Fourth Estate Weekly

OPINION: The harm in "harmless" campus culture

About a month ago, an email sent over the Delta Zeta chapter of Sigma Chi fraternity listserv at William and Mary University gave everyone a look into the mind of one disgusting and disrespectful human being.

Chain Bridge Road construction to heavily impact commutes in March

This spring, commuter students may notice condensed traffic around Chain Bridge Road. The City of Fairfax will begin the demolition and replacement of an existing 90-year-old bridge over Accotink Creek in late March or early April.

"The existing bridge is about 90 years old and it's functionally and structurally obsolete, it's had its useful life but the concrete is starting to weaken and we need to replace it so it can carry the present day vehicle loads," said Director of Public Works, David Summers.

Federal financial aid cut for non-Mason study abroad programs

At the beginning of the fall semester, the Office of Financial Aid informed the Center for Global Education that federal financial aid would no longer be applied to non-Mason study abroad programs.

Changes to federal financial aid regulations have changed the financial aid office’s interpretation of how aid can be applied to these study abroad programs, which are not directly affiliated with the university.

Letter to the Editor: Mason to lobby for greater funding

On Thursday, 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, staff, alumni, and administration join together to collectively advocate for Mason as “One Institution with One Voice.” The initiative was started last year with the goal of demonstrating the important investment that is George Mason University.

Low enrollment leads to Law School tuition freeze

During its final meeting of 2013, the Board of Visitors voted on Dec. 12th to freeze the tuition of Mason’s law school for the upcoming school year.

The tuition freeze was prompted by low enrollment numbers at the law school, which have been dropping steadily since 2010, with a decrease of approximately 84 students from 2010 to 2012.

Dan Polsby, the dean of the law school, attributes the low enrollment numbers to the economic recession and a limited job market for new lawyers.

OPINION: Student conduct policies are archaic, dangerous

It is a real shame when a university that prides itself on innovative thinking refuses to follow policy recommendations that can and will save student lives. As you can read in Ellen Glickman’s article, Mason’s own expert on public health has recommended that the university adopt a Good Samaritan policy.

New integrative research facility to house CHHS

The College of Health and Human Services will soon be housed in a new comprehensive building. The building, whose construction is set to begin in September 2014 on the Fairfax campus, will provide the foundations for a new health research facility that will contain classrooms, research labs and a community clinic.

Partnership with INTO may double international student population, increase revenue

Mason’s international student population may soon double thanks to a new partnership with INTO University Partnerships.

The for-profit, British organization assists universities in boosting the number of inter- national students they enroll, as well as working to improve the quality of education for international students. Currently, INTO has partnerships with five universities in the United States.

Despite growing support for amnesty clause, student conduct policy remains unchanged

Across the nation, some 240 universities implement a version of the Good Samaritan policy.

Mason, however, does not.

A Good Samaritan policy states a person shall be immune from punishment if they call 911 for someone else while they are intoxi­cated or high on an illegal substance.

“Amnesty policies can mean different things for many schools,” said Dr. David Anderson, director of the Center for the Advancement of Public Health at the university. “[But] a lot of campuses spend time developing this...The point is to avoid injury.”

Support to extend benefits to LGBTQ faculty, staff shown by administrators, students, staff

In the months leading up to the November state elections, Mason’s faculty senate, president and student government spoke out about their desire to see health benefits extended fully to LGBTQ faculty and staff.

Under Virginia’s current constitution, Mason cannot extend health benefits to the partners and families of LGBTQ faculty and staff members because of how the commonwealth defines marriage.

State policies prohibit the university from using state money for practices that conflict with state law.