Freshman Cornerstones Service Project Evolves into Campus-wide Magazine
New Century College (NCC) student Cody Norman, the Managing Editor of George Mason University’s well-known newspaper, Broadside, and creator of the Courtside Seats magazine and website, has taken his freshman Cornerstones experience and lifted his Mason career to new heights. Whereas the average student simply listens passively before a professor lecturing in the front of a classroom, members of the Cornerstones program and the NCC actually get to live their academic courses through hands-on encounters. “I can experience my education instead of just getting an education,” Cody says. Now as an Integrative Studies major, he truly has experienced his education.
Says New Century College assistant dean Lisa Gring-Pemble, "Cody is a terrific student and it has been my sincere pleasure to know him. He was in my freshman NCLC 101: Narratives of Identity course and he told me he wanted to be a sports journalist. He impressed me then with his dedication, drive, and writing ability and to see that all come to fruition with this magazine, is simply a joy!"
After serving as the Sports Editor for Broadside, Cody was promoted to the Managing Editor position this year. However, sports have remained his focus, as he continued to cover all of the Mason men’s basketball games for Broadside. But Broadside wasn’t enough for him, as he had a vision for more. As a part of NCLC 345: Introduction to Multimedia, he was asked to create a medium that would “catch on.” This mission was accomplished as he developed an idea for a campus magazine and website called Courtside Seats, providing insight into Mason Patriots' basketball. The magazine has now had two successful issues and the website is gaining in popularity daily. His hope for the magazine was to provide insight into the players’ lives and personalities. “All of our players are approachable, real people. The purpose of Courtside Seats was to help people get to know the players as people, not just as athletes,” Cody says.
Cody recently returned from covering the CAA Men’s Basketball Tournament in Richmond, representing Courtside Seats, Broadside and Connect2Mason.
Although Courtside Seats is Cody’s project, he gives a lot of credit to the assistance of Stephen Kline, his photographer and designer. “The magazine was my idea, the stories were my idea, but without Steve there would be no magazine at all. He breathes life into everything in the magazine,” Cody says. He also gives credit to Daniel Zimmet, who provides a fan’s perspective in the magazine in “Section 124,” which is a popular stream of consciousness column. Cody, Stephen and Daniel are roommates. Cody graduates in two semesters, and hopes that his project will be able to sustain itself and live on beyond his tenure.
With all that he has done for the Mason community, Cody almost never came to Fairfax at all. Almost fully committed to attending Christopher Newport University, his parents essentially forced him into visiting the Mason campus. Upon arrival, he liked its proximity to Washington, D.C., as there are many opportunities for internships in sports around the city, and the Cornerstones program and the NCC intrigued him. “I left here after two days and in the car on the way home, I said, ‘I’m going to Mason,’” Cody recalls. He couldn’t be happier with his decision, as he has appreciated being able to tailor his education around his own interests and his Integrative Studies courses. He also enjoyed being a part of the Living Learning Community (LLC) and the small class sizes, allowing him to build strong relationships with his professors, especially Lisa Gring-Pemble and Michael Gilmore.
As all NCC students are required to embark on experiential learning, Cody has turned to his writing. To Cody, he is doing more than just putting letters on a page, as he tries to make a difference through his words. “I try to help people through my writing,” Cody explains. He recently wrote a story about the Wounded Warriors, an organization for wounded military veterans. He also walked for the Parkinson’s Foundation in the National Capital Area walk as a tribute to Daniel’s father, who has Parkinson’s Disease. He also wrote a piece on former Mason basketball player Lamar Butler, who was playing professional basketball overseas but left to help his ailing mother. Cody believes writing is a valuable tool; as he says, “It’s an easy platform from which to reach out and make people feel, help them understand important issues.”
Cody hopes to attend graduate school in Communication at Mason, and would like to stay in basketball as well. As an Ohio native, his dream job would be to cover the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Lucky Chair, Cody Norman's Courtside Seats article about Mason president Alan Merten's devotion to the Patriots, Mason's basketball team.