afirth
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
Posts: 289
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Post by afirth on Feb 11, 2009 18:51:40 GMT -5
Georgetown Day is BACK ON for the 24th.
Dear Fellow Hoyas, I'm happy to announce that the Main Campus will celebrate Georgetown Day – the annual celebration of our campus community - on the last Friday of classes, April 24th . This event brings together students, faculty and staff to mark the end of another academic year, when the flowers are blooming and the sun is shining, but before finals and graduation. I invite you to join us as we celebrate with food, festivities, and friends.
There will be opportunities to participate in planning that you'll hear about directly from the Office of Student Affairs, so stay tuned. Questions or suggestions can be directed to guday@georgetown.edu .
Hoya Saxa,
James O'Donnell Provost
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vcjack
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 3,875
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Post by vcjack on Feb 11, 2009 18:58:34 GMT -5
There is triumph in massive and quick community response!
I'm very pleasantly suprised
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Post by HoyaSinceBirth on Feb 11, 2009 19:00:53 GMT -5
Woot We Won!
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PhillyHoya
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 2,016
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Post by PhillyHoya on Feb 11, 2009 19:20:33 GMT -5
I am genuinely surprised. Wooo!
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The Stig
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 2,844
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Post by The Stig on Feb 11, 2009 19:50:44 GMT -5
I share the sense of pleasant surprise. Hats off to whoever made it happen!
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afirth
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
Posts: 289
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Post by afirth on Feb 11, 2009 20:33:02 GMT -5
Looks like James O'Donnell also posted on the Facebook Group:
James O'Donnell (Georgetown) wrote at 7:13pm Guys, glad to see the news is out and sorry there was stress. We're going to have a challenge making GU Day coexist with the GAAP weekend -- the last vitally important weekend for encouraging newly admitted students and their families to choose Georgetown. It's a great opportunity to put the best face on our community and celebrate what it means to say that we are Georgetown. We'll be looking for a lot of volunteers to put in time and energy making the whole thing a great success -- but I'm impressed by the enthusiasm shown here and I'm sure we can do this.
Hoya saxa! Jim O'Donnell
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Post by strummer8526 on Feb 11, 2009 22:15:17 GMT -5
Looks like James O'Donnell also posted on the Facebook Group: James O'Donnell (Georgetown) wrote at 7:13pm Guys, glad to see the news is out and sorry there was stress. We're going to have a challenge making GU Day coexist with the GAAP weekend -- the last vitally important weekend for encouraging newly admitted students and their families to choose Georgetown. It's a great opportunity to put the best face on our community and celebrate what it means to say that we are Georgetown. We'll be looking for a lot of volunteers to put in time and energy making the whole thing a great success -- but I'm impressed by the enthusiasm shown here and I'm sure we can do this. Hoya saxa! Jim O'Donnell Yes, he also sent this out as an email written in the font Comic Sans. Very mature.
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jgalt
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 4,380
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Post by jgalt on Feb 12, 2009 13:46:23 GMT -5
Yes, he also sent this out as an email written in the font Comic Sans. Very mature. HAHAHA
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Post by hoya3416 on Feb 14, 2009 1:24:54 GMT -5
JOD is one of the finer admins at Gtown. And Georgetown Day through at least 2004 used to be on the last last day of classes, a Tuesday.
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blueeagle
Bulldog (over 250 posts)
Win or lose, it's the school we choose.
Posts: 493
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Post by blueeagle on Feb 14, 2009 2:22:19 GMT -5
I applaud the university in its efforts to promote community spirit through "dry" events such as the original Georgetown Day concept.
But make no mistake about it, the Block Party was da shiznit! And yes, there were 2 block parties: the Friday of Homecoming and another day in the spring. I pity those of you who were not a part of this tradition. Those block parties could only be described as epic.
I was on the beer staff for the spring block party of '97. We had 100 kegs piled into a ten-wheeler beer truck in front of Lauinger Library. 37th street from N to Prospect was absolutely packed. Those of us on staff were suddenly the most popular guys on campus (sorry, no gals on staff). We kept ten kegs for the after party at our row house. We made a good sum from those parties and the percentage that did not go into operating costs went to charity.
After the parties, things happened like street signs being pulled out of the ground, folks sitting on John Carroll's lap, kegs being thrown around like footballs, legendary foodfights at Darnall and New South, and kids riding their food trays into the conveyer belts leading into the dishwashing areas at the dining halls. It was insane!
Still some of my best memories of the hilltop. Why anyone would want to stop it - I have no clue.
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jgalt
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 4,380
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Post by jgalt on Feb 14, 2009 3:05:57 GMT -5
Why anyone would want to stop it - I have no clue. ;D ;D ;D
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tashoya
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
Posts: 12,369
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Post by tashoya on Feb 27, 2009 15:22:10 GMT -5
Block party was nuts. I remember fondly walking double-fisted to Prof. Guerrero-Cusumano's stats class.
Another fun little thing was that at the end of the year in MOB with Prof. McCabe, we rolled a keg into White Gravenor for an end of class party. Good times.
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Post by Coast2CoastHoya on Feb 27, 2009 16:43:17 GMT -5
1. Block Party. BP was awesome, and the Food Fight was awesome. It was like an Anything Goes Zone for a few hours --- not unlike the tourist hotel in Rosarito Beach, MEX. Seriously, Spring '99 BP ... good times. That was also the post-BP Food Fight at New South that resulted in something like $40k damage, including the dirty dish conveyor belt that some kid rode on. The next Block Party in Fall 99 had DPS cops all over the caf and signs threatening the end of BP if anybody so much as dropped a french fry. It's like as rosslyn described: absolute madhouse. You would not think GU kids would do that en masse in public; we're far more surrupticious than that most times. Anyway, worst news I got in Fall 00 was that they cancelled it while I was studying abroad. I didn't think its demise had anything to do with the Schick situation. 2. Gtown Day. Definitely a tame, kiddie carnival-like affair while I was there. They had some live music, games, bounce house, dunk tank, etc. but I don't remember ANYONE drinking or throwing parties in conjunction with it. Unlike alumni weekend---we did something simliar tashoya . Again, though, no connection to Schick. 3. Hoyas. Yes, younguns, there was a time when Hoyas was a true campus bar, replete with bar games, billiards, and a wonderful idea called Student Bartender Night whereby any GU student could go have fun (seriously, I got in once by showing my laundry card to prove I went there). Needless to say, residents of the Conference Center, med students, and the university admin did not like the underage craziness that inevitably spilled out into the hallwy.
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Cambridge
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Canes Pugnaces
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Post by Cambridge on Feb 27, 2009 19:09:17 GMT -5
1. Block Party. BP was awesome, and the Food Fight was awesome. It was like an Anything Goes Zone for a few hours --- not unlike the tourist hotel in Rosarito Beach, MEX. Seriously, Spring '99 BP ... good times. That was also the post-BP Food Fight at New South that resulted in something like $40k damage, including the dirty dish conveyor belt that some kid rode on. The next Block Party in Fall 99 had DPS cops all over the caf and signs threatening the end of BP if anybody so much as dropped a french fry. It's like as rosslyn described: absolute madhouse. You would not think GU kids would do that en masse in public; we're far more surrupticious than that most times. Anyway, worst news I got in Fall 00 was that they cancelled it while I was studying abroad. I didn't think its demise had anything to do with the Schick situation. 2. Gtown Day. Definitely a tame, kiddie carnival-like affair while I was there. They had some live music, games, bounce house, dunk tank, etc. but I don't remember ANYONE drinking or throwing parties in conjunction with it. Unlike alumni weekend---we did something simliar tashoya . Again, though, no connection to Schick. 3. Hoyas. Yes, younguns, there was a time when Hoyas was a true campus bar, replete with bar games, billiards, and a wonderful idea called Student Bartender Night whereby any GU student could go have fun (seriously, I got in once by showing my laundry card to prove I went there). Needless to say, residents of the Conference Center, med students, and the university admin did not like the underage craziness that inevitably spilled out into the hallwy. The Hoyas phenom was unbelievable. First, I used to only go there for the wing specials on tuesdays, which was 10 cents a wing. Then, the student bar tender nights started and it became a good casual night. Then, the place blew up over night. Suddenly, it was packed. You couldn't even move. Then, just like that it was over. DOPS cracked down.
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Post by Coast2CoastHoya on Feb 28, 2009 11:06:20 GMT -5
'Bridge -- perfect description of Hoyas SBN in '99. They actually brought it back in '01-'02 for a short spell. Not the same level of craziness as '99 but close enough to shut it down pretty quickly.
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RusskyHoya
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
In Soviet Russia, Hoya Blue Bleeds You!
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Post by RusskyHoya on Apr 22, 2009 23:42:49 GMT -5
Jim O'Donnell would like to remind you that if you drink on Georgetown Day, you are dishonoring the memory of Dave Shick.
I understand and am even a bit sympathetic to his point - I've been pelted with enough on Gtown Day to know that there's quite a few unpleasant and belligerent drunkies out there. Plus, as someone who works in admissions, I'm already dreading the responses we will get from GAAP parents when they arrive on a campus that is 75% intoxicated.
Still, this email rubs me the wrong way, somehow. Plus, it is very poorly written and contains multiple errors. I hope for JJD's sake that he wrote this email in abotu 5 minutes and his secretary/student employee failed to edit it whatsoever.
Colleagues and friends,
GU Day is Friday: we all look forward to it as a happy time. The story of GU Day is important to remember.
So have you ever wondered about the fish pond behind the statue of Professor Jan Karski? What the story is behind this beautiful spot? Reading the plaque there brings back the story of GU Day.
“In loving memory David A. Shick MSB ’01 Son Brother Friend -- so that his memory may live at Georgetown as in our hearts “
Remembering someone who died way before his time can be sobering. It was February 2000 when an altercation among students took place behind the Library late one evening. David fell and hit his head. Days later he died from head injuries. The Campus was in deep mourning and the Georgetown Community was devastated by his tragic death. Discussion focused on the too-often tragic implications of excessive alcohol consumption for a University that prides itself on its good sense and community spirit.
Sachasha Brown, a senior, spearheaded a group of students’ request to bring the campus together. With the support of the Provost, Dorothy Brown, Sachasha gave an impassioned speech to our Board of Directors resulting in the Provost’s help and permission to celebrate a day (without alcohol) that would promote what Georgetown is really about: caring and service. Within the next two months (and in spite of the continuous rain that April)—plans matured among the students with the full support of the Provost’s staff to inaugurate a day to celebrate and begin the healing process. Seed money was provided by Dr. Brown. The students solicited funds from student groups, the deans and many departments for financial help and/or donated services. Auxiliary Services and Marriott were the main providers at that time as well as food donations from outside vendors. The outpouring of help from all segments and areas of the University was overwhelming. The students' determination a! nd enthusiasm was contagious. They worked into the nights to see what could be done in just two short months.
Miraculously, after weeks of rain — the sun shone, spirits were lifted very high and every segment of the University participated with wonderful results.
Georgetown Day was founded and has continued in this spirit every since. It has become a day for all — not just the students who were the driving force, but now the most inclusive event of the year, a time to celebrate the plain fact that we *are* Georgetown. It's not a day for any one group and certainly a day for the kind of enthusiasm and spirit that doesn't need alcohol for its good times.
Please join us on the Hilltop in celebrating the best Georgetown we know!
All the best, Jim O'Donnell Provost
___ This message was posted by Sonia Jacobson as authorized by the Provost.
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Post by strummer8526 on Apr 22, 2009 23:51:11 GMT -5
I'm usually very quick to attack emails that come off badly (and Georgetown has its fair share), but this one didn't really bother me. What about it struck you wrong?
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RusskyHoya
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
In Soviet Russia, Hoya Blue Bleeds You!
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Post by RusskyHoya on Apr 23, 2009 0:20:07 GMT -5
I'm usually very quick to attack emails that come off badly (and Georgetown has its fair share), but this one didn't really bother me. What about it struck you wrong? I guess it would be something like this: the administration has tried repeatedly to de-emphasize/tone down alcohol's influence in various facets of campus life, including through direct pleas. That's fine. This email strikes me as trying to accomplish the same thing, only its supposed to do so by making you feel bad through the tying together of Dave Shick's death, Georgetown Day, and alcohol. Like I said at the very beginning, the implication is that drinking on Georgetown Day dishonors Dave Shick and the (alcohol free) holiday created in his memory. And that strikes me as being trite and a tad exploitative. Not to mention hopelessly ineffective.
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jgalt
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 4,380
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Post by jgalt on Apr 23, 2009 7:45:11 GMT -5
I'm usually very quick to attack emails that come off badly (and Georgetown has its fair share), but this one didn't really bother me. What about it struck you wrong? I guess it would be something like this: the administration has tried repeatedly to de-emphasize/tone down alcohol's influence in various facets of campus life, including through direct pleas. That's fine. This email strikes me as trying to accomplish the same thing, only its supposed to do so by making you feel bad through the tying together of Dave Shick's death, Georgetown Day, and alcohol. Like I said at the very beginning, the implication is that drinking on Georgetown Day dishonors Dave Shick and the (alcohol free) holiday created in his memory. And that strikes me as being trite and a tad exploitative. Not to mention hopelessly ineffective. This is how i read it. It didnt bother me too much. but it was very passive aggressive, which really annoyed me. Hopefully friday will be fun and no one will get hurt, the weather will be nice.
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CAHoya07
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Post by CAHoya07 on Apr 23, 2009 9:09:48 GMT -5
Yeah, I can understand the rationalization and tone behind the e-mail, but it's really not going to change anything. The kids who choose to enjoy Georgetown Day alcohol-free will do so, and those who choose to have parties during the day will do so as well. I've always thought that when something bad happens because of alcohol (Shick's death), the University attempts to ban all alcohol, instead of ensuring that students enjoy alcohol responsibly. In my four years at Georgetown, I saw a lot of drinking, but never anything too excessive or dangerous on Georgetown Day.
You can't take alcohol away from the students - those who drink will just find other ways (i.e. holding parties before/during/after Georgetown Day, which is what happened during my time there). However, you can preach taking responsibility for your actions, which I think is more realistic and comes across much better.
Of course, the underage issue covers most of campus and is legit, but I'd rather ignore that for now...
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