April 2009
OPINION: How the 1st Amendment Affects Students
By Amy Jenne, History and Educational Studies
Many students have heard of the First Amendment and know about freedom of expression and speech. However, I doubt many know the specifics of how the First Amendment protects you as a student. In 1969, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Tinker v. Des Moines that students do not lose their constitutional rights, as given to them in the First Amendment, when they step foot onto school property. Public school officials, such as teachers, are prohibited from censoring student speech.
TechKnow Expo Draws Large Crowds
Photo by Russell Osborne.
Students previewed new technology at the TechKnow Expo.
Students previewed new technology at the TechKnow Expo.
By Connect2Mason Reporter Lauren Jost
Amidst the pumping music and the normal hustle and bustle of the Johnson Center, students flocked to the TechKnow Expo to see the showcase of new technology.
The event was hosted by Patriot Computers and was sponsored by audio accessory company Skullcandy. Students had the opportunity to trade in old headphones of any brand or style for a free pair of Skullcandy headphones. The brand is known for their quality noise-reducing headphones as well as top-of-the-line DJ headphones.
“I prefer [Skullcandy] over any other type of headphone,” said Julia Compton a junior art and visual technology major. “This expo is sweet because they’re giving away [Skullcandy] and they’re free. Who doesn’t love free?”
Fenwick to Soon Expand
Broadside Photo File.
By Broadside Staff Writer Ryan Dempsey
George Mason University has entered the initial stages in expanding Fenwick Library.
According to The Mason Gazette, university officials met last week to discuss the “design work for the expansion,” which is included in Mason’s three- to five-year plan.
Architects and university officials in charge of the planning in this project met on Wednesday and Thursday afternoon to discuss preliminary plans and ideas for the expansion. Additional meetings will be held in the Johnson Center, Room 228 on Monday, April 27 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
In The Area...
Compiled from The Fairfax County Times and The Washington Post
Crime rose for the second consecutive year in Fairfax County during 2008, according to statistics released last week by Fairfax police.
Serious crime—which the FBI defines as murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny and auto theft—rose 9.7 percent. The increase was driven largely by larcenies, which typically make up about three-fourths of serious, or “Part I,” crimes. In 2007, 14,244 larcenies were reported by Fairfax County police. In 2008, that number increased by two-thousand to 16,244.
Campus News In Brief
Compiled By Broadside News Editor Kevin Loker
Farmers’ Market Opens On-Campus Wednesday
Mason will be opening a “weekly, sustainable and guaranteed, producer-only farmers’ market” this Wednesday, April 22, at the Johnson Center North Plaza. The market, managed through University Services in conjunction with Northern Virginia’s Smart Markets, Inc., will feature a variety of local products including value-added products, dairy products and produce.
The market will run from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. every Wednesday for the farmers’ market season, which runs through mid-October. Smart Market, on other days of the week, will also be operating farmers’ markets at Fairfax Corner, Reston Towne Center, Centreville, Oakton and Purcellville.
Many university entities have expressed support for the project including University Life, Office of Sustainability, Student Government, Center for Leadership and Community Engagement and the GMU Environmental Awareness Group.
Students Elect Dasgupta, King
Photo by Courtney Erland.
By Broadside Staff Writer Ryan Dempset
Devraj Dasgupta and Tyler King were announced as the newly elected Student Government president and vice president, respectively, last Thursday.
According to the student government website, Dasgupta and King received 1,534 of the 3,390 votes. Anthony DiCarlo and Krista Muise had the second largest number of votes, 500 behind Dasgupta and King. In total, Dasgupta’s and DiCarlo’s votes totaled 75.75 percent of the overall vote count in the election.
Joshua St. Louis and Amanda Johnson placed third in the election with 450 votes. Lastly, Kyle McDaniel and Jillian Ferron received 255 votes. There were also 117 total write-in votes.
“I’m feeling really excited,” said Dasgupta. “I’m so happy that I get the opportunity to work with the student body. It’s been a long and great experience, and the work doesn’t stop now. It only begins.”
Current Student Government President Zack Golden was optimistic about the election and the results.
A Day in My Life: Elizabeth Biondi
Follow Elizabeth Biondi for a normal day of life as a college freshman. Learn the struggles of an empty fridge (and resulting meal creativity), a packed class schedule and the stylish dorm decoration choices of Presidents Park.
Interested in capturing one of your days in photos? Just e-mail cmasonmedia@gmail.com.
The Loudness Wars
Assuming my grasp on logic isn't completely broken, it seems to be that as technology progresses through the years, it should improve. Cars go faster, buildings get stronger, computers get smaller, things like that. Why, then, have CDs started to sound WORSE? Why is it that if I compare ABBA's "One Of Us" on a 1983 CD to the same song on a 2005 remaster, it has less dynamics and feels more muddy? Why does each drum hit stay at the same volume, but make the music behind it go away, instead of just being louder than it is?
MCN Interviews Newly Elected Dev & Tyler
Mason Cable Network recently sat down with Student Government President Devraj Dasgupta and Vice President Tyler King to learn about their election and their plans for the future.
A Week in Photos
Check out some of the most interesting events from last week including a barefoot walk around campus, the day of silence and some lacrosse games.
To have your photos featured on the site, please e-mail cmasonmedia@gmail.com.
