University Events

The GMU Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month Committee Celebrates its 44th Anniversary

Ashley Hill — Wed, 13 Apr 2022 20:00:09 +0000

The GMU Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month Committee Celebrates its 44th Anniversary Ashley Hill Wed, 04/13/2022 - 16:00

The GMU Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month Committee celebrates its 44th anniversary.

We honor the accomplishments of Asian Americans and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders and the way they have enriched our university with their diverse cultures.

The schedule of events is as follows:

Sunday, May 1^st at 4:00 pm for the Asian Cultural Exhibition in the Lobby of Center for the Arts.

Sunday, May 1^st at 5:00 pm for the Cultural Performances in the Concert Hall of Center for the Arts.

It will be a wonderful experience. We are proud of our Diversity, Inclusion, and Multi-Cultural experience.

Proof of COVID vaccination and masks will be required to attend.

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Fighting the fires of social and racial unrest

Mariam Aburdeineh — Thu, 21 Jan 2021 20:16:18 +0000

Fighting the fires of social and racial unrest Mariam Aburdeineh Thu, 01/21/2021 - 15:16

In This Story

Gregory Washington

To honor the memory of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and recognize those on campus who actively live out his vision, ��AV will host the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Evening of Reflection and awards ceremony on Thursday, Jan. 28, at 6 p.m. via Zoom.

“This year, it is particularly important to continue on with the Evening of Reflection, as we consider the state of our nation,” said Hamal Strayhorn, director of the Office of Coalition Building and Diversity Education at Mason. “Our nation has experienced the loss of 400,000 lives to COVID-19, social and economic disparity in full view, the continuation of black bodies being murdered by police without accountability and racial unrest. On Jan. 6 we all witnessed a failed insurrection in our nation’s capital, which was rooted in divisiveness and racism.”

“Our hope is that students and attendees will understand that in our nation and world there is still a lot of work to do around issues of social justice, equity and inclusion and that ‘the time is always right to do what is right,’” Strayhorn said, quoting Dr. King.

Mason President Gregory Washington will be the event’s keynote speaker and will address this year’s theme of “The Burning House,” which comes from another Dr. King quote:

“I’ve come upon something that disturbs me deeply. We have fought hard and long for integration, as I believe we should have, and I know we will win, but I have come to believe that we are integrating into a burning house…”

“How will our commitment to anti-racism work be like the ‘firefighters’ preventing the ‘house’ from burning completely down?” Strayhorn said. “[President Washington] will also look at how the work of anti-racism touches and affects our students, professional members, the local community, the commonwealth and eventually our nation.”

Following the keynote address, representatives from the student body will have the opportunity to ask questions relating to the theme, the work the university is doing around anti-racism, or how they can play a part in keeping Dr. King’s vision at the forefront of social change, Strayhorn said.

Students, faculty and staff who are doing influential work centered on Dr. King’s vision will also be honored with the Spirit of King Awards.

“The MLK Evening of Reflection shows that ��AV is committed to diversity, excellence, and inclusion and to addressing the hard questions of where we are as a people and nation,” Strayhorn said.

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President's Task Force on Anti-Racism and Inclusive Excellence

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ARIE

What will U.S. security look like under Biden?

Mariam Aburdeineh — Mon, 14 Dec 2020 18:24:07 +0000

What will U.S. security look like under Biden? Mariam Aburdeineh Mon, 12/14/2020 - 13:24

In This Story

Michael V. Hayden

What will U.S. security look like under Biden?

Former CIA Director Leon Panetta joins Hayden Center experts to discuss

Former CIA Director Leon Panetta will join the Schar School of Policy and Government’s Michael V. Hayden Center for a virtual discussion on the future of U.S. national security under the Biden administration on Thursday, Dec. 17, at 7 p.m. via Zoom.

“It’s an inside look at the national security agenda and players of the incoming Biden administration from one of America’s living legends and quintessential public servants,” said Hayden Center Director Larry Pfeiffer, who will moderate the discussion.

In his more than 55-year career, Panetta served as a U.S. Army officer, a congressman, and supported four U.S. presidents: He was the civil rights director in the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare under President Nixon; Office of Management and Budget director and White House chief of staff for President Clinton; a member of George W. Bush’s Iraq Study Group; and CIA director and Secretary of Defense under President Obama.

“He’s literally seen it all—and that kind of expertise and experience will be invaluable to our audience in understanding how things will change,” said Pfeiffer, who was Panetta’s policy chief during his time as CIA director.

The discussion and accompanying audience Q&A will focus on national security challenges in the aftermath of Trump’s presidency and in the midst of an ongoing pandemic.

It’s a topic that has been growing in relevancy.

“Even before Trump announced his run for the presidency, General Hayden had growing concern about attacks here and abroad on evidence-based institutions—intelligence, academia, science, and the law, in particular—on the reliance on ‘truth’ and ‘experts’ that has underpinned modern Western thought since the Renaissance,” Pfeiffer said. “His worry mounted with President Trump’s adoption of a neo-isolationist foreign policy, rejection of the value of American leadership on the global stage, and embrace of authoritarian leaders and values.”

Hayden, the only person to serve as both the director of the CIA and the National Security Agency, founded the Hayden Center at Mason in 2017 to create a space for dialogue about how intelligence interplays with U.S. national security.

In addition to experts like Pfeiffer, who was the director of the White House Situation Room, former CIA acting director Michael Morell, and Hayden himself, the center frequently brings in prominent members of the intelligence community as guest speakers.

It’s a unique benefit for Mason students.

“Students will get a rare opportunity to hear from and directly question this great public servant, and gain insights into how national security and foreign policy may divert significantly away from the ‘America First’ agenda of the past four years,” Pfeiffer said.

“They should also walk away with understanding how this won’t just be a third Obama term, and how the new administration recognizes that a strong American role overseas is wholly dependent on mending the health of our domestic situation—be it defeating the pandemic, dealing with economic wealth disparity and social justice issues.”

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Schar School of Policy and Government

Hayden Center

Michael V. Hayden Center for Intelligence Policy and International Security

Guest Speaker

Behind the scenes at #DoYourPartMason

Damian Cristodero — Wed, 04 Nov 2020 15:24:14 +0000

Behind the scenes at #DoYourPartMason Damian Cristodero Wed, 11/04/2020 - 10:24

Many people at ��AV have contributed to the safe return to campus. Some, though, have flown under the radar.

Joyce French
Director, Office of Risk Management

French is a stickler for the rules. She also believes those at the top should set an example by following the policy.

Before Gov. Ralph Northam visited Mason’s Fairfax Campus on Sept. 22, University Events reviewed the event's logistics, which included the governor and other speakers removing their masks when speaking at the podium. The request was standard gubernatorial protocol. But since it did not fall within Mason’s event guidelines, the request went to Mason’s Event Exemption Committee, led by French.

For French, any such query is a non-starter, especially with Mason working so successfully to keep its COVID numbers down.

“If something went awry it would be a reputational nightmare that we didn’t follow our own policy or his policy,” French said. “It was in everybody’s best interest that I be persistent about face coverings for his visit, no exceptions.”

French got her message to Northam’s people through Rachel Lubar Quinn, Mason’s executive director of University Events, who reiterated to Northam that Mason’s mandatory face covering policy would apply even when speaking at a podium. Northam was happy to comply and throughout his visit wore the Mason face covering Lubar Quinn presented him. A few days later, Northam announced he tested positive for COVID-19.

French’s insistence likely kept attendees safe.

“At Mason we’re really trying to toe the line, and I’m adamant about it,” French said.

#DoYourPartMason

University Events

The GMU Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month Committee Celebrates its 44th Anniversary

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Fighting the fires of social and racial unrest

In This Story

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What will U.S. security look like under Biden?

In This Story

What will U.S. security look like under Biden?

Former CIA Director Leon Panetta joins Hayden Center experts to discuss

Topics

Behind the scenes at #DoYourPartMason

Joyce French Director, Office of Risk Management

Joyce French
Director, Office of Risk Management