January news briefs

WAVES hosted a rollout event on Jan. 31 in the Southside lobby (photo by Walter Martinez).

WAVES hosts opening

Wellness, Alcohol and Violence Education and Services hosted an opening event on Jan. 31 in the Southside lobby. WAVES is a merger of the Office of Alcohol, Drug and Health Education and Sexual Assault Services. The department offers free condoms, 24-hour crisis line, free confidential oral HIV testing and consultation on a variety of topics such as personal health matters, inter-personal violence, stalking, intimate partner violence and sexual assault.

WAVES hosts different events to reach out and educate the Mason community including a Health and Fitness Expo, Breastival, and HIV Awareness Week.

“We help students make healthy, safe choices and encourage lifelong, thoughtful health decision-making through individualized support, creative programming, and evidence-based education and outreach,” said Mary Ann Sprouse, director of WAVES.

Patriot Activities Council established

Over winter break, the Office of Student Involvement merged two programs to better handle activities planning on campus. The Program Board and Weekends At Mason were merged into the Patriot Activities Council.

“Both Mason’s on and off-campus populations have grown and with that came the need for more programming,” read an email announcement from OSI. “By combining WAM and PB, the OSI feels as though they are able to better cater to a growing student population with an ever growing need for diverse on-campus programming.”

PAC will be responsible for the university’s large annual events such as homecoming and Mason Day as well as creating new events. Students are encouraged to attend PAC’s weekly committee meetings on Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. in the Office of Student Involvement in the Hub Suite 2300.

VP of alumni affairs leaving Mason

Mark Broderick will be departing Mason’s administration after serving as vice president for University Development and Alumni Affairs from 2007-2012.  Broderick will be leaving for a job at U.S. Trust, a private wealth firm located in McLean, Virginia.

According to an email announcement from President Ángel Cabrera, Broderick “increased the average yearly total of gifts to the university to $38 million, compared to $17.5 million during the previous five-year period. This increase is nine times the national average for higher education giving and resulted in more than $220 million to the university.” For the fiscal year 2012, a record 17,000 alumni and other donors gave to the university.

“Marc has served Mason with tremendous spirit and dedication. He has laid the foundation for an effective fundraising program that will serve the university for years to come. We are greatly appreciative of his work and he will be missed,” Cabrera said.