Volume 87 Issue 1 broadsideonline.com Monday, 08.30.10
Broadside George Mason University’s Student Newspaper
Crosswalk where student was hit changed Family hopes the change will prevent other students from getting hit Sonya Hudson Managing Editor
Photo By Peter Flint | Student Media Photography Editor
New crosswalk located by stoplight at University Drive exit of Rappahannock River Parking Deck.
A crosswalk on University Drive where a student was hit last spring was moved over the summer, in addition to other traffic pattern changes to Patriot Circle and University Drive. Additional stop signs and bike lanes were also included in the rennovations. The crosswalk, which was lo-
cated directly in front of the police station crossing into the neighborhood across University Drive was removed and a new crosswalk was created at the stoplight at the Unbiversity Drive exit of Rappahannock River Parking Deck. On March 29, Michelle Dawson, a junior majoring in marketing with a minor in French, was hit by a car at the old crosswalk site and transported to a local hospital where she remained in criti-
cal condition for several weeks. According to Walter Randall, a government and international politics major who was walking with Michelle when the incident occurred, the pair was walking to Michelle’s car, parked at her older sister Desiree’s house on Armstrong Street when Michelle was hit around 9:35 p.m. Randall says the two took the necessary precautions before entering the crosswalk.
“We were definitely in the crosswalk and we looked both ways before we crossed,” said Randall, when asked about the accident in April. “There were no cars at all when we first started walking and she didn’t see the car until we were almost in the lane he was traveling in and she was like, ‘Walter there’s a car’ and after that, she got hit.”
See Crosswalk, Page 3
For the record Welcome Week Committee plans second record-breaking attempt in a year Matt Snyder News Editor
Photo By | Matt Snyder
Mason Inn Conference Center and Hotel offers fresh rooms decorated in Mason’s colors, green and gold, for guests.
Inside the Mason Inn Hotel and conference center opens doors to students Matt Snyder News Editor The newly opened doors to George Mason University’s swanky, 148-room hotel and conference center also opens opportunities for students, ranging from jobs, to hotel experience, to networking opportunities with visiting businesses or scholars. Even students who never work or hobnob at the hotel can take advantage of its reduced prices for those affiliated with Mason, including students and their parents. Rates for those groups run $162 a night or $99 on a weekend, said marketing chief Vicki Q. Galindo.
For those not affiliated, prices vary by season and start at about $170. Since Mason Inn opened July 22, Galindo said they're not yet certain what sort of campus events they'll draw, but so far the 5,400 square-foot grand ballroom and 1,900 square-foot junior grand ballroom have drawn the eye of people hunting down places for receptions, dances and reunions. "We actually do more weddings than any other social event," Galindo said. Besides alumni returning to Mason to tie the knot, she said fraternity and sorority organizations have also booked some rooms.
See Mason Inn, Page 2
Photo By | Matt Snyder
The Mason Inn Conference Center and Hotel main lobby area.
MASON RANKED AMONG TOP UNIVERSITIES University drops in ‘up-and-coming’ rating, makes ‘best of’ list Matt Snyder News Editor
about Mason’s up-and-comer status. “I like that, because this could be a school that could be one of the top schools. I mean, I have faith in it.” Graduate sociology student Lester “Roy” Roberts IV questioned whether Mason’s ranking is entirely fair, since it’s been placed in a category alongside private institutions. He said private schools are “a whole different beast” and often have more disposable budget. No students interviewed selected Mason because of any of its rankings, though University Spokesman Dan Walsch said rankings can sometimes encourage a student to tour the university or take an interest before they ultimately enroll. Overall, though, Walsch said the university is “not so
much hung up on the numbers. We’re just trying to be the best institution that we can.” He said they appreciate the national attention and the recognition it sheds on various university programs, but that they care more about being the best school they can be than how they stack up with other schools. As far as Mason’s slipped ranking on “up-and-comer” schools, he said they’re being recognized nationally, that good things are happening at Mason whether they’re ranked one, two or five. “I think it says a lot about Mason, that we’re seen as very energetic and happening, and an innovative place.” The top-ranked schools in Mason’s category of “national universities” were Harvard, Princeton and Yale.
What have you heard about the game? I heard it was going to be pretty epic. It’s supposed to be the biggest dodgeball game ever played. — Connor Kline, freshman film and video studies major
What was the registration process like? You just sign your name on an online site. — Teje Poindexter, freshman psychology major
What are your views on this game? I don’t know, I guess it’s pretty cool. I’m not into dodgeball so I probably won’t participate, but it’s a good idea. I think dodgeball is a sport that they’re really trying to catch on here on campus. — Chloe Semones, senior global and community health major
Do you think they’re going to break the record? Yeah, how many students do we have here? They’ll definitely break the record. — Edwin Narusberg, freshman applied computer science major
Photos By Peter Flint | Student Media Photography Editor
How does your education stack up with other students’ from across the country? If you believe rankings by U.S. News and World Report, Mason ranks at a middle-of-the-pack 143 of 262 national universities. National universities are colleges that offer a broad array of undergraduate majors, as well as masters and doctoral programs, usually with a focus on doing plenty of research, said the report. Other categories included national liberal arts colleges, regional universities and regional colleges. “I think 143 is kind of low, honestly,” said freshman electrical engineering student Robert
Dinh. “I think it’s lower than it deserves.” “I feel like it should be a lot higher, it’s a really good school,” said freshman community health student Katelin Holmes. She cited the nice rooms and buildings, the good people and the rapid expansion of the campus. Rapid expansion is helping George Mason University in one category. It ranks five out of 68 “up-and-coming” schools, which refers to colleges that are expanding programs, adding faculty and giving students more options. That rank is somewhat down from past years, where Mason has ranked in the number one or two slots. Sophomore marketing major Robert Hiter said the 143 number “didn’t sound too spectacular,” but was more enthused
For the second time this year, George Mason University will attempt to jump from local headlines into the pages of the Guinness Book of World Records for hosting the world’s largest game of dodgeball. The dodgeballs fly from 9 to 11:30 p.m. Friday in the Recreation and Athletic Center. Danielle Lapierre, Assistant Director of Mason’s Office of Alcohol, Drug and Health Education and representative of OADHE for Mason’s Welcome Week Committee, “hope[s] to see many, many people come out . . . for fun, friendly ball dodging, and a ferocious attempt to break a world record.” Lapierre strongly believes that Mason will be able to beat the current record which officially is 712. The unofficial record is 1,200. Some may remember last semester’s failed attempt to break the world record for longest game of Telephone, which fell 1,200 students short of the 1,330 students needed to break the record. Lapierre stated that this year the Welcome Week Committee decided to look up other records to break and thought a world record of largest dodgeball game would “be well received [and] an awesome time to ring in the start of a new school year” while also bringing together the Mason community. Students seem interested in attending, whether it’s to watch or actually participate. “I would participate, it sounds interesting,” said Stacy Lovelace, a senior health science major. There’s a lot of excitement building up and a Facebook event page has even been created by Mason’s Student Activities in order to get more possible participants. Over 800 people are listed as planning to attend the event, so it’s very possible that Mason will be able to finally find success in this second attempt at breaking a world record. “I think, as a Mason student, I would be very proud of our school for attempting and achieving such an amazing feat. It would show what Patriot pride is all about,” said Alejandro Asin, a senior biology and sociology major. Participants will be divided into two teams, Green or Gold. Participants will receive commemorative shirts, refreshments will be provided, and there will also be opportunities to win some great prizes. Dodgeballers are invited to stick around following the game to be a part of the group picture that will be taken of the participants for the event. Those who are thinking of participating are encouraged to register online before the event at http://recsports.gmu.edu/aquatics/2660. The dodgeball event is sponsored by the Welcome Week Committee, University Life, Vitamin Water and the DC Social Sports Club.
Will you participate in the dodgeball game?