Yesterday, Georgetown launched the beta version of its long-awaited, redesigned website.

As the University’s first redesign since 2002, the preview has a whole lot of new features, including navigation pathways for highly trafficked information and a footer bar that customizes links for students, faculty, alumni, and parents. It also includes videos, interactive campus maps, and a search function.

Earlier this semester, rumors on HoyaTalk suggested that the website would launch in late October or early November. According to University spokesperson Juile Green Bataille, the final product will “go live” on December 3.

“The structure, design and content of the new site reflect feedback from the Board of Directors, students, faculty, staff, alumni and prospective students and parents,” Bataille wrote in an email.

Love it or hate it? Let the University know at betasite@georgetown.edu.

The long-awaited University website redesign is making strides toward finishing soon. Yet, its launch date is still unknown.

Rumors on HoyaTalk suggest that the site is scheduled to launch in late October or early November.

In an email to Vox, Julie Green Bataille, associate vice president for communications, did not confirm those rumors, writing that there is no “specific launch date yet for the top tier site as [they] work through [UIS configuration] issues.”

Over the last few months, over 100 members of the Georgetown community—ranging from students and faculty to members of the board and prospective students—have tested the site to help shape its development.

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What happens when a bunch of bored alums get together to chat Georgetown on the internet? Here’s a hint: it involves asking us here at the Voice to, um, kill ourselves. Here’s a charming Hoya from the boards:

When did the rag put out some worthy material?

Has anyone checked out their website recently?

The main facade at the top of the screen is some hippie’s smelly ORANGE foot stepping on the seal.

http://www.georgetownvoice.com/

….seriously, what the bleep is that all about?

Well, it’s a joke. Also, if not stepping on the seal was such a university priority, maybe it shouldn’t have been put on the ground in front of a door. I’m just sayin’.

Now, they also crack some jokes about our reporting. We don’t mind taking one in the teeth when we screw something up (it’s why we run corrections) but I feel compelled to defend our honor. This last year, for instance, we won more on-campus journalism awards than the Hoya (including second* place in the Sports category, HoyaTalk fans), and for the past three years I’ve been on campus, we’ve split the awards fairly evenly with our rival newspaper. Maybe that’s why our alums end up working at places like CNN, CBS, Agence France Press, The Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, The New Republic, The Washington City Paper, Entertainment Weekly, the Poynter Center, The Nation, and The Washington Post.

But why would these anonymous alums bash students who work long hours to contribute to our campus’ culture? Maybe the same reason they have plenty of time to spend rehashing their golden college years on the internet: they don’t have anything productive to do with their time. Hoya Saxa, your life is awesome!

- Tim Fernholz, Editor-in-Chief

* Turns out The Hoya (in fact, this gentleman) picked up the first place prize for sports writing, we took second! It seems one of our writers won first place in commentary and second place in sports, and I flipped them around in my head.