University Life

Author: Eleftheria Giannopoulos

Mason Lighting the Way: Josh Kinchen

Josh Kinchen
SGA Inauguration ceremony. Student Government.

Associate Director, LGBTQ+ Resources

Task Force Committee: University Policies and Practices

Josh Kinchen uses the pronouns he/him, and he wants you to know that. He was co-chair of the team that revamped George Mason University’s Chosen Name and Pronouns Policy and worked to add “gender expression” to the nondiscrimination policy. Read more about Josh Kinchen.

Support for Mason Families: Virtual Family Initiatives

Virtual Family Initiatives event illustrations

Last semester, New Student and Family Programs (NSFP) offered a wide variety of Virtual Family Initiatives to help support our Mason family community. This spring, NSFP is offering a continuation of opportunities for families and students to attend. To ensure that the needs of Mason families and students are being met, NSFP has designed a new Family Support Series to address specific needs that you have vocalized about what your students have been facing.

Read more about the Virtual Family Initiatives

Homecoming is ‘Brave and Bold and Coming to You’

masked students with "brave and bold" sweatshirts at homecoming
Homecoming 2021 kicked off on Friday, Feb. 5, with the tip-off party, including the SI2Go truck. More activities run online and in person throughout the week and include men’s and women’s basketball games and a drive-in game watch party on Saturday night. See more photos. Learn more about the events. Photo by Creative Services 

Celebrating Black and African Heritage Month

Black and African Heritage Month, February 1-28, 2021
This February, Mason’s Center for Culture, Equity and Empowerment and others have created programming that centers and uplifts the well-being of Black life on campus and includes storytelling, guest speakers, a gala, and more. Check out the schedule of activities.

Mason Lobbies gives students access to Virginia leaders

About two dozen George Mason University students took part in the ninth annual Mason Lobbies on Wednesday, Feb. 3.

About two dozen George Mason University students took part in the ninth annual Mason Lobbies on Wednesday, Feb. 3, discussing issues with lawmakers from across the Commonwealth of Virginia, including Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates Eileen Filler-Corn, House Majority Leader Charniele Herring and Secretary of Education Atif Qarni.

This year the program was virtual but still featured opportunities for interaction with state leaders.

Read More about Mason Lobbies

Homecoming at Home

Mason Homecoming at Home: February 5-14, 2021

Enjoy this year’s fun-filled festivities from the comfort of your home. Check out what Alumni Relations has in store for Homecoming 2021!

Connecting Through Kindness

Mason Chooses Kindness

Join Mason Chooses Kindness on Wednesday, Feb. 3 from noon to 1 p.m. for a virtual panel discussion about embedding kindness into your daily life. Kindness and compassion have never been as important as they are now. Go here for more information and to register.

Mason students well-positioned to fight for social justice, equity

The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Evening of Reflection hosted by the Coalition Building and Diversity Education, co-hosted with University Life, Welcome2Mason, Center For Culture, Equity, and Empowerment, Mason Votes, Student Engagement for Racial Justice. Student Panel Q&A and discussion with President Gregory Washington. photo by Evan Cantwell/Creative Services
The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Evening of Reflection hosted by the Coalition Building and Diversity Education, co-hosted with University Life, Welcome2Mason, Center For Culture, Equity, and Empowerment, Mason Votes, Student Engagement for Racial Justice. Student Panel Q&A and discussion with President Gregory Washington. photo by Evan Cantwell/Creative Services

Students living in this era of racial reckoning and political unrest have far more resources at their disposal than social justice advocates had a half-century ago, George Mason University President Gregory Washington told a student panel at the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Evening of Reflection on Thursday night.

Read about the Evening of Reflection

City of Fairfax businesses support 2021 Homecoming

Homecoming and Fairfax City

Although many of this year’s Homecoming events are virtual, more than 50 City of Fairfax businesses are showing their Patriot Pride with discounts and promotions in early February. Find out more.

Fighting the fires of social and racial unrest

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Evening of Reflection, January, 28th, 2021

To honor the memory of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and recognize those on campus who actively live out his vision, George Mason University will host the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Evening of Reflection and awards ceremony on Thursday, Jan. 28, at 6 p.m. via Zoom.

“This year, it is particularly important to continue on with the Evening of Reflection, as we consider the state of our nation,” said Hamal Strayhorn, director of the Office of Coalition Building and Diversity Education at Mason. “Our nation has experienced the loss of 400,000 lives to COVID-19, social and economic disparity in full view, the continuation of black bodies being murdered by police without accountability and racial unrest. On Jan. 6 we all witnessed a failed insurrection in our nation’s capital, which was rooted in divisiveness and racism.”

“Our hope is that students and attendees will understand that in our nation and world there is still a lot of work to do around issues of social justice, equity and inclusion and that ‘the time is always right to do what is right,’” Strayhorn said, quoting Dr. King.

Read more about the Evening of Reflection