Around Mason: Week of July 11, 2023

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Faculty/Staff Announcements

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Campus Updates


Kind of a Big Dill: Pickleball Courts Grand Opening Event

Join Mason Recreation for the grand opening of Mason's new pickleball courts. The celebration will include a ribbon-cutting, learn-to-play sessions, drills, and open play—along with giveaways and prizes. 

Pickleball Courts Grand Opening
Tuesday, July 18, from noon to 9:30 p.m. (ribbon-cutting at 12:45 p.m.)
Fairfax Campus, near the RAC/corner of Campus Drive and Patriot Circle
RSVP


Family of the Year Nominations

Know an awesome Mason family? Nominate them to be Mason's 2023–24 Family of the Year. The Dr. Alan and Sally Merten Family of the Year Award recognizes the critical role families play in the student experience at Mason.  

The award will be presented during Family Weekend 2023 (October 13–15). Learn more and submit a nomination


Parking Services Offices Closed July 12 for Training 

All Parking Services offices will be closed on Wednesday, July 12, for staff training. If you need assistance, please leave a message on their 24-hour line at 703-987-4991. Messages will be retrieved periodically throughout the day.


Staff Senate Election

The Staff Senate election is underway from July 10–21. Classified and non-student wage employees received a link to the ballot via email on Monday, July 10.  

Nominations for open senate seats were accepted in June. Contact staffsenate@gmu.edu with questions. 


Treatment Advances and Mental Health: What Could the Future Bring?

Join a 2023 Health Policy Speaker Series webinar with moderator Alison Cuellar of the College of Public Health on Treatment Advances and Mental Health on July 12, noon–1 p.m. The panel will discuss advances in neurostimulation, MDMA, psychedelics, and how policymakers will react to these innovations as they get closer to clinical reality. Learn more and register.


Resources for You


On-Campus Produce Pickup

Mason's Greenhouse and Gardens are offering free produce pickups at three locations on the Fairfax Campus. Enjoy fresh fruits and vegetables grown at Mason. 

This program is offered in partnership with the Patriot Pantry to help address food insecurity on campus. All members of the Mason community are welcome to participate.  

Registration is required. Visit the University Sustainability volunteer portal and create an account if you do not have one. Log in and select "Event Calendar," and then sign up for a pickup date/time. 


CommonHealth Webinar: Sleep vs. Rest

Do you get enough sleep, but you're still not feeling rested? CommonHealth, Virginia’s employee wellness program, is hosting a webinar about sleep vs. rest as part of its ReCharge campaign.  

Tune in on Thursday, July 13, at 11 a.m. to learn about the different types of rest (mental, spiritual, physical, emotional, social, sensory, and creative) and why sleep doesn't always satisfy the same needs as rest. 

Register today. Contact Faculty and Staff Engagement at engagehr@gmu.edu with questions. 


Mason Discount: 'Disney on Ice' at EagleBank Arena 

Disney on Ice 
Multiple performances, October 5–9 
Fairfax Campus, EagleBank Arena 

Mason discount: Tickets are $25 for select seats with a valid Mason ID, with no fees.

Discount available in-person at the EagleBank Arena box office. Limit of 8 tickets per valid Mason ID. Box office is open Tuesday to Thursday from noon to 6 p.m. and Friday/Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. 


Artist Workshops at Mason Exhibitions Arlington

Mason Exhibitions Arlington is hosting free artist events and workshops. Check out a dance performance and discussion, a calligraphy workshop, or an artist book creation workshop, all hosted this July. 

Mason Exhibitions Arlington is located two blocks from Mason Square at 3601 Fairfax Drive in Arlington.


 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. on Zoom.  

The group holds a commitment to relationship-building, awareness, reimagining, transformation, and action around anti-racist practices, racial justice, the creation of conversations, as well as systems of compassion and healing. The group continues to focus on anti-Black racism and its effects on society.       

Join the meeting on Friday, July 14, from 1-2:30 p.m. for a discussion about affirmative action. Weekly summer meetings will occur through August 4. This event is free and open to the public. 


Workshops at The MIX

The Mason Innovation Exchange (MIX) hosts workshops throughout the year on a variety of topics. Check out a workshop this summer—topics include 3D printing, woodworking, sewing and textiles, soldering and electronics, podcasting, and more. Visit mix.gmu.edu for more details. Workshops are hosted on the Fairfax Campus in Horizon Hall.  

The MIX promotes innovation across the entire Mason community, providing access and training on equipment ranging from 3D printers, woodworking and metalworking machinery, sewing and textiles, virtual reality, electronics and robotics, and more.   

The MIX is also the home of the Incubator, which provides entrepreneurship training and support for startups. The MIX is available to everyone at Mason, including students, faculty, and staff. Whether you are just exploring an idea or are ready to launch your own business, the MIX is here to support you.


Performances at Mason

Prince William Little Theatre and Manassas Symphony Orchestra: Oliver   
Multiple performances, July 14–16   
Hylton Performing Arts Center, Merchant Hall   

Prince William Little Theatre and Manassas Symphony Orchestra join forces to present this Tony and Olivier Award-winning Broadway classic. One of the few musicals to win an Academy Award for Best Picture, Lionel Bart's iconic musical, based on the Charles Dickens novel Oliver Twist, transports the audience to the streets of Victorian England where orphan Oliver navigates the city’s streets of crime searching for a home, family, and love.   

The Addams Family: School Edition   
ARTfactory's Pied Piper Theatre   
July 28–29, multiple performances   
Hylton Performing Arts Center, Gregory Family Theater   

The Addams Family: School Edition is a comical feast and original story that embraces the wackiness in every family. Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family—a man her parents have never met. Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner party for Wednesday's "normal" boyfriend and his parents.