Category: Civic Learning and Community Enagagement

A message from Rose Pascarell, Vice President of University Life

Ahmaud Arbery should be celebrating his 26th birthday. Instead, due to his senseless murder, we grieve with his family, his community, and our Nation. I ask that you reflect on this young man’s life today, but also, as we navigate this pandemic, what it means to us all that black men globally are not able to enjoy the freedom of safety in an act as simple and harmless as jogging alone in their own communities. The racial implications surrounding not just Ahmaud Arbery’s cause of death, but the handling of the crime by authorities, touch each and every one of us.

Closer to home, many here at Mason have felt the impact of this hateful crime deeply. Mason will continue its commitment to center, uplift, and support our communities of color. If you are a student and need support, please be sure to reach out to our staff at Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS). For staff, please refer to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) website for resources available to you.

We send deepest condolences to the family and friends of Ahmaud Arbery and will come together as a community in support of our students during this difficult and tragic time.

Rose Pascarell
Vice President of University Life

Sexual Assault Awareness Month

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. During the month of April, Mason’s Student Advocacy and Support Center (SSAC) spends this time raising awareness of sexual and interpersonal violence, honoring survivors, and bringing the university together to engage in prevention education and self-care. Due to COVID-19 and social distancing, we look forward to engaging more through our social media and other virtual platforms in keeping with our commitment to survivors and the Mason community.

Student leadership opportunities

Confronting racism and racist symbols in Virginia and beyond

Richmond Mayor Levar M. Stoney said Monday that communities with Confederate monuments need to have blunt conversations about racism.

“Every community has to find their voice in this conversation,” Stoney said. He said communities with Confederate monuments have options in facing their racist history, including providing context, removing them and enacting monuments to African American heroes.

Richmond mayor to discuss Virginia’s racist history at Freedom and Learning Forum

Richmond Mayor Levar M. Stoney, community activist Martha Rollins and former Charlottesville Vice Mayor Wes Bellamy will speak on March 2 about confronting Virginia’s racist history during George Mason University’s Freedom and Learning Forum.

Stoney, Rollins and Bellamy will discuss the role of historical symbols, such as Confederate monuments, as Virginia attempts to engage with its history, address the wounds of racism and construct an accurate narrative of its past.

At MLK Evening of Reflection, a call to be heroes for each other

The first order of business at the MLK Evening of Reflection in George Mason University’s Hub Ballroom on Jan. 29, was the showing of a clip from “King in the Wilderness,” a documentary on the private life of Martin Luther King Jr.

The clip put forth the questions to be answered by the event’s speakers: How can we work together to create a more perfect world? And how can we humanize activism and our activist heroes?

Rain doesn’t dampen enthusiasm on Mason Lobbies Day

Delegate Hala Ayala meets with Geet Jain, President Anne Hotlon, Ramsha Ashraf, Isabella D'Alacio, and Kimberly Posada during Mason Lobbies Day in Richmond. Photo by Lathan Goumas/ Office of Communications and Marketing

Mason lauded for its rate of student voting

Students of Student Government & Academic Affairs encourage voting after successfully implementing a polling station on Mason's Fairfax Campus. Photo by Alexis Glenn

Mason community reaffirms goal of ending sexual violence

The George Mason University community came together to reaffirm the university’s pledge to end sexual violence at Mason during the sixth annual Chapter Next: Ending Sexual Violence.

The program took place in the Hub Ballroom on Monday, Nov. 4, and brought over 150 participants including Mason faculty, staff and students together to educate and challenge themselves as they answer the call to action to end sexual and interpersonal violence. Mason’s president was also in attendance.