Sept. 7 issue by Student Media George Mason University

Check out the style section for the latest music news. Did you know the Kid Cudi concert is already sold out? PG.7

George Mason University’s Student Newspaper www.broadsideonline.com

September 7, 2010

Volume 87 Issue 2

No justice, no pizza New student group to Merten: ﬁre Sodexo Matt Snyder News Editor

RIDING IN CARS

WITH BOYS

Courtesy of Edward Weiner

A car carrying three freshmen girls headed to a fraternity party ﬂipped on Waples Mill Road last February. The driver of the car was found guilty of reckless driving following the incident, and now one of the female passengers is suing the national Alpha Epsilon Pi chapter, the Gamma Mu chapter of AEPi at George Mason University, the president of the Mason chapter and the driver of the above vehicle.

Fraternity included in $20 million lawsuit after student is injured in car accident Emily Sharrer Editor-in-Chief Broadside was approached by attorney Edward Weiner, an attorney with Weiner, Rohrstaff and Spivery, PLC, and one of his clients to write a story about an incident that happened in February 2009 and a lawsuit in relation to the incident against a George Mason University fraternity chapter, the national chapter of the fraternity and two students in that fraternity. The client wished to remain anonymous and was granted that request in exchange for a detailed and candid interview about her experiences regarding the event. Asterisks will be placed by the client’s name on first mention in the story. Across the nation, Friday night means party time for college students. For George Mason University students, it often means traveling off campus to bars or fraternity houses for a night of dancing, drinking and meeting new people. For freshmen girls in particular, Friday night presents its own dangers; in the first weeks of school, fraternity members stake out Presidents Park, inviting the newest members of the Mason community to their parties and

offering free shuttles to get to offcampus party spots. Their first night on campus, freshmen MistyDawn Forester, an English major, and her roommate Kelly Ferguson, an undeclared Courtesy of Edward Weiner major, were invited to a party Another angle of the vehicle that rolled last February while transportwhile walking through Presi- ing three freshmen to an off-campus fraternity party. dents Park and declined. “Later that night, we came catch a shuttle to the party. fraternity party. back out and there were a lot of Chattering and excited, the What Lindsey didn’t know is people and a girl we know was that a year and a half later, she trio leaves Presidents Park like ‘come to the party, we’re go- would still be recovering from in- headed for Student Union Building, he’s going to drive us’ and we juries she sustained after a reck- ing I in time to hitch a ride to the were like, ‘okay’ and [we went],” less driving accident en route to party. When they get there, LindForester said. “I don’t have a car that fraternity party and be on sey sees the fraternity brother she here, but if I did I’d honestly pre- one side of a $20 million lawsuit knows with about four other peoCourtesy of Edward Weiner fer to know the address and drive against Alpha Epsilon Pi, Inc., the ple also waiting for a ride to the ourselves there, but I just kind of Gamma Mu chapter of Alpha Ep- party. assume that that’s not how it silon Pi at George Mason UniverTwo cars pull up to the back works here for the frat parties.” sity, Mikhail Vinokur, president of SUB I and as instructed, Lind“The first guy I rode with, of the Mason chapter, and Jacob sey and her friends get into the they said that he was getting high Dilles, a fraternity member who back of the second car. The fraor something,” said Lindsey Blue, was driving the car she hopped ternity brother she called about a freshman, undeclared major, into that night. the party is in the front passenwho says all the other rides she’s ger seat and turns to her and her gotten to fraternity parties have friends and tells them that Jacob Feb. 6, 2009 been safe. “He got high before he Dilles, the man driving the car, drove us and he was going down It’s uncharacteristically can get them to the party faster like these 35 [mph] roads at 60 warm for a night in early Febru- going a longer way than the other miles an hour,” she said. ary. Lindsey, wearing a tank top, car can going a shorter way, she A year and a half ago, Lind- jeans and flip-flops, with her two says. sey White** was just a freshmen friends by her side, is ready for a herself, a tall, pretty blonde look- night out. With their previous ing for somewhere to go on a Fri- plans having fallen through, day night with friends, who Lindsey calls up a brother she wound up getting into what she knows from AEPi and she says he was told was a shuttle to go to a lets them know where they can See Lawsuit, Page 3

Keeping it together

Story taken from Connect2Mason

The Pilot House remains open despite minor setbacks Sonya Hudson Managing Editor The Pilot House continues to thrive on campus despite some early setbacks. An electrical problem that at ﬁrst expected the new dining facility to be closed over the entire Labor Day weekend managed to be ﬁxed before the original Tuesday prediction. The necessary part arrived Friday, which allowed The Pilot House to serve its gourmet pizzas throughout the long, holiday weekend. Before the electrical problems, The Pilot House had a short-

age of food on its opening night, Sunday, Aug. 29, which could be seen as a product of the gourmet pizzas’ popularity. According to Denise Ammaccapane, the district manager of Mason dining, The Pilot House sold 87 pizzas in ﬁve hours on opening night, not to mention the other food served. “It’s a rarity that we run out of food or don’t have it,” said Ammaccapane. The new campus pizza joint was stuck in a guessing game as to how much food to order with the opening night being a Sunday, the night before school starting and not knowing how popular the pizza would actually be. The Pilot

A new student group who says they back the campus dining services workers employed by dining contractor Sodexo hand-delivered a message Thursday to university President Alan Merten asking for the administration to fire Sodexo. They call on Merten to hire a new company who will provide a living wage and better conditions. The GMU Students for Workers Rights joined some workers in accusations that employees work in unsafe conditions and alleged cuts, burns, and back injuries as a result. Merten was not in and the students’ letter was received instead by presidential operations manager Sharon Cullen. She had no comment. Sporting signs and stickers like “No justice/ No pizza,” “Our Workers Deserve Fair Wages,” and “Shame on Sodexo,” about 15 student protestors and five workers walked the letter to Mason Hall and then another petition to Sodexo management at Southside. The petition from workers included pictures of alleged workrelated injuries, including a deep cut to one finger and a worker wearing a back brace. The petition and photos were received by Sodexo Resident District Manager Denise Ammaccapane, who promised to forward it to corporate management. Most of the student protestors at Southside were closed out of Sodexo’s offices when they tried to enter the limited office space. Several students held their signs against the glass windows of the doorway area, and Students for Workers Rights leader Jason Von Kundra said he was displeased with how their group was separated and felt those outside the office couldn’t express their views. Ammaccapane was told workers with the petition were also shut out, so she permitted several students in the office to change places with workers who wanted to present their grievances. She limited them to four people at once in her smaller personal office. Ana Urias, a 27-year Sodexo employee who works at Jazzman’s in the Johnson Center, presented the petition and photographs of injuires to Ammaccapane. Ammaccapane said she has signed statements from each employee proving they have been trained, and that training is done in English, Spanish, and Chinese. Von Kundra has said workers dispute that claim. Sodexo assistant controller Charles Olson told some of the gathered students that Sodexo pays fair and comparable wages and that most worker injuries occur because procedures aren’t followed – chain mesh gloves are not used for handling knives and stools are not used for reaching high places, for instance. Those claims, too, are disputed by some workers, Von Kundra said. Claims and counter-claims between members of management and workers have been prevalent throughout the debate. Workers will share their problems with Sodexo to the student body at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in the Johnson Center Cinema, an event that the Service Employees International Union has helped put on, said Van Kundra. Talking to students outside South Side offices, Retail Operations Director Bill Fry suggested some of the workers were being coached on what to tell students by the SEIU, who have made efforts to organize workers and helped put together the protest in April. When some in Sodexo’s management expressed their displeasure with SEIU, Von Kundra answered complaints of their involvement by saying he only represents a student organization. The Students for Workers Rights are not affiliated with the SEIU, but when Von Kundra was asked if the SEIU had contacted them or nudged them to act, he made no comment. The SEIU had made calls to alert the College Democrats to the worker protest in April. Many Students for Workers Rights members were also members of other left-leaning campus organizations, including the College Democrats. Last April, the College Democrats backed workers in a formal letter when over 70 workers protested and went on strike against Sodexo. Von Kundra said the protest was what drew the attention of so many students on campus and what sparked their new student group.

Dodgeball Rocks Record breaking attempt a success

House now knows to order more food. Ammaccapane is excited about the rave reviews the operation has received from students. The Pilot House now offers its own boxes, so pizza can be taken to-go. Ammaccapane said that the delivery business will start in January after they figure out the volume of pizza ingredients that should be ordered and the number of people that frequent the establishment. “We don’t want to bite off more than we can chew,” said Ammaccapane.

Kevin Loker C2M Executive Editor

Photo Courtesy of Connect2mason.com

Over 1,000 students participated in Friday's Welcome Week event designed to create the world's largest game of dodgeball. By unoﬃcial George Mason University count, the attempt was a success. According to Student Activities' Facebook page, the number of participants in Friday's game totaled 1,257. This

exceeds the previous record held by the University of Alberta, who last spring organized an event that brought 1,198 participants to the dodgeball ﬂoor. Documentation of the event has been sent to Guinness World Records and is waiting oﬃcial approval. Before University of Alberta, San Diego State University held the record with a much smaller total of dodgeballers: 450.

News Event Calendar Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2010 Azucar Salsa Dance Lessons JC, Dance Studio 6 - 8 p.m. Welcome to Mason Nation: Ikea Shopping Trip Sandy Creek Parking Deck 6 - 9 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2010 Center for Consciousness and Transformation: Dr. Anthony Eamonn Kelly JC, Gold Room 12 - 1 p.m. Women’s Soccer: Mason v. VMI George Mason Stadium 7 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 9, 2010 Student Government Open House JC, Room 133 12 - 2 p.m. Program Board Film: Killers JC, Cinema 9 - 11 p.m.

For more events and activities, check out: today.gmu.edu

Broadside

The number of pizzas sold in ﬁve hours on the opening night of The Pilot House.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Tuition increases, students react Students paying six percent more Matt Snyder News Editor A new academic year has begun – the sun shines, the earth turns and tuition goes up. This year, it jumps about $950 for in-state students, or $1,730 for those not living in Virginia, or about six percent in all. University spokesman Dan Walsch said wallets are tight around the country right now, and George Mason University gets the bulk of its money from two sources: tuition and from the state. With state monies traditionally declining, that leaves few options but to raise tuition. The university is operating on a tighter budget this year and to pinch pennies they made cuts to department travel budgets and held back on replacing some vacant positions among other cost-saving measures, Walsch said. Their main goal was to maintain the quality of the university’s academics, he said. Walsch could not predict what next year’s tuition increase will look like. The six percent increase for this year, in spite of especially dire ﬁnancial straights across the country, is not very far outside the average annual increase, Walsch said. He added that the six percent hike is

about middle-of-the-pack for other Virginia schools. Annual tuition increases are a fact of university life, and returning students like Christine Imperato, a junior criminal justice major, were not surprised. But that did not make her pleased. “I think you should be locked into what you pay for all four years,” Imperato said. Izzy Palmieri, a junior global aﬀairs major, said she also worries about whether or not ﬁnancial aid can keep up with tuition hikes. She said this year she’s receiving about $500 less in federal student aid. Other students are more worried about where the money goes. “It depends on how they use it,” said Anthony Hicks, a junior global and environmental change major. If it’s put toward bricks and mortar projects or professor’s pay, he said that’s “kind of okay.” “I’m concerned about whether they’re managing the money properly,” Hicks said. But other students, like senior computer science major Megan Clark and junior physics major Daniel Moore, said despite having to borrow more they do not really feel a pinch from the tuition hikes. “I expect it to go up again,” said Moore.

RAC-ing up a good first year

Possession of Marijuana Grayson Hall John Dunn, 19 (GMU student), of Woodbridge, VA, Mohamed Abbas, 19 (GMU student), of Falls Church, VA, Sinit Senivonage, 18 (GMU student), of Newton, MA were each issued summonses for Possession of Marijuana. (38/Parker)

Sept. 1

Underage Possession of Alcohol Lincoln Hall Donald Giamboy, 18 (GMU student), of Sicklerville, VA was issued a summons for Underage Possession of Alcohol. (50/Issa)

Public Intoxication Rivanna River Module A GMU employee was found to be intoxicated. Matter was handled by Human Resources. (56/Lighthiser)

Sept. 2

Aug. 31

POLICE FILES

Underage Possession of Alcohol Liberty Square Officers responded to a party in a dorm room. All occupants were under 21 years of age, and there was one juvenile. The offenders were turned over to Housing and the juvenile was released to their mother. Case referred to the Dean of Students. (56/Lighthiser)

Sept. 2

Underage Possession of Alcohol Student Apartments Officers responded to a party in a dorm room. All occupants were under 21 years of age. The offenders were turned over to Housing. Case referred to the Dean of students. (22/Barton)

Drunk in Public York River Road Mark Hill, 22 (GMU student), of Media, PA was arrested for the above offense and taken to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center where he was held. (40/Ross)

Underage Possession of Alcohol Wilson Hall A juvenile GMU student was found outside their dorm after consuming alcohol. The juvenile was transported to Police HQ where they was released to their father. Case referred to the Dean of Students. (39/Ortiz-Duran)

Police Files are taken verbatim from www.gmu.edu/police. Broadside does not make any changes to public records.

Photo by Peter Flint

After a year of use the Recreation and Athlectics Complex continues to be one of the primary excercise facilities.

Newest gym a hit with the Mason community Gregory Connolly Broadside Correspondent The Recreation and Athletics Complex, or RAC, George Mason University’s newest athletic recreation facility, is certainly not being neglected. “Since school started, [student and faculty use of the facility] has been ridiculous,” said Mike Wilmer, a senior who works at the front desk. “A lot of people have been coming through.” He said the student presence brings more energy to the gym. “We started a little slow last year, but things picked up second semester,” said Chris Topping, the operations director for the RAC. “We’re busier now than we ever have been.” Topping said he expects the gym to maintain the level of traﬃc seen in the ﬁrst week of school for the rest of the year.

“We want to make sure that people know the facility is here,” Topping said. The facility opened in fall 2009, oﬀering a third location for members of the Mason community to work out. He said the demand for physical recreation space exceeded what the other two facilities — the Aquatic Center and Skyline Gym — could handle. In addition to its function as a workout facility, the RAC plays host to athletic events, including wrestling and men’s and women’s volleyball. “This place is awesome,” said freshman Michael Phaup. “The basketball courts are great and the gym equipment’s nice. Anytime I want to go to a gym, I’m coming here.” The facility oﬀers numerous cardiovascular and weight-training options along with three fullsize gymnasiums. The RAC gym

serves as a venue for athletics, while Linn gym and Cage gym play host to pick-up sports such as basketball and volleyball. Full-time students can also take classes in martial arts, yoga and pilates at the facility for a fee of $45. Once the fee is paid, the student can attend as many classes as they would like on a ﬁrst-come, ﬁrst-serve basis. Other cycling and group exercise classes are free. “I use the gym four days a week,” said junior James McGartland. “I think it’s extremely nice, but it’s unbelievable you have to pay for towels. It’s a small price, but this is supposed to be a free student gym.” Topping said those who use the gym are welcome to bring their own towels or pay a $1 fee to use one from the RAC. He said the fee is necessary to pay upkeep — laundry and replacement costs — of a towel service

Topping said classes will be free this week so students can try out the classes without having to pay the fee. “People like the diﬀerent gym options,” Topping said. “Before last year, Skyline was the best place to play basketball. We have three different courts as well as racquetball and squash facilities so people don’t have to go to Field House anymore to play.” The RAC oﬀers camping equipment rentals in addition to equipment for the variety of sports which can be played in the facility. The facility is located on University Drive near the student apartments and is open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Broadside

News

Lawsuit, from front

Students reflect on impacts of 9/11 terrorist attacks Kathy Morgenegg Enrollment in George Mason University’s new Middle Eastern studies program began in fall 2008, a full seven years after America was forced to take an interest in the region. Names like Saddam Hussein and Al Qaeda became household terms in those short seven years and a generation was given a new field of study that has become pertinent to today’s government. A generation of undergraduate students who were eight to 12 years old when the attacks occurred has spent the past nine years learning about the Middle East from nightly news and high school classes, and now many in that generation are poised to become experts in the field of Middle Eastern Studies. Professor Bassam Haddad, Director of the Middle East Studies Program, explained that there has been a new interest in the Middle East which led Mason to develop the program. Many of the students enrolled in it are interested in U.S. policy on the Middle East. Because Mason is close to Washington, D.C., studying the policy also opens numerous new job opportunities that have been developing over the past nine years. Along with the strong focus on the U.S. and Middle East relationship, there has been a “surge of students interested in Arabic and other Middle Eastern languages,” Haddad said. Arabic, although seen as a difficult language, has become popular among students as a minor or major, since

many who are under the umbrella of Middle Eastern studies are looking to go on and work for policy makers, think tanks and any number of federal agencies. “The government is one of the popular destinations for graduate students in Middle East studies,” Haddad said. “Another option is graduate and postgraduate degrees and getting into academia. There is a whole new field of experts needed.” In the next few years, the Middle East program is working toward adding a major and a master’s program in Middle East and Islamic studies. The M.A. is currently scheduled to launch in 2011. Haddad said that by expanding the department they will be able to draw more students into the program. It will also offer a larger variety of courses and a more committed route for those interested in pursuing the field throughout their professional career. Students, even those who are not enrolled in the Middle East Studies program, have a general knowledge about the Middle East that far exceeds that of past generations. Most students are acutely aware of negative social views on Arabs, and many argue that America’s prejudice has calmed. Senior Tanya Gontscharow added that “for a while it was people’s mind sets [on the Arabic community], but that faded.” Most students attribute the new outlook on the Arabic community to education and better understanding of who really attacked the U.S. on 9/11.

Labor Day’s transformation: then and now

A holiday dedicated to workers Brenda Shepard Broadside Correspondent Labor Day is not about sales at Macy’s or Men’s Warehouse. It is not just a day off from classes, either. It is a day to rest, but historically, it is also in place to recognize what workers have done for the advancement of the United States. According to the Department of Labor website, Labor Day “is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers.” However, most George Mason University students simply enjoy the holiday as a long weekend and a day off from classes. “It’s a day off for people who work,” said Steve Cutri, a junior accounting major. “I’ll probably be relaxing in the morning and maybe have lunch with friends.

Nothing special.” Labor Day’s history is not lost on all students, and some recognize that it’s different for college students compared to those who work full time jobs. “[The meaning] has to have changed over time because it’s not really a day I think about other than no classes,” said Alex Crockett, a junior double major in English and global affairs. “I’ll sleep in, maybe go to a cookout, and I’ll definitely be eating a hot dog.” This holiday has a solemn history as well. According to PBS, the holiday is linked to seven people who died fighting for an eight-hour work day in 1886 in Milwaukee. During the Pullman Railroad labor strikes in 1893, the U.S. military recorded 30 deaths among workers. Rioting, angry mobs and the burning of railroad cars were not

uncommon occurrences during this time of unrest. President Grover Cleveland felt great pressure to focus on labor issues and attempted to make peace by agreeing to the recognition of Labor Day. According to the Department of Labor, “The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 1882, in New York City.” The following year it was moved to a Monday. Then, on June 28, 1894, Congress created the act which would make the first Monday in September the national holiday people enjoy today. The Department of Labor also says that when the holiday was first proposed, it was meant to include, “a street parade to exhibit to the public ‘the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations’ of the community, followed by a festi-

‘No link between shuttles and university’

How the Towers changed a Mason generation

Broadside Correspondent

Tuesday, September 7, 2010 |

val for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families.” Some students will go shopping and take advantage of the sales as stores clear out their summer merchandise. Others may explore the Capitol or some will simply take the opportunity to sleep in or maybe get ahead in their studies. “It’s a day to relax and not have to labor so [the meaning] is the same for me,” said Jeremy Smith, a graduate student studying computer science. “I’ll probably do some grilling that day if the weather permits.” “Maybe I’ll go to Atlantic City since it’s a long weekend,” said Abrar Waly, a sophomore medical technology major.

“We were kind of like, ‘are we supposed to be impressed by that?’ We kind of blew it off,” Lindsey said. Feeling down for her seat belt, Lindsey comes up empty and gives up on looking. “I couldn’t find the actual buckle, so I gave up and that became an afterthought.” When the car gets to Patriot Circle, Dilles is already speeding, Lindsey says. “Being in the moment, I thought it was unsafe, but I kind of had this feeling like ‘nothing’s gonna happen to me, I’m scared, but…’” The car takes Braddock Road west, turns right on Shirley Gate Road and ends up on Waples Mill Road. “It’s an extremely tight road, curvy, there’s only two lanes and that’s when I really started to get scared because he continued speeding.” According to Lindsey, Dilles reached speeds of at least 55 mph on Waples Mill, a road with a posted speed limit of 35 mph. Despite pleas to slow down, Lindsey says Dilles continued to push his limits on the two lane road by passing a slower-moving vehicle in front of him by going over the double yellow line, using the lane intended for oncoming traffic. The car then fishtailed, rolled and Lindsey, not secured by a seat belt, was ejected from the vehicle. “My last memory was my head hitting the side of the car as he was fishtailing and then later I woke up on the ground like 10 feet away from the car or more,” Lindsey said. “I just couldn’t believe it had happened to me,” Lindsey said. “I feel like I’m just a normal person, what are the chances that I could get involved in something like this? I really was lured into a false sense of security, because people take shuttles to parties all the time, I had done it before that incident, ya know, a bunch of times and I don’t really remember how the other drivers drove, but it seemed to be safe.” Following the incident, Lindsey says she had to take off a semester of school, was confined to a back and neck brace for three months and due to her carotid arteries being severed in the incident, Lindsey currently stands the risk of having a stroke. “I’m a pretty active person, so this kind of limited mobility just drove me nuts,” Lindsey said. Dilles’ lawyer, Alan Siciliano, an attorney with DeCaro, Doran, Siciliano, Gallagher and DeBlasis, LLP declined comment for this story. Francis Prior, Jr., an attorney with Siciliano, Ellis, Dyer and Boccarosse, who will represent Alpha Epsilon Pi, Inc., the Gamma Mu chapter of Alpha Epsilon Pi, Inc. and the president of the Gamma Mu chapter also declined comment due to recent involvement in the case. Fairfax County court records show that on Feb. 17, 2009, Dilles was charged with reckless driving, a class one misdemeanor, following the Feb. 6 incident and plead not guilty at a May 27 hearing. Dilles was found guilty and fined $500 and served 30 days of a 360-day sentence for the reckless driving charge. Lindsey has filed a civil lawsuit in Fairfax County for $20 million against Dilles, Vinokur, Alpha Epsilon Pi, Inc. and the Gamma Mu chapter of Alpha Epsilon Pi, Inc. at Mason. The court documents filed by Lindsey state that Dilles is being sued for $10 million on for negligence because he failed to “maintain proper control of his vehicle,” and failed to “maintain a safe speed” and “have fully functioning seat belts in

his vehicle” and for willful and wanton conduct for “recklessly, carelessly and maliciously” operating his vehicle “in a manner that endangered the lives of his passengers.” Alpha Epsilon Pi, Inc., the Gamma Mu chapter and Vinokur are also being sued in the amount of $10 million for negligence and willful and wanton conduct for failing to provide driver training for Dilles and letting him drive the night of the incident according to the document. As the driver of the shuttle, the lawsuit says that Dilles was “acting as an agent of Gamma Mu and AEP” and as such had a responsibility “to operate his motor vehicle responsibly, in a manner free from negligence and with due regard for the safety of others.” “I come back to the term shuttle,” Edward Weiner, Lindsey’s attorney said, “and then you attach to it a national fraternity and it just gives it that aura of oversight, safety, someone’s in control of this, these guys have been checked out, they’re good drivers—there’s some seal of authority when you call it a shuttle.” Lindsey has not been to a fraternity party since the incident and remains grateful she escaped the Feb. 6 incident with her life. “I could have gone straight into a tree, what if we had flipped another way on that road? We could have gone into an oncoming car, I could have killed, everyone else in the car could have been killed,” Lindsey said. Still plagued by anxiety and back problems, Lindsey wants incoming freshmen to know the danger associated with getting in the car with strangers. “I just think it’s important for freshmen girls to be aware that that shuttle that they think is just how they’re getting to the party, there’s some risk involved there.” Chris Jefferson, head of fraternity and sorority life, declined comment on whether or not shuttles were dangerous or if they were regulated in any way, but did say that there is no official relationship between the university and shuttles. “We don’t condone it, it’s not in any way related to us as the administration,” said Jefferson. “One bit of advice that I would offer: consider on a typical day, would you get in the car with a stranger to go somewhere where you don’t know where you’re going?” Baker Harcrow, president of Tau Delta Phi fraternity, says that due to his fraternity house’s proximity to campus, Tau Delta Phi does not offer shuttles to parties, but rotates designated driver duties among brothers for of-age party attendees who need a lift home. “Anything can become dangerous, for a variety of reasons, but on the whole, fraternity-offered shuttles do much more good than harm,” said Harcrow, who says that shuttles protect party attendees and those hosting parties as well from being arrested or endangering others. “They protect the people attending parties and the people hosting parties--no one wants to spend the night in jail on a charge of public intoxication, and no one wants to be responsible for letting someone spend the night in jail on a charge of public intoxication.” Fourteen other fraternity presidents contacted for this article did not respond or declined comment on whether or not their fraternities ran shuttles to their parties. “Students often think the party is where they need to be careful,” said Weiner, “you just aren’t on guard that the danger starts right there.”

ready to roll Sonya Hudson Managing Editor MasonLive, the new e-mail system, is open to all students. New students already have the e-mail address, and returning students are encouraged to opt-in before the mandatory, automatic switch comes mid-semester. The new e-mail system allows users more than 200 times more space in their inboxes than the MEMO mail, the current GMU e-mail account. MasonLive is only for students. Faculty and staﬀ must continue to use the MEMO mail because the state of Vir-

ginia and Mason regulations require employee e-mail to be hosted at George Mason University, and Microsoft only oﬀered the service to students and alumni. David Robinson, director of client relations in the Technology Systems Division, explained that one new feature of MasonLive that MEMO mail lacked is the use of the back button. “It works like any other social networking site.” said Robinson, “Instead of disconnecting you when you hit the back button it continues to the site.”

Broadside

Opinion Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Don’t build mosque on ground zero

Broadside

George Mason University’s Student Newspaper Emily Sharrer, Editor-in-Chief Liz Milligan, Designer Ala Yaktieen, Designer Michelle Buser, Designer Randy Urick, Photographer Stephanie Knapp, Photographer Dylan Hares, Staﬀ Reporter Scott Miller, Advertising Director Catherine Kutz, Advertising Representative Jacques Mouyal, Business Manager Kathryn Mangus, Faculty Adviser David Carroll,Tech Adviser

Sonya Hudson, Managing Editor Monika Joshi, Copy Chief Matt Snyder, News Editor Justin Lalputan, Opinion Editor Elizabeth Perry, Asst. Opinion Editor Patrick Wall, Style Editor Ramy Zabarah, Asst. Style Editor John Powell, Sports Editor Cody Norman, Asst. Sports Editor Peter Flint, Photography Editor Christina Salek-Raham, Copy Editor Benjamin Shaﬀer, Copy Editor

Editorial Policy The letters, columns and views expressed on this page are solely those of the writers. They do not reflect the views of Broadside or its staff, unless otherwise noted. Broadside is a weekly publication printed each Monday for the George Mason University and surrounding Fairfax community. The editors at Broadside 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 information given above.

Speaking out for victims of 9/11 Alan Moore S E N I O R

Opinion

Columnist

Broadside is a free publication. Limit one copy per person. Each additional copy is 25 cents. © 2007 by Broadside . All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written permission of the editor in chief.

Quote

of the

Week:

“There is not enough darkness in all the world to put out the light of even one small candle.”

— Robert Alden

On Sept. 11, 2001, just a few miles away from George Mason University, the pentagon was attacked by radical Islamists. In New York City, the World Trade Center fell after planes hijacked by the same al Qaeda terrorists struck the twin towers. Anyone who attended Mason, or lived in and around Washington, D.C. and New York City at the time was especially aﬀected by this tragic event. Now, a debate is raging on whether to allow a mosque to be built near ground zero. The liberals argue this project is about religious freedom. However, the debate is not about freedom of religion, but about the sensitivities to those who died in the attacks. Let’s examine this issue by ﬁrst taking a closer look at the ground zero mosque developers. The Park51 project, formerly known as the Cordoba House, is

being organized by Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, a man described in the New York Post by his tenants as a “slumlord.” Rauf, a self-described “moderate,” once claimed that “the United States policies were an accessory to the crime that happened” on Sept. 11. He also refuses to denounce Sharia law, which condones the stoning of women and other equally disturbing practices. Rauf also will not condemn the terrorist organization HAMAS. Coincidentally, HAMAS cofounder Mahmoud al-Zahar recently came out in support of the project. Instead of at least denouncing that endorsement, Rauf said nothing. In 2006 he did say something of interest when he told Barbara Walters, “One man's terrorist is another man's hero.” Sharif El-Gamal, the owner of the building site, owes hundreds of thousands in unpaid taxes and has at least six misdemeanors to his credit – ranging from drunk driving to disorderly conduct. Even more disturbing is his willingness to accept money for the project from sources in Saudi Arabia, a country who has funded centers for radical Islam in the past. Strangely enough, the sources of

The anguish of the everyday drive

his ﬁnances are largely unknown. Even if you side with the argument for a mosque near ground zero, I would hope that we could at least agree that these sketchy developers should not be allowed to build anything near this hallowed ground. It is true the Park51 developers have the constitutionally protected right to build their mosque, but should they? The Japanese could build a cultural center at Pearl Harbor, but would it be right? Carmelite nuns once planned a convent at Auschwitz, the site of the infamous Nazi concentration camp, but were ordered to close it by Pope John Paul II out of respect for the dead. At this point the mosque has been the subject of so much controversy that it is becoming a symbol to radical Islamists. There is nothing to stop terrorists from looking at the mosque as a shrine to their perceived victory against “Inﬁdel” Americans. A Taliban spokesperson recently admitted as much to Newsweek, claiming the entire debate is helping to line up recruits and cash from radical Islamist sympathizers. Recent polls show 62 percent of the country is against the building of the mosque as well.

Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down

The downsides of commuting to Mason Elizabeth Perry Asst. Opinion Editor Over three-fourths of the students attending George Mason University are commuters. Unfortunately, living off campus and driving to class is not as simple as it sounds. When you factor in the traffic, the drive around Patriot Circle dodging pedestrians, and of course, that tortuous hunt for a parking spot, suddenly the daily routine of a commuter begins to reveal its true, ugly self. Granted, there are certain conditions of commuting that cannot be changed. There are, however, some issues of commuting that could easily be solved. For purposes of this article, today, you are a commuter. You are driving down the road and you seem to be making good time until a minivan on Braddock pulls in front of you in the left lane and goes no faster than the speed limit. You would go around them but the car in the right lane is going the speed limit as well. We have reached Commuter Issue Number One: People who do not use the passing lane correctly. For those of you who find yourselves frequently being tail-

gated in the left lane, it is not because Virginia is full of aggressive drivers who are out to get you. It is most likely because you have not yet learned the concept of the left lane, often referred to as the “passing lane” or the “fast lane.” This name is actually quite self explanatory. This lane is intended for faster drivers to pass slower ones. While it is perfectly appropriate to drive slowly in the left lane, proper road etiquette kindly asks that you move into the right lane when a faster car approaches you from behind. It does not matter how fast you think you are going – there will always be drivers who would like to go faster and that is precisely what the left lane is for. Swallow your pride, accept that you’re not as fast a driver as they are, and move the hell over. Finally, you get past the law abiding minivan and turn onto campus. Unfortunately, there are pedestrians left and right and you must maneuver your way through them, slamming on your brakes when someone distracted on their cell phone steps onto the road without even looking up. Commuter Issue Number Two: Ignorant

pedestrians. Yes, pedestrians, we all know you have the right of way. However, this does not mean that your mother’s warning to look both ways before crossing the street suddenly means nothing. It is still a street, there are still cars and they can still kill you, so unless the text you’re sending says, “I’m about to commit suicide by stepping in front of a moving car” hold oﬀ on sending it until after you’ve crossed the street. This way you don’t risk stepping in front of a driver who does not see you. Finally you pull into the parking lot and begin the arduous search for a spot. You go up and down the rows with your eyes peeled, occasionally cursing the short cars that had your hopes up that their spot was open. Then, suddenly, you come up behind a car inching along as it follows some (1) unknowing or (2) creeped out student to their car. Commuter Issue Number Three: Stalkers in the middle of the row. To those of you whose method of ﬁnding a parking spot is to select some random student walking through the lot and trail them creepily until they arrive at their car, more power to you.

All we regular people ask is that you kindly do not take up the entire row in the process of stalking your prey. That way, while we look for parking spots the way God intended, we don’t have to wait behind you. After several minutes you get past issue number three and finally find a spot. However, the d-bag in the spot next to it decided their car required more than one space so there is barely enough room for you to pull in. Commuter Issue Number Four: The double spot parkers. This species of parkers, for whatever reason, has no regard for anyone but themselves and sees nothing wrong with using more than one spot for their vehicle. The only thing I have to say to those of you facing number four is I hope someone attempts to squeeze into the half spot you’ve left and damages your car in the process. The bottom line is we all have somewhere we need to be. Still, no matter where that place is or how late we are, making life more difficult for other people in order to accommodate our own needs is never OK.

The families of 9/11 victims have come out overwhelmingly against this mosque. This debate has ripped apart the old wounds for many of these families. If that alone is not reason enough to prevent this project then I don’t know what could be more convincing. It blows my mind that the leftists argue that we must be sensitive to the religious freedom of any group of people, yet they are blatantly insensitive to the families of 9/11 victims. No one should tell the ground zero mosque developers that they do not have the right to build on their site if no legal precedent is obvious. However, the mosque should be moved out of respect for the 2,973 lives lost in the 9/11 attacks. This is not an argument against religious freedom; it is an argument for the respect of those who died in that terrible terrorist attack. Move the site down a few blocks and the proclaimed mission by these developers can still be realized, the sacredness of ground zero will remain and potential propaganda for radical Islamists will never be seen in New York City.

Thumbs up to The Pilot House for living up to its promise and having the best pizza on campus. Thumbs up to Mason for holding the biggest dodgeball game in the world.

Thumbs up to the new pedestrianfriendly crosswalks around Patriot Circle.

Thumbs down to the Hampton Roads elevators for constantly breakng down. Thanks, now we have to take the stairs. Thumbs down to the construction outside of Starbucks. Now it’ll take even longer for us to get our fix. Thumbs down to Welcome Week being over. No more free stuff for us. Thumbs down to RA’s who constantly harass residents. You take your job way too seriously. Thumbs down to Mason for raising tuition rates. So much for grad school.

Have a point of view you would like to share with your fellow students? Join the Broadside team and ask about becoming a columnist! E-mail opinion@broadsideonline.com

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Editorial Board: Emily Sharrer, Editor-In-Chief Monika Joshi, Copy Chief Sonya Hudson, Managing Editor Justin Lalputan, Opinion Editor Elizabeth Perry, Asst.Opinion Editor

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Southside hits a sweet note with patrons Restaurant changes music Justin Lalputan Opinion Editor Almost everyone who lives on campus has been to Southside, the restaurant that offers a buffet to students in return for one meal plan ($8.75 for breakfast and lunch, $9.50 for dinner), and I can guarantee that anyone who went to Southside last year can also remember the music. The food at Southside has always been great, but last year, all I can remember is the awful music that they played. Acoustic songs and acoustic covers, all the time, nonstop. True, there were a few exceptions. For instance, once Southside had live music, which they should definitely try to do again. However, the majority of the time I would be greeted with an acoustic cover of a random Bob Marley song, or something similar. I honestly can’t understand what the reasoning behind the music was. I understand that they were going for a calming effect, but I simply found it to be too dull. Not to disrespect acoustic musicians or people who like acoustic music, the music is just fine. I really don’t mind hearing one or two acoustic songs, but imagine being bombarded by draggy, dreary music for as long as you eat your food. It’s auditory torture. I remember reading a story in the news that said that United States officials were using music to interrogate terrorists. They should use some of the music from Southside. After a few hours, the most hardened terrorist on earth would crack. One or two songs are fine, but when you hear 15 songs in a row that are almost indistinguishable from each other, it makes you want to grab a plate and beat your brains out. This semester, however, I’ve seen a change for the better.

I’ve been to Southside a few times since the fall semester began, and believe it or not, there is actually variety in the music. In fact, I don’t remember ever hearing any draggy acoustic tunes since this semester has begun. True, they were playing ‘80s pop and other random music, but it was still a change. A little variety in the music can make a big difference to people who spend more than an hour inside a restaurant. Music can help make or break the mood in a restaurant. Anyone who has been to Ike’s at three in the morning knows that when an upbeat song comes on, the overall atmosphere definitely takes a turn for the better. While the music isn’t as loud in Southside, the concept remains the same. I am urging Southside management with all my heart: for the good health of all your patrons and employees who had to sit through hours of acoustic hell, please do not change the music back. You’ve made a good decision to change the music. Keep it. People don’t go to Southside to be put to sleep, they go to eat, hang out and have a good time with their friends. I remember the last time I went, I even heard a little reggaetón, which was a little edgy, but it definitely helped to liven things up. Hopefully Southside keeps this new music going. It’s not dreary anymore, and the music that they’re currently playing adds a bit of a flair to the buffet. Besides, anything is better than listening to acoustic music without end. Don’t get me wrong. I’m sure there are fans of acoustic music, but the rest of us would not like to sit through acoustic torture while eating our meals. The horrors of last semester can stay in the past. Southside management seems to have made a change for the better, and let me tell you, it’s music to my ears.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010 |

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Regarding advice dispensed to freshmen by Michatalie One encountered a column with advice for the newly inducted women to George Mason in last week’s issue of Broadside. It advocated partying and gave advice regarding the same. It was akin to the ten commandments: a list of dos and don’ts. However it was filled with advice that makes a five thousand+ year old religion look good. The advice was dispensed by those who portray themselves as people who like to party and have fun. The following is a mere echo of the light that was this article. And if their advice given is a light then perhaps an intense light can burn?   Partying or even living life ought not to end up destroying you or your loved ones or the society you dwell in. Instead people who love ought to ensure that they have the resources and the wealth to recuperate after making love. This is because the act of love making and/or partying is a selfless act involving giving up your bodily fluids and energy (at the minimum).   One will now attempt to provide alternatives to the advice they have dispensed in this column by first quoting their advice and then attempting to forward a possible alternative.   They advised: "Be sure to dance and flirt with the older fraternity boys so you will surely land a spot in their beer stained beds." Perhaps to make love is important however one ought to attempt it upon clean sheets not beer stained ones; one ought not to yearn for boys whose beer drinking ways may prognosticate a pot belly but one ought to yearn for verile athletes and scholars (combined in one). Dirty sheets and unkempt lovers are the sorry lot of the poor and unfortunate and unless one is "slumming" (inadvisable) one ought to avoid it. One recalls how one's alma mater had a night where men donned tuxedos and flowers and approached girls for a

night out serenading them. That is how it ought to be everywhere.   They further advocated: "For the less daring, you can pull a M and cut off a song everyone is grinding to - way to be a coc_block, but you are cool in our book."  When Adam was lonesome God (allegedly) gave him Eve. It is divine to bring two people together and to let love flourish is one of the reasons why we attend school: so there is greater joy, less suffering, more love and less loneliness.  They said: "Make sure to bring toilet paper to frat parties or else you will end up with piss stains or skid marked panties."   Maybe one ought to avoid events which do not provide toilet paper. If the ladies of the world boycotted events that do not provide proper toiletries maybe the organizers of the event will make an attempt to keep the bathroom well stocked and clean for the arrival and convenience of women. Women are a resource. They said: "Commuters will end up being your best friends for the sole purpose of driving you around." Perhaps it is unkind to use people and will certainly backfire as such cruel folk are likely to be ostracized: such manner of "using" someone is not friendship because friendship is selfless and it is about giving and does not have ulterior motives. It is instead desirable to attempt to be amongst those who own vehicles of their own and give rides to others. To have the goal of becoming so self-sufficient and independent is a thought one ought to keep in mind as opposed to thoughts which revolve around taking advantage of those who are slightly richer in resources. They proposed: “Ladies find a new outfit for every party; God forbid anyone sees you wearing the same thing twice.” Perhaps one doesn't want to become impoverished to attract love and at-

tention. The best kind of an outfit is perhaps one which is minimalist (ask any guy when you are in bed with him if he would rather have you make love to him through your designers). Perhaps one ought to save one's money and spend it (if necessary) not on clothing but on taking care of one's health. Eat right and exercise right and sleep on time and remain forever beautiful and youthful and even Wal-Mart clothing will look good. They said: "Have you noticed the $5 veggie cups at the convenience store? If you see anyone holding those stupid cups, please slap it out of their hands." One must always be nice and polite to people, particularly strangers, and particularly those who purchase and eat vegetables and engage in healthy behavior.   They continue: "Don't be caught dead on the SUB I lawn unless you want to duel with the medieval knights who sword fight between classes. If we catch sign of you doing this we will go Gollum on your ass!" Perhaps one wants to take an active interest in learning about history, not necessarily in role playing. History will allow one to make wiser choices and be a better human being.   They said: "Don't actually open the doors to any building. Use the handicap button at all times even when you don't go into the building. Also you should abuse the Johnson Center elevator at all times even when you are going up just one level."   To abuse the handicap features on a building drives up the costs of accommodating the handicap. It is said that in warfare the fighting forces do not kill each other but attempt to maim each other because it is much more costlier to maintain, heal, rehabilitate a handicapped citizen than it is to have a dead citizen. If one drives up the cost of maintaining the handicapped in our society one is harming the country one dwells in. One will end up

poorer and so will one's children. However if there is a facility (like an elevator) available please use it without guilt. Using the elevator to go up one level is not "abuse". It is saving energy for studying and for "fun" and if we could we would have our people teleport everywhere. The point of life is not climbing stairs but to climb higher in love, morality and learning. Labor and strife and pain are the lot of the unfortunate. They said: "Never study until the day before the test. Let's face it we all do it. What the professor doesn’t know won't kill ’em." Studying right before the test increases stress. Stress leads to hair loss, acne (bad skin) and weight gain. If one is fat, bald and has bad skin (i.e. ugly) one will not be very popular at parties. Studying and preparing also makes one smart, and people love to hang out with people who know when to open their mouths and when to volunteer a critical piece of information which may help everyone. They said: “Never buy books or even rent them if you have friends in class. Michatalie calls this the art of mooching. "   One ought to buy inexpensive (international edition) books and lobby for inexpensive books. Read them cover to cover, solve all the problems. Well read textbooks will give one greater happiness than a photo album because a good book is truly a good friend. True friends always give and only opportunists and selfish people "mooch" off of others. To remain fun loving and social one ought to therefore always try to be a positive influence not only upon one's own self but for others as well (since that is the point of socializing and partying perhaps: it is one great act of loving your fellow human being). Athar Shiraz Siddiqui graduate student Computer Science

Mason fights against pollution Environmental Action Group educates community Jason Von Kundra Co-Chair of EAG From everyone here in the GMU Environmental Action Group (EAG), we welcome you to campus. The EAG is honored to continue writing our weekly column, the Mason Ecosphere in Broadside this semester. In addition to having more of our usual hikes, movie nights and famous dance parties, the EAG is running three big campaigns this fall: ending mountaintop removal coal mining, advocating for more sustainable foods on campus and passing the Patriot Green Fund. The EAG has worked on ending mountaintop removal for the past two years and will continue to work on the issue until this social and environmental devastation stops. Mountaintop removal is a form of surface mining where coal companies clearcut forests on mountains, blow up the mountaintops with explosives and dump

the waste containing heavy metals in valleys and streams. This practice is destroying mountains, watersheds and communities throughout Appalachia. The EAG is organizing a screening of the documentary ﬁlm Coal Country and a panel of experts on mountaintop removal. Then the EAG will be taking action with thousands of other concerned citizens involved in the struggle by participating in Appalachia Rising, a mass mobilization in the District of Colombia on Sept. 25. Sustainable foods is also an important issue which connects to every student that eats on campus.

The EAG is starting a new campaign this semester in which students will advocate for more local, organic, vegetarian and vegan food options. We are also looking at the entire environmental impact of our dining service including packaging, shipping and the disposal of food. Finally, the EAG is campaigning to pass policy through the administration that will provide funding for a green endowment, sustainable capital improvements and research funding for student projects related to sustainability. The Patriot Green Fund, a proposal currently being considered by the university, is expected

to be presented to the Board of Visitors in the spring. If passed, students will soon see solar panels and wind turbines on campus that will help Mason reach its goal of climate neutrality. President Alan Merten committed George Mason Universiyto climate neutrality by signing the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment in 2007. To join the EAG or get more information, check out our website at www.gmu.edu/org/environment and make sure to join the Facebook group. We meet every Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in the Johnson Center Meeting Room A.

Sodexo denies foul play An employee retaliates against the accusations that the corporation faces Rose Peterson Contributing Columnist Has everyone gone stupid? The accusations against Sodexo are ridiculous. Don’t know what I’m talking about? Don’t worry; I have no intention of leaving you uninformed. As of late, Sodexo workers have been circulating around campus attempting to convince students, faculty, other staﬀ, and basically whoever they can get to listen, that Sodexo managers are tyrants, that the work conditions are horrible and unsafe and that the pay is meager. Since when have college students—no, since when has anyone believed something so readily? It’s atrocious. So here’s the truth. Oh, and

by the way, I’ve actually worked at both the Johnson Center food court and the Southside dining hall, so as a student I know what goes on behind the scenes. First of all, the managers are actually sweethearts. However, just because they’re sweethearts does not mean they won’t enforce company policy when needed. Some of the components of company policy include coaching forms, and direct meetings with managers. When an employee is not following Sodexo safety precautions – for example, using cut gloves while operating sharp objects and/or machinery, wearing nonskid shoes to prevent slips and falls, or acting inappropriately with other employees or customers – the manager speaks with the em-

ployee. An additional employee – usually a supervisor – is on hand to ensure that the manager is being as professional as can be when speaking with the employee being disciplined. If the same employee repeats the same act of misconduct, then the manager reserves the right to give the employee a coaching form, which is a repeat of the previous conversation. However this time it’s documented. From what employees have told me, they hate getting coachings. However, if they followed the policies, they wouldn’t get a coaching form in the ﬁrst place. The policies are in place to keep the employees safe and to ensure a safe and stable work environment.

In regards to pay, the starting salary is $8.50, but the average employee, I would say, makes about $16 an hour. When an employee starts oﬀ, it is made very clear that there are many opportunities to advance the ranks and therefore increase their pay. It seems to me that the employees want more money, but they don’t want to work for it. Don’t get me wrong. I know the Sodexo employees work hard; we can all see that. However, there are ways to go about getting a raise that do not include tarnishing Sodexo’s reputation. In regards to the injuries that Sodexo employees are claiming to have, it is true, they did get injured on the job. However, it is because they

did not follow Sodexo’s safety procedures. Sodexo managers are constantly implementing new ways and incentives to promote safety, but if an employee refuses to follow the rules, what can Sodexo do? Fire them? No, because then they’re still painted as the monsters and even if they weren’t painted as monsters, ﬁring an employee is no quick process. It’s not the accusations against Sodexo that peeve me, it’s the fact that people are so willing to believe the accusations. I’ve done my research and I’ve discovered that the day before the big “Sodexo walkout” last spring at George Mason University, the president of The Service Employees International Union resigned. The union needs a big time

account like Sodexo to keep it afloat. They’re about to go bankrupt! They are promising the employees things that they will not be able to give them. Like Siddhartha Guatama once said “Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.” So please, do yourselves a favor and do a little research on the matter before you ride the band wagon right off a cliff.

The author of this article is a Sodexo employee.

| Tuesday, September 7, 2010

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The number of hours it took for Kid Cudi’s upcoming show at the Center for the Arts to sell out.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

A glance at the faces of Mason construction Patrick Wall Style Editor

Photo by Patrick Wall

It’s become a familiar sight for students: bulldozers moving dirt, workers in hardhats leaning over blueprints and even the occasional parking lot conversion. For the past decade, George Mason University’s campus has been a place of drastic change. At the forefront of this change is Mason’s Facilities Management department. Led by Bob Endebrock, the department oversees the logistical aspects of new buildings on Mason’s three campuses in Fairfax, Arlington and Prince William. According to Endebrock, 10 new facilities have opened since April on Mason’s three locations. Helping Endebrock oversee these projects are two Mason alumni, Project Engineer Hieu Tran and Project Inspector Chris Ellis. Both interned at Facilities Management during their time at Mason and were oﬀered jobs after graduation. Now, Tran oversees building projects and renovations while Ellis works to ensure the new work is properly installed and complies with city ordinances.

As students know, the building process can be a long one. According to Endebrock, getting a building from its planning stages to completion can take as many as eight years, as was the case with the Arlington campus. Departments in need of a new building submit their plans to Endebrock and his team, who then work with the departments to ﬁgure out how a building can best suit their needs. From there, the plans are submitted to the state for funding. Needless to say, the process can be time-consuming. “Things always take awhile to get authorized and planned and designed,” Endebrock said. “That’s my job to do the forecasting and allotting the right amount of time and money so that it doesn’t get to be such a problem at the end.” But for students, the problem isn’t time and money. The construction on campus has long been the ire of students. For Tran, though, the results are hard to ignore. “We’re trying to stay out of the way as much as possible,” said Tran, “but also improve the school so new students next year can come in and see a totally diﬀerent

campus from the students who have graduated already.” In many ways, the best part of the job for these three comes with the completion of a project. As Endebrock, Tran and Ellis tour the newly renovated (and renamed) de Laski Performing Arts Building the day before its opening, their enthusiasm is apparent. They walk through the sunlit corridors, touring the building with a visible air of pride in the work. A tour of the Mason Inn produces the same results. But for Endebrock, there seems to be something wrong with The Well, the on-site bar. “The TVs aren’t big enough,” he said. While even those in charge of the construction understand that the work is a hassle for students, Tran has seen both sides of the argument. “As a student, you’re more worried about your friends, your classes . . . you don’t really worry about what’s going on with the campus,” he said. “But what you don’t see is the people here who work for the university are doing the best they can to give you guys the best experience they can.”

Future of

CONSTRUCTION

Bob Endebrock walks through the Mason Inn, George Mason University’s new hotel.

Photo by Patrick Wall

Chris Ellis (left) and Hieu Tran (right) are former students who now work for the university.

What do you think about the construction on campus?

“I think it's a good way to expand the campus. . . . The noise level isn't really aﬀecting me. I look forward to messing around and running around in these new buildings. It's going to be awesome.” - Merhawit “Mimi” Girmay, senior, biology

“The only thing that, I guess, would bother me is if I were here a long time and this was something that's consistent . . . a university that's always under construction, and you never are satisﬁed because you never get to see a university at its best.” - Shilan Mehtsun, freshman graduate student, civil and infrastructure engineering

“The construction is a problem for traffic. It blocks traffic on 495, because Braddock is directly linked to 495. It causes traffic, especially around rush hour. I have to leave an hour-and-a-half earlier. It can affect my schedule if I have something else to do before class.” - Sean Andersen, junior, geography

“I went on the bus this morning. I commute from Manassas to here. And I only saw it this morning, and thought, ‘Oh, they're constructing.' And I never hear anything from there when I'm in class.” - Rabbia Awan, freshman, biology

Bookstore more conscientious

New clothing line bought by store pays employees fair wages Ramy Zabarah Asst. Style Editor With rising costs of living in a time of economic struggle, more corporations are becoming aware of the mistreatment of workers and recognizing their rights to unionize. In an attempt to also raise awareness, several colleges and university bookstores across the nation are partnering up with a new apparel company that promotes fair pay and works out of a factory that respects workers’ rights and ensures a safe and healthy work environment. The George Mason University bookstore is among those taking a stand against worker abuse and mistreatment. Alta Gracia is a new brand of T-shirts, sweatshirts and hoodies owned by Knights Apparel that works out of a factory in Villa Altagracia, Dominican Republic. There, workers are paid 33.8% of the legal minimum wage, which is equivalent

to approximately $3 an hour. In a short statement about Alta Gracia’s initiative, CEO of Knights Apparel Joe Bozich explained the unique motivation behind this hopeful frontier. “To my knowledge, this is the ﬁrst apparel brand anywhere in the world to compensate the people that are making the product not based upon what’s required of us, but based upon what we calculate as a living wage,” said Bozich. With wages this much higher than the usual, workers at the Alta Gracia factory are able to provide food, health care, education and other necessities for themselves and their families. The Mason Bookstore is a division of Barnes and Noble, and therefore must adhere to the Fair Labor Association’s (FLA) code of conduct which states that the bookstore cannot sell products that were made using unfair labor practices or in sweatshop conditions.

Mason bookstore manager Barb Headley reiterates Barnes and Noble’s stringent rules. “Barnes and Noble is very strict about what they sell,” said Headley. “They make sure we don’t sell any products that were made in a sweatshop environment.” When asked about the bookstore’s decision to sell these products, Vice President of Merchandising for Barnes and Noble College Booksellers Joel Friedman ensured that it was a corporate decision. “We are working closely with Alta Gracia and Knights Apparel to put as many of their products in our stores as we can,” said Friedman. “So far, we have Alta Gracia products in approximately 150 stores, and we plan to have them in 175 stores by December. We operate about 650 stores nationwide.” Also, according to Friedman, Barnes and Noble College Booksellers remains the single largest retailer of Alta Gracia products in the United States.

Respecting fair wages and treatment of workers everywhere is not only a legal obligation, but a genuine concern of Barnes and Noble and the Mason bookstore. Aside from this newlyfound partnership, the Mason bookstore is embarking on multiple conscientious initiatives such as the sale of a brand of pens from Pilot that are made of recycled water bottles. Pilot’s Bottle-to-Pen product, also known as B2P, is another example of a green initiative that has been a great focus of several corporations in recent years. These pens are made from 89 percent recycled plastic bottles and still hold the same functionality standards as other top-selling Pilot pens. This wave of environmental friendliness and humanitarian awareness at Mason is a fast-growing initiative and will continue to have a great eﬀect on the university and its surrounding community.

The Alta Gracia clothing line display at the Johnson Center bookstore.The newest addition to clothing options in the store, Alta Gracia claims to be the ﬁrst company to oﬀer employees a “living wage.”

Broadside

8 | Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Style

Album Reviews

for the week of Sept. 7

Dylan Hares | Media Beat Writer

Knoxville rock quartet 10 Years has always hooked audiences with intense lyrics, ethereal harmonies and relentless aggression pleasantly sprinkled with awe-inspiring ballads. The group hits heavy their third time around with Feeding the Wolves, opening with the new single, “Shout it Out.” “Shout”encompasses everything great about the band with its pure emotion and intense guitar work. But the charm wears oﬀ as the album wears on. 10 Years keeps the tempo static throughout, pausing brieﬂy for the pseudoballad “One More Day,” and leaving the listener in need of a break. Despite a lack of haunting ballads such as Division’s “So Long, Good-Bye,” Feeding the Wolves gives the fans what they expect from 10 Years and gives a truly satisfying ending with the song, “Fade Into.”

10 Years

With Red Velvet Car, Heart’s first album in six years, the Wilson sisters—famous for the songs “Barracuda” and “Magic Man”—hit hard and prove they still have it. They open strong with the soulful “There you Go” followed by an immediate right hook with the muddy guitar and screaming vocals of “WTF.” Title track “Red Velvet Car” exemplifies Heart’s slow and classic side in a style straight out of the ‘70s but refined for the 21st century. The new album keeps pace, has good song variety and is a great addition to any fan’s library as well as for those new to the band.

Red Velvet Car

FROM THE VAULT:

Feeding the Wolves

Heart

the softer side of a crime boss

Lyfe Jennings is described by The New York Times as a “socially minded R&B singer” and it shows on his fourth (and rumored to be last) album, I Still Believe. Jennings’ thoughtful lyrics reflect a long life spent in hard times and reflection while serving out a much-publicized incarceration. The lead track “Statistics” is an emotional ballad discussing the importance of meaningful relationships, a theme largely missing from modern popular music. Some of the tracks like “Love” (which contradicts the previous track) and “Hero” come off kind of cheesy, while the single “Busy” is actually rather annoying. Overall, I Still Believe is soulful and generally positive and uplifting—a good listen for relaxing or charming the ladies.

Christopher Earp Broadside Correspondent I recently left the AMC Tysons Corner Movie Theater slightly nauseated. I had just been thoroughly entertained by The Expendables, a film predicated entirely on the notion that if one shoots something more than three times (regardless of what it’s made of ), it will explode. Although gripping in an in-the-moment sort of way, this kind of sloppy, one-sided entertainment always makes me think of films that are just as cool visually as they are intelligently written. The first one that comes to mind is Brian de Palma’s 1993 masterpiece Carlito’s Way. In this brilliantly written crime thriller, Al Pacino plays a reformed Puerto Rican crime boss on the road to redemption. Pacino is known for his legendary performance as the sociopathic gang lord Tony Montana in Scarface, but he shows a different side of the gangster in Carlito’s Way. The role of Carlito Brigante is more complex; he is caught between his old life of easily made drug money and his newly found path of righteousness. His ultimate goal is to escape to a tropical beach and buy into a rental car business with an old friend, but he must battle his past as he tries to redeem himself and leave criminality behind him. His situation is further complicated by the re-introduction of an old flame. Pacino’s excellent performance, coupled with a masterful script, leaves little to be desired. The cinematography is also worth mentioning. There are a number of breathtaking scenes that use depth and color to provoke emotion and feeling. De Palma does a skillful job mirroring the chaos of, say, a firefight with hectic camera movement, but his creative cinematography never gets over the top. Overall the film is absolutely worth watching. It manages to reconcile a guys’ night-type shoot ‘em up with an award-winning think piece.

Something for the Rest of Us

I Still Believe Lyfe Jennings

The Goo Goo Dolls have been charming mainstream music fans nonstop for almost 10 years with numerous radio staples such as “Iris” and “Name” and come back to do the same with their ﬁrst album in four years, Something for the Rest of Us. The Goo Goo Dolls remain formulaic with songs like “As I Am” which is a powerfully emotional song reminiscent of classics like “Let Love In.” Deviations from the formula include the awkward “Say You’re Free,” in which throaty-voiced bassist Robby Takac takes over lead vocals (which really doesn’t work well with the other songs). Something for the Rest of Us doesn’t add much to the Goo Goo Dolls library, but fans of the “Dolls” should ﬁnd something to love.

Goo Goo Dolls

Free Tickets for Mason Students! The Vision Series The Science of Happiness and Meaning in Life Todd Kashdan, speaker Mon., Sept. 13 at 7 p.m. Free/Ticketed CH

Jean Carrington Cook Memorial Piano Scholarship Concert and All-Steinway School Celebration featuring piano faculty and students

Sun., Sept. 19 at 3 p.m. $15 Adults, $10 Seniors CH Limited Free Student Tickets Available Sept. 7

ppd

=Pre-performance Discussion

=Family Friendly

Keyboard Conversations® with Jeffrey Siegel Three Great “Bs” – Bach, Beethoven, and Barber Sun., Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. $38, $30, $19 CH f f Free Student Tickets Available Sept. 7

Joel Grey

Sat., Sept. 25 at 8 p.m. ppd $60, $52, $30 CH Limited Free Student Tickets Available Sept. 14

GMU Symphony Orchestra

Wed., Sept. 29 at 8 p.m. $15 Adults, $10 Seniors, Free Students

Visual Voices Series Yee-Haw Industries: 32 Flavors of Gravy Julie Belcher and Kevin Bradley, speakers Thurs., Sept. 30 at 7:30 p.m. Free /Non-ticketed HT BB=Black Box

CH=Concert Hall

MOMIX: Botanica Sat., Oct. 2 at 8 p.m. Sun., Oct. 3 at 4 p.m. ppd $46, $38, $23 CH Free Student Tickets Available Sept. 21

The Vision Series Biosecurity in the 21st Century Gregory Koblentz, speaker Mon., Oct. 4 at 7 p.m. Free/Ticketed CH

The Mason Players Studio Series Kimberly Akimbo October 7-9 at 8 p.m. October 9-10 at 2 p.m. $12 adult, $8 Student/Senior BB Limited Free Student Tickets Available Sept. 28

HT=Harris Theater

Call 703-993-8888 or visit cfa.gmu.edu/students

OR TH E RF AR

Center for the Arts

TS=TheaterSpace

Sat., Sept. 11 at 8 p.m. $55, $45, $35, $25 CH Limited Free Student Tickets Available Now!

CENT

Fairfax Symphony Orchestra

20 YEARS 19

9 0 – 2 0 10

Broadside

Style

Kid Cudi sells out Mason Ramy Zabarah Asst. Style Editor Students just hearing about nationally-recognized rapper and singer Kid Cudi’s short notice visit to George Mason University are out of luck. Kid Cudi ﬁrst started gaining recognition in 2009 after the release of his single, “Day N’ Night.” He has been nominated for multiple awards including an MTV Video Music Award and three Grammy Awards. When the university announced An Evening With Kid Cudi, students rushed to the Center for the Arts box oﬃce in hopes

of getting as many $7 student tickets as they could get their hands on. When asked about the hotselling tickets, Director of the Ofﬁce of Student Involvement Lauren Long was very excited. “Tickets went on sale Monday at 10 a.m. and were sold out by 2 p.m. on Tuesday. That’s 27 hours!” said Long. “However, since they were only available from 10 p.m. to 5 p.m., they were only available for 10 hours before they sold out. It was crazy!” An Evening with Kid Cudi is scheduled for Sept. 23 at 8 p.m. at Concert Hall in the Center for the Arts.

Media Beat Writer It is 7:30 a.m. and the alarm clock mercilessly jerks many students awake from a pleasant slumber. Weary and annoyed, a cup of a coﬀee is an easy solution, but it doesn’t quite awaken the body and soul like one’s favorite song. George Mason University sees nearly 30,000 students trudging to class Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to as late as 10 p.m. Many times you’ll see these students

walking gleefully and blissfully unaware as their mp3 player sings in their ears. With so many diﬀerent students and schedules on campus, one can’t help but wonder what people listen to during their daily grind. “When I’m getting started in the morning, I’m more likely to listen to something like Lupe Fiasco or Eminem—something high energy like that to get me pumped for the day,” said junior theater major Paul Laudiero. Students use music as a tran-

The Patriot Center gets hot Marc Anthony to visit Mason Aisha Jamil Broadside Correspondent

Students’ daily soundtracks

Dylan Hares

Tuesday, September 7, 2010 | 9

sition tool for the activities of the day. “I have an upbeat playlist that I usually listen to during the day, with artists like Lady Gaga and MGMT,” said junior information technology major Amy Longden. With a hectic schedule, the walk to class can be restorative and used to organize thoughts. “Sometimes I use my walk to class to put things together in my head like what else I need to do that day, that week, etc. Put myself in the right frame of mind for class,” Longden said. The daily music choice for students could also be very much mood-related. “When I’m sleep deprived, I listen to the Ramones,” said junior history major Martin Bonica. “They’re only good when my brain is too crippled to appreciate good music, and the courageous stupidity of their music inspires me to make it through the day.” Mason’s music tastes are as diverse as the students themselves and with the hectic day-to-day onslaught of class work, it plays a prominent role in maintaining some sense of balance.

George Mason University is about to get a lot hotter. Marc Anthony, the world’s top-selling salsa artist, will be performing on Sept. 11 at the Patriot Center. Anthony, a Latin recording artist also known for being Jennifer Lopez’s husband, has sold more than 10 million albums worldwide. Born and raised in New York City, Anthony has not forgotten his Puerto Rican roots. With hits like “I Need to Know” and “Dímelo,” he has topped Billboard charts and become an icon. Anthony is known to be a

high-energy performer. F r o m winning ﬁve Grammy Aw a rd s t o

being the only salsa artist to sell out Madison Square Garden, he has a galvanizing stage presence. In addition to his music credentials, he has performed in ﬁlms and Broadway productions. His latest album, Iconos, brings back a collection of classic Spanish ballads from artists such as José José, Juan Gabriel and José Luis Perales. With a mix of classic ballads, Latin pop and salsa music, Anthony is sure to shake up the stage with hits from the past and present. For tickets, call the Patriot Center box oﬃce at 703- 573-SEAT or visit them online at www.patriotcenter.com.

COLUMBIA PICTURES PRESENTS A GARY SANCHEZ PRODUCTION COEXECUTIVE “PRODUCED THE VIRGINITY HIT” MATT BENNETT ZACK PEARLMAN PRODUCER AMY HOBBY PRODUCER OWEN BURKE BY WILL FERRELL ADAM McKAY CHRIS HENCHY PETER PRINCIPATO PAUL YOUNG WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY ANDREW GURLAND & HUCK BOTKO

Sports

Broadside

Years that the Mason men’s soccer team has ﬁnished in second place at the D.C. College Cup prior to claiming the championship this year.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Let the Battles Begin: Mixed Martial Arts comes to Mason Mixed Martial Arts tests new tournament format at the Patriot Center John Powell Sports Editor Eight Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighters will come to the George Mason University's Patriot Center on Sept. 10 to participate in a single elimination tournament, hosted by Shine Fights Promotions. This will be the first MMA event of this tournament style in more than 15 years. Instead of the classic event, in which two fighters are pitted one-on-one, spec-

tators will have the chance to witness a total of seven matches, starting at 9 p.m. General tickets range from $24 to $350 and are available through Ticketmaster and the Patriot Center.

The promoters expect the event to sell out. For anyone who cannot make it to the event, MultiVision Media, Inc. will broadcast the event live on pay-per-view. Each ﬁghter has a winning record and will participate in the 155-pound class. Among the combatants are Rich Crunkilton, the undefeated Josh Shockley, Drew Fickett, the former PFC Lightweight Cham-

pion Carlo Prater, “The Unbreakable Heavy Hitter” James Warﬁeld, Marcus Aurello, Hector Muñoz and the onand-oﬀ-stage brawler Charles Bennett.

Shine gave fans the opportunity to vote for the opening round match-ups online. Shine said that campus fraternities were given an opportunity to fundraise by selling tickets, however no fraternity could be reached by deadline. Concerns have arisen over the ﬁghters’ well being. For instance, if a ﬁghter

ment has made some special stipulations. Rounds one and two will be composed of two 5-minute rounds. A 3-minute overtime round will be added if needed to decide a winner. Round three (finals) will increase to three 5-minute rounds. Thrown elbows will not be allowed. If a fighter is not fit to compete, there will be two alternate bouts, since his opponent would need to win three to be proclaimed the winner. If this event, and those like it, goes well, MMA fans may see a rise in the number of one-night tournaments, and MMA may not be as heavily dominated by the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

What is it? -MultiVision Media, Inc. has decided to reintroduce a new tournament-style format that has been absent from the sport for more than 15 years. -Tickets range from $24 to $350 per seat and have been on sale through TicketMaster and the Patriot Center. -Every ﬁghter was hand selected by the company and currently sports a winning record. They will each participate in the 155pound weight class.

Tournament Format: -Rounds one and two will be composed of two five-minute rounds; a three-minute overtime will be used if necessary to decide a winner. -Round three, the finals, will increase to three five-minute rounds. -No elbows will be allowed in any of the bouts.

When: Friday, Sept. 10 9 p.m. Where: Patriot Center continues to win, he could compete in three ﬁghts in a single night. To address these matters, the tourna-

The Scoreboard Mason Men’s Soccer Nets D.C. College Cup Title Women’s Soccer

Men’s Soccer Mason 3, George Washington 1 – DC College Cup – Sept 1 The Mason men’s soccer team trailed early in the first half after surrendering a penalty kick and earning a red card within 15 minutes of the start of the match. Despite playing down a man, Mason was able to keep the George Washington Colonials from adding to their lead and went in to half time behind 1-0. After some halftime adjustments, the Patriots netted a trio of second half goals. Shortly after the 55th minutes, junior midfielder Eber Martinez scored his team’s first goal on a direct kick following a GW foul. Sophomore forwards Taylor Morgan and Alhagi Toure added scores for the Patriots as Mason escaped with a 3-1 victory.

Mason 1, American 0 – DC College Cup – Sept 4 After a hard fought victory against the Colonials, the Patriots were battle tested and prepared for another tough match up on Saturday afternoon. The Mason men’s soccer team has finished with the silver medal in each of the last two seasons while playing in the D.C. College Cup but would settle for nothing less than first place this time around. Senior forward Parker Walton netted his first goal of the regular season on an assist from senior midfielder Brent Brockman to give the Patriots a 1-0 victory against American University. W alton was named Tournament MVP while senior defender/midfielder Fro Adu, Martinez and redshirt junior defender Eric Zuehsow were named to the All-Tournament Team.

Photo By John Powell

Mason men’s soccer goalie Dustin Butcher holds the George Washington Colonials to only one goal on Wednesday’s game.

Stock Photo

Forward Tiana Kallenberger holds possesion of the ball.

Mason 1, Mount St. Mary’s 1 - @ Mount St. Mary’s – Aug 31 George Mason University’s women’s soccer team fought hard for 90 minutes, then for 20 minutes of extra time, only to come away with a 1-1 draw. At the 37:43 mark, The Mount saw an opportunity for a shot and scored a goal off Mason’s junior goalkeeper Alex Bodenschatz. They could only hold the lead for a few minutes however. On a throw-in by sophomore forward Tiana Kallenberger, the freshman defender Abby Zielinski received the ball and sent it to the redshirt senior midfielder Omolyn Davis, who promptly kicked it in. That goal, at the 46:07 mark, just into the first half, would become the last goal of the game. Neither team could get the victory however, as the score ended in a 1-1 draw. The match brought Mason’s record to 1-1-1, as they went into the D.C. Invita-

tional over last weekend.

Mason 0, Georgetown 4 – DC Invitational – Sept 4 The Patriots were unable to pull off an upset against No. 22 Georgetown University in their first match up in the D.C. Invitational on Saturday afternoon. It was the Patriots’ first ever loss to the Hoyas with Mason taking the last meeting back in 2006. Mason had very little opportunity to score in the game as they attempted just one shot on goal in the entire contest, that coming in the second half after going down 3-0. Mason is 1-2-1 on the year as they looked to bounce back on Monday afternoon when they played American University.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010 |

Broadside

Sports

Patriots spiked by Charlotte

Want to take a look behind the bleachers or in the locker rooms of Mason Athletics?

Women’s volleyball takes second at Patriot Invitational John Kleeb Broadside Correspondent The George Mason Patriots women’s volleyball team opened the Patriot Invitational Tournament with a stunning come from behind victory over last year’s NCAA runner up the Army Black Knights. The Patriots came back down two sets to one to beat the Black Knights by a final of three sets to two. Senior Holly Goode led the team with fifteen kills as well as leading with seventeen points. Senior Fernanda Bartels had a game high .667 shooting percentage and also a game high thirty eight assists. Junior Kelsey Bowman led both teams with ten blocks. The Patriots trailed two sets to one going in to the fourth match. In the middle of the fourth match with the game tied at twelve, the Patriots went on 6-0 run and went on to win 25-19. The fifth match was another hard fought victory for the Patriots who went on a 5-1 run after the Black Knights tied the game at six and ultimately won 15-11 completing

the comeback. Bowman was proud of her teammates stating that they showed a lot of hard work in coming from behind. Goode explained that everyone on the team has a role that they have and that lessons from last year were vital in their come from behind victory. Following their win over the Black Knights, the Patriots faced oﬀ against the West Virginia University Mountaineers. The Patriots swept the Mountaineers in three hard fought sets. Junior Kelly McCarter and Goode both had eleven kills and twelve points to lead the Patriots. Bowman led the team with a .333 shooting percentage. Bartels accounted for thirty one of the team’s thirty nine overall assist. Sophomore Danielle Cook had a game high six blocks. The Patriots come from behind victory in set one helped give the Patriots momentum throughout the game. Set three was another comeback by the Patriots who sent the game over twenty ﬁve points and in to the win column.

Patriots hit the road after second-place finish Werenke’s third season with the team. He previously coached the Fairfield Stags for five seasons and has a 123-127 career coaching record. The next day the Patriots go up against the TCU Horned Frogs and Princeton Tigers to round out the Rutgers Tournament. The Horned Frogs are coached by Prentice Lewis who led the Horned Frogs to a school record best 27-7. Lewis is in her ninth season coaching the Horned Frogs and in 2005 became the all-time win leader for the Frogs in a game against the Seton Hall Pirates held at Mason. The Patriots conclude their trip to Rutgers by facing off against the Princeton Tigers. The Tigers are lead by second-year coach Jolie Ward. The team went 18-4 last year and finished second overall in the Ivy League. The Patriots will then travel to Charlottesville for the Virginia Tournament.

John Kleeb Broadside Correspondent After completing the Patriot Invitational Tournament, the George Mason University women’s volleyball team will begin its 2010 season with a road trip. The Patriots travel to Baltimore on Sept. 8 to play the Loyola Greyhounds and later to New Brunswick, N.J., the weekend of Sept. 10-11 to take on the Rutgers Scarlet Knights, the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs and the Princeton Tigers in the Rutgers Tournament. The Loyola Greyhounds, coached by Scott Pennewill, went 15-18 last year. Coach Pennewill is in his third season with the team. The Patriots begin the Rutgers Tournament squaring oﬀ against host Rutgers Scarlet Knights. The Scarlett Knights are coached by C.J Werneke who lead them to a 10-19 record last season. This is Coach

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Nyjer Morgan: Dip of the month Cody Norman Asst. Sports Editor It can be extremely tough to enter a world of fame and fortune in which your every move will be looked at under a microscope. Some guys handle the constant attention in a professional manner (e.g., the Peyton Mannings of the world). Those are the guys you watch on TV because, maybe, you’re a fan of the team or the player. Others just implode and give us all something to laugh about at family dinners. And those are the games you ﬂip on the TV to watch just because there is a certain individual who may provide some late-night entertainment that is even more comical than The George Lopez Show – which just so happens to be a fairly simple accomplishment. One of those individuals rose to the occasion this month in the world of sports. So I’m repaying him with a special Wide

Word of Sports honor: Dip of the Month. And, for me, one of those individuals is Nyjer Morgan, oufielder for the Washington Nationals. He has been one of the few Nationals players (besides Stephen Strasburg) who has made any headlines this season. If he was not throwing an extremely pathetic, yet hysterical, temper tantrum in center field, he was rifling baseballs into the stands at opposing fans in Philadelphia. My personal favorite came last week when he attempted to run over Cardinals’ catcher Bryan Anderson—who was about six feet in front of home plate—and, in the process, completely missed

Cross Country Preview John Kleeb Broadside Correspondent The George Mason University men’s cross country team will head into their ﬁrst event, the James Madison Invitational in New Market, Va., as the No. 9 team in the southeast region, topping their 2009 ranking of No. 14. Before the women’s team event on Friday, they received the No. 12 preseason ranking. The Invitational will start at 10 a.m. It will be the ﬁrst time the team can prove the worth of their top-10 ranking. The rankings were re-

leased by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association on Aug. 30. Three men’s cross country teams from the Colonial Athletic Association are ranked, as are four of the women’s teams. This comes after last year’s team won All-Academic Team honors with a 3.9 grade point average. In other news, Bull Run Regional Park will no longer hold the Mason Invitational, as it has for more than a decade. The event has moved to the Oatlands Plantation in Leesburg, Va. It is set for Oct. 2 at 10 a.m.

home plate. But he was back at it again on Wednesday night when the Nationals visited the Florida Marlins. After being hit with a pitch on two consecutive plate appearances, Morgan charged toward Mar-

lins’ pitcher Chris Volstad and grazed his face with what looked like a ﬂying judo chop before being laid out by a vicious clothesline delivered by ﬁrst baseman Gaby Sanchez. I know what you’re thinking: Who the heck is Gaby Sanchez? I had no idea who the guy was until I saw him on Mon-

day Night RAW in Wednesday night’s brawl. But he saw the sixfoot string bean (Nyjer Morgan) charging toward his pitcher and nearly took his head off, taking a page out of the Undertaker’s playbook. But that’s not all. Morgan, his shirt roguishly unbuttoned, was then escorted off the field after the brawl with his hands in the air like Rocky Balboa after he defeated the soviet juggernaut Ivan Drago in Rocky IV. The only difference is that Morgan was the one who got his bell rung. Congratulations go out to Morgan for providing the sporting world with a little bit of entertainment over the last month. And I thank him for providing the Word with a Dip of the Month. His reward: a 15 game suspension issued by Commisoner Bud Selig.

Broadside Correspondent This weekend, the George Mason University men’s tennis season gets underway with its ﬁrst fall event. The Men’s Fall Invitational will be played here at Mason on Saturday, Sept. 11, and Sunday, Sept. 12. The men’s team will tentatively only be participating in tournaments this fall; regular matches are not part of the schedule. Head Coach Gary Quam said in an interview

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Women’s Soccer Preview

Tennis Preview John Kleeb

Help Wanted

that, as of last week, the organizers of the tournament were considering using a flighted system for the tournament. This means that instead of overall team scoring, there would be four groups of 1-2 students from each school facing off against each other. It would be a new approach for Mason tennis, which used team scoring last season. Coach Quam could not be reached to confirm that the new flighted system would be used.

Joe Butt Broadside Correspondent George Mason University’s women’s soccer team will take on the Virginia Military Institute’s Keydets this Wednesday. After their 1-0 defeat at the hands of the United States Naval Academy on Sunday and their overtime loss to Mount St. Mary’s on Tuesday, the Patriots need a “W” to recover. In the fall 2009 preseason, the Patriots conquered VMI with a 3-0 victory and hopefully will do the same on Wednesday. With a record of 0-3, VMI should not pose a serious threat to the Patriots. But because of their recent losing streak, the Patriots should not get too comfortable.

Senior defender Kimmy Moss said, “Considering our match against VMI will be our fifth game in 11 days, I think the team will definitely be a little tired.” “But with that said,” said Moss, “It’s going to be hard for any team to play well against us because we’ve developed such great chemistry on the field in such a short period of time. In front of a home crowd, I see no reason why it should be anything less than a great game for us.” Since this is the second home game of the season, the Patriots might just need the home team advantage to regain their confidence.

| Monday, September 13, 2010

Broadside

Our employees are free to choose any union they want. SEIU is trying to change that. Our employees should feel safe selecting any union they want. SEIU (Service Employees International Union) doesn’t see it that way, and continues to fight against our employees’ right to secret ballot elections for deciding whether they want a union or not. SEIU does this so they can identify, target, and harass anyone who doesn’t choose SEIU. Check the facts. You’ll find SEIU bullying our employees with motives that are anything but unselfish. So we’ll continue to protect our employees’ right to privacy, and ask SEIU to stop infringing on it.

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