Broadside
The View from Behind the Plate
By Sports Editor Brian Chan
The first time freshman catcher Morgan “Morgy” Davis met the two-time CAA Player of the Year pitcher Kayleigh Lotti. Davis struck out in all three at-bats with the first two coming off 0-2 counts.
Davis is one of Mason’s offensive threats in the middle of the order. She currently leads Mason with a .324 batting average and holds a .568 slugging percentage. In 74 at-bats, she has four home runs, six doubles and 18 RBIs.
The Best of the Best on RateMyProfessor.com
Broadside Correspondent Donald O'Mahony
On RateMyProfessor.com, English Professor Kim Cirka holds the second highest overall ranking from her students. You will not be able to find any students taking class with her this semester, but she can expect a large waitlist of students when she comes back to teach at George Mason University next semester.
“A student let me know about [ratemyprofessor.com],” said Cirka, who teaches English 302. “It was flattering.”
Local Author Unravels Personal History
By Staff Writer Kyle Ridley
Dumfries author Anna Thomas shares the personal voyage of uncovering her past in the memoir Fire and Water: A Safe Journey Through Multiple Personality Disorder. The candid book details Thomas’ 20-year struggle to understand the reason behind her depression and discover that she was a survivor of childhood sexual and ritual abuse.
Thomas, 60, incorporates religion into much of Fire and Water and said her faith helped her realize the “need to face painful feelings” to reveal the truth.
‘Mason Cares’ Extends Goal
Student Media Copy Editor Jacqueline Schafer
The Counseling and Psychological Services’ Mason Cares program held training for suicide prevention in the Eisenhower Lounge last Tuesday and Wednesday to train students as gatekeepers and “expand the Mason safety net,” said Adrienne Barna, licensed psychologist and associate director of CAPS.
Deacon Employs ‘New Age’ Techniques on Newest Album
By Broadside Staff Writer Marian McLaughlin.
Dan Deacon’s new album Bromst follows in a similar direction as works by Philip Glass, in a sense that both artists use the piano as their primary instrument, frequently structuring their compositions with rapid, yet minimal, arpeggios. But Bromst is like a hybrid love child of a Philip Glass composition with new age electronic techniques. The result is rather explosive and uplifting.
Although all the songs on his new album have their own personalities, the eleven electronic compositions morph together to create one extensive, meditative piece.
Are Students from Different Majors Getting the Same Information?
By Government and International Politics major Krista Muise
As a student senator and chair of the Government and Academic Affairs Committee, I am in a unique position that allows me to see that the major academic concern students report is with academic advising. As a junior with the majority of my college years behind me, I am also in the all-too-common position of having personally experienced faults with advising. Due to the decentralized nature of the advising system at George Mason University—meaning that each department has their own operating procedures—the burden of academic advising falls on the shoulders of the individual student. The numerous graduation and degree requirements are difficult for anyone to keep track of—and that’s not even taking into account the extra requirements and concerns that come with adding a minor or second major, transferring credits and the limitations of course offerings and scheduling—so it’s no surprise that many students feel overwhelmed. This difficulty that students bear is the result of the confusing and compartmentalized advising system and ever-changing degree requirements.
BOV Sets Summer Tuition and Fee Rates
By Broadside News Editor Kevin Loker
Mason's Board of Visitors set tuition and fee rates for summer 2009 at its meeting on March 25. In-state undergraduates will pay $337 per credit hour this summer, a $24 increase over the 2008-09 academic year, while out-of-state undergraduates will pay $1,003 per credit hour, a $66.50 increase.
Because the university budget will not be finalized until the May 2009 BOV meeting, rates for the 2009-10 academic year may differ.
Dual-Degree Program with Moscow State University
By Broadside News Editor Kevin Loker
Mason announced it has partnered with Moscow State University, Russia’s leading institution of higher education, to offer a new dual-degree program. Enrolled students will receive two degrees, one from Mason and one from Moscow State.
WARNING: Do Not Try These at Home
By Broadside Staff Writer Ryan Dempsey
I have been a part of a lot of great April Fools’ Day jokes. Whether I was the pranker or the prankee, I can’t help but laugh at the most memorable April Fools’ Day jokes throughout my life.
10. Fake Items
For this prank, all you need is a rubber snake, spider, rat or piece of fake poop. Place the item in your victim’s path—or better yet, in their bed—and watch the fun start.
Monday, Wednesday, Friday Classes Increase
By Broadside Correspondent Amanda Cheek
Students closely watching the class selection on PatriotWeb while scheduling their fall semester may have noticed an increase in Monday, Wednesday and Friday classes.
Over the past three years, 100- and 200-level Monday, Wednesday, Friday classes have been steadily increasing, due to a decision made in September 2006 by the Classroom Advisory Committee (CAC).
JC 