News

Mason to Hire 'Campus Safety Advocate'

By Broadside Staff Writer Matt Loffman

As one of their last major initiatives in office, outgoing Student Body President Zack Golden and Vice President Claire Forman worked with George Mason University administrators and police to establish a Campus Safety Advocate. The new student position will serve as a liaison between students and police.

24-Hour Starbucks

By Broadside Staff Writer Hayley Roder

Starbucks
Illustration by Lindsey Smith.

Come mid-August this year, George Mason University students will be able to sip Frappuccinos and study forensics at all hours of the night with the opening of the Starbucks location in Northern Neck. As confirmed by a Student Government press release, the coffee shop will be open 24 hours.

Construction Projects to Alter Parking

Mason Inn
Photo by Aaron Arenas.

By Student Media Copy Editor Jacqueline Schafer

The new Rappahannock River Parking Deck is scheduled to open for the fall 2009 semester. The deck is being built on what used to be Lot F and portions of Lot G. According to Parking and Transportation, the new deck will have 2,650 spaces totaling more than Mason Pond Parking Deck and Sandy Creek Parking Deck combined.

Bookstore Brings Back Buyback

By Broadside Assistant News Editor Justin Petrisek

The George Mason University Bookstore is bringing back last semester’s Mason Buyback Contest. Starting May 4, and continuing through May 13, all Mason-recognized student groups and organizations are allowed to participate in the contest. Students who choose to sell back their textbooks through the contest during these ten days will earn points for their respective organization, the winner with the most points receiving $300 for their organization.

In The Area

Compiled from press releases and The Fairfax County Times.

Meeting Scheduled over Partial University Drive Closure

The Fairfax City Council plans to provide information to the public about the pending closure of southern University Drive at a community dialogue meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. May 5 in the City Hall Annex.

On May 18, the city will close University Drive at Armstrong Street and at the city line near George Mason University. Southbound traffic will be rerouted to Route 123/Chain Bridge Road. Drivers will be directed along the new path with signs and variable message boards, according to a city press release.

George Mason Boulevard is expected to open by late June, connecting the city to Mason from University Drive at Armstrong Street. Drivers who wish to travel south on Route 123 will be able to do so via westbound Armstrong Street (in front of City Hall).

Campus News in Brief

Compiled by Broadside Interim Assistant News Editor Justin Petrisek and News Editor Kevin Loker

Director of Forensics Elected Faculty Senate Chair

Dr. Peter Pober, a professor of communication and director of Forensics at George Mason University, has been elected chair of the Faculty Senate for the coming year.

The Faculty Senate is the principal faculty advisory body to the president and the administration. Their responsibility is to speak and act for the general faculty, as a whole, on matters affecting the welfare of the university and the university-wide academic policy.

Students Involved in Sex Solicitation

By Broadside Editor-in-Chief Nicole Ocran

Two George Mason University students were arrested and charged with use of a communication system to solicit sex from a minor and carnal knowledge of a minor.

According to a Fairfax County Police Department news release dated April 17, Colin Fitzgerald, 25, was arrested on April 15 and Thomas Minnehan, 21, was arrested on March 30 for the above offenses.

Vendor Petitions Return to Market

By Connect2Mason Director Grace Kendall

The farmers’ market at George Mason University got its start only a week ago, kicking off on Earth Day with a quiet, but seemingly successful, opening. Students and staff stopped at the booths to buy fresh milk, bread, soups and more from a variety of local vendors.

One of those vendors was Derek Luhowiak, who runs Local Sixfortyseven with his wife Amanda. They were busy during the first market selling cooked-to-order meals in their silver cart, but were told last week that they would not be allowed to return to the farmers’ market on campus due to contractual complications.

Students Play CIA

By Broadside Correspondent Yasmin Tadjdeh

Students looking to work with the Central Intelligence Agency were given a unique opportunity to see what the often-misunderstood job is like in real life last week. In a CIA simulation on April 22, students played the part of an analyst in the CIA’s Directorate of Intelligence.

Dell Acts as a Model

By Staff Writer Hayley Roder

Paul Bell, president of Dell Computer’s global public sector and Katari Callahan, president of the Alliance to Save Energy, spoke last Wednesday at a news conference at the National Press Club to commemorate Earth Day 2009.

Dell and ASE have been collaborating for the past three years to work on the ways in which information technology can reduce energy consumption. Callahan noted that by implementing more efficient IT, emissions of carbon dioxide can be reduced by 15 percent globally and by 22 percent in the United States alone.