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Gaston Hall
An auditorium with a balcony and raised stage surrounded by decorative arches on the walls.
Gaston Hall ca. 1904
Map
General information
LocationHealy Hall,
Georgetown University,
Washington, D.C.
Named forWilliam Gaston
Completed1901
Other information
Seating capacity740

Gaston Hall is an auditorium located on the third and fourth floors of the north tower of Healy Hall on Georgetown University's main campus in Washington, D.C. Named for Georgetown's first student, William Gaston, who also helped secure the university's federal charter, Gaston Hall was completed in 1901, around twenty years after the construction of the building within which it is housed.[1][2]

The 740-seat hall (including orchestra and balcony) is today used for numerous occasions including convocations and honorary degree ceremonies, theatrical and musical performances, and speeches.[3][4] Gaston Hall has gained a reputation for hosting prominent heads of state, political leaders, and other public figures.[5]

Architecture

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Gaston Hall stage with President Obama and others in 2015

Gaston Hall is often referred to as the "jewel in the crown" of Georgetown's campus due to its ornate interior and grand adornments.[6][7] The ceiling line bears the coats of arms of the sixty Jesuit universities in the world at the time of Gaston's construction, all beneath a decorated wood ceiling. In addition, a number of classical allegorical scenes that fill the walls were painted freehand (without a stencil) by Francis Schroen, a Jesuit Brother who was a reputed interior designer and painter of Catholic institutions and several other rooms within Healy Hall. Behind the stage are paintings of Athena, goddess of wisdom, and a "classically draped male." He painted two large murals above the stage, the left symbolically depicting Morality, Faith, and Patriotism, and the right depicting Art, Alma Mater, and Science.[8]

The center of the stage contains a wooden decorative structure that displays the Georgetown University seal and an IHS Christogram. This Christogram was the center of some controversy when it was covered by a piece of black plywood at the request of the White House for a speech by President Obama on the stage of Gaston Hall.[9][10]

Hosted speakers

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Due to its significant place in Georgetown's history, Gaston Hall has hosted numerous prominent individuals to speak. In addition to university events such as the Philodemic Society's Merrick Debate and the South Asian cultural show Rangila, in recent times, Gaston Hall has been host to (among others):

Politics and government:

  • Senator Elizabeth Warren

    • Public life:

  • Entrepreneur Mark Zuckerberg[58]
  • Comedian John Mulaney[59]

    • See also

    [edit]
    Wikimedia Commons has media related to Gaston Hall.

    References

    [edit]
    1. ^ "Healy Hall". Georgetown University. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
    2. ^ Julia, Tanaka (February 6, 2014). "Laying the foundations: The story of Georgetown's architecture". The Georgetown Voice. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
    3. ^ "Gaston Hall". Georgetown University. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
    4. ^ "Gaston Hall". Get Involved: Georgetown University. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
    5. ^ "Gaston Hall Archives". The Hoya. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
    6. ^ Przylucki, Ed. "Gaston Hall". HoaSaxa.com. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
    7. ^ "Georgetown University". ATS Studios. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
    8. ^ Keeler, Virginia (February 1, 2006). "Highly Decorated: The Work of Brother Francis C. Schroen, S.J." Georgetown University Library. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
    9. ^ Iovino, Jim (July 13, 2009). "Jesus Missing From Obama's Georgetown Speech". NBC Washington. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
    10. ^ "Obama at Georgetown". Fact Check. April 27, 2009. Retrieved August 13, 2015.
    11. ^ Richardson, Katherine (May 13, 2015). "Obama Discusses Cost of Poverty". The Hoya. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
    12. ^ "Remarks by the President in Conversation on Poverty at Georgetown University". whitehouse.gov. May 12, 2015. Retrieved August 12, 2015 – via National Archives.
    13. ^ Pilch, Eric (October 9, 2009). "Tony Blair Speaks at Gaston Hall". Vox Populi. The Georgetown Voice. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
    14. ^ Fedor, Kristen (April 24, 2015). "Blair Talks Global Governance". The Hoya. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
    15. ^ Shrinath, Kshithij (April 23, 2015). "Clinton Encourages 'Radical Inclusion' in Lecture". The Hoya. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
    16. ^ "Bill Clinton: 'Policy Matters,'Despite Being Misunderstood, Distrusted". Georgetown University. April 30, 2014. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
    17. ^ Ciancio, Antonella (April 17, 2015). "The first official visit of PM Matteo Renzi to the US reaffirms the ties between the two allies". Italy 24. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
    18. ^ "Il discorso di Matteo Renzi alla Georgetown University". Internazionale. April 17, 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
    19. ^ "Speech by President Hamid Karzai, January 11, 2013 Georgetown University Washington, D.C." President of Afghanistan. Office of the President, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. January 11, 2013. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
    20. ^ "Hamid Karzai, President of Afghanistan". Georgetown Alumni. Georgetown University. January 2013. Archived from the original on 6 September 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
    21. ^ "Speech at Georgetown University, Washington". September 23, 2014. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
    22. ^ Rizk, Emma (September 26, 2014). "Malaysian Prime Minister Talks Policy". The Hoya. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
    23. ^ a b "Albright and President of Kosovo Discuss Women's Role in Peacemaking". October 2, 2015. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
    24. ^ Ochs, Caitlin (March 29, 2012). "Newt Gingrich Dodges Campaign Troubles at Georgetown Visit". Georgetown Patch. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
    25. ^ Dunlap, Tiare (March 29, 2012). "New Gingrich speaks at Georgetown amid protests". The Georgetown Voice. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
    26. ^ Paz, Christian (April 29, 2016). "Ryan Calls for Millennial Support Visit". The Hoya. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
    27. ^ Paz, Christian. "Justice Breyer Stresses Globality". The Hoya. Retrieved 10 May 2016.
    28. ^ "Ron Paul: The Weakening of the US Constitution". FORA.tv. 13 February 2008. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved 2 October 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
    29. ^ Heftler, Margaret (December 5, 2014). "Clinton Talks Women in Security". The Hoya. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
    30. ^ Macias, Amanda (December 3, 2014). "Georgetown Blames Low Turnout At Hillary Clinton Speech On Final Exams". Business Insider. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
    31. ^ "Secretary Kerry To Deliver Remarks at the "Advancing Afghan Women: Promoting Peace and Progress in Afghanistan" Event at Georgetown University". U.S. Department of State. November 13, 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
    32. ^ "Sec State Kerry Addresses Progress Afghan Women". C-Span. November 15, 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
    33. ^ Prout, Lucy (April 24, 2015). "Secretary of Defense Talks Sexual Assault in Military". The Hoya. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
    34. ^ "Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter Speaking at Georgetown". Georgetown Events. Georgetown University. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
    35. ^ "Lynch Backs Police Database". The Hoya. October 14, 2016. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
    36. ^ a b c d "Georgetown to Interview Series on Obama Presidency". 6 September 2016. Retrieved March 31, 2017.
    37. ^ "IMF's Lagarde: World Financial Growth Still Falling Short". Georgetown University. October 2, 2014. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
    38. ^ Lagarde, Christine (October 2, 2014). "The Challenge Facing the Global Economy: New Momentum to Overcome a New Mediocre". International Monetary Fund. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
    39. ^ "World Bank Group President to Lecture on Ebola, Global Development". Global Futures Initiative. Georgetown University. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
    40. ^ Kim, Jim Yong (April 2, 2013). "Within Our Grasp: A World Free of Poverty - World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim's Speech at Georgetown University". The World Bank. World Bank Group. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
    41. ^ Miller, Ryan (1 October 2015). "WHO's Chan speaks on the problems of 21st century global health concerns". The Georgetown Voice. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
    42. ^ "UN High Commissioner for Refugees discusses challenges of global forced displacement". 31 October 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
    43. ^ "Afghanistan First Lady Joins Bush, Clinton, On U.S.-Afghan Women's Council". Georgetown University. February 20, 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
    44. ^ "Sec. Kerry, Hillary Clinton, Laura Bush Advocate For Afghan Women's 'Hard Fought Gains'". Georgetown University. November 15, 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
    45. ^ "Bernie Sanders Defines Democratic Socialism in Georgetown Speech". 19 November 2015. Retrieved 5 September 2016.
    46. ^ "Cardinal Wuerl Receives Honorary Degree From Georgetown". Georgetown University. September 23, 2014. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
    47. ^ Moore, Maddy (September 23, 2014). "Cardinal Wuerl Awarded Honorary Degree". The Hoya. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
    48. ^ "Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at Georgetown". AOI USA. American Orthodox Institute. November 4, 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
    49. ^ "Georgetown to Host His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I for an Address on Faith in a Changing World". Georgetown University. October 27, 2009. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
    50. ^ "Prince Charles, Prince of Wales Visits U.S". 4 May 2011. Retrieved 2 October 2015.
    51. ^ "Actor Kevin Spacey, Georgetown's Ron Klain Discuss Politics and Ethics". Georgetown University. November 5, 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
    52. ^ McDevitt, Caitlin (November 1, 2013). "Kevin Spacey to Talk Politics at Georgetown". Politico. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
    53. ^ Perry, Mark (July 6, 2014). "Bono: America is 'an idea.' That's how we see you around the world, as one of the greatest ideas in human history". American Enterprise Institute. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
    54. ^ Jervis, Joe (November 14, 2012). "Bono turns up the volume for social enterprise". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
    55. ^ "Jon Stewart, Maziar Bahari, rosewater screening, 2014 year in pictures". Georgetown Alumni Online. Archived from the original on 5 September 2015. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
    56. ^ Marshall-Genzer, Nancy (2 October 2014). "Bank of America gets back to normal... with a twist". Market Place. Retrieved 22 September 2015.
    57. ^ Polus, Sarah. "Bradley Cooper talks 'A Star is Born,' swaps college stories and snaps a selfie at Georgetown talk". Washington Post.
    58. ^ Scola, Nancy. "Zuckerberg defends Facebook's 'free expression' in face of Washington hostility". POLITICO.
    59. ^ "'Comedy Legends' Kroll, Mulaney Return to Georgetown". February 15, 2016.
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