Student Life & Digest

ANNOUNCEMENT: Merger between C2M and Broadside

Connect2Mason and Broadside are happy to announce a merger under a single name, Fourth Estate. Watch the video to learn more about the new organization, and read about some of the history behind the name below.

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.”

Land cleared as Fenwick renovations continue

Fenwick Library, one of Mason’s oldest buildings, will be nearly unrecognizable after current renovations complete. It is estimated that the project will be finalized in the winter of 2015.

Currently, the construction of Fenwick is in its initial phase, with the land having been cleared so the building of the additions can begin.

Despite the appearance that this project has resulted in the loss of green space, the team has done as much as they can to preserve the surrounding trees.

Crisis app prepares students for the worst

Mason has helped develop a new mobile app designed to teach students about what to do in an emergency.

The app “In Case of Crisis” provides detailed instructions for what to do in events ranging from severe weather and power outages to on-campus violence or bomb threats. It also lists emergency contacts and offers more general, basic information, like how to receive notifications of an emergency and how people with mobility impairments or disabilities should respond.

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

(illustration by Walter Martinez)

Mason’s next big project targets its dining options and promises many changes for the near future.

Undercover ex-gay group accuses Mason of obstructing alternative therapies

Voice of the Voiceless, an organization advocating for the rights of ex-gay individuals, recently went undercover at the Mason LGBTQ resource center to examine how individuals dealing with unwanted sexual attractions are treated at Virginia universities.

Christopher Doyle, president and co-founder of Voice of the Voiceless, believes LGBTQ resource centers at Virginia universities discriminate against both former homosexuals and individuals with unwanted same-sex attractions who do not identify as LGBTQ.

INFOGRAPHIC: Alternatives to driving to campus

This semester, parking on Mason's Fairfax campus has become a contentious issue. In response to crowded lots and decks, Parking Services suspended the sale of its general permits to help mitigate the demand. While many students have expressed frustration over the issue, Parking Services is reminding students that there may be other transportation programs available to them. Here is a breakdown of some of those options:

Recycling program encourages waste reduction on campus

For the past year, an experiment has been underway at Mason. Located in every dorm room across campus are now more than 3,000 recycling bins intended to encourage residents to reduce waste.

The initiative, spearheaded by the Office of Sustainability, was jointly funded by the Patriot Green Fund, the Auxiliary Enterprise Management Council, and a grant from the Coca-Cola/Keep America Beautiful Program.

Margaret Lo, the director of the Office of Sustainability, described the first year of the program as a success.

3-D Visualization lab opens for classes in spring 2014

Located on the bottom floor of Exploratory Hall is the brand new Visualization Lab, boosting students’ educational experiences through the use of three-dimensional high definition technology.

In the works since the remodeling of Exploratory Hall, construction on the lab began in late May. The lab is expected to be completed in early 2014.

Justin Brown, the director of information technology and security, has been working with Senior Engineer Duane King on preparing the visualization lab for use.