The effects of last fall’s Hurricane Katrina – one of the worst natural disasters in United States history -- have energized a GM effort to help rebuild a city that has had an enormous impact on American culture. Next week New Orleans will be the site of celebrations of Carnival and Mardi Gras, a popular period of festivities held yearly in the New Orleans area, where Hurricane Katrina hit the hardest.

Members of the George Mason community have taken the initiative to help the effort to rebuild by hosting the first ever Carnival Week in our own halls. The purpose of this year’s Carnival Week is to educate the GM community about Delta culture and raise funding and awareness towards contributing to the relief effort of southern Louisiana and other affected areas.

From February 27 to March 3, Mason students will dress up, watch movies, sell food and costume items, and enjoy music which will all feature a southern Delta culture theme. A group of students led by photography and art teacher Ms. Leggett have set up decorations, cooked desserts for the bake sale and planned the various events that will be held throughout the week.  Fortunately, the International Dinner will also be held on the same Monday that Carnival Week starts.