A human 100 made by the JMU community Wednesday
Posted on March 13, 2008
From the ground it looked crazy, from the sky it was picture perfect.
The Quad was packed Wednesday afternoon around 2 p.m. as approximately 3,000 students, faculty and staff members crowded together scanning the skies, ready to hold up their gold and purple placards for the Centennial picture celebrating JMU’s 100th birthday.
Energy was high as seniors formed the number 100 with gold placards and underclassman surrounded them with purple. Duke Dog socialized with the crowd and JMU cheers and the fight song could be heard throughout the Quad.
President Linwood Rose spoke, saying that the first student at the State Normal and Industrial School for Women was named Nannie Sword and tuition in 1908 was $2 per quarter and room and board was only $14 per month.
“This is a special time, this is our birthday and time to reflect,” he said from the steps of Wilson Hall. “In your case I hope you will reflect on what your time has been at JMU. Happy Birthday!”
Around 2:30 p.m. placards were held high as a small two-seater airplane circled the Quad snapping aerial shots of the centennial “100.”
The photo was a collaborative effort between Student Ambassadors, SafeRides, SGA and JMU Photography Services.
Tamra Cornwell, executive director of SafeRides, senior Lee Brooks, student body president and senior Dan Boxer, Student Ambassador president said they all wanted to do something to inspire students and the JMU community to celebrate the Centennial.
“The coolest thing was to create this lasting memory for everyone who’s a part of the Centennial,” Boxer said.
JMU alumni Michael Fornadel, president of Good Printers, Inc. donated 5,000 purple and gold placards that were used in the photo. He joked that his son Andy, a sophomore, made him donate. In the past he donated placards for the National Championship.
“I figured if I could do it for sports I could do it for the students,” he said.
Cornwell was pleased with the result.
“It was more organized than we expected,” Cornwell said. “We had an awesome turnout.”
She attributed the success to strong advertising. The Facebook group promoting the event had more than 1,500 members.
“I definitely wanted to be in it, especially as a senior in the centennial class,” Danielle Fortney said.
Senior Hushmath Alam enjoyed the energy at the event.
“It was invigorating,” she said. “It was a lot of school spirit”
Freshman Kate Wieczorek said she is planning to download the photo later.
“I thought it was really great,” she said. “It’s a good idea to have everyone together and it shows JMU spirit.”
Senior Joanna Paeno agreed and said that the photo would show a unified campus.
“I think its great, it brings everyone together and it’s a visual aspect,” she said.
Senior Philip Gallegos also enjoyed how JMU came together for the event.
“I came out to be a part of something a little bigger than myself,” he said, adding that this is one of the last times the student body can get together before graduation.
Senior Vice President of Student Affairs Mark Warner summed the event up with one word: awesome.
“It was so fun to see everyone out there it exceeded my expectations,” he said.
Even football coach Mickey Mathews made his way to the quad Wednesday. He said several students stopped him after lunch and their excitement was contagious so he tagged along.
“I thought it was enjoyable to be a part of it,” he said.
Freshman Alexa Wolf also enjoyed being a part of the photo.
“I thought it was really cool and memorable,” she said.
Senior Candace Edmonds simply said:
“It’s a part of history.”
