If you are not familiar with “Blood on the Dance Floor,” the first things you should know is that they are considered an electro-pop duo fans band from Phoenix, Arizona. Blood on the Dance Floor had been around since 2007 and is increasing in popularity. They are one of the most known viral bands on the internet. The new album “Anthem of the Outcast” recently came out.

This album features these songs:

1. “The Calling”

2. “The Comeback”

3. “Anthem of the Outcast”

4. “Hell on Heels (Givin’ In To Sin)” feat. New Years Day

5. “Your Sorry Life”

6. “Worlds Away”

7. “Don’t Want To Be Like You”

8. “Anthem of the Outcast” (Radio Edit)

9. “Unforgiven” (Matroda Remix)

Blood on the Dance Floor had changed a lot since 2007 when they first began. The album “Evolution” that came out this summer was the beginning of the huge change. Fans are very surprised on how much they have changed throughout the years, they have gone from more “dirty” music to more inspirational songs.

Blood on the Dance Floor is called a movement by band members Dahvie Vanity and Jayy Von Monroe. They say the focus is on sending out that love is. Dahvie Vanity even wears “unity stripes” painted on the side of his face, because the band has a strong belief in equality.

“Anthem of the Outcast” has the most meaningful songs they have written so far. Each one tells a story about the two singers lives. This album is written for the fans and is a lot deeper than any other album they have created.  Blood on the Dance Floor has more dedication to their fans and music than any band I know of.

The song “Your Sorry Life” shows that you can be who you want and to not let anyone change it. Their lyrics are written to help people find hope and inspiration. Vanity and Von Monroe dedicate as much time as they can for teens and kids who have depression and are in some cases turning to self-harm.

“You are the heart, that beats inside of me If you give up tonight, you give up on me,” they sing in “You are the Heart,” a song focused on helping kids that are thinking of suicide. This shows the dedication to their fans and how much they actually care about the “Slash Gash Terror Crew,” what the fans are called.

“They say that life's an open book turn the page and take another look, you can't judge me by my cover. It's not what you see but what you discover.”

The song “Don’t Wanna Be Like You” is about following your dreams and not letting people try to get in your way or try to stop you.

“I may be different, but I'm beautiful. Every diamond's individual; everyone shines in their own way.”

The CD is labeled “explicit” because of a song using a few swear words. You can find “Anthem of the Outcast” at Hot Topic and online.

It’s been four full years of one  bad school lunch  after another, and for the seniors, it’s going on the fifth year and we have had it—we want our senior privileges! We want to go off campus and spend our pennies for lunch, and we want to run home during Mustang Block if we’ve forgotten something, and most of all, we want to feel trusted by the administrators of our school.

Individually, we are able to earn things such as open study and late arrival/early dismissal, but the senior privileges falls on the entire class as a whole.

In previous years, it has not been until well after second semester that the senior class was awarded their privileges, but why isn’t it the other way around?  Instead of waiting to earn them and hoping that today will be the day, why doesn’t the school automatically give them to the seniors in the beginning of the year, and then reserve the right to take them away if we have abused them?

Understandably, the administration realizes that come second semester, seniors are already checked out and there’s not much they can do about that. So is making us wait for these privileges their way of trying to keep us buckled down for as long as they can? In the eyes of most seniors, that does not seem fair.

What the seniors this year would like to see is a change. We would like to be treated as adults, seeing as we are about to be of legal age, and given the privileges as a part of entering senior year of high school. This is the way we would like to see it done in upcoming years, because each and every year this same issue arises—how long are the seniors going to have to wait this year? We don’t want to be treated like children to see if we can handle it, because by the time the administration has decided we can, half of the school year, if not more, has already flown by.

We want to make the most of our last year in high school, and we want to make the most of it while we can. Eating the lunches that so many of us complain about is not the way we want to make the most of our year. Instead, we’d like to all get in our cars and get something nearby, enjoying the company of our friends and the food in Falls Church before we leave it all behind.

It is too late to change the policy this year, but hopefully a change can be made for the juniors next year, so that they can save their moaning and complaining, not their pennies.

Sincerely,

Paula O’Rourke, ‘13

Some things don’t make sense, like charging students extra money for not buying fruit at lunch that isn’t fruit.  What I mean by that is the quality is poor, the apples are bruised, the strawberries are frozen, and the taste of them doesn’t seem natural.  The school has never had appealing lunches and now they are forcing us to buy nasty fruit or else pay extra for not taking the fruit.

Richard Kane, the district’s food service coordinator, explained that new federal regulations from the USDA requires all meals to contain a fruit or vegetable in order for the school district to receive federal reimbursements.  Students can get up to five components for the cost of lunch, but if they choose only three, the price is the same as choosing five.  The fruit is being forced onto the students, which is not fair.

“It’s so dumb that they charge you extra if you don’t buy fruit. It makes sense, but it doesn’t even make sense,” said junior John Croke.

It’s not just George Mason who has this rule, but all schools in the country are required to do this.  The USDA wants Americans to become healthier now, so they are requiring us to buy balanced meals.  George Mason is a very healthy school, and it’s unfair that it is mandated on this school.   This would not be that bad if the quality of the fruit wasn’t as poor as it is.

“The last time I got fruit it was an apple. When I took a bite out of it, it was all bruised and mushy.  That was the last time I purchased fruit. When she offered me a free apple, I didn’t want it,” said senior John Jacobs.

Dear Editor,

Yes, this is yet another article about the lack of school spirit that George Mason has, because although there is at least one article written a year about this problem, it never seems to change—in fact, it gets worse every year.

As a cheerleader, I am painfully aware of this problem that Mason has. It is frustrating to go to every single football game and cheer to empty bleachers. At a game against our rivals, Clarke County, there hardly any fans to begin with. What fans we had—including the pep band--all left at the half even though we were leading 14-7. The parent support is always there and they are great, but it is upsetting seeing an empty student section, especially after the pep band leaves.

The pep band’s purpose is to excite and entertain the crowd at a football game. The Mason pep band is very talented and they do get the crowd going…when they’re there. Except for the homecoming football game, they will play for the first half, filling our bleachers with music and a sea of red, but once they leave the bleachers become deserted.

The varsity cheerleaders go to all away football games as well, and at every other school we visit, there has been a pep band like Mason. However the difference is that although they may not have been as talented as the Mason band, they stay for the entire game to show their support to the team, even having half-time shows sometimes.

I don’t play an instrument so I wouldn’t know how tiring sitting on bleachers for thirty minutes might be, but the fact that they leave at the half is annoying. Are you so busy on a Friday night that you can’t stay to support your football team who has been working hard all season?

This year, the new thing to do has been to support the girls of the varsity volleyball team.  They have had an amazing season and they deserve all of the support they receive. But if fans can find the time to drive two hours on a school night to an away volleyball game, can they not find the time to support the other teams at Mason?

For instance, the competition cheerleading squad had their district competition at Clarke County High School on a Saturday. Two days before, on Thursday, the varsity volleyball team also had a game there and a whole crowd of supporters went to the game, one and a half hours away. I think it’s amazing that so many people drove all that way for the volleyball game and I applaud the dedication. What I didn’t appreciate was when asked if they would try to make it out to the cheer competition, the fans that were already going to Clarke for volleyball claimed that it was “too far away.” Oh, okay cool.

As students of George Mason, we are lucky to go to a school with such high academic and athletic success. Both of our cross country teams won states last year, and the girls have won states for the last 4 years. Where is their support? Our scholastic team has been the reigning consecutive state champion for three years. Have you ever gone to one of their meets? Field hockey is still a club sport, but they have a 6-4-1 record. Where are their “superfans”?

These are only some of the sports that Mason has. The fan turnout at tennis, basketball and soccer games is a whole other article by themselves. In fact there are multiple stories written on that particular topic so check out the Lasso archives if you want a refresher on how low the turnout is for the teams that win the state championship regularly.

Two years ago, the boys varsity basketball team’s state semi-final took place on a Thursday night. Only one fan bothered to go. The only other fans in the huge VCU basketball court were the cheerleaders, girls basketball team, and parents. On the other hand, four buses of students filled a section of the stands to watch the girls play in their state semi-final game. Did I mention that the fans were able to miss school to go to the game?

If you believe that the only teams who deserve fans are the ones who win, you are sadly mistaken. I know what it’s like to cheer to basically no one, during sideline and competition cheer, and I know members on other sport teams must feel the same when there is no support in the bleachers or stands for them.

I hope that this “superfan” trend of supporting volleyball stays as strong as ever, but also that it would spill over onto other sports. Fans are an essential part of sporting events so try and make an effort to show up to some sporting events. Everyone would benefit from this.

Sincerely,

Mimi Nemec, ‘14

Five different grade levels instead of a more traditional four are merged at GMHS. George Mason has the eighth grade included.  In a typical high school, upper classmen normally avoid or in some cases pick on underclassmen.

At George Mason High School, this is not the case. Classes get along generally well. During Mustang Block different grade levels hang out together.  Upperclassmen and underclassmen say hi or talk to each other in the hallways. Sometimes the upperclassmen even tutor students from a lower grade.

“It’s great to see friendship between grades” said Mr. Jon Pepper, the dean of students. “ I don’t see any fighting in the halls.”

At GMHS there is virtual no visible bullying. This is great for people new to the school who don’t have much fear, knowing that they are walking into a friendly environment every week. All teachers greatly encourage this behavior.

"It's nostalgic seeing underclassmen having the same complaints about their homework and classes, as we did a year ago," says George Aknadepossian, a sophomore.

“I think that everyone gets along fine” said Philip Whittlesey, a new freshman. “I have some senior friends. The seniors don’t interact a lot with the underclassmen but when they do they are pretty nice,” he said.

“I think that the upperclassmen and the lower classmen get along well, said Jasmin Owens, another freshman. “It’s great that we all interact with each other even though we’re different ages. Also we can get advice from them about school or about some sports or something.”

It is a very peaceful environment and helps education of the students. The students join together more and get to become friends. Having a school were different grades get along makes a more comfortable learning environment for new students.