Recent Posts

• Virginia Voters’ Rights Cards: American Civil Liberties Union Distributes Voting Information

  News1 November 5, 2009 at 9:50 pm Comments are Disabled

  Yasmin Tadjdeh, Asst. News Editor With the election looming closer and closer, some students may not know what their rights as voters are. Whether it is that they are denied to vote because of lack of identification or even because of intimidation, the American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia has for the last several years been passing out Voters’ Rights Cards in the hopes of informing voters of what their rights are come Election Day. “The cards and hotline came about because people from around the state have contacted the ACLU of Virginia with election-related questions and concerns. For example, there have been concerns about voter intimidation, the need for identification at the polls, and college students registering to vote in the locality where they attend school rather than their hometowns. In the past decade, the ACLU of Virginia has advocated on behalf of college students at the University of Mary Washington, Virginia Tech, Radford, Norfolk State and even filed a lawsuit on behalf of students at William & Mary,” said Elizabeth Wong, associate director of the ACLU of Va. According to Wong, the ACLU of Virginia has been passing out Voters’ Rights Cards for the last dozen years. This […]

   

• Swine Flu Vaccines Here: Mason Health Services Distributes H1N1 Nasal Spray for Free

  News1 November 5, 2009 at 9:49 pm Comments are Disabled

  Lauren Jost, Connect2Mason Reporter Student Health Services will be distributing H1N1 Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine nasal spray for free with a Mason ID on Tuesday, Nov. 3, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Dewberry Hall. Seasonal flu vaccines are no longer available at SHS. The last 45 doses of the vaccine were administered on Thursday, much to the chagrin of students and faculty. Originally scheduled until November, seasonal flu vaccines clinics – $15 for a shot – have been cancelled until further notice due to a shortage of the vaccine. Additional seasonal flu vaccines have been ordered and SHS are awaiting the delivery. Thursday’s seasonal flu vaccine clinic, along with all previously scheduled clinic dates, were slated to take place in Student Union Building I between 1 and 4 p.m. However, students queued up in the SUB I lobby as early as 12:30 p.m. leaving those unable to show up early without a chance to take advantage of the vaccine. “I didn’t get the flu shot here,” said senior, English major Jessica Tibbs. “I live in Fredericksburg so it was easier to get it at Walgreens, even though it was $25.” In light of having no more vaccines, SHS […]

   

• Vote Vans Drive Students to Polls

  News1 November 5, 2009 at 9:47 pm Comments are Disabled

  Ethan Vaughan, Mason Votes Writer For the second year in a row, the Mason Vote Vans will ferry students from George Mason University’s Fairfax campus to their designated polling place, Woodson High School in Fairfax. The Mason Vote Vans will run from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 3 and will pick students up from the front of Sandy Creek Parking Deck, where the shuttles and Gunston’s Go-Bus usually run. Staffed by drivers from Student Government, the two 15-passenger vans will alternate trips, with one heading to the polls while the other is departing, with the goal of ensuring that no student has to wait more than a few minutes for a ride. Students at the stop will be provided with snacks, drinks and campaign literature from all candidates. The program provided 400 students with transportation to the polls in 2008, though SG officials acknowledge that fewer people are likely to participate this time around. “2008 was a historic election, so it was easier to promote,” said Student Senate Speaker Mhehvish Khan. “This year, we’ll be working even harder to do that.” Peter Danjczek, Chief of Staff to SG President Devraj Dasgupta, said he thought there would be […]

   

• Deeds’ Children Campaign on Campus

  News1 November 5, 2009 at 9:46 pm Comments are Disabled

  Amanda Cheek, News Editor The children of Democratic candidate for Governor, Sen. R. Creigh Deeds, came to George Mason University Monday, Oct. 26 campaigning for their father. Amanda and Gus Deeds were handing out flyers on campus and speaking with students. “Young voters hold a lot of swing,” said Gus Deeds, age 20, on why they are on the road for their father. Amanda, 24, explained that they were handing out flyers with quotes from The Washington Post covering topics from their father’s campaign. Amanda said that is was important to hand them out at Mason, because The Washington Post is local and relevant. She emphasized that the flyers were, “supporting Dad’s plan on transportation,” which was an important issue in Northern Virginia. “[We have] got to get our dad elected,” said Amanda. Gus said that they have been on the campaign trail with their father and have visited several universities across the state including William & Mary and Virginia Tech to hand out flyers. “[It’s] getting the conversation started,” said Gus. “Getting it out that there’s a governor’s race going on. People, especially students on college campuses, are busy and might not realize it.” Gus feels that there is […]

   

• Trip to Mexico Changes Student’s Outlook: Graduate Student’s Sponsored Visit Expands Cultural Views

  News1 November 5, 2009 at 9:45 pm Comments are Disabled

  Brenda Shepard, Staff Writer Last summer, George Mason University graduate student Eve Montavon had the opportunity to travel to Mexico to attend language school and live with a Spanish speaking family. She has been able to take her experiences abroad and use them in her everyday life and work here in America. This new cultural understanding has changed her life, she said. After graduating from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Col., Montavon found many ways to give back to her different communities. She was director of a Life Skills Program in New York City, director of Outreach and Missions in Alexandria, Va. and a youth director for junior and senior high program at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Springfield, Va. “We have one life to live, so we should live it to the fullest,” said Montavon. “No one ‘finds’ the time, you have to make time. It’s important to me to be a role model for my four children and the communities I serve.” She also has been active in many volunteer organizations including World Vision, International Relief Development, the Red Cross Volunteer Disaster Team and a Smithsonian Folk Life Festival photographer, to name a few. While Montavon was […]

   

• Mason Student Runs for House of Delegates

  News1 November 5, 2009 at 9:36 pm Comments are Disabled

  Ethan Vaughan, Mason Votes Writer Susan Conrad, a master’s candidate at George Mason University studying for a degree in Instructional Technology, is running for the House of Delegates 40th District seat on the democratic ticket. She is campaigning on a transportation platform that would require raising gas taxes and automobile registration fees. “It’s not going to be popular,” said Conrad, who recommended raising the gas tax by about five cents and the registration fee by $5. “But the longer we wait, the more it’ll cost. Fairfax roads only got one million dollars for road maintenance this year. People don’t want to pay to fix potholes, so they’ll wind up paying for a new car alignment. They don’t want to pay a gas tax, but they burn $3 in gas a day sitting on Route 66.” Conrad said that Northern Virginia needs expanded roads, and, ultimately, a much larger Metro system that goes “at least to Gainesville.” “Those projects will take years to finish,” said Conrad. “In the meantime, [there are] some other things we can do.” Conrad proposed tax incentives for businesses to stagger their work hours, ensuring that “a portion of their workforce will not be on the road […]

   

• Out-of-State Students Pay for Budget: Brunt of Tuition Increases Fall Upon Out-of-State Student’s Shoulders

  News1 November 5, 2009 at 9:34 pm Comments are Disabled

  Ethan Vaughan, Mason Votes Writer Tuition for George Mason University students rose by 9.8 percent for in-state students and 9.7 percent for out-of-state students between the 2008-09 and 2009-10 school years. These numbers are well in excess of the national average of 6.5 percent. Annual tuition now stands at $7,512 for in-state students and $21,648 for out-of-state students. Mason Press Secretary Dan Walsch said that out-of-state tuition, which stands at more than double the in-state cost, helps the school during lean financial times, and stated candidly that Mason would be helped financially if more out-of-state students enrolled. “We recognize the importance of a healthy balance between in-state and out-of-state students,” Walsch said. “Having people here from other states and other countries enriches our [campus] culture. At the same time, we have to be sensitive to the political needs of the legislators in the General Assembly. Some of them have proposed actually putting a cap on the number of out-of-state students admitted, because they reason that every classroom seat given to someone from out of state is a seat that won’t go to a Virginian. These are the people who vote to give us the money we need to operate. Part […]

   

• Attorney General Candidates Power Up for the Election

  News1 November 5, 2009 at 9:32 pm Comments are Disabled

  Ethan Vaughan, Mason Votes Writer As the Virginia campaign enters its final week, voters are tasked with the important responsibility of electing several key government officials and among them is the Commonwealth’s attorney general. Both Democrat Steve Shannon and Republican Ken Cuccinelli have claimed to be the most qualified for the position, but what does being Virginia’s senior lawyer actually entail? According to the attorney general’s official website, the office, currently occupied by Republican Bill Mims, “is charged with providing advice to state agencies and the governor; serving as consumer counsel for the people of the Commonwealth; defending criminal convictions on appeal to ensure that justice is served; and defending the laws of the Commonwealth when they are challenged on constitutional grounds.” The attorney general is one of only three statewide elected officers, the other two being the lieutenant governor and the governor. Virginia attorney generals serve four-year renewable terms. When a legal question comes before a state institution or the constitutionality of a state policy is in question, the Office of the Attorney General is responsible for providing the governor and other relevant officials with prescient counsel, directing them toward the path that best defends citizens’ rights while responsibly […]

   

• 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 […]

   

• New November Music: Like Autumn Leaves, New Albums Dropping all Month

  Lifestyle November 5, 2009 at 9:22 pm Comments are Disabled

  Patrick Wall and Pearson Jones, Style Editors Weezer – Raditude (11/3) Legendary nerd-rock quartet Weezer is back with their seventh album, Raditude. The lead single, “(If You’re Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To,” is as hooky as the name is long. Singer Rivers Cuomo retains his awkward charm while the band provides an energetic pop-punk background. Raditude has the potential to be the best summer album of the winter. Dashboard Confessional – Alter the Ending (11/10) Chris Carrabba, better known as the mastermind behind Dashboard Confessional, will release his sixth album, Alter the Ending. The lead single, “Belle of the Boulevard” has the same kind of heartfelt emotion of Carrabba’s older work, but feels more like his polished work from Of Dusk and Summer. Fans who have stuck by him thus far will likely be pleased with the new batch of songs. Three 6 Mafia – Laws of Power (11/10) Oscar-winning hip hop trio Three 6 Mafia (that title never gets old) return with their follow-up to last year’s smash Last 2 Walk with their tenth studio album, Laws of Power. The record features a litany of musicians ranging from Insane Clown Posse to Guns N’ […]