Articles by: Cody Norman

TWITTER: Social Media Tells Story of Obama Rally

Featured, News1 October 5, 2012 at 12:29 pm Comments are Disabled

[View the story “Obama Fills Center for the Arts” on Storify]
The Weekly Rant: Irresponsibility of Student Government

Editorials October 4, 2012 at 3:14 pm 1 comment

Student Government is supposed to “serve the students and needs of the Mason community” but that is not the case with Bill 4. Bill 4 is a disgusting waste of student’s money and completely unnecessary. Let’s start out with some background on Bill 4. It was brought forward to the Student Senate to provide funding for a speaker at Take Back the Night, an event during Sexual Assault Services’ Turn Off the Violence Week. This bill allocates money for a specific speaker, Ben Privot from “The Consensual Project.” His website for The Consensual Project goes as far to say “I want to ____ you with my hard ___ until you ____ all over me” in one of the blog posts on “How to Talk Dirty.” I’m sorry, but it is absolutely ridiculous for Student Government to waste $250 on TEN MINUTES for this guy to speak. Let’s be real here: this is not an event that all Mason students will attend and is not even geared toward a majority of students. I commend Sexual Assault Services’ Turn Off the Violence Week and the goal to end violence, but to waste our money on an event disseminating messages that not all […]
Know Yourself

Editorials October 4, 2012 at 3:13 pm Comments are Disabled

October is here once again. Not only is this month known for the bringing of fall weather, football and Halloween but it is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For those who do not know, Breast Cancer Awareness Month is the annual campaign to raise awareness of the disease. Many people are aware of breast cancer, but are not aware of the steps and ways to detect the disease, which in my opinion is most important. Being able to identify the symptoms and signs beforehand could help prevent the loss of many lives. To start, it is important to know the symptoms and early warning signs breast cancer may have. These can include a change in breast skin or a lump in the breast. Also, any change in how the nipple looks or feels should catch your attention. Every person should know the symptoms and signs of breast cancer, and any time an abnormality is discovered, it should be investigated by a healthcare professional. Breast cancer can happen in both men and women. Performing a self breast-exam each month and looking for any abnormalities will help with prevention. Any changes should be discussed with a doctor or physician. Be sure to […]
For Every Reaction, an Overreaction

Editorials October 4, 2012 at 3:11 pm Comments are Disabled

For every action there is at least one opposite overreaction. In both the Middle East and Southeast Asia, violent protests against an anti-Muslim film posted on YouTube have been well-documented. While the film was very distasteful, killing innocent people definitely constitutes a gross overreaction. United Nations. Since 1999, the OIC has been pushing for the UN to officially denounce blasphemy against religious figures. Taking advantage of the horrid fallout from the film, the OIC has once again called upon the global body to denounce what they call the growing intolerance towards Muslims with an international code of conduct for media and social media to disallow the dissemination of incitement material. While the OIC puts on a good show about how great a global blasphemy law would be, its usage at the national level leaves much to be desired. Take Pakistan, a country that has had a blasphemy law since the days of British Imperial control. Ebrahim Moosa, professor of Religion & Islamic Studies for Duke University’s Department of Religion, stated in a Duke press release that Pakistan’s blasphemy law has ruined Pakistan’s reputation for decades. “Several politicians who had petitioned for the reform of the blasphemy laws were assassinated in […]
Socialization or Education?

Editorials October 4, 2012 at 3:10 pm Comments are Disabled

Mason exemplifies what many believe to be one of the best institutions of higher education in the world. Its respected observers continue to watch it grow and compete more and more with top tiered schools. The university teaches their slogan “Where innovation is tradition” through its classes that start at the 100-level all the way up to 400. Mason is providing its student body with an education that will place its students at a higher level than other institutions when they enter the working world. What if I told you that the way to succeed is by attending class and being attentive? You would say that it is easy enough, but as soon as your phone vibrates, that world-class education suddenly becomes second to the three-word message. This institution is filled with adults who are ready to take the next step in education, and to thrive in today’s ever changing world. Students are adults and can make their own decisions. Specifically, this article pertains to the freedom of texting in class. So make the choice, decide if texting takes a priority over a discussion that will help transition you from a student to a worker. When you begin to text, […]
Student Chosen to Sing at Obama Campaign Rally

Multimedia, News1 October 4, 2012 at 2:58 pm Comments are Disabled

They called her name and she headed to the stage. As excitement kicked in, Christine Gonzales’ main concern was not to fall in front of all the photographers taking pictures as she was going up the steps. Gonzales, a Mason student, was given what she calls an amazing opportunity to sing the national anthem at one of President Obama’s campaign events in Woodbridge, VA on Sept. 21. “There were a lot of people from my back left all the way to as far as I could see. To my right, there was the American flag, huge. Behind me, it said ‘Forward’,” Christine Gonzales said. “I took a breath, looked around and started the song.” Singing has been part of Gonzales’ life since she was three years old. Back in San Diego, where she was born and raised, she and her sister, Melody, were in musicals and community based theaters. For six years, she did mariachi. She also plays the violin. Graduating next May, Gonzales entered Mason as a voice major for two years, but transferred to New Century College to concentrate in community and public engagement. “I decided that I don’t need a degree to sing or to enjoy music, […]
Twitter Account Gives Voice to Mason Public

Featured, News1 October 4, 2012 at 2:51 pm Comments are Disabled

Social media is constantly becoming a more integral part of the way society functions. Many companies, institutions and universities are beginning to use social networking sites, such as Twitter and Facebook, to connect to the world, including a wider base of customers and students. Mason recently became a huge player in this game with its implementation of the “Mason Nation Project.” Mason’s new president, Dr. Angel Cabrera, was the brain behind the project. With the help of the university’s Office of Media and Public Relations, the project is now in full swing. The idea was inspired by Sweden’s creative use of its Twitter account. “The curators of Sweden are different every week and tweet on behalf of the country. Dr. Cabrera thought it would be really cool if Mason did something similar,” said Tara Laskowski, Mason’s social media coordinator and Office of Media and Public Relations senior manager. Following this model, Mason gives a new person access to the Twitter account @GeorgeMasonU each week. “This project reflects the diversity of the university, but it also compliments the social nature of our new president. Dr. Angel Cabrera is an avid Twitter user, and because of that, the Mason community has gotten […]
Running Down a Dream

Sports October 4, 2012 at 2:44 pm Comments are Disabled

The men’s cross-country team hosted its first and only home meet of the season in Leesburg, Va. at Oatlands, the team’s relatively new home course. The competition was fierce for the men as they placed second against top teams such as La Salle University, the favorite to win the Atlantic 10, and American University, whose assistant coach was Mason’s former cross-country assistant coach. Andrew Gerard, who is in his eighth year as Mason coach, is the director of Track and Field and has completely revamped the cross-country program since he has arrived. With experience at such prestigious schools as William & Mary and Stanford, he was able to put cross-country on the radar in Mason’s sports program. “This year’s team is one of the most experienced and most accomplished teams I have ever coached at Mason,” Gerard said. “They could do some of the most unprecedented things ever done in the program. We have just been putting the last few pieces together and I look forward to a strong showing this weekend.” With six weeks until the end of the season, the team has been training extra hard. “We have been pushing hard these last few weeks. The boys are […]
Rise of the Patriots: Improvements in Athletics

Sports October 4, 2012 at 2:42 pm Comments are Disabled

Athletic Director Tom O’Connor believes Mason’s athletic program is the model program in the CAA. The unforgettable Cinderella journey to the Final Four in 2006 started the beginning of a new era in Mason Athletics. Most recently named the number one Up-and-Coming University this year by US News and World Report, Mason is still feeling the effects of its historic underdog run. Year after year, the sports program continues to thrive and gain more recognition. Currently, the cross country and soccer teams are ranked 9th and 20th, respectively, in the nation. Over the summer, four athletes from Mason represented the United States at the Olympics in London. Last year, Men’s Outdoor Track and Field won the CAA championship while Men’s Swimming finished second place. With a flourishing basketball team, yearly expectations are high once again. “I don’t want to say it’s a roller coaster but we’re always on the upper level with our sports programs across the board; somewhat of a measure is the won and loss records of teams or championships but, you also have to remember that it is a complete program,” said O’Connor on the state of Mason Athletics. “We don’t have any NCAA violations. We’re at […]
Mason Club Takes Hockey to New Depths

Sports October 4, 2012 at 2:39 pm Comments are Disabled

Mason is home to the highest ranked college underwater hockey team in the nation. The team placed 10th overall out of several adult, club and college teams at the national tournament this past spring. This semester, they are looking for recruits to replace graduating players, five of whom have gone on to play for the U.S. national team. Underwater hockey is more than just the subject of a random factoid mentioned on tours to prospective students; it’s a full fledged team that is part of a growing national community. Having originated from the United Kingdom in the early 1950s as a game called Octopush, underwater hockey has slowly been on the rise for the last half century. It has also found a home at Mason. The sport is similar to its icy counterpart except it is played in eight feet of water and does not require a goalie. From above the waterline, it looks like feeding time at the aquarium, but under the water, it is a scene of precise passing, swift swimming and intense play. “Everyone should come out for one day and try it. I thought it would be a lot less interesting, but I came out and […]