Prescription Abuse
A Conference Victory
Wrongful Convictions
An in-depth look at why prescription drug abuse has been on the rise.
The American justice system is in need of an overhaul.
The Patriot volleyball team beat the VCU Rams 3-1 for their first conference win of the season.
STYLE • Page 5
OPINION • Page 7
SPORTS • Page 9
George Mason University’s Student Newspaper www.broadsideonline.com
September 26, 2011
Volume 88 Issue 4
Stephen King Visits Mason Author Shares Details From Upcoming Novel
Mason Point Guard Andre Cornelius Arrested Suspended From Team Pending Outcome of Court Proceedings Adam Sylvain C2M Managing Editor
Author Stephen King visited George Mason University on Friday as part of the Fall for the Book festival. Mason awarded King the Mason Award for “extraordinary contributions to bringing literature to a wide reading public.” As part of the event, held at the Center for the Arts, King spent time talking about his inspirations, had a question-and-answer session and read excerpts from his upcoming book titled “11/22/63.” Photos by Stephen Kline
Andre Cornelius, senior point guard for the George Mason University men’s basketball team, has been suspended from the team pending the outcome of credit card fraud and larceny charges, resulting from his arrest Friday, Sept. 16. Mason has since announced that Cornelius will be subject to a judicial review in addition to a criminal trial. “[Cornelius] has been summarily suspended pending the outcome of the legal proceedings and an investigation by the university’s Office of Judicial Affairs,” said Maureen Nasser, director of communications for the athletic department. Cornelius appeared in court Tuesday, Sept. 20 for his arraignment at the Fairfax County Courthouse. He did not have to answer to any charges at the arraignment, but the defendant did introduce his attorney, Councilman Manuel A. Capsalis. A basketball team manager also accompanied Cornelius at the arraignment hearing. It is unclear at this time why the team manager was present in the courtroom. Both Cornelius and his attorney are expected to return to the Fairfax County Courthouse for the preliminary court hearing scheduled for Nov. 15 at 2 p.m. According to the Mason Police Botter for Sept. 16, Cornelius was arrested by Mason police for credit card fraud and credit card larceny. He was taken to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center and released on $1,500 unsecured bond. After arriving at the Fairfax County ADC, Cornelius was released on per-
sonal recognizance, allowing him to be released without posting bail after agreeing to appear in court and answer for the charges brought against him. Fairfax County General District Court confirmed Cornelius is being charged with two counts: one count of felony larceny and one count of misdemeanor fraud. On Sept. 19, the Mason Police Department said the case is an “ongoing investigation” and they would not report on specifics details of the case at that time. The department has since corrected their statement by asserting that the investigation of the case is closed. Per department policy, the Mason Police Department has declined to disclose information beyond criminal incident information viewable on blotter. C2M has pursued all public case records guaranteed accessible under the Freedom of Information Act. Later in the week, the Fairfax County General District Court published updated case information. Criminal case details specify that Cornelius is being charged with credit card fraud and larceny, in violation of VA code 18.2192. According to the Code of Virginia — Virginia’s statutory law — a person is guilty of credit card or credit card number theft under four instances: (a) He takes, obtains or withholds a credit card or credit card number from the person, possession, custody or control of another without the cardholder’s consent or who, with knowledge that it has been
See ARREST, Page 10
West Campus Connector Planning Continues Mason Officials Hope Construction Will Be Completed by Fall 2013 Gregory Connolly Editor-in-Chief The intersection of Braddock Road and Ox Road is one of the busiest in Fairfax County, so the hope is that the upcoming West Campus Connector project will assuage some of the congestion. “The actual site and whether it’s an underpass or bridge hasn’t been determined yet,” said Josh Cantor, director of parking and transportation for George Mason University and a co-chair of the transportation and traffic master plan. “There will be a connection that will either go under or over Ox Road somewhere between Mason Pond Drive and University Drive.” The $15 million project was green-lit last semester after the Virginia Department of Transportation offered the money. No timetable has been approved offi-
Cantor said the project could cially, though Cantor said he hopes construction can be fin- cut traffic on Braddock Road during peak hours ished by fall by as much as 30 2013. Mason “The actual site and percent or more. will oversee whether it’s an An entrance to construction the university of the project. underpass or bridge will be built next “This behasn’t been to the West Camcame a high determined yet. There pus lot, with a priority from road that extends the county will be a connection to Ox Road. Then and VDOT’s that will either go there will be eiperspective under or over Ox Road ther a bridge or because while somewhere between an underpass to it helps the provide access to university Mason Pond Drive and campus. tremendously, University Drive.” Cantor said one of the the hope is that a major issues -Josh Cantor, Director of request for a prowe dealt with posal — the decin the master Parking and Transportation laration that planning Mason is looking process is the traffic on Braddock Road that has for a contractor and architect for a definite impact on the nearby the project — can be issued by the community,” Cantor said. end of December. Companies will
then bid on the project, with construction likely beginning summer 2012. An advisory committee made up of representatives from the City of Fairfax, Fairfax County, Mason and VDOT is tasked with ensuring that the needs of the many different groups impacted by the project are met. In addition to the congestion that will temporarily worsen when construction begins, several residential communities near the proposed construction site will be affected. “The West Campus Connector would be moderately close to a neighborhood on Kelly Drive,” Cantor said. “We want to mitigate sound issues and other issues so the road is low impact. Part of the challenge is trying to appease different groups that have different interests while trying to figure out what’s physically possible.” The construction will impact
Photo courtesy of facilities.gmu.edu
The West Campus Connector, shown above in red, will lower congestion on Ox Road and Braddock Road. The hope is that construction can begin next year with a completion date of fall 2013 in mind. parking on campus as Cantor said. All or some of the 900-spot West Campus Lot — with about 500 spaces in use, primarily by freshmen — may have to close. The Patriot Village lot, located behind the RAC, may also have to close. The loss of those 300 spaces in Patriot Village would be offset by the reopening of Lot I in January 2012. Lot I is located on the northwest
side of campus and was closed when construction began on Housing VIII. “Hopefully by the end of December we’ll have a much better idea on the possible impacts [of the project],” Cantor said. “Right now there are a lot of different proposals and ideas on the table that are being vetted out.”
Be sure to like Broadside on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @MasonBroadside to receive the latest updates.