Latest Fourth Estate Articles

Gabriel King/Fourth Estate

BY VIVIANA SMITH, CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Over the weekend, Mason students took to social media to mourn the loss of the fox that roams the Fairfax campus.

On Sunday, Nov. 17 at 10:47 a.m., Mason Police received a phone call about a fox who had been hit by a car outside of the Rappahannock River Parking Deck. Mason Police notified the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to remove the animal off the premises. Though there have been multiple foxes on campus, many have assumed the dead animal was “Georgina.”

Named “Georgina” from users who have posted sightings of her on the r/gmu subreddit, the news of the fox’s death has spread quickly with many in disbelief. 

In a post on r/gmu, user “QAanonymousse” asked for confirmation of the death, to which another user wrote, “yes he really did die!”

“Noo why did he die,” user “Unhappy_Resource5658” wrote in a post. “I am so sad now he was so inspiring and happy to me everyday I would see him and made me laugh and brought me good vibes!”

Students took to various other social media platforms, such as YikYak, Snapchat and Instagram to pay tribute to the fallen fox. 

The Instagram account “gmufox,” a page dedicated to sharing submitted photos of “Georgina” sightings, has reposted several tribute posts onto their Instagram story from various users. In a post originally shared on Nov. 14, one user commented, “fly high georgina.”

“This fox was really something special on campus, always making talk of the town,” wrote user “RedditsNinja23” in a post. “And it’s really unfortunate that it’s gone.” User “yces_12” responded, “RIP Campus Fox 2024-2024 the mascot we didn’t have, but the mascot we needed.”

The event has given way to a recurring concern on campus: reckless driving. In the same post, one user, “RIPNaranc1a,” mentioned reckless behaviors of some drivers on campus noting their disregard for right of way. Another user, “Unhappy-Second-7893” responded with a story of a near-hit experience while crossing the street.  “Some people are just [reckless],” the user wrote. 

Some on social media mentioned the possibility of a funeral. The Mason community has virtually come together to mourn the loss of a beloved character on the Fairfax campus. 

Photo Courtesy of Barbara Burfeind

BY VALENTINA FALA, STAFF WRITER

Margaretta Walker Dombroski, a 2022 Mason alumna, is the Mid-Atlantic Save Our Streams Coordinator at the Izaak Walton League of America. In her role, she collaborates with local communities to combat water pollution. Volunteers monitor stream restoration projects, provide free water monitoring data to their counties, identify problems in their water streams and request immediate action. These efforts empower volunteers to test any body of water from a pond, stream, lake, puddle or even their own tap water.

Dombroski has always been fascinated by biology and later pursued a minor in environment conservation. During her time at Mason, she spent a semester at the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation’s Conservation, Biodiversity, and Society Program, studied wildlife conservation abroad in Kenya and contributed to urban forestry projects in Fairfax County. “Water pollution is something that affects everybody. A lot of the younger generations are really interested in environmental issues and want to take action, so working with the Mason students is a really good opportunity to try to learn,” Dombroski said.

Dombroski mainly coordinates the Virginia Save Our Streams program, where volunteers collect macroinvertebrates from streams to assess pollution levels. This data is sent to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. Participation in the program is free and requires certification through online webinars, an exam and a field day with a local field trainer. “A lot of our pollution now is non-point pollution, which is coming from all over the watershed,” Dombroski said. “Anything that goes into people’s lawns– like fertilizers, salts on roads and sidewalks, microplastics, pesticides–ends up in our waterways and a lot of these are odorless, tasteless, colorless, and invisible to us.”

Another popular initiative is the Nitrate Watch, which provides free kits to volunteers without requiring training or certification. Results from these kits are included in an online database. Nitrate, a pollutant commonly found in fertilizers and animal waste, can lead to nutrient overloading in water. This overloading causes algae blooms that affect aquatic life. Nitrate can also interfere with the body’s ability to transport oxygen, causing blue baby syndrome and increasing cancer risks. “Both salt and nitrate are really hard, if not impossible, to get out of drinking water. Most drinking water facilities do not filter those out. That’s why it is important to keep track of them,” Dombroski said. 

The Salt Watch program follows a similar process and focuses on chloride pollution from causants like excessive road salt in the winter. Road salt can corrode infrastructures, pipes and cause heavy metals like lead to get into drinkable water and surpass regular water filters. “Obviously road salt is really important–we need it because it helps us stay safe in the winter. But we’re advocating for smarter salting practices and less salt since often much more than is necessary gets applied,” Dombroski said.

The Izaak Walton League of America, the oldest conservation organization in the United States, was founded in 1922. On Nov. 20, they will host a kiosk event in the Johnson Center (JC) from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Students will have the opportunity to meet Dombroski, use water-testing kits and learn more about their special programs. “Our mission is to defend the soil, air, woods, water and wildlife of the U.S. to allow people to enjoy them for years to come,” Dombroski said. 

To learn more about how to get involved or to join water monitoring programs, visit the Izaak Walton League of America’s website.

Emma Schaible/ Fourth Estate

BY EMMA SCHAIBLE, STAFF WRITER

On Nov. 11, University Life at Mason Square, in partnership with Mason Votes and the Schar School of Policy and Government, continued the tradition of hosting “Pizza & Perspectives.” The collaborating organizations provided free pizza and hosted a panel to discuss major news stories happening at a national level. Thepanel topic was the results of the 2024 presidential election, with four panelists exploring key factors that capped critical moments in Virginia and national politics. 

The panel consisted of one moderator and three panelists. “A political scientist by training” and Dean of the Schar School of Policy and Government Mark J. Rozell served as moderator. Within Rozell’s line of questioning to panelists, there was an overarching question on whether the election signified a party realignment. 

The first to respond was associate professor Jennifer Victor. Victor’s expertise comes in analyzing the United States Congress, legislative organization and behavior and more. Currently, Victor also runs the First-Year Democracy Lab, a Schar School learning community. Victor argued that it was still too close to the 2024 election in order to have a confident consensus. “Liberals were Democrats, conservatives were Republicans…that sounds like a normal way to organize politics, but it’s not.” Victor said that the current system in which American politics are organized is unstable.

Former member of the House of Delegates David Ramadan continued this dialogue, speaking on how voters perceived several key issues this election cycle. Ramadan is currently a Professor of Practice in the Schar School. While the economy was one of the biggest issues for many voters this year, he discussed how the United States currently has one of the best economies in history, with the stock market at its highest and unemployment at its lowest. 

Ramadan said that many working-class Americans stepped away from the Democratic Party because they failed to recognize issues that were important to the working class and other subpopulations. 

Professor Victor discussed the pattern of characteristics for winning presidential campaigns as seen for nearly the last 60 years. She said that these patterns have nothing to do with candidates, but circumstances. Included were the characteristics of the approval rating of the sitting party, the growth of gross domestic product (GDP) and length of time the incumbent party has been in office. Overall implying that Vice President Kamala Harris had the cards stacked against her. 

The third panelist, former Gov. of Virginia Terry McAuliffe, commented on the trifecta that has been developing in the federal government, as Republicans were projected to win both houses of Congress. Many political analysts believe that the Republicans winning both houses of Congress and the presidency will be a great test of political efficiency.

The panel was then opened to receiving questions from the audience. Members including undergraduates, graduate students and community members from Arlington asked questions ranging from changes the presidency will make in education to the role of misogyny in American elections. 

The panel closed with each panelist giving their own advice to the audience on where Americans need to go from here. Professor Victor encouraged everyone to read the news and get involved in the community, saying “building community is building democracy… that is the fabric of where democracy really happens.” 

“You’re going to win some. You’re going to lose some. Don’t ever despair. Stay engaged,” McAuliffe said. Ramadan closed out the discussion by asking everyone to call out misinformation and reach across political lines to make friends. 

Mitchell Richtmyre/Fourth Estate

Turnovers and missed free throws cost the Patriots

BY GABRIEL KING, CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Mason men’s basketball fell to Central Michigan 70-69 on Wednesday at EagleBank Arena. With the loss, the Patriots finished with a 1-2 record in the Marquette Challenge. The Chippewas also finished 1-2, while event host Marquette went undefeated in three games.

After a strong start, the Patriots trailed for most of the second half. A pair of free throws from senior guard K.D. Johnson gave Mason their first lead of the second half with 5:27 remaining in the game. The Patriots extended their lead to four with 31 seconds remaining but costly turnovers led to Central Michigan’s late comeback.

The Patriots committed 15 turnovers and had more turnovers than assists for the third time this season. The Chippewas scored 19 points off Mason’s turnovers, including the game-winner.

“We’re punting the ball at a high level right now,” Head Coach Tony Skinn said. “15 turnovers [tonight], 18 turnovers [against Marquette] and 17 turnovers [against North Carolina Central].” Mason’s 61 turnovers this season are the most of any team in the Atlantic 10.

With the Patriots up by two, senior guard Jared Billups turned the ball over on an inbounds pass with 14 seconds remaining. The turnover led to Central Michigan guard Damarion Bonds’ game-winning 3-pointer with two seconds left.

“I’ve got to take some accountability there,” Skinn said. “I just knew, once he did that, the game was over. I knew they were going to make a play.”

The Patriots jumped out to a 6-0 lead after back-to-back threes from senior guard Woody Newton. Mason kept a solid lead for most of the first half before Central Michigan went on a 9-2 run to tie the game at 21. The Chippewas carried the momentum into the second half, extending their lead to as much as seven.

Senior guard Darius Maddox led the Patriots in scoring for the fourth consecutive game, scoring 15 points on 5-13 shooting. Maddox is the only Patriots averaging double figures on the season, scoring 18 points per game, and has played at least 30 minutes in three of Mason’s first four games.

While Maddox and Newton made a combined five 3-pointers, the rest of the Patriots struggled from beyond the arc, going 0-8. Mason also struggled from the free throw line, shooting 24-34. In a one-point game, the Patriots’ struggles from the charity stripe proved to be their downfall.

“Tonight we didn’t have the intensity, we weren’t intentional and, in moments, we didn’t play with any intelligence at all, emotionally and physically,” Skinn said.

Mason will look to rebound on Nov. 16 against East Carolina in Greenville, N.C. The Patriots won 81-59 last season at EagleBank Arena in the first game of their home-and-home series with the Pirates. Mason will return home on Nov. 20 for a matchup with winless Coppin State.

Mitchell Richtmyre/Fourth Estate

The Patriots handled Monmouth to set up a crucial road trip

BY GABRIEL KING, CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Mason women’s basketball defeated Monmouth 89-66 on Tuesday at EagleBank Arena to improve to 3-0 on the season. After three straight home wins, the Patriots will play six of their next seven games away from home.

Sophomore guard Kennedy Harris has led the way for the Patriots, averaging 14.7 points in three games and shooting 50% from the field. Against Monmouth, Harris scored a team-high 20 points and made a career-high seven free throws.

“I just took the opportunities,” Harris said. “It’s just another chance for me to score easily at the free throw line.” 

Along with Harris’ strong start, the Patriots have used a balanced attack to smother their opponents. Six Patriots are averaging at least eight points this season, including Harris, graduate student guard Ta’Viyanna Habib and graduate student forward Nalani Kaysia all averaging double figures.

“I think this year, the depth that we have, where it can be anybody’s night… I think that’s what’s going to make us really special,” Head Coach Vanessa Blair-Lewis said.

The Patriots won their first three games by an average of 33 points, the second-best scoring margin in the Atlantic 10. Mason has been able to grow their leads with disruptive defense, as they’ve forced 72 turnovers this season, good for first in the A-10.

While Mason’s defense has been stout, the Patriots have not gone without their occasional struggles. Mason’s opponents have scored at least 20 points in three quarters, including the third and fourth quarters against Monmouth. The Hawks scored 21 points in the third quarter and 20 in the fourth to put some pressure on the Patriots. 

“I just think that there were just some lulls in our defensive commitment tonight,” Blair-Lewis said. “I think that we could definitely do better.” 

In a seven-game stretch that includes three games against power conference opponents, the Patriots will need to play stellar defense to pick up resume-building wins.

The Patriots may be without Kaysia for the road trip. The graduate student left Tuesday’s win with an undisclosed injury.

Mason’s road swing starts at Marshall University on Nov. 17 at 6:00 p.m. The Patriots defeated the Thundering Herd 84-77 at home last season. Mason will then head south for a matchup with Atlantic Coast Conference foe Wake Forest on Nov. 20 in a nationally televised game on ACC Network.

The Patriots return home on Nov. 26, hosting Blair-Lewis’ alma mater Mount St. Mary’s at 7:00 p.m. Student tickets are available through Mason360.

Melanie Jensen/Fourth Estate

BY MELANIE JENSEN, STAFF WRITER

Walking through Wilkins Plaza on Oct. 29, students may have noticed a group praying on the grass outside the Johnson Center. These students represent a small number of the Muslim community on Mason’s Fairfax campus asking for a permanent and adequate space to practice their religion. 

On Nov. 3, the Muslim Student Association (MSA) and Mason Student Government appealed to the Mason administration in an Instagram post, asking the administration to find a permanent and appropriate prayer space for Muslim students on campus. The call to action came after fire marshals closed the designated prayer and meditation space on the third floor of the Johnson Center on Oct. 16. 

Fire marshals deemed the room divider and the high occupancy of the meditation room a fire hazard, leaving hundreds of students and faculty without a space for their daily prayers. The room was reconfigured and temporarily reopened on Oct. 21, but MSA officers said the reconfiguration made the space unsuitable for students’ religious needs. MSA invited female students to continue to use the space, while male students prayed on the grass in front of the Johnson Center on Wilkins Plaza.

“Muslim students had no choice but to complete their congregation of daily prayers outdoors in Wilkins Plaza and have temporarily returned to the JC space, both of which have been undignified and inadequate solutions due to a lack of administrative support,” MSA said in a joint statement with the Cuesta-McAulay administration and Mason Student Government on Instagram. 

In the statement, MSA demanded that Mason administration provide an adequate space for daily prayer and other religious activities and establish a formal line of communication to address current and future concerns. MSA requested that Mason administration actively support Mason’s Muslim community in an effort to maintain Mason’s mission of celebrating diversity. 

According to MSA, the student organization has been asking for a larger and more suitable prayer space to accommodate students’ religious needs for years. Some students expressed feelings of disaffection and being ignored due to Mason administration’s “lack of urgency” to address their requests.

“This has only heightened feelings of alienation amongst Muslim students at a time when incidents of harassment and discrimination have largely gone unaddressed by the university, which has contributed to the degradation of the political climate on campus,” MSA said in the statement. 

On Nov. 9, MSA shared a petition with a list of requests. “As the political climate intensifies and discrimination against Muslim communities grows, it is critical that the university recognizes and supports its Muslim students,” said MSA in the petition statement. MSA asked the Mason community to sign in support of the “over 1,650 members” of their organization. 

“We urge the university to prioritize the establishment of appropriate prayer facilities that reflect the dignity and respect that all students deserve–no community should feel the lack of support that Muslim students currently do,” MSA said.

Fourth Estate reached out to Mason for comment but have yet to hear back. 

Mitchell Richtmyre/Fourth Estate

Mason’s bench outscored Stony Brook’s bench 52-24 to fuel the win

BY CHRISTIAN SEGOVIA, ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Mason men’s basketball bounced back from their loss against Marquette, winning against Stony Brook 94-56 on Nov. 11. Mason senior guard Darius Maddox led the way with 20 points. 

Mason senior guard Jared Billups scored the first two points. Mason got off to an early 26-12 lead with bench points from senior guard  K.D. Johnson, graduate forward  Zach Anderson and junior forward  Giovanni Emejuru. 

Stony Brook used their defensive schemes, shifting from a 3-2 zone to a 2-3 zone to slow down Mason’s offensive game. As Mason passed the ball around, players would get the extra touch to knock down a better shot. Mason was up 46-27 at halftime with the biggest lead at 21 points in the first half. 

“They try to mix it up defensively… 2-3, 3-2, and we were prepared for it after the first or second possession,” Head Coach Tony Skinn said. “It’s good to see the ball going in the hoop, 11 threes. I will take that on any night.”

Mason shot 16-27 on field goals and 50% from the 3-point line, while Stony Brook shot 32.1% from the field and 2-13 from the 3-point line. Mason’s bench outscored Stony Brook’s bench 30-10.

In the first half, Anderson led the way off the bench with 15 points, shooting 5-6 from the 3-point line with five rebounds. Johnson had seven points on 2-4 shooting from the 3-point line and five assists. Emejuru had six points, shooting 3-3 from the field goal with two rebounds. 

Mason gained their largest lead of the night during the second half with 39 points. Maddox scored 16 points in the second half and the bench finished with 52 points as a group. Mason closed the game with a 94-56 win over Stony Brook, marking their largest win in two seasons.

“We have a bunch of guys that can go [for] 20 plus every night,” Anderson said when asked about bench production. “Some nights you take the backseat and some nights it’s your night, so today was my night.” Andreson finished the game with 15 points and seven rebounds.

Mason’s defense shut down Stony Brook, holding the Seawolves to 31.7% shooting from the field and 19.2% from the 3-point line. Mason recorded 12 steals while Stony Brook recorded five steals. Mason outrebounded Stony Brook 43-31. 

Mason will play again on Nov 13. at 7 p.m. against Central Michigan in the final game of the Marquette Challenge at EagleBank Arena. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and student tickets are available through Mason360. 

Mitchell Richtmyre/Fourth Estate

Mason wins 2-0 against La Salle to keep their championship hopes alive

BY CHRISTIAN SEGOVIA, ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

On Nov. 8th, Mason’s Men Soccer advanced to the Atlantic 10 semifinals after winning 2-0 against La Salle. Mason is the first team in Division I to hit 13 wins this season.

In the first 10 minutes, Mason dominated the game with strong ball movement on the field to find any chance of scoring. In the 15th minute, La Salle almost scored a goal, but it was called off due to a foul inside the box.

Whenever Mason lost the ball, the Patriots added pressure to La Salle and regained possession quickly. With this style of play, La Salle struggled to create chances. 

In the 33rd minute, Mason freshman forward Martim Sereno, on the right side of the field, found Mason graduate student defender Jordi Navio Sanchez running inside the box. Sanchez passed the ball to sophomore midfielder Javier Montava, who ran from the outside box to the inside box, then kicked the ball to the bottom left corner, putting Mason up 1-0.

Things started to get chippy in the second half for the teams, as both sides started to receive yellow cards. In the 59th minute, Mason sophomore forward Quentin Clain started a breakaway for Mason’s attack but it ended shortly because of La Salle midfielder Nevin Baer’s tackle, costing him a yellow card.

La Salle committed 12 fouls while Mason committed six fouls. La Salle received 6 yellow cards and one red card while Mason received 2 yellow cards.

In the 73rd minute, the Explorers gave the ball away to Mason sophomore forward Kelly Janssen. Janssen took the ball down the left, passed two of La Salle’s defenders, and got the ball over La Salle’s goalkeeper. Janssen kicked the ball down the middle, putting Mason up 2-0.

Mason had eight shots on target in the game, including Montava’s second goal of the season and a third goal for Janssen.

Graduate goalkeeper Jaume Salvado received his sixth clean sheet of the season after Mason’s defense conceded no goals.

Mason looks to add to its 8-1 record at home as they face Saint Louis at George Mason Stadium on Nov. 13 in the A-10 semifinals. Student tickets are available through Mason360.

Viviana Smith/Fourth Estate

BY NATHAN FERRARO, STAFF WRITER

You don’t have to visit another country to experience culture shock. For me, it was moving from a small town in Western Pennsylvania to just outside Washington, D.C. In particular, public transportation has required me to adjust to a new way of living and working. 

One of the perks of attending Mason is the accessibility of public transportation: two free bus routes, six shuttle routes, six metro lines, and three train systems are readily available, affordable and easy to use. 

I come from an area where the only mode of public transportation is the school bus system—much less any type of passenger rail system.

When you’re used to traveling everywhere by car — determining when you leave, arrive and how fast you get there — it’s hard to adjust to the somewhat unpredictable ebb and flow of public transportation.

The many benefits of public transit are hard to ignore. However, there are some drawbacks, many of which center around timeliness. 

The hardest aspect of getting used to public transportation has been the wait time. Tracking a bus live on TransLoc doesn’t always ensure it will arrive when it says it will. When the bus is in high demand, it means more stops and longer wait times. Despite this, it’s hard to be mad at a free ride.

One of the greatest benefits of public transportation is the environmental impact. 

“Transportation is a key element of smart growth and can be leveraged to increase access to opportunity, reduce pollution, improve community health outcomes and help the nation reach its climate goals,” according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 

When more people use public transportation, traffic levels decrease and there is less negative impact on the environment. 

Imagine how much more traffic there would be if every single person who takes the Metro into D.C. drove by themselves to the city. It’s bad enough as it is. 

If there’s one thing the collective United States is known for lacking, it’s a robust public transportation system. Especially compared to Europe, the U.S. is seen as a hyper-individualistic, gas-guzzling overlord. 

However, many metropolitan areas are increasingly providing support for public transportation. 

D.C. is ranked fifth in the nation as one of the best cities for public transportation; along with Arlington, Virginia, ranking tenth. 

The reason for America’s car-dependent infrastructure and culture goes back several decades ago, to the early 1900s. That car-centered culture has carried on to the 2000s and beyond. 

While countries in Asia and Europe are implementing ultra-modern hyper trains, the U.S. still lags behind, opting instead for paving sidewalks that end in the middle of nowhere and planning neighborhoods that make owning a car the way of life. 

The future of public transportation in the U.S. is uncertain. However, more city centers are eliminating car-dependent traffic structures and implementing bus lanes and green spaces. 

The results of the 2024 presidential election are also sure to set the stage for the coming years of public transportation development. 

 The incoming conservative administration will most likely not prioritize public transit, opting instead to promote the natural gas, fossil fuel and automobile industries. 

Mitchell Richtmyre/Fourth Estate

Mason women’s basketball gets their second win of the season against Towson

BY CHRISTIAN SEGOVIA, ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

On Nov. 9, Mason women’s basketball won their second game of the season against Towson 76-55. Mason sophomore guard Kennedy Harris led the way with 17 points, a career-high seven assists, six rebounds and three steals. A 26-6 dominant third quarter led the Patriots to victory.

“They were hitting the open shots, I was just looking for them,”  Harris said about her career-high in assists. “That’s all credit to them… every single time they shot, they made it. ”

Graduate student guard Ta’Viyanna Habib got Mason’s first points by hitting a 3-pointer. Mason moved the ball well in the first quarter and drew early contact on Towson to get to the free-throw line. They got good defensive stops on Towson, and ended the first quarter up 22-13.

Mason continued to get stops and hit their shots in the second quarter but Towson stuck around. Towson outscored Mason 21-16 in the second quarter.

At halftime, Mason was up 38-34, as Harris led the way with 12 points and three assists and Habib with seven points and two rebounds. Mason held Towson to 13-30 on field goals, 4-11 from the three-point line, and had five steals while Towson had none. Mason shot 15-34 from field goal, 4-12 from three and had six turnovers.

Mitchell Richtmyre/Fourth Estate

Mason went on a 26-6 run in the third quarter, where the highest lead they got was 24. Mason then went on to win the game 76-55.

“I think as a coaching staff, we’re still in the early stages of figuring out who plays well together and does this well together,” Mason head coach Vanessa Blair-Lewis said. “I think tonight by halftime they put it all together and we had a really good third quarter.”

Including Harris, three Patriots scored in double figures. Junior forward Zahirah Walton finished the game with 14 points, five rebounds and two steals. Senior guard Paula Suárez finished the game with 10 points, three rebounds and one steal. 

Mason outscored Towson on points off turnovers 28-10. Mason’s bench produced more points than Towson and Mason stole the ball 11 times while Towson only stole the ball once.

Mason shot 29-59 from the field goal, 6-19 from the three-point line and 12-14 from the free throw line. Towson shot 22-54 from the field goal, 6-21 from the three-point line and 5-8 from the free throw line.

The Patriots play Monmouth University at EagleBank Arena on Nov. 12. The game will tip-off at 7:00 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+. Student tickets are available through Mason360.

Photo courtesy of Mercy Wolverton

One of the newest and fastest-growing sports at Mason

BY SAM DOUGLAS, STAFF WRITER

Mason has a variety of sports available on campus. Some are more well known than others, such as men’s and women’s basketball, which fills the many seats at the EagleBank Arena. However, there are a number of unhonored teams at the school filled with talented and passionate athletes.

Mason’s Women’s Club Ice Hockey team was founded in 2019 but was halted by the COVID-19 pandemic and didn’t resume operations until 2023. Senior Serena Robinson took over as president with the goal of revitalizing the club. “I restarted the club from two people to getting it to more or less the point it is at now,” Robinson said.

Currently, the club consists of 16 people and practices are held at SkateQuest in Reston. They compete in the Delaware Valley Collegiate Hockey Conference (DVCHC) Division III section. This season is their first time competing since the pandemic. “We’re very excited for the season, and we’re looking to get GMU back into a hockey school,” Robinson said.

The team doesn’t get a lot of funding from the school since they are not a Mason-sponsored sport. The funds they got from Mason were only enough to cover the cost of using the arena for practice.

Photo courtesy of Mercy Wolverton

“Everything else we had to [raise] from fundraising dues or other means of allocation, all on our own,” sophomore Mercy Wolverton, the team’s current president, said.

Even with limited funding, the club is still able to make trips to play teams in Maryland and Pennsylvania as part of the DVCHC.  The club continues to grow, as they have three experienced coaches on board. “We’re definitely doing even more than we were able to do last year and hopefully that will continue to be increasing,” Wolverton said.

No experience is required to join the team. More information about Mason Women’s Club Ice Hockey can be found on their website.

Viviana Smith/ Fourth Estate

BY PHILLIP KIM, STAFF WRITER

Editor’s note: This article contains spoilers, discussions of mental health and mentions of sexual and physical violence.

The release of “Joker” in 2019 was a landmark moment in film history.

The psychological thriller won the prestigious Golden Lion prize at the Venice International Film Festival– a first for a comic book adaptation– and went on to become the highest-grossing R-rated movie prior to the release of Marvel Studios’ “Deadpool & Wolverine.” After such overwhelming critical and commercial success, many considered a sequel inevitable.

When the long-awaited “Joker: Folie à Deux” arrived in theaters, it was met with harsh criticism.  Fans and critics alike have labeled it an insult to the first film and previous iterations of the titular villain. “It’s almost as if they made an active effort to ruin everything that made the first one great,” one IMDB.com user wrote.

Is it really?

“Joker Folie à Deux” opens with a disturbing sequence in which prison guards brutally mistreat a visibly weak and dispirited Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix). Subsequently, the jester-turned-murderer encounters two women: his attorney Maryanne Stewart (Catherine Keener), who advises him to repress the murderer inside him, and a self-claimed fan, named Harleen Quinzel (Lady Gaga) who encourages Fleck to do the opposite.

Fleck’s fragile state may surprise those who expected him to have evolved into a criminal mastermind after the events of the previous motion picture. However, “Joker” never explicitly suggested such a future awaited its protagonist. 

At first, the depressed criminal’s fear of capital punishment forces him to follow his counsel’s recommendations to claim insanity. Then, assured by Quinzel that the public will love and admire Joker, Fleck fires Stewart and fully embodies the new persona. Citizens erupt in thunderous applause, welcoming back their mascot.

Director Todd Phillips continues to show deep empathy for society’s outcasts. He portrays Fleck’s yearning to be understood and embraced, causing his vulnerability to Quinzel’s manipulations. Through promises of affection and sexual pleasure, Quinzel pulls Fleck further into the depths of madness.

The performance quickly comes to an end when Joker is confronted with the reality that he was not a hero nor an antihero. Former co-worker Gary Puddles (Leigh Gill) testifies in court he always considered Fleck a friend but was traumatized after witnessing his crime. The failed comedian is shaken, then returns to prison to be physically and sexually assaulted by his jailers.

Fleck could no longer claim he had no choice but to turn to evil. He could no longer argue that his actions were merely retaliations against the bullies. He was just a common criminal driven by self-pity and self-loathing. Any remaining delusion of superiority is shattered when the great Joker finds himself helpless against simple violence by ignorant warders.

As the film comes to a close, Fleck once again stands in the courtroom and takes responsibility for all his murders. “Joker was a made-up character,” he says. “I am just me.” All the fans, including Quinzel, quickly dissipate. They cared about the revolutionary, not the actual man behind the illusion.

In this moment, the sorrowful comic is making one last call for redemption. He is not the leader of a movement rallying for support, but a broken man crying for help. Society denies him this final wish.

“Joker: Folie à Deux” is painfully honest. If one were to ask what the most realistic course of events to follow the ending of “Joker” is, the answer wouldn’t deviate much from what unfolds in this film. Phillips could have easily abandoned the realism for a more conventional action adventure storyline but chose instead to honor the spirit of the first movie. He continued to scrutinize how cruel society can be to people like Fleck to the very end.

The filmmaker also honors previous iterations of the character by eliminating any possible ties between them and Fleck. He clearly understands that Joker, such as one from “The Dark Knight,” must not have a defined backstory nor a known origin. Fleck is a completely separate character, merely inspired by the comic book villain.

Most importantly, “Joker: Folie à Deux” serves as a warning. It shows why violence cannot be the way out for those struggling with pain and misery. It asks viewers to look around and take care of each other, as that may be all it takes to prevent someone from becoming the next Fleck.

“Joker: Folie à Deux” is a divisive film that makes little effort to entertain. What it does offer is a thorough psychological portrayal of loneliness and self-destruction. It is a scathing critique of society’s lack of genuine concern for its members and a plea for change. This is not a film for everyone, but for many, it will strike a deeply resonant chord.

Sam Douglas/ Fourth Estate

BY SAM DOUGLAS, STAFF WRITER

On Nov. 1, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals Foundation (PETA), sent a record request letter to Mason leadership. PETA demanded Mason deliver documents that PETA requested in February regarding animal experimentation and research on campus.

“If PETA does not receive the responsive records by November 15, 2024, it will be compelled to pursue its legal remedies under Virginia’s Freedom of Information Act,” said the letter, written by PETA’s Chief Legal Officer and Mason alum Jeffrey Kerr.

 On Feb. 21, the organization sent a public record request for information including veterinary records, incident reports and photographs. The request was related to a November 2022 incident where expired antibiotics were “suggested” to have been used in surgeries on animals. Kerr explained that they learned of this incident through publicly available documents from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). 

Despite this, a representative from the NIH Office of Extramural Research said that “NIH generally does not publicly post self-reported cases of noncompliance… and NIH discusses such cases only with the people and institutions involved.” 

After being told that the FOIA request would cost $700, PETA sent a check on March 12; however, they didn’t hear back from the university until Sept. 23– more than six months later.

The Virginia Freedom of Information Act states that if a FOIA request is not responded to within five days, that public body “shall have an additional seven work days,” to complete the request. If the public body does not complete the request within 12 days, a reason must be given to the requester. The public body can further “petition the appropriate court for additional time” but this is only applicable to “an extraordinary volume of records”, a large search time, or if the search prevents the public body from “meeting its operational responsibilities.”  This is reflected on Mason’s FOIA Requests page under “Mason’s Responsibilities in Responding to Your Request.” 

“We had a breakdown on communication internally,” GMU Vice President and Chief Brand Officer Paul Allvin said. “We screwed this one up.”

According to Allvin, there was a disconnect between PETA’s check coming in and the university’s FOIA officer at the time, Susan Harris. Harris hadn’t been alerted to the check coming in, leading to the request going into the university’s “paused” queue. 

“That’s ridiculous… just reprehensible,” Kerr said. “The university delay undermines the very purpose of the Virginia FOIA Act.”

Allvin attributed the further delay to redacting private document information in accordance with Virginia’s privacy laws and said that the incident caused the office to change the way that they are notified when payment comes in. “We wish this hadn’t happened,” Allvin said.

PETA received a batch of 58 PDF documents from the university on the morning of Nov. 5. Despite this, Kerr was still not pleased.

“It’s the legally required outcome. It’s not a good outcome to suggest that the university failed in its legal obligations for eight months. A good outcome for PETA would be for GMU to stop doing useless experiments on animals,” Kerr said.

Gabriel King/ Fourth Estate

BY VIVIANA SMITH, CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Have you seen some furry friends roaming the Fairfax campus lately? 

Besides the geese, ducks and turtles at Mason pond, there have been several reported sightings of wildlife such as foxes and deer on campus. 

In a reddit post on the subreddit r/gmu, user “Funky_Fruit_Saled” shared a video of a fox outside of Innovation Hall. “To whoever posted the video with the fox, I saw one jogging near Innovation Hall the other day,” they wrote. 

Several users responded, sharing their own sightings. “I saw that same fox when I was walking down the strip yesterday! I see it everywhere too,” one user commented. 

More recently, a fox was reported outside Innovation Hall again, this time even closer to people walking around campus. In a reddit post, the fox was shown running behind the bike rack and sniffing the ground as onlookers casually walked by. 

Some users noted how calm the fox appeared in the video. “Literally the first fox I’ve ever seen be this comfortable around people,” one user commented. “I hope they’re treated kindly.”

According to The Humane Society of the United States, “when people repeatedly approach wildlife, the animals may lose their natural fear of humans through a process called habituation.” The perceived comfortability of some of our wildlife could imply that they are simply used to the Mason lifestyle– they know you have a lab in 20 minutes!

In addition to fox sightings, deer have been popping up around campus, enjoying the gentle fall air before it gets too cold. 

Viviana Smith/ Fourth Estate

On Oct. 22, a small deer was spotted near Mason Pond, grazing on tufts of grass in the mulch. Onlookers took pictures from a respectful distance before moving on. 

The Fairfax campus is home to plenty of critters– so many that they are a part of the Mason experience. It’s not uncommon to encounter a curious squirrel between classes or to see birds flying around the Johnson Center atrium during the lunch rush. For commuters, it’s important to stay vigilant while driving– you may spot a deer running across the road!

Despite the coexistence of humans and wildlife on campus, it’s important to remember to keep a respectful distance from all animals. 

Fall is the ideal time for wildlife to begin preparing for the winter, so it’s typical to see a slight rise in animal activity and sightings as we say “goodbye” to autumn. As winter slowly approaches, let’s try to enjoy the last few weeks of comfortable weather alongside our furry friends at Mason. 

Mitchell Richtmyre/Fourth Estate

Mason men’s basketball won their season opener against NC Central in its annual Gold Rush game

BY CHRISTIAN SEGOVIA, ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

On Nov. 4, Mason’s Men Basketball won their season opener against North Carolina Central 75-58. Mason guard Darius Maddox led the way with 17 points and five rebounds, while guard Jared Billups had eight points and 10 rebounds. North Carolina Central hung around early with strong defense before the Patriots used a 17-0 run to pull away.

“I knew the way that they junk it up defensively, it was going to speed us up,” Head Coach Tony Skinn said. “I got to credit [North Carolina Central Head Coach] LeVelle [Moton], just because that’s kind of his DNA.” 

Forward Jalen Haynes scored the first two points for Mason. North Carolina Central started to get into foul trouble early on, which helped Mason find their groove and tempo in the game with good ball movement.

Mason got out to a 17-0 run in the first half. Mason’s defense held North Carolina Central to a 16% shooting while Mason shot 41%. The Patriots held a 32-22 halftime lead over the Eagles.

Mason’s biggest lead came in the second half by 21 points. Even though Mason turned the ball over 17 times, their defensive stops kept them in control. Mason held North Carolina Central to 16-57 from the field, and 5-21 from the 3-point line.

North Carolina Central held Mason to 21-51 from the field and 2-17 from the 3-point line. However, North Carolina Central’s foul trouble sent the Patriots to the free-throw line 41 times. Mason took advantage of these opportunities, shooting 31-41 on free throws to overcome their poor shooting from the field.

Jordan Giles/Fourth Estate

“I got to credit their defense for taking us out of offense,” Skinn said. “ I got to go back and watch because I was prepared for their 1-3-1 [zone], not so much their 3-2 [zone].”

Haynes was dominant in the paint, crashing the boards and getting rebounds for Mason. Haynes got into foul trouble but forward Giovanni Emejuru came off the bench to fill the role that Haynes had been in.

Haynes and Emejuru each had 11 points and six rebounds to help Mason dominate inside. The Patriots outscored the Eagles 32-20 in the paint.

Skinn wants to play Haynes and Emejuru at the same time, with Haynes at power forward and Emejuru at center.  “If  I had to create a crystal ball of minutes, Geo [Emejuru] would be playing 20 and Jalen would play [between] 25 and 28,” Skinn said. “Certain games are going to allow us to be able to do that.” 

“We’ve got to be able to rep a few things a little bit more in practice, but defensively, I was happy in moments,” Skinn said. “We’ve got to be able to keep our foot on the gas. And if we’ve got a 21-point lead, you know, kind of stretch that to 25-28.”

The Patriots play No. 18 Marquette on Nov. 8 in their first big test of the season. Mason will travel to Milwaukee to play the Golden Eagles as part of the Marquette Challenge. Tip-off is set for 9:00 p.m. and the game will be streamed on Peacock.

Christian Segovia/Fourth Estate

BY CHRISTIAN SEGOVIA, ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Netflix released a 10-episode NBA documentary called “Starting 5” focusing on five players during the NBA 2023-2024 season: Lebron James, Anthony Edwards, Jimmy Butler, Jayson Tatum and Domantas Sabonis.

How the documentary focused on each of the players’ stories throughout the season made the series enjoyable.These stories ranged from the specific goals of each player to focusing on injuries, families and backgrounds that will make non-basketball fans become captivated. For non-basketball fans, the series even gave information about each player and the NBA. 

What I loved about LeBron James’ season is how he still wants to give it his all on the floor despite playing for 21 seasons. He finds time to spend with his family and, in the documentary, we get to see the goofy side of James. An amazing part about James is his basketball IQ, especially when explaining to his teammates what the other team is going to do and what he needs his team to do defensively.

Following Jayson Tatum’s season, which included an NBA championship, I appreciated Tatum’s mindset. He is willing to prove someone wrong if they think he couldn’t do something. During the NBA Finals, Tatum was willing to sacrifice his part of the game when it required his teammates to be more involved to avoid dropping 30 points in a game. His sacrifice got the Celtics their 18th banner for Boston.

While watching the series, it felt like we only saw Tatum a few times throughout the documentary and there was some rushing in his storyline with him winning an NBA championship. Although, in the playoffs, it was cool to see the players go against other players that weren’t from the “Starting 5” but I wish we got more of that.

The aftermath of Jimmy Butler’s season with the Miami Heat was emotional. Butler’s injuries kept him rested so he didn’t damage his body but if it was an important game, he would fight through the injury. He dealt with the loss of his dad during the season, explained the struggles of losing someone you love and used basketball as an escape.

Seeing his season throughout the documentary taught people that athletes are human, too. They have stuff going on behind the scenes that people don’t see often. Seeing this reminded me that sometimes people can forget they are more than just basketball players. 

Going into Anthony Edwards’ season, I was expecting more of Edwards’ ego as a player; however, I finished the documentary knowing Edwards is young figuring out life while having a baby with his girlfriend. He still doesn’t care who he faces every night on the basketball court but I wouldn’t be surprised if he becomes the face of the league in a few years.

For Domantas Sabonis’ season, it was amazing to see his leadership skills develop with the Sacramento Kings. The microphone picks up Sabonis talking to his teammates about when to move, where to be on the court and when to be ready for him to pass to them. Through all of his battles in the season, he showed his toughness.

The documentary shoots good angles of the players when they are on the court. Letting viewers see how tired these athletes are after a game ends and how they prep for the next game while highlighting what they do in their free time afterward.

I feel the documentary did miss its chance to dig into how players do film reviews against other teams and see how seriously they take their practices. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the documentary and would rate it an overall four out of five and look forward to season two.

Madalyn Godfrey/Fourth Estate

Fourth Estate’s minute-by-minute coverage of the 2024 presidential election

 BY GABRIEL KING, CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

As the polls close and America turns its eyes to the results, join Fourth Estate for live, minute-by-minute coverage of the 2024 presidential election. From breaking news and state races to real-time updates, we’ll keep you informed as the nation decides between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.

8:41 a.m.: In an unprecedented political comeback, Trump secures the presidency

Former President Donald Trump has been declared the winner of the 2024 presidential election. Trump will become the first president since Grover Cleveland to serve two non-consecutive terms.

Wisconsin pushed Trump over 270 electoral votes. Trump won the Badger State and its 10 electoral votes, which puts him at 277 total.

2:35 a.m: Trump delivers speech at the Trump HQ to celebrate campaign

After securing Pennsylvania to bring his electoral vote total to 267, Donald Trump celebrated his anticipated victory at Trump HQ in West Palm Beach, Fla. Trump called his campaign the “greatest political movement of all time.”

While Trump has not secured the necessary 270 electoral votes, he holds a significant lead in each of the states that have yet to be called. Alaska, Arizona, Michigan, Nevada and Wisconsin are all leaning in Trump’s direction and a victory in any of those states would clinch his presidency.

2:18 a.m: Trump prepares to address supporters, expected to declare victory

With Donald Trump closing in on a victory in Pennsylvania, the former president plans to address supporters in West Palm Beach, Fla. In the speech, Trump is expected to declare his victory.

12:58 a.m.: Trump wins Georgia in his second battleground victory of the night

Former President Trump won Georgia and its 16 electoral votes as he inches closer to a return to the White House. Trump now sits at 247 electoral votes, as he also gained an additional vote in Nebraska’s 1st Congressional District.

12:54 a.m.: Harris no longer speaking at Howard University tonight

Kamala Harris will not speak tonight at her campaign watch party at Howard University as previously planned, Harris-Walz campaign Co-Chair Cedric Richmond announced. “You won’t hear from the Vice President tonight, but you will hear from her tomorrow,” Richmond said. Harris currently trails Donald Trump 230-210 in the electoral vote.

12:39 a.m.: Trump outperforming his metrics from 2020

As former President Trump cements a strong lead, he continues to outperform his totals from the 2020 election. Trump has taken the lead in Georgia and Pennsylvania, two states he lost to President Joe Biden in 2020. If Trump wins both states, his second term would be secured.

12:02 a.m.: Polls in Hawaii close, state is immediately called for Harris

In one of the last poll closures of the night, Hawaii was awarded to Vice President Harris. Harris’ total now sits at 209 electoral votes after gaining The Aloha State’s four votes.

Alaska is the only state yet to close its polls, which will close at 1:00 a.m.

11:43 p.m.: Virginia goes to Harris after tight race

After a back-and-forth race, Kamala Harris won the Commonwealth of Virginia and its 13 electoral votes. Donald Trump made a significant push but Virginia stayed blue for the fifth consecutive presidential election.

Following this result, Trump leads Harris 230-205 in the race to 270.

11:35 p.m.: Harris wins Oregon and New Mexico

Kamala Harris won New Mexico and Oregon to bring her total to 192 electoral votes. Despite these victories, the election will still come down to the six remaining battleground states, particularly Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

11:20 p.m.: Trump wins North Carolina in first battleground result of election night

Donald Trump won the state of North Carolina and its 16 electoral votes. One of the seven swing states of the election, North Carolina gives Trump a significant advantage as the race tightens. Trump now has 230 electoral votes, needing only 40 more to secure the presidency.

11:03 p.m.: Late poll closures give Harris big boost

As projected, Vice President Harris earned 54 electoral votes in her home state of California, along with Washington’s 12 electoral votes to bring her total to 179.

Former President Trump earned four electoral votes in Idaho after the 11:00 p.m. closures, putting him at 214 electoral votes.

10:53 p.m: Harris expected to make up ground after 11:00 p.m. closures

With Trump leading the electoral vote 210-113, Harris is expected to close the gap in the 11:00 hour. California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington close their polls at 11:00.

Harris is projected to claim California, Oregon and Washington, while Trump is expected to win Idaho. Barring any surprises, these results would tighten the race, putting even more emphasis on the seven battleground states

10:47 p.m.: Trump avoids upset in Iowa, secures six more electoral votes in Kansas

Despite a late push from Kamala Harris, Donald Trump won the state of Iowa. On Saturday, pollster J. Ann Selzer released a poll that showed Harris with a slim lead in the traditionally red state. However, Trump maintained his hold on the state for the third consecutive election. The former president also won Kansas.

Trump’s victories in Iowa and Kansas give him 12 more electoral votes, as he now sits at 210 electoral votes, 60 away from the presidency.

10:22 p.m.: Harris wins D.C., site of her campaign’s watch party

Vice President Kamala Harris claimed Washington, D.C.’s three electoral votes to bring her total to 112 after her earlier victory in Colorado. Harris is holding her campaign watch party in the nation’s capital at her alma mater, Howard University.

10:03 p.m.: Trump earns expected wins in Montana and Utah

As projected, former President Trump won six electoral votes in Utah and four in Montana. These victories bring Trump’s total to 198 electoral votes.

9:56 p.m.: Trump wins Missouri to extend his lead

Donald Trump claimed Missouri’s 10 electoral votes. Trump also won Missouri in 2016 and 2020.

Entering the 10:00 hour, Trump leads Harris 188-99 with the key battlegrounds still in play.

9:53 p.m.: Three more states close their polls at 10:00 p.m., including one battleground

Montana, Nevada and Utah will close their polls at 10:00 p.m. Montana and Utah are expected to go to Trump, as both states have long leaned Republican in presidential elections.

Nevada is one of the biggest swing states in the election. Despite holding less electoral votes, six, than other swing states, Nevada could play a pivotal role in deciding the presidency. Similar to Arizona, Nevada could take days to reach a final result.

9:34 p.m.: Trump claims three electoral votes in Nebraska

After winning the statewide electoral vote in Nebraska, Donald Trump also won state’s 3rd Congressional District, giving him three total in the Cornhusker State. Two more electoral votes remain in Nebraska’s two other congressional districts. Kamala Harris currently leads in both districts.

9:14 p.m.: Ohio and Texas go to Trump

Donald Trump was victorious in Ohio and Texas, giving him 57 more electoral votes. Both victories were expected, as Trump has won Ohio in each of his three presidential campaigns and Texas has not gone blue since the 1976 presidential election.

9:02 p.m: 9:00 closures bring Trump four more states; Harris claims New York

Former President Donald Trump claimed Louisiana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming to gain 17 more electoral votes. However, Harris was the big winner in the early stages of the 9:00 hour, winning New York and its 28 electoral votes.

Trump holds a 120-99 lead in the race to 270.

8:51 p.m.: Next polls close at 9:00 p.m., including swing states Arizona, Michigan and Wisconsin

9:00 p.m. will see polls in 15 states close. This includes battlegrounds Arizona, Michigan and Wisconsin, which will play a pivotal role in the election as three of the seven swing states. Arizona is expected to take the longest of the three to count its votes, as full results could take weeks to tally.

8:40 p.m.: Illinois goes to Harris

Vice President Kamala Harris earned a much-needed victory in the state of Illinois. The victory gives Harris 19 electoral votes, bringing her total to 71.

8:37 p.m.: Harris wins Delaware and New Jersey, Trump wins Arkansas; key battlegrounds still too close to call

Kamala Harris won the state of New Jersey and its 14 electoral votes and Delaware and its three electoral votes, while Donald Trump claimed Arkansas and its six electoral votes. Trump leads 101-52 in the race to 270.

Elsewhere, battlegrounds Georgia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania remain neck-and-neck. Trump holds slim leads in Georgia and North Carolina with many urban votes yet to be counted. Harris holds a sizable lead in Pennsylvania but less than 10% of the Keystone State’s votes have been counted

8:07 p.m.: Massive vote closures give both candidates a significant boost

Polls in 17 states closed at 8:00 p.m. Former President Donald Trump claimed Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Tennessee to bring his total to 95 electoral votes. Trump also won South Carolina, which had its polls close at 7:00 p.m.

Vice President Kamala Harris won Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts and Rhode Island to continue to the Democrats’ northeast dominance. These four states brought Harris’ total to 35 electoral votes.

7:43 p.m.: Trump has early lead in Georgia with many Democratic votes yet to come in

With 12% of the state’s vote counted, Donald Trump has an early lead in Georgia. Another key battleground state, Georgia carries 16 electoral votes. Despite Trump’s early lead, the gap is expected to narrow due to votes in urban counties that have yet to be counted. Kamala Harris is favored in Georgia’s urban areas, which could turn the state in her favor.

7:31 p.m.: West Virginia officially goes to Trump

West Virginia and its four electoral votes will go to Donald Trump, bringing his total to 23. Republican Jim Justice also won the state’s Senate election, flipping West Virginia’s seat.

7:30 p.m.: Next wave of polls close, including key battleground North Carolina

Polls in North Carolina, Ohio and West Virginia closed at 7:30. Ohio and West Virginia are expected to be victories for Donald Trump.

North Carolina is a battleground state that could dictate the results of the election. The winner of the Tarheel State will claim 16 key electoral votes in the race to 270.

7:06 p.m.: Trump wins Indiana

For the third straight presidential election, Donald Trump won the state of Indiana. This gives Trump 11 electoral votes, bringing his total to 19.

7:00 p.m.: Kentucky goes to Trump, Vermont to Harris

After the first wave of poll closures, Kentucky was called for former President Trump and Vermont went to Vice President Harris. All other states that closed at 7:00 p.m. are still too close to call. 

These early calls give Trump the lead with eight electoral votes, while Harris sits at three electoral votes.

6:54 p.m.: Both candidates urge voters to stay in line

With record turnouts expected across the country, both presidential candidates are urging voters to stay in line after polls close. “If you are in line before the polls close, stay in line,” Vice President Harris said in a post on X.

In a TikTok also posted on X, former President Trump said to “make sure you get through and vote.”

6:05 p.m.: First polls close in Indiana, Kentucky

Select polls in Indiana and Kentucky closed at 6:00 p.m. While neither state has been called, both states are expected to go to Donald Trump. The remaining polls in Indiana and Kentucky, along with all polls in Georgia, South Carolina, Vermont and Virginia, close at 7:00 p.m.

5:27 p.m.: NC extends voting in two precincts

North Carolina extended voting 30 minutes in two precincts due to technology issues, the North Carolina State Board of Elections announced. Polls at a precinct in Burke County and a precinct in Wilson County will be open until 8:00 p.m.

4:54 p.m.: Both campaigns prepare for close race as the first polls close in just over one hour

With the first polls closing at 6:00 p.m., both presidential campaigns are settling in for what is expected to be a long night. Vice President Harris spent the afternoon phone banking at the Democratic National Committee headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Former President Trump will watch the results from Mar-a-Lago this evening. After casting his ballot today, Trump told reporters that he is “very confident” heading into the night.

Valentina Fala/ Fourth Estate

BY VALENTINA FALA, STAFF WRITER

Marijana Grbeša-Zenzerović, a Fulbright Scholar from Croatia, has traveled the world pursuing academic excellence in communication. From earning her master’s degree in the United Kingdom to completing a Ph.D. in Slovenia and teaching at Penn State University, Grbeša-Zenzerović’s journey is nothing short of remarkable.

At Mason, Grbeša-Zenzerović engages with students in digital advertising and strategic communication courses while conducting  research on the current U.S. presidential elections and its disinformation. She plans to compare these findings with her previous research in Europe.

Grbeša-Zenzerović’s interest in Mason transpired from her recent studies in celebrity culture and the Lab for Character Assassination and Reputation Politics. Directed by Mason professor Sergei Samoilenko, CARP studies “character assassination and reputation management” and focuses efforts on researching, teaching and assessing character assassinations to understand and help others understand this phenomenon, according to CARP’s official website. Grbeša-Zenzerović will be participating in CARP’s annual conference in March 2025.

“I first came [to Mason] in August. I haven’t been here for long but I have this feeling that I have been here for a very long time which, basically, that’s how I feel at home here,” Grbeša-Zenzerović said.

Back in Croatia, Grbeša-Zenzerović teaches political marketing, political communication, mass media and strategic communication at the University of Zagreb. Her research includes European elections and their media coverage.

Grbeša-Zenzerović was inspired to pursue a career in communications in the 90s after watching war journalists, whom she saw as heroes, during the Croatian War of Independence. Now, she is also part of the Council of Europe Committee of Experts on online safety and empowerment of content creators and users (MSI-eSEC) where she serves as one of their experts.

Grbeša-Zenzerović has visited the U.S. many times and notes the difference between European and American studies. In her view, European students focus on theories, a rigorous curriculum, and memorization; whereas, American students are typically more inquisitive, excelling in critical thinking and in seeking answers. 

“They dare to ask, they dare to debate, they date to say their opinion,” Grbeša-Zenzerović said.

Grbeša-Zenzerović serves as an inspiration for those who aspire to travel the world while pursuing their passions. 

“What strikes me about George Mason is this impression on campus that students are kind of the ones leading the game, they are like people in charge of everything,” Grbeša-Zenzerović said. Her journey at Mason has just started, yet students and the faculty have been a main factor in her personal and professional growth.

Grbeša-Zenzerović will deliver a special lecture titled “The fun factor: How pop culture wins elections in the age of social media entertainment” on Wednesday, November 13 at 12:15 pm at the Communication Department’s Main Conference Room in Horizon Hall and via Zoom.

Madalyn Godfrey/ Fourth Estate

BY GABRIEL KING, CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

After a breakout 2023-24 season that saw multiple records shattered, Mason women’s basketball will look to continue building under head coach Vanessa Blair-Lewis. The Patriots have improved every season under Blair-Lewis, including reaching the inaugural Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament last year.

Per the Atlantic 10’s annual preseason poll, Mason is projected to finish third in the conference this year. If the A-10 is as strong as it was last year, a third-place finish could be enough to send the Patriots to their first ever NCAA Tournament. To do that, Mason will need to pick up marquee wins and avoid resume-damaging losses. Here are five games to monitor as the Patriots look to make more history:

1. Vs. No. 18 Maryland (in Annapolis, Md.) – Nov. 30, 3:30 p.m., ESPN+

The Patriots and Terrapins will face off for the third straight season, this time at a neutral site in Annapolis as part of the Navy Challenge. Last year, Mason held a lead in the third quarter before falling to Maryland in College Park. Even if the Patriots lose this game, another strong showing against one of women’s basketball’s power programs could be enough to boost their resume.

2. At Georgetown – Dec. 9, 7:00 p.m., FloSports

After their surprise run to the Big East championship game in March, the Hoyas have suddenly become a formidable opponent. While the Patriots will be likely favored in this game, they cannot overlook Georgetown. Grabbing a win against a power conference opponent on this quick trip to Washington could give the Patriots a marquee win in the non-conference.

3. At Richmond – Jan. 8, 6:00 p.m., ESPN+

While Mason defeated Richmond last season, the Spiders got the last laugh when they won the A-10 Tournament and clinched a spot in the NCAA Tournament. The defending champion Spiders are projected to repeat as champions but the Patriots are one of the top contenders to take the crown. A win in Richmond would be a great start to 2025 and give Mason an edge over one of their top competitors in the A-10.

4. At Saint Joseph’s – Feb. 23, 4:00 p.m., ESPNU

In one of their biggest conference games of the season, the Patriots will travel to Philadelphia to face Saint Joseph’s. The Hawks beat the Patriots at EagleBank Arena in February so Mason will be certainly looking to return the favor. Saint Joseph’s was picked to finish second in the A-10 so this game is bound to have seeding implications heading into March. Plus, the national spotlight will give both teams the media recognition they deserve.

5. Vs. Duquesne – Mar. 1, 3:00 p.m., ESPN+

Despite Duquesne being picked to finish in the middle of the pack in the A-10, this game has plenty of intrigue. The Dukes eliminated the Patriots from last year’s A-10 Tournament after a controversial call that prevented Mason from reaching the NCAA Tournament for the first time. With the game being the final game of the regular season, the Patriots will be looking to avenge their March heartbreak and enter the postseason with momentum.

Mason’s season kicked off against Johnson C. Smith on Nov. 4 at 2:00 p.m. at EagleBank Arena where the Patriots won 106-51.

Nawaal Nackerdien/ Fourth Estate

BY MARY DEMARCO, OPINION EDITOR

Over the past few weeks, purple pop-up tables occupied by women with matching purple shirts have appeared throughout campus during the height of the election season. 

These women are a part of a non-profit group called the League of Women Voters (LWV), a non-partisan organization consisting of more than one million American women who aim to educate and aid voters. 

For the 2024 election season, LWV aimed to register as many Mason students to vote as possible. From Wilkins plaza to random booths throughout campus, members of LWV have provided voting information and voter registration paperwork to students.

Founded in response to the 19th amendment, the league was created to inform women on the voting process and their rights as American citizens. While the right to vote is no longer questioned, LWV continues to identify populations that are underrepresented in casting their ballots.  

“One of the populations [of people who struggle to vote] is college students,” Arina van Breda, Fairfax area LWV Director of Voter Registration, said.  “Which is one of the reasons that I’ve been very active on campus at Mason.” 

Van Breda mentioned that undergrad college students struggle to make it to the polls due to the unclear guidelines on where and how to vote. 

“We know that most people going off to college are often going to be first time voters,” van Breda said. “[They] have a lot of decisions to make about voting; simple things like, do you vote using your parents address as your home address or do you vote using your campus address as your home address? If you’re going to use your parents address, how are you going to get to vote there if you’re living on campus?”

Mason students have proven to be proactive when it comes to voting. In the 2020 presidential election, Mason students had a 77.8% voting rate according to the National Study of Learning, Voting and Engagement.

However, this study does not account for Virginia general elections. Zach Lincoln, a student of Mason Schar School of Policy and Government, has observed that outside of presidential elections, his peers do not get involved in politics.

“Politics isn’t something you think about until right when we’re about to have a [presidential] election,” Lincoln said. 

Van Breda also emphasized that showing up to vote is not just for presidential elections but for local government elections as well. She says that voting for all levels of government is important for citizens to have their interests and needs reflected. 

“It’s the wrong approach to say ‘my vote doesn’t matter’ because… it can completely change the short-term course of Virginia politics,” van Breda said. “I always say to young people, the reason you feel the government doesn’t reflect your interests or doesn’t reflect your age cohort is because you’re not voting in the same percentage that older people are.”

Mason students have the opportunity to register to vote in Virginia using their current residence hall’s physical building address. Additionally, students may use same-day registration and vote at Merten Hall using a provisional ballot. The Merten Hall poll is opened until 7 p.m. and students may use their Mason ID.

For more information on voting as a Mason student, visit Mason Votes.