Broadside
Oct. 1, 2012 Volume 89 Issue 5 BroadsideOnline.com
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George Mason University’s Student Newspaper
Fall For the Book:
Annual Event Celebrates Literature
See our review of “The Wettest County in the World” PAGE 11
STEPHEN KLINE/BROADSIDE
Mason Student Sings @GeorgeMasonU National Anthem at Launches New Social Media Project Obama Rally They called her name and she headed to the stage. As excitement kicked in, Christine Gonzales’ main concern was not to fall in front of all the photographers taking pictures as she was going up the steps. Gonzales, a Mason student, was given what she calls an amazing opportunity to sing the national anthem at one of President Obama’s campaign events in Woodbridge, VA on Sept. 21. “There were a lot of people from my back left all the way to as far as I could see. To my right, there was the American flag, huge. Behind me, it said ‘Forward’,” Christine Gonzales
said. “I took a breath, looked around and started the song.” Singing has been part of Gonzales’ life since she was three years old. Back in San Diego, where she was born and raised, she and her sister, Melody, were in musicals and community based theaters. For six years, she did mariachi. She also plays the violin. Graduating next May, Gonzales entered Mason as a voice major for two years, but transferred to New Century College to concentrate in community and public engagement. STORY CONTINUED PAGE 7
Social media is constantly becoming a more integral part of the way society functions. Many companies, institutions and universities are beginning to use social networking sites, such as Twitter and Facebook, to connect to the world, including a wider base of customers and students. Mason recently became a huge player in this game with its implementation of the “Mason Nation Project.” Mason’s new president, Dr. Angel Cabrera, was the brain behind the project. With the help of the university’s Office of Media and Public Relations, the project is now in full
swing. The idea was inspired by Sweden’s creative use of its Twitter account. “The curators of Sweden are different every week and tweet on behalf of the country. Dr. Cabrera thought it would be really cool if Mason did something similar,” said Tara Laskowski, Mason’s social media coordinator and Office of Media and Public Relations senior manager. Following this model, Mason gives a new person access to the Twitter account @GeorgeMasonU each week. STORY CONTINUED PAGE 6
Professors Open Online University
Starting Oct. 1, a duo of Mason Professors will launch Marginal Revolution University, their new online economics university to the public PAGE 8
C4I Center Offers Research Opportunties
The C4I Center in the Engineering Department provides graduate students with on-the-job experience PAGE 5
Cross Country Takes Second
Mason’s revamped cross country team competed against some stiff competition this weekend at the Oatlands in Leesburg PAGE 13