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Mason makes a debut on the popular website. NEWS • Page 3
Sustainable Living Roadshow shows students the benefits of an environmentallyconscious lifestyle. NEWS • Page 4
A Personal Account Former top 25 contestant on “America’s Next Top Model” shares the story of her experience. STYLE • Page 6
George Mason University’s Student Newspaper www.broadsideonline.com
October 24, 2011
Volume 88 Issue 7
Exposure Outweighs Profits for Mason Athletics Athletics Used to Promote Community and Put on a Public Face schools out of more than 1,000 member universities generate more money than they spend. Mason is no different. George Mason University Only a handful of Mason has a knack for forward thinksports bring in revenue. And a ing. It established the first en- vast majority of that revenue gineering school in the country goes to pay for outstanding exthat focuses on information penses credited to the remaintechnology in order to meet ing programs that do not bring the need of an emerging high- in profit. “Intercollegiate at any unitech economy. It was the first university versity, especially at George in the country to offer doctoral Mason University, has a role,” programs for majors such as Tom O’Connor, athletic direcconflict resolution, bioinfor- tor for Mason, said. “And it is matics and information tech- an interesting role that is beyond economics.” nology. The role of intercollegiate Over the last five years, Mason has added more than 30 sports extends far beyond any graduate and undergraduate tangible monetary value. “If it was a strictly business degree programs. “I was driving around decision, there would be two campus and everything just sports,” said Tom Yeager, comlooks new to me,” said Lamar missioner of the Colonial Athl e t i c Butler, startAssociation ing guard for Intercollegiate sports, since its inthe 2006 however, have failed to ception 26 Final Four years ago. team. “This make money for the Interplace has university. In fact, less collegiate changed a lot than two dozen sports are in five years.” present at a schools in more than Butler university to was a vital 1,000 member promote a part of the univerisites generate sense of beCinderella more money than they longing story that within a took place in spend. campus the 2006 community, NCAA Touras witnessed nament. Since then, the university by the recent Mason Madness has undergone a magnificent event. They are present in order to give the university a facelift. More than $450 million recognizable name and allow has been poured into three people to formulate opinions Mason campuses, with a num- on campus life from their living ber of new buildings and resi- rooms. “We always say that athletdence halls being constructed ics is the front porch of the uniover a span of just five years. Mason is the largest uni- versity,” said Adam Brick, versity in Virginia; It is home to associate director of athletics more than 32,000 students and and external relations. “It is hosts over 200 clubs and or- what most people see. And it’s what draws people onto camganizations. Much of this growth is pus. So it’s an opportunity to unarguably, though indirectly, brand the university.” Mason athletics — espedue to the success of the athcially the basketball programs letic department. Intercollegiate sports, — have done an exceptional however, have failed to make job of branding the university. money for the university. In fact, less than two dozen See ECONOMICS, Page 12
Cody Norman Sports Editor
Photo by Grace Knight
Members of Mason Meals make peanut butter sandwiches for the poor. The new club looks to donate leftover meal plans to those suffering from poverty in the Fairfax area.
New Club Helps Curb Hunger in Fairfax
Delesia Watson Broadside Correspondent Members of Mason Meals, a new club on campus, are actively working hand-in-hand with Mason Dining to end hunger in the Fairfax area by donating students’ leftover meal plans at the end of each semester. “I noticed a lot of the food waste Mason goes through,” said sophomore Jordan Bivings, president and founder of Mason Meals. “If we can waste as much as we do, we can give as much as we do.” Mason Meals started as a cornerstone project for Bivings. Her class had the opportunity to work with FACETS, a Fairfax County organization that helps families and individuals suffering from the effects of poverty. Based on the feedback Bivings and her classmates received, Mason Meals was created in May. Bivings said she had no trouble assembling a group of students who wanted to make an impact as much as she did; she even decided to give the title and duties of vice president to two students instead of the traditional one. “They were the main two people who were really hands-on in organizing this. They are extremely passionate about Mason Meals and working with FACETS,” Bivings said. One of the vice presidents,
sophomore integrative studies stemmed from her understandmajor Andrew Lyon, lived on the ing of what it’s like to be without. “I understand kids when same floor as Bivings last school year, coincidentally along with they go to school without a lunch sometimes, and it’s hard. To go most of their executive board. “Within a short period of without food is completely differtime our floor grew into an ex- ent than going to school without tremely tight-knit family,” Lyon the most stylish clothes or the said. “So when Jordan presented coolest lunch box or the coolest backpack,” Bivme and most of ings said. “I the floor with “I noticed a lot of the know it’s tough this amazing food waste Mason for kids when opportunity, we goes through. If we you have to exjumped at the plain to people chance.” can waste as much as why your parTheir first we do, we can give as ents can’t pack drive was organmuch as we do.” you a lunch.” ized in just two To pay it weeks by setting -Jordan Bivings, president forward, Bivings, up a table at and founder of Mason along with her Southside and team of about 10 Meals reserving a members, curkiosk in the rently has two Johnson Center. They collected close to a thou- ongoing projects. The first is sand canned goods, fruits and Tummy Talk, which is held every other Friday. They enlist Mason other items. Lyon said this process of be- students to make sandwiches and coming a student organization, then travel to D.C. to donate which is not yet complete, has those sandwiches and water bothumbled him, inspired him and tles to anyone who is in need. In helped him to realize how fortu- addition, they spend time talking to the people they meet. nate he is. Mason Meals also has desig“Learning about the lives of the clients and the problems they nated collection days. Each face every day really shows how Thursday, students can donate minuscule the issues in my life their meal plan card swipes to get sandwiches from La Patisserie in are,” he said For Bivings, who lost her the Johnson Center or use their home to a fire when she was five, Freedom Funds to buy food from the creation of this organization other campus restaurants. These directly benefit is more personal than anything. It donations
FACETS. Bivings is actively donating as well. “Every week, I calculate [what] I’ve eaten, and I swipe [my Mason ID] for every meal I’ve eaten,” Bivings said. Tummy Talk funds go towards bread, meat and other supplies used to make the sandwiches, and comes out of her own pocket. Mason Meals’s short-term goals include becoming an officially recognized student organization and acquiring a machine that enables students to make donations by swiping their Mason IDs to access their Mason Money. Its long-term goal is expansion of the organization to other campuses in the area and across the nation. Bivings has already been in touch with peers from Howard University and the University of Maryland at College Park. Both Bivings and Lyon agree that Mason Meals provides any Mason student with the opportunity to gain a real sense of purpose here on campus. “Anyone who joins Mason Meals will be given ample opportunities to aid us in our efforts, especially as we continue to grow,” Lyon said. “Our projects will become larger and larger.” Mason Meals can be found on Facebook and reached at gmu.meals@gmail.com.
Task Force Concludes Mason Should Adopt 25-Foot Smoking Rule Rule Suggestion, Also a Commonwealth Law, Was Forwarded to Student Government and Faculty Senate Ahsan Zaman Asst. News Editor After much debate surrounding smoking on the George Mason University campus last year, the Student Government Smoking Policy Task Force has come to a decision regarding this contentious issue. “The ultimate conclusion was that most people agreed that a compromise was necessary and Mason should enforce the 25-foot rule,” said Chief of Staff Alex Williams, a former task force member.
“But after 25 feet, if a person wants to smoke, he or she may smoke.” Last year, the Smoking Policy Task Force held two town hallstyle meetings during which members of the Mason community were allowed to give their input. Students who showed up to the meetings were given an opportunity to speak with all three task force members present in order ensure that the varying views were represented. Upon gathering all necessary information from the community, the task force issued its final re-
port. “The report concluded that there were a few fringe elements; a few of those who were completely hands-off, ‘let us do what we want,’ and a few on the other side who [wanted] to completely ban it across campus,” Williams said. The task force’s conclusion was forwarded to SG and the Faculty Senate for approval. The task force stated that Mason should adopt the 25-foot rule, a state law that prohibits smoking within 25 feet of the entrance to any state building.
SG passed a resolution asking Mason to place signs all over campus, in front of the entrances to all buildings, to indicate that smoking is prohibited within 25 feet. The university administration has begun the process of designing the signs, which must be approved by the campus architect prior to their placement. In addition to signs, Facilities Management will move cigarette urns 25 feet from the entrance to each building to encourage compliance with state law. The signs will also bring signage uniformity to campus. Cur-
rently, there are a few signs around campus that communicate different messages concerning how far away smokers should stand if they choose to smoke. “The problems with the [current] signs are that there aren’t many signs and there is ambiguity, such as some saying 15 feet, 20 feet, and so on,” Williams said. “We want one common sign that says ‘25 feet’ around all the buildings.” The Smoking Policy Task Force was composed of three members: former Commissioner Matthew Short, Mike Schaffer and
Alex Williams. Although the task force has closed, students are encouraged to share input or ask questions about action regarding the smoking policy. “This is still an ongoing process, and what we don’t want to see is the assumption that we’ve had the discussion and therefore the issue finished,” Williams said. Students may email Alex Williams at awillil@gmu.edu with their comments or concerns.