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Melanie Jensen/Fourth Estate

BY MELANIE JENSEN, STAFF WRITER

On Constitution Ave. in Washington, D.C., between the White House and the U.S. Capitol, three of the most influential documents in American democracy sit on display in a dimly lit rotunda. 

The National Archives Museum is home to the U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights. It also holds more than 750,000 artifacts, 41 million photographs and 12.5 billion pieces of paper. Some archives rest in the storage facilities built into the museum in 1937, while others are on display for visitors to explore for free. 

Melanie Jensen/Fourth Estate

The Charters of Freedom exhibition hosts the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence in a spacious rotunda on the second floor, adorned with two curved murals commissioned by artist Barry Faulkner in 1934. 

The mural on the left depicts the Founding Fathers presenting the Declaration of Independence to John Hancock, while the mural on the right shows James Madison submitting the Constitution to George Washington.

The room remains dimly lit to prevent damaging the over 200-year-old documents, and security guards enforce a strict no-flash photography policy. On the edges of the curved room, encased exhibits provide historic context for each document. 

While the Charters of Freedom exhibit is the most popular, the Records of Rights exhibition houses the most artifacts. Located directly across the museum entrance in the David M. Rubenstein Gallery, this exhibition focuses on three major themes in U.S. history: African American rights, women’s rights and immigrant rights. 

Near the entrance of the gallery, one of four original copies of the 1297 Magna Carta is on display. This document, which limited the king’s power in England and granted individual rights to the people, later inspired the Founding Fathers while drafting the Declaration of Independence. At the center of the gallery, a 17-foot touchscreen table allows visitors to interact with other archived documents related to privacy rights, workplace rights, Native American rights and more. 

To the left of the table, Private Cato Greene’s discharge papers from the Continental Army in 1783 sit brightly lit. Greene was an enslaved Revolutionary War soldier who fought to earn his freedom. His experience highlights the long struggle for Black Americans to be included in the Declaration of Independence’s statement “all men are created equally.” 

The exhibition also features documents related to women’s marriage rights, financial freedoms, equal pay and reproductive rights. A 1917 petition from the Women Voters Anti-Suffrage Party of New York, signed by 17 women, illustrates the complex history of women’s suffrage. Not all women supported the right to vote. 

“Our country in this hour of peril should be spared the harassing of its public men and the distracting of its people from work for the war,” the petition reads. The party sent the petition to the Senate, urging lawmakers to  avoid such a “radical change” while the nation was engaged in World War I. 

Similar to the struggles faced by African Americans and women, the Records of Rights exhibition displays the historic support and opposition to immigrants’ rights. 

“Holding high the flame of hope in New York Harbor, the Statue of Liberty has welcomed generations of immigrants and became an icon for freedom,” a display reads. The 1884 Deed of Gift from France,which transferred ownership of the Statue of Liberty to the United States, serves as an ever-lasting symbol of immigration history in America. 

While the Records of Rights exhibition showcases the unbending fight for freedom and liberty throughout U.S. history, rotating exhibitions like Power and Light offer a glimpse into the lives of families at a specific point in time. Russell Lee’s 1946 Coal Survey features more than 200 photographs of coal miners and their families in West Virginia, Kentucky, Utah and other states.

The enlarged portraits show miners at work and with their families at home, illustrating their daily lives and labor struggles in the years following World War II. 

Beyond its historic artifacts, the museum’s architecture enhances its storytelling. Architect John Russel Pope chose the location in between the Capitol and the White House to emphasize its symbolic importance. The museum’s grand Corinthian columns and intricate pediments with allegorical sculptures sit atop the museum’s carved name adding to its significance. 

An inscription on the west side of the building reminds passersby of the museum’s core mission:“The glory and romance of our history are here preserved in the chronicles of those who conceived and builded the structure of our nation.” This message underscores the institution’s role in safeguarding the nation’s historic legacy.

The National Archives Museum serves as a living testament to American democracy, preserving and displaying the country’s significant documents and historical records for future generations.

Katie Perschau/Fourth Estate

BY KATIE PERSCHAU, STAFF WRITER

Self-expression is a staple of Mason pride. This school year, Sophomore Jay Toussaint, a member of Mason’s Black Student Alliance, stepped out of his comfort zone to audition for the organization’s annual fashion show. 

While the students won’t walk the runway until March 29, Toussaint has been practicing and attending rehearsals since October. He said his decision to audition allowed him to participate in a unique activity and strengthen his sense of community at Mason.

Toussaint values self-expression and enjoys exploring different music genres and experimenting with fashion. However, he hadn’t considered participating in a fashion show until joining the BSA. 

“I originally wasn’t going to do it…it looked really cool, but it was so out of my comfort zone. I like taking pictures and I like putting outfits together, so I was like, [runway modeling] is something I would do if I wasn’t self-conscious, so why not just do it and get the experience because you don’t get less self-conscious by not doing anything,” Toussaint said. 

Toussaint was initially nervous to audition because he was the only male in rehearsals, but he soon found that the other BSA members were eager to support him. 

“They were so nice. They clapped after every walk and told you you did a good job; they really tried to work with you,” he said. Now, he describes the rehearsals as productive but also full of laughter, jokes and singing along to runway songs. 

While Toussaint originally joined BSA to get involved in an organization, he said that getting to know other Black students on campus has increased his confidence and made him feel more in touch with his identity. 

“Even if I don’t do [the fashion show] next year, at least I can say that this was something I was a part of,” Toussaint said. “If your friends aren’t Black, you can feel sort of detached from the identity…so [participating in the BSA] has made me feel more secure on campus.”

Toussaint encouraged students to participate in the BSA and the fashion show for the experience and community connections, whether they plan on making it a long-term commitment or just want to try something new. He said the fashion show offers a unique opportunity to build a portfolio and meet like-minded students. 

In addition to the BSA, Toussaint said that living in the College of Humanities and Social Sciences learning community during his freshman year helped him find a supportive group of  friends. 

“I feel like I definitely wouldn’t have made as many friends who were in my major and doing things related to my course load if I hadn’t joined the CHSS learning community. I feel like GMU does a good job of getting specific niche groups of people together,” he said. 

By auditioning for the fashion show, Toussaint has learned to not take things too seriously and to embrace new experiences.

“Not everyone is perceiving you the way you’re perceiving you all the time,” he said. “Some people are just as nervous as you.” 

As Toussaint prepares for the upcoming fashion show, he hopes his experience will inspire other students to take risks, step out of their comfort zones, and find confidence in unexpected places. 

Come support Toussaint and other Mason students at the BSA fashion show on March 29!

Photo courtesy of the Archery Club

BY VALENTINA FALA, STAFF WRITER

When the Mason Archery Club started in 2022, members aimed to put archery on the map by competing in various tournaments. Their competitive spirit has propelled the club two steps ahead of other teams, earning records, prizes, medals and significant accomplishments in just three years.

Archery primarily exercises the upper body but is adaptable to meet the needs of every athlete, emphasizing inclusivity and accessibility. “Archery is very dependent on both form and also physical ability,” Tiya Maroboina, the Club’s President said. “Of course there are many adjustments that can be made. Paralympic archery is a growing field of many people… For us, because we are a university club, we try our best to accommodate everybody.”

Skill levels vary among members–some started in the beginning of the Fall semester, while others have years of experience under their belt. With around 30 club members, each has competed at least once in the past year. Training is individualized due to the nature of the sport, and scores recorded at big competitions help members identify areas for improvement.

“We have three bow divisions we shoot in: recurve, which is what you’ve seen in the Olympics; barebow which looks very similar to a recurve…You take a basic recurve bow and take the gear off; and then compound is another division with the wheels,” Maroboina explained. “The most popular division is the barebow division, followed by recurve and compound.”

From Feb. 21 to Feb. 23, the club competed in the 56th JOAD Indoor Nationals, where student Kyle George won bronze in the Recurve Collegiate Men’s division and ranked in the national Top 25. At the Virginia State Indoor Championship, every club participant won a medal, and archer Ellalee Bullock set a state record in the Barebow Collegiate Women’s division.

Most competitions are external or collegiate-level events, but many are local and within a short drive from Mason’s Fairfax campus. The club typically practices at the Bull Run Shooting Center, approximately 20 minutes from the Fairfax campus. 

Recruiting only happens during the Fall semester, with interested students participating in a two-week tryout period that includes four practices. During this period, they learn the National Training System’s 11 steps in shooting, safety procedures and fundamental techniques.

After the tryout period, interested members pay a membership fee ranging from $60 to $75, depending on the funds raised through events like the Taco Fundraiser held on Feb. 28 at University Mall. Membership dues cover equipment, equipment repairs, fees and range expenses.

“The beginner equipment weighs between 20 to 26 pounds because you are contorting your body in a way that isn’t necessarily natural — unless you practiced swimming, rowing, or other sports that work your back which isn’t a common overlap — we try our best to avoid injury,” Maroboina said. “It is very easy to tear the rotator cuff and hurt yourself overall with improper form, that is why we have to be a bit more selective than we’d like to be for the club.” 

After learning the fundamentals of shooting and form, members improve with every session. Each practice has about 15 participants, with one professional coach supervising activities and experienced members offering their assistance.

With numerous achievements, the club is off to a strong start in 2025. As the year progresses, one can look forward to their continued success in competitions and events.

Julianna Marcello/Fourth Estate

BY JULIANA MARCELLO, STAFF WRITER

On Thursday, Feb. 27, the Mason Board of Visitors (BOV) met to vote on the resolution (BOV meeting book pg. 300) regarding antisemitism. The Diversity Board committee first discussed the resolution at the Feb. 13 meeting, introduced by Visitor Jeffrey A. Rosen. 

The original resolution was drafted with concern due to the Week of Rage protests held by former Resident Student Organization (RSO) Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) in Fall 2024 from October 7-10th, as well as the uncovering of possible threats against the Jewish population by GMU students. 

At the meeting, protesters watched silently in the public seating area, holding signs of protest against the resolution. 

After re-introducing the resolution to the Board, Rosen said, “The purpose of this is to build on and help the university move to an even stronger place.” Rosen said that the Diversity Board committee believed that the resolution is anti-discriminatory and within the institution’s bounds. 

However, the resolution faced resistance from a number of Board members. According to Faculty Representative Solon Simmons, a large majority of Mason faculty believed that the original draft was unnecessary and an infringement on the Constitution’s First Amendment. 

Among the opposition, Graduate Student Representative Carolyn Faith Hoffman detailed experiences with Mason-sponsored courses and events that involved discussing Israel and Palestine. One course included a trip to Israel and the West Bank. Hoffman expressed concern over whether similar educational experiences would be able to continue under such a resolution. 

Undergraduate Student Body Representative Maria Cuesta, also spoke out against the resolution during the BOV meeting. To the Board,  Cuesta said, “I think that something to take away from those 300 plus comments is that even the Jewish students, faculty, staff, and community members don’t accept this.” The comments were left by the Mason community on the BOV minutes webpage in regards to the Feb. 13 meeting. 

President Gregory Washington expressed disappointment with both the original and revised resolution. “The reality is, this is an environment of education,” he critiqued. “People don’t always get things right and proper when they engage.”  

After a back-and-forth between Visitor Rosen, President Washington said, “this institution has to have the flexibility — to support discourse.” The president continued the sentiment by raising concern over the resolution’s vague language.

Revision 14 states that, “This board directs the University, including all of its administrative departments, offices, schools, and academic units, to refrain from sponsoring or endorsing any organization, event, or other activity whose position or posture is antisemitic under the [International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance] IHRA definition.” Members of the BOV were concerned with how the resolution would define, “sponsoring or endorsing” within its context. 

Visitor Dolly Oberoi criticized the language of the resolution and its interpretation, stating, “It has to be very easy to interpret because people outside of this room have to interpret [it], and who’s going to be the arbiter of whether it was right or wrong – somebody violated [it] or not.” She questioned why the resolution was not a general anti-discrimination policy rather than pinpointing one specific issue. 

President Washington requested the definition of “endorsement” to be added to the resolution. Washington’s request was denied by Visitor Rosen, who said that he “disagree[d] fundamentally” that its inclusion was necessary. This sparked further debate from all sides, including from Visitor Robert Pence who backed Visitor Rosen’s statement. 

Visitor Pence challenged the First Amendment in the case of the Revision, questioning President Washington’s stance. Pence commented on a past conversation that was had when first joining the BOV; a conversation had with President Washington. 

Shortly after the campus pro-Palestine protest of Oct. 7, 2024, Visitor Pence told President Washington, “The students are out there right now marching and chanting, ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.’ And I said, ‘I think they’re advocating genocide, to kill Jews, to push them … into the sea.’” 

Pence continued, questioning President Washington’s position and solidifying his beliefs in regards to the revision, “Would your position change if they were out there chanting ‘get the rope and hang them all’? … the answer is, it’s despicable, and I don’t think it should be allowed to be said.” Visitor Pence concluded by challenging the request for a definition and giving support for the resolution.

After a continued debate, the resolution was voted on and passed by a majority of eight. 

During the roll-call vote, a group of pro-Palestinian protestors rose and left the session. One unnamed protestor stood before exiting and stated, “This is a disgrace. You should all be ashamed.”

Nawaal Nackerdien/Fourth Estate

BY BRIAN A. HAYUM, STAFF WRITER

Interest rates. Gross domestic product. Supply and demand. Americans are subject to financial terms that have major implications for their financial health. At the outset of President Trump’s second presidential term, the term “tariff” has become a staple of the Trump administration’s foreign economic policy. 

Tariff refers to a tax placed on imported goods and services. That tax represents a percentage of the price of the product being imported. For example, if the U.S. were to place tariffs of 10 percent on baguettes imported from France, a $10 loaf would be charged a tax of $1 when it arrives at the border. To offset costs, price increases are passed down to the consumer. 

On Feb. 1,  The White House announced that President Trump will implement a 25% additional tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico and a 10% additional tariff on imports from China. President Trump said the increased tariffs is a retaliatory strike against all three countries’ response to the U.S. fentanyl crisis. “The extraordinary threat posed by illegal aliens and drugs, including deadly fentanyl, constitutes a national emergency under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).” The announcement added that the tariffs will remain in place until “the crisis is alleviated.”

In response, leaders from all three countries are considering potential action to defend against the effects of these tariffs. These measures could come in the form of retaliatory tariffs, according to the BBC. Canada prepared a list of American goods with the intention of imposing retaliatory tariffs in response to the U.S. 

Canada’s Internal Trade Minister Anita Anand recently said in an interview that Canada is “steady at the wheel.” Further stating that, “We are prepared for any eventuality, but we will at every turn defend our country’s economy.”

“In modern times, they [tariffs] have almost always been used as a negotiating tool,” said The New York Times White House Correspondent, David E. Sanger. “What makes President Trump’s move against Mexico, Canada, and China different is that he seems uninterested in pursuing deals,” Sanger writes. 

Trump argued that these tariffs will curb the flow of immigrants and drugs while simultaneously enriching American citizens.

In his inaugural speech, Trump said, “I will immediately begin the overhaul of our trade system to protect American workers and families. Instead of taxing our citizens to enrich other countries, we will tariff and tax foreign countries to enrich our citizens.” 

However, George Mason Economy Professor, Alex Tabarrok, argued that these tariffs will do the opposite. 

“I think people have this idea that tariffs are about protecting American businesses, protecting jobs, but it’s important to recognize that this also raises the costs of American businesses,” said Tabarrok. “We have benefited tremendously from globalization. Walk into your local supermarket and look at all of the products and you’ll see that they’re from all over the world.” 

According to a report by the USDA, “Canada and Mexico are the United States’ first and third largest suppliers of U.S. agricultural imports.” The tariffs, Tabarrok argues, will hurt all three North American countries. “We have integrated the Canadian, U.S. and Mexican economies to the benefit of all three. So, to now disrupt that is just creating chaos and uncertainty, and it’s making our allies upset.” 

Evidence of this integration is seen in the auto industry, Tabarrok explains. “It is very common for auto parts to cross the border multiple times. So, the engine moves from Canada to the U.S. and they put in some seats… then the car moves back to another plant in Canada… back to the U.S., and then it might go to Mexico.” These tariffs not only disrupt the integration of these economies, but they also have precedents that show their ineffectiveness. 

Emma Schaible/Fourth Estate

During Trump’s first term, economic research by the Associated Press found the total tariffs collected by his policies equaled less than 0.3% of GDP. 

Recently, The White House announced that a 25% tariff on steel imports would be restored and an existing tariff on aluminum imports would be raised to 25%. A call by the Trump administration to “protect America’s critical steel and aluminum industries, which have been harmed by unfair trade practices and global excess capacity.”

Tabarrok said otherwise, “It is not the case that tariffs save jobs, they save some jobs, but they also kill other jobs.”

Tabarrok said in continuation, “They save jobs in the import-competing industry, but they kill jobs in the export industry. The problem is that the jobs in the import industry are very visible but the jobs you kill in the export industry are much harder to see.” 

Companies and their investors have started bracing for the potential rising costs due to these tariffs, which are set to take effect on Mar. 4. According to a report by Goldman Sachs, “For the stock market, every five-percentage-point increase in the U.S. tariff rate is estimated to reduce S&P 500 earnings per share by roughly 1-2%.” Resulting in potential price increases from large-scale companies, layoffs, business shutdowns, and more.