A Year In Review

As summer break draws near students reminisce about past year

As students prepare for finals week and the start of summer, many will look back at this school year and think of all the challenges they faced, as well as the fun times they enjoyed. For some, it seems as though it only was last week freshmen moved in and everyone else returned for the start of school in August. The memories of the past year always will remain with those who were a part of them.

Important names headline JMU events

During this past year, maybe more so than others, the university and its clubs and organizations brought in a number of recognizable icons from around the country to speak to the JMU community. On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Rev. Jesse Jackson spoke on achieving King’s dream to a packed Wilson Hall Auditorium. Many students feel that Jackson’s appearance at JMU was one of the most memorable events of the year.

"It was an honor that he was here," junior Stephanie Van Arsdale said. "It is not something that every school gets to experience."

In addition to Jackson, JMU had a number of other speakers ranging from Myles Brand, the president of the NCAA, who spoke Monday night, to Mallory and Ace from MTV’s "The Real World Paris" earlier this semester. Director Spike Lee also recently spoke to students, faculty and staff.

"He was really good," junior T.J. Ill said of Lee. "I didn’t really know what he was going to speak on, but the things that he had to say were really good. I thought there was a lot of truth to them. It was stuff that wasn’t just race related — it was stuff that every college student should hear."

"He’s probably the best speaker I’ve ever heard since I’ve been here," Ill added.

Freshman Erin Frye said she was impressed with the job JMU did getting different people to speak this year.

"The events that the school puts on are always beneficial," she said. "They try to do a lot of diverse stuff, which is good because it isn’t that diverse of a school."

Sophomore Naomi Hill agreed that the university should get more well-known people, such as Jackson, to come speak at JMU in the future. However, she said, she would like to see more students attend more diverse presentations.

"I feel like that if it wasn’t Jesse Jackson [speaking], no one else would have come, and that needs to change," Hill said.

Good music, good times

In addition to speakers, JMU reeled in several big performers this year. Alien Ant Farm and 311 rocked the Convocation Center in October 2003. Last week, Maroon 5, Less Than Jake and Rahzel gave fans a great show, according to students who attended.

"I thought it was awesome," Frye said of the Maroon 5 concert. "The energy of the crowd was awesome and all the bands played really well. I liked the amount of time that each group played. They played for a long time and I felt like I got my money’s worth."

JMU also hosted the annual WXJM-sponsored MACRoCk event, in addition to other concerts by JMU groups, providing the campus with an array of musical genres.

Tragedy strikes JMU

On a cold Sunday night in November 2003, the smell of smoke and the sound of sirens filled campus as the Financial Services Building on South Main Street blazed. Hundreds of students watched as firefighters battled the flames.

"I live in Ashby [Hall], and I could see [the fire] from my dorm," graduate student Christina Wasson said. "It was just incredible."

Wasson also said it was a hassle for JMU employees who had to resubmit financial paperwork that was held in the building and lost due to the fire.

Tragedy struck in other ways, as the university lost five students during the school year and previous summer. Christopher Ball, Kevin Eckerman, Brian LaBarr, Adam Wheatcroft and Stockton "Luke" Wright all passed away, leaving a void in their fellow students’ lives.

New life at JMU

JMU has continued its growth with new additions to the campus. Last summer, the JMU Field Hockey/Lacrosse/Track and Field Complex was completed, providing a new home for several JMU athletic teams. Construction also was started on the Robert and Frances Plecker Athletic Performance Center.

Some feel the center will help the football team recruit higher-caliber athletes.

"It will establish a more-known program here since we’ll actually have a field house at our stadium," junior Ben McKenzie said.

JMU also is constructing a new physics and chemistry building on the east side of campus. Both projects are scheduled to be completed in 2005.

The ECP debate

In May 2003, the Board of Visitors voted to ban the sale of the emergency contraceptive pill from the University Health Center. After national attention and many debates, the decision was reversed January 9.

"The reverse decision was a big deal," sophomore Amy Storrs said. "I think we all knew the decision was going to come because a lot of the campus was upset over it. So I wasn’t so much surprised by [the decision], but I was impressed that it came about so professionally, and done with respect to both the administration and the students."

On the playing field

The Dukes did not have the success some other schools’ teams enjoyed last year. To date, only one team has won a Colonial Athletic Championship this season — the women’s golf team, which accomplished that feat this week. However, the baseball, lacrosse and softball teams still have a chance to win their respective CAA tournaments.

"This year was quite disappointing," senior Chris Nahlik said. "But, excitement is all around us — we’ve certainly begun building for success."

JMU made two head coaching changes this year.

Antoinette Lucas was named the field hockey coach in January, replacing Irene Horvat. She came from University of New Hampshire, where she was an assistant coach. Then, the men’s basketball team hired Dean Keener April 1 to replace Sherman Dillard, who resigned in March. Keener was an assistant coach at Georgia Tech, which played in the national title game. That excitement has some Dukes fans ready for the 2004-’05 season to begin.

"I was really excited that we hired Dean Keener," Ill said. "I know we haven’t played any games, but from what I’ve heard and seen with Georgia Tech, that shows [to] some degree what he can do."

War’s effects

As the war in Iraq has progressed, students have voiced their opinions for each side with protests, rallies and other forms of expression.

"You can see the difference in the people who are all for peace and the people who are really gung-ho for the war," sophomore Emily Fay said. "It’s interesting to see both sides of the argument and how they react."

Ill said, "It’s interesting to hear everyone’s different perspectives, especially on campus. I think everyone is fair and respects others’ opinions."

The OrangeBand Initiative was one group that promoted discussion of the war. Van Arsdale said there was more initiative being taken with people expressing their opinions this year compared to other years at JMU.

"OrangeBand came out of the woodwork a little more this year and brought more awareness and got JMU out of the bubble we sometimes get stuck in," she said.

Coming from different backgrounds, the nearly 16,000 students collectively helped push JMU toward a brighter future. The spirit of JMU students will hopefully carry on to next year, allowing the university to continue its traditions for future generations of students to enjoy.

Antoinette Lucas was named the field hockey coach in January, replacing Irene Horvat. She came from University of New Hampshire, where she was an assistant coach. Then, the men’s basketball team hired Dean Keener April 1 to replace Sherman Dillard, who resigned in March. Keener was an assistant coach at Georgia Tech, which played in the national title game. That excitement has some Dukes fans ready for the 2004-’05 season to begin.

"I was really excited that we hired Dean Keener," Ill said. "I know we haven’t played any games, but, from what I’ve heard and seen with Georgia Tech, that shows [to] some degree what he can do."

War’s effects

As the war in Iraq has progressed, students have voiced their opinions for each side with protests, rallies and other forms of expression.

"You can see the difference in the people who are all for peace and the people who are really gung-ho for the war," sophomore Emily Fay said. "It’s interesting to see both sides of the argument and how they react."

Ill said, "It’s interesting to hear everyone’s different perspectives, especially on campus. I think everyone is fair and respects others’ opinions."

The OrangeBand Initiative was one group that promoted discussion of the war. Van Arsdale said there was more initiative being taken with people expressing their opinions this year compared to other years at JMU.

"OrangeBand came out of the woodwork a little more this year and brought more awareness and got JMU out of the bubble we sometimes get stuck in," she said.

Coming from different backgrounds, the nearly 16,000 students collectively helped push JMU toward a brighter future. The spirit of JMU students will hopefully carry on to next year, allowing the university to continue its traditions for future generations of students to enjoy.