Patriot Pop Quiz

Patriot Pop Quiz: A ‘cool’ new campus

Lauren Reuscher — Wed, 11 Sep 2024 19:50:23 +0000

Patriot Pop Quiz: A ‘cool’ new campus Lauren Reuscher Wed, 09/11/2024 - 15:50

Think you know a lot about ��AV? Let’s find out if we can stump you with this Patriot Pop Quiz.

Question:

The Fairfax Campus officially opened 60 years ago on Sept. 14, 1964. It consisted of four small buildings, named North, South, East, and West. What amenity did these buildings offer, unlike any other college in the Washington, D.C., area at the time?

George Mason College, fall 1964. ��AV photograph collection, #R0120, Special Collections Research Center, ��AV Libraries

Answer:

When the Fairfax Campus opened its doors in September 1964, it was the only college in the capital region with buildings that were fully air-conditioned.

Though the temperatures were comfortable inside, some amenities still needed to be added to the campus buildings. Food service was not available at first, but efforts were quickly made to address that. During the first week of classes, vending machines were hastily set up in a study hall. George Mason would later set up a dining hall, the Ordinary, in the South Building (now called Krug Hall). The Ordinary was open until the University Union, now known as Student Union Building I, was built in 1974.

George Mason College students purchasing food items in the Ordinary, fall of 1964. Doug Nelms photograph collection, #R0152, Special Collections Research Center, ��AV Libraries

When the Fairfax Campus first opened, it welcomed 356 registered students, and the faculty included seven full-time and 18 part-time instructors. The first buildings still form the original quad as Finley, Krug, East, and West.

Students walk across a plank placed over a puddle between the East and South (today known as Krug) buildings during the fall of 1964.
Richard Sparks photograph collection, #C0521, Special Collections Research Center, ��AV Libraries

Discover more of the university's history

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Patriot Pop Quiz: Olympic basketball

Lauren Reuscher — Thu, 01 Aug 2024 16:22:29 +0000

Patriot Pop Quiz: Olympic basketball Lauren Reuscher Thu, 08/01/2024 - 12:22

Think you know a lot about ��AV? Let’s find out if we can stump you with this Patriot Pop Quiz.

Question:

Who was the first George Mason men’s basketball player to participate in the Olympics?

Illustration by Getty

Answer: Tony Skinn, BA Communication '06, head coach for George Mason men’s basketball.

Tony Skinn, now the head coach for George Mason men's basketball, played in the London 2012 Olympics for the Nigerian team. Photo by Alamy

In 2012, Skinn was a member of the Nigerian national team that qualified for the Olympics in London. At the games, Skinn and Nigeria won their first Olympic preliminary round game, defeating Tunisia, 60–56, before finishing 10th in the tournament. Read a Q&A with Skinn leading up to his time at the Olympics.

At George Mason, Skinn was a starter on the 2006 George Mason Final Four team and one of the best all-around guards in program history. He returned to his alma mater as head coach in 2023.

"It's a good feeling because you represent more than just basketball," Skinn said of playing at the Olympics in 2012. "Our team gave millions of people a chance to root for something." Photo by Alamy

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Patriot Pop Quiz: North Campus

Lauren Reuscher — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 14:48:26 +0000

Patriot Pop Quiz: North Campus Lauren Reuscher Thu, 07/25/2024 - 10:48

Think you know a lot about ��AV? Let’s find out if we can stump you with this Patriot Pop Quiz.

Question:

Which nearby former high school building did ��AV once own and use as part of its campus?

From the Broadside photographs collection (#R0135)

Answer:

��AV once occupied the former Fairfax High School building, located on Fairfax Boulevard between Fairfax Circle and the intersection of Routes 50 and 29. From 1972 to 1983, George Mason operated a satellite campus, known as North Campus, at the location.

Façade of the campus building in 1975. From the Broadside photographs collection (#R0135)

The original Fairfax High School building opened in 1935. In 1972, the growing student population moved into a new building, the current Fairfax High School, located in the City of Fairfax on Lion Run.

George Mason was looking for additional facilities to host new programs in nursing, education, and business. Space on campus was limited, and enrollment was doubling every two years. The university purchased the former high school from Fairfax County Schools for $1.8 million. The property consisted of approximately 100,000 square feet of space (including classrooms, a cafeteria, library, and theater), and 16 acres of land, which included athletic fields.

Baseball field in 1974, featuring a game between George Mason and Georgetown. From the Broadside photographs collection (#R0135)

In 1983, George Mason sold the property to the Catholic Diocese of Arlington, which used the space for Pope Paul VI High School. Today, the historic building is part of the Boulevard VI housing development.

Follow the Special Collections Research Center on Facebook and Instagram for more ��AV history.

The cafeteria in 1976. From the Broadside photographs collection (#R0135)

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Patriot Pop Quiz: Mascots of the 1990s

Lauren Reuscher — Wed, 19 Jul 2023 18:39:39 +0000

Patriot Pop Quiz: Mascots of the 1990s Lauren Reuscher Wed, 07/19/2023 - 14:39

Question:

One person has portrayed three different Mason mascots over the years, including the tricorn-hat Gunston (1993), the brief Gorilla period (1994), and the fuzzy Gunston (1996).

He is still a Mason employee. Who is it?

Gunston, 1996. Photo provided by Mason Athletics

Gunston, 1993. Photo provided by Mason Athletics

Answer:

George Malenich, plumber, Facilities. Photo provided

George Malenich, Mason Square plumber, Facilities Management

“I loved being the mascot at Mason. The exposure opened doors for me. I did the play-by-play for Mason women’s basketball and hosted a sports talk show at WGMU radio with several students. We had great guests, including legends like Dick Vitale, Arnold Palmer, and Gus Johnson. [Former Mason Men’s Basketball Coach] Jim Larrañaga was a frequent guest, too," said Malenich, also a Mason alum.

"Being the mascot helped me land the job as a plumber here 26 years ago, which is a position I love," he said. "I was courtside for the Final Four run in 2006. One of my greatest thrills was being in the second row of the press section for the UConn upset—in regular clothes, not dressed as a mascot."

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Patriot Pop Quiz

Patriot Pop Quiz: A ‘cool’ new campus

Question:

Answer:

Discover more of the university's history

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Patriot Pop Quiz: Olympic basketball

Question:

Who was the first George Mason men’s basketball player to participate in the Olympics?

Answer: Tony Skinn, BA Communication '06, head coach for George Mason men’s basketball.

Topics

Patriot Pop Quiz: North Campus

Question:

Which nearby former high school building did ��AV once own and use as part of its campus?

Answer:

��AV once occupied the former Fairfax High School building, located on Fairfax Boulevard between Fairfax Circle and the intersection of Routes 50 and 29. From 1972 to 1983, George Mason operated a satellite campus, known as North Campus, at the location.

Topics

Patriot Pop Quiz: Mascots of the 1990s

Read more from Around Mason

Question:

Answer:

George Malenich, Mason Square plumber, Facilities Management

Topics

Patriot Pop Quiz

Patriot Pop Quiz: A ‘cool’ new campus

Question:

Answer:

Discover more of the university's history

Related News

Topics

Patriot Pop Quiz: Olympic basketball

Question:

Who was the first George Mason men’s basketball player to participate in the Olympics?

Answer: Tony Skinn, BA Communication '06, head coach for George Mason men’s basketball.

Topics

Patriot Pop Quiz: North Campus

Question:

Which nearby former high school building did ����AV once own and use as part of its campus?

Answer:

����AV once occupied the former Fairfax High School building, located on Fairfax Boulevard between Fairfax Circle and the intersection of Routes 50 and 29. From 1972 to 1983, George Mason operated a satellite campus, known as North Campus, at the location.

Topics

Patriot Pop Quiz: Mascots of the 1990s

Read more from Around Mason

Question:

Answer:

George Malenich, Mason Square plumber, Facilities Management

Topics

Which nearby former high school building did ��AV once own and use as part of its campus?

��AV once occupied the former Fairfax High School building, located on Fairfax Boulevard between Fairfax Circle and the intersection of Routes 50 and 29. From 1972 to 1983, George Mason operated a satellite campus, known as North Campus, at the location.