Letters to the Editor

In the Sept. 13 issue of The Breeze, Tim Rose takes issue with the parameters of the third strike. I failed to see the basic logic in being positioned on the verge of that strike. The strikes are not procedurally just handed out at random. A student who is on the third strike, regardless of the consequences they face, already faces questions about his or her judgment, particularly if, as Rose says, they are "ambitious."

An ambitious, conscientious student learns the rules and regulations of the institution they attend. They follow those rules. They accept the consequences if they follow them, and, presumably, if they make a first honest mistake out of ignorance or bad judgment, they evolve and learn. The rationale for having either judicial or honor codes not only is to govern the community, but also to develop students into adults who accept responsibility for their actions.

A student with two strikes is gambling, but so is a student with none who gets one. They are deciding consciously or unconsciously to violate the required rules of the institution. One certainly can advocate some change in regulations, but not for the subtext of protecting those who not once, but twice choose to disregard the regulations. The idea that weakening alcohol regulations is the opposite of safety seems counterintuitive. If the risk to an academic record is too great to risk suspension, do not put yourself in the position to incur that penalty.

Nikitah Okembe-RA Imani
associate professor of sociology

I am writing in response to Tim Rose's article, "Two strikes force students to consider transferring." Rose makes it obviously clear that instead of learning from one's mistakes, it is best to run away from them and hope they go away.

Because of JMU's three-strike policy, students run the risk of being suspended from the University upon receiving a third strike. While unfair as it may be to the typical underclassmen living on the edge, Rose never stopped to examine the fact that maybe after getting one strike, you shouldn't be an idiot and get another one — let alone a third one. Instead of attacking the strict authoritative dictatorship of the JMU judicial system, Rose should have been attacking those lacking the common sense not to do something stupid and get caught more than once. Rose laid claim to a student's future being ruined after being suspended from college. I don't know what kind of person the business world is looking for, but I am sure that any professional field doesn't want to hire a person who runs of away from their mistakes.

Instead of always looking toward other people and a higher institution to lay blame on for your failures, people should instead look themselves in the mirror to find the source of their own personal misfortunes.

Craig Finkelstein
Sophomore, pre-international affairs major

As a senior graduating in May, the importance of the value of my education becomes more apparent.

Although I am equipped with the knowledge and skills for a successful future, I sometimes wonder if my education is as strong as it could be. James Madison University only recently has raised faculty salaries and, even with that, we still are struggling to compete with other top schools. If we cannot contend with the salaries these professors deserve, the quality of education will not be on the level that it should be.

Although the Sept. 7 house editorial in The Breeze credits tuition and state money as the source of funding for the teachers, other areas of income may have been overlooked. Private dollars donated to JMU can make a substantial impact. Statistics over the past 14 years indicate a drop in state funding 12 percent and a tuition hike of 10 percent. Instead of aggravating parents and students alike with another large tuition hike or waiting until the state can give higher education more money, we can focus on how giving back now will benefit the future.

The Senior Class Challenge that takes place every year at JMU facilitates the beginning of this giving for students. Making a gift to the Senior Class Challenge increases the value of our JMU diploma, and ensures continued growth and success of this university.

Katie Friend
Senior, public administration/political science major