Visitors

Welcome to the Inaugural We the People National Invitational!

We look forward to welcoming visitors from around the nation to our U.S. capital to observe the event. The following information will help you better understand and enjoy the event.

Information Desk > Learn More
Hearing Rooms > Learn More
Student Briefing Room > Learn More
Awards Ceremony > Learn More

Visitors must register at the Center’s information desk each day.

Information Desk Locations
Saturday, May 4: Outside of Dewberry Hall in the Johnson Center
Sunday, May 5: Outside of Dewberry Hall in the Johnson Center
Monday, May 6: Lobby of the Mason Inn

Visitors will be issued a name or state badge that should be worn at all times during competition events. Your name or state badge ensures your access to hearing rooms. Visitors without name badges will not be admitted into the hearing rooms.

Saturday, May 4 and Sunday, May 5

The hearings will take place in the George W. Johnson Center on the George Mason University campus. The hearing rooms have a capacity of 55 or 65, so the number of open seats depends on the class size and number of parents and visitors. Every effort will be made to ensure that parents and visitors who have come to see a particular student testify will be seated in the room during that student’s unit hearing. Parents and visitors may stand in the back of the room unless otherwise directed due to fire codes and at the discretion of the teacher, or Center staff. To ensure that the hearings are not interrupted, parents and visitors will be admitted to the hearing room at appropriate break times (between units) and before and after the judges have left the room.

Everyone is welcome to observe the hearings. However to ensure fairness, anyone affiliated with a competing class (teachers, coaches, students, chaperons, parents, friends, relatives, etc.) may not enter the hearing room of any other competing class. Once a class hearing is completed, floor supervisors and Center staff will help direct classes and visitors exit in a timely fashion.

Monday, May 6

On Monday, the hearings will take place at the Mason Inn Conference Center & Hotel on the George Mason University campus. 

Parking 

Saturday and Sunday

If you are driving to the George Mason campus, note that most GPS devices only recognize the 4400 University Drive address for George Mason University. Once on campus, you will need to follow the signs or a campus map.

Saturday and Sunday commuters to the competition (George W. Johnson Center on the George Mason University–Fairfax campus) may park for free in Lot K. The walk from Lot K to the Johnson Center is approximately twenty minutes. If closer parking is needed, the Mason Pond Parking Deck will have limited availability for a fee of $3/hour ($14/day max) on Saturday and $7/day on Sunday.

Metrorail Information to and from George Mason University

The closest Metrorail stop to George Mason University is the Vienna Orange Line metro stop. On Saturday and Sunday, there is no free shuttle from the stop to campus, so taxi service is the only option.

Student Orientation Room

The Student Orientation will he held on the George Mason University campus in Innovation Hall (Room 103). On Saturday and Sunday, there will be a half hour briefing for all classes before the hearings begin. Upon arrival on campus, floor supervisors and Center staff will direct students to the Orientation room. Robert Leming, Director of the We the People Programs, and Mark Molli, Director of Governmental Relations, will officially welcome students, teachers, parents, and visitors to the We the People National Invitational and address the students about important matters concerning the event. Once all classes have been dismissed, parents and visitors will be directed to the hearing rooms.