September 14, 2015 by Student Media George Mason University

FOURTH ESTATE September 14, 2015 | Volume 3 Issue 2 George Mason University’s official student news outlet gmufourthestate.com | @IVEstate

FREE SPEECH

ON CAMPUS

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MUSIC CLUB

REVAMPED AT MASON

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SOCCER PLAYERS SCORE HONORS PAGE 12

(SONGJUN DENG/FOURTH ESTATE)

Fourth Estate

2 09.14.2015

GMUFOURTHESTATE.COM @IVESTATE

CLASSIFIEDS Help Wanted

Help Wanted

Full-time legal assistant for busy two-attorney office in Alexandria. Experience in domestic relations preferred, but not necessary. Please e-mail resume to gktlaw@comcast.net or fax to 703-684-1482. Include salary history. Call 703-683-5328 for more information.

Seeking Aspiring Female Model/Talent to tv host for various upincoming Major Fashion shows. Requirements: must be photogenic, fit, and easy going with the public. Call Chris 703-832-1670

The Country Club of Fairfax is looking for a part-time server with the following background: -At least one year serving experience preferred, fine dining/private club experience a plus -Must be available for work Days, Nights, Holidays, and Weekends -Outgoing, upbeat personality with a willingness to learn is a must -Professional appearance and reliable transportation required -Must be able to stand/walk for several hours, maintain composure in high stress situations, and efficiently manage workload -Schedule is flexible, can work around school schedules and/or other positions within reason -Beer, Wine, and Spirits knowledge a plus

Make money while making a difference. Looking for person with strong Entrepreneurial Skills and a desire to make a six figure income. Call for Recorded message. 571-297-2280 Attention: Students with Marketing Skills. Start paying off those student loans now! Global Business needs Global Partners Call for Recorded message. 571-297-2280 EARN CASH; JUST GO TO CLASS [StudySoup] Do you take GREAT notes? StudySoup will pay you $300-500 per course to be an Elite Notetaker. We have only a few open positions left for this semester so apply soon (applications close in a week) ===> studysoup.com/apply

Child Care After-school childcare in my home in Herndon for middle-school student. Meet at bus, offer snacks, play games, encourage homework. 2:30/3:00 to 5:30, 2-4 days per week. Good oppty. for student in education, child devel., psych, or similar. Contact Laurie at lshuster1@verizon.net

Part Time Chess Teachers Wanted Chess Instructors Needed for Elementary Schools in Fall, Winter- Spring 2015-2016 Teaching & chess playing experience are required, and the reliability to work 2-12 hours a week part time in before and/or after-school chess programs in Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax County, Falls Church, Loudoun & Prince William counties. September-June with the possibility for chess summer camps Pay is competitive with relevant experience. Serious inquiries only, you must be punctual and have reliable transportation. Teaching equipment is provided to you. Training is available. along with advice and coaching. For those interested, information on developing a chess business is available. Please email resume with relevant experience to: peter@snowschessacademy.com

Food Runner Needed -Looking for personable, honest, energetic Food Runner 30-40hrs a week. -Prior Food Running experience preferred -Schedule is 3-4 nights a week -Must work nights weekends and holidays -Evening hours make this a great fit for students or candidate with a morning job. Schedule is 4-Close during the week (between 9 and 10pm) and 4-Close on Friday and Saturday (between 10 and 11pm) -Must be a great communicator and multi-tasker with the willingness to learn -Must be detail oriented, efficient & courteous with attention to cleanliness Must be able to lift 40+lbs Restaurant Experience preferred Competitive pay Please forward resumes to: Jonathan Huss jonathanh@ccfairfax.org

Alexa Rogers & Sara Moniuszko Editors-In-Chief

Ellen Glickman News Editor

Natalia Kolenko Assistant News Editor

Savannah Norton Lifestyle Editor

Tatyana White-Jenkins

Fairfax Ice Arena is hiring part time: Cashiers

Courtney Hoffman Sports Editor

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Customer

Service/Sales Café/Food Service We offer Flexible schedules and a great work environment. Fairfax Ice Arena will provide training for all positions. Hourly Rates: $8.50–$10.00 (depending on experience) Manager

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Please email Jimmy Torres at: jtorres@fairfaxicearena.com or pick up an application at 3779 Pickett Road Fairfax, VA 22031

Megan Zendek Visual Editor

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David Carroll Associate Director Fourth Estate is printed each Monday for George Mason University and its surrounding Fairfax community. The editors of Fourth Estate have exclusive authority over the content that is published. 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-inChief should be notified at the email provided. Fourth Estate is a free publication, limit one copy per person. Additional copies are 25 cents payable to the Office of Student Media. Mail Fourth Estate George Mason University Mail stop 2C5 4400 University Drive Fairfax, Va. 22030 Phone 703-993-2950

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09.14.2015

Mason earns freedom of speech award after changes to student code HAMNA AHMAD | STAFF WRITER

Mason earned the highest “green light” rating from the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) this past April after making changes to the Code of Student Conduct. Joining the University of Virginia and the College of William & Mary, Mason is the third school in Virginia to receive the green light, and the twentieth school in the country. To achieve this, FIRE worked closely with the Mason Director of Special Diversity Projects Dennis Webster and law professor Todd Zywicki to revise seven different university policies. The changes include revisions to the sexual harassment, flyer posting and leafleting policies. “Freedom of speech and expression goes to the core of what it means to be a university. There must be a place in society where people can air controversial ideas, even if that ruffles other people’s feathers. The university is that place,” Zywicki said. The revisions to Mason’s code came after almost a decade of FIRE advocating for changes. The foundation began investigating the university in 2005, after a student was arrested for protesting military recruiters on campus. According to FIRE’s press release and a Washington Post article published that year, Tariq Khan, an Air Force veteran and student, silently protested the recruiters’ table by standing next to them wearing a “Recruiters Lie” sign on his chest and passing out handbills. After having the sign ripped off his chest by two other students, Khan was arrested for disorderly conduct by campus police and found in violation of a Mason policy that banned the distribution of publications that are “inconsistent with the mission of the University.” The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) planned to defend Khan in the ensuing litigation, though all charges against Khan were eventually dropped. FIRE also started to directly appeal to the university president during that time, Dr. Alan Merten, and found many of Mason’s policies unconstitutional. Mason’s changes and rating come at a time when certain federal lawmakers, - like Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Roanoke) - media outlets, - like the Huffington Post - and academic organizations - like the American Association of University Professors - are claiming that universities around the country are making shifts towards the opposite direction, one that often chooses political correctness over freedom of expression. “Something strange is happening at America’s colleges and universities,” wrote Greg Lukianoff, CEO of FIRE, and Jonathan Haidt, a professor at NYU, in a recent Atlantic article. “A movement is arising, undirected and driven

largely by students, to scrub campuses clean of words, ideas, and subjects that might cause discomfort or give offense.” Lukianoff and Haidt argue that college students’ sensitivities towards “microaggressions” and “trigger warnings” hurt students more than they protect them. According to the writers, the consequences of this hypersensitivity to discriminatory, provoking or controversial comments include an increasingly polarized political field, a workplace marred by constant litigation and a generation of new graduates unable to learn from those with whom they disagree. In the past, the ACLU has defended the First Amendment rights of those who engage in offensive or bigoted speech, such as in Terminiello v. Chicago, the 1949 landmark case that ruled banning controversial or inciting speech to be unconstitutional. Instead of imposing speech codes on the student body, the ACLU recommends on its webpage that campus administrators speak out against expression of bias and create an educational environment that “includes counter-speech, workshops on bigotry and its role in American and world history, and real—not superficial—institutional change.” To organizations such as the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a Jewish group that seeks to counter anti-Semitic and bigoted speech and actions, speech codes inhibit education only when they are overly broad. According to the ADL’s website, “Abusive words aimed at aspects of a person’s core identity can seriously wound and particularly damage young people in the process of figuring our their own identity during college.”

conclusory term attached to speech that someone doesn’t like,” Zywicki said. “I really don’t agree with the patronizing idea that there are certain people whose sensitivities are so profound that they get special protection from getting their feelings hurt. Personally abusive or personally harassment [language] is a different matter, of course.” Meghann Hansen, a psychology major, agrees with this sentiment, although with some reservations. “Political correctness has taken over our society because individuals feel like they are entitled to the respect of everyone around them when respect should actually be seen as a two-way street,” Hansen said. For campus groups like Intervarsity, a Christian fellowship organization, new policies might make it easier for the group to pursue its goals of ministry and spreading knowledge of Jesus. “It’s really exciting because we can definitely encourage a lot more deeper conversations around campus,” said Joshua Anderson, a cyber security engineering major and member of Intervarsity, after hearing of Mason’s new policy. “Our whole goal is to have everybody learn about Jesus and what he’s done for us so knowing we can have those opportunities now, more than before, that’s a godsend in and of itself.” After almost ten years of work and an overhaul of Mason’s freedom of expression policies, Zywicki believes the work is not over yet. “Now of course the important thing is not to backslide. For example, James Madison had a green light rating for many years but recently changed its policies to a more restrictive policy and has lost that distinction,” Zywicki said. “It is now up to all of us—faculty, students, and staff—to remain vigilant to make sure that George Mason stands on its principles and doesn’t backslide.”

ADL’s website suggests that universities enact more specific speech codes and policies that clearly separate speech used in the class with speech used in common areas and resident halls. They also suggest increasing penalties for alcohol related hate speech. Intervarsity, a Christian fellowship organization exercises their right to free speech in North Plaza. If university administrators stay silent in the face of bigotry and discrimination, the ADL warns, students may feel increasingly marginalized and compelled to drop out of a school where they feel they do not belong. To Zywicki, hate speech is an inconsequential concept, one impossible to identify with a clear definition, and thus, impossible to combat with a definite policy. “‘Hate’ speech is just a

(CLAIRE CECIL/FOURTH ESTATE)

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Let’s go phishing An update from IT Services about Mason’s network issues NATALIA KOLENKO | ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

Mason has seen a record number of phishing attacks with 84 fraudulent emails since June. And unfortunately for students and staff, Marilyn T. Smith, vice president for Information Technology and chief information officer, says the number of attacks is expected to increase. “We’re no different than any other university or corporation in terms of phishing attacks. Everybody’s been getting more phishing attacks because the hackers are getting more sophisticated,” Smith said. This past August, a report on phishing was conducted by Robert Nakles, executive director of strategy, portfolio & process management for IT Services; Curtis McNay, the director of IT Services; and Karen L. Bates, the communications coordinator for IT Services. In this report, phishing is defined as a way cybercriminals, who use real company’s logo or name, trick people into supplying sensitive information and then conduct illegal activities with it. “[Hackers] know that’s a way, an avenue into systems, is through phishing,” added Nakles. The report also explains that the reason so many phishing attacks happen at Mason is that it is one of the top research universities in Virginia. According to the report, cybercriminals are looking for access to all the information that Mason has, such as intellectual property, research data, and sensitive personal information. Smith said that IT Services is able to pick off some of the hackers with anti-spam software, but many hackers are clever enough to keep finding new ways to trick users. IT Services is working on new technology to combat these hackers. “We actually have a project ongoing. Some of these technologies we’re looking at and some of them we’re actually implementing, but we don’t have a time frame yet. We just finished a pilot and we focus on the individuals with the most authority first and where the vulnerabilities is in the university are,” Smith said. Still, McNay warns that these new technologies will not necessarily be effective for long. “It’s a bit of a cat-and-mouse game in that it escalates, and a lot of these technologies are very expensive and what works today may not work tomorrow,” McNay said. Smith added that the best defense to these attacks is education. There are several precautions Mason IT recommends students, faculty and staff take in order to better protect themselves against these phishing attacks. An email sent out by Smith outlined a list of steps one should follow upon receiving a suspicious-looking email: Verify the link in any email to make sure the link is legitimate before clicking on it, since links can contain malicious software that can cause problems for users and interrupt the Mason network; never share a username (NetID) or password, since many attacks start with an email requesting this kind of information; and when unsure of the legitimacy of a request in an email, follow up either by logging onto the web site directly by entering the main address into an Internet browser or by calling the company on the phone. After an email is verified as fraudulent, IT asks that the suspicious email be forwarded to the IT Services Support Center at support@ gmu.edu and then deleted. Phishing attacks are not the only issue IT Services has been dealing

with lately. They have also had disturbances from hackers. Last spring, a group of hackers attacked and defaced seventeen subsidiary websites or tertiary websites to Mason’s main webpage, gmu.edu. While the work was found immediatley and the websites were restored, McNay says hackers have proved to be just as big an issue as phishing. “We see more hacking attempts and we see more phishing attempts, and they come hand in hand. They are not independent — phishers are just professional hackers,” McNay said. Smith said the spring attacks were due to outdated plug-ins on the website. Since then, the websites have been updated, and no new attacks have been conducted to that extreme.

notifications on Blackboard telling me what I need to look out for and I’m more knowledgeable about these scams because of this. Also, you can sign up for an email telling you about these scams, which helps a lot,” Farrar said. Smith, McNay and Nakles all agree that students who want to protect themselves need to be cautious with unfamiliar emails and links and educate themselves against the risks of cyber-attacks. “I would say [students should] think twice about anything they do or answer,” Smith said. “We’ve all agreed that we have a bunch of security projects we have to do and education is, if not the most important, almost the most important [project].”

In terms of everyone’s favorite topic on campus, WiFi, Smith explains that the reason students had problems connecting last week is that there was an issue with Mason’s Internet provider. She added that IT Services is planning to speak with the provider to ensure that such an issue doesn’t happen again. As for the WiFi issues last semester, Smith explained that they were due to problems with Mason’s firewall provider. “We were working with a firewall provider and there were issues with that provider. We worked all summer with that provider and we came up with a solution, and we believe that — and we’re monitoring very closely — things with the WiFi are much better,” Smith said. Smith added that there are certain spots on campus where WiFi is not as pervasive as IT Service would like it to be but that staff are working with a vendor that will hopefully improve the local WiFi support in these spots, many of which are in the Johnson Center. “WiFi by itself is a tuning issue,” McNay added. “WiFi isn’t as simple as putting in a new wireless access point and then people will have access. Tuning it so that one wireless access point detects that it’s overloaded and traffic can be switched to another is like tuning an instrument.” Some students, like sophomore Claire McTiernan, feel IT Services has not been keeping up with Mason’s needs to the best of its abilities. While some students may feel IT Services has room for improvement, others like freshman Jacob Farrar think it is doing just fine. “I think IT is doing a pretty good job of it. I see the

(CLAIRE CECIL/FOURTH ESTATE)

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09.14.2015

Standardized tests phasing out of college applications According to the website, if a student chooses to eliminate their test scores, their best chance of being accepted is meeting the following criteria: a minimum cumulative high school GPA of 3.50 on a 4.00 scale; evidence of strong performance in a challenging academic curriculum as demonstrated by a robust college preparatory selection of courses; an actual or estimated class rank in the top 20 percent of their high school class; and/or strong leadership and motivation, as demonstrated in their extracurricular, work or service experiences.

(ALYA NOWILATY/FOURTH ESTATE)

Takayama-Perez said that test scores were not always a debatable metric for judging students’ academic abilities, and that the way many families now approach these tests is a new development.

The D.C. school follows in Mason’s footsteps, which dropped its requirement of submitting test scores back in 2006.

“[Test scores] were created to find a uniform way to see if students were prepared for college, [but there were] many fewer colleges and universities at the time and obviously student demographics have changed significantly. Now you have students and families paying thousands of dollars to learn how to take the test and creating stress over scores and how many times to take the ACT or SAT,” Takayama-Perez said.

According to Amy Takayama-Perez, dean of Admissions, Mason was one of the first schools to let the requirement go.

Junior Caitlin Plymyer was one such student who decided not to submit her test scores when applying to Mason.

“We wanted to create a way to evaluate students beyond just test scores. We wanted to give those students who perform really well in the classroom, but may not be the best test takers, a chance to apply without providing scores,” Takayama-Perez said.

“I feel the SAT/ACT[‘s] representation of students’ academics varies,” Plymyer said. “For people who do not struggle taking tests, it’s a great way to measure their knowledge on material. For people who have some sort of limiting factor, such as severe testing anxiety, it can be a crippling measurement of knowledge.”

NATALIA KOLENKO | ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

George Washington University recently dropped its requirement of submitting test scores for freshman admission.

The Office of Admissions website says there are two options by which students may be considered for admission. One is the traditional method, which includes submission of standardized (SAT or ACT) test scores. Score optional consideration is the second option, intended specifically for students who believe that their test scores do not adequately reflect their level of academic achievement and/or predict their potential.

other students?” Rossell said. A Washington Post article recently said that more than 125 private colleges and universities featured in U.S. News and World Report rankings now have test-optional admission policies, according to the National Center for Fair and Open Testing, or FairTest. “I think you will see all types of schools continuing to have discussions about the role of test scores in the admissions process,” Takayama-Perez said. Rossell feels that scores do not always represent a student’s abilities. “SAT/ACT scores can totally be a good representation of a student’s academics, if that student studied hard for those tests. I personally didn’t study which is probably why my scores weren’t exceptional, but I know I’m not dumb,” Rossell said. “It’s not fair to judge a student’s abilities solely by their test scores when there are other methods for those abilities to be shown.” Plymyer strongly believes all schools should allow students to withdraw from submitting test scores given a valid reason, as Mason does. Janette Muir, the associate provost for undergraduate education, said Mason’s Office of Admissions carefully considers every student in a holistic way. “It’s not simply about test scores or GPA,” Muir said. “I’m proud of Mason’s role in taking the lead on this policy and helping to shape national conversations about the value of these various measures going forward.”

Freshman Bianca Rossell is another student who didn’t submit her test scores because she felt they were not very exceptional. “I felt the subjects I was tested on, particularly the math and science sections, were irrelevant to what I wanted to study. So I figured, why send these scores if they don’t have much to do with my intended career path and don’t benefit my standing among

Career Services overhaul leads to more jobs for graduates ELLEN GLICKMAN | NEWS EDITOR

Over the past five years, Mason Career Services has changed the way it helps students find jobs after graduation. And the change is working. Christine Cruzvergara, director of University Career Services, said the department has been changing to “an industry-focused, customized-connector model.” Generally, this means the focus has shifted from majors to what the industry wants. Before, career services staff helped students find jobs based off of chosen majors. The industry-focused model is now necessary, Cruzvergara said, because employers no longer are concerned with students’ majors, but want to see industry knowledge and broader capabilities. “Our employers don’t care what you majored in,” she said. “They want to know that you understand their industry. Can you talk shop? If you want to go into healthcare, can you talk about the issues that are happening in healthcare right now and how you’ll use whatever your background is to contribute to the work and their organization?” Cruzvergara has since seen an increase in the career outcomes rate of Mason graduates. The career outcomes rate is “all students with

a post-graduation plan,” which includes employment, graduate school, military or volunteer work. The rate is determined by an annual survey Career Services sends out to recent graduates. In 2010, the career outcomes rate was 66 percent. In 2014, it was 74 percent. That means 74 percent of graduates from the Class of 2014 “have solidified their plan,” Cruzvergara said. It does not necessarily mean that 74 percent of graduates have jobs. Survey respondents who said they were not currently seeking employment are not included in the rates. Undergraduate students of the Class of 2014 had a career outcomes rate of 68 percent — lower than the graduate students’ rate of 83 percent. Out of those undergraduates, 50 percent reported employment; 32.1 percent reported that they were seeking employment; and the rest said they had begun graduate school, volunteer work or the military. 77.3 percent of graduate students reported employment. The increase in the careers outcome rate occurred at the same time that a shift was happening within Career Services. “I came in the summer of 2011 with the charge to really re-envision what Career Services could look like for Mason and have been able to really overhaul all our services,” Cruzvergara said.

That overhaul led to the implementation of the industry-focused, customized-connecter model. “It really comes down to two major areas,” Cruzvergara said. “We wanted to prepare students better, and we wanted to connect them better to opportunities, to employers, and how we did that was we moved to an industry-focused model.” The new model is less focused on finding students careers that fit specifically with their majors. “We at Mason are really big about helping our students think more broadly about what they can do with their major and recognizing [that] in the 21st century jobs are really not about major equals career,” Cruzvergara said. One of the biggest changes was a three-team initiative designed to support students during every stage of the career search. The career counseling team helps students find areas of interest; industry advisors help students break into a particular field; and the professional development team teaches job skills from email etiquette to conflict management — “those types of things that nobody ever really teaches you, but you’re sort of expected to know how to do when you get into the workplace,” Cruzvergara said.

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She said Mason is ahead of the curve when it comes to this shift in career services. “Not all career centers are shifting and doing things differently,” Cruzvergara said. “But I think the ones that are are the ones that are really helping to serve their students better.” Mason has been recognized for leading this shift by setting an example for other career services departments to follow. Last October, Cruzvergara hosted a webinar for the Fullbridge Program called “Innovations in College-to-Career.” Fullbridge invited viewers to hear Cruzvergara explain how Mason “is tackling the college-to-career crisis” through the “new ‘customized connector’ model and the critical elements in leading this change effort.” Cruzvergara said approximately 350 institutions watched the webinar and that she received many follow-up phone calls and emails with requests for more assistance in converting to the new model. “I’ve lost track of the number of institutions that have called to say, ‘Tell us about your model, tell us how you led this change,’” Cruzvergara said. She said this shift among career services departments was precipitated by the recession in 2008. The Chronicle of Higher Education agreed. A report released this past summer, “The Value Equation: Measuring & Communicating the Return on Investment of a College Degree,” said, “Ever since the recession of 2008, colleges have been under pressure from students, parents, and lawmakers to better prove their value in the face of increasing tuition prices.” Unveiled Saturday, College Scorecard is a new federal government website that offers easy-to-read statistics of all colleges and universities that enroll students who receive federal financial aid. The data on the website is based off of students who have received or are receiving any kind of federal aid. Viewers can find the average annual cost of attending, graduation rate, and average student loan debt of graduates, among other statistics. According to College Scorecard, the median salary of Mason alumni 10 years after graduation is $57,000, which is higher than the national average of $34,343. That number for the University of Virginia is $58,600; for Virginia Tech it’s $57,900; for Virginia Commonwealth University it’s $41,800. Cruzvergara said there are many reasons Mason delivers a solid return on investment. “I would certainly never say it’s just because of Career Services that we have a really great return on investment,” Cruzvergara said. “I think it’s a number of factors.” Some of the other factors she listed were Mason’s commitment to accessibility, its Northern Virginia location and hands-on learning experience. “I also think that Mason as institution is about hands-on learning,” Cruzvergara said. “I think everything that you’re getting in the classroom from your faculty is helping to prepare you for the practicalities of life … I think this is a theory-to-practice kind of environment.” Cruzvergara also said there is something special about Mason students that leads to success in the workforce. “I also think the population of our students [is a factor],” she said. “I think Mason students are uniquely not-entitled and hard workers and just have a really amazing work ethic that our employers have noticed.”

Share a ride, bike, or take the shuttle for a greener commute to campus . Parking and Transportation * transportation.gmu.edu * transpo@gmu.edu * 703.993.2828

RIDESHARE

Parking 101 – Some Tips to Get You Started

Download the RideSystems app or visit mason.ridesystems.net to see when the next shuttle is arriving.

 Parking lots fill up fast. Allow extra time, especially the first few weeks of class to find a space.  Tuesdays and Thursdays (including the evenings) are the busiest days on campus.  On the busiest of days, it is recommended that those arriving to campus later in the morning park at the Field House, a 15 minute walk to the Johnson Center, as the lots on east campus will often fill. Also, don’t forget that general lot permits are valid on Levels 1-2 of Rappahannock River Parking Deck (but not in the visitor area).  Always read the signs to know if a lot or area is restricted to a certain type of permit. Do not park in reserved, service/repair, state vehicle, faculty/staff and administrative spaces.  Parking permits are required to park in any lot on Mason property.  Parking lots are enforced all year round, including the 1st week of classes and even when classes are not in session. Don’t believe the myths and rumors about a grace period.  Check the parking website parking.gmu.edu for the latest information regarding hours of enforcement and other important news affecting parking on campus and even when classes are not in session.  Visitor parking is available in Mason Pond, Shenandoah, and Rappahannock River Parking Decks as well as metered lots.  Pay attention to your Mason email as students are often emailed about temporary lot closures. Also, check building.gmu.edu for updates on events and construction.  Information about permit sales and online citation appeals and payment options is available online.  Always contact Parking Services if you have questions or concerns! We’re located in the Parking Services building next to the Shenandoah Parking Deck. You can also call us at 703-9932710 or email us at parking@gmu.edu.

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SciTech Campus Shuttle (formerly Prince William Campus)

CARPOOL ZONES in Lot A and Rappahannock Deck

Carpool to campus and park in a carpool zone. The carpool zones are available at 6am-11am on Mon – Fri to anyone with a General Parking Permit, more info at: transportation.gmu.edu/lota

Student Carpool Program

Join a carpool and save up to 40% on the parking permit. Find out more info at transportation.gmu.edu/studentspool.

Zimride

Have a car? Need a ride? Zimride is Mason’s private rideshare network. Sign up for free with your Mason email address and password at zimride.gmu.edu. The service will match you with others who are traveling the same way that you are.

Zipcar

Need a car? Mason has three Zipcar vehicles on campus which can be rented by the hour or day. Sign up at zipcar.com/zipgmu, new members will receive $35 in free driving credit. Gas and insurance are included in the rental rate.

BIKE PROGRAMS

Mason has over 1300 bike parking spots on campus, bike pumps, fix-it stations and is a “Bicycle Friendly University”.. To find out more about bicycling to campus and to see a map of all facilities, please visit bike.gmu.edu. Bicycle Registration Register your bicycle at bike.gmu.edu and receive a free U-lock, lock, registration sticker, and coupons to bike shops.

SHUTTLES & RAIL

Visit shuttle.gmu.edu for updated shuttle schedules and to learn more about green transportation options which save you $$ and help lower CO2 emissions.

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Mason to Metro Shuttle

The SciTech Campus shuttle runs seven days a week between the Fairfax and SciTech campuses. On Mon-Thu, the shuttle runs every thirty minutes during the day. The shuttle also stops at Manassas Mall.

The shuttle runs between Fairfax Campus and Vienna Metro station. On the Schedule 6:25am – 10:15pm Monday – Friday weekend, the shuttle also stops at Mason Townhouses (at Chain Bridge Road & West St.) and Fairfax Circle (at Lee Highway & Circle Woods Drive). 8:00am – 7:00pm Saturday – Sunday Schedule 6:00am – 11:00pm 6:00am – 3:00am 8:00am – 3:00am 8:00am – 11:00pm

Monday – Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

Metro Express

The shuttle runs between Rappahannock River Ln, Fairfax Circle (at Lee Highway & Circle Woods Drive) and Vienna Metro. Schedule 7:15am – 10:35pm Monday – Thursday Abridged Service on Friday

Gunston’s Go-Bus

The Gunston’s Go-Bus picks up at Sandy Creek shuttle stop and provides service from Fairfax campus to University Mall, Fair Lakes Center, Fair Oaks Mall, Ridge Top Road, Fairfax Corner, and Old Town Fairfax. Mason Route 6:40am – 9:45pm Monday – Friday 3:00pm – 9:45pm Saturday – Sunday George Route 3:00pm – 9:00pm Monday – Sunday

Metro Rail

Burke Centre VRE Express – FREE GARAGE PARKING

The closest Metro stop in Fairfax is Vienna Metro station on the Orange Line. The Orange Line also goes to various locations in Washington, DC. To visit the Arlington campus, take the Orange Line to Virginia SqGMU Metro station. Metro Rail Map: wmata.com/rail/maps/map.

Schedule 7:10am – 10:45am Monday – Friday 2:45pm – 7:50pm Monday – Friday

NEW Silver Line on Metro Rail

The shuttle runs between Burke Centre VRE train station and Sandy Creek shuttle stop on the Fairfax Campus. The shuttle only runs when the VRE train is in service. Free garage parking is available at the train station.

West Campus Shuttle

The Silver Line is a new metroRail line in Northern Virginia and connects Reston, Tysons Corner, and other stops to the East Falls Church stop on the Orange Line.

The shuttle runs between West Campus, Field House, Rappahannock River CUE Bus Lane, Presidents Park, and Sandy Creek. At 7am-10am and 3pm-6pm All City of Fairfax CUE Buses are FREE with Mason ID. The CUE service will be every 10-15 minutes, and every 20 minutes during all other Bus picks up on Fairfax campus at Rappahannock River Lane and can times. take you to various places in Fairfax with all routes winding up at the Schedule Vienna Metro Station: cuebus.org. 7:00am – 12:00am Monday – Friday @MasonShuttles No Service on Saturday Mason Parking & Transportation @MasonParking 2:00pm – 12:00am Sunday

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Lifestyle

04.20.2015

Music club brings jam session to a new level JESSE HARMAN | STAFF WRITER

Student organizations at Mason serve a variety of great purposes for students: helping form networks of friends and acquaintances in an unfamiliar environment; honing students’ practical talents and skills to prepare them for entering the workforce; or simply, a place to spend time in a friendly atmosphere. Few organizations offer all of these listed qualities – as well as a firm policy of inclusivity – the way the Music Productions Club (MPC) does. “Music Productions Club formed in 2010 as a means for students outside of a music major to practice their craft in a campus environment,” said Caroline Weinroth, the first female president in the club’s history. In its early years, the club mostly consisted of occasional ‘jam sessions.’ Members would join together, network among themselves, form bands and practice their instruments. This formula was fairly effective – at least for those who thrived in that sort of environment. Weinroth, a guitarist and singer/songwriter for the local band Cinema Hearts, expressed how club operations generally left newer and younger members out of the loop. “I joined my sophomore year,” she said. “I was just learning how to play the guitar, so I couldn’t exactly join in on the other members’ jam sessions. There wasn’t a whole lot for me to really do. There was this sense of exclusivity in the club, and that’s something I hope to change.” The club now features a much different approach to community building. The weekly jam sessions are still a staple, although they have taken on a slightly different approach. “We’re trying to draw anyone who’s interested in music not just musicians,” said Weinroth, “That means anyone with interests in the business side of music, how to set up and run shows, how to work sound equipment, and even just talking about their favorite artists. We plan on putting on workshops for anyone who’s interested, especially those who don’t play instruments. We want to start to cultivate and capitalize on this built-in underground scene available at Mason.” Interest in the club has peaked among younger students, and the shift towards building a positive community is boosting the spirits of even longtime club members. “I know MPC is helping musicians meet more musicians,” said returning member Sam Smith. “I went to a jam session, and I was instantly greeted and began playing my saxophone with a bass player and a couple guitar players. It definitely brings people together.” Through collaboration with other clubs and organizations, as well as a revamped and well-utilized social media presence, the MPC is rapidly growing its member base. The necessary hard work to keep an organization thriving is cut out for the club, but the results are already promising. “One thing I expect from the club this semester as opposed to previous semesters is the greater number of individuals that will come out to meetings and events,” said Kevin Engle, the club’s vice president. “The first open mic the organization had [this semester] during the first week back was probably one of the largest turn

outs we’ve had for an MPC event in the longest time.” Another goal the club works towards is less Masoncentric: integration with the surrounding music scenes of Fairfax, Northern Virginia and D.C. While the club mainly attempts to foster a healthy and friendly music scene on campus, its events and shows are designed to bring the feel of a D.C. show to Mason. “My favorite aspect of the club is that it gives students a place to jam and the ability for students to perform with shows,” said Engle. “We are able to bring the shows to the students here on campus instead of having to travel into D.C.”

(COURTESY OF MPC)

Music Productions Club members jam.

The shows lined up for the semester are designed to not only give students a glimpse of the surrounding music scene, but also to present George Mason and Fairfax as a legitimate location for music communities to thrive. “I really think it’s important for school pride to accompany this scene,” said Weinroth. “We’ve got an event coming up with The Duskwhales performing, and they’re a Mason-based band with a really great following. The idea is that we’ll have students come out to these shows, or even just pass through by chance, and they’ll see this very real scene. This is what a show is like! And on top of it all, this is a Mason event! That’s something worth having pride in.” MPC remains an organization based solely around the people it welcomes. New members tend to stick around for more than just the occasional meeting, and truly wonderful experiences take shape. “MPC has definitely affected my life in a positive way,” said Engle. “[A] positive aspect of the club [is] the individuals I have met in the club, many of whom I have become close friends with here on campus.” Now with a growing member base and increasing interest, the club can focus its efforts on expanding. A championing point of the process is the effort to create a fully inclusive space for all potential members.

Weinroth certainly understands the necessity of establishing a safe and positive environment for students. “As [p]resident,” she said, “I can’t stress enough that I want this to be an all-inclusive, safe space. The best music environments I’ve been around are progressive and conscious of their members and atmosphere. I don’t want this organization to be an exclusive club for guys who already know each other. I want this to be a community.” MPC is not a group pulled together purely through self-interest. It provides something simple for musicians and music fans on campus: a space to come together, talk about music, write songs, form bands and make friends. Upcoming Events: Weekly Meetings: Fridays from 1:30 to 4 p.m. in the JC Dance Studio. Weekly Open Mics: Thursdays from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Side Pocket September 28: The Duskwhales (GMU), T-Rock (GMU), and Funeral Advantage (Touring from Boston) at 7:30 p.m. in the Side Pocket.

lifestyle

04.20.2015

GMUFOURTHESTATE.COM @IVESTATE

Useful Apps: DASH

SAVANNAH NORTON | LIFESTYLE EDITOR

Dash is solving many restaurant and bar customers’ biggest buzzkill: waiting for the check. The app has most recently paired with the popular Mason spot, the Auld Shebeen, and many D.C. locations. The Auld Shebeen posted on their Facebook page May 13 to express their excitement about their new collaboration with Dash. “Cash and Credit are so 2014, pay with the Dash mobile app when you’re at the Auld Shebeen and earn free money! So Cool!” the post read. “Think of it as Uber but for dining out,” said Fletcher Cox, a marketing intern for Dash and a junior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Created in New York City in 2013, Dash now features over 150 restaurants in 50 college towns across the country, including Ann Arbor (University of Michigan), Bloomington (Indiana University), Waco (Baylor University), and now Fairfax. Using the app requires a user to input credit card information, which can be manually entered or synced through Facebook and Venmo. The app handles the rest. “You check in on your app once you’re close enough (to the restaurant) and then once you are taking your order, all you do is tell your server that you are paying with Dash,” Cox explained. “They click a couple buttons on an iPad that Dash provides them and enter your order number. Once you have ordered, and they put into the system and it immediately pops up on your phone.” Dash uses the point of sale (POS) system at bars and restaurants. “You get a live view of what you ordered,” said Cox. Users can watch their tab throughout their meal at the restaurant. Cox mentioned that many users’ favorite feature Dash’s ability to let them view their tab total in real time. Going for a night out with friends can be tricky in college because everyone likes to split checks. This app supports itemized bill splitting, making sure that everyone pays only for what they ordered. “We eliminated the need of college kids trying to figure out how to close their tab at the end on the night, losing time waiting on the tab, or forgetting your credit card at the bar,” said Cox. “If you are paying with Dash you don’t even need to bring your wallet, you can just go out.” Dash is also providing restaurants and bars with actionable analytics each month based on data

captured through the app.

“This app changes the interaction between the server and the patron. But the only thing that is eliminated is the inconvenience of the waiter coming and asking for your check,” said Cox. “The servers actually like it more than anybody. It cuts out any awkward interactions and added wait times for the customers. And it lets them do their job a little better. Everything is already set, they can focus on other things.” Dash users can suggest that new venues be added to the app using a feature called “Request Venue,” which lets customers mark restaurants and bars they would like to implement the app. Dash then sends a message out to venues telling them customers are interested in being able to make payments via Dash. Users can also refer a friend to the app and will be awarded $5 in Dash Cash. The app also has a feature that measures how crowded and loud a venue is. It ranges on a scale of “quiet” to “lively,” letting users know what the bar or restaurant environment is like before they enter. At the end of the night out, users can simply call an Uber straight from the Dash app to get a ride home. Cox explained that Dash earns back their money by taking a small transaction fee. “Very similar to any credit card process,” said Cox. Dash has offered Mason students the promo code “GOPATRIOTS” that they can manually enter after downloading the app to redeem $10 in Dash Cash. This free app is compatible with iPhone and Android.

(COURTESY OF DASH)

ATTENTION: A CLINICAL RESEARCH STUDY FOR WOMEN

Here is a list of the D.C Venues Dash is registered with:

Grapeseed (Bethesda) Jake’s Boiler Room Nick’s Riverside Grill Johnny Pistolas Lapis Southern Hospitality The Fainting Goat The Exchange Capitol City Brewing Company Irish Channel Johnny’s Half Shell Kelly’s Irish Times RedRocks- H Street The Queen Vic Smith Commons Agua 301

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@Iavramovic Ivan Avramovic

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“One of my fave things about GMU so far is def the way people legit walk up to you and engage in conversation lol”

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@OhDamn_itsDani Dani Renee

FREE TICKETS FOR MASON STUDENTS! BEST OF FAVS Sept. 18 at 3:30 p.m. FREE HT

THE MIDTOWN MEN Sept. 19 at 8 p.m. $54, $46, $32 HC 2 Free Tickets with ID, avail. Sept. 8 FAIRFAX SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA Sept. 19 at 8 p.m. $58, $46, $34 CA 1 Free Ticket per ID, avail. Sept. 8 GRAND PIANO CELEBRATION Sept. 20 at 3 p.m. $20 adults, $15 youth/seniors CA 1 Free Ticket per ID, avail. Sept. 8

CA CENTER FOR THE ARTS

KEYBOARD CONVERSATIONS® WITH JEFFREY SIEGEL Music of Joyous Celebration! Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. $40, $34, $24 CA 2 Free Tickets per ID, avail. Sept. 8 VISUAL VOICES SPEAKER SERIES It’s Not What You Think Catherine Kehoe, speaker Sept. 24 at 7:30 p.m. FREE HT

AN EVENING WITH BERNADETTE PETERS Sept. 26 at 8 p.m. $100, $85, $60 CA 1 Free Ticket per ID, avail. Sept. 15

HT HARRIS THEATRE

7 0 3 - 9 9 3 - 8 8 8 8 O R C FA . G M U . E D U / S T U D E N T S

CENTER FOR THE ARTS FAIRFAX

EXHIBITION Eco Reflections: Creative Responses to a Changing Environment Oct.1 – 31 FREE MG

FALL FOR THE BOOK Mason Award Presentation Diana Gabaldon, speaker Sept. 27 at 6:30 p.m. FREE CA

VISUAL VOICES SPEAKER SERIES Loading Content School of Art Graduate Students, speakers Oct. 1 at 7:30 p.m. FREE HT

FALL FOR THE BOOK Haute Cuisine at the Hylton Oct. 1 at 6 p.m. FREE HC EXHIBITION Unfriendly Skies: Birds, Buildings, and Collisions Oct. 1 – 31 FREE various venues, Fairfax Campus

HC HYLTON CENTER

METROPOLITAN JAZZ ORCHESTRA To Swing Through the Sky Oct. 3 at 8 p.m. $44, $37, $26 HC 2 Free Tickets per ID, avail. Sept. 22

MG MASON HALL GALLERY

7 0 3 - 9 9 3 - 7 7 5 9 O R H Y LT O N C E N T E R . O R G / S T U D E N T S

HYLTON PERFORMING ARTS CENTER PRINCE WILLIAM

A STUDENT MEDIA PARTNERSHIP

09.14.2015

A CULTU R A L F E S T I VA L FO R G E O R G E MASO N U N IV ER SIT Y A ND THE DC A R EA

Solos on the Oud 3 by Saadi Youssef; translated by Khaled Mattawa Land where I no longer live, distant land where the sky weeps, where the women weep, where people only read the newspaper. Country where I no longer live, lonely country, sand date palms, and brook. O wound and spike of wheat! O anguish of long nights!

Al-Mutanabbi Street Starts Here DC 2016 (AMSSH) is a book arts and cultural festival planned for January through March 2016, throughout the Washington DC area. Exhibits, programs, and events will commemorate the 2007 bombing of Baghdad’s historic bookselling street, and celebrate the free exchange of ideas and knowledge, to stand in solidarity with the people of Iraq, who have endured so much; and with people at home and abroad who are unable to make their voices heard.

Country where I no longer live, my outcast country, from you I only gained a traveler’s sails, a banner ripped by daggers and fugitive stars.

Coalition of Partners (Each week we will feature a different partner) In 2014 a group of non-profit institutions and passionate individuals came together to discuss their ideas and begin to organize an array of exhibitions, poetry readings, performances, hands-on street festival activities, and educational

programs for the Al-Mutanabbi Street Starts Here project. These partners include George Mason’s School of Art and Fenwick and Provisions Libraries, Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, Split This Rock, McLean Project for the Arts, Corcoran at

George Washington University and Georgetown University, Cultural DC, Smithsonian Libraries, and National Portrait Gallery Library, and Brentwood Arts Exchange. For programming and AMSSHDC partner events, visit: www.amsshdc2016.org/events

Featured Partner: SPLIT THIS ROCK “The mission of Split This Rock is to cultivate, teach, and celebrate poetry that bears witness to injustice and provokes social change. Split This Rock’s programs explore and promote the many ways that poetry can act as an agent for change: reaching across differences, considering personal and social responsibility, asserting the centrality of the right to free speech, bearing witness to the diversity and complexity of human experience through language, imagining a better world. Split This Rock is especially excited to present contemporary poets and poetry of Iraq and the Arab world. Our literary programming for the AlMutanabbi Street Starts Here roject will present contemporary poets and poetry of Iraq and the

Arab world and celebrate the translators and publishers who bring these essential voices to English-speaking readers and audiences. Confirmed to date are poets Philip Metres and Hala Alyan. Stay tuned for details on readings, translation and writing workshops, and public conversations on the craft and politics of translation, as well as the many ways that contemporary poets throughout the world are standing in solidarity with the people of Iraq and everywhere the free exchange of ideas in under threat.“ Poetry Readings: SUNDAY KIND OF LOVE 3rd Sunday of every month, 5:00 -7:00 pm Busboys and Poets @ 14th and V Street www.busboysandpoets.com/poetry/sunday-kind-of-love

Poet Sarah Browning on Capitol Hill, Washington DC

This is part of an ongoing series about the AMSSHDC2016 project.

LINEAGE: Call and Response Exhibition Call & Response is an annual collaboration between writers and visual artists, in which one calls and one responds. The result is a set of paired works, resonating with each other, demonstrating the interplay of artistic media, and speaking of our times.

09.14.2015

Peter Stearns Provost Emeritus, George Mason University: “….the most familiar message of Al-Mutanabbi Street is the reminder of the need to win wider respect for freedom of expression and the importance of promoting this value over recourse to violence of any sort, by any party. This is not an American or Western standard alone. As noted, the Arab world has its own monuments to diverse expression. Al-Mutanabbi reminds us that a global heritage is involved, and that there’s global value in promoting the conditions essential to creative inquiry and expression.“

This year, which marks the seventh Call & Response, visual artists and writers collaborated along the theme of Lineage. Lineage, applied to the conversation between art, literature, culture, and self, asks the question: what is the legacy of art and speech in our everyday lives? In society? How does artistic expression in and alongside social movements result in a solidarity of tradition, a larger communal identity? Noor Y. Hamidaddin, Janbiyah, 2006, digital The Call & Response exhibits began as a photograph, 12 x 12 inches collaboration between professors Helen Frederick (School of Art) and Susan Tichy (Department of English). This year, Frederick and Tichy passed the curatorial reigns to Mason alumni M. Mack, Marcos Martinez, Anne Smith, and current graduate student Qinglan Wang. The exhibition explores the themes of Lineage and Cultural Memory, in solidarity with our Mason community, that are vital to the AlMutanabbi Street Starts Here mission.

PANEL DISCUSSION AND OPENING RECEPTION:

Dina Scheel, The Cycle of Censorship, 2012, Cotton linen fabric display sheet, 7.5 x 3 x 7.5 inches

Wednesday, September 30th, 2– 4pm | Fenwick Library, 2nd Floor Conference Room

WHITNEY MORRIS AVT, Photography

Student Spotlight: Helen Zughaib at Navigation Press

“It has been my privilege to work with Jennifer Rinalducci, Art and Art History Librarian at the Fenwick Library to photograph these artist book from the AMSSH project. These works are truly moving in both content and artistic design, as they portray the artist’s and poet’s emotions and reactions to a tragic event, and emphasize the right to freedom of expression and ideas.”

SARAH ZUCKERMANN MFA, Printmaker “Helen Zughaib’s generous sharing of her stories and reasons for creating artwork has provided an invaluable experience, leading me to a deeper understanding of events around the world through her humanitarian perspective. I truly appreciate the opportunity to work side by side with Zughaib in creating this print edition.”

Get Involved! This festival is made possible by a dedicated team of volunteers. To volunteer your time, contact: HELEN FREDERICK, hfrederi@gmu.edu or

Navigation Press celebrates Helen Zughaib’s residence

ALYSSA HADLEY, School of Art Undergraduate PAT SARGENT MFA, Interarts “Helen’s comments specifically touched my heart when she discussed the spider web or stitching that binds our lives to one another and anchors our society, into a common narrative, a complex story where each of us has a chapter”

“It has been a sincere pleasure to work alongside Helen Zughaib. I have always been amazed by the power of art. Art has the ability to break down barriers and communicate where words fail. Helen’s use of her creative talents to share her vision for humanity’s future is nothing short of inspirational. I can only hope that one day my work will be as authentic and honest as hers is today.”

NIKKI BRUGNOLI, nbrugnol@gmu.edu GOT A QUESTION? info@amsshdc2016.org I AM IRAQI / I READ YouTube Video: ow.ly/RtBB0 Join the conversation:

@AMSSHDC2016 Visit our website for more information:

www.amsshdc2016.org AMSSH thanks Fourth Estate for its generous and ongoing support. Designed by Danielle Coates

Sports

09.14.2015

GMUFOURTHESTATE.COM @IVESTATE

Mason soccer players score honors DAVID SCHRACK | STAFF WRITER

(DAVID SCHRACK/FOURTH ESTATE)

to be able to score in overtime,” Downey said.

Mason men’s and women’s soccer programs have had successful kick-offs this year, with two players taking home awards for their performances. The Atlantic 10 Conference named women’s central defender Abby Downey Player of the Week and men’s center forward Stephen Durbin Rookie of the Week. Downey’s award, announced August 31, came off the heels of her game-winning goal in double over time in the women’s match against University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) on August 28. “We definitely played a great first half that game,” Downey said. “The second half we came out a little unprepared and UMBC had a lot of energy that we just weren’t ready for, so we kind of struggled a little bit.” Downey, a sophomore from Leesburg, Va., said it was the beginning of the second half when UMBC scored two goals, leaving Mason behind by one point. UMBC’s comeback “flipped a switch” for the Patriots, causing forward Erin Mitchell to score a goal that evened the match at 2-2 and drove it into overtime. After a scoreless overtime drew the match into double overtime, Downey scored the winning goal in the 106th minute off a corner kick from midfielder Kaila Williams. Downey believes her player of the week award is the result of a “huge team effort” that included Mitchell’s goal, Williams’ assistance and a combined push from the entire team. “I wouldn’t have been able to get the honor without our team fighting to the end and scoring in the last two seconds of regulation play

Stephen Durbin took home the Rookie of the Week award in the Atlantic 10’s ﬁrst round of weekly honors. “To be honest, it means a lot but it still means I have room to improve,” Durbin said. Durbin won Rookie of the Week because of his performance across two games the weekend before the awards were announced. Mason played against Howard University on August 28 and against American University on August 30. “The ﬁrst match I came on as a sub. I just wanted to do my best and I ended up getting two assists in that game,” said Durbin. “I felt really good about that match and we ended up winning 5 to 1.” Two days later, Durbin played the entirety of the match against American and scored the Patriots’ lone goal in the 78th minute, though the Patriots ultimately fell to American 1 to 3. “I feel like I could have done more because we ended up losing,” Durbin explained. “Even though I scored a goal I felt like I could’ve done more for the team.”

Stephen Durbin on the field the week after winning the award. physically and mentally and in every aspect of the game.”

Durbin, a freshman from Burke, Va., played soccer for Lake Braddock Secondary School before joining Mason’s soccer program.

Since the reception of their awards, the men’s team suffered a 2-0 loss against Albany on September 5, while the women’s team defeated Appalachian State 1-0 on September 6.

When comparing collegiate level soccer to high school level, Durbin recognized that “[Collegiate level soccer] has been a lot more intense, a lot more physical, a lot faster. It’s been more demanding

The women’s team will host Illinois State on a doubleheader with the men’s team, who will host Fairleigh Dickinson, on September 11.

Yoga trends take students off-campus COURTNEY HOFFMAN | SPORTS EDITOR

A new, off-campus class trend is spreading among Mason’s yoga and Pilates gurus. Students are turning down the convenience and pricing of on-campus options for the variety and pizzaz of local yoga studios. Spark Yoga studio is located in the Mosaic District in Merriﬁeld, Va. The studio offers a new student discount that lets college students enjoy a week of unlimited classes for just $20.

(MEGAN ZENDEK/FOURTH ESTATE)

Mason offers a variety of yoga classes throughout the week including traditional yoga classes: Yoga and Pilates Infusion, and

Pilates with Props. The Center for Advancement of Well-Being recently joined with Mason Recreation and now offers a free, weekly Pilates and Barre Fusion course on Tuesdays at noon.

Mason senior Colleen Walsh, an active athlete during her entire four years at Mason, has been taking advantage of the Unlimited Yoga discount offered by Spark Yoga.

Mason even offered a week of free yoga classes during the ﬁrst week of school to allow students to try out different options.

“I choose to go off-campus because Spark Yoga offers heated classes, while [Mason] does not. I feel like the heated room offers more of an intense workout,” Walsh said.

In comparison to Mason, Spark Yoga offers a wider variety of classes, including Aerial Yoga, Pilates, Barre, Community Yoga, and Hot Yoga.

Walsh has attended Mason yoga classes in the past but feels that Spark Yoga instructors are more invested in their practice.

Even with proximity and pricing in Mason’s favor, however, many students have been opting out of the on-campus options and driving out to Spark Yoga and other off-campus studios for a more fulﬁlling workout.

“They are very knowledgeable in both the mental and physical aspects of yoga and are able to challenge their students,” Walsh said. “I would deﬁnitely suggest that people try out Spark. Although the classes are expensive, the classes are worth it.”

Aerial Yoga is a class involving spinal decompression and an intense upper body workout. Barre classes focus on interval training of the thighs and abdomen.

Spark Yoga has specialty pricing for students, full-time teachers, members of the military and ﬁrst responders, including an $18 drop-in rate and a 10-class pack for $162. Regular 10-class packs are priced between $208 and $270. Students at Mason can pay either $50 per semester or an $8 drop-in rate to attend Mason classes.

Spark Yoga is best known for its variety of yoga classes, though, such as Yin Yoga, Yoga at the Wall, Vinyasa and Yoga with Weights.