Transcript
Melanie Elliott (ME): Hello Hoyas! And welcome back to “Mondays with Melanie.” Through this series, I will be bringing on the authors of each week’s top stories to discuss their articles and provide a brief synopsis of their topics. This past week, that of March 11 to 17, has been an exciting one with our return from spring break and St. Paddy’s Day festivities. On this episode, we have another wide array of topics, this time ranging from a visit from Kara Swisher to the ongoing menstrual drive to Georgetown basketball.
ME: We begin with Events Desk Editor Caleigh Keating as she discusses her article covering journalist Kara Swisher’s recent visit to the Hilltop.
Caleigh Keating (CK): Hi, I’m Caleigh Keating, and I’m the events desk editor for The Hoya. Prominent technology journalist and Georgetown alum Kara Swisher came to campus last Thursday, March 14. She had a conversation with AOL co-founder Steve Case in Gaston Hall and talked about the evolution of technology alongside her career. Swisher got her start reporting on the internet while still at Georgetown and was one of the first reporters to consistently cover the then-novel internet. While at Georgetown, Swisher wrote for The Hoya. Swisher talked about the dangers that come with the amount of power the tech industry giants have amassed, noting how protecting people’s safety and privacy are not a top priority for them compared to making money, which puts people at risk. She also talked about the rise in unknowns of AI and the possibilities for internet regulation that come along with it. For all you TikTok fans out there, don’t worry! Swisher says she does not think the app will get banned but rather sold to a company without Chinese influence as she agrees this poses a national and personal security risk.
ME: Thanks Caleigh! Now, news writer Ruth Abramovitz outlines her piece about H*yas for Choice’s menstrual drive.
Ruth Abramovitz (RA): Hi, my name is Ruth Abramovitz. I’m a freshman and I’m a staff writer in the news section of The Hoya. This week, I got to cover the menstrual product drive that H*yas for Choice is doing throughout the month of March. Essentially, they are partnering with Georgetown’s NAACP chapter and the University of Maryland’s pro-choice Terps organization, which is a similar organization, in order to raise money that will be used to purchase period products and other toiletries. These will be put into care packages, which will be delivered to the District Alliance for Safe Housing, which is an organization that works to support survivors of domestic and sexual abuse in the D.C. area. And they’re encouraging everyone to donate in order to combat period poverty and to promote menstrual equity.
ME: Thank you for that Ruth! Finally, sports editor Oliver Ni brings us his rundown on Georgetown basketball.
Oliver Ni (ON): Hey everyone. My name is Oliver Ni, and I am one of the senior sports editors for The Hoya. Last week, the Georgetown women’s basketball team made history after reaching its first-ever Big East Tournament final in school history. The sixth-seeded Hoyas made it past 11th-seeded Xavier, third-seeded St. John’s and second-seeded Creighton, to meet the first-seeded University of Connecticut Huskies in the championship round. Though Georgetown ultimately lost, the team that stemmed from a tenth-place ranking in the conference preseason coaches poll has been nothing short of a Cinderella run, powered by outstanding play across the roster. Especially, you know, our senior guard Kelsey Ransom, who earned Big East Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors, graduate forward Graceann Bennett, who won her second consecutive Conference Sportsmanship Award, and junior forward Brianna Scott, who was the Sixth Woman of the Year. The university also recognized Head Coach Darnell Haynes’ efforts by officially designating him as a permanent head coach after he took over for the late Tasha Butts in October.
ME: Thanks so much Oliver!
ME: That concludes another hectic week here at the Hilltop. Thanks so much for tuning in! I’m Melanie Elliott, and this has been “Mondays with Melanie.” Be sure to check back in next week for another round of top stories. And until then, have a great week!
ME: This podcast was edited by me and produced by Emily Han and Sofia Nathoo.
