Through the Looking Glass: The Dukes are coming, the Dukes are coming!
Are the recent and planned University developments a blessed delivery to Harrisonburg, or are we over-expanding our welcome in the Valley?
Posted on August 27, 2007
By spending approximately two summers in the Harrisonburg area, I have been able to draw one assured conclusion: (not including that every square foot smells of dog food, Kline’s has the best icecream I’ve ever had or that the city’s epitaph of the pleasant and friendly was rightfully earned) as the amount of JMU students increase in population, so do the littered trails of colored solo cups.
These cups serve in a similar way that breadcrumbs aided Hansel and Gretel; however, the destination students wish to find is another party and more plastic cups, unlike breadcrumbs, are not biodegradable when left on the ground. Of course as more people come back to the Pleasant Valley, the volume gets turned up a bit — but there is no need for the amount of trash either.
As JMU continues to slowly expand like some sort of modern-day remake of The Blob, Harrisonburg residents are beginning to wonder what has happened to their small town and its charm and the fleeting quiet nature of the summer.
It is true that JMU is responsible for the growing economy, creation of more jobs and construction of numerous tanning salons in Harrisonburg, but what happens when the term “taking over” is a more accurate way to describe the so-called expansion?
When old buildings are knocked down for the sake of more parking along with the purchase of a high school for more classrooms as well as a motel to house more students, it’s no wonder that residents are more than frustrated.
JMU’s plans to become an even bigger university are apparently not slowing down and will continue to take more students within the next few years. According to Rocktown Weekly, a new student housing complex holding at least 800 students is in the works to be finished by January 2009. The building, to be located near Old Furnace Road near downtown Harrisonburg, will include a clubhouse and seven parking garages.
Although I do not originally hail from Harrisonburg and my roots are planted quite firmly in the north, I have grown to enjoy the small town quirks and ways of Harrisonburg. The slowness and relaxing sentiment of the town during the summer is not only calming (before the storm hits of books and bills) but contagious.
My love affair with small town summers is not to say I do not enjoy the spirit of JMU when it is full of life and students, my fear is merely for the overgrowth of a town that was not built to hold over a certain amount of people.
I welcome you all back and am excited for the great things that JMU students will undoubtedly contribute to society. As an honorary “townie,” I must implore: use environmentally friendly products to guide you from place to place and be polite to the residents here — after all they were hear long before Harrisonburg High was Memorial Hall.
Sarah Delia is a junior English and art history major.