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Solution: Social Shuttle
Social Shuttle: Expand the services provided by the GMU Shuttle
contract with Reston Limousine to include transportation to specific locations
in Fairfax City and Fairfax County. This shuttle would transport students to
frequent shopping outlets like Fair Oaks Mall and the Fair City Mall shopping
center, as well as Old Town Fairfax. Students will then have access to safe and
reliable transportation to restaurants, bars, and local nightlife. The expanded
shuttle service will reduce the need for residential students to bring their
cars to campus, and as a result increase the number of spots available for
non-residential students.
Problem: Weekend Life on
Campus
Solution: Foster Late Night Community
Late Night Community Initiative: Students
frequently say that their best community experience at Mason was during their
time in President's Park. Much of the community success of President's Park can
be attributed to the success of Ike's and its late night hours. We can replicate
the President's Park model of community success in other housing areas by
working with University Services to open Damon's Express for hours comparable to
Ike's, allowing for late night community development outside of President's
Park.
Solution: Investment in Weekend Hours
Weekend dining Hours Initiative: Call on
dining Services to make a three-year investment in Weekend dining at Mason. A
paradox currently exists where students dine elsewhere and leave on the weekends
because nothing is open, and dining Services doesn't extend hours because
students dine elsewhere. Changing the behavior and culture of students will
require a three-year investment in weekend dining hours on the part of the
University.
Solution: Free Game Rooms
Free Game Room Initiative: Invest in University weekend life by
making the SUB I and Corner Pocket game rooms free on the weekends.
Solution: Abolish Unnecessary
Residence Hall Restrictions
Reasonable Alcohol Restrictions Initiative: Work with The Office of
Housing and Residential Life to abolish alcohol limits on of age students and
the ban on drinking games. Of age residential students should not be penalized
for living on campus with significantly reduced rights. George Mason University
is growing fast and it is time that we bring out alcohol restrictions in line
with other Universities our size.
Solution: University Life Hour
University Life Hour Initiative: Work with the University to create
an hour on Wednesdays in the middle of the day where there would be no classes
scheduled. This hour would create a much needed time slot for University-wide
programming, such as pep-rallies and other events. Creating the University Life
Hour would allow non-residential students to become more engaged in the campus
community, and it would increase attendance for the University-wide programming
that takes place in the middle of the day.
Solution: Post Game Parties
Post Game Party Initiative: Over the last two years, as basketball
game attendance has risen dramatically, the Johnson Center has been filled after
games with hungry students wearing Gold Rush t-shirts. We need to take advantage
of this and start a much-needed post game party tradition. This post game party
would include free food and post game highlights played on the projection screen
in the Johnson Center Atrium.
Solution: Bring NCAA Football to
Mason
Football at Mason Initiative: Athletics is the best advertising for a
University. We will hold pep rallies for the currently club team to show
encouragement and support our desire for football at Mason.
In addition, we will call on the University to create a
football feasibility report so that students know what they need to do to bring
division football to Mason.
Problem: Students aren't
Aware of Details Concerning Tuition Increases
Solution: Truth about Tuition
The Truth about Tuition Initiative: This initiative would require
that the University disclose expected tuition increases several years in
advance, so that students will have an accurate idea of what they can expect to
pay for a four year undergraduate education. To put things in perspective,
current senior, out-of-state students pay $822/credit hour, but only paid
$623/credit as freshmen. Current senior, in-state students pay $285/credit hour,
but only paid $213/credit as freshmen. This initiative will help students more
accurately plan their financial futures.
Problem: Food Quality
and Variety
Solution: Bring More Third Party
Vendors to Campus
Third Party Restaurant Initiative: Bring more third party dining
outlets to campus by working with Sodexho administration. It is no accident that
Chick-fil-A, Taco Bell, and Burger King are always among the busiest food
outlets on campus. Third party dining outlets are simply better than generic
Sodexho dining outlets. We will work with Sodhexo to bring third party
restaurants like Quiznos, Chipotle, and Noodles and Co. to campus.
Problem: Skyrocketing Tuition
Costs
Solution: Tuition Benefits for Mason
Student Staff
Credit Hours for Labor Initiative: Students that work for the
University, or for the University's contracted services, should be entitled to
free credit hours based on the number of hours they worked per week. A program
similar to this currently exists for full-time staff, but it is time that
part-time student staff be compensated for their hard work in a similar manner.
Problem: Student
Interest is not Represented at Mason
Solution: Place Students on Important
Committees
Your Voice, Your Choice: As students we pay tens of thousands of
dollars in tuition to attend Mason, and yet have a minimal say in the direction
of the University. We will ensure that an elected student leader is present for
all University search committees, policy committees, and contract advisory
committees. This is the first step to ensuring that all incoming University
administrators are competent, qualified, and open to student input. We will
ensure that policies that damage student life, such as closing entire parking
lots mid-year, no longer occur.
Solution: Townhall meetings
Townhall Meeting Policy: Past Student Governments have been out of
touch with what students really want. Many times after the campaign students
never hear from their elected student leaders again. If elected, our outreach to
student won't end when the campaign ends. We will conduct weekly,
well-advertised townhall meetings so that we can hear what is important to
students.
Problem: Poor Awareness
and Advertising of Student Events
Solution: Student Government Helps
Student Organizations with Outreach
Student Events Promotion: Student Government should not be focused on
creating its own programming. George Mason has over 250 active student
organizations that plan activities on a daily basis. However, as Mason students,
we rarely hear about all of the great things going on at our campus. We don't
need more programming. We need better advertising. Student Government needs to
utilize its resources to support existing activities and programming to create a
unique Mason experience.
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