Recent Posts

• Looking for Liberty: Men’s Basketball Opens Season Against the Flames

  Sports November 12, 2009 at 3:32 pm Comments are Disabled

  Chris DeMarco, Staff Writer The George Mason University men’s basketball team kicks off their 2009-10 basketball season against the Liberty Flames of the Big South Conference. The biggest difference for the Flames going into this year is the loss of Seth Curry to the Duke Blue Devils. Without Curry, the Flames lack a dominant scoring threat that could compete with the Patriots’ offensive weapons, but the Flames will be led by senior guard Kyle Ohman, who averaged 13.9 points per game last year. The Patriots are led by their lone senior, Louis Birdsong and his big presence under the boards. With the departure of leader John Vaughan, the Patriots will rely heavily on not only Birdsong, but junior Cam Long, who averaged 11.7 points last year, along with promising sophomore Ryan Pearson, who scored seven points and grabbed 3.6 rebounds per game. The Patriots hope that they can continue their remarkable success at home this year, so they can stay on top of the very competitive Colonial Athletic Association. Patriot fans also have to hope that the team is not looking past their first two games against Liberty and Dartmouth since they have the sixth-ranked Villanova Wildcats looming thereafter. With […]

   

• Playing Musical Chairs, but to a Lesser Extent

  Sports November 7, 2009 at 11:37 pm Comments are Disabled

  It is now safe to say that the women’s volleyball team is out of the running for hosting the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament. Mason can still play for second place, but the chances of that are quite slim. If the VCU Rams were to finish as the conference leader, the Delaware Blue Hens would then take the second seed. However, Mason can still tie VCU with a 10-4 conference record, but the Rams are currently on a seven-game winning streak and have shifted their focus on contending with the Blue Hens for the top spot. Earlier, we looked at Mason’s chances in taking the top or number two slot. It appears that the team will more likely contend for the third seed with the William & Mary Tribe. With the Rams and Blue Hens fighting for the top spot, Mason looks to hold on in the third spot. If Mason wins their final match against the James Madison Dukes, the Tribe will need to win their remaining matches to force a tie. Since the two teams split the season series, no team will hold the advantage if they were to conclude with a tied record. The difference between the numbers […]

   

• A Puzzled Playoff Situation

  Sports November 7, 2009 at 6:13 pm Comments are Disabled

  Situation 1: In order to host the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament, the women’s volleyball team must win their final two games and have the Delaware Blue Hens drop their final two. No matter what the VCU Rams do, Mason will have the advantage due to sweeping VCU. 1. Mason 2. Delaware 3. VCU However, it is still possible for all three teams to finish with an 11-3 conference record. Thus, the tiebreak advantage is as follows: 1. Mason > VCU 2. VCU > Delaware 3. Delaware > Mason Tonight’s match between Mason and VCU will determine whether the intransitive relationship will happen. Situation 2: Otherwise, Mason will still have the opportunity to fight for the second seed in the tournament. If the Blue Hens win their final two games, Mason can still earn the second seed by winning their final two games. No matter what VCU does from there, Mason holds the advantage. 1. Delaware 2. Mason 3. VCU If Mason were to split their final two matches, the William & Mary Tribe would need to win their remaining matches to force a tie for third place. The Northeastern Huskies are still in the hunt for a playoff spot, but […]

   

• The Clincher

  Sports November 6, 2009 at 9:14 pm Comments are Disabled

  The women’s volleyball team is currently in a tight battle against the William & Mary Tribe with the team pulling off a first-set win, 28-26 at Kaplan Arena. Trailing early in the second set, Mason rallied from a 12-3 deficit and gradually closed in on the Tribe. The Tribe took the final two points of the set, taking the second set 25-23. Both teams are vying for a playoff spot with Mason holding a half-game lead over the Tribe in the standings. With the Northeastern Huskies defeating the UNC-Wilmington Seahawks tonight, Mason can still clinch a playoff spot with a win tonight. The top two teams have won their matches to keep their spots unchanged, but the third spot is still at hand, depending on the results from the Mason/William & Mary match. Update: Mason clinched a playoff berth in the upcoming Colonial Athletic Association Tournament after defeating the Tribe in four sets. Mason remains a half-game behind the VCU Rams, whom Mason faces tomorrow in Richmond. Mason increases their lead to 1.5 games over the Tribe and still lead the Northeastern Huskies by 2.5 games. In the worst case scenario, Mason can end up tied with the Huskies, but […]

   

• Two Days, Two Stars: Bob Dylan and Rob Thomas Highlight Week at the Patriot Center

  Lifestyle November 6, 2009 at 12:30 pm Comments are Disabled

  Patrick Wall, Style Editor The coming week is one filled with musical superstars. Matchbox 20 frontman Rob Thomas takes the Patriot Center stage with OneRepublic on Nov. 10, followed by the incomparable Bob Dylan the day after. Three-time Grammy winner Thomas burst into the spotlight in 1996 with the release of Matchbox 20’s freshman release, Yourself or Someone Like You. Anchored by five popular singles including “Push” and “3 A.M.,” the album went on to sell over 10 million copies. The band’s next two albums were also commercially successful and the band churned out several more radio hits. After the release of their third record, Thomas left to work on a solo project. Already famous on his own, thanks in large part to his collaboration with Santana, Thomas released his first solo effort, …Something to Be. The album debuted at number one, based largely on the strength of hits like “Lonely No More” and “This is How a Heart Breaks.” Thomas returned to Matchbox 20 after the group’s 5-year hiatus, culminating in 2007’s Exile on Mainstream. The band toured for a year before Thomas returned to his solo career. In 2008, Thomas again returned to the solo scene with Cradlesong. […]

   

• Mason Alumnus Dead at 22: Students Mourn the Loss of Brian Picone

  News1 November 5, 2009 at 10:01 pm Comments are Disabled

  Emily Sharrer, Editor-in-Chief For many George Mason University students, recently deceased alumnus Brian Picone will live on as a role model, teacher and friend who dedicated himself to increasing visibility of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Questioning issues and always lived life to the fullest. Picone was guest teaching in Leah Perry’s Queer Theory class last Monday when he collapsed according to an e-mail sent to faculty, staff and students by Suzanne Scott, associate professor of Women and Gender Studies. Picone was rushed to Inova Fairfax Hospital where he was pronounced dead according to police records. He was 22. Picone graduated from Mason last spring with his Bachelor of Arts in Integrative Studies with a concentration in Gender, Society and Human Rights and a minor in Women and Gender Studies according to Scott’s e-mail. He was also given the top academic award from Women and Gender Studies. Shocked friends took to Facebook to share their memories of Picone and grieve the loss of a treasured part of the Mason community. On the “RIP Brian Picone” Facebook group, friends and family members remembered Picone as an outgoing young man with a larger than life personality who inspired all those that knew […]

   

• Making It to the Polls: Classes on Election Day May Cause Conflict for Some Student Voters

  News1 November 5, 2009 at 9:59 pm Comments are Disabled

  Hillary Huber, Broadside Correspondent While government agencies and some work places have Election Day off, George Mason University students will still be setting their alarm clocks early on Nov. 3. This presents multiple conflicts in the Mason community. Some students’ schedules are too crammed to fit in a trip to the polls; others think it creates an inaccurate representation in election outcomes. Josh St. Louis, a junior government major and member of the College Republicans, said he would be in favor of having Election Day off, but does not think students will have a difficult time getting out of class. “Government classes are more flexible [with tardiness and absences] on Election Day because they understand students need to get to the polls,” said St. Louis. “Work places are usually more flexible, too.” Smaller elections, such as Tuesday’s election, do not get a big enough turnout to need a day off from school, said freshman and business major C.J. Manapsal. “The turnout wouldn’t even be big enough for the presidential elections, and the turnout is even lower for smaller elections, [so] there’s really no point in getting the day off . . . People wouldn’t take advantage of having the day […]

   

• Gubernatorial Candidates Oppose Gay Marriage

  News1 November 5, 2009 at 9:57 pm Comments are Disabled

  Ethan Vaughan, Mason Votes Writer Republican gubernatorial candidate Bob McDonnell has a long history of championing conservative positions on social issues like gay marriage, but with Democratic opponent Creigh Deeds stating his belief that marriage is “between a man and a woman,” the campaign for the Governor’s Mansion is proceeding with a uniformity of opinion from both sides on one of the Commonwealth’s most divisive and emotional issues. With neither side taking up the cause of gay rights, some voters feel as if their choices have been curtailed. “I think Deeds is too conservative, but he’s the more liberal of the two,” said George Mason University senior economics major Phil Dudley. “I’m for gay marriage and I feel that gay people should have the same rights as straight people. As for the Virginia Marriage Amendment, I disagree with it. Gay people should be able to visit their significant other in the hospital, should be able to have access to insurance, should be treated the same as everyone else. Gay rights isn’t the deciding factor in my vote, but it’s something I would take into account.” Most students were quick to voice opposition to the 2006 Virginia Marriage Amendment, which not […]

   

• Education Comes to Mind First: Mason Students’ Biggest Concerns on Election Explained

  News1 November 5, 2009 at 9:55 pm Comments are Disabled

  Reuben Jones, Broadside Correspondent After asking students around campus whether they have been following the 2009 race for governor, there were two responses that became very apparent: No, students are not following the election, and yes, education is the most important issue to students this election. “I registered but I don’t know anything about the candidates,” said sophomore and economics major Rufaro Mandizvidza. This could be because the race for governor between Democrat Creigh Deeds and Republican Bob McDonnell has yet to fire up many Virginians. Specifically, college-aged voters are expected to come in low numbers to the polls tomorrow as there has not been much excitement surrounding Virginia’s race, a state that forbids a governor from running for more than one term consecutively. “Drop-off is going to be sharper for younger adults,” said Assistant Professor of Communication Stephen Farnsworth. “Creigh Deeds has yet to motivate younger voters,” a group that Farnsworth says was “excited” when Obama ran, and a group that typically votes more democratic. According to students, they are not as interested in the election this year as they were for last year’s presidential race. Sophomore Trinh Ngo, a biology major, said he is not informed because he’s […]

   

• Governor Election Guide: Candidates Bob McDonnell and Creigh Deeds

  News1 November 5, 2009 at 9:54 pm Comments are Disabled

  Amanda Cheek, News Editor Since 2002, the office of Governor of Virginia has been held by a Democrat. Mark Warner won the election in 2002 and Tim Kaine has been in office since 2006. In this year’s election, Bob McDonnell seems to be in the lead. This gubernatorial election has also been considered to be representative of the country’s reaction to the presidency. Will the Republicans come back with a vengeance after Obama won the White House or will the Democrats hold strong with the support of the new president? Both Warner and Kaine have made decisions that have affected the state of Virginia and its citizens, but how will the next governor continue or change those actions? On Nov. 3, Virginia will vote and we will see. Bob McDonnell Higher Education -Supports initiatives to Cut Textbook Costs by using digital resources such as Kindle -100,000 Additional Associates and Bachelor’s Degrees over the Next 15 Years -Comprehensive Workforce Training or Re-Training Led by Our Community Colleges Energy Plan -Explore and Drill for Oil and Natural Gas off Virginia’s Coast -Support Virginia’s Coal and Nuclear Industries -Support Alternative and Renewable Forms of Energy and make Virginia a “Green Jobs Zone” Transportation […]