Articles by: news

 

• Candidates for Lieutenant Governor Race to Election Day

  News1 November 5, 2009 at 9:30 pm Comments are Disabled

  Ethan Vaughan, Mason Votes Writer When Virginians go to the polls on Nov. 3, they will not be voting for their three statewide officials as one party ticket. This means that the next administration could be a mixture of political parties. This has happened before. When Democrat Tim Kaine won a surprise victory over Republican opponent Jerry Kilgore in the 2005 gubernatorial election, it was Bill Bolling, a Republican, who snagged the lieutenant governor’s seat. With the race for governor turning out to be unexpectedly tight (Democrats were elected in 2001 and 2005 by comfortable margins), the battle to win the state’s second-highest office has been pushed to the side. The lieutenant governor, however, is the state’s second-in-command, and can ascend to the governorship in the death, resignation or disqualification of the governor. The Constitution of Virginia states that the lieutenant governor must be a United States citizen who “shall have attained the age of 30 years and have been a resident of the Commonwealth and a registered voter in the Commonwealth for five years preceding his election.” The greatest constitutional difference between the governor and lieutenant governor is that while the governor may serve only one consecutive term, the […]

   

• Patrolling the Streets: Students Participate in Witch Watch

  News1 October 27, 2009 at 2:38 pm Comments are Disabled

  Yasmin Tadjdeh, Asst. News Editor This Halloween, parents living in the City of Fairfax can breathe a little easier knowing their children will be safer while trick-or-treating. Coming back for another year is George Mason University’s Witch Watch. Witch Watch, a Student Government initiative, has been occurring since the 1994–1995 school year, according to Lynn Gold, chair of the University Life for the Student Senate. “Witch Watch is an event that brings Mason students into Fairfax in order to monitor trick-or-treating and ensure that all children are safe,” said Gold. According to Gold, this year 275 students are participating in the event. Registration for volunteers closed on Oct. 19. According to Speaker of Student Senate Mhehvish Khan, students who registered to volunteer for Witch Watch will be arriving on campus at 4:30 p.m., where they will be given a free t-shirt, a free meal and will be briefed by Mason police on what to do and not to do. Volunteers, after being briefed, will be put into groups and dispersed into Fairfax where they will watch for any shady behavior or creepy cars that might be a rick to trick-or-treaters, according to Khan. Students should be done volunteering no later […]

   

• Pumpkin Art Contest Open to All: Mason School of Art Holds Annual ‘Extreme Pumpkin Makeover’

  News1 October 27, 2009 at 2:32 pm Comments are Disabled

  May Fakhriyazdi, Staff Writer As Halloween draws closer, organizations at George Mason University have begun to create new and creative ways of celebrating the holiday. For the fifth year in a row, the American Institute of Graphic Arts is holding their annual “Extreme Pumpkin Makeover” event. In years past, the event has been limited to art and visual technology major students only. This year, for the first time, the event is open to all students, staff and faculty members at Mason. “Anyone who wants [to] can participate,” said Lindsey Smith, a junior graphic design major and member of AIGA. “All you have to do is create a visual art piece. It can be anything from a poster, to a sculpture, to a film. The only requirement is that it include some aspect of a pumpkin, like texture or color,” said Smith. “It’s really fun, and you can win a lot of cool prizes and have your work presented at the new School of Art Gallery on campus and the Point in Space Gallery in downtown Fairfax,” she said. The event is being sponsored by companies like Sodexo, as well as the George Mason Bookstore. By submitting your artwork to the […]

   

• Mason Student Speaks on Surviving Violence: Domestic Abuse Survivor Talks About Life-Changing Experience

  News1 October 27, 2009 at 2:31 pm Comments are Disabled

  Brenda Shepard, Staff Writer As Domestic Violence Month draws to a close, the George Mason University community reflects on people in their own lives who have been affected by this sad reality. Whether it’s a friend, neighbor, roommate or family member, there are no specific boundaries to this issue. However, there are ways to promote change in people’s attitudes regarding domestic violence, and there is hope. Karen Bontrager, a junior studying communication, has been a victim of domestic violence. After being kicked out of her home, Bontrager was left with few options for housing and little money to keep her in school at Mason. Through her experiences she has decided her voice is one thing that can save her. “These kinds of situations build character,” said Bontrager. “I fought really hard and I’m going to use my voice, which was oppressed and depressed, to help others at Mason.” According to their brochure, Mason’s Sexual Assault Services “is committed to providing direct services for anyone impacted by sexual assault, stalking and dating/partner violence.” They offer support, advocacy and intervention services, to name just a few of their services. Sexual assault is a general term that defines many different crimes such as […]

   

• Forensics Team On Winning Streak: Mason’s Legendary Speakers on Fire; Team Maintains Victory at Competitions

  News1 October 27, 2009 at 2:18 pm Comments are Disabled

  Brenda Shepard, Staff Writer If you are ever walking around Thompson Hall, you may see students pacing and talking to themselves. No, these students are not confused – they are practicing. These students are members of the George Mason University’s Forensics Team, one of the most successful and long standing groups on campus. For almost 40 years, the team has produced numerous trophies, national championships and graduates who go on to even greater accomplishments. According to their website, www.gmuforensics.org, the team has “produced no less than 35 national champions, and in 2002 we won our 14,000th trophy.” However, for Peter Pober, communication professor and director of the Mason Forensics team, “It’s much bigger than the trophy.” The forensics team competes against approximately 400 schools across the country. Larger competitions have seen between 1,200 and 1,400 student entries, with about 100 students in each category. Mason’s competitors work diligently to prepare for these competitions, mentally preparing to stand and deliver. When asked if members of the team feel a great deal of pressure, Pober said, “I think they do – mostly from themselves. They have tremendous pride in the legacy of the Mason name.” But by far the greatest successes as […]

   

• Turn Off the Violence Week ‘Breaks the Silence’: Sexual Assault Services Aims To End Violence

  News1 October 6, 2009 at 1:37 pm Comments are Disabled

  Amanda Cheek, News Editor Beginning today and continuing through Oct. 8, several parts of campus will be bustling with activities hosted by George Mason University’s Sexual Assault Services for Turn Off the Violence Week. The week features events dedicated to promoting awareness of sexual and domestic violence. Rachel Mosunmade, a Mason sophomore and medical technology major said she saw a flyer for Turn off the Violence Week in Student Union Building I. “[Domestic violence] is something that needs attention brought to it. It affects a lot of people,” said Mosunmade. Turn off the Violence Week is co-sponsored by the Office of Alcohol, Drug and Health Education, Department of Women’s and Gender Studies and the Feminist Student Organization at Mason. “People ages 20-24 are at the highest risk for sexual assault, immediately followed by those ages 16-20,” said the Director of Sexual Services, Connie Kirkland. Kirkland also said that promoting awareness about sexual and domestic violence on college campuses is important because a college campus is a community like any other, and behaves just like one. “Both sexual and dating violence is very common on all college campuses, not just at Mason,” said Kirkland. “We are no different.” Two events will […]

   

• Students Rally at Take Back the Night Event

  News1 October 6, 2009 at 1:36 pm Comments are Disabled

  Amanda Cheek, News Editor On Oct. 6, the Take Back the Night Rally and March will occur as a special event within Turn Off the Violence Week, on the North Plaza from 7:30 – 10 p.m. The event is a peaceful gathering on the North Plaza promoting an end to sexual and domestic violence, and is symbolic of a safe haven for all, according to the Sexual Assault Services website, http://sas.gmu.edu. “Take Back the Night is a way for students to come together and show their support to ending sexual assault and abuse,” said Lauren Heath, a senior psychology major and women and gender studies minor. Heath is a member of the Feminist Student Organization and a student staffer at the Women and Gender Studies Center. Preceding the event will be a free Yoga YES! session in the North Plaza. YES! Yoga is Yoga to Empower Yourself, to enhance personal power, identity and self-esteem, according to the Sexual Assault Services website. The session will involve stretching, dancing and sound, and will be hosted by Yoga teachers Dawn Curtis, Felicity Boyer and Mandy Shaver. This year’s speakers include, Indira Hernard from the D.C. Rape Crisis Center, a Women’s Studies professor at […]

   

• Mason Mock Election Mirrors Va. Political Race: Apathetic Students Give Mixed Review on Campus-Wide Mock Gubernational Election

  News1 October 6, 2009 at 1:34 pm Comments are Disabled

  Yasmin Tadjdeh, Asst. News Editor With the Virginia gubernatorial race heating up, George Mason University will have its chance to cast its own unofficial ballot. Paralleling the election for governor of Virginia is Mason’s own mock election. Over the past few weeks students have periodically received e-mails informing them of the Mason Mock Election. Its creator Jared Barton, an economics graduate student said, “Many students, by virtue of being citizens of other states or countries, don’t get to vote on issues here in Virginia. Elected officials and issues in Virginia, though, have a big impact on their time at Mason. The Mock Election allows those students, as well as Mason students who can vote in Virginia elections, to participate a little bit in Virginia politics.” The Mock Election is an unofficial online election, where students can place their vote for governor and, in the end, see who Mason would have voted for. In order to participate in the Mock Election, students must register by 11:59 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5, which is also the deadline to register for the actual election. Registered students then may vote on the Mock Election website, www.masonmockelection.com, between the hours of 6 a.m. – 7 p.m. […]

   

• Student Group On Campus Unites Forces with PETA: New Organization Promotes Animal Rights

  News1 October 6, 2009 at 1:31 pm Comments are Disabled

  Brenda Shepard, Broadside Correspondent The Animal Rights Collective organization will be holding Animal Liberation Week, today through Thursday, Oct. 8. Students, faculty and staff will have the opportunity to engage in conversation and educate themselves about animal rights, animal abuse and the choice to live a vegan lifestyle. ARC, in conjunction with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, will be showing a series of visual displays, entitled the Animal Liberation Project. The exhibit looks back through a history of human slavery, showing the juxstaposition of the justifications for animal cruelty today. The exhibit will be on the North Plaza of the Johnson Center on Oct. 7 at 11 a.m. “It’s so ingrained in our culture to eat meat,” said senior conservation biology and global affairs major Christine Kauffman. “Animals can feel and suffer just like humans do. Now we have the means to end their suffering because of us.” The ARC is in its first semester as a recognized group on campus, but has spent many years protesting the circus at George Mason University. Organizers of the event said that after seeing PETA’s display on the National Mall this summer, the group contacted PETA, who was receptive and excited […]

   

• Internship Raises Cancer Awareness: Mason Student Builds Cancer Fundraiser From Ground Up

  News1 October 1, 2009 at 3:00 pm Comments are Disabled

  Brenda Shepard, Broadside Correspondent Salon Bleu will be holding the “Cuts for the Cure” fundraiser on Sunday, Oct. 4 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The entire day will be spent doing haircuts and blow-drys and 100 percent of the proceeds will be donated to the Maryland Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Located in Tysons Galleria in McLean, Salon Bleu will have many extras to offer patrons the day of the fundraiser. There will be about 20 stylists involved as well as a massage therapist from Equinox who will be doing complimentary chair massages, a makeup artist from a surprise retailer doing complimentary applications, a DJ from Bose, and catering from Maggianos and Entyse, the new restaurant at the Ritz Carlton. With so many treats, doorprizes, raffles and gift bags being given out during the day, any appointment more than pays for itself. Some of the prize packages include a Betsey Johnson purse, gift certificates to movie theaters and even services from a reputable wedding planner. Anyone interested in attending is encouraged to call and make an appointment even if just for a blow-dry or styling. This project was born out of the efforts of one George […]