In this week’s issue of The Atlantic, President John J. DeGioia is featured as a Brave Thinker of 2012, alongside Mayor of New York City Michael Bloomberg, Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court John Roberts, punk-rock collective Pussy Riot, and a whole bunch of Catholic American Nuns.

21 total “Brave Thinkers” were selected for this list that is a “guide to the people risking their reputations, fortunes, and lives in pursuit of big ideas.”

DeGioia is praised for his conduct during the Sandra Fluke controversy. When talk show host Rush Limbaugh publicly insulted Fluke, calling her a “slut” and a “prostitute”, DeGioia responded earlier this March calling for more civil discourse and and more constructive public debate.

The Atlantic also lauded DeGioia for allowing Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius to speak at the commencement ceremony for the Georgetown Public Policy Institute. Conservative and Catholic groups protested outside the front gates of Healy, but DeGioia did not flinch from his position.

“DeGioia held fast to his decision, again casting his school as a sentinel for the free exchange of ideas—and reminding us why an institution like Georgetown exists in the first place,” The Atlantic description read.

Photoshop artist: Taaha Akhtar

At the beginning of every academic year, University President Jack DeGioia holds a bi-annual meeting in which he invites campus media to his office to interview him. And for the upcoming meeting for the 2011-2012 year, which takes place the evening of tomorrow, August 31, you’re invited!

Well, sort of. Last year, the Voice grilled DeGioia about the campus plan, college rankings, and his “management style.” But this year, we want some suggestions from our beloved Vox commenters. So in the comments on this post, let us know what questions you think we should ask, and we’ll try our best to make sure the Prez hears them tomorrow night.

Here are the Voice‘s suggestions to get your started:

• What do you think started the basketball brawl?
• Given the heightened tension between students, neighbors, and the University since last year, do you have any suggestions for the attitude that students should take up when interacting with the neighbors?
• How do you think the University’s administration will change once Provost Jim O’Donnell steps down?

Dino Jack cartoon by Chris Heller.

When anyone at Georgetown thinks “personal assistant,” the first person to jump to mind is Charlie Cooper, the then-sophomore who in fall 2009 became the man behind the Student Employment Office posting heard ’round the world.

This time around, though, someone a little closer to the top is seeking a personal assistant to help him out with his everyday duties and transportation needs (and not his laundry): University President Jack DeGioia.

After apparently failing to find a sufficient candidate on Craigslist, a recent job posting on Georgetown’s Human Resources website finds the University seeking a “Special Assistant to the President” (sounds official, no?) to work “with discretion and flexibility” for President DeGioia.The duties are listed in a way that is both vague and enjoyably alliterative, as it calls for someone capable of “assembling, assimilating, and analyzing briefing materials.”

No word as to whether rejected or unworthy applicants will face the wrath of Dino Jack, but we really hope so.

ResLife, Southwest Quad Community Council, and InterHall are sponsoring a free barbecue in the Southwest Quad tomorrow from 4:00 p.m. to 6 p.m. The “Bar-B-Quad” will feature free food, music, and door prizes. There will also be a petting zoo with a llama, donkey, goats, sheep, and ducks.

“The Bar-B-Quad is a community development endeavor for residents campus-wide to unite and celebrate the end of the year with ResLife,” Dalvin Butler (COL ’13), vice president of external affairs for Interhall, wrote in an e-mail. “The petting zoo is the icing on the cake”

Unfortunately, Dino-Jack will probably not be available for residents to pet.

Image: Chris Heller