George Mason University 's economics and law schools ' academic independence was debated .
Another Nobel Laureate Walter E. Williams , GMU , Department of Economics , October 14 , 2002 As of 2018 , its economics and law schools are at the center of a controversy over their academic independence , after a freedom of information lawsuit revealed that conservative donors were given direct influence over faculty hiring decisions. < ref > Arena ] ( formerly the Patriot Center ) , a 10,000-seat arena and concert venue operated by the university , is on the main Fairfax campus .
George Mason University