[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 8 (Tuesday, January 14, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S323-S324]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   RECOGNIZING GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY

  Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I rise today, as an alumna of 
Georgetown University, to recognize the university's 225th anniversary. 
On January 23, 1789, the first deed was granted to then Bishop John 
Carroll for land on which Georgetown was built. Those of us whose lives 
have been shaped, at least in part, by this great institution are proud 
that it was founded in the same year that the United States was formed. 
Indeed, the two events were intertwined, and Georgetown's mission 
statement today continues to reflect that bond by emphasizing that the 
university ``educates women and men to be reflective lifelong learners, 
to be responsible and active participants in civil life and to live 
generously in service to others.''
  Over the course of more than two centuries, Georgetown, its students, 
and alumni have contributed to our country's rich history. The 
Astronomical Observatory on campus was used to calculate the longitude 
and latitude of the District of Columbia in 1846. This building stands 
today and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 
Buildings on the Georgetown campus were used as hospitals for wounded 
troops during the Civil War, which nearly closed the university because 
so many students left to fight, for both the Union and Confederate 
States. All told, more than 1,000 Georgetown students and alumni 
served. In 1876, the students selected the colors blue--Union--and 
gray--Confederate--as the university's official colors to celebrate the 
end of the war. These colors remain a source of school pride today.
  Father Patrick Healy, born a slave, became the first African American 
to head a major U.S. university, serving as Georgetown's president from 
1873 to 1882. With the outbreak of World War I, Georgetown formed a 
500-member Cadet Corps in the spring of 1917. In 1918, the U.S. War 
Department replaced it with the Student Army Training Corps, which 
became the Reserve Officers Training Corps as we know it today 
following the end of the war. More than 2,000 Georgetown men served. 
During World War II, Georgetown was selected by the War Department to 
house the Army Specialized Training Program. Over 75-percent of 
students enrolled during the 1943-1944 academic year were military 
servicemen.
  Since Georgetown awarded its first two bachelor's degrees in 1817, 
the university has educated numerous leaders in business, government, 
and the nonprofit sector. A President, Cabinet Secretaries, 
Ambassadors, Governors, and Members of the U.S. Senate and House of 
Representatives have studied on ``the Hilltop'' and left to make 
important contributions to our country and beyond. Likewise, Georgetown 
alumni have gone on to lead school systems, universities, and 
businesses, as well as international and charitable organizations that 
strive to address challenges facing the United States and the world.
  A school with an enrollment of 40 students in its first year has now 
swelled to over 12,000 undergraduate and graduate students, more than 
5,000 faculty and staff, and countless alumni. In addition to 
undergraduate degrees, Georgetown University now includes the McDonough 
School of Business, Walsh School of Foreign Service, Graduate School of 
Arts and Sciences, Law Center, School of Medicine, School of Continuing 
Studies, School of Nursing and Health Studies, and McCourt School of 
Public Policy.
  I was privileged to have the opportunity to earn a Georgetown degree, 
and my experience there has played a significant role in the career of 
public service I have been blessed to live. It is a place that gave me 
opportunities to be exposed to public service here in the Nation's 
Capital as a student and impressed on me a set of values reflecting 
Jesuit tradition that continue to shape my life and work.
  Georgetown's history has in many ways tracked the Nation's history. 
It is a pleasure to recognize the tremendous impact it has had over the 
last 225 years and to look forward to future centuries of contributions 
not only to this country but to the world.
  Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the 225th 
anniversary of the founding of Georgetown University. As a proud member 
of the Georgetown community, it is an honor to help commemorate the 
school's 225 years of excellence. This milestone marks a time of 
celebration for all of Georgetown's students, faculty, board of 
governors, and alumni.
  As the oldest Catholic and Jesuit institution of higher education in 
the United States, Georgetown has a long and distinguished history. On 
January 23, 1789, Bishop John Carroll, the first Catholic bishop in the 
United States, secured the deed to around 60 acres of land overlooking 
the Potomac River. This hilltop grew to become the campus of Georgetown 
University. Three years later, in 1791, the first students arrived on 
campus. At the age of 13, William Gaston was the first student at the 
university. He went on to serve North Carolina as a Member of the U.S. 
House of Representatives and authored a bill granting a Federal charter 
to ``the College of Georgetown in the District of Columbia'' in 1815. 
President James Madison signed that legislation into law on March 1, 
1815.
  While buildings on Georgetown's campus were temporarily used as a 
hospital after the Second Battle of Bull Run, it wasn't until 1851 that 
Georgetown University Medical School, which I attended in the 1970s, 
was established. It was the first Catholic medical school in our 
Nation. The medical school first

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opened its doors in a vacant warehouse and an adjacent building at 12th 
and F Streets, NW, before later moving to the university's main campus 
in 1930.
  I received both a bachelor of science degree in biology and a doctor 
of medicine degree from this great university. The quality education 
and valuable training I received there has had a lasting impact on my 
life and helped shape my career. I am grateful for my time at this 
exceptional institution and the incredible influence Georgetown has had 
on so many people across the United States and around the world.
  Over the years, there have been numerous Members of Congress who were 
students at Georgetown University. Today, the U.S. Senate is fortunate 
to have five other Members who hold degrees from Georgetown University. 
Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska received her bachelor's degree from 
Georgetown. Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont, Senator Mark Kirk of 
Illinois, and Senator Mazie Hirono of Hawaii all received their law 
degrees from Georgetown Law. The Senate majority whip, Senator Dick 
Durbin of Illinois, holds both his undergraduate and law degrees from 
Georgetown.
  As shown by the geographic range of States represented by these 
Senators, students come from all over the Nation to attend this 
wonderful institution of higher education. Georgetown's student body 
today includes students from all 50 States as well as from 141 
countries around the globe. Georgetown is indeed a national as well as 
a global university.
  The university's mission statement makes the point that ``the 
university was founded on the principle that serious and sustained 
discourse among people of different faiths, cultures, and beliefs 
promotes intellectual, ethical and spiritual understanding.'' It is 
clear that this founding principle continues to energize Georgetown 
University 225 years later.
  I look forward to all of the great contributions Georgetown will 
continue to provide in the years ahead through its many areas of 
academic and research excellence: medicine, law, international affairs, 
business, public service, and the diverse fields within the arts and 
sciences.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in celebrating this significant 
milestone and wishing Georgetown University continued success in 
achieving its mission and goals in the future.

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