Sci & Tech 1 - Emergency Vehicles

Anyone who walked by Science and Technology Building 1 will have noticed the police presence, emergency vehicles, caution tape, and, until recently, the helicopter. For those interested, there has apparently been some sort of chemical spill on the forth floor of the building. The helicopter was there to evacuate people. It is believed that a significant amount of sulfuric acid was spilled in the building.

Election Results Come In

First:

Live election results at Broadsideonline.com:

State Senate
House of Delegates

As expected, it appears as if the Democrats are winning at the moment [10:43PM].

The following districts seem to be experiencing some sort of difficulty involving the posting of their votes, the counts seem to be distinctly... odd:

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Springfield District

According to the state board of election site, Mike McClanahan has a 99.84% majority while the Fairfax County site has McClanahan with 9,303 and Herrity has 13,015.

[11:28PM] Broadside has an UPDATE.

Providence District

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Also Loudoun County appears to be experiencing delays in the posting of its numbers.

Halloween Costumes

In a sort of follow up on the recent editorial in Broadside entitled "Or Are They Spooks?"

http://thinkprogress.org/2007/11/06/chertoff-myers/

A sample:

Chertoff Claims ‘Zero Tolerance’ For Discriminatory Halloween Costume, Excuses Julie Myers’ Role
Julie Myers, head of Homeland Security’s immigration division, has come under intense criticism for awarding “Most Original Costume” to an employee “who dressed in prison stripes, dreadlocks and dark makeup for a Halloween gathering at the agency.” Myers was part of a three-judge panel that awarded the prize.

Today, Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff appeared on MSNBC and said that he had put the employee who wore the costume on “administrative leave.” He added that he has “zero tolerance” for discriminatory acts. But when it came to Myers, Chertoff refused to condemn her and indicated that she would face no punitive action:

Vote!

Hello fair readers, I am writing to you early this morning as I gather together all my methods of identification and prepare to vote.

If you have not picked up a Broadside election guide, listing all the local candidates, now is the time. If you want another list of candidates and their websites, you can find it here.

If you are registered to vote in VA then you must bring a form of identification to the polls. This includes a Passport, a VA-issued drivers license or DMV special ID Card, an employer-issued ID, or your social security card.

If you are not sure where to vote, you can look up your polling place at the Virginia State Board of Elections site.

If you are, like me, registered to vote under your on-campus address, then your voting place is:

WOODSON HIGH SCHOOL
9525 Main St
Fairfax VA 22031-4006
(FAIRFAX COUNTY)

and here is how to get there from on-campus:

1. 1 Depart Rivanna River Way
2. 2 Turn left onto Patriot Circle 0.1 mi
3. 3 Turn left onto Shenandoah River Ln 0.2 mi
4. 4 Turn left onto Roberts Rd 1.0 mi
5. 5 Turn right onto SR-236 East / Main St 1.3 mi
6. 6 Arrive at 9525 Main St, Fairfax, VA 22031-4006 The last intersection is Whitacre Rd If you reach SR-237 / Pickett Rd, you've gone too far

Now, don't be foolish. Change does not come from sitting on your arse. It doesn't matter if you are a Democrat or a Republican or an Independent; liberal, conservative or libertarian; now is the time to do your civic duty, one of the things this country requires of you that you can be proud of no matter what else you disagree with. Get out there (before 7 p.m.) and vote.

Democrats Rally at George Mason University

Today, the Democratic candidates for Virginia's local elections gathered with other local luminaries, supporters, and students. Broadside was on the scene and other people will have a more detailed report. However, for your amusement, I've simply dropped my entire un-edited set of photos on to google. Perhaps 90% of them are crap, and I'll sort it out later, but a few interesting ones should be in there.

You can find the amateur-hour album entire here:

Dems Rally

That guy thinks they were ok. :P

More highlights:

Thumbs Up: David E. Bernstein, Professor at the George Mason University School of Law

One big thumbs up to Professor David E. Bernstein, for his recent article in the LA Times on the continuing issues with Free Speech on College Campuses around the nation. Though I can't agree with his analysis of Larry Summers (the former president of Harvard University fired for sexist remarks), nor do I believe the fault lies entirely with the far left, the constitution should protect people's right to speak, even asshole university presidents.

From the article:

The Chemerinsky episode, disturbing though it was, should not distract us from the primary challenge facing academic freedom in American universities: the rise of an academic far-left establishment that seeks to use universities as a base for political activism, and is perfectly willing to violate accepted standards of academic freedom to achieve that goal. Anyone concerned with the future of American higher education has the duty to defend the values of scholarship and open debate against authoritarian political correctness. Unfortunately, by disinviting Summers, the UC regents failed miserably.

One wonders what Professor Bernstein might say about his own (and our) university's serious free speech problems.

Full Article

Giuliani, now Two Times Worse Than Bush

Sorry to follow up one Giuliani article with another, but this was so striking that I had to post it.

For the second time in a single month (The first being the August edition of Harper's cover article "A Fate Worse Than Bush") Rudy Giuliani has been declared by a media source as not only bad but in fact (almost unbelievably so) worse than our current President.

The well known Huffington Post (via Yahoo, via Google) posted an article titled "Giuliani: Worse Than Bush" detailing the past NYC Mayor's frightening idea of a foreign policy.

Starting off by speaking about how the US should never have left Vietnam, Giuliani continues to go off on a policy so violent that it makes Apocalypse Now look like a walk in the park.

HuffPost continues to say:

He does not conceive of, admit to, or even mention the possibility of a region-wide political settlement which even now the Bush Administration is apparently contemplating. In addition, he would "press ahead" with an anti-ballistic missile system -- regardless of its outsized costs or ineffectiveness. And he would, as he says, "pursue the gains made by the USA Patriot Act and not unrealistically limit electronic surveillance or legal interrogation." Sounds a lot like an embrace of unrestricted presidential power and possibly torture.

On the UN, HuffPost notes Rudy's divorce from reality on the issue of the UN:

he goes further and argues that the UN has "proved irrelevant to the resolution of almost every major dispute of the last fifty years." This is a breathtaking display of incomprehension. Just a reminder: the UN stopped the invasion of South Korea; settled the Suez crisis of 1956; assisted in the ending of the Cuban missile crisis of 1963; ousted Saddam Hussein from Kuwait in 1991. It brought peace to conflicts in Guatemala, Angola, Mozambique, El Salvador, Cambodia and helps keep the peace in Cyprus. More recently, it aided Haiti in holding an election and ending violence, pushed the Syrians out of Lebanon, enforced a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon and presently supports a dozen or so other peacekeeping missions.

Even odder, his ideas on NATO:

Now we come to the ex-mayor's most bizarre suggestion -- that NATO be encouraged to act "globally," be reconfigured to confront "significant threats to the international system," and "we should open the organization's membership to any state" -- though it is a European-based body. Is Mr. Giuliani thus proposing that NATO replace the UN as the world's arbiter? And why not? Since the US dominates NATO, this would give Washington a direct means to extend its security purvey over the entire planet. This is a vision consistent with the authoritarian instincts with which Mr. Giuliani governed NYC.

I'm pretty sure that this should be universally disturbing. Even the most die-hard rightest should recognize the enormous negative economic impact that making the US arbiter of an ad-hoc nuUN would bring. As for those, like myself, on the left the entire thing should scare the shit out of you.

Giuliani Makes First Right Move in Over 20 Years.

Ok, that title was just a joke. Someone in his campaign actually did make an amusing response to 'I-may-be-a-candidate-if-you-don't-watch-Law-and-Order' Thompson.

Thompson, who has garnered a great deal of attention by not declaring his epic TV candidacy which may or may not be a ploy to turn Law and Order into The West Wing, spoke out against the gun reforms that took place under Giuliani's administration (not that Rudy had much to do with it).

"“When I was working in television, I spent quite a bit of time in New York City,” Thompson blogged. “There are lots of things about the place I like, but New York gun laws don’t fall in that category.”

To which some clever wag on Rudy's team responded that perhaps judgments on NYC laws might best be made by "those who live in New York in the real world."

7th Time is the charm

Hello Everyone!
I hope everyone's summer is going well. Now, that July is almost over and the "Harry Potter July" as some of my friends called it is settled down.
I am going to start off with the movie, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Year 5) was an interesting perspective to the longest book in the series. To the dismay of some fans, such as myself, they left out unique parts to the story like flashbacks in the Pensive. The directors made the shortest Potter film but yet it was the longest book. Entertaining for the summer, not an Oscar competitive film. The standout performances from the film were from characters that I did not like in the book- Luna Lovegood, Umbridge, and Bellatrix Lestrange.

Now, lets zoom to the last book in the series that has made its author, J.K. Rowling, richer than the Queen of England. I apologize in advance for the spoilers. I will preface the comments of the spoilers with SPOILER ALERT, so you know not to look at what I wrote. After finishing the final epic, my first thought: What was with all those deaths? I am sure I am not the only one who did not expect most of them. There were some where I was like "Oh my!" and others where I was like, " What was the point?"

SPOILER ALERT! The deaths that I were sort of upsetting were Dobby, Fred, Tonks, and Lupin. Some of the other deaths were shocking but these four were each catered to their personality. From Fred's smile as he went to the other side to Dobby dying while serving Harry. Rowling wrote these four deaths well.

This book's main disappointment was that it was too choppy.

SPOILER ALERT!! For example, Rowling did write a lot about the relationships of wands between the owner and wand, wand and wand, and most interesting is dealing with the rules of the wand during a duel. She gave us bits here and there, nothing all in one shot which led to some confusion.
One of the final battles, was fantastic! It drew the lines with good and evil.

SPOILER ALERT! The Houses (minus one house: can you guess which one?), teachers, creatures, and the Order gear up to fight the lone House, Death Eaters, and the other Dark creatures at an epic battle that takes place at Hogwarts which leads to several deaths.

Overall, the story was good, bit choppy but not one of the best like I liked 5 and 6 the best. Seven gave us the answers to lingering questions, which was nice. But everyone is reading, for the final showdown between Lord Voldemort and Harry Potter. The best thing to take from 7: Is that no one seems to be who they truly are until the very end. This can be applied to the final outcome of Potter because the ending is open ended and the ones who survive you don't know where they really stand.
Signing off,
Sam

Moving Operations!

Hullo all!

For the next month+ you'll be able to find me at my UK blog:

Mostly Harmless

-Aram

Happy 4th of July!

Have a happy and fun Independence day folks! Remember to hold the fireworks away from your face.

Virus Alert: GTA Mod

A new piece of malware has been making some serious rounds through the internet. There is a video on YouTube, supposedly of a new mod for the game Grand Theft Auto. At the end of the video it links you to the site where you can supposedly download the mod. Don't, it's a serious piece of bad software.

Full article

You know you want it.

Hey everyone!
Okay, so the fateful day is upon us. June 29, a day that will go down in pop-culture record books. I-Phone day!! So, this godsend of a gadget has been selling for approx. 3 1/2 hrs. Lines for the phone have been starting since Monday even though it will take a chunk of change out of the buyers' wallets selling from $500 for the lower gigabyte phone and approx. $600 for the higher gb phone.
News reporters have been reporting about of course, the disadvantages of the phone including the slow internet and the difficult keypad as well as other numerous "kinks." For $500, its so worth it! I rather wait though until Steve Jobs, the CEO of Apple and the Apple Engineers come out with more stuff for the I-Phone. If you don't know what I am talking about see the I-Pod as an example. I will be the first person in line for a hot pink I-Phone.
But honestly, the question I raise with the phone. Is why do you need all the stuff? Granted its easy access to the internet, pictures, music, and a phone which can fit in your purse or pocket. But if you have an i-pod or a phone that as the internet, why do you need the I-Phone? The answer for me is simple: Its just so cool!!! I am a gadget person and I love that kinda stuff. I guess as we get older, we still have some kid left in all of us... Except toys become gadgets like the I-Phone.. I still can't believe all this fuss is for a phone!?
Signing off,
sam.

What an anti-Giuliani ad should say.

Considering Rudy Giuliani's image as the hero of Sept. 11, 2001, and the nation's ultimate first responder, burnished yet again by the warm reception he received at a firehouse during a recent campaign swing through South Carolina, it might surprise many of his supporters to learn that the country's largest union of firefighters hates "America's mayor" with a passion.

...

"Our disdain for him," said the letter, "is not about issues or a disputed contract. It is about a visceral, personal affront to the fallen, to our union and indeed, to every one of us who has ever risked our lives by going into a burning building to save lives and property."

...

The public may also be unaware that Giuliani's preparation for and management of the crisis that has come to define his career, and on which his presidential ambitions rest, has actually become a case study for emergency management experts of what not to do.

Full Article Here.

There is always room for Paris

Hey guys!
So now we are about a month into summer and of course, we have news about the latest adventures of hotel heiress, Paris Hilton. Much to the dismay of her fans, she has been sent off to jail twice. But not for two separate issues, it was the same crime that she had to serve time for. The reason why she went to jail again for the second time is still unsure. It is rumored on the news channels, that she was not eating and suffering from a nervous disorder. The judge called her back into his court when he found out she was released with only serving about three days into jail sentence. She was put back into the jail after serving a few days in house arrest which was another possibility to serve her time. If she was allowed to continue with house arrest, she would be serving it in her mansion in the Hollywood Hills. Not bad, for someone serving time, sign me up for that vacation!
Paris Hilton when she was forced back into jail, was under examination at the treatment center for her "undisclosed medical issue." She is now currently serving the rest of her 45-day sentence in the women's jail. Just days before she started to serve her sentence, she discussed to the press how she was going to serve as a role model to kids and serve her sentence completely without any problems. Odd or does she have a different way of defining that? Recently, she talked to the Hilton's family friend, Barbara Walters, stating that, "I used to act dumb, that act is no longer cute. Now, I would like to make a difference, God has given me this new chance." Some people like The View co-host, Joy Behr, bring up the point when people go to jail why do they always find God?
Was the Simple Life's characterization of Hilton really her just acting? Possibly. The jail time has given her even more press time. Details come out daily. Some journalists like Gia Cortina from the Post Chronicle suggest that she is going to come out even more famous. Oh just great, we need another rich ,spoiled, famous for all the wrong reasons woman in Hollywood? But I really just don't care, and I know many people don't care. Lots of people are happy that she is in jail. Just check out the MTV Movie Awards where Sarah Silverman made a couple jokes about her situation and the crowd erupted into applause. Hopefully, she learned her lesson but we can never be too sure? I don't really want to judge her because I don't know her but her situation is tough and its a good learning experience, even if your a 26 year old heiress.
Well that's all for now!
Signing off,
Sam

QOD: Future Crisis

"I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. ... corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until all wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed."

President Abraham Lincoln, Nov. 21, 1864, letter to Col. William F. Elkins, in The Lincoln Encyclopedia, by Archer H. Shaw.

EDIT: Apparently there is a serious question as to weather this quote is correctly attributed (see the comment made on this post). Though I found it attributed to Lincoln in more then one place, the Internet is never the most trustworthy source, so I am striking the attribution.

Blog Log - Mason Students Blog!

[MasonTechBeat] - Mason student Jimmy Rogers provides succinct and interesting posts on the latest in technology. Check it out, his writing is clear enough that even the less tech savvy can come out on top.

[ChinaFox] - Kate Fox has only just begun a blog on her CGE trip to China. Anyone interested in China, or just traveling abroad through Mason, should keep an eye on this gem of a blog.

And of course, don't forget to keep a ready eye for my own new blog, documenting my upcoming month in the UK. I still need a name, so feel free to throw out ideas.

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"If Bush and Cheney Can Curse…" - An interesting article about the recent court decision to strike down "the government policy of fining stations and networks that broadcast shows containing profanities." Dear reader, I encourage celebrating by cursing as loudly as you can for as long as you can, preferably in a public place. [The Caucus]
--Further Reading:
○ Business Section Article
○ FCC Chairman Kevin J. Martin's Press Statement
○ Full Appellate Court Decision
○ Summery (with links to full copy) of "Big Chill: How the FCC's Indecency Decisions Stifle Free Expression, Threaten Quality Television, and Harm America's Children" by Center For Creative Voices in Media

"Frank Rich: Failed Presidents Ain't What They Used to Be" is an article which takes a look at why there has been no real call for Bush's impeachment and what is going on to cause the recent party infighting. [Free Democracy]

A summery of some of the more amusing parts of RollingStone's article on Giuliani. I recommend you click through for the full, and therefore far more depressing, article. [Wonkette]

In "How Not To Get Elected President" Freakonomics links to data on what presidential characteristics (Black, Female, Etc…) are most likely to be voted for. An interesting topic as Dems consider just how much the obvious differences of their candidates' genetics will matter in the Presidential race. It's good news, if the percentages continue to increase at this rate, 100% of the electorate will be willing to vote for a Jew by the time I'm ready to run! [Freakonomics]

Justice Ginsburg speaks out against the recent Abortion ruling. Calls the majority "parsimonious." Commentators say that Ginsburg is saying "the Court is moving backwards." Essentially, she looked at the timing and composition of the Court and called the recent case a political move, one which has no place in the Supreme Court. [AMERICAblog]

Captain's Quarters takes a look at Nationalized Health Care, and it's Panopticon-like implications. Will government control of our health care mean a loss of our privacy? [CQ]

The manipulation of language in politics, especially the tags of Liberal and Conservative, is one that should be of great interest to all. When a party, media outlet, or individual, succeeds in changing the definition of one of the mainstays of political language all bets are off. [Kos Diary]

Guest Workers and the reasons behind immigration laws applying to them is the topic of discussion. Will they harm Americans? Do we need them? [Ezra Klein]

Looking for a quick look at the recent Dem debate? On Call has it, but check the reader Comments for some interesting further reactions. [Hotline]

Spencer Ackerman writes, on the dusk of the 40th anniversary of the Six Day War, that Arab and Jewish Americans are not so divided on the subject of Mideast Peace. [TPMmuckraker]

Does Freedom Endure?

|-‘Why is showing the injured or dead of the war important? Why has the media become the enemy?’-|

“Maybe I know what I’m doing here! These people are risking their lives for us. I want to see what they’re going through even if they don’t want us to, and I want other people to see it! What do you think they’re doing out there, protecting and defending secrecy? That’s the world of Mao… The world of Stalin, the world of secret police, secret trials, secret… secret deaths. […] You force the Press into the cold, and all you will get is lies and innuendo, and nothing, nothing is worse for a free society than a press that is in service to the military and the politicians. Nothing!”

There was a recent article in the New York Times - “Not To See The Fallen Is No Favor,” by David Carr – which was interesting, as was the backlash against it; notably the WSJ’s Opinion Journal, which asked the question “Why is it so important to show images of hurt and dead Americans?” The WSJ goes off into a conservative la-la land; however, the question is an important one. Why do we even bother with Journalists in the field? What exactly have 143 media workers lost their lives for? Why is the media defined for military supervisors as a “nontraditional” threat, on the same level as drug cartels? Why do soldiers with blogs face the very real possibility of being tried for acts of espionage?

Why is it that the media has to fight for its ability to fulfill its basic function? Why are reporters dying for information and images that are not allowed on TV? Why do our soldiers die without us seeing how or seeing the war they fight?

I can tell you why: 3756 Coalition Fatalities. Three Thousand, Seven Hundred, and Fifty Six men and women who have died in a war we started for reasons that have turned out to not even be the truth. Take a moment. Read that again. 3756 deaths. I don’t know about you, but I can feel that number, right down in my chest, and at the bottom of my stomach where it makes me feel a little sick. It makes me think about all those people with Support our Troops stickers and it makes me realize that they have no idea what’s going on with the troops they supposedly support, otherwise our soldiers would have come back a long time ago.

Why shouldn’t they have? Why do none of us have a good idea of the real situation in Iraq? Because nothing is worse for a war than to have the citizenry see it uncensored. Let us face the truth; the strongest element that worked against the Vietnam war was the television. Back then, when televised media was new, and raw, they broadcasted images of the war - deaths, lives, victories, and defeats - into America’s living rooms. The people saw something in their televisions, something horrible. They stood up and they said, as strong as they could, NO! When that many people spoke, the government had no choice to listen. We left Vietnam.

Today we have something different. Our generation has grown up with the television. For me and my peers we are too used to seeing what is broadcast as a work of fiction. When we see images of the war, they are separated from us, the pane of glass onto which they are projected works as a method of division as well. The impact is lessened. Then that impact is lessened even more because the images that show the war are censored, cut out, in the name of “privacy” and “operational security.”

You know it is a funny thing, but I can think of a few other leaders who censored the presses coverage of wars in order to prevent their full impact from reaching their nation’s citizens. They were all fascists.

Face Facts! These people fight and die for us. It is unjust that we cannot see who they are, or how they died. This war has taken a lot, and I do mean a lot, of lives. This sort of policy, this sort of secrecy, robs us of the impact that our decision as a nation has made on the families and friends of those dying for freedom. Part of that freedom that we value so dearly as to have spent 3756 lives on (thus far) is the freedom of speech, the freedom of expression, the freedom of the press. Yet, instead, they die, and their deaths are used, disgustingly, as an excuse for secrecy. By disrespecting what they died for, we are destroying the very purpose of the fight.

Ashley Gilbertson, a freelance photographer who has been in Iraq seven times to pursue his work, said “They are not letting us cover the reality of war … I think this has got little to do with the families or the soldiers and everything to do with politics.”

Don’t roll over it with bullshit about the “liberal media.” ANY media outlet that is not trying to bring these images to the forefront of the public’s attention is FAILING in its responsibility to the people. As far as I can see, the WSJ’s opinion article, and those who align themselves with its ideas, are outright supporting the abridgement of our basic human rights, of the soldiers’ basic human rights, and of our nation’s most important freedoms.

As our government tries to manage the press’s coverage of the war, it becomes harder to bring the truth, the hard, bloody truth, of the war to us. A difficulty only compacted by the rising danger to journalists, the cost of the war to the media, its journalists, and their resources, and the simple fact that as the number of resources dwindles the price becomes higher and higher for a result that lessens with each governmental censure.

“As the number of reporters there [Iraq] dwindles further and further because of the difficult conditions we work under, the kind of work they are able to publish becomes very important,” said James Glanz, a Baghdad correspondent for the New York Times. “This tiny remaining corps of reporters becomes a greater and greater problem for the military brass because we [the Press] are the only people preventing them from telling the story the way they [the Military] want it told.”

To bring the brutal truth of the war back to the home front is a responsibility of the press that dates far back. It is the reason we know what people sacrificed in the wars previous. It is the reason we know and feel the horrors and atrocities that have been committed around the world, throughout the past. Those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it. With the government keeping our very recent history from us, is it any surprise that they are making noises about seeking to repeat it? Is it any surprise that it continues, without any real end in sight?

To quote David Carr, “If the government chooses to overmanage the wages of war in Iraq, there is a real danger that when this new generation of veterans, whose ranks grow every day, could come home to a place where their fellow Americans have little idea what they have gone through.”

New York Times – “Not to See the Fallen Is No Favor”
WSJ OpinionJournal – "We Are The Only People Preventing Them From Telling the Story”
Iraq Coalition Casualties
Operation Enduring Freedom Casualties (Afghanistan)

Nobel Prize Laureate Cancels U.K. Trip Due To Anti-Israel Sentiment

American Professor Steven Weinberg of the University of Texas has canceled his speaking engagement at a London's Imperial College. He noted anti-Israel and anti-Semitic sentiment in the U.K. as prime motivations for his withdrawal.

Weinberg won the Nobel Prize for physics in 1979 and had been invited to speak at the university this July. He said that his decision was motivated by Britain's National Union of Journalists decision to boycott Israeli products.

"I see in the British press and the BBC signs of a very strong anti-Israel bias - a kind of blind hostility that whatever Israel does, it is always in the wrong." Weinberg said. "This represents a widespread feeling among British journalists." However, he stated that he was not calling for a British boycott.


Read the full story here.

I am bored.

Hey guys!
So the summer is here, finally for Mason students. And while some of us may have fun and exciting adventures overseas to places that will be the envy of all your friends come August, others such as myself might lead semi-exciting breaks but have more boring moments that hitch-hiking my way across the Netherlands.
As much as I hate to admit this, I hate to be bored. So now, that all my television shows are over for the summer and there is no reading to keep me busy all I have is my jobs and a family vacation to look forward to this summer, which is nice don't get me wrong. Right now, I am locked up in my home in New York on crutches and slowly needing to get out of the house because there is only so much HBO movies and television shows on dvd box sets that I can watch.
I wanted to talk about all my favorite shows ending. Why am I not surprised? I am going to start off with Grey's. Like, I mean no matter how hard you were rooting for Burke and Christina, you knew it wasn't going to happen. Sure, they threw a curve ball here or there like Dr. Derek "McDreamy" Shepard, not taking the Chief of Surgery position and Meredith's long-lost step sister or whatever you want to call her entering the Intern Program at Seattle. Is it that shocking that they leave you for the summer with all these problems? No. They want you to come back.
Ugly Betty had the biggest shockers. Betty professed her "undying love" to her geeky accountant friend, while she found out her boy was jetting off to Arizona with his girlfriend who may or may not have his baby. Amanda, receptionist extrodinare, just also discovered her mother is the legendary Faye Summers. And Betty's sister does not get the happy ending she wanted. Her finace and her kid's dad was shot in a robbery, going to their son's play. Tear, Tear. (That whole problem was getting to dry). Great eppie, but I had one major problem. More Kristin Chenoweth who made a guest spot, as a dental tech who got too wrapped up in Betty's life. She stole so many of the scenes.
Gilmore Girls ended its seven year run, with its great lines and quick pace. End result: Rory, set out to conquer the world with Barack Obama's campaign in tow and Lorelai, of course, ended up with Luke and the show closed with the happy music and everybody hugging. Can we say Oprah moment?
Lost, oooo the suspense is killing me. It sorta is, actually in some way. I mean they are putting out huge clues every week about what is the island and all those questions fans want to know? I guess they have to because I mean the clock is ticking, ABC has given them 3 more seasons before they give them the ax. Surprise, surprise. We want to know stuff and ABC knows that. It can't be stretched out.
So while we all wait in anticipation for our favorite television shows in the fall to start again. ABC and the other networks have already been starting to advertise for their new "hopeful" big hits like Grey's Anatomy spin-off, Private Practice, about Addison jetting off to Cali to gain some perspective. And another show about some guy that talks, no wait, brings dead people back to life to help them find their killers and what-not called Pushing Daisies with Jim Dale, as the narrator, Chi McBride, and (in my opinion, the fantastic)Kristin Chenoweth. Been there, done that. But we shall see. We shall see also, if viewers get entertained by new shows for the summer like Traveler and National Bingo Night (yeah, I am messing with you for the last one, I am not a game show fan). Hey, if you got a boring summer planned, just turn on the television and hope that you get entertained by Paris Hilton's latest fiasco of possible jail time. Well, I guess that is all for now.
Signing off,
Sam

QOD: In The Long Run....

"Sol Short once told me mankind is divided into two basic sorts: those who find the unknown future threatening… and those who find it thrilling. He says the rupture between those two sides has been responsible for most of the bloodshed in history. If change threatens you, you become conservative in self-defense. If it thrills you, you become liberal in self-liberation. He says the Threateneds are frequently more successful in the short run, because they always fight dirty. But in the long run, they always lose, because Thrilled people learn and thus accomplish more."

-Variable Star by Robert A. Heinlein and Spider Robinson

As the semester comes to an end, I want to wish everyone the best of luck with their finals, and plenty of fun over the break. I'd also like to send my regards to the graduates, some of whom I know quite well and will miss. Congratulations to all of you!

Be Thrilled!

AP: Iranian-American Being Held in Prison

Associated Press
By ANNA JOHNSON 05.09.07, 7:13 PM ET

An Iranian-American academic who works at a Washington-based institute is being held in a notorious prison after being prohibited from leaving Iran for more than four months, the institute and her husband said Wednesday.

Haleh Esfandiari, the director of the Middle East Program at the Woodrow Wilson Center for Scholars, was sent Tuesday to Evin prison after she arrived at Iran's Intelligence Ministry for questioning, the center said.

Iran has not confirmed that it is detaining Esfandiari, and officials in Tehran could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

"This is extremely disturbing news," said Esfandiari's husband, Shaul Bakhash, in a telephone interview from their home in Potomac, Md. "I never expected they would jail a 67-year-old woman."

Her arrest comes as Washington and Tehran are locked in a bitter standoff over Iran's disputed nuclear program and involvement in Iraq. Although the two countries broke off diplomatic relations following the 1979 seizure of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, tensions between them have escalated sharply in the past year.

Other Iranian-Americans have also been prohibited from leaving Iran in recent months including journalist Parnaz Azima, who works for the U.S.-funded Radio Farda. Another American, former FBI agent Robert Levinson, disappeared in March after going to Iran's resort island of Kish, and his whereabouts are unknown. Tehran says it's continuing to investigate.

Speaking about the two Iranian-American women, the State Department said it was working "closely" with their families to try to secure their release.

"If the regime is willing to harass these innocent people, it's just an insight into the kind of government we're dealing with," said department spokesman Sean McCormack. He refused to discuss specifics of their cases.

The Wilson Center said three masked men holding knives threatened to kill Esfandiari, who was in Tehran visiting her 93-year-old mother, on Dec. 30 as she was on her way to the airport. They took her baggage, including her U.S. and Iranian passports, the center said.

For several weeks, she was interrogated by authorities for up to eight hours a day, according to the center. Most of the questioning focused on the activities of the Middle East Program at the Wilson Center.

"Although Dr. Esfandiari went home every evening, the some 50 hours of questioning were unpleasant - to put it mildly - and not free from intimidation and threat," the center said.

Former Rep. Lee Hamilton, director of the Wilson Center, wrote to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Feb. 20 to ask that Esfandiari be allowed to go back to the U.S. But Hamilton - who was co-chairman of the Iraq Study Group that recommend the Bush administration talk to Iran - did not receive a response, the center said.

Karim Sadjadpour, an expert on Iran at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, said the Tehran government is imprisoning, intimidating, and alienating those who seek to understand their viewpoint, and then complaining that Iran is misunderstood and media coverage is biased against it.

"Haleh was really providing a service at the Wilson Center by bringing in scholars and analysts from Tehran, many of whom were sympathetic to the Iranian government, and letting their voices be heard in Washington," he said. "By detaining her, the Iranian government only eliminates an advocate for diplomacy and strengthens the voices of those in Washington who say the regime is too cruel to be engaged."

Sadjadpour said Esfandiari was one of the few Iran scholars who traveled to the country frequently and interacted with people from across the political spectrum.

"The notion that Haleh is a threat to Iranian national security is beyond preposterous. ... Despite all their talk about being compassionate, Ahmadinejad's government is going back to the cruelty of the revolution's early days," Sadjadpour said.

"The regime feels it's sending a message to the U.S. government that there are repercussions for its democracy promotion efforts in Iran. But in the process they've increased the ranks of those in Washington who argue that the Iranian government is made up of radicals and engaging them would be a mistake. "

Esfandiari, who has been living in the U.S. since 1980, was allowed a telephone call to her mother after she arrived in at the prison Tuesday, the center said.

Bakhash, who is a professor of Middle East history at George Mason University in Virginia, said he believes there has been a "huge misunderstanding."

"She's not involved in politics and has done nothing to justify her incarceration in prison," he said.

The Wilson Center is a nonpartisan institution established by Congress in 1968 and funded through private and public funds, according to its Web site. Its Middle East program focuses on several areas, including "analysis of internal domestic and social developments in Iran; the aspiration of the younger generation for reform and expansion of individual liberties," according to the site.

Lost at Greys... Spoiler Alerts!

Hey Everyone!
Okay, so last week was a pretty big week of television. I mean viewers saw everything from Celine Dion singing live with Elvis on Idol to the big shockers from ABC's shows like Lost, Brothers and Sisters, and yes, even The View. Rosie O'Donnell announced the surprise that she was leaving the show.
But what I am going to talk about most today is the two biggest "shocking" episodes thus far of the season. Grey's Anatomy and LOST. Firstly, Lost's episodes for the past couple of weeks have been given viewers a clue into what the island is exactly, are the survivors dead, and Who in fact are "The Others?" This week's episode has dealt with the character, Locke's issues especially with his father who appeared on the island by the magic will of "The Others." Locke was told to kill his father, however he could not and Sawyer/James shot him for revenge from killing his family (or something like that). Locke also is apparently "spying" on the others by joining them but it doesn't look like he is coming back to the survivors. Jack and Juliet have set up a secret alliance that seems to alienate the rest, even though Juliet is spying for "The Others." For fans, these clues have been shocking and twisted leading to audience members being lost once more. (Fyi, pun was intended).
On Grey's Anatomy, the 2hr special show we saw Addison Montgomery-Shepard (or let's just call her Addison) leave Seattle Grace to do her "spin-off" in California, where she meets up with her Med School friends. Also, Christina and Burke are still getting married even though they both seem to have cold feet and both don't want to admit it. George is struggling with his marriage and seems to like Izzie even more. Addison seems as if her life in Seattle was over and now she is moving on for a fresh start, while leaving both Karev and McSteamy heartbroken and trying to understand exactly why she left.
Addison is played by the fantastic Kate Walsh from the preview from this episode she seems like she will handle her own show on her own. The only problem that it could fail is that many people hate her character due to the drama she caused at the hospital. BUT ITS ONLY A TELEVISION SHOW! It seems like its going to be funny and a cute dramedy for the fans of Grey's. Well, that's all for now.. Hope the Summer goes well and rest up for finals!
Signing off,
Sam

Come See The Last Play Of The Year

Cripple of Inishmaan
by Martin McDonagh

"Set on a remote island off the west coast or Ireland in 1934, THE CRIPPLE OF INISHMAAN is a strage comic tale in the great tradition of Irish storytelling. As word arrives on Inishmaan that the Hollywood director Robert Flaherty is coming to the neighboring island of Inishmore to film Man of Aran, the one person who wants to be in the film more than anybody is young Cripple Billy, if only to break away from the bitter tedium of his daily life."

It's fun and dark and its the last play of the year! Opening night is tomorrow, Thursday April 26th. It shows through this weekend and then next weekend. Here's a sneak peak:

Photos taken by Nicolas Tan

Defacing the School

Okay, so you might think its all cool and funny, but scrawling your name in the wet concrete of fresh sidewalk on campus is not kosher.

I'm talking about the walkways between the JC and Science and Tech. I, and towards Enterprise. I saw TWO students a matter of minutes apart from each other scratching with either stone or stick their little 'tags' into the just-made sidewalk slabs. One guy was moronic enough to use his own name.

This is NOT like chalking some message across the the wall or where we walk; this is permanent folks - until campus feels it safe to shell out more of our tuition money to repair the affected slabs.

This is probably part of why we have a designated area for chalking - beneath the walkway between the Robinson buildings - not to fringe upon freedom of speech, but to protect our campus from becoming a nightmare of a trashed frat house straight out of "Animal House."

So when you feel the need to leave your mark - DON'T SCRATCH!

I Love Free Speech…?

I, like any other red-blooded American, am guilty of the most cardinal sin of our democracy. But I'm not taking the blame alone, the rest of you are coming along with me. You too are guilty of the same sin, all of you. But don't worry; I'm going to make the confession for you. Here it comes … are you ready?

I Hate Free Speech.

Oh, I know, you've just winced, or jumped in your seat. Chances are, if you are like me, you're already composing angry replies. You already have your stack of reasons why you and, if you're a kind soul, I am not guilty of this horrendous thing. If you’re the tactical sort, you may be thinking that I'm talking about Them. You know which Them, if you’re a Democrat, They are Republicans. If you’re a conservative, They are liberals. You have numerous examples of why They are guilty of this, but you are not. Chances are, you're right, They are guilty of it. But so are you.

We all have the best of intentions. In our good intentions we know that free speech does not apply in this case. This case is the exception. You don't believe me, I know. But take a moment in your growing angst and think. Have you never thought something like "How could they print that!" or "I wish someone would do something about my biased professor" or (and you may have been thinking this one quite recently) "That speaker is offensive and shouldn't be allowed to speak at my College."

Did I detect a swallow of apprehension?

At some point in our lives everyone is guilty of this. We've all wanted to quash free speech beneath our righteous heel, taking the first decisive step on the road to hell. The irony is that we liberals are the guiltiest of denying free speech. That's not to say that the conservatives don't have a hand in paving over free expression, they do it in the form of ratings and censures, the little bleeps that make the world safe. It is a horrendous and unjust injury. But make no mistake, we liberals are worse. We are far more subtle and, therefore, deadly in our infringements. We censure to seek political correctness. Liberals enact speech codes, we write angry letters, and we call the ultimate fouls: "Bias! Racism!"

It takes a moment of reflection, but our liberal victories these days are far too often found when we kill off free speech. Bias is bad. Racism is wrong. And being offensive, well that just isn't nice! But we cannot remove people just because we find them so. Allow me an appeal to the conservative economist here, free speech is like that famous utopia - the free market - it hurts a bit, it leaves people behind, but in the end it can do more good then bad. Its conflicts work themselves out, if left alone. Legislating against them is only a mistake, and a big one. It is this mistake, compounded through legalities, suits, and funding machinations, that has put us where we are today, the Spin Zone known as the United States.

Liberals are just as guilty as conservatives of the state of the news media today. We have all pushed the news into airing innocuous idiocies or pure stupidities. By seeking to shut the other side up, you've forced them into employing a radical outlet. I want you all to take a step back from your computer and bow your head in repentance. Now, if you are a conservative, repeat after me: "Keith Olbermann is my fault entirely." If you're liberal, intone: "I am wholly responsible for FOX News."

I know, it hurts. But a lesson must be learned: There is only one reason to prevent someone from saying anything – if it will result in immediate deaths. Let Ann Coulter or Howard Stern say what they wish, they'll get their comeuppance when they loose their fans, and when the media itself hangs them. But the only reason they should not speak is because they don't want to. I'll declare it here and now; they may be filth but let them always have an outlet! I, as a liberal, would gladly throw another pie in Coulter's conservative face, but only after she's finished talking. To do anything else would only be to destroy the most important value we, as a country, have – Free Speech.

Next time you see an ad for an offensive speaker, or see an offensive book, or take offense at the language of a TV show, I want you to stop your initial impulse to force legal action on the person, or violence on the medium. I want you to take a deep breath, calm yourself, and remember the following:

I Love Free Speech.

Something to Consider

"No one feels another's grief, no one understands another's joy. People imagine they can reach one another. In reality they only pass each other by."

- Franz Schubert

I'm not saying that the guy is either right or wrong, for if I could (with authority), well then I wouldn't be merely human. Just something to consider when trying to comfort others.

We can be there for those suffering, but we cannot take the pain away by attempting to stretch our minds to comprehend what they are going through - just as much as we would not expect others to ever understand what we go through.

Not in the full at least. It takes time, and much patience.

Town Hall Meeting Monday

All students are invited to join university administrators at a town hall meeting Monday, April 23, at 4:30 p.m. to discuss issues related to the Virginia Tech incident.

Moderated by Chief of Staff Dr. Tom Hennessey, this meeting will convene in the Johnson Center, Room 133, in front of the student government office.

-Sandy Hubler, VP of University Life

"We Embrace our Community"

We continue to be moved by the events that occurred at Virginia Tech on Monday. We send our deepest wishes for healing for the victims, their families, and their communities. We also wish to assure all our communities, particularly our Asian and Asian American community, as well as our Korean students, that we are committed to creating a learning environment where all our students can experience safety,
respect, and support.

As is true throughout the year, the variety of co-curricular programs we offer reflect the rich diversity of views that exist on our campus and in the world. Many of those programs facilitate freedom of expression, critical thinking, and conscious examination of difference. As the semester soon comes to a close, we hope you continue to engage in dialogue and share knowledge in a manner that embodies civility for yourself and for other individuals. With your participation, we will continue to create a strong spirit of community for Mason students, faculty, and staff.

from,
Peter Stearns, Provost
Sandy Hubler, Vice President University Life

VA21 Vigil

9:00PM: a small group has stayed gathered around the Mason statue, standing before a wreath and quietly placing their own candles and flowers. Though this group is far smaller, but all the same is quiet and respectful. The only sound is the gentle fall of water from the statue.

All stand in respect and silence to honor the memories of those students who fell.

LiveBlog: Thursday Vigil [4]

7:48: We Are Virginians performed and written by Laura Mays.

The song is soft low and perfectly fitting, with lyrics that touch the moment exactly. Right now, as the state, and indeed the world, stands and watches us and our reactions, it is our unity, the same unity displayed by the hundreds standing here in the growing cold, holding their candles close. Tonight, the nation is made of men and women who are all Virginians.

And for us? We stand as Hokies.

7:53: Dr. Maurice Scherrens returns to the stand. "Raise it as high as you can, I know that they will see it. We love you Tech."

A slow and solemn rendition of Taps, played by Patrick O'Connel reverberates, strong, above the crowd. Ever so slowly, all walk down to the the Mason statue, to lay flowers in the memory of those who died.

LiveBlog: Thursday Vigil [3]

7:39: "Light this candle."

Ross Alameddine
Jamie Bishop
Brian Bluhm
Ryan Clark
Austin Cloyd
Jocelyne Couture-Nowak
Kevin Granata
Matt Gwalney.
Calin Hammaren
Jeremy Herbstritt
Rachael Hill
Emily Hilscher
Matthew La Porte
Jarrett Lane
Henry Lee
Liviu Librescu
G.V. Loganathan
Partahi Mamora Halomoan Lumbantoruan
Lauren McCain
Daniel O'Neil
Juan Ramon Ortiz
Minal Panchal
Daniel Perez Cueva
Erin Peterson
Michael Pohle
Julia Pryde
Mary Read
Reema Samaha
Waleed Shaalan
Leslie G. Sherman
Maxine Turner
Nicole Regina White.

Each name is enunciated, each name sees hundreds of candles. They glow, some dimly, some brightly, but all the same they stand as light to represent those sparks that were lost. Almost everyone is standing, candle in hand, and it is quiet; all but the names, still echoing into the wind.


Photo by Courtney Erland

LiveBlog: Thursday Vigil [2]

7:21: Thomas Epps performs a stirring rendition of Amazing Grace to a somber audience. The American flag stands still directly behind him.

7:25: "I pray that you would all keep the victims and the families of the victims in your thoughts and prayers […] for as long as they feel it is necessary and you feel it is necessary." said President Merten. "Be vigilant in all you do, not only for yourself but for all the members in your community. […] Love your neighbor as you love yourself."

7:27: The Anointed Voices of Unity, Mason's Gospel Choir, stands in front of the stage. Their voices and refrain echo down the campus.

7:33: The Campus Ministry Association Representing: Bahai, Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Orthodox have taken the stage as one. Their first representative begins to talk about faith in a broken world. "We talk to god, whose love offers hope. […] release our anger over the murder […] we come face to face with our emptiness and know that god cares. […] we come to comfort and support each other in our common loss." Each representative comes in turn. Quoting from their religious texts: "Let us pray."

"Let us carry the memories of our teachers, of our friends."

LiveBlog: Thursday Vigil

Tonight, people began to gather at the area outside the JC, gathering under tents with flowers, signing letters and notes of care. A young child is standing next to me, giving out ribbons. Soft and slow music is playing over the speakers while I stand in the fading light. Already the number of people here is far more then the number at the previous vigil and, though some students simply pass through on their way to dinner or class, for the great majority the attitude is the same. A somber gathering of people. In all ways, people are leaning on each other tonight, be it physical or emotional. It seems that, in some ways, the gap between now and the tragedy of this monday is infinite. That is part of the reason why people are here today I suspect. It is not only to honor the memories of those lost, but also to make sure we all remember the 33 who died.

7:10PM: A lot of groups are here, along with a far better setup resulting from the advance planning that went into this event. The crowd grows with ever minute, while people are waiting for the first speaker to take the Mason podium.

7:14: The first speaker takes the stage. Dr. Maurice Scherrens. He speaks to a huge crowd which is completely quiet. "It makes me mad [...] All we can do know is keep those victims in our thoughts and prayers. [...] A bad thing happened to great people at a great university and I don't know why. [...] I still feel the disbelief, the anger, the sorrow. […] I know there must be something here we are supposed to learn." 'A bad thing happened to great people at a great university and I don't know why,' Dr. Scherrens pronounces the refrain over and over. "Live today as if you were going to die tomorrow […] Their death has told us that we must act." Dr. Scherrens talks of how we must live "passionately instead of passively," and his words are like poetry. "A bad thing happened to great people at a great university and I will never know why."

7:20: The student body president and president-elect have taken the stage. Al-Mudallal reminds us to not let our perceptions bias us, while Shelnutt reminds us of the essential properties of our security.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the Virginia community tonight," the president-elect said.

Beta Alpha Psi Statement

Beta Alpha Psi at George Mason is shocked and saddened by the recent tragedy down at Virginia Tech. I had the opportunity to meet with the President of Beta Alpha Psi from Virginia Tech at the reginal meeting this semester. Virginia Tech is a great school composed of outstanding students. We offer our most sincere condolences to all those affected from this tragic event.

Justin Park
President, Beta Alpha Psi
George Mason University

Sudanese Student Association Statement

On behalf of SSA, we would like to send our deepest condolences to the families and friends who have suffered as a result of the massacre at VA Tech. They are in our prayers and we hope God will bless them with patience -- stay strong, this can only bring everyone closer.

Noon Salih
Sudanese Student Association, President

Bengali Patriots Associations Statement

On behalf of the Bengali Patriots Association, I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to all those hurt by this catastrophe. Furthermore, I would like to show my admiration for all those who acted courageously in the face of tragedy and did what they could do help one another.  Thank you for allowing me to express my feelings on this issue. 

Sincerely,

Shagor Rahman

Chi Alpha Christian Fellowship Statement

Chi Alpha Christian fellowship is deeply saddened by the tragic event in Blacksburg, VA. As an organization and as individuals, we have been praying for the victims, their families, their friends and their fellow classmates, asking God--a God who cares--for His perfect peace to enter the hearts of everyone affected and to comfort those who are experiencing the loss of someone they loved. While this evil act leaves us unspeakably confused, disturbed and apprehensive, we can be confident that God is good and will help us through this time of need.

Environmental Science and Policy Graduate Student Association Statement

Like millions of people worldwide, we in the Environmental Science
and Policy Graduate Student Association are deeply saddened by
the senseless violence that ended in the tragic loss of 33 lives
Monday morning.  Our organization includes several members who
know Virginia Tech alumni or are VT alumni themselves. 
Regardless of university affiliation, the pain of Monday's events are
felt by all.  The loss of so  many bright students and well
accomplished faculty is a setback to the academic community at
large.  The research and contributions of the 5 faculty members
(Drs. Bishop, Librescu, Granata, Couture-Nowack, and Loganathan)
and 6 graduate students will be sorely missed.  The academic
potential of the intelligent and driven undergraduate and graduate
students can never be measured.  Our thoughts and prayers are
with the families and the Virginia Tech community.


Thank you,
Sarah Johnson
President of the ESP-GSA

Statement sent to us by the Korean Student Association

The events that occurred at Virginia Tech on Monday, April 16^, 2007 are a tragedy. As part of the student body of George Mason University, the Korean Students Association grieves for their losses. GMU KSA offers condolences to families, the Virginia Tech community, and friends. Many KSA members have friends at Virginia Tech and remain concerned about their friends and families.

GMU KSA hopes that the healing process will be swift for those affected. We believe that all students have the right to feel safe on campus, and that parents should feel comfortable sending their children to school. GMU KSA’s mission is to listen to and help its members become effective civic leaders to serve GMU and the greater Washington D.C. area. GMU KSA hopes to provide a collegial environment between undergraduate and graduate students and offer friendly environments.

No words can appropriately describe our sorrow. Once again, GMU KSA offers condolences to families, Virginia Tech communities, and friends.

On behalf of GMU KSA members,
Mike JooHyun Lee
President
Korean Students Association
George Mason University

Update on VA 21 Vigil

Thursday at 9 p.m. there will be a vigil on the JC North Plaza in remembrance of the victims of the VT shootings. Student Body President-Elect Drew Shelnutt will announce it at the 7 p.m. Mason community vigil and ask the community to gather once again for a "period of remembrance and solidarity" with the VT community.

President Merten's Letter to the Mason Community

The community at George Mason University extends our prayers and deepest condolences to our friends, family, and colleagues at Virginia Tech. The shared sense of tremendous loss is one that is very difficult to communicate with words—words seem inadequate given the magnitude of this tragedy.

But ultimately healing must begin, and we must go on. I want to commend our students, student leaders, and our Office of University Life for how quickly they mobilized on our campus to offer assistance to their friends at Virginia Tech, and for their quick action to organize prayer services and vigils so the Mason community could remember and honor the victims. A schedule of the events and activities taking place on our campus is posted on Virginia Tech Outreach Efforts.

I also want to thank the dedicated professionals at our Counseling Center who are working round-the clock to address the needs of our students. Anyone who wishes to seek services from the Counseling Center can call 703-993-2380 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. After 5 p.m. please call the University Police Department at 703-993-2810. They will page the counselor on duty. Faculty who are seeking advice for classroom discussion can visit an excellent web site, counseling.txstate.edu/crisis.htm which is highly recommended by our counseling staff.

I also want to address the inevitable question of safety on our campus. Like most universities across America we are compelled in the wake of this tragedy to review our security procedures. I have asked members of my administration and our security team to undertake this review so I can be assured we are taking every plausible precaution to maintain a secure and safe campus. George Mason University has a well-trained police force; we are currently utilizing state-of-the-art security systems across campus, and we have highly experienced professionals on our staff with extensive crisis management backgrounds.

I am committed to providing the safest campus possible for our students, faculty, staff, and all those who visit George Mason University.

Once again, I extend my deepest sympathies to my friend and colleague, Dr. Charles Steger and to all the students, parents, faculty, and staff at Virginia Tech.

Sincerely,

Dr. Alan Merten, President

George Mason University

Appropriation

In the midst of all the confusion of the last couple days, I've had some time to think. A lot of people have "Today we are all Hokies" icons of various forms on facebook and livejournal. People are organizing events to mourn. But I don't feel it would be fitting for me to involve myself. I am not grieving. I am extraordinarily sad that it happened, and can't imagine what it must be like to have lost someone, but as far as I know, nobody I know or knew was hurt. And aside from the general shock that anyone would feel at the knowledge that it even happened, I don't feel I can involve myself in the general mourning that is going on. I can show respect or even sympathy, but for me to grieve would be to appropriate someone else's tragedy and minimize the very real, personal, and direct impact it is having on their lives.

It reminds me of an episode of "Rescue Me" that I saw last summer, when one of the guys in the firehouse went to a PTSD support group regarding World Trade Center collapse, to read the poetry he had written about it. He was a firefighter who had been on the scene and lost members of his firehouse, while none of the group members had even been in the city at the time. He was disgusted that while he was holding himself together (albeit by writing apallingly bad poetry), they were falling apart over a tragedy that didn't even belong to them. Who would have thought I'd find insight in a Dennis Leary creation?

I don't think there's anything wrong with talking through the events at Virginia Tech, or in showing respect and honor to the deceased and wounded with sympathy notes, half-staff flags, or displays of the Tech Hokie. Still, at the end of the day, this tragedy is not mine to own. I am extraordinarily grateful to have not been personally affected, and extraordinarily saddened for those who were. But today I am not and cannot be a Hokie, because even in my worst nightmares I can't imagine what they must be feeling or living. I think those of us who were fortunate enough to be spared personal tragedy on Monday should bear this in mind.

Blog Watch: Reports, Reactions

As tragedy broke yesterday, many people sat down and watched the reports on TV. However, the blog world was doing more then just watching, they were writing. Hundreds of blogs, ranging from LiveJournals to news reports, from conspiracy theories to psychological examinations, were posted from the beginning of the tragedy onward. I've selected a few of the ones that stood out from the rest, including Blogs from mainstream news sources and one from a GMU graduate student.

Captain's Quarters has two well written posts in reaction to the massacre. The first is about the heroism of holocaust survivor and VT Professor Liviu Librescu, who gave his life to save his students. The second is about the issues that arose from the tragedy.

Jurassicpork puts up a post at Welcome to Pottersville talking about the effect of violence on our psyche and the horror that the survivors must face when they return to classes tomorrow. [Pottersville]

The Volkh Conspiracy, well known pro-gun site, put up a series of thought-out articles on the shootings. [Volkh]

The Huffington Post's Taylor Marsh wrote out an extended post on our preparation as a country for tragedy. [Huffington]

ABC's The Blotter has a short post on the weapons used. [Blotter]

A quick look at the pro-gun reactions in the media to the VT shootings. [MediaMatters]

Tech Alumni and current GMU graduate student writes on the events of the day. [Thinking on the Margin]

Chicago Tribune's blog The Swamp takes a quick look at the letter the killer left behind. [The Swamp]

A professional psychologist posts instructions on how to deal with Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. [The Moderate Voice]

Hotline's blog On Call has McCain's and Edwards' comments. [Hotline On Call]

Finally:
The Collegiate Times, VT's student-run newspaper, had their website go down early in the day. As a public service College Publisher has taken over hosting the digital side of the paper and VT's student writers, editors and reporters have done a laudable job keeping their fellow students, and the world, informed.

List of VT Victims Grows

The VT Administration and local Police force are slowly releasing the names of victims to the public. You can find a number of names, pictures and descriptions at the following sites:

CBS's List
Herald Tribune's List
ABC's List

Words From Our President

After a very long day for those of Virginia Tech and for many others, President Alan Merten yesterday addressed a candlelight vigil beneath the Mason clock tower just nigh of midnight. He spoke briefly yet with clear intention to the collective of students who fought against the wind both to keep their candles lit and to remain themselves despite the cold.

This was the advice he had to give:

"First of all, I want to thank Jacob [Jenkins] and others for organizing this event this evening. It's very important that we at George Mason University reach out to the entire Virginia Tech community. These are our brothers, these are our sisters, these are our friends, these are people that are now going through an enormous, an enormous, amount of stress.

I watched today on the television, I'm sure as you did, to watch how people are struggling with this. We have a responsibility - I feel it personally, I hope you feel it personally - if we know people at Virginia Tech that our next, not just days but weeks or months, that we reach out to them and we ask them, 'How can I help, how can I help? How are you feeling?' And if they don't give us an answer right away we ask them again.

Because in a sense, I don't think that people are going to really realize what they are going through for a long period of time. And we have a responsibility to work with them.

I'm very proud, I'm so proud of being president of George Mason University because of our students and tonight, having you all here, is just one more reason that convinces me that we at George Mason are doing something right; and now we have the opportunity to show it again.

I hope that over the days and weeks that we have more of these vigils to remind ourselves and to remind our friends at Virginia Tech that we care about them.

Keep the people of Virginia Tech in your thoughts and in your prayers. I know that's what I'm doing."

A Litany By Candlelight

“Times like these, we need to count our blessings,” said a Mason student wearing maroon and orange. After she suggested that those present name the things that they’re thankful for, there was an initial silence, and then an outpouring of thanks.

“Parents.” “Strength.” “Family.” “Love.”

Male and female voices called these out from all corners of the crowd.

“I’m thankful that on a night like this we can gather together. God is here.”

Some shouted loudly, others were barely audible.
“That the world cares.”

Some shook with the cold and others rang out with confidence.
“Unity.” “Resiliency.” “Compassion.” “Charity.”

But all of them named these things with grateful hearts, taking heart in finding the good still left.

“Sisters,” one girl said as she gathered her friends closer to her.

“That it ended when it did.” A sentiment greeted with sighs of agreement.

A sense of community spread throughout the crowd as more and more chimed in. Once, two spoke at once, but then stopped, letting the other speak.

“I’m thankful for all of you.”

“For the health care workers,” one said. “The Red Cross,” followed right after.

Many of the thanks were touched with a solemnity earned by worry.

“That my brother still has a future.” The crowd silenced briefly.

“For every mom that called their kid today.”

“For Facebook and Cell phones,” greeted with laughter. However, the sentiment was accepted as truth- Many Mason students today reached their friends at Virginia Tech through these mediums to find that they were safe.

“I’m thankful that even though there’s evil in the world, we know that there’s still good,” a man cried from the back, his voice breaking.

“For the men and women in uniform.” Those that helped today.

“To be able to go to a university.” Since so many around the world cannot.

“For tomorrow morning.” When the sun will rise.

“I’m glad that the story isn’t over.”

No it’s not. The healing is just beginning.


This story was written by Broadside News Editor Rachael Dickson

LiveBlog: George Mason Students Send Their Sympathies to VT. [4]

12:33: Though I've said it already, the cold tonight is notable for this time and to see so many out here, despite the cold, the wind, and the bad weather, provides its own type of warmth.

12:35: Mason students have taken the stage stating what things they, in the midst of tragedy, have to be thankful for, the people on whom they, in this time of tragedy, have leaned on and depended on. They are thankful of the small goods that come from horror, the knowledge that will insure that we all will be able to prevent this from happening again, the ability to count your blessings and to acknowledge those around you.



12:43: A number of Jewish students have gathered to say the Mourner's Kaddish, a prayer for the dead.

12:46: The vigil has officially ended, but many students remain standing together, talking to each other about the events of the day.





Broadside's sympathies and hopes are with the VT families. We hope that all those injured, be it in mind or body, heal and our prayers go with the families of the dead.

LiveBlog: George Mason Students Send Their Sympathies to VT. [3]

12:24: Though they face a stiff breeze and cold weather however everyone continues. Right now people have begun to sing Amazing Grace in low tones, a beautiful sound.

J.D. Weiman, the speaker of the Student Senate who was dressed in a suit to match the solemnity of the occasion, said a few words, leaning towards brevity. Fellow Senator Joseph Sorgini spoke passionately to the crowd about the importance of prayer for Virginia Tech.

It has been observed that a TV crew, who is believed to have been dispatched from ABC, is at the event tonight.

Many people are standing together leaning against each other for support. Members of the Greek Community are here as well, hugging brothers and looking on quietly.

Many members of the student government are here to pay their respects as well.

LiveBlog: George Mason Students Send Their Sympathies to VT. [2]

11:52PM: President Alan Merten has just arrived. A number of people have talked to our Broadside reporters:

"I'm here to support the students of Virginia Tech and their families and friends who go to Mason, I'm also here to support collage students in general so this doesn't happen again," said sophomore Gerry Moore.

11:58: Merten takes the stage to talk to the gathered students.

"Keep the people of Virginia Tech in your thoughts and in your prayers," said Merten. "I'm so proud to be president of George Mason University right now." He went on to thank students for organizing the event. Merten said we had a responsibility to reach out to students at VT because they are going to have a hard time.

12:04: People have been going up spontaneously during this informal event to speak out of their own experience.

"For the loved and the lost you will be with us always" said a man in a leather jacket emblazoned with the US flag. He spoke of the beauty of Virginia Tech and said that it was one of the most beautiful places he had ever been. Even in the wake of the tragedy it will be beautiful again.

12:08 (and previous quotes): A women named Elizabeth Kimbell talked about the negative coverage that VT had faced all day. One positive story she saw was the Student Body president from VT when asked by the media who he wanted to blame he had said that they did not want to blame anyone, they wanted to heal. "I'm glad that we are doing something different. I'm sure other universities are doing this but at least we are not adding to the negativity."

Three girls emblazoned in maroon and orange, VT's colors, stand close to the stage, two of them are from the area of VT and said that they grew up in Hokie country. The third girl, Ana Miller, has a boyfriend who is an engineering major there and was close to the shootings.

"It hit really close to home," said Fran Dickinson. "We've been glued to the TV all day. We wanted to show our support and make t-shirts and wear Hokie colors."

"It is like a second college to us." said Amber Walker.

Mike Vitale, a freshman music major, came with his roommates to the vigil. He spoke through tears, "it hurts so much, it's just not fair."

12:16PM: As speakers came on and off of the stage the crowd continued to grow, quiet and attentive with the wind in the background.

LiveBlog: George Mason Students Send Their Sympathies to VT.

It has been a long day. As any of the BroadsideOnline Blog's readers may have noticed we have been following the VT shootout stories very closely, with accurate, up-to-the-minute coverage. I personally have read and watched what must be hundreds of various reports on the subject, ranging from total conjecture to VT Officials' press conferences. Though you, dear reader, may not have been aware, this blog has had very up to date and accurate coverage. We broke a full write up of the story quickly and efficiently. We had a more up to date count of injured and dead then when the New York Times went to the digital presses. We've hunted down and brought to your attention the few theories and questions that turned out to be true. While this day has been filled by tragedy, we at Broadside have fuffiled our duty to our readership and our community with everyone here in the office putting in their full effort to ensure that Mason's students were kept up to date. I'd like to take a quick moment here to thank Broadside's staff for their steady hands during a shocking and harrowing day.

All in all it has been a lot. It has been exhausting but, when we see the reaction of Mason students, ultimately satisfying. One of the most heartening things we've been able to report has been the outpouring of support for the VT community from all over the nation, and especially from the George Mason Community. Officials have been organizing group meetings all through this evening. A number of campus and student officials have come forward to comment and send their condolences to VT, students have brought their voices to the fore. In a day filled with keeping death counts up to date and trying to insure that we know the most about the young Asian male who killed 32 today before finally turning his gun on himself, my ability to report the vast care we as Mason students have felt towards our VT compatriots is almost a relief.

Therefore it is only fitting that we end the day's blog coverage with a live blog covering the midnight Candle Light Vigil being held next to the JC. I will be updating this blog post constantly with new content and giving you readers complete coverage of the event, and the emotional heart of this campus.

[Edited for clarity.]

Posts will go up at most every few minutes. So keep refreshing to keep up to date.

11:47PM: I've arrived with a number of Broadside staff here in front of the clocktower, already, 15 minutes before the event, a large crowd has gathered. Students of all types, ages, and dress, are gathering in front of the stage erected here for the event. Lit only by the glow of the clock tower they are talking in hushed tones, gathering against the cold and the wind in clusters, while more people arrive any minute.

11:50PM: Three Mason police cars have arrived, presumably to provide security for the event

11:52PM: President Alan Merten has just arrived. A number of people have talked to our Broadside reporters:

"I'm here to support the students of Virginia Tech and their families and friends who go to Mason, I'm also here to support collage students in general so this doesn't happen again," said sophomore Gerry Moore.

11:58: Merten takes the stage to talk to the gathered students.
"Keep the people of Virginia Tech in your thoughts and in your prayers," said Merten.

VT Student from Fairfax Writes E-Mail to Washington Post

Phillip Murillas, of Fairfax, Virginia, now a freshman at Virginia Tech, majoring in communication, sent an e-mail to Joel Achenbach of the Washington Post. Achenbach posted the letter to his online blog. The e-mail has received an outpouring of community support.

The letter can be found here.

Broadside Online contacted Murillas to expand on the story detailed in his letter.

He received the first email at 9:29 a.m. "Even then I didn't think it was going to be an off day," Murillas said. "Everything was at an arm's length."

Then the cops started showing up and "everything got a lot more immediate."

Despite the fact that his dorm, Main Campbell Hall, stood about seven minutes from West Ambler Johnston and only about five to ten minutes from Norris Hall, Murillas still felt safe, but "profundly disturbed." He could see the ambulances but did not hear the gunshots.

On his way to class Murillas's friend alerted him of the second email. Murillas ran to the lounge common area to look out over the campus, and then back upstairs to check on his dorm-mates. He posted reassuring messages to his family and friends on Facebook and then checked his friends' IM statuses to make sure they were all accounted for. Those he could not reach through the Internet, he called.

One of the two missing dorm-mates he mentioned in his letter have since been accounted for. The two girls attended their Norris Hall french class that morning. While one girl suffered gunshots to her knee, the other is currently unaccounted for.

edited by Whitney Rhodes: Mon. 16, 9:23pm.