market and economy, I feel very lucky to have the opportunity to gain some experience this summer in the field I am interested in. Summer internships provide a unique chance to see if you truly do like a certain career, and in many cases, can result in a full-time offer of employment. While I’m certainly not quite ready to leave Georgetown for the real world just yet, this first foray into the job market has shown me how well prepared we really are and just how large the Georgetown alumni network really is.

Best of luck in your college search and Hoya Saxa!

Jeff Bailin

MSB 2010

Clarendon Hills, IL

Performing Arts at Georgetown

One of my favorite things about Georgetown is the performing arts scene, and the great number of people that participate in it every year. This could be anything ranging from a play or musical put on by the Performing Arts Department, Mask & Bauble, or Nomadic Theaters; a capella shows involving the Phantoms, Chimes, Superfood, the Capital G's, or Harmony; dance shows like Asiafest, Rangila, Luau, or anything involving Groove Theory (our premier hip-hop dance troupe); and a whole range of other types of performances, like the GU Improv Festival that I attended this past weekend. Any given week there are a number of performances going on, and so many opportunities to join one of these groups exist that pretty much invariably you'll have at least a couple of friends in the performance.

One of the best things, in my opinion, is cheering on your friends during a dance or other sort of performance in Gaston Hall. Last Friday and Saturday, the GU Players Improv Group (GUPIG) hosted improv groups from Ohio State, Xavier University, and the University of Chicago to participate in their annual GU Improv Festival. I'm a little biased towards GUPIG because my roommate is a member, but I was very impressed by the rest of the groups that showed up as well (some driving over 10 hours to be with us for the weekend).

Personally, I'm not terribly inclined towards the performing arts. I see myself as a professional audience member; I feel I've perfected the proper timing for cheering, clapping, shedding a tear, etc. However, I have become involved with one show in particular. My freshman year my Residential Assistant (R.A.) Veena encouraged everyone on my floor to participate in the huge annual South Asian dance and cultural show "Rangila," which she and her friends were all highly involved in. Having never actually heard of "Bhangra" dancing, and being extremely skeptical of being able to participate in a dance that I'd never heard of, I decided to go see the show instead. The experience entirely blew me away- a show with over 300 dancers (among 10 dances) completely (and routinely) sells out of tickets for its 2 nights in the 600-seat Gaston Hall in under an hour.

The atmosphere of the show is electrifying, with all 300-some-odd dancers standing behind the seats in Gaston and shouting encouragement to their 30 friends on stage during each dance- it's hard to not get caught up in the energy. After seeing the show again my sophomore year, I decided to take the plunge and joined the dance "Bulldog Bhangra". The resulting experience was incredible- I met a ton of great people and learned to dance bhangra. This year, I decided to up the ante and dance in two different parts of the show, so I joined "Bollywood Remix" and "Senior Bhangra," and I haven't looked back since.

John Dougherty

SFS '09

Austin, TX