Student Life
Dressed In Drag: A Recap of 2009's Drag Show
Photo by Laura Foltz.
Reann Ballslee performs as Britney Spears for her final performance at the Drag Show.
By Broadside Staff Writer Maria Cianfichi
“I love entertaining people! Love, love, love it!,” said 2009 Ms. Mason winner Reann Ballslee (a.k.a. Ryan Allen).
Ryan Allen, who has been entertaining people with his drag show character Reann Ballslee since August of 2005, hosted Mason’s Drag Show on April 3, 2009. The Johnson Center was packed from the ground level, up the staircase and onto the third floor.
“The drag show as we've come to know it has been going on for about seven years now. However, about 15 years ago a group of students started Pride Alliance and had drag shows throughout that time,” said Allen.
AUDIO: What's Up Weekend?
Looking for a good way to spend your weekend? Get some advice from Matt Loffman and Christian Yingling, hosts of the WGMU podcast "What's Up Weekend?"
Click above to listen to the best weekend news for April 3-5.
Are Students from Different Majors Getting the Same Information?
By Government and International Politics major Krista Muise
As a student senator and chair of the Government and Academic Affairs Committee, I am in a unique position that allows me to see that the major academic concern students report is with academic advising. As a junior with the majority of my college years behind me, I am also in the all-too-common position of having personally experienced faults with advising. Due to the decentralized nature of the advising system at George Mason University—meaning that each department has their own operating procedures—the burden of academic advising falls on the shoulders of the individual student. The numerous graduation and degree requirements are difficult for anyone to keep track of—and that’s not even taking into account the extra requirements and concerns that come with adding a minor or second major, transferring credits and the limitations of course offerings and scheduling—so it’s no surprise that many students feel overwhelmed. This difficulty that students bear is the result of the confusing and compartmentalized advising system and ever-changing degree requirements.
Karaoke, Waffles and More: A Week in Photos
Check out photos from some of the best events last week including Mikhail Gorbachev's speech and roundtable, a singing in the shower karaoke competition, waffle day and the Health and Fitness Expo.
To have your photos featured on the site, please e-mail cmasonmedia@gmail.com.
PHOTOS: Greek Week Recap
Another Greek Week has come and gone, but you can relive some of the best moments from Shack-A-Thon, field day and Greek Sing in this jam-packed photo gallery.
Have photos or videos from Greek Week? We would love to showcase them! Just e-mail cmasoncontent@gmail.com to make it happen.
Homophobia 101
By Broadside Opinion Contributor Daniel Pino
Everybody’s in a hooplah about Westboro Baptist Church's protest at Mason this upcoming Monday. As a gay student and LGBT activist, I’ve had my own struggles with it and I'm debating if I will even attend the protest.
But in all this conversation about how messed up Fred Phelps is and how bad Shirley Phelps’ witchy stringlike hair looks, I think to myself—what is homophobia? And could it actually have some positive roots?
Here’s what I came up with:
Two Pride Weeks to Coincide
By Broadside Media Copy Editor Michelle Renaud
Because of a scheduling issue regarding a date for a keynote speaker, George Mason University will be having two Pride Weeks this week.
This year, Pride Week, a series of events designed to increase visibility and raise awareness of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning community on campus, will coincide with the College Republicans’ Conservative Pride Week.
Health and Fitness Expo Promotes Healthy Lifestyles
By Broadside Staff Writer Ryan Dempsey. Photo by Stephanie Knapp.
There was something for everyone at the 13th annual Health and Fitness Expo, sponsored by Kaiser Permanente.
Over 2,500 attendees stopped by to the largest Health Expo event to date. The Health and Fitness Expo was held in Dewberry Hall last Thursday to gain information on many different health areas.
“Our goal for this event is to connect students, faculty and staff with both on and off campus resources related to healthy living,” said Assistant Director of the Office of Alcohol, Drug and Health Education Danielle Lapierre.
Pride Week 2009
By Broadside Asst. Style Editor Pearson Jones. Photo courtesy of Pride Alliance.
The Pride Alliance is back again for its annual Pride Week.
The week promises to be the most diverse yet, with more than enough events to represent every letter of the LGBTQ.
The festivities are planned to kick off today with a number of gender bending workshops and discussions sharing a common theme of expression and being proud of who you are.
“It’s about diversity, we’re really trying to bring the different letters out of the LGBTQ,” said Ric Chollar, associate director of LGBTQ resources.
To find more information on what Pride Week has planned,check out their website pride.gmu.edu.
Students Sing in the Shower
By Broadside Staff Writer Ryan Dempsey. Photo courtesy of AMP Agency.
Freshman film and video studies major Jake Shapiro was easily able to earn $500 in 60 seconds as he Rickrolled his way into George Mason University history.
Last Thursday, American Idol’s official hair-care sponsor Garnier Fructis partnered with Mason’s Program Board for the “Sing in the Shower Contest,” where students such as Shapiro had the opportunity to pick up a mic for 60 seconds of fame.
A total of 37 student contestants performed for the 1100 people who came out to support the karaoke showdown.