Broadside

Feb. 18, 2013

Volume 89 Issue 14

Broadside GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER

News

President Cabrera introduces new vision to be reviewed by student body and faculty

PAGE 4

Lifestyle

About 200 Mason students collaborate to create an official Mason “Harlem Shake” video

PAGE 16

Opinion

An argument for how hemp products would stimulate local and national economies

PAGE 11

Sports

Marko Gujanicic experiences the excitement of the homecoming game for the first time

PAGE 26

HOMECOMING 2013 A look through the week full of spirit; the evolution of greatness PAGE 14

BroadsideOnline.com @MasonBroadside

Feb. 18, 2013

Mason in the News

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“He could spend his whole life shaking people’s hands, and basically be sick all the time,” Cowen said later, adding, “I shake hands with people, but I wish the whole custom didn’t exist. I’d rather bow or just pass business cards or something.”

-- Tyler Cowen, economist and professor said to The Boston Globe about how shaking hands leads to sickness.

“In some ways, it’s a wake-up call.

You have to be less dependent on defense, because there’s not going to be as much money around.’’

- Stephen Fuller, economist said to USA Today commenting on the lowering of funding to defense. Fuller has done paid research for the defense-aeronautics industry.

“In shades of gray between Maryland and Virginia, I don’t see much of a difference between them as between different states like Mississippi, where you had 5 percent early turnout, and Colorado, where you had 80 percent.”

-- Micheal McDonald, associate professor and election law expert said to the Washington Examiner about the possible change in voters laws in Virginia and Maryland.

“I think mayors and other people in the city want to convey the idea that they’re actually doing something. But, it would be a lot better if they were doing something that actually works. Unfortunately, the empirical evidence indicates that gun buybacks are completely ineffective.”

-- Alex Tabarrock, economist and gun buyback researcher said to Kiro Tv on whether gun buybacks will be effective in eliminating gun violence.

News

Broadside

Letter from the Editor-in-Chief Not even three weeks into the semester, I had to stop and remind myself that the reason I am here at Mason is to earn my bachelor’s degree to secure myself a stable and well-paying job.

Sometimes, between running to meetings, interviewing sources and writing stories for the paper, I forget about class. I forget about homework and quizzes and exams and my entire justification for spending thousands of dollars to live on this campus.

The Career Fair, this Feb. 20 and 21 comes as a timely reminder that my academic clock is ticking and it’s time to start thinking about the real world.

It’s easy to get lost in the weekly slam of deadlines and due dates and sometimes I like to hide in my day-to-day business to avoid stepping back and taking in the big picture.

The fact is that by this time next year I will be making arrangements for my own housing and my first full-time job.

Hopefully.

At the beginning of my freshman year, I made a goal of graduating with $10,000 in savings and never moving back into

my parents house.

Three years later my high school savings are a joke and the three jobs I worked last semester did nothing but break even with my expenses.

The Wall Street Journal report that broke last week and quickly went viral on Facebook helped a bit to assuage my fears.

The chart (which you can find here: http://on.fb.me/XZTOWa) pits the Virginia state schools against each other based on salaries earned after graduation.

The data only covers alumni who work in the state, do not work for the government and are not self-employed. Mason comes out on top with an average annual salary of $41,153.

I’m not sure if any of the 180 vendors at the Career Fair (which you can learn more about on page 8) are offering such competitive starting wages, but it’s definitely worth checking out.

If nothing else, the experience of dressing up and talking to potential employers is great practice, even if you still have years before you start the 9-5 grind. It’s especially important for students like me, with ambiguous life

goals and a degree that could be highly marketable or useless, depending on the circumstance.

Sitting in classes and acing the tests simply is not enough. Becoming a dynamic and well-rounded graduate and eventual employee is a combination of many skills, some that come only through practical application.

I really appreciated the advice from Dr. Kevin Ward on page 9 about how to impress an employer.

The tenets have been drilled into our head for years, but it’s nice to hear the same ground rules from the other side of the fence.

It’s like when your cool aunt tells you something that your parents have been trying to convince you of for years, it just sticks better.

Colleen Wilson

Editor-in-Chief

Number of the Week

$3,000

Lowest estimated cost per space to build a parking lot

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News

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Feb. 18, 2013

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(JENNY KRASHIN/BROADSIDE)

Mumford and Sons comes to Mason Coming off their victory at the Grammys for Album of the Year, Mumford and Sons performed two sold-out shows at the Patriot Center. Acts Haim and Ben Howard opened for the London-native quartet this past Wednesday and Thursday. Broadside was able to get exclusive access to the event and bring you these photos.

News&Notes Feb. 4 Corrections - In last week’s issue, Broadside did not credit Alexis Glenn from Creative Services for the photos for the Mason Lobbies on page 4 and photo with the Healthcare article on page 6.

- Hala Numan was misspelled on her column on page 18.

- Lyndse Hokanson was misspelled on her story about women’s basketball on page 22.

Mason Debate Team Still Number One The Mason Debate Team,

a student organization here at Mason, has once again claimed the number one title in a competition that included schools from across the nation.

Under the direction of Professor Warren Decker, the team is ranked first in both the Cross Examination Debate Association’s national point standings and the National Debate Tournament standings.

This year’s team, a group of 19 students from all class levels and has recently competed against schools such as James Madison University and West Point.

Full-time undergraduate students are welcome to join,

and should expect 8-10 hours of practice including travel time for tournaments.

Vision Series Lecture The Vision Series, an initiative to discuss real world issues and concepts, will be hosting its next lecture, “The Shape of the Future: Washington Area Economy: Opportunities and Challenges” on Feb. 18, at 7:15 p.m. in Founders Hall at the GMU Arlington Campus.

The featured speaker, Dr. Stephen Fuller, is a University Professor of Public Policy and will be discussing the economic situation in the D.C. and how

decreased federal spending is bringing changes to the city.

He will also discuss how budget changes could the city into a major global center like London and Tokyo.

Tickets are not required and light refreshments will be served.

Professor Acquires Africana Collection Robinson Professor John Paden of International Studies at Mason recently donated over 4000 books, maps, and other materials related to sub-Saharan Africa.

The collection spans over 25 years of Paden’s research on the region, particularly Nigeria and the influence of Islam in modern-day Africa with books written 100 years ago.

A few pieces of the collection include In Darkest Africa

by Henry M. Stanley and The Exploration of the Niger by Emile Hourst.

Most of collection will be used as a resource for research and public use, while the older manuscripts will be archived.

RACHEL STEINER STAFF WRITER

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News

Feb. 18, 2013

Broadside

Cabrera outlines his new vision for Mason Vision for student body, faculty to review

(JENNY KRASHIN/BROADSIDE)

President Angel Cabrera provides insight on the proposed vision. plan for the university. After input from thousands in the Mason community, the vsion is in draft form and will go before the Board of Visitors on March 20 for approval.

Our Values Prepared by President Cabrera in association with Steering Committee Members and Working Group Chairs, the newly released Mason vision outlines six of the university’s core values.

Those values can be found in section 3.4 for the document.

The following are the titles for each value.

* * * * * *

Our students come first Diversity is our strength Innovation is our tradition We act with integrity We are careful stewards We nurture a community where all members can thrive

Dr. Angel Cabrera had an assignment at hand when the Mason Board of Visitors tasked him with creating a new vision for the university.

In only nine months on the job, the time it takes to complete one academic year, President Cabrera was expected to not only become familiar with and understand the largest university in the state, but to redesign its role in the future of higher education for the state, country and world.

“There is one component that talks about what shouldn’t change, and then a part that talks about what should change.

Both are equally important because what we’re trying to do here is hey, there are some features about this university, values, shared beliefs, that have been essential to bring us to where we are,” Cabrera said. “The second part is that now we are in the 21st century, things are happening around us. The challenges we face are not the same challenges that Dr. Johnson faced 34 years ago or Dr. Merten faced 16 years ago, they’re different, so how do we deal with them?”

With the help and input from people from around the Mason community, Cabrera has completed a first draft and is now calling for edits.

“The emphasis has been on bringing in as many voices as possible. We think, in fact, this is a conservative estimate, that we had about 3,000 people involved in the process,” Cabrera said. Those voices, made up of students, faculty staff and the local community were heard at town hall meetings, focus groups and online forums over the course of last semester.

On Feb. 6, a working draft of this vision was released on vision.gmu.edu in PDF format for review.

According to the vision draft, “The Mason idea rests on a solid foundation and resonates with our past, but it also provides a compelling picture of our future. It represents our unique institutional characteristics – some of the words are ones we have heard before, but their meanings have been powerfully reframed, enriched to capture the strength of who we are.”

Much of the language is indeed

familiar, including popular Mason buzzwords like diversity, innovation and entrepreneurialism.

As a young and growing university, the mission defines and justifies Mason as a public, comprehensive research university committed to creating a more just, free and prosperous world.

To personify the goals and values of the vision, the characteristics of the ideal Mason graduate are outlined as a student who is a respectful and ethical engaged citizen, a well rounded scholar who thinks critically and professionally

The emphasis has been on bringing in as many voices as possible. We think, in fact, this is a conservative estimate, that we had about 3,000 people involved in the process President Angel Cabrera

and is prepared to work hard both at their job and in the community at large.

The commitments that will foster the greatest change came largely from the working groups held during the fall.

Primarily, they cover a dedication to identifying ways to better Mason education and securing a sound future through fundraising and a relationship with private and public organizations.

Once the university-wide decision is finalized, each school and college will have to interpret how they can best interpret the model for their own growth and improvement.

“We’re going to ask each other, the different colleges, ‘What does this mean

for you?,’” Cabrera said. “Because innovative teaching and innovative learning means different things when you are teaching law than if you are teaching Spanish.”

A dedication to innovative learning will come with support from both the top-down and an initiative from the bottom up to improve the work environment and attract more talented faculty members.

To fund the projects that will spawn out of the vision, the university realizes that more philanthropic and outside revenue sources will be needed, especially as the state reduces support and tuition rates remain low.

Once accepted by the B.O.V., the draft will be sent to Richmond for final approval.

The new vision comes at a convenient time and will line up with the six year strategic plan that state universities operate on.

The newest strategic plan will focus on how to accomplish the goals put forth by the vision and will be developing the 2013-14 school year.

Cabrera hopes that the framework established by the vision will help the university make quicker decisions down the line based on their already established values.

“I told my colleagues I think we need to be both inclusive and decisive;, you cannot be just one,” Cabrera said. “The culture of a university is one of inclusiveness, but, at the same time, we’re going to have to be decisive because the world around us is changing so fast you cannot just sit back and have eternal discussions about everything.”

The vision can be viewed online at the following link: http://bit.ly/YoGV82.

COLLEEN WILSON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Broadside

News

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Feb. 18, 2013

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Parking plagues students #GMUProblems: Parking

What’s the problem?

Though Mason was technically classified as a primarily residential campus in 2011, commuters still make up a large and loud percentage of the student body. Josh Cantor, director of parking and transportation, is tasked with managing the entire operation with a staff of approximately 50 people across all of Mason’s satellite campuses.

In addition to facilitating parking for pass holders and commuters, Cantor is also responsible for overseeing special event parking. Frustrated permit holders are often bumped out of their primary parking spot when concerts and guest speakers attract large crowds to campus.

Occasionally, parking opens up reserved lots to accommodate the off campus visitors.

“We have 3 million visitors to campus each year,” Cantor said. “Some would say that is a low estimate. For the Mumford and Sons concert alone we had 15,000 people.”

The entire $15 million annual budget for parking and transportation is supported primarily by revenue from parking passes and supplemented by ticket revenue.

The university does not give any tuition or state money to parking to build or maintain the lots or

transportation system.

Effective Feb. 4, several fees were added to the citation and appeals process. If an appeal makes it to a final hearing before the faculty/staff or Student Appeals Board and is denied, an additional $15 fee will be added.

Other changes include decreasing the window to file an appeal from 10 to five days. If citations are not paid after five days, a $15 late fee will be added.

After 30 days the fee goes up to $25.

Parking responds The parking problems are not unique for a university of Mason’s size.

“Every school has the same issues and the same problems,” Cantor said. “The details are maybe a little different, but it’s just a matter of perspective.”

Cantor explained that at many other universities, students are expected to walk much further to classroom buildings and that Mason’s Fairfax campus is fairly compact.

Additional parking structures would cost millions of dollars to build, and Mason is still under 25 year debt service payment plans for all three parking decks.

Each new parking space in a flat lot costs anywhere from $3,000-

$15,000,000 $6,000,000

5,000 to build and each spot in a parking garage costs $15,00020,000 to build.

Cantor said the $15 fees are meant to deter people from filing frivolous claims. An overflow of students filing appeals for tickets that have no merit have clogged up the system and Cantor hopes that this new fee policy will discourage students with weak arguments against their tickets from appealing.

How is the problem best avoided?

There is no short term easy solution to solve the parking problems, but these quick tips may help: 1. Arrive early. Lots A and C usually fill before 9:30 a.m.

2.

Don’t waste your time.

Lot K usually has plenty of open spaces. Even the longer walk to your class will be shorter than the time spent searching in vain for a closer spot.

3.

Don’t take risks. By the time you pay for a ticket, you may as well have gotten a general parking pass.

COLLEEN WILSON EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

The annual cost of running parking and transportation

The amount out of the $15 million budget that goes towards debt services to pay for the parking decks

6

Feb. 18, 2013

News

Broadside

Mason’s Interim Chief works to ensure transparency The quick change in leadership at the Mason Police Department during the latter half of the Fall 2012 semester put Drew Tracey into the role of Interim Police Chief at the department.

In the ten weeks that has served as the leader of the department with 58 sworn officers, Tracey has worked towards making the station more open to the public.

The Mason Police Department has released reports from 2008, 2009 and 2010 that detail the complaints filed against the department during that specific calendar year.

Such complaints range in severity from off-duty assaults to unprofessional conduct.

While the released reports have no problems, as of Jan. 1, 2013, the department had yet to released a report for 2011.

“We are actually not required to release it,” Tracey said, about the location of the 2011 report, “but why don’t we just do it anyway?”

According to standards set by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), departments located on a university are technically not required to release complaint reports publicly.

However, that did not sit well with Chief Tracey.

“I’m real big on transparency, where everyone sees everything,” Tracey said. “Because if you don’t put it out there, somebody will say, ‘There were five thousand complaints that we didn’t see,’ but if you put it out there, it’s black and white and people can see the truth.”

Tracey outlines how the complaint system is one that is inherently thorough and works to ensure maximum service to those involved.

“If you send a complaint online, it goes to three people; it goes to me, Janet Ness, my Executive Assistant, and the Major George Ginovsky,” Tracey said. “The three of us get a copy, then Janet logs it in and gives it a number. Then it goes for assignment. If it’s a category one, it gets investigated by the major.

If it’s a category two, the majority of times it gets sent to a lieutenant.”

Once a complaint is assigned, the lieutenant or major conducts an internal investigation that includes meeting with the officers involved as well as meeting with the individual who made the complaint.

It is during this investigation that a significant portion of the complaints ends up being dropped by those involved.

“There are a lot of complaints that turn out to be misunderstandings, that once the correct information is provided, then the person lets it go,” Tracey said.

Complaints that are not dropped ultimately result in one of four dispositions: exonerated, sustained, not sustained or unfounded.

When a complaint is exonerated, it means that the allegations of the complaint were verified.

(GRAPHIC BY STEPHEN KLINE)

However, they resulted from proper adherence to police procedures and techniques.

When a complaint is sustained, allegations have been proved to be true and disciplinary action is taken against those involved including verbal counseling, written reprimand and more.

When categorized as not sustained, it means that the internal investigation was unable to verify any truth to the allegations.

Complaints can also categorized as unfounded, which means there is no truth to the allegations made in the original complaint.

Ultimately, these complaints are meant to be published together in a year-end report.

Due to the change in CALEA standards mentioned earlier, the department has not done so, but Tracey hopes to change that.

“So I told [the individuals involved in preparing complaint reports], why don’t we complete what we have and put it on the website,” Tracey said.

As of now, the 2011 and 2012 complaint reports have yet to be posted.

Tracey views the complaint system a crucial tool for communication between the community and the department and leads efforts to make that system as clear as possible; a sentiment echoed by Vice President of Facilities Thomas Calhoun.

“We want the police to be seen as a regular part of the campus, so that it’s not just seeing the police when there is a problem. The police should be there to help you,” Calhoun said.

This adapted police presence is something

that Tracey is working hard for.

So far in his tenure, Tracey has taken small steps like creating a department Facebook page in order to reach out to the community.

Tracey also serves on the Police Advisory Council.

“I am looking at it as a steering committee where people can voice what is going on out there and bring ideas to the table,” Tracey said.

It is this council, that includes members from student government, the dean of student affairs, university human relations, representatives from housing, the LGBTQ office and the criminology department, that helped create the university-wide survey on police security that will be released this coming week.

“It’s going out to every member of the community; faculty, staff and students. And saying, okay, tell us what you think about the police and tell us how you feel about being safe,” Calhoun said.

This survey strives to break down the perceived barriers between the police department and the university and work towards the common goal of absolute safety.

“My philosophy when I came here was that we have to be very strong on certain aspects of crime,” Tracey said. “I’m real tough on crimes with victims like driving while intoxicated and sexual assault.”

Tracey places a high priority on these person-to-person crimes rather than low level substance abuse cases, where he sees opportunity for intervention rather than arrest.

“When I see the open container arrests or

low level drug uses for the first time, I want these people to get referred to the university where they can get some counseling or they can be told, ‘hey, one more instance like this, and you’re not going to be living on campus,’” Tracey said.

This is a message that Calhoun is wary of, warning students that although such low level crimes may not be of high importance, that does not make them admissible.

“Substance abuse is a crime; so, possession, underage drinking, all that stuff is still a crime,” Calhoun said. “That will remain a focus of the police department, whether they actively seek that out and to what level they prioritize the things that they do, is really what we’re talking about.”

Ultimately, both Calhoun and Tracey agree that the police department is going through a period of change; increased transparency and fewer barriers with the university are key components to encouraging maximum safety and security to members of the Mason community.

The Mason Police Department is currently undergoing a nation wide search to permanently fill position of Police Chief at the department. Current Interim Chief Tracey has applied for the job.

AARON LOCKE MANAGING EDITOR

Arlington News

Broadside

Student Spotlight: Scott Green

Q: For those students interested in the MBA program, what kind of advice would you give them?

A: Get out and meet people. Organize out-of-school activities—like happy hours— with your classmates, and go to as many of them as you can.

Q: As someone who had classes in the original building during your first semester, what do you think of the new Founders Hall facility?

SG: The new building lends a much more legitimate feel to the Arlington campus and, by proxy, the MBA program. The old building was converted from an old department store, and you could tell it was not designed for classrooms, a library, etc.

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Arlington Briefs

Arlington Vision Town Hall with GMU President Dr. Cabrera

Scott Green is a Mason MBA candidate who is set to graduate this spring. He has been a member of the Jackson Cohort and taken courses on the Arlington campus since 2010.

A University of Richmond alumnus, Green currently lives in Arlington, Va. with his wife.

He can be found after class enjoying a beer and watching his beloved Boston Red Sox or other New England sports teams.

Q: Why did you choose Mason for you MBA? A: I believe it offers the best value of the DC-area MBA programs, especially for Virginia residents, which I am. Also, the class schedule fits nicely with my work schedule, and the Arlington campus is a short walk or drive from my apartment.

Feb. 18, 2013

The town hall has been moved from Monday and is now scheduled on Tuesday, Feb. 19 at 9 a.m. on the Arlington Campus in Founders Hall, Room 113.

This event is a chance to hear from President Dr. Cabrera and to share your perspective on the Mason Vision.

Other town hall dates and times can be found on the Mason events page. Students are highly encouraged to attend and provide feedback on Mason’s draft vision document at http://vision.gmu. edu/.

Featured Event: Steve Fuller, Vision Series (COURTESY OF SCOTT GREEN)

Scott Green standing in front of the Kuala Lumpur Tower in the federal capital of Malaysia on his MBA global residency trip to Singapore.

Q: How do you plan to use your MBA? A: I plan to use my MBA to move up in the ranks of management but also from operations into finance. I’m taking finance courses at GMU and plan on tackling the Series 7 and CFA [level] 1 exams this summer.

Q: Where was your MBA global residency and describe it?

A: Singapore and Malaysia—I’d never been to Asia so it was great to see that side of the world for the first time. We visited several large companies, and it was interesting to see how their approaches to work differ from ours.

Q: What is your most memorable moment from the MBA program?

A: Discovering mashed potato-dispensing Slurpee machines at 7-11 in Singapore while on our global residency. I’ve heard they’ve come stateside but have yet to see one here.

Q: What electives have been the most interesting?

A: A course I’m taking now—Leadership—is

very interesting. Each week we are visited by a different CEO of a local company who shares his/her insight on leadership traits and how they’ve been able to succeed in the business world.

Q: What professor would you enjoy taking another class from?

A: John Jones. He’s lived in countries all over the world working for the State Department and always has great stories to tell about the side of diplomacy you don’t normally get to hear about on the news.

Q: What’s the best part about the Arlington campus?

A: In addition to all the bars and restaurants in the area (for networking and team building exercises), I really like the amount of space the new building provides. It’s never too difficult to find a quiet place to study or meet for a group project.

EVAN STANCIL ARLINGTON EDITOR

The Shape of the Future Washington Area Economy: Opportunities and Challenges presented by Steve Fuller, University Professor and Schar Faculty Chair; Director, Center for Regional Analysis will be presented on Monday Feb. 18 at 7:15 p.m. at the Arlington Campus This event attempts to answer the question of whether the Washington metropolitan area will become a global business center similar to London and Tokyo or will it remain a federally dominated economy expanding and contracting with changes in budget and policy?

The local area economy is facing a sea change--accelerating federal spending that fueled the region’s private sector expansion over the past thirty years, has slowed dramatically and is likely to decline in coming years.

Topics will include identifying competitive drivers for the region’s economy and establishing the critical conditions for success to include housing the region’s future workforce and providing the infrastructure required.

EVAN STANCIL ARLINGTON EDITOR

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Feb. 18, 2013

News

Broadside

Education Meets Opportunity at Career Fair National employers will look for potential candidates

All Mason students and alumni will have the chance to network with dozens of employers, thanks to the upcoming career fair hosted

by University Career Services.

The fair will be held on Feb. 20 and 21 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. in Dewberry Hall of the Johnson Center. A wide variety of local, national and international employers—from AOL to The Institute of World Politics—will comprise the 180 employers in attendance at the fair. There are not going to be employers from just one particular sector; all majors from all schools are welcome to attend.

There will, however, be certain employers that students may be particularly interested in. Career Fair Manager Bernadette Davey highlighted several companies from different fields that may be appealing to students.

ISOM Global Strategies is a company that provides full-service marketing, communication and management services for government, corporate and commercial clients.

Internships and part-time openings are available for anyone interested in event planning, graphic design, web development, project management or communication.

For information technology or engineering students, Palantir Technologies has a variety of positions available. The company was named one of the Top 50 Most Innovative Companies in 2012 and has footings in the intelligence, defense and law enforcement communities.

Another technology-related sponsor at the career fair will be OPIS, the world’s most comprehensive source for petroleum pricing and news information. “They are looking for every-

Your personal pitch is how you will introduce yourself to employers. Make sure to incllude your name, interest in the organization, qualifications and a question for the employer.

Saskia Clay-Rooks, Career Service’s assistant director of industry advising and employer development

thing from software developers, project managers to testers and designers,” Davey said.

If students want to get involved with the non -profit sector, then looking into an internship with USO World Headquarters may be their next move. The organization provides welfare and morale services to the nation’s men and women in uniform and is looking for interns in the areas of communication, sales, marketing, management and accounting.

Students looking to pursue a career in events management or tourism may want to speak with representatives from PSAV Presentation Services. Some of this company’s areas of focus include event technology services in hotel, resort, and conference center industries. They have openings for technical coordinators, sales managers and management positions.

University Career Services puts on this event during both the spring and fall semesters. For each of the past six career fairs, at least 2,500 students have taken advantage of this rare opportunity to connect with Mason graduates and employers all at once.

According to Raechel Hester, assistant di-

rector of industry advising and employer development for University Career Services, there are numerous reasons why Mason students are so attractive to these companies.

Some of these include: previous work experiences from part-time jobs or military experience; the ability of Mason students to effectively communicate their values to the respective companies; students’ problem-solving and critical thinking skills and the school’s proximity to the nation’s capital.

In order to properly prepare for the event, there are a few key steps that students must take, according to University Career Service’s assistant director of industry advising and employer development Saskia Clay-Rooks.

The first thing to do is review the list of employers that will be in attendance at the fair and to determine the ones that are most appealing. This includes conducting research on the company’s location, mission, primary services or product and positions for which they are recruiting. “Employers really don’t like to be asked, ‘What does your company do?’ ClayRooks said.

Once that is determined, the next step is

to work on the two fundamental marketing materials: the résumé and the 30-second personal pitch. “Your personal pitch is how you will introduce yourself to the employers. Make sure to include your name, interest in the organization, qualifications and a question for the employer,” Clay-Rooks added. After all of those steps have been completed, the last thing on the list is to dress the part. Suits are recommended for both men and women.

With these few tips, students will be well prepared to make an impression at the career fair.

Besides hosting fairs twice a year, University Career Services has other programs to help Mason students succeed in their future careers. Some of these include résumé building workshops, interview practice sessions and career education programs. They will hold a résumé clinic on Feb. 18 and Feb. 19 both in Johnson Center room 116. For more information, visit careers.gmu.edu.

JESSICA SMITH STAFF WRITER

Broadside

News

Feb. 18, 2013

9

Behind the desk: How to ace the interview I’ve interviewed numerous college students and recent college graduates for internships and employment opportunities in both clinical and business capacities.

The interview is a way to choose between qualified candidates. While making it to the interview stage is important, keep in mind that your actions before, during, and after the interview make all the difference.

Here are 10 interview tips to give you an edge in the interview.

DOMINO’S GMU STUDENT DEALS Spec #1 One Large 1 Topping Pizza for $7.99 plus tax & delivery

1 2 3 4 5 6

Do your research. Spend time reading the company’s website and/or informational materials. Think about how your skills and experience will contribute to the company.

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Be prepared for behavioral and situational questions.

Questions that begin, “Name a time when you…,” and “What would you do in this situation…,” enable employers to see beyond your resume.

8 9 10

Don’t complain about past jobs or employers. These comments negatively impact your perceived ability to be a team member. At the end of the interview close strong and…

ONE LARGE 1 TOPPING PIZZA WITH STUFFED CHEESYBREAD

Confirm that you want the job. Close with an affirmation such as, “After speaking with you Ms. Interviewer, I believe that this position would be a great fit.”

(Additional toppings $1 each / Deep Dish $1 more)

Approach with the right attitude. Be positive and enthusiastic.

The first minutes are often the most decisive.

Have 3 questions prepared. This shows interest in the position and preparation for the interview. Be specific; ask about a company initiative or project currently underway.

Review the entire posting/advertisement. Nothing makes you look more unprepared than asking questions that have already been answered in the posting.

Dress up. If you know the dress code of the company, dress one level up. When in doubt, wear a suit. This will make you more confident.

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Stand out in a group interview. This interview style allows employers to assess the candidate with the strongest presentation, communication, and leadership skills.

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News

Feb. 18, 2013

@MasonBroadside

Broadside

LGBT community comments on satisfaction at Mason

Lesbian, gay, bisexual give Mason 7.5 rating where as transsexual give 4.5

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On Jan. 29, President Angel Cabrera tweeted that satisfaction ratings for the LGBT community on campus were 7.5 for “LGB” and 4.5 for “T”.

Cabrera was able to glean this rating from his visit to the Office of LGBTQ Resources, where he asked students to give Mason a generalized rating out of 10 based on their satisfaction with its LGBTQ policies and their overall experience with their fellow students and faculty.

For lesbian, gay and bisexual students, the rating was relatively high.

According to the Campus Climate Index, a national listing of LGBTQ-friendly colleges and universities, Mason scored a 4/5 based on elements such as LGBT academic life, student life, campus safety and counseling and health.

Two areas in which Mason scored poorly were LGBT policy inclusion and housing and residence life. Ric Chollar, Associate Director of the Office of LGBTQ Resources, says the problem starts higher up.

“Being in the state of Virginia, and being a public institution, the restrictions on LGBTQ folks in Virginia apply to us as well.”

According to Chollar, there is currently no protection for transgender and gender variant students and faculty from discrimination; staff could potentially be fired for being transgender, or students could be denied housing, and there would be no recourse.

On Feb. 12, a subcommittee in the Virginia Senate tabled a bill to provide protections for LGBT people in the workplace, effectively killing it for the remainder of this session despite support from thousands of Virginians.

“The administration is hesitant to build into policy anything that the state sees as going against the state’s conservative views,” Chollar said.

Though Mason is seen to be a progressive institution, there are currently no domestic partner benefits or policies regarding gender neutral housing.

That, however, is subject to change.

“We’ve got about 90 recommendations that we’re going to be asking different departments and the top administration to put into place to make this an even better campus,” Chollar said.

Amongst these 90 recommendations is a request for more single stall bathrooms for use by gender variant students and faculty.

At present, transgender and gender variant students have the most trouble finding a safe environment in which to simply be themselves.

Ric Chollar and his office are working towards educating faculty, staff and students about transgender students and LGBT issues in the form of Safe Zone training programs and public speakers.

Amena Johnson, the program coordinator for the LGBTQ Resources office, explains that the office collaborates regularly with other offices on campus to not only spread the word for LGBTQ tolerance, but also for tolerance and acceptance of all demographics here at Mason.

“Our office works very closely with Woman and Gender Studies and the Office of Diversity, and they are very open to the LGBTQ cause.”

The general attitude in the office was one of Patriot pride; students and faculty alike have reported that Mason’s on-campus climate is one of openness and tolerance.

Despite Virginia’s conservative policies, President Angel Cabrera and his staff are making every effort to provide a safe and accepting environment for all students to come and learn, while also taking advantage of all the opportunities that Mason has to offer.

However, there is always room for improvement; gender neutral housing, bathrooms, and sensitivity training are sorely needed to improve the transgender satisfaction rating.

Despite this, it is good to keep in mind that activism starts at the grassroots level; much like the Stonewall riots in the late 1960s that fueled a national movement for LGBTQ rights, the greatest form of revolution is simply standing your ground and being proud of who you are.

In the words of comedian Margaret Cho, “for [women, people of color and LGBTQ people] to have self-esteem is truly an act of revolution. And our revolution is long-overdue.”

NATHAN AMMONS STAFF WRITER

Broadside

News

Feb. 18, 2013

(COURTESY OF RACHEL BRUNS)

Global Education offers new international study programs A university heavily involved in politics and global affairs, Mason boasts a far-reaching study abroad program that lets students choose from a list of 45 different sites around the world. From summer and winter break programs to semester-long offerings and even internships abroad, there is truly something for everyone, regardless of whether one is looking to earn credit for a major, gain work experience or simply explore the unknown.

This year alone, the Center for Global Education is offering nine brand-new programs, including two intensive language study programs (Italian in Bologna and Arabic in Morocco), an internship in Rabat, psychology in Cyprus, Arab Spring at Oxford and a British Invasion music course in England, among others.

The CGE uses a variety of methods to develop new study abroad programs. Not only do they receive proposals from faculty members hoping to look at a question or an area of study in-depth, but they also monitor the student body to see if there is any interest in a certain program, said CGE General Manager Marie Alice Arnold.

Paige Impink, a junior double-majoring in English and communications, traveled to Granada last summer for a four-week language intensive program in Spanish; Rachel Bruns, a senior global affairs major with a concentration in global economy and management, went on the Great Cities program during winter break, which included trips to Berlin, Budapest, Belgrade and Sarajevo; and Megan O’Dell, a senior global affairs major concentrating in global governance, went to Bordeaux to study French this past winter.

Impink was able to earn six credits toward her Spanish minor by participating in a class

that met for five hours every day.

“The classes were small, about ten people each,” she said. “So it was easy to get to know other people, and since it was an international school, we could only talk to each other in Spanish, which was good practice. It was nice to meet other students with a common interest in Spanish.”

In addition to the regularly scheduled classes, Impink and her new friends went on excursions to various places; one weekend, they visited Morocco and Madrid. O’Dell also emphasized the intensity of study abroad programs.

“We had to cram an entire semester’s worth of work into the two-week time span [of the trip],” she said. “Monday to Friday, we had French class from 9 a.m. to noon at L’Alliance Francais [a school to teach French to international students]. After our lunch break, we would either return to have an afternoon class session or go on excursions of the city. We toured the city, visited several museums, were educated about wine tasting and even took a French cooking class.”

During her tour of Central and Eastern Europe, Bruns learned a lot about the social and political climate of that region of the world, discovering that many countries, such as Serbia and Bosnia, still struggle with post-communist strife. In this way, studying in a foreign country can provide indispensable insight into the nature of contemporary society.

“It’s not possible for me to pick one day or city that was the highlight of my trip,” Bruns said. “The entire experience of ‘being there’ made it all worth it. In the classroom, you can’t walk into the cells of a Stassi prison, touch the wall of the Srebrenica memorial, stand next

11

Senior global affairs major Rachel Bruns travelled to Berlin, Budapest, Belgrad and Sarajevo during winter break as part of the Great Cities program. The Center for Global Education is featuring new programs in Cyprus, Oxford, Morocco and Bologna. to the oldest crown jewels of Europe… tread on the harrowed grounds of a concentration camp, be in the same place and space as the history before us.”

Perhaps the most frequently cited concern of students who choose not to do study abroad at Mason is the financial burden, as most of these trips cost thousands of dollars in tuition, not to mention the expenses of living overseas. However, as Arnold points out, all study abroad programs are eligible for financial aid.

Every individual’s need is different.

“Financially, I knew this would be tough so I saved for several months and so did my parents,” O’Dell said. “We couldn’t get financial aid for this, but we worked hard to save enough money.”

On the other hand, Impink received scholarships for studying during both the fall and the spring semesters, so cost was not a huge issue for her.

“There are millions of ways [to manage the financial aspect of studying abroad],” she said.

“The Center for Global Education is good at helping students meet their financial needs.”

All three students agree that studying abroad is a crucial element of college education and encourage other students to participate in at least one program before graduating.

“Whether you have been abroad before or not, whether you are a freshman or a senior there will always be positive experiences that you will gain [from studying abroad],” O’Dell said. “Experiencing another culture will help you understand other people and yourself. It will not only broaden your horizons in regards to conceptualizing other cultures, but it will help you gain a deeper understanding of your own culture as well.”

AMY WOOLSEY STAFF WRITER

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Feb. 18, 2013

News

Broadside

Journalist Kevin Sites talks wars, lives of soldiers, PTSD “War’s most cunning trick, was the war it seeded in me,” said Kevin Sites, a noted war journalist to students during a recent guest lecture.

The author of In the Hot Zone and, most recently, The Things They Cannot Say, Sites has spent ten years of a twenty-year journalism career in warzones.

What inspired Sites to write his most recent book was the simple concept of storytelling that he said was a process of healing. But Sites’ discussion did not focus solely on his most recent publication. Instead, the conversation was guided towards the moral ambiguity surrounding journalism and, more specifically, journalism in warzones.

While not a soldier himself, Sites faced the same issues many soldiers face today. “Was I a bad person, or just that way in war?” he asked himself. What it all boiled down to was something called “moral injury”.

When the definition of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) did not fit his symptoms.

“It wasn’t what I witnessed that was haunt(JENNY KRASHIN/BROADSIDE) ing me; it was the guilt over walking out,” Sites Journalist, author Kevin Sites covered war for the said. past ten years . He has published two books, The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) de-

most recently “The Things They Cannot Say.”

scribes moral injury, in the context of war, as a construct that describes extreme and unprecedented life experience including the harmful aftermath of exposure to such events.

Meaning that, whether direct or indirect, witnessing or participating in acts that transgress, or go against, a person’s moral codes can result in highly aversive and haunting states of inner conflict and turmoil.

The studies for moral injury are relatively new and widely unknown, as opposed to PTSD. Sites described the feeling of moral injury as carrying around guilt and self-hate and an enormous burden that was hard to shake off. He experienced insomnia and reoccurring thoughts of events in which he had left a man who was later murdered.

What both Kevin Sites and the VA agree on is that talking about what transpired – in a nonclinical setting – is a beneficial treatment.

Within simply talking about events, it is possible to find self-forgiveness, which is apart of the VA’s Impact of Killing in War (IOK) program. Sites also stated that moral injury is made up of two forms of guilt: killing and surviving.

Kevin Sites’ discussion concluded with the

idea that our definition of war should be reworked to focus on the civil destruction and collateral damage as opposed to combat.

“Combatants become a part of collateral damage, too,” Sites said.

He also stated that every time a soldier pulls the trigger, they are killing a piece of their soul.

It is woven into their job and in their memory. But what was most striking about his conclusion was the idea that we, as Americans, must be forgiven just as much as the soldiers must forgive themselves.

“Not only do we have to welcome these hundreds of thousands of troops back into peace time society, we have to take some of the responsibility for what they did. We sent them to war. It’s not necessarily themselves that have to be forgiven; we have to be forgiven as well.”

If the simple act of walking away can have such an effect on a journalist, one can only imagine the daily struggle thousands of veterans now face.

CHRISTINE FLORENCE STAFF WRITER

AE Green updates sustainability with new initiatives

Healthy vending machines, water bottle filling stations now available Auxiliary Enterprises (AE), the umbrella group for departments such as Parking & Transportation and University Services at Mason, has recently released its AE Green Second Quarter Update, which details the practices Mason is implementing to have a more sustainable campus environment.

A few of the more immediate changes include: Elkay water bottle filling stations, 2bU Healthy Vending Machines, exterior recycling bins and charging stations.

The Elkay water bottle filling stations are currently installed in the JC only, but will be moving to the HUB, Skyline, Sub I, the RAC and the Field House.

“This is my second time using it. I love it. It only takes one hand, which makes it 100 percent better, quicker and easier,” senior Paul Laudiero said.

For many, it was the first time using the water bottle filling station.

“That’s incredible. It’s cleaner than using water fountains. I think it should keep people from buying so many plastic bottles, and it saves water too because the regular water fountain is always a hassle and sprays wasted water all over the place,” sophomore Krystin Thorson said.

The general consensus is that the Elkay station is a good idea.

“I didn’t realize this was new – I used it a lot back at NOVA as well. I think it’s very handy.

It helps me because I constantly reuse my water bottle. It’s easier,” junior Sidney Ng. As far as the 2bU Healthy Vending Machine goes, some students are definitely interested in using it.

“I’m really tempted to buy something for my class. I’m super excited because I sometimes need a fast snack, but I don’t like getting things that are bad for me. These snacks are organic and the machine even has gluten-free options,” Thorson said.

However, fewer students seemed to know about the 2bU Vending Machine.

“I haven’t seen the machine but it sounds kind of cool. I didn’t even know it existed actually. It’d be nice if they had more of them,” sophomore Brittany Owen said.

The views on the 2bU Machine were also more varied than the filling station.

“I don’t really care about healthy snacks.

I’m a college student – anything cheap and fattening is good for me,” Ng said.

Though Mason is making leaps and bounds in regards to sustainability, there is still more to be done in order to have a more environmentally friendly campus.

“I think Mason is definitely on the right track. I love the new recycling bins in the

dorms. I would personally love to see some kind of initiative to get people to stop littering on campus. When I go jogging, the amount of junk I see in the park is disgusting. This poses a threat to wildlife,” Owen said.

Freshman Colin Nackerman, member of the Environmental Action Group’s (EAG) Steering Committee, has a few ideas on how Mason can do better.

“There are three vital approaches we can take to lessen our impact on our natural environment. Firstly, we must invest in renewable energies, which we are currently beginning to do through student-initiated projects using the Patriot Green Fund,” Nackerman said.

The Patriot Green Fund is one of the achievements of EAG. The Fund is granted $100,000 a year for sustainable-related infrastructure projects.

“Second, I think it is important as a university to pride ourselves in our sustainability practices and publicize our achievements.

This will help spread awareness and get students motivated to participate,” Nackerman said.

Any student, teacher or faculty member can apply to receive funding from The Patriot Green Fund. One of the current projects is working to build solar-powered picnic tables for those who want to work outside, but need

chargers for their laptops or cell phones.

Nackerman views outside influence on Mason to be the biggest issue keeping the campus from being as sustainable as possible.

“We need to divest from corporations which have been providing our public university with immense amounts of money and influence. With funding coming from sources that strongly oppose and disagree with environmental causes, it is vital we consider the influence they potentially hold. If fossil fuel energy is the largest source of income for these contributing parties, they will not likely continue to fund a university that spreads environmental awareness,” Nackerman said.

The best way to build a sustainable campus environment for further generations to enjoy is to get the students involved.

“The students should have the greatest influence on our administration and its direction. And, it is obvious with the amount of support shown that our generation is asking for a more sustainable university and world,” Nackerman said.

HANNA KRAS STAFF WRITER

Broadside

LifestyLe

Feb. 18, 2013

13

Majesty pageant puts Mason’s most spirited on display

(AMY ROSE/BROADSIDE)

(JENNY KRASHIN/BROADSIDE)

(Left) Mason Majesty’s 2013 contestants line up for a group photo during the pageant. (Right) Vianney Torres is crowned Mason Majesty at the 2013 Homecoming Game. She is the first Latina, off-campus student to receive the crown.

Who exudes Mason spirit? Who bleeds green and gold? Who is Mason’s majesty for 2013?

These questions were answered at Saturday’s homecoming game when Mason Majesty was crowned.

Vianney Torres, a senior who was sponsored by the Catholic Campus Ministry, was named as Mason’s Majesty for 2013.

Nine other Mason students, who are all a part of student organizations, ran in the competition and showed off their talents in the Mason Majesty pageant.

“There has never been a lady, Latina, off-campus student to wear the Mason Majesty crown. What is that about?!” said Torres, who is also a member of 12 extracurricular student organizations and volunteer projects. “So, what better way to spice things up a bit and earn that sparkle and shine for all my chicas,

Braddock traffic haters and Jesus lovers, than to bring some enthusiasm, charm and humor to this year’s homecoming pageant.”

As Mason’s new majesty, Torres promises to be Mason’s number one fan.

“I would strut my green ‘n gold sparkle everywhere I went,” Torres said. “I would recruit an army of current 8th graders to become future Patriots while student teaching. At games, not only will I be the loudest fan in the stands, but also I would cheer my lungs out not only in English but in Spanish too -- in two languages for Mason Nation!”

The other competitors were Erika Nielson, Rachel Grimesey, Montrel Tennessee, Sarah Custer, David Dorsey, Olivia Keevan Mershon, Natasha Constantine, Chris Sallarulo and Joseph Quarcoo.

“So what better way to spice things up a bit and earn that sparkle and shine for all my chicas, Braddock traffic haters, and Jesus lovers, than to bring some enthusiasm, charm and humor to this year’s homecoming pageant.”

Vianney Torres, 2013 Mason Majesty

Each contestant was on a mission to represent Mason in the best light, and they all have made outstanding contributions to campus life via their involvement in so many student organizations.

“In addition to being involved in multiple clubs and organizations, I have contributed to enhancing the Mason community atmosphere by managing the Men’s Basketball Team my freshman year,” stated Olivia Keevan Mershon in her Patriot’s Activities Council biography for the Mason Majesty competition.

“I attended every practice and game and made an effort to encourage family, friends, neighbors, and students to come out and support our teams,” Mershon said.

“I have been very involved on campus during my time here, but one of my biggest achievements

was speaking before the Board of Visitors, as a Patriot Leader, to help bring a polling place to Mason,” Quarcoo said. “I have also worked with Student Government on a number of initiatives, my favorite being the Mason Dream Act.” The contestants were able to show off how school-spirited they are at the Mason Majesty pageant, which was on Feb. 11.

Along with strutting their stuff in the formal wear and talent categories, they also had to have their wits about them when it came to Mason trivia.

After the pageant, voting was open to Mason students and Mason chose who would be their Mason Majesty for 2013.

RYAN WEISSER LIFESTYLE EDITOR

14

Lifestyle

Feb. 18, 2013

Broadside

HOMECOMING 2013:

Mason’s 2013 Homecoming festivities swept across campus last week. Students wore their favorite Mason gear while Southside and Skyline painted their windows to spread school spirit. Events throughout the week all lead up to the weekend’s “Block Party” and basketball game, followed by a fireworks show.

(AMY ROSE/BROADSIDE)

(AMY ROSE/BROADSIDE)

(JENNY KRASHIN/BROADSIDE)

(STEPHEN KLINE/BROADSIDE)

SUMMER 2013 STUDY TOURS

LANGUAGES

INTERNSHIPS

Argentina Business in Beijing Tourism in Costa Rica and Nicaragua Brazil England Psychology in Cyprus China Human Development in Costa Rica Colombia British Popular Music in the UK Morocco Arab Spring at Oxford University Israel Summer at King's College, London Palestine Indian Studies in Hyderabad, India Irish Studies at Galway, Ireland Music in Assisi, Italy Italian Culture in Milan Summer at the American University, Rome Peacebuilding in the Philippines Summer at Stellenbosch University, South Africa

Tuesday

February 26 11am - 4pm Dewberry Hall (JC) Center for GLOBAL EDUCATION

Canada France Italy Japan Morocco China Spain Turkey

Johnson Center, Room 235 Phone 703-993-2154 Fax 703-993-2153 Email cge@gmu.edu

Broadside

Lifestyle

Feb. 18, 2013

15

(JENNY KRASHIN/BROADSIDE)

(JENNY KRASHIN/BROADSIDE)

(JENNY KRASHIN/BROADSIDE)

(STEPHEN KLINE/BROADSIDE)

(STEPHEN KLINE/BROADSIDE)

16

Lifestyle

Feb. 18, 2013

Broadside

Mason students make their own Harlem Shake video

Nearly 200 people showed up at Southside on Feb. 17 wearing giant penis and banana costumes, gorilla suits and one guy was even wearing a floppy rubber horse mask.

The list of outrageous and quirky costumes goes on and on, but why are these Mason students running around campus in bright spandex, neon bathing suits and panda costumes?

Many have heard of “The Harlem Shake,” a YouTube sensation gone viral, and remakes and parodies of the video are now popping up.

Mason students Ryan Glass and Vince Gomes decided to bring “The Harlem Shake” home to Mason.

“The videos are going viral, so why not take advantage of the opportunity to make a video like this?” said Ryan Glass, the producer and director of the video.

The video was shot at four locations on campus – outside Southside, on the spiral

staircase of the JC, the George Mason statue and a Lecture Hall classroom.

And as many could imagine, filming the remake was an unexpected treat for Mason’s students and visitors.

“Oh yeah, I definitely think this will go viral – all the [Harlem Shake] versions do,” said freshman Orshi Buzas, who was watching the video being filmed outside Southside.

The video is posted on Glass’s YouTube channel, “wakeuptoryan,” which also features the parkour video of Mason freshman Omar Zaki, which went viral in just a week.

“I’m anticipating 50,000 views by the end of the week,” said Gomes, who came up with the ambitious idea to get hundreds of Mason students together to create “The Harlem Shake.”

RYAN WEISSER LIFESTYLE EDITOR

(MICHAEL CASHELL/BROADSIDE)

Shoff Promotions Sunday, Sports Card & Comic Book Show February 24 Featuring

Gold, Silver, Bronze and Modern Age Comic Books

Sports Cards & memorabilia

Baseball, Football, Hockey & Basketball Non-Sports cards from the 1880’s to present Hobby Supplies

10:00am to 3:30pm Tyson’s Corner Virginia Crowne Plaza ShoffPromotions.com

Admission: $3 for General Public $1 for Students with School ID & Flyer

LifestyLe

Broadside

Feb. 18, 2013

17

Emerald Green: Pantone color of the year Goodbye Aztec prints, Ed Hardy wear and big, bold shirts that say, “COOL STORY BRO.” Your existences have caused fatal abomination and condemnation to style and design. I hope you all find your ways to the sewers. The fashion guardians have come to open the gates of heaven to revolutionize class, posh and pizzaz in this joint.

Come on now Mason, let’s get on with style and fashion, please.

Pantone, the leading company of color, has introduced Emerald Green as the “2013 Color of the Year.” This shade of green is particularly enticing, bold, edgy and posh. It is very mysterious yet captivating to the eyes.

This hue of green, of course, is irrelevant when paired with some really dull jean pants or perhaps hurtful to the eyes when matched with an equally fierce red. Styling the color is very important, most especially when the color is striking and vivid. Working around it can be very tricky. Daring colors, such as emerald green, are typically utilized in gowns and cocktail dresses because of the explosive nature of their hues. They are solid shades of color that stand alone and look more sophisticated when they are styled very minimally. Adding more colors, patterns, or textures to this particular hue can ruin your attire and turn your night into a disaster.

“The key to pulling off emerald is to not let it overcompensate your outfit,” said Kathleen Pine, Vice President of GMU’s

(PANTONE)

Fashion Society. “The purpose is to let it pop. Therefore, wearing only one or two emerald pieces is just enough to make heads turn.”

Don’t worry young wizard; it never hurts to experiment. If you really want to jazz up your style, try and combine some intense, emerald green to your ensemble. There are a lot of

ways to integrate this chic color to your everyday shirt-pantsboots routine. Some of us Patriots are in fact, on with the trend.

I have spotted a couple of students on campus showcasing the “2013 Color of the Year” in rather pretty and effortless ways.

Mykee Chanchu, senior Biology major from Manila, Philippines, wore a brown plaid shirt underneath a gray textured hoodie with his pair of emerald green pants from Topman. He accessorized his outfit with a watch from Fossil and a white beaded bracelet. His choice of emerald green pants completes and defines the whole outfit—very casual and cute.

Catherine Campbell, freshman from Sterling, Va. studying integrative studies, combated a gloomy Thursday by gearing up, cozy and warm in her neon green hat, emerald green hoodie and shoes. She looked very comfortable and up-to-date with her cute flats.

Bold colors, like emerald green, are very classic and timeless. They make a statement and really speak on behalf of your personality and emotions. Incorporating these sophisticated and daring colors can really spice up your wardrobe and even expose that inner tiger, dragon or unicorn in you. Don’t be scared to try something unknown because if you don’t try it now, you will never know.

TRICIA MARCAIDA STAFF WRITER

After emerald was named Pantone’s “2013 Color of the Year”, Mason students were spotted on-campus representing their school

(TRICIA MARCAIDA/BROADSIDE)

FREE TICKETS FOR MASON STUDENTS! SEE HOW THEY RUN February 21-23 at 8 p.m.

February 23-24 at 2 p.m. $12 adu., $8 stu./sen. TS 1 Free Ticket per ID avail. NOW

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LifestyLe

feb. 18, 2013

Mason Makes Careers

Confessed at Mason

Every week, Broadside features a student or alumnus with a great internship or job to highlight the opportunities and potential earning a degree at Mason offers NAME: Steve Gladis GRADUATION DATE: 1985 MA; 1991 Ph.D. DEGREE: Ph.D. Education, Curriculum and Instruction; M.A. Professional Writing and Editing CURRENT JOB: President and CEO of Steve Gladis Leadership Partners

(PHOTO COURTESY OF STEVE GLADIS)

What are some of your day-to-day responsibilities?

Executive Coaching, Leadership Training and Development, as well as research and writing of leadership books.

How did your degree and/or classes at Mason help you land the job?

The writing and editing have been invaluable and the PhD taught me how to research…all of which has been of great value to me in so many ways.

What is the best part of your job?

Helping people discover their potential. When a client has a big A-HA moment, it’s more than rewarding. Also, when you hold a copy of a new book that you wrote (gave birth to after a year or more of toil and sweat) it’s pretty sweet.

What is the most challenging part of your job?

Right now, keeping up with requests for business services. I’m very busy and I love that.

What advice would you offer to anyone trying to go into a similar field?

If you like helping people and are willing to get an education, I don’t think there’s more fun or reward than what I do.

MELANIE MILES ASST. LIFESTYLE EDITOR

Broadside

Whether born out of boredom or ingenuity, Mason students were provided with two new procrastination tools this week.

Facebook was overwhelmed by two groups that centered on students anonymously confessing experiences, relationships and feelings about their time at Mason.

“GMU Confessions” and “GMU Crushes” have earned 3,054 and 1,053 likes respectively as of publication time, impressive numbers for groups that were both founded this month.

To provide some comparison, Broadside’s Facebook page sports a mere 568 and Student Government with 482. The only other comparable page is Mason’s Office of Student Involvement with 1,605 likes, and that page was created in 2010.

But what is it about these pages that have made them so popular with Mason students?

The answer to that question can be found in the sentiment discussed by the two gentlemen in front of me in line at La Pat earlier this week: “It’s only a matter of time until one of these is about me,” says the first boy, taller and blonder than the other, as he stares at his phone.

“Maybe. But c’mon, most of them are probably either made up or sent in by their friends,” says the second boy, shorter with brown hair.

“Yeah, but it’d be nice,” says the taller boy before returning his phone to the pocket of his jeans.

Taller boy is right. Seeing someone anonymously post something about you to a public page is, in theory, really great. I wouldn’t know, because even after reading every single post on both pages, none of them have been about me. But I can imagine a world in which someone would do such a thing, and in said world, things are pretty awesome.

These pages have become breeding grounds for topics ranging from heated discussions about discrimination and prejudice to threads of support and encouragement to fellow students. But one thing all the posts have in common is that they serve to bring attention to the author, despite the varying degrees of anonymity.

The pages have provided an avenue for over sharing. Then we can watch, as it becomes the topic of someone else’s discussion. We

Broadside wants you.

proceed to conduct our own psychology experiment on how our secrets make other people feel, and how other people’s reactions make us feel.

We want to feel needed, wanted or important, or maybe all of the above. That’s inherently human. So it’s no surprise that groups that center on the sharing of personal secrets flourish; while groups that focus on the tedious exposition of events and groups struggle to measure up.

Despite all the positivity found in self-reflection that such pages can provide, it also does an excellent job of representing the portion of chronic stupidity that exists everywhere. Some posts seriously make me question the sheer sanity of some individuals.

Adopting shorter brown haired boy’s perspective makes it all a little easier: there are those individuals who purposely make up ridiculous confessions to increase their chances of attracting the attention of others.

But that is what it is all about: attention. We want to see people talk about us, compliment us and tell us what we want to hear.

Personally, I have not submitted anything to either page, mostly because I’d like to think I have surrounded myself with individuals who will tell me how great my hair, regardless of how far from the truth that may be.

At the end of the day, maybe shorter brunette boy is right. These popular pages are simply sustained through webs of friends posting about each other or bored individuals looking to stir the pot.

Two things are for certain. First, despite their initial popularity, these pages have yet to cement themselves as staples of Mason student life. Second, they are clear evidence of how unavoidably self-centric we all really are.

Aaron Locke Managing Editor

Email EIC@BroadsideOnline.com for information on how you can write for Broadside.

LifestyLe

Broadside

(STEPHEN KLINE/BROADSIDE)

Mason Players choose WWIIera play for its quirky plot This semester, the Mason Players are bringing an engagingly quirky play to campus.

The play, “See How They Run” by Phillip King, is a British farce taking place entirely within one room – the living room of Penelope Toop and her husband, Reverend Lionel Toop.

Written and set in the 1940s, “See How They Run” takes place just after World War II, giving it a time-frame interesting to both the actors and their audience.

Even the simple location of the play is rich in culture, taking place in a humble town by the name of Mertoncum-Middlewick, a now rather vintage way of addressing a location.

The characters are in constant fear of Nazi invasion, though that doesn’t mean the play is approached in a fearful manner.

Most of the play’s scenes are spent in hilarious confusion.

The play was chosen through the usual process the Mason Players use a tradition in which students submit the play they would be interested in performing in for future semesters.

The list of reasons why each play would be suitable is then read and voted on by students, then finally voted on by the faculty members.

“The reason I proposed it is because it has a different pace than most plays,”

said Tristan Griffin, a senior here at Mason who is serving as the director of the show. “It’s a farce play, so it’s fast-paced. It’s a show full of mistaken identities, and it’s just going to be really funny.”

The cast of Mason Players for the show is a lively bunch of diverse characters, both in- and out-of-character, each bringing a unique stage personality to the overall performance.

“I’ve been having a great time with my character,” said Nerissa Hart, a sophomore theater major here at Mason. Playing the role of Sergeant Towers, Nerissa enters the scene into the third act, adding a heavy cockney accent into the ensuing identity chaos.

“I have never played a male in a full-on production before, so it’s been a great experience,” Hart said.

The play has been a good choice for other reasons as well.

“It’s good for all students to learn from. All of the different accents provide an opportunity for the students to practice their acting skills,” Tristan said.

After commenting on the sense of rhythm that is necessary to everyone in the play, despite it not being a musical, Tristan praised his cast and crew.

“I’m not used to working with such a large team, so it’s been a lot of fun so

far,” Tristan said.

Under Tristan’s direction, the cast engages in rhythmic warm-ups at the start of rehearsal.

The play was little known by the Mason Players at the start of the semester, but positive opinions have formed quickly.

“I hadn’t heard of this play initially, but some of my favorite plays are British farce. When I heard about ‘See How They Run,’ I got so excited. When I auditioned for the Spring shows, I secretly was auditioning specifically for this one,” Nerissa said. “I’m really excited to be working with this cast. I think we’re all pretty enthusiastic.”

People interested in British farce plays and those new to the genre are urged to come see the show.

“See How They Run” is sure to be a hilarious and culturally rich performance.

The show will be take place Feb. 21-23 at 8 p.m. and Feb. 23-24 at 2 p.m. in the Theater Space of the Performing Arts Building. Tickets are $10 for faculty and staff and $15 for General Admission. One free ticket is available for students with a Mason I.D. MELANIE MILES ASST. LIFESTYLE EDITOR

Feb. 18, 2013

Color Me Corporate

19

Everyone aimlessly sways waiting the holiday of the month, otherwise known in the corporate world as: They’re-Suckers-Constantly-Falling-For-Our-HalfBaked-Ideas Day. The commercialization and the capitalization on our souls is reaching an all time high…

Let’s take a look at an insignificantly large experiment: Orange and Black.

Red and Green.

Red and pink.

Green and more green.

What is the indescribable connection between these colors? More importantly, why is there a strong relationship between these colors and your emotions? You know, the thoughts and memories that cannot seem to escape your consciousness? So deeply rooted in you that you are unable to cease the firing of images.

So, maybe it was your first Halloween costume as a witch turned sexy witch 15 years later. Your favorite Christmas memory with Sparky, the family dog, when he ate all the burnt gingerbread cookies.

The Valentine’s Day when your husband of 10 years proposed oh so romantically. The day you were pinched so abusively that it resulted in Ms. Molly sending you both to the principal’s office in 2nd grade.

Whatever the memories and thoughts were, more likely than not for the average American, they were related to Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day and Saint Patrick’s Day, respectively.

These corporations use the power that color has on the human psyche to run game on us. They capitalize on our desire to fit into communities, they commercialize religious holidays and they fabricate stories that sound pretty enough to buy.

At the end of the day, they’re chuckling up in their corner offices making billions of dollars off of our soulful endeavors to become more human through celebration. They de-politicize the nature of the business and make it seem harmless to engage in these celebrations. And they are harmless… as long as we understand that their relentless scheme is to make change from our under-paid and overworked calloused fingers.

They exist to sell you an image, a memory, a thought that you are programmed to desire – just like we were sold the American dream, we bought it easily and now while we are attempting to awaken from this dream turned nightmare, the crooks of the corporate empire are frolicking giddily on their personal jets and private islands. At the end of the day, to constantly watch a world in which the citizens try to “go along to get along” by de-politicizing the innately political is silly and gruesome.

They brand what they deem is valuable and it becomes valuable.

So, we work endlessly to afford a lifestyle, a trend, we are told is valuable and worthy. In a world where minimum wage hasn’t increased in 7 years, at the opposite rate of escalating inflation. Unknowingly, we have become walking barcodes, imprisoned within our own valueless system. Living in a game of tug-of-war with exploitation on one end and alienation on the other. The game with no rules except for one: the bottom remain on the bottom.

Welcome to Capitalism.

Hala Numan Columnist

20

feb. 18, 2013

LifestyLe

Broadside

Edible Arrangments Custom Gift Form Name: Keith Landel Delivery Date: February 14th, 2013 Recipient: Ashley Keenan Note: Happy Valentines Day Ashley! Hope you’re doing well!

-Keith Custom Gift Description (please keep to 200 words): Hey, you guys probably get this a lot, but I’m looking for sort of a heart shaped arrangement, maybe made out of strawberries. And if across the front of it if you could write in blue berries, “I love you.” And I wanted to know, if down the middle of the heart, you could just break it in half, so it looks cracked open.

And if you guys could use pomegranate seeds to come out of the break, to sort of look like blood? Would that be possible?

(PHOTOS COURTESY OF TRYST COFFEEHOUSE, BAR AND LOUNGE)

D.C.’s Tryst coffeehouse offers a comfy spot to relax and rejuvenate away from campus.

Kick back at D.C. coffeehouse, Tryst After a harsh Sunday morning workout, my body was begging me to find a place in which to rest and rejuvenate.

However, finding anywhere in D.C. that is not packed on a Sunday morning is a workout in itself.

As my boyfriend and I perused the selection of restaurants, cafes and food trucks along the length of Adams Morgan, my quads were screaming for relief and my mind was reeling for caffeine.

That’s when my eyes caught a sight of Tryst, an unassuming building sandwiched between Jumbo Slice and Madam’s Organs.

Walking into Tryst Coffeehouse, situated near the Adams Morgan metro station, was a whole other workout--it was an exercise of the senses.

Immediately upon entering, my eyes were met with a duality of styles: the ceilings were embossed tin and the walls were painted in a warm, earthy palette.

Bookshelves clumsily stacked with books paired with an ornate, eggshell white furnace and plushy antiques all contributed to the nostalgic feeling of being back at home with Ol’ Gram.

Concurrently, every corner of the room was packed with hip young professionals, all sporting high-end ultrabooks, smartphones and tablets.

A quick scan of the scene in its entirety painted a picture of classic sophistication and new age innovation.

It took about two seconds before my searing muscles reminded me why I had originally come in, but from the window to the wall there was not a single space for me to sit down.

I conceded to send my boyfriend on a reconnaissance mission while I ordered us something from Tryst’s “All Day Brunch” menu.

At the server’s suggestion, I got the three mushrooms tartlet for myself and the spinach egg sandwich for my beau.

And then, I played the waiting game.

Five minutes breezed by, then ten, then fifteen.

I passed the time by watching my boyfriend’s misbegotten attempts at procuring a place to sit. I cannot blame the lengthy wait time on the café, really, but rather on the ravenous brunch culture in D.C. Wrong place, wrong time. However, suffice it to say that the food more than made up for the delay.

The three mushrooms tartlet was moist, flaky and savory with a touch of sweetness from the caramelized onions.

The egg sandwich, which I did not hesitate to generously sample as well, was lightly toasted and the balsamic tomatoes added an extra zing that accented the otherwise neutral flavor profile of the dish. Paired with a mug of

rich dark coffee, the overall experience made for a pleasant and fulfilling meal.

Perhaps one of the more interesting aspects of Tryst’s menu was the random names that kept popping up throughout its pages.

The Rodney sandwich consisted of curried chicken salad with mixed greens and sliced tomato on toasted multigrain bread.

Grilled slices of baguette with nutella are known simply as Tessa.

According to a server I caught wading through the crowd of patrons, Tryst Coffeehouse pays homage to its regular customers by immortalizing them in the menu, bringing a whole new meaning to the phrase “you are what you eat.”

All in all, my trip to Tryst was as rewarding as it was exhausting. Though my original intention was to go in and relax, I left with enough energy to tackle another workout.

Students wishing to kick back and enjoy the atmosphere are advised to visit the busy café on Monday through Thursday.

Whether you’re looking to wind down after finals or amp yourself up for a big day, or simply to chill for the sake of chillin’, Tryst Coffeehouse is an ideal location to let you be, well, you.

NATHAN AMMONS STAFF WRITER

I don’t know if pomegranate seeds mix well with strawberries and blueberries… I’ll let you worry about it, you’re the experts!

Then I wanted to know if right next to the heart, you could sort of build, maybe out of pineapple or something, a little female figurine. Large enough to be bigger than the heart, but not life sized! That would be too much fruit. Anyway, if you could build a small female figure, maybe wearing a wedding dress or something made out of white coconut, squatting over the heart and taking a dump on it. Now don’t go using real feces! I was thinking some melted chocolate might work.

I’m not sure if the chocolate will taste alright with the coconut and pineapple figurine or not, or if either of those will taste well with the fruit heart underneath, but I’ll leave those decisions up to you guys. You’re the professional fruit arrangers. Not me.

Now next to the female figure taking a dump on the broken heart, I want another figure, but male this time. Have him wearing a tuxedo, maybe made out of raisins or something, and have him kneeling next to her on the ground, crying. I don’t know how to get the tears, but maybe use crystalized sugar.

That will sparkle and make him look like a truly miserable and defeated man.

Again, if any of these fruits or sweets don’t compliment each other, please feel free to replace them with whatever you chose.

You guys are the artists, not me.

I’m just alone.

Paul Laudiero Columnist

BROADSIDE

Broadside

George Mason University’s Student Newspaper

Colleen Wilson Editor-in-Chief

OPINION

organizations. These policies state that religious and political student organizations must allow any registered student to become a member of their club, regardless of whether or not the student agrees with their organization’s mission statement. Intriguingly, this “all-comers” policy does not apply to fraternities and sororities, which Vanderbilt says on a FAQ webpage are protected by “Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, which allows for single-sex social fraternities and sororities.”

Regarding student rights, SB 1074 is a tough bill to evaluate. Opponents argue that it sanctions discrimination by allowing publicly funded student groups to disqualify students from membership for reasons like spiritual belief or sexual orientation. Proponents argue that the bill secures the right of student groups to determine their own membership free from institutional harassment.

It seems as though however this bill turns out, someone will lose. If successful, students interested in certain political or religious will not be allowed to join clubs about them solely because they do not agree with the agenda of the club in question. Then again, why would any student want to become a member of a political or religious club that they do not agree with?

If the bill fails and a Vanderbiltesque policy comes to Mason, then it is student groups who find themselves the losers.

Broadside is a free publication, limit one copy per person.

Additional copies are 25 cents payable to the Office of Student

Want to share your opinion?

Patriot Confessions by Manny Alfaro

Aaron Locke Managing Editor Niki Papadogiannakis News Editor Evan Stancil Arlington Editor Ryan Weisser Entertainment Editor Melanie Miles Asst. Entertainment Editor Elise Baker Editorials Editor Bryan Dombrowski Sports Editor Jennifer Miller Asst. Sports Editor Jenny Krashin Photography Editor Stephen Kline Design Editor Natalie Shapiro Copy Editor Ashly Mayle Copy Editor Manuel Alfaro Cartoonist Kathryn Mangus Faculty Advisor Jacques Mouyal Business Manager David Carroll Associate Director Broadside is printed each Monday for George Mason University and its surrounding Fairfax Community. The editors of 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 Editor-in-Chief should be notified at the email listed above.

21

A question over student rights

Earlier this month Mason’s Student Government, along with some faculty and staff, went to Richmond for the sake of lobbying the Commonwealth with regards to education. The trip to the pillared halls of power is commendable if for no other reason than the recognition that decisions 100+ miles south of here hold great influence over our campus affairs.

A recent example is Senate Bill 1074, which pertains to student life and has been successfully making its way through the General Assembly. This month, the State Senate voted 22 to 18 in favor of it.

According to its official summary, SB 1074 “Permits, to the extent allowed by law, religious or political student organizations at public institutions of higher education to determine that only persons committed to the organization’s mission may conduct certain activities.”

SB 1074 “prohibits, to the extent allowed by law, public institutions of higher education from discriminating against a student organization that makes such a determination.”

The legislation may seem random, but it undoubtedly has roots in the controversial actions of other states. Academic institutions like Vanderbilt University of Tennessee have adopted “all-comers” policies for religious and political

EIC@BroadsideOnline.com

Feb. 18, 2013

Small groups who may hold a minority opinion could find themselves being overstuffed with ideologically hostile members who proceed to change the very mission of their club. Then again, has there ever been a time something that predatory ever happened to any religious or political club at Mason?

In the end, the best policy could be just letting students decide. They are the ones who want to be involved, who want to found certain student organizations with certain missions. Interested students of like-mind should be allowed to congregate, but they could always benefit from dissenting opinions.

Wanting members who are genuinely committed to a political or religious view compatible should never be considered inherently bigoted. These are glimpses of a fine line that neither SB 1074 nor its detractors appear to be cognizant of.

It is important for Mason students to be aware of what is happening in the Commonwealth at the legislative level.

For there might be proposed laws that could pass which could greatly influence their campus lives.

Michael Gryboski Columnist

Letters to the Editor are welcome and are printed on the basis of space, quality, and timeliness. All submissions are the property of Broadside and may be edited for clarity, brevity, and grammar. Material containing libel, racist slurs, personal attacks or obscenities may be edited or rejected. The author’s name, class year (and/or title when appropriate), major and daytime phone number must be included for verification of authenticity. The deadline submission is Thursday by 10 p.m.

All unsigned staff editorials are written to represent the view of the Broadside staff, a diverse set of opinions determined by the members of the editorial board. Letters to the Editor, columns, artwork and other commentaries strictly represent the opinions of the authors and do not represent the official opinion of the newspaper.

Contact us:

Broadside George Mason University Mailstop 2CS 4400 University Drive Fairfax, Va. 22030

Phone: 703.993.2950 EIC@BroadsideOnline.com

#775 I‛ve been at Mason for seven years and I still haven‛t graduated.

22

Feb. 18, 2013

OPINION

The Oscars come to the JC Cinema Everybody knows there are four seasons throughout the

year.

However, few people know of the fifth and most important season: Awards Season.

Annually, the big shots in the movie industry choose the most critically-acclaimed films that have been released over the past year.

While there are numerous awards shows that take place during awards season, such as The Golden Globes and the Screen Actors Guild Awards, the most renowned of them all is The Academy Awards, better known as The Oscars.

Compared to the other award shows, winning an Oscar is like winning the Super Bowl.

I think it’s safe to say that the Oscars are kind of a big deal. And with this year’s batch of films nominated for Best Picture, the show is guaranteed to be a big deal.

Some of the films nominated in the Best Picture category this year include Argo, Lincoln, Silver Linings Playbook, Zero Dark Thirty, and Django Unchained.

In total, there are nine films that have nabbed Best Picture nods, spanning from box office hits like Les Misérables to small screen films like Beasts of the Southern Wild.

I have been fortunate enough to have seen all nine films and I’m looking forward to seeing Silver Linings Playbook, Django Unchained, or Les Misérables take home the Oscar statue.

Unlike the Best Picture category, in many

of the other categories, only five actors or actresses can be nominated.

There has been a lot of buzz lately about Ben Affleck’s and Kathryn Bigelow’s Oscar snub in the Best Director category.

As much as I would have loved to see both these directors nominated in these categories, Affleck has won big at many of the other awards shows this season and Bigelow has at least won an Oscar before.

On the other hand, I am thrilled for the other actors and actresses who did receive Oscar nods.

Some of the big named actresses featured on this year’s Oscar ballot include Jessica Chastain, Anne Hathaway, Jennifer Lawrence, Quvenzhané Wallis, who happens to be only nine years old, and Naomi Watts.

A few big named actors on this year’s ballot include Hugh Jackman, Daniel Day-Lewis, Bradley Cooper, and Christoph Waltz.

The 85th Annual Academy Awards will be held on Feb. 24, 2013. This year students have the opportunity to watch the show in the Johnson Center Cinema at 7p.m. sharp. Don’t forget your popcorn.

Editorial by

Meghann Patterson

Does college change us?

As if the anxiety of unwrapping six new textbooks isn’t enough, with Mason’s mail services, there’s about an hour-long wait just to get those treasured jewels. So, as per tradition, I stood in the line, stretching from the mailroom to the back entrance in the HUB, berating myself for being lazy and ordering last minute.

All around me, I could see the struggle of boxes being ripped apart by a bunch of anxious students hoping that the Ebay book they’d purchased wasn’t an international edition.

Stuffing my own cardboard remnants into the recycling bin, I saw a card, entitled, “World’s Best Grandchild.”

It was tilted sideways, and I could see two letter’s worth of perfect penmanship covering the interior. I can just imagine a hurried student, ripping open an envelope, briefly gazing at the exterior of the card, slipping out the $10, and chucking the more valuable part in the trash.

And, then strolling away thinking, “Score!

A meal at Panda Express!” Selfishness is a natural inclination, but callousness develops when that self-absorbed trait becomes a mainstay of one’s personality.

During freshman year, we started to drift from our home front, and by senior year, we’re calling mom and dad once, maybe twice a month for updates. We reluctantly dial their number after dodging their calls for a week, and then hurry to rush them off the phone.

We return to our homes during summer,

BROADSIDE

and suddenly our eight-year-old siblings are now sixteen. Out of sight, out of mind, right?

The guiltiness we felt over ignoring these important relationships was often too much, so we made it a habit of never thinking of them.

These people, our parents, our grandparents, and other guardians have indebted a life’s worth of work to make us who we are.

And for all the hard work they put in, they get an email every two weeks telling them how great our lives are without them. Valentine’s Day has just passed and though we’ve relished in celebrating the existence of an individual that we’ve known for days, weeks, or months, most of us probably didn’t acknowledge the unconditional love that’s been a mainstay during the entirety of our lives.

So, give your parents a call and tell them that you love them, that you miss them. Ask your little brother how soccer is going, or call Grandma and talk about that tv show she loves.

Just as our families have bent over backwards so that we could feel happy, we should return the favor and value their happiness as well.

Miriam Waqar

Columnist

Mason campus creates a home away from home Walking through the Johnson Center for the first of many times in my day, I came across Dewberry Hall.

Inside were tables from every department and organization.

The crowd inside was not the typical dynamic at Mason.

Inside this room were droves of people with green string bags on their backs with “George Mason University” written across its canvas.

Then this unusual crowd finally made sense.

Prospective students were taking every opportunity to grapple with faculty about why Mason is school they need to attend.

As I witnessed students and parents wait in line with the same packets, souvenirs, and free snacks as I did, it brought back all the

memories of my first visit to Mason.

I had just received an envelope from a school that was about to be my home for the next four years.

Inside was the prized acceptance letter that I had waited months to finally read.

I was accepted to George Mason University and was ready to discover this campus with the interesting motto of: “Where innovation is tradition”.

Like most college visits I went on the tour and asked lots of questions (more by my parents than me).

But when it got down to it, the tour was not what convinced me.

I made that same voyage to Dewberry Hall with my green string bag to ask as many questions as the faculty would take.

I brought home the piles of papers about my major and the school, in my string bag, to

make the final decision to enroll.

As I watched the prospective students ask their questions it reminded me of my same indecisions and interests.

Sitting here today, knowing that a year ago I got that letter inviting me to attend Mason, I’m baffled by how quickly time does fly.

Although my green string bag broke before fall semester even began, I now have new memories to make at Mason.

Soon my memories of Mason will not be the open houses but rather the unbinding relationships I have already created with peers, faculty, and the school itself, along with many more to come in the next three and a half years.

When I visited schools, the first thing I would look at is the current student body calmly walking along between classes, meals, clubs, etc.

I found nothing more depressing than visiting these great utopias, which people called college, and then being forced to continue on in high school.

But now I can finally say that I am that student that prospective students look at when they first survey the whole campus.

Although it still feels new to be that student walking the campus, I am beginning to get used to it.

Nate Falk

Columnist

BROADSIDE

OPINION

Hemp, an untapped cash-cow commodity The U.S. agriculture industry has been stripped of one of its most beneficial cash-chow commodities.

The legal production of domestic hemp would aid our struggling agriculture industry, lower consumer prices, and most importantly permit the right to voluntary exchange.

However, the domestic harvesting of hemp has been controlled by the DEA since the installment of the Controlled Substances Act of 1970.

Recent developments have put industrial hemp back on the national agenda.

Washington State and Colorado legalized the production and sale of industrial hemp.

Within the past month, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell voiced his support for industrial hemp along with Senator Rand Paul.

On a local level, the work of fellow George Mason student, David Madera, has proven the expanding role of industrial hemp within our national economy.

Although the global market for hemp may be small, the U.S. demand for hemp products has grown exponentially.

Madera co-founded Hemp Technologies in 2008: one of the first eco-friendly home building contractors that promotes hempcrete composite projects.

Despite Madera’s passing in July 2012, his passion and work continues to fuel the local initiative for the incorporation of industrial hemp within our daily lives.

From 1996 to 2010, the value of U.S. imported hemp products grew from $1.4 million to $10.4 million, a percentage increase of 643%.[1] And yet, no single commercial hemp product is purely “Made In the USA”. Quite the contrary, all hemp products marketed in the United States are imported or manufactured from other hemp-related imports.

As a marketing scheme, industrial hemp represents the aspirin of the agricultural sector; the all-purpose commodity.

The global market for hemp consists of more than 25,000 products in nine submarkets ranging from agriculture and textiles to the automotive, construction, and personal care industries.

Its uses range from healthy skin lotions and oils, homebuilding composites, and even the interior framing of high value automobiles.

A culmination of all industry U.S. retail sales involving hemp-related products estimate s revenue value exceeding $300 million.

Despite all the value-added benefits, industrial hemp is a clear case of commodity discrimination.

Before the cannabis plant family became federally controlled, each plant variety was tested for its respective THC level: the primary psychoactive chemical which characterizes the majority of illegal substances.

Hemp tested a THC level less than 1% whereas marijuana tested sample sizes between 20% and 30%. In an attempt to increase drug enforcement feasibility, the DEA has prohibited industrial hemp due to its identical plant appearance to marijuana.

The legislative battle to legalize industrial hemp is doomed to fail until the issue’s dialogue is free from bias.

We must recognize that the DEA has framed the issue in such a way as to defend the mission statement of the organization: to protect the morals, integrity, and family nucleus of America. And yet, the evidence is clear that industrial hemp can do no harm to the American citizen.

Most importantly, the dialogue must change to incorporate costs to the American producers and consumers.

The prohibition of industrial hemp production imposes a $10.4 million cost to inputs for American producers.

The control of industrial hemp by the DEA places a barrier of entry for many domestic companies and creates an oligarchy for the hemp exporting countries of Canada and China.

The domestic production of industrial hemp should be excluded form the 1970 Controlled Substances Act. Industrial hemp is one of the rare commodities which can be easily produced and highly marketed.

It was the hope of fellow patriot David Madera that one day, industrial hemp could be grown and utilized for its many economical and environmentfriendly benefits.

We must recognize that the continued support for the status quo not only denies trade advantages from producers and consumers, but also encourages a history of commodity discrimination void of rational justification.

Editorial by

Kyle Gibson

Feb. 18, 2013

23

Letter to the Editor GMU Confessions Everybody on campus knows GMU Confessions by now. It’s been trending for the past week. Most of the confessions range from sad to funny to revealing. And some are just disturbing.

Like #716, which says, “I hate when skanks go to parties, get drunk, and then claim rape later. Law enforcement has better things to do than worry about your lack of personal responsibility.”

I thought Mason was more evolved than this. There shouldn’t even need to be a discussion on whether or not it’s actually rape, because drunk consent is not real consent. Clear consent while sober means yes, and drunk consent is always no.

We have to stop blaming the victim.

Reporting a rape is pretty awful, and the backlash against the victim is often as upsetting as the assault itself.

Much of the victim’s fear to report a rape is because of the attitude that it’s his or her fault. Actually, the blame lies entirely on the rapist, who took advantage of someone too impaired to consent. We need to stop asking if they were drinking, what they were

wearing, or whether they were asking for it. All of these, according to #716, qualify as “personal responsibility”.

Interestingly, this personal responsibility doesn’t extend to the rapist.

And if the poster is so convicted in his or her belief, why post it anonymously?

Let’s see #716’s face. But maybe that would mean a loss of credibility, since it sounds an awful lot like somebody is all burned up about getting slapped with a rape charge. I’d be more bitter about being born a worthless bottom feeder if I was #716, but whatever.

The admin behind GMU Confessions isn’t off the hook, either. Choosing to post something this offensive shows a clear lack of judgment. Weirdly, it’s stated on several posts that the confessions would stay positive, so good job with that? I fail to see how perpetuating rape culture is positive.

The stigma shouldn’t be on the victim. It should be on the rapist.

Instead of teaching people how to avoid rape, let’s teach people not to rape. Let’s not enable them by letting them post confessions like this and get validation for it.

Katri Haas, Art and Visual Technology

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24

Sports

Feb. 18, 2013

Broadside

Hybrid sport wallyball added to intramural program

(COURTESY OF JESSICA MICHELI)

After being ranked 18th in a preseason poll, the club lacrosse team prepares for a grueling season. They hope to do well and build up a supportive fan base.

Club lacrosse hopes to be nationally competitive The National College Lacrosse League preseason poll has ranked Mason’s Club Lacrosse at 18th, its highest ranking in over three years.

In the past season injuries plagued the team, including captain James Ho, who tore his ACL and was out for the season. Despite the injuries, the team did well competing in the Conference Tournament Final Four.

With a healthy team this season the team looks to improve upon last season’s finish.

Mason’s Club Lacrosse team has been competitive in recent years, but the team hopes to go beyond their conference and to Nationals.

The team came out strong in the fall season, finishing third in the Fall Ball and ultimately losing to the winners, The University of Maryland.

They went undefeated in their bracket, a difficult feat due to the challenging opponents.

Despite their high ranking, the team will have to overcome some tough opponents, most importantly St. Mary’s College and University of Maryland, who have consistently been ranked high in the Chesapeake Conference, arguably one of the best conferences in the country, “Maryland is a hot bed for lacrosse players.

UMD, is an excellent division one team, and many of the players who do not make the division one team play for the club,” Ho said. “So, they are usually very good and we will have to play well against them in the upcoming season.”

Other important teams in their schedule include VCU and Old Dominion University, who have proven to be tough opponents in the past. The team kicks off their season against Old Dominion on Feb. 23, which will be important after a tough loss against them last year.

Mason’s schedule overall is mixed with some high-ranked teams but also with other teams that will prove to be close match-ups.

They will also be playing teams not previously on their schedule like Christopher Newport University.

It will be hard for the team to know what to expect out of these new opponents.

The dedication of Gambarani and Ho in promoting their team has been critical to team success.

Gambarani and other teammates have been working to update the Mason Lacrosse website, keep tabs on their Facebook and Twitter pages, and even have a meeting with Mason Cable Live to see if the lacrosse games can be aired live.

The more fan support at games, the better the morale will be among the team and hopefully contribute to wins.

“We are really passionate about the team, and we want a large fan base,” Ho said. “We are doing our best to promote the team, train hard, and stay organized in hopes for a successful season”.

JORDAN CONAHAN STAFF WRITER

(IAN MOSTROM/BROADSIDE)

Wallyball combines aspects of racquetball and volleyball. The recreation department believes it will take off because it is sport that anyone can quickly and easily pick up.

Mason’s recreational department is introducing a new sport to its intramural program for the spring semester: wallyball.

First invented in 1979, wallyball combines aspects of both racquetball and volleyball.

It is played in a racquetball court with four players to a team.

The first team to reach 25 points with a two-point advantage wins one game. In order to win a match, you must win two out of three games.

Like volleyball, you must hit the ball over a net within three touches. The side walls are always in play, like in racquetball.

Rules that differ from racquetball and volleyball are the ability to use the ceiling or back wall to pass it to a teammate.

You cannot use either method to hit the ball over the net. You can use the side walls, however, to hit the ball over the net.

Lee Ann Houston, the assistant director of the RAC and Skyline, was first introduced to the game when she attended JMU as part of the rugby team.

She believes the sport can help teams of other sports with their communication and teamwork.

“I started playing with my club team. It was something that we did as a teamwork and team building activity to work on our communication,” Houston said. “You have to talk to each other to play the ball off of the wall because of the angles. It was something that was fun and easy.”

The recreation department ran trials with

resident advisors and rec employees at the beginning of the semester to see how students would react to the new sport. Houston is excited to see where wallyball is going.

“It seemed to take off. There was a lot of excitement about it. Individuals liked it,” said Houston, who has been working in Mason’s recreation department for 12 years. “There is a lot of laughing at each other because you think it is easy, but then it is hard. It is just a fun activity that anyone can do.”

Wallyball’s most attractive feature is that anyone can play and it is teamwork building.

“Anyone can do it. You do not have to be fast. You don’t have to be super in shape or athletic. Anyone can do it, and it’s challenging,” Houston said. “You have to learn to talk to each other. The ball never bounces the same way twice. You can never practice the same technique because you never know what angle the ball is coming off of.”

With multiple teams already signed up for the intramural season, Houston hopes and expects wallyball to grow as its availability increases.

“I would love to see wallyball requested more. I would like to have that balance for us to set up wallyball on a more consistent basis so students know we have this exciting game that is at their fingertips,” said Houston. “I do think it will take off. I really do think that once we get it out there, it will take off.”

JAMES ZEMBRISKI STAFF WRITER

SportS

Broadside

Feb. 18, 2013

25

Mason LIFE students selected to compete in state game as part of the Special Olympics Mason LIFE students will be attending the State Basketball Game for the Special Olympics over spring break in Stafford, Va. The LIFE program offers university experience to students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This program was one of the first of its kind that was started in part by Special Olympics volunteer coach Leo Alonso.

Alonso, and some other parents of children with disabilities were unsatisfied with the lack of post secondary education options available to their children.

In 2002, they worked to start the Mason LIFE pilot program with just three students. Since then, the program has grown at Mason and around the country, now featuring around 60 programs at various colleges and universities.

Alonso’s daughter, Vivian, has Downs Syndrome and has been involved with the Special Olympics since she turned eight, which is the minimum age requirement to participate. Alonso coached his daughter’s teams throughout her academic career, including Paul VI High School and at Mason. Alonso’s long volunteer history has lead to to create many strong bonds with his players who continue to stay with his teams over the years, some he has known now for over two decades.

While basketball is the Special Olympics event of the winter season, Alonso also coaches soccer in the fall and track and field in the spring. Cameron Kahn is a student who plays for all of Alonso’s teams, including one of the basketball teams that was selected to play in the state games.

Alonso has five teams and 52 players participating in Special Olympics basketball. After the regular season of play, teams are selected at random to play in the annual state game. Two of his teams were selected, the GMU Green Machine and the GMU Stars.

“One of the best things about the Special Olympics is it the opportunity to show communities and the world that people with disabilities are part of those communities too,” Kahn said.

Kahn’s teammate from the GMU Green Machine, Sean Cross, knows Alonso from when he volunteered with the Special Olympics at Paul VI High School. Cross’s favorite part of playing Special Olympics basketball is running drills at

I love Special Olympics with all my heart, you learn to show and earn respect from your teammates and the other teams

I really like when we go and compete with other teams, I especially like it when it comes down to a buzzer beater

I like that Special Olympics keeps you active which is good for your body and mind Cameron Kahn

I just love being an athlete, in high school I ran cross country and track and at Mason I do Special Olympics Max Hershberger

Sean Cross

Yahya Alwazir

practice and shooting 3-pointers, specifically buzzer beaters.

Some of the LIFE students are not sure if they will continue with the Special Olympics after Mason but have all enjoyed their time playing for Alonso.

“I love that guy; he’s a man who really speaks to you and looks after each and every player. He is a true friend, and I give him my total respect and would do anything for him,” Yahya Alwazir said.

Alwazir shows a lot of passion for the Special Olympics even though sports are not his biggest calling. The reasons behind each athlete are different and unique.

“I do Special Olympics because its fun and it motivates me to work hard,” Max Hershberger said.

Some do it to stay healthy while others participate to

prove that they can. Regardless of their motivations, the bigger picture is that they all go out and practice together and participate.

“It’s not about winning or losing because in your mind you win,” Alwazir said.

The state games are just a few weeks away along with the Track and Field season. New this spring to Mason will be Special Olympics swimming. They will be hosting a regional competition on April 28 and highly encourage Mason students and community members to volunteer to help in running the event.

BRYAN DOMBROWSKI SPORTS EDITOR

26

Sports

Feb. 18, 2013

Gujanicic defines his role on and off the court

(STEPHEN KLINE/BROADSIDE)

After moving from Serbia to Fairfax, Marko Gujanicic is beginning to make a place for himself in the Mason community and on the basketball team.

Marko Gujanicic’s love of basketball started at a young age in a street court in Cacak, Serbia.

“I remember just playing basketball with some neighborhood friends and my dad and really falling in love with the game,” Gujanicic said.

Gujanicic is not your average incoming freshman. Gujanicic, a 20-year-old, comes to Fairfax after a year at Stoneridge Preparatory School in Simi Valley, Ca., where he led that team to a 25-win season and was named the team’s most valuable player.

While his time in California was rewarding on the court, he felt that it was not necessarily adequate in preparing him for the rigors of a fouryear university.

“My time in prep school was an interesting experience for me. It was not truly a tough academic experience since at those schools, they focus more on SATs and getting you into college and no real classes, and it was all basketball there.

Where here you have classes, lectures, exams that you have to work on while trying to balance practices,” Gujanicic said.

Since Gujanicic was a senior in high school, he knew he wanted to come over stateside and play collegiate basketball.

“After high school there, I had the chance to sign a contract to start playing professionally, but I knew that if I came over here and played in the NCAA, then I would be able to get a degree and also get a professional contract somewhere.”

Gujanicic was a standout player in Serbia. He has represented his country three times at the International Basketball Federation (FIBA)-U18, U19, and U20 tournaments.

He first caught the eye of Coach Paul Hewitt in international play while Hewitt was the coach of the USA Basketball Men’s U19 World Championship Team in 2011 and Gujanicic was a key player on Serbia’s U19 team.

Mason was always Gujanicic’s first choice among many scholarship offers he had in hand.

“I would choose Mason all over again if I had the choice. Everyone here at Mason has been so great and supportive. Coach Hewitt was the key in getting me here because he is not only a great coach but also a great person and teacher,” Gujanicic said.

On Hewitt’s team, Gujanicic occupies the top role on bench acting as Mason’s sixth man. While he stands at six foot eight inches, he is not defined by any concrete position.

Gujanicic plays the role of a stretch forward, where he can play along the wing, where he is most comfortable, or can be seen posting up along the elbow and inside the paint.

“It is such a big honor as a freshman to be the sixth man, because I know some freshmen never get to see the court. Early on in the season I was playing the two and three position, but, after awhile, I realized I could not quite keep up with the speed out there, so now I play in the four spot on the team,” Gujanicic said.

Playing the four spot though allows Coach Hewitt to create matchup problems for other coaches with Gujanicic’s versatility.

Broadside With more than two-thirds of the season on the books, Gujanicic has already shown this versatility on the court.

In last Feb. 16 important homecoming game against CAA rival, and outgoing member of the CAA, Georgia State University, Gujanicic showed flashes of his potential on the court.

He was consistently driving into the lane and creating plays and mismatches.

He finished the game as Mason’s second leading scorer with ten points, going four of nine from the field and two of three at the free throw line, all in 25 minutes of play.

While being the focal point at times, Gujanicic also displayed why he still has some learning to do of the college game before he can be a truly pivotal player in Mason’s offense.

He led Mason in turnovers with three. As with most freshmen, Gujanicic made some mental errors on defense but did contribute a steal in a blowout loss to Georgia State, 78-60.

“It is tough with all the support we get at home games; there are so many fans coming out to the games and cheering us on, but we lost this game and the last three in a row. I ask myself, ‘What else can I do to help the team?’ or ‘What can I do more of that will help the team?’” Gujanicic said.

Gujanicic noted that there is time to improve on his own play and the team’s play in the journey to the CAA tournament and, hopefully, grab hold of a good seed in the tournament.

With the rest of the games against CAA teams, Mason can do just that, as each game essentially becomes a must-win.

“I can have good games but not be totally satisfied if we end up losing the game. I feel it is our duty to win home games because of the support,” Gujanicic said.

Gujanicic’s role on the team extends beyond statistics in the box score. He acts as the point man for a lot of coach Hewitt’s offensive plays, regularly setting off-ball screens and setting the picks for many of coach Hewitt’s pick-and-roll plays.

He also shows good awareness on the defensive end with his help with defense and double-teaming ball handlers.

Growing up, Gujanicic idolized Dejan Bodiroga, a superstar Serbian forward, “Bodiroga is easily the player to never play in the NBA.” Since Gujanicic plays a European style, he models his game now after international NBA players such as Luis Scola, an Argentinian, and Dirk Nowitzki, a German.

When you watch Gujanicic play, you can definitely see glimpses of Scola’s and Nowitzki’s playing style, but Gujanicic summed himself up best.

“I try not to compare myself to other guys or get too caught up with playing to a particular style, I just want to be Marko, you know?”

HAU CHU STAFF WRITER

Sports

Broadside

Feb. 18, 2013

27

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(STEPHEN KLINE/BROADSIDE)

With 21 years under his belt, Coach Quam thinks this years squad could go farther than those from the past. The squad is coming into this season with more depth, but a tough schedule so time will show if this squad really has what it takes to be the best. lower level

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Men’s Tennis hopes transfer students will boost team to new heights in the CAA After three straight winning seasons, Mason's men's tennis team is looking at this season as their best opportunity to reach the upper echelon of the CAA. Even though last season was a great achievement for Mason, head coach Gary Quam believes that this season's squad could be the best team Mason has ever produced.

"We have made significant improvements from last year. We have three new recruits in the lineup that slot in as our numbers three, four, and six," Quam said.

Mason's top two players both came to Mason as transfers. Junior Jimmy Davis, who is Mason's number one player, transferred to Mason after playing one season at Longwood University.

Neck and neck with Davis for the number one slot is redshirt senior Jordan Dyke, who came to Mason after spending three years at nationally ranked mainstay Virginia Commonwealth University.

"Jordan was our number one all last season, but Jimmy was playing well all fall while I saw something off in Jordan's game coming into this year. I thought that Jimmy had earned that number one slot on our team," Coach Quam said.

Coach Quam was also particularly excited about the four new incoming freshmen on this year's squad.

Tanner Baine, Coner Moran, and

Danny Naja all come as highly touted in-state recruits placing third, seventh and sixth in the commonwealth respectively, according to Tennis Recruiting Network.

While the fourth freshman, Aaron Capitel, comes to Mason by way of Georgia, as that state's eighth best recruit.

"Whereas, in previous seasons we were more top-heavy than I would have preferred, this year I think we come into this season with more depth than any Mason team in recent memory," Coach Quam said.

Mason will need this solid depth to come through, along with their already solidified top two, if they wish to crack the top tier of teams in the CAA. In recent years, the CAA has always been dominated by three teams at the top, University of North CarolinaWilmington, William and Mary and James Madison University, while Mason has shared a second tier with the University of Delaware and Drexel University.

In previous seasons, Coach Quam had always set realistic expectations at the outset for his squad where he would want to maintain Mason's spot at fourth in the CAA and see if they could make any incremental adjustments to work on for the next year.

This year, Coach Quam thinks that this team has the hard-working effort and ability to make its mark in that top three.

Coach Quam has confidence that Mason can topple JMU this season and finish in, at least, third place in the conference.

"I think even though we have a tougher schedule this year and tougher opponents, this team has the talent to take on such a tough schedule," Coach Quam said.

After 21 years at Mason, Coach Quam has seen many teams come and go, but during his time, the 1995 squad was what he would consider the best team in his career. That squad finished with a regional ranking and was tied for first in its conference.

Coach Quam believes this team can be as good, if not better than that team.

"I just recently connected with a player from that [1995] team over Facebook, and I told him, 'Boy, I would like to see your team in its prime take on this team we have this season because I think that would be one good match.'"

Now, only time will tell if after 21 years, the best is yet to come for Coach Quam and Mason's tennis team.

HAU CHU STAFF WRITER

28

Sports

Feb. 18, 2013

Broadside

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