George Mason University | FFXnow

Former GMU professor sentenced to 25 years for child pornography

Published July 26, 2024 at 9:30AM | Updated July 26, 2024 at 10:07AM

The U.S. District Court in Alexandria (via Google Maps)

A one-time assistant professor at George Mason University has been sentenced to 25 years in prison for collecting hundreds of child pornography photos and videos, including from at least two people he coerced, U.S. prosecutors announced yesterday (Thursday).

Daniel Marc Lofaro, a 40-year-old Fairfax resident, was sentenced by a U.S. District Court judge in Alexandria on Wednesday (July 24) after pleading guilty to coercion and entitlement and receiving, distributing and possessing child pornography.

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Applicants wanted for Fairfax City and Vienna culinary jobs training program

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 16, 2024 at 1:30PM

A Fairfax City restaurant Week worker grills meat (courtesy Fairfax City Economic Development)

Reinforcements are on the way to bolster Fairfax City and the Town of Vienna’s restaurant industry.

The two localities are seeking applicants for a new Culinary Careers Collaborative program intended to train future chefs, bartenders and other food service workers for potential jobs with local businesses.

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GMU breaks ground on building for Green Machine pep band, athletics

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 26, 2024 at 11:30AM

A rendering of George Mason University's Activities Community Wellness building, now under construction (courtesy Powers Brown Architecture)

Construction work is underway on a new athletics and activity facility for George Mason University’s Fairfax campus.

Contractor Hoar Construction announced last Thursday (June 20) that it has broken ground on a 25,000-square-foot Activities Community Wellness Building, which will give GMU’s acclaimed Green Machine pep band its first dedicated home, among other functions.

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GMU to help build ‘artificial star’ for NASA on Fairfax campus

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 18, 2024 at 10:15AM

George Mason University College of Science associate professor and Observatory Director Peter Plavchan will serve as principal investigator for NASA's Landolt Mission (courtesy Ron Aira/Creative Services/ George Mason University)

In half a decade, George Mason University students and faculty will help NASA launch an “artificial star” into space.

The university’s Fairfax campus will serve as mission control for the Landolt NASA Space Mission, which will send a laser-pointing satellite into Earth’s orbit in 2029, GMU announced on June 10. The artificial star created by the satellite will help scientists more accurately calculate the brightness of real stars.

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GMU lands $5M donation to help renovate Fairfax performing arts hall

By Angela Woolsey

Published May 28, 2024 at 3:30PM | Updated May 28, 2024 at 5:50PM

George Mason University's Center for the Arts at night (photo by Daniel Schwartz)

George Mason University is planning a new look and name for its Center for the Arts.

The GMU College of Visual and Performing Arts announced today (Monday) that it has received a $5 million gift to support a “reimagining” of the performing arts venue (4373 Mason Pond Drive) at its Fairfax campus. The donor was the Peterson Family Foundation, a regular supporter of the college and recipient of this year’s Jinx Hazel Award from ArtsFairfax.

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Cirque Du Soleil set to perform at Eagle Bank Arena in Fairfax next month

By James Jarvis

Published April 18, 2024 at 11:30AM

Cirque Du Soleil 2022 (courtesy of Maja Prgomet)

Cirque Du Soleil is coming back to Fairfax next month.

The theatrical aerobatic spectacle is performing eight shows at George Mason University’s Eagle Bank Arena from May 17-25.

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BREAKING: GMU calls off plan for cricket and baseball stadium at Fairfax campus

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 28, 2024 at 12:10PM | Updated March 28, 2024 at 4:11PM

George Mason University has been exploring plans to expand its West Campus off of Braddock Road (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

(Updated at 4:10 p.m.) It has not been a great week for plans to bring professional sports teams to Northern Virginia.

Just a day after negotiations for a Washington Wizards and Capitals arena in Alexandria officially fell through, George Mason University has announced that it’s no longer planning to build a joint baseball and cricket stadium in Fairfax for the Washington Freedom.

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Comedian Nate Bargatze’s show expected to draw record crowd to EagleBank Arena

By Inside NoVA

Published February 23, 2024 at 2:30PM

Comedian Nate Bargatze will bring his stand-up show to George Mason University's EagleBank Arena tonight (photo by Craig Hunter Ross)

Friday night’s performance by comedian Nate Bargatze is expected to draw the largest crowd ever to EagleBank Arena on the Fairfax campus of George Mason University, according to Monumental Sports & Entertainment, which operates the arena.

Over 10,400 tickets have been sold for the event, which would break the arena’s record of 10,356 patrons for a concert by Phish on Oct. 8, 1994, Monumental said in a news release. The arena, originally known as the Patriot Center, opened in 1984.

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Gaming convention powers up for return to George Mason University

By Fatimah Waseem

Published February 13, 2024 at 3:30PM | Updated February 14, 2024 at 2:39PM

The gaming convention GAMEMason is set to return to George Mason University's Fairfax campus (photo by Evan Cantwell/Creative Services)

(Updated at 2:35 p.m. on 2/14/2024) A two-day gaming convention will take over George Mason University’s Fairfax campus this month.

Organized by GMU’s student involvement office, game design program and GMU Esports, GAMEmason 2014 will take place on Friday, Feb. 23 and Saturday, Feb. 24 from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the Center for the Arts (4373 Mason Pond Drive).

News

GMU hopes to construct new multi-purpose baseball and cricket stadium by 2025

By James Jarvis

Published February 1, 2024 at 11:45AM

Aerial view of GMU's Fairfax Campus with proposed multi-purpose ballpark location outlined in red (via George Mason University)

George Mason University is poised to complete the construction of a functional cricket field at its Fairfax campus by the end of this summer and a new ballpark by 2025.

During a virtual town hall meeting on Monday (Jan. 29), GMU staff and Sanjay Govil, owner of the Washington Freedom cricket team and a founding investor in Major League Cricket (MLC), outlined the project and listened to feedback from local stakeholders.