John Carroll Statue

When you enter through the front gates of Georgetown’s campus, one of the first things you see is the grand statue of John Carroll, the founder of Georgetown University. It stands, or I should say sits, as a symbol of the school’s rich history and the Jesuit values it embodies. If you search “John Carroll” in your web browser, the first result from Google Maps is the “John Carroll Statue, historical landmark,” and the picture to go with it: a student sitting on Mr. Carroll’s lap, kissing him on the cheek. This is exactly what the statue means to Georgetown students. It is the site of crazy, hilarious photos mounting our glorious founder after a long night out. When I walk through the front gates and see the statue, I don’t experience a humble moment of appreciation for our founder and everything the statue symbolizes; I just think back to the fun memories of climbing up onto his lap or shoulders and smiling for a sweet picture. Does this mean that us crazy college kids are desecrating a respected historical monument with our silly shenanigans? GUPD might say so, but I wouldn’t. I think in a way, our late night photos atop the landmark perfectly represent what the statue exemplifies. John Carroll founded Georgetown University over 200 years ago so that bright students like us could converge from our diverse backgrounds, bringing diverse perspectives, to collectively learn and grow. The special relationships that students foster in this environment absolutely embody the community, togetherness, and mutual understanding of one another that Georgetown seeks to create. Our late night photos with John Carroll beautifully illustrate the culmination of his creation, a place where we young people may come together, learn from each other, and love each other.