Category: October 2023

George Mason University Staff Senate declares its support for our colleagues working in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and related offices, for the student populations they serve, and for the University’s role in promoting a diverse and respectful environment in which everyone can thrive.

As approved at the October 2023 Staff Senate General Meeting

October 11 – 15

Mason Symphony Orchestra Concert: Fall 2023
Dewberry School of Music
Wednesday, October 11 at 8 p.m.
Center for the Arts

The Mason Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Dr. Soo Han, is comprised of outstanding string, wind, and percussion players from throughout the School of Music.

Visual Voices with Aimee Beaubien
Mason School of Art
Thursday, October 12 at 4:45 p.m.
Virtual via Zoom

Aimée Beaubien is an artist living and working in Chicago. Beaubien reorganizes photographic experience while exploring networks of meaning and association between the real and the ideal in collages, artists books and immersive installations. Her work has been exhibited widely, including SF Camerawork, San Francisco, CA; Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL; Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago, IL; Houston Center for Photography, Houston, TX; Gallery UNO Projektraum, Berlin, Germany; Marvelli Gallery, New York, NY; Virus Art Gallery, Rome, Italy; Demo Projects, Springfield, IL; The Pitch Project, Milwaukee, WI. Aimée Beaubien is an Associate Professor of Photography at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, IL where she has taught since 1997.

Coco in Concert
Friday, October 13 at 7 p.m.
Hylton Performing Arts Center, Merchant Hall

Disney and Pixar’s award-winning film, Coco, thrills the whole family when shown with a 20-piece Latin music ensemble performing the soundtrack live in Coco in Concert. The movie follows 12-year-old Miguel, an aspiring musician who wants to take the stage and astonish crowds like his musical idol, Ernesto de la Cruz. The music from the film includes the 2018 Oscar-winning Best Original Song “Remember Me” by Frozen songwriters Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez. Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and make new family memories this year with Coco in Concert.

Best of Film at Mason Showcase at Washington West Film Festival
Film at Mason
Saturday, October 14 at 11 a.m.
Off-Campus Location: ShowPlace ICON Theatre at 1667 Silver Hill Dr., McLean, VA 22102

This year’s Best of Film at Mason Showcase will be included in the Washington West Film Festival lineup on Saturday, October 14th from 11:00am-1:00pm at the ShowPlace ICON Theatre (1667 Silver Hill Dr., McLean, VA 22102). This event is open to the public but tickets are required. Best of Film at Mason is a showcase of recent notable and award-winning films. This year’s program captures student work ranging from documentary filmmaking, fiction film directing, and senior thesis films.

JAZZ4JUSTICE: Celebrating the Legacy of Anthony Maiello
Dewberry School of Music
Saturday, October 14 at 8 p.m.
Center for the Arts

In our 22nd annual Jazz4Justice we will team up with Legal Services of Northern Virginia to continue our mutual mission to do good in the community. We are honored to have Distinguished Professor of Music Anthony Maiello as our special guest conductor. We will also perform several of Professor Maiello’s arrangements for Jazz Ensemble including “The George Mason Shuffle.” Established in 2001 by Fairfax, VA attorney Edward L. Weiner, Esq. and Founder of Mason Jazz Studies, Jim Carroll, Jazz4Justice™ is an award-winning annual concert presented by Legal Services of Northern Virginia (LSNV) and Mason Jazz Studies. Jazz4Justice™ is a truly unique event where attorneys, judges, students, and members of the Northern Virginia community gather to celebrate their love of jazz. Proceeds from the evening benefit LSNV to continue its mission of service to the Northern Virginia community as well as providing financial support for the Mason Jazz Studies department for scholarships, trips, recordings and student projects.

Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood LIVE: King for a Day!
Family Series
Sunday, October 15 at 2:30 and 5:30 p.m.
Center for the Arts

The hugely popular Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood LIVE!, based on the #1 PBS Kids TV series, has delighted live audiences on stages across the country. Now, in its fourth year of touring, your favorite characters are hopping back on board Trolley and coming to Fairfax with Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood LIVE: King for a Day! The beloved characters come alive on stage to captivate you with new songs to sing along to, magical moments, and surprise guests along the way! Recommended for all ages.

October 16 – 22 

Visiting Filmmakers Series: WOMAN IN MOTION 
Film at Mason
Monday, October 16 from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
Johnson Center Cinema 

Free screening of WOMAN IN MOTION (2019), followed by a guided discussion. WOMAN IN MOTION is about Star Trek’s Nichelle Nichols’ daunting task to launch a national blitz for NASA, recruiting 8,000 of the nation’s best and brightest, including the trailblazing astronauts who became the first Black, Asian and Latino men and women to fly in space. 

Malpaso Dance Company
Friday, October 20 at 8 p.m.
Center for the Arts 

With a dazzling combination of the head and the heart, Malpaso Dance Company is “sparklingly present… and remarkably strong” (The New York Times). Since forming in 2012, this classically trained Cuban dance troupe has ascended to the top of contemporary dance with performances that are as technically brilliant as they are passionately expressive. Join Malpaso as they work to uplift and represent Cuban dance with “a blend of unfussy ballet technique and lushly earthy modern dance, spiked with now-soft, now-explosive capoeira” (The Boston Globe).  

9 to 5, The Musical
Mason School of Theater
October 20*, 21, 27, 28 at 8 p.m.
October 22, 29** at 2 p.m.
Harris Theatre, Fairfax Campus 

9 to 5, The Musical is based on the seminal hit movie. Set in the late 1970s. This hilarious story of friendship and revenge in the Rolodex era is outrageous, thought-provoking and even a little romantic. Pushed to the boiling point, three female coworkers concoct a plan to get even with the lying, sexist man they call their boss; and, in a hilarious turn of events, they live out their wildest fantasy by giving him the boot!  

*ASL Interpreted Performance
**Audio Described

Rebirth Garments
Saturday, October 21 from 12 to 2 p.m.
Mason Exhibitions Arlington 

What to bring: your own clothes (nothing will be permanently altered) The Founder of Rebirth Garments, Sky Cubacub, will be doing interactive draping demos using a no sew method of designing in our own closets, to promote creativity and imagination. We will play with Sky’s surrealist Garment Generator Game to brainstorm drawing up new designs through fun constraints. By centering our joy and our identities, we can send the message that disabled queers deserve accommodations not just in terms of mobility but also in terms of our expression and our right to be seen. 

Fall Choral Invitational: Songs of Unity
Dewberry School of Music
Saturday, October 21 at 4 p.m.
Center for the Arts 

The Fall Choral Invitational is an annual event that brings high school choirs to campus for the opportunity to create community by taking part in choral clinics and performing on stage with the Mason Choral Department. “Songs of Unity” The diverse repertoire selected for the concert includes selections from a wide variety of choral traditions.

Lightwire Theater: The Adventures of Tortoise and Hare: The Next Gen
Hylton Family Series
Sunday, October 22 at 1 and 4 p.m.
Hylton Performing Arts Center, Merchant Hall 

Gather the whole family for this imaginative story cleverly told with cutting edge electroluminescent puppetry, live dancers, and a creative mix of classical, jazz, and pop music. This innovative company brings Aesop’s classic fable, The Tortoise and the Hare, into a brilliant new light when the next generation navigates a whole new kind of race filled with modern distractions. Treat the whole family to this breathtaking live production that will leave everyone in awe and filled with a sense of wonder. Recommended for ages 4 to 12. 

October 23 – 29 

Visual Voices Lecture Series with Sherrill Roland 
Mason School of Art and Mason Exhibitions
Thursday, October 26 at 4:45 p.m.
Enterprise Hall, Room 80 

Sherrill Roland’s interdisciplinary practice deals with concepts of innocence, identity, and community; reimagining their social and political implications in the context of the American criminal justice system. For more than three years, Roland’s right to self-determination was lost to a wrongful incarceration. After spending ten months in prison for a crime he was later exonerated for, he returned to his artistic practice, which he now uses as a vehicle for self-reflection and an outlet for emotional release. Converting the haunting nuances of his experiences into drawings, sculptures, multimedia objects, performances, and participatory activities, Roland shares his story and creates space for others to do the same, illuminating the invisible costs, damages, and burdens of incarceration. 

Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra with Christian McBride
Saturday, October 28 at 8 p.m.
Center for the Arts 

Eight-time GRAMMY Award-winning bassist Christian McBride joins Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra led by founder, artistic director, and virtuoso saxophonist Jim Carroll, in an unforgettable night of jazz. For the past 20 years, McBride has been one of the most prolific and well-known figures of jazz and is the velvety voice behind NPR’s popular “Jazz Night in America” radio show. McBride’s larger-than-life sound, bold, technical style, and Juilliard training have propelled him into the world of jazz playing both upright acoustic and electric bass. 

Dewberry School of Music Faculty Artist Showcase Fall 2023
Sunday, October 29 at 3 p.m.
Center for the Arts 

The Reva and Sid Dewberry Family School of Music presents its annual showcase featuring its accomplished faculty including vocal, instrumental, and piano artists.

Keyboard Conversations® with Jeffrey Siegel: Power and Passion of Beethoven
Sunday, October 29 at 7 p.m.
Center for the Arts 

In Power and Passion of Beethoven, pianist Jeffrey Siegel returns to take his audience on a musical voyage of Beethoven’s life and music through two of the composer’s favorite sonatas: Piano Sonata No. 24 “for Therese” and Piano Sonata No. 23, Appassionata. Siegel is “a pianist with a bravura technique and a big, gorgeous sound… and when the artist himself offers the inside scoop, the musical experience becomes vastly more personal” (The Denver Post). An interactive question-and-answer session will conclude this program. 

October 30 – November 5 

Jazz Workshop Concert Fall 2023
Dewberry School of Music
Wednesday, November 1 at 8 p.m.
Harris Theatre, Fairfax Campus 

The Jazz Workshop explores the intersection of improvisation and composition in the tradition of the great dance and studio jazz bands. Enjoy rare and beautiful arrangements by jazz legends from many eras of jazz history. New original compositions by Mason students and faculty will be featured as well. 

ASL Storytime with Arlington Public Library 
Friday, November 3 from 4 to 5 p.m.
Mason Exhibitions Arlington 

Arlington County Library will lead a story time with books that shine light on disabled stories. An American Sign Language Interpreter will be onsite. 

Fall: New Dances 
Mason School of Dance
November 3 and 4 at 8 p.m.
Center for the Arts 

Step out of this cool autumn weather and into the theater for a concert of diverse choreography performed by talented dancers. Join us in supporting the Mason Dance Company for this inaugural Concert Hall presentation of Fall: New Dances. 

Weaving Demonstration with Arlington Weaves
Saturday, November 4 from 12 to 2 p.m.
Mason Exhibitions Arlington 

You’ll be surprised how meditative the process is! Arlington Weaves will bring portable looms for fiber art weaving and demonstrate paper weaving. Materials will be provided. Arlington Weaves is a program supporting individuals with disabilities. Participants within the program learn to weave and produce handcrafted woven art, including color tote bags, pencil cases and so much more. 100% of the proceeds for each item are given to the artisan who created it. 

Disability Film Festival
Saturday, November 4 from 2 to 4 p.m.
Mason Exhibitions Arlington 

Join Mason Exhibitions Arlington and ReelAbilities Film Festival: Northern Virginia on November 4 from 2-4pm for a film screening of short films and 1 feature film documenting the various lives of those that identify as disabled. Promoting awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories and artistic expressions of people with disabilities. 

The U.S. Army Band Star-Spangled Spectacular with Christopher Jackson
Saturday, November 4 at 7:30 p.m.
Hylton Performing Arts Center 

The U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” returns to Hylton Performing Arts Center for a very special performance in honor of our nation’s Veterans. Immerse yourself in a captivating musical journey as Pershing’s Own, the premier musical representatives of The United States Army, joins forces with Broadway and Hamilton star, Christopher Jackson, a master of the stage whose charisma and talent have won the hearts of audiences worldwide. Christopher Jackson will join the men and women of The U.S. Army Chorus to perform a selection of well-known songs from Hamilton, “You Raise Me Up” made popular by the American singer Josh Groban, and a Ray Charles inspired version of “America the Beautiful.” This free family-friendly performance features diverse repertoire spanning classical, contemporary, and patriotic genres. This event is sponsored by George Mason University’s Veterans and the Arts Initiative. 

Silkroad Ensemble with Rhiannon Giddens: American Railroad
Mason Artist-in-Residence
Sunday, November 5 at 7 p.m.
Center for the Arts 

Returning for their second of three years as a Mason Artist-in-Residence, Silkroad Ensemble presents American Railroad, an initiative that maps American music through the various immigrant communities involved in building the late-1800s Transcontinental Railroad. Artistic Director and 2023 Pulitzer Prize-winner Rhiannon Giddens joins the ensemble for this performance, which is told through the stories and sounds of African American, Chinese, Irish, Japanese, and Native American communities. Traditional instruments cross paths with fiddles, bones, tambo, and banjo to remind audiences of America’s intricately interwoven history. 

November 6 – 12 

Mason Jazz Vocal Night Fall 2023
Dewberry School of Music
Monday, November 6 at 8 p.m.
Center for the Arts 

Join Dr. Darden Purcell, the Mason Jazz Voice Studio and Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble for an evening of swinging standards and classic hits from the Great American Songbook. Special guest high school choir to be announced at a later date. 

Cybersecurity Awareness Month 2023

Happy Cybersecurity Awareness Month! This year’s theme is Secure Our World to remind computer users of the simple steps they can take to protect themselves online. Activities planned for this month are designed to help the Mason community do its part in reaching that goal.

• Thursday, October 12, at 3 p.m. (Johnson Center Room C): Join Professors Paulo Costa, Peggy Brouse, and James Jones from Mason’s Department of Cyber Security Engineering who will present their areas of research and how it impacts cybersecurity
• Thursday, October 26, from 1 to 3 p.m.: IT Security Office hosts an online Reddit Ask Me Anything to answer questions and offer advice about cybersecurity

Guidance on New Mac OS (Sonoma)

Apple recently released the newest version of macOS, Sonoma (14). ITS is aware of incompatibilities and issues that may impact security tools and software used across Mason. Therefore, ITS highly recommends that all Mason-owned Mac systems remain on macOS 12 Monterey or macOS 13 Ventura until more information is available. See the full details on the ITS website.

IT Security Awareness Training Due October 31

ITS has assigned all Mason employees mandatory 2023 IT Security Awareness Training in MasonLEAPS. All employees, including contractors, affiliates, and student wage workers, must complete the training by Tuesday, October 31, to avoid having their NetID disabled. If you have issues accessing the training, contact the ITS Support Center at 703-993-8870 or support@gmu.edu.

 

Leading to Well-Being Speaker Series

The Leading to Well-Being Speaker Series presents Growing Leaders founder and CEO Tim Elmore, author of A New Kind of Diversity: Making the Different Generations on Your Team a Competitive Advantage, in our next webinar. Join us for his free presentation “Leading Multiple Generations” on Thursday, October 12 from noon to 1:15 p.m. Registration is open via Zoom.

Sophrology for Workplace Stress

Join the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being for “Sophrology for Workplace Stress” online sessions on October 13, October 20, October 27, and November 3 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. each day. Sophrology is a dynamic relaxation method that can strengthen the well-being of both your body and your mind. Learn special sophrology techniques to help you manage stress, release anxiety, calm your mind, and activate vital energy. You can attend any individual session, or all sessions, according to what works best in your schedule. Register via Eventbrite.

Mason Nation Thriving Together 5K

Registration is now open for the 2023 Mason Nation Thriving Together 5K and 1-Mile Run/Walk. Join us at Mason’s Fairfax campus on Saturday, October 14 at 9 a.m. on the Merten Hall lawn, or virtually from any location that weekend. Registration for the 5K is just $15 for Mason students and $35 for everyone else. Registration for the 1-Mile Run/Walk is $25 for all participants. Race proceeds will go to support Mason students in need, through the First Gen Next Gen student scholarship fund. Register here. Learn about our Faculty/Staff Team Challenge here.

 

Please join the Office of the President, Mason Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, and the Office of Military Services as we celebrate and honor Veterans Day. The Annual Veterans Day Luncheon will be on Friday, November 10th at 11:45 a.m. in the lobby of the Center for the Arts. Mason community members who have proudly served the country are invited and encouraged to attend the luncheon. At Mason, we aspire to serve our veterans with as much dedication and devotion as they have provided to our country. Veterans, George Mason University salutes you! Registration via Mason360 is required. Space is limited – so RSVP early! 

On October 4, 2023, the Faculty Senate hosted a special session with Deb Dickenson, executive vice president for finance and administration, and other Mason leaders to present the state of the university’s finances. The presentation was originally scheduled for the September 28th Board of Visitor’s meeting; however, the entire budget committee’s session time was spent in closed session discussing other matters. 

Links to the Zoom meeting recording and PowerPoint slides can be found on the Faculty Senate website. 

Campus Sustainability Month

Campus Sustainability Month is celebrated every October at George Mason University in alignment with the month-long, international celebration of sustainability in higher education. Join University Sustainability and Mason Facilities, along with many partners, for a month of fun, educational, and engaging activities and events! Participate in Lights Out, Power Down, and learn about Zero Waste Mason, food justice projects, sustainable agriculture on campus, enhancing recycling and composting, and much more! Make a sustainable impact, celebrate success, and learn about ongoing initiatives and how you can get involved this Campus Sustainability Month. Visit the official Campus Sustainability Month calendar to start participating and check back throughout October! We have events happening all month long! 

Facilities Fall Prep 2023

During the summer months, in preparation for the start of the fall semester, Mason Facilities runs through an extensive checklist to get all campuses ready for the academic year.  From landscaping upkeep to classroom refreshes to updating signage, Facilities ensures that each experience on campus is one of quality.  See our website for some examples of how Facilities handles the operations of making Mason run smoothly.

Adding New Aunt Flow Dispensers to Mason Campuses

This Summer 2023, Mason Facilities installed Aunt Flow Dispensers on the Fairfax, Mason Square, and Sci-Tech Campuses. This was done in partnership with The Patriot Period Project, a student-run organization that provides free feminine products in a few locations on Mason’s campuses. Mason Facilities collaborated with The Patriot Period Project and provided Aunt Flow dispensers as a way to provide free feminine care products across all three main Mason campuses. Current locations of the dispensers can be found on our website.

Do you want to connect with government officials, engage the business community, or share your expertise with the community? Contact the Government and Community Relations team for guidance as you advocate on Mason’s behalf and build relationships with community groups. Explore our website to discover the variety of opportunities and collaborative relationships we provide.   

The Disability & Neurodivergence Alliance (DNA) is a social justice group that strives to create a safe and inclusive space for staff/faculty with disabilities, and their allies. Disability can include but is not limited to, sensory, intellectual, mental health/psychiatric, neurodivergent, physical/mobile, and learning disabilities. Whether you are diagnosed, self-diagnosed, or questioning, this space is for you. We believe that silence only leads to isolation and shame, which is why we will work to dismantle the stigma surrounding disabilities and celebrate the intersectionality of our unique experiences. Our mission is to foster a community where we can discuss and combat discriminatory practices and cultures, share resources, successes, and challenges, and create a welcoming environment where everyone feels celebrated. We are committed to moving from awareness to joy and pride, and we welcome all university staff and faculty to join us in this important journey.  

We have an upcoming meeting on Tuesday, November 7 at noon.   

To join the DNA Listserv, contact Ms. Amy Ayres or Dr. Millie Rivera.  

If you would like to join the DNA MS Teams group, please reach out to Micah Hodges.