Mason’s Mortarboard

President Merten recently said that this upcoming year “will be Mason’s most dynamic ever due to unprecedented campus expansion and completed construction projects. Each new facility provides an opportunity to celebrate and tell the Mason Story.”

Those stories will be told during a number of grand opening celebrations over the next three months. Fittingly, one of the most anticipated structures on campus–the Rappahannock River Parking Deck–will have the honor of being the first to celebrate it’s opening, August 13. President Merten will likely be behind the wheel of the first auto to enter the deck as he ceremoniously drives through a ribbon.

The next will be the opening of “the RAC” (Recreational Athletic Complex) on September 2. This one ought to get a lot of attendance, especially from the many students who will have just arrived back to school. Once the ribbon is cut and people enter the building, everyone will be able to participate in a large number of events such as an obstacle course, gladiator joust, dunk tank, rock wall, mechanical bull… you get the idea.

The Engineering Building will hold its ceremony on October 2, at the beginning of Alumni Weekend. President Merten, Dean Griffiths and Dr. Volgenau will address the crowd, and hopefully we’ll be able to schedule Doc Nix and Co. to liven things up.

The School of Art will hold their grand opening on October 23. I know they already have a keynote speaker lined up for the program, afterwhich everyone will be able to walk through the new building and see student and faculty artwork (food and beverages will be placed throughout the building, of course).

One other building that will be completed but has yet to finalize a grand opening date is the Police and Public Safety Building (just north of the new parking deck). I dont know when the event will be held, but I do know that I’m pushing for the VIPs to use the Jaws of Life to cut the ribbon instead of plain ol’ scissors.

The Rat is back.

After more than a decade-long hiatus, the Mason Rathskeller is moving back to SUB I. The sports bar, fondly known as “the Rat,” made its debut on campus back in 1976, but its popularity dwindled when the Johnson Center opened its doors 20 years later. The Rat was later converted into what is now the game room in SUB I.

But a college campus just doesn’t seem complete without a good, old-fashioned sports bar. Damon’s, which was open from 2005 until this past spring, was an effort to bring it back, but Mason Dining officials acknowledge the concept was not wholly successful (Damon’s had become famous for its slow service). They decided to keep the basic Damon’s appearance, but take the operation in a new direction.

Following a slight makeover, the former Damon’s space will re-emerge in late August as the Rat. The restaurant will still boast 12 big-screen TVs, music and a good-sized selection of beer and wine. Eventually, the bar plans to double the current on-tap beer offerings from five to 10.

But the dining concept will change slightly to appeal more to student-aged customers while lowering costs and wait time. Food will be ordered and paid for at a front counter. Then, servers will bring the food out to customers’ tables.

By dropping the Damon’s brand, Mason can freshen up the menu whenever and with whatever it wants. It can also run promotions sponsored by Athletics and Student Activities.  The goal is to get more student patrons, espeically at night and on weekends.

The addition to the de Laski Performing Arts Building will soon be in full swing. That means the area needs to be fenced off, beginning Thursday, July 9.  This will affect all pedestrians that use the sidewalks between the PAB, the Johnson Center, and the Fine Arts Building.

Pretty much all of the grassy area directly to the south of the George Mason statue will be taken up by construction in the coming weeks.  But there’s no need to worry; to ensure George’s safety, I’m told that he (the statue) will be shielded behind some sort of protective box/covering. But I’m not exactly sure what material will be used to box him up or when that will happen.

Last week, a ground breaking was held to commemorate the start of the project, though preparations had started as far back as November ‘08 when all of the trees in the future construction site were removed and replanted around campus.

That was the first step. Now it’s time to get down and dirty. Once completed, the addition will add dance and orchestra practice spaces, larger performance halls, and a training room for performers. The building will be recognizeable for its grand entrance which will face the Johnson Center circle of Aquia Creek Lane.