University Life Arlington

Panelists Dive Into Details During a ‘Presidential Election Debrief’ at Mason Square

Andrew J Schappert — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 20:24:03 +0000

Panelists Dive Into Details During a ‘Presidential Election Debrief’ at Mason Square Andrew J Schappert Tue, 11/12/2024 - 15:24

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University Life Arlington Director Melissa Thierry introduces the panel: From left, David Ramadan, Jennifer N. Victor, Terry McAuliffe, and Mark J. Rozell. Photos by Buzz McClain/Schar School of Policy and Government

Nearly 120 audience members—more than 30 of them students from the Schar School of Policy and Government’s undergraduate Democracy Lab Learning Community—filled the seats and dined on pizza at ��AV’s Mason Square Monday evening to hear a panel of Schar School political pundits break down the results of the November 5 elections.

Distinguished Visiting Professor Terry McAuliffe: ‘Twelve of the last 14 [presidential] elections have been change elections.’

The Pizza & Perspectives: 2024 Presidential Election Debrief did not disappoint in providing the promised insights as to how and why national and regional elections transpired the way they did. The 90-minute event can be seen at the Schar School’s YouTube channel.

Schar School dean Mark J. Rozell, the moderator for the discussion, kicked off the event by asking Schar School associate professor Jennifer N. Victor what was different about this election cycle that set it apart from others and could it have lasting impact.

After explaining about political realignments and shifting of consensuses, “this was an anti-incumbent sentiment wave election and that explains how we got here,” Victor said.

Distinguished Visiting Professor and former governor of Virginia Terry McAuliffe added that “Twelve of the last 14 [presidential] elections have been change elections. People want to change the person who is in power. Forty percent of the people who voted said their number one issue was the economy and Donald Trump won that by 21 points.

“Twenty percent of those who voted said immigration was the number one issue, and Trump won that by 71 percent…Going into this election was going to be a hard thing for Vice President Harris: 70 percent of Americans thought the country is headed in the wrong direction. Kamala Harris was the partner of Joe Biden. She had a very tough hand to deal with.”

David Ramadan, foreground, and the panelists listen to a question from the audience.

Before taking questions from the audience, Rozell reminded the panel that politics never takes a year off in Virginia and that in 2025 the state will elect a new governor.

“The Democrats will have the advantage next year to win the governor’s mansion in Virginia,” said professor of practice and former state delegate David Ramadan, pointing out that traditionally—with the exception of McAuliffe, who broke the convention—the new governor is aligned with the sitting president’s opposing party.

“But it’s not just that,” he added. “They have the advantage on the ground. They have already chosen their nominee in current Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger. The Republicans haven’t made up their mind…Of course, the crazier things that come out of Washington will make it more and more appealing for Democrats to win the gubernatorial election next year.”

Among the lines that received audience applause, McAuliffe announced that during the event he had just received a text message announcing his daughter-in-law—finally, after 10 hours of labor—had given birth to his first grandchild, a boy. (See the announcement at the 32-minute mark on YouTube.)

Also receiving applause was Virginia Delegate Vivian Watts (D-39), the longest-serving woman in the House (she took office in 1996) and current chairman of the finance committee. Watts said she attended to hear the questions from the audience, including those from students, as the questions would reveal additional insights to how the commonwealth’s electorate is responding to the election.

The event was sponsored by George Mason’s University Life and hosted by University Life Mason Square. See this page for information about future Mason Square events in Arlington, Virginia.

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Celebrating Mason in Arlington with trivia, a concert, and a groundbreaking

Lauren Reuscher — Tue, 29 Mar 2022 19:14:04 +0000

Celebrating Mason in Arlington with trivia, a concert, and a groundbreaking Lauren Reuscher Tue, 03/29/2022 - 15:14

Arlington Campus, ��AV. Photo by Ron Aira/Creative Services

The Arlington Campus will celebrate ��AV's 50th anniversary with a series of events from April 4–8 and a new name. Festivities include a trivia competition, the debut of a new gallery exhibit, the groundbreaking ceremony for the new digital innovation development, and a retro-themed concert on the plaza.

Mason’s 50th anniversary arrives as the Arlington Campus, now called Mason Square, turns a new page in its own unique story. Fuse at Mason Square will add 350,000 square feet of space to the campus. Plans are also underway to bring vibrant new programming to the plaza, making it an lively gathering place for the campus and nearby community.

“The Arlington Campus is here because visionaries like Til Hazel and George Johnson saw the potential for Mason’s growth in this location,” said Una Murphy, director of administration and operations for the Arlington Campus. “We are building upon the programs developed over the past half-century and pushing ourselves further with the development of Mason Square and the surrounding innovation district.”

The “So You Think You Know Mason?” trivia contest on April 4 kicks off the week with a spirited round of questions based on the history of Mason and Arlington County. Participants may sign up as teams or individuals, with prizes awarded to the winners and a complimentary lunch for all. Here’s a sample question:

“The Mason law school in Arlington changed its name in 2016 to the Antonin Scalia Law School. Before that, it was the ��AV School of Law. What was it called before it was acquired by Mason?”

Think you know the answer? Attend the event and find out.

Next on the itinerary is “Profiles in Arlington,” a new exhibit in Founders Gallery. The campus will celebrate its honorees with a reception on April 5.

“The exhibit showcases the incredible work currently being done by Arlington faculty, students, and staff, as well as our alumni in the field,” said Sara Hawes, Arlington Campus administrative officer. "This is a living project and will showcase new honorees annually.”

Wednesday’s groundbreaking highlights the unique combination of education, research, business incubation and urban amenities at Mason Square, a new model to serve the digital economy.

The celebrations will cap off on Friday, April 8, with a Decades Rewind Concert on the plaza. This family-friendly evening will include Arlington food and beverage vendors, outdoor yard games, and a live band.

The 50th anniversary events mark the start of a new era for the campus as a centerpiece of the Ballston-Rosslyn corridor.

“I am most excited about the opportunities to bring members of the community onto the campus in a more intentional way, through the unique design of the [new] building, the innovative partnerships evolving with industry and our academic units, and the robust programming on the plaza—the front door of our campus," said Murphy.

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Networking event extolls the value of good manners

Damian Cristodero — Fri, 13 Mar 2020 09:30:00 +0000

Networking event extolls the value of good manners Damian Cristodero Fri, 03/13/2020 - 05:30

More than 70 graduate and professional students from 14 different majors received advice and practice in networking at a recent event on ��AV’s Arlington Campus.

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