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• The Runaways primed to scare off the competition: Young starlets bring rock 'n' roll to life

  Lifestyle April 5, 2010 at 1:03 pm Comments are Disabled

  By Kayla Beardsley The Runaways will shock and sometimes disgust, but it will keep you entertained the entire time. The film tells the story of the famed ’70s rock band formed by Joan Jett (played by Twilight’s Kristen Stewart) and follows them through the good times, the hard times and all the rock and roll along the way. Stewart has come a long way from her role in the famous tween vampire saga. She is convincing, empowering and all around awe-striking in her performance as the sexually confused rock star. In the story, The Runaways’ lead singer Cherie Currie (played by Dakota Fanning) realizes her dream of being in a rock band. But after a full makeover of her wardrobe and then her entire life, she slowly realizes the rock and roll lifestyle may not be what is really important to her. While watching the sweet and innocent Fanning (known for films like Charlotte’s Web and Uptown Girls) in a corset, with her legs spread, singing about “grabbing boys until they’re sore” will make audiences feel incredibly creepy, her performance will rock you. However, one performance in this movie soars above the rest — Michael Shannon’s portrayal of the band […]

   

• In Bed with Billy: Slow and Steady Wins the Race

  Lifestyle April 5, 2010 at 1:01 pm Comments are Disabled

  By Billy Curtis, Sex Columnist We all remember the story of the tortoise and the hare, and we all know the outcome. It seems as though the older we get, the faster time goes by. This may simply be because time tends to move quickly in and of itself, or it could also be the sheer fact that as we age, we begin to move more slowly. We are stuck in life as hares. but, unfortunately, age doesn’t allow us to stay that way. Unlike age, relationships have been moving faster and faster with every passing minute. I know someone who moved in with his boyfriend after dating for only five months, and that’s too early for anyone. Even friends who have dated for over a year haven’t been able to make the before-marriage-move-in work out. That’s not to say that all couples move in too quickly, but just know that for most of you, the odds aren’t very favorable. And that isn’t me being cynical. Those are facts. Whether it’s moving in together too quickly, or going in for that first kiss just a little too soon, the fact stands that people are moving too quickly through life. It […]

   

• Causing mass Hysteria

  Lifestyle April 5, 2010 at 12:59 pm Comments are Disabled

  By Evan Benton, Staff Writer Let me take you back nearly 30 years to the era of the much underappreciated and misunderstood glam-metal genre. Its heyday lay between the glitzy, extravagant and unapologetic years of 1981 and 1989, characterized by titans like Great White, Cinderella, Winger, Firehouse and L.A. Guns. This was a time of rampant androgyny, of tight spandex pants and their essential bulges. This was the golden age of Mötley Crüe, of Poison, of Warrant, who combined are responsible for truckloads of Jack Daniels passed through their collective veins, crates of cocaine passed through their naval cavities and tens of thousands of groupies just plain passed around. This was a time of men, a time of giants. And in terms of popularity, no band was more gigantic than Def Leppard, legendary libertines of the stage and multi-platinum recording artists. Already a household name and relative icon of the age thanks to 1983’s Pyromania and almost constant MTV coverage, Def Leppard took nearly four years on hiatus before producing their next album. In 1984 the band had to overcome a debilitating setback that would have ultimately destroyed a lesser group — the loss of drummer Rick Allen’s left arm […]

   

• Sketched into the silver screen: 10 greats that went from comic book pages to Hollywood

  Lifestyle April 5, 2010 at 12:56 pm Comments are Disabled

  By Ross Bonaime, Staff Writer Next week, the movie adaptation of Mark Millar’s comic book Kick-Ass, about a high school student who becomes a superhero after being influenced by his favorite books, will be released. Over the last decade, comic book films have become immensely popular, giving us some fantastic films. With that, here are the top ten films based on comic books. 10. Road to Perdition Sam Mendes’ follow-up to American Beauty told the story of an even more dangerous family — a mafia family. Tom Hanks is chilling in one of his few darker roles and the noir tone makes you feel like you’re reading the graphic novel. 9. American Splendor This story of eccentric comic writer Harvey Pekar deconstructed the typical autobiography, while showcasing the soon-to-be-star Paul Giamatti in one of his first great roles. 8. Sin City If you want to keep the essence of the source material, why not hire the writer to direct? That’s what Robert Rodriguez did with his co-director Frank Miller in the adaptation of Miller’s work, starring a cavalcade of stars and featuring a visually striking style. 7. Iron Man Robert Downey Jr. was the perfect choice to play the rich […]

   

• Public confessions get loud at open mic night: Pride Week event gives performers the chance to confess personal struggles and cultural insight

  Lifestyle April 5, 2010 at 12:54 pm Comments are Disabled

  By Ramy Zabarah, Staff Writer Open Mic Night is a Pride Week event dedicated to bringing people of all genders and expressions together to share music, poetry, comedy or art in front of an audience of their peers. Cheese, crackers and fruits were served as students, faculty and staff situated themselves in front of the stage at the Johnson Center Bistro Thursday night. Although the turnout wasn’t as high as anticipated, there was plenty of fun and good spirit in the air. Acts ranged from poetry, spoken word and singing to comedy and a metal band. Overall, the audience enjoyed the talent, and everyone had a great time. The significance of an event like this is the opportunity for members of a marginal group to express themselves in a forum without censorship. Associate Director of LGBTQ Resources Ric Chollar agrees. “What I love most about this event is that it gives a chance for each participant to share something personal and provide insight about their culture,” he said, “In a way, that makes Open Mic Night my favorite Pride Week event.” Last week was filled with fun and educational events intended to bring people together in recognition and appreciation of […]

   

• Drag show a raucous, high-energy hit

  Lifestyle April 5, 2010 at 12:52 pm Comments are Disabled

  By Hayley Roder, Broadside Correspondent The lights dimmed in the Johnson Center atrium. The stage lit up as Reann Ballslee walked up the steps and back into the spotlight. Reann Sassie D’Loceanono Ballslee sparkled in a green, black and white dress, silver heels and her Ms. Mason 2009 sash and tiara. She captivated the cheering group of students, family members and friends who lined all three levels of the Johnson Center. She readied the crowd for a fierce and fabulous night of performances and fashion as she kicked off the 2010 Pride Week Drag Show. Better known during the day as Ryan Allen, Ballslee returned to host Pride Week’s main event after graduating last year. She has been a crowd favorite since she first appeared in the drag show four years ago and has hosted the annual event ever since. Ballslee gained international media attention after being crowned Mason’s Homecoming Queen last year. Friday night, she told the audience that she was updating her Wikipedia page to reflect that she is also George Mason University’s final Homecoming Queen, since the competition was redesigned this year to be more inclusive and featured only one winner crowned “Mason Majesty.” Usually a festive […]

   

• Professors kiss furlough: Financial woes softened temporarily by savings

  News1 April 5, 2010 at 12:47 pm Comments are Disabled

  By Kevin Loker, C2M Executive Editor Thanks to a safety net of savings, George Mason University can worry a little less when it comes to the immediate impact of the state’s financial crisis on university operations, and the resulting monetary blows to its students and faculty. A little less, and only for now. Senior Vice President Morrie Scherrens told a packed room of faculty and administrators at a budget forum last week that rather than furlough Mason employees for one day — a move that seemed more than likely at last month’s forum — the university instead planned to absorb the $900,000 blow of the state-imposed furlough. “Oh, very good,” said one faculty member as the room, not expecting the announcement, burst into applause. Despite the $5.6 million hit the university took at the end of the legislative session, units and departments will not receive any additional budget cuts this fiscal year, and the cost of the move will be covered by a level of savings that Scherrens says the university had hoped to use if matters had gotten better later in the fiscal year. “We positioned ourselves so if the budget did not deteriorate beyond our projections, we could […]

   

• Cultural Fusion moves to Prince William: Field day festival switches campuses

  News1 April 5, 2010 at 12:45 pm Comments are Disabled

  By Alyse Knorr, Broadside Correspondent On Tuesday, April 6, George Mason University’s Cultural Fusion Field Day will move to the Prince William campus for the first time in its two-year history. The Field Day takes place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the volleyball court near the athletic center. “It’s a celebration of cultures through music, through food, through games,” said Charvis Campbell, assistant dean of university life at Prince William. “It’s really a good way to celebrate and appreciate the different cultures that our students, faculty and staff come from.” Activities at the event will include pick-up games of soccer, Kabadi (a team contact sport from India), volleyball and ping pong. The event will also feature a Math Across the Cultures tent, a tent dedicated to Irish history and culture, a giant chess board and free food. For those interested in Hinduism and arithmetic, a Vedic math demo and workshop, in which participants can make an abacus, will take place at 11:30 a.m. Also, a steel pan music performance and workshop will begin at 12:15 p.m. Professional university photographers will be on hand in the Global Corner Photobooth to take pictures of participants wearing different styles of cultural […]

   

• International Week commences: Groups showcase their cultures

  News1 April 5, 2010 at 12:42 pm Comments are Disabled

  By Yuri Svjagintsev, Broadside Correspondent George Mason University’s Office of International Affairs will be hosting its annual International Week this week to celebrate the university’s laudable diversity and the attraction it holds for students from every corner of the globe. According to the Office of International Affairs’ website, International Week is intended “to celebrate the presence of the university’s international and multicultural student population. For immigrant students, International Week at Mason provides an opportunity to share their cultural heritages.” During the week, more than 20 campus associations that are tied to a particular culture will be involved in the celebration, such as the Persian Student Association and the Hispanic Student Association. Marina Casciano, a graduate student in public administration and former president of the International Association said, “International Week is a very important event for raising awareness among the student body. Unfortunately, in the past it was not marketed enough.” This year may be different, as the Johnson Center will be decked out in flags from across the world and participating student organizations will offer various activities. “The Russian Club will showcase poetry readings and cultural artifacts celebrating Russia’s rich literary and artistic culture,” said Tatyana Gontscharow, the president of […]

   

• Students celebrate Islam Awareness Week: Muslim Student Association hosts events to counter misconceptions about the religion

  News1 April 5, 2010 at 12:40 pm Comments are Disabled

  By Sarah Albani & Risham Tariq, Broadside Correspondents Last week, the walls of the Johnson Center Gallery 123 were adorned with Arabic calligraphy, Islamic architecture and embroidered verses from the Qur’an to mark the start of Islam Awareness Week (IAW). As the largest event held by the Muslim Student Association nationally, IAW aims to “introduce Islam on a unified platform to all university and college campuses,” according to the MSA National website. “People have a lot of misunderstandings but are interested in learning more about Islam,” said Muhammad Elsayed, a senior administration of justice major. It was with the chief aim of enlightening the non-Muslim community that last week’s events took place. However, despite the non-Muslim target audience, IAW works to educate Muslims as well. “The best way to learn is to teach,” said Hamna Riaz, junior chemistry major and active MSA member. “One of the ways I’ve learned more about my faith and developed . . . spiritually, has been through telling people about my faith.” The MSA commenced the week of events on Monday, March 29 with a screening of the documentary Islam: An American Faith. This was followed by a question-and-answer panel session, during which time three […]