In response to Georgetown University’s “misleading” point-by-point letter, the Citizens’ Association of Georgetown (CAG) published a letter of its own, titled “Setting the Record Straight.”

In the letter, CAG accuses the University of violating D.C. zoning laws by “[tolerating] poor, substandard housing conditions, trash and rats, and disorderly behavior by its students living off campus … [creating] an unjustified burden on the surrounding communities, city services, and on GU’s own students.”

CAG President Jennifer Altemus (COL ’88) believes that the University needs to listen to members of the surrounding community.

“It is wrong for them to think that the community can accommodate this onslaught,” Altemus wrote on a community listserv. “We are saturated. Adding more to this mix is a recipe for disaster.”

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7/8 UPDATE: It looks like the University switched out Dimolitsas’s letter for a more-detailed chart [PDF]. At the bottom of this post, we’ve republished a copy of the original letter.

On Tuesday, a Georgetown University official finally responded to mounting opposition to the 2010 Campus Plan.

In an open letter addressed to “Friends and Neighbors,” Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer Spiros Dimolitsas addressed concerns about the 2010 Campus Plan—with hopes that the University and the surrounding neighborhoods can “move forward together.”

Without directly addressed specific “mischaracterizations,” Dimolitsas briefly outlined details about the University’s enrollment figures, student housing, off-campus conduct, and air quality.

While the information in the letter is nothing new, it nonetheless comes during a contentious time between the University and local residents. Both the Burleith Citizens’ Association (BCA) and the Citizens’ Association of Georgetown (CAG) are in the midst of months-long fund raising campaigns to fight the University. In recent weeks, the BCA circulated form letters and an online petition to galvanize opposition to the Campus Plan. (And don’t forget about those pesky lawn signs. Or ours!)

The University is expected to file its 2010 Campus Plan with the D.C. Office of Planning sometime this summer.

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SFS-Q may not be the only overseas Georgetown campus in the future, if Minister Kapil Sibal has anything to say about it.

Last Wednesday, Sibal, who spoke at Georgetown in October 2009, met with Senior Vice President Spiros Dimolitsas to discuss the possibility of building a campus in India.

Dimolitsas, who was joined by officials from Virginia Tech and American University at the meeting, told Sibal that Georgetown is “looking at institutions and projects [that aim] at social science research,” according to the Indian Press Information Bureau. He specifically mentioned programs that involve “professional and executive development for policy makers and business leaders” and “research in emerging areas of climate change.”

Coming at the heels of legislation introduced last May that aims to aid and regulate foreign universities’ plans to build campuses in India, Sibal’s visit to DC was meant to encourage and attract American universities.

But, don’t hold your breath—Georgetown has only begun to pursue a handful of options in the sub-continent.

“There’s no specifics regarding Georgetown and India. As we do routinely with a variety of entities, Georgetown is exploring opportunities to develop a range of possible partnerships in India that could further the university’s mission,” University spokesperson Julie Green Bataille wrote in an e-mail to Vox. “Conversations are at a very preliminary stage to determine what feasible options may exist.  There are no specific projects identified or time frames outlined for moving forward at this time.”

But planning aside, let’s all agree on one thing—SFS-I has a nice ring to it.

Photo taken from Georgetown University’s website.

“O come let us demand now, O come let us demand now, O come let us demand now that DPS get fair pay!”

That’s something you may have heard sung by members of the Georgetown Solidarity Committee if you happened to be walking through Red Square on Wednesday afternoon. The line—sung, you may have guessed, to the tune of “O Come All Ye Faithful”—is from one of five songs that members of Solidarity wrote to the tune of popular Christmas carols, demanding a wage increase for Department of Public Safety officers.

The group is currently in the middle of a campaign to get the University to agree to a pay raise for Department of Public Safety officers as Georgetown negotiates with the Allied International Union. So far, Solidarity members have written an open letter to President John DeGioia demanding the wage increase and have held at least one rally.

Now, they’re singing.

Several of the songs demonize Senior Vice President Spiros Dimolitsas, like this one, sung to “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”:

Spiros, our senior vice president
Had a very pointy schnoz (Like Pinnochio)
Grew every time he spoke of
Supporting the workers’ cause (What a hypocrite!)

All of the other admin
liked what they were being paid (A whole lot!)
They never let DPS officers
Make what they deserve each day (Like a living wage!)

Then one sunny autumn day
The workers had their say: (Rise up!)
“Spiros with your cufflinks bright,
Give us what we’re owed tonight!”

All of the students joined them
And they shouted out with glee: (Solidarity!)
“Spiros, our senior vice president
Don’t be such a bourgeoisie!” (PAY YOUR WORKERS)

Solidarity is known for staging high-profile campaigns for their various social justice causes (such as fasting until Georgetown janitors were given raises and trespassing on military bases during anti-military rallies). But after the jump, you’ll find there’s nothing quite like hearing GSC promise that “Worker power’s comin’ to town.”

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