Broadside News

Sandra Evans, Broadside Correspondent

The life of a college student is hard enough with the endless amount of assignments and exhausting overnight cramming sessions, but knowing how to maintain positive and healthy relationships is a vital skill.

With an MTV-show theme and the tagline “Rock Your Relationships,” George Mason University’s Sexual Assault Services is planning to host its annual weeklong Healthy Relationships Week all this week.

“Healthy Relationships Week is our chance during the year to celebrate [the positive aspects of] all healthy relationships,” said Rachel Lindsey, outreach coordinator for Mason’s Sexual Assault Services.

“What we are hoping students to get out of this is that a good, healthy relationship is an amazing thing, and everyone deserves that.”

Healthy Relationships Week will kick off with its first event, “True Life,” today in Student Union I’s Patriot’s Lounge from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The subject of discussion is relationships of all kinds, whether they be romantic or platonic, and the facts on what constitutes a happy and healthy relationship.

There will also be T-shirts, games, candy and other activities.

“Made” will take place at the Johnson Center Kiosk G from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. tomorrow. This event is focused on teaching others about self-respect and how to achieve it.

There will be activities encouraging participants to celebrate healthy body images. Participants will also have the opportunity to celebrate their own successes and publicly give thanks to those who have been supportive along the way.

The Mason Dating Game will take place in Eisenhower’s Multimedia Room from 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday and will enable students to pick out dates for their peers.

The event, hosted by the Office of Housing and Residence Life, will be set up so that pre-selected contestants will have an audience determine the right date for them.

On Thursday, “Real World” will take place in SUB I’s Patriot’s Lounge from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., where students can learn about relationships, sex and hooking up. T-shirts, hook-up kits and other items will be handed out at the event.

Other events include the popular show The Vagina Monologues, which will be making its appearance this year in Harris Theatre on Friday, Feb. 26 and Saturday, Feb. 27 at 8 p.m., and also on Sunday, Feb. 28 at 3 p.m.

Tickets are $25 for the general public, $20 for Mason staff and $5 for Mason students. Tickets can be purchased by contacting Mason’s Center for the Arts.

“I think [Healthy Relationships Week] is good because it helps some females move out from abusive cycles,” says Rubi Chavez, a senior administration of justice major.

Today through Wednesday, there will also be a “Great Dates” contest in which students submit ideas for fun and inexpensive dates accessible via Mason transportation. Submissions can be made at the JC Kiosk G.

“I think any forum for dialogue about relationships is a good thing. People are extremely complicated, so it’s important to overcome our preconceived ideas about others so we can learn and maintain harmony,” said Alex Tyson, a sophomore global affairs major.

More information on Mason’s Sexual Assault Services, or on Healthy Relationships Week, can be found at their website sas.gmu.edu.

Kevin Loker, C2M Executive Editor

The roof above the Student Union Building II Ballroom may not be a casualty of ‘Snowverkill 2010,’ but it has left some damage as far as events scheduling is concerned.

The large-room space, which according to Events Management is used at least once a day by students and faculty for events, meetings and practices, was closed earlier this week as a precautionary measure to evaluate possible damage noticed by maintenance staff after last week’s snowstorms.

According to Associate Director of Operations and Events Services Keith Ellis, the metal trusses that support the roof and ceiling of the SUB II Ballroom had developed a slight bow after last week’s massive snowfall, temporarily placing the safety of the room in question. Student groups and events began to be relocated to different rooms early Monday evening.

Engineers have since assessed the damage and deemed the structure to be safe for use and, moreover, to be functioning as designed.

“Trusses are designed to flex,” said Ellis.
But damage has still been done. Ellis says the trusses have flexed to a point that the movable partitions are starting to drag the floor in the center of the room.
To read the full story go to Connect2Mason.com.

Yuri Svjagintsev, Broadside Correspondent

George Mason University launched its annual Engineers Day on Thursday, much to the excitement of students and faculty. According to Linda Kovac, director for Corporate Relations, “the event was designed to introduce students and their projects to potential employers.”

Entries included practical fixes to modern-day problems and machines that satisfy scientific curiosity, all created by individuals and teams of students. One group, known as the RoboPatriots, designed a troupe of soccer-playing robots.

“We are here because we need sponsors for our project,” said Christopher Vo, a Ph.D student studying robotic motion.

The price to enter the competition is $20,000 and each robot costs $2,500.

Included among the other projects was a wireless walking stick for the blind, which used Wi-Fi routers to triangulate a position for the user.

Peter W. Pachowicz, associate professor of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, was most excited about showing off a self-balancing bike, which used a gyroscope in the center of the machine to automatically right the vehicle when it fell sideways.

“Such a technology could be very useful,” said Pachowicz. Other projects had a stated environmental purpose and were designed to help reduce global climate change. Josh Finks, a senior in systems engineering, presented the N-PACT system, which used Nuclear Information Resource Service (NIRS) data from airplanes to measure noise pollution and the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by jetliners on the tarmac.

This innovation could be used by government agencies such as the EPA and FAA to enforce federal pollution standards on airlines.

Employers who came to the event ranged from defense contractors such as Lockheed-Martin to computer software design companies.

Gina Junio, corporate recruiter for Argon ST, a defense contractor, said she was excited at the level of talent displayed at Mason.

However, not all companies were defense contractors. The Volkswagen Group of America was looking for everyone from engineers to marketing specialists and financial analysts, and also offered an Accelerated Grad Program.

Jon Gillette of Volkswagen Group of America remarked that he “had never seen projects combined with the exhibition space before.”

“We are always looking for graduates from Mason,” he added. “We try and make every event.”

Yuri Svjaintsev, Broadside Correspondent

Homecoming Week began on Monday with a heavy dose of George Mason University spirit. The celebration coincided with Mardi Gras and Michelle Davis, event coordinator and assistant director for programming from the Office of Student Activities, was there to bring a little New Orleans flavor to the Fairfax campus. One of the highlights of the week-long event was the Homecoming Pageant.

Traditionally, homecoming pageants have a king and a queen. However, this year’s host, Reann Ballslee, the drag queen who represented Mason as 2009’s homecoming queen, inaugurated a new tradition by naming a gender-neutral “Mason Majesty.”

Four students were up to bat in a competition that combined an overview of each contestant’s contributions to Mason, a trivia session, a talent show and a round of personal questions conducted by the Office of Student Activities at Ballslee’s discretion.

The students who participated were Peter Danjczek, Lee Warner, Thomas Lee and Meredith Cutchin. All are accomplished members of Mason’s student community.

The trivia session was loaded with questions about Mason life, history and random tidbits about the man George Mason himself. For instance, who knew that rubbing Mason’s foot brought good luck, or what the four original buildings of the Fairfax campus were?

The talent show offered another look into the personalities of the contestants. Danjczek broke the ice by playing “Wonderwall” by Oasis, followed by Warner and his rendition of “I Want It That Way” by the Backstreet Boys. Lee wowed the crowd with his fresh break dancing to “Love Story” by Taylor Swift, while Cutchin finished up the talent portion of the contest by singing “Part of Your World” from the film The Little Mermaid.

The last session involved personal questions asked by the events committee and Ballslee. Queries ranged from the mundane “What did you learn most during your time at George Mason?” to the embarrassing “Who do you Facebook-stalk the most?”

Seniors Warner and Danjczek said that they had given much to Mason and felt that participating in the pageant was the best way to end their years here.

“I will vote for whoever is going to represent Mason the best,” said Natalie Jacobsen, a government and international politics major. She added that she was looking for someone who is “upbeat and proud to be a Mason student.”

Davis said turnout was “good” but down slightly from last year, likely due to the weather.

Bridget Fox, Broadside Correspondent

Serious job seekers should look no further than George Mason University’s annual job and internship fair. The fair is an opportunity for students to learn about potential careers, check out the competition or even land a position. Employers will be recruiting for every major, and professional dress is essential.

“Our goal is to get a variety of employers to attend the fair,” said James Barricelli, career services assistant director for employer relations.

Because of the economy, some job sectors, like the non-profit industry, are cutting back on salaried employees and searching for non-paid interns.

However, prospects for internships and federal government jobs look to be higher than usual, with the CIA, State Department and the Secret Service represented.

Overall employer involvement has decreased slightly from 2009, falling from 180 to just over 150 attendees.

Students can find information about participating groups and categorize them by major or industry online at careers.gmu.edu.

Preparation is key.

“We recommend that all students involved should research employers they are interested in prior to the fair itself,” said Barricelli. “Being able to explain how you can contribute to the company will not only maximize your amount of face time with recruiters, but also makes you stand out to them.”

“It’s great that Mason provides this resource for students,” said junior psychology major John Lee. “It really shows that the school is not just interested in taking our money, but also helping us become successful in the long run.”

For students who are hassled and stressed out about looking for a job, the job and internship fair will provide a unique networking opportunity that every student can take advantage of.

“I wouldn’t be interested in attending the fair,” said Amy Crabtree, a senior English major. “I already have a job, and with that several references that I can use in the future. [However], it is a very good idea for anyone in need of a job in this tough economy.”

“The fair is a great way to present your interest in an organization and gauge your own level of interest with different employers,” said Barricelli. “Over the years, we have received positive feedback from employers that Mason students are prepared to join the workforce, which is wonderful.”

Mason’s job and internship fair will take place Wednesday, Feb. 24 and Thursday, Feb. 25 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day in Dewberry Hall in the Johnson Center. For more information, contact Career Services, located in Room 348 of SUB I.

Yasmin Tadjdeh, News Editor

Although ‘Snowpocalypse’ has been over for two weeks now, the effect of the massive storm is still clear at George Mason University.

When students returned on Friday, Feb. 12, much of the campus was covered in knee-high snow, despite the efforts of Mason to clean up the campus. Although significant progress can be seen currently, the storm still continues to cause headaches on campus.

With some sidewalks still icy, some students find getting around Mason to be a challenge.

For some time, according to junior English major Katy McCaddin, the stairs behind Student Union Building II were covered in snow. McCaddin stated that “they were literally a ramp.”

McCaddin was also concerned with the large snow piles that are currently peppering the general parking lots.
“[The snow piles] make driving a little frightening because you have to go out in the road to see traffic, so it is a little hazardous,” said McCaddin. “But I understand why they had to make the piles — they had to get it off the roads.”

McCaddin was also concerned with melted snow that had frozen overnight onto sidewalks, making walking through campus treacherous.

According to Josh Cantor, the director of Parking and Transportation, the massive snow removal was undertaken by Facilities, but his department also pitched in.

“The university facilities department is responsible for the snow removal,” said Cantor. “Pretty much all their employees get assigned snow patrol duties [such as] running the plows, and shoveling the streets . . . [Currently] the majority of the parking spaces are cleared. It wasn’t magic; it took a lot of hard work. Our staff is also pitching in, and doing what we can in certain areas.”

According to Cantor, the snow removal was so massive that outside contractors were hired to come in and help clean the campus.

“Facilities took care of a lot [of] the main lots and sidewalks, and contractors have been brought in to tackle some of the harder areas,” said Cantor.

For example, it took five or six Bobcat tractors two days to clear Sandy Creek Parking Deck, and two days for Lot R. Cantor estimated that the contractors cost about $1,000 an hour.

As for the large snow piles surrounding many of the lots, Cantor said that they were an issue.

“Realistically, there is nowhere to put [the snow piles] without inhibiting parking spaces,” said Cantor.
However, in preparation for this past weekend’s Homecoming game, crews worked to move larger snow piles from Lot A and L to Lot K. Crews were also working on shaving some of the piles to increase visibility.

Allegedly, some snow piles had been pushed into handicapped parking spaces, but according to Cantor, this was a short-term issue that was quickly resolved after contacting Facilities.

To help the snow removal process, Parking and Transportation allowed residents to park their cars overnight in Rappahannock River Parking Deck during the storm and its aftermath.

According to their Twitter account, West Campus permit holders will be allowed in Rappahannock until tomorrow at 7 a.m., while general lot permit holders will be allowed to park on the roofs of the Mason Pond, Sandy Creek and Rappahannock Decks through tomorrow.

Natisha Venzen, Broadside Correspondent

Students pursuing careers in medicine may have just found their golden ticket. Say hello to “George Squared.”

According to George Mason University Provost Dr. Peter Stearns, George Squared is a partnership between George Mason and Georgetown medical schools to find ways to develop and deliver medical education programs based on Mason’s Prince William Campus.

“Georgetown will provide the medical strength and George Mason will provide strength in areas like biomedical technology, proteomics and other aspects of medical related research,” said Stearns.

The collaboration will additionally generate a joint certificate program next year designed for people who are hoping to improve their preparation for medical school, and in the following year, that is fall 2011, we will open a joint masters program also designed for people heading in the health professions,” Stearns continued. George Squared promises to be an exciting collaboration of schools that medical students will soon be able to take advantage of.

“We have really good professors from George Mason and Georgetown, and with this partnership, teachers from both colleges will be training these students, and people who go through this training will have [a] top notch education,” said Abigail Perez, a freshman nursing major.

With the economy in a recession, the financial aspect of George Squared had to be considered.

“[The cost of George Squared] was a negotiation between the two schools headed from the Mason stand point by Dean Chandhoke, the dean of [the] College of Science, and we will actually make money on it,” said Stearns. “The tuitions for these programs is going to be fairly high and we expect that it will more than cover the cost to deliver the programs.”

Students involved in George Squared “will be doing work on anatomy, biomedical technologies, biomedical statistics and information systems, [and] medical research, for example in the cancer area, and a whole variety of topics leading towards the kind of first year program that medical students need,” said Stearns.

As far as additional buildings for these programs on the Prince William Campus go, Stearns said, “We can handle it within our existing facilities because the new bio-containment laboratory is opening up, which allows us to free up some space in existing buildings on the Prince William Campus.

“If the program expands, which we quite frankly hope, we would need some new facilities on the Prince William [Campus], but the first stages we can handle,” said Stearns.

Freshman nursing major Julie Whitacre said, “I think [George Squared] is a really good idea. By combining both George Mason and Georgetown, it opens up a lot of doors for a lot of different knowledge that both schools can contribute to the overall achievement of the student.”

Emily Sharrer, Editor-in-Chief

To make up classes missed due to last week’s snowstorms, final exams originally scheduled for May 5-7, will be pushed back to May 8-12 and a reading day scheduled for May 4 has been cancelled. Final exams, which are usually two hours and 45 minutes long, will be reduced to two hours, with six exams scheduled over four days, as opposed to the original plan of having five exams over five days.

George Mason University Provost Peter Stearns announced the makeup class plan and unveiled the new final exam schedule to students, faculty and staff via e-mail on Friday.

Classes at the university, which were cancelled since 12:30 p.m. Feb. 5, resumed Friday.

“We can press the exam schedule back and that frees up several days — plus the reading days — to make up as best as possible for the days we missed in this latest series of storms,” said Stearns.

This is the first time within at least ten years the university has scheduled exams on a Saturday according to Stearns.

“We’ve used Saturdays in case of difficulty, as well as for some Saturday classes, but this is the first time to my knowledge that we’ve used it so extensively,” he said.

In his e-mail to faculty, staff and students, Stearns said rescheduling exams “seemed the most feasible, least disruptive option.”

Other options considered by Stearns, the Faculty Senate and the Student Government included using Saturdays or spring break days to make up classes missed due to cancellations. According to Stearns, the revised exam schedule was the best option due to limited classroom space on Saturdays and the wrath of students if spring break was cancelled.

“I saw the threads on Facebook, and I don’t want a rebellion,” joked Stearns.

Also in his e-mail, Stearns acknowledged that the university “would probably have to use a Sunday or two” should further snow days
occur.

“If we felt we have to do a makeup we might have to turn to a Sunday, but we’d have to see how bad the situation was,” said Stearns.
According to Stearns and Dan Walsch, the university’s press secretary,
this is the first time in recent memory classes at the university were cancelled for an entire week.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve been closed this long and for this extent of time,” said Walsch. “This is really an unusual situation and we’re keeping our fingers crossed that we don’t have any more days we have to take because of the weather.”

“In terms of my experience, this is unprecedented like the storm itself was,” added Stearns.

For more information about the new exam schedule visit http://registrar.gmu.edu/facultystaff/cancelledclass.html