Articles by: jdavis15

The beat goes on

Lifestyle January 31, 2011 at 8:20 pm Comments are Disabled

When Tommy Herman, the manager of the Record & Tape Xchange in Fairfax, Va., tries to describe what intrigues him about records, it’s hard for him to find the words to say.
A role that scares even the actress

Lifestyle January 31, 2011 at 8:15 pm Comments are Disabled

Leighton Meester shares her experience playing the villain in the upcoming movie, ‘The Roommate’
There’s No Place Like Mason

News1 January 31, 2011 at 8:11 pm Comments are Disabled

Students are gearing up for George Mason University’s annual Homecoming celebration with this year’s theme “There’s No Place Like Mason” inspired by “The Wizard of Oz” – think yellow brick roads, flying monkeys and plenty of Emerald City green. The events officially begin Monday and culminate on Saturday after the men’s basketball game. There will be plenty of free treats, prizes and competitions to participate in all week long for students and faculty, so get ready to show your Patriot pride! Some events to look forward to include the Emerald City Comedy Jam, free treats from the Lollipop Guild, a team lip-synching competition, the Oz Fest Homecoming dance and the Magic of Mason pep rally, which will feature student performances with games and giveaways galore. Check out 2011 Mason Royalty at the We’re Off to See the Majesty pageant and vote for your favorite competitor. Then be sure to see talents soar during the If I Only Had Some Talent show featuring student performers competing for a cash prize. Donated non-perishables will be built into elaborate structures by student teams and donated to a local food bank in the annual Can-Struction competition. Who knows? Maybe a replica of the Emerald […]
Faculty forum to discuss regulation

News1 January 31, 2011 at 8:04 pm Comments are Disabled

A task force commissioned by Provost Peter Stearns will take part in an open forum with faculty Tuesday to discuss the implications of administrative regulation and the prospect of overregulation.
Pregnancy scare? Know your options

News1 January 31, 2011 at 8:00 pm Comments are Disabled

For George Mason University women facing an unplanned pregnancy, the green and white fliers posted on bulletin boards throughout campus might seem like the first step in making a decision. The fliers, advertising “Pregnancy Center” in bold letters, offer free and confidential pregnancy testing and resources. However, if students go to the center they will not be entering a medical facility, but a religious one. The LifeChoices Resource Center advertised in the fliers is part of Sanctity of Life Ministries, a pro-life Christian organization, which also includes the Fairfax Pregnancy Help Center and the Alexandria Pregnancy Help Center. One thing students should not expect when they visit the centers, or call them, is a recommendation for an abortion. “We want to offer life-affirming options,” said Holly Gilbo, campus coordinator for LifeChoices Resource Center, “We are not going to refer for an abortion.” The religious nature of the LifeChoices Resource Center and other pro-life centers like it, sometimes called “crisis pregnancy centers,” is not evident in their fliers, something that provokes pro-choice advocates. “It’s all about up-front information,” said Joseph Richards, program and communications manager for NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia, a state affiliate of NARAL Pro-Choice America, formerly the National Abortion and […]
Mason Alert now only delivers emergency messages

News1 January 31, 2011 at 7:57 pm Comments are Disabled

Recent changes to George Mason University’s Mason Alert system have put Mason closer to the norm for emergency notification on college campuses according to Dave Farris, director of emergency preparedness and response.
Child Development Center receives irrigation system

News1 January 31, 2011 at 7:49 pm Comments are Disabled

The installation of a rainwater harvesting and irrigation system in the Child Development Center’s garden began on Monday. Dorothea Tyree, head teacher in the Teddy Bear Classroom, is the caretaker of the garden where the irrigation system is being installed. “The big thing is sustainability,” Tyree said. “[The irrigation system] will teach the kids a lot about using the water and not wasting it.” According to Tyree, the system is a gift from a parent of a child at the center and is worth over $7,000. It will feature two 500 gallon tanks that will filter rainwater. Pipes will run underground to each bed and the children will be able to watch the plants get watered. Each classroom has its own bed to plant, each with a different theme related to the curriculum. The system will also include a timer so plants can be watered on weekends. The garden was created last year with money from Greenworks, after Dan Waxman, Project Manager for Auxiliary Enterprises, wrote a grant to the organization. “We were able to build a learning laboratory for the children of the Childhood Development Center and provide great service-learning opportunities as well for college students,” Waxman said. Tyree […]
Coming soon: Blackboard mobile

News1 January 31, 2011 at 7:46 pm Comments are Disabled

Coming soon to a smart phone near you: Blackboard Mobile. The app will be available next semester, said Benjamin Ness, administrator of George Mason University’s Blackboard Learning Management System, emphasizing that nothing is set in stone. According to Blackboard’s corporate website, Blackboard Mobile will give students and faculty “everything they need right on the mobile devices they already rely on.” Although many students and professors are unaware of Blackboard Mobile, they are excited when the possibility is mentioned. “I am not aware of the app,” said Anthony Hoefer, director of the University Scholars Program at Mason, who currently does not own a smart phone. “If the app can help me take attendance, it would be ideal.” Hoefer also said he recently struggled with a scanner to obtain a clear, readable PDF and that an existing app can enable him to photograph a page and immediately convert it into a PDF file. When Blackboard Mobile is released, professors can take pictures with their phone and instantly upload them to Blackboard. Students also seem enthusiastic about the prospect of having greater access to the learning software. “I had no idea, but that would be awesome,” said Alex Murdocca, a sophomore government and […]
BOV signs off on room and board rate hike

News1 January 31, 2011 at 7:32 pm Comments are Disabled

The George Mason University Board of Visitors decided at their meeting Wednesday to raise room and board rates by 4.46 percent for the 2011-2012 academic year. The rate hike must first be approved by the Virginia State Board of Education. According to the finance and land use agenda for the BOV meeting, proposed board rates will increase between $100 and $200, with the majority of the rate increase being approximately four percent. The expected increase for most returning students who live on campus will be $400, or 4.46 percent according to the agenda. The increased rates are due to the higher cost of operating the facilities and to support residential communities, according to a Mason Gazette article. The article stated that the actual cost for students will vary depending on where they live and what meal plan they select. “George Mason University has historically (over the past 10 years) had one of the smallest room and board increases within the Commonwealth of Virginia,” according to the agenda. The increased rates are due to the higher cost of operating the facilities and to support residential communities, according to a Mason Gazette article. The article stated that the actual cost for students […]
Video essays offer prospective students creative way to apply

News1 January 31, 2011 at 7:10 pm Comments are Disabled

With the proliferation of technology, it’s no surprise that George Mason University is in its second year of accepting video essay applications.