Students of Georgetown Inc.
Students of Georgetown Inc., commonly known as "The Corp", is a 501 non-profit public charitable organization at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., with seven subsidiary companies generating annual revenues in excess of $5 million. Only undergraduate students of Georgetown University work as employees or sit as members of the Corp's board of directors, distinguishing business operations at the Corp from other student-run companies such as Harvard Student Agencies, which allows non-students and alumni to serve as board members.
As a registered charity, The Corp's profits fund grants for student organizations, as well as scholarships for students, with each recipient being chosen by The Corp's Philanthropy Committee or board of directors.
Vital Vittles is the largest of seven businesses currently owned and operated by The Corp. Referred to by the company as "services", these businesses also include four campus coffee shops called Uncommon Grounds, More Uncommon Grounds, Midnight MUG, and The Hilltoss, the catering service known as Corp Catering, a convenience store called Hoya Snaxa, and a "seasonal" service — Corp Storage — which only operates at the beginning and end of each semester for storage. The Corp also has three internal departments: Marketing, IT, and Accounting.
History
The 1970s
1971
The Corp finds its roots on May 2, 1971. On the preceding day, large-scale May Day protests took place throughout Washington, D.C., ending in clashes between protesters and police. Protesters sought refuge from the Metropolitan Police Department by coming to the campus of Georgetown University where, on May 3, Rev. Robert J. Henle, S.J, the university's president, authorized the police department to use tear gas to disperse and remove the protesters. Many students were caught in the middle of the violence.In October of that year, Student Body President Roger Cochetti and Vice President Nancy Kent determined that the only way to protect students' rights was to form a separate legal entity that would have the authority to challenge the university's actions. The student government subsequently incorporated the undergraduate students of Georgetown University as "shareholders" in a new organization called "Students of Georgetown, Inc." in order to provide a means of filing lawsuits on behalf of students against the university.
1972
On March 6, 1972, Students of Georgetown was officially incorporated as a non-profit organization in the District of Columbia.Cochetti described the organization's goals as "to assert and protect the inherent rights of its members and the community" through the use of powers available to corporations, such as making contracts, borrowing money, and receiving property. The organization soon began using its independent status to develop and expand a number of new businesses designed for students' needs. It is not known when the organization formally adopted the name "The Corp."
Shortly thereafter, students began selling extremely low-cost yogurt and water on the university's Healy Lawn to fund the fledgling corporation—at times to the same demonstrators whose gassing had prompted the group's formation. The program, In September 1972 the Corp assumed control of The Book Co-op—another, older student-run business. The Book Co-op is the only Corp business to actually predate the Corp.
The Corp opened its first storefront called "The Record Co-op" or "Diemusbiederplatz" in the basement of New South Hall that same month.
1973
In 1973, the Corp expanded to open three new services.In August, the Corp opened the Furniture Co-op to assist students living off-campus with the troublesome task of moving into and out of the often-cramped Georgetown Townhouses. In its first year the Furniture Co-op moved roughly 400 items.
On September 6, 1973, the Corp used a $14,000 grant from the university and $3,500 gift from Student Government to open its first shuttle service. The program, Corp Shuttles, was developed to provide transportation to and from the Alban Towers, student housing located roughly from the university's main campus. The program suffered from a lack of rider support and little to no funding. With the construction of new residence halls and apartment complexes on campus, the need for the service ended, and operations were re-absorbed by the university. Today the program has expanded to become the Georgetown University Transportation Shuttle, which operates five bus circuits in the Washington Metropolitan area.
In November 1973, Corp Travel was opened. The new business provided much-needed travel assistance for the growing number of students who chose to study abroad during part of their college career. Today, roughly 40% of Georgetown University undergraduates study abroad before graduation.
1974
On January 25, 1974, the Corp finally sued Georgetown University, claiming that the university's actions on May 3, 1971, were discriminatory.Three days later, The Corp opened Vital Vittles in the basement of the New South Hall dormitory. Vital Vittles was an expanded version of the original Food Co-op. Within the decade, the university would open its first large-scale dining hall in the same space.
In April 1974 the Corp sponsored the first annual Vincent Lombardi Tennis Tournament for charity. The tournament raised $6,000 in its first year and featured athletes such as Stan Smith and Jimmy Connors. The tournament lasted only three years, being discontinued in 1976 because of legal issues with the United States National Lawn Tennis Association.
During the summer of 1974, Corp Travel separated from the Corp for various management reasons. It re-joined the Corp in 1979.
In October 1974, the Corp was denied tax-exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service. That same month, the Corp helped start the Georgetown University Recycling Program.
1975
The year 1975 marked the first time that the Corp had been in existence since the arrival of all four contemporary undergraduate classes. As the corporation's founding generation moved on, its successors were left to face the problems associated with maintaining a large company, regaining tax-exempt status, and developing better relationships with the university it had just sued.In January 1975 the Corp restructured its upper management, deciding to institutionalize one-year terms for its officer and managers. In February, the Corp agreed to pay rent to the university in order to solve legal questions related with the tax-exempt statuses of the Corp and the university itself. The new costs strained the company's ability to operate, and that summer the Record Co-op and Vital Vittles were forced to merge into one business, nicknamed "Audio Vittles."
While other parts of the Corp consolidated or were closed, the company continued to pursue new ventures. In September 1975 the Corp began Corp Concessions for athletic games. The university later canceled the concessions contract with the Corp in favor of Hoyas Unlimited, a booster club that hired work-study varsity athletes.
1976
In 1976 the Corp's board of directors voted to pay its top management for the first time.1977
In 1977 the Corp began Summer Storage—a business that allowed students to store their belongings during the summer break. Though closed twice during the 1980s and redesigned five times, the business continues to operate today as Corp Student Storage.In November 1977 Vital Vittles began selling bongs and condoms.
1978
Barely four months after Vital Vittles began to sell them, Georgetown University blocked the sale of condoms.In April 1978, the Corp's board of directors voted to participate in a boycott of Nestle because of allegations that Nestle was selling baby food and baby formula in third world countries made with non-potable water.
Also in 1978, the Corp opened Corp Typing. Long before the mass-production of desktop printers, this service gave students the opportunity to have Corp employees type their papers for a fee. Corp Typing's sister service, Corp Copying, also opened in 1978.
1979
In 1979, the Corp moved Vital Vittles' non-food sales into the new Saxa Sundries drugstore, which opened in the basement of Georgetown University's Copley Hall.Also in that year, the Corp was denied tax-exempt status for the second time.
The 1980s
1980
On September 23, 1980, the Corp applied for tax-exempt status for the third time.1981
In March, the IRS awarded the Corp tax-exempt status—refunding several years of back taxes to the corporation.Also in that year, the university canceled its contract with Corp Concessions in favor of Hoyas Unlimited.
In October, the board of directors changed the pay system for the Corp's officers and managers from a salary to a wage system.
1982
In January, the board of directors restructured the Corp's management again to include three officers: executive vice president, vice president of operations and vice president of finance.Later that year the Corp opened the Alban Annex—a convenience store in the Alban Towers apartment complex similar to, but smaller than the Corp's Vital Vittles.
Also in 1982 the Corp expanded the role of its marketing divisions into Corp Advertising, which provided graphic design services for university clubs. That same year, the Corp closed its Summer Storage business. It was re-opened two years later.
In November, Saxa Sundries moved to the basement of Healy Hall.