Welcome to Mason, Class of 2021! Student Media is proud to present the latest issue of Freshman Focus, the only campus magazine for freshmen, by freshmen. This unique publication is packed with first-person stories from last year’s freshman class, as well as tips and tricks for adjusting to your new life at Mason. Our goal is to help you make the most of your first year at college, so hopefully you (and your family) will enjoy learning about all the exciting opportunities available to you as a Mason Patriot.

Here is a brief excerpt from Freshman Focus Editor-in-Chief, Albert J. Blomberg’s welcome letter to the incoming freshman class:

“You are getting ready to embark on one of the most exciting and eventful chapters in your life. Here you will have the opportunity to meet new friends from across the world and immerse yourself in all that the campus and surrounding area has to offer. Right now you may feel uneasy during this transition, but trust me you will soon feel at home. We hope that Freshman Focus can help ease your worries and provide a smooth transition to your new chapter here at Mason.”

All incoming freshmen will receive a copy during Summer Orientation sessions. If you would like to request additional print copies, please email [email protected]

Click here to read the 2017 issue of Freshman Focus online.

Mason was honored to welcome former Vice President Joe Biden and Netflix actress Alisha Boe (13 Reasons Why) to the Fairfax campus on Wednesday, April 26th as the keynote speakers of the It’s On Us Rally. The event capped off a string of events at Mason recognizing Sexual Assault Awareness Month and was hosted by It’s On Us, a campaign to combat sexual violence on college campuses.

Student Media was on hand to cover the event with photo, video, and news coverage that included a student-produced live stream and representatives from Fourth Estate, PR & Design Team, Mason Cable Network, and WGMU Radio. Student Media’s video feed was picked up by several national news outlets, including CNN, Fox News, WDCW, Buzzfeed, People Magazine online, and others.

A longtime advocate against sexual violence and discrimination, Biden introduced the Violence Against Women Act in 1990 as a Senator from Delaware and launched the #ItsOnUs campaign with then-President Barack Obama in 2014 to raise awareness of the ongoing threats facing young American women. Estimates vary, but nearly 1 in 5 women is sexually assaulted before leaving college, according to data from the U.S. Department of Justice.

Mason President Angel Cabrera highlighted that statistic by focusing the crowd on compassion for the victims: “I don’t care about the five, the six, or the seven, I care about the one!”

In a fiery and blunt speech to the crowd, Biden called on everyone to take responsibility for this issue and recognize that it is indeed “On Us” to make the necessary cultural, attitudinal, and institutional changes needed to reverse the alarming levels of sexual violence plaguing colleges and universities across America.

Perhaps Biden’s most memorable moment was when the former Vice President spoke with deep conviction and flashes of anger about the necessity of obtaining affirmative consent before engaging in sexual activity: “Guys, a woman who’s dead drunk cannot consent. You are raping her. I really mean this, we’ve got to talk about this. Consent requires affirmative consent.”

George Mason University has made strides in this area in recent years, introducing a 24-hour crisis hotline, forming a task force to examine existing processes and resources, increasing counseling opportunities for victims, and pledging to make the eradication of sexual violence a top institutional priority.

You can take Mason’s pledge to end sexual assault via University Life’s website: ulife.gmu.edu/pledges

---

Check out MCN’s video coverage above and read WGMU Radio’s Jackie Reed’s article online: wgmuradio.com/2017/04/27/former-vp-joe-biden-leads-its-on-us-campaign-at-mason

---

 

Student Media hosted the 2nd Annual Journal Jam on Thursday, April 6, in the Johnson Center Bistro. Building on the success of last year’s gathering, we welcomed over 75 students, staff, and faculty members to help us celebrate the work of our five outstanding student-run literary journals that showcase the best in creativity and scholarship Mason has to offer.

Attendees enjoyed live music and refreshments and heard brief presentations from writers, researchers, poets, and artists whose work has been selected for publication in 2017.

The night’s entertainment came courtesy of Mason student Padi Nejad’s up-and-coming local band, Electric Heart, who played their first gig at Mason and brought down the house with their soulful music. Click here to read WGMU DJ Jackie Reed’s (host of Jammin’ with Jackie, Mondays and Wednesdays, 12pm) interview with Electric Heart.

Special thanks to vocalist Padi Nejad, guitartist Sean Ghosh, and saxophonist Devin Beard for lending their talents to our event!

Student Media’s literary journals (1: Volition; 2: The George Mason Review; 3: Phoebe; 4: So to Speak, and 5: Hispanic Culture Review) have been publishing continuously since 1971, providing a platform for Mason students to share their original work across a variety of disciplines with the world. Entirely student-run, these literary journals provide a showcase for original scholarly and creative work by students outside the classroom and provide the Mason community with new ideas and perspectives.

Thank you to everyone who helped make Journal Jam 2017 a success!