Around Mason: Week of Oct. 18, 2022

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Faculty/Staff Announcements  

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Campus Updates


Statewide Earthquake Drill: Oct. 20

The statewide earthquake drill will take place Thursday, Oct. 20, at 10:20 a.m. This is only a drill and test of the Mason Alert emergency notification system. Participation in this drill is voluntary. 

To participate in the earthquake drill, review the Earthquake Preparation and Response Guide provided by Safety, Emergency, and Enterprise Risk Management (SEERM). Follow the response instructions provided in the guide. 

For more information about George Mason University's emergency management programs, visit ready.gmu.edu. Contact SEERM at 703-993-8448 or safety@gmu.edu. 


Introducing TimelyCare, a Virtual Mental Health and Well-Being Resource for Students

Mason now partners with TimelyMD to deliver TimelyCare, a virtual mental health and well-being platform crafted specifically for college students.  

The TimelyCare platform augments the in-person and virtual mental health services that remain available to Mason students through Counseling and Psychological Services and Student Health Services. 

With TimelyCare, Mason students will have access to a multitude of virtual mental health and well-being resources that are free and available 24/7. Students have access to TimelyCare services 365 days a year—that means during breaks, after-hours, and any time they need support. 

Find out more about TimelyCare resources. For questions, contact Rachel Wernicke, associate dean and chief mental health officer, University Life.


Veterans Day Luncheon: Nov. 11 

Join the Office of the President, ROTC, and the Office of Military Services as Mason celebrates and honors Veterans Day. The annual Veterans Day Luncheon will be hosted on Friday, Nov. 11, at 11:45 a.m. in the Center for the Arts lobby. Mason community members who have proudly served the country are invited and encouraged to attend the luncheon. Registration is required.


Launching New Composting Pilot

Mason Facilities is excited to announce the launch of a new zero waste station with industrial composting at the Starbucks Northern Neck on the Fairfax Campus.  

Mason is aiming for over 90 percent waste diversion from our trash stream, or to become zero waste. Waste reduction, reuse, donation, and diversion strategies like composting/recycling are needed to support our sustainability goal.  

Refill and/or reuse items whenever possible and take the extra step to properly sort recycling and composting at campus bins. Learn more.


National Drug Take-Back Event

Turn in unused or expired prescription medications at the National Drug Take-Back Event hosted by Mason Police on Saturday, Oct. 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Items may be dropped off in the Police and Safety Headquarters lobby on the Fairfax Campus.  

Accepted items include prescription and over-the-counter medications, tablets, capsules, and pet medicines.  

The following items are not accepted: injectables, syringes, and needles; intravenous solutions; hydrogen peroxide; compressed cylinders; aerosols (i.e., inhalers); iodine-containing medications; thermometers; alcohol; and illicit drugs. 

A prescription drug drop box is always available in the lobby of the Police and Safety Headquarters. Contact Lt. Michael Guston at 703-993-3414 with questions.


November Staff Senate Meeting with Sharnnia Artis 

The November Staff Senate meeting will feature guest speaker Sharnnia Artis, vice president for diversity, equity, and inclusion and chief diversity officer, to provide updates following the Anti-Racism and Inclusive Excellence Conference. 

Wednesday, Nov. 2 
10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. – Guest speaker 
10:45 a.m. to noon – General business meeting 
Hosted on Zoom 

The Staff Senate will accept questions and comments for the guest speaker in advance of the meeting.


First-Gen Week

First-Gen Week at Mason will take place Monday, Nov. 7, through Friday, Nov. 11. This is the third year that Mason will celebrate its First-Generation Patriots (undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, and staff), and there are several ways to participate: 

  • Departments that wish to host an event during the week should complete and submit this form by Friday, Oct. 28. 
  • The First-Gen+ Center will collect first-gen student and staff stories about their experiences both academically and professionally. Submit a story. 
  • Faculty and staff who identify as first-gen are encouraged to submit their information for inclusion on the I Am First Faculty and Staff List. 

Email questions to Nakia Waters.


National Estate Planning Awareness Week

Oct. 1723 is National Estate Planning Awareness Week, which helps the public understand what estate planning isand why it's such a vital component of financial wellness. Visit Mason's Planned Giving website to download your free personal estate planning kit today.

For more information on Planned Giving or how to include Mason in your estate plan, contact Aquanetta Betts, director of planned giving.


Get Spooky at shopMason’s Halloween Kiosks

Trick or "treat yourself" on Monday, Oct. 31, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Johnson Center food court as shopMason units take over the kiosks. There will be free candy, giveaways, and pumpkin judging!


Flow Yoga at Mason Square

Join Mind the Mat for Flow Yoga, a class that incorporates energetic movement through a series of yoga postures. Classes meet every Thursday from 6–7 p.m. on the plaza at Mason Square. Participants will experience a sense of fluid physical motion. Bring a yoga mat and water bottle and be ready to go with the flow. All levels welcome.

Did you know that free community events happen every weekday on the plaza at Mason Square? Check out the full schedule through Oct. 31.


International Travel: Update to University Travel Advisory Committee Application Requirements 

Effective Oct. 1, travelers are no longer required to apply for review and approval to the University Travel Advisory Committee (UTAC) for the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) warning level 3 and above related to COVID. Requirements for Department of State and non-COVID-related CDC advisories of level 3 and above have not been waived and will require review by UTAC.  

All travelers should be fully up to date with COVID vaccinations and assess their own exposure risk to COVID with their health care provider. Read more information.


Training and Professional Development


Annual Summit for Programs, Events, and Camps Serving Minors

Mason employees who support programs, events, or camps (PEC) serving minors are invited to attend Mason's annual PEC Summit on Thursday, Oct. 20, at 11 a.m. via Teams.  

Policy stakeholders and service providers will present on procedures, resources, and other information related to hosting events with minors at Mason. Questions? Contact Buz Grover, Operations and Business Services.


Webinar: Addressing the Heart and Soul of Employee Well-Being

Join the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being for a free upcoming webinar, offered as part of Mason’s Leading to Well-Being Speaker Series: 

Webinar: Addressing the Heart and Soul of Employee Well-Being 
Thursday, Nov. 17, noon to 1:30 p.m.  
Hosted by Jessica Grossmeier, author of Reimagining Workplace Well-Being: Fostering a Culture of Purpose, Connection, and Transcendence 
Register 

Contact cwb@gmu.edu with questions.


Resources for You


Virginia529 Webinar: Saving for Education

Thinking about saving for education? Join the Human Resources team and Virginia529 for a special webinar on Tuesday, Oct. 25, at 1 p.m. 

Saving for future education expenses for a child, a grandchild—or even yourself—can seem overwhelming. In this webinar, you’ll learn how a Virginia529 account can help you save for tuition and other costs, take advantage of tax-free earnings, and meet your savings goals.  

As a bonus, employees who attend this webinar will receive an exclusive offer: a $25 gift code to open a new Invest529 account. Reserve your spot today.


Route Planning: Biking to Mason

Live within biking distance of Mason? Planning a commute for this autumn or maybe next spring? Volunteers are ready to help you find a biking route that is comfortable for you.  

For details and regions covered, visit Mason’s biking resources page and choose the Bike Volunteer Program. Contact transpo@gmu.edu with questions. 


TIAA Financial Webinars

TIAA has a number of upcoming financial seminars. Topics include tax planning, Social Security considerations, market-proofing your retirement, managing debt, and more. For more information and to register, visit the Human Resources and Payroll website.


Kritikos Anti-Racist Reading Group

The College of Visual and Performing Arts welcomes the Mason community to the Kritikos Anti-Racist Reading Group, which meets on Fridays from 1–2:30 p.m.  

The reading group calls upon and discusses the work of Black scholars, authors, activists, artists, musicians, poets, dancers, and playwrights. The discussions encourage participants to critically question and consider their roles as artists, thinkers, citizens, and creatives in a society founded on racist values and practices. 

Join the meeting on Friday, Oct. 21, for the following topic: “Titus Kaphar: Erasure/Reclaiming Histories.” This event is free and open to the public. Fall meetings continue through Nov. 11.


Upcoming Performances at Mason

Visual Voices Lecture with Silas Munro 
Mason Exhibitions and School of Art 
Thursday, Oct. 20, at 7:30 p.m. 
Hosted on Zoom 
Silas Munro engages multi-modal practices that inspire people to be the best versions of themselves in order to effect positive change on society as a whole. 

Mason Opera Scenes 
Dewberry School of Music 
Friday, Oct. 21, at 3 p.m. 
Harris Theatre 
Come see highlights from standard operas featuring all your favorite characters singing brilliant arias and ensembles in a condensed staging with piano accompaniment, performed by Mason vocal students.  

Mummenschanz: 50 Years
Sunday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m.  
Hylton Performing Arts Center 
Spectacular large-scale masks, clever puppetry, and inventive use of shadow and light delight the whole family in Mummenschanz’s 50 Years. Mummenschanz became a household name in the 1970s thanks to special appearances on The Muppet ShowJohnny Carson Show, and Sesame Street. Beloved by people of all ages around the globe, Mummenschanz sparks the imagination with its manipulation of everyday objects while offering lighthearted and universal insights into the human condition. This performance is appropriate for all ages. 

Mason School of Theater: Head Over Heels 
Oct. 27–29 at 8 p.m.  
October 29–30 at 2 p.m.   
Center for the Arts 
Head Over Heels is the bold new musical comedy from the visionaries who rocked Broadway with Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Avenue Q, and Spring Awakening. This laugh-out-loud love story follows the escapades of a royal family on an outrageous journey to save their kingdom from extinction. This hilarious story is set to the music of the iconic 1980s all-female rock band The Go-Go’s, including the hit songs “We Got the Beat” and Belinda Carlisle’s “Heaven is a Place on Earth.” 

Aida Cuevas: Yo Creo Que Es Tiempo 
Saturday, Oct. 29, at 8 p.m.  
Hylton Performing Arts Center 
All hail the “Queen of Ranchera Music,” Aida Cuevas! In her debut at the Hylton Center, this GRAMMY and Latin GRAMMY winner will fill Merchant Hall with lively mariachi music, the powerful energy of her stage presence, and the rich effervescence of her voice. Don’t miss one of Mexico’s leading voices in a concert celebrating 45 years of ranchera prominence. This performance is appropriate for all ages.  

Farruquito: Intimate Farruquito 
Sunday, Oct. 30, at 7 p.m. 
Hylton Performing Arts Center 
International flamenco megastar Farruquito ignites the stage with raw emotion, extraordinary artistry, and captivating energy. His newest show, Intimate Farruquito, opens a window into the history of flamenco dance, as well as songs that have most influenced his artistry. With a stellar cast of dancers, live musicians, and vocalists, Farruquito’s tangos, bulerías, and alegrías bring the expressive beauty of flamenco to life! This performance is appropriate for all ages.   

Visiting Filmmakers Series: The Slow Hustle with Mahrya MacIntire 
Film at Mason 
Wednesday, Nov. 2, at 4:30 p.m. 
Johnson Center Cinema 
The Slow Hustle chronicles the unsolved death of Baltimore police detective Sean Suiter, fatally shot in 2017 while in the line of duty, and explores the ongoing speculation about what really happened that day. With candid interviews from members of the Baltimore Police Department, Suiter’s widow and children, journalists, lawyers and political leaders, The Slow Hustle examines the continuing mystery surrounding Suiter’s death and the multiple theories that emerge in the investigation of the case, including that Suiter’s death was a calculated murder hit or a suicide.  

Visual Voices Lecture with Ellen Lesperance 
Mason Exhibitions and School of Art 
Thursday, Nov. 3, at 7:30 p.m. 
Digital Event on Zoom 
Ellen Lesperance’s paintings on paper, rendered in gouache in universal knitting shorthand, can be followed as patterns to recreate historic garments worn by women activists, warriors, and cultural figures. For the past decade, she has additionally archived protest knitwear worn by the separatist feminists of the Greenham Common Women’ Peace Camp who demonstrated against U.S. nuclear weapons storage in Berkshire, England (19812000). In 2020, Lesperance published a book of this archive titled Velvet Fist.