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George Mason University’s Student Newspaper
Pg. 6
April 18, 2011
Volume 87 Issue 20
www.broadsideonline.com
Science and Technology I & II addition to be ready by Spring 2013 New building will link existing buildings, provide lab space Gregory Connolly News Editor
Photo by Gregory Connolly
Construc on on an addi on to Science and Technology I and II is expected to be completed by Spring 2013.
The 50,000-square-foot addition that has blocked off a significant area near Student Union Building II and will link Science and Technology I and II will be finished by Spring 2013. The addition is part of a plan to modernize the two buildings and provide more space for laboratories, said Martha Wescoat-
Andes, the associate dean of administration for the College of Science. “The renovations are necessary because the spaces are being upgraded,” Wescoat-Andes said. “The lab areas, including office space, are being totally reconfigured. Many of the programs are all moving, so there’s a different use of space.” Wescoat-Andes said one of the objectives of the projects is to
Earth Week aims to keep Mason green Laura Bolt Administration Beat Reporter George Mason University will be hosting a series of events to celebrate 2011 Earth Week, which will run from April 17–23. There will be over 25 events occurring on all three campuses. Events include a Coke recycling competition in the North Hall of the Johnson Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, as well as a sustainability showcase in the lobby of Dewberry Hall from noon to 4 p.m. On Wednesday, from noon to 3 p.m., activities for
Sustainable Food Day will include food and music in the Quad. Later that night there will be a film screening of the movie “Tar Creek” in Johnson Hall Room E. On Thursday, there will be an environmental expo on the North Plaza from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., An open mic will be held at the Johnson Center Friday, which is Earth Day. “More events mean more opportunities for us to engage the Mason community,” Said Colin Bennet, coordinator of Mason’s Sustainability Outreach.
Bennett says that one of the The full schedule of events can be found on the Mason Earth main concerns for Mason is climate neutrality, which Mason is Week 2011 Facebook page. According to Bennett, The committed to achieving. He says Office of Sustainability has been that Earth Week is an important planning this year’s festivities chance to raise awareness on this since December 2010. He notes issue, which “has countless other that this year is unique in that it benefits such as reducing our deis the first year that other entities pendence on oil, increasing our have been involved in planning national security, saving us their own events, which were money through decreased ensupported by the Office of Sus- ergy costs and improving our tainability. These other entities health.” For Bennett, the extent of include the Environmental Action Group, Recycling and Waste this year’s events is a positive step Management, University Life, Weekends at Mason and others. See EARTH, Page 4
Task force holds first of two meetings
bring together the core sciences so they’re located in the same area. The project will add significant teaching lab capacity, offering undergraduates the ability to participate in more research opportunities. In addition to the new space, a 100,000-square-foot renovation of Science and Tech II is underway which is expected to be completed by spring 2013. A renovation of Science and Tech I is in the plan-
ning stages, though no dates have been set. The new building will house new programs, like the forensics program, Wescoat-Andes said. She said that forensics has been particularly popular amongst students. A new school called Physics, Astronomy and Computational Sciences will be housed in Science and Tech I.
See ADDITION, Page 3
Despite weather, I-Week a success PSA wins dance competition
Photo by Jacob McClernon
Ramy Zabarah Style Editor Inclement weather did not hinder the success of this year’s International Week. Highlights of last week’s festivities included the popular dance competition and various culture nights hosted by student organizations. “Every year it gets better and better,” said Sara Morrisroe, assistant director of student organizations at the Office of Student Involvement. “People who have been here always expect it to be better.” This year’s I-Week slogan was “Celebrate,” a theme intended to highlight the importance of celebrating cultures in a campus that takes pride in its diverse population. “My favorite part of International Week was being able to try local foods of different countries without having to travel abroad,” junior conflict analysis and resolution major Nicole Miles said. “I love falafel.” Sodexo, featuring Mason’s most talented chefs, catered Friday’s closing ceremony, showcasing dishes from around the world. Over 1,000 people attended this year’s dance competition in Dewberry Hall, according to Morrisroe. The Pakistan Student Association won the contest. Students met the dance competition with positive reviews. “I thought this year’s dance competition was a lot better than last year,” junior bioengineering major Brittney Wooley said. “There seemed to be more people and there was a lot more energy.” The Office of International Programs and Services and the Office of Student Involvement combined their efforts to organize yet another successful I-Week in an effort to increase the opportunities for students to learn about the many cultures represented at Mason. “It’s a great time for students to get a taste of each culture,” Morrisroe said. “I’m happy when students are happy.”
STANDING UP FOR ANIMAL RIGHTS
Students, faculty discuss their interaction with Mason Police Department Reuben Jones Connect2Mason News Editor An official university Task Force formed earlier this month to seek input on “interactions and experiences” with university police held its first of two open meetings Tuesday afternoon. All Students, faculty and staff were able to sign up prior to the meeting, and 11 people who had signed up spoke. Each open meeting has 24 time slots for brief statements. The Task Force is co-chaired by Peter Pober, Chair of the Faculty Senate and Rose Pascarell, associate vice president of University Life. According to Pober, the meeting was “extremely professional” and students very were respectful. Pober also said he was “extremely pleased” with the meeting. In addition to the Task Force, Chief of Staff Tom Hennessey announced in his email to Mason that the university has hired Tomlinson Strategies, LLC, an external consulting firm specializing in institutional safety, security assessments and law en-
forcement issues, to “review the police policies and procedures that led to the arrest on a felony chare of student Abdirashid Dahir earlier this month.” The Task Force is scheduled to meet with resident advisors Thursday and will hear from more students, faculty and staff in their next meeting on April 20. At the time of publication, six people have signed up to speak. Interested persons are encouraged to sign up to speak at www.bit.ly/gDxTXY "Our goal is to hear as many voices as we can during the time period allowed. So far, mostly students have signed up to speak, but we encourage faculty and staff to add their voices," co-chairs Rose Pascarell and Peter Pober said in a recent Mason Gazette interview. The Task Force will also continue to accept written statements of up to 1,000 words in length at taskforc@gmu.edu. The task force will submit an interim status report to President Alan Merten in May and then a final report with outcomes and recommendations in mid-June. Photo by Monika Joshi
Protestors hand out pamphlets alleging circus animal abuse Thursday. See story on page 5.