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FOURTH ESTATE April 3, 2017 | Volume 4 Issue 19 George Mason University’s official student news outlet gmufourthestate.com | @IVEstate
3 Students Stop the Bleed
5
Student profiles
8 Test your sports knowledge
2 4.3.2017
Fourth Estate
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MacKenzie Reagan Sosan Malik
Crime Log
Co-Editors-In-Chief
Todd Gonda Copy Chief
Mar. 24
2017-003877 / Sexual Assault / Rape
Complainant (Non-GMU) reported being sexually assaulted by two unknown subjects. Case referred to Criminal Investigations Division.
Megan Zendek Art Director
Fareeha Rehman Online Editor
Near Lot C | Pending | 9:15 PM
Natalia Kolenko Campus Editor
Mia Wise
Mar. 27
WE ARE HIRING! We are currently looking to fill the following editor positions:
- PHOTO (paid position) We are always recruiting new members for our staff teams: - NEWS WRITERS - CULTURE WRITERS - SPORTS WRITERS - COPY EDITORS - DESIGNERS - PHOTOGRAPHERS
2017-004021 / Destruction / Damage / Vandalism of Property Complainant (GMU) reported damage to a newspaper stand. Patriot Cir & Sandy Creek Way | Inactive | 4:52 PM
Culture Editor
Mitchell Westall Sports Editor
Billy Ferguson Emmett Smith
Mar. 29
Distribution Manager
2017-004140 / Theft from Building Complainant (GMU) reported the theft of an unattended painting from an unsecured location. Case referred to Criminal Investigations Division.
Kathryn Mangus Director
David Carroll Associate Director
Art and Design | Pending | 9:00 PM - 10:15 PM
Jason Hartsel Assistant Director
Leslie Steiger Fiscal and Operations Assistant Director
ON THE COVER
Photo courtesy of Donna Imadi.
Alyssa Swaney Sales Team
Sen. Tim Kaine meets with journalist on Feb. 27, 2017.
Wesley Ward Sales Team
Jason Brightman Sales Team
COPY EDITORS Christina Comerford, Caitlin Herron, Edna McClung, Alina Moody
TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT, CONTACT:
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eic@gmufourthestate.com
http://c2ms.info/osmapply
Dinanda Pramesti
Graphics Editor
For inquiries, please email a resume and two clips (or samples of work for visuals) to: AND apply online at:
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.
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Campus News
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Mason gets an A+ Mason named one of the top institutions for graduating black students KELAYAH DICKERSON | STAFF WRITER
The Education Trust recently released a report that named Mason as a university with one of the highest black student graduation rates in the country. The Education Trust is an advocacy group for the high academic achievement of all students, but it has a particular interest in students of color or those living in poverty. According to the group’s report, graduation rates across the U.S. are generally 22 percent lower for underrepresented minorities, which in this case are African Americans and Hispanics, than their white peers. However, this report showed that Mason has higher graduation rates than average for underrepresented minorities, with African American students graduating at about the same rate as white students. Mason was on the list of the 18 top-performing institutions, with graduation rates for African American students just 0.3 percent behind white students. Some other colleges that had a small
graduation gap between whites and minorities include Virginia Tech, Virginia Commonwealth University and James Madison University. The Education Trust study, A Look at Black Students’ Success: Identifying Top and Bottom-Performing Institutions, examined black graduation rates. The study stated that Mason graduated 65.9 percent of its black students from 20122014. It also compared Mason with another institution of higher education that is similar in rigor, the University of Kansas, and the study showed that Mason had twice the number of full-time African-American freshmen, and their graduation rates were more than 20 points higher. “It’s the idea that we go out and find talent, no matter what the socioeconomic background, what financial background, then we make sure they are ready for college,” Vice President for Mason’s Enrollment Management David Burge said in a News at Mason article. Burge, whose job at Mason is to make sure each student is on track with the
requirements needed to graduate with their intended degree, said Mason is known for its diverse student body. He added that minority students make up more than 50 percent of the student body. “You can authentically say we are a diverse place,” Burge said. “[Students] look around and they see a healthy community.” Mason has several programs that offer minorities, especially those of a lower income, the resources and support they need to graduate. Some of these programs include the Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Multicultural Education and University Life. The Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Multicultural Education’s mission is to create and sustain an inclusive learning environment where all members of the Mason study body are welcomed, valued and supported. According to their website, University Life is a group committed to student growth and success. "Mason is intensely, globally diverse, as nearly every student who comes to the university is going to find a cohort of
students they can see themselves fitting into. This reality is virtually impossible to replicate," Andrew Flagel, former dean of admissions at Mason, said in a press release on Mason’s Media and
Public Relations website. “The fact that minority students feel such comfort at Mason contributes greatly to the statistics that show African-American students graduating at a higher rate."
Mason students Stop the Bleed Students learn how to save lives with the National Center for Disaster Medicine and Public Health RACHEL MARKFELDER | STAFF WRITER
On Monday, March 27, the National Center for Disaster Medicine & Public Health (NCDMPH) conducted a study at Mason’s Johnson Center to calculate just how well the average person could apply first aid if needed.
(RACHEL MARKFELDER/ FOURTH ESTATE)
The Stop the Bleed campaign teaches three simple steps to take immediate action in case of bleeding injuries. “A person who is bleeding can die from blood loss within five minutes,” according to the Department of Homeland Security’s website.
The first step is to firmly apply pressure with your hands on the bleeding site, and the second is to apply a dressing and maintain “firm, steady pressure,” according to the Department of Homeland Security’s website. The last step, which is practiced with kits at the events, is to properly apply a tourniquet.
is something she teaches every time she visits a university or organization, and she has “done this event before at other universities, including University of Maryland’s ROTC.”
The last step is where instructors, like the center’s Project Coordinator Victoria Klimczak, come into play. Klimczak taught students at the demonstration how to properly apply medical devices and compression to imaginary wounds.
Stop the Bleed events were launched in 2015 when the Department of Homeland Security set out to increase the number of people who can properly perform first aid. Their goal is that, in situations such as shootings, terrorist attacks or natural disasters, the number of survivors will increase, according to an article from The Journal of Emergency Medical Services.
Klimczak said that demonstrating how to properly apply a tourniquet
“This is one part of the larger Obama White House initiative,”
Kelly Gulley, project coordinator for the center, said. These campus research studies are just one of the efforts taken by the Department of Homeland Security. Along with research studies that teach first aid skills, students may also attend Bleeding Control for the Injured (B-Con) courses taught by the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians. With these training sessions and research studies, Stop the Bleed is making progress on teaching the public how to save lives. “We hope to do this in the future, possibly with the athletic department,” Klimczak said.
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Combating college costs Sen. Tim Kaine, journalists discuss higher education, financial issues and policy DONNA IMADI | STAFF WRITER
The national organization Young Invincibles sponsored a summit on higher education Feb. 27 that brought together journalists and policymakers to discuss higher education financial issues with Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.). The summit focused on the topic of financial burdens “shadowing the lives of students across the nation who face significantly inflating and skyrocketing college tuition costs,” according to the Young Invincibles leaders at the event. In addition, the summit connected college students and members of Congress who face the task of combating rising student debt, which broke $1 trillion in 2012 and surpassed credit card debt in 2010, as reported by the Young Invincibles’ loan repayment fact sheet. Among the participants were 30 student journalists from across the nation, including students from Mason, higher education policy journalists and experts, and legislative officials, including Kaine. The summit opened with discussion on how “higher education became a hot-button issue in the 2016 election cycle,” as noted by Michael Stratford, an education reporter for Politico. However, the conversation quickly shifted to address the current concerns of journalists in the room who wanted to “focus on the families and students” who are impacted by the current higher education policies and changes that may occur in the future. Among these concerns were upcoming policies surrounding higher education issues, such as student loans, Pell grants—subsidies the government provides to students in need of financial assistance—and the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act. The Higher Education Act is a “sweeping federal law govern[ing] our higher education system, from financial aid programs and student loan systems to quality regulations,” according to a Young Invincibles report. The purpose of the law is to increase opportunities and access to students who “lacked financial means to access higher education.” Yet according to the report, it has not been updated since 2008, and
its funding expired in Fiscal Year 2014. With the resurfacing debate of higher education reform across the nation, student journalists at the event said that updating the Higher Education Act for the 2017–2018 Fiscal Year was vital in light of “debates over what the role of government should be in higher education,” Allie Bidwell, a reporter and editor for the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administration, said. Bidwell described how deregulating higher education could mean shrinking federal aid programs or streamlining loans to a one grant loan system. This means loan applicants would have to go through one office with just one application rather than sorting through a variety of loans to find the best option, according to a National Association of Student Financial Aid Administration press release. The results of deregulating and defunding key programs “would be consequential for those who depend on Pell Grants and other forms of federal assistance to help fund their higher education,” Emily Wilkins, an Education and Labor reporter for CQ Roll Call, said. Any change in federal assistance programs would impact students at Mason as well. In Fiscal Year 2016, nearly 60 percent of Mason students received some form of student aid, and 25 percent received Pell Grants, according to Mason’s 2017 Legislative and Budget Priorities. Reid Setzer, deputy director of Policy and Legislative Affairs for Young Invincibles, said in a briefing that one of the greater concerns for those in higher education is the impact that the proposed federal budget could have on students who are struggling to fund their college tuition. This is because the proposed budget increases defense spending and decreases education funding. However, Setzer did outline that there were bipartisan agreements to be optimistic about in 2017, pointing to “simplifying FAFSA, proposing the renewal of a year-round Pell Grant and reforming the student loan repayment system” as issues that both Democrats and Republicans could engage in “constructive dialogue” on.
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In memoriam: Roger Wilkins President Cabrera remembers former professor
Kaine welcomed the idea of bipartisan approaches as part of his “philosophy of higher education,” which he then broke down into three main points. He added he hopes to incorporate these points into the reformed Higher Education Act. Kaine’s first point was redefining what higher education means by expanding the definition to include career, technical education and apprenticeship programs. He said these kinds of programs would ensure that options are available for “students of all ages” to be equipped with “skills needed for the jobs of the 21st century.” He cited a study from Georgetown University that said the U.S. will need millions of workers with postsecondary credentials in the near future to satisfy the labor market’s demand for college-educated workers. For his second point, Kaine noted the importance of employers having the opportunity to add their input when reauthorizing the Higher Education Act. “Having vigorous employer representation when writing it will help us incorporate workforce needs,” Kaine said, and added this is “significant in creating educational experiences” that will benefit the labor sector in the long term. Lastly, Kaine outlined the importance of affordability and supported policies that “better educate families on their options from an early age in middle school to ensure family planning” for higher education. Kaine was then asked how the federal government plans on addressing the skyrocketing rate at which college tuition is increasing annually. He responded by reemphasizing the importance of giving students “alternative options” to university education, such as career and technical education programs. He also stressed early college planning for students in middle school, placing emphasis on the responsibility of students and parents to plan prior to attending a university. At the end of the summit, Kaine reminded the group that, throughout the heated debates to come in the next couple of years over education policy, the greatest challenge for government’s role in higher education boils down to ensuring that “[Federal] dollars follow people and students—not institutions.”
(PHOTO COURTESY OF EVAN CANTWELL OF CREATIVE SERVICES)
The following letter was emailed to George Mason faculty and staff from President Ángel Cabrera on March 28. Dear Colleague, This week, we lost one of our brightest stars. I’m saddened by the news that retired Robinson Professor Roger Wilkins has died. Wilkins’ life was the kind of story you couldn’t possibly imagine. He was a champion of the civil rights movement who served Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. His work contributed to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Later on, he was among the first black editorial writers at both The Washington Post and The New York Times. His editorials about the Watergate scandal earned him a share of the Post’s 1973 Pulitzer Prize for public service, his work cited alongside the investigative stories written by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein. We were fortunate to earn a place in his marvelous life. Wilkins spent nearly two decades teaching history and American culture at Mason, writing books and helping to put a then-fledgling university on the map. His students spoke glowingly of his devotion to helping his fellow man. This passage from one of his students, written at the time of his retirement from Mason in 2007, captures his impact: “Students who have taken his classes or spoken with him at length embark on their lives more enlightened and understanding of others because of him... With his departure, Mason loses not only a professor, but a man with an enormous heart and the willingness to make the university as distinguished an academic institution as possible. He is irreplaceable.” Please join me in sending our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends. Ángel Cabrera
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Student Profiles Written by students in Prof. Christina Wenks's COMM 351 class Junior Olympian Bryce Sampson refuses to give up KEVIN SANFORD | CONTRIBUTOR
With every step, a sharp pain pierced his spine as if a bullet was passing through his flesh. Bryce Sampson, 20, barely found the power to take another step as he made his way into the gymnastics training room at Ohio State University. A year removed from his third-place all-around finish at the Junior Olympic National Championships, Sampson never felt so distant from the sport he
loved. For the first time as an aspiring Olympic gymnast, Sampson was fighting an inner emotional battle that surpassed the physical ones he encountered in the gym. “It was my brain versus my heart; I went back and forth for awhile on the decision,” Sampson recalled. He faced one of the toughest decisions of his life—whether to have back surgery to repair two stress fractures and one extremely worn disc or to retire and walk away from the sport he had known for almost 10 years.
During his junior year of high school, Sampson took a one-year hiatus from the sport due to trouble with his back. After months in therapy and rehabilitation, Sampson’s determination pushed him back on the mat all the way to nationals. In 2013, Sampson reached the new pinnacle of his career as he placed third all-around in the Junior Olympic National Championships and accepted the opportunity to be a part of the Ohio State Men’s Gymnastics Program. Sampson’s mother Stephanie described this time as “the culmination
of all the hard-work, dedication and perseverance [Bryce] put in.” A year later, Sampson’s back injury came back with a vengeance; he described his injury as “only getting progressively worse.” As the summer of 2014 approached, he faced a harsh reality of sports—sometimes the body can’t keep up with the heart. That summer Sampson questioned many things. He asked himself, “Why me?” or “Is the possibility of the Olympics worth more to me than my future health?”
After weeks of self-reflection and time spent with family, Sampson made one of the toughest decisions of his life—to walk away from the game. The emotional pain felt and tears shed on the day he sat down with his parents to make the decision to leave Ohio State and gymnastics would not mark the end for him. “Staying humble through the highs and lows is the key to succeeding,” Sampson said.
Esteemed journalist Jack Curry brings his experience to Mason RON RENGEL | CONTRIBUTOR
Jack Curry’s career began after he received his Masters of Journalism at Syracuse University and set sail at the Royal Viking Line traveling around the world. He docked in New York for some time to write about urology. “I did not want to stay in Syracuse, and after an internship I was offered a job located in Syracuse, and it was in business writing. That is not what I wanted to do at that time. There is nothing wrong with the job. It is a great aspect in journalism, but I did not want to do it at that time,” he said.
“Out of the blue on this bulletin board there was this job opportunity,” Curry said. “I also went abroad during my sophomore year... So I had international working experience, and that’s what got me this job on the ship.” He worked at a startup that eventually failed. He freelanced to build his writing portfolio. He penned articles for Cosmopolitan, the New York Daily News and Playbill, but USA Today relocated him from New York to Washington, D.C., to Los Angeles. “One thing that I want young people to be willing to do is be flexible in terms of their job, their beat, and their
location,” Curry said. “Young people have to be willing to go where the jobs are. When I went to USA Today, it was like going to a startup because it was brand new.” Within a year at USA Today, Curry became a TV critic, then a movie critic. Within three years, he became the deputy managing editor of entertainment coverage. Curry’s career progressed, and at TV Guide, he landed a position of executive managing editor. A decade later, USA Weekend offered the desk of executive editor and vice president. Ten years later, he left.
Animal lover Savannah Walck pursues passion KELSEY TETREAULT | CONTRIBUTOR
For many 20-year-olds, having your career figured out seems like a far-off dream. Savannah Walck, however, has known what career she’s wanted for a long time, and she has never stopped working to achieve it. Walck is a vet assistant at Caring Hands Animal Hospital whose daily tasks include administering vaccines, taking blood, filling medication, restraining animals for appointments, giving daily medication, feeding animals, and helping with medical
procedures, such as monitoring anesthesia patients both on the table and in recovery. The job is not easy, but this animal-lover is passionate about it. “What made me decide I wanted to work with animals is when I realized how much I loved [animals], and I wanted to take care of the sick ones and the ones who had no one else to care for them,” she says. Walck faces challenges in her average work day, such as not determining what is wrong with an animal right away and not knowing how certain animals will react. “You never know when they are going to freak out and try to eat your
face. I had it happen last week.” While the challenges are plentiful, Walck does not regret the career choice. She loves animals and wants to work with them her whole life. When asked what advice she would give to pet owners, she says to provide the best life for your animals and give them unconditional love. “Give them that extra treat every now and then [and] give them those extra cuddles. You may have multiple dogs throughout your life, but they only have you.” She encourages pet owners to show your dogs, cats, guinea pigs or snakes extra love because they can feel it.
“The truth of the matter is I was tired of that environment, and they have packages for people who are older. I was fifty-eight when I left. I was able to get my entire retirement, and I looked at my resume and I knew that I was talented and that my resume was on point. But I could not find another journalism job,” he said. A bachelor's in English led to Curry pursuing a teaching certificate and a start as an English as a Second Language teacher at Northern Virginia
Community College. But years working at the newspaper and periodical industry coupled with a master’s in journalism led to him teaching at Mason. “I then began teaching journalism in George Mason University, and I loved it. I love the faculty. They are very committed to the communication department, and I love the students that I teach,” he said.
Commencement speaker announced “Spotlight” inspiration Marty Baron to deliver speech at graduation EDNA MCCLUNG | STAFF WRITER
Martin “Marty” Baron, the executive editor for The Washington Post, will deliver the Spring 2017 Commencement address at Mason’s 50th annual commencement on May 20. Baron has been executive editor of the Post since 2013 and has previously worked with The Boston Globe, The Miami Herald and The New York Times. He is known for his dogged pursuit of stories that challenge powerful institutions, and his leadership inspired the film “Spotlight,” which won two Academy Awards in 2016 for Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay. Mason will celebrate its annual commencement at EagleBank Arena. Tickets are not required for the 2017 university commencement ceremony. The lineup for graduates will start at 8:45 a.m. in North Plaza by the Johnson Center.
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Culture
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“Get Out” Movie Review True horror is scary because it breaks the mold and is not afraid to push cultural boundaries. True horror feels frightening in its authenticity, and new, yet starkly familiar, in its sadistic glee. When I heard that Jordan Peele (of “Key & Peele” comedic fame) was making a horror flick, I was skeptical. I love his comedy work, but such a genre flip seemed questionable to me. Then the reviews for his movie, “Get Out,” started coming in.
(BILLY FERGUSON / FOURTH ESTATE) ALEX SHEDD | STAFF WRITER
not just because a CGI monster might jump out of a closet for a second.
High-quality horror movies are hard to find in cinemas these days. From the fifteenth spinoff of a sequel of some “Blair Witch Project” ripoff to this month’s gory jump-scare, the horror genre has left something to be desired artistically and intellectually for many years now.
The horror genre was created to prey on the real fears haunting the cultures and minds of all people. “Frankenstein” was a commentary on the unknown implications of scientific advancement. “Night of the Living Dead” was a poignant message to the racially biased in the late 1960s. “Psycho” was about letting go of personal histories. Although some contemporary horror films still manage to achieve meaningful commentary, those gems are few and far between.
True horror comes from the psyche, not the body. Audiences don’t want to see a horror movie to throw up, they want to see a horror movie to be terrified,
I am always interested when a horror movie gets good reviews, and I found that many people were recommending that I see this movie; even critics loved it. Peter Debruge of Variety called it “potent” and “fearless.” Roger Moore of Movie Nation called it “the smartest horror movie in ages.” “Get Out” did not fail to deliver. Peele, it turns out, is not only a brilliant comedian, but a masterful storyteller. Every throwaway line, odd shot and plot device comes back and means something by the end of the film. The scares are psychological in nature and give the audience a feeling of suspense and dread, while speaking eloquently of race relations in 2017 America. Peele perfectly blends a terrifying story with clever and effective social
commentary and a large dose of the intelligent satire he is known for, all while staying tasteful. The cinematography is artful but not jarring. The performances are subtle and not campy. Chris, played by Daniel Kaluuya, and Dean, played by Bradley Whitford, have fantastic stage chemistry. The story is engaging, philosophical, scary and, above all, highly entertaining. (The following portion of the article may contain spoilers) “Get Out” is riddled with scares and symbolism. It tells the tale of a young African-American man, Chris, visiting the parents of his caucasian girlfriend, Rose (Allison Williams), for the first time, but he quickly finds out that something went horribly awry. Very soon, Chris realizes that the awkward, try-hard dialogue of his girlfriend’s wealthy father (Bradley Whitford) contains much more than it seems, and he begins to uncover a mind-blowing and increasingly terrifying plot that stems out of what originally appeared to be a case of casual but inadvertent racism. Chris, representing the perspective of many African-Americans today, initially brushes off the subtly racist dialogue of his host that seems to be ever-present in a great number of
well-meaning caucasian people across the country. But soon, he finds himself quite literally trapped, surrounded by it, and falling deeper into its implications, into a psychological prison that Rose’s hypnotist mother (Catherine Keener) calls “the sunken place.” “Get Out” is not only scary; it is creepy and slow-burning, all while being shocking and intellectually stimulating. It will make you laugh, it will make you hang on the edge of your seat, and it will make you close your eyes in fear as you witness Chris’ nightmare. True horror sticks with you. It makes you think about yourself, the people around you, and the society you live in. It makes you see yourself in a helpless protagonist, or in a seemingly innocent villain. It makes you see your country in a harmless-turned-sinister upper-class home. True horror stands the test of time, and remains meaningful for generations to come. “Get Out” is true horror. Theaters will do special screenings of it for a hundred years. Critics will use it as a new standard, and film students will talk about what it really means. Any filmmaker worth their mettle will say that a good film has to make people have conversations.
This week on campus Monday 4/3
Big Band Showdown Center for the Arts 8 p.m. $5–$12
Tuesday 4/4
Resume workshop SUB 1 3A 4 p.m
Wednesday 4/5
Improv Jam Johnson Center 336 7 p.m.
Thursday
Friday
Mason Players present: “Gogol’s Nose” Performing Arts Building A105 8 p.m. $15–$25
GMU eSports Smash Bros. tournament The Hub Corner Pocket Lounge 4 p.m.
4/6
4/7
JSA iWeek Haunted House The Hub Meeting Room 4 p.m.
The Weekend 4/8 and 4/9
Saturday, 4/8 “Fly By Light” film screening JC Cinema 6 p.m. Pride Week talent show The Hub Meeting Room 4 p.m. Sunday, 4/9 Delta Kappa Alpha garage sale Johnson Center North Plaza 12 p.m.
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Seeking refuge Gulwali Passarlay’s book chronicles his journey as a young refugee BASMA HUMADI | STAFF WRITER
“At so many times on my journey to freedom I had felt hopeless, despondent and afraid,” Gulwali Passarlay writes in his book “The Lightless Sky.” “Many times I considered giving up and going home. But at those moments of weakness, one thought had kept me going: my mother sent me away to save my life.” In 2006, at the young age of 12, Passarlay was told by his mother to leave his native country of Afghanistan; to stay any longer was to play a game of chance with his life. His uncle was a senior commander for the Taliban. After Passarlay’s father and grandfather were killed by U.S. troops for their alleged association with the Taliban, Passarlay and his siblings were placed in an uncomfortable situation and torn between two sides: the U.S. or the Taliban. To join a side was to put their lives at stake, and not to join a side was just as bad a risk since they could die for being accused of sympathizing with the U.S. or the Taliban. Dissatisfied with both options, and fearful of losing more loved ones, Passarlay’s mother forced her two sons, Hazrat and Gulwali, to leave the country and never come back. Noor, the youngest sibling, was to stay in Afghanistan. Their mother had paid for an underground smuggling business to take the two of them out of Afghanistan. They would leave individually, separated from one another and not seeing each other for an entire year.
Passarlay’s book “The Lightless Sky: A Twelve-Year Old Refugee’s Harrowing Escape from Afghanistan and His Extraordinary Journey Across Half the World,” tells of his 12-month journey from Afghanistan to the U.K.
keep things private, Passarlay initially did not think of wanting to write a book. After being in the public eye through his community activism for refugee issues, he saw the importance of telling his story.
“I felt a sense of moral obligation and duty to tell my story because we hear so much in the media about the refugee crisis and the challenges and the problems, but we don’t really hear the human story,” Gulwali said. “I wanted to be a human story to the statistical number and a voice for the voiceless.”
“I did a TEDx talk in 2014 in Manchester—I was a student speaker,” Passarlay said. “Someone saw it [from] New York and she said, ‘Gulwali, this is a story worth writing a book about, and I can help you.’ I thought, ‘Well, why not?’”
Nadene Ghouri, a journalist and Passarlay’s co-writer, reminds readers at the end of the book that many refugees did not get to tell the story that Gulwali told. “At the time of writing—the end of July 2015—over 2,000 men, women and children are known to have drowned in the Mediterranean this year alone,” Ghouri says in “The Lightless Sky.” Though Passarlay was finally able to reach the U.K. after such a long journey, settling into the country was just as difficult to adjust to. He constantly felt an urge to run away, and although he eventually reunited with his brother, he still felt alone and unable to relate to others. He attempted suicide three times. With the support of his foster parents and schoolteachers, he was slowly able to adjust and grow comfortable with himself and his situation. Due to the intense and private personal journey Passarlay made and an embedded Afghan cultural norm to
The woman, Brandi Bowles, was a literary agent and helped Passarlay find a publisher and co-writer. Passarlay, now just 22, never expected to write a book and wrote it more out of necessity than an eagerness to do so. “I wish I didn’t have to write it, and the hard part was that there were things in the book that I wanted to forget and move on from,” Passarlay said. “But [I had] to write about it and let the world know.” “Whenever I talk, I talk about how the Holocaust has happened and we think, ‘How did they make it happen? Where was the world when six million Jews were murdered?’” Passarlay said. “And then, I think in the future, the future generation will ask, ‘How did we let it happen?’ There are 65 million refugees and displaced people, and we are not doing enough about it. We’re not providing them with opportunities and chances and safety. We are not giving them protection and treating them as humans. And that has to change.”
(DINANDA PRAMESTI / FOURTH ESTATE)
Basma Humadi reads "The Lightless Sky" by Gulwali Passarlay.
This week in the Metro area Monday 4/3
Half Waif w/ Stronger Sex DC9 Doors 7:30 p.m. $14
Tuesday 4/4
Kolars w/ NAH DC9 Doors 8:30 p.m. $10 adv./$12 door
Wednesday 4/5
Peter Bradley Adams w/ LULLANAS Jammin Java Doors 6 p.m. $18 GA/$20 Premier
Thursday 4/6
John Mayer: The Search for Everything World Tour Verizon Center Doors 6:30 p.m. $55+
Friday 4/7
Pigeons Playing Ping Pong w/ ELM 9:30 Club Doors 8 p.m. $17
Saturday 4/8
The Duskwhales + Milo in the Doldrums "Duel CD Release Show!" + Kid Brother
Jammin Java Doors 8:30 p.m. $15 GA/$25 Premier Plus
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Sports
4.3.2017
Mason women’s soccer and volleyball teams break routine by practicing together RACHEL MARKFELDER | STAFF WRITER
complete a pass or defend a spike correctly,” Williams said.
In March, Mason Head Coaches Todd Bramble of Women’s Soccer and Jaclyn Simpson-Kirr of Women’s Volleyball teamed up to provide a new kind of cooperation practice for the athletes.
Just like when athletes of different sports practiced with the Women’s rowing team, the athletes participating in this event gained a new respect for the athletes of the other sport and learned that they had more in common than they thought.
“This period in our season involves a lot of intense training and few games. You just can’t train hard for five days in a row,” Bramble said. In order to break up the intense training, the volleyball and soccer teams take a day to teach the other team their sport. “It allows us to break up the week from a physical standpoint and is just the right thing to do for the players. Soccer is a high-concentration sport, and in order to stay competitive we have fun days like yoga or kickball to build morale and make the Division 1 college experience more memorable,” Bramble said. Bramble pointed out that the athletes benefit from these collaborative practices in other ways as well. “There is a lot to be gained, even if that is to laugh and have fun. When playing a different sport, the athletes are put into a different situation and at times new leadership roles were taken,” Bramble said. The athletes on both sides felt a mixture of emotions going into the practices. This firsttime trial run period for women’s soccer and women’s volleyball left the athletes with an “exhilarating” feeling, as junior midfielder Kaila Williams, one of the captains of the Women’s Soccer team said. “The volleyball team was very encouraging and welcomed us with open arms even when we couldn’t
“Practicing with each other displayed our work ethics. Every time we train, whether it is in the gym, the weight room or individual practices, there is always the focus of getting stronger and better,” freshman Jessica Onuorah, a member of the Women’s Volleyball team, said. As they practiced each other’s sports, the athletes became sore in different places than they were used to as well. “The girls on the team were so sore from volleyball. My forearms were so red,” freshman goalie Kari Blaszak said. “I benefitted from an appreciation for another athlete’s sport and being able to understand that other sports put in just as much as we do on the Volleyball court,” freshman Kelly Fagan from the women’s volleyball team said. The idea of teaming up for practices may be new to women’s soccer and women’s volleyball, but for the Mason Crew Club, it is a 25 year old tradition. Every year, a Pentathlon, started by Sean Parker and Cindy Parker in 1992, is held that incorporates other sports’ teams, past alumni and organizations such as ROTC. “Sean and Cindy Parker wanted to see us host an event after the long winter break that would give rowers more of an incentive
to keep training hard over the six week break from regular group training when classes are in session,” Robert Spousta, head coach of the Mason Crew Club, said. During the fall of 2015, head coach of women’s rowing Ted Nagorsen introduced other athletes in the department to the sport. “We roll off campus to the Occoquan Reservoir and are on the water by 6 a.m. every morning,” Nagorsen said. Nagorsen’s intent with these exercises is to build an athletic community that allows the athletes to interact with athletes outside of their sports as well as earn a new level of respect for other athletes as they push themselves outside their comfort zones. “Rowing is the ultimate team sport, and when we meet with different teams I ask the coaches what their goals are and what they want to get out of it,” Nagorsen said. Women’s Crew has also participated in similar events with Men’s Soccer this past August and Women’s Softball in the past. “There is a learning curve that happens on the water. Eighty to 90 percent of the time spent on the water when teams come out is just learning how to work together to make the boat move. Then I always try to work in some kind of competition because these athletes are driven by competition and enjoy it.” All of the efforts these coaches have put in have allowed the Mason Athletic Department to grow to new heights. The athletic department is developing into a community of athletes instead of a grouping of individual sports. Implementing different practice regimens not only allows athletes to develop physically and mentally, but to be more involved in the community.
GMUFOURTHESTATE.COM @IVESTATE
Sports Trivia Introducing Fourth Estate Sports Trivia! Tweet your answers @IVEstateSports What school did Mason beat in the Elite 8 to advance to the Final Four in the 2006 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament? A. University of Florida B. University of Connecticut C. Virginia Commonwealth University D. Villanova University Alexander Ovechkin scored his 30th goal of the 2016-17 season in a victory over the Arizona Coyotes on March 25. He has reached this mark in all 12 of his seasons in the NHL. Who is/are the only other player(s) to score 30 or more goals in their first 12 plus seasons of play in the NHL? Select all that apply: A. Mario Lemieux B. Sidney Crosby C. Gordie Howe D. Mike Gartner E. Jaromir Jagr What team does former Mason Baseball player Jason Bour currently play for? A. Miami Marlins B. Washington Nationals C. Tampa Bay Rays D. New York Mets
George Mason University sports broadcast schedule Monday 4/3
No Broadcasts
Tuesday 4/4
Men’s Baseball vs. Towson University 3 p.m. (on WGMU and MCN)
Wednesday 4/5
No Broadcasts
Thursday 4/6
No Broadcasts
Friday 4/7
Men’s Volleyball vs. NJIT 7 p.m. (on MCN)
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Saturday 4/8
Men’s Volleyball vs. Princeton 7 p.m. (on MCN)
Sunday 4/9
No Broadcasts
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4.3.2017
GMUFOURTHESTATE.COM @IVESTATE
Crossword Puzzle
Top 10 Sources for news alerts
WGMU Radio This Week
1.) Fox News
Content Spotlight
2.) CNN
Time Capsule Mon. 4/3 @ 5:30 PM
3.) Local TV news 4.) Yahoo News 5.) NBC/MSNBC 6.) New York Times 7.) Local/city newspaper 8.) CBS 9.) Huffington Post 10.) USA Today Source: Reuters Institure. © 2017 by King Features Syndicated, Inc. World rights reserved.
Facts about Mars Candy Company 1.) Mars has recently moved towards removing artificial dyes from their products. 2.) Mars has been criticized in the past for their chocolate buying practices. 3.) The Reese's Pieces in E.T. were supposed to be M&M's, but the Mars company declined. 4.) Mars owns Uncle Ben's Rice. 5.) Mars got into a dustup with vegetarians in the United Kingdom. 6.) The Snickers bar was actually named after a horse. 7.) During WW2, M&M's were only for soldier rations. 8.) The Mars company also owns pet food brands such as Pedigree and Whiskas. 9.) The 3 Musketeers got its name because it was once three flavors packaged together. This week’s crossword answers can be found in the following week’s issue, or at gmufourthestate.com, posted every Friday of the week. Turn to page 12 for the 03/27/17 crossword answers.
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10.) The Milky Way in the US is the Mars Bar in the United Kingdom. By Gregory Myers on Toptenz.net, 2017.
Join DJ Lauren Tlapa for one full hour of throwbacks, oldies, and classics. So sit back, relax, and reminisce.
The Big W Fri. 4/7 @ 1:00 PM A music rotation show that plays all the greatest local as well as international hits. Also mixed in is a segment where I talk about all things great in entertainment such as Movies, TV, and much more. Don't miss out!
Fundraiser Panda Express April 5, 2017 1-7 p.m. Come out and support your campus radio station while enjoying some great food!
Ticket Givea=ways Bowling for Soup April 4, 2017 Baltimore Soundstage Baltimore, MD How to win: Follow @wgmuradio on twitter and re-tweet the ticket give-a-way. A winner will randomly be chosen. WGMU Radio is George Mason University’s student-run radio station that streams 24/7, where you can listen on iTunes Radio, Radioflag. com or at wgmuradio.com. With over 80 hours of live and original programming, they cover everthing from sports and news, to talk shows and the hottest music.
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GMUFOURTHESTATE.COM @IVESTATE
Sudoku by Linda Thistle | © 2017 King Feature Synd., Inc.
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4.3.2017
Adoption Column
Tweet about it Finch @finch960 ·3/29/17 Guess who just got a 100 on their grad school Finance Midterm?? #GMU #finance #A+ Hedyeh @PeaceDream3r · 3/29/17
Dr. @CabreraAngel as an Iranian student at #GMU, I wanted to say "THANK YOU" for standing with us and supporting us #NoBan
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Make room in your heart and home for one of these animals from the Humane Society of Fairfax County, Inc., located on 4057 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax, VA 22030. If interested in an animal, visit their website at http://hsfc.org/adoptions/ available-pets/, email the shelter at pets@hsfc.org or call at 703-385-7387.
Rudy
Angel Cabrera @NotCabreraAngel · 3/29/17
My bad about the Mason Wifi. The Koch brothers forgot to pay the bill this month. Sent them a Venmo request doe George Mason Parking @MasonParking · 3/29/17
Bike to Mason Days are coming next month- the 10th anniversary of our first one.
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.
Difficulty This Week: ◆
◆ Moderate | ◆◆ Challenging | ◆◆◆ Hard This week’s sudoku answers can be found in the following week’s issue, or at gmufourthestate.com, posted every Friday of the week. Turn to page 12 for the 03/27/17 answers.
Sean McManus @Sean_430 · 3/28/17
Really wish GMU would improve thier WiFi..I'm using my phone as a mobile hotspot so I can use my laptop while in class.. ridiculous #GMU Karin Pedemonte @boycrzytink · 3/28/17
Made the mistake of walking out of my office in between classes...#gmu #gmugradstudentproblems #thestruggleisreal Drew @Drew_slavik · 3/28/17
Have a laugh
30,000 pounds of canned goods were raised for people in need for Greek Week. feel really good #gmu
Breed: English Bulldog Age: 7 years 5 months Gender: Male Spayed/Neutered: Yes Animal ID: 34937375 Need a best friend? Want a sweetheart who loves attention? Must have a pal who is adventurous and fun? Stop looking right now. Rudy is here and waiting for you. This is by far one of the sweetest guys you'll ever meet. He's housebroken and a total lover boy. Ruby is a purebred Bulldog, has a short tan and white coat and weighs approx. 54 pounds. He likes other dogs and kids as long as they aren't pushy with him. He loves watching TV on his couch or bed, so if you don't mind the company, he doesn't either.
Ace
CLASSIFIEDS Help Wanted
BILLY FERGUSON | FOURTH ESTATE
Steiner Vision Pt/Ft - Office Work . Will Train, Excellent pay, low stress work environment-many George Mason and NOVA students over the years have gained valuable work experience in our 7 Corners, Falls Church, VA office. For more info call Dr. Steiner at Cell 571-276-1534 or ask for Maria at Office- 703-237-1770
Breed: Domestic Shorthair/Mix Age: 1 year 8 months Gender: Male Spayed/Neutered: Yes Animal ID: 31526285 Ace and his brother Ash are ready to bring fun and companionship to a lucky family. These are two big handsome boys who get along well with other cats. They love to be petted and chill.
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12 4.3.2017 Recipe of the week Zucchini noodle stir fry with chicken and peppers
GMUFOURTHESTATE.COM @IVESTATE
Horoscopes ARIES (Mar. 21 to Apr. 19) The Lamb loves to be surrounded by flocks of admirers. But be careful that someone doesn’t take his or her admiration too far. Use your persuasive skills to let him or her down easily. TAURUS (Apr. 20 to May 20) This is a good time to begin setting far-reaching goals and connecting with new contacts. Aspects also favor strengthening old relationships — personal and/ or professional.
Ingredients 2 tbsp hoisin sauce ¼ cup tamari 3 tbsp garlic, chopped 1 tbsp ground ginger 4 chicken thighs cut into cubes 1 pepper, sliced 1 cup sugar snap peas 3 scallions, chopped 2 zucchini, spiralized Sesame oil for pan Toasted sesame seeds for garnish
Preparation 1.) Whisk first 4 stir-fry sauce ingredients together in a small bowl, set aside. 2.) Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and add 1 tbsp sesame oil. 3.) Add chicken and cook for about 5 minutes or until done, stirring often. Add a few tablespoons of stir fry sauce and give it a quick stir. Remove from pan. 4.) Heat another tbsp sesame oil in the pan and add sugar snap peas. Cook for a minute then add peppers, scallions and zucchini noodles. Add another few tablespoons of the stir fry sauce and stir, cooking for about 5-7 minutes. 5.) Add chicken back to pan and add remaining stir fry sauce. Cook for another minute. 6.) Serve with toasted sesame seeds and green onion for garnish.
Recipe from Ana Maria Da Costa on Foodista.com - The Cooking Encyclopedia Everyone Can Edit.
Last week's puzzle answers Crossword puzzle
Sudoku
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GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) A personal disappointment should be viewed as a valuable learning experience. Go over what went wrong and see where a change in tactics might have led to a more positive outcome. CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Don’t leave projects unfinished or personal obligations unresolved, or you might find yourself tripping over all those loose ends later on. A relative has important news. LEO (July 23 to Aug. 22) Expect a challenge to the usual way you do things. Although you might prefer the tried-and-true, once you take a good look at this new idea, you might feel more receptive to it. VIRGO (Aug. 23 to Sept. 22) Much work has yet to be done to polish a still-rough idea into something with significant potential. Expect to encounter some initial rejection, but stay with it nonetheless.
LIBRA (Sept. 23 to Oct. 22) There still might be some communication problems in the workplace, but they should be resolved soon. Meanwhile, that “tip” from a friend should be checked out. SCORPIO (Oct. 23 to Nov. 21) A new relationship appears to need more from you than you might be willing to give right now. Best advice: resist making promises you might not be able to keep. SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22 to Dec. 21) That restless feeling encourages you to gallop off into a new venture. But remember to keep hold of the reins so you can switch paths when necessary. CAPRICORN (Dec. 22 to Jan. 19) A demanding work schedule keeps the high-spirited Goat from kicking up his or her heels. But playtime beckons by the week’s end. Have fun. You earned it. AQUARIUS (Jan. 20 to Feb. 18) You’re beginning to come out from under those heavy responsibilities you took on. Use this freed-up time to enjoy some much-deserved fun with people close to you. PISCES (Feb. 19 to Mar. 20) Before you get swept away by a tidal wave of conflicting priorities, take time to come up for air, and reassess the situation. You might be surprised by what you’ll find. © 2017 King Features Synd., Inc. (Salome's Stars)