Fourth Estate Weekly
Interest in George's List declines as competitors emerge
|A little-known Mason tradition is facing declining interest as new competitors emerge. George’s List, Mason’s answer to Craig’s List, competes with websites like GMU Marketplace as the online gathering place for the university’s buyers and sellers.
Junior Adarsh Pradeep visited George’s List before deciding to sell items on GMU Marketplace instead.
New Sodexo contract prompts changes in campus dining
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Mason’s next big project targets its dining options and promises many changes for the near future.
Mason makes careers
|Each week, Fourth Estate features a student or alumnus with a great internship or job to highlight the opportunities a degree from Mason can provide.
Avery Powell is a junior Global Aff airs major at Mason with a minor in Electronic Journalism. His ideal job is to become an on-camera correspondent with a network when he graduates. Avery interns for one of the most popular broadcast shows in the area, NBC’s “Meet Th e Press.”
How did you get this internship?
Homemade halloween
|Looking for an easy, last minute costume? Want something unique and up-to-date? Be the twitter bird! This costume is really simple and only takes a few steps to create. The twitter bird itself is blue, so I bought blue shorts, a blue top and blue socks at Wal-Mart, but you could even find any blue-colored clothes from your own closet. Wear whatever blue items you want and don’t be afraid to accessorize. I added wings to mine that I found at Wal-Mart. Wings are also available at Party City. Next, you need somewhere to display your tweets.
Road trip: Thrilling local haunts
|The air is getting colder, and Halloween is right around the corner. This holiday leaves a hanging predicament for Mason students: what is there to do when someone is too old for trick- or-treating but too young to stay inside for a holiday that is meant to celebrate scares and skulls? Fairfax and Northern Virginia are known for their haunted locations that give students the opportunity to be immersed in supposed hauntings and paranormal activity.
Bunnyman Bridge
Quidditch team brings magic to Mason, disappointment to opponents
|While some sports teams are trying to find the best play for a slam-dunk or to score the winning touchdown, there is a group of athletes at Mason packing up their broomsticks and quaffles for the next quidditch game.
Quidditch has become a popular sport amongst the generation of young adults who grew up reading the books. The sport is a mix of rugby, dodgeball and tag. According to the International Quidditch Association official website, quidditch is played worldwide by over 300 teams.
Online courses cater to non-traditional students
|Despite the traditionally bad reputation of online classes, university administrators and students alike agree that they provide consistent results for nontraditional students.
According to Dr. J. Goodlett McDaniel, associate Provost for Distance Education, having a wide array of distance education courses is convenient for students with various other obligations which may prevent them from taking on-ground courses.
Federal budget cuts affect scientific research
|Recent budget cuts have had a severe impact on scientific research conducted at Mason. The National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases and the Department of Molecular and Microbiology failed to receive a grant from the National Institute of Health in May because of the NIH’s tight budget.
Ph.D students teach courses and take on double lead for extra experience
|Graduate students are saddled with an enormous amount of responsibility. In addition to studying, many of them teach classes, conduct their own research and work multiple jobs.
“[We’re] gluttons for punishment,” said Steven Harris-Scott with a laugh.
Administration officials set demolition of Robinson Hall as high priority
|The deliberation is complete: Robinson Hall is in desperate need of an upgrade.
According to Provost Peter Stearns, the Robinson project is based largely on the fact that the building is outdated.