Dear Patriots,

Hope you’ve all had a good start to your semester so far.

In our News section, we have great stories updating you on the political situation in Virginia since Ralph Northam’s yearbook photos came out last week and changes to Mason’s Resident Advisors (RAs) program along with other great content from our News section.

In Sports, read on to learn more about how Mason’s Women’s Basketball game went last week and a feature profile on Matthew Voss, a wrestler at Mason.

I know Valentine’s Day is this week, so whatever your relationship status is, check out our stories on five tips for long-distance relationships or student perspectives on what significance they find in Valentine Day as a holiday.

We have really upped our Opinion section a lot more and have gotten more Mason students voicing their concerns. Read on for more about the hidden benefits of college or understanding email etiquette.

This week, I sat down with Mason student Jie Zheng, a graphic designer who helped start a magazine, NAPIZUM. We talked about balancing work and school, staying creative and finding your voice and growing up in the DMV area. It reminded me of the importance of self-care and learning to say no when you have a busy work-life schedule.

Have a great week. If you have any comments or concerns, or are interested in being a part of Fourth Estate, shoot us an email at masonfourthestate@gmail.com.

Sincerely,

Basma Humadi

Managing Editor