Georgetown University

The Catholic Church profited from slavery — 'The 272' explains how

1:27pm June 13, 2023

by Terry Gross

"You don't hear about enslaved people at Mass or in Sunday school," says Rachel Swarns. Her new book tells the story of 272 enslaved people sold in 1838 to help save what is now Georgetown University.

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Former Georgetown Hoyas men's basketball coach John Thompson Jr., shown here at a game in 2019, has died. He was 78.

John Thompson Jr., Legendary Georgetown Basketball Coach, Dies At 78

1:58pm August 31, 2020

by Merrit Kennedy

The Hall of Famer led the Georgetown men's team to 24 consecutive postseason appearances. He was the first Black coach to win a national men's college basketball title.

Rashema Melson gets a hug and has her photo taken with her cousin Anthony Young after the 2019 Georgetown University graduation ceremony.

Education

Once A Homeless D.C. Teen, Now A Georgetown Graduate

5:48pm May 21, 2019

by Audie Cornish

In 2014, Rashema Melson was a homeless high school senior who was awarded a full scholarship to college. Now, she is a graduate of Georgetown University who hopes to return to help her community.

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In this Oct. 31 photo, a man has his face painted to represent efforts to defeat facial recognition. It was during a protest at Amazon headquarters over the company's facial recognition system.

National

San Francisco Considers Ban On Government's Use Of Facial Recognition Technology

12:03pm May 14, 2019

by Shannon Van Sant

The city is home to some of the world's largest technology companies, but it may ban the use of facial recognition software by police and city agencies.

Melisande Short-Colomb, 63, is a descendant of slaves sold by the Jesuits to fund Georgetown University. She's enrolled as a freshman there and plans to major in African-American studies.

Starting School At The University That Enslaved Her Ancestors

8:28am September 19, 2017

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talked to Mélisande Short-Colomb, whose family was once enslaved by Georgetown University. Now, at 63, Short-Colomb has enrolled as a freshman there.

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Young Muslims find a middle ground for fostering romantic relationships between what is permissible and what is forbidden.

How Young Muslims Define "Halal Dating" For Themselves

6:54pm April 20, 2017

by Neha Rashid

Young Muslims find a middle ground for fostering romantic relationships between what is permissible and what is forbidden.

Patricia Bayonne-Johnson holds a photo of her great-grandparents and their son. The retired science teacher discovered that some of her ancestors were sold by the Jesuits of the Maryland Province in 1838, to pay off Georgetown University's massive debt.

Georgetown Will Offer An Edge In Admissions To Descendants Of Slaves

11:07am September 01, 2016

by Camila Domonoske

In 1838, 272 enslaved people were sold to fund the university. The school, grappling with that history, will give descendants of those slaves the same consideration as legacy students in admission.

Dr. Richard Schlegel and postdoctoral fellow Nancy Palechor-Ceron use a microscope to look at human epithelial cells growing on mouse fibroblasts at Georgetown University Medical Center.

A Bed Of Mouse Cells Helps Human Cells Thrive In The Lab

12:35pm January 07, 2015

by Richard Harris

Researchers have developed a powerful method for growing human cells in the laboratory that has led to some unusual findings. Cell tests suggest a malaria drug might work against cervical cancer.

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Thousands gathered on the National Mall last week to protest the deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown. Some law students say their involvement in the protests means their exams should be postponed.

Troubled By Grand Jury Verdicts, Students Request More Time For Exams

7:50pm December 19, 2014

by Eleanor Klibanoff

Students at several law schools say events in Ferguson and New York have left them too upset to study. Others are more concerned about how the extra study time will affect the grading curve.

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