I think it's fair to be critical of any project on campus, but the article reads more like a morally charged activist rhetoric than a report. From what I understood, student engagement sessions are already planned and no final decision has been made yet. I would firstly try to attend these sessions before dismissing the whole project as a grand conspiracy where we are being oppressed.
Ok so since you work for the administration are students going to be able to control their own beautiful rooftop spaces with views of the Potomac? I think it’s that there’s a decline in University collab with smart student leaders and they’re worried about the decline of third spaces which will push campus parties into neighborhood (illegal under campus plan) I think Undergrads just want to work together to plan their living spaces—usually pretty smart and respectful. But they don’t want the wool pulled over their eyes and another Henle or whatever donor name the complex has to happen without third spaces and fun parties.
Are four students allowed to live together on campus anymore and control space?? It’s just an alarming lack of engagement in the planning process (i regret not pushing harder) and Lisa Belokur is wonderful, tell her I say this I admire her way more than Bill Huff. Have Lisa sit and listen with undergrads because I know this is a Dave Green and higher decision. Sorry i’m not doing this through back channels but I really care as a washed up alum.
To be fair its September 19th and nothing has happened these session are usually announced a lot further in advance . The worst part is they are deliberately avoid alumni feed back during homecoming. The GUSA VP asked facilities and they denied everything about it. Georgetown Admin has been silent to the ANC. These documents keep being leaked and its been nothing but denials and ghosting by Georgetown admin.
Interesting article but this is a super uncharitable reading of admin's considerations. Easiest thing to look at is this Bill guy's suggestion: from the doc, it seems like the goal of having a less fixed setup is to facilitate *more* student feedback, not less. Nothing in the doc implies that students who want to are not allowed to stay for the full hour, instead just that it's not required. This is probably a good thing! Also the criticism of the project itself felt pretty shallow, and maybe you're right to think that it's self-evident to most people who read the article, but while Vil A rooftops are nice, I don't see why the same stuff can't just happen inside? Sure, there's a publicity element, but i can count on one hand the number of Vil A parties that are truly open to any passerby. But even then - you can have an open party inside! The rooftops are gorgeous and ill miss the view they offered. I don't like that so much construction is happening while im on this campus. But i think you need to do more than gesture at genuinely well-intentioned administrative thinking and say "well, look, Georgetown is cannibalizing its students' fun and vibrance for the sake of pre-professionalism!" It's never really that simple. Nice read though!
are you bill huff? if so reconsider how you do your job. Talk to Patrick Ledesma—he knows what he’s doing. Aside from Cory Peterson, Patrick is the best University administrator I’ve met. Give him $200k more if that’s in your budget.
I can’t wait for the new President (though I admire Groves for his academic approach Capitol Campus just is and always was a stupid money grab. maybe it’ll work out in 20 years but for now it’s chaos and no one wants to go. Seriously I love this place and this is why I want it to do well. (and I’m usually sane, am just fed up that another generation of GU students can’t meet with administrators) Just try harder.
lmao the “uncharitable reading of admins concerns” still gets me. I’m a student who care about this great idea of a university. This great idea of georgetown and its storied history. Talk to the right student leaders behind the scenes not yes men and women. I’m just a washed up alum who cares but yall needa try harder and take criticism on the chin!
ok hi admin plant. Next time plan an actual public comment period for engaging with interest groups and student leaders. How about ANC commissioners who grant you permits and are elected officials in the city? (saying this as a recent grad and GU Student ANC Commissioner who most of Big Admin didn’t give the time of day to) GU admin is feckless, we are bleeding money and now is not the time to demolish fun on this campus. Fire Ellie Daugherty. There I said it, that will make me happy. But there’s other things to fix and you need to start by having genuine conversations with student leaders.
also clearly you’ve never had fun as a Georgetown student on a beautiful fall day on the rooftop. Music blaring …FREEDOM! God it’s wonderful and not that much liability for big admin. erm actually try throwing parties inside…how about no! We pay you 80k+ for bloated useless positions
Is this piece a joke? I honestly can’t tell if it is satirizing Gen Z moralizing and self-righteousness. Village A is a shoddy building, which is a terrible use of space on a crowded campus. Tearing it down is an obvious step forward in campus development. When I was at Georgetown, the Academy was conservative. I can’t imagine them pushing for the administration to give the lefty student body *more* input in the University’s direction.
Tearing down vill a is definitely something worth doing. But let us remember it is one of the better dorms on campus and one of the few places students can gather.
Admin is trying to turn Georgetown into a prison-like pre-professional training hell. What about community, student power? Admin is killing everything that made Georgetown Georgetown.
I agree vill a is falling apart and needs to be replaced. However we must also preserve the character and community of what it was. THAT IS WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A CONSERVATIVE
We have seen what the replacements will be and they featureless brick covered concrete apartment blocks with no character and no thought for student freedom.
Or do you want Georgetown to be just another university, devoid of its unique character, with the sole purpose of being a job camp.
Maybe a substack is a good thing. I can be a bleeding heart progressive sometimes. But seriously Gen Z runs the world and is going to take your job. Don’t label us like Millennials. And actually try to work with students John Q Admin.
I think it's fair to be critical of any project on campus, but the article reads more like a morally charged activist rhetoric than a report. From what I understood, student engagement sessions are already planned and no final decision has been made yet. I would firstly try to attend these sessions before dismissing the whole project as a grand conspiracy where we are being oppressed.
also smart people aren’t invited behind the scenes because you want yes-men and women students
Ok so since you work for the administration are students going to be able to control their own beautiful rooftop spaces with views of the Potomac? I think it’s that there’s a decline in University collab with smart student leaders and they’re worried about the decline of third spaces which will push campus parties into neighborhood (illegal under campus plan) I think Undergrads just want to work together to plan their living spaces—usually pretty smart and respectful. But they don’t want the wool pulled over their eyes and another Henle or whatever donor name the complex has to happen without third spaces and fun parties.
Are four students allowed to live together on campus anymore and control space?? It’s just an alarming lack of engagement in the planning process (i regret not pushing harder) and Lisa Belokur is wonderful, tell her I say this I admire her way more than Bill Huff. Have Lisa sit and listen with undergrads because I know this is a Dave Green and higher decision. Sorry i’m not doing this through back channels but I really care as a washed up alum.
To be fair its September 19th and nothing has happened these session are usually announced a lot further in advance . The worst part is they are deliberately avoid alumni feed back during homecoming. The GUSA VP asked facilities and they denied everything about it. Georgetown Admin has been silent to the ANC. These documents keep being leaked and its been nothing but denials and ghosting by Georgetown admin.
It’s a pattern…
We love admin astroturfing the comments on this. Only reinforces student opposition.
Interesting article but this is a super uncharitable reading of admin's considerations. Easiest thing to look at is this Bill guy's suggestion: from the doc, it seems like the goal of having a less fixed setup is to facilitate *more* student feedback, not less. Nothing in the doc implies that students who want to are not allowed to stay for the full hour, instead just that it's not required. This is probably a good thing! Also the criticism of the project itself felt pretty shallow, and maybe you're right to think that it's self-evident to most people who read the article, but while Vil A rooftops are nice, I don't see why the same stuff can't just happen inside? Sure, there's a publicity element, but i can count on one hand the number of Vil A parties that are truly open to any passerby. But even then - you can have an open party inside! The rooftops are gorgeous and ill miss the view they offered. I don't like that so much construction is happening while im on this campus. But i think you need to do more than gesture at genuinely well-intentioned administrative thinking and say "well, look, Georgetown is cannibalizing its students' fun and vibrance for the sake of pre-professionalism!" It's never really that simple. Nice read though!
are you bill huff? if so reconsider how you do your job. Talk to Patrick Ledesma—he knows what he’s doing. Aside from Cory Peterson, Patrick is the best University administrator I’ve met. Give him $200k more if that’s in your budget.
I can’t wait for the new President (though I admire Groves for his academic approach Capitol Campus just is and always was a stupid money grab. maybe it’ll work out in 20 years but for now it’s chaos and no one wants to go. Seriously I love this place and this is why I want it to do well. (and I’m usually sane, am just fed up that another generation of GU students can’t meet with administrators) Just try harder.
lmao the “uncharitable reading of admins concerns” still gets me. I’m a student who care about this great idea of a university. This great idea of georgetown and its storied history. Talk to the right student leaders behind the scenes not yes men and women. I’m just a washed up alum who cares but yall needa try harder and take criticism on the chin!
ok hi admin plant. Next time plan an actual public comment period for engaging with interest groups and student leaders. How about ANC commissioners who grant you permits and are elected officials in the city? (saying this as a recent grad and GU Student ANC Commissioner who most of Big Admin didn’t give the time of day to) GU admin is feckless, we are bleeding money and now is not the time to demolish fun on this campus. Fire Ellie Daugherty. There I said it, that will make me happy. But there’s other things to fix and you need to start by having genuine conversations with student leaders.
also clearly you’ve never had fun as a Georgetown student on a beautiful fall day on the rooftop. Music blaring …FREEDOM! God it’s wonderful and not that much liability for big admin. erm actually try throwing parties inside…how about no! We pay you 80k+ for bloated useless positions
Is this piece a joke? I honestly can’t tell if it is satirizing Gen Z moralizing and self-righteousness. Village A is a shoddy building, which is a terrible use of space on a crowded campus. Tearing it down is an obvious step forward in campus development. When I was at Georgetown, the Academy was conservative. I can’t imagine them pushing for the administration to give the lefty student body *more* input in the University’s direction.
Tearing down vill a is definitely something worth doing. But let us remember it is one of the better dorms on campus and one of the few places students can gather.
Admin is trying to turn Georgetown into a prison-like pre-professional training hell. What about community, student power? Admin is killing everything that made Georgetown Georgetown.
I agree vill a is falling apart and needs to be replaced. However we must also preserve the character and community of what it was. THAT IS WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A CONSERVATIVE
We have seen what the replacements will be and they featureless brick covered concrete apartment blocks with no character and no thought for student freedom.
Or do you want Georgetown to be just another university, devoid of its unique character, with the sole purpose of being a job camp.
Maybe a substack is a good thing. I can be a bleeding heart progressive sometimes. But seriously Gen Z runs the world and is going to take your job. Don’t label us like Millennials. And actually try to work with students John Q Admin.