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BROADSIDE AND CONNECT2MASON PRESENT
FOURTH ESTATE Jan. 27, 2014 | Volume 1 Issue 14 George Mason University’s official student news outlet
EARLY IMPACT
Amid losing streak, former high school star impresses on court | page 14 JOHN IRWIN/FOURTH ESTATE
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Jan. 27, 2014
in this issue
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Artist Sonya Clark uses hair, thread, and paper to create ‘Black White and Thread all over’ exhibit
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Fourth estate
Letter from the Editor-in-Chief HAU CHU EDITOR-IN-CHIEF gmufourthestate@gmail.com
180 Degree Consulting firm’s Mason branch focuses on creating student experiences
Three Mason track and field athletes, including senior Daianna Barron (pictured) were awarded with Weekly Atlantic 10 awards
News
So a swarm of bees didn’t pop out of the last issue or some other horrible tragedy, so I’m going to count my first issue as editor-in-chief as a moral victory. You might notice some design changes in this issue, and I couldn’t be happier with how this paper looks and what we still have in store for future issues. For the design changes, I want to commend our design editor, Aysha Abdallah. Now that all my commendations are done to editors both present and past, it’s time to start using this space as my soapbox. Everyone says write what you know, so for this week, it’s time to talk about expected conduct from athletes and double standards in sports. On page 16 of this issue, Fourth Estate columnist Brandon Katz will tell everyone that “[Richard] Sherman deserves to be cut a little slack.” Katz makes some salient points about the hypocrisy of fandom and how a large sect of sports fans want - on the field - an intense, putting their all into every second of every game kind of player. Off the field though, that same sect wants players to humble themselves to the simple person you would like to grab a drink with, bring home to mom and dad or someone with a haircut you could set your watch to. Where I diverge from Katz is in his preface to the hypocrisy of fans, “I’m not here to defend Sherman’s actions. His comments were classless and rude. The whole interview blemished what otherwise was a stellar performance by the cornerback.” I’m here to defend Sherman’s actions outright. Sports is in a better place if Sherman and others were out there after every game cutting heel promos like this was the Road to WrestleMania. By nature, football itself is a silly game. In the not too distant future, in its current incarnation, it will be probably considered something like a bloodsport much in
the same way we view gladiator fights in the Roman coliseum. It’s a brutal game that a large number of Americans follow devoutly every week for nearly 22 weeks - some follow on a year-round basis - as a means of escapism. It’s to escape from the mundanities of life, to apply and project narratives and actions that we rarely get to see in our actual dismal existences onto 32 teams of our choosing. By having players like Sherman add to this spectacle and go against the grain from this faux-decorum that fans seem to want to instill in sports is an absolute delight from my view. Where all the criticisms of Sherman make me really squirm is the coded language used by talking heads to describe Sherman as a “thug.” An issue brought up by Sherman himself in a press conference addressing his post-game interview. “The only reason it bothers me is because it seems like it’s the accepted way of calling somebody the N-word nowadays. Because they know,” Sherman said. He’s absolutely right in his assessment. Where a person of color makes one “outburst” that is out of the expected norm, that will define their personality and image in popular culture forever. It’s why some think of Kanye West as a punchline rather than one of the best artists of our generation. This reality exists in the same world where Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Riley Cooper - white - can blurt out the actual “n-word,” and apologize then some of the mainstream narrative shifts to him “overcoming” to build a great bond with his quarterback and put up good numbers on the field. It is apparent that there is still an egregious double standard when it comes to not only what we want and expect from our athletes, but also what we want and expect from our athletes of color.
Why FOURTH ESTATE ? Prior to Broadside, the student newspaper was called The Gunston Ledger. It was changed in 1969 to better represent the politically out-spoken student body at the time. A “broadside” was a pamphlet used during the American Revolutionary War to help spread information. While Broadside has become an important part of life at Mason, we believe it no longer represents the overarching goals of student-run news. Though not specifically outlined like the three branches of government, the concept of a fourth estate referred to journalism and the media as an important tenet in upholding justice and liberty through establishing an informed public. These historic roots coincide with the transforming industry of modern journalism.
News
Fourth estate
Jan. 27, 2014
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Photo of the Week: S n o w f a l l
Jan. 21 - the first day of classes - saw one of the biggest snow storms to affect Fairfax in years.
scheduLes
to accommodate the one You aLreadY have
(AMY ROSE/FOURTH ESTATE)
Should medicinal marijuana be legalized in Virginia?
We are hiring for part-time positions!
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“I think it would be more beneficial to people that are in a lot of pain and it does more good than harm.”
“I’m unsure because obviously people will take advantage of that for recreational use…It’s an iffy subject.” –Haley Cloeuser, sophomore, history
–Shannon George, sophomore, communications
If it is medical and with the proper doctor’s prescription, I think it would be okay to legalize. However, it should be made with a policy that people can’t buy it freely” –Sam Sakul, junior, managing and accounting
“Yes because people should be able to make their own choices about what they consume or put in their body” –James Casebeer, freshman, computer science
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News
Jan. 27, 2014
Fourth estate
One of the campus vehicles affected by new policy driving in front of Liberty.
Translating Research into Solutions for our World
Volunteer in a malaria research study.
he many golf carts seen on are now being officially regulated for the first time thanks to a new university policy. Policy 1131 enacted earlier this month, covers the use of motorized utility vehicles on campus, including golf carts. MUVs are vehicles not licensed by the State and not intended for road use. The policy covers the purchase, operation and maintenance of MUVs on campus. According to Mason’s Director of Parking and Transportation, Josh Cantor, the policy was born out of a need to regulate the increasing use of golf carts and other motorized utility vehicles on campus. “As campus has grown and we have more pedestrians, bikes, and carts, there was a desire to ensure we have a policy that controls who can use and drive MUVs to ensure the safety of their operation,” Cantor said. The policy is multi-faceted, calling for regulated safety standards, regular maintenance of MUVs and increased accountability for
(AMY ROSE/FOURTH ESTATE)
New university policy regulates campus vehicles T
We seek healthy adults 18 to 50 years of age to be immunized by mosquito bites in order to accelerate malaria vaccine development.
departments that own and operate MUVs on campus. A key aspect of the policy requires the university to register all new and existing MUVs with the Office of Parking and Transportation. “Similar to most state owned university vehicles, we wanted to be able to identify which MUV’s belong to which departments – just for basic identification since many look similar,” Cantor said. “Also, in case of any issues with the carts or their drivers, we will know which departments to notify.” An addition, an annual registration fee for MUVs has been instituted in the policy. The fee is designed to fund infrastructure changes that will make campus more accessible to MUVs and to cover the cost of grounds maintenance repairing damage caused by MUVs. The policy also states that the Office of Parking and Transportation must approve any purchase of an MUV by a university department. In order to be approved, the department
Compensation is provided.
301-295-4298 301-233-9640 malariactc.nmrc@med.navy.mil NMRC Clinical Trials Center Located at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Campus 8901 Wisconsin Ave., Bldg 17, Suite 2B, Bethesda, MD 20889 Version 1.0 01 October 2013
must demonstrate a valid business need for the MUV that conforms to certain safety standards. Departments with existing MUVs have one year to make sure all vehicles in their possession adhere to these safety standards. Before Policy 1131, no specific university policy regulated the use of MUVs. Mason created the course over the course of 18 months by a taskforce including the Office of Parking and Transportation, Facilities Management, the Environmental Health and
Safety Office, the Office of Risk Management and University Police. “Our committee that crafted the policy researched and used best practices from many institutions and throughout the parking & transportation industry,” Cantor said.
JULIANNE WOODSON STAFF WRITER
FREE TICKETS FOR MASON STUDENTS! FACULTY ARTIST SERIES Kathryn Hearden, soprano February 3 at 12:30 p.m. FREE HT
AFRICANS IN INDIA EXHIBITION Dec. 2 – Feb. 4 FREE MG HAIFA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA OF ISRAEL February 1 at 8 p.m. $60, $52, $30 CA February 9 at 4 p.m. $60, $52, $44 HC 2 Free Tickets per ID avail. Jan. 21
THE VISION SERIES Footnotes: Creating Contemporary Dances Susan Shields, speaker February 3 at 7 p.m. FREE CA
BLACK AND WHITE AND THREAD ALL OVER Exhibition Sonya Clark January 21 – February 21 FREE FG
CA CENTER FOR THE ARTS
703-993-8888 or cfa.gmu.edu/students
Center for the Arts
METROPOLITAN JAZZ ORCHESTRA
Simply Swingin’ with Sinatra and Friends
Steve Lippia, vocalist February 8 at 8 p.m. $48, $40, $24 CA 2 Free Tickets per ID avail. Jan. 28
VISUAL VOICES SPEAKER SERIES Improvising a Living Beyond the Studio Dale Culleton, speaker February 6 at 7:30 p.m. FREE HT
FG FINE ART GALLERY
FAIRFAX
WALNUT STREET THEATRE Driving Miss Daisy February 7 at 8 p.m. $44, $36, $22 CA 2 Free Tickets per ID avail. Jan. 28
THE KING’S SINGERS The Great American Songbook February 9 at 4 p.m. $48, $40, $24 CA 2 Free Tickets per ID avail. Jan. 28
HC HYLTON CENTER
SEEING AND RESPONDING TO ITALY EXHIBITION Feb. 10 – Mar. 7 FREE MG VISUAL VOICES SPEAKER SERIES Activist Arabia: Revolt as Medium, Street as Canvas Adel Iskandar, speaker February 13 at 7:30 p.m. FREE HT
HT HARRIS THEATRE
MG MASON HALL GALLERY
7 0 3 - 9 9 3 - 7 7 5 9 o r h y l t o n c e n t e r. o r g / s t u d e n t s
Hylton Performing Arts Center PRINCE WILLIAM
Fourth estate
News
Jan. 27, 2014
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(AMY ROSE/FOURTH ESTATE)
Consulting firm provides students work experience A
t the start of 2013, a branch of the consulting firm 180 Degrees Consulting was launched at Mason, and subsequently the founders and students have already recruited 20 consultants to work on projects for non-profit organizations in the area. “I learned about 180 Degrees while studying abroad last year and thought this could be an incredible opportunity for George Mason students,” President and Founder, Jennifer Storm, said via email. Since it’s founding at the University of Sydney in 2007, 180 Degrees Consulting has expanded to 18 countries with over 1,500 student participants working annually on consulting projects with non-profit organizations, social enterprises and for-profit companies. There are currently 35 branches that make up the firm, with branches in countries such as New Zealand, Spain, Denmark, Japan and Mexico. “180 Degrees recognizes that while raising revenue is crucial for non-profits, developing strategies to utilize existing resources most efficiently is equally important,” Storm said. “This is why students at 180 Degrees apply management consulting principles to the notfor-profit industry and develop business solutions to social problems.” Storm said she was able to establish this branch of 180 Degrees by following certain steps such as, “recruiting an executive team, completing training from the Americas team and marketing it to students and non-profits; it’s an exciting process.” “This fall, we recruited 20 consultants to begin working on projects for local non-profit organizations,” Marketing Director of the Mason branch, Kersten Smith, said via email. As the Director of Marketing, Smith
manages the online presence through the branch’s website, blog posts and other forms of social media marketing. Smith also works with the recruitment team in publicizing the firm to community. “The process is a true learning partnership between the non-profit and the student team,” Storm said via email. “At the Mason branch and most branches around the world, students participate in 180 Degrees as an extracurricular activity.” These 180 Degrees projects require students to work in the areas of financial analysis, human resources, strategy, technology and program analysis. According to recruitment director Francis Aguisanda, the branch is searching for students involved in wide ranges of studies. “We have everyone on our team, from economics to biology to accounting,” Aguisanda said. “Our organization is especially looking for students who have performed well in leadership roles and have displayed their ability to work well under deadlines through their work and volunteer experiences.” In order to become a consultant of the firm, one must submit an online application and then meet with branch executives in an interview process. The Mason branch looks to 2014 for more opportunities to spread awareness on campus, recruit more consultants for the year’s projects and continue to provide this learning experience to the Mason community. “We also hope to spread awareness of our goals and objectives within the Mason community to gain consultants as well as projects with other non-profit organizations,” Smith said. “We hope to build upon our relations with local organizations and to
also promote our branch as one of the most competitive in North America.” The branch currently works in the Mason Center for Social Entrepreneurship and follows the guidance and advice from faculty advisor and Director of Entrepreneurship, David Miller. Along with non-profit organizations, the branch is connected with Mason alumni who have helped to provide sponsor and donor opportunities to the branch.
CHRISTOPHER MORRISON STAFF WRITER
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Fourth estate
Entrepreneurship program assists Mason community wishing to start their own businesses I
nnovative students looking to start their own businesses can now turn to a new program on campus called Startup Mason. The program, created by Professor David Miller in July 2012, provides guidance and resources to Mason students, alumni and faculty interested in innovation and entrepreneurship wishing to start their own companies. “We have meetings during the semester every two weeks where we’ll cover many different topics such as fundraising, presentations where people come in and give updates on what they’re working on,” Miller said. “We might have a speed-mentoring session, so you’ll come in and in an hour you’ll talk to four different mentors.” The program began when Miller observed the general lack of entrepreneurship on Mason’s campus as well as the desire of his students for out-of-class experience. “When I was teaching as an adjunct professor, students wanted more than just the class, and we didn’t have a lot of programs,” Miller said. “I just started meeting with students informally in the Johnson Center, realized there was a demand, so we started renting spaces, and last July the Center for Social Entrepreneurship brought it in as a full time program.” The program has been responsible for helping
start companies that work on basic landscaping, to international film kiosks, to robotic lawn-mowers. Sammy Kassim and Assad Ali are two former Mason students responsible for co-starting the international film service called Globebox, modeled along the line of Redbox with the assistance of Startup Mason. “We regularly attended every Startup Mason meeting and spent time with Professor Miller
as speakers for Startup Mason this past semester. According to Ali, the point of the program was to reciprocate help amongst each other. In a study by the Association of University Technology Managers, the D.C. area schools showed to be lacking in entrepreneurial productivity, and Mason especially showed to be seemingly lacking in “technology transfers,” which are defined by AUTM as “the process of
“Michael Dell started Dell computer in a dorm room...He’s made a fortune and donated 650 million to the UT.” outside of the classroom at networking events,” said Kassim. “We went through a process to validate the company.” Globebox, described as a world cinema version of Redbox, was created by Kassim and Ali last year and now has 10 kiosks throughout Northern Virginia, including one at Mason in order to “capitalize on the demographics of GMU.” Kassim and Ali said that they were brought in
transferring scientific findings from one organization to another for the purpose of further development and commercialization.” “Startup Mason absolutely supports the use of technology of new ventures, but it’s not reliant,” Miller said. “We’re more interested in innovative business models.” Miller expressed personal distaste towards the concept of technology transfer and said that they resulted in universities actually
losing money. “People assume all technology is leading-edge, patentable stuff that only ‘I’ can create in the lab, and the reality is that it’s not,” Miller said. “Most technology is just a tool. Facebook had no special technology when it started; it was just a website. Now, years later, they patent everything, because they’ve got money and lawyers, but when starting a company, to base it off of patentable technology is, I think, a huge mistake.” Miller said that while Startup Mason will work with individuals who have patents, it is not a requirement. He went on to say that when universities gave students the freedom to innovate without constraints such as technology transfers, it often resulted in better outcomes. “In the end if someone builds a successful company and creates wealth, they’ll give it back to the school in the form of a donation,” Miller said. “Michael Dell started Dell computer in a dorm room. The school had no rights to that, no TTO. He’s made a fortune and donated 650 million to the University of Texas.”
SUHAIB KHAN PRINT NEWS EDITOR
(KATRYNA HENDERSON/FOURTH ESTATE)
News
Fourth estate
Jan. 27, 2014
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Sustainability brings Recycle Mania S
flash mob in April 2013 for Earth Week. The office has recruited roughly 50 volunteers to be at Saturday’s tailgate and around the stadium at “waste stations.” Their goal is show people how to properly dispose of trash and material as it’s happening. Once the game is over, the office will make sure everything is sorted properly, weigh everything and report the numbers to Recycle Mania. Giulia Manno, a coordinator for the event and intern for the office, said one of the goals for the event was to “improve recycling in the Patriot Center in the future and show that it’s easy and they can implement it.” In a trash audit before the event, the office found out during a game, there’s an average of .88 pounds of trash per person and only .02 pounds of recycling. “The goal is to send as little to the landfill as possible,” said Manno. In an effort to spread the word during the game, the office has invested money in paraphernalia like t-shirts and chico bags, or reusable bags, to hand out during the game. The Office of Sustainability won’t find out the results of the challenge until later in the spring, but if Mason places well, it could mean more annual green games. BRIANNA PERRY STAFF WRITER
(COURTESTY OF OFFICE OF SUSTAINABILITY)
triving to go green, the Office of Sustainability at Mason is raising awareness for green efforts on campus at a venue where trash seems to overflow: basketball games. This Saturday’s basketball game against George Washington University will host an event called the Game Day Challenge. It’s a competition between different universities to see who can properly recycle and compost the most during a single sporting event. The Game Day Challenge is one category in a larger tournament known as Recycle Mania. The tournament host’s colleges from every state in the U.S. plus universities in Canada, and this will be Mason’s first year entering into a category. Fellow Virginia universities like James Madison University, Virginia Commonwealth University and Old Dominion University are also competing in some of many aspects of Recycle Mania. Hidden away on the far side of campus, the Office of Sustainability has been creating events and campaigns for the past seven years. At the start of the last fall semester, the staff helped create the Innovation Food Forest project. Students known as Student Green Patriots challenged the university to increase sustainability measures in categories such as dining and landscaping. They also choreographed a
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Lifestyle
FOURTH ESTATE
Black White & Thread All Over Exhibit
he Art and Design Building’s Fine Art Gallery springs into the semester with work by VCU professor and artist, Sonya Clark, in her exhibit “Black and White and Thread All Over.” A single white table with exhibit brochures spread on its surface stands guard by the gallery entrance. Guests wander into the spacious room filled with art pieces composed of nothing but combs, thread, paper and hair. In conjunction with the Department of African and African American Studies and in honor of Black History Month, the exhibit features just some of Clark’s many similar bodies of work until Feb. 21. In this exhibit, Clark brings together small materials in order to create a commentary on the politics and culture surrounding black hair. Namely, she explores the history of power tied to certain styles of hair and the tools associated with it. According to the exhibit’s brochure, hair is just one of many ways society shapes and defines the standards of beauty, class, gender and race. The question of what constitutes as “good” versus “bad” hair or the growing distinction between “natural” versus straightened hair is prevalent within the black community. It is with great care that Clark untangles these issues. The pieces themselves vary as widely as the history they cover. All of the works are widely spread out in the room. The designs range from photographs of black hair compressed into solid shapes alongside smoother, white counterparts to a series of white paper wrinkled in ways that resemble stitching patterns.
Most notable is the “Madam CJ Walker” piece, an iconic portrait of Madam Walker recreated entirely with combs. Madam Walker is said to be the nation’s first self-made female millionaire, best known for her empire of hair care products. Employing thousands of African American women, referred to as “beauty agents,” Walker’s business flourished in the early 1900’s and helped pave the way for new hair ideals in the black community. She was dedicated to the Civil Rights Movement and to promoting a new sense of pride for African Americans. Her message was growth and unity, which Clark expresses through the portrait. Each comb, small and uniform, holds its own place and position. When viewed up close, the finer details such as the combs’ teeth and how each one is linked together are much clearer. From afar, however, they all blend into a beautiful whole without detracting from each comb’s importance. The portrait dominates the wall from top to bottom and offers a profile view of the woman in question. This is one of Clark’s strongest messages within the exhibit. On the use of combs, Clark has written that they speak volumes on the nation’s legacy of hair culture and the gender and race issues surrounding it. In the exhibit’s brochure, Clark explains that, “As disposable objects, [combs] parallel the low social status of African American women born in the late 1800s. But together, the thousands of combs become a monumental tapestry, signifying Walker’s magnitude and success despite her humble beginnings.” The other works crafted in combs vary as well.
Some comb teeth are broken and rearranged, while other, longer combs are stacked and woven together to form other cohesive shapes. All, however, help expand the overarching narrative of identity and struggle. They are reminiscent of the different styles of black hair, from long to short, straightened to curly, thin to full. The styles shift with the latest fashion trends, but the origins behind them stay consistent. As is the case with Clark, viewing those origins in a new light can enlighten and empower people today. With Black History Month around the corner, the theme and message of this exhibit is fitting.
Sonya Clark gained an appreciation for storytelling through homemade objects at an early age from her grandmother and much of her work deals with family lineage through time as well. Clark has been working with hair specifically since 2000 and has created several pieces since. In addition to the exhibit, an artist lecture and reception will be held in the gallery on Feb. 4 at 1:30 p.m. For more information on Clark and her work, visit sonyaclark.com. ARRIELLE BROOKS ONLINE LIFESTYLE EDITOR
(AMY ROSE/FOURTH ESTATE)
Chocolate Festival returns to Old Towne Fairfax W
ith Valentine’s Day around the corner, chocolate lovers will soon load up on candies and goodies, but Fairfax residents do not have to wait until the fourteenth to get their fair share of chocolate delights. The Chocolate Lovers Festival returns to Old Town Fairfax for its third year this coming weekend, providing chocolate from local vendors, contests and events of all sorts. The festival is a two day event that will be running Feb. 1, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m, and Feb. 2 from 12 p.m. -4 p.m. Offering activities for all ages the festival has a variety of events from a Chocolate Challenge to a Taste of Chocolate. While the event presents locals with the opportunity to try a variety of sweets, it also provides a chance to make a difference in the lives of local students. Attendees will find that there is a small fee for some events during the Chocolate Festival and that donations are collected. Each year the Chocolate Lovers Festival chooses an organization to award a grant. That program
receives the profit from the donations made during contests over a two-day period. The organization that receives this grant strikes close to home with students at Mason because it is the school’s own Best Buddies chapter, a part of Best Buddies Virginia. Best Buddies is a non-profit organization that provides men and women with intellectual and developmental disabilities opportunities to create long and lasting friendships with those who do and do not live with IDD. The Mason chapter of Best Buddies works with the Mason LIFE Program to create a post-secondary education program for those students with IDD who would like the opportunity to experience university life. While the funds raised support the Best Buddies Chapter at Mason, they also aid scholarships for students at Mason and the program Meals for Young Minds. Attendees of the festival can look forward to the two main events, the Chocolate Challenge and the Silent Auction.
The Chocolate Challenge is a contest involving three categories: sculptures, cupcakes and cake. Students can feel free to enter the contest up until the morning of Feb. 1. There is a $10 entrance fee and the only requirement is that the creations entered in the contest must be made of chocolate. The creations will then be displayed and judged by both visitors and judges. The Silent Auction provides a chance for students to win services from local restaurants yoga shops tattoo parlors and more. Donated cakes are also entered into the silent auction for students to have an opportunity to win. For more information on the events happening at the Chocolate Lovers Festival, students can contact Joseph W. Wilson, Department Manager of the Department of Nutrition and Food Services of George Mason University at 703-993-9709 or go online to www.chocolatefestival.net. MARY OAKEY STAFF WRITER
Fourth estate
Lifestyle
Jan. 27, 2014
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(AMY ROSE/FOURTH ESTATE)
Campus events honor
Martin Luther King
F
ollowing Martin Luther King Jr. Day and getting back into the swing of a new semester, different organizations around campus have found ways to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Martin Luther King Jr. was a brave leader who led African American citizens through a trying time of discrimination. To many, he was a symbol of hope and was a great public speaker. Mason wanted to make sure that his legacy remained living on this year. The Office of Student Involvement created a memorial quilt with the help of other student groups and offices. They hosted the MLK quilt-making workshop Jan. 22 through the 25, letting student organizations contribute. “We want to keep the spirit of the dream and his beliefs alive. The quilt is symbolism,” said T. Garey Davis, Assistant Director of the Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Multicultural Education. Participants received a 12×12 in. felt square to sew or design with their choice of decoration and inspirational words. This quilt will be displayed throughout the rest of the academic year. “It will be a memorial all year round,” Davis said. On Jan. 24, the Mason class council hosted a celebration of the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington with a picture gallery at the Ridge. The photo exhibit consisted of different black and white photos from Martin Luther King’s time and some pictures of our current president, Barrack Obama. Students were able to relax in the welcoming environment with refreshments so that they could relax and soak in the history in front of them. The exhibit displayed how different states handled segregation.
One of the most eye-catching photos to Residential Student Program Coordinator of Housing and Residence Life, Joey Allen was a picture of a woman named Gloria Richardson pushing a National Guardsman’s bayonet aside. “It took me by surprise when I was putting up the pictures earlier. It is a great photo because a black female is the person calming the crowd down,” Allen said. The caption for the photo read, “Mrs. Gloria Richardson, head of the Cambridge Nonviolent Action Committee, pushes National Guardsman’s bayonet aside as she moves among a crowd of African American’s to convince them to disperse in Cambridge, Maryland. 1963.” Also pictured around the “Legacy of Dreams” exhibit, shedding light on the March on Washington, were actual pictures of the March on Washington in 1963, as well as a recent photo of President Obama in 2012 riding on the exact bus that Rosa Parks was arrested on. Students were given the chance to write on a construction paper covered wall titled, “What do you want to see in the next 50 years?” Some of the anonymous answers written in marker were “I hope the world will be a less greedy and selfish place,” and “Equality between men and women.” Another was “Gay rights should be rights.” Attendants of the event were able to express themselves anonymously and reflect. For a more visual generation, this exhibit encourages students to think about America’s past.
SAVANNAH NORTON STAFF WRITER
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Jan. 27, 2014
Lifestyle
Fourth estate
(WALTER MARTINEZ/FOURTH ESTATE)
Fourth estate
Lifestyle
Jan. 27, 2014
The Official Pizza of Mason Athletics!
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Opinion
Jan. 27, 2014
Hau Chu
Editor-In-Chief
Daniel Gregory Managing Editor
Alexa Rogers News Editor
Suhaib Khan
Print News Editor
Genevieve Hoeler Lifestyle Editor
Stephen Czarda Sports Editor
Darian Banks
Print Sports Editor
John Irwin
Photography Editor
Amy Rose
Asst. Photography Editor
Aysha Abdallah Design Editor
Walter Martinez Visual Editor
Rawan Elbaba Copy Chief
Katryna Henderson Illustrator
Kathryn Mangus Faculty Advisor
FOURTH ESTATE
Public University Free Speech Bill in the Virginia Legislature T
he semester has begun here at GMU and so has the legislative session down in Richmond for Virginia’s General Assembly. Over 2,000 bills have been offered that legislators will look into and determine which ones are important to Virginians. Many of these bills could have a direct impact on college students, like HB 258, which tackles the issue of First Amendment rights at public colleges and universities. HB 258, patroned by Delegates Lingamfelter and Villanueva, reads: Restrictions on student speech at institutions of higher education; limitations. Prohibits public institutions of higher education from imposing restrictions on the time, place, and manner of student speech that occurs in the outdoor areas of the institution’s campus and is protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution unless the restrictions (i) are reasonable, (ii) are justified without reference to the content of the regulated speech, (iii) are narrowly tailored to serve a significant governmental interest, and (iv) leave open ample alternative channels for communication of the information. Essentially, the law strengthens and confirms your right to free speech in outdoor areas on campus while still giving administrations wiggle room for extreme or unusual circumstances. The wording strictly aligns with the “O’Brien test” (Unites States v. O’Brien), saying that with government regulation of speech, the restrictions of time, place, and manner can be allowed if they are (a) narrowly tailored (b)
serve a substantial governmental interest and (c) there are alternative channels to communicate the information. Free speech is one of the most fundamental rights in America, specifically outlined in the first amendment of the Constitution. Public universities should be promoting free speech, free thought, and the discussion of ideas. For institutions of higher education, restricting free speech would be counter-intuitive to the reason of their existence. For the most part, GMU does a good job with free speech; although, Mason does receive a “yellow light” rating from the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE). Eleven of Virginia’s public institutions currently receive a “red light” or “yellow light” rating on their speech codes from FIRE, meaning that the institution has some sort of policy restricting freedom of speech. Some of Virginia’s schools even have “free speech zone” policies. Virginia is certainly susceptible to the same kind of issues with its public institutions of higher education as we saw with California and their extreme, embarrassing restriction of speech directed at a student who just wanted to hand out copies of the Constitution. Outrage spread across the internet last year when the story surfaced about Robert Van Tuinen, a student attending Modesto Junior College, who was told he couldn’t hand out copies of the Constitution on Constitution day. He was blocked from handing out those copies because he wasn’t in a designated
“free speech zone” and college policies required that he get permission to utilize his free speech rights in advance. HB 258 would prevent this kind of outrageous scenario from developing at Virginia universities. Susan Kruth from FIRE, wrote, “Virginia—with three “green light” institutions and a law protecting religious pluralism on campus—boasts a better record on students’ First Amendment rights than many other states. If passed, this bill would allow the commonwealth to continue setting a positive example for the rest of the country.” HB 258 is a bill that will protect and strengthen freedom of speech for students attending George Mason University and other students around the state. Delegate David Bulova, who represents the 37th district in the General Assembly, represents GMU and the students who reside in Fairfax. Students and Faculty are welcome to email his office to express their support for this bill. A few hundred emails from students should encourage his office to patron this bill and build support among the other representatives. Ask Delegate Bulova to take a stand for your First Amendment rights. JOHN HILL COLUMNIST
David Carroll
Associate Director Fourth Estate operates as a publication of Broadside. Fourth Estate is printed each Monday for George Mason University and its surrounding Fairfax Community. The editors of Fourth Estate have exclusive authority over the content that is published. There are no outside parties that play a role in the newspaper’s content, and should there be a question or complaint regarding this policy, the Editor-in-Chief should be notified at the email provided. Fourth Estate is a free publication, limit one copy per person. Additional copies are 25 cents payable to the Office of Student Media. Mail Fourth Estate George Mason University Mail stop 2C5 4400 University Drive Fairfax, Va. 22030 Phone 703-993-2950
Letter to the Editor: Mason Lobbies O
n 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. By allowing the Mason community to speak to legislators, we remind them of the important role Mason plays in our great commonwealth, not only for students, but also for constituents and the private sector. In its second year, Mason Lobbies will build upon the success of last year’s event as well as identify
specific legislative proposals that will benefit our institution. In building on conversations started last year, we will continue to focus on increasing state funding for our university. With this, one of our most important legislative priorities is an increase in financial aid funding. This work will be particularly important as the current budget before the Virginia General Assembly is slated to underfund state financial aid by $25 million. In addition, we support an increase in funding for university research as well as faculty and staff salaries. This will help us to ensure that our university remains academically competitive and will help to enhance the value of the Mason Graduate. Furthermore, one new legislative priority that will be added to the discussion this year includes providing in-state tuition for Dreamers.
It has been a great pleasure to work with the Mason Student Government team, administrators, and faculty to put on this amazing event for the second year in a row and I am looking forward to a successful Mason Lobbies this year. Stay tuned to the @GeorgeMasonU twitter and #MasonLobbies for updates from Richmond on January 30, 2014.
KEVIN JACKSON COLUMNIST Kevin serves as the Undersecretary of State Government Affairs with the George Mason University Student Government
Fourth estate
Opinion
Jan. 27, 2014
Let the Mason Inn serve the less fortunate among us
T
he Mason campus is populated with various kinds of buildings. There are the usual college facilities of dormitories, classrooms and administrative offices. There are the artistic venues, like the Performing Arts Building and the Patriot Center. Then, there are the peculiar places, like a fully operational hotel. Hailed as being “eco-friendly” and appealing for its proximity to the Patriot Center and Fair Oaks Mall, the Mason Inn, opened in the fall of 2010, boasts 148 guest rooms. Despite decent online reviews about its services and general quality, the Mason Inn has not been doing well in the financial arena. Since its opening, the facility has actually lost about $2 million annually due in large part to a dearth of visitors. Last semester, an email went out to the community explaining these problems launching a task force to explore matters. This task force has already concluded that the Mason Inn was “not financially sustainable.” Further, President Angel Cabrera made the recommendation that the facility be used for student purposes. “After carefully considering their analysis, as well as listening to the opinions of industry experts, I decided to accept the recommendation of the task force to convert the Mason Inn into a residential, dining and instructional facility,” President Cabrera said. As this change for the benefit of the student body commences,
a proposal shall be addressed for the new housing unit. The proposal regarding the facility is courtesy to an issue brought to light last semester. In the fall, the Fourth Estate wrote a story on the efforts of seniors Yara Mowafy and Jordan Bivings to help create a Meal Plan Assistance Fund for Mason students who are homeless. According to the article, about 20 students self-identify as homeless. In addition to the Meal Plan Fund, the efforts to help the homeless enrollees of Mason should include providing them with something so many of us take for granted: a place to live. Where could they live one asks? How about the Mason Inn? Space is not an issue. One hundred and forty eight rooms present more than enough space to house approximately 20 students. A lot of rooms can even mean that the rest of the hotel could be used for students who are not homeless, but from a low socio-economic background. In providing a living space for the homeless students of Mason, the university will be helping provide stability for those living in unstable conditions. According to the website of the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth (NAEHCY), homeless students “lack the stability and peace of mind we all hope to be able to give our children.” “In academic settings, students gain the skills and support needed to avoid poverty and homelessness as adults,” NAEHCY said.
Perhaps, Mason could set up a program for homeless students where they can have a room at the Mason Inn under the condition that they compensate for the expenses once they find sustainable employment. Or maybe, out of charity, the spaces could be given freely in the same way other items in education, both compulsory and advanced, are freely given to the less fortunate. There are times when compassion should overrule financial concerns; especially if a little bit of compassion can lead to a great investment like a good education and a renewed opportunity for the future. It is a proposal submitted for consideration for those on the task force and for those in the campus community who may read this column. The request I make in this proposal is that the task force may consider determining the future of the Mason Inn on the basis of helping the less privileged students on campus.
MICHAEL GRYBOSKI COLUMNIST
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Jan. 27, 2014
Sports
FOURTH ESTATE
Sophomore Patrick Holloway shines bringing his shooting skills from Paul VI Catholic High School in Fairfax to Mason where he averages 9 points per game. (JOHN IRWIN/FOURTH ESTATE)
Local player impresses coaches and community W
hen Paul Hewitt signed on to coach the Mason men’s basketball team in May 2011, he needed a shooter. So, he turned straight away to longtime acquaintance and AAU coach, Keith Stevens, who gave him one name: Patrick Holloway. “I actually started recruiting him before I even saw him play a high school game,” said Hewitt. “And, we were fortunate enough to get him.” An impressive resume helped attract recruiters like Hewitt to Holloway. As a high school player at Paul VI, Holloway received All-Met honors his junior year. The following season, he earned the Washington Post All-Met Player of the Year award as a senior. The same season saw Holloway named Virginia Independent School Player of the Year and a first-team All-Washington Catholic Athletic Conference selection while helping lead his team to a 35-3 record, and the conference city and state titles. Holloway began playing basketball at the age of four when his father put him in a recreation league in Stafford, VA. He played basketball his freshman year at Colonial Forge high school. It was when his older brother graduated that Holloway decided to transfer to private school. He chose Paul VI in Fairfax for his sophomore year of high school – a switch
that challenged Holloway on and off the court. “When I first got to Paul VI, it was very different and very confusing for me, because private school basketball is much more intense than public school basketball,” said Holloway. “So, I had a lot of trouble, especially being away from home and my friends, and everything was new for me.” Under his Paul VI high school coach, Glenn Farello, Holloway bought into a new system and began to grow as a basketball player. “I was kind of fighting the system with him, but he stuck with me. And once I gave into his system, things turned out a lot better for me,” Holloway said. “Glenn Farello is my mentor and someone I look up to and I know I can talk to for advice.” So, adjustments had to be made and Holloway worked for it. Over the course of his high school playing days, Farello recalled countless times he sat silently courtside waiting, when Holloway stayed in the gym hours after practice finished – just shooting. His commitment to put in the extra work translated to winning games for his team in the final moments several times in his high school career. Holloway continued to progress – even earning himself a nickname in the process.
“We used to call him the assassin – he would just hit big shots, time and time and time again. He’s very competitive and he really works at his craft,” Farello said. “He’s dedicated to it, and he’s committed to it. So, it’s been fun to watch his development.” Now, in his sophomore season at Mason, spectators are just starting to see Holloway’s potential. Currently, he is shooting over 43 percent from beyond the arc, and averaging 8.9 points per game – a significant improvement from last season. “I expect to see him continue to grow and continue to get better – from freshman to sophomore, it’s very similar to what I saw. He’s still an underclassman, so I’m looking forward to see what he does with it. But, I know he’s motivated to keep working,” Farello said. “It’s a process and it takes time. He’s still got a ways to go, and he understands that – and that’s what I like about him – is that he’s willing to listen and wants to get better.” Holloway has also been paying close attention to seniors Sherrod Wright and Bryon Allen, motivated to match their success. “The reason my shots have been falling a lot more recently, is because I’ve been shooting before practice and after practice and I’ve just been doing a lot more than I was. Something
that has inspired me to do that is Sherrod Wright, because I see him do that just about every day,” Holloway said. “I do the best I can to work up to their work ethic.” Holloway continues to work and improve as a player under Hewitt. And, Hewitt already sees the impact Holloway can have on a game. “He’s doing what we’re asking of him. He had some really big games his freshman year, and he’s starting to put together some big games here in his sophomore year. The one thing he’s always been is a clutch player,” Hewitt said. “Even last year when he was a freshman, when he had his ups and downs – late game situations, he’s making shots. And, he had a reputation of that in high school and he’s developed that reputation here at Mason.” “He’s always been is a clutch player,” Hewitt said. “Even last year when he was a freshman, when he had his ups and downs – late game situations, he’s making shots. And, he had a reputation of that in high school and he’s developed that reputation here at Mason.” KRISTI ANABLE ONLINE SPORTS EDITOR For a video of the interview with Holloway visit gmufourthestate.com
Fourth estate
Sports
Jan. 27, 2014
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Three track and field athletes win weekly honors Senior Adrian Vaughn hit marks set freshman year, ready for outdoor season Weekly Atlantic 10 awards were received by three of Mason’s track and field athletes taking Men’s and Women’s co-Performer and Rookie of the Week. Senior Adrian Vaughn showcased his speed in the 200-meter dash gaining him Men’s co-Performer of the week. His opening time of 21.38 seconds at the Great Dane Classic ranked him in the top 25 in the country and made him the conference leader last week. This honor did not come easy, as athletes must outperform not only their gender in their competition, but their own teammates as well. Vaughn has outshined the conference for two weeks in a row earning A-10 weekly awards. “I’ve wanted to earn this award since I was a freshman,” Vaughn said. “Given that the Mason team was comprised of All-Americans and World Champions and our conference has many talented athletes placed in the numerous events, you can imagine that it takes quite a lot to earn that distinction.” Prior to the meet in New York, the team was training a lot to get ready for the A-10 meets. “Our coach right now has been loading our legs up and we weren’t really primed to do well as a team this weekend,” Vaughn said. He competed in the 60-meter preliminary and the final before going to the blocks in the 200-meter dash. “Going into the 200-meter, it was a weird feeling because I hadn’t been in competition for so long, but Coach (Andrew Gerard) told me to attack it,” Vaughn said. “Attack the beginning.” His finish in the 200-meter dash was only .19 more than his personal and school record of 21.19 second. Off-season training and setting goals has made it possible for Vaughn to earn this award. He drastically changed his preparation for the season this year which has allowed for more improvement. “My preparation changed drastically this time around from previous years. Typically, I go on long runs and occasionally lift in the last month before school,” Vaughn said. “This summer I linked up with a close friend, Aaron Anderson, a fellow senior at Mason, and we went to the gym and worked out together the entire summer.” Anderson pushed Vaughn to the levels he is capable of. “I have a great work ethic when I’m with my coach or someone else,” Vaughn said. The change in pace showed positive with the startup of track season again. “Whether it was running, lifting, recovery or abs, we challenged each other and it has had a huge effect on my performance,” Vaughn said. Now that he has achieved his goal of receiving Men’s co-Performer of the Week, Vaughn continues to set goals for himself and the team in his last track season at Mason. “For the indoor season, I would like to break the field-house facility record in the 200m dash and become an individual All-American at the indoor championships,” Vaughn said. “I
Senior Daianna Barron trains for the indoor and outdoor track and field season after earning Atlantic 10 Co-Performer of the Week for her performance at the Great Dane Classic (AMY ROSE/FOURTH ESTATE)
want both the men’s and women’s teams to win A-10 conference championships and advance as many people to nationals as possible. I want the most for the team; the more of us there are the better we compete.” Changes from the A-10 move include an indoor conference on a flat track and an outdoor conference taking place in the Boston, creating challenges for Vaughn due to the cold weather. However, his improved training has prepared him to attack.
Senior Daianna Barron envisions victory to achieve her goals Daianna Barron, senior from Warrensville Heights, Ohio, led the board in the 400-meter dash and helped set the 4x400-meter meet record at the Great Dane Classic last week. A spot on the indoor nationals list and receiving the Atlantic 10 Women’s Co-Performer of the Week were among the honors she received for her outstanding performance. “This award means that I’m off to a good start in my senior year and I’m grateful for that,” Barron said. “It’s not just being on the list that makes it important to me. It’s maintaining a rank at the top of the list,” Barron explained. “That means I could be considered as a force and strong opponent.” As a junior, Barron set the school record for the indoor 600-meter and indoor 4x400-meter relay. While she has achieved benchmark numbers, she hopes to continue shattering personal records in the coming months. “I’d like to run my personal best in the 400-meter dash,” Barron explained with her current indoor time of 53.72 and outdoor time of 53.81. Barron also foresees beating Mason’s record for the 600-meter indoor if given the opportunity to run the event this season. “I see a challenge being just getting better and better and
working through the pain that comes with the sport of track and field,” she said. Barron has worked through minor setbacks such as shin splints and muscle aches, but said nothing was too serious to completely hold her back. Her off-season workouts of long runs, weight lifting, and “getting explosive” have helped her stay in shape for the pre-season avoiding further injuries. “As a senior my preparation has changed due to maturity,” Barron said. “I think I have a different mindset on things than what I had a year or so ago. I now take a lot of things more serious and try to give my full effort.” Leading up to events, she takes proper care of her body and listens to Coach Abigi Id-Deen who always says, “Run your race.” “Upon running the 400-meter and relay, I had just competed in the 200-meter and wasn’t sure if I had enough energy,” Barron recalled. “But I set that aside and performed. “As I waited in the blocks, I was a bit nervous, but stood their examining how I wanted to run my race and how I’d feel if I crossed the line in first place.” Barron’s tunnel vision proved true as she took home first in the 400-meter with a time of 54.65. She has already envisioned a successful season and hopes to bring that to light, as well. “In my head, I picture myself accomplishing all the things I want, as long as I stay leveled and focused,” Barron said. “What makes my envision on this season even better is knowing the support system, motivators, great friends and family that I have in my corner.”
Freshman Nhautrey Brown earns awards while focusing on academics Nhautrey Brown, freshman, jumped to A-10 Rookie of the Week with a distance of 40 feet, six inches in the triple jump at
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Sports
Jan. 27, 2014
the Great Dance Classic in New York last week. “It is a great honor to represent my school and my class,” Brown said. “It means that I am doing good things out of high school and representing my freshman class well.” The transition from high school track to Mason has forced Brown to see the dedication and time that it takes to be a rookie of the week. “It was somewhat easy to get by in high school being a student-athlete, because training and school wasn’t too hard or demanding,” Brown said. “Doing the off-season and preseason workouts sort of forced me to realize that college track wouldn’t be easy.” Off-season workouts and preparation for the season have made Brown a better athlete. “Now that I am at here, I’ve realized the importance of a proper cool-down,” Brown said. “I have always been pretty good about getting a good warm-up in, but I never understood how much of a difference a cool-down makes on my muscles until I got to Mason.” Her off-season workouts consist of a lot of conditioning and
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weight training to keep in shape. Brown has also prepared mentally for this season. “I knew that college track would be a lot more demanding as far as the workouts are concerned so I brought with me the technical things that I learned, but I’ve tried to forget the coaching styles that I was used to,” Brown said. “I feel as though being open to new coaching styles will help me learn more about jumping and track in general.” The first week of classes acted as a wakeup call for Brown in terms of time management. “It was a challenge to manage my time, so that I could fit in classes, study hall hours and practice first,” Brown said. Brown’s performance at the classic was her best jumping distance to date, but she has more goals she hopes to accomplish before the season ends. “I hope to increase my endurance level, get stronger and perfect my technique,” Brown said. “I feel as though if I continue to focus on my weaknesses, I can jump at least 41 feet or betting in the triple jump and 18 feet in the long jump.” Although rookie of the week is a great honor, Brown is not big
Cut Sherman Some Slack
veryone loves “Braveheart.” It’s an epic war tale that has some of the best action in cinema history. And everyone hates that scene where the Prince betrays William Wallace. It’s gut wrenching. We despise that Prince so much in that moment because he betrayed all of the beliefs and virtues he convinced the audience that he upheld. It’s hypocrisy at its worst. This applies to most of the keyboard critics that have arisen since Richard Sherman’s postgame interview following the Seahawks victory over the 49ers in the NFC Championship. All of these fans huffing and puffing online are hypocrites. Let’s get one thing straight: I’m not here to defend Sherman’s actions. His comments were classless and rude. The whole interview blemished what otherwise was a stellar performance by the cornerback. But the vitriol from fans directed at the third-year defensive back shows an ugly side of fandom. As football fans, we want our athletes to play with fire passion swagger toughness etc. That is what coaches deem necessary for players to succeed and what spectators want to see from their team’s superstars. Is it fair to ask athletes to play with all of these qualities on the field and then abandon their intensity off the field? Sherman is who he is: loud, confident, unfiltered. Sure, that can get you into trouble from time, but his personality off the field has always embodied what fans expect to see on game day. Immediately following a come from behind victory in a championship game, is it fair to expect an athlete to act without any intensity or energy? Sure, he could have chosen his words better. His crime is a lack of humility, but his raw take is better than the diluted and pre-packaged puff seen in most post-game interviews.
Fourth estate
The amount of backlash he’s received is laughable. Attention, NFL fans: you can’t have it both ways. Fans want their NFL stars to be violent passionate athletes on the field and bland cookie-cutter personalities everywhere else. These are real human beings with real emotions; not robots you can program to read cue cards like an SNL cast member. In a league that continues to come under fire from fans for becoming “too soft,” isn’t it a welcome respite to have a brash player who speaks his mind passionately? I’ve enjoyed having Richard Sherman in the NFL. Yes, his post-game interview was a debacle (for which he apologized the next day). Regardless, it’s not enough to erase the three-seasons prior of entertainment and down right amazing play. One incident shouldn’t overpower the positives Sherman brings to the NFL. He made a mistake. Why resort to viciously attacking his character? Why make him a Public Enemy? Flavor Flav is shaking his head somewhere embarrassed at NFL fans for their overthe-top reactions while he happily watches a cat fight go down in his living room. ESPN.com’s Seahawks reporter Terry Blount thinks fans couldn’t be more wrong in their assertions of who Sherman is as a person. “He isn’t a gangster or a punk or a moron or a classless jerk,” Blount writes. “As someone who interacts with Sherman on a regular basis, I can say, unequivocally, that he is as nice a guy as you could ever meet…Sherman also is one of the most intelligent young men I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing.” This is a guy who came out of Compton, California. This is a guy who graduated from Stanford University. This is a guy who is an All-Pro cornerback who’s never been in trouble with the law.
on winning awards and titles. “I just like to get better at the events I’m in and if it leads to those types of recognitions, then that’s a bonus,” Brown said. “But, the most important aspect of being a student-athlete to me is academics.” Brown has always made academics a priority as a dedicated student high school. She has continued to have outstanding academic achievements at Mason and hopes for her teammates achieve academic goals as well. “The goals I hope to see the team accomplish this season is doing their personal best in the classroom and contribute to the teams GPA,” Brown said. She still supports her teammates on the track and would like to see them perform at their personal best. “I would like all of my teammates to make it to the A-10 championships and further to the NCAA Championships. I will be happy for all of my teammates’ accomplishments,” Brown said. DARIAN BANKS PRINT SPORTS EDITOR
Join the 2014
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Sherman deserves to be cut a little slack. So go ahead, NFL fans. Tweet your borderline (and in many cases, obvious) racist messages at Richard Sherman. Rant on message boards how one moment of adrenaline fueled conversation is an indictment on a player’s entire career and character. Just know your attacks are hypocritical, and will fuel that same fire that drives players like Sherman, a sixth round pick, to overcome obstacles and perform for your franchise. These players are expected to act like warriors
on the field then the nice guy in interviews. It all seems a bit far-fetched to me. BRANDON KATZ COLUMNIST