Mason Media Blog

According to a recent study by Mason researchers David Anderson and Hugh Gusterson, teens are clearly receiving the message to not drink and drive. But they don’t understand the dangerous impact that consuming large amounts of alcohol can have on their growing bodies.

The study “Understanding Teen Drinking Cultures in America” reveals that culture plays the biggest role in teen drinking and aims to help parents, community leaders and schools develop strategies that will effectively reduce the rate of teen alcohol consumption.

The research found that teens typically begin drinking in high school and view the experience as an important rite of passage to adulthood.  Getting alcohol from older youths, most notably older siblings, teens reported consuming the most alcohol at parties, very often with the intention of drinking to get drunk.

Especially alarming is that teens view the act of drinking as the focal point of most social gatherings and usually do it without the knowledge of adults.

Although it was determined that parents and community members play an important role in communicating with teens about risky alcohol-related behaviors, research shows that many parents underestimated how much teens drink and at what age they started drinking.

School officials and teens themselves agreed that alcohol awareness programs at school are ineffective and lack a consistent focus and that there is too much discrepancy between what teens are told about alcohol in schools and their own personal experiences.

“Although extensive research demonstrates the complexity of why teens drink, there is a lack of comprehensive attention to understanding this behavior,” says Anderson.

“Investigating a variety of teen drinking cultures – including teens’ earliest experiences, patterns of alcohol consumption and the messages they may or may not get about alcohol from peers, parents, community leaders and others – gives special insight into how to tackle what is becoming an increasingly difficult problem in communities across the country.”

More information about the study can be found here.

When doctors have bad news to break to their patients, how can they do it in a way that’s clear but also comforting, supportive and helpful?

Melinda Villagran, associate professor  of communication at Mason, and her co-writers, developed guidelines for clinicians to help train them on the best way to give bad news. The set of guidelines, called COMFORT, is not a checklist. It is meant to be interactive and adaptable based on the needs of the patient and his/her family.

Below is the breakdown of COMFORT guidelines. You can also find more information in the Communication Currents article online.

Communication- Clinicians should use clear and familiar language when breaking bad news. The emotional discomfort associated with delivering bad news can lead clinicians to use vague or unfamiliar language that masks the true meaning of a negative diagnosis. Vague terms such as “Your condition seems to be terminal” are used, instead of saying “there is no cure for your illness.” Delivering bad news requires verbally and nonverbally direct communication that makes sense to the patient. Otherwise, patients can leave the doctor’s office without fully understanding the reality of their healthcare situation.

Orientation- A patient receiving bad news can have unrealistic expectations about a cure for their disease. Realistic expectations for treatment should be clearly stated in plain language so there is no confusion about treatment goals. Orienting patients to the reality of their condition helps prevent unwanted treatments and unrealistic expectations about recovery.

To ease the discomfort of delivering bad news, clinicians may use statements about expectations to reveal the biomedical aspects of a negative diagnosis (i.e. “I expect you will experience symptoms including …”), but mix those statements with expressions of hope such as, “I am hoping to ease your pain by giving you medication.” Patients who are clearly oriented to the reality of their health status have the opportunity to make decisions accordingly.

Mindfulness- Clinicians should pay attention to what is happening in each moment, and respond to the changing needs of the patient during a bad news discussion. Mindfulness means avoiding distractions, both verbally and nonverbally, when delivering bad news. Actively listening and maintaining eye contact can show the patient you are truly present. The patient should be the center of attention; bad news interactions should never occur in a busy hallway. Clinicians sometimes use terminology such as, “the cancer has metastasized,” out of habit. Mindfulness helps clinicians think before they speak, and rephrase the statement to say, “The cancer has spread to other parts of the body.” Bad news interactions are no time to put your mind on autopilot by using a script or rehearsed checklist.

Family- Families should be included in conversations when doctors break bad news to patients, since families provide support to the patient. It is common for a family member to be present when a serious diagnosis is delivered, so clinicians need to anticipate their presence. This can be achieved by acknowledging the family member as a good source of support for the patient, and by integrating the family members into the conversation after breaking the bad news. Although the patient’s needs are the most important consideration when breaking bad news, clinicians can build trust and understanding with family members by actively engaging them in the dialogue as it occurs. Practicing in advance how to talk to the patient without a family member in the discussion can be unrealistic if a family member will be present. Family members can be strong allies to comfort a patient receiving bad news.

Ongoing- Stressing there will be ongoing care can avoid a feeling of abandonment by patients after hearing bad news. A clear finding from this research is that the results of bad news require ongoing dialogue and medical attention. Breaking bad news is not a one-time event. By continually communicating with patients, clinicians can provide more clarification about the diagnosis, especially if the recovery will not be quick. Each visit, the clinician should give a very brief summary of the recent past, present and future treatment plans and expected goals for treatment options. This can be achieved in a few short sentences, but by offering a treatment summary, the patient remains aware that the process is ongoing and members of the clinical team have an overall treatment plan.

Reiterative- Reiterative communication refers to the need to restate bad news messages over and over to avoid false hopes for a cure as treatment progresses. The meaning behind the reiterative messages will be the same, but the way it is stated may be changed. For example, instead of discussing only the most recent test results’ new developments, a clinician might say, “Now you remember last time we discussed…” to quickly restate the facts about the diagnosis and treatment plan. Clinicians can answer questions, provide feedback, and reinforce the bad news diagnosis to help patients come to terms with the situation.

Team- Patients receive care from a team of medical professionals, including physicians, nurses, chaplains, psychologists, and social workers. Communicating as a team to the patient, and with each other, helps avoid mistakes, and helps reassure patients and their families that they will be receiving proper care. Electronic medical records can be useful to share information among team members about a patient, but since patients cannot see these records, clinicians need to constantly keep the patient updated through face-to-face dialogue. Every health care team member should reiterate the facts of the diagnosis to make sure the patient continues to have realistic expectations about their condition.

Using COMFORT to share bad news with patients and their families can decrease opportunities for confusion or miscommunication, while at the same time increasing chances for understanding and trust in communication.

On Oct. 1, the Mason Enterprise Center (MEC), a university-based economic development enterprise, is opening a new location in Leesburg, Va.

This facility will be called the Leesburg Business Incubator and represents a partnership between Mason and the Town of Leesburg. It is designed to provide professional guidance and administrative support services to small businesses in the early stages of their development.

“George Mason is very appreciative of the support being given to us by the Loudoun County Council,” says Kathleen Johnson, assistant vice president of regional campuses.

“In many ways, small businesses represent the backbone of the American economy, as they provide citizens with valuable employment opportunities. The university is proud of this opportunity to work closely with Leesburg and Loudoun County officials to help small business within the area achieve success and help keep our entire region and state strong.”

According to Keith Segerson, managing director of MEC, the university can provide professional assistance in such areas as training, business expansion and access to the university’s resources, along with administrative support, such as receptionist, copy and fax services and conference rooms.

It supports the university’s goals of regional development and job creation and retention and provides clients with access to Mason faculty, students, alumni, researchers and information sources to help them improve their organizations, achieve success and become viable members of the economic community.

More information about the new location can be found here.

October is National Arts and Humanities Month and at Mason we understand the importance of arts and culture in everyone’s lives. In fact, Mason recently received the Jinx Hazel Arts Citizen of the Year Award for its leadership in advancing the arts in the region. While preparing students to become creators, performers, teachers, scholars, leaders and entrepreneurs in the arts, Mason is dedicated to enriching the cultural life of the community. Here are just a few examples of how Mason advances the arts at the university and throughout the community.

All-Steinway School
In 2007, Mason became an all-Steinway school and joined the ranks of such prestigious institutions as the Yale School of Music, the Juilliard School and Oberlin College Conservatory. Being able to prepare on one of the 16 new Steinways in Mason’s School of Music eases students into the concert hall experience and allows them to do their best when the curtain rises.

“Being an all-Steinway school spells quality and commitment to excellence and is an incredible honor for the School of Music,” says Linda Apple Monson, associate director for academic affairs and director of keyboard studies. “It tells both auditioning students and potential faculty that we know the importance of quality instruments and want to share it with everyone.”

New Facilities
As the arts at Mason continue to expand, several new facilities have been built to accommodate more students and programs. In October 2009, the School of Art moved into the Art and Design Building, an 88,000-square-foot building that provides ample space for all of the areas of art and visual technology ranging from painting to printmaking.

Donald and Nancy de Laski Performing Arts Building

The Schools of Music and Dance received some much-needed breathing room with the addition of the 31,000-square-foot Donald and Nancy de Laski Performing Arts Building. The space includes rehearsal halls, dance studios and instrument storage facilities.

“We are very excited about the potential the new facilities for the art, music and dance programs will have in helping to attract and retain high-quality students and faculty to Mason,” says William Reeder, dean of the College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA).

Community Outreach
Reaching out to the local community is an important part of Mason’s efforts to spread arts and culture. The Potomac Arts Academy provides community members of all ages, skill levels and socioeconomic backgrounds quality instruction in a variety of artistic disciplines. Activities ranging from designing computer games to composing musical scores are available year round.

Another program, Instruments in the Attic, has collected and distributed more than 150 instruments, including trumpets, flutes and guitars, to Mason’s music education students who need them to complete their degrees. The program also plans to give much-needed instruments to public schools in Fairfax and Prince William counties. Just recently, the program donated several instruments to a community in Haiti that was devastated by an earthquake.

“The Potomac Arts Academy strengthens Mason’s relationship with professional artists and performers as well as with the surrounding community,” says director Libby Curtis. “Offering classes that are taught or supervised by nationally and internationally known artists and teachers shows families that the Potomac Arts Academy is one of the best places to receive high-quality programming in the area.”

Hylton Performing Arts Center

Professional Interaction
Mason believes interacting with the professional arts world creates a rich cultural experience for both students and the community. The university’s two performing arts centers, the Center for the Arts on the Fairfax Campus and the Hylton Performing Arts Center on the Prince William Campus, welcome thousands of visitors each year to enjoy local and international performing artists. Some of these professional companies and organizations even have residences on campus including the Virginia Opera, the Fairfax Symphony and the American Youth Philharmonic.

Through residences, lectures and master classes, students routinely interact with some of the nation’s leading professional artists. Dance students have worked with members of Parsons Dance Company and Hubbard Street Dance. Visual Voices lecture series brings visiting artists and designers to campus to discuss their work and the world of art and design. Students even have opportunities to learn about art education by partnering with museums in Washington, D.C.

Standout Faculty
Students also have the advantage of learning a thing or two from Mason faculty who are currently practicing their craft in the professional world. Some of these professional undertakings include the Theater of the First Amendment, Mason’s professional theater group, with managing director Kevin Murray; the Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra, directed by Jim Carroll, professor jazz studies; and the American Festival Pops Orchestra, conducted by Anthony Maiello, professor of conducting. Many faculty members also win national commissions and are included in professional international exhibitions.

To help alleviate the growing challenges of receiving adequate health care that the uninsured with chronic illness experience in Northern Virginia, Mason’s School of Nursing has received a $1.6 million grant (to be funded over five years) from the Health Resources and Services Administration to establish the Mason Partners for Access to Health Care (PATH) program.

Partnering with the Jeanie Schmidt Free Clinic (JSFC) in Herndon, Va., Mason PATH will help improve access to quality primary and behavioral health care for low-income and minority patients in Fairfax County who lack health insurance and suffer from diabetes and hypertension. In addition, JSFC patients will have access to mental health screening for depression and anxiety and management of behavioral health issues.

Clinical services will be provided by Mason faculty who are trained family nurse practitioners and psychiatric and mental health nurse practitioners. The clinic will also serve as an applied lab for Mason nursing students who will work directly with faculty members to gain experience in areas of nursing administration, clinical specialist and education.

The PATH program will also provide individual and group education programs on a variety of topics such as dental care, nutrition, women’s health care and healthy living. These programs are intended to help improve patients’ understanding of their own health conditions and resources available in their community.

More information about the Mason PATH program can be found here.

In honor of National Grandparents Day on September 12, George Mason University professor Andrew Carle has released his annual list of the best high-tech products for older adults.

Carle, director of Mason’s Program in Assisted Living/Senior Housing Administration, coined the term “Nana” Technology in 2004 to define the growing industry of microchip-based products for seniors.

“With the first of 78 million Baby Boomers turning 65 on January 1, these technologies will become an integral part of our society,” says Carle.

Top “Nana” Technologies for 2010 include:

1. GlowCaps™: “Individuals 65 and older are 12 percent of the population but consume one third of all prescription medications,” says Carle. Medication errors in turn are among the largest cause of hospitalizations among seniors.

Designed to replace the cap on standard prescription bottles, GlowCaps include an embedded microchip that provides both light and sound reminders at programmed times. Failure to remove the cap triggers a wireless, automated phone call to a family member or professional caregiver – who may also receive weekly email reports. The caps can additionally “call” a pharmacy to order refills as pills deplete.

Available through participating pharmacy providers.  http://www.vitality.net

2. Wellcore™: An update of the wearable emergency pendant, the Wellcore activity monitor resembles a stylish pedometer, while incorporating automatic “fall detection” technology, 24/7 call center assistance, and daily activity reporting for wearers or caregivers. The device can also be coupled with a compatible cell phone to allow access to services outside the home. According to Carle, the device, “Removes the stigma of wearing a ‘granny pendant’, while allowing emergency response when the wearer is outdoors, or even unconscious.” Base unit and activity monitor beginning at $199, monthly service beginning at $49.99. http://www.wellcore.com

3. DriveSharp™: A computer-based program, DriveSharp users “click” through 20-minute, 3-5 days per week training programs consisting of exercises that sharpen both attention and peripheral vision. In studies the program demonstrated a 50 percent reduction in crash risk, 200 percent increase in field of vision, and a reduction in stopping distance of 22 feet among participants. According to Carle, the ability to maintain driving skills in later years is significant. “Once seniors lose the ability to drive it’s easy for them to become prisoners in their own home, which exacerbates all the issues of aging.” $89, $69 for AAA members. www.positscience.com

4. ActiveONE™ – Personal Assistance Locator (PAL): Dubbed by Carle as an “OnStar™ for people”, the “PAL” is a cell-phone size device providing 24/7 live operator assistance at the push of a button.

Services range from emergency assistance and falls detection, to medication reminders, directions, or placing phone calls to a family member. The device additionally includes GPS tracking and “geo-fencing” capabilities, sending an alert if the user wanders beyond a programmed distance from the home or other location. From $59.99/month. www.activecare.com

Carle is an internationally recognized expert on senior housing, care, and technology. His work in “Nana” Technology has been featured in or on CNN, CNBC, USA Today, US News & World Report, NPR, Agence France Presse, and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, among others. The list reflects his opinions and is not based on formal criteria.

Art and Design Building

Mason’s Art and Design Building was awarded the Honor Award for Design Excellence in the 2010 Fairfax County Exceptional Design Awards Program.

The purpose of the awards program is to recognize outstanding achievement in the total design of a building and the site and to create awareness of superior planning and design projects.

Home to the School of Art, the 88,000 square-foot building was opened in October 2009 and includes ample space for all of the art and visual technology studio instructional areas, including painting and drawing, digital arts, sculpture, graphic design, photography, printmaking and interdisciplinary arts.

The three-story, warehouse-style structure makes room for nearly 400 majors in the School of Art. The building includes art studio spaces, galleries, computer classrooms, faculty offices and general education classrooms. The building also includes an exterior sculpture courtyard and outdoor working areas.

Using industrial materials and muted colors, exterior and interior displays of art stand out. The flexible design of the building allows for the reconfiguration of the studio spaces to facilitate various teaching methods. Loft-like spaces, large floor-to-ceiling windows and adjustable lighting provide backdrops for art and opportunities for creativity to emerge.

The Art and Design Building is the final piece of a new campus quadrangle that includes research and engineering buildings. The newly created Creative Quadrangle has already begun engaging in cross-disciplinary collaborations.

Designed by Ayres Saint Gross, a Baltimore, Md.-based architecture firm specializing in campus planning and university facility design, the building received a top award in the category of new campus designs from the Baltimore Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.

The biggest names, the hottest books, and some great events for the family are in store at the 12th annual Fall for the Book Festival — welcoming nearly 150 authors to events at George Mason University and throughout Northern Virginia, DC and Maryland September 19-24.

Several of this year’s events are geared toward parents and children — in one case with young adult authors themselves taking the stage to share their own writing! Don’t miss:

Children’s Corner with Rachel and JR the Lamb
Saturday, September 18, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. (Preview Event)
Truro Church, 10520 Main Street, Fairfax, Va.
Stories! Crafts! Snacks! Come hear ventriloquist Rachel Hall and her little lamb, JR, read a story. Check out www.trurochurch.org for details.

Just for Kids: Hands-on literacy!
Sunday, September 19, Noon-3 p.m.
theSPACE Courtyard, Old Town Plaza, 3955 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax, Va. (inside if inclement weather)
Play With Words (a soon-to-be literacy-based children’s museum in Northern Virginia) will be providing free, fun, book-based activities for children. Come play with us!

Falling for the Story
Sunday, September 19, 12:30 p.m.
theSPACE, Old Town Plaza, 3955 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax, Va.
Come see what the rising stars in the area are writing about as young writers from all over Northern Virginia share original works they’ve published in Falling for the Story, the Northern Virginia Writing Project’s yearly collection of exemplary student work.

Children’s Book Author Jamey Long
Sunday, September 19, 2 p.m.
theSPACE, Old Town Plaza, 3955 Chain Bridge Road, Fairfax, Va.
Jamey Long reads children’s books from his popular Possum’s History and Holiday series.

Children’s Author J.D Smith
Monday, September 20, 3:30 p.m.
Gregory Theater, Hylton Performing Arts Center, 10960 George Mason Circle,
Manassas, Va.
Violins, trompetas and guitarrones! Bring out the kids for a special bilingual family event featuring live music by Mariachi Fiesta before a 4:30 p.m. reading and talk by J.D. Smith, author of The Best Mariachi in the World/El Mejor Mariachi del Mundo, an illustrated book about a young boy trying to find his own unique talent in a family of mariachi musicians.

Educator Laura I. Rendón
Monday, September 20, 7:30 p.m.
Johnson Center, Room 116, George Mason University, Fairfax, Va.
The author of Sentipensante (Sensing/Thinking) Pedagogy: Educating for Wholeness, Social Justice and Liberation, a professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio, explores an inspirational and holistic approach to teaching.

Fred Morsell as Frederick Douglass
Tuesday, September 21, 7:30 p.m.
Harris Theater, George Mason University, Fairfax, Va.
The Honors College sponsors actor Fred Mosell, who will give a dramatic theatrical presentation of the life of Frederick Douglass, based on his autobiographies, speeches and letters. Follow Frederick Douglass through his early childhood, during his life on the plantation while he learned to read and write, and finally into his escape from slavery. The presentation will be followed by a Q&A with the actor.

Young-Adult Novelist Amy Brecount White
Wednesday, September 22, 2:30 p.m.
Frost Middle School, 4101 Pickett Road, Fairfax, Va.
As part of Fall for the Book’s annual Middle School Reads program, Amy Brecount White reads from and discusses her debut novel, Forget-Her-Nots. An interactive session on flower-making crafts is also featured.

Parenting Experts Sandra Burt and Linda Perlis
Thursday, September 24, 2 p.m.
Burke Centre Library, 5935 Freds Oak Road Burke, Va.
Sandra Burt and Linda Perlis produce and host the award-winning weekly radio program, “Parents’ Perspective,” interviewing experts on a different child rearing issue each week. They will discuss their two current books: Fodor’s Washington, D.C. with Kids and Raising a Successful Child. Sponsored by the Friends of the Burke Centre Library during the preview day of their annual book sale.

Educator Karen Griffin Roberts
Thursday, September 24, 7:30 p.m.
Johnson Center, Room 116, George Mason University, Fairfax, Va.
Drawing on her experiences as both a preschool teacher and as the mother of a child with autism, Karen Griffin Roberts shares tips and techniques from her new guidebook Embracing Autism in Preschool: Successful Strategies for General Education Teachers.

Memoirist and Young Adult Novelist Jennifer Finney Boylan
Friday, September 24, 1:30 p.m.
Sandy Spring Bank Tent, Outside Johnson Center, George Mason University, Fairfax, Va.
Bestselling transgender author Jennifer Finney Boylan shares stories from her two memoirs — She’s Not There: A Life in Two Genders and I’m Looking Through You: Growing Up Haunted — and discusses the debut title of her new young adult series,  Falcon Quinn and the Black Mirror. Following the presentation, Boylan will attend a 3 p.m.  meet-and-greet in Mason’s Women and Gender Studies Center, Johnson Center, Room 240K. Sponsored by George Mason’s LGBTQ Office and Women and Gender Studies Program.

These events are part of the 12th annual Fall for the Book Festival, which hosts nearly 150 authors for programs throughout Northern Virginia, DC and Maryland September 19-24. Additional headliners include novelist Ann Patchett, author of “Bel Canto” and “Run” and winner of the 2010 Fairfax Prize for literary excellence; memoirist and humanitarian Greg Mortenson, author of “Three Cups of Tea” and recipient of this year’s Mason Award for his work spreading the joy of literature to a wide and international reading public; and bestselling authors Garth Stein, Kathryn Stockett, and Jane Smiley, among many others.

For updated information and a complete list of participating authors and festival locations, be sure to bookmark www.fallforthebook.org. All events are free and open to the public, thanks to sponsors including George Mason University, Barnes and Noble, NOVEC, the Fairfax County Public Library, FAMILY magazine, and other generous businesses and organizations.

Thousands of Patriots gathered on the evening of Friday, Sept. 3 to break the world record for the largest game of dodgeball. After almost an hour of play, Mason’s 1,257 participants beat the previous world record of 1,198 held by the University of Alberta.

Players were placed on either the Green or Gold team and received a commemorative dodgeball shirt with their team color. More than 100 silver balls were placed in the middle of the court, and when the whistle blew, players battled it out. At the end of the game, the Gold Team took home the esteemed title of  “Winner of the World’s Largest Dodgeball Game.”

The Office of Student Activities hopes to make this event an annual Welcome Week tradition.

Padmanabhan Seshaiyer. Photo by Creative Services

Padmanabhan Seshaiyer, associate professor of mathematical sciences, was chosen as one of 50 scientists and engineers from around the country to represent Mason at the USA Science and Engineering Festival which runs from Sunday, Oct. 10 through Sunday, Oct 24.

The Nifty Fifty, as they are called, will go into various middle and high schools throughout the Washington, D.C., area in October to discuss their work and attempt to ignite a passion for science and engineering.

The USA Science and Engineering Festival is the country’s first national science festival and is designed to re-invigorate the interest of the nation’s youth in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

The Nifty Fifty includes individuals who have made a major impact on the field of science and engineering either through research or other fields such as law, business, government and public service.

Chosen from hundreds of applicants, Seshaiyer will join other Nifty Fifty speakers with various backgrounds including chemistry, biotechnology, engineering, math, computer science, medicine, green technology, nanotechnology, business, physics, astronomy and energy.

On Oct. 19, Seshaiyer will visit Patterson Mill Middle High School in Bel Air, Md. and Montgomery Blair High School in Silver Spring, Md. to talk to students about applying problem solving and applications of mathematics to real-world problems.

“I am honored to be included in the USA Science and Engineering Festival’s Nifty Fifty program and to be among some of the top experts in the country,” says Seshaiyer. “This presents a great opportunity to educate and get young people excited about how stimulating and rewarding the STEM fields can be.”

More information about the USA Science and Engineering Festival can be found at the website.