| BURKE, VA – Regarding recent developments at George Mason University, Braddock District School Board member and candidate for Braddock Supervisor Rachna Sizemore Heizer, whose district includes GMU, released the following statement: “As the Braddock District representative on the Fairfax County School Board, a former professor at George Mason University, and a longtime resident of this community, I am deeply alarmed by the actions of the Trump Administration, the Youngkin Administration, and the GMU Board of Visitors regarding President Gregory Washington’s leadership. George Mason University is more than a campus in Braddock District; it is a cornerstone of our community’s identity, economy, and future. It is also an economic driver for our county and our Commonwealth. I’ve seen firsthand the passion and dedication of Mason’s students, faculty, and staff to academic excellence, innovation, and inclusion. That’s why the politically motivated interference at GMU is so dangerous and unacceptable. Our students and faculty deserve honest leadership, not partisan power plays. I have spent my career fighting for strong and equitable public education and I stand firmly for academic freedom, institutional independence, and leadership that reflects the values of our diverse community. Public universities must serve the public and educate the future, not cater to political agendas. President Washington has led Mason with vision and integrity. The pressure campaign against him should end immediately. I stand with the students, educators, and residents of Braddock in demanding transparency, stability, and a recommitment to GMU’s mission. The future of our university must be shaped by those who know and love it, not political appointees with outside ambitions.” | 
