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.

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]

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."

Al-Mudallal: A Binary Equation

Don't be foolish, anyone who has been tracking the story with any real alacrity for the issue can see that Al-Mudallal's impeachment was a necessary action, the only travesty was that she won and, if you read the Broadside, you would see that it was not because of some innate rightness of her case but because our student senate is apparently too unintelligent and/or easily manipulated to vote her out, that and the system of impeachment was broken. Perhaps her 'crime' was not the worst of crimes, but you break the rules you should face the consequences. As it stands now, by not kicking out somebody who has clearly broken the laws of the body, the student government has cut itself off at the knees. By lacking the gumption to remove one of their own, the body of the student government has robbed itself of presidential oversight, moral high-ground and community respect, all at once.

Oh, Al-Mudallal's crime may not have been technically illegal according to Virginian State Law, and it may not have had negative effects on us, the student body, that are immediately apparent. However, she is a member of an organization with rules, and she broke those rules.

It's that simple.

When you break the rules, you should - no, you NEED - to face the consequences. Anyone with half a brain and the least bit of knowledge about the SG's constitution can see that she went against the very laws she was sworn, as a leader in our community, to follow. That she walks away scot-free makes a mockery of the Student Government. The same goes for the rest of those in her administration and her supporters who faced impeachment. The SG has (well… 'had' now) a moral and legalistic authority. Rules may not always be black and white, but in this case they are.

Let us face facts, Aseel Al-Mudallal is a self-interested, egotistical, stubborn and foolish girl who played fast and loose with the rules. She should have been removed from office by the SG. Their failure to do so is a perversion of the body. End Of Story.