Recent Posts

• ‘Go-Bus’ Takes Students for Ride: Shuttle Offers Off-Campus Transportation

  News1 September 22, 2009 at 2:23 pm Comments are Disabled

  Brenda Shepard, Broadside Correspondent Gunston’s Go-Bus continues its service to George Mason University students this semester, allowing them to travel off campus to places including Fair Oaks Mall, Fair Lakes Center, Fairfax Corner and University Mall with the use of their Mason ID. The shuttle service makes a stop every half-hour at the Sandy Creek bus stop to pick up and drop off students. The new shuttle began last spring with a trial program when the Department of Parking and Transportation partnered with Student Government. During this test period, the Go-Bus only ran Thursday through Sunday. It now runs seven days a week, with late night service on Friday and Saturday nights for students who want to head out on the town. “Last spring we spent about $30,000 . . . we had a few hundred users each week. For the 2009-10 academic year, our forecasted budget is $187,000—nearly 3,000 hours of service,” said Josh Cantor, director of Parking and Transportation. Though the buses look similar to other shuttles that exist at Mason, their logo is the key indicator for patrons to look for. The Go-Buses have signs in their windows with the Go-Bus logo. All stops are marked with a […]

   

• Clinical Flu Shot Provided On Campus: Swine flu Fails to Overshadow Seasonal Influenza Preparation

  News1 September 22, 2009 at 2:21 pm Comments are Disabled

  Amanda Cheek, News Editor The seasonal flu has not left the minds of many students and faculty at George Mason University this semester. Despite the recent H1N1 epidemic, students and faculty lined up at the first clinic on campus where the flu shot was offered by the School of Nursing on Sept. 15. Dr. Charlene Douglas, coordinator of Community Health Nursing, said that she was concerned that people were so caught up with the H1N1 virus that they would not come out for the seasonal flu shot. Douglas also said that the seasonal flu kills about 36,000 people every year and that is just another reason people should get the flu shot. Jenna David, a geography major and freshman at Mason, said she has never had the flu shot before but chose to get it this year because she was living in the dorms. “Now that I live on campus, there are a lot of kids [and] a lot of germs. I feel I’m more likely to get it here than just living at home with my family,” said David. The flu shot clinic offers the seasonal flu shot to students for $15 and to faculty for $20. A shot for […]

   

• The Best is Yet to Come: The Year is Drawing to a Close, But There Are Still at Least 10 Films to see in 2009

  Lifestyle September 22, 2009 at 2:18 pm Comments are Disabled

  Ross Bonaime Staff Writer This year has already been a good one for movies. We’ve already seen some Watchmen, another great Pixar film and some basterds who were pretty inglourious. With the year coming to a close, here are 10 of the best films still to come. 10. A Serious Man With A Serious Man, the Coen brothers return to the dark comedy style that made them famous with movies like Fargo and The Big Lebowski. The film, whose cast is made of relative unknowns, is about a Jewish professor who has every aspect of his life fall apart. The Coens should once again show their understanding of small town living and the intricacies that make life interesting. 9. Precious Sundance Film Festival and last week’s Toronto International Film Festival were buzzing about Precious. The film’s namesake is an overweight and illiterate teenager who has been sexually abused and is now pregnant with her second child. She tries to better herself by getting a higher education while trying to avoid her mother’s hurtful remarks. The portrayal of the mother, played by comedian Mo’Nique, is already garnering Oscar buzz. Precious could be one of the big Oscar contenders this year. 8. […]

   

• In Bed With Billy: The Top 10 Men You Need to Avoid

  Lifestyle September 22, 2009 at 2:14 pm Comments are Disabled

  Billy Curtis Sex Columnist There are 10 things I will most definitely hate about you. There are more than 10 things that most likely everyone would hate about everyone. Bad kisser, over-talkative, vain; the list could go on and on for hours, maybe even days. Luckily, most of us know what we want, and what we clearly need to stay away from when we’re looking for a partner. Sadly still, there are some who would, could, and shouldn’t believe that these types of men can change, and end up making you happy for the rest of your life. These tragic attempts of contempt are sad stories to watch, let alone hear about. We’ve all encountered at least one of these 10 rejects that somehow manage to rule our lives at some point. Though, with every encounter we manage to grow and become stronger people. For those of you who have never been lucky enough to have your heart broken or your world turned upside down by one of these pitiful fools, take this as a warning to stay away and notice the warning signs. Let the countdown begin: 10. The Moocher or Cheap Date. You’ve imagined the perfect date, romantic […]

   

• Headed to the Big Apple: Artsbus Unites NYC and Students

  Lifestyle September 22, 2009 at 2:12 pm Comments are Disabled

  Patrick Wall Style Editor George Mason University prides itself on being a university that verses its students in culture. From the Patriot Center – which has welcomed acts like The Cure and New Kids on the Block – to the Center for the Arts, Mason has been successful in bringing culture to its students. But one of the most valuable programs offered is the Department of Art and Visual Technology’s annual Artsbus trips. Founded in 1987 by Mason professor Jerry Clapsaddle, the Artsbus takes students and community members alike to New York City to visit some of the city’s most prestigious museums. The program originally traveled to the city once a year. In the two decades since, it has expanded to offer 14 trips per year, bringing over 1,000 people to New York City per year. The program has expanded and is now a large part of the department’s curriculum. For students, the event represents an opportunity to visit some of the most prestigious museums in the world. “For non-art students, the trip is expensive,” said senior  Pujita Venkat, who is in the conservation studies program. “But it was a great experience.” Each semester Artsbus makes three day trips to […]

   

• Fashion on a Dime: Staying Fashionable in the Recession

  Lifestyle September 22, 2009 at 2:11 pm Comments are Disabled

  Jessica Martinez Broadside Correspondent In a recession, fashion is about shopping in your closet for classics and mixing them with new trends. Inexpensive shopping is the new chic thing to do and it is all about investing in pieces that will last for more than one season. Romanticism in fashion trends and the transition into autumnal hues make fall an anticipated season. The days of dropping a large amount of money on an item before it went out of style are long gone. This fall, dress in warm attire and brace for the upcoming cold weather months in nothing short of chic classy style. A crisp, white long-sleeved shirt always looks amazing, but this season, it is all about the collar. “White Oxford button-downs from your closet can seem plain and outdated,” said Stefania Anthony, a self-taught Texas-based designer who defines mixing classic pieces with new accessories. “Update it a bit by folding the sleeves and adding a dramatic necklace.” For an even trendier look, go for ruffles from the neck down, exaggerated bows and Edwardian-esque collars which make this staple piece one that transcends the seasons. Anthony is among those who believe that while fashion changes, style remains. Investment […]

   

• Customer Critique: P’s and Q’s at the Checkout Counter

  Lifestyle September 22, 2009 at 2:09 pm Comments are Disabled

  Heather Gioia Broadside Correspondent When you were young your parents probably told you to only “speak when you are spoken to.” You might have been the child that rambled on about everything and nothing, or possibly the child who said nothing whatsoever, even when someone spoke to you. Even if you were five years old when your parents told you this, the theory still holds: Speak when you are spoken to. When you place your items on the counter at the grocery store, maybe even pushing them towards the cashier, and your cashier says, “Hi! How are you today?” do not hesitate to answer. If, by chance, you miss this greeting and your cashier insists on being friendly and again, smiles and says, “Hi! How are you today?” you should respond. There is no excuse for not responding to a simple friendly greeting. This is especially true if your cashier insists on greeting you twice, thus giving you the benefit of the doubt that you didn’t hear them over the noise in the store. If you are a people person or up for conversation, this is your chance to make it known before your cashier dives into a conversation about […]

   

• ‘That’s Not What I Ordered’: Getting Lost in Translation at the Dining Hall

  Lifestyle September 22, 2009 at 2:07 pm Comments are Disabled

  Evan Benton Staff Writer Working in the food industry is hard work. It’s complicated, what with concentrating on both efficiency and excellence, all the while under the scrutinizing, often unfair eyes of the customer. Campus dining, if successful, must be characterized by either exceptionally fast service or large buffet-style choices. Failure at efficiency creates long lines of dissatisfied, angry customers. To combat this, particular George Mason University dining facilities like Sub Connection, Taco Bell and the popular new Burrito Del Rey have an assembly line method of service to enhance efficiency. However, this often thrusts both worker and consumer into disorganized chaos. The effect of this assembly line is most obvious at Sub Connection, Mason’s answer to Subway, in the Johnson Center atrium. Three predominantly Latina workers stand in line. The first takes care of the bread, meat, cheese and the most important question, “toasted?” The second handles the toasting, and the third plants the vegetables, pours the condiments and wraps the sandwich. Pretty good system, right? Well, make the line 15 people long (with more on the way), make anything below a shout nearly impossible to hear—like it is any weekday at noon in the JC—and problems begin. To […]

   

• An Ode to the ‘Greatest Generation’

  Lifestyle September 22, 2009 at 2:03 pm Comments are Disabled

  Patrick Wall Style Editor Legendary journalist Tom Brokaw called them the “Greatest Generation.” Countless Americans call them heroes. But for the veterans of World War II, the most fitting term might just be “brother” or “sister.” On Monday, George Mason University will host Never Forget: WWII Veterans. According to the group’s mission statement, the event aims to “provide George Mason students the opportunity to play a role in our American and global memory.” At 2 p.m., the Johnson Center Cinema will be showing the first two episodes of Band of Brothers, the popular HBO miniseries based on the experiences of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment. Mason history professor Harry Butowsky will give opening remarks. Butowsky teaches courses on World War I as well as the European and Pacific theaters of World War II. At 7 p.m., Mason will welcome four veterans to Harris Theater for a panel discussion. During the discussion, the four veterans will answer questions from the Mason community, as well as community members. The panel will be moderated by military history professor Christopher Hamner. Hamner is a specialist in the changing combat experiences of American soldiers from the eighteenth to twentieth centuries. The event is organized by […]

   

• Muse Sends Mixed Messages on New Album: English Rockers Show-off Collection of Mismatched Songs on The Resistance

  Lifestyle September 18, 2009 at 8:50 pm Comments are Disabled

  Pearson Jones Assistant Style Editor Muse’s musical intuition has been distorted since its triumphant, mainstream success with their album Black Holes and Revelations, which launched the British trio across the pond and onto the radio wavelengths and music scene of the States. Muse’s newest album, The Resistance shamelessly borrows musical creativity from Queen and Radiohead, a catalyst for lead man Matthew Bellamy to compose his passion-project rock opera album he apparently has been planning to do for a while now. Not many bands have the gumption or musical perception to compose a 15 minute-long three-piece rock symphony—something that supposedly took Bellamy 10 years to write—complete with an overture-to-outro on an album already crammed to the brink with unfamiliar sounds and difficult music that listeners will need a couple of go-arounds to comprehend. The Resistance introduces itself with the albums weak single “Uprising,” a minimalistic beat-driven song that’s so unmemorable you’ll forget about it as quickly as it probably took Bellamy to write the uninspiring, anti-conformity lyrics. “They will not force us/They will stop degrading us/They will not control us/We will be victorious” is sung by Bellamy in a quickly spoken style. Bellamy’s lyrics are so cliché they end up losing […]