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BY VIVIANA SMITH, SENIOR STAFF REPORTER

Filling the corridors in Hanover hall with deliciously enticing aromas, the GMU Culinary Club hosted its first general body meeting on Friday, Feb. 7, inviting students to make Mexican-inspired “walking tacos” and mangonadas. 

The meeting, the first of eight planned for the semester, allowed prospective club members to try their hand at cooking their own meals. The Culinary Club’s board members provided ingredients, cooking utensils and assistance while attendees brought their favorite chip bags, empty stomachs and their insatiable interest in cuisine. 

Kicking off the meeting, Mason junior and Culinary Club President Jeanne Snyder-Pham welcomed more than 30 attendees with excitement. After explaining the history and cultural significance of the two dishes and supplying the tables with their ingredients, the meeting turned into a scene from “The Bear” – except without the yelling or an appearance from Jeremy Allen White. 

Rather, the Culinary Club buzzed around the kitchenette, assisting tables with the cooking process, preparing the meat for tacos and sharing culinary knowledge. Tables were filled with individuals working together to create pico de gallo for their first dish. Through the laughter and sounds of chopping, each table prepared their own unique “walking taco” and then chowed down on the products of their own creation. 

The “walking tacos” were washed down with sweet-and-savory mangonadas, a smoothie-like treat with Mexican origins. The blender drowned out some of the chatter as people approached the station to get their share, topping their cups with tajin, chamoy sauce and tamarindo straws—a spicy yet irresistible combination. Smiles weren’t hard to spot as people enjoyed their mangonadas with one another.

Viviana Smith/Fourth Estate

Snyder-Pham explains that the most important part of their club is connecting the community through food. “One of our mission statements here at culinary club is to promote unity at George Mason University,” she said. “We believe that food brings people together.”

Mason senior and Culinary Club Vice President Justine Arenas supported this, adding that the first meeting was meant to bring Mason students together in a tight-knit community built on a shared passion for cuisine. “Through food, [students] have friends here and people they can connect with,” she said. 

Arenas continued, sharing how people choose to sit at tables with others rather than sitting alone in hopes of socializing. “Already we see the effects of what we’re trying to achieve.”

Viviana Smith/Fourth Estate

Besides connecting members within the club, Snyder-Pham and Arenas shared that they team up with other Mason student organizations in hopes of sharing different cultural dishes with their members. From GMU Indian Student Association to Mason’s Collective Organizations of South Asia, the Culinary Club partners with various cultural clubs on campus to foster inter-organizational relationships and expand its members’ cultural experiences. 

Snyder-Pham shared that even if a club doesn’t represent a particular culture, they still pursue collaborations to simply enjoy community with one another and share new perspectives. “As students here, we believe strongly in a strong student body, so we feel motivated in connecting other people through food with different departments and everything,” she said. 

Some students agreed that the event was a great experience, with one table expressing that they had a lot of fun, even though not everyone knew each other. 

Mason sophomore Haily Kim was surprised by the hands-on experience. She shared that the cultural exchange she received was much more of a positive gain than the free food. “I’m Korean, so there’s not really a chance of me making Mexican food or Mexican-inspired food,” she said. “I feel like doing that today really opened my eyes of seeing what Mexican culture is like and what their flavor profiles are like.”

Kim added that she would use the recipe again, especially if her family was unsure what to eat one night—furthering the spread of one culture to another. 

Snyder-Pham and Arenas shared that the club is open to all skill levels and that the only real requirement is enjoying food. “We will take anyone because we believe strongly in learning to make food, learning to love food,” Snyder-pham said with a smile. 

For those interested in joining the GMU Culinary Club, connect with them on Mason360 or Instagram. 

Nadine Abdalla/ Fourth Estate

BY NADINE ABDALLA, STAFF WRITER

Despite societal advances in body image,women still face societal constraints that label weightlifting as a “male” activity. This belief is not only outdated but also detrimental to a woman’s well-being. Women should be encouraged to lift weights because it promotes physical health, boosts confidence, challenges harmful stereotypes, and leads to empowerment. By embracing strength training, we break societal norms and unlock our true potential.

Health Benefits

Weightlifting offers numerous health benefits, particularly for women. Strength training increases lean muscle mass, boosts metabolism, and supports fat loss. It also strengthens bones and reduces the risk of osteoporosis, a condition that disproportionately affects women. Strength training is one of the best ways to improve bone density and prevent fractures as we age. 

For women, weightlifting is a crucial step in improving long-term health and increasing longevity, leading to healthier bones, stronger muscles, and a more vibrant life.

Confidence and Empowerment

When I first started lifting, I felt intimidated by the experienced lifters around me. But over time, weightlifting transformed both my body and my mindset. With every new personal best, I grew more confident in my strength and identity as a capable woman. 

The mental benefits of strength training are significant, as it allows us to realize our inner power and carry that confidence into all areas of life. It’s not just about physical transformation, it’s about embracing the strength we have and using it to fuel our personal growth.

Breaking Stereotypes and Gender Norms

A common misconception holding women back from weightlifting is the fear of becoming “too bulky.” This fear is rooted in outdated ideas of what it takes to look feminine. In reality, women’s bodies aren’t designed to gain muscle mass in the same way men’s bodies do. Due to hormonal differences, strength training allows women to build lean muscle, leading to a toned, fit physique without excessive bulk. 

By lifting weights, we challenge societal expectations of what women’s bodies should look like. The more women lift, the more we redefine standards of strength, showing that women can be powerful without sacrificing femininity.

The Importance of Safe Weightlifting

Some may argue that weightlifting is dangerous for women. However, with proper guidance and form, it is just as safe for women as it is for men. Strength training can actually reduce the risk of injury by improving balance, coordination, and joint stability. Weightlifting isn’t about conforming to an image; it’s about being the best version of yourself. Women should be empowered to lift without fear of injury or judgment.

Research and Mental Health Benefits

Strength training increases bone density and boosts mental health. It helps reduce stress and alleviate anxiety and depression, which are critical for women managing multiple roles. These physical and mental benefits are essential for maintaining a balanced, healthy life, especially in a world where women face unique pressures.

Creating Supportive Spaces

To foster a more inclusive fitness culture, gyms should offer female-friendly spaces, provide beginner-friendly guidance, and promote realistic representations of strong women. There’s a need for more female-centric weightlifting programs that emphasize empowerment and community. With the right resources and support, women can break down barriers that have prevented them from reaching their full potential.

Encouraging women to lift weights is more than building muscle; it’s about embracing strength, confidence, and health. Weightlifting allows women to challenge societal expectations, redefine strength, and unlock their potential. The time has come for women to lift not just weights, but the limitations that have held them back.

Weightlifting offers numerous health benefits, particularly for women. Strength training increases lean muscle mass, boosts metabolism, and supports fat loss. It also strengthens bones and reduces the risk of osteoporosis, a condition that disproportionately affects women. Strength training is one of the best ways to improve bone density and prevent fractures as we age. 

For women, weightlifting is a crucial step in improving long-term health and increasing longevity, leading to healthier bones, stronger muscles, and a more vibrant life.

Confidence and Empowerment

When I first started lifting, I felt intimidated by the experienced lifters around me. But over time, weightlifting transformed both my body and my mindset. With every new personal best, I grew more confident in my strength and identity as a capable woman. 

The mental benefits of strength training are significant, as it allows us to realize our inner power and carry that confidence into all areas of life. It’s not just about physical transformation, it’s about embracing the strength we have and using it to fuel our personal growth.

Breaking Stereotypes and Gender Norms

A common misconception holding women back from weightlifting is the fear of becoming “too bulky.” This fear is rooted in outdated ideas of what it takes to look feminine. In reality, women’s bodies aren’t designed to gain muscle mass in the same way men’s bodies do. Due to hormonal differences, strength training allows women to build lean muscle, leading to a toned, fit physique without excessive bulk. 

By lifting weights, we challenge societal expectations of what women’s bodies should look like. The more women lift, the more we redefine standards of strength, showing that women can be powerful without sacrificing femininity.

The Importance of Safe Weightlifting

Some may argue that weightlifting is dangerous for women. However, with proper guidance and form, it is just as safe for women as it is for men. Strength training can actually reduce the risk of injury by improving balance, coordination, and joint stability. Weightlifting isn’t about conforming to an image; it’s about being the best version of yourself. Women should be empowered to lift without fear of injury or judgment.

Research and Mental Health Benefits

Strength training increases bone density and boosts mental health. It helps reduce stress and alleviate anxiety and depression, which are critical for women managing multiple roles. These physical and mental benefits are essential for maintaining a balanced, healthy life, especially in a world where women face unique pressures.

Creating Supportive Spaces

To foster a more inclusive fitness culture, gyms should offer female-friendly spaces, provide beginner-friendly guidance, and promote realistic representations of strong women. There’s a need for more female-centric weightlifting programs that emphasize empowerment and community. With the right resources and support, women can break down barriers that have prevented them from reaching their full potential.

Encouraging women to lift weights is more than building muscle; it’s about embracing strength, confidence, and health. Weightlifting allows women to challenge societal expectations, redefine strength, and unlock their potential. The time has come for women to lift not just weights, but the limitations that have held them back.

Nawaal Nackerdien/Fourth Estate

BY CHRISTIAN SEGOVIA, SPORTS EDITOR

Editor’s Note: This is part two of a two-part series on Jordan Whitaker and Esports.

“We’re competitive by nature,” Whitaker said about a player’s drive. “The longer you play the game, the more you feel like, proud of… your identity in a sense and mechanisms like reward systems, and rankings do tend to help people feel like the time that they spent on the game is rewarding.”

Most Esports games have a competitive ranking system, where players climb the ladder by competing against others at their skill level. “Everyone who’s recruiting you at these different colleges, they’ll look at your profile, they’ll look at your rankings, they’ll look at the material you’ve done,” Whitaker said, emphasizing the importance of ranking up and standing out. 

However, breaking into the Esports scene can be difficult due to its highly competitive nature. Within the scene are different tiers of competition, Tier 1 being the highest. As the tiers decrease, so does the level of competitiveness. To gain visibility, Whitaker advises  players to create highlight reels and share on their social media pages.

“If you have a highlight reel that’s really good, and you’re a teenager and you want to be considered for a scholarship at the college level, you’re going to have that highlight reel as something that shows off who you are,” Whitaker said. “You know this player is like, okay, but they’re amazing at making content. I want to recruit them for the program and get them…half their tuition every year just to make content.”

Esports is a diverse industry with multiple career paths beyond playing professionally. Aspiring players become content creators, coaches or broadcasters for Esports events. Due to how competitive the scene is and its set-up, players are forced to market themselves to get noticed.  In this way, Esports helps players expand skills such as self-marketing and creating a brand. 

“Diversifying how you showcase yourself is really important because then not only are you giving yourselves options as a player in your path, but you’re also developing a unique brand identity, and you’re showcasing a variety of skills,” Whitaker said. “Maybe I’m not destined to go professional, but I can still work in Esports for an Esports organization because I have these skills creating content. I know how to market; I know how to broadcast; I know how to manage a community on Discord.”

Success in Esports requires professionalism and accountability. Players must collaborate with others and foster a positive environment.  

“People care about your grades. People care about your accountability and how good of a person you are to be around,” Whitaker said. “People want to be alongside other players, where they know that they’re going to be supported by good positivity and somebody who listens to these ‘soft people’ skills.”

According to a study on sexism in esports, “most gamer communities remain male-dominated, which may give rise to prejudices against female players and their skill among gamers and the general public.”  Women in online spaces often face sexist comments while gaming, and even struggle to find a role model in the field.

To combat this, initiatives such asValorant Game Changers provide a space for women to compete at a professional level. Recently, Ava “Florescent” Eugene became the first Game Challengers player to compete in a Tier 1 league, joining Apeks in Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) EMEA. Meanwhile, Shopify Rebellion became the first team to qualify for Challengers league.

“I’m aware that there’s a lot of high-ranking women in the North American ladder right now who are enjoying success at the college level and getting recruited from programs,” Whitaker added. “[The coach at Northwestern] was telling me about three or four of his starting varsity players.”

As Esports continues to grow, efforts to promote inclusivity and sustainability will be crucial for the industry’s future.