News
Former Pres., Impressive Orator Unheeded
By Connect Mason Convergence Director Lars Garvey Laing-Peterson
At the moment [9:45 pm], with 88% of the vote accounted for, Barack Obama has won the Virginia primary. CNN is showing Hillary Clinton at a rally in El Paso, Texas, the former First Lady having turned her sights away from the Chesapeake contest she was rumored to have lost even before the polls opened today. While this may have been a generally accepted idea to many in the Old Dominion early this week, it was not so apparent last night in the Johnson Center where former President William Jefferson Clinton spoke to students, faculty and the press on behalf of his wife.
Former Pres. Speaks About Clinton Campaign
By Broadside Asst. News Editor Rebecca Fulton
Photo by Connect Mason Asst. Convergence Director Grace Kendall
Audio By WGMU's Veronica Hohenstein and Matthew Loffman
Former President Bill Clinton spoke to a packed house in the Johnson Center in support of his wife’s campaign tonight, one day before the Virginia primary. Clinton expressed his beliefs about his wife’s presidential abilities and the Democratic Party in general.
- Listen to the entirety of Bill Clinton's speech.
VA Primaries Open Polls Today
By Connect Mason Directors
The polls for Virginia's 2008 presidential primaries open today at 6:00 a.m. across the state, and will close at 7:00 p.m.
- Virginia residents already registered to vote may cast their ballot in either the Democratic or the Republican Primary, but not both.
- Republican candidates are John McCain, Michael Huckabee and Ron Paul.
- Democratic candidates are Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.
- Voters must vote in the district of their residency, or fill out an absentee ballot before elections.
- Though it is too late to register with an absentee ballot for the primaries, voter registration forms are available on all Mason campuses at the information desks, and in the registrar office on the Fairfax campus. Students can visit these locations next fall prior to the November election.
- Voters must provide a valid photo ID at the polls.
- For more information about Virginia elections, visit the State Board of Elections.
The New Place Is Your Space
By Broadside Asst. News Editor Rebecca Fulton
Photo by Josh Griset
New construction on campus has opened a space for students to decide what they want. A committee, including representatives from Student Government, Mason Ambassadors and Program Board, along with Benn Crandall from University Services, have been meeting to organize and brainstorm the technicalities of making such a space.
Faculty Senate Meeting Discusses Salaries
By Connect Mason News Director Elizabeth Stern
Faculty senate members attended a special meeting on Feb. 6, to discuss matters related to “low faculty salaries; faculty salaries relative to administrative salaries; the use of indirect money from research grants, disappointing fundraising outcomes; and support for research activity and graduate students,” as listed in the meeting agenda.
Homecoming Plans Approved by Senate
By Broadside Staff Reporter Robert Dongu
Gov. Declares VA State of Emergency: Wildfires
By Connect Mason Director Whitney Rhodes
Governor Tim Kaine declared a state of emergency today to organize action for numerous wildfires that have broken out across Virginia. Kaine also authorized the use of Virginia National Guard resources.
Bill Clinton to Visit Mason
By Connect Mason Director Whitney Rhodes
Bill Clinton, former president and husband of 2008 presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, will address a Mason audience tomorrow from 9:15 to 11:15 p.m. in the Johnson Center.
Clinton, Obama, Address Supporters at JJ Dinner
By Connect Mason Reporter Rachael Dickson
Photos by Grace Kendall and Whitney Rhodes
Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama spoke in front of a group of approximately 4,000 Democratic officials, activists and supporters at the Virginia Democrat’s annual Jefferson-Jackson fundraising dinner in Richmond Saturday night.
Kal Penn Shifts From 'White Castle' to White House
By Connect Mason Reporter Sharmin Islam
Photos by Connect Mason Photographer Audrey Whitham
Actor Kal Penn visited the Fairfax campus on February 9, 2008 just days before the Virginia Primary, as part of the "College Students For Obama" tour, advocating the Illinois senator for presidency in an event sponsored by the College Democrats..
Penn, known for roles in films American Desi, Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle and The Namesake, met with Mason students to discuss his reasons for supporting Barack Obama's campaign, and his own status as a political independent.
"I'm not a democrat or republican," said Penn. "I certainly have voted for members of both parties in the past as well as third parties."