Kings and Queens Miss the drag show? Find out what happened. STYLE • Page 3
Graphic Images The Genocide Awareness Project images outside the Johnson Center drew an immediate reaction. NEWS• Page 2
League of Dreams Dodgeball and frisbee will become official intramural leagues in the fall. SPORTS • Page 7
George Mason University’s Student Newspaper www.broadsideonline.com
April 9, 2012
Volume 88 Issue 20
Annual Circus Draws Protest
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Appearance Spurs Demonstrations
Alex Williams, Jordan Foster Win SG Presidential Election Look to Move SafeRide and Diversity Roundtables Forward Rob Cooper Connect2Mason Student Goverment announced Wednesday that Alex Williams and Jordan Foster won the election for student body president and vice-president for the 2012-13 academic year by a margin of over 200 votes. With 933 votes, Williams and Foster beat out Liam Hennelly and Mohammad Ahmed’s 674 votes and write-in ticket Gabriel Levine and Ellie Shahin’s 110 votes. "It is a very difficult thing to put yourself out there," said Williams, a government and international politics major, in his acceptance speech in the Johnson Center. "I look forward to working with you and everyone else here, for the betterment of the student body." Foster, also a government and international politics major, thanked the student body "for putting the student back in Student Government," a phrase used as a slogan in their campaign. "It's a really positive experience to see so many people so invested in something," said Williams in an interview with
C2M after the announcement. Williams and Foster said they look forward to working with students to move programs such as SafeRide and proposed diversity roundtables forward. "Put us to work," said Foster. "Don't be afraid to come talk to us." Williams and Foster will take over for current SG president and vice-president Ally Bowers and Jacky Yoo in May. Also announced were the winners of the 30 vacant Student Senates seats. Thirty-two students competed for those positions. Originally 33 were in the running, but Matt Crush asked to be removed from the ballot, leaving just 32, according to Melissa Masone, assistant director for Student Government. Three write-in candidates received votes but didn't earn seats. To see a list of the 30 senators elected, visit connect2mason.com
Story taken from Connect2Mason
Photo by Stephen Kline
Protesters gathered outside the Patriot Center to protest the annual Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus that is held at Mason. Protesters have appeared in years past to protest the use of the animals in circus productions. The protests had little impact on the circus, which draws people from throughout the region.
New Peer Group Finds Professor Salaries Lacking
Mason Officials Want to Extend Domestic Partner Benefits to Employees
Mason in 3rd Percentile After July 2011 Move to New Peer Group
Many Peer Institutions Offer Benefits
Average Faculty Salary in 2010/2011
Justin Lalputan News Editor George Mason University professors are in the 3rd percentile for salary compared to peer institutions after a July 2011 move placed Mason in a different group of peer institutions. The move, which is designed to generate more money from the state for professor salaries, is supposed to help faculty deal with the high cost of living in Fairfax. Percentiles, in this case, are used to compare the average salaries of peer institutions. Being in the 3rd percentile means that Mason professors are paid less than their colleagues at peer institutions. According to the 2011-2012 Factbook published by Institutional Research and Reporting, the average salary at Mason in 2010 was $80,531. New York University, in the highest percentile, had an average salary of $111,891. A peer group is composed of the universities that a given school considers to be its equals across many criteria such as enrollment and faculty-student ratios. According to the Office of Institutional Research and Reporting’s website, Mason considers universities such as NYU and Florida State University to be in its peer group. The high cost of living in Fairfax was the driving force behind the change in peer groups. Provost Peter Stearns said Mason could not afford increases to professor salaries with school funds without raising tuition by a large amount, so they opted to change peer groups with special attention to cost of living. It is the goal of the state of Virginia for each of its public universities to be in the 60th percentile of their peer groups. According to Stearns, this means that since Mason is now in the 3rd percentile, the state should presumably give it more funds when it allocates money for professor salaries. “What should happen is when the state returns to giving salary increases, which it hasn’t done in four years, it should give us more than it gives any institution in the state,” Stearns said. “It should be allocating at least part of the money [to] moving the lowest institutions closer to the 60th percentile. I don’t know if they will, but that’s what they should
2010 2011
Graphic by: Colleen Wilson
Mason does not stack up well against many peer institutions for professorial compensation after a July 2011 shift to a new group of peer institutions. do.”
According to Stearns, Mason made an out-of-cycle change when they changed their peer group last July. Normally, universities in Virginia review their peer groups roughly every 10 years. Mason made its scheduled change in 2007 but was able to change its peer group in 2011 by negotiating with the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. “The peer institutions that we negotiate with SCHEV are used for them to help determine faculty salaries,” said Kris Smith, assistant provost of Institutional Research and Reporting. “We had made a request for [a] cost of living adjustment, and in the end they chose to allow us to select a new set of peer institutions that would take into account cost of living instead of doing a cost-of-living adjustment.” According to Stearns, Mason negotiated with the state to add universities to its peer group that had similar cost of living, such as Boston College. “We worked hard to get this new peer group,” Stearns said, “because it was the best way, in the long run, to get our cost of living situation reflected in what the state gives us for salaries. We wanted to get worse.”
Last year, Mason gave professors a salary increase with its own money, which displeased the state of Virginia, Stearns said. Mason and Virginia Tech were the only two public universities to do so. Normally Mason waits for the state to contribute to salary increases because the state pays half the cost of the salary increase, but last year Mason officials chose to pay the entire cost due to the cost of living, Stearns said. Virginia hasn’t given public universities funds for salary increases in four years, but they may be looking to do so in the near future. “We have not heard the budget for next year. We don’t think a salary increase will be in the budget next year. There may be a bonus but not a salary increase,” Stearns said. “Some of the budget plans call for a salary increase in the following year. It’s a question of when the tax revenues begin to recover more fully, and the state can turn its attention to this issue.” According to Stearns, though there is a high cost of living in Fairfax, and Mason is in the 3rd percentile of its peer group, the rate of faculty turnovers due to salary issues is relatively low when compared to other institutions in the state.
Hannah Lea Smith Asst. News Editor Senior administrative officials at George Mason University want to offer domestic partner benefits to faculty and staff, and so do other Virginia universities. A December Public Policy poll found that 59 percent of Virginians would like domestic partnerships to be legally recognized. Most Virginia lawmakers, however, are not on board. When asked about the issue of extending benefits to samesex couples, Provost Peter Stearns and Linda Harber, the associate vice president of Human Resources & Payroll at Mason, said the same thing: “It’s the right thing to do.” “I don’t think that it’s an economic issue — it’s a people issue. And, yes, if we had the authority [we’d already] be doing it,” Harber said. “We should be providing comprehensive benefits packages for everyone, not just for traditional [couples].” In 2009, the presidents of the College of William & Mary and the University of Virginia joined Mason President Alan Merten in publicly supporting then-Governor Tim Kaine’s efforts to authorize Virginia public institutions to extend benefit packages to same-sex couples. According to a letter signed by the three university presidents, “Most of the major national private and public universities with whom we compete when we hire or work to retain top faculty already offer domestic partner benefits. The ability to offer this benefit is increasingly important now as we
attempt to recruit and retain the best faculty and staff in the most challenging economic climate we have seen.” Although Kaine issued an executive order banning discrimination based on sexual orientation, he was unable to push through legislation to allow public institutions to extend health insurance benefits to same-sex couples before the end of his term. “It does have an impact on recruitment,” Harber said. “If two schools offer you a teaching job — and one offers you benefits and one doesn’t, if one allows you to have proper health care coverage and one doesn’t — that would factor into your decision.” “If we’re looking at how we compete with our peers, we’re behind the curve,” said Dan Waxman, a doctoral student in Education who gave a presentation on the topic at the Southeastern Women’s Studies Association 2012 Conference. “It’s completely dependent on the political culture of the state,” he said. Fifty-seven percent of Mason’s peer institutions offer benefits to same-sex partners. Many universities in Washington D.C., including Georgetown University and George Washington University, already do. Virginia institutions including Hampden Sydney College, Washington & Lee University and the University of Richmond also offer domestic partner benefits. They can do so because they are private universities. The office of Gov. Bob McDonnell did not respond to requests for comment.
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The percentile of the average salary for Mason professors compared to peer universities
Monday, April 9, 2012
Event Calendar Monday, April 9 University Day 2012 Johnson Center, Dewberry Hall 12 - 1:30 p.m. 5th Annual Polyglot Performances Johnson Center, Cinema 5 - 8 p.m. Economic Forum: Three Hard Solutions to America’s Debt Problem Arlington Campus, Founders Hall, Auditorium 7:30 - 9 p.m.
Tuesday, April 10
Film Screen: How to Start a Revolution Johnson Center, Cinema 5 - 7 p.m.
Wednesday, April 11 Meet the Dietician Southside 12 –2:00 p.m. Rogers and Whitetop Hall Opening Ceremony Rogers and Whitetop Hall, Courtyard 2 - 5 p.m.
Thursday, April 12 Celebrate the Circus Bistro 11 a.m. Cultural Studies Colloquium Johnson Center, Room A 4:30 - 7:10 p.m.
Friday, April 13
Asian-Pacific Heritage Month Celebration Southside 11 a.m. Ringling Brothers Circus: Fully Charged Patriot Center 10:30 a.m.
Abortion Protest Stirs Controversy Demonstration Likens Abortion to Genocide
Justin Lalputan News Editor The anti-abortion group, Genocide Awareness Project, held an exhibition in North Plaza Last Monday and Tuesday which showcased pictures of aborted fetuses. The group was invited by Students for Life, a student organization that opposes abortion. “[One of] our main goals was to invite the Genocide Awareness Project to our campus,” said Anna Maher, president of Students for Life. According to Maher, when she first started her pro-life advocacy, she was approached by a member of the Center for Bio-Ethical Reform. The Genocide Awareness Project is part of the Center for Bio-Ethical Reform, and after working with CBR, Maher wanted to bring the Genocide Awareness Project to campus. Maher is aware that there are numerous student complaints about the graphic nature of the images in the Genocide Awareness Project. “Well, they are overly graphic,” Maher said. “They’re overly graphic and real.” Johanna Young, an officer in Students for Life, who describes herself as a post-abortive mother, believes that many students are unaware of the nature of abortion, and the pictures might change some opinions on the issue. “For me, it’s more about exposing the reality of [abortion] instead of making it seem [like something it isn’t],” Young said. “A woman might not have an abortion after [seeing the Genocide Awareness Project]. It’s still their
April 4
April 3
April 2
POLICE FILES Grand Larceny Potomac Heights Complainant reported various items missing from a dorm room. Loss estimated at $580. (47/Bietsch)) Assist Other Agency Washington Hall Officers assisted Fairfax County Police execute a search warrant. (23/Aman) Suspicious Event HQ Complainant reported suspicious text messages. (41/Rapolli) Medical Assist Health Services Subject was struck by skateboarder and refused medical attention. (48 Surber) Larceny Johnson Center Complainant stated that person(s) unknown cut his lock and took his bike that was secured outside to a bike rack. (60/Stahl)
April 5
Larceny/Destruction of property Field House Complainant stated that person(s) unknown damaged the rear tire to his bike and then stole his seat. (25/Dean) Possession of Marijuana Occoquan Rd / University Dr A Non-GMU juvenile was issued a summons for the above offense and released to his parents. (60/Stahl) Medical Assist Performing Arts Center Victim refused treatment from EMS after a fall. (55/Higgins)
choice, but they might make a different choice after seeing [the Genocide Awareness Project].” Maher said she believes there are similarities between abortion and genocide, which is another reason why she supports the project. “The main comparison that we think is similar is the removal of personhood. When genocide happens, people in power remove the personhood of the victims to make them not seem human,” Maher said. “The Nazis called the Jews rats, pigs and subhuman. When a woman is pregnant, I never say, ‘When’s your fetus due?’ I say, ‘When’s your baby due?’ But in abortions, we use the term ‘fetus.’ Terminology and removal of personhood are very similar.” The demonstration was protested by Patriots for Choice, a
student group that supports abortion. “We believe that the whole notion that abortion is genocide is absolutely ludicrous,” said Lily Bolourian, president of Patriots for Choice. “We knew that students were going to be upset by seeing these images, and we wanted to create a lighter mood to help student feel secure, and to also make sure our two groups don’t have issues. Historically there have been clashes between the two movements.” According to Janelle Germanos, co-vice president of Patriots for Choice, her group was also there to provide students with information. “We were widely successful [in our protest],” Bolourian said. “We were able to garner almost
1,000 signatures condemning the images, and we raised hundreds of dollars, which is a lot from college students. [Students for Life] did themselves a huge injustice by having [the Genocide Awareness Project] come. It only raised support for us.” Despite the opposition, Maher believes what she is doing is right. She recalls that in the civil rights movement, when Martin Luther King Jr. was distributing flyers about racism, his actions were unpopular at the time. “He said America will not reject racism until America sees it,” Maher said. “And America will not reject abortion until they see it for what it truly is.” Janelle Germanos is a former writer for Broadside.
College of Science Looks to Bolster Enrollment New Program Designed to Help Create Science, Tech Jobs in Virginia Michael Lagana
For more events and activities, check out: today.gmu.edu
Photo By: Dakota Cunningham
Student group Students for Life invited the Genocide Awareness Project to campus. The Genocide Awareness Project likened abortion to genocide and drew immediate protest from students on campus.
Staff Writer The College of Science has launched a program designed to increase enrollment in science and math programs and to help create science and technology jobs in Virginia. The Science and Math Accelerator program was devised to assist science, technology, engineering and mathematics students throughout their undergraduate careers at George Mason University, as well as encourage students in secondary school who may be considering a STEM education to apply to Mason. According to Cody W. Edwards, director of the Science and Math Accelerator and an associate professor in the College of Science, the Accelerator program was formed in 2011 as part of an initiative by Gov. Bob McDonnell to increase STEM enrollment in state
universities and to create new STEM jobs throughout the state. “The governor wants the state of Virginia, our institutes of higher learning, to produce the bulk of the folks for these [STEM] jobs,” Edwards said. “You want people educated in Virginia to fill these jobs in Virginia.” According to Edwards, the Accelerator has four main goals: increase enrollment in the College of Science, increase student retention in Mason STEM programs, help students graduate in a timely manner and offer career counseling to help STEM students develop career goals. The Accelerator program comprises faculty members from the five participating departments and acts as a consolidated entity that brings all departments in the College of Science together. According to Edwards, the Accelerator program provides resources to help each department in the Col-
SUMMER EMPLOYMENT!
lege of Science meet its goals and ensure that students are excelling in the critical first stages of STEM education. Additionally, the Accelerator program plays an important role in encouraging middle and high school students to consider pursuing a STEM degree at Mason. Faculty members from the Accelerator program go to area middle and high schools to present all the STEM opportunities available to prospective students, especially those who would not normally consider Mason. “Maybe these would be students who, when they were in junior high or early stages of high school, they said, ‘I'm going to University of Virginia or Virginia Tech or somewhere out of state,’” Edwards said. “We want them to consider coming here for their STEM education.” As part of its outreach initiative, the Accelerator program faculty is actively involved with science and math teachers at local schools, ensuring the latter are aware of opportunities available to their students. Also, the Accelerator program sponsors campus vis-
Peace Corps at GMU Last year 30 GMU graduates began the experience of a lifetime by joining the Peace Corps.
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Over $1, 00 in two weeks! Locations available throughout Northern Virginia. Must be 18 years old and willing to work long hours every day from June 1 -July . For more info and online application go to www.tristatefireworks.com.
its that allow high school students to sit in on lectures, observe labs and interact with faculty and students in the College of Science. The Accelerator program also generates innovative ways for students to learn. Through an experimental course design implemented by a faculty member called a “hybrid course,” lectures are posted online and class time is devoted to solving problems. According to Edwards, grades in the experimental hybrid physics class are higher than when the class was taught in the traditional lecture format. Students seeking assistance with courses or career guidance are encouraged to speak with Accelerator program faculty members. “We want you or any of our other students to be competitive with folks coming from the University of Virginia, Penn State, [or] anywhere else. We want you to be able to compete for jobs,” Edwards said. “We need to make sure we are doing our part to do that for you.”
Life is calling. How far will you go?
Come learn how you too can use your degree and experience to impact the lives of others ...and your own.
800.424.8580
Medical Assist Student Health Service Victim refused transport by EMS from SHS. (32/Guston)
Police Files are taken verbatim from www.gmu.edu/police. Broadside does not make any changes to public records.
Wednesday, April 11 peacecorps.gov
For more information contact Ben Burnes at bburnes@peacecorps.gov.
Information Session Johnson Center Assembly Room B 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
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The price, in dollars, for this year’s yearbook
Monday, April 9, 2012
Mason’s Drag Show Packs JC The Kings and Queens Punctuate Pride Week Rebecca Norris Opinion Editor Pride Week culminated Friday night with the much-anticipated drag show. The Johnson Center was cleared of all food court tables, making room for a stage and a few hundred chairs. But that wasn’t sufficient for the turnout. Spectators dragged chairs from other areas of the JC in order to get a good view of the show. When there still wasn’t enough seating, viewers climbed the stairs to every level of the building and lined the railings. “I went last year and maybe the year before that. I just don’t remember,” said Jarrod Wadsworth, a junior communication major. “I was here last year with JuJuBee, and it was amazing!” Mason’s drag show is the best known and most attended event of Pride Week, generating an audience filled with not only students but people from throughout the region. “I know some of the professional people who are performing, so I thought I would come out and support,” said Manuella Hancock, a spectator in the audience from Washington D.C. “[I found out about the event on Facebook]. I guess I have the power of social media to thank.” Alex Gant, a 2008 Mason grad and the show’s master of ceremonies for the past four years, took center stage and gave the crowd what they had been waiting for: Carmen Carrera, a contestant from season three of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” a Logo show which follows famed drag performer RuPaul in a search for the next drag superstar. All eyes turned to the stairwell as Carrera made her slow and provocative descent toward the audience and the stage. Decked
out in a bodysuit, similar to that of Britney Spears from her “Toxic” music video, it’s no wonder the crowd went crazy. “I’m going to go change and get into something a little more revealing,” Carrera said as she sashayed toward the stage stairs. “It’s a drag show, so let me get out of this bodysuit and into something a little more revealing!” Following Carrera’s exit, a slew of professional and student performances ensued. The JC was booming to Lady Gaga, Rihanna and Beyoncé. With their exaggerated facial expressions and sporadic dances, performers wowed the audience and were showered with dollar bills by spectators as a form of applause. “I got started in an amateur show,” said Jasmine Blue, a drag queen inspired by Beyoncé and Miss Gay United States 2011, as she began to wind down after her performance. “I was just there to watch and spectate. That was four years ago.” Whereas many of the professionals have been performing for years, some of the student performers, like Mason student Kiara Rose, have been on the drag scene for only a year or two. “It’s absolutely amazing. One of my good friends and I watched ‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ in high school and decided to give it a try,” Rose said. As the drag show came to a close, and viewers fought the crowd to get to Dewberry Hall in hopes of taking a picture with Carrera, a few lagged behind. “It’s a big team thing,” said Ric Chollar, associate director of LGBTQ Resources, while the clean-up crew began breaking down the stage. “I’m more like a coach or a cheerleader guiding the team. Alex [Gant] is the one who did 90 percent of everything; she
contracted the performers, set the line-up and created the playlists.” Chollar has helped run the drag show for the past 11 years alongside other departments on campus. This year, LGBTQ Resources paired with Weekends at Mason. WAM was in charge of booking the celebrity, while LGBTQ Resources rallied together student drag queens and kings. “The drag show is wonderful because it showcases students and the local talent, while at the same time bringing in a mixture of LGBTQ to be celebrated, as well as the general campus,” Chollar said. One of the primary concerns brought up each year is whether the drag show goes too far. Whether it’s obscenities or partial nudity, knowing what the audience will and find offensive is paramount. “A key element of drag shows is edge. Therefore, for it to be entertaining, it has to play on an edge,” Chollar said. “When I started this job 11 years ago, we felt like it was a big risk to have a drag show. We worried about coverage and how student media would report it because the JC is a public area where passerby can be affected by the performances. Each year, students are learning how much they can get away with, so each year, there’s a bit more. It’s interesting to see how something risky and small 11 years ago has turned into something as mainstream as you saw tonight.” The biggest concern used to be whether or not people would be offended, now LGBTQ resources worry that other efforts are being neglected and students only recognize the drag show. “I’m concerned that people equate Pride Week just with the drag show, considering it has been the most attended event for a number of years,” Chollar said.
Photo by: Ed Bennett
The Johnson Center was packed Friday night as students filled the floor and lined the railings on the second and third floor for the 11th annual LGBTQ Drag Show. “The fact of the matter is that Pride Week actually consists of 16 to 20 events. This year there were 16 programs, three LGBTQ student organization meetings and a community service project hosted by Standout where they took col-
lections for the Wanda Alston House, a homeless shelter for LGBTQ youth in D.C.” Every year, LGBTQ Resources tries to top the previous year with Pride Week events. Keep an eye out for next year’s Pride Week and
all the events—not just the drag show—that ensue. Be sure to visit Connect2Mason.com for more photos from Friday’s performances, as well as video footage.
Relive 2011-2012 With GMView Student-Run Yearbook Offers an Affordable Way to Capture Your Senior Year Jeffrey Giorgi Style Editor In high school, usually around the end of May or the start of June, there would come a day when students got together to connect and reflect over the past year — yearbook day. What you might not know is that George Mason University has its very own yearbook, GMView. “Students don’t think about how important a yearbook is going to be in the next five to 10 years,” said Cynthia Lont, faculty advisor to GMView. “I get a lot of students who contact me and ask if I still have extra copies of older editions.” Like many programs at Mason, GMView is entirely student-run. “I teach a class called ‘The Yearbook Workshop every semester,” Lont said. “It brings students from across [the] university because everybody needs that one more credit in a 300 level course to graduate.” The Yearbook Workshop not only offers students an opportunity to earn that ever-elusive last credit, but it also provides a chance to become a part of some-
thing larger. “A lot of them are actually students who probably work part time or full time,” Lont said. “They’ve never really had a chance to be part of a tradition here at Mason. They’re not in clubs or organizations because they work, they have families, they have lives. But because they can do this for a credit, they can be a part of something. They’ll have their picture in the end, they’ll have a layout they were a part of, so they can walk away from Mason saying, ‘I left my mark.’” Not content to simply give students a hardcover book with photos and memories from the past year, each yearbook comes with a companion DVD. “Because they come in the $35 set, we don’t do the same thing in both,” Lont said. “In the print, we have the senior portraits, which is cool, and then we have team sports pictures. But on the DVD, we actually have the footage from the games. So anything we have that’s action oriented, we don’t want to freeze it and put it in print. We want to actually show you the action and put it on the DVD.” On the DVD that Lont dis-
played, there were sections dedicated to commencement, Mason Day, International Week and other various events from campus. Additionally, students who purchase yearbooks now can record a message for their friends and family to be included on the DVD. “Every year we do Mason Day, International Week [and] if we can get out there, we do the Shacka-thon with Greek Week,” Lont said. “It’s really up to the students what we end up with.” The yearbook itself features the aforementioned senior portraits, a section called “Senior Speak” that allows seniors to write a blurb to be featured in the yearbook, as well as recurring features like “In Loving Memory” and “Then and Now.” The “Then and Now” section features interesting facts comparing Mason in its inception to Mason 2012. One amusing fact is that credits were only $11 when Mason first became a school. April 10 to 13 marks the last opportunity to have your photo taken for senior portraits, so make sure you get your photo taken if you haven’t already.
@MasonBroadside
How to Get Your Senior Portrait - April 10 - 13 will be the last dates available to have your photo taken for the year book. - To reserve your seating time, go to www.ouryear.com - Enter GMU’s code number, 700, then sign-up. - Arrive early, and look sharp.
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Button Mashing — ‘Xenoblade Chronicles’ A Former Japanese Exclusive Comes to the States, but Is It Worth Your Time? Antonio Washington Broadside Correspondent With the loud, fan-driven uproar about “Xenoblade Chronicles� not coming to North America, Nintendo has finally responded, announcing that the game will hit shelves stateside April 6. It’s a thumbs-up for the Wii, which is heading toward its final days in preparation for Nintendo’s next console, Wii U. “Xenoblade Chronicles� will feel untraditional compared to other games in the genre, but it will still satisfy the needs of the most jaded RPG lover. Take a 60hour campaign, a plethora of side quests and an out-there story about people who reside on the backs of giant robots, and you’ve just hit the RPG mother lode. “Xenoblade Chronicles� follows 18year-old Shulk, who resides in Colony 9 (located on the foot of a giant, fallen, mechanized fighting robot named Bionis). When the colony is attacked by the Mechon, which are a horde of machines from the Mechonis (another giant, fallen robot), Shulk obtains the legendary energy blade called the Monado, which was thought to be the sword of the Bionis eons ago. With this, Shulk leaves Colony 9 to stop the looming Mechon threat. He is joined by Reyn, a willful Defense Force soldier; Fiora, Shulk and Reyn’s childhood friend; Dunban, the previous wielder of
the Monado and Fiora’s older brother. These are just a few of the colorful characters in “Xenoblade Chronicles.� Saying “Xenoblade Chronicles� is big is a gross understatement. The game itself is huge, and the amount of open land you traverse is astonishingly vast. “Xenoblade Chronicles� is a treat for the eyes with its stretches of ravishing greenery and unique characters who populate the game. From expansive fields to underground caves, “Xenoblade Chronicles� attracts the eye with its unique and stunning environments, which complement its enriched story. “Xenoblade Chronicles� has a real-time, action-based combat system, which means party members will perform an “auto attack� when enemies enter the party’s attack radius. Manually activated special attacks, called “Arts,� each have their own cool-down time after being used; Talents Arts differ in that they only become available for use again after using the right number of auto attacks. Arts for each character must be set on a Battle Palette at the bottom of the screen, which can also be modified outside of battle. Customization is another feature of “Xenoblade Chronicles.� There has not been a JRPG game with this level of customization. “Xenoblade Chronicles� allows extensive customization, such as the ability to change the characters’ outfits
and weapons and to see these changes during battle, in the field and during cut scenes. Another feature of “Xenoblade Chronicles� is the “Aggro Ring,� which appears around party members who are targeted by enemies. The bigger the ring, the more focused an enemy will be toward that particular party member. This allows players to implement strategy, giving Shulk and other members of the party a chance to strike the enemy from the side or rear. The “Visions� system is a unique feature in the “Xenoblade Chronicles� combat system in which Shulk can see glimpses of an enemy’s future attack. With this vital piece of information, the player needs to react with great caution if he wants to ensure victory. “Xenoblade Chronicles� also contains notable features outside of combat, labeled as “Time Saving Support Features.� For instance, while the game has a day and night time cycle, players can “wind the clock� to the time they want instead of just letting time elapse. The game also supports the valuable save-anywhere feature, which allows players to save their progress at any point in time. “Xenoblade Chronicles� is non-linear, which is refreshing for its JRPG background. The game allows you to take a break from the main story in order to
wander off in search of side quests, monsters and caves to plunder. The-Bonds-system allows characters to partake in many optional side quests with non-playable characters. Completing these quests can alter the perception of the character in towns and can open up additional story sequences. “Xenoblade Chronicles� also has an “Affinity� system, where each member of the party has an Affinity stat that indicates how they feel about other members of the party, ranging from indifference or friendship to love. These affinities can be altered by having characters participate in battle together, giving gifts or utilizing the “Heart-to-Heart� system. These Heart-toHeart moments allow intimate moments between two characters that show off more of a character’s personality, history or thoughts, and can be initiated by having certain characters at certain places if the right amount of affinity between them is met. “Xenoblade Chronicles� is the phoenix rising from the ashes of the JRPG franchise, giving hope to JRPG fans. Furthermore, it’s a Wii exclusive, and “Xenoblade Chronicles� will give you a great excuse to blow the dust off of your old console (because it probably hasn’t been played since “The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword�) and engross yourself in a world that will give you that traditional RPG experience.
Photo Courtesy of IGN
Long awaited JRPG “Xenoblade Chronicles� has revitalized the fading Wii.
The Rundown Release Date: April 6, 2012 Platform: Wii Exclusive Price: $49.99 Publisher: Nintendo Genre: JRPG
Headphones On — The Great Lake Swimmers Canadian Folk Band Enters Studio for First Time With Solid Results Chris Earp Broadside Correspondent The Great Lake Swimmers are a Canadian folkrock band led by singer-songwriter Tony Dekker. Their fifth album, entitled “New Wild Everywhere,� is a job well done. In the past, the band had recorded its records in some odd places. Their fourth album, “Lost Channels,� was recorded on an archipelago between the U.S and Canada. For “New Wild Everywhere� they decided to move into the studio, a decision that almost certainly contributed to the quality of the music. Like most of their work, this album has heavy themes of nature and our interaction with it (without feeling preachy). “Ballad of a Fisherman’s Wife� is a song dedicated to those affected by the BP oil spill, while “Easy Come Easy Go� feels like a nod to The Eagles
and other bands of that era. The musicianship showcased on “New Wild Everywhere� is definitely another good reason to give it a listen. Miranda Mulholland’s violin is clear, strong and effortlessly melodic. When paired with Dekker’s ethereal voice, the combination is inspiring. My only complaint about the album is that the guitar work is less interesting than it could be. There is something lacking and the album could have been even more impressive if they had given Erik Arnesen a few more seconds on each track. He does shine on the banjo though, an oft-overlooked instrument even within the genre. “New Wild Everywhere� straddles a number of genres: In one moment country twang pervades the song, and in the next we’re back to the almost muted softness that the band is known for. They took a risk in recording at a studio. Being used to having to brave the weather and the land just to
crank out a tune, the studio must have been overwhelming for them. The restraint that comes across in their music shows discipline and a loyalty to their style that is rare these days. They couldn’t stay in the studio for the whole record though, so in true Great Lake Swimmers style, they headed to a subway station for one of their tracks. There they recorded “The Great Exhale.� They had to wait until the wee hours of the morning for trains to stop so they could play, and the area was wet and cold, but somehow the track comes across well put-together. It takes a special kind of talent and group cohesion to consistently produce good music even while fighting the elements, and their material after working in a studio has not only improved but also matured. Hopefully the Great Lake Swimmers will grow even more popular here in the United States; they’ve been a secret for too long.
Image Courtesy of Metacritic
Recording in both a studio and in the wilderness, The Great Lake Swimmers deliver an album whose polish is evident on every track.
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Free Tickets for Mason Students! Visual Voices Series RECENT WORKS Sangram Majumdar, speaker Apr. 12 at 7:30 p.m. Free HT
University Chorale BROADWAY SHOWCASE Apr. 15 at 3 p.m. $15 adu. $10 sen./stu. HC LimitedFreeStudent Tickets AvailableApr. 3
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Opinion
Opinion
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The number of issues of Broadside left. Don’t miss a single one.
Monday, April 9, 2012
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Broadside
George Mason University’s Student Newspaper Gregory Connolly, Editor-in-Chief eic@broadsideonline.com Cody Norman, Managing Editor Jacquelyn Rioux, Copy Chief Justin Lalputan, News Editor Hannah Smith, Asst. News Editor Rebecca Norris, Opinion Editor Jeff Giorgi, Style Editor Cody Norman, Sports Editor Colleen Wilson, Asst. Sports Editor Stephen Kline, Photography Editor Krista Germanis, Asst. Style Editor
Thumbs up to shorts weather. It’s time to show a little leg. Thumbs up to another eventful Pride Week. Thumbs up to the return of baseball season.
Benjamin Shaffer, Copy Editor Shannon Park, Copy Editor Michelle Buser, Designer Janelle Germanos, Staff Reporter Jacques Mouyal, Business Manager Kathryn Mangus, Faculty Adviser David Carroll, Associate Director
The letters, columns and views expressed on this page are solely those of the writers. They do not reflect the views of Broadside or its staff, unless otherwise noted. Broadside is a weekly publication printed each Monday for the George Mason University and surrounding Fairfax community. The editors at Broadside 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 editorin-chief should be notified at the information given above. Broadside is a free publication. Limit one copy per person. Each additional copy is 25 cents. Please be so kind as to bring a quarter to our office on the first floor of Sub II.
Thumbs down to slacktivist social media oil protests. Thumbs down to the lack of air conditioning in Presidents Park. Thumbs down to the unavoidable graphic pictures during the abortion protest in front of Robinson.
Should We Blame the Gun or the Gunman? Recent Shootings Prompt People to Question Shooters’ Reasoning Sayed Z Shah
Columnist News viewers in this nation and around the globe have witnessed a recent surge in incidents involving gunmen turning their weapons against innocent people. Just a few recent examples include Jared Loughner, Anders Breivik, Robert Bales and George Zimmerman. Perhaps most notable for college students is One L. Goh, who took the lives of several classmates at Oikos University in California last week. Goh’s actions reignited debates about student safety at
universities across the country, including here at George Mason University. A vital question at the core of this issue must be answered: Is the gun or the man who wields it to blame? Guns themselves cannot be solely blamed, considering they are inanimate objects. Guns are just one of the abundant tools of violence. Before the advent of the firearm, murderous individuals perpetrated wanton killings and destruction using different tools; such as swords. Even today, as the tribal conflict in Rwanda illustrated, a machete can do as much, if not more, damage as a gun. Even a needle can be used to kill, as was the case in the elimination of North Korean defector Ahn. If somebody intends to do harm, he will inevitably find a means of doing so. When unresolved problems or unfulfilled needs lead to a chronic sense of injustice and anger, malicious intentions
form in people’s minds. Slowly, those feelings of injustice and dissatisfaction become the basis of ideas, which turn into determination, which is realized as action. Once thoughts, wicked or otherwise, reach the level of determination, then it matters less whether guns are available. The intention to harm is what matters. Understanding the gunmen’s motivations may be useful for stopping future plots early on. Law enforcement should focus on what leads a person to commit such crimes by analyzing the social, mental or personal causes behind such acts. For example, robbery and theft cannot be understood without looking at the root causes of the crime, such as poverty or a lack of educational opportunities or employment. In addition to the consideration of external factors, every gunman ought to undergo thorough psychoanalysis to de-
termine if the grievances stem from a lack of education systems, a failure of mental health care, injustices endemic to the justice system, negligent foreign policy, decadent social norms or absurdity and hatred in the media. Once causes are identified, then efforts should be made to address them in their initial stages as a first line of defense against future crises. We, as citizens, should think deeply about the social, political, mental and economic causes of violence. Unfortunately, such introspection is unfeasible because gun-rights proponents and opponents will dominate the debate, and each side will advocate its own myopic, selfish rationales while ignoring the real causes. Each side will present an anthology of reasons, mostly mistaken, for how they feel about guns and the place of firearms in society. Sadly, the pain and suffering of
the innocent become a flimsy pretext for them to propagate their ideas of how the Second Amendment should be interpreted. We must not think rashly or jump to conclusions because short-sighted policies, such as allowing guns on campus, have the potential to backfire. We need a level-headed approach to find the right solutions. Of course, every gunman is idiosyncratic and developed under unique circumstances, but there is always a source for his motivation in the outside environment. And if we successfully remove those sources, we will see a concomitant reduction in violence. We have to look at the gunman and consider if society made him feel exasperated, angry or even insane. We have to ponder what has contributed to the seemingly ubiquitous phenomenon of shootings. It is not the guns; it is the shooters
Freedom of Speech Stretches Only So Far Abortion Images Outside of Robinson Stir Student Body I am a strong believer in freedom of speech. I believe that if you think abortion is wrong, you have a right Columnist to express that opinion. If I’m walking to class, and you approach me about anything — whether you just have to talk to me for, literally, the sixth time about Heavenly Mother, the Church of Latter-Day Saints, the environment chickens have to live in, your ongoing abortion protest — I will smile, take your pamphlet and drop it in my notebook. I hate to see passersby who often forget their manners. Activists are people
WILL ROSE
with feelings, not brainless, inanimate objects, so I make sure to never be rude. Though I may already have an opinion about the subject you’re advocating or protesting, one that I do not expect to change — give me a pamphlet because I’ll take it, and I’ll look at it. One thing I strongly disagree with, however, is the manner in which the most recent abortion protest unfolded. We have censorship on television for a reason; if you are opposed to seeing graphic images on television, you switch off the TV. But if I need to get to class and there are 20 pictures of late-term (rare) abortions juxtaposed next to beaten 12-yearold children in front of my class, I become agitated. There should be, in my opinion, a sense of responsibility on the part of protesters that tells them, “I can’t subject people to this material if they don’t want to see it.”
Last semester, two guys were pushing the same opinion. They had with them a poster that featured an image of a 12-yearold with a black eye and bloodied face. Beside that was a horrible picture of an aborted fetus. This happened to coincide with a day that children, presumably from local elementary and middle schools, were on a field trip. The kids were horrified when they saw those images; that photo, next to the photo of a tiny disembodied arm the size of a dime, is now something teachers have to awkwardly avoid explaining to young children on their field trip. I went up to the guy and said, “Buddy, there are kids running around where you guys are protesting. I support your right to protest, but don’t you think you’ve chosen a bad day to do it? Maybe you guys could at least go to the clock tower and face Fenwick?” To me, that’s not a request
for someone to sacrifice all of his beliefs but rather a very reasonable request that anyone, as a decent human being, would make. Of course, they didn’t think so, and those unnerved, curious children go home and ask their parents what “the guys holding up scary signs of dead children” were doing. If I were a teacher, I would expect to have conversations with pissed-off parents, as well as fewer field trips to the local university. In both instances — the most recent, larger protest as well as the smaller one last semester I cited — I think the methodology of expressing those views was objectionable, if not offensive. I don’t want anyone to think I am contradicting one of my earlier articles where I stated that I thought “shock advertising” was necessary at times; to me, there is a difference between showing Barack Obama
with a bone through his nose and showing mutilated fetuses. If you’ve got an opinion you’d like to share with students, hold a discussion or shake a hand and ask them if they’re interested to know more. Lead consenting persons to a tent and show them pictures after telling them what they’ll see. I strongly support everyone’s right to express their opinion — even the Westboro Baptist Church should have that right if you ask me. This is America, and if we’re going to live by the Constitution, unless an opinion’s entire purpose is to harm the person at whom it’s directed, we can’t make exceptions just because we disagree with them. So you can protest abortion all you want, just don’t block everyone’s path to Robinson with unreasonably graphic pictures of fetuses that would never be seen elsewhere without a person’s prior judgment and discretion.
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Opinion
Construction at Mason: A Double-Edged Sword Construction: You hear it, you see it, you smell it — it’s everywhere. It’s part of daily life here at George Mason University. You can walk your regular route one day and find out the next day that it’s going to take you an extra five minutes to get to class because construction workers just broke ground on a new project. It can be a hassle in the everyday lives of students, but at the end of the day, the finished products are part of the reason why Mason is such an innovative university with a rapidly expanding student body. Construction at Mason really is a doubleedged sword. It’s amazing how many new buildings and parking decks have sprung up in just the past few years. When I was a freshman just four years ago, there was no Recreation and Athletic Complex, School of Art, Eastern Shore, Hampton Roads, Rogers and Whitetop, Rappahannock Parking Deck, Mason Inn, Engineering Building or University Hall. In fact, Southside was just opening. Buildings like Thompson Hall have been completely renovated, and Science and Technology is
getting a huge expansion, with STII in the process of being completely gutted. A lot has obviously changed over the past few years, including the names of buildings. I still don’t understand why we have three buildings with similar names such as Mason Hall, College Hall and University Hall. Mason is an innovative institution, but the Naming Committee evidently is not. Was it really necessary to change the name of the Sandy Creek Parking Deck to Shenandoah Deck when the names of the road and the bus stop are still Sandy Creek? Totally unnecessary — but then again, the Naming Committee hasn’t exactly proven to be all that effective. The monikers of the various campus neighborhoods really haven’t caught on either. No one knows or cares whether you’re in the Shenandoah or the Rappahannock housing neighborhoods. I’m fairly involved here at Mason, and I don’t even know all the “neighborhood names.” But I digress. It would have been nice to be spared the noise, smell and inconvenience of construction projects
at some point during my four years here. Twice last semester, one of my lecture classes in STII was canceled due to the odor of fresh tar being laid down outside. I mean, who doesn’t enjoy a missed class? But I think the university should refund my money for those missed classes. Construction also makes it more difficult for disabled individuals, who already have to deal with unreliable access buttons on building entrances, to get around campus. Rerouting walking paths such as the one by STII adds to the difficulties of campus navigation for someone in a wheelchair, who now must also negotiate the narrow, steep access ramp. Other construction woes include the closure of Aquia Creek Lane, which complicates life for residents of Student Apartments and Rogers and Whitetop. “We got sent an email saying the construction would last three months, and everyone’s reaction seemed to be very frustrated because we were just moved to Whitetop from the Commons. And now they just cut off the main access point to the center
of campus,” freshman government and international politics major Jake Kelley said. Noting that it now takes him an extra five to 10 minutes to walk to class in the morning, Kelley said he doesn’t understand why road construction can’t take place during the summer. Working on buildings like Science and Tech during the school year is one thing, but working on a road that cuts off access for hundreds during the year just doesn’t make sense. Over the next five years, with space running out on the Fairfax campus and funds running dry, major expansion is likely to dwindle. The university needs to do a better job making construction less intrusive for students, faculty and staff during the academic year. There could also be better communication to the university community on project timelines and construction updates. Construction is annoying, and some things could be done to make it less intrusive, but we get to reap the benefits of fancy new buildings and a university that is now on the world map.
Online Dating: Has it Gone Too Far? New Expansion of Online Dating Allows People to Date Virtually Angela Kim
Columnist Many of you are probably familiar with online dating sites such as Zoosk, Match.com and eHarmony — websites specifically designed to help you find a compatible partner. But now, with the advance-
ments of technology and the growing number of participants, many of these online dating sites are coming up with new strategies to draw even larger crowds. Virtual dating is a relatively new type of dating system. Like online dating sites, it allows individuals to form relationships with others all over the world. The interesting concept of virtual dating is it combines online dating with online gaming. Like online dating sites, you are required to create your own profile and search around for people who interest you.
Once you come across a profile you like, you simply click a button and ask that person out on a date. This is where virtual dating starts to branch out onto its own path. On an online dating site, if that person responds “yes,” you would have to pick a place to meet and show them a good time, whereas on a virtual dating site, you would go on a “virtual date.” You choose an avatar image that will best represent you, and then you choose a dating venue, such as a bar or quiet restaurant, for your avatars to interact. Your avatar’s every action is
controlled through your computer. I could type in “You’re beautiful,” and my avatar will say those exact words. I could hold the other avatar’s hand, touch its face and blow a kiss — all with the click of a button. Eric Bland, a writer for Discovery.com’s news page, tested some of these dating programs. According to a 2009 article he wrote, “I went on a date with another woman … I held her hand and after five minutes she asked me if she could kiss me, and I accepted. Maybe my girlfriend will be able to forgive me since this was a virtual date.” I found what Bland
said intriguing. If someone goes on an online dating site and meets up to have dinner with someone other than his current partner, wouldn’t that be considered cheating? Where do you draw the line in virtual dating? I have come across some interesting arguments in support of virtual dating, like the fact that you don’t have to dress up and can get to know someone in the comfort of your own home. There are no expenses for dinner or drinks. And the opportunity cost of wasted time is cut way down.
Still, it’s depressing to see how technology is shaping our lives; we’re becoming a lazy society that does nothing but sit in front of our computer screens. I think some of these programs are scary and unnecessary. If you have the desire to meet someone special, I think it’s worth the effort to really go out of your way to get to know that person — not via the Internet. Online dating may have it’s benefits, but when more and more people depend entirely on these sites to find their special someone, I can see why this could be a problem.
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Opinion
Sports
102
The record number of career draw controls by women’s lacrosse player Emily Ellisen
Monday, April 9, 2012
Intramural Tournaments Gauge Student Interest Dodgeball and Ultimate Frisbee Will Become League Sports in the Fall
Photos by Stephen Kline
Tournaments for intramural dodgeball and ultimate frisbee were held this weekend. Both sports will become official intramural leagues in the fall.
Colleen Wilson Sports Editor Tournaments for intramural dodgeball and ultimate frisbee were held this weekend as a test run to create leagues in the fall. Any time there is enthusiasm for a new sport, a tournament is held in the spring to gauge student interest. If there is enough commitment, then the sport becomes a league in the fall. “There’s definitely some interest here some of the teams are not organized, but both dodgeball and ultimate frisbee will become intramural leagues in the fall,” said Paul Bazzano, intramural and recreational sports assistant director. Sports management majors are required to have a directed practicum experience, either paid or volunteer.
Over the course of 10 to 15 weeks, the students are expected to provide opportunities for others to gain skill and knowledge in an entry-level sport. Seven teams signed up for the ultimate frisbee tournament, but only four showed up and were able to compete. Matt Florence, a health, fitness and recreation resources major who organized the ultimate frisbee tournament under the practicum experience program, reached out to the ultimate frisbee club team for support. “I played many other sports with very intense rivalries. Ultimate frisbee has a sense of community-building and fun like no other sport I’ve ever played,” said Tim Rusbasan, a senior and captain of the men’s club ultimate frisbee team. “It’s about sportsmanship. You call all your own fouls.” Registration is open now through
April 18 for intramural battleship. The object of the game is to sink the opposing team’s boats by tossing buckets of water on board while trying to protect your own boat from going under. The team on the last boat still floating wins the game. “We played last semester for the intramural staff. They loved it and have been talking trash and waiting for the next round ever since,” Bazzano said. The games will be held in the Aquatic and Fitness Center’s recreational pool on April 21. To register, teams need at least four players with at least one female in the boat at all times. Roster maximum is five. Register online and view the rules and a promotional video at http://recreation.gmu.edu.
Weekly Roundup Colleen Wilson Sports Editor
Rowing Two boats qualified for the grand final and one advanced to the petite final at the Occoquan Sprints. Novice 4 and Varsity 4 boats took fourth place in their respective heats in the preliminary competitions.
Baseball The Patriots won their second consecutive game against the VCU Rams 2–0. Senior pitcher Ryan Pfaeffle threw 7.1 innings of seven hit, three strikeout ball while holding VCU scoreless. No VCU batter recorded more than one hit during the entire game.
Softball In a doubleheader against JMU, the Patriots lost the first game 4-1 and the second game 9–2. In the top of the fifth inning in the second game, the Dukes scored five runs of off relief pitchers Tiffany Harvell and Jamie Rice.
Tennis (W) Women’s tennis defeated Loyola 4–3 after Brooke Blackwell, Kiersten Pappas, Liza Davis and Ashley Delaney took four of the six singles matches. The team is 11–7 overall on the season.
Tennis (M) The Patriots won 4–3 after winning four of the six singles matches against Bucknell. Bucknell scored the first point after the doubles matches, but that was not enough to stop the Patriots. Jimmy Davis won every game and went 6–0 and 6–0 against Bucknell’s Josh Katten.
Track & Field At the Pepsi Florida Relays the track and field team recorded 11 IC4A and three ECAC qualifying times. One relay and 10 individuals posted IC4A championship times for the men’s team. Cierra McGee qualified with a time of 54.64 in the 400m dash for ECAC. The women’s 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams also qualified.
Lacrosse (W) The Patriots lost 16–7 against CAA rival Drexel. After scoring two draw controls in the game against Drexel, senior Emily Ellisen became the program’s record-holding leader with 102 career draw controls over four seasons. In her second start of the season, goalkeeper Katie Teague played the full game in cage and recorded nine saves.
Golf After the first round of the 54-hole 36th Annual Rutherford Intercollegiate the Mason’s men’s golf team is in the lead. Kevin Yerks shot par on the par–71 on the 7,202 yard Penn State Blue Course.
Photo by Stephen Kline
Sophomore Stephanie Maher moves through a windup during Saturday’s 9–2 loss to JMU.
Broadside
8 | Monday, April 9, 2012
Opinion
Freshman Orientation
Games of the Week
Andrew Brenneman Learning to Adapt to College Life, Sports
Wednesday, April 11
Friday, April 13
Softball vs. George Washington, 4 p.m. Lacrosse (W) vs. Old Dominion, 7 p.m. Tennis (W) vs. Drexel, 2 p.m. Tennis (M) vs. Drexel, 3 p.m.
Saturday, April 14 Tennis (W) vs. JMU, 1 p.m. Volleyball (M) vs. NJIT, 7 p.m.
CLASSIFIED Help Wanted
Photo Courtesy of George Mason Athletics
Andrew Brenneman is one of two freshmen on the Men’s Golf team.
Colin Gibson Staff Writer Being a college freshman is a new, unusual and stressful time for a majority of students. Living with a roommate, maintaining a full course load and constantly attempting to find a place in the college environment can push students to the limit. Throw in hours of practice every day, 7 a.m. workouts and the constant pressure of trying to prove yourself on the golf course to that mix and it makes for a whirlwind of day-to-day tension and mental unrest. However, freshman Andrew Brenneman handles the same docket of activities while maintaining a dignified poise and clear mindset. “Being on the golf team does take up a lot of my time. On top of classes, I practice about three or four hours a day, sometimes even more than that. I don’t see it as any extra stress because I enjoy what I’m doing, and I like playing golf. It’s actually a nice break from the day,” Brenneman said. Of the golf team’s 11 members, Brenneman is currently one of only two freshman on the entire squad. Being on a team consisting of mainly upperclassmen has pushed Brenneman to test himself against the veterans and their experience
“For the first semester I had to deal with being the youngest, but over winter break we added another freshman to the team. In the earlier part of the year I felt more inclined to prove myself to the older guys. In general, I try to prove myself as just a member of the team,” said Brenneman. Making the leap to the collegiate level of competition in any sport is a difficult change that requires a degree of patience and several adjustments. Brenneman realizes the difficulties but has managed to find a lighter side to adapting to the higher level. “The college level is very different from what I saw when I was younger,” Brenneman said. The players are a lot better and it takes more time and effort. But it is also fun to see some of the guys I played against in high school and when I was in junior golf. To play against them is a fun part of it all.” Off the course, Brenneman has realized the values and benefits that being a college athlete have brought to him. He maintains a positive mindset about being involved in a sport and handling the extra workload. “I have definitely learned how to manage my time better. Even though it takes up a lot of time, I enjoy playing the game because it keeps me busy, and I always have fun doing it,” Brenneman said.
Child Care
Lifeguards/Pool Operatorsn FT/PT, flexible schedule, Must be able to swim, FREE training available, Competitive pay 703-966-1300 ext.128 abovari@usaquatics.net Seeking nurturing qualified person to care for 3 children(1-4). South Riding-10 hours per week-flexible schedule. call Kim 703-314-8232 Head Coach $2,500-up 9 week Summer League Experience with NVSL; 80-100 swimmers. Coach all levels age 5-18, stroke development, good sportsmanship.Hy-Tek skills a plus Hours 7:45am-11:30am; Sat 7-1pm Must have Red Cross and/or lifeguard certification. send resumes to deanekp@gmail.com DENTAL RECEPTIONIST for general dentist office in Falls Church VA (near west FC metro). Computer and math skills required. Hours: Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 9-4pm. Submit resume to jobs122@yahoo.com
Sitters Wanted. $12+/hour. Register free for jobs at student-sitters.com Childcare position in Alexandria caring for 2 children (5 and 8). Duties include pick-up from school at 3:00 and watching them in our home until 7:00, help with homework, and light meal prep. Good driving record and reliable car required. Monthly salary commensurate with experience. Add’l hours and pay during summer. Email: cmespinosa@gmail.com
Housing Room for Rent w/private bathroom in Springfield $550. 20 minutes from GMU. Call 703-727-0506.
Our last issue before summer break is April 30th To place an ad, call (703) 993-2880 or email classifiedads @broadsideonline.com
GW COLUMBIAN COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES ARLINGTON
Master of Science
Information Sessions
High-Technology Crime Investigation
Wednesday, April 18 6:30 pm
Learn the skills that are in demand. Our faculty are experts in the fields of cyber security, computer law, digital forensics and risk analysis. Hands-on experience. Gain practical experience in lab-based digital forensics and incidence response courses. Convenient classes. Attend evening and weekend classes in Arlington, Virginia.
37458
THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION INSTITUTION CERTIFIED TO OPERATE IN VA BY SCHEV.
Saturday, May 12 10:00 am 950 N. Glebe Rd., 6th Floor Arlington, VA 22203 Metro: Orange Line to Ballston
Rsvp Today! 703.248.2800 www.nearyou.gwu.edu/htc