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The Fourth Estate

BY VIVIANA SMITH, CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF AND MADALYN GODFREY, COPY EDITOR

On Wednesday, Sept. 25, at 6:58 a.m., Mason Police Department reported a case of property damage at the Johnson Center. According to the daily crime and fire log, Mason filed a complaint reporting, “intentional vandalism to State property.” The time of the incident is unknown and the status is still pending as of Sept. 25. 

An anonymous submission was posted on the Instagram page gmuintifada displaying photos and videos of the incident. Gmuintifada wrote in the caption, “autonomous actors at George Mason university do NOT welcome the genocide profiteering defense companies attending the GMU career fair.” 

Fourth Estate has not confirmed the account’s affiliation with the incident besides posting the content. 

Mason’s annual fall career fair was scheduled to be held at the Johnson Center from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. This two-day event hosts various companies on Mason’s campus to assist in new hire recruitments.

In an anonymous photo submission posted by gmuintifada, a banner draped over the balcony of the Johnson Center listed “Lockheed, Gen. Dynamics [and] Leonardo.” Gmuinfitada wrote in the caption, “students in the Johnson Center have raised a banner condemning the genocidal war profiteers present in the GMU career fair.”

Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics and Leonardo DRS were among the over 200 companies in attendance at the fair. 

The banner has since been removed from the balcony. 

Gmuintifada is a public instagram account created in June 2024. According to their biography, they are self-described as a “direct action pro-resistance network at GMU.” The account accepts and posts content of “GMU actions” obtained by anonymous sources, according to a story post made on Aug. 30. 

On Aug. 30, the account addressed Mason directly in a post, writing, “the Student intifada will not halt until all ties with weapon manufacturers and institutions aiding in the genocide of Palestinians are ceased, and the complete and total liberation of Palestine [is] realized.”

This is not the first report of property damage in a similar nature. On Aug. 28 at 6:26 a.m., Mason PD reported a case of vandalism of property at Wilkins Plaza. According to August’s daily crime and fire log, Mason filed a complaint reporting “graffiti” with status pending as of Aug. 28. 

Mason PD issued a $2,000 reward offer “for information leading to the successful arrests of the persons involved in the criminal vandalism incident that occurred on Wilkins Plaza outside of the GMU Johnson Center on August 28, 2024 at 5:30am.” This offer is higher than their Crime Solvers Tips submission where “information reported to the police that leads to an arrest may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.”

Anonymous photo submission

On Aug. 30, the gmuintifada Instagram page posted a video of allegedly said report taking place with the following caption:

“We the George Mason University students of conscience, bear witness to the atrocities funded and supplied by our university, and we have chosen to retaliate. During the early hours of Wednesday morning, autonomous students left the imperial George Mason University a message: that the student intifada has been reignited, and that we will honor all the Gazan martyrs who did not live to witness this academic year. University’s administration’s across the nation have convinced themselves that they can suffocate the flames of resistance that have been unleashed since the inception of this genocide. Yet, what they fail to realize is that their every effort to stifle our voices and eradicate our movement for liberation has only provoked an inferno that will engulf all systems of oppression that are upholding the genocide of the steadfast and honorable Palestinians. George Mason University, you will NEVER be able to escape accountability for your role in this genocide. Gaza is our compass and the hear of our noble struggle and the Student Intifada will confront every dousing of our eternal flame of resistance with precision. We will never be extinguished. Resistance until victory, GMU Intifada #escalate4gaza #studentintifada”

As of Sept. 25, Mason PD is still investigating the incident. 

Photo Courtesy of Chadwick Edralin

BY TANYA MALIK, STAFF WRITER 

Junior Chadwick Edralin, a computer game design major, taught himself the accordion as a hobby when he chose to take a semester off at Mason back in 2022. Edralin was also encouraged by his friend group to play the accordion after seeing the instrument being used in video games. 

“I bought the accordion while I was home from school, wanting to fill my time while away from school,” Edralin said. “I waited for a few weeks for it to come in and was so excited that when it finally arrived, I didn’t put it down for 6 hours the first day and practiced for about 4 hours a day—a large part of my day considering I was also working at the time.” 

Edralin faced hurdles when practicing the instrument due to the layout of the treble and bass buttons. When he returned to school, he had to manage his school schedule along with his accordion practice. He overcame both challenges through consistent practice and time management skills.

While Edralin doesn’t specialize in any specific genre or style, he mostly plays songs from video games. “Kass’s Theme” from “The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild” holds a special place in his heart as it shows him how memorable and iconic the instrument and its songs can be. Edralin also enjoys sea shanties like “The Wellerman,” as they also mix well with the accordion. 

Playing throughout the Mason campus has allowed him to gain confidence when publicly performing in front of others. He initially started playing in some fields behind his dorm and outside of SUB 1, where people could hear him as they walked to class. As he gained more confidence, he began practicing on Wilkins Plaza. He enjoys the positive comments and compliments that students give him when he plays, as well as talking to them about their appreciation for the music.

Even after playing in public for many months, playing on stage was a whole different beast. One of his most memorable experiences was performing in Mason’s Got Talent during GMU’s Family Weekend last year. Edralin says he relishes the memory and will participate in the talent show again this year.

Edralin believes that learning an instrument should be fun and fulfilling and one should balance their life and their hobbies, as too much of either can be stressful. Progressing in an instrument takes time but it will always come with proper practice.

“I am really happy to talk to people who are interested when I’m playing and always enjoy teaching the specifics of how an accordion operates,” Edralin said. “When people tell me they are surprised that I have so few years of experience and that they appreciate listening to my performance, I feel really fulfilled because it makes me feel accomplished for what my goal is: simply playing as a hobby,” Edralin said.

Students can often find and listen to Edralin playing his accordion throughout the week on Wilkins Plaza.