Three Cheers for George Mason University
News flash: youngest son has just been accepted at George Mason University. Along with most of his buddies, he's a computer geek, and is planning on studying Computer Science.
George Mason, located in Fairfax, Virginia (suburban Washington, DC) has an excellent Computer Science department which just opened a new 180,000 sq.ft. facility and is home to a number of active research programs which bring over $16 million a year.
U.S. News & World Report ranked George Mason University #1 in its new category of Up-and-coming National Universities, 2009. They also have highly regarded history, economics and public policy departments. In addition, Virginia out-of-state tuition cost is remarkably reasonable. It was also ranked as 11th most diverse university in the nation, by the Princeton Review in 2009.
As we began our college search, youngest son announced he was thinking he might want to major in history. Interestingly enough, given his interest in history, GMU is home to the Center for History and New Media, whose mission is to use digital media and technology to preserve and present history online, transform scholarship across the humanities, and advance historical education and understanding.
The only slightly troubling thing with all this is that George Mason is a hotbed of Libertarian thought -- fine for my buddies like the Whited Sepulchre, but more of a stretch for the likes of me, the old Pinko. Still, it's clearly an excellent school. And despite a little ribbing from the WS, we're pretty thrilled.
Still, I've been looking for a sign we are making the right choice. And yesterday, I think I finally got it.
On Yahoo News, I saw the headline, "George Mason picks drag queen as homecoming queen."
Mr. and Ms. Mason 2009 from Connect Mason on Vimeo.
The article goes on to say the choice didn't appear to have caused much concern among the school's 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students. An online article in the student newspaper prompted only two comments, both positive. A spokesperson for the school's College Republicans said "I just think it's kind of silly."
So here's to you George Mason University! We look forward to joining the Patriot family - a family that celebrates diversity and academic excellence -- and silliness.
PS - Whited Sepulchre says he'll be raising funds for a scholarship amongst his readers.
George Mason, located in Fairfax, Virginia (suburban Washington, DC) has an excellent Computer Science department which just opened a new 180,000 sq.ft. facility and is home to a number of active research programs which bring over $16 million a year.
U.S. News & World Report ranked George Mason University #1 in its new category of Up-and-coming National Universities, 2009. They also have highly regarded history, economics and public policy departments. In addition, Virginia out-of-state tuition cost is remarkably reasonable. It was also ranked as 11th most diverse university in the nation, by the Princeton Review in 2009.
As we began our college search, youngest son announced he was thinking he might want to major in history. Interestingly enough, given his interest in history, GMU is home to the Center for History and New Media, whose mission is to use digital media and technology to preserve and present history online, transform scholarship across the humanities, and advance historical education and understanding.
The only slightly troubling thing with all this is that George Mason is a hotbed of Libertarian thought -- fine for my buddies like the Whited Sepulchre, but more of a stretch for the likes of me, the old Pinko. Still, it's clearly an excellent school. And despite a little ribbing from the WS, we're pretty thrilled.
Still, I've been looking for a sign we are making the right choice. And yesterday, I think I finally got it.
On Yahoo News, I saw the headline, "George Mason picks drag queen as homecoming queen."
Mr. and Ms. Mason 2009 from Connect Mason on Vimeo.
The article goes on to say the choice didn't appear to have caused much concern among the school's 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students. An online article in the student newspaper prompted only two comments, both positive. A spokesperson for the school's College Republicans said "I just think it's kind of silly."
So here's to you George Mason University! We look forward to joining the Patriot family - a family that celebrates diversity and academic excellence -- and silliness.
PS - Whited Sepulchre says he'll be raising funds for a scholarship amongst his readers.
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