1.27.20 - Fourth Estate

January 27, 2020

GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY'S STUDENT NEWSPAPER

Volume 7 Issue 11

FOURTH ESTATE Southside Dining Hall now open 24 hours ~ p. 3 ~ @ivestate | gmufourthestate.com

ARREST ON CAMPUS (P. 5) || BUSBOYS AND POETS (P. 9) || SUOMI FOREVER (P. 10) || OPINION: DISPELLING THE ELECTABILITY MYTH (P. 16) Fourth Estate is a free publication, limit one copy per person. Additional copies are 25 cents payable to the OfямБce of Student Media.

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01.27.2020

FOURTH ESTATE

GMUFOURTHESTATE.COM @IVESTATE

HAILEY BULLIS DANA NICKEL Co Editor-in-Chief

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

ALEXANDRIA MCALPINE Art Director

Hey Patriots,

DELANEY HARRISON Copy Editor

Welcome back! I hope you are settling in nicely this semester so far. I know our staff is super excited to be back in production and bringing you new content again.

Some notable changes include some changing of our staff roster. We have entirely new News and Opinion editors: Laura Scudder and Alexa Tironi, and Dominic Pino and Jack Harvey respectively. I know that they are excited to carry on the work of previous editors and also bring in some new ideas.

Speaking of new ideas, this semester we will have a regular crime beat for you guys in our News section. Our hope is to provide you with more details of crimes that happen throughout the semester so that you have fewer questions and can keep yourself safe this semester. Of course, we will still print the crime log as well for anyone who wants it (like my criminology major roommate).

To start off our new regular beat: on Wednesday, Jan. 22, the Mason Police Department sent out an email about an arrest made during a routine traffic stop on the previous day. To learn more about this arrest go to page five.

Our Culture section attended the Alonzo King LINES Ballet at the Center for the Arts on Saturday night. Read more about it on page six. Or go to page seven to read a review of Adam Sandler’s new movie “Uncut Gems” that came out last year on Dec. 25.

Flip to page 12 to get an update on how Mason’s sports teams did during the break or to page 10 to read about women’s basketball player Marika Korpinen’s journey to Mason from Finland.

LAURA SCUDDER News Editor ALEXA TIRONI Assistant News Editor PETER NJOROGE Culture Editor NATALIE HEAVREN Sports Editor DOMENIC ALLEGRA Assistant Sports Editor DOMINIC PINO Opinion Editor

Meanwhile, if you didn’t believe me when I said that our new Opinion editor Dominic Pino was excited to take the reins this semester, flip to page 13 and read Dominic’s letter from the editor yourself.

JACK HARVEY Assistant Opinion Editor

Another new feature that you should take note of is that our Multimedia editor, Dominique Bernardino, has created an official Fourth Estate photography account. If you love great photos head over to @ivestatephoto and give us a follow.

BILLY FERGUSON Online Director

We are also always looking for more staff writers and photographers, so if you have any interest in writing or photography, email us directly at masonfourthestate@gmail.com.

LEXI REYES Social Media Editor

Even if you don’t want to write for us, but you still want to talk to us about any comments, questions or concerns that you have, please feel free to email us at that same email above. We like hearing from you guys.

DOMINIQUE BERNARDINO Multimedia Editor

Happy spring semester Patriots,

EMMETT SMITH Distribution Manager

Hailey Bullis

KATHRYN MANGUS Director

Co Editor-in-Chief

DAVID CARROLL Associate Director JASON HARTSEL Assistant Director

We are always recruiting volunteers for: - WRITERS - VIDEOGRAPHERS - ILLUSTRATORS - PHOTOGRAPHERS

George Mason University Mail stop 2C5 4400 University Drive Fairfax, Va. 22030 Phone 703-993-2950

For all inquiries, please email: masonfourthestate@gmail.com

Fourth Estate is printed each Monday for George Mason University and its surrounding Fairfax community.

The editors of Fourth Estate have exclusive authority over the content that is published.

There are no outside parties that play a role in the newspaper’s content, and should there be a question or complaint regarding this policy, the Co Editor-in-Chiefs should be notified at the email provided.

Fourth Estate is a free publication, limit one copy per person. Additional copies are 25 cents payable to the Office of Student Media.

COVER PHOTO CREDITS Alex Trusty/Fourth Estate

NEWS

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01.27.2020

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SOUTHSIDE MADE 24-HOUR DINING HALL

Southside replaces Ike’s as 24-hour dining hall on campus BRAD BYRNE STAFF WRITER

Although this change is just making its debut this spring semester, it is has been in talks for almost a year now, according to Li. “This has been something the dining services at Mason has been wanting

FOURTH ESTATE ALEXANDRIA MCALPINE

Marina Li, undersecretary of dining services for Student Government, is the voice of the entire student body to the Sodexo dining services all over campus.

“I work with complaints and concerns about dining services about dining halls and bring them to biweekly meetings with dining workers,” Li said. “I take as many complaints and concerns as I can to those meetings and try to come to a resolution with the dining workers.”

to implement since the last spring semester,” Li explained. “They’ve been wanting to consolidate more and make the overall dining experience for students a good experience.

Mason Dining had originally wanted to implement this initiative for the last fall semester, however, the proposal wasn’t passed in Student Government meetings this past fall.”

Li acknowledges that there may be some people not happy with the change, saying, “Whenever change happens, there will be people who are not going to like it, but that’s part of the process. I believe that this change is for the better and will result in better dining experiences for Mason students.

Southside is in a more centralized area to the rest of campus and will adhere more conveniently for most students.

For example, before if you lived in Rogers Hall and were hungry in the middle of the night, it would be a long walk to Ike’s just to eat.”

better, so it’s disappointing for me and it means I’ll have to walk farther in the cold because Southside is further away than Ike’s from my dorm,” said freshman Ashley Kong.

Other students, like freshman Erica Wright, were concerned about the variety of the food offered at Southside.

“Ike’s has a better variety of food and different dietary food offered and also has the advantage of being newer and nicer than Southside,” said Wright. “I

personally think of Southside as more of a light breakfast or lunch place based on the food that they offer.”

Wright also noted that the change could be positive as well. “It would work out great for on-campus students, because students have classes or jobs that may end late and Southside is in a great spot to get a late-night snack instead of walking all the way to Ike’s,” Wright said.

FOURTH ESTATE ALEX TRUSTY

As Mason students come back from winter break, the spring 2020 semester brings about new changes to the university. This semester a new initiative goes into place making Southside the new 24-hour dining hall on campus instead of Ike’s. There are three different dining halls around campus: Southside, Ike’s and the Globe.

Some students have already expressed their opinions on the dining hall hours change. “I like the food at Ike’s

PAC HOSTS ‘WELCOME BACK’ EVENT FOR STUDENTS Patriot activities council starts spring semester with Winter Warm-up ALEXA TIRONI ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

Winter Warm-Up took place this past Thursday, Jan. 23, in Dewberry Hall.

The evening featured multiple winterthemed activities such as mug and cookie decoration, DIY gingerbread houses, snow globes, a roller rink equipped with strobe lights, and a DJ. Students could dance to the music and skate, or they could sit with friends and help themselves to the waffle and hot cocoa bar.

Students in attendance seemed in high spirits. Freshman Emari Taylor stated that she came as a group with her floormates. “I’m always in my room and I needed to get out and do

something,” said Taylor.

Junior Keren Danso spoke about her favorite part of the event, saying, “Roller-skating! We were all falling all over each other, it was so funny.”

Bex Hollis, PAC’s director of programming, said the event was created to be a fun start to the new semester. “Our goals were pretty much to welcome the students who were previously here in the fall, back to Mason, as a way to kick things off for the semester — and have some of the new students that transferred here to get connected, and it not be such a formal setting,” said Hollis.

Some upcoming PAC events include Sexploration on Feb. 13, “which is our Valentine’s Day take on sexual health.

We want to make it super involved, super fun,” said Hollis.

This Wednesday, Jan. 29, comedian and mental health advocate Adam Grabowski will be coming to campus.

On Friday, Jan. 31, PAC will be hosting a showing of the film “Knives Out” accompanied by free popcorn and snacks.

Another popular event of the spring semester is Homecoming, which will last two weeks instead of one. The headliner for this year’s Homecoming is “Saturday Night Live” comedian Colin Jost. He will perform on Thursday, Feb. 20, at 8 p.m. in the Center for the Arts.

If students want to get more involved with PAC and Student Involvement, they can join Street Team. “Street Team is the student body of PAC … our student-based, volunteer-based [team],” Hollis said. “We meet once a week on Tuesday nights at 7:30 p.m.

We play a lot of games and just make sure we are all connected with any professional development we can give them through PAC.” Students volunteer to work the events, and the job comes with some perks including receiving VIP passes on Mason Day to go backstage, and meet the artists and performers.

This semester, PAC is introducing a new loyalty program titled PAC Perks.

The program features four Perks levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum.

Students will receive their level status based on the amount of PAC events they have checked in and out of over the course of the semester.

Visit PAC’s website or find them on social media to learn more about future events and activities on campus.

COURTESY OF STUDENT INVOLVEMENT

As the first week of classes and the spring semester begins, the Patriot Activities Council (PAC) is working hard to make sure students are feeling welcome and excited for the upcoming months.

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NEWS

01.27.2020

GMUFOURTHESTATE.COM @IVESTATE

THE BOV VOTES TO RENAME THE MASON GLOBAL CENTER Mason Global Center named after Angel Cabrera FOURTH ESTATE ALEXANDRIA MCALPINE

SUDIKSHA KOCHI STAFF WRITER LAURA SCUDDER NEWS EDITOR

The Board of Visitors voted to rename the Mason Global Center to the Angel Cabrera Global Center, in honor of the university’s former President Angel Cabrera. The renaming went into effect Jan. 6. Provost David Wu supported this decision. According to Wu, Cabrera strongly believed in providing students with the ability to engage globally.

“The name change is important because it recognizes the president’s accomplishments in global engagement and study abroad,” Wu said.

During his seven years at Mason, Cabrera launched two global programs: Global Gateway and Global Discovery. The Global Gateway program allows freshmen students

to choose one of eight locations to study abroad in their second semester of college. “Mason’s Global Discovery Program is an innovative university initiative that supports the development of intensive global experiences that are travel components of existing credit-bearing courses,” according to the Global Education Office website.

In addition, Cabrera launched Mason Korea, making Mason one of the few institutions to have a campus in Korea.

“Cabrera wanted students to have an understanding and appreciation of different cultures and ways of life,” Wu said.

Cabrera left Mason after the 2018-2019 school year and is now president of Georgia Tech.

Before Cabrera came to Mason, less than 1,000 students were enrolled in study abroad programs. That

number doubled to 2,000 during the seven years of Cabrera’s presidency, according to Wu.

would always be immediate in taking action when it came to expanding global programs.”

“Cabrera expanded the study abroad program to give students the opportunity to earn credits over winter break and spring break,” he said.

“The number of students has doubled because Cabrera came up with a subsidy to reduce financial burden for students when it came to international travel.”

When asking students about their feelings toward the name change, some answered with positive responses.

Cabrera created initiatives to impact global programs at Mason, and took on a leadership role in evolving the university community as a whole. In July 2018, Cabrera and United Nations Institute for Training and Research Executive Director Nikhil Seth signed a declaration to represent the United Nations’ support of the university’s commitment to global engagement.

According to Wu, the global center symbolizes all of Cabrera’s accomplishments.

“I feel that the name change is very appropriate in many ways because it is a good way to honor Cabrera’s legacy at Mason,” Wu said. “I have worked alongside him for many years and we

“Honestly, it seems like a good idea as well as fitting, since he helped improve international opportunities for students who will find themselves taking advantage of them. That’s very nice,” Vanessa Gutierrez, a freshman majoring in policy and government, said.

Freshman accounting major Mina Al Hashimi also praised Cabrera.

“I like the idea of them changing the name to the Angel Cabrera Global Center, because Angel Cabrera did a lot for the international enrollment and study abroad participation by doubling it,” Hashimi wrote in a message to Fourth Estate. “Mason Korea was also established during Cabrera’s time as president of Mason. He had a great deal of contribution in the international enrollments and developments for [Mason].”

Other students did not feel that changing the name of the Mason

Global Center reflects what most students think of Cabrera. “I don’t know that he’s well-liked around campus by students, so it just seems like kind of a political move rather than something that would add to the campus and honor someone that deserves it,” said senior Carolyn Mason.

“Honestly, I feel really offended and feel really disrespected that they would choose to do this. Cabrera left our university in such a state after spring semester with the hiring of Kavanaugh and also the renaming of the Antonin Scalia Law School, as well as bringing a bunch of conservative donors that don’t match … most of our student body,” junior Sarah Kurian said.

She continued, “I think it’s actually ridiculous that they would try and just permanently keep that name that brings a lot of re-traumatization to a lot of students on this campus.”

Mason’s official housing website has updated the name on the Angel Cabrera Global Center, but the building itself has not yet been updated on campus.

LAST WEEK IN THE NEWS

Monday, Jan. 20

Tuesday, Jan. 21

Thousands of gun rights supporters arrived in Richmond, Va. for a rally to oppose gun-control proposals.

Impeachment trials begin.

President Trump is charged with two articles of impeachment: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.

Leading Democratic candidates marched in Columbia, S.C. to honor Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

China confirms human-tohuman transmission of new coronavirus disease.

Puerto Rican citizens discovered untouched emergency supplies from Hurricane Maria that had never been distributed.

49ers’ Katie Sowers will be the first female and openly gay coach at the Super Bowl.

First U.S. case of the coronavirus is confirmed in Washington state.

Friday, Jan. 24

Wednesday, Jan. 22

Thursday, Jan. 23

CNN poll shows the majority of the country believes that President Donald Trump should be impeached and removed from office.

Three U.S. firefighters killed in plane crash while fighting Australian wildfires.

34 U.S. service members diagnosed with brain injuries following the Iranian missile attack.

Bernie Sanders leads President Trump by the widest margin of all 2020 Democratic candidates.

Another case of the coronavirus is confirmed in Chicago and first two cases appear in Europe.

Eli Manning retires as the highest-paid NFL player in history.

President Trump’s rollback on water pollution will dismantle federal protections for over half of America’s wetlands and waterways.

President Trump plans to attend the March for Life.

He will be the first president to ever speak at this pro-life gathering.

New documents indicate Democrat Adam Schiff mischaracterized evidence in impeachment.

Trump administration threatens to pull federal funding from California regarding insurers covering abortions.

Rodney Scott will replace Carla Provost as the new head of U.S. border control.

NEWS

GMUFOURTHESTATE.COM @IVESTATE

01.27.2020

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CORE CAMPUS PROJECT CONTINUES INTO SPRING SEMESTER

Progress made on new academic building and surrounding areas over winter break LAURA SCUDDER NEWS EDITOR

travel the steps between the Hub and JC, but must follow a detour to make it to areas near the Nguyen Engineering Building.

Program Director of Facilities Cathy Wolfe-Pinskey explained that the Core Campus Project will fix issues pertaining to insufficient and older systems in both Robinson Halls.

“Over winter break significant progress was made on the utility infrastructure part of the project.

The contractors worked 24/7 over large parts of the break because of the very low number of faculty, staff and students on campus,” Wolfe-Pinskey said.

“The demolition of the buildings and the construction of the new academic building will address these issues and provide a state-of-the-art learning environment for our students as well as additional meeting and green space,” Wolfe-Pinskey said.

New fencing blocks East Plaza — the sidewalk between Planetary Hall, David King Hall and the Johnson Center (JC) — as installation of erosion and sediment control measures and trench excavation occurs, according to the Core Campus Project: Weekly Planner website. Students can still

at the northeast corner of the new building site.”

FOURTH ESTATE ALEXANDRIA MCALPINE

As students return to Mason after winter break, construction on and around the Core Campus Project continues.

She continued, “Progress was made on concrete placement, installation of spray-on fireproofing of the structure, interior mechanical, electrical and plumbing as well as site utility work. A mock-up of the building exterior was also completed which is now located

The FAQ section of the main construction website also states that the new academic building will have 27 classrooms.

However, it is unclear if there will be enough personal office space for full-time faculty. The committee from

the Office of Space Management will have to decide which faculty have personal office space, according to Wo l f e - P i n s k e y.

“The university has a newly for med Space A d m i n i s t r at i o n Committee that typically makes decisions around how campus facilities are occupied,” she said. This committee will decide where to house office space, meaning that there could be professors whose offices remain in places such as the Northeast Modules.

On Friday, Jan. 24, an email was sent out detailing the movement of construction vehicles on campus, stating, “Construction vehicles will

intermittently cross Wilkins Plaza between Aquia Creek Lane and the construction site entrance on the east side of the plaza starting January 27, and continuing through the spring semester and into the summer.”

As the construction process continues, different routes are available for both ADA and non-ADA students to take around campus, as seen on the construction map.

“The safety of our students is always our top priority, and we have worked extensively with Campus ADA Coordinator Ruth Townsend, her staff and many others to ensure we are creating accessible pathways and re-routes as necessary,” Wolfe-Pinskey said. They have also met with Visually Impaired Patriots to ensure that measures are taken so that all students “can effectively navigate on campus.”

More information can be found at construction.gmu.edu.

UNIVERSITY-WIDE EMAIL SENT REGARDING FLU, STAYING HEALTHY Student Health Services recommends precautions following coronavirus outbreak ALEXA TIRONI ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

On Thursday, Jan. 23, the Mason community received an email from Student Health Services (SHS) and Safety, Emergency, & Enterprise Risk Management detailing the coronavirus outbreak in China and recommended precautions to prevent sickness on campus.

The coronavirus, a contagious respiratory infection, broke out in Wuhan, China in December of 2019.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) website, “Common human coronaviruses ... usually cause mild to moderate upper-respiratory tract illnesses, like the common cold.” Symptoms may include a runny nose, cough and fever.

Recently, the virus has been confirmed in the U.S., Europe and Australia. In China, the death toll has risen to 41 people.

The virus has spread to other parts of the country and many cities have been quarantined. The CDC is monitoring the outbreak.

CDC and local Virginian health departments deem American risk of contracting the virus to be low, but students are advised to take precautions.

SHS recommends that students, “Guard against all communicable

diseases by washing your hands often, covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze, eating healthy foods, getting enough sleep, decreasing stress, and limiting or eliminating the use of tobacco products.”

Adhering to these healthy practices will aid in the prevention of specific illnesses such as the coronavirus as well as more typical cases of influenza.

The email urges students to “remain

out of class, away from work, and avoid others for the duration of the illness and for 24 hours after” if they are experiencing symptoms of a communicable disease.

If you are experiencing a fever with or without respiratory symptoms call 703-993-2831 to speak with a nurse or seek medical care.

Editor’s note: Full story avaliable online at gmufourthestate.com

CAMPUS POLICE ALERT STUDENTS OF ARREST THIS PAST TUESDAY

Mason PD sends email to students regarding recent on-campus arrest ALEXA TIRONI ASSISTANT NEWS EDITOR

This past Wednesday, Jan. 22, Mason students and staff received an email from campus police detailing the circumstances of a recent arrest on campus on Jan. 21. The arrest took place on York River Road off of Patriot Circle at 4:59 p.m.

The event began when Investigating Officer Thomas Volpe made a routine traffic stop for an expired registration; however, the suspect, a 24-year-old male, non-residential student, was then

arrested and transported to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Facility for possession of large amounts of cash, illegal drugs and a loaded handgun.

The suspect faces a felony warrant for intent to distribute a controlled substance within a thousand feet of school and a misdemeanor warrant for possession of a concealed weapon without a concealed weapon permit.

Mason PD Deputy Chief, Emily Ross, verified the marijuana in the suspects

car and gave further detail regarding ongoing but stated “it was a signifiother materials in the vehicle. cant amount that was seized because “There were other unidentified of evidence of distribution.” substances that were seized and are believed to be drug related, however, the substances have to be sent off to the lab for confirmation and that typically takes several weeks, possibly over a month,” said Ross.

In regards to the suspect’s court date, Ross explained that because there are both felony and misdemeanor charges, this case will follow the path of a felony.

From there the suspect will attend several court appearances which will Ross declined to comment on how involve an arraignment, bond hearings much money was confiscated during and finally a preliminary court date the arrest citing that the case was will be set.

If the suspect is released, administrative action from Mason will be taken.

Mason PD requests university students to be vigilant, stating, “We encourage the campus community to report all crimes and suspicious activity by calling Mason Police at 703-993-2810 or the anonymous tip line at 703-993-4111.”

Editor’s note: This is a developing story. Any details will be updated as they are released.

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CULTURE

01.27.2020

GMUFOURTHESTATE.COM @IVESTATE

GRASPING AT WHAT IS ENDANGERED The CFA hosts its first show of the season, “Figures of Speech” NAYOMI SANTOS STAFF WRITER

The legendary choreographer Alonzo King views the world as lines — both straight and circular, related to all things. To commence the spring 2020 season, the Center for the Arts (CFA)

hosted the Alonzo King LINES Ballet company on Saturday, Jan. 25.

Their collaborative piece, titled “Figures of Speech,” draws from the research of Bob Holman, a linguistic

archivist and poet who focuses on the endangered languages of the world.

Set to the words of many of these languages, as well as a few “made-up languages,” the impressive and expressive movements of the dancers occupied the stage.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ALONZO KING/LINES BALLET

Prior to the performance, Mason professor of dance Caroline Rocher, who danced with LINES Ballet for seven years, spent some time talking about the company. This informative session allowed audience members, many who have never seen a LINES production, to understand King’s creative process in producing a show. “[King’s] interested in finding the truth,” said Rocher. “When you do the step, go to the bottom of the step, go deep. Try to work with imagery, try to embody the shape or form of the idea.”

According to Rocher, King has a

strong commitment to collaboration.

In “Figures of Speech,” a combination of endangered languages — such as Ainu, which, according to the program, has just 10 speakers left — created languages, and music composed by Alexander MacSween set the soundtrack for the dancers.

During the hour in which the show runs, the audience is enraptured by the dancer’s movements. As Rocher predicted, the dancers embodied a concept — the idea that languages are disappearing. Their mission is to make the audience feel this particular loss.

In the post-performance discussion with the company’s Ballet Master, Meredith Webster, she describes the concept as “grasping” at something that is disappearing.

In addition to the collaboration with Bob Holman, specifically with his vast archive of languages, King also

used sounds and languages from the company’s community, from past students to the company’s dancers themselves.

“Alonzo often makes choices for what gets included in the piece based on the chemistry in the studio of how the movement and the sound come together,” said Webster.

Both Rocher and Webster discussed how the productions, including “Figures of Speech,” are “always evolving.”

“Some things hit their bodies in a not-so-natural way, but over time, it becomes natural to them,” Webster said.

As the commencement show for the spring 2020 season, “Figures of Speech” surely left a mark on its audience.

LOCAL ARTISTS USE COMICS TO TACKLE ISSUES D(C)MV exhibit is about more than just colorful pictures NIKAYLA KIRCHNER STAFF WRITER

FOURTH ESTATE DOMINIQUE BERNADINO

Last semester, Mason opened its doors to the complex and exciting world of comic art. Mason University Libraries is currently hosting “Comics Art Community, Process, and Publishing’s D(C)MV Comics” in the Fenwick Gallery. The exhibition invites viewers into a discussion about the importance and the art of storytelling, expression and topics

surrounding human existence through comic art.

Walking into the exhibition, viewers are greeted by showcases of six successful cartoonists and comic artists from Washington, Maryland and Virginia. The showcases were organized by the artists, displaying a collection of not only completed

works but also sketches, rough drafts and revisions that lead up to the final work.

of loneliness, mortality and identity through a colorful medium and inexpensive materials.

Each showcase included various displays and mediums, including stick-figure rough drafts, scribbles and doodles. However, what made the exhibition unique was how the individual showcases presented artwork centered around a particular theme, with each artist using their own unique style and techniques.

“The images I complete are a mix of preconceived ideas and streamof-conscious knowledge,” says artist Adam Griffiths, whose artwork seeks to question the nature of contemporary society. “Something about a beautiful drawing made with a cheap ballpoint pen allows viewers to elevate themselves over my art.”

According to their own commentary, the artists view themselves as visionary agents with the intention of illustrating their view of contemporary society and exploring what it truly means to be human. The significance of their work lies within their ability to entertain while simultaneously presenting thought-provoking commentary on society and life. These artists take pride in their ability to explore the deepest and most challenging aspects of the world in an ironic fashion, tackling themes

Another artist, Malaka Gharib, builds onto Griffiths’ statement of the uniqueness of using a colorful, fun medium to pose tough questions and themes. “I like the irony of tackling large topics like mortality, love and bravery in eight-page mini-zines or mini-comics, made with found materials — receipts, scrap paper or napkins,” she said.

Much like how Griffith’s work poses questions about society, Gharib’s work tackles the importance of identity and what it truly means to be American.

An excerpt of her piece “I Was Their American Dream” reads “I am an Egyptian-Fillipino, taco-eating, Talking-Heads-loving, boba-drinking wife of a Tennessean; listener of K-Pop, fan of Hello Kitty, zine-maker, illustrator, prom princess of Cerritos High Class of 2004; former drummer, skateboarder, maker of mixtapes; journalist, best friend, sister to five siblings in L.A. and Cairo, immigrant daughter, proud AMERICAN,” Freshman psychology major Ja’Corie Kinsey noted the overall significance of art as a medium for presenting questions on the nature of contemporary life and existence. “They ask the tough question,” Kinsey said. “Their work appears as a powerful medium for not only their personal artistic expression, but also questioning the bigger picture of life as a whole.”

Students can visit the exhibition in Fenwick Library near the information desk on the first floor until Feb. 14, 2020.

CULTURE

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01.27.2020

7

MOVIE REVIEW: UNCUT GEMS

Uncut Gems showcases Adam Sandler’s surprisingly serious role in this surreal A24 film TRAVIS MCMILLAN STAFF WRITER

FOURTH ESTATE BILLY FERGUSON

I think most anyone around today knows who Adam Sandler is, whether it’s from his early days on “Saturday Night Live” or any of his cult comedy films. Sandler has always been the funny guy, making nonsensical but entertaining movies

like “Grown Ups,” “Billy Madison” or “Happy Gilmore.”

We’ve only seen his more serious acting shine through a handful of times, the ones coming to mind being “Click” or “Punch-Drunk Love.” In both those movies, he shows the range

of his talent in acting, but it has always been covered by the seemingly endless half-baked comedies he has taken roles in.

“Uncut Gems” seems like Sandler’s attempt to break from his run of comedic films and show audiences that he can do more than just take a few punches for a laugh. In this movie, he delivers an extremely believable role as Howard Ratner, a con artist jeweler in New York City.

In typical A24 fashion, “Uncut Gems” has a very indie vibe about it. The film starts off with the viewer floating through a colorful galaxy with very pretty visuals, cutting hard to Sandler by exiting out of some unmentionables. This is where we are first introduced to this supposedly-serious Sandler role.

The directors, Benny and Josh Safdie, keep the film moving at a very fast pace. It feels as though you’re always going somewhere with Ratner, which

is helped by the very fluid camera movement. In one scene, the camera runs next to Ratner while he’s trying to swindle one of his clients while also making a bet on the next basketball game.

With all of this movement, the story feels rushed at times. While you’re focussing on one thing, the film throws you into the next scene while you’re still reeling. I found myself looking over at my friends to ask if they understood what was going on, only to meet equally confused faces.

Despite the confusion, the roller coaster of a movie was still very fun to experience.

Throughout, the scenes are set up very well. The tasteless fluorescent lighting inside Ratner’s sketchy jewelry store, and the nearly stroke-inducing flashing lights in the club where The Weeknd makes an appearance, all help to create powerful visuals for the audience.

Sandler’s acting completely sold the movie for me. It blended just enough of his funny side with serious tones to be perfect for his style. The cocky, charismatic and dim character he plays is just how you’d imagine a sketchy con artist in New York.

And in some ways, the fast pace and confusing plot actually makes sense for this film. Despite only being set in the span of a short period of time, there are a lot of moving parts.

Overall, I think Sandler delivers in his goal to star in a role that breaks from his stream of comedies. All the small nuances he creates in “Uncut Gems” push this movie to the top of the list of my favorite A24 films. All we can hope for now is that Sandler gets some recognition for this role in the shape of an acting award.

Faces of Mason

FACES OF MASON delves into the lives of Mason students, faculty, alumni and organizations every week. This week, we take a look at student Tyler Tep INTERVIEW BY PETER NJOROGE CULTURE EDITOR

S t u d e n t : Ty l e r Te p provides that has allowed its students to excel professionally and I think that opportunity — not everyone takes advantage of it — but those who do are the ones that are able to thrive on the job.

PHOTO COURTESY OF TYLER TEP

What was it like working with students from across the country?

So, you’re in your last semester at Mason. What are your plans for when you leave?

At the moment, I have nothing definitive, but I’d ideally want to get a job in the tech industry. From there — and we’ll see where it goes — but yeah, get a job in the tech industry, leverage the experiences I’ve been able to accumulate at Mason and then try and start my own venture in some shape or another. But short-term, it’s definitely get a job in a role that I like and in a company that I enjoy, and a product that I like, and then move from there.

How have some of your experiences in the tech industry influenced your life?

I think that has absolutely played a part, not just in the tech industry but my work experiences generally.

But to answer your question, I think it’s opened my eyes to see the impact that the tech industry in general has.

Not just from Google’s search engine or Disney as a streaming service, but to see how influential, nowadays, that every company has to be a tech company. Tesla’s an automotive company but they’re viewed as a tech company. So, I think that’s the major thing that I’ve learned from being in that industry. I’ve also learned that there’s extremely smart people across the board, and it’s a very competitive marketplace right now. So, there’s so many interesting things that you can

learn and with that comes competition, so it’s all about positioning yourself to finding what it is you like and identifying what you don’t like as well. And that’s really opened my eyes as I’ve traversed throughout the tech industry.

You said that Mason creates an environment conducive to getting you into the professional workplace. What makes you think that?

Absolutely. I think that, off the top of my head, I would answer that by location. I think that Mason’s location is prime in that it gives you access to opportunities in the D.C. area but also in Tysons Corner or Reston.

There’s a lot of corporate offices, both startup companies and smaller name companies like NEXCO, but also big brand-name companies, like we see Amazon coming here and establishing their second headquarters here, so I think that location is a major, major part. The second thing that I can think of is flexibility. I’ve seen a lot of Mason students work and go to school at the same time. I think that’s unique in comparison to many other colleges that you see where your academics are the main focus and I think at Mason, in conjunction with academics, you can work and pay for your tuition, and also gain those professional experiences. So, I think it’s a combination of the location and the flexibility and the convenience that Mason

Super cool. I think my first exposure was with J.P. Morgan, which is the bank in New York. Most of those kids were Ivy League kids, big brandname schools and I think it was interesting to see, you know, that while it was extremely competitive, and you could definitely tell there was an edge to them that you don’t normally see when you walk around campus at Mason. I also had the sense that they weren’t more advanced than me and — for a lack of a better word — better than me because I felt like I was there, I could compete with them.

Competitive in the sense that you get exposed to a lot of different students that you’re not exposed to on your day-today. The people that I interact with at Mason are different than the people I interact with at internships.

So, that’s the one thing that I can pull apart, and even on my internships, I think it’s cool to see how everyone is going through the same

thing even if it is, as I mentioned, competitive. It’s competitive for everyone regardless of if you go to George Mason University or MIT or Harvard.

If you had three bullet points to tell yourself as a first semester freshman, what would they be?

Keep an open mind. Accept all the opportunities that come your way no matter what. Everything is a learning experience and that may be cliche, but accept it. I also think that if I were a first semester freshman … Man, I feel like it was not too long ago so it’s hard to say I would give myself advice because I feel like I’m not too far removed from it. Just trust in yourself, like trust your gut that you’re going to end up getting to where you want …

I know, me personally, I would regret

making a decision because someone else told me to make that decision far more than if I made that decision and I had to live with those consequences.

I would say trust your gut and follow your intuition over anyone else’s.

Lastly, care about your mental health.

Approach your life, both professionally but also academically, in a healthy manner and don’t be too difficult on yourself. I think that’s another piece of advice that I’d give. I think that was one of my biggest regrets in undergrad is I was extremely hard on myself and I did a lot of things that maybe weren’t very healthy for me.

So, I would say try and have a balance in terms of the stress and the work, but also how am I relieving that stress and dealing with mental anxiety or issues or things like that. So balancing those.

CULTURE

GMUFOURTHESTATE.COM @IVESTATE

01.27.2020

9

Finding entertainment at Mason PETER NJOROGE CULTURE EDITOR

One vastly underused example is the access that we have as Mason students to a wide variety of performing arts events that we can attend for free at our campus venues. Our College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) runs a program that allows students to attend nearly all of the events held at the Center for the Performing Arts here in Fairfax and the Hylton Performing Arts Center, located on our Science and Technology campus.

Doing almost anything fun costs money. Usually, there is a strong correlation between the amount of money that you spend having fun

would’ve attended the event or learned that opera might be something that I like.

and the amount of fun that you have.

But, here at Mason, you can see a Broadway show, a regional orchestra and various student performances for literally nothing.

On a regular basis, in addition to the wealth of student events, fantastic professional organizations including the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra and Virginia Opera Company visit our campus and deliver epic performances that you otherwise might not be able to afford. In February, the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra will be performing “The Four Seasons” and Virginia Opera will be doing “Cinderella,” a comical opera written by Gioachino Rossini.

Last semester, I attended Virginia Opera’s performance of Giacamo Puccini’s “Tosca” and was totally blown out of the water. It was the most immersive entertainment experience that I’ve had in my entire life.

If it weren’t for the program, I never

Minimal effort is required to secure

friendly will quickly get you all set up for the upcoming show.

What really makes this program an unbelievable entertainment value is

FOURTH ESTATE BILLY FERGUSON

To me, entertainment is essential.

We should all set a few of our dollars aside to make ourselves happy. Being strategic about doing that is one of the more challenging things for all of us college students to do. But, if you really pay attention to the resources around you, you’ll find more than enough to do for cheap.

opportunities quickly become very expensive. Tickets for events at performing arts venues are not cheap.

Just take a look at the prices for upcoming shows at Wolftrap and the Kennedy Center. Now, while we are students, is the time to tap into the vibrant music culture that we have here on campus and in the surrounding area.

While going to see the newest hit movie or spending time with a friend is great, you can also (for free) go see professionals of the highest level do what they do best. All of the performances also have a real educational benefit that can’t really be replicated.

Engaging with live performers is an experience all its own.

your seat. All you have to do is find out what performance you want to attend and, two weeks in advance, visit the box office in the Center for the Performing Arts. Make sure that you have student I.D. and someone

the fact that you can get two tickets for most of the events. So, not only can you go to an amazing performance, you can bring a friend, coworker or family member along too.

When

you

leave

Mason,

So, instead of spending money on entertainment, just hop over to our CVPA website and pick out your next entertainment adventure at one of our incredible venues.

these

HIDDEN HANGOUTS: BUSBOYS AND POETS

Get acquainted with Washington’s cultural hotspot for poetry and activism MAGGIE ROTH STAFF WRITER

Busboys and Poets is all at once a bookshop, bar, coffee shop, restaurant and space for creative performance.

Each aspect of the shop flows into one another to create a unique, vibrant

atmosphere conducive to creativity, activism and sustainability. It’s the kind of place where you could spend a whole afternoon without ever feeling unwelcome.

Established by artist and activist Andy Shallal in 2005, the very first Busboys and Poets was located at 14th and V streets in the neighborhood of Cordoza in Washington, D.C. According to their website, the space quickly gathered a crowd of community members and activists.

There are now seven different locations spread across the area, including one in Arlington in case you can’t make the trip into the city.

FOURTH ESTATE MAGGIE ROTH

The standout feature of this establishment is their poetry events. Every week, each location makes space onstage for poets and artists of any level of expertise to perform in front of their community.

The open mic night, open to all ages, is an event with a shocking level of energy and sense of community, costing only $5 for a thrilling night of live entertainment. It certainly attracts quite a crowd, but the space never feels too overcrowded or overwhelming.

Depending on the location and the date, you might find yourself at a themed event like the American Sign Language Open Mic held monthly at the 450 K St. location, or the competitive 11th Hour Poetry Slam at 14th and V, where experienced poets go head-to-head and let the audience declare a winner.

Along with the poetry you can enjoy food and drink from their restaurant and bar, including ample vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options, featuring sustainably sourced ingredients. The food is well-priced and wholesome, and although I can’t personally try anything from the bar just yet, I wholeheartedly swear by their lattes.

Part of me hesitates to call this a “hidden” hangout because the shop has been an integral part of Washington D.C. culture for years, gathering media attention and praise since its beginnings. I cannot claim to have discovered anything. But as an

out-of-state student trying to explore the culture and spirit of Washington D.C. beyond the monuments and museums, I wish that someone had told me about this place the day I moved here.

You can grab brunch and feel good about the food you’re eating, you can buy a book where you see yourself represented in the pages and be moved by the local community of artists and poets. The spirit of it all is captured best in their own words in the mantra they have displayed on their website, walls and menus: “Busboys and Poets is a community where racial and cultural connections are consciously uplifted … a place to take a deliberate pause and feed your mind, body, and soul … a space for art, culture and politics to intentionally collide … we believe that by creating such a space, we can inspire social change and begin to transform our community and the world.”

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SPORTS

01.27.2020

GMUFOURTHESTATE.COM @IVESTATE @IVESTATE_SPORTS

SUOMI FOREVER

Women’s Basketball’s Marika Korpinen shares her journey from Finland DOMENIC ALLEGRA ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

eating thing here?’”

intended major in kinesiology.

It took Korpinen more than a week to figure out how to even lock the bathroom door.

Head coach Nyla Milleson said that Korpinen’s work ethic is what makes her stand out. “From the minute she walked on campus — I mean, she’s the one that’s just going above and beyond. You’re never going to be very good if you’re a nine-to-five player. She certainly is not.”

However, Korpinen said that her biggest problem overestimating herself. “I thought I was more mature than I actually was when I got here.

I thought I would be fine,” she said.

“But in the end, I didn’t completely understand the language, the culture was completely different, and people act so differently.”

FOURTH ESTATE DOMENIC ALLEGRA

Korpinen eventually took hold of American culture and was able to watch her basketball inspiration, the Seattle Storm’s Sue Bird.

“I’ve always loved to watch her play.

She’s just a rock star; like she’s 40 and she’s still killing it. Like, that’s crazy.”

Korpinen finally had a chance to meet her inspiration at the 2018 WNBA Finals when EagleBank Arena hosted Game 3. planned on spending a year at Long Island Lutheran high school in New York.

Korpinen hails from Turku, Finland, more than 4,200 miles away from Mason.

“My mom didn’t realize that when I got to security that we had to say bye,” Korpinen said. “My mom was like, ‘Is it over now? Then she lost it and I was like, ‘Mom you can’t cry, I’m going to cry.’ And then I just cried the whole time and even when I got to the airplane I was still crying. So when I got off like three and a half hours later, I was on the phone. I called my parents I was like, ‘I made through the first flight, I’m okay.’”

When it came time to decide between basketball and soccer at the age of 7, Korpinen wanted to play basketball, but her parents wanted the latter.

Korpinen and her friend devised a “master plan” to allow her to play basketball. After much screaming and crying from the Finland native, her parents finally agreed.

This was the start of Korpinen’s basketball journey.

Little did she know she would one day play D-I basketball.

Before coming to the U.S., Korpinen served as captain for Finland’s U16 team. She led her team to a .600 winning percentage and was named the 2014 Baltic Sea Cup Most Valuable Player for her performances.

At the age of 17, Korpinen decided that she wanted to play basketball in the U.S. She packed up her things and

The hardest part about going to the U.S. was having to say goodbye to her parents at the airport.

However, Korpinen almost did not make it to her connecting flight in Iceland to New York.

“It was my first time flying alone and when I got to Iceland, I was like full-on shaking and panicking, but then I got to security and they asked for all my visa documents. And then the officer looked at my passport and was like, ‘Do you have the documents that your parents are letting you travel?’ and I was like, What? No? They were like ‘Do you have a signature of your parents allowing you to travel?’

Korpinen responded saying, “There is my dad’s signature, on my visa. They were like, ‘One moment.’ And then she went to the back and I’m like, ‘Oh my god what am I going to do? Am I going to be stuck in Iceland?”

The officer returned and let her go, but Korpinen could not have been more nervous. “I was so scared,” she said. “I must have looked more frightened than any rabbit in the headlights of a car.

Maybe the officer felt sorry for me.”

Korpinen’s one year abroad playing basketball turned into two, which then led to her making the decision to go to college in the U.S. “It kind of all just happened, she said.

“It was in the back of my head like that would be a really cool opportunity and I always wanted to play professionally.”

Korpinen made her decision to come to Mason on Nov. 6, 2016, with an

Korpinen recorded her career-high 20 points against Davidson on Jan. 15.

She shot 6-10 from the field, 4-7 from behind the arc and recorded 2 assists.

Korpinen talked about her performance, saying, “It was pretty cool, I never shoot that much. But in the last game, I was like ‘Oh god I got the ball,’ and then I was like ‘Oh, did we just score?’ And as I was running back, I was like ‘Did I just shoot that? Did it go in?’ I wasn’t even thinking about it, I was just so into the flow of the game.”

With just one full year left in her college career, Korpinen has only one wish, “to make the NCAA Tournament.”

While Korpinen may still be away from Finland, she calls the U.S. her home away from home. And in the great words of Korpinen herself, “Suomi 4 ever.”

That was not the only obstacle for Korpinen, as she was instantly hit with culture shock and felt as if she did not belong.

“I just felt like an outsider,” Korpinen said. “First of all, my host family wasn’t really ready to take me. My coach was struggling to find me a family, so like two weeks before I was supposed to come. My coach found me a family and they kind of just last-minute agreed. So I don’t think they really understood what it’s like to host a kid [from] a foreign country for a year.”

Korpinen continued, “It was pretty rough in New York. I didn’t even eat that much because we ate at 7 o’clock and I’m used to eating dinner at 4 [p.m.]. And I was literally sitting in my room and be like, ‘Okay, do we do the

PHOTO COURTESY OF VILLE VUORINEN/BASKEET.FI

You never realize how much your family, your hometown and your culture mean to you until they are no longer a part of your daily life. This is what it is like for junior women’s basketball player Marika Korpinen.

Milleson continued, “Her willingness to do whatever it is going to take to be better and then with all of our players we’ve been recruiting, she just such a great person.”

SPORTS

01.27.2020

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FOURTH ESTATE DOMENIC ALLEGRA

GMUFOURTHESTATE.COM @IVESTATE @IVESTATE_SPORTS

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SPORTS

01.27.2020

GMUFOURTHESTATE.COM @IVESTATE @IVESTATE_SPORTS

SPORTS OVER BREAK NATALIE HEAVREN SPORTS EDITOR

Over winter break women’s basketball went 3-6, including a 1-4 start to conference play. However, the Patriots did have to face Dayton, Davidson and Fordham, three of the top five teams in the conference, in the first five games.

Nicole Cardaño-Hillary is doing a little bit of everything for the team so far in conference play, leading the team with 16.0 points per game while also contributing 5.0 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game.

After the team’s loss to Fordham on Jan. 19, head coach Nyla Milleson said, “It doesn’t get any easier as we go to Duquesne. You know, there’s not an easy game in the conference, top to bottom. You know, it’s probably as good as it’s been since I’ve been here … but you know every game is a dogfight.”

She also added that with a road trip to Pittsburgh to start the semester, the team would be missing the first two days of classes.

However, she also said, “This is a focused team. This is a high academic team. They’ll do what they have to do. And in order to keep [up] their academics, you know, [it’s] very frustrating to have to miss the first few days of class but we’ve already taken care of what that has to be done.”

Jacy Bolton believes that her team has been able to learn a lot from the first few games in conference play, saying, “Conference play has given us a lot of lessons and we are going to continue to work and build off of those lessons.

We are a team that is capable of many things and we are working every day to make our team successful.”

Men’s Basketball Between semesters men’s basketball went 2-5, including a 1-4 start to conference play. The team has been shorthanded after losing Justin Kier again. The team’s lone win in conference play came at La Salle on Jan. 11.

Javon Greene has led the Patriots so far in conference play, averaging 17.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.8 steals per game as of Jan. 21.

After the team’s Jan. 22 win over UMass, Greene said, “In the A-10 you know anybody can lose any night and anybody can win any night so you

can’t take no team for granted, and we got to take it one game at a time ... but during school, it’s going to be a little challenging but, you know, I feel like our guys, my brothers, can do that.

And we’re up for that challenge.”

Head coach Dave Paulsen understands the challenges but also the advantages of his student-athletes being back in class.

He said, “They’re back in a more normal routine. And they’re back with the student body. And we’ve got a good system in terms of when they’re in class and then when we have our designated practice time and, but it’s, a little bit of balance and we have study hall when we’re on the road and I think for the most part, you know these guys have done a pretty good job of balancing that stuff.”

FOURTH ESTATE DOMENIC ALLEGRA

Women’s Basketball

Track and Field Track and field had a successful break, hosting the Father Diamond Invitational and also traveling to compete in the Great Dane Classic and Keydet Invitational.

At the Father Diamond Invitational Mason had 13 first-place finishes. This includes Jaylen Simmons, who finished first in the shot put with a personal-best 17.51 meters, a mark good enough to surpass the NCAA-qualifying mark.

After the Great Dane Classic four Patriots earned A-10 Weekly Honors.

Simmons (Field Performer of the Week), Thomas Amabile (Track Performer of the Week) and Xavier Shirley (Rookie of the Week) swept the men’s weekly awards.

On the women’s side, Ashley Lewis was named Track Performer of the Week.

The following week Simmons again won Field Performer of the Week and Vilde Våge Henriksen, a Norway native, won Rookie of the Week.

Simmons improved his personal best, throwing for 18.14m, 31st best in the country.

Våge Henriksen finished in second place in the 1000-meter run at the Keydet Invitational. She finished behind her teammate Lewis and the pair’s times rank first and second in the A-10 this season.

Head coach Andrew Gerard said, “We’re in a good position at this point

in the season. With the diversity of events in T&F [Track and Field], the progression of athletes in different event groups can be very different, especially at the early- to mid-season meets.”

He continued, “Throwers, for example, don’t get ready at the same rate as sprinters or pole vaulters or distance runners, which makes getting a whole track team on the same page for one competition in the mid-season a bit like juggling a chainsaw, bowling ball, a tennis ball and a feather all at the same time. But the various groups are all where they need to be for now and on point for the championship meets late in the season.”

Men’s Volleyball Men’s volleyball went 2-2 over break, despite competing against four of the top-12 teams in the country.

After an opening night loss to then No. 2 UCLA, the team bounced back defeating No. 12 USC in three straight sets. Despite falling to No. 7 Stanford, the team also defeated No. 9 Pepperdine 3-1.

Head coach Jay Hosack created a

difficult nonconference schedule for his team, which was able to compete with some of the top teams in the country.

Hosack said, “It’s very early in the year, but I am happy with our team’s work ethic and competition level. When we play with heart and passion I like our chances against anybody.”

The Patriots will need to continue playing with heart and passion, as they will be taking on No. 11 LoyolaChicago and No. 6 Lewis University in the Uvaldo Acosta Invitational on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.

Senior leader Sam Greenslade said, “The beginning of the season has been a very fun and challenging start against all ranked opponents. These early tests are a great way to see what we’re made of along with preparing us for the challenges down the road. As a team, we are very excited about where we are headed.”

Men’s Soccer On Monday, Jan. 13, Director of Athletics Brad Edwards announced that Elmar Bolowich would be the next men’s soccer head coach. Bolowich previously coached North Carolina

and Creighton to national prominence.

He has led his teams to 21 combined NCAA appearances and six College Cup appearances. Bolowich comes to Mason with an impressive 395-184-57 record.

In the press release from Mason Athletes, Edwards stated, “Coach Bolowich is not only one of the best and most accomplished soccer coaches in today’s game — he is the type of individual who brings a wealth of experience in higher education and NCAA Athletics … We are excited to have an icon like Coach Bolowich lead, educate and champion our men’s soccer program.”

In the same release, Bolowich said, “Thank you to Brad Edwards and George Mason University for this opportunity to return to college soccer where I can best use my skills and hopefully be an impact for a program that has so much potential … We want soccer at George Mason to rise to a nationally competitive level and​ we want to create a soccer culture on campus. I look forward to this challenge and I’m ready to get going.”

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OPINION

01.27.2020

GMUFOURTHESTATE.COM @IVESTATE

Opinions do not reflect the views of Fourth Estate. Submit opinions to dpino@gmu.edu

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

DOMINIC PINO OPINION EDITOR

Dear Mason community, I’m honored to be your new Fourth Estate Opinion section editor. Writing for this paper every week was one of my favorite parts of school, and now I get to help put this section together and work with other writers to grow and develop both their skills and mine.

I’m excited for this semester and what we have in store. This section is chockfull of writers who can cover a wide array of topics, and I guarantee there will be something interesting to you from at least one of them every week.

That’s my goal: make a section that’s interesting to you. The Opinion section does not carry the same burdens as other sections. We don’t have our topics dictated by current events like the news section. We don’t

have to conduct interviews all the time like the sports section. When you turn to our page, you’re getting what our writers think, not what anyone else thinks.

It is my firm belief that students have opinions worth hearing. This is especially true for issues on campus.

Students are paying thousands of dollars in tuition, and that ought to buy them the privilege to have a say in what goes on around here. While faculty and administration are vital parts of the university, and they have experience and expertise students lack, they are not the purpose of the university. The purpose of the university is to turn students into graduates, to make them into well-rounded citizens who have employable skills and above all, a passion for learning.

Being a student is the only thing you can do for 15 years without anyone considering you experienced in it.

From kindergarten to college, students accumulate knowledge of what makes a good teacher, a good class and a good learning environment. They also build up a tolerance to education BS and by college are pretty good at calling it out.

Mason is home to tens of thousands of experienced students, and this section will amplify their praise when the university does well and their criticism when it does poorly.

Students are also on the cusp of professional life and consequently have opinions on things outside the university. Those opinions also have a home here. We’re so close to Washington, D.C. that you should expect plenty of political opinions in these pages. And

we aren’t politically monolithic either: expect takes on both sides of the issues.

We’ll also have plenty of articles on economic issues since financial independence is a fast-approaching reality for students.

This isn’t just a section about school and politics though because students are also human beings. That means they also have opinions on the stuff humans do. Expect articles on movies, books, sports, art, and all the other things that separate us from the animals. These articles are some of the most fun to read and write — and edit.

I’m proud to be the editor of such a wide-ranging section, and we will produce quality writing that is interesting to you, the Mason community.

At risk of sounding like Russell Crowe’s

character in “Gladiator,” I will ask myself whether you are entertained by what we publish. But I will also ask whether you are informed and edified by our content as well. I’ve got a fantastic assistant editor in Jack Harvey and a terrific staff of writers, and I’m confident we will be able to do all three.

The Opinion section is never closed: if you have an opinion on something, I want to know about it. Please email me at dpino@gmu.edu with any article submissions. Twitter is also a great way to get in contact with me: my handle is @DominicJPino. It’s going to be a great semester, and I look forward to sharing it with you.

Sincerely, Dominic Pino

SCHOLARSHIPS DON’T GROW ON TREES STEVEN ZHOU STAFF WRITER

While these trees might provide the occasional piece of fruit, we won’t find the solution to our real problems — stipends and tuition dollars — growing on their branches.

For the most part, university administrators face the pressure to solve this problem. “Increase funding for graduate students!” is the mantra for many.

This year, I have the privilege of serving as a representative for my department at the Graduate and Professional Student Association (GAPSA) general assembly. At our latest meeting discussing the topic of compensation and funding, the question raised by most of my peers was: “When will they increase stipends and compensation?”

I fully support increasing stipends and tuition waivers. Living in the D.C. metro area is not cheap. The fair living wage for a single adult in Fairfax County is $17.44 per hour, and the current $16,000 minimum stipend

at Mason works out to about $15.38 per hour.

But here’s the concern I have over a broad-brush increase of stipends: The money has to come from somewhere.

Too often, increasing stipends means less opportunities for graduate students. It’s been called the “whacka-mole” problem: Increased costs from increased stipends will need to be offset by reducing costs from other benefits or reducing the number of positions eligible for stipends in the first place.

In fact, a 2018 study by the Midwestern Higher Education Compact found that increasing “standards of care” required to support students and the rise of tuition discounting are some of the primary drivers for today’s outrageously high tuition costs.

Yet another empirical study conducted by data researcher Tom Schenk in 2010 found that unionized graduate student wage gains were predictably offset by reductions in other student benefits such as healthcare and tuition waivers.

This is basic mathematics: given a limited pot of money, if you have to increase the amount allotted to each person, you’ll be able to give money to fewer people. And contrary to popular belief, graduate students as TA’s can cost a lot of money to the university.

A University of Chicago law professor pointed out that the typical Ph.D. student costs the university upwards of $500,000 in terms of lost revenue, stipends, healthcare, etc.; such costs often dwarf the cost of hiring an adjunct to teach the course.

We see examples of this already in faculty hiring. When faculty at Wright State University went on strike last year, about 20 percent of courses were canceled, and the university simply turned to hiring adjuncts instead.

If you make graduate students too expensive, then administrators will have no choice but to accept or fund fewer graduate students.

It’s actually a subtle yet insidious form of oppression. The result will likely be that those who are already fully funded will see increases in their paycheck, while those who hold part-time assistantships will find their positions cut due to the rise in minimum stipend. It’s taking from the poor to give to the rich.

Here’s my point: It is fair to ask for more money, but we also need to ask where it will come from.

We seem to have this assumption that it’s us starving graduate students against the power-hungry, stingy administration. But every person I’ve talked to in the administration at Mason has been fighting for the cause of students. Administration and

graduate students are on the same team. We’re both trying to find ways to improve student funding. Even from a business point of view for the university, more funding means more students which means more revenue, higher rankings, more donors and more alumni.

I started out by saying that we won’t find scholarship money growing on trees.

Perhaps I should amend that to say that it’s possible — if we plant the right trees.

Students and administration should be working together to make this happen.

The next time someone asks about increasing stipends, I’d like them to also explain where that money would come from. There are some good ideas out there.

Mason’s continued push for online programs allow for tuition dollars to come in from around the world to help raise money. We have an amazing team dedicated to obtaining research grants that can provide funds for student research assistantships.

Some other colleges have gotten creative, going so far as to rent out facilities as wedding venues to raise funds to help students.

FOURTH ESTATE BILLY FERGUSON

Earlier this year, Stanford graduate students who had no other means of affording meals during winter break were reported to be foraging for food from trees on campus. As extreme as that example may be, the archetype of the “starving graduate student” probably plays out far more often than we would like to acknowledge.

OPINION

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01.27.2020

Opinions do not reflect the views of Fourth Estate. Submit opinions to dpino@gmu.edu

THERE’S NO SMILING AT THE DMV SIDONIA CANNON STAFF WRITER

Why, you may ask, do people drag themselves into this pit of despair?

Once you pass the milestone age of 16, there is no reason to be excited to trek to the Department of Motor Vehicles. Alas, a new piece of legislation requires travelers to provide a new form of identification before they fly.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, the REAL ID Act “established minimum security standards for license issuance and production.” For the average citizen, this means they will need a REAL ID to board federally regulated commercial aircraft. When the smiling TSA agents ask for your boarding pass and ID after Oct.1, 2020, you must hand them either a REAL ID driver’s license, your U.S. Passport, or any other acceptable form of identification from a list of documents.

The only DMV visit you count down

to is your first one. A birthday girl waltzes in, excited to finally earn the freedom to drive. However, she must first slay the dragon: the front desk secretary. The secretary’s fury at the world is now focused on this birthday princess. Her joy is an unwelcome intruder, squelched at the door. The secretary breathes flames in the form of questions about residency, incorrect documents and unprovoked rudeness.

Alas, we must suffer together in a mock-up of Soviet-era life.

Take a number and get in line, comrade! Q369, D104, A132, Q328.

Even those gifted in pattern and code skills would falter at the task of estimating whether they had time to grab lunch.

You are meant to feel empty because the DMV was designed to suck the joy from the population to ensure a straight-faced ID photo. But that justification no longer works: The Washington Post reported in 2015 that Virginians are now allowed to smile for their DMV pictures. So when you go

in for your REAL ID picture, you can smile, and at first glance that seems like a nice change. But upon further reflection you realize it’s crazy: What other place is so miserable that you need government permission to smile?

The secretary’s shrill voice cuts through the fog of misery. Everyone leans in and perks up because her voice promises escape to one blessed soul. Eyes pierce the lucky victim’s back with jealousy but quickly return to their glazed, zombie-like state.

Those unfortunate enough to occupy seats adjacent to the restrooms realize their mistake too late when the aroma of nervous gas and relieved constipation slowly seeps into the crowded room.

Privacy has no place here.

PHOTO COURTESY OF FLICKR

The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is where souls come to die. The waiting room is sopping with despair.

Forgotten dreams and lost hopes hang in the air like the humidity on a muggy summer day. Children scream and babies cry, for they are too young to be exposed to such bureaucratic horrors.

The DMV is a failed communist system. The citizens have no other option but to succumb to government regulation. Private enterprises would compete for your business, promising quick lines and a warm environment.

HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AND THE GENERATIONAL DIVIDE DAWSON WEINHOLD STAFF WRITER

FOURTH ESTATE BILLY FERGUSON

Housing affordability remains a big issue for many Mason students. For upperclassmen, on-campus housing is far from guaranteed, and off-campus housing presents its own set of difficulties. With a growing population and

one of the highest median incomes in the country, housing in Fairfax County can be expensive for college students.

The average monthly rent for an apartment in Fairfax County is $1,930,

making it hard for many low-income students to live in the area. As NOVA continues to grow and attract investment from companies like Amazon, this problem won’t go away on its own.

To solve this problem, Delegate Ibraheem Samirah (D-86) has introduced two bills: H.B. 151, which allows for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) to be built in areas zoned for single-family units, and H.B. 152, which allows for duplexes and townhouses to be built in areas zoned for single-family units.

This means places where before only generic suburban houses could be built now can have duplexes. This solution allows the supply of housing to better rise to meet the demand for it. Current zoning laws effectively reduce the supply of housing since they limit what type of housing can be built at a given location. Getting rid of these regulations would allow

developers to better react to the growing population in NOVA. As the supply of housing increases, the price will fall.

On the surface, you might think these bills should be a bipartisan slam dunk.

It takes housing affordability, an issue many Democrats run on, and solves it with deregulation, a solution favored

by Republicans. Instead, it has invoked the ire of the NIMBY crowd (Not in My Backyard), current homeowners who oppose new construction. Many current homeowners oppose the proposed changes because they believe they will turn once quiet suburban neighborhoods into bustling urban centers.

This opens up a conversation about the “American Dream” in general.

Traditionally, the epitome of success is owning a home with a white picket fence in a peaceful neighborhood.

With the rising cost of living in

suburban areas, many younger Americans feel this ideal is unattainable for them. The suburban lifestyle is also becoming less appealing, with young people preferring to live in more upbeat urban environments. What you think about these bills is as much about culture as it is about economics.

As of writing this, both H.B. 151 and H.B. 152 remain in committee.

Whether they make it out to a floor vote is up in the air. Democrats were able to gain a majority in both houses of the state legislature in part due to their ability to woo moderate suburban voters.

Keeping their support while pleasing their younger base will prove to be a difficult balancing act. For many students at Mason, housing is an important issue, and removing restrictive zoning laws is a good step to solving that problem.

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WHEN THEY RUN THEY WIN: DISPELLING THE ELECTABILITY MYTH

FOURTH ESTATE BILLY FERGUSON

for office would be more difficult for them than their male c o u n t e rparts, making them less likely to even consider entering the race.

Electability. What is it? Who has it?

The word that appeared in almost every bit of news coverage of the 2016 presidential election has once again begun to dominate the national conversation surrounding the diverse field of Democratic candidates.

So who is electable? Many are quick to buy into the myth that men are inherently more electable, a seemingly logical conclusion based on the nation’s last 45 presidents.

intersection between gender and politics.

A 2019 report by the Reflective Democracy Campaign (RDC) found that, after studying data from 2015, women of all races and men of color win elections at the same rate as white men, when they are on the ballot.

“When voters have the opportunity to vote for women of all races and men of color, they choose them at the same rates as white men,” the report states.

However, on January’s debate stage in Iowa, Democratic hopeful Elizabeth Warren, surrounded by four men and just one other woman, decided to tackle the electability myth head-on.

In 2018, non-incumbent women even won at a higher rate in House, Senate and state elections than non-incumbent men at both the primary and general level.

Prompted by a question regarding a conversation she shared with fellow candidate Bernie Sanders in which he allegedly told her a woman could not be elected president, Warren delivered what would become one of the most memorable lines of the night.

According to the RDC report, however, while women make up 51 percent of the population, they still make up less than one-quarter of Congress, and millions of women live in states where men hold over three-quarters of the legislative seats.

Women of color, at 20 percent of the population, only hold four percent of elected offices.

“Look at the men on this stage,” Warren said. “Collectively, they have lost 10 elections. The only people on this stage who have won every single election that they’ve been in are the women: Amy [Klobuchar] and me.”

Warren’s statement was not only a winner with the audience and her supporters but is a poignant reminder of a lesser-known reality of the

So why are we not seeing better representation of women in office? Because the problem started long before then.

For years, political pundits and researchers have blamed the lack of female candidates on the ambition gap.

Women have a vague idea that running

And taking one look at the treatment of Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election by her opponents and the media alone, it is understandable that women might want to avoid the political world.

But looking only at the ambition gap puts too narrow of a lens on the issue.

And it puts the burden of fixing the issue disproportionately on women’s shoulders. Those who attribute the decision women face to internal factors run the risk of missing the societal barriers that shape those internal biases.

In a 2008 study that measured the political recruitment of men and women with similar levels of income, career status, political interest, age and education, researchers at the Brookings Institution found that women receive lower levels of encouragement and recruitment to launch their campaign.

Encouragement is lacking from political actors like party leaders, elected officials, donors and advocacy groups. These political establishments act as gatekeepers and have a huge say in candidate selection, who gets fundraising resources and who wins endorsements.

In 2014, the Institute for Women’s Policy Research conducted 60 interviews with female candidates, officeholders and congressional staff members. The researchers reported that

51 percent of those female candidates and elected officials indicated that they had never been encouraged by party leaders to run for higher office, and 71 percent said that they had never received encouragement from other power brokers.

A number of women interviewed for a 2017 paper from the Center for American Progress not only reported dealing with a lack of encouragement but faced subtle dissuasion from party officials, including being told not to “mount primary challenges to incumbents in their own party.”

There is also a party gap since Democrats have focused specifically on women candidates for longer than Republicans.

“On the left, groups have recognized that women often have more hurdles to overcome on the road to political office,” Kristen Soltis Anderson, a Republican pollster, said in an interview with the New York Times.

“Democrats have, for decades, built infrastructure to support women candidates in overcoming those hurdles.

Republicans have let the chips fall where they may.”

Personal wealth also plays a huge role in a woman’s decision to run. While organizations help female candidates fund their campaigns, the cost of

having a political career can also keep women on both sides of the aisle off the ballot.

Pay for many state and local officials is dismal. Legislators in Texas earn $7,200 a year, plus a $190 per diem.

Those in New Mexico do not earn a yearly salary at all.

These low salaries make it difficult for those without personal wealth or career flexibility and those who have caretaking responsibilities — mainly women — to run in state-level elections.

More efforts need to be made from both parties to get women’s names on the ballots. Because when women run, they win. Year after year women have disproved the electability myth as they gain more seats in local and national political offices.

In 2018, the increase in women candidates on the ballot meant more women in office in 2019. The number of women elected in local, state and federal offices has increased from 28 percent to 31 percent since 2015.

But it all starts with encouragement.

Not compensation for a so-called lack of confidence, but an equal level of recruitment with male candidates to make political participation more tangible for women.

FOURTH ESTATE BILLY FERGUSON

SAVANNAH MARTINCIC STAFF WRITER

OPINION

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THE BEST PRIVACY PROTECTION IS COMMON SENSE CHRISTOPHER KERNAN-SCHMIDT STAFF WRITER

Many of us grew up with social media.

I remember sneaking behind my parents’ backs to create a Facebook account in sixth grade. A few years later, Snapchat, Twitter and Instagram became the new favorites. Now, TikTok is among the most popular social media apps — even I admit I am slightly addicted to it.

Like many social media sites, TikTok has its dangers too. Just a few months ago, reports claimed that TikTok and its parent company, ByteDance, are under national security review by the U.S. government. The allegations range from censoring content not aligned with the Chinese Communist Party, to sending user data back to the Chinese government. Phone applications like TikTok store vast amounts of personal data such as phone contacts, biographical data, current location, linked social media accounts and more. Much of this data is sold to the highest bidder and used for tasks such as training facial recognition

algorithms, and other analytic technologies, which countries like China and organizations such as Cambridge Analytica use nefariously.

It is not just phone applications that sell your data, but all social media sites. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat all rely on their users for success, but we are not their customers.

We are their product. Our data is worth billions of dollars.

What’s the big deal though? Frankly, why should we care that some advertising companies know where I am shopping right now, or who my friends are, or what foods, shows or movies I like?

Well, our personal data can be used for more than just advertising preferences. In the last several years, billions of online users’ personal data have been hacked. These hackers often have access to phone numbers, email addresses, physical addresses and even Social Security numbers. These data, combined with public social media postings, make millions of Americans easy targets for identity theft and social engineering.

It is not just foreign governments, shady advertisers, or neck-bearded, basement-dwelling hackers that pose a threat either.

In 2018 California police arrested a naked 21-year-old man who stalked a 13-year-old girl on social media

and broke into her home late at night.

Police said that the man used publicly available social media information to find her address. There are cases across the country of criminals using social media to find and stalk victims. When we post location updates or post our favorite ice cream place on Snapchat, we are making it easier for would-be bad actors.

In addition, it is becoming commonplace for employers to search job candidates’ social media postings for adverse information. You may think it’s a good idea to post about that minor crime you committed, or rant about your awful boss, or any number of n o t-s o -g reat things, but employers can and do look up your social media.

Wannabe clearance holders should be especially wary, as social media postings may have an adverse effect on clearance determination.

privacy settings on each social media site are at the most secure level. This includes disabling location tracking, customized advertising, access to contacts and more. Second, make all your social media private. It may be awesome to go viral on Twitter, but having your future employer find that risky tweet you forgot about from 2016 is not worth it. Third, allow only those you know to follow you. If Mr. Earl Sporen from Bangkok, Thailand wants

to follow you on Instagram, perhaps double-check that you know him. Last but not least, use common sense. Be smart about what you post and who you share it with.

At risk of sounding like a “boomer,” social media and the internet are amazing technologies, but be wary of the dangers of oversharing.

FOURTH ESTATE BILLY FERGUSON

Social media platforms have made it easy to share our lives with family and friends, but the prevalence of oversharing on social media has opened Pandora’s box. Status updates, location check-ins, online rants and “private” posts, despite some of our best efforts, are often accessible by employers, predators and trolls. There is no privacy setting that will protect you more than common sense.

So what can be done to protect our data and privacy? First, ensure that your

HOW THE WARREN CAMPAIGN WASTED TWO GOOD SCANDALS JACK HARVEY ASSISTANT OPINION EDITOR

Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren and her campaign staff have made waves in the media during the lead-up to the Iowa caucuses as two stories came out that pitted her against Bernie Sanders.

The first was a Politico news item titled “Bernie campaign slams Warren as candidate of the elite.” The headline refers to a script supposedly to be used for engaging with Warren-sympathetic voters which was posted in a major campaign group chat.

The main point of contention comes from the statement that Warren has a core base of educated, more affluent voters who generally already vote in elections and would be unlikely to bring new members into the party.

This a far cry from the elitism “slam” Politico promised in its headline.

“I hope Bernie reconsiders and turns his campaign in a different direction,” Warren responded to the news.

Had she let the story sit there, it might have allowed a sense of unease about Sanders’ integrity to fester in the minds of the electorate. Her direct response only led to widespread discussion on social media of whether the script was even inappropriate, which reduced the acuteness of the scandal.

Soon after, CNN broke the allegation made by sources close to Warren that Sanders had told her a woman would not win the presidential election.

This claim is damning. Women do

face misogyny in election cycles, and to think Sanders, a prominent leftist figure, would suggest a woman’s candidacy is on-its-face a lost cause is upsetting to the vast majority of left-leaning voters.

Sanders denied the claim and stated that he had told Warren only that President Trump would weaponize sexism against her during the election, which was a Democratic talking point during and after the 2016 election and is reasonable even though it is sad and discouraging.

Had Warren left it there, this might have been a slam-dunk for her in terms of sinking Sanders’ campaign and rallying centrist and progressive support around her own. She did not,

however, and instead chose to simultaneously escalate and mitigate the feud on the debate stage.

It seems Warren wanted to cover all bases on live air and ended up covering none. With the possibility that she had been slighted by a progressive ally still in the news cycle, Warren chose to open with, “Bernie is my friend and I’m not here to fight with Bernie,” before listing her bona-fides as a candidate.

Fine. However, she stood by the CNN story when asked about it at a different point in the debate, putting her directly at odds with Sanders, who denied it, which makes her appear weak by deigning to refer to someone who had allegedly made such a tone-deaf

comment about her as a friend.

Then after the debate, Warren accused Sanders of calling her a liar on national TV in front of still-rolling cameras.

While we can’t know Warren’s true intentions, the move comes off as a last-ditch attempt at mudslinging masquerading as a hot-mic moment, especially when contrasted with Warren’s non-confrontational stance during the debate proper.

It’s hard to track public opinion, but recent polling has shown a surge for Sanders — now in second nationally and ahead of Biden in New Hampshire — while Warren, once a front-runner, sits almost 10 points below. It has yet to be seen for certain, but I think her bargain will cost her.

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