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FOURTH ESTATE February 13, 2017 | Volume 4 Issue 14 George Mason University’s official student news outlet gmufourthestate.com | @IVEstate
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Executive order reactions
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An inside look: Giant Food
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Take a break
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Fourth Estate Crime Log
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MacKenzie Reagan Sosan Malik Co-Editors-In-Chief
Todd Gonda
Feb. 3
2017-001357 / Destruction / Damage / Vandalism of Property Complainant (GMU) reported damage to a vehicle. West Lot | Information Only | 12:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Copy Chief
Megan Zendek Art Director
Fareeha Rehman Online Editor
Natalia Kolenko Campus Editor
Mia Wise
WE ARE HIRING! We are currently looking to fill the following editor positions:
- SPORTS - CULTURE - ONLINE/ SOCIAL MEDIA/ MULTIMEDIA ASSISTANT
- PHOTO We are always recruiting new members for our staff teams: - NEWS WRITERS - CULTURE WRITERS - SPORTS WRITERS - COPY EDITORS - DESIGNERS - PHOTOGRAPHERS For inquiries, please email a resume and two clips (or samples of work for visuals) to:
Feb. 5
2017-001432 / Intimidation Complainant (Non-GMU) reported being threatened by a group of subjects (GMU) following a dispute. York River Road outside Potomac Heights | Pending | 1:04 AM
Billy Ferguson Graphics Editor
Alina Moody Caitlin Herron Edna McClung Christina Comerford Copy Editors
Feb. 5
2017-001437 / Liquor Law Violations / Drunkenness / Drug /Narcotic Violations / Drug Equipment Violations Subject (GMU) was arrested and transported to Fairfax County Adult Detention Center (ADC) for being highly intoxicated in public while under age 21. Two other subjects (GMU) were referred to Office of Student Conduct (OSC) for possessing alcohol while under age 21. UPDATE 2/9/2017: Arrest warrant obtained for one subject (GMU) found in possession of illegal drugs. UPDATE 2/10/2017: Subject (GMU) was served the arrest warrant and transported to Fairfax County Adult Detention Center. Patriot Circle / Rappahannock River Way | Cleared by Arrest / Referred to OSC | 3:00 AM
Emmett Smith Distribution Manager
Kathryn Mangus Director
David Carroll Associate Director
Leslie Steiger Fiscal and Operations Assistant Director
Alyssa Swaney Sales Team
Wesley Ward Sales Team
Jason Brightman Sales Team
Feb. 5
CSA Report #020817-2 / Sexual Assault / Fondling Mason Police was notified by a Mason Employee that an undisclosed victim (GMU) was fondled by an undisclosed subject (GMU) known to the victim. Due to confidentiality of reporting, limited information is available regarding this incident. Fairfax Campus / Student Housing | Information Only | Incident Time Not Reported
ON THE COVER
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Photo by Sosan Malik.
AND apply online at:
U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (D) and George Mason President Ă ngel Cabrera walk through Merten Hall on Feb. 10. The two discussed President Trump's recent executive order with students. The event happened too close to deadline to appear in this issue. The story will be posted on gmufourthestate.com and will be printed in next week's issue.
http://c2ms.info/osmapply
Assistant Campus Editor
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-in-Chief 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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The life and legacy of Yama Quraishi Grad student dies in terrorist attack in Afghanistan ERIK TRUONG | STAFF WRITER
Mason faced a somber day Jan. 10 when Mason graduate student Yama Quraishi was killed in a terrorist attack while in Afghanistan. Working for the Afghanistan Embassy in D.C. as the head of the passport section, Quraishi advocated for peaceful relations and held a personal agenda of eradicating polio in his native country. Quraishi was working towards his master’s degree at Mason’s School of Conflict Analysis and Resolution. He was 34 years old. As reported by CNN in the article, “Dozens killed in Kabul suicide bombings, Kandahar blast,” Quraishi was on a humanitarian mission in Afghanistan when he died. He was staying at the Kandahar province governor’s guesthouse when there was a terrorist bombing near the residence. Kandahar Governor Humayun Azizi and an envoy from the United Arab Emirates were lightly wounded, but it the Afghan Embassy later confirmed that Quraishi was killed in the attack. According to CNN, attacks were rampant that Tuesday, with three additional suicide bombings and an explosion in Kabul killing more than 36 people and wounding 76 others. The attacks were claimed by the Taliban. Dean Kevin Avruch of the School
for Conflict Analysis and Resolution mourned the death of Quraishi the following day on Facebook. “Other students come to S-CAR from less dangerous places, but after completing their studies choose to work where their skills and dedication are needed most. All of them work in the service of peace,” Avruch said. Hamid Farhad, a consultant for the non-profit organization WATERisLIFE, said he became close friends with Quraishi before his passing. Farhad said he would do favors for Quraishi like pick him and his family up from Dulles Airport, and their professional relationship grew to a sibling bond. Farhad added that, after working together in and out of the office, they became carpool companions to and from the embassy every single day. They collaborated on economic issues regarding Afghanistan and helped coordinate and arrange meetings for high-level diplomats within the D.C. area. They would regularly have after-work dinners together or go on weekend excursions to the gym and grocery store. “I didn’t see this as a friendship,” Farhad said, “I saw him as an older brother [and a] best friend. The advice he gave me, the talks we had… it was truly priceless.” Farhad emphasized that, while in his
early thirties, Quraishi was already a bright and optimistic fighter for his motherland. Prior to his diplomatic duties, Farhad wrote, Quraishi was Former President Hamid Karzai’s personal secretary and a medical doctor in Afghanistan with UNICEF. He worked towards his personal goal of eradicating the endemic poliovirus from Afghanistan. According to President Cabrera’s statement the day after Quraishi’s death, Quraishi had been involved for more than two years in a polio eradication campaign and personally helped administer care to those in remote villages. According to the World Health Organization’s website, the number of polio cases decreased to 74 in Afghanistan in 2014—a 99 percent drop since 1988, when there were more than 350,000 reported cases. Larry Sampler, who previously worked as an assistant administrator for the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Office of Afghanistan and Pakistan Affairs, met Quraishi often at the embassy. While not a close friend, Sampler said he found Quraishi to be a valiant patriot for his country. “At a time when many Afghans were departing Afghanistan, he voted with his feet to remain committed to making his country better,” Sampler said. Alaha Ahrar is a renowned advocate
and human rights activist working for the community outreach organization FACETS’ education and community development program in Fairfax. Ahrar and Quraishi first met at an official meeting that focused on human rights, Ahrar said.
than a mourning of those who knew him; his untimely death deprived his homeland of the potential he had to offer, they said.
Ahrar said that although Quraishi was a talented doctor who had already been through the rigorous training of medical school, as soon as he arrived in the U.S., he had a desire for more education.
President Cabrera passed on a message to the Mason community via a university-wide e-mail, saying, “Quraishi represented the best of George Mason University... When we say that Mason students are driven to serve, I can think of no better example than the life that Mr. Quraishi lived.”
“He said, ‘I fulfilled my parents’ wish of becoming a medical doctor, now they are happy. It is my turn now,’” Ahrar said.
“Yama was a patriot who always wanted to return to Afghanistan and help out the country and its people,” Farhad said.
Ahrar remembered him then setting his eye on a degree in conflict resolution—a subject close to his heart. It when then that Ahrar recommended Mason for consideration, and after a week of contemplation, Quraishi chose to attend. “I believe, directly and indirectly, he educated so many students by sharing first-hand information about Afghanistan’s political situation with all,” Ahrar said. To Ahrar, Sampler and Farhad, the death of Quraishi became more
(PHOTO COURTESY OF HAMID FARHAD)
Student Government update Key legislation, discussion and debates RYAN COONEY | STUDENT GOVERNMENT BEAT WRITER
Student government met Feb. 2 for its weekly meeting in Merten Hall 1201. Key legislation of the day included discussion on Resolution 29, which sought to establish a relationship with the Fairfax City Council, and Bill 17, which included funding for the Tuition Tell All event.
Resolution 29 had previously come before the senate during its meeting Jan. 26. Following a lengthy discussion, the senate sent the resolution back to the Government and Community Relations Committee for language revisions. Following the revisions, the resolution once again passed committee unanimously and then was passed unanimously by the senate. Bill 17 was created to appropriate
funds for the student government’s Tuition Tell All event. The event was established so that students would be able to discuss future changes to tuition costs and their concerns surrounding those changes. The Tuition Tell All event will be held Feb. 15 at 7:30 p.m. in the Johnson Center Bistro. The student government, Senior Vice President for Administration and Finance J.J. Davis
and Vice President for University Life Rose Pascarell will be at the event to discuss students concerns. Bill 17, which was also passed unanimously, appropriated $60 for handbills -- to be used as advertisements for the event -- and $150 for giveaways for a total of $210. In addition to passing Resolution 29 and Bill 17, the senate also received two resignations from Senators John
Kielbowicz and Meeghan Schrecongost due to time conflicts. The senate also appointed Senator Nick Fisch to the position of Faculty Senate Liaison. Senator Fisch was very happy following the vote and said, “I hope to bridge the communication gap between the faculty senate and student senate while also fighting for changes that are mutually beneficial and positive for all at Mason.”
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Students protest executive order, others show support The Mason community reacts to Trump’s travel ban SARAH BASSIL | STAFF WRITER
Hundreds of Mason students met outside of North Plaza at approximately 3 p.m. Jan. 31 to protest an executive order signed by President Donald J. Trump. The executive order, titled “Protection of the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States,” was signed Jan. 27, a week after Trump was inaugurated as the 45th President of the United States. This executive order revoked the visas of 60,000 people, according to the U.S. Department of State. The order bars all persons from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Somalia from entering the United States for 90 days and suspends the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program for 120 days, according to the executive order released by the White House via the Office of the Press Secretary. James L. Robart, a federal district judge in Seattle, issued a temporary restraining order against the order Feb. 3. On Feb. 7, several federal judges heard arguments in Washington vs. Trump,
which challenged the legality and constitutionality of Trump’s executive order. As of Feb. 9, President Trump’s executive order was unanimously rejected by a federal appeals panel. Yet the certainty of the court’s decision still hangs in the balance: within minutes of the ruling, Trump told reporters at the White House and posted on Twitter that he plans to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court. The order incited significant political backlash towards President Trump, with the order causing numerous protests in both the United States and abroad. Mason, along with hundreds of universities across the country, was not immune to the growing conflict towards the Trump administration. That’s when students like Adam Proctor, a Mason graduate student and one of the protest leaders, decided to start a protest on campus. Proctor said he was encouraged and inspired by the protests the previous Friday and Saturday, especially at Dulles airport when people first started protesting Trump’s executive order. “I think it’s extremely important to
organize and show dissent where you live and work,” Proctor said. “Throughout recent American history, the university campus has been a critical site of resistance. I felt with the large international and Muslim student population at GMU, we have an important role to play as a site of resistance to these xenophobic and illegal policies.” The protest was organized by several organizations, including but not limited to Students Against Israeli Apartheid, Muslim Students’ Association, Mason DREAMERS, GMU Student Power and the Mason Muslim Affairs Council. The Mason Muslim Affairs Council held a workshop the day before the protest that provided posters and markers to make signs for the protest. Students Against Israeli Apartheid President Lucas Rodriguez said he was happy with the turnout at the rally and hopes to work with the Muslim Students’ Association and Student Power in the future. “We hope that the rage against Trumps actions will transform into students organizing not just against Trump
but for a better world for Muslims, for black people and other people of color for women and for LGBTQ people,” Rodriguez said. In the words of the Muslim Students’ Association’s Sisters Coordinator Fatma Gdoura, the goal of the event was clear: unity. “[The goal of the protest] was to send a message that we all stand for one another and we will not tolerate injustice. George Mason University does a sufficient job at making the students feel safe, but there is room for improvement,” Gdoura said. There were several speeches made by members of the Mason community at the protest, including one by Sophomore Kenya Moore. Moore said she was also one of the leaders of the protest. “When human rights are under attack, it’s always been my instinct to speak out against that and hopefully inspires others to do so as well,” Moore said. “And as a Muslim woman who saw her friends and their families being explicitly and illegally affected I couldn’t just sit back and watch this happen without assisting in creating a space where these
frustrations could be heard in solidarity and intersectionality with various other communities.” Several students, such as Sophomore Conor Armstrong, expressed their support of the protest. “Although I personally am not affected by this executive order, or really any of them, I knew that this was an amoral decision that is rooted solely in hatred, bigotry and fear,” Armstrong said. Despite discontent from some groups, the executive order found support on the Mason campus. Junior Amanda Funk expressed her support for the order. “As unfortunate and devastating as the situation in the Middle East is, it needed to be done,” Funk said. “Some also call it a ‘Muslim ban,’ yet numerous other predominantly Muslim countries were not included, and those countries were the same countries that President Obama halted visas for. So I’m not quite sure where people are getting that. My main point I wanted to make is we can’t help those coming in if we can’t protect ourselves in our own country, first. To me, it’s just logic.”
(PHOTOS COURTESY OF NAJWA ELYAZGI)
(PHOTOS COURTESY OF MIGUEL YUNDA TORRES)
Najwa Elyazgi, a Mason student who was affected by the executive order.
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Everything you need to know about President Trump’s controversial executive order NATALIA KOLENKO | CAMPUS NEWS EDITOR
President Trump’s recent executive order entitled “Protection of the Nation from Foreign Terrorist Entry into the United States” was created to keep persons from Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Yemen and Somalia from entering the United States for 90 days and suspended the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program for 120 days, according to a White House press release.
Campus News Freshman Matthew Owens expressed the same sentiments. “While I may disagree with some aspects of the executive order, like how it would affect green card holders, I have the belief that it goes in line with the responsibility of the President of the United States: to protect our freedom and safety from possible external threats and protect every citizen of the U.S., both Muslims and non-Muslims,” Owens said. Organizations that were not part of the event itself showed their support of the protest, such as the George Mason Democrats.
Mason students felt the effects of Trump’s executive order. Several Mason students’ and scholars’ home nations are on the list, and those students have been personally affected by the order.
George Mason Democrats President Danni Gonyo expressed her discontent for the executive order and said, “We believe that it is a direct violation of the principles and in direct opposition to what not only the Democratic Party believes but in opposition to what a vast majority of Americans believe, regardless of political affiliation.”
According to the Office of International Programs and Services at Mason:
Mason’s College Republicans were asked to comment on the order but did not respond.
◆ 80-90 students and scholars have been directly impacted by the executive order, as they are from one of the seven countries on the ban list.
Thousands of individuals were forced to return to their home countries from around the U.S., including Mason student Najwa Elyazgi. Elyazgi said she was traveling from her home country of Libya to Mason to return for the semester, but after complications with her entry visa, she had to stay in London for two weeks before receiving
◆ Because of the speed with which the executive orders went into effect, some students left their home countries and were on airplanes en route to the U.S. but were barred from entry upon landing. ◆ The Office of International Programs and Services (OIPS) is available to meet one-onone with students impacted by the ban, and students can find updated information on their website: oips.gmu.edu ◆ The Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Virginia has instructed immigration counsel to work closely with public institutions and provide guidance on how to interpret the shifting landscape of legal ramifications provoked by the ban. While neither Mason nor Commonwealth attorneys are providing official legal counsel to students, they are both working to help students identify available support resources and clarify changes to the ban as they are announced.
another visa and taking a flight from Istanbul to Dulles. As she was in the air, Trump signed the executive order. After several days of uncertainty, a federal judge from Washington state blocked the ban, and Elyazgi said she rushed back to the country. “It literally destroyed me. I have a valid visa and I have entered the U.S. seven times before. I have worked very hard to come to the US to pursue a better education, and in one day, I was not able to resume my education,” Elyazgi said. “At the moment when they did not allow me to board I felt humiliated because I have all the legal documents and I am no threat to anyone. I have a high GPA and am a hardworking student. I deserved to be treated better than this.” Elyazgi went on to say that despite her struggle to return to the U.S., the Mason community proved to be a great source of support. “[I had great support] starting from my advisor, Troy Lowery, who answered all my emails even on the weekends and provided me with contact information when I asked for it,” Elyazgi said. “The Vice President [of University Life], Ms. Rose Pascarell, also provided me with a lot of help. President Cabrera himself sent me many emails checking on me. This kind of support made me feel loved and wanted.” President Ángel Cabrera expressed his concern with Trump’s order in an email sent to the Mason community Jan. 29.
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“I am deeply concerned about this decision. This is not only unbefitting a country built by immigrants on the ideals of liberty and equality, but it is also a self-inflicted wound that will damage the very innovation that lies at the root of our nation’s prosperity,” Cabrera said. Several Mason faculty members showed their support for Cabrera’s statement, such as Sumaiya Hamdani, an associate professor of history and art history. “While, I believe the university could exert more pressure on the situation, I’m very encouraged by the statement President Angel Cabrera and the position of the Virginia Governor, Terry McAuliffe, and various Virginia elected officials have on the issue,” Hamdani said. “I’m hoping they can maintain the amount of pressure that [is needed] in order to rethink the particulars, if not the general outline of the E.O.” In addition to the email from President Cabrera, Provost and Executive Vice President S. David Wu and Pascarell sent out an email Feb. 1, to the community highlighting Mason’s commitment to serving Patriots. “We continue to advocate on behalf of all Mason students, scholars, faculty and staff; and in this moment, we are advocating for immigration policies that support our students’ success, and the success of George Mason University,” the email read.
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Giant Food caters to the Mason Student KY’LEND ADAMS | STAFF WRITER
Giant Food grocery store, which has been in the University Mall Shopping Center since 1977, re-opened its doors Feb. 9 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Heather Wade, store manager at Giant, gave an exclusive tour to Student Media on Tuesday, Feb. 7. The
newly 49,000 square foot Giant offers new modernized items such as “SCAN IT!,” an app that can be accessed on handheld devices that saves time and money while shopping. This app will allow shoppers to scan and bag their groceries as they shop without the hassle of standing in checkout lines. The grocery store provides a selection of prepared $5 Grab & Go options
such as pre-made salads, wraps and chicken. The store will also cater to those with dietary restrictions by offering items such as the fresh orange juice maker and the aisle of organic and gluten free food.
to the local market” was a great priority.
Jamie Miller, the public and community relations manager for Giant Food, stated that during the strategic planning for renovating the University Mall store, “catering
There is also a new in-store pharmacy, which will offer a new system called PickPoint that will allow the
The new store had many other attractions that the average college student may find useful, such as a Starbucks café with free Wi-Fi that can seat up to a dozen people.
pharmacy to track when prescriptions are handed out as well as when the prescription is waiting in Will Call. Giant is offering a 5 percent discount on all purchases to Mason students until the end of February. From the new LED lighting in the checkout aisles to the eight new self-checkout machines to the very spacious inventory of every-day necessities, Giant is ready for business.
(PHOTOS BY LOTTYE LOCKHART / OFFICE OF STUDENT MEDIA)
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A Valentine’s Day mixtape No more mushy love songs. Here are five tracks that won’t make your crush blush. MACKENZIE REAGAN | COEDITOR-IN-CHIEF
While cheesy love songs have their place—high school dances, first dances at weddings, weeknight karaoke— for the most part, they’re a little too cloying to listen to without feeling sugar shocked. Here are five songs that aren’t saccharine but are just sweet enough to be put on a mixtape. Alex Turner, “Stuck on the Puzzle” “I’m not the kind of fool/Who’s gonna sit and sing to you/About stars, girl,”
Turner sings on this track from the Arctic Monkeys frontman’s solo effort. Like every Arctic Monkeys song, this one takes time to parse. It’s a cryptic waltz that never explicitly says “I love you;” Turner pines for a woman he can’t quite figure out. Pavement, “Gold Soundz” As a general rule, every mixtape should have one Pavement song on it. On this track, off “Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain,” Stephen Malkmus reminisces about an old love. ”I keep my address to yourself, ‘cause we need secrets,” he
sings, remembering all the little things they shared. Just like Malkmus says, “you can never quarantine the past.” Old flames will always be with you.
a terrible movie?” he asks. Underneath the 21st-century agony that defines “WORRY.,” Rosenstock is really just as hopelessly romantic as the rest of us.
Jeff Rosenstock, “I Did Something Weird Last Night”
Chris Farren, “Flowers”
After kissing a girl at a party, Rosenstock wonders if he’ll see her again. “Did I creep you out like a scary movie?” he wonders, as he lays in bed one afternoon skipping class. Rosenstock is at his angsty-best here, feeling half-guilty and half-lovestruck. “Will you kiss me hard like some shit in
Here, Rosenstock’s old Antarctigo Vespucci bandmate Farren has no illusions of grandeur about love. “Love isn’t Heaven/Love isn’t Hell/But you’ll still get stuck there with somebody else,” he sings. Finding a partner won’t make your life perfect, but “when it’s inside you, your feet leave the ground.”
The Front Feet Deep”
Bottoms,
“Twelve
In this song, originally on 2008’s “I Hate My Friends” and later, in 2014, on “Rose,” vocalist Brian Sella sings about a love he’s drowning in: “‘Cause you are water 12 feet deep and I am boots made of concrete.” He’s left for college, but he doesn’t want to say goodbye. “Maybe college won’t work out, I can come live at your house,” Sella sings. Use this for your out-oftown love with whom you stay up till 3 a.m. talking on the phone.
Breaking up is easy to do Tips on how to end a relationship MACKENZIE REAGAN | COEDITOR-IN-CHIEF
5) Give them a chance to respond, but stick to your guns. Remember, they eat pizza with a fork and knife.
Well, this is awkward. Everyone’s excited for Valentine’s Day, but you no longer feel the way you did when you first started dating your significant other. Maybe you found out they cheated, or maybe you found out they wear jorts when it’s above 50 degrees. Whatever the reason, you’ve decided it’s time to break up with them. But how do you do so while doing the least amount of damage?
6) Delete them from all social media—Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, Myspace and whatever the hell Peach is. I know, it’s tempting to hate-stalk them, but constantly refreshing your feed to see what they’re up to will only bring you down. And don’t, under any circumstances, stalk their new partner. I heard they voted for Harambe.
Here are seven tips on how to dump someone in the nicest way possible: 1) Be prepared. Don’t read off an actual script (This isn’t “10 Things I Hate About You.”), but do have some idea of what you want to say. 2) Pick the right time and place. Good idea: afternoon at a neutral location. Bad idea: late at night on a drive in the middle of nowhere (Not that I’m bitter… but seriously, who does that?) 3) Be firm. You’ve already made up your mind about breaking up with your S.O. Don’t let them change your mind. Remember, they listen to Coldplay (unironically). 4) Tell them plainly and unequivocally how you feel. Be honest, but don’t be mean. (That’s what subtweets are for.)
7) Learn to be at peace with your decision. You did the right thing. If you have second thoughts, just remember all those times they used the wrong form of your/you’re. You’re now free to date people who don’t listen to their music on the train without headphones. After you’ve ended it, take time for self-care. Eat the proverbial quart of ice cream. Pour yourself into your workout routine. Get really into “Law & Order.” It takes time, but you will get over them. You will find someone else. And now you know more about what you do (and don’t) want in a partner. Ask your new squeeze questions to learn more about them before getting serious. For instance, do they like Belle and Sebastian? If so, they probably just watched “(500) Days of Summer” and thought Tom was the hero. In that case, go back to step one. (BILLY FERGUSON / OFFICE OF STUDENT MEDIA)
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Break out of boredom Room Escape DC offers life-sized puzzles JAMES STEMPLE | STAFF WRITER
yourself going over the set time limit for the rooms.
Puzzles come in all shapes and sizes. At Room Escape DC, however, puzzles come in the form of being locked in a room with a time limit on how fast you can escape. It sounds a bit daunting at first glance, but Room Escape DC puts an emphasis of fun and intellectual challenge.
The concept of escape rooms came to the owner, Egor Bond, from his friends in Europe who are involved in similar types of escape rooms abroad.
With the addition of their two newest rooms—titled “Horror Room” and “Black Death,” respectively—Room Escape DC possesses the largest escape room facility in the DMV area—with more on the way in coming months. The premise of an escape room challenge is to—as the name suggests—escape from your confines (claustrophobes beware!) through different kinds of puzzles that emphasize teamwork and communication. Without teamwork, you may find
“A friend of mine who opened this type of business in Europe pretty much inspired me with the business model. He was really excited about the business itself and how creative this is,” Bond said in an interview over the phone. He added, “This isn’t as much a business as much as it is a hobby.” It’s not unusual for groups to not finish in time; in an article published in the Fourth Estate last year on Room Escape DC, it states, “Roughly three in ten groups finish in time.” When asked about not making it within the time limit, Bond said, “If a group is getting really close to escape we usually
give them an extra couple of minutes so they can make their way out on their own, or we come in and show them how it was supposed to be solved.” If worse comes to worst, your group might just have to accept defeat—and try again next time, of course! The newest additions, “Black Death” and “Horror Room,” pose new challenges for potential players. “Black Death,” according to Room Escape DC’s website, puts players in an abandoned hospital that was cleared out due to an outbreak of a deadly virus; “Horror Room” puts you in the shoes of a paranormal investigation team solving a supernatural mystery. The new additions have a thrilling/ scary aspect to them, and require a good deal of teamwork and communication to solve. The new rooms join the already strong
roster of escape rooms located at Room Escape DC: “Dr. Panic,” “Save The White House,” “Dating Room,” “Joker’s Trap,” as well as, according to a press release, the first rolling mobile escape room, titled “Jail Bus.” “We have two rooms that are usually recommended for first time players, which [are] ‘Dr. Panic’ which is a scary one, and Save The White House,’” Bond said. These rooms all offer different kinds of challenges and stories for players to escape from. Each puzzle is individually designed for that specific room, so you won’t find yourself repeating the same challenges in each room. “Some involve technology like micro-controllers, some photography, some simple methods of deduction, some are based on how well you can listen to others, or communicate with others. Every puzzle is individual,”
Bond said in a phone interview. Even with the new additions, Room Escape DC plans to build even more rooms for their puzzle participants to escape from. Bond hopes to open his newest room this coming summer, and if all goes well, to open more after that. “Right now we’re going to open one more room, which is not going to be a classic understanding of escape room. It’s going to be like a performance with actors involved.” Room Escape DC is located just up the street from Mason at 3949 University Drive. Because of this, the facility offers a 20 percent discount to all Mason students to lure students away from the classroom, which Bond hopes will bring awareness to his business. For more information, and to book your challenge, you can visit Room Escape DC at roomescapedc.com
Food delivery services make college life easier MOLLY FESER | STAFF WRITER
Whether it’s in line at the bookstore, in the HUB mail room or on the waitlist for a class you really want, you will spend much of your time at Mason waiting in a line. However, you no longer have to wait in line for food, thanks to food delivery apps. With so many food delivery services, students can not only have their food pre-ordered but also delivered to them on or off-campus. The question you should ask yourself is “what is going to bring me the fastest and cheapest food?” Perhaps the most popular among college students—and the most in-your-face for Mason students —is Tapingo. Started in late 2011, Tapingo is an on-demand mobile ordering service that is designed for and run by college students. Designed to be used for on or off-campus dining, Tapingo allows students to use campus meal money, such as Bonus Funds or Mason Money, to pay for their food. Many students, such as senior Savanna Stanton-Ameisen, enjoy the
convenience of Tapingo: “It helps me not have to wait in long lines when I’m in a hurry before class or dance rehearsal. It’s the fastest way I can get Starbucks or Chick-fil-A,” StantonAmeisen said. One of Tapingo’s biggest competitors is GrubHub, another mobile food ordering company that allows customers to pay with cash, credit or PayPal. With a $10 delivery fee, GrubHub might not be the cheapest option, especially for college students, but previous GrubHub customers, such as sophomore Sophie Rizzo, had positive experiences with the app. “The service is a little slower than Tapingo and I could do without the $10 delivery fee, but other than that I liked it. My food was still warm by the time it got to me and it was easy to order,” Rizzo said. Another option is UberEATS. Launched by Uber in 2014, the app tries to deliver food to its customers in 10 minutes or less. Because of that policy, UberEATS is much faster than many of the other apps, such as
Tapingo, which often takes up to 30 minutes to deliver food. One feature of UberEATS that college students might especially like is that the app does not ask customers to tip.
is added to the group order, each person selects their food individually. This feature makes Mr. Delivery ideal for group hangouts and office parties.
college life. If you take advantage of the opportunities all around us, you, too, can beat the lines and have enough food for two people brought right to your door.
Cheap and easy food is a big part of
Sophomore Maddie Gray has used this service, but did not find it easy to navigate: “My food was delivered on time, but it was really confusing to use, and I didn’t understand it,” Gray said. In 2008, food review website Yelp launched a delivery app called Eat24. Yelp is known for providing customers with listings and reviews of local restaurants, but Eat24 goes one step further by delivering directly from these restaurants. Mr. Delivery is another quick and convenient delivery service that is very similar Eat24 or Tapingo, but it has a larger-than-average selection and delivers from farther away. But what really makes Mr. Delivery special is its group ordering feature, which allows multiple people to pay for the same order. According to Mr. Delivery’s website, after the restaurant is selected and everyone’s email address
(BILLY FERGUSON / OFFICE OF STUDENT MEDIA)
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2.13.2017
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Crossword Puzzle
Top 10 Rom-coms of all time
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Content Spotlight
1) “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”
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2) “What Women Want” $182,811,707 3) “Hitch” $179,495,555 4) “Pretty Woman” $178,406,268 5) “There’s Something About Mary” $176,484,651
6) “The Proposal” $163,958,031 7) “Sex and the City” $152,647,258 8) “Runaway Bride” $152,257,509 9) “Knocked Up” $148,768,917 10) “As Good As It Gets” $148,478,011 The numbers above reflect lifetime gross. Information courtesy of Box Office Mojo. Used with permission.
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MiDay with 2K Mon. 2/13 @ 2:00 PM MiDay w/ 2K will cover hot topics and play all hot songs in the 2K years! You will hear all the latest hits of today, as well as older tracks from the 2K up! Also includes celebrity gossip and keeps everybody hip to GMU topics!
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2.13.2017
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How to play Place a number in the empty boxes in such a way that each row across, each column down and each small 9-box square contains all of the numbers from one to nine.
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BILLY FERGUSON | FOURTH ESTATE
Difficulty This Week: ◆◆◆
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Happening this week Monday 2/13
Teusday 2/14
Last day to drop classes Valentine’s Day (33 percent tuition penalty) 2:00 p.m. Paul Mitchell Fashion 4:30 p.m. Show Event The 13th” film screening The Hub Ballroom, Free JC Cinema, Free
Wednesday 2/15
4:00-6:00 p.m. Office of Student Media Press Pass The Hub 1201, Free 6:00 p.m GMU Mental Health Town Hall The Hub Ballroom, Free
Thursday
Friday
Weekend
2/17
2/18 & 2/19
1:30 p.m. Doreen Garner: Full Body Art and Design 1001, Free
4:00 p.m. Business Fashion Show Dewberry Hall Lobby, Free
8:00 p.m. Relay for Life Lip Sync Battle The Hub Ballroom, Free
8:00 p.m. Mason Improv Show JC Cinema, Free
Saturday, 2/18 4:00 p.m. Mason Men’s Basketball vs. Rhode Island EagleBank Arena, Free for students
2/16
8:00 p.m. No Solemn Silence: A Gilbert and Sullivan Review Harris Theatre, $10-20 Sunday, 2/19 1:00 p.m. CSSA Chinese New Year celebration The Hub Ballroom, Free
Etc.
12 2.13.2017 Recipe of the week Mascarpone blueberry cake
Ingredients 180g mascarpone 2 eggs 100g vegetable oil 100g caster sugar 1 tsp rose water 180g plain flour 1 tsp baking powder ½ tsp salt 250g blueberries, fresh or frozen pearl sugar to sprinkle (optional)
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Preparation 1.) Preheat the oven to 350F/gas 4 2.) Line a loaf tin with parchment or butter and flour it. 3.) Beat together the mascarpone, eggs, sugar and oil until smooth, add the rose water. 4.) Sift the flour with the baking powder and salt and add it to the mix, beat until well combined and smooth. 5.) Fold half the blueberries into the mix, pour it into the tin and scatter the remaining blueberries on top. 6.) Sprinkle with pearl sugar, if using. 7.) Bake for 50-60 minutes (add 10-15 minutes to the baking time if using frozen blueberries) until a skewer inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean. 8.) Cool in the tin for 30 minutes, then remove from the tin and cool on a wire rack.
Recipe from Cuisine Fiend on Foodista.com - The Cooking Encyclopedia Everyone Can Edit.
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