3.5.18- Fourth Estate

F URTH ESTATE March 5, 2018 Volume 5 Issue 17

GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY'S STUDENT NEWSPAPER

@ivestate | gmufourthestate.com

KOCH UNCOVERED: PART ONE

page

How billionaire businessman Charles Koch uses “talent pipelines” to serve ideological goals

7

LIFESTYLE Navigate campus life easily by checking out these tips and tricks

page 11

NEWS Mason celebrates Women’s History Month with events throughout March

page 5

OPINIONS Was Russia’s ban from the Winter Olympics enough?

page 12

NEWS Mason advances to the Women’s Basketball quarterfinals with 23 wins

page 3

02

FOURTH ESTATE

3.5.2018

We are always recruiting volunteers for: - NEWS WRITERS - LIFESTYLE WRITERS - SPORTS WRITERS - COPY EDITORS - PHOTOGRAPHERS

For all inquiries, please email a resume and two clips (or visual samples) to: masonfourthestate@gmail.com AND apply online at http://c2ms.info/osmapply

GMUFOURTHESTATE.COM @IVESTATE

Fareeha Rehman Sosan Malik Co-Editors-in-Chief

Katya Beisel Copy Chief

Michael Eberhart News Editor

Alex Shedd News Assistant Editor

Dinanda Pramesti Lifestyle Editor

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Dearest Patriots,

Co-Editor-in-Chief Sosan Malik

News Editor Michael Eberhart

Co-Editor-in-Chief Fareeha Rehman

News Asst. Editor Alex Shedd

Lifestyle Editor Dinanda Pramesti

It is mid-semester and if you are anything like me, your head might be churning when reading your planner or list of to do’s. I hope this is not the case and want to stress the importance of taking a minute or two out of your day to just breathe and stretch. If you are someone that needs to be guided in your five, ten or 15-minute meditation, I highly recommend the app Headspace or searching for podcasts that deliver guided meditations.

I cannot begin to explain the relaxation guided breathing exercise does to your bodies nerves. Once you have done so, open up your planner or look at your whiteboard and take each task one step at a time. Rushing papers or other assignments will lead to sloppy work… Don’t settle for sloppy, you’re paying for school!

One thing that really motivates me as a student is knowing that all my fellow patriots are in the same exact boat as me in terms of relentlessly working day and night. With spring break approaching, I highly advise both students and faculty members to recalibrate their brains the Sunday before classes start up again and enter campus with a cup of coffee or tea and a positive mindset for the remainder of the spring semester.

Basma Humadi Lifestyle Assistant Editor

Jamie Beliveau Opinions Editor

Catherine McKay Online Editor

Billy Ferguson Art Director

Allie Thompson Photo Editor

Emmett Smith Distribution Manager

Kathryn Mangus Director

David Carroll Associate Director

Jason Hartsel Assistant Director

Jessica Smith Business Office Manager

Dun, dun, dun! If you have recently walked towards southside, you may have noticed one of the vertical cubes mentioning how the first “Koch Uncovered” story would be published in our March 5 issue. It is now March 5, and you no longer have to wait! Check out pg 6-7.

Lifestyle Asst. Editor Basma Humadi

Opinions Editor Jamie Beliveau

Copy Chief Katya Beisel

Before your eager eyes turn to the following pages, I want to wish all the student and faculty members a relaxing spring break. For all my budget-conscious students out there, turn to page 10 to read about how you can achieve cheap thrills over the break.

Avid readers of Fourth Estate, our next printed issue will be on March 26.

Lastly, think good thoughts and have a splendid rest of the week.

Sincerely your Co-Editor-in-Chief,

Art Director Billy Ferguson

Photo Editor Allie Thompson

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

Online Editor Catherine McKay

Sosan Malik

COVER PHOTO CREDITS Fourth Estate/Billy Ferguson and Mason Creative Services/Evan Cantwell Masthead Clover Fourth Estate/ Mary Jane DeCarlo Lifestyle Snacks Fourth Estate/ Angelique Arintok News Women’s History Month Fourth Estate/Grant Smith

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.

Opinions Russian Bear Fourth Estate/Billy Ferguson

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.

News Women’s Basketball Fourth Estate/Ibrahim Ahmad

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

NEWS

GMUFOURTHESTATE.COM @IVESTATE

3.5.2018

03

OPEN HOUSE & JOB FAIRS PHILLIPS Family Partners FOURTH ESTATE/ IBRAHIM AHMAD

Wednesday March 7th | 4:30 to 6:30 PM 7010 Braddock Rd | Annandale, VA 22003 Come see what PHILLIPS Family Partners is all about! We help families grow together by offering home and community-based counseling and behavior therapy. Join our clinical team of licensed mental health professionals, family counselors, and BCBA/ABA’s.

TEAMWORK ADVANCES THE PATRIOTS TO RICHMOND Four scorers in double digits help push the Patriots past St. Bonaventure NATALIE HEAVREN STAFF WRITER

“Survive and advance, it’s that time of year,” said head coach Nyla Milleson as she opened up the victorious post-game press conference. With their twenty-third win of the season, Mason extends their record and advances to the quarterfinals for the second time in three years.

Mason survived and advanced in their first-ever home game of an Atlantic 10 Women’s Basketball Championship, winning 89-79 against the St. Bonaventure Bonnies.

The Patriots survived the Bonnies jumping out to an early 11-4 lead, and they survived a close second quarter in which the Bonnies briefly regained the lead.

However, it was Mason that took a ninepoint lead going into halftime.

FOURTH ESTATE/ IBRAHIM AHMAD

The turning point of this game came with 4:05 left in the first half when St. Bonaventure’s Mckenna Maycock hit a 3-pointer, the Bonnie’s fifth of the first half, to pull ahead 33-32. However, Mason would respond by going on a 12-2 run to close out the first half. Freshman Nicole CardañoHillary sparked the turnaround when she forced a steal, went down the court and made a layup despite being fouled.

Though this win is the Patriots’ third win over the Bonnies in the last month, St. Bonaventure did not surrender easily.

Nine seconds into the third quarter, St. Bonaventure’s leading scorer Mariah Ruff hit her second 3-pointer. Ruff would go on to score 17 of her 30 points in the second half.

Mason couldn’t separate themselves from their opponents during the second half. Even after the Patriots extended their lead to 15 with 6:34 left in the game, the Bonnies cut their deficit to 10 in less than two minutes.

Cardaño-Hillary was instrumental in the

Patriots closing out the game, as she scored eight of her 18 points in the last five minutes of play.

PHILLIPS Family Partners is a nationally recognized initiative named by the Center for the Study at Social Policy for helping youth thrive. If you are interested in making a change in your career, this is a great time to check us out.

Positions available: • BCBA Therapists (FT/PT) • Family Counselors (FT/PT)

• ABA Therapists (FT/PT) • Family Mentors (PT only)

PHILLIPS Programs Schools

Sophomore Jacy Bolton led the team in scoring with a career-high 24 points -- especially notable because she has scored double figures just once in her last six games. She also made a career-high five 3-pointers and completed five steals.

March 8th from 4–6 PM | Annandale Campus 7010 Braddock Road | Annandale, VA 22003

Asked what she did to prepare her shooting after the game, Bolton explained her pre-game process.

March 22nd from 4–6 PM | Fairfax Campus 11230 Waples Mill Rd | Fairfax, VA 22030

“I watched our season highlights right before I came to the gym and I saw myself shooting threes... I was like I know I can do this,” Bolton said. “I am so glad I took the time to watch that four-minute video because it really reminded me of what my role is for this team.”

Bolton wasn’t the only Patriot who had a career game. Freshman Marika Korpinen scored a career-high twelve points, including two 3-pointers.

“I don’t know if it’s a career high or not, but it’s... by far her best game she’s played as a Patriot,” said coach Milleson.

Graduate transfer Natalie Butler got her thirtieth consecutive double-double, a figure that stands as the third most in NCAA history. She also became only the eighth woman to reach 500 rebounds in a single season in Division I basketball history.

“You know it’s great to have individual things, but the most important thing for me right now is to have team wins,” Butler said after the game. “There’s nothing that can top that.”

The Patriots will take on George Washington on Friday, Mar. 2, at 2 p.m.

March 21st from 4–6 PM | Laurel Campus 8920 Whiskey Bottom Rd | Laurel, MD 20723

Come see what PHILLIPS Programs Schools are all about!

Our Schools are nationally acclaimed and blue ribbon awarded.

PHILLIPS is also the recipient of The Washington Post Non-Profit Management award.

Stop by and pick up some information, get a tour of our campuses, or speak to one of our supervisors about positions that may be available in the new 2018-2019 school year. We offer competitive salaries and benefits to include tuition reimbursement and professional development opportunities.

Positions that MAY BE available: • Special Education Teachers • Speech & Language Pathologists • School Counselors • Assistant Teachers/1:1 Aides • Behavior Management • Occupational/Physical Therapists • Support Assistants • Office Assistants/Administrative • Bus Drivers/Bus Aides (requires Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) with Passenger and School Bus endorsements)

Can’t make it? Send your letter of interest & resume to: PHILLIPS Programs Attn: HR/Job Fair 7010 Braddock Road Annandale, VA 22003

FAX: 703-658-2378 EMAIL: resumes.annandale@ phillipsprograms.org

PHILLIPS Programs is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

www.phillipsprograms.org

04

NEWS

3.5.2018

GMUFOURTHESTATE.COM @IVESTATE

2018 ATLANTIC 10 MEN’S BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW NATALIE HEAVREN STAFF WRITER

Photo courtesy of GMUHOOPS.COM

St. Bonaventure has won their last twelve games, and they are looking to return to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2012, when they won their first conference championship. This strong finish to the regular season leads made them the second seed, they’ll open tournament play against the winner of Richmond and Duquesne on Friday, March 9 at 6 p.m.

Davidson has lost just two of their last ten games, both of which were to teams ranked above them -- first to Rhode

Photo courtesy of GEORGE MASON POLICE

MASON WEEKLY CRIME LOG

Saint Joseph’s has won six of their last seven games to finish out the regular season, with their lone loss coming to Mason, on Boyd’s first buzzer beater.

With their strong finish they played themselves into the four seed, and will not play until Friday, March 9 at 2:30 p.m. when they take on the winner of Mason and La Salle/Massachusetts.

The Hawks are looking to win their first conference tournament since 2016, which was also the last time they played in the NCAA Tournament.

2:30 p.m. against the winner of La Salle and Massachusetts.

This shortens their road to a conference championship from five games to four, and gives them an extra day of rest, which is critical during tournament play. With all that Mason has accomplished so far, you cannot count the Patriots out when it comes to unexpected wins and being a part of March Madness.

Photo courtesy of MASON ATHLETICS

Rhode Island is looking to defend their 2017 Conference Championship, though without it they’ll still likely make the NCAA Tournament. The Rams have only lost three conference games this season, including their last two games of the season.

They lost at home Tuesday to Saint Joseph’s by thirty points, and did not rebound from the loss, losing again at Davidson on Friday night. This is not how the Rams planned to end the regular season, and it could leave them vulnerable to an upset in the conference tournament. They take on the winner of the VCU and Dayton game at noon on Friday, March 9.

Island, and then to St. Bonaventure in a triple overtime thriller. The Wildcats finished their regular season off strong by beating top seeded Rhode Island by two. Davidson is looking for their first conference tournament win and first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2015. They play the winner of Saint Louis George Washington/Fordham on Friday, March 9 at 8:30 p.m.

Mason students can purchase discounted tickets for each game that Mason plays in the tournament.

Also, the first 50 students to purchase a ticket will receive a free metro day pass. More information can be found at gomason.com.

Mason has won eight of their last eleven games, including three due to Boyd’s last-second shots. Entering the tournament Mason is looking to return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011.

After losing to Richmond Saturday the Patriots finished in fifth place, their highest since entering the A-10. Two weeks ago the Patriots had six conference wins and were near the bottom of conference standings. Their end of season push launched them into fifth place with a bye. Instead of having to play Wednesday, the Patriots’ first game will be Thursday, March 8 at

Photo courtesy of MASON ATHLETICS

The countdown to March Madness is almost over. However, the Mason men’s basketball team has been living in the excitement of March for much of the last two weeks -- three of their last four games have been won by last-second shots from sophomore Ian Boyd.

Monday, Feb. 26, 2018 - Hampton Roads, 10:27 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018 - Rappahannock Deck, 5:17 p.m.

Drug/Narcotic Violations/Possession of Fictitious ID: Subject (GMU) was issued a releasable summons for possessing illegal drugs and a fictitious identification card.

Drug/Narcotic Violations: Two Subjects (GMU) were issued releasable summonses for possessing illegal drugs.

Case 2018-001976 - Cleared by Summons.

Case: 2018-001936 - Cleared by Summons.

Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018 (Reported) - Jan. 11 (Incident), Eastern Shore, 6:00 a.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018 - Lot A, 10:15 a.m.

Sexual Assault/Rape: Complainant (GMU) reported being sexually assaulted by an intimate partner (GMU).

Case 2018-002000 - Inactive.

Hit and Run: Complainant (GMU) reported a hit and run of a vehicle.

Case 2018-001956 - Referred to Title IX.

Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018 - Shenandoah Parking Deck, 12:14 p.m.

Defrauding an Inn Keeper: Subject (GMU) was issued a releasable summons for exiting a parking garage without paying.

Case 2018-001960 - Cleared by Summons.

Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2018 - Fairfax Campus, 8:25 p.m.

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

Case 2018-002022 - Referred to Title IX.

NEWS

GMUFOURTHESTATE.COM @IVESTATE

3.5.2018

05

WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH AT MASON FOURTH ESTATE/TISHA HERRERA

“Make Your Own Damn Sandwich” and other events throughout March ABIGAIL ADCOX STAFF WRITER

March 1 marks the official start of Women’s History Month. Mason’s Women and Gender Studies Center will celebrate with a variety of events throughout the month.

The events began on March 1 with an ice cream social and kick off in the Patriots Lounge of SUB 1.

“It’s both educational and good for socializing, meeting folks from different walks of life,” said Associate Director Nancy Xiong. “We want to celebrate all of those identities.”

This year’s theme is, “Nevertheless, She Persisted” -- a reference to Sen. Mitch McConnell’s objection to Sen. Elizabeth Warren during her 2017 reading from a letter by Coretta Scott King.

“That particular phrase is continuing to be used in women’s history and we thought it was timeless,” said David Powers, program coordinator for Mason’s Women and Gender Studies Center.

The Women and Gender Studies Office partnered with many different departments for this year’s events, including the College of Health and Human Services, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, the Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Multicultural Education, Leadership Education and Development, LGBTQ

Resources, Student Involvement, and the Student Support and Advocacy Center. Several of the different departments have coordinated events.

Men are strongly encouraged to come to these events as well.

“We are all inclusive,” Powers explained. “Men should be educated on women’s history. Men are feminists, too. Women need men to be good allies.”

“Feminism: The New Wave” will a discussion comparing and contrasting the experience and theories of feminist leaders, including bell hooks, Janet Mock and Gloria Steinem. The event will be hosted in the Johnson Center Gold Room on March 5, from 4:30-7:10 p.m.

The “Are There Fat People in the Movement? (Yes.)” event will be on March 6 in the HUB meeting rooms 1-2 from 12-1:30 p.m. The event will promote confidence for people of all sizes as they discuss fat shaming culture, and how victims can fight back by being loud and proud.

Delegate Danica Roem (D-Manassas) will speak about her journey from journalism to politics from 5-8 p.m. on March 29 at the SciTech Campus’ Verizon Theatre in Manassas. Roem recently made history in 2017 when she was elected as the only openly transgender person in a state legislature

anywhere in America. Roem now represents Virginia’s District 13 in the House of Delegates.

Additionally, one of the annual events the Women and Gender Studies Office organizes is a Women’s History Month open mic night. Two Mason faculty, Suzanne Scott Constantine, professor of integrative studies, and Lynne Scott Constantine, associate professor of interdisciplinary arts, will perform “There’s a Crack in Everything,” a mixed media presentation including art, poetry, music and dance. Students are encouraged to come out and share their own work. This will be in Research Hall, room 163 at 4 p.m. on March 27.

To cap off Women’s History Month, there will be a “Make Your Own Damn Sandwich” event on April 10.

Students will go to different stations raising awareness about gender inequality through various topics such as the wage gap, consent and sexual violence and intersectionality. All the while making a sandwich and challenging the sexist joke that women should “go make a sandwich” or “go back to the kitchen.”

For more information, dates and locations of events for Women’s History Month, readers can check Mason’s Women and Gender Studies website.

NEW ROOM AND BOARD PRICES SET TO RISE FOR FALL 2019 Bills to allocate aunds, GEO opportunities, and new appointments in Mason’s Student Senate TISHA HERRERA STAFF WRITER

Mason’s student senate met for the sixth time this semester on March 1 in Merten Hall. The Student Senate discussed increased student housing, and allocation of funds, resignations, and new appointments.

David Kanos, Mason’s student body president, reported to the senate about the Board of Visitors’ plan to increase student housing rates for the fall of 2019. Kanos documented the room and board decisions made earlier that day, in which Mason’s freshman room rates will increase by $270, with independent meal plans by $100, for a combined freshman room and board rate increase of $370. Kanos stated the increase would be “more for freshman and sophomores, than it [will be] for juniors and seniors.”

FOUTRTH ESTATE/GRANT SMITH

The Board of Visitors also approved a salary increase for Cabrera, who made $683,717 according to Mason’s Salary Report from 2016-2017.

Kanos added that the Board of Visitors also discussed “a global gateway program” from their Global Education Office (GEO), that will start in the fall of 2018. GEO will be open to applications from freshman in their second semester at Mason. According to the GEO website, the program allows students to live and study abroad using an “experiential learning model” and a curriculum “specially designed to allow students to satisfy many of their freshman core requirements, while taking advantage of local expertise.”

The opportunities abroad will be introduced as “gateways on all six continents,” available in Australia, Chile, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, and here in Fairfax.

Davide Genoese-Zerbi, chairman of Government and Community

Relations, introduced Resolution #21 on behalf of Mason’s Alumni Association, as a gesture to celebrate their 50th anniversary. In the resolution, Genoese-Zerbi stated Mason’s Alumni Association “provides invaluable services to both past and present members of the student body,” and Mason’s Student Government has a history of “partnering with the Alumni Association for events such as Mason Lobbies.” The resolution was successfully adopted, but failed to pass in the senate.

Speaker Caitlin Lively then moved on to the agenda’s only new order of business, “A Bill to Allocate Funds for Mason CARES.” Mason CARES is the Campus Awareness, Referral, and Education for Suicide Prevention, and the new bill was quickly adopted by the senate.

Lively moved to Announcements/ Points of Privilege, with a message from Senator McKenna Bates wishing everyone a happy Purim. The holiday is commemorated by the Jewish people, as their ancestors were saved from genocide in ancient Persia.

The Student Senate also made six new appointments over the course of two meetings on Feb. 15 and Feb. 22.

Senator Alexander Abel was newly appointed as chairman of the Diversity and Multicultural Affairs Committee, Nick Chen as new Student Funding Board Member, as well as Matthew Borja, Corey Berkley, and Maximilian Kim as Student Senators.

The appointments were made to replace a number of resignations from the senate this semester. Rujohn Shali, William Ball and Omar Abdelmaguid all left their positions as senators in recent weeks.

06

NEWS

3.5.2018

KOCH UNCOVERED: PART ONE Donors use student and faculty “talent pipelines” to serve ideological goals DANA NICKEL, ASHLEY STEWART, OLIVIA VERMANE STAFF WRITERS ALEXANDER SHEDD NEWS ASSISTANT EDITOR

Editorial Note: Since September 2017, the Fourth Estate investigative team has been gathering information on the relationship between GMU and billionaire donor Charles Koch. The following story is the first part in a series of three in which we will release everything we have learned in that time. The uncut version of this article can be found online at gmufourthestate.com.

PART ONE: THE TALENT PIPELINE In 1974, chair of the Institute for Humane Studies and billionaire businessman Charles Koch said universities “encourage extreme hostility to American business,” and businesses must “[support] only those programs, departments or schools that contribute in some way to our individual companies or to the general welfare of our free enterprise system.”

Koch, who received an honorary doctorate from Mason in 2002, has since tried to live up to this philosophy, donating to hundreds of schools in the past several decades. However, none of his donations come near the amount given to Mason.

History Charles Koch is the chairman and Charles Koch is the chairman and CEO of Koch Industries, a multinational conglomerate he and his brother, David Koch, inherited from their father. While the company began in oil refinement, it has since branched out into other fossil fuels, including jet fuel and diesel, as well as everyday construction materials, textiles, agriculture, medical technology, and infrastructure, according to the company’s website.

The nonprofit website opensecrets. org lists Koch Industries as one of the largest donors to the Republican party in the country, giving generously to both campaigns and politically conservative organizations every year, including the National Republican Senatorial Committee and notable Republicans such as Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO).

According to Koch’s public tax records, the energy tycoon has donated approximately $95.5 million to Mason since 2005 through the Charles Koch

Foundation, his charity organization.

Most recently, Koch and a second anonymous donor signed grant agreements in 2016 to give $20 million to Mason over a five-year period to fund the Antonin Scalia Law School.

Fourth Estate’s investigative team has found that these donations do not come without strings attached.

“At George Mason University, academic research predominantly underwritten

by Koch has resulted in professors

made it clear in the past that their goal is not to fund and support public higher education for its own importance, but for their own private interests.

The Mercatus Center and the Institute for Humane Studies at Mason are two examples of how the Charles Koch Foundation is facilitating a “talent pipeline,” a term coined by the Charles Koch Foundation to describe a cultivation of student talents in universities across the country.

According to Ryan Stowers, vice president of the Charles Koch Foundation, the aim of the talent pipeline is to build a “robust, freedom-advancing network of professors” who “educate thousands of students in the ideas of a free society.”

”Koch involvement and expansion in higher education is more evident at Mason than any other university.” lobbying on topics related to Koch’s financial interests, including energy issues and state l­evel politics,” according to “Koch Oversteps of Academic Freedom,” a joint report created

by Unkoch My Campus, a national campaign dedicated to removing Koch influence from universities, and the Florida State University Progress Coalition.

According to Stowers, the network of scholars involved in this talent pipeline serves as the “backbone” of their higher education investment. Stowers claimed at a Koch donor summit in 2014 that the educational goals of the Charles Koch Foundation are to have their talent pipeline “become the major staffing” at Koch-funded think tanks and political organizations.

One of the lobbyist professors listed in “Koch Brothers’ Higher-Ed

“The new talent pipeline is critical to advance what we need in order to be

“Faculty dissent is why [Mercatus] is even at [Mason] -- because Rutgers kicked it out,” Investments Advance Political Goals,” a Center for Public Integrity Article cited by the Unkoch My Campus report, is economics professor Walter Williams. Williams was selected by the 60 Plus Association, a nonprofit funded in part by Koch, to be a member of its “truth squad,” and lobby against Social Security and Medicare expansions.

The Center for Public Integrity is a “nonpartisan, nonprofit investigative news organization,” according to their website.

The Charles Koch Foundation has

successful,” said Stowers.

This talent pipeline has branches in more than 20 university-based research centers and more than 400 on-campus undergraduate programs. Of those, more than 20 university-based research centers, the Mercatus Center at Mason is the “largest collection of free market faculty that exists anywhere at any university anywhere in the world,” according to Stowers.

In other words, Koch involvement and expansion in higher education is more evident at Mason than any other

GMUFOURTHESTATE.COM @IVESTATE

university.

The Mercatus Center

What is the Talent Pipeline?

The Mercatus Center, originally called the Center for Market Processes, was created by Fink in 1977 while he was a graduate student at Rutgers University.

The idea of the talent pipeline relates back to Mercatus Center founder Dr. Richard Fink’s “The Structure of Social Change,” a policy adopted by the Charles Koch Foundation during Fink’s time as president of the foundation.

The model is described as an “integrated strategy” of formulating social change through scholars who are a part of think tanks and research centers.

A longtime associate of Charles Koch and former executive vice president of Koch Industries, Fink devised the idea based on a model put forth by economist F.A. Hayek. Fink’s use of the term “social change” refers to the impact students can have on public policy.

The model begins with the “investment of raw materials,” or “exploration and production of abstract concepts and theories.” This refers directly to scholars involved in higher education, and the materials they are exposed to during the idea-making process.

However, according to Fink, ideas and theories are useless without a way to apply them to society. This is where think tanks and policy institutions like the Mercatus Center come into play.

“Without these organizations, theory or abstract thought would have less value and less impact on our society,” Fink wrote.

Students who are exposed to the initial ideas now apply them within these institutions -- in this case making the ideas of a free-market economy a reality within the organization. Finally, the policy ideas formulated within these think tanks must be implemented into proposals to enact particular change within a society, which is the ultimate goal of the strategy.

According to Fink, “implementation groups are needed in the final stage to take the policy ideas from the think tanks and translate them into proposals that citizens can understand and act upon.”

The three stages of this model are the logic behind a talent pipeline that ultimately drives forward the free market libertarian ideology supported by Koch.

Fink’s center focused on the study of free market economic theory. In order to grow his center, Fink applied for a donation from the Charles Koch Foundation.

According to “Dark Money,” a book about the Koch network written by New Yorker journalist Jane Mayer, the Koch foundation granted Fink a donation of $150,000 to continue his research. While Fink was attempting to build his institute, other faculty members at Rutgers became increasingly concerned with the idea of a donor-funded and Koch-controlled center at the university.

“The fact that we’d established this relationship in some way might have injured us with faculty members,” said Rutgers Economic Chair John Cullity in an interview from 1991 entitled “Preserving Memory: Newark and Rutgers in the 1960s and 1970s,” describing Fink’s departure from the university.

Fink was forced to move the center from Rutgers to Mason in 1980.

“Faculty dissent is why [Mercatus] is even at [Mason] -- because Rutgers kicked it out,” said Ralph Wilson, head researcher of Unkoch My Campus, in an interview with Fourth Estate.

According to their website, the Mercatus Center’s mission is to “generate knowledge and understanding of the institutions that affect the freedom to prosper and to find sustainable solutions that overcome the barriers preventing individuals from living free, prosperous, and peaceful lives.”

This mission is carried out through various student research programs focusing on “bridging the gap between academic ideas and real-world problems.”

Mercatus’ student programs, focused on the application of free market economics, would likely benefit the interests of international businessmen such as Koch.

Free Market Economics is an economic theory defined by “an economy with unobstructed competition and only private transactions between buyers and sellers,” according to Investopedia.com. In a free market economy, the government imposes few or no restrictions on production and transactions. Often a synonym for laissez-faire capitalism, the study of free market economics is a critical part of Koch’s libertarian beliefs.

NEWS

One of these programs is the F.A. Hayek Program for Advanced Study in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics.

According to the Mercatus website, the program is “devoted to the promotion of teaching and research on the institutional arrangements that are suitable for the support of free and prosperous societies.”

However, the Mercatus website states that any person, foundation, or institution giving money to the center will have “absolutely no influence or control over the research design, methodology, analysis, or findings of Mercatus research projects, nor do they have influence or control over the content of educational programs.”

The Hayek program’s curriculum is based on an interdisciplinary approach to economic learning. It combines various disciplines from the social sciences and humanities to an education grounded in economics.

While a decent portion of Mercatus alumni leave the institute to teach at other universities, or to work at NGOs or policy committees in D.C., a large portion of Mercatus alumni go on to be employed by the center.

“[Mercatus tries] to train students to be excellent communicators of economic ideas to their peers in the scientific discipline, to their students in the classroom, and to those interested in economics discussions in the general public,” explained Dr. Peter Boettke, the current director of the Hayek program and vice president for advanced research at Mercatus.

“Mason alums, of which I am one, are highly represented on the Mercatus staff,” said General Director Tyler Cowen.

Mercatus alumni “disproportionately go into the nonprofit sector working for NGOs [non-governmental organizations] or working in public policy,” explained Executive Director Daniel Rothschild. They are also “disproportionately represented in the bipartisan committees on the hill” such as the joint economic committee or the joint committee on taxation.

Mercatus staff are responsible for overseeing student programs or performing research of their own under the guide-

The Institute for Humane Studies The Institute for Humane Studies (IHS) is another Koch-funded center at Mason. IHS’s current president and CEO, Dr. Emily Chamlee-Wright, describes it as “an incubator for human progress.”

According to tax returns from 2016, the Charles Koch Foundation donated $145,212 for “educational programs” to IHS and another $5,691,250 for “general operating support,” along with $13,399,270 directly to the George Mason University Foundation in the same year for a “return of partially used funds.”

IHS has many programs, seminars and methods created to educate and train students in the same type of free

“The Koch brothers’ college-focused money, by helping advance a philosophy of economic liberty, is eroding a fundamental aspect of higher education: academic freedom.” lines of the center. This research has been featured in current policy developments like the recent Republican tax plan.

market economic ideology promoted by the Charles Koch Foundation, even using the same language to describe themselves.

A Boston Globe article from Feb. 2 by Annie Linskey says “The Mercatus Center at George Mason University, which describes itself as ‘the world’s premier university source for market-oriented ideas,’ was specifically credited with doing the academic work to support the $1.5 trillion tax cut passed in December.”

The IHS website states that they advocate for “opportunities to debate the ideas of a free society; and for a growing community of scholars to research and teach the principles and practice of freedom.” Similarly, the Charles Koch Foundation website states that they provide grants to universities all across the nation that “do critical work in understanding how free and

3.5.2018

07

open societies function best.”

Some examples of this talent cultivation within IHS can be found in Mayer’s “Dark Money.” Mayer alleges that Charles Koch ordered for “ideology tests” to be done on students at the end of each week to gauge students’ political leanings after seminars at the institute.

When asked about these ideology tests, Dr. ChamleeWright stated that students are supposed to take anonymous surveys at the beginning and end of each week-long seminar.

She stated the reason for these surveys is to ensure that no students would be “wasting their time” in the seminars. The exact content of the surveys is unclear.

Another example Mayer cites is the process of scanning students’ applications through a computer to count how many times key figures in libertarian politics are cited in their application essays.

When asked about the application process mentioned in Mayer’s book, Dr. ChamleeWright stated that she has no knowledge of this process within the institute.

FOURTH ESTATE/BILLY FERGUSON

GMUFOURTHESTATE.COM @IVESTATE

Several programs offered through IHS are offered only to faculty to develop policy writing skills. One of these programs is the institute’s Policy Research Seminar.

Dr. Chamlee-Wright stated that while some graduate students can be invited to these seminars, it is primarily for faculty, indicating that the talent pipeline is not exclusive to students.

Another program implemented strictly for Mason’s faculty is the institute’s regional networking groups. According to the IHS website, “regional networking groups bring together scholars and policy experts from similar geographic regions to discuss issues that are at the nexus of policy and academia and to help facilitate connections leading to future opportunities and collaboration.”

When asked how this program benefits the student body at Mason, Dr. Chamlee-Wright stated she had no knowledge of any such group, even though it is advertised through her own institute’s website.

Kurt Kehl, a representative from the institute, told Fourth Estate in an email, “In terms of the regional networking groups, it is something that we offer when we receive interest, but it’s not something we proactively manage or facilitate.”

Goals of the Talent Pipeline An article published by The Atlantic, titled “Spreading the Free-Market Gospel,” states that skeptics such as the Center for Public Integrity believe that “the Koch brothers’ college-focused money, by helping advance a philosophy of economic liberty, is eroding a fundamental aspect of higher education: academic freedom.” This opinion is based on audio recordings the center obtained from a 2015 Koch networking summit.

A report by the ad hoc committee of the faculty senate at Wake Forest University -- another school with a history of taking Koch money -- stated that the aim of the Charles Koch Foundation’s investing in higher education is ultimately to convert students to their “free market ideology.” This is accomplished through a network of scholars involved in think tanks, such as the Mercatus Center, and students who go on to “influence state and local policy” in order to benefit a “free society.”

In part two of this story, the Fourth Estate investigative team will describe how the Mason administration helps facilitate Koch’s talent pipeline.

As a part of Women’s History Month, Fourth Estate wanted to celebrate the wonderful leading ladies of Student Media. As of now, all Student Media organizations are run by women. We thought it was pretty historic - especially since representation of women in leadership positions is sparse, according to Pew Research Center. For this feature, we went around and got the inside scoop about their role and how they got to where they are now.

INTERVIEWS BY BASMA HUMADI

N I N A M O TA Z E D I , E D I T O R - I N - C H I E F, T H E GEORGE MASON REVIEW

SASHA TOOPHANIE, GENERAL MANAGER, WGMU

to join Mason’s undergraduate research journal.

I learned more about GMR at Student Media’s Press Pass event and started as a peer reviewer my freshman year.

What are you most proud of during your time at GMR?

How did you become a part of GMR and what made you want to join?

A friend at another college told me about her experience peer reviewing for their undergraduate research journal. He made it sound like an amazing learning experience and encouraged me

Why are women in leadership positions important to you?

In any group, I think it’s important to have a range of perspectives and experiences. Having more balanced gender representation in leadership positions, and overall within an organization or industry, moves us closer to achieving that.

FOUTRTH ESTATE/ALLIE THOMPSON

FOUTRTH ESTATE/ALLIE THOMPSON

Over the past three years, I’ve witnessed both the quality and quantity of submissions increase. It’s incredibly inspiring to read about the innovative research being undertaken by Mason undergraduates, and I’m glad that students are becoming more aware of GMR as an outlet for their work.

We’re fortunate to be surrounded by a campus environment that fosters undergraduate research that we’re then in turn able to showcase in our annual publication.

KERA WHITE, GENERAL MANAGER, MASON CABLE NETWORK woman of color isn’t something that I have ever really thought at my age that I would be accomplishing in this day and age that we live in. But it does make me think that of all that minority women are and will continue accomplishing.

Photo courtesy of WJMC.GMU.EDU

What’s something unexpected you think you found out about yourself by being in a leadership position?

What’s it like knowing you’re the first women of color to run the station?

I think it’s actually very interesting. Being the first

Something unexpected that I found out about myself was that I did not like leading. It was so shocking to me! I was afraid to lead individuals who I felt were so much more experienced than As a first year sophomore I had so much weight on my shoulders to make sure I wasn’t a dictator, that I wasn’t a push-over, that my creative ideas made sense, that I could be intelligent about what I’m talking about, and just be this overall vision of a perfect leader I had. MCN taught me that although I started off being so scared to jump out there and lead people to success, I have a natural born talent to lead and I have a desire to see those around me and myself work hard at what we love so much.

What’s it like knowing you’re the first woman in WGMU history to lead the organization?

Wow! When I first heard that from Rodger Smith, our faculty advisor, and Matt Dotson, our previous General Manager, I was a little shocked for sure! I knew women had been music directors and program directors before, but to think that no woman has ever expressed interest in being General Manager was interesting. We have been led by strong males in the past and I feel a great sense of pride to be the first strong female to take the reigns. I hope to set a new precedent for women in WGMU to pursue their goals, even if that goal is to be the leader of the organization one day. Some may think that it is daunting to be the first female to lead, but to me, it is an amazing opportunity to encourage future female leaders with my legacy.

What would you say is something

difficult/the most difficult thing about running this organization?

The most challenging part of running WGMU is ensuring our content is appealing to the audience. As an organization, we are always trying to create new and appealing opportunities for students: ticket giveaways, music review board, and hosting shows and writing album/ concert reviews. Thankfully, the entire WGMU staff is committed to seeing this station thrive, so there is never a lull of creative ideas! In complete honesty, the success of this organization is not just due to the General Manager, but it is due to the passion and drive of everyone involved, particularly our executive staff, DJs, contributors and faculty advisor. Everyone’s genuine interest in college radio and their desire to have a unique experience, while also paving the way for future DJs, has made WGMU an honor to lead.

Rehman:

Malik: How did you become a part of IVE and what made you want to join?

What’s it like having to make decisions all the time!?

I was a transfer student from Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) and was in search of an exciting extracurricular activity on campus. I recall specifically searching media organizations since I thought it would complement my degree in media production and criticism. My journey began Aug of 2016 when I was appointed the Managing Editor position for the student-run newspaper Fourth Estate. I was very nervous because I was not sure at the time what the job required and thought I would not succeed being a part of this particular group since I was a media production and criticism concentration and by no means a journalist.

Soon after I became the Co-Editor-in-Chief alongside Co-Editor-in-Chief, Fareeha Rehman. We work very well together and see eye to eye on many subjects. (She always reminds me that we are both pieces.)

It’s kind of thrilling to have a space to curate not only the paper but the type of work environment we have.

The immense responsibility can be overwhelming at times, but to see what we’ve done with Fourth Estate is so rewarding.

What’s something unexpected you think you found out about yourself by being in a leadership position?

FOURTH ESTATE/NICOLAS MACOTTO

Photo courtesy of SOSAN MALIK

FA R E E H A R E H M A N A N D S O S A N M A L I K , C O - E D I T O R S - I N - C H I E F, F O U R T H E S TAT E

Photo courtesy of FAREEHA REHMAN

L A U R Y N C A N T R E L L , P R E S I D E N T, SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS

What are you most proud of during your time here?

Completely remodeling the Fourth Estate look, building a team, restless production days with people who are motivated and driven to create a smashing issue every week. The whole experience really is what I am most proud of.

Introverts can take charge of a room and be outspoken too.

yourself by being in a leadership position?

I am thankful to have so many exceptional women who serve as my inspirations: my mother, Kathryn Graham (former publisher of The Washington Post), Julia Child, and Audrey Hepburn, just to name a few, but I would like to take the time to talk about my cousin Harriet, in Finland.

I have never met her in person, only talked on the phone with her twice, but she is one of my role models and she doesn’t even know it. She is a former model and designer and she has this incredible talent to take very ordinary items and use them to create incredible designs and decor. She has two very intelligent children and a husband who she has traveled the world with. I can not wait to go to Finland and finally meet the woman who my mom says I remind her so much of.

As president of Mason’s Society of Professional Journalists and through my involvement in Student Media, something very unexpected I found out about my leadership skills is that people trust them. More specifically, they trust my intuition. I am not one who is easily-self assured. I rely on others’ feedback because I want to know I’m being the leader they need and give them what they expect as a member of the organization. It is about the members and what they hope to gain regarding networking, professional development skills, and ensuring the free and fair practice of journalism.

I take it as a huge compliment when people say they are impressed with the work we do and how much we have grown as an organization. Comments like that and seeing the smiles on member’s faces makes it all worth it.

What’s something unexpected you think you found out about

Hanton: What are you most proud of during your time here?

Right now, I proud of all the strides we have made to improve the magazine.

We have changed the layout, how we market ourselves, even how we run our open mic nights. For a while, Volition has just kinda been there but now we are moving forward and making a name for ourselves. Hopefully, when I graduate next year Volition will have a larger presence on campus.

Photo courtesy of KAROLINA BLAZIAK

What woman inspires you and why?

Photo courtesy of AYLEAH HAMTON

AY L E A H H A N T O N A N D K A R O L I N A B L A Z I A K , VOLITION MAGAZINE, CO-EXECUTIVE EDITORS

Blaziak: What’s something unexpected you think you found out about yourself by being in a leadership position?

I think I’ve definitely found more of my voice. I’m a pretty anxious and quiet person, so it’s harder for me to speak up on certain things. But with Volition, I’ve found it harder to be reserved, actually. I care so much about this magazine, and I don’t want to let this opportunity go to waste, or for something to go wrong because I didn’t speak up. And I’m really comfortable in my position and with my editors and staff, so it’s easy to have a conversation and create relationships and voice opinions. We all want the magazine to be the best it can. I’m glad for this opportunity because it’s letting me do the things I love most while also giving me the chance to grow as a person before I go out into the real world. Though creating the magazine is hectic and a lot of work, it’s one thing that has grounded me for sure, and it’s with that comfort that I make sure I’m heard, so that our writers and artists are as well.

LIFESTYLE

3.5.2018

GMUFOURTHESTATE.COM @IVESTATE

FOURTH ESTATE/NICOLAS MACOTTO

10

TECHNICOLOR EXPLORES THE DIVERSITY IN FILM INDUSTRY Roosevelt @ Mason conducted a panel exploring diversity in the film industry DIANA NADIRA & MUHAMMAD ARHAM STAFF WRITERS

On Feb. 27, Roosevelt @ Mason organized a panel discussion called “Technicolor Was Never Meant to Be So White” about the lack of racial diversity in the film industry in collaboration with ODIME, Film and Video Studios, the Communication Department, and the Spanish Language Department. The panelists were Dr. Michelle Allen, Lisa Rabin, Dr. Richard Craig and Giovanna Chesler. Dineo Moja, a student, moderated the panel.

The discussion focused on the

#OscarsSoWhite campaign, which arose two years ago. The discussion pointed out the lack of diversity in films. The panelists shared opinions about discrimination based on color, race and gender in the film industry.

“Film serves as entertainment but there should be also responsibility to represent the true diversity and nature of the society,” Dr. Allen said.

She added that she would like to see a disabled, person of color or LGBTQ+ individuals in films because those groups are marginalized.

During the discussion, Dr. Craig pointed out certain reasons behind the current lack of representation in the film industry. He says that the lack of financial support for bringing diversity into films could be the major problem. Professor Chesler encouraged art and film students to excel in business.

“I think one of the best things we can do is to train our students to be great artists and craft people, but also business-minded and entrepreneurs,” she said.

Mason students also participated in the discussion. Britney Flores, a film and video studies major, would like to address these issues in her project.

Flores pointed out how the film industry discriminates against women and how Hispanic and latin americans are not represented well.

setting standard for your character and searching for the perfect one, you should freely explore the choices of diversity you have. Maybe you will get your character from Asians, Europeans, or Whites, let the choices be wide and open and let the person shape the character.”

“Whatever the project that I work on, I can’t wait to bring a different perspective in that,” she said.

Technicolor was conducted as a part of Black History Month and it raised awareness of the importance of diversity in the film industry.

Elijah James, a film and video studies major, shared an idea to bring diversity in film casting, “Instead of

WE LOVE CHEAP THRILLS Enjoy your spring break without emptying your bank account AHMED FARID STAFF WRITER

U.S. Want to go to the beach? Florida’s beaches are just as good as any out there. Want to see an iconic building?

The Empire State Building is not that hard to find. Want to get an adrenaline rush? Kings Dominion is literally less than an hour away.

That’s why we decided to take the phrase “money doesn’t buy happiness” quite literally and feature some ways to have an amazing break without having to cash in your financial aid.

“I looked at all the flights leaving from the airports in the area,” she says. “I wasn’t really picky about what airline I was going to travel on either, whatever I could afford.” Thanks to her ability to cut back on her costs and find the most efficient way to spend her money, Raven will get to see her first professional basketball game as she watches the Chicago Bulls play.

First, travelling abroad is not an option. According to HuffPost, the average international flight is nearly a $1000 whereas the average local flight is around $300. So, just by choosing to have a trip in the country, you’ve already managed to save a fortune.

I promise you that unless your only goal from travelling abroad is to get bragging rights, there is nothing you can do abroad that you can’t do in the

Raven Royal, a Mason student, managed to go online and find a flight to Chicago for only $180.

If, however, you feel your life is over if you do not leave the country for spring break, there might still be some hope for you.

Senya Donkor, a senior, visited Jamaica

twice before and immediately fell in love with the country. She decided to go back this spring break and create a music video, titled “Hidden Treasures”. She collaborated with young Jamaican children for the video and hopes it will help break stereotypes about Jamaica and help kids “ignite their abilities”. The way she was able to fund all this is through Mason’s OSCAR Program, where she applied for funding for her project and was approved, in addition to her gofundme page where people can donate at gofundme. com/senyahiddentreasures.

Finally, if you are staying in the area and thinking there is nothing here for you to do, rest assured there is plenty. If you’re more of an outdoor person, you can go spend the day at National Zoo or take your friends and go kayaking in the Potomac.

You can also enjoy an afternoon walk around Georgetown or take a selfie with our 16th President at the

FOURTH ESTATE/BILLY FERGUSON

Spring Break is finally here, and after two months of projects, lectures and midterms, there’s a whole week to relax and enjoy your time. But sometimes it seems like all the things to possibly do during spring break costs a fortune.

Since most of us college students are on a very tight budget, we can’t all enjoy a trip to France this break, no matter how tasty those croissants might be.

Lincoln Memorial. If the weather gets too cold-- or too hot, you never know this time of year-- go visit one of the many museums in D.C. You might actually learn something interesting.

So this spring break, enjoy a break from

all the stress and just take a moment for yourself, Remember, you’ve earned this after all the hard work these past two months. So stay safe, relaxed, and most importantly, happy!

LIFESTYLE

GMUFOURTHESTATE.COM @IVESTATE

3.5.2018

11

MASON TIPS AND TRICKS Check out helpful tips to easily navigate your way around campus life Being a Mason student means being a part of a large and diverse group of individuals. But navigating campus life can come with challenges. The following list is a set of nifty information, applicable for both on-campus and off-campus students.

SPICE UP YOUR STUDY HABITS: With midterm season quickly approaching, it is essential you find the best and most suitable study area based on your preferences. The Fenwick Library is a classic choice, but there are a few hidden gems hidden within the Fairfax campus.

Exploratory Hall has a great outside patio located on the second floor. This patio is a clean and refreshing area-perfect for the warmer days to come.

If it is later in the day or it feels a bit colder outside, The Ridge located in between Sandbridge and Blue Ridge residence halls is an open space where students can study between 10 a.m. to 12 a.m. from Sunday through Thursday, or 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday.

FOURTH ESTATE/ANGELIQUE ARINTOK

STICK IT: One of the perks of attending free events on campus are the merch provided, such as stickers. Various student organizations and offices such as the Patriot Activities Council, Office of Student Involvement and Student Media outlets provide free stickers that you can use to transform initially plain notebooks, binders and laptops into pieces of potential conversation starters with fellow classmates.

As opposed to purchasing an official logo-imprinted notebook from the bookstore, placing stickers on school supplies is a more fun, interesting and cost-effective option.

VENDING EQUALS SPENDING: Ditch the overpriced vending machines or convenience stores on campus for your personal choice of snacks. Take one hour out of your busy week to craft a grab-to-go tray at home or at your dorm. Deck the tray with satisfying snacks and drinks that will fill you up for a three-hour lecture.

Non-perishable and packaged food and drink items are best for this tray–ideal for your run out the door. Don’t forget to restock and replenish the tray when low, as to avoid the tempting vending machines on campus.

PHOTO HOTSPOTS: Stray away

from the monotonous look of dorm buildings, and utilize photogenic spots on the Fairfax campus. Perk up your Instagram account with photos taken at locations like Exploratory Hall’s exterior and Peterson Health Sciences Hall’s amphitheater.

Both locations offer a scenic background for something as fun as group photos, or something as professional as headshots. The metallic exterior of Exploratory Hall appears modern and industrial, whereas Peterson Hall’s amphitheater is more neutral and close to nature. With the spring season almost here, more locations on campus will blossom and grow. but for now, the two previously mentioned halls provide beautiful scenery for a quality photo.

MIX UP YOUR MEALS: The renovation of the Johnson Center atrium meant new dining options for students on campus, but if you’re tired of the same old Blaze Pizza or Chipotle, don’t forget about the distant yet enjoyable options like Panda Express, Manhattan Pizza and Subway.

It can’t be forgotten that a student with an independent meal plan is granted one meal swipe per day at Simply-to-Go in the bottom floor of SUB 1. The once-a-day meal swipe entails a salad/sandwich, chips/ fruit, cookie and beverage.

Working hard does not have to be dull or boring. Using some of these tips can either brighten or modify your daily routine as a Mason student.

FOURTH ESTATE/MARY JANE DECARLO

FOURTH ESTATE/ANGELIQUE ARINTOK

ANGELIQUE ARINTOK STAFF WRITER

NIC’S FLICKS NIC MACOTTO STAFF WRITER

A Fantastic Woman: A nominee for Best Foreign Language Film at this year’s Oscars, this Chilean film offers a meaningful look at transphobia through the eyes of a trans woman. The main character is known as Marina (Daniela Vega) who mourns the death of her boyfriend, Orlando (Francisco Reyes). Marina is told by Orlando’s family not to come to the funeral and to leave them alone in the planning process of the event. They also throw Marina out of the house she shared with Orlando and leave her homeless. The film is lovely to look at through its close-ups and lateral tracking shots that allow people to see in Marina’s perspective

as well as in its use of color. One shot features Orlando before his passing in a sauna with lights becoming different colors of the rainbow each second, representing being allies to the LGBTQ+ community. Its narrative is somewhat like “Boys Don’t Cry” (1999) but it’s reasonable for it to be like that. Through Marina, we get a character we will care for and root for, especially towards the end as she stands so poised despite everything she experiences in this tale. “A Fantastic Woman” shows how important it is to have the courage to be who we want to be and make our own choices. [Star Rating: 3.5/4]

KEY 4 = Great; 3 = Good; 2 = Fair; 1 = Poor; 0 = Ooh, let’s not go there

OPINIONS

3.5.2018

Opinions do not reflect the views of Fourth Estate. Submit opinions to jbelive2@gmu.edu

RUSSIA’S BAN FROM PYEONGCHANG

is not to mention the years and years of previous doping controversy that plagued Russia and the Soviet Union.

More needs to be done.

CHRIS KERNAN-SCHMIDT COLUMNIST

Hard working and legitimate athletes from any country should have the opportunity to compete in the Olympics, but a country with state-sponsored doping activities should not be represented. A country’s allowance to compete in the Olympics is a privilege, not a right. Russia has repeatedly shown that the slap-on-thewrist punishments that the IOC gives them are not enough to stop their defiance of organizational bylaws. The IOC’s motion to lift Russia’s ban from the Olympics following Pyeongchang sets a precedent for future widespread doping allegations. Essentially, if a country participates in the systematic violation of the Olympic bylaws, do not worry--they will still be able to compete eventually!

Following an investigation into systematic and state-sponsored manipulation of anti-doping laboratories, the Russian Federation was barred from competing in this year’s Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Russia was not permitted to send any athletes to the games under its flag and government officials were unable to attend.

Athletes from Russia, however, were able to compete in the games under the name Olympic Athletes from Russia (OAR). This strict and unprecedented ban came shortly after a 17-month investigation into Russia’s state-sponsored doping controversy, which reared its head during the 2014 Sochi games.

So was the ban enough? In my opinion, it is a tough call. I think it is important for Russian athletes who have had an extensive record of doping-free competition to be able to compete, but Russia needs to have more than a one-time ban. According to a recent article by BBC Sport, “Russia will soon be welcomed back into the fold

GMUFOURTHESTATE.COM @IVESTATE

as long as none of its other athletes are found to have broken drug rules.”

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) was going to vote to allow Russia to fly its flag at the closing ceremony, but two more doping allegations postponed the vote. Later, the IOC voted unanimously to lift the ban on future competitions, allowing the Russian Federation to compete.

In my opinion, allowing Russia to re-enter future competitions following an almost two-year investigation into doping allegations is ridiculous. While Russia was unable to compete in this year’s Olympic Games, they have essentially had no severe punishment for their long history of drug use.

Before the 2016 Rio Summer Games, the World Anti-Doping Association requested that Russia be banned from that summer’s games following a report that detailed at least 643 cover-ups of samples that tested positive for doping between 2011 and 2015. The IOC declined this recommendation. This

There is not an easy solution to this problem. Yes, as aforementioned, legitimate athletes should have the opportunity to participate and represent their country, but at the same time, there must be stricter punishments. I believe the IOC was justified in their ban of

FOURTH ESTATE/BILLY FERGUSON

12

Russia and allowance of clean athletes to compete under the title OAR, but it is a sign of weakness that they are allowing Russia to re-enter competition.

The bylaws and regulations are there for a reason. If they are not upheld to the fullest extent, then what motivation

is there for countries to follow them?

I hope that the IOC rescinds their recent decision and takes the time to formulate an appropriate and effective punishment for the Russian Federation and others who have a history of doping controversy.

OPINIONS

GMUFOURTHESTATE.COM @IVESTATE

3.5.2018

Opinions do not reflect the views of Fourth Estate. Submit opinions to jbelive2@gmu.edu

13

Photo courtesy of WIKIPEDIA/LORIE SHAULL

THE PRICE OF HOUSING IS TOO HIGH! WILLIAM BARNHART COLUMNIST

DOMINIC PINO COLUMNIST

On Feb. 14, a gunman opened fire and killed 17 people at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

This we all know. However, there was a lesser known event on Feb. 20 that allows for reflection on this incident.

On Feb. 20, President Trump presented 12 police officers with the Medal of Valor, the police equivalent of the Medal of Honor, in a White House ceremony. One of these 12 police officers was Andrew Hopfensperger from Antigo - a peaceful town of about 8,000 people in north central Wisconsin. So why was Hopfensperger receiving a medal from the President?

Because he did his job. Now, normally a police officer doing his job in Antigo means patrolling for speeders and responding to property crimes. But not on a cool, spring night in April 2016. Hopfensperger was in his police car outside of Antigo High School as the junior prom was ending. He was probably expecting to direct traffic or deal with a few intoxicated minors when a gunman with a rifle began to shoot at a group of students.

Pause and consider what you would do in that situation. You are an Antigo police officer. Your sidearm has never discharged a bullet - and likely never left its holster -- except on the range.

You were planning on a late but easy night supervising the departure of teenagers from a dance. And all of a sudden there is a lunatic shooting a rifle. I have no idea what I would do.

But one thing, I know for sure. I would not have done what Hopfensperger did. Hopfensperger immediately left his car, drew his gun, dashed at a full sprint towards the gunman, and fired eight rounds. Three of the shots hit the gunman (hitting anything three times in eight tries while running is nearly impossible, made harder when the target is shooting back). He pinned him to the ground and put him in handcuffs. Oh, and the time elapsed

from when the gunman fired his first shot to when he was lying on the ground in handcuffs in his own blood?

19 seconds.

The gunman died the next day in the hospital. He hit a few prom attendees but none of the injuries were life threatening. A tragedy averted.

How was it averted?

Because Hopfensperger displayed incredible bravery, selflessness, and dexterity in an awful situation, and he deserves that medal and so much more for his conduct that night. But upon further reflection, I think it becomes clear that what Hopfensperger did was what we expect police officers to do. In short, he did his job. We entrust police officers with the weighty and solemn task of using violent, interpersonal force for the sake of protecting other people.

Given the situation, Hopfensperger did exactly that. His actions were extraordinary, but, all told, he was just being a good cop.

Which brings us back to Stoneman Douglas. Hopfensperger was not in Parkland. A bad cop was. Scot Peterson, the deputy who stood outside Stoneman Douglas High School while the shooting took place, did not do his job. Where Hopfensperger was brave, Peterson was cowardly. Where Hopfensperger carried out his duty, Peterson derelicted his. May the contrast between Antigo and Parkland remind us of three things.

1. Cops are entrusted with an extraordinary duty and consequently are expected to do extraordinary things.

2. There are good cops and there are bad cops.

3. And when cops don’t do their job, they should face the same fate of anyone else not doing their job they should be fired. The blood of 17 people cries out from the ground demanding the same.

they believe aren’t catered to properly on campus, such as veganism. They could opt to go off campus to serve their needs, but it’s not guaranteed that the stores accepting Mason Money will suit their tastes.

There are more implications behind raising the costs of housing on campus.

It will make it more difficult for the school to transition from being a commuter school. Thus, there will not be as much life on campus during the weekends. If there was more to do on

campus during the weekends, then perhaps students would be more willing to accept the rising cost of housing on campus. I must admit that weekend activities are not necessarily the responsibility of the university administration.

But, the administration could give organizations a chance to operate on the weekends by creating more spaces available on campus. If you wish to see the current and proposed rates for housing, you can do so on the Mason housing website.

Many students are aware of the closure of the apartments on campus. It’s fairly well-known that the apartments have a reputation for being flooded, which could be financially cumbersome for the university. This issue is intertwined with its proximity to swamplands, which is another issue warranting its demolition. However, the price of housing should not increase just because there is a lower availability.

The financial burden of poor planning is being placed on the students instead of the university. Additionally, some students may be dependent on the availability of housing if they are from out-of-state. What Mason could do in order to compensate for the inconvenience is provide financial assistance to those displaced off of campus.

Another issue with the price of housing is that it charges for services people do not wish to take advantage of. For example, students living on campus are required to select a meal plan (unless they have a kitchen available directly in their domicile). This may be in place in order to ensure students eat, but I believe that this isn’t necessary. Some students may desire to opt-out if given the choice. Of course, it would make sense to buy Mason Money to spend at local stores in order to get a discount, but sometimes that may not be the case. Due to Mason Money’s status of being usable at only select locations, its usefulness is quite limited (vendors listed on the Mason id website). Some students may have dietary needs that

FOURTH ESTATE/MARY JANE DECARLO

GOOD COPS, BAD COPS

As many current students living on campus may have noticed, the recently passed prices for housing on campus indicate an increase in price from the current rates. I believe that the administration on campus should try to cut down on housing costs due to the quality of housing and services provided. This means that students do not feel like they are receiving services that warrant their payments.

For example, the internet provided to students could inhibit the ability of those living on campus to complete tasks. Additionally, if students are paying for housing on campus, then they should have a better idea of what kind of rooms they are getting. There are many other issues with housing on campus, but the cost of housing is by far the biggest issue. Living off-campus is more affordable, where small apartments may cost around $8,000 for a school year (assuming you live with at least one other person).

14

3.5.2018

ETC.

Recipe of the Week Obtained from whoabella.com

LAST ISSUE’S CROSSWORD

Armadillo Cheesy Garlic Bread Ingredients: • 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese • 1½ sticks (6 ounces) butter, at room temperature • ½ cup mayonnaise • 1½ cups finely grated ParmigianoReggiano cheese • 2 tablespoons finely minced garlic (about 4 cloves) • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes • 1 teaspoon kosher salt • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper • 1-pound round loaf French bread 1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.

GMUFOURTHESTATE.COM @IVESTATE

2. In a bowl, combine the mozzarella, butter, mayo, Parm, garlic, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Using a serrated knife, cut the bread in a crosshatch pattern, making cuts 2 inches apart and taking care not to cut through the bottom of the bread.

3. Place the bread on a large sheet of foil on a baking sheet. Stuff most of the cheese mixture into all of the cracks in the bread.

Slather the remainder over the top of the bread. Coat another sheet of foil with cooking spray and lay spray-side down on the top of the loaf. Crimp the two pieces together to seal the bread in foil.

4. Bake for 20 minutes, then reduce the oven temperature to 375°F. Remove the top sheet of foil and bake until the top gets golden and the cheese is super melty, 15 to 20 minutes longer.

LAST ISSUE’S GO FIGURE!

GMUFOURTHESTATE.COM @IVESTATE

ETC.

LAST ISSUE’S MAGIC MAZE

LAST ISSUE’S SUDOKU

3.5.2018

COMICS FOURTH ESTATE/BILLY FERGUSON

FOURTH ESTATE/JAY TOPSHE

15

MUST SEE

AT LEAST ONCE in YOUR LIFETIME

“

I’ve reviewed about 4,000 shows.

None can compare to what I saw tonight.”

—Richard Connema, renowned Broadway critic

“Absolutely the No.1 show in the world.

No other company or any style can match this!”

—Kenn Wells, former lead dancer of the English National Ballet

“Poetry in motion... Priceless.”

—Siegfried & Roy, Masters of the Impossible

“There is a massive power in this that can embrace the world. It brings great hope… It is

truly a touch of heaven.”

—Daniel Herman, Minister of Culture of the Czech Republic

“Absolutely the greatest of the great!

It must be experienced.”

—Christine Walevska, “goddess of the cello”, watched Shen Yun 5 times

“Don’t wait, get your tickets now!”

—Lee Meriwether, actress

SECURE YOUR SEATS NOW! SOLD-OUT THEATERS AROUND THE WORLD!

MAR 12–14 Fairfax

GMU Concert Hall

APR 10–15

Washington, DC

The Kennedy Center

Tickets: ShenYun.com/DC 888.907.4697