jan. 27, 2014
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IVFOURTH ESTATE
George Mason University’s o� cial student news outlet
BROADSIDE AND CONNECT2MASON PRESENT
Jan. 27, 2014 | Volume 1 Issue 14
Amid losing streak, former high school star impresses on court | page 14
EARLY IMPACT
JOHN IRWIN/FOURTH ESTATE
News Fourth estate2 Jan. 27, 2014
So a swarm of bees didn’t pop out of the last issue or some other horrible tragedy, so I’m going to count my fi rst issue as editor-in-chief as a moral victory.
You might notice some design changes in this issue, and I couldn’t be happier with how this paper looks and what we still have in store for future issues. For the design changes, I want to commend our design editor, Aysha Abdallah.
Now that all my commendations are done to editors both present and past, it’s time to start using this space as my soapbox. Everyone says write what you know, so for this week, it’s time to talk about expected conduct from athletes and double stan-dards in sports.
On page 16 of this issue, Fourth Estate colum-nist Brandon Katz will tell everyone that “[Richard] Sherman deserves to be cut a little slack.” Katz makes some salient points about the hypocrisy of fandom and how a large sect of sports fans want - on the fi eld - an intense, putting their all into every second of every game kind of player. Off the fi eld though, that same sect wants players to humble themselves to the simple person you would like to grab a drink with, bring home to mom and dad or someone with a haircut you could set your watch to.
Where I diverge from Katz is in his preface to the hypocrisy of fans, “I’m not here to defend Sherman’s actions. His comments were classless and rude. Th e whole interview blemished what otherwise was a stellar performance by the cornerback.”
I’m here to defend Sherman’s actions outright.Sports is in a better place if Sherman and others
were out there after every game cutting heel promos like this was the Road to WrestleMania.
By nature, football itself is a silly game. In the not too distant future, in its current incarnation, it will be prob-ably considered something like a bloodsport much in
the same way we view gladiator fi ghts in the Roman coliseum.
It’s a brutal game that a large number of Americans follow devoutly every week for nearly 22 weeks - some follow on a year-round basis - as a means of escapism. It’s to escape from the mundanities of life, to apply and project narratives and actions that we rarely get to see in our actual dismal existences onto 32 teams of our choosing.
By having players like Sherman add to this spectacle and go against the grain from this faux-decorum that fans seem to want to instill in sports is an absolute delight from my view.
Where all the criticisms of Sherman make me really squirm is the coded language used by talking heads to describe Sherman as a “thug.” An issue brought up by Sherman himself in a press conference addressing his post-game interview.
“Th e only reason it bothers me is because it seems like it’s the accepted way of calling somebody the N-word nowadays. Because they know,” Sherman said.
He’s absolutely right in his assessment. Where a person of color makes one “outburst” that is out of the expected norm, that will defi ne their personality and image in popular culture forever. It’s why some think of Kanye West as a punchline rather than one of the best artists of our generation. Th is reality exists in the same world where Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Riley Cooper - white - can blurt out the actual “n-word,” and apologize then some of the mainstream narrative shifts to him “overcoming” to build a great bond with his quarterback and put up good numbers on the fi eld.
It is apparent that there is still an egregious double standard when it comes to not only what we want and expect from our athletes, but also what we want and expect from our athletes of color.
Letter from the Editor-in-Chiefin this issue
Why FOURTH ESTATE ?Prior to Broadside, the student newspaper was called Th e Gunston Ledger. It was changed in 1969
to better represent the politically out-spoken student body at the time. A “broadside” was a pamphlet used during the American Revolutionary War to help spread infor-
mation. While Broadside has become an important part of life at Mason, we believe it no longer represents the overarching goals of student-run news.
Th ough not specifi cally outlined like the three branches of government, the concept of a fourth estate referred to journalism and the media as an important tenet in upholding justice and liberty through establishing an informed public.
Th ese historic roots coincide with the transforming industry of modern journalism.
Artist Sonya Clark uses
hair, thread, and paper
to create ‘Black White
and � read all over’
exhibit
180 Degree Consulting
� rm’s Mason branch
focuses on creating
student experiences
8� ree Mason track and
� eld athletes, including
senior Daianna Barron
(pictured) were awarded
with Weekly Atlantic 10
awards
6
15
NewsFourth estate Jan. 27, 2014 3
(AM
Y R
OSE
/FOU
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STAT
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Jan. 21 - the � rst day of classes - saw one of the biggest snow storms to a� ect Fairfax in years.Photo of the Week: S n o w f a l l
“I’m unsure because obviously people
will take advantage of that for recre-ational use…It’s an iff y subject.”
–Haley Cloeuser, sophomore, history
“Yes because
people should
be able to make their
own choices about what they consume
or put in their body”–James Casebeer, fresh-man, computer science
“I think it would be more bene-fi cial to people that are in a lot of pain and it does more good than harm.”–Shannon George, sopho-
more,
communications
If it is medical and with the proper doctor’s prescription, I think it would be okay to legalize. However, it should be made with a policy that people can’t buy it freely” –Sam Sakul, junior, managing and accounting
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Should medicinal marijuana be legalized in Virginia?
News Fourth estate4 Jan. 27, 2014
T he many golf carts seen on are now being offi cially regulated for the fi rst
time thanks to a new university policy. Policy 1131 enacted earlier this month, covers the use of motorized utility vehicles on campus, including golf carts. MUVs are vehicles not licensed by the State and not intended for road use. Th e policy covers the purchase, operation and maintenance of MUVs on campus.
According to Mason’s Director of Parking and Transportation, Josh Cantor, the policy was born out of a need to regulate the increas-ing use of golf carts and other motorized utility vehicles on campus.
“As campus has grown and we have more pedestrians, bikes, and carts, there was a desire to ensure we have a policy that controls who can use and drive MUVs to ensure the safety of their operation,” Cantor said.
Th e policy is multi-faceted, calling for regu-lated safety standards, regular maintenance of MUVs and increased accountability for
departments that own and operate MUVs on campus.
A key aspect of the policy requires the university to register all new and existing MUVs with the Offi ce of Parking and Transportation. “Similar to most state owned university vehi-cles, we wanted to be able to identify which MUV’s belong to which departments – just for basic identifi cation since many look similar,” Cantor said. “Also, in case of any issues with the carts or their drivers, we will know which departments to notify.”
An addition, an annual registration fee for MUVs has been instituted in the policy. Th e fee is designed to fund infrastructure changes that will make campus more accessible to MUVs and to cover the cost of grounds main-tenance repairing damage caused by MUVs.
Th e policy also states that the Offi ce of Parking and Transportation must approve any purchase of an MUV by a university depart-ment. In order to be approved, the department
must demonstrate a valid business need for the MUV that conforms to certain safety stan-dards. Departments with existing MUVs have one year to make sure all vehicles in their possession adhere to these safety standards.
Before Policy 1131, no specifi c university policy regulated the use of MUVs. Mason created the course over the course of 18 months by a taskforce including the Offi ce of Parking and Transportation, Facilities Management, the Environmental Health and
Safety Offi ce, the Offi ce of Risk Management and University Police.
“Our committee that crafted the policy researched and used best practices from many institutions and throughout the parking & transportation industry,” Cantor said.
JULIANNE WOODSONSTAFF WRITER
New university policy regulates campus vehicles
Center for the Arts FAIRFAX Hylton Performing Arts Center PRINCE WILLIAM
7 0 3 - 9 9 3 - 8 8 8 8 o r c f a . g m u . e d u / s t u d e n t s 7 0 3 - 9 9 3 - 7 7 5 9 o r h y l t o n c e n t e r. o r g / s t u d e n t s
CA CENTER FOR THE ARTS FG FINE ART GALLERY HC HYLTON CENTER HT HARRIS THEATRE MG MASON HALL GALLERY
FREE TICKETS FOR MASON STUDENTS!AFRICANS IN INDIA EXHIBITIONDec. 2 – Feb. 4 FREE MG
HAIFA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA OF ISRAELFebruary 1 at 8 p.m. $60, $52, $30 CA February 9 at 4 p.m. $60, $52, $44 HC 2 Free Tickets per ID avail. Jan. 21
BLACK AND WHITE AND THREAD ALL OVER ExhibitionSonya ClarkJanuary 21 – February 21 FREE FG
WALNUT STREET THEATREDriving Miss DaisyFebruary 7 at 8 p.m. $44, $36, $22 CA2 Free Tickets per ID avail. Jan. 28
METROPOLITAN JAZZ ORCHESTRASimply Swingin’ with Sinatra and FriendsSteve Lippia, vocalistFebruary 8 at 8 p.m. $48, $40, $24 CA2 Free Tickets per ID avail. Jan. 28
THE KING’S SINGERSThe Great American SongbookFebruary 9 at 4 p.m. $48, $40, $24 CA2 Free Tickets per ID avail. Jan. 28
FACULTY ARTIST SERIESKathryn Hearden, sopranoFebruary 3 at 12:30 p.m. FREE HT
THE VISION SERIESFootnotes: Creating Contemporary DancesSusan Shields, speakerFebruary 3 at 7 p.m. FREE CA
VISUAL VOICES SPEAKER SERIESImprovising a Living Beyond the StudioDale Culleton, speakerFebruary 6 at 7:30 p.m. FREE HT
SEEING AND RESPONDING TO ITALY EXHIBITIONFeb. 10 – Mar. 7 FREE MG
VISUAL VOICES SPEAKER SERIESActivist Arabia: Revolt as Medium, Street as CanvasAdel Iskandar, speakerFebruary 13 at 7:30 p.m. FREE HT
SEEING AND RESPONDING TO ITALY EXHIBITION
STUDENTS!
SEEING AND RESPONDING TO ITALY EXHIBITIONSEEING AND RESPONDING TO ITALY EXHIBITION
One of the campus vehicles a� ected by new policy driving in front of Liberty.
Volunteer in a malaria research study.
We seek healthy adults 18 to 50 years of age to be immunized by mosquito bites in order to accelerate malaria vaccine development.
Compensation is provided.
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Translating Research into Solutions for our World
NMRC Clinical Trials Center Located at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Campus8901 Wisconsin Ave., Bldg 17, Suite 2B, Bethesda, MD 20889
(AMY ROSE/FOURTH
ESTATE)
NewsFourth estate Jan. 27, 2014 5
Consulting firm provides students work experienceA t the start of 2013, a branch of the
consulting firm 180 Degrees Consulting was launched at Mason, and subsequently the founders and students have already recruited 20 consultants to work on projects for non-profit organizations in the area.
“I learned about 180 Degrees while study-ing abroad last year and thought this could be an incredible opportunity for George Mason students,” President and Founder, Jennifer Storm, said via email.
Since it’s founding at the University of Sydney in 2007, 180 Degrees Consulting has expanded to 18 countries with over 1,500 student participants working annually on consulting projects with non-profit organiza-tions, social enterprises and for-profit compa-nies. There are currently 35 branches that make up the firm, with branches in countries such as New Zealand, Spain, Denmark, Japan and Mexico.
“180 Degrees recognizes that while raising revenue is crucial for non-profits, developing strategies to utilize existing resources most efficiently is equally important,” Storm said. “This is why students at 180 Degrees apply management consulting principles to the not-for-profit industry and develop business solu-tions to social problems.”
Storm said she was able to establish this branch of 180 Degrees by following certain steps such as, “recruiting an executive team, completing training from the Americas team and marketing it to students and non-profits; it’s an exciting process.”
“This fall, we recruited 20 consultants to begin working on projects for local non-profit organizations,” Marketing Director of the Mason branch, Kersten Smith, said via email.
As the Director of Marketing, Smith
manages the online presence through the branch’s website, blog posts and other forms of social media marketing. Smith also works with the recruitment team in publicizing the firm to community.
“The process is a true learning partnership between the non-profit and the student
team,” Storm said via email. “At the Mason branch and most branches around the world, students participate in 180 Degrees as an extracurricular activity.”
These 180 Degrees projects require students to work in the areas of financial analysis, human resources, strategy, technology and program analysis. According to recruitment director Francis Aguisanda, the branch is searching for students involved in wide ranges of studies.
“We have everyone on our team, from economics to biology to accounting,” Aguisanda said. “Our organization is especially looking for students who have performed well in leadership roles and have displayed their ability to work well under deadlines through their work and volunteer experiences.”
In order to become a consultant of the firm, one must submit an online application and then meet with branch executives in an inter-view process.
The Mason branch looks to 2014 for more opportunities to spread awareness on campus, recruit more consultants for the year’s projects and continue to provide this learning experi-ence to the Mason community.
“We also hope to spread awareness of our goals and objectives within the Mason community to gain consultants as well as projects with other non-profit organiza-tions,” Smith said. “We hope to build upon our relations with local organizations and to
also promote our branch as one of the most competitive in North America.”
The branch currently works in the Mason Center for Social Entrepreneurship and follows the guidance and advice from faculty advisor and Director of Entrepreneurship, David Miller. Along with non-profit organi-zations, the branch is connected with Mason alumni who have helped to provide sponsor and donor opportunities to the branch.
CHRISTOPHER MORRISONSTAFF WRITER
(AMY ROSE/FOURTH ESTATE)
News Fourth estate6 Jan. 27, 2014
Entrepreneurship program assists Mason community wishing to start their own businessesInnovative students looking to start their
own businesses can now turn to a new program on campus called Startup Mason. Th e program, created by Professor David Miller in July 2012, provides guidance and resources to Mason students, alumni and faculty interested in innovation and entrepreneurship wishing to start their own companies.
“We have meetings during the semester every two weeks where we’ll cover many diff erent topics such as fundraising, presenta-tions where people come in and give updates on what they’re working on,” Miller said. “We might have a speed-mentoring session, so you’ll come in and in an hour you’ll talk to four diff erent mentors.”
Th e program began when Miller observed the general lack of entrepreneurship on Mason’s campus as well as the desire of his students for out-of-class experience.
“When I was teaching as an adjunct profes-sor, students wanted more than just the class, and we didn’t have a lot of programs,” Miller said. “I just started meeting with students informally in the Johnson Center, realized there was a demand, so we started renting spaces, and last July the Center for Social Entrepreneurship brought it in as a full time program.”
Th e program has been responsible for helping
start companies that work on basic landscap-ing, to international fi lm kiosks, to robotic lawn-mowers. Sammy Kassim and Assad Ali are two former Mason students responsible for co-starting the international fi lm service called Globebox, modeled along the line of Redbox with the assistance of Startup Mason.
“We regularly attended every Startup Mason meeting and spent time with Professor Miller
outside of the classroom at networking events,” said Kassim. “We went through a process to validate the company.”
Globebox, described as a world cinema version of Redbox, was created by Kassim and Ali last year and now has 10 kiosks throughout Northern Virginia, including one at Mason in order to “capitalize on the demographics of GMU.”
Kassim and Ali said that they were brought in
as speakers for Startup Mason this past semes-ter. According to Ali, the point of the program was to reciprocate help amongst each other.
In a study by the Association of University Technology Managers, the D.C. area schools showed to be lacking in entrepreneurial productivity, and Mason especially showed to be seemingly lacking in “technology transfers,” which are defi ned by AUTM as “the process of
transferring scientifi c fi ndings from one orga-nization to another for the purpose of further development and commercialization.”
“Startup Mason absolutely supports the use of technology of new ventures, but it’s not reliant,” Miller said. “We’re more interested in innovative business models.”
Miller expressed personal distaste towards the concept of technology transfer and said that they resulted in universities actually
losing money.“People assume all technology is lead-
ing-edge, patentable stuff that only ‘I’ can create in the lab, and the reality is that it’s not,” Miller said. “Most technology is just a tool. Facebook had no special technology when it started; it was just a website. Now, years later, they patent everything, because they’ve got money and lawyers, but when starting a company, to base it off of patentable technol-ogy is, I think, a huge mistake.”
Miller said that while Startup Mason will work with individuals who have patents, it is not a requirement. He went on to say that when universities gave students the freedom to innovate without constraints such as tech-nology transfers, it often resulted in better outcomes.
“In the end if someone builds a successful company and creates wealth, they’ll give it back to the school in the form of a dona-tion,” Miller said. “Michael Dell started Dell computer in a dorm room. Th e school had no rights to that, no TTO. He’s made a fortune and donated 650 million to the University of Texas.”
SUHAIB KHANPRINT NEWS EDITOR
“Michael Dell started Dell computer in a dorm room...He’s made a fortune
and donated 650 million to the UT.”
(KATRYNA HENDERSON/FOURTH ESTATE)
NewsFourth estate Jan. 27, 2014 7
Sustainability brings Recycle ManiaStriving to go green, the
Offi ce of Sustainability at Mason is raising awareness for green eff orts on campus at a venue where trash seems to overfl ow: basketball games.
Th is Saturday’s basket-ball game against George Washington University will host an event called the Game Day Challenge. It’s a competi-tion between diff erent univer-sities to see who can properly recycle and compost the most during a single sporting event.
Th e Game Day Challenge is one category in a larger tour-nament known as Recycle Mania. Th e tournament host’s colleges from every state in the U.S. plus univer-sities in Canada, and this will be Mason’s fi rst year enter-ing into a category. Fellow Virginia universities like James Madison University, Virginia Commonwealth University and Old Dominion University are also competing in some of many aspects of Recycle Mania.
Hidden away on the far side of campus, the Offi ce of Sustainability has been creat-ing events and campaigns for the past seven years. At the start of the last fall semes-ter, the staff helped create the Innovation Food Forest project. Students known as Student Green Patriots challenged the university to increase sustainability measures in categories such as dining and landscaping. Th ey also choreographed a
fl ash mob in April 2013 for Earth Week.
Th e offi ce has recruited roughly 50 volunteers to be at Saturday’s tailgate and around the stadium at “waste stations.” Th eir goal is show people how to properly dispose of trash and material as it’s happening. Once the game is over, the offi ce will make sure everything is sorted properly, weigh every-thing and report the numbers to Recycle Mania.
Giulia Manno, a coordina-tor for the event and intern for the offi ce, said one of the goals for the event was to “improve recycling in the Patriot Center in the future and show that it’s easy and they can implement it.”
In a trash audit before the event, the offi ce found out during a game, there’s an average of .88 pounds of trash per person and only .02 pounds of recycling. “Th e goal is to send as little to the land-fi ll as possible,” said Manno.
In an eff ort to spread the word during the game, the offi ce has invested money in paraphernalia like t-shirts and chico bags, or reusable bags, to hand out during the game.
Th e Offi ce of Sustainability won’t fi nd out the results of the challenge until later in the spring, but if Mason places well, it could mean more annual green games.
BRIANNA PERRYSTAFF WRITER
(COURTESTY OF OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY)
Lifestyle FOURTH ESTATE8 Jan. 27, 2014
Black White & Thread All Over ExhibitT he Art and Design Building’s Fine Art
Gallery springs into the semester with work by VCU professor and artist, Sonya Clark, in her exhibit “Black and White and � read All Over.”
A single white table with exhibit brochures spread on its surface stands guard by the gallery entrance. Guests wander into the spacious room � lled with art pieces composed of nothing but combs, thread, paper and hair.
In conjunction with the Department of African and African American Studies and in honor of Black History Month, the exhibit features just some of Clark’s many similar bodies of work until Feb. 21.
In this exhibit, Clark brings together small materials in order to create a commentary on the politics and culture surrounding black hair. Namely, she explores the history of power tied to certain styles of hair and the tools associated with it.
According to the exhibit’s brochure, hair is just one of many ways society shapes and de� nes the standards of beauty, class, gender and race. � e question of what constitutes as “good” versus “bad” hair or the growing distinction between “natural” versus straightened hair is prevalent within the black community. It is with great care that Clark untangles these issues.
� e pieces themselves vary as widely as the history they cover. All of the works are widely spread out in the room. � e designs range from photographs of black hair compressed into solid shapes alongside smoother, white coun-terparts to a series of white paper wrinkled in ways that resemble stitching patterns.
Most notable is the “Madam CJ Walker” piece, an iconic portrait of Madam Walker recreated entirely with combs.
Madam Walker is said to be the nation’s � rst self-made female millionaire, best known for her empire of hair care products. Employing thousands of African American women, referred to as “beauty agents,” Walker’s busi-ness � ourished in the early 1900’s and helped pave the way for new hair ideals in the black community. She was dedicated to the Civil Rights Movement and to promoting a new sense of pride for African Americans.
Her message was growth and unity, which Clark expresses through the portrait. Each comb, small and uniform, holds its own place and position. When viewed up close, the � ner details such as the combs’ teeth and how each one is linked together are much clearer. From afar, however, they all blend into a beautiful whole without detracting from each comb’s importance. � e portrait dominates the wall from top to bottom and o� ers a pro� le view of the woman in question.
� is is one of Clark’s strongest messages within the exhibit. On the use of combs, Clark has written that they speak volumes on the nation’s legacy of hair culture and the gender and race issues surrounding it. In the exhibit’s brochure, Clark explains that, “As disposable objects, [combs] parallel the low social status of African American women born in the late 1800s. But together, the thousands of combs become a monumental tapestry, signifying Walker’s magnitude and success despite her humble beginnings.”
� e other works crafted in combs vary as well.
Some comb teeth are broken and rearranged, while other, longer combs are stacked and woven together to form other cohesive shapes. All, however, help expand the overarching narrative of identity and struggle. � ey are reminiscent of the di� erent styles of black hair, from long to short, straightened to curly, thin to full. � e styles shift with the latest fashion trends, but the origins behind them stay consistent. As is the case with Clark, viewing those origins in a new light can enlighten and empower people today.
With Black History Month around the corner, the theme and message of this exhibit is � tting.
Sonya Clark gained an appreciation for story-telling through homemade objects at an early age from her grandmother and much of her work deals with family lineage through time as well. Clark has been working with hair speci� -cally since 2000 and has created several pieces since.
In addition to the exhibit, an artist lecture and reception will be held in the gallery on Feb. 4 at 1:30 p.m. For more information on Clark and her work, visit sonyaclark.com.
ARRIELLE BROOKSONLINE LIFESTYLE EDITOR
(AMY ROSE/FOURTH ESTATE)
Chocolate Festival returns to Old Towne FairfaxW ith Valentine’s Day around the corner, chocolate lovers
will soon load up on candies and goodies, but Fairfax residents do not have to wait until the fourteenth to get their fair share of chocolate delights.
� e Chocolate Lovers Festival returns to Old Town Fairfax for its third year this coming weekend, providing chocolate from local vendors, contests and events of all sorts.
� e festival is a two day event that will be running Feb. 1, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m, and Feb. 2 from 12 p.m. -4 p.m. O� ering activities for all ages the festival has a variety of events from a Chocolate Challenge to a Taste of Chocolate.
While the event presents locals with the opportunity to try a variety of sweets, it also provides a chance to make a di� erence in the lives of local students. Attendees will � nd that there is a small fee for some events during the Chocolate Festival and that donations are collected. Each year the Chocolate Lovers Festival chooses an organization to award a grant. � at program
receives the pro� t from the donations made during contests over a two-day period.
� e organization that receives this grant strikes close to home with students at Mason because it is the school’s own Best Buddies chapter, a part of Best Buddies Virginia.
Best Buddies is a non-pro� t organization that provides men and women with intellectual and developmental disabili-ties opportunities to create long and lasting friendships with those who do and do not live with IDD. � e Mason chapter of Best Buddies works with the Mason LIFE Program to create a post-secondary education program for those students with IDD who would like the opportunity to experience university life.
While the funds raised support the Best Buddies Chapter at Mason, they also aid scholarships for students at Mason and the program Meals for Young Minds.
Attendees of the festival can look forward to the two main events, the Chocolate Challenge and the Silent Auction.
� e Chocolate Challenge is a contest involving three cate-gories: sculptures, cupcakes and cake. Students can feel free to enter the contest up until the morning of Feb. 1. � ere is a $10 entrance fee and the only requirement is that the creations entered in the contest must be made of chocolate. � e creations will then be displayed and judged by both visitors and judges.
� e Silent Auction provides a chance for students to win services from local restaurants yoga shops tattoo parlors and more. Donated cakes are also entered into the silent auction for students to have an opportunity to win.
For more information on the events happening at the Chocolate Lovers Festival, students can contact Joseph W. Wilson, Department Manager of the Department of Nutrition and Food Services of George Mason University at 703-993-9709 or go online to www.chocolatefestival.net.
MARY OAKEYSTAFF WRITER
LifestyleFourth estate Jan. 27, 2014 9
F ollowing Martin Luther King Jr. Day and getting back into the swing of a new
semester, di� erent organizations around campus have found ways to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. was a brave leader who led African American citizens through a trying time of discrimination. To many, he was a symbol of hope and was a great public speaker. Mason wanted to make sure that his legacy remained living on this year.
� e O� ce of Student Involvement created a memorial quilt with the help of other student groups and o� ces. � ey hosted the MLK quilt-making workshop Jan. 22 through the 25, letting student organizations contribute.
“We want to keep the spirit of the dream and his beliefs alive. � e quilt is symbolism,” said T. Garey Davis, Assistant Director of the O� ce of Diversity, Inclusion and Multicultural Education.
Participants received a 12×12 in. felt square to sew or design with their choice of decora-tion and inspirational words.
� is quilt will be displayed throughout the rest of the academic year. “It will be a memo-rial all year round,” Davis said.
On Jan. 24, the Mason class council hosted a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington with a picture gallery at the Ridge.
� e photo exhibit consisted of di� erent black and white photos from Martin Luther King’s time and some pictures of our current president, Barrack Obama.
Students were able to relax in the welcom-ing environment with refreshments so that they could relax and soak in the history in front of them. � e exhibit displayed how di� erent states handled segregation.
One of the most eye-catching photos to Residential Student Program Coordinator of Housing and Residence Life, Joey Allen was a picture of a woman named Gloria Richardson pushing a National Guardsman’s bayonet aside.
“It took me by surprise when I was putting up the pictures earlier. It is a great photo because a black female is the person calming the crowd down,” Allen said.
� e caption for the photo read, “Mrs. Gloria Richardson, head of the Cambridge Nonviolent Action Committee, pushes National Guardsman’s bayonet aside as she moves among a crowd of African American’s to convince them to disperse in Cambridge, Maryland. 1963.”
Also pictured around the “Legacy of Dreams” exhibit, shedding light on the March on Washington, were actual pictures of the March on Washington in 1963, as well as a recent photo of President Obama in 2012 riding on the exact bus that Rosa Parks was arrested on.
Students were given the chance to write on a construction paper covered wall titled, “What do you want to see in the next 50 years?”
Some of the anonymous answers written in marker were “I hope the world will be a less greedy and sel� sh place,” and “Equality between men and women.” Another was “Gay rights should be rights.”
Attendants of the event were able to express themselves anonymously and re� ect. For a more visual generation, this exhibit encour-ages students to think about America’s past.
SAVANNAH NORTONSTAFF WRITER
Campus events honor Martin Luther King
(AMY ROSE/FOURTH ESTATE)
Lifestyle Fourth estate10 Jan. 27, 2014
(WALTER MARTINEZ/FOURTH ESTATE)
LifestyleFourth estate Jan. 27, 2014 11
The Official Pizza of Mason Athletics!
Opinion FOURTH ESTATE Jan. 27, 2014 Hau ChuEditor-In-Chief
Daniel GregoryManaging Editor
Alexa RogersNews Editor
Suhaib KhanPrint News Editor
Genevieve HoelerLifestyle Editor
Stephen CzardaSports Editor
Darian Banks Print Sports Editor
John IrwinPhotography Editor
Amy RoseAsst. Photography Editor
Aysha AbdallahDesign Editor
Walter MartinezVisual Editor
Rawan ElbabaCopy Chief
Katryna HendersonIllustrator
Kathryn Mangus Faculty Advisor
David Carroll Associate Director
Fourth Estate operates as a publication of Broadside. Fourth Estate is printed each Monday for George Mason University and its surrounding Fairfax Community. � e editors of Fourth Estate have exclusive authority over the content that is published.
� ere 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 noti� ed at the email provided.
Fourth Estate is a free publication, limit one copy per person. Additional copies are 25 cents payable to the O� ce of Student Media.
Mail Fourth EstateGeorge Mason UniversityMail stop 2C54400 University DriveFairfax, Va. 22030Phone 703-993-2950
The semester has begun here at GMU and so has the legislative session down in Richmond
for Virginia’s General Assembly. Over 2,000 bills have been o� ered that legislators will look into and determine which ones are important to Virginians. Many of these bills could have a direct impact on college students, like HB 258, which tackles the issue of First Amendment rights at public colleges and universities.
HB 258, patroned by Delegates Lingamfelter and Villanueva, reads: Restrictions on student speech at institutions of higher education; limitations. Prohibits public institutions of higher education from imposing restrictions on the time, place, and manner of student speech that occurs in the outdoor areas of the institution’s campus and is protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution unless the restrictions (i) are reasonable, (ii) are justi� ed without reference to the content of the regulated speech, (iii) are narrowly tailored to serve a signi� cant governmental interest, and (iv) leave open ample alternative channels for communication of the information.
Essentially, the law strengthens and con� rms your right to free speech in outdoor areas on campus while still giving administrations wiggle room for extreme or unusual circumstances. � e wording strictly aligns with the “O’Brien test” (Unites States v. O’Brien), saying that with government regulation of speech, the restrictions of time, place, and manner can be allowed if they are (a) narrowly tailored (b)
serve a substantial governmental interest and (c) there are alternative channels to communicate the information.
Free speech is one of the most fundamental rights in America, speci� cally outlined in the � rst amendment of the Constitution. Public universities should be promoting free speech, free thought, and the discussion of ideas. For institutions of higher education, restricting free speech would be counter-intuitive to the reason of their existence. For the most part, GMU does a good job with free speech; although, Mason does receive a “yellow light” rating from the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE).
Eleven of Virginia’s public institutions currently receive a “red light” or “yellow light” rating on their speech codes from FIRE, meaning that the insti-tution has some sort of policy restricting freedom of speech. Some of Virginia’s schools even have “free speech zone” policies. Virginia is certainly susceptible to the same kind of issues with its public institutions of higher education as we saw with California and their extreme, embarrassing restriction of speech directed at a student who just wanted to hand out copies of the Constitution. Outrage spread across the internet last year when the story surfaced about Robert Van Tuinen, a student attending Modesto Junior College, who was told he couldn’t hand out copies of the Constitution on Constitution day. He was blocked from handing out those copies because he wasn’t in a designated
“free speech zone” and college policies required that he get permission to utilize his free speech rights in advance. HB 258 would prevent this kind of outrageous scenario from developing at Virginia universities.
Susan Kruth from FIRE, wrote, “Virginia—with three “green light” institutions and a law protect-ing religious pluralism on campus—boasts a better record on students’ First Amendment rights than many other states. If passed, this bill would allow the commonwealth to continue setting a positive example for the rest of the country.” HB 258 is a bill that will protect and strengthen freedom of speech for students attending George Mason University and other students around the state.
Delegate David Bulova, who represents the 37th district in the General Assembly, represents GMU and the students who reside in Fairfax. Students and Faculty are welcome to email his o� ce to express their support for this bill. A few hundred emails from students should encourage his o� ce to patron this bill and build support among the other representatives. Ask Delegate Bulova to take a stand for your First Amendment rights.
JOHN HILLCOLUMNIST
Public University Free Speech Bill in the Virginia Legislature
Letter to the Editor: Mason LobbiesO n � ursday, January 30, 2014, more than
one hundred members of the George Mason community will travel down to the state capitol in Richmond, Virginia, for Mason Lobbies 2014. Mason Lobbies is a day of advocacy where students, faculty, sta� , alumni, and administration join together to collectively advocate for Mason as “One Institution with One Voice.” � e initiative was started last year with the goal of demonstrating the important investment that is George Mason University. By allowing the Mason community to speak to legislators, we remind them of the impor-tant role Mason plays in our great commonwealth, not only for students, but also for constituents and the private sector.
In its second year, Mason Lobbies will build upon the success of last year’s event as well as identify
speci� c legislative proposals that will bene� t our institution. In building on conversations started last year, we will continue to focus on increasing state funding for our university. With this, one of our most important legislative priorities is an increase in � nancial aid funding. � is work will be particularly important as the current budget before the Virginia General Assembly is slated to under-fund state � nancial aid by $25 million. In addition, we support an increase in funding for university research as well as faculty and sta� salaries. � is will help us to ensure that our university remains academically competitive and will help to enhance the value of the Mason Graduate. Furthermore, one new legislative priority that will be added to the discussion this year includes providing in-state tuition for Dreamers.
It has been a great pleasure to work with the Mason Student Government team, administrators, and faculty to put on this amazing event for the second year in a row and I am looking forward to a successful Mason Lobbies this year. Stay tuned to the @GeorgeMasonU twitter and #MasonLobbies for updates from Richmond on January 30, 2014.
KEVIN JACKSONCOLUMNIST
Kevin serves as the Undersecretary of State
Government A� airs with the George Mason University Student Government
OpinionFourth estate Jan. 27, 2014
Let the Mason Inn serve the less fortunate among us
The Mason campus is populated with various kinds of build-ings. � ere are the usual college facilities of dormitories,
classrooms and administrative o� ces. � ere are the artis-tic venues, like the Performing Arts Building and the Patriot Center. � en, there are the peculiar places, like a fully opera-tional hotel.
Hailed as being “eco-friendly” and appealing for its proxim-ity to the Patriot Center and Fair Oaks Mall, the Mason Inn, opened in the fall of 2010, boasts 148 guest rooms. Despite decent online reviews about its services and general quality, the Mason Inn has not been doing well in the � nancial arena. Since its opening, the facility has actually lost about $2 million annually due in large part to a dearth of visitors.
Last semester, an email went out to the community explain-ing these problems launching a task force to explore matters. � is task force has already concluded that the Mason Inn was “not � nancially sustainable.” Further, President Angel Cabrera made the recommendation that the facility be used for student purposes.
“After carefully considering their analysis, as well as listen-ing to the opinions of industry experts, I decided to accept the recommendation of the task force to convert the Mason Inn into a residential, dining and instructional facility,” President Cabrera said.
As this change for the bene� t of the student body commences,
a proposal shall be addressed for the new housing unit. � e proposal regarding the facility is courtesy to an issue brought to light last semester. In the fall, the Fourth Estate wrote a story on the e� orts of seniors Yara Mowafy and Jordan Bivings to help create a Meal Plan Assistance Fund for Mason students who are homeless. According to the article, about 20 students self-identify as homeless.
In addition to the Meal Plan Fund, the e� orts to help the homeless enrollees of Mason should include providing them with something so many of us take for granted: a place to live. Where could they live one asks? How about the Mason Inn?
Space is not an issue. One hundred and forty eight rooms present more than enough space to house approximately 20 students. A lot of rooms can even mean that the rest of the hotel could be used for students who are not homeless, but from a low socio-economic background.
In providing a living space for the homeless students of Mason, the university will be helping provide stability for those living in unstable conditions. According to the website of the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY), homeless students “lack the stability and peace of mind we all hope to be able to give our children.”
“In academic settings, students gain the skills and support needed to avoid poverty and homelessness as adults,” NAEHCY said.
Perhaps, Mason could set up a program for homeless students where they can have a room at the Mason Inn under the condition that they compensate for the expenses once they � nd sustainable employment. Or maybe, out of charity, the spaces could be given freely in the same way other items in education, both compulsory and advanced, are freely given to the less fortunate.
� ere are times when compassion should overrule � nancial concerns; especially if a little bit of compassion can lead to a great investment like a good education and a renewed oppor-tunity for the future.
It is a proposal submitted for consideration for those on the task force and for those in the campus community who may read this column.
� e request I make in this proposal is that the task force may consider determining the future of the Mason Inn on the basis of helping the less privileged students on campus.
MICHAEL GRYBOSKICOLUMNIST
Sports FOURTH ESTATE14 Jan. 27, 2014
Local player impresses coaches and communityW hen Paul Hewitt signed on to coach
the Mason men’s basketball team in May 2011, he needed a shooter. So, he turned straight away to longtime acquaintance and AAU coach, Keith Stevens, who gave him one name: Patrick Holloway.
“I actually started recruiting him before I even saw him play a high school game,” said Hewitt. “And, we were fortunate enough to get him.”
An impressive resume helped attract recruit-ers like Hewitt to Holloway. As a high school player at Paul VI, Holloway received All-Met honors his junior year. The following season, he earned the Washington Post All-Met Player of the Year award as a senior. The same season saw Holloway named Virginia Independent School Player of the Year and a first-team All-Washington Catholic Athletic Conference selection while helping lead his team to a 35-3 record, and the conference city and state titles.
Holloway began playing basketball at the age of four when his father put him in a recre-ation league in Stafford, VA. He played basket-ball his freshman year at Colonial Forge high school. It was when his older brother grad-uated that Holloway decided to transfer to private school. He chose Paul VI in Fairfax for his sophomore year of high school – a switch
that challenged Holloway on and off the court. “When I first got to Paul VI, it was
very different and very confusing for me, because private school basketball is much more intense than public school basketball,” said Holloway. “So, I had a lot of trouble, espe-cially being away from home and my friends, and everything was new for me.”
Under his Paul VI high school coach, Glenn Farello, Holloway bought into a new system and began to grow as a basketball player.
“I was kind of fighting the system with him, but he stuck with me. And once I gave into his system, things turned out a lot better for me,” Holloway said. “Glenn Farello is my mentor and someone I look up to and I know I can talk to for advice.”
So, adjustments had to be made and Holloway worked for it. Over the course of his high school playing days, Farello recalled countless times he sat silently courtside waiting, when Holloway stayed in the gym hours after practice finished – just shooting.
His commitment to put in the extra work translated to winning games for his team in the final moments several times in his high school career. Holloway continued to prog-ress – even earning himself a nickname in the process.
“We used to call him the assassin – he would just hit big shots, time and time and time again. He’s very competitive and he really works at his craft,” Farello said. “He’s dedicated to it, and he’s committed to it. So, it’s been fun to watch his development.”
Now, in his sophomore season at Mason, spectators are just starting to see Holloway’s potential. Currently, he is shooting over 43 percent from beyond the arc, and averaging 8.9 points per game – a significant improve-ment from last season.
“I expect to see him continue to grow and continue to get better – from freshman to sophomore, it’s very similar to what I saw. He’s still an underclassman, so I’m looking forward to see what he does with it. But, I know he’s motivated to keep working,” Farello said. “It’s a process and it takes time. He’s still got a ways to go, and he understands that – and that’s what I like about him – is that he’s willing to listen and wants to get better.”
Holloway has also been paying close atten-tion to seniors Sherrod Wright and Bryon Allen, motivated to match their success.
“The reason my shots have been falling a lot more recently, is because I’ve been shooting before practice and after practice and I’ve just been doing a lot more than I was. Something
that has inspired me to do that is Sherrod Wright, because I see him do that just about every day,” Holloway said. “I do the best I can to work up to their work ethic.”
Holloway continues to work and improve as a player under Hewitt. And, Hewitt already sees the impact Holloway can have on a game.
“He’s doing what we’re asking of him. He had some really big games his freshman year, and he’s starting to put together some big games here in his sophomore year. The one thing he’s always been is a clutch player,” Hewitt said. “Even last year when he was a freshman, when he had his ups and downs – late game situations, he’s making shots. And, he had a reputation of that in high school and he’s developed that reputation here at Mason.”
“He’s always been is a clutch player,” Hewitt said. “Even last year when he was a freshman, when he had his ups and downs – late game situations, he’s making shots. And, he had a reputation of that in high school and he’s developed that reputation here at Mason.”
KRISTI ANABLEONLINE SPORTS EDITOR
For a video of the interview with Holloway visit gmufourthestate.com
Sophomore Patrick Holloway shines bringing his shooting skills from Paul VI Catholic High School in Fairfax to Mason where he averages 9 points per game.
(JOHN IRWIN/FOURTH ESTATE)
SportsFourth estate Jan. 27, 2014 15
Three track and field athletes win weekly honorsSenior Adrian Vaughn hit marks set freshman year, ready for outdoor seasonWeekly Atlantic 10 awards were received by three of Mason’s track and field athletes taking Men’s and Women’s co-Performer and Rookie of the Week.
Senior Adrian Vaughn showcased his speed in the 200-meter dash gaining him Men’s co-Performer of the week. His opening time of 21.38 seconds at the Great Dane Classic ranked him in the top 25 in the country and made him the conference leader last week.
This honor did not come easy, as athletes must outperform not only their gender in their competition, but their own teammates as well. Vaughn has outshined the confer-ence for two weeks in a row earning A-10 weekly awards.
“I’ve wanted to earn this award since I was a freshman,” Vaughn said. “Given that the Mason team was comprised of All-Americans and World Champions and our conference has many talented athletes placed in the numerous events, you can imagine that it takes quite a lot to earn that distinction.”
Prior to the meet in New York, the team was training a lot to get ready for the A-10 meets.
“Our coach right now has been loading our legs up and we weren’t really primed to do well as a team this weekend,” Vaughn said.
He competed in the 60-meter preliminary and the final before going to the blocks in the 200-meter dash.
“Going into the 200-meter, it was a weird feeling because I hadn’t been in competition for so long, but Coach (Andrew Gerard) told me to attack it,” Vaughn said. “Attack the beginning.”
His finish in the 200-meter dash was only .19 more than his personal and school record of 21.19 second.
Off-season training and setting goals has made it possible for Vaughn to earn this award. He drastically changed his prep-aration for the season this year which has allowed for more improvement.
“My preparation changed drastically this time around from previous years. Typically, I go on long runs and occasionally lift in the last month before school,” Vaughn said. “This summer I linked up with a close friend, Aaron Anderson, a fellow senior at Mason, and we went to the gym and worked out together the entire summer.”
Anderson pushed Vaughn to the levels he is capable of.“I have a great work ethic when I’m with my coach or
someone else,” Vaughn said.The change in pace showed positive with the startup of track
season again.“Whether it was running, lifting, recovery or abs, we chal-
lenged each other and it has had a huge effect on my perfor-mance,” Vaughn said.
Now that he has achieved his goal of receiving Men’s co-Per-former of the Week, Vaughn continues to set goals for himself and the team in his last track season at Mason.
“For the indoor season, I would like to break the field-house facility record in the 200m dash and become an individual All-American at the indoor championships,” Vaughn said. “I
want both the men’s and women’s teams to win A-10 confer-ence championships and advance as many people to nationals as possible. I want the most for the team; the more of us there are the better we compete.”
Changes from the A-10 move include an indoor conference on a flat track and an outdoor conference taking place in the Boston, creating challenges for Vaughn due to the cold weather. However, his improved training has prepared him to attack.
Senior Daianna Barron envisions victory to achieve her goalsDaianna Barron, senior from Warrensville Heights, Ohio, led the board in the 400-meter dash and helped set the 4x400-me-ter meet record at the Great Dane Classic last week. A spot on the indoor nationals list and receiving the Atlantic 10 Women’s Co-Performer of the Week were among the honors she received for her outstanding performance.
“This award means that I’m off to a good start in my senior year and I’m grateful for that,” Barron said.
“It’s not just being on the list that makes it important to me. It’s maintaining a rank at the top of the list,” Barron explained. “That means I could be considered as a force and strong opponent.”
As a junior, Barron set the school record for the indoor 600-meter and indoor 4x400-meter relay.
While she has achieved benchmark numbers, she hopes to continue shattering personal records in the coming months.
“I’d like to run my personal best in the 400-meter dash,” Barron explained with her current indoor time of 53.72 and outdoor time of 53.81.
Barron also foresees beating Mason’s record for the 600-meter indoor if given the opportunity to run the event this season.
“I see a challenge being just getting better and better and
working through the pain that comes with the sport of track and field,” she said.
Barron has worked through minor setbacks such as shin splints and muscle aches, but said nothing was too serious to completely hold her back.
Her off-season workouts of long runs, weight lifting, and “getting explosive” have helped her stay in shape for the pre-season avoiding further injuries.
“As a senior my preparation has changed due to maturity,” Barron said. “I think I have a different mindset on things than what I had a year or so ago. I now take a lot of things more serious and try to give my full effort.”
Leading up to events, she takes proper care of her body and listens to Coach Abigi Id-Deen who always says, “Run your race.” “Upon running the 400-meter and relay, I had just competed in the 200-meter and wasn’t sure if I had enough energy,” Barron recalled. “But I set that aside and performed.
“As I waited in the blocks, I was a bit nervous, but stood their examining how I wanted to run my race and how I’d feel if I crossed the line in first place.”
Barron’s tunnel vision proved true as she took home first in the 400-meter with a time of 54.65.
She has already envisioned a successful season and hopes to bring that to light, as well.
“In my head, I picture myself accomplishing all the things I want, as long as I stay leveled and focused,” Barron said. “What makes my envision on this season even better is knowing the support system, motivators, great friends and family that I have in my corner.”
Freshman Nhautrey Brown earns awards while focusing on academicsNhautrey Brown, freshman, jumped to A-10 Rookie of the Week with a distance of 40 feet, six inches in the triple jump at
Senior Daianna Barron trains for the in-door and outdoor track and field season after earning Atlantic 10 Co-Performer of the Week for her performance at the Great Dane Classic
(AMY ROSE/FOURTH ESTATE)
Sports Fourth estate16 Jan. 27, 2014
Cut Sherman Some Slack
E veryone loves “Braveheart.” It’s an epic war tale that has some of the best action in
cinema history. And everyone hates that scene where the Prince betrays William Wallace. It’s gut wrenching. We despise that Prince so much in that moment because he betrayed all of the beliefs and virtues he convinced the audience that he upheld. It’s hypocrisy at its worst.
Th is applies to most of the keyboard critics that have arisen since Richard Sherman’s post-game interview following the Seahawks victory over the 49ers in the NFC Championship. All of these fans huffi ng and puffi ng online are hypocrites.
Let’s get one thing straight: I’m not here to defend Sherman’s actions. His comments were classless and rude. Th e whole interview blem-ished what otherwise was a stellar performance by the cornerback. But the vitriol from fans directed at the third-year defensive back shows an ugly side of fandom.
As football fans, we want our athletes to play with fi re passion swagger toughness etc. Th at is what coaches deem necessary for players to succeed and what spectators want to see from their team’s superstars.
Is it fair to ask athletes to play with all of these qualities on the fi eld and then abandon their intensity off the fi eld?
Sherman is who he is: loud, confi dent, unfi l-tered. Sure, that can get you into trouble from time, but his personality off the fi eld has always embodied what fans expect to see on game day.
Immediately following a come from behind victory in a championship game, is it fair to expect an athlete to act without any intensity or energy? Sure, he could have chosen his words better. His crime is a lack of humility, but his raw take is better than the diluted and pre-packaged puff seen in most post-game interviews.
Th e amount of backlash he’s received is laughable. Attention, NFL fans: you can’t have it both ways. Fans want their NFL stars to be violent passionate athletes on the fi eld and bland cookie-cutter personalities everywhere else. Th ese are real human beings with real emotions; not robots you can program to read cue cards like an SNL cast member.
In a league that continues to come under fi re from fans for becoming “too soft,” isn’t it a welcome respite to have a brash player who speaks his mind passionately?
I’ve enjoyed having Richard Sherman in the NFL. Yes, his post-game interview was a debacle (for which he apologized the next day). Regardless, it’s not enough to erase the three-seasons prior of entertainment and down right amazing play. One incident shouldn’t overpower the positives Sherman brings to the NFL.
He made a mistake. Why resort to viciously attacking his character? Why make him a Public Enemy? Flavor Flav is shaking his head some-where embarrassed at NFL fans for their over-the-top reactions while he happily watches a cat fi ght go down in his living room.
ESPN.com’s Seahawks reporter Terry Blount thinks fans couldn’t be more wrong in their assertions of who Sherman is as a person.
“He isn’t a gangster or a punk or a moron or a classless jerk,” Blount writes. “As someone who interacts with Sherman on a regular basis, I can say, unequivocally, that he is as nice a guy as you could ever meet…Sherman also is one of the most intelligent young men I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing.”
Th is is a guy who came out of Compton, California. Th is is a guy who graduated from Stanford University. Th is is a guy who is an All-Pro cornerback who’s never been in trouble with the law.
Sherman deserves to be cut a little slack. So go ahead, NFL fans. Tweet your borderline
(and in many cases, obvious) racist messages at Richard Sherman. Rant on message boards how one moment of adrenaline fueled conver-sation is an indictment on a player’s entire career and character.
Just know your attacks are hypocritical, and will fuel that same fi re that drives players like Sherman, a sixth round pick, to overcome obstacles and perform for your franchise.
Th ese players are expected to act like warriors
on the fi eld then the nice guy in interviews. It all seems a bit far-fetched to me.
BRANDON KATZCOLUMNIST
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the Great Dance Classic in New York last week.“It is a great honor to represent my school and my class,”
Brown said. “It means that I am doing good things out of high school and representing my freshman class well.”
Th e transition from high school track to Mason has forced Brown to see the dedication and time that it takes to be a rookie of the week.
“It was somewhat easy to get by in high school being a student-athlete, because training and school wasn’t too hard or demanding,” Brown said. “Doing the off -season and presea-son workouts sort of forced me to realize that college track wouldn’t be easy.”
Off -season workouts and preparation for the season have made Brown a better athlete.
“Now that I am at here, I’ve realized the importance of a proper cool-down,” Brown said. “I have always been pretty good about getting a good warm-up in, but I never understood how much of a diff erence a cool-down makes on my muscles until I got to Mason.”
Her off -season workouts consist of a lot of conditioning and
weight training to keep in shape. Brown has also prepared mentally for this season.
“I knew that college track would be a lot more demand-ing as far as the workouts are concerned so I brought with me the technical things that I learned, but I’ve tried to forget the coaching styles that I was used to,” Brown said. “I feel as though being open to new coaching styles will help me learn more about jumping and track in general.”
Th e fi rst week of classes acted as a wakeup call for Brown in terms of time management.
“It was a challenge to manage my time, so that I could fi t in classes, study hall hours and practice fi rst,” Brown said.
Brown’s performance at the classic was her best jumping distance to date, but she has more goals she hopes to accom-plish before the season ends.
“I hope to increase my endurance level, get stronger and perfect my technique,” Brown said. “I feel as though if I continue to focus on my weaknesses, I can jump at least 41 feet or betting in the triple jump and 18 feet in the long jump.”
Although rookie of the week is a great honor, Brown is not big
on winning awards and titles.“I just like to get better at the events I’m in and if it leads to
those types of recognitions, then that’s a bonus,” Brown said. “But, the most important aspect of being a student-athlete to me is academics.”
Brown has always made academics a priority as a dedicated student high school. She has continued to have outstanding academic achievements at Mason and hopes for her team-mates achieve academic goals as well.
“Th e goals I hope to see the team accomplish this season is doing their personal best in the classroom and contribute to the teams GPA,” Brown said.
She still supports her teammates on the track and would like to see them perform at their personal best.
“I would like all of my teammates to make it to the A-10 championships and further to the NCAA Championships. I will be happy for all of my teammates’ accomplishments,” Brown said.
DARIAN BANKSPRINT SPORTS EDITOR