1.28.19- Fourth Estate

F O U RT H E S TAT E January 28, 2019

GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY'S STUDENT NEWSPAPER

Volume 6 Issue 12

DELIVERING THE FUTURE page18

ERA DIES IN THE VIRGINIA

HOUSE OF DELEGATES News page 4

MY PURPLE SHOES Sports page 9 MASON’S HOUSING

TROUBLES IN 2019 Culture page 14

MAKE AMERICA WORK AGAIN Opinions page 17 @ivestate | gmufourthestate.com

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01.28.2019

FOURTH ESTATE

GMUFOURTHESTATE.COM @IVESTATE

ALEXANDER SHEDD Editor-in-Chief

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

BASMA HUMADI Managing Editor IZZ LAMAGDELEINE Copy Chief

Dear Patriots, Welcome back! It’s definitely been an interesting week on campus with little robots hovering around, the main center of campus closing off and the Robinson building looking like a demolished and abandoned site.

Fourth Estate is also back yet again this semester, hoping to expand and build more on what we’ve been able to accomplish from the previous semesters. If you have any story ideas, suggestions or comments for the paper in general or are hoping to be a part of the team in any capacity, send us an email over at masonfourthestate@gmail.com.

This week you can read more about how a Mason student wrote a bill that was picked up by a Virginia legislator, Taco Bamba’s new University Mall location, opinions on the new delivery robots and catch up on what happened with Mason sports teams over the break.

On another note, the media industry lost about 1,000 jobs across the U.S. when companies like BuzzFeed, HuffPost and Gannett announced they would be reducing their staff sizes. Working in media isn’t typically an easy or stable job and my heart goes out to all the those that were laid off this past week.

LIZ ELKIND ZARA FAROUK SARAH LURIA BEN STOVNER Copy Editors DANA NICKEL News Editor ABIGAIL ADCOX Assistant News Editor MONICA ECHOLS Culture Editor HAILEY BULLIS Assistant Culture Editor CHRIS KERNAN-SCHMIDT Opinions Editor NATALIE HEAVREN Sports Editor DOMENIC ALLEGRA Assistant Sports Editor

Hope you all have had a good start to your semester so far and that all goes well!

LAUREN SULLIVAN Investigative Editor

Sincerely,

KRISTEN TALMAN GMU Korea Coordinator

Basma Humadi Managing Editor

ALLIE THOMPSON Photo Editor ALEXANDRIA MCALPINE Art Director BILLY FERGUSON Online Director LAURA SCUDDER Social Media Editors

We are always recruiting volunteers for: For all inquiries, please email - WRITERS - VIDEOGRAPHERS - ILLUSTRATORS - COPY EDITORS - PHOTOGRAPHERS

George Mason University Mail stop 2C5 4400 University Drive Fairfax, Va. 22030 Phone 703-993-2950

a resume and cover letter or sample to: masonfourthestate@gmail.com

Fourth Estate is printed each Monday for George Mason University and its surrounding Fairfax community.

The editors of Fourth Estate have exclusive authority over the content that is published.

There are no outside parties that play a role in the newspaper’s content, and should there be a question or complaint regarding this policy, the Editor-in-Chief should be notified at the email provided.

Fourth Estate is a free publication, limit one copy per person. Additional copies are 25 cents payable to the Office of Student Media.

DOMINIQUE BERNARDINO Multimedia Editor EMMETT SMITH Distribution Manager KATHRYN MANGUS Director DAVID CARROLL Associate Director JASON HARTSEL Assistant Director

COVER PHOTO CREDITS Alexander Shedd / Fourth Estate

NEWS

GMUFOURTHESTATE.COM @IVESTATE

01.28.2019

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LARGEST LABOR STRIKE IN INDIA TAKES PLACE Over 200 million workers strike for fair labor policies SAMI GIBBS STAFF WRITER

Prime Minister Modi, who promised more jobs during his campaign, also inflamed many Indians’ desire to strike. There are approximate-

campaigning for a second term.

This recent strike was organized and led by the same 10 unions that went on strike months earlier, after PHOTO COURTESY OF THEASIANPOST.CO.UK

Recently, 200 million workers went on strike in India. The two-day nationwide strike, which occurred Jan. 8 and 9, has been dubbed the biggest labor strike in the country’s history. This is India’s 18th-ever nationwide general strike against what many call “anti-worker” policies.

The first cause for the strike is the Trade Unions (Amendment) Bill proposed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government August 2018.

“While the bill proposes to give statutory recognition to labor unions from both the state and central government, it also seeks to give the respective governments wide-ranging discretionary powers in making that decision,” according to a MR Online article regarding the strike.

This bill marked the beginning of what many call “anti-labor” policies enacted under the current prime minister, Narendra Modi.

ly 520 million workers in India, and only about 10 percent are employed in formal enterprises.

issuing their 12-point charter of demands to revive workers’ rights and restore the economy. This time they were accompanied by farmers, independent workers and others calling for a change. As with last time, the unions are requesting

The strike was held just a few months before the general elections in which Prime Minister Modi and the BJP government are

the government meet their needs as stated in their 12-point charter.

place throughout the country and arrests and detainment were made.

Among the workers participating, seemingly all sectors were represented, public and private: agriculture, education, defense, postal and others.

Despite the diverse group of strikers, many workers were unable to join.

In Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, for example, the state governments denied permission for workers to strike. Those providing emergency services across the country were prevented from participating, as well.

Mason’s Indian Student Association (ISA) was asked for a comment but explained that, while they embrace their cultural similarities and have many celebratory events, they seldom discuss current events in India.

Considering its enormity, the strike has impacted everyday life for citizens.

Private buses and tourist taxis remained off the road, rail traffic was disrupted and schools and colleges were closed.

While some conflict occurred throughout the two-day strike, it was considered generally peaceful.

It has been reported that police and workers were injured, vandalism took

“Our organization does not like to take a political stance on issues,” a representative explained.

Separate from the organization, Isha Mahadeshwar, a freshman at Mason and ISA member, expressed her opinion.

“The government needs to be unbiased in terms of providing and improving job opportunities regardless of income and status in society,” stated Mahadeshwar. She concluded, “I hope that Modi keeps his word about the future of India, and I hope that the government takes action soon.”

STUDENT’S BILL PICKED UP BY VIRGINIA HOUSE Ashley Stewart’s bill aims to reinstate discretionary parole

JACK HARVEY STAFF WRITER

She went on to say that she hopes that this bill leads to the rethinking and reinstatement of discretionary parole in the state of Virginia.

A proposal for a bill written by a Mason student was picked up by a member of the Virginia House of Delegates Jan. 9. The bill, HJ 644, was submitted by Ashley Stewart, a sophomore double majoring in government and international politics and conflict analysis and resolution. The bill, sponsored by 39th House District Delegate Vivian Watts (D), is currently in subcommittee.

“My bill would be a study on whether or not to reinstate discretionary parole in the Commonwealth of Virginia,”

Discretionary parole is parole granted before an offender completes their full sentence. Virginia is one of several states not to have discretionary parole.

It was abolished as a result of a policy known as “truth in sentencing,” promoted by the federal government in 1994.

This policy was to ensure that inmates serve the full sentences given to them in court, rather than allowing them release through early parole. Virginia’s current policy requires that inmates serve at least 85 percent of their sentences before being offered parole.

“The abolition of parole in 1995

created a multitude of unintended consequences. …[It] made a correctional system which is ineffective, expensive, and unfair for Virginians,” Stewart said.

Stewart argued that Virginia’s current discretionary parole policy leads to overcrowding in state jails and prisons.

Furthermore, she thinks the elimination of discretionary parole has had a negative effect on inmates, enforcing

PHOTO COURTESY OF ASHLEY STEWART

FOURTH ESTATE ALLIE THOMPSON

explained Stewart. “We abolished discretionary parole in 1995. The purpose of this study in particular would be to fill a data and statistics gap that was left by a 2015 review commission.”

severe punishments for fairly minor offenses and creating a situation in which any reformative effects of incarceration are diminished.

“Parole gives inmates a chance to integrate,” Stewart said. “We have stopped giving inmates good behavior credit, so when you’re an 85-percenter (sic), regardless of what you do, you’re going to be there for 85 percent of your sentence so you have no incentive to

participate in rehabilitation programs.”

Stewart’s efforts were in conjunction with Roosevelt Lobbies, an event organized by Roosevelt @ Mason, a self-described progressive student-run think tank based at Mason. Stewart traveled with several other students to the Virginia General Assembly to lobby for her bill on Jan. 17.

“The members of the [Roosevelt] board set up several meetings for us to go talk to representatives or members of staff to talk about bills that our members have written,” said Stewart.

“We had 13 meetings that day. …It can be kind of intimidating when you’re trying to talk to elected officials about policy, especially if you’re new to the whole political field.”

Stewart is hopeful her bill will make it to the House floor.

“While I hope dearly that my bill passes,” she said. “There is still a possibility that it dies in subcommittee, but … I’ve heard a multitude of things.

Fingers crossed that it passes.”

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NEWS

01.28.2019

GMUFOURTHESTATE.COM @IVESTATE

ERA DIES IN VIRGINIA HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE

Opponents celebrate as supporters look toward 2019 elections ABIGAIL ADCOX ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

If Virginia had passed the ERA, it would have reached the required three-quarters of states to officially make it an amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The ERA would mandate that “Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex,” per Section 1. Many are unaware that the Constitution does not currently give protection from sex discrimination.

The failing vote comes as a shock to ERA activists and supporters who thought they had gained enough momentum across party lines to pass the resolution. One advocacy campaign, VAratifyERA, used a

it out of subcommittee following similar failed efforts from past years in the Virginia House of Delegates.

FOURTH ESTATE ALEXANDRIA MCALPINE

Efforts for Virginia to become the 38th and final state needed to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) into the U.S. constitution died in the Virginia House of Delegates’ Privileges and Elections Subcommittee on Tuesday, Jan. 22 in a 4-2 vote.

“This resolution has come after this committee year after year, meaning we are very aware of this resolution, and it’s a thoroughly understood issue,” argued Subcommittee Chairwoman Margaret B. Ransone (R-Westmoreland) in a speech ahead of the vote. “I don’t need words on a piece of paper—God made us all equal.”

Other opponents of the amendment cited that it would make it harder to limit women’s access to abortions or separate bathrooms based on gender, among other issues.

statewide bus tour last November to gain support for the amendment, including a stop at Mason.

Activists had reason to be hopeful: A poll conducted by the Watson Center for Public Policy published on Dec. 5 found that 81 percent of Virginia voters support the ERA.

The ERA was first introduced by Alice Paul in 1923, but the amendment

Despite the seemingly overwhelming support, the bill failed to make

made little congressional progress until the 1970s, when it fell three states short of the 38 required to ratify it. The amendment’s validity has been called into question in recent efforts, since the ratification deadline imposed by Congress passed in 1982.

States that have made advances toward ratifying the ERA in recent years include Arizona, Florida, North Carolina and Utah, among others.

Supporters of the ERA are now looking toward the upcoming elections this fall, hoping to both vote opponents of the bill out of power and to flip control of the House of Delegates in Democrats’ favor. Every seat in the General Assembly will be up for re-election on the ballot come this November.

“If we can’t change their minds, we change their seats,” said Jennifer Carroll Foy (D-Woodbridge), a proponent of the bill, in a statement following the vote.

THIS WEEK IN POLITICS Monday, Jan. 21 California Democrat Sen. Kamala Harris announces her bid for presidency in 2020.

Delta Air Lines Foundation provides a private grant to ensure Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park in Atlanta is open for the holiday despite the government shutdown.

Tuesday, Jan. 22 Supreme Court rules to allow the ban preventing transgender individuals from serving in the military to go into effect.

Wednesday, Jan. 23 President Trump concedes not to deliver the State of the Union Address until the government shutdown has ended.

Thursday, Jan. 24 Venezuela is a country divided after opposition leader Juan Guaidó declares himself president. The United States, among other world leaders, backs Guaidó.

Friday, Jan. 25 Bipartisan negotiations with the White House have led to an agreement to temporarily end the government shutdown, funding the government through Feb. 15.

NEWS

GMUFOURTHESTATE.COM @IVESTATE

01.28.2019

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STUDY SHOWS INCREASING ACCEPTANCE OF CLIMATE CHANGE Mason and Yale gather data on climate-change beliefs

COLLIN COPE STAFF WRITER

Climate change has played an increasingly significant role in U.S. politics in recent decades. As science has increasingly supported climate change as reality, more people are acknowledging it. However, despite the increasing data supporting the existence of climate change, there are still people arguing against it.

A new report from Yale and Mason attests to the growing acceptance of climate change. According to the study, “across the three surveys, 8 [percent] of Americans had recently changed their opinion about global warming.”

opinion

about

global

warming?”

Furthermore, the study showed that 10 percent of women had changed their opinion versus 6 percent of men, as well 9 percent of those who graduated high school and 9 percent of those who have some college experience.

The study also clarified that 84 percent of the Americans who

Among experts in the field, 97 percent “agree that climate-warming trends over the past century are very likely due to human activities,” according to NASA. Satellites have allowed scientists to see how the increased levels of greenhouse gases can be contributing to shrinking ice sheets in the poles,

the Global Warming Policy Foundation (GWPF), Matt Ridley.

“A cumulative change of less than 2 degrees Celsius by the end of this century will do no net harm,” he wrote in an article for The Wall Street Journal. “It will actually do net good. …[Rainfall] will increase slightly, growing seasons will

However, the study also discovered that a noticeable amount of those 65 years or older have recently changed their views. 11 percent answered yes to the question, “Over the past year, have you changed your

PHOTO COURTESY OF GEORGE MASON POLICE

MASON WEEKLY CRIME LOG

FOURTH ESTATE ALEXANDRIA MCALPINE

Among Americans as a whole, 73 percent believe in global climate change. Many argue it should not be a partisan issue.

In the index, the U.S. was ranked as “very low” suggesting poor climate policies, which the index states could be contributed to “the refusal of President Trump to acknowledge climate change being human-caused, and his dismantling of regulation designed to reduce carbon emissions”.

U.S. News & World Report suggested five steps that the U.S. could take to combat climate change which included “a greenhouse gas fee, establishing a National Green Bank, increasing investments in public transportation, repealing the exemptions from the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act and getting rid of fossil fuel subsidies.”

While the study is scientific, the issue of climate change has become increasingly political over the years.

According to a poll by CBS News, only “one-third of Republicans” believe that the effects of climate change are already happening, compared to “[82] percent of Democrats.”

best working climate policies and where others are lacking or could improve their polices is the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI).

changed their views had become more concerned, rather than less concerned, about climate change.

warming ocean temperatures and an overall global temperature rise.

lengthen, Greenland’s ice cap will melt only very slowly and so on.”

Opponents of science include

One effort that has been made to highlight which countries have the

an

climate-change advisor to

“I would say the most important group that needs to agree would be the biggest producers of greenhouse gases, the USA (is one of them),” said Jennifer Lewis, a professor and Ph.D. candidate at Mason. “Without our acceptance these (sic) won’t be reduced, and without reduction it is certain there will be major impacts globally including loss of food and livable land for millions of people.”

Wednesday, Jan. 23- Fairfax Campus, 7:32 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 23- Fairfax Campus, 11:33 a.m.

Drug/Narcotic Violations: Two subjects (GMU) were referred to Office of Student Conduct (OSC) for possessing illegal drugs.

Stalking: Complainant (GMU) reported receiving unwanted contact from a known subject (GMU) on multiple occasions.

Case 2019-000587- Referred to OSC

Case 2019-000560- Referred to Title IX

Wednesday, Jan. 23- Fairfax Campus, 4:30-6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 23- Fairfax Campus, 11:33 a.m.

Larceny: Complainant (GMU) reported the theft of an unsecured bicycle from a bike rake.

Stalking: Complainant (GMU) reported receiving unwanted contact from a known subject (GMU) on multiple occasions.

Case 2019-000586- Inactive

Case 2019-000560- Referred to Title IX

Wednesday, Jan. 23- Arlington Campus, 7:12 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 22- Fairfax Campus, 7:34 a.m.

Driving Under the Influence/ Drug/ Narcotic Violations/ Destruction/ Damage/ Vandalism of Property: Subject (GMU) was arrested and transported to Fairfax County Adult Detention Center for driving a vehicle while intoxicated and possessing illegal drugs.

Case 2019-000448- Cleared by arrest

Disorderly Conduct: Subject (Non-GMU) was issued a criminal trespass warning for acting disorderly in public.

Case 2019-000584- Closed

6

SPORTS

01.28.2019

GMUFOURTHESTATE.COM @IVESTATE @IVESTATE_SPORTS

A BADGE OF HONOR Rebekah Schmidt talks being a woman in the male-dominated athletic training field Of the 353 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball programs across the country, a mere 28 of them currently have a female athletic trainer—7.9 percent.

Mason’s Men’s Basketball team boasts one of their own in Rebekah Schmidt, who was promoted to associate head athletic trainer role in August 2018 after joining the university’s athletic training staff in 2014. Schmidt also works with the Men’s Tennis team.

“It’s a badge of honor, because you’re so few,” she remarked. “At most places, Division I Men’s Basketball is the premier sport, so being at the premier level and being the face of that sometimes—it’s nice to be one of the few females.”

However, Schmidt’s introduction into the field of athletic training was not as pleasant. In high school, she suffered a hip injury that developed into hip dysplasia and a torn labrum. A negligent athletic trainer at her school attributed it to her being “a weak girl” and told her that she “should just suck it up.”

“I’ve had three major hip surgeries since then, so I just knew there had to be better professionals in the field,” she said. “I knew other people had issues and wanted to be heard, and I wanted to be a better advocate for those people.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF MASON ATHLETICS

Schmidt got her start at Marist College in New York, where she served as assistant athletic trainer for three years and worked directly with their Men’s Lacrosse, Men’s and Women’s Swimming and Diving, and Women’s Soccer teams. She also assisted with

football. However, she never envisioned being part of a basketball staff.

department, especially for fresh faces such as Schmidt.

“I actually hated working basketball when I first started,” Schmidt said. “I just thought I would get bored with 15 people, and that’s young, naïve and not realizing everything goes into it, compared to when you have 100 people on a football team.”

“The A-10 was definitely a step up from where I was working,” she said.

“Barry’s a DII school, where they’re highly competitive, but it is DII. It is a challenging conference to be in, and that puts more pressure on everybody associated with it.”

The close-knit environment of Mason’s Men’s Basketball program enables her to have a better understanding of each player’s medical history, down to the particulars like food allergies and other specificities.

As associate head athletic trainer, Schmidt’s primary responsibilities are assisting players in the rehabilitation process as well as working to mitigate future injuries.

“You just know so much that you can give such detailed and well-balanced healthcare that, when you have 100 people, I won’t know every single thing about that,” Schmidt said. “It’s just impossible.”

Before coming to Mason, Schmidt spent a year in the Sunshine State Conference as assistant athletic trainer at Barry University in Miami, Florida, where she worked directly with their Men’s Basketball and Baseball teams.

During her time at Barry, she administered rehabilitation programs, imaging for student-athletes, injury-tracking software and new concussion management documentation, as well as teaching two classes as an adjunct professor.

Making the jump back up to a Division I university can offer a change of pace, especially when a school is transitioning into a new conference.

Mason joined the Atlantic 10 in 2013, presenting a new challenge for those involved in the university’s athletics

“Prevention is obviously a huge deal,” Schmidt said. “It’s not just when the injury happens, [and] we’re rehabbing it and figuring out what’s wrong and fixing it. It’s also about, ‘What can we do to prevent any of these injuries from ever happening?’ We do a lot of functional movement screens looking at what they are predisposed to.”

“If you’re not in this every day, you don’t know what’s involved with that,” head coach Dave Paulsen said.

He continued, “There’s hardly ever a day off for her, but I think she loves it. She’s got a great rapport with these guys, and they really respect her because they know she’s very qualified and good at what she does, but beyond that, they know how much she cares.”

Schmidt has been a constant source of support for redshirt junior Jarred Reuter, who was forced to sit out last season due to the NCAA’s transfer rules.

“For me … it’s probably at least 45 minutes with her every day since I’ve been here, so she’s been incredible to work with,” he said. “Just the amount of time she puts in, and of everyone, she probably doesn’t get much recognition. She’s in there early, at least an hour before every practice and an hour after every practice, solely to take care of us. She’s incredibly appreciated here. It might go a bit unnoticed outside of the program, but within the program, we truly value her.”

This season the Patriots have faced injuries to two of their starters, Jaire Grayer and Goanar Mar. Grayer is struggling to come back from an offseason operation on his foot and Mar suffered a foot fracture in early January.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MASON ATHLETICS

ZACH SEAY STAFF WRITER

The rehab process is long hours for Schmidt and the players, but they work hand-in-hand with the strength and conditioning department to get back on the court as soon as possible.

Working at the collegiate level allows Schmidt to adopt a role as a parentaway-from-home for the athletes she oversees, compared to the professional level, where the occupation of an athlete presents a risk/reward scenario of contracts and player health. “[What] I like about Mason is I would never want to work in professional sports or that next level,” she said.

“At this level, I get to always make the best medical choice for my athlete. …

As much as they’re adults in college, they’re still kids, and I get to look out for their long-term wellbeing.”

Being a part of such a limited group within Division I Men’s Basketball is an achievement that Schmidt takes pride in, but she is quick to acknowledge the work of those who have come before her in paving the way for other women to have a place in men’s college basketball.

“It’s definitely a unique experience, and I definitely give credit to those who came before me,” said Schmidt.

“Mason has had female athletic trainers for a while, starting with Debi Corbatto, who was here during the Final Four [run], and now she’s our senior associate athletic director.”

However, not everyone whom Schmidt encounters is as welcoming and respectful as those at Mason and in their conference as a whole.

“You do get the old-man society a lot, and most male men’s basketball athletic trainers are the 60-year-old

men that have [been] in the field for a really long time,” Schmidt said. “You’ll get the eye, or I’ll get questions about, ‘Are you a GA [graduate assistant]?

Where’s the actual athletic trainer?’

So you’ll get some of that. But also, I’m a strong woman, and I know that I have the knowledge base, and I know that I’m good at my job, so those little comments don’t mean anything to me.”

For Paulsen, Schmidt’s status as a woman is not the defining factor when it comes to her work. “She’s just really, really good. I’ve been fortunate to have some good athletic trainers, but none have ever been better, I can say that,” he said. “Yes, she’s a woman, but you don’t think about, ‘We have a female athletic trainer.’ We just have an unbelievably good athletic trainer.”

Schmidt’s advice for younger women who are looking to enter an industry where they are underrepresented is about how you conduct yourself as well as paying respect to the trailblazers in your respective field.

“The way that you hold yourself, and if you hold yourself as a professional, people are going to see you as a professional no matter your gender,” Schmidt explained. “I also think that finding mentors and making sure that you give respect to those people who come before you, that helps you a lot on the way, too. One of the first female athletic trainers [Carolyn Greer] was at San Diego years ago, and Georgetown [has] one of the first [female] men’s basketball athletic trainers [Lorry Michel], and she definitely paved the way for me to be where I am. So you have to give credit to those people, and that can be for any field.”

SPORTS

GMUFOURTHESTATE.COM @IVESTATE @IVESTATE_SPORTS

01.28.2019

7

GIVE IT YOUR BEST SHOT Sophomore standout breaks the weight throw record and hopes to do it again

Some things just run in the family.

Sophomore thrower Benjamin Viau’s father was a thrower at Millersville University, and when his son started high school, Viau encouraged him to give it a shot because he thought he’d be good at it. And he was.

“So freshman year, I was on the junior varsity team, which is [grades] seven through nine,” Viau said “Since it was my first year, they didn’t move me up, because they didn’t know I would be pretty good. After that, I was like, ‘Yeah, I’m excited to go to varsity.’

After sophomore year, I was like, ‘I want to do this in college.’”

Viau did not tour Mason for the first time by choice. While on the way back from the New Balance National Meet in North Carolina, his parents insisted he visit a school.

They chose Mason.

He reflected on it, saying, “It was just what I wanted. It was just the only one that really stood out to me. I didn’t actually choose it for track. I just chose it because I liked the school and they had a track team.”

Viau competed in seven indoor meets and nine outdoor meets as a freshman, finishing the seasons with nine top 10 performances and eight top 10 performances, respectively.

He also earned a silver medal in the discus throw with a personal best mark of 49.67 meters at the Atlantic 10 Championships May 2. However, Viau expected more from himself during his first collegiate season.

“I actually expected to do a little better my freshman year, but the whole adjusting-to-college in general and weight-room stuff completely messed me up, because I wasn’t used to that much training,” said Viau. “But I wasn’t really disappointed last year, and this year, I thought I would do significantly better than last year with the adjusting and being used to lifting and all that.”

Viau set a new Mason record in the weight throw at the Father Diamond Invitational, the first indoor meet of the season. The record may not stand long though, as he has several more meets this season as well as two additional full seasons to continue to break his own record.

“I expected him to break the record, but doing it the first week out was pretty awesome, which sets him up for a good season,” said assistant coach Becky Hartley.

Hartley went on to say, “Oh, he’ll break that again. He’s just a sophomore. I think he should go after the shot put and discus records, but I think his teammates will have something to say about that.”

He currently holds fourth place in the indoor shot put, while his teammate Jaylen Simmons is in third. Viau is currently third on Mason’s all-time list in discus, while Simmons is in sixth.

And Simmons is fifth in outdoor shot put, while Viau is just behind him in sixth.

It was Hartley who told Viau he had broken the school record, but he didn’t find out by how much until later in the meet.

“I knew I broke the record because I thought they said it was 16 meters 60 [centimeters], but it was 17 meters 60 [centimeters] and I had no idea I broke 17,” he said. “So I was happy I broke the school record. I was hype. And then my teammates were all high-fives and chest bumps and stuff. [It was] not until almost the next round [was] over that I realized I threw 17-60. I had no idea, and Coach was like, ‘You had no idea you threw 17, and you were that happy?’ and I was like, ‘Yeah, I broke the school record.’”

He added, “It’s doable, so I’ll do that.

For shot put, I’d like to get top two if my teammate Jaylen doesn’t throw really far, because he’s number three right now. I want to pass him in the spring at the latest this year.”

When asked what he likes best about throwing, Viau said, “The fact that it’s low-key, I think, fits me, because I don’t really like being in the spotlight a lot. With throwing, yeah, you’re the only one in a circle at a given time, and everyone’s watching you, but you just kind of zone them out.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF MASON ATHLETICS

PHOTO COURTESY OF MASON ATHLETICS

NATALIE HEAVREN SPORTS EDITOR

Viau’s goals for the rest of the season are simple: “Another school record in the discus.”

POST-WINTER BREAK SPORTS UPDATE NATALIE HEAVREN SPORTS EDITOR

Track and Field Both the Men’s and Women’s Track and Field teams have started the Indoor season off on the right foot, performing well in their first three meets of the season and tallying 11 Atlantic 10 Weekly Awards.

The teams opened their season at the Father Diamond Invitational, where Benjamin Viau broke the school record to win the weight throw. University of Virginia transfer Thomas Amabile won both the mile and the 3,000-meter run in his Mason Indoor debut.

For the women, Autumn White won the pole vault. The 4x800-meter women’s relay team of Sarah Moore, Maggie Morgan, Kelly-Ann Downer and Ashley Lewis won their race with an ECAC qualifying time of 9:13:59.

Both teams put together another

impressive the following week at the Great Dane Classic.

Blaine Lacey won the 800-meter run and Amabile won the 5,000 meters.

Evander Pierre, Kornelius Klah and Tyler Benson posted the three best collegiate performances at the meet, finishing second, third and fifth respectively.

On the women’s side, Moore and Lewis finished first and second in the 500-meter run while Ciara Donohue won the 5,000 meters. The women’s 4x400 relay of Downer, Moore, Lewis and Taylor Williams came in first, nearly eight seconds faster than LIU Brooklyn who came in second.

The Patriots had several strong performances at the Keydet Invitational from Jan. 18-19. Lacey and Colin Cannon both ran faster than the previous facility record in the 1,000-meter run

on the men’s side, while Lewis set a new record on the women’s side. The men’s 4x400-meter relay team of Ian Christian, Pierre, Klah and Benson finished second.

Wrestling Wrestling competed in several meets over break going 4-2, finishing 16th in the Southern Scuffle. The team went 1-1 against Eastern Wrestling League opponents, defeating Cleveland State University on Jan. 10 while falling to Clarion University a week later.

They take on Rider University on Jan. 31 at the RAC and have six opponents left on their schedule, including the University of Maryland, American University and Hofstra University before they host the EWL Championships on March 9th.

Men’s Volleyball

Swimming

The men’s volleyball team are off to a 5-1 start, with their lone loss coming to No. 3 University of California Irvine at the Uvaldo Acosta Invitational. Six days later they beat No. 11 Ohio State University in Columbus, snapping the Buckeyes’ 16-match winning streak against the Patriots, a streak that dates back to 2010.

The men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams competed in their last home match of the season and their first meet of the season as a team since the Patriot Invitational in mid-November. Both the men’s and women’s team defeated American University and Old Dominion but fell to Army.

After defeating Ohio State and Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association opponent College of Charleston, Mason was listed as No. 14 in the AVCA DI-DII Coaches Poll, the team’s first ranking since Feb. 13, 2017.

Outside hitter Hayden Wagner was named Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association Offensive Player of the Week two weeks in a row. Wagner leads the team in kills and blocks, is third on the team in service aces and fifth on the team in digs.

On Jan. 22, Ryan Donnelly was named A-10 Men’s Swimming and Diving Co-Performer of the Week after winning the 200-yard backstroke (1:49.16) and placing second in the 100-yard backstroke (50.67) at the quad meet.

The men’s team finished the season with a record of 7-1, including 4-0 against A-10 opponents. The women’s team finished the season 8-2, including 5-1 against A-10 opponents.

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BASKETBALL OVER THE BREAK

NATALIE HEAVREN SPORTS EDITOR

After taking leads into the fourth quarter during each of their first four conference games, the Patriots failed to take home a win until their game against the University of Massachusetts on Jan. 16. This included giving up 32 fourth-quarter points to St. Bonaventure University at home on Jan. 10.

“The first three games were disappointing but obviously you look at the entire body of work, it’s been pretty good,”said head coach Nyla Milleson.

“We just had a really, really poor fourth quarter against Davidson and a really, really poor fourth quarter against St. Bonaventure,” She continued, “I’ve said all year our margin of error is pretty small and we’ve just got to stay focused, particularly on the defensive end. That’s what we need to control in those quarters.”

Mason also beat George Washington University for the first time since December 2011, after losing 13 straight games to the Colonials.

FOURTH ESTATE DOMENIC ALLEGRA

Jacy Bolton reflected on what it meant

seventh in the conference in assists per game with 3.3.

Over winter break, Men’s Basketball went 6-2. This includes a 5-1 start to conference play, the team’s best start since joining the A-10 prior to the start of the 2013-2014 season. The team’s two losses were at Kansas State University on Dec. 29 and at home against Davidson on Jan. 9.

Despite the slow start to conference play, Mason basketball has continued their domination on the glass. The Patriots currently grab the second most rebounds per game in the conference, and their 47.7 rebounds per game puts them for 30th in the country.

“It’s very important [to get off to a good start in conference play] because we play in one of the most competitive conferences in the nation,” said head coach Dave Paulsen. “To win in this league requires a tremendous amount of focus from our student-athletes and coaching staff. I have been pleased with our game preparation so far and I think it is the reason why we are off to a good start. But we still have a lot of work to do and the goal of our team will be to continue to improve each game.”

Part of their success on the glass can be attributed to Bolton, who averages a conference-high 8.7 rebounds per game.

Bolton has recorded six double-doubles this season, after recording just one in her first two seasons. She had a careerhigh 17 rebounds on Dec. 31 against the College of Charleston as well as a career-high five blocks in the Patriots’ Jan. 6 loss to Davidson.

Justin Kier got off to a strong start in conference play, including two Atlantic 10 Player of the Week awards. Over break, the junior averaged 18.1 points, 10 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 35.8 minutes of game. He also recorded five double-doubles. Over this stretch, he has emerged as an Atlantic 10 Player of the Year candidate.

The Patriots are also second in the conference in scoring, averaging 66.8 points per game. This is in part to reigning Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year Nicole Cardaño-Hillary, who is averaging 19.9 points per game this season and 20.7 points per game in conference play.

“It’s been a lot of fun to watch Justin take his game to the next level in A-10 play,” said Paulsen. “Since he stepped foot on campus, I’ve pushed him and challenged him, because I knew he had the opportunity to become an excellent all-around player. He’s been

Cardaño-Hillary also leads the conference in steals with 2.3 per game and is

a contributor from day one for our team, and to see that impact continue to grow has certainly been a treat for our staff.”

On Jan. 12 the team announced on Twitter that Goanar Mar was undergoing surgery to correct a foot fracture, and would be out indefinitely.

While many fans wondered how the team would handle the loss of Mar, who started 48 out of 49 games as a Patriot, they would not have to wait long in order to find out.

The next day against the University of Rhode Island, Jordan Miller, who appeared to be redshirting this season, checked into the game and was able to make an immediate impact. In his first three games, he averaged 10 points in 24.7 minutes and made all six of his free throw attempts.

Throughout their first six conference g a m e s, Mason is first in the conference in free throw percentage. This is in part due to Otis Livingston II and Javon Greene, who are 23rd and 24th in the country in free throw percentage and the top two in the A-10.

It’s important to remember that these student-athletes are students first, so the end of winter break is a time of transition, getting back to balancing classes, practices and traveling.

Paulsen said, “It’s critical that our student-athletes continue to make strides in the classroom now that the semester has started. During winter break, their primary focus is solely on basketball. Now during their time on campus and on road trips, the emphasis comes back to academics and the importance of putting forth their best effort in that area.”

Milleson believes that playing during the semester may be better in some ways for her players.

“Honestly, I think [going back to classes] is probably a positive thing,” she said. “Although the stress of the academics and that sort of thing— because we’re a very good academic team—but I think we also have some student-athletes that thrive a little bit better under a little bit more structure and the daily routine, so I think that helps. I think it’s been really good having this week off, we’ve gotten some rest but yet still being able to have good practices and getting started on school.”

“I think it was nice to get back in a routine, like having practice again with classes and what not and trying to balance that,” said Bolton. “Like we don’t really have the numbers this year so just being able to get a whole week to recover was really nice.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF MASON ATHLETICS

Over the winter break, Women’s Basketball went 4-4 over break, 2-3 to start conference play.

to beat George Washington saying, “It goes to show on any given night anybody in the A-10 can win, using that and building off of it. And the A-10 is messed up this year, really anybody is beatable, SLU [Saint Louis University] just beat Dayton [University] in triple-overtime.”

FOURTH ESTATE DOMENIC ALLEGRA

Winter break may mean rest and relaxation for many students. But for Men’s and Women’s Basketball student-athletes, it meant the final non-conference games and the start of Atlantic 10 (A-10) play.

SPORTS

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01.28.2019

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MY PURPLE SHOES

Men’s Volleyball’s Hayden Wagner shares his motivation for why he steps on to the court DOMENIC ALLEGRA ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

However, what most do not know is that it was his sister Diana who inspired him to pursue both the sport and medical field.

In the early days of Wagner’s volleyball career, it was Diana who inspired him to try out the sport. It was Diana who pushed him to improve and improve.

But much to his dismay, those days are nothing but a blur to Diana now.

When she was in seventh grade, Diana was diagnosed with ring chromosome 20 syndrome (RC20).

According to the National Institute of Health, “Ring chromosome 20 syndrome is a condition that affects the normal development and function of the brain. The most common feature of this condition is recurrent seizures (epilepsy) in childhood.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF MASON ATHLETICS

“I would say definitely [from] my freshman year on she was definitely a role model in my life, in the way she

After enrolling at Mason, Wagner came in as a nursing major and tried to do both volleyball and the nursing degree track, but he changed his mind.

“I just couldn’t do both,” he said.

Even after changing to a degree in finance, nursing has a special place in his Wagner’s heart. While doctors would attend to his sister once or twice a week, nurses were also on call 24/7 to attend to her.

Seeing those nurses help her inspired him to want to help others as much as possible. Wagner shows he is still impacted by Diana on the court, but not in the way most would think.

If fans were to visit the RAC and see Wagner in action, they would notice something different about his uniform: his purple and lime green shoes.

“My sister [is] the whole story behind my purple and lime green shoes,” Wagner said. “She played volleyball before her epilepsy stages, so that’s why I wear purple. It’s the color of epilepsy, and lime green was her favorite color.”

Wagner also sports the number 22, which his sister wore during her volleyball years.

“She was definitely a big person who pushed me to pursue my dreams of volleyball, and she’s definitely a person

I always remember when I step onto the court and use that as motivation,” Wagner said.

When he first came to Mason, Wagner had two goals in mind. “We’re here to win a conference championship and win a national championship,” he said.

After the Patriots’ early exit from the EIVA playoffs last year, Wagner said, “I know it was a disappointment to come out and lose in the first round of the playoffs to Princeton, but we set a lot of records last year. We were 13-1 in the conference, [and it was] the first time hosting the EIVA championships in the modern scoring era, which was a big deal for us.”

Wagner said, “I’m not satisfied with last year. We didn’t win. 13-1 was great, but we [have] got to do better this year and finish.”

Now off to a 6-1 overall record, Mason is now ranked No. 14 in the country after taking down No. 11 Ohio State on Jan. 18.

In that match, the two teams split the first two sets. Then Wagner stepped up in the third set, taking complete control of the match.

Head coach Jay Hosack stressed the importance of his performance, saying, “Last year we had a ‘go-to’ player, and it was Jack Wilson in the opposite position. It’s nice to be able to have

PHOTO COURTESY OF MASON ATHLETICS

“I wasn’t really sure if I wanted to continue to play volleyball past high school, and I was thinking, ‘Well, I’m just going to focus on school,’” Wagner said.

fought through her epilepsy,” Wagner said.

somebody that you can go, ‘Hey, we’re in trouble,’ and go chuck him a ball in the air and beat [our] way out of it. …

Every great program has at least one of those guys, and Hayden has become that guy for us.”

Wagner finished that match with 17 kills, seven more than any other player on the team, and hit over .300 to close out the contest.

“We came into that match knowing we were going to win that match,” Wagner said. “Whether it was three sets, four sets, or five sets, we knew that we were going to come out with a ‘W.’” He now leads the EIVA with 112 kills on the season, 30 more than Saint

Francis’ Michael Fisher, who has 82.

Wagner is also averaging 4.48 kills per set, which is second in the conference.

Wagner describes his team impact as “Just playing my game. I have individual goals that I want to achieve, and I keep them in mind when I come into the gym and work my hardest every day, but it’s really about trusting the process. I might have a bad day like I had yesterday or the day before, but I got to wake up the next day and know what to change.”

There’s one thing however, that will never change.

“My purple shoes.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF MASON ATHLETICS

After choosing Mason, Hayden Wagner knew he had a difficult decision to make: either continue to play volleyball or pursue a nursing degree and give up the sport he loves.

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SATISFYING STUDENTS’ CRAVINGS, ONE TACO AT A TIME

Checking in with the taqueria. How has business been & what’s to come?

ANGELIQUE ARINTOK STAFF WRITER

Chef Victor Albisu, owner of the franchise, is a Mason alum who fought for a spot across the Fairfax campus.

There were many opportunities for Albisu to open a location near other college campuses. He passed on all of those to ultimately bring his hometown a taste of Taco Bamba.

“It’s so nice to be back in the neighborhood and the Mason community,” said Albisu.

Originally from the Fairfax County area, Albisu gives back through his range of traditional and unique takes on Mexican fare. The Taco Bamba menu includes simple tacos with carne asada, chorizo and barbacoa. Among those, some more quirky options are Ol’ Mick Nugget and Mr. Chow tacos.

Some Mason students have frequented Taco Bamba, trying out its plenty options of food and drinks since the grand opening on Dec. 6. Senior communication major Lauren Sullivan and senior criminology, law & society major Tyler Seay shared that they went a total of three times to the restaurant on opening weekend alone.

Sullivan is a huge fan of the taqueria, from their nachos and fries to their specialty tacos.

“The food is so fresh, tasty and affordable for college students,” said Sullivan.

Seay says he had never had Taco Bamba prior to their opening at University Mall.

“I try to get a new thing every time [I go] because everything sounds so good,” said Seay.

With the store’s loud music, wide variety of menu items and non-traditional concoctions, Albisu says it’s not the “quintessential family restaurant.”

Since Mason is where his creative ideas started to foster, the support Taco Bamba is garnering from the Fairfax community is rewarding both professionally and personally.

“It’s super inspiring and it makes me gratified to be in [this] environment,” said Albisu.

While being generous with food options, Albisu is also slowly implementing a new and sweet addition to the menu—crispy churros.

Sub-mariner taco. Implementing pieces of Mason and the Fairfax area to his menu is just one of Albisu’s touches to personalize the location.

Since the grand opening, Albisu also shares that the top hits among customers are the Patriot fries, Robinson Ramen taco and the Savage

The relationship Albisu and Taco Bamba has built with the local community is only starting, satisfying students’ cravings one taco at a time.

To see young adults in the area with big hopes and dreams, just like he did attending Mason—Albisu says this inspiration drives him to make Taco Bamba the best it can be.

“We try our best to be very generous with our food, flavors and textures,” said Albisu.

FOURTH ESTATE ANGELIQUE ARINTOK

It’s been nearly two months since Taco Bamba’s University Mall location opened for business. Along with Fairfax, other locations of the taqueria are in Springfield and Washington, D.C., just to name a few.

With this in mind, some new additions are making their way into the menu.

Moving forward, the taqueria is offering all-day breakfast items with hours of operation from 8:30 a.m. until 10 p.m. for the Fairfax spot.

The all-day breakfast items include a breakfast taco, tinga tostada, carnitas huevos rancheros and more.

JANUARY HOROSCOPES

Start the semester off right with these New Year’s resolutions ideas for each sign

FOURTH ESTATE ALEXANDRIA MCALPINE

MONICA ECHOLS CULTURE EDITOR

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) - Happy Aquarius season. As one of the most creative and eccentric signs, you are constantly coming up with new ideas for projects. However, you might not always follow through with them. This year, try to complete at least one idea that you start.

resolution, you should try to break out of your comfort zone and try a new hobby.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) Although Pisces tend to possess many artistic talents, they are often shy and afraid of criticism. Try to overcome your fear this year and share your talents with your community.

Cancer (June 21-July 22) Emotional Cancers can sometimes find it hard to speak their mind. This year, try to stand up for yourself more and tell people how you really feel.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) - Like the other water signs, Scorpios are sensitive, which can sometimes make them a little unforgiving when they get hurt.

Start this year off on a positive note by releasing a grudge or forgiving someone who has wronged you in the past.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) - Bold, confident Leos may appear fearless on the outside, but everyone is afraid of something. Test your bravery by doing something that scares you.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) - Free-spirited Sagittarians love to explore, but this year, try to channel your energy into chasing your dreams instead of the next adventure.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) - Virgos have amazing critical thinking skills, which can sometimes result in them being too critical of themselves. Make 2019 the year where you stop being so hard on yourself and work on your

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) - Hardworking Capricorns can sometimes come across as shy or detached from others. Make it a goal this year to get out and socialize more.

Aries (March 21-April 19) Energetic Aries are constantly on the go, but even this fire sign can get burned out if they aren’t careful. In 2019, make sure to slow down and practice patience.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) - Those born under the Taurus sign are known for being stubborn and staying in their comfort zone. For your New Year’s

Gemini (May 21-June 20) - Chatty Geminis naturally have a knack for words. Make it a goal this year to try to learn a new language so you can communicate with even more people.

self-confidence.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) - Libras are all about peace and balance. For your New Year’s resolution, work on your inner peace by prioritizing your alone time and self-care.

CULTURE

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01.28.2019

11

DEAR IVY,

Ivy helps student struggling to find internships

PHOTO COURTESY OF FENWICK GALLERY

The semester has not yet started, and already I am feeling stressed. For months now, I have been applying for internships in different companies, yet I have not received a positive response so far. I am starting to

Dear Worried Student.

Believe me when I tell you I know how frustrating it is to apply for a position and get rejected. Applying for a job or an internship is often a grueling process.

THE INVISIBLE AROUND US Fenwick Gallery hosts a reception for the current exhibition, [Land]scape NAYOMI SANTOS STAFF WRITER

Fenwick Library is not only a space for studying, but also for creative innovation. The library hosts several exhibits in its main lobby throughout the year, with the current exhibition called [Land]scape.

It seeks to engage the audience in the notions of landscapes that are around people everywhere. On Wednesday, Jan. 23, the Fenwick Gallery hosted a closing reception in the form of a performance and artists’ talk, where several of the artists showcased in the gallery had the chance to discuss their inspiration and work.

The reception began in the gallery itself with a performance from Bunni from Andiland, who gave out lollipops to the group. Bunni is the alter ego of gallery artist, Andrea Benge, who said, “Bunni is meant to invite you into the painting … so you can live inside and have fun.”

The artists included in the talk were Andrea Benge, Danielle Dravenstadt, Kate Fitzpatrick, Emily Fussner, Jayne Matricardi-Burke, Matt Nolan and Kevin Wallace, many of whom are visual performing arts majors. The

panel was moderated by artist and gallery director of Olly Olly, Jessica Kallista.

The purpose of the exhibit was to make known that which is unseen by “exploring things that are hidden in plain sight,” Nolan said. The goal of his photographs, which “document” homomutatus clouds man-made clouds that form due to human activities, is meant to make what is invisible or overlooked visible. “For me,” he said, “that invisible should be chased after.”

Matricardi-Burke’s work consists of photo transfers and acrylic on a canvas that conveys a quiet suburban street.

When talking about her “[suburbia] scape”, she said “[the] piece is about the feeling I got when I first moved to a new neighborhood.”

Though their works are visually different, Wallace and MatricardiBurke’s works speak to the same invisible “wounds.” Wallace, diagnosed with PTSD, uses art to express that which is not seen but is strongly felt.

He works closely with refugees who he believes “are invisible people in a

politically loud climate,” he said.

In a similar manner, memory also plays an important role in the art. “[I] had a very superficial childhood,” Benge said, “but later, when I was doing work, a past trauma seeped through.” To her, surrounding herself with “fun things” is how Benge dealt with it. Fitzpatrick also used her art to practice mindfulness. “[It’s] a form of meditation,” she said, “a break down of language.”

The exhibit’s curator Emily Fussner was influenced by her first-year teacher in her curating of [Land]scape, who also has a piece in the gallery. Though the art is so varied, Fussner said, “I wanted to connect all the pieces.”

The MFA program at Mason is what makes the showcase possible. “Being in the MFA program and getting others to see your work and the feedback is very important,” Dravenstadt said.

The reception was put together by Fussner and Stephanie Grimm, manager of the Fenwick gallery. The exhibition will be on display until Feb. 1.

However, the most important thing to remember is that you are not in this alone. Everyone has faced or is currently facing a similar situation.

Even the most accomplished people in the world have all had times when they were not succeeding, or were flat out failing.

You can also increase your chances by visiting the Career Center in Sub 1. Have them help you polish both your resume and cover letter so that you appear better to employers.

Also, try visiting the internship coordinator. They might give you some advice on how to stand out better next to all the other applicants.

Another piece of advice I have for you is that you might want to try and reach out to employers in a different way.

Instead of just sending in your application and waiting for a response, try emailing people in the company that

feel worried and discouraged, especially since I feel that time is starting to run out.

Do you have any advice that may help me?

Thanks, Worried Student

you are interested in and show them that you are serious about wanting this internship.

In addition, if said company is located nearby, maybe try visiting it and asking to meet with someone from HR. Sometimes, putting a face next to the resume helps them remember you better. I actually had a friend who found a job by going to different hotels and handing out his resume to managers.

No matter what happens, do not get discouraged.

Keep applying to as many places as you can find.

FOURTH ESTATE BILLY FERGUSON

Dear Ivy,

If you still do not get into an internship like you were hoping to, try thinking outside of the box and doing something else. Maybe try learning a skill that you could put on your resume for the future, or perhaps get a temporary job at some place that is related to something you want to do or are interested in working at in the future.

Good luck, and I wish you all the best in your search.

- Ivy

Send in letters to mechols@gmu.edu

CULTURE CULTURE FACES OF MASON delves into the lives of Mason students, faculty or alumni, and organizations every week. This week we take a close look at student Bria Reel, faculty Leslie Durham, alumnus Philip Wilkerson and organization Masonic Dance Collective.

INTERVIEWS BY HAILEY BULLIS, BASMA HUMADI AND NAYOMI SANTOS

S T U D E N T, B R I A R E E L What is the Qatar Malone Fellowship and how did you get accepted?

The National Council on U.S. Arab Relations and the Qatar Embassy announced the 2018-2019 Qatar Fellowship, an expenses-paid travel and fellowship program open exclusively to Model Arab League-affiliated professors and students. As a student with a history with the council and holding high interest in the region, I decided to apply.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BRIA REEL

What’s something about you most people might not know?

I am really good with directions. It seems very minuscule, but it’s one of my hidden talents. For example, even in foreign countries I only need a day to figure out my way around the city, and I pretty much sound like a local the next day. Since I was a kid it’s been like that. If I’ve been a certain way one time, I can always remember my way back home. My parents say it’s because I love to travel and it’s something that’s in my blood.

What did you do while in Qatar?

In Qatar I had the opportunity to have an immersive experience in the country’s culture, society and economics as well as government priorities, concerns and needs as they pertain to Qatari-U.S. relations and Qatar’s role in regional

and world affairs. In [the] country I had the privilege to be introduced to a broad range of government and business representatives, academics, policymakers, specialists and student peers as well as traditional and modern Qatari culture and life. Such as visiting the FIFA 2020 committee, the country’s different ministries and even excursions like sand duning.

What’s something you’ll take away from the experience?

During my visit, I gained so much information, connections and perspectives that I have never had before. And this experience I firsthand was able to ask different foreign ministers direct questions about their country. In addition to that I have met peers nationally and internationally that share the same interests that I do, as well as in many other fields of professional life.

What are you studying at Mason and why?

At Mason I am a dual degree major. My first major is in government and international politics and my second major is an Arabic language. Since high school, I have been highly involved in the international relations and global studies fields and it is also where [I] launch (sic) my Arabic education. Therefore, I decided to continue into my collegiate studies.

FA C U LT Y, L E S L I E D U R H A M What do you like about your job?

I love working with our students. The S-CAR [School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution] students are super passionate and they always come in with some awesome ideas and it’s extremely refreshing and invigorating to work with students that have so many different areas of interest and really want to make the world a better place … I come from a counseling background, so I love being able to help our students and just find their way and beyond and kind of get to know them and build relationships.

PHOTO COURTESY OF LESLIE DURHAM

Was there a reason you ended up at S-CAR versus another department?

It was completely random but I really think I was guided here, I know that sounds kind of cheesy, but I really do because I didn’t know S-CAR existed before—like a lot of our students, frankly. So when I was applying for jobs at Mason and was thinking about doing academic advising I was kind of exploring that whole area and saw S-CAR and started doing research about it and was like ‘Wow, that’s something I would’ve completely studied ‘cause my undergraduate was in archeology and my masters is in counseling and it kind of combines that whole anthropological, psychological thing together.’ So I was like, ‘Wow, that would’ve been right up my alley.’

What’s something about you most people would not know?

That I dance flamenco. I lived in Spain for almost four years and have always been enthralled and excited and completely fascinated by flamenco since I was a little kid. So when I moved there I was like, ‘This is it, this is my opportunity,’ so I flew myself into flamenco and kept on going. I dance here and I dance a couple nights a week.

What’s something you’re most proud of in your life and why?

I would have to say my kids. I have two—I have a seventeen year senior who’s getting ready to go to college, Jackie. And I have Preston, a fourteen year old boy and he’s a sophomore.

And they’re just great kids, great human beings, and that was my goal as a parent—to raise really good human beings … I’m really proud of the people they’re being and I’ve invested a lot of time in my kids and so I’m reaping the benefits of that labor a little bit.

At least from my point of view, I used to work with at-risk teens in particular and it taught me a lot of the kinds of things you should and shouldn’t do as a parent and the type of investment you need to make in kids if you want to really not only make them working and productive members of society, but also be people you want to be around and they want to be around you. Because a lot of kids don’t want to be around their parents, they see them as the person that’s the barrier to their fun and success and I never wanted to be that.

CULTURE CULTURE ALUMNUS, PHILIP WILKERSON What do you currently do at Mason?

I am the Industry Advisor for media arts, design and most recently sports management and hospitality and tourism.

That’s like at the university career services and I meet with students in those industries and employees as well and then I just added on this semester—I am teaching [UNIV] 220, ‘How to pick your major and career course.’

Being an Alumni, what was something you noticed upon coming back to campus?

PHOTO COURTESY OF PHILIP WILKERSON

Well, it’s interesting, I did my graduate school here so I didn’t have the typical … my first experience wasn’t very typical either. You know, I was a grad student, then I got my masters here in the counseling program and I also did my internship at the career center so for me it took me five years to come back and get a job where I did my internship. I would say one of the biggest transitions is me getting older and the kids getting younger. And it seems like … no disrespect to the other kids, but it seems like the generation of kids that are coming through now are a lot more tech savvy. I think this go-around I’ve learned a lot more from the students then I did the first time. Meaning like I would meet with students and just help them with their cover letters, but particularly with this role in this industry I’ve learned so much about social media and technology and videos and editing. Just I’ve learned about the industry by simply working with students.

What drew you to career services?

wanted to do with my life, I was just always kind of floating and you know, it was funny it was when we took the career counseling class … and I loved it because it helped me solidify my values and things I liked. I liked working with people, I like this, I liked that and I was like “Wow, I must be in the right place, counselling must be for me.” And then I was like, “I really like this, I do like talking about people’s feelings and all that in therapy but I don’t foresee myself being a therapist. I don’t just want to work with clients and do therapy, I want to help them tangibly.” What I’ve found about career counselling is that there’s outcomes. With career counselling if someone wants my help and they get a job, that’s a tangible benefit, like I see the evidence that I helped them.

What is a hobby of yours?

Podcasting, I have my own podcast. Shameless plug, ‘Positive Philter.’ Before I had my two kids [I] used to love powerlifting, which I’m going to try to get back into. Out in the community I’m a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, which is a historically black fraternity. They have an undergraduate chapter but I’m in the graduate chapter … I like to network and build community and do volunteer stuff out in the community, watch Netflix, watch movies, spend times with my two boys and my wife. For 2019 I have a list of 50 things I wanted to do this year and one of those 50 things is … I want to take a picture with Dr. Cabrera and I’m trying to do a TED talk, so those are two of the goals I have for 2019.

I was an undergrad major in history. I didn’t know what I

O R G A N I Z AT I O N , M A S O N I C D A N C E C O L L E C T I V E Beth: We were Facebook friends for whatever reason. So I saw that she went to Mason, and I messaged her and asked her about the dance scene around here and asked if she was interested in starting a dance company. And she was super on board.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BETH JENKINS

So, the Mason Dance Collective is a dance company?

How did your group begin?

Beth: So, I transferred this year from VCU and when I was coming here, I realized I really wanted to have my own company. [Me and Emma] didn’t really know each other. I just knew of her, that she is ... an assistant at Intrigue.

Emma: That’s a dance convention … Both of us attended conventions and competitions growing up as studio dancers. And at these conventions, there are scholarship opportunities, and I was an assistant at one of them and Beth attended … We probably interacted briefly but we weren’t really friends with each other.

Emma: That’s our ultimate goal.

Right now, to try to build interest and meet more people who are interested in what we are trying to do at school is by hosting a series of free classes. Before you can set pieces and take the time and raise the money to put on a show, you need to have the people. We’ve been hosting a lot of free classes. We had our first round before winter break. Our main thing right now is providing free dance classes for all Mason students, and they’re welcome to bring outside people.

These classes are for all different levels of dancers?

Emma: Yeah. Last time we did an improv class, which was a free space. Any level, you can do it and it wouldn’t make your head hurt. Then afterwards we had a more advanced contemporary class. But we are thinking of probably doing a night of beginner classes for people with little to no experience so that we can better

cater to those levels. Same thing with offering intermediate or advanced classes, so that people are getting more of a personalized experience.

What events are you guys planning for this semester?

Beth: We are going to continue having free classes. Making that into a consistent thing, hopefully.

Emma: [Also] hosting some kind of showcase. Even if we don’t have company pieces, but putting together stuff with friends that we know well already.

Beth: We definitely want to create a few choreographed dances that we can perform. Because not a lot of people get a chance to perform. We have a lot of short term and long-term goals. So that’s a medium-term goal.

Emma: It requires a lot more time that (sic) many people realize to put together something. The main thing that inspired us to make this a thing was us both not being dance majors. It is really hard at Mason to find opportunities for people who are serious dancers to find the time or who don’t necessarily want to major in dance.

Beth: Dance majors are welcome as well.

Is the long-term goal to have a dance company?

Beth: Definitely. We want to audition people in to create a team and then make a production. I’ve been working a production and writing. To have a tech team. The whole thing.

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UPPERCLASSMEN HOUSING NOT GUARANTEED Problems with on-campus housing continue into 2019

The email contained an update from Housing: they were not guaranteeing her or anyone else who had 70 credits and above space on-campus the following academic year. “[From] there on, most seniors dropped off the waitlist and decided to go off-campus,” Powell said. “Me, I stayed on the waitlist while looking for off-campus housing. And the two groups that I had for off-campus housing didn’t work, and then I was like, ‘Okay well, guess I’m on my own,’ and because I stayed on the waitlist that’s why I come (sic) to the triple.”

She was placed in a forced triple in Piedmont, a room that has three students living in it that was initially designed for two. Powell lived with two other sophomore girls who already knew each other before living

together, whom she described as “awesome” and “great” girls.

However, as the room was meant for one less student, more thought had to be put into how it was going to work for all three to live there.

“In terms of organization and space, it took us a minute to figure it out, because I had to get bedraisers to put my own fridge underneath the bed and then they had their own fridge together,” Powell said. “And then there’s no third closet, so … we literally stacked the wardrobe on top of the dresser.”

The three made the best of the situation, and Powell considered the forced triple “not that bad,” but also said that it felt cramped. “At times you feel like you couldn’t breathe, but there was a lot of stuff in the room,” she said.

Powell also felt like her situation was not as bad as other students’ have been because she and her roommates communicated with each other.

However, by November she had moved out of her current dorm, and is now living in Tidewater in a single space with a kitchen attached.

In addition to living in a smaller space than expected during part of the school year, Mason put Powell on the waitlist until July, leaving her uncertain about where she was going to live until a month before classes began in late August.

“I was going to find either an apartment at Camden [Fairfax Corner Apartments and Fair Lakes Apartments] or anything near closer to the campus,” Powell stated.

However, Powell does not have a car, meaning she would either have to find a place to live that was accessible to public transportation or get a car so she could commute from campus to where she was going to live.

Further complicating her situation was that Powell and her family had just moved from Centerville to Bristow, a distance that she estimated increased her potential commute by 25 minutes.

“It’s not as convenient, considering what I do on campus and how I’m involved on campus,” she said.

Powell’s situation illustrates a choice that many students at Mason have to make: deciding whether living on-campus or off-campus past their

freshman year at Mason is the best option for them.

However, availability could limit the amount of students who can live on-campus. Freshmen and sophomores that have come straight to Mason from high school are all guaranteed on-campus housing.

Upperclassmen and transfer students are not.

An email about the housing process sent by Housing on Jan. 24 read, “All residents have the opportunity to apply for housing for next year.

All current residents who will be freshmen or sophomores next year are guaranteed the opportunity to select housing.”

It continued, “The intent of the policy is to give first time college students at Mason at least four continuous fall and spring semesters to live on-campus.

The number of upper-class students able to select housing for next year will ultimately depend on the level of demand from students who are guaranteed housing.”

Furthermore, the cheat sheet for last year’s housing process states that any student that lives on campus next year

needs to be a “current on-campus resident who will have lived on campus for six or fewer semesters at the end of Spring 2018.” The cheat sheet for the upcoming housing process has not been posted yet.

The limitations of where upperclassmen can live is another issue that can harm their chances of living on-campus the next semester.

“Always … we have a very finite number of rooms,” Melissa Garza Thierry, then-associate director of housing services, said. “We just can’t build wherever we want to …

Every year, since we don’t require students to live on-campus past their freshman year, we never know how many students are actually going to apply to live on-campus. That’s the big unknown.” Thierry is now the associate director of regional campuses for university life at the Arlington campus.

The Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness found in its Fall 2018 Census that the amount of new freshmen seeking a degree from Mason was 3,711 students. This number has increased by more than 300 since the Fall 2017 Census and 500 since the Fall 2016 Census.

FOURTH ESTATE ALEXANDRIA MCALPINE

IZZ LAMAGDELEINE COPY CHIEF AARON SCHLESINGER CONTRIBUTOR

After senior communication major Madeline Powell applied for on-campus housing last year, she received an email from the department responsible for accommodating the “more than 6,500 current Mason residents and staff that call Mason home,” according to its website.

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Chris Holland, the assistant dean of university life and the chief housing officer, said, “We have 6,200 beds that are available to our residents. A good majority of those go to freshmen, living-learning communities and other unique demographic areas that are already kind of pegged out as ‘You are part of one.’ Those are the ones that make up the guaranteed beds.”

The space that is left for on-campus upperclassmen students includes the entire Aquia neighborhood of Rogers, Whitetop and the Mason Global Center, as well as dorms such as Eastern Shore, Northern Neck, Liberty Square, Potomac Heights, Hampton Roads, Piedmont/ Tidewater/Blue Ridge/Sandbridge and the student townhouses that are located on Chain Bridge Road. It can be difficult to tell how many upperclassmen students are living within these spaces, as many sophomores live in these dorms as well, leaving fewer juniors and seniors able to live in the dorms and apartments that Mason provides.

“Last year, what happened is the number of students that actually applied was greater than our forecasting numbers,” Thierry said. “And then also we were like, ‘Okay, so we have more students applying than we have beds, but what is our melt? What do we traditionally see as people that probably won’t pick a room?’”

Thierry describes the ‘melt’ as the difference between the amount of students that apply for on-campus housing or state they wish to apply for on-campus housing and the amount of students that go on to select a room and complete the on-campus housing process. Housing anticipates it, and has data from the past several years to prove this theory.

This occurs because Mason’s housing application comes out early in the spring semester each year, and often circumstances that can prevent students from living on-campus such as graduating or transfering are not going to become final until the next year becomes closer.

Even with the melt considered, Housing did not know if they were going to have room for everyone

who wanted to live on-campus the following year.

“And so the decision was made with a lot of people that we’re going to tell a group of students with the highest number of hours at Mason, completed at Mason, … that we might not have enough beds at the end of the day to offer you a space at this time,” Thierry said. They were told that they would be placed on a waitlist and could not go through the traditional housing application.

On why Mason went with credit hours instead of another way, Thierry said, “That is a very traditional way to do it as far as when you have to prioritize students living on-campus ... The students that want to live on-campus traditionally are ... our freshman and sophomore students want that campus experience and we found that … when you are looking at the whole lifecycle of a student first-year to their fourth or fifth year depending on their program, those first two years are kind of your sweet spot, you know?”

She continued by stating that universities want to set students up for success but also ensure that students who want to have that on-campus experience are able to have that experience.

Nowhere on Housing’s website did it say that space was guaranteed for upperclassmen. “We have been very lucky at Mason that in the past any student who wanted to have housing, we were able to provide housing for them as upper-class students because we always had a group of upper-class students who didn’t want housing,” she said.

Other colleges and universities in Virginia grant upperclassmen students the right to live on-campus through graduation even if space is not guaranteed, whether the student is a senior or not.

At the University of Virginia upperclassmen are not guaranteed

on-grounds (the university’s term for on-campus) housing. If students choose to live in the same building and room the following year, they are given priority to live there as long as they apply at the correct time. No difference is made between seniors and other upperclassmen in the process.

At James Madison University (JMU) and Virginia Tech, there is no difference between how seniors and other upperclassmen access housing selections as well. Tech does not guarantee their housing, but upperclassmen students are entered into a lottery if they choose, allowing most students to remain on-campus. At JMU, upperclassmen get space based on when they sign their housing contract, not the amount of credits they already have. When upperclassmen sign their contract, their housing process becomes guaranteed.

“We felt that we would have beds become available later, we really did,” Thierry said about the email they sent to upperclassmen notifying them of the decision that Housing had made. “We just didn’t want to set up a situation where students were told they’d have a bed and then they wouldn’t have a bed.”

Powell wished that they had sent out an announcement before the email came or before they started the application process stating that upperclassmen might not be given housing the following year. “It was just a shock, because it came in spring and right when people are [going] into next year and expecting to have housing,” she said.

Holland mentioned using social media including Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat and Instagram as well as email, website and potentially campus-wide town halls to communicate future housing changes.

FOURTH ESTATE ALLIE THOMPSON

A majority of the Shenandoah neighborhood is dedicated to freshman housing, including Presidents Park, as well as a significant part of the Rappahannock neighborhood. In total, nearly 90 percent of Shenandoah and over half of Rappahannock dorms are freshman-only.

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LEAD SINGER OF CINEMA HEARTS SHARES INSPIRATION

Recent Miss Roanoke Valley winner, Caroline Weinroth, is also a local music talent BROOKE LEWITAS STAFF WRITER

It’s the story of a relationship in which one person is waiting for the other to return home. In this track from their first album, “Feels Like Forever”, which came out in 2016, the band was first finding their sound which would eventually evolve into what it is today.

Picture if you can Lana Del Rey’s crooning voice with a doo-wop sound in the background. The result is something that you want to sing while you drive, or in the shower or pretty much anywhere. And it all started at Mason.

Lead singer and bassist Caroline and Erich Weinroth both received their bachelor's degrees from Mason with majors in theater and music technology respectively. The siblings, who grew up in Fairfax, began to play

together in 2015 and were joined by various Mason students at different times. Now, drummer and MFA student Shane Chergosky rounds out the trio.

There are artifacts of Fairfax buried all throughout the albums discography. Even the name of the band is in honor of a popular spot in town.

“When I was a freshman, I worked at Cinema Arts, the movie theater,” Caroline said. “And because we would have these long breaks while the movies were playing, I would practice my guitar then. And I told my co-workers, ‘If I ever have a band, I’d call it Cinema Hearts.’”

Caroline also talked about how her career as a student at Mason put her where she is today. “[For my undergrad], I was a theater major with an audio production minor,” she said. “I think [theater] encapsulated everything I love [about] the arts. Just the same reason I picked getting a graduate degree in writing.

I always joke that writing is how I get

things to happen, like Cinema Hearts happened because I’m good at writing lyrics and I’m good at writing emails. I can get gigs for us … I used to work for event services, and I learned about audio that way, I was president of the music production club, and our first shows were here on campus.”

In addition, Caroline says that living in what she calls the “suburban shadow of DC” has greatly impacted both her life and her music. She said, “[When I was growing up here], people would always lie about where they were from, and say they were from DC or ‘NOVA, but it’s near DC.’ People would say ‘Oh, there’s nothing to do.’ I think this area’s interesting because it started as farmland, and then it’s just morphed into something with a hidden character. It’s something I thought a lot about in our first two albums.”

Caroline said the biggest form of inspiration for her comes from transitionary times in her life.

“When I first started writing songs and playing guitar, it was [about] ‘Oh,

man I grew up in this area and I’m going to college here,’ she said. “It was a point where I was dating someone or breaking up with someone, just periods of growth and change. So I think Cinema Hearts tends to be a lot of love songs, but from the sense of strength and empowerment, a mature perspective. [Our songs are about] going through a time of turmoil and getting to grow.”

If you want to check the band out, you can head to Spotify, or see them live on Feb. 25 at the Rock & Roll Hotel in Washington D.C. at 9 p.m.

PHOTO COURTESY OF RICK MEYERS

“I've had some beautiful days / even though you've been away / still see your face all the time / counting down the days 'til you'll be mine,” croons Caroline Weinroth in the opening notes of Cinema Hearts song, “Darling, Don’t You Know?”.

A LOOK INTO THE GOLDEN AGE OF BROADWAY The Mason Cabaret prepares to thrill at the Center for the Arts In her bestselling memoir “Becoming,” former First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama proposes that art is nothing less than essential for all kinds of people. This idea is something that the Mason Cabaret is working incredibly hard to bring to students, faculty and more on Mason’s campus.

FOURTH ESTATE ALLIE THOMPSON

The Cabaret, one of Mason’s many talented choral groups, will be making

an appearance at the Mason Center for the Arts singing a host of classic Broadway show tunes that are sure to astound those familiar and unfamiliar with their origins.

performing in the show, describes it.

The show will be saturated with classic love stories and adventures that characterizes that time period in American history.

The theme for the upcoming show, “The Golden Age of Broadway,” provides listeners with an escape to “a more romantic time,” as Jessica Barraclough, a freshman theater major

Singing tunes from classic American songbooks like “Oklahoma” and “My Favorite Things,” both belonging to the famous composers Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein, the choir adds beautiful, angelic layers to familiar songs in a way that is sure to bring a smile to your face.

During the 1940s and 1950s, perhaps in contrast with today, the importance and prominence of Broadway theater as a form of entertainment was at its peak. Throughout this period, America was experiencing a golden age of musical theater that resulted in some of the most famous and iconic musicals in all of American history.

Today, Broadway theater and musicals can seem unapproachable, antiquated and “not for everyone,” but the Cabaret looks to change that.

The setlist looks to remind audience members of a different, yet somehow

PETER NJOROGE STAFF WRITER

familiar, idealistic version of American society.

According to Barraclough and Garvey Dobbins, a sophmore double majoring in communications and theater performing within the group, the relatability of the songs and their content make the music accessible to all, including the modern-age college student. They consider these works to be timeless and irreplaceable, much like the works of William Shakespeare.

The two also believe deeply in the ability of music to express emotion in ways that words simply cannot, a powerful supposition. They believe that each of the songs that they are going to perform have a theme that everyone can attach themselves to and draw meaning from, not just theater fans.

When asked about what appealed to him about singing in the Cabaret, Dobbins said that there is nothing like singing in an ensemble composed of other vocalists. The Cabaret is a collective unit with many individual pieces that need to work in conjunction

with each other in order to function properly. This collectivism has the ability to both bring out new ideas and revitalize tunes that people have heard throughout their entire lives.

To all who may not be familiar with any of the tunes that will be performed, Dobbins encourages open-mindedness. “The music is so beautiful,” he says. “It’s hard not to like it.” His words are not an understatement. The sound that the group has worked tireless to create radiates brilliance in every sense of the word.

When asked about the direction of musical theater, the two envision contemporary pop, hip-hop and rock music as the future. However, the future is built on the past. Without these classics this future led prominently by people like Lin-Manuel Miranda does not exist.

The show begins at 8 p.m. and tickets are $15 for students, staff, seniors and $30 for adults. Tagged a “fun-raiser,” the proceeds from this event will benefit the Mason School of Theater’s musical theater program.

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MAKE AMERICA WORK AGAIN SUSAN KATHRINE CORKRAN STAFF WRITER

That miserable shutdown’s record has been broken as we … I don’t know, make America great again? Oddly enough, this doesn’t feel like greatness to me. And as families of hardworking federal employees struggle to pay rent, afford medical prescriptions and put food in their children’s bellies, I know that I am not alone in asking, “Aren’t we supposed to be tired of winning? What is it that we’ve won?”

I tend to avoid discussing political issues in my writing, primarily because my father is employed by the government.

I also think about my future career as a teacher, and how I will need to keep any personal political leanings I have discreet. I wouldn’t want my name

associated with a strongly-worded political diatribe written in college, especially given that our opinions are bound to change during our later years as adults in “the real world.” Yet this

Christmas cards should have been.

After all that campaign rhetoric about saying “Merry Christmas” again, this nightmare began as the nation’s worst Christmas present

money, and they will not forget what they hear. While tweets are exchanged and compromises are critiqued, there are families like mine all across the country who wait in limbo to see when (or if) our lives can return to normal.

What pains me most is the cause of the shutdown: a southern border wall which the vast majority of Americans do not want. I laughed at the notion of it in 2016. It was a punchline then, a preposterous joke which seemed as realistic as building a barrier of gingerbread straight from a children’s book of fairytales. I listened to news clips of ecstatic supporters screaming “Build the wall!” and wondered how they could desire such a thing. The sea of red hats and thundering choruses of chants do not seem funny at all now. They were never genuinely funny to begin with, actually. Nervous laughter at what seemed impossible has now turned PHOTO COURTESY OF ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL

In late October of 1995, I was born in what was until now the longest government shutdown in our nation’s history. My father is a federal employee, and needless to say, my entrance to the world couldn’t have come at a worse time. I was rocked in my parents’ arms to the sound of late-night news programs while they wondered when my father might be able to return to work. Or if he would be able to return.

shutdown isn’t some far-off headline lost in a jumble of political squabbling: it is our lives that have been shut down.

I think about how many families have sat around the kitchen table in fractious silence, heads in hands, with bills spread out imposingly where

and stretched on long after the trees and strings of lights were put away.

January is nearing its end, but there is no end in sight for the real people who are lining up at food banks as you read this. There are children fearfully listening to their parents worry over

into real pain, division and discord.

How could any American justify fighting for this wall at the expense of their fellow citizens, who are suffering daily because of this shutdown? I am as mad at the fanatic supporters of the wall as I am at the politicians fighting for it in Washington. I accept that there will always be division and controversy surrounding the methods any presidential administration suggests to enforce border security and immigration laws.

What I refuse to accept is that this is the only way we can go about doing it.

It is not democratic to inflict misery on innocent families by depriving them of their livelihood, holding the country hostage in a national tantrum stoked by fear-mongering and misinformation.

This is supposed to be the home of the brave. Are we so afraid of other people seeking entry to this country that we are willing to destroy ourselves in an effort to hide behind walls?

If that is the case, then we have not made America “great again.”

We’ve made America cowardly.

WHY YOUNG MEN SHOULD TAKE NOTICE

Gillette’s Newest Ad Sparks Controversy Over Toxic Masculinity OWEN FERGUSON STAFF WRITER

have with Can took most “We Be,” 13.

In the beginning this is treated as normal behavior, with no one second guessing the men’s and boys’ actions.

The men watching just give the excuse that “boys will be boys.” This is a very real representation of what has been going on for decades and one of the reasons this behavior still exists.

This ad has stirred a great commotion among different groups across the U.S. by touching on issues of toxic masculinity, including bullying and sexual harassment. With 2018 being a big year in regard to the #MeToo movement, Gillette continues the important narrative that men’s old ways need to come to an end.

As to all the outrage over the ad, many may not understand why so many men are upset. Even though the overall message is one that needs to be heard, the many different stereotypical scenarios that take place can be seen as offensive.

Throughout the ad, different scenarios play out in which men are groping women, catcalling and even putting down other men for showing emotion.

As for myself, I have never consciously participated in any acts that degraded women or even bullied other men for showing emotion. I was not raised that way nor do I surround myself with other people who do it. The fact that

the ad seems to assume that most men do these things is simply false. I’m not saying that these things don’t happen, because they definitely do, I’m simply saying that I don’t believe that the majority of men act in that manner.

But the men who cannot find a reason for the message need to realize that what Gillette is saying is not that all men act in a degrading way, rather that men need to call out other men who do act this way and to set the right example for the next generation.

Men also need to do their part to end the notion that they cannot show emotion or be what might be seen as “feminine,” and not stand by and watch degrading behavior.

Even with all the outrage, I do believe that Gillette got this one right. It takes a “real man” to stand up for both these

injustices and disgusting behaviors, and to set the right example for kids.

As for college students, we need to take particular notice. We are the leaders of the future. We are the parents of the future. Our actions are needed to end this behavior altogether. We cannot rely on older generations to fix these social injustices. It really is up to us.

As you go out into the workforce or wherever life takes you, always remember that your words and actions matter much more than you think. If you think that you have to act in a way that puts women down to show leadership or just to impress other male coworkers, you are wrong.

That belief that men need to act tough is done. There is no reason why a woman should receive less respect than a man in any part of life.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BILLY FERGUSON

Most people who watch TV probably seen a Gillette ad the tagline “The Best a Man Get.” The company recently this to a new level with their recent ad or short film, titled Believe: The Best Men Can published on YouTube Jan.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF MASON ADMISSION

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRISTOPHER DOWN

WHY I LIKE MASON’S NEW DELIVERY ROBOTS –– AND YOU SHOULD TOO

DANIEL SCOTT MITCHELL STAFF WRITER

Most journalists have focused on the novelty of automated on-campus food delivery. But some students have had a different conversation, showing significant pushback in response to the delivery robots. Taking to social media, numerous Mason students have expressed concerns with the robots’ relationships to university spending and student unemployment.

In contrast to the discernable popular opinion, I am actually in support of the marshmallow-shaped robots. As a mechanical engineering student with robotics experience, it pains me to see my peers reject a well-implemented technology with numerous benefits based on misinformation. Thus I am making a case for the robots, because while they can bring a hot meal to your doorstep for less than $2, they cannot yet advocate for themselves.

From what I can perceive, the most common objection to the delivery robots is concern over spending of university funds. Many students including myself, would like to see Mason make improvements to campus infrastructure such as Wi-Fi,

housing and parking before purchasing automated food delivery robots.

address the more pressing needs on campus.

As announced on their website, Sodexo (a Fortune 500 company and Mason’s dining contractor) struck a deal with Starship Technologies, the manufacturer of the robots, to bring automated delivery to campus locations globally.

Therefore Sodexo, not Mason, is paying for the robots’ expenses.

It is an understandable reaction to question your job security when you see a robot doing a job that you are accustomed to seeing a human do.

Though while automation replaces jobs, it also creates new ones with higher compensation and more skill-focused work rather than through repetitive or menial tasks.

Knowing that Sodexo pays for the robots eased my concerns about poor spending by the university and allows me to appreciate the robots more. Now I can order my food in peace knowing that my tuition can still be used to

In the case of our campus, the robots are responsible for creating new jobs in Fairfax. They will not require the physical labor of travelling door to door, but rather the work of supervising

the autonomous robots remotely instead. This is exciting to see because I know that my work in robotics can not only improve the efficiency and convenience of everyday life, but can also improve both working conditions and job satisfaction for others.

Delivery robots are a trend that is here to stay. Research has predicted that in the future 80% of last-mile deliveries will be conducted by automated couriers. There are already more than half a dozen robotics startups doing ground delivery alone, not to mention the potential market for drone delivery.

As if that wasn’t enough, retail giant

Amazon has long had plans for Prime Air delivery and recently announced their new ground delivery robot named Scout as well.

I think it is incredible that modern technology has yielded robots that can both safely navigate our campus and deliver food at a low cost. This excites me as a robotics engineer for the future of automated technology.

Also, if the robots don’t spend our tuition money or take our jobs, what is the problem? Besides, if the trend of robotic delivery is here to stay, we should embrace it at Mason. After all, innovation is our tradition, is it not?

PHOTO COURTESY OF STARSHIP TECHNOLOGIES

Since their deployment at the beginning of the semester, convoys of delivery robots have quickly taken the Mason community by storm. In under a week, these cooler-sized couriers had already become virtual celebrities, drawing attention from social media users, local press and even national news outlets.

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ARE MACHINES TAKING OUR JOBS?

JACE WHITE STAFF WRITER

In the year 1870, 50 percent of Americans worked in agriculture.

By the late 20th century, thanks to advanced farm technology like tractors and combines, only 2 percent of Americans work in agriculture. If nearly half of all Americans saw their

jobs become obsolete, why don’t we have massive unemployment today?

The answer should be obvious: people found other things to do. When tractors and combines didn’t exist, half of the American workforce had to toil in the fields just to keep food on the table. Once technology freed them from that obligation, they had more time to build factories, cities, schools and more. As labor-saving technology continued to develop, workers feared that steam power, heavy industrial equipment and more would make their services obsolete. Despite all of this, today we have of the lowest unemployment rates in years.

When business owners replace human workers with machines, they do it because machines can do the job at a lower cost, or, in other words, they can use fewer resources than before to create a similar or even better product. These saved resources are then free to be used elsewhere.

The owner could both expand their

descendants will do is only going to increase our capability to do the work required to make everyone’s lives better.

business, which requires additional people to be employed to do construction, and staff the expanded parts of the business. The owner could also keep the money for themselves, choosing either to spend it, which raises the demand for whatever they choose to buy, or save it, which increases the supply of money in the bank that can be loaned out to create new businesses.

Similarly to how farmers in 1870 might not have been able to imagine what future opportunities their children would have outside of the farm, it may

be difficult for us to fathom what we will do when all of the collective time we spend on replaceable jobs is freed up. But we need not worry. Just as today we live more prosperous lives than our farming ancestors, our future lives will be filled with all of the advantages that come from human ingenuity.

Though jobs have been lost in one area of the economy, new opportunities are created elsewhere because of the newly available resources. There are still jobs available, but now in addition there are new products being created with the freed resources. This is how we have progressed as a society from struggling to produce enough food to survive to being able to feed vast cities and still have time left over to produce trillions of dollars’ worth of other goods.

FOURTH ESTATE BILLY FERGUSON

If you’ve seen the food delivery robots that stumble across our campus after marveling at how they work and being sure to put them on your snapchat story, you may have wondered if this is the beginning of a violent takeover of the job market by our computerized friends. Indeed, the technology that we are developing today promises to do many jobs currently done by humans.

Soon robots could be driving trucks, delivering food and even making decisions using artificial intelligence. It seems that almost all of the jobs that currently exist could theoretically be replaced by technology that will be developed in the near future. Does this mean we should be worried? To answer that question, we need to look back in our economic history.

Unless one of them is barreling down the sidewalk towards your ankles, you probably don’t need to be afraid of the robots. The work they and their

WHAT THE HELL DOES STUDENT GOVERNMENT DO? TIM O’SHEA CONTRIBUTOR

I believe that these takes miss the important changes at Mason due to SG’s efforts that have either gone unnoticed or been merely forgotten.

Student Government pressure on the school administration was the impetus behind the creation of the Gunston Go-Bus, which brings Mason students to local shopping areas that include Fair Oaks and Fairfax Corner. SG’s annual trip to meet with state legislators, Mason Lobbies, is often cited by state lawmakers as an important component of their positive impression of Mason students.

Some assistance is more immediate to students on campus: The SG-run Parking Appeals Board allows students to contest parking fines to great effect.

This past year, 50 percent of appeals saw a reduced or reversed fine.

Moreover, the Student Funding Board, also directed by SG, helps administer thousands of dollars in funding every year, allowing hundreds of people in student organizations to reach their goals and improve our campus. In the Fall 2018 semester alone, 102 student

organizations received over $77,000 in funding through the SFB. Having been on the receiving end of that funding, I know the positive impact it can make.

has successfully extended hours at Fenwick Library during finals, published an updating list of business offering student discounts and released an online guide to civic engagement designed by and for Mason students.

Newer initiatives have the promise to bring even greater improvements to Mason. SG has handed out thousands of Scantron sheets around campus during finals. The organization also

The idea that Student Government pursues only empty business often refers to the resolutions and statements passed by the Student Senate, such as those condemning anti-Semitism and supporting the Equal Rights Amendment.

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I joined Mason’s Student Government (SG) familiar with the dismal aspects of its reputation. I knew that many students see SG as an ineffective body comprised of playacting, would-be politicians passing empty bills and soaking up student funding.

Mason students on social media are either unaware of Student Government’s role in our community or convinced that nothing happens.

But to criticize collective statements is misplaced anger.

Voicing these concerns through Student Government has landed mainstream media attention for Mason, such as an article on SG’s stand against anti-Semitism. I see this not as empty business, but as an important platform for Mason students to participate in the marketplace of ideas and stand up for what they believe.

Student Government performs the function that student organizations promise to do. It offers resources for students, myself included, to empower ourselves and improve our campus.

For groups external to Mason or within the Mason administration, SG offers a foot in the door for passionate students trying to make positive change. As the primary organizer for our Mason Lobbies trip, there are resources I have access to and administrators helping me because of the unique position and advantage of Student Government.

I am not saying that SG works miracles. There can be internal divisions that can eclipse the substance of our roles and promises. Many of them are made during election periods and can go unfulfilled.

Another issue is communication: Many students are unaware of what Student Government does and why. As a result, I have personally seen the organization begin to prioritize communication.

Student Government will never be perfect. I do not think any student organization will ever be. At the end of the day, we are all students trying to make a change in our community or just make it feel like home for more people. To criticize SG’s efforts to do this is understandable, but to deny that they matter is wrong.

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WE SHOULD FOCUS ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

DAWSON WEINHOLD STAFF WRITER

issues isn’t a congressman or senator, but a councilman or supervisor.

PHOTO COURTESY OF FAIRFAX GOVERNMENT

One of the largest issues facing college students and non-college students alike is the economy.

While much of the country remains focused on the ongoing conflict with the federal budget, the local economy should not be ignored. Our local economy is quite important.

National politics can be quite the spectacle. There’s never a shortage of intrigue when it comes to Washington D.C. There’s always a scandal to be found, legislation to be considered or any other manner of political development.

national politics honestly bores me.

Not because of lack of interest, but because it’s not where I think the focus should be. National politics often makes great political theater, but very little of it actually affects anyone’s day to day. For that, I turn to local politics.

It’s no surprise that since I work in politics, people often come to me wanting to discuss whatever hot-button issue is in the headlines that day. I’ll usually indulge whoever is asking, but

Many people look past local politics, often believing entities like the Board of Supervisors are only full of people either looking to get started climbing the political ladder or argue petty

politics all day. I will not deny that there may be some truth to that claim, but local politics is so much more than that. Local supervisors are the ones in the best position to directly benefit one’s community.

Take an issue that many students can relate to—lack of housing.

The zoning process for housing developments is handled by the county or city government. The person best suited to help with most local

The DMV (D.C./Maryland/ Virginia) region remains one of the largest and most prosperous in the nation, which impacts Mason students. As local counties grow and attract more jobs, it is much easier for students to find jobs when they transition into the workforce. Local government has a hand in this.

Through economic incentives, the Board of Supervisors can help foster economic growth in their county.

Counties like Prince William continue to offer competitive property tax rates that help encourage growth.

Ultimately, the local economy is one that impacts us the most, so we should look towards our local government.

Lastly, local officials are much more in tune with local issues and easier to contact. An average congressional district has around 711,000 people in it. That’s a lot of constituents who have to be represented. Contrast that with a supervisor who only has a small portion of a county to represent. Since they only represent several precincts in a county, there is ample opportunity for supervisors to get involved in their neighborhoods and interact with their constituents, and supervisors are often willing to listen. Within the last week, Dr. Stephen Fuller, who is a part of the Mason faculty in the Schar School of Policy and Government, was able to give a presentation to the Prince William County Board of Supervisors. It is evident that the Mason community can have a significant impact on local policy.

While it may seem like politics primarily revolves around D.C., know that policies and people who truly benefit a community often don’t come from an office on the hill, they come the local areas that live and serve in your own neighborhood.

THE IMPORTANCE OF UNDERSTANDING DIVERSITY As of 2019, there are 954 hate groups in America, which has been increasing nationally ever since 1999. It is not unusual in this day and age in the United States to see hate crimes being committed. According to Arjun Singh Sethi, an adjunct professor of law at Georgetown University, the amount of hate crimes has risen from 2016 to 2017 with a 17 percent increase.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CREATIVE SERVICES

Unfortunately, Mason is not exempt from this issue of rising hate. This issue plagues campuses nationwide

exception.

our time here at our university.

I find this particularly worrisome, as students should be celebrating each other’s differences, especially since Mason is one of the most diverse campuses in America.

Through travelling to 13 different countries and 41 U.S. states, I have been privy to a wide-range of experiences that not many people have had the opportunity to encounter. That coupled with taking a world religions class in high school, I learned two invaluable skills with an important lesson—openmindedness and understanding differences will make hate evaporate.

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I’m not saying that we simply do not celebrate diversity, but I unequivocally believe there can always be room for improvement, not only for our personal growth but also for the betterment of each other during

Open-mindedness allows an individual to free themselves from judgement of another person or persons, while understanding another’s differences allows one to educate themselves on what makes someone different and why in a peaceful manner.

Instead of closing yourself off and saying you hate a group or individual, I believe it’s more impactful to learn about those around you. So instead of doing such, you can understand things as little as why someone practices Buddhism as to why some movements like #BlackLivesMatter are so essential to society.

You can even begin to understand the

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SUMMER BROWN STAFF WRITER

entire world around you and how it was constructed based on other’s beliefs, and begin to celebrate and uphold them.

I find that this is so remarkably imperative for students to achieve at Mason, not only because of where we learn, but also because these two skills will be with us throughout our entire lives. Movements, negotiations and peace cannot be successful without open-mindedness and understanding.

Dealing with others around us will be more difficult without these lessons.

They allows us to both work together fluidly and perhaps build relationships with others that may someday change the world for the better of society.

In the end, we will realize that we all aren’t so different after all and will perhaps prevent the hate that is constantly rising among us every single day. We can learn to protect, preserve, and even uphold these differences so that the future generations will have hate decline instead of continuing to rise.

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GAME FOR THOUGHT WHY EVERYONE SHOULD TRY A TABLE-TOP ROLE-PLAYING GAME

Essentially, it is playing “make believe” with a group of friends.

Before you write it off as silly or not worth your time, there are three main reasons why you and your friends should attempt playing a TTRPG. It can relieve stress, improve certain skills and bring players closer together.

PHOTO COURTESY OF DIACRITICA

PHOTO COURTESY OF BENNY MAZUR

Any activity that allows you to separate yourself from your current problems can be considered relaxing.

Since childhood, we’ve been using

forms of play to both bring resolution to our feelings and to gain emotional mastery. Although the specific effects of role-play on emotion have not yet been documented, the correlation between playing any well-liked game and a positive mood has been suggested by a number of studies.

Additionally, role-play has been used as a means to strengthen soft skills such as empathy, creative thinking and problem solving. You may be a college student in Northern Virginia, but your character doesn’t have to be. By putting themselves in the shoes of a fictional character, the player has free reign to explore the limits of their empathy and see things from a different point of view.

In a similar way, each challenge the players face presents a new problem to

PHOTO COURTESY OF BILLY FERGUSON

A table-top role-playing game (TTRPG) is a genre of game where players describe and enact the actions of their characters aloud while exploring a fantasy world as described by a game or dungeon master. Similar to a board game, people traditionally sit around a table with game materials and directly engage with each other.

solve, whether it be how to figure out who can be trusted or how best to sneak into a wizard’s magical tower. Players will have to learn and adapt quickly in order to succeed, a lesson that can then be carried into real life problems.

Lastly, and arguably, the most important benefit of playing a TTRPG is the space that it provides for generating lasting memories with friends through direct, faceto-face interaction. Gary Gygax, co-creator of the TTRPG Dungeons & Dragons, said it best, “The essence of a role-playing game is that it is a group, cooperative experience.” A player doesn’t defeat the dragon and save the town by themselves. You are tasked with working together and experiencing a collective adventure, all from the comfort of an intimately familiar setting.

It is worth noting, however, that despite its name, not all TTRPG campaigns are played in person around a table.

Today, there are websites, such as Roll20, that are designed to bring the atmosphere of playing a TTRPG to players who are unable to meet offline. While some of the intimacy may be lost to the digital platform, the memories and collaboration shared

among friends remains an integral part of the TTRPG experience.

Personally, I have grown so much since participating in my first campaign three years ago. I had first heard of Dungeons & Dragons through the web series, Critical Role, where a group of voice actors turn a campaign among friends into a riveting experience for viewers.

Almost immediately, I was captivated.

I brought the idea to my friends,

and we’ve been playing ever since.

In the end, it is up to you and your friends to decide whether you want to try a TTRPG. I’m not saying that everyone will have the same experience as I have. My opinion is not that everyone has to fall madly in love with TTRPGs, but rather that everyone should have the experience of stepping out of their comfort zone to see life through the eyes of another in the fantastical environments provided by many TTRPG campaigns.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MERCEDES PORTER

PHOTO COURTESY OF ARMY SPC. ANTHONY ZANE

ARIANNA GOODMAN STAFF WRITER

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3030: Crossing Of The Mason Campus

MS Funny

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