Madison 101 Magazine Fall 2015 by The Breeze

Madison 101

Student ande guid t n e r pa

Fall 2015

Who’s the highest rated professor at JMU?

You’ve A step-by-step guide gotta to JMU Dining Services eat!

dison ma

101

Test your knowledge and take our quiz

know the ‘burg?

Table of 6

Brain Food A guide to punches, dining dollars and where to eat

Dog Chow Meet one of JMU’s favorite dining employees

13 Credit breakdown

An explanation of degree and credit requirements

Above Average Get to know one of JMU’s top rated professors

something different JMU club sports offer both athletics and a community

2 | MADISON 101

33 18

Around the globe A returning JMU student spent seven years with the Globetrotters

Dukes ask Dukes Q&A with a JMU class of ‘00 alumna who’s now working as an ESPN anchor

All-Star INTERNSHIPS Students get out-of-this-world professional experiences

Contents 44

bucket list Ten things you should do before leaving JMU

around town Four things to do within walking distance of campus

Take the bus Some common courtesy tips and how to read a bus schedule

9 30

Going Greek

Information on the different types of organizations and how to join

dukes ask dukes Q&A with a JMU class of ‘04 alumnus who’s now Secretary of the Commonwealth

know the ‘Burg? Test your knowledge with a quiz about Harrisonburg

on Where can 33 Walking 36 the beach I get help? A class of ‘13 alumnus lives his dream teaching surfing in Costa Rica

A list of all the free academic help services on campus

MADISON 101 | 3

M101 Editors (AKA the people who brought you this fine publication) Lauren Hunt Executive Editor Lauren is a senior media arts and design major with minors in British communication and media and creative writing. She’s currently bringing you the news twice a week as the Managing Editor of The Breeze and all kinds of cool, eclectic things from around town three times a year as Editor-in-Chief of Port & Main magazine. She hopes that this magazine gives you the courage to dive head-first into things and find what you love here at JMU.

IJ Chan Articles Editor IJ graduated in the spring of 2015 with a degree in theatre and dance and media arts and design. At JMU, she spent 98 percent of her time either dancing and performing at the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts or writing/editing for The Breeze. The other two percent was split between sleeping and attempting to have a social life. In addition to working at The Breeze and Madison 101, she was a copy editor for Port & Main magazine.

Jenn Asbell Graphics Editor Jenn is a senior media arts and design major from Suffolk, Virginia. She was a 2015 Orientation Peer Advisor (OPA) and loves JMU with a strong passion. She’s in her second year working for UREC as a marketing specialist. Jenn’s dream job is working at Vans Skate company in creative advertising.

Nikki Elechi Video Editor Nikki graduated in the spring of 2015 with a degree in media arts and design and a concentration in journalism. At JMU, she was a tour guide for the school as a Student Ambassador and loved helping students fall in love with this campus. She’s currently seeking employment and adventure. 4 | MADISON 101

Corey Tierney Editor Corey graduated in the spring of 2015 with a degree in media arts and design and currently works as a copy editor at a daily newspaper. At JMU, he spent (basically) every waking moment editing the Opinion section of The Breeze. He can also recite every episode of The Office and name you the winners of every season of Survivor, Big Brother or any other reality competition show. But he especially hopes that this magazine can be a launching pad for you to find your passion at JMU — just like he did.

Lucas Taggart Photo Editor Lucas is a senior media arts and design major with a sociology minor. In addition to his studies, he’s currently the Treasurer of the Breakdance Club, a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity and a Marketing Assistant at UREC, the JMU recreation center. Though he grew up in the small, cold, shopping town of Freeport, Maine, he’s been fortunate enough to have several opportunities to travel. In his future, he plans on living in a warmer place where shoveling snow and hot chocolate aren’t daily necessities for survival.

Sandy Jolles Copy Editor Sandy graduated in the spring of 2015 with a degree in media arts and design. At JMU, she was active in Sigma Alpha Epsilon Pi, the Jewish-interest sorority, and Hillel, the campus Jewish organization. She’s hoping to find employment in public relations or marketing, and is also a part-time piano instructor.

Leanne Shenk Online Editor Leanne is a senior media arts and design major with a concentration in converged media. As web editor, she’s responsible for the look and feel of Madison 101’s online presence and updating web content. Leanne enjoys living in the Shenandoah Valley and hopes to find a job locally in web or graphic design after she graduates.

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— Gain entrance to all-you-care-to-eat locations — Purchase a “Duke Deal” combo meal at carry out locations — Use three a semester at Madison Grill (worth $8.50/punch)

— Spend on food and beverages at any dining location — Unused Dining Dollars transfer from fall to spring semesters, but not to the next academic year

6 | DINING 6 | DINING

— Spend on food and beverages at any dining location — Can be used to print in the library and labs or buy other non-food items at convenience stores on campus — Can be spent at designated off-campus locations, including grocery stores and restaurants

dinin

Graphic | Cora Letteri 10

Get to know the staff! Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re always friendly and love to chat.

Multiple dining locations serve grilled cheese and cheesecake.

Peanut butter pie is a delicious dessert frequently served at D-Hall.

Students can take one piece of fruit when they leave D-Hall or E-Hall.

DINING | 7 DINING | 7

What’s your

Veggie Time JMU ranked No. 5 in Best Campus Food in the 2015 Niche Rankings. Among the 28 dining locations on campus, JMU is flowing with vegetarian choices at every location. According to Dining Services Marketing Manager Angela Ritchie, “[JMU] make[s] sure there are vegetarian options available.” Among the most popular dining locations on campus, PC Dukes, a food court, and D-Hall, a buffetstyle dining hall, are very vegetarian- and veganfriendly. “D-Hall [has] areas set up specifically for vegetarian and vegan options in addition to pizza, pasta, vegetable sides and the salad bar,” Ritchie says, adding that PC Dukes has many vegetarian pizza options, pasta with marinara sauce, quesadillas and vegetarian wraps. Also on main campus is Top Dog Café, a food court where Ritchie says the stir fry at Mongolian Grill and the tuscan panini at Madison Bread are considered “favorites” among JMU students. At almost all food courts, including Market One and Festival, pita chips with hummus, soups and salads are offered on a daily basis. Many meat alternatives are offered, such as tofu and soy products. These options are typically offered at the dining halls on both east and main campus. Many students don’t know that most food can be made vegetarian or vegan by simply asking or ordering creatively. Paninis at Madison Bread in Top Dog Café are pre-made, but cheese can easily be taken off if students ask. At dining halls, when chefs prepare food, students can ask if any meat in the dish could be left out for their own individual portions. Although JMU students talk up the barbecue chicken bites at Dukes and the chicken nuggets at E-Hall, more vegetarian and vegan dishes are popping up around campus. Vegan chicken nuggets and hot dogs are becoming favorites at E-Hall and hummus wraps are replacing meat in the diets of students and are offered at all food courts. JMU also plans to eventually only use eggs from cage-free chickens. People are becoming more conscious of what they eat and, according to Ritchie, JMU is making an effort to “provide nutritious meals for all of [its] students to enjoy.” w 8 | DINING

1 3

Where did sushi originate? A. Southeast Asia B. Hong Kong C. Beijing D. Seoul

Before it was Dunkin’ Donuts, the name of this chain was _______________.

Pho is a popular ______ soup.

Where were coffee seeds first roasted and brewed? A. Morocco B Arabia C. United States D. Cuba

A. Open Kettle B. The Dough Nut C. Sweet Heavens D. Sweet Paradise

Who supplies 30,000 pounds of avocados to Chipotle every year? A. Taylor Swift B. Madonna C. Jesse McCartney D. Jason Mraz

A. Garbanzo Beans B. Quinoa C. Chickpeas D. Cashews

How many possible drink combinations are there at Starbucks? A. 5,000 B. 87,000 C. 920 D. 44,000

What is the original base of hummus?

A. Japanese B. Italian C. Vietnamese D. Korean

How did Chick-fil-A make history in 2004?

A. First to close on Sundays B. First to offer fruit cups for a side option C. Broke record for squeezing 2 million lemons in a year D. Only fast food chain to sell waffle fries

Quiz | Brittany Fisher

Answer key: 1. A; 2. C; 3. B; 4. A; 5. D; 6. C; 7. B; 8. B

Words | Olivia Coleman Photos | Holly Warfield

food iq?

Words | Robyn Smith Photos | Daniel Stein

Dog Chow ‘Willey’ of JMU’s late-night snack-shack offers advice to students There’s a crisp chill in the air that hints at the coming arrival of fall. Six, maybe seven, students wait until the countertop window opens, spilling out bright fluorescent light and a faint smell of warm chocolate chip cookies. A middle-aged man with round glasses and a mustache calls out the names of the slightly stumbling students, confirming their usual order before putting it together almost instantly. A self-described “bartender of cookies,” Don Willey, known and beloved as “Willey” by JMU students, has given a wealth of unexpected advice to students during his time at the Dog Pound. “Whatever you decide to do in life, do something you enjoy doing,” Willey says.

Willey gets a lot of questions during his late night shifts, many dealing with the meaning of life and how to achieve dreams. “Don’t worry about the money; you’ll get that sooner or later. No good having a job and being rich if you’re miserable,” Willey says. “I stayed broke most of the time over the years, but all these different jobs have paid off. I’m retired and I’m enjoying myself.” Before he retired, Willey worked for the Virginia Department of Corrections. He’s lived all over the area, from Staunton to Richmond to Harrisonburg. However, his initial move to the Valley was an opportune accident. “I was originally driving through Virginia and my car broke down in Staunton. That was in 1978. I just never DINING | 9

left,” Willey says. “When I retired, I just grabbed a job up here and kept on working all I could work.” It was his experience with correctional centers that made Willey an expert at memorizing names. On slow days at work, he would do nothing but chat with inmates. He knew everyone — thousands of inmates — by their identification number. “I could still knock out most of those peoples’ numbers right now, and it’s been a long time,” Willey says. “At JMU, I just had to remember names, not numbers, and after that it was a piece of cake.” After several years, Willey eventually convinced his family to move to the Valley. His brother Norman works at GrilleWorks in Top Dog Café. Their mother lives at home, and Willey appreciates being able to take care of her as she gets older. “It’s kind of weird because when I first moved to this area back in the 1970s, and the whole time I worked for the prison, it turned out about 95 percent of my friends were out of state,” Willey says. “We had almost nobody that was actually from here, but they’ve lived here for 30, almost 40 years, which is kind of strange.” When he first began working for Dining Services in 2007, he served at GrilleWorks. During the regular dinner rush, he could have drink orders ready for the first 15 people in line. Willey might not have much trouble memorizing the names and orders of many students, but only some have made a

“

The student that stands out is somebody that knows what they want. Not in their order, but in life. You have somebody who doesn’t know what they want to do after graduation, or somebody who doesn’t even know how to get to graduation. I always remember the student that’s got direction in life and knows what they want.

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permanent impression over the five years that he’s worked at Dog Pound. “The student that stands out is somebody that knows what they want,” Willey says. “Not in their order, but in life. You have somebody who doesn’t know what they want to do after graduation, or somebody who doesn’t even know how to get to graduation. I always remember the student that’s got direction in life and knows what they want.” Although students usually want different things out of life, they have surprisingly similar orders from Dog Pound. According to Willey, the majority of students want chocolate chip cookies. One Saturday night in midSeptember, during the last 45 minutes of his shift, Willey had sold all of the chocolate chip cookies in stock as well as an entire case of cinnamon buns. “That was a busy night,” Willey says. While weekend shifts are usually jam-packed with students, during the week Dog Pound is either completely deserted or has lines of at least 20 students. To stay awake and entertained during the secluded moments, Willey keeps the music playing. As a passionate fan of blues and classic rock, he has a lot of opinions about whose albums should and shouldn’t be played. “When I was in college, it wasn’t called classic rock, it was just rock. Now it’s classic rock,” Willey says. “I used to go to a lot of concerts. You don’t have a big city here, but you have decent concerts here … Since I’ve been here, I’ve seen Allman Brothers four or five times; I’ve seen ZZ Top, Bob Dylan, Ted Nugent — that’s a wild concert. I don’t know if he’s wild anymore, but he was wild back in the ’70s.” Many students go to Dog Pound for a late night study snack or a weekend craving. JMU’s Anime Club meets at Dog Pound informally each week after club dinners on Tuesdays. Two members, 2015 alumna Anna Bergin and

junior writing, rhetoric and technical communication major Caroline McLaughlin, have greeted Willey with the same “super friendliness” he always greets them with. Since Willey has been at Dog Pound since before they were freshmen, they both claim he’s been a quintessential part of their college experience. “I’ve only seen one occasion where he wasn’t working,” says McLaughlin, a regular Dog Pound patron. “It was really strange to me.” Willey’s practice of having his regulars’ orders ready when he worked at GrilleWorks has carried over into Dog Pound as well, and the welcoming habit especially resonates with Bergin. “I’ve been coming for so long that he knows me and he knows my order and he’s always super happy to see me,” Bergin says. “It’s always nice when you have somebody who knows who you are even though they don’t have to. They’re just nice enough to figure out who people are.” Bergin and McLaughlin almost always order chocolate chip cookies with chocolate milk on the side, and Willey is sure to remember. He greets them both by name when they stroll up to his window. While he’s accustomed to the difficult hours, working at Dog Pound was not what Willey wanted to do at JMU. “When I retired from my other job I swore I’d never work another night shift again,” Willey says. “They stuck me in there when someone quit and they kept me because no one else can keep up, I guess. No one wants the hours. I enjoy it. As long as I’ve got coffee and I’ve got music, I don’t care. I’ll keep on working. I don’t think I’ve missed a day in that shop since I’ve been in there and I’ve been in there since 2010.” Dog Pound is open from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Tuesday to Thursday and 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Fridayand Saturday. Willey works from Tuesday to Saturday. w

Words | Kim Fucci

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One Credit Coolness 10

One credit classes that are fun (and easy) to take It always seems to be a struggle to secure a spot in a certain class. Some have also experienced falling one credit short of the 12-credit minimum for full-time students. Believe it or not, JMU has its fair share of one credit electives which are available to all students. The Kinesiology department offers a wide choice of classes if you are interested in moving around or are generally very outgoing. Kinesiology 124 (KIN 124) is titled “Basic Rock Climbing,” while Kinesiology 138 (KIN 138) is just titled “Racquetball.” The department offers about 20 more one credit courses ranging from disc sports all the way to scuba diving. Thinking about studying for a career in science, but not sure which department? Introduction to Health Sciences (HTH 150) is a one credit class that introduces conceptual ideas such as a wide array of health careers, as well as teaching the importance of gaining early and regular field experience. If you’re interested in the stars, then Exploring the Night Sky (ISCI 104) is the class for you. The class usually takes place at the John C. Wells Planetarium in Miller Hall. JMU is more diverse than you might think, as University Studies (UNST 150) — Global Learning and Living — will give U.S. students the opportunity to meet with international students through residence hall programs and service learning. Want to spice up your science skills? Think about taking Chemistry 131L (CHEM 131L) — General Chemistry Lab. Some students will take this as a general education class, but don’t be afraid to take it out of special interest. When watching high-intense basketball games, many people will find themselves yelling at the referees or umpires as a way of protesting a bad call. If you want to figure out why the officials make certain decisions, then Kinesiology 190 (KIN 190) — Basic Sports Officiating — is the class for you. Some may be wondering what the point of a one credit class is when it’s unrelated to their major. With the wide amount of electives here at JMU, students can easily expand their disciplines and learn to talk about a variety of subjects. w 12 | SCHEDULING

http://bit.ly/1KyrAKR

Graphic | Laura King

http://bit.ly/1GLrbpW

SCHEDULING SCHEDULING | 13| 13

Above average JMU lecturer Kimberly DuVall is one of the highest ranked professors at jmu

It’s 10 minutes before the start of class when Professor Kimberly DuVall walks into Miller Hall 1101. Instead of the lecture hall falling silent with intimidation, DuVall’s presence seems to excite her students. Phil Collins’ “In The Air Tonight” plays over the speakers. At the front of the room, a group of students line up at the podium to speak to her while the others find a seat in the crowded lecture hall and pull out their notebooks while they wait for further instruction. Once she’s finished with her one-onone student discussions, she quiets the music and begins her Human Life Span and Development (PSYC 160) class, a cluster five option in the general education program. Everyone falls silent as they open up the lecture PowerPoint and follow along with the class notes. Surprisingly, not a single computer is logged into Facebook or surfing the web. DuVall uses her class time to lecture in a way some may call unconventional. Instead of droning on with content, she uses personal anecdotes, as well as ones from students to teach lessons. “I’m a storyteller,” she says. “That’s what sticks to people. Here’s the theory, here’s how you apply it and here’s my story.” This is one of many reasons why DuVall is one of the highest rated professors on the student frequented website RateMyProfessors.com. Her overall quality score sits at a perfect 5.0 rating with over 200 positive student comments urging others to take her class. Overall, DuVall is the sixth most rated professor at JMU and has the most ratings out of any other professor with a 5.0. The large number of ratings come as a shock to her, because she says she’s never talked to her students about the site or requested that they rate her. While some students may dread GenEds or classes outside of their major, DuVall’s is one they don’t want to miss. She usually has 14 | SCHEDULING

full attendance, despite the fact that there’s no policy in place to force students to come to class. “I pass around the sheet just to get a feel for who’s there and who’s not,” she says. “If I see someone’s missed a whole lot of classes, I’ll email them and ask if they’re OK. I’ve found more than a handful of students who need my help, and I’ll get them help and do whatever I can for them.” Her high attendance rate also contributes to her class’ high test average. “The test average is usually around 82 percent,” she says. “I’m just fortunate that the students get where I’m going and actually want to learn.” DuVall, who has been teaching since 1988 and has been at JMU full-time since 2009, never thought she would be a teacher and is genuinely shocked by how well she and her class are received by students. “If somebody would’ve said to me, ‘You’re going to be a teacher,’ I would have said, ‘Yeah, right,’” she says. Prior to teaching, Duvall worked at the University of Virginia as a researcher and practitioner of cognitive therapy. As a neuropsychology psychometrician, she worked with people with head injuries and studied the brains of death row inmates before they were put to death. She didn’t make the transition to teaching until she had no other choice. In grad school, DuVall was told that she had to teach a class or two if she wanted her schooling to be paid for. As someone who considers herself a shy introvert, this was no easy feat. “I was the one who would just break out in hives if I had to teach or talk in front of somebody, but I had to do it for the money,” she says. DuVall credits overcoming her shyness to the positive feedback from students, which she has gotten ever since her grad school teaching days. Because of this, her class load increased each semester. Now, she teaches five classes including a

GenEd, a 4-semester practicum program and independent studies with students. She’s also an academic adviser, which allows her to get even more one-on-one time with students. When the overwhelming support from students is brought up, DuVall is nearly speechless. The only thing she can seem to attribute this success to is the fact that she really cares about her students. “I think students can see through fake and they know that I genuinely care,” she says. “I try to make psychology relatable every day … bringing in real life situations, and if I don’t, I feel really bad. I want them to go, ‘Wow, I didn’t realize we perceive things this way,’ and I think that’s what makes it.” One of her former psychology students, 2015 alumna Alexis Morse, couldn’t agree more. “[Professor DuVall]’s like a ‘mom-awayfrom-home,” Morse says. “Her personality is open, inviting and accepting, and students feel as though they can go to her for anything, big or small.” DuVall was first made aware of her presence on RateMyProfessors in 2010 when The Washington Post reached out to her about being the No. 1 professor in the nation. “I thought it was a joke,” she laughs. “It was my first year after being part-time, and all I could think was how fortunate I was to be teaching at JMU.” Morse thinks the main reason DuVall has her reputation is because she always finds time to meet with students and make each individual feel like they’re her priority in that moment. This is despite having hundreds of students (including 200 advisees) and running the psychology peer advising program. “It’s a hard skill to perfect and one that first-year students undoubtedly find appealing,” Morse says. “[She] gets great reviews, but the ratings speak more to the person she is than the class itself.” w

“ Words | Ashleigh Balsamo Photo | Madeline Williams

If somebody would’ve said to me, ‘You’re going to be a teacher,’ I would have said, ‘Yeah right.’

”

SCHEDULING | 15

Something different Interesting sports that offer a change in pace Sports are a staple at most schools. When most people think of sports, football, basketball and soccer probably come to mind among a few others. But what about fencing, breakdancing or archery? These are lesser-known sports, but JMU offers them all. They’re also welcoming clubs that accept people with no experience or knowledge of the sport. Joining a club sport can be a great way to step out of your comfort zone, find a group of awesome people and maybe find a new talent.

Fencing It might not be as popular as football, but it’s definitely a fun club to be a part of. For Liam Barrett, the 2014-2015 club president, fencing has been a place where he’s met his best friends. “We may be a sports team, but that’s second. First thing is, we’re a family,” he says. He also says that they’re always accepting new members. He first heard about the sport on a table tent in E-Hall that said, “Come learn how to duel.” So he did. Fencing is both a physical and mental workout and is often referred to as physical chess. Barrett says that you can train and lift six days a week, but if you can’t read your opponent, you’ll lose the duel. Fencing can be a difficult sport to learn, and it takes intense dedication to the sport to push yourself to become better, but according to Barrett, it’s a rewarding experience. “I’ve been working really hard to get as good as I am,” he says. He says that fencing allows you to get the best of both worlds, playing a sport and hanging out with your best friends. What does he think is the coolest part about fencing? Barrett says, “You get to say you’re a swordfighter at Thanksgiving dinner. That’s a pretty big plus.”

Archery Joining the JMU archery club will allow you to shoot gold and bleed purple in the eyes of Lindsay Branton, a 2015 alumna, who joined her sophomore year. Like fencing, archery is very much a mental sport. The veteran members take much of the fall semester teaching new members the correct form before advancing to the mental preparation of the sport. Branton competed in the 2014 Collegiate Outdoor Nationals last year and placed ninth, which she considers her biggest achievement in the sport. She explains that the hardest part about the sport is the learning curve because it gets frustrating not seeing an improvement in your scores, especially when you go to practice every night. She says practice does help, and you do see improvement after some time. “People should join JMU Archery if they’re looking for a new experience. The people on this team are amazing and you’re sure to make a huge new group of friends,” she says.

Breakdancing

rts po 101

16 | SPORTS

Words | Taylor Main Photo | Lucas Taggart

Breakdancing is something most people have seen, but probably think their bodies could never do. However, The Breakdance Club here at JMU strips it down to the basics and will work with you even if your best move is the sprinkler. They’re always taking new people and are willing to teach anyone as long as they’re willing to learn. But not everyone has zero experience when joining, like Abby Riggleman, a senior media arts and design major, who’s been breakdancing for 10 years. She says that it’s more than a sport — it’s a form of expression. “Breaking allows you to be creative and express yourself. I never got that with other sports. It’s a combination of athleticism and artistry,” she says. According to the club, it’s something a lot of people pick up their freshman year. Riggleman also says that it’s a really relaxed and fun environment to escape the stress of college classes and everyday life. One thing about this club is that there’s no big commitment. You go as often as you want and can show up whenever you’re ready to dance. “Breaking is a journey of growth,” Riggleman says. “I have learned so much about myself and gained so much self-confidence from performing and realizing that I was pretty good.” w

This year, JMU will Send

SPORTS | 17

Words | Shane Mitchell Photos | Holly Warfield

Around the

Globe

Tracy Williams spent seven years with the Globetrotters, and now he’s back at JMU “I don’t know how much more I can be surprised these days,” Tracy Williams says, a sly smile slipping across his face, with a confidence that only a man who had seen it all could possess. That level of confidence was confirmed by the air about him when he stepped into the room. Standing at about 6 foot 7 inches, he was dressed from head-to-toe like he had made a living off success. The former Harlem Globetrotter folded his black suede shoes across his lap and crisp white pants, and casually propped his hands on the table. A thick, black leather starcovered letterman jacket coated his broad frame. While his calm demeanor told the story of a man who knew success, the humility in his tone spoke of a man who had learned far more, and was still learning. That and the drive that had been instilled in him during 18 | SPORTS

his time as a basketball player here at JMU, inspired him to return and complete the degree he never finished. He could give back some of the love and guidance that paved the way for a career that would take him across the globe from his hometown in Beaufort, North Carolina, and make him an international celebrity. “When I think of the moments that define me as a person, I think of this tournament back during my freshman year at JMU up in Rochester, New York. We were down by 31 at the half and my coach, Lou Campanelli, told us not to look at the scoreboard, to keep fighting. So I didn’t look up,” Williams says. “With about a minute left, they call a timeout. I turned around and saw on the scoreboard that we were up by 6 with 50 seconds left. We held on, and now, when I’m at a low point, I remind myself that I came back from 31. I’ve lived, and when it’s gotten hard, I tell myself that.”

From 1987 to 1994, Williams performed in one of the greatest spotlights in all of basketball as a Harlem Globetrotter. Performance taught him a lot about fame and the duality that comes with the world knowing your name. “When we went places, man, we saw things on the road. It was difficult,” Williams says. “There’s a lot you don’t know as a fan and there’s a lot you can’t say you’ve seen until you’ve been there. A lot of the guys I played with got involved with drugs and women, and lost sight of what we were there to do.” His eyes drifted to the table before him for just a moment, and then his face lit up again, and he continued, “You know, fame is like a double-edged sword: it can cut out a place in life for you, or it can cut your head off. It’s a beast. It either eats you alive, or you learn to make it hunt for you. I’m one of the lucky ones who figured that out before it ate me alive.” Williams says that playing for the Globetrotters required not only time, but patience and dexterity, as well. “It was crazy. We were playing 325 shows a season, practicing everyday,” he says. “You know, in the NBA, a guy can miss a shot or two, and it’s

expected. He can miss a 3-pointer. The crowd expected every half-court shot, or trick shot, we threw up to go in. A lot of the time, it was just a business. There would be days that I’d throw a trick pass to somebody that I hated at the time.” It was during this polarizing time of adoration and isolation that Williams says he grew most, grateful that the cruel, darker temptations of fame weren’t able to consume him, and that enough faith and support was able to shape him into something greater. “Before you’re a pro, before you really see that life, you want it and you tell yourself, ‘I’m young, I can’t be touched. I don’t see what they’re saying about all those dark things,’” Williams says. “Then, the whole world is watching, and everything’s on that stage, and there’s nobody to tell you ‘No.’ I’ve watched a lot of guys I knew get in too deep, and there’s a lot of things I can’t really say too much about, and after all of it, I knew that

positive energy in my life.” After years spent afar, it was his desire to make a lasting impact that brought him home. “My wife, Tina, and my two daughters stood beside me through all of it. I love them all so much, and I can’t thank my wife enough,” he says. “She was with me, patient, and always there. I say that 90 percent of everything I am, I owe to her and God. Casey Carter [Associate Assistant Director for Student-Athlete Services], here at JMU, her too. She deserves a statue when she leaves. Me and all the other athletes owe her a lot.” Now, Williams has returned to JMU to pursue a degree in business management, and his dream of being a Division I men’s basketball coach. Looking to graduate within the next two years, Williams has already seen many of the complications that can arise from choosing to return to something he’d left for 30 years. “It’s difficult at times, you know, being my age, and trying to get back into it. It’s hard getting study groups together, or keeping up with the fast-paced college environment, but it’s all I want to do,” Williams says. “I’ve learned a lot, and my only hope is to give some of that back, and teach and mold leaders. It’s the least I can do for everybody who molded me.” w

“

You know, fame is like a double-edged sword: it can cut out a place in life for you, or it can cut your head off. It’s a beast. It either eats you alive, or you learn to make it hunt for you. I’m one of the lucky ones who figured that out before it ate me alive.

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czarniak espn reporter CLASS OF ’00 Words | Wayne Epps Jr. Photo | Courtesy of ESPN

JMU alumna Lindsay Czarniak (’00) is one of the most recognizable faces in sports broadcasting. An anchor on the 6 p.m. weekday ESPN SportsCenter, Czarniak helps inform the nation on the day’s top sports storylines, night in and night out.

But the Centreville, Virginia, native got her start in the School of Media Arts and Design, where she picked up her love for broadcast journalism.

When did you first take up an interest in going into television? Probably when I was younger. Growing up, my dad was a sports journalist, that’s how he started, and so I sort of got an interest in that from him. But the television part ... I think when I was in high school I just started to kind of go look at the real options for things that I could do. And, for some reason, that became something that I was interested in. But when I went to JMU ... I wasn’t sure that it was broadcasting that I was going to do. But I can tell you the exact time when I knew that that’s exactly what I wanted to do, was the year of my practicum at JMU — and we did a TV show. And it was a whole class dedicated to that, and I just fell in love with it. And so, really, my love for what I do now was ... cultivated there at JMU. What are some of the other things that you did at JMU that helped prepare you to work in journalism and television professionally? One of the classes that I remember was when we went out and were working as reporters ... And it was terrific. And I remember you spend a lot of time working behind the camera, also working as an editor but then you also get the chance to be a reporter. And I did my first story, I remember, on meningitis vaccines on campus. And for some reason, just 20 | SPORTS

Dukes

putting that piece together and listening to the teaching of just all the different pieces of it, I loved it ... That’s when I started just feeling like, ‘OK, these are the kinds of things that I want to do.’

Coming out of college, what kind of goals did you have for your career? When I came out, I really wanted to have that feeling that I had when I was doing the practicum. So when I came out of college, I started at CNN in Atlanta … I just knew that I wanted to be somewhere where I could do breaking news ... I didn’t really see sports in my future until it hit me in the face really, when I was at a NASCAR race … I was working as a news reporter in Jacksonville, I tagged along with some guys that were in the sports department to a NASCAR race … I met this other group of people that were from Miami. And we just struck up a conversation, and they said, ‘The girl that is one of our sportscasters is leaving, and we’ve got to fill our position but would love it if you would send us your stuff and we can look at you as a possibility.’ And that’s exactly what happened. What advice would you give current JMU students interested in going into sports journalism? I would say, shoot for the moon. And don’t give up, be persistent and I really believe that if you do put your mind to it, that you can do anything you want to in this business. If someone had told me that I would be doing sports when I was back in JMU, I probably would’ve laughed at them. Just because that wasn’t my focus at the time … I would say, ask as many questions as you can. For the most part, I think

ask

people are there to help. And just don’t ever be afraid to put yourself out their and to talk about what it is that you think you want to do. So that means putting time in and maybe working odd hours or sticking around to get extra advice or to watch someone who has the job that you want. That kind of thing. I think that’s really valuable. w

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THE BEST MOMENTS IN The top 10 that every dedicated fan should know JMU loves its sports. A wealth of resources, time and energy go into putting the school’s 17 varsity programs in positions to succeed. Over the years, that effort has translated into tangible results. From a football upset in the early 1980s to a conference championship for men’s basketball two years ago, here are 10 of the biggest moments in JMU sports history.

Football’s win over the University of Virginia — 1982

Women’s basketball upsets of Penn State in the NCAA tournament — 1991 Playing at Penn State, the nation’s top-ranked team, in the second round of the 1991 NCAA tournament, JMU overcame a 12-point halftime deficit to beat the Nittany Lions 73-71 on March 16, 1991. It’s one of the biggest upsets in NCAA women’s basketball tournament history. Penn State came into the game 29-1 overall, and the Dukes’ win snapped an 18-game win streak. In the Sweet 16 five days later, JMU lost 57-55 to Clemson University and finished the season 26-5 overall.

Ten years after the start of the program, and a year after a 3-8 season, JMU football traveled to Charlottesville and beat the University of Virginia 21-17 on Sept. 18, 1982. The Dukes had just moved up to Division I-AA in 1980. And in their first-ever matchup against the Cavaliers, in 1979, U.Va. beat the Dukes 69-9. In its first two seasons in I-AA, JMU had a 7-14 combined record. But the win over U.Va. came in the middle of a four-game win streak in 1982. It helped put the Dukes on track for an 8-3 season, their first winning record in Division I-AA. JMU has a 1-2 all-time record against U.Va. after losing 21-14 back in Charlottesville in 1983. That was the last matchup between the two schools.

On Nov. 20, 1994, JMU field hockey beat the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Boston for the school’s first national championship in a team sport. In a defensive battle, the Dukes and top-ranked Tar Heels ended regulation tied 1-1. Even after two 15-minutue overtime periods, the score remained the same, sending the game into a penalty stroke shootout. It was then that the Dukes prevailed, outshooting UNC Chapel Hill 4-2 and securing the championship in head coach Christy Morgan’s third year. Morgan coached the Dukes from 1991 to 2000 before returning to the same position in 2014.

Baseball becomes the first Virginia team to make the College World Series — 1983

Women’s lacrosse advances to the NCAA tournament Final Four — 2000

The Dukes topped the University of Delaware 6-5 on May 29, 1983 in the NCAA Eastern Regional to become the first Virginia team to make the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. A late selection to the NCAA tournament, JMU went 4-0 in regionals. The Dukes defeated the University of South Carolina, William & Mary and The Citadel before beating Delaware. In the College World Series, JMU was eliminated after losses to the University of Texas at Austin and Stanford University, finishing the season 37-13 overall.

Despite losing to Loyola University Maryland in the CAA tournament, JMU finished the regular season with a win at Duke University a little over a week later and received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. Making its fourth NCAA tournament appearance in a row, JMU beat the University of Virginia in the quarterfinals on May 14, 2000 to reach the Final Four of the 12-team tournament. The Dukes lost to Princeton University in the Final Four, but it’s still JMU’s best finish in the tournament.

Women’s basketball wins its fourth-straight CAA championship — 1989 After a 23-3 overall record in the regular season (12-0 in the CAA) JMU traveled to William & Mary in Williamsburg for the 1989 CAA tournament. Winners of the previous three CAA championships, the Dukes kept it going, beating the University of Richmond on March 11, 1989 for a fourthstraight title. Moving on to the NCAA tournament four days later, JMU defeated Providence College in the first round before losing to Ohio State University in the second round.

22 | SPORTS

Field hockey wins the national championship — 1994

Football wins the national championship — 2004 Playing in Chattanooga, Tennessee, JMU topped the University of Montana 31-21 to win the Division I-AA national championship on Dec. 17, 2004. JMU traveled to and beat Lehigh University in the first round of the playoffs, Furman University in the second round and the College of William & Mary in the semifinals to secure a spot in the title game. Led by redshirt sophomore running back Maurice Fenner’s 164 yards rushing and two touchdowns, JMU out-rushed Montana by 270 yards en route to the win.

JMU SPORTS HISTORY Words | Wayne Epps Jr. Football tops Virginia Tech — 2010 The Dukes traveled to play No.13ranked Virginia Tech on Sept. 11, 2010, and, after holding the Hokies to just a field goal in the second half, pulled off a 21-16 upset. Virginia Tech had a 13-7 halftime lead and extended it to 16-7 after the field goal early in the third quarter. But redshirt senior quarterback Drew Dudzik rushed for a touchdown later in the third quarter, and another in the fourth quarter to push the Dukes past the Hokies.

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Men’s soccer upsets UNC Chapel Hill — 2012 On Sept. 11, 2012, No.1-ranked UNC Chapel Hill traveled to Harrisonburg with a 4-0 record. But a JMU penalty kick in the first half was all that was needed to upset the defending national champion Tar Heels, as the Dukes won 1-0. The win was also the 14th of a school-record 15-game home unbeaten streak.

DAVID CASTERLINE / THE BREEZE

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JMU men’s basketball wins the CAA championship — 2013 Seeded No. 3 in the CAA tournament, JMU strung together wins over the College of William & Mary, the University of Delaware and, finally top seed Northeastern University to win its first CAA title and NCAA tournament bid since 1994 on March 11, 2013 in Richmond. Redshirt senior guard A.J. Davis led the way with 26 points against Northeastern, and averaged 20 points over the three games in the tournament. In the NCAA tournament, the Dukes beat Long Island University Brooklyn in the First Four before losing to Indiana University in the second round. w

PHOTO COURTESY OF DAVID LONNQUEST

DAVID CASTERLINE / THE BREEZE

TOP LEFT Football coach Mickey Matthews raises his visor to the JMU student section after the Dukes win. TOP RIGHT Redshirt junior linebacker Pat Williams (right) rejoices after sophomore cornerback Leavander Jones defends a pass in the end zone. CENTER LEFT Junior cornerback Taveion Cuffee tackles Va. Tech senior quarterback Tyrod Taylor. BOTTOM LEFT JMU fans celebrate amid thousands of Hokies at Lane Stadium. BOTTOM RIGHT Sophomore Sarah Everett impersonates James Madison for the home celebration at Bridgeforth Stadium.

Dukes accomplish the unthinkable by beating the Va. Tech Hokies at Lane Stadium.

Shocker in Blacksburg Celebrations at JMU By THOM MARTINICCHIO contributing writer

BLACKSBURG, Va. — Coming into Saturday’s game between James Madison and Virginia Tech, the only thing as bleak as the weather was the Dukes’ odds of beating the mighty Hokies. In the past two meetings between the teams, Tech had outscored the Dukes by an astounding -, and won all six games in the series. The Dukes had also not beaten a Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly -A) team in almost  years, while the Hokies had not lost

to a Football Championship Subdivision (formerly -AA) team since . Va. Tech was expected to use JMU as whipping boys to unleash its frustration of losing a nail-biter to No.  ranked Boise State earlier in the week. But the Dukes never received that memo. JMU shocked the world, outplaying the Hokies on their home turf and winning the game, -. JMU’s spirited fight was spearheaded by sophomore cornerback Leavander Jones

Quarterback Drew Dudzik finally earns respect. page 11

see GAME, page 14

By AARON KOEPPER The Breeze

The surprise victory over Virginia Tech on Saturday was two hours south of Harrisonburg, but that didn’t stop the party from starting immediately back at JMU after the game ended. Students ran out of dorms and apartments, screaming with excitement about the Dukes’ victory over Tech, while rushing along South Main Street, on the Quad and at the corner of Bluestone Drive and Duke Drive.

More Va. Tech game photos. page 13

JMU’s football team returned to campus to find about  students, faculty and alumni gathered outside Bridgeforth Stadium, cheering their victory. Players met and talked to fans, relishing in the historic win, the upset and the JMU triumph. JMU President Linwood Rose, who attended the game in Blacksburg. “It’s not peace in the Middle East or a cure for cancer — it’s a football game, but it’s a wonderful football game,” Rose said after the team arrived outside the stadium back at JMU. see HOME, page 14

All Breeze coverage of the Va. Tech game breezejmu.org/jmu-vt-special/

SPORTS | 23

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Club sports are a great way to compete in athletics while still being a part of an organization. Many also participate in service projects and have leadership opportunities for members.

26 | SPORTS

Words | Hayley Moore

Graphic | Alex Spiroff

Words | Brenna Cashen Photos | Courtesy of story subjects

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Making coffee runs and filing papers don’t have to define your summer. Internships are a great way to gain experience and JMU students prove they don’t have to be boring. Adam Ballou, a 2015 alumnus who majored in international affairs and Spanish, received security clearance just 24 hours before leaving the country for his three-month internship with The United States State Department in Madrid, Spain. At the State Department, Ballou worked in the Bureau of Consular Affairs in the visas department. “Everyone needs a Visa so I got to see V.I.P.s walk through the door … from famous singers to famous athletes,” Ballou says. “For the first time in my life, I was like, ‘I am actually doing something. This is important.’” One morning Ballou was called up to the fifth floor to the Ambassadors’ offices. The head of the Economics Department, Ambassador Daniel A. Sepulveda, wanted to talk to him. Sepulveda wanted to know what Ballou’s perception was of the Spanish youth’s mindset about the economic crisis in Spain. He asked if Ballou had met any Spanish students who were taking the responsibility to help themselves. Ballou told Sepulveda and the Economics Department about his Spanish roommate who had started his own wind turbine company. The department brought Ballou’s roommate in to discuss ways the State Department could support him. “It was cool to be a part of something, like a young Spanish kid that had no connections … now he got to go with the U.S. government. Now they’re doing business,” he says. The internship shaped his life, future and career path. Ballou is applying to the foreign services and hopes to

JMU Students land some pretty killer professional experiences EXTRACURRICULAR | 27

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I was like, ‘Who am I?’ I was there with kids from Princeton and Dartmouth and Georgetown … and I’m this kid from JMU. But I went out there and just made the most of it.

be a diplomat. Thanks to his internship, he now has the connections and experience to do so. “I was like, ‘Who am I?’ I was there with kids from Princeton and Dartmouth and Georgetown … and I’m this kid from JMU,” Ballou says. “But I went out there and just made the most of it.” Emily Winter, a senior media arts and design and communication studies double major, traveled to a different country for her summer internship as well. Winter spent her days at Wilton’s Music Hall in London developing and contacting lists for specific events at the theatre. Ping pong tournaments were held in the theatre and Winter emailed invites to Ping pong enthusiast groups in the area. She was responsible for running a crowd-funding campaign on Indiegogo and the theatre’s social media. One of the best parts of the internship for Winter was watching the building transform. As the world’s oldest surviving Grand Music Hall, construction is being done in hopes of restoring the building. “It was interesting to see the process of how they are taking this really terrible building that’s so beautiful, and how they are making it safe, but keeping that charm,” Winter says. Interning abroad gave her not only a different work opportunity, but also showed her a different work culture. “Something that surprised me about having an internship in London is that the work culture is just very, very laid back,” she says. “I like to have tasks, be very organized, like do this, then this, then this, but also the way that their culture was like ‘uh yeah you can work on this and then maybe do this’.” If Visas weren’t so expensive — costing upward of $1,000 with application fees and difficult to get — Winter says she would work in London again in a heartbeat. While interning abroad offers a unique experience, students can find engaging and exciting internships right here in Virginia. 28 | EXTRACURRICULAR

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Senior hospitality major Devan Darnell interned at Busch Gardens Williamsburg as a facilities supervisor in the Photoshop area for two of the amusement park’s rides. Along with making sure the cameras on her rides were running smoothly, she was responsible for training employees, filling out evaluations and managing day-to-day activity with her rides and staff. “It’s not the same every day which is kinda why I like it … that very not-so-ordinary desk job,” Darnell says. This experience came at a convenient time in Darnell’s education. “I had actually just switched majors to hospitality before doing that program and it was a great confirmation,” Darnell says. “I definitely switched to the right major. I didn’t make the worst decision of my life.” While Darnell isn’t sure she wants to work with theme parks in the future, she learned while at Busch Gardens she’s interested in pursuing tourism and making people smile. This internship gave her practical supervisory experience she can use in anything she pursues in the future. Darnell says she now has the ability to do “the whole evaluation thing … and how to have those difficult conversations with your team members to be like, ‘You’re doing your job wrong or you’re at risk of being fired.’” Whether you want to intern abroad or intern down the road, internships are beneficial for students’ education and job search. “Employers want [students] to have experience … it helps set them apart,” says Laura Hickerson, the Internship Liaison at Career and Academic Planning. “It is not uncommon for [students] to get a job offer after.” There are opportunities for JMU students to put their education and experience to work through internships all around the world. If students need guidance in their internship search, Career and Academic Planning can help them every step of the way. w

Giving back to the community Here are some places to volunteer while in Harrisonburg

s Big Sisters (B her BB t o S) You are Br g i paired with a child B in elementary school to be their

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You cuddle with cats, hold bunnies and small mammals as well as play with dogs and puppies. The mission of the SPCA is to create a humane and safe environment for all animals, as they deal with animal neglect, cruelty and overpopulation. The shelter aids and directs homeless animals to caring families. The volunteers’ main jobs are simply socializing with the animals. Sophomore nursing major Brianna Spitler views SPCA as a “huge stress reliever because I get to play with some of the sweetest animals I have ever met.” Interacting with the animals allows her to not miss her pets at home as much. Volunteering for the SPCA is all good things — minus the messes.

efugee Resett le m rg R u en This nb o tP is program is a branch r r of Church World Service. They

have resettled refugees since 1988 from many countries within a 100-mile radius of the program’s office to help refugees become more self-sufficient and integrated into the community and American lifestyle. Volunteers assist with cultural orientation classes and talk about topics like home, health, education, finances and jobs. Other areas of volunteering include teaching public transportation, in-home tutoring and interning at the office. Senior international affairs major Caitlin Jamros’ favorite thing to do in the program is working as a Peace Camp counselor over the summer. She got to meet and teach some of the refugee children and be their counselor for the week. “It was really rewarding to know that I was making such an impact in a child’s life who came here to be better,” Jamros says. Some people might come from zones of conflict, so teaching them about peace and diversity is very applicable to their situations.

ry/The Salv atio Pant k r nA o w h rm c Patchwork Pantry t

Words | Kayla Marsh

gives food to people in need. You talk to people to find out what their income is, how many people are in their household and what foods they want. After you get their food from the pantry, you help take it out to their cars or cabs. For 2015 alumna Katie Runyon, it was rewarding because she got to talk to people and hear their stories. “Seeing how we directly work with them and impact their lives in a positive way is really inspiring for me, too. It’s not just with food, but with the things they need to get by in life,” Runyon says. Seeing those people in need can help keep you grounded, and giving back to the community can help you appreciate what you have.

am gr ro

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big brother or big sister. The mission of BBBS is to “help children reach their potential through one-to-one relationships with mentors that have a measurable impact on youth.” Volunteering here means you will have a direct impact on a child’s life. Senior biology major Maddy Kasprzak visits her little sister once a week for an hour at Spotswood Elementary School. Kasprzak has been with her little sister for three years now. “I love getting the chance to get involved with her life at school because I feel like this is a critical time in her life and she doesn’t have a big sister to look up to so I get to fill those shoes,” Kasprzak says. Many children in the program may not have that kind of stability in their lives, so your presence could make a difference in a young boy or girl through this program.

oc burg/R kingham n o SP ris

Gus Bus” The “

The Reading Road Show — AKA The Gus Bus — is a reading program that provides an opportunity for children and their families to have storytime and participate in a book exchange program on a weekly basis. It’s a mobile bus that turns into a library on the inside. They visit neighborhoods each week. During that time, kids can come on the bus and check out books and read with the volunteers. They also have after school programs, which is what senior education major Leah Vagnoni volunteers with. The Gus Bus puts on after school enrichment classes. Vagnoni goes to Spotswood Elementary School once a week and assists the instructors with weekly lesson plans and activities. “It’s exciting for me to watch kids learn and grow each week ... I’m learning new things as well,” Vagnoni says.

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1. Each individual organization holds events at their house(s) and/or other places around town and campus. 2. At the end of the process, offers (aka â&#x20AC;&#x153;bidsâ&#x20AC;?) are extended.

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Graphic | Jenn Asbell

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Secretary of the commonwealth CLASS OF ’04

Why did you choose to go to JMU? I think I got into James Madison by happenstance almost. I did not have the application to apply to JMU ... I completed it on the day of the deadline and submitted it with my personal statement and everything. A couple months later I got the big package in the mail and I got in. I almost think it was like destiny that I got into James Madison. The reason I came to JMU is because I heard there’s always a particular mix of individuals that came to JMU and it wasn’t always all about having the best grades in the world or about being a super athlete. It was a great mix of people that created a great community and that’s what attracted me to JMU. I thought I would excel in an environment like that and I did.

How did what you learned at JMU help you in your career? I’ve always has an idea of where I wanted to be in my life and I just needed a launch pad to get there and James Madison provided me that launch pad. It is one thing to learn in the classroom about political science and public administration. So, I learned the skills in the classroom but I thought JMU provided me the opportunity to learn outside the classroom, to actually exhibit leadership and also to learn from others. Every single day there is something that I do that I can apply to what I learned back at James Madison either when I was in the classroom of when I was outside the classroom in a leadership position. I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for JMU.

What did you major in? I majored in public administration and political science, so I was a double major in those two fields.

How did it feel to speak at December graduation last year? That was a lifelong dream. I’ll admit that I never would have ever thought that I would be the graduation speaker for my alma mater. To be asked to come give the commencement speech to a huge crowd in the Convocation Center made me somewhat nervous but also made me very, very proud to be a JMU Duke. It will always be a day I will remember. The day I entered JMU, the day I graduated from JMU and the day I gave the commencement at JMU. All three of those moments I will always remember. w ofessional pr

How did you go from JMU to being Governor McAuliffe’s Secretary of the Commonwealth? I would say hard work and starting from the bottom and working myself up. I first was an intern on a campaign, knocking on doors in Maryland for a political campaign. After that I joined a campaign here in Virginia, while I was still in college over the summer. That job was also knocking on doors being a field director. Then I worked myself up from an organizer to the Executive Director of the Democratic Party in Virginia when I was 26 years old, back in 2007 or 2008. From there, I met the governor along the way and I advised the governor from 2010 to 2013. I was his campaign manager, and after we won in 2013, the governor asked if I would serve as the Secretary of the Commonwealth. When the governor asks, you say yes, and I said yes.

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Words | Morgan Lynch Photo | Madeline Williams

32 | PROFESSIONAL

Words | Elliot McCallister Photos | Courtesy of story subject

Walking on the

Beach

JMU alumnus lives out his dream as a surf instructor in Costa Rica

he view from Ryan Waldon’s home is what most people imagine when they think of retirement. Overlooking the picturesque beach town of Playa Tamarindo, you can see the crystal clear turquoise waters of Costa Rica directly from his patio. Tamarindo is a tourist destination, with the population fluctuating between 500 and 5,000 people depending on the time of year. Located along the north Pacific Coast of Costa Rica, it’s one of the most easily accessible beach towns in the region. Just a short bike ride away from the beach is his two bedroom home that includes a living room, full kitchen and private pool. Although it may seem like it, Waldron is far from retired. Waldron graduated from JMU in May 2013 with a degree in writing, rhetoric and technical communication (WRTC) and a minor in environmental science. At 23 years old, the Virginia Beach native finds himself working and living in the happiest country in the world with one of the longest life expectancies in the world. When the waves are good he’s

surfing, and when they’re not, you’ll most likely find him at “work.” Waldon works in the marketing/creative department at Witch’s Rock Surf Camp, Costa Rica’s most popular surf camp. He’s got a nice spot in the office where he works with the lovely reservations ladies, but says, “I spend a fair amount of the workday walking around the camp working alongside mis compañeros!” The beachfront surf resort has eighteen rooms, two restaurants, an on-site microbrewery, a surf shop and perfect waves right out front. If you don’t want to surf, or you’ve called it quits for the day, you can lounge in the infinity pool, get a massage or have a few drinks at the open-air beachfront bar where you can enjoy live music and a perfect view of the ocean. On any given day, you can find Waldron writing for the Witch’s Rock website, blog, newsletters, social media or advertisements. He also teaches daily surf seminars every evening on subjects such as Surf Science, Surfboard Selection, PROFESSIONAL | 33

Surf Trick Tips and Surf Safety, where he delivers a well-crafted presentation to each week’s guests. In addition to Waldron’s other job duties, he also maintains relationships with local businesses and helps design marketing materials for events and other in-house purposes, such as helping with the weekly production of the Witch’s Rock Pirate Radio show. Finally, but certainly not at the end of his extensive list, when the camp needs an additional surf instructor or guide, Waldron fills the role. Traveling along the coast in boat or van, he guides surf tours to some of the most beautiful beaches in Costa Rica, such as Playa Grande, which you get to by crossing a crocodile-filled estuary. “Grande” as the locals call it, is a national park and has much better surf spots because of the southerly facing orientation of the beach. It’s known for having some of the most consistent waves in Northern Costa Rica. “I really enjoy my job and the people I work with, so I generally spend most of my day at work,” Waldron says. These are not the typical words you hear out of a recent college graduate’s mouth, but for Waldron, it’s easy to see why he’s so happy. Like the majority of college seniors, up until the spring semester of his last year at JMU, Waldron was pretty much clueless on what he

wanted to do. He first realized he had a possible future in the surfing industry after securing a remote internship with Surfer Magazine. He credits securing this position to a few influential teachers and helpful advisers that encouraged him to “just go for it.” “Ryan had a clear sense of priorities and having a fulfilling, happy and exciting life was first on the list. Everything else was in service to that goal,” says his former WRTC Professor Traci Zimmerman. “What’s great about Ryan’s attitude is that it allowed him to reflect upon, rather than react to, the opportunities around him. If you worry too much about the future, you can completely miss the opportunities in the present. Ryan got that.” It wasn’t until Waldron had actually made his leap of faith to Costa Rica and settled into Tamarindo that he found Witch’s Rock Surf Camp. Waldron moved from Virginia Beach to Tamarindo in October of 2013 to take an internship position at a much smaller surf/Spanish school located right on the beach. “I was helping them re-vamp their surf program while learning about the internal operations of a small business. They didn’t pay me, just offered daily Spanish classes and a free place to live,” Waldron says.

While living and interning there, Waldron became aware of Witch’s Rock Surf Camp, which was located right down the street. Never scheduling an interview, Waldron walked into the administration office of Witch’s Rock with a positive mindset and nothing to lose. “I had my résumé, Surfer Magazine articles I wrote, a smile, some personal surf photos — to prove I wasn’t a kook — and a lifetime of learning and loving their product … surfing,” Waldron says. After a few virtual and face-to-face correspondences, he finally began working there January of 2014. Leaving home and trying something most people wouldn’t even consider isn’t so difficult when you’re moving to paradise. Waldron has already enjoyed visits from his parents, brother and multiple other friends. It seems safe to say that he can count on plenty more friends and family coming to visit as well. Although this isn’t the first job that comes to mind when you think of a recent college graduate, it’s actually what an interdisciplinary major like WRTC encourages.

“Thinking interdisciplinary means that you are always looking to connect the dots, even when those dots may be in a completely different coloring book that hasn’t been printed yet,” Zimmerman says. “Our classes encourage experimentation and allow for a climate in which our students can become not only adept at particular skills/technologies, but also learn how to be intellectually agile.” Perhaps students who are not in an interdisciplinary major like WRTC should try and adapt this way of thinking. “WRTC turned me on to new ideas, developed my writing and communication skills and the classes were generally fun with group thinking and some really cool teachers. I really valued all the time I spent in Harrisonburg,” Waldron adds. Waldron’s environmental science minor, on the other hand, allowed him to study a field that he was interested in, while also connecting the ideas with surfing. His career choice comes as no surprise to his former environmental science professor and fellow surfer Eric Pappas, either. “Ryan was always engaged while taking my course as well as when he was a teacher assistant for me,” Pappas says. “He’s a very genuine individual and extremely easy to like, high energy and enthusiastic most all the time. With more and more surfers tending to be environmentalists these days, I could have predicted this for Ryan, he always wanted to do something with surfing.” For the seniors who are sick of telling their relatives they don’t have a job lined up with a major corporation, former Yale Professor William Zinsser has some insightful advice. In an essay titled “College Pressures,” he tries to remind students that they have plenty of time to figure out their lives. Things are going to happen that they could never expect. There is plenty of time to change jobs and the way they’re living, but students don’t want to hear it. “They want a map — right now — that they can follow unswervingly to career security, financial security, social security and, presumably, a prepaid grave,” Zinsser says. Waldron was not looking for that map. When asked about his future, he says, “My goals … Just keep living everyday in a positive state of mind and always be looking for opportunity for self improvement. The past two years of my life have unfolded in a way I could have never imagined so I don’t want to limit the possibilities by saying, ‘Yes, I’ll definitely still be in Costa Rica,’ because nobody knows what could happen. I really like the position I’m at right now and just want to continue waking up every morning stoked on work. Seriously, how many people can say that?” While the one thing Waldron may be missing out on in the United States is a larger salary, who can be sure? “It’s not really something worth stressing about,” Waldron explains. “I’ve got a nice house, I’m eating very well and I’m maintaining good health.” To those students who still have no idea what to do after graduating, Waldron says, “Find out what you really love doing and keep doing it. Don’t dismiss what you really want to do because of money or fear or failure. But at the same time, don’t be lazy and expect opportunities to fall in your lap. Be proactive, believe that you are good enough, be an expert in your field and keep chasing that Plan A. So happy I did.” w

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Find out what you really love doing and keep doing it. Don’t dismiss what you really want to do because of money or fear or failure.

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Graphic | Jenn Asbell

Words | Rachel Matt

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