CONFERENCE SHAKE UPS Men’s and women’s teams shift in rankings page 11
Partly cloudy 35°/ 25° chance of precipitation: 20%
Vol. 87, No. 31 Monday, January 24, 2011
CRIME
getting beat on — there was just blood everywhere.” Police are still investigating the incident and obtaining information about suspects. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Solvers at --. “They didn’t just punch and leave,” the same witness said. “They kept pounding the guys and they were pummeling them.” Junior Mike Hill, president of Lambda see ASSAULT, page 4
SunT Bank rust ub lic Ro ad
Sou th
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Blood covered the floor of a Lambda Chi Alpha house early Saturday morning after a brawl sent several men to the hospital, witnesses say. At least eight victims were assaulted and three were taken to Rockingham Memorial Hospital with non-life threatening injuries after an unidentified group of men entered the house, police said Sunday afternoon. The assault
happened around : a.m. Saturday at a party inside S. Main St. RMH could not release the status of the unnamed victims Sunday afternoon. Two witnesses, who wish to remain anonymous for their personal safety, said many of the suspects were black men wearing jeans and dark sweatshirts with their hoods up. Approximately men were fighting that night, according to what witnesses told The Breeze. “It was really, really brutal,” one witness said. “It reminded me of ‘American History X’ where people were
Po rt
By JOHN SUTTER and KATIE THISDELL The Breeze
Fair view Ave nue
Police: No suspects, arrests in weekend brawl that leaves atMap least eightAssault injured of Alleged
JMU Campus GRAPHIC BY JENA THIELGES / THE BREEZE
Police respond to assault on eight victims Saturday morning at 1225 S. Main St.
RETIREMENT
reflections
RESTORATIONS RYAN FREELAND / THE BREEZE
President Rose looks back on his 12 years at JMU
H
By John Sutter The Breeze e’s . It’s — the age of fast cars and hard rock. Two college friends were not about to pass up an opportunity to reach the epitome of cool. There it was — true beauty sitting there in the sunlight, practically shining like a gift from above. A true classic. His college friend just bought a
Austin Healey BN. He knew he had to buy one, too. Call it envy or even love at first sight, but on that day in Blacksburg he knew that he would be a proud owner of a piece of British history. Fast-forward a year and there it was, a Austin Healey BT L — the Bloody Beast. For those next few years, the roadster cruised through Blacksburg, representing everything that was the ’s. But just as all good things come to an end, graduation came, then marriage and a more practical car for a practical life. The age of driving fast and rocking out was replaced with master’s degrees, doctoral degrees, children and careers. But somehow he couldn’t get rid of the Beast. She
COURTESY OF LINWOOD ROSE
Linwood Rose drives his partially restored Austin Healey in the driveway at his home, which he bought when he was 19 as an undergraduate at Virginia Tech. He plans on restoring a 1964 Jaguar after retiring next year.
remained, closed off in barns, poultry houses and damp garages for nearly years. As he rose through the ranks at JMU, she stayed out of the spotlight, tucked away, fading as time took its toll. The man being groomed to replace the aging Ron Carrier, then president of JMU, found time to break
from the suit and duties as JMU’s chief operating officer and acting president to rekindle his love for the Bloody Beast. Linwood Rose, JMU’s president, mechanic and see ROSE, page 5
DNA: Discovering New Advantages Director of National Institutes of Health informs, entertains audience of nearly 300 about DNA’s benefits
By NEAL HOLLOWELL contributing writer
Dr. Francis Collins walks on stage with a guitar in hand and a painted double helix DNA strand snaking down the neck. Instead of just talking about his passion for science, the director of the National Institutes of Health also shared his appreciation for art and faith on Saturday afternoon to nearly students and faculty. His lecture in the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts made up part of “The Dance of Art and Science,” a yearlong series integrating art and science. Focusing on the study of the genome, the
1/24 INSIDE
events began with the Freshman Orientation DNA dance in August. Raised in Staunton by a professor of medieval music father and a playwright mother, Collins said he learned from a young age to appreciate both music and the visual arts. Alex Goolsby, a junior health sciences major, liked Collins’ incorporation of all three fields: art, science and religion. “It changed it up,” Goolsby said. “It shows he is a great presenter … it’s interesting that a person in such a high position is not afraid to say ‘This is what I believe.’ ” During his lecture, Collins proudly displayed a series of pictures of himself
3
NEWS Huge honors
Applicants to JMU Honors Program have doubled in more than two years.
playing guitar with several well-known musicians: The Edge of U and singer/ songwriter Kris Kristofferson. “Music has been a very important part of my existence,” Collins said. He added that he never misses an opportunity to make a fool of himself, musically. However, a fool was the last thing he looked like on Saturday. “If I had known he would come and lecture like this, I would have built the building sooner,” President Linwood Rose said. Collins possesses quite the list of accomplishments. From to , he led the National
7
OPINION Bill a bust
Attempt to adjust job killing act won’t work.
Human Genome Research Institute, an organization founded in . President Obama nominated him as director of NIH in . President George W. Bush awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom in for his work decoding the complete human genome sequence, and Pope Benedict XVI named him to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences. He is also the founder and former president of the BioLogos Foundation, an organization that “explores, promotes and celebrates the integration of science and Christian faith.”
DAN GORIN / THE BREEZE
see SPEAKER, page 10
Dr. Francis Collins is an advocate of the importance of both music and science.
9
LIFE DNA dance
Professional performers come to life by embodying genetics.
14
SPORTS Tutu tradition
Senior tennis player Ida Donner explains the infamous apparel.
Page 2 EDITORS Elizabeth Baugh
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NATION&WORLD
Giffords’ transfer to Texas smooth HOUSTON — She rode to the airport in an ambulance Friday, an Arizona flag-embossed helmet protecting her exposed brain. But that didn’t stop wounded Rep. Gabrielle Giffords from recognizing the applause from constituents on the Tucson streets. The Arizona congresswoman smiled, according to those riding with her, and then appeared to tear up, causing an emotional moment for her husband, mother and doctors on their way to a Houston rehabilitation center. The rest of the trip from Tucson — a two-hour flight, followed by a quick helicopter ride to the Texas Medical Center — went just as well, according to one of the passengers, Randall Friese, associate medical director at Tucson’s University Medical Center. The transfer went “flawlessly,” he said at a
crowded news conference after Giffords checked into the intensive care unit at Memorial Hermann Hospital. “She looked spectacular in all ways. Neurologically, she was alert, awake, calm and looked comfortable,” added Dong Kim, director of the neuroscience department at Memorial Hermann. Giffords will remain in intensive care until doctors are sure that they have relieved fluid in her brain that caused swelling several days ago. That swelling led doctors, shortly after she was hospitalized in Tucson, to remove a portion of her skull to ease the cranial pressure. They said they will replace that piece of skull once they see no more threat of swelling — a process that could take several weeks. Friese said of the applause Giffords received on her way out of Arizona: “It was very heartwrenching, so wonderful to see the support from Tucsonans. We’re going to miss her while she’s here. But this is the place
Wednesday snow 39°/26°
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Monday, January 24, 2011
she should be.” Giffords, D-Ariz., was shot above the left eye during the Jan. shooting rampage in Tucson that killed six and injured . Kim said the congresswoman has good movement on the left side of her body and “good tone in her leg, which is a precursor to a more full recovery.” Her right leg, however, is in worse condition and might not be able to support her body weight, he said. Her arms also have less movement. Overall, Giffords “has great rehab potential. She will keep us busy and we will keep her busy,” said Gerard Francisco, the rehabilitation center’s chief medical officer.
Drone use incites privacy claims AUSTIN — The suspect’s house, just west of this city, sat on a hilltop at the end of a steep, exposed driveway. Agents with the Texas Department of Public Safety believed the man inside
2
over difficult terrain, flying into hurricanes to collect weather data, photographing traffic accident scenes and tracking the spread of forest fires. But the operation outside Austin presaged what could prove to be one of the most far-reaching and potentially controversial uses of drones: as a new and relatively cheap surveillance tool in domestic law enforcement. For now, the use of drones for high-risk operations is exceedingly rare. The Federal Aviation Administration — which controls the national airspace — requires the few police departments with drones to seek emergency authorization if they want to deploy one in an actual operation. Because of concerns about safety, it only occasionally grants permission. But by , the FAA expects to have formulated new rules that would allow police across the country to routinely fly lightweight, unarmed drones up to feet above the ground — high enough for them to be largely invisible eyes in the sky.
had a large stash of drugs and a cache of weapons, including high-caliber rifles. As dawn broke, there was a problem: The department’s aircraft section feared that if it put up a helicopter, the suspect might try to shoot it down. So the Texas agents did what no state or local law enforcement agency had done before in a high-risk operation: They launched a drone. A bird-size device called a Wasp floated hundreds of feet into the sky and instantly beamed live video to agents on the ground. The SWAT team stormed the house and arrested the suspect. “The nice thing is it’s covert,” said Bill C. Nabors Jr., chief pilot with the Texas DPS, who in a recent interview described the operation for the first time publicly. “You don’t hear it, and unless you know what you’re looking for, you can’t see it.” The drone technology that has revolutionized warfare in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan is entering the national airspace: Unmanned aircraft are patrolling the border with Mexico, searching for missing persons
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IF YOU WERE BORN TODAY: Born today, you rely a great deal on all of your skills, and when they are not working in harmony, you are not likely to score the successes you would otherwise anticipate. You are a fine example of physical, mental and emotional equilibrium; rarely does one facet of your being take precedence over another for long.
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Members of the Student Duke Club celebrate a free throw at the men’s basketball game. The Dukes lost to George Mason University in a close match at the Convocation Center, 75-73. The men’s team plays at home again on Jan.26, against Drexel University. For more information on the women’s game, see page 11.
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AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) You’ll want to interrupt one line of endeavor to follow another, and both are likely to intersect at some point.
(July 23-Aug. 22) An early start doesn’t necessarily mean that you will be able to knock off earlier; indeed, this is shaping up to be a rather long day.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) You may receive a message that is rather cryptic, but if you engage your imagination, you’ll conjure a scenario in which it makes sense.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) What you do in and around the home is not only necessary from a maintenance standpoint but it can be emotional satisfying, too.
ARIES (March 21-April 19) Channel any frustration you may feel into a productive endeavor. Don’t let negative feelings fester.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) You may feel like you have lost touch with that part of yourself that can derive inspiration from routine events. What has changed?
TAURUS (April 20-May 20) You’ve been trying to get in touch with someone who has been part of a current project; today, he or she can play a larger role.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) It’s a good day to look back and recap what has happened — what you’ve brought about, what others have done and what’s been done to you.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20) You may require more assistance than you had first thought, but it will be difficult to coordinate schedules as a result.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Take care that you aren’t guilty of some sort of negligence; you’ll want to pay attention to everything going on around you.
CANCER (June 21-July 22) Focus on those things that bring you gratification almost immediately, but know that the good feelings they bring will not last forever. LEO
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) A meeting of the minds results in the formulation of a new play that promises greater — and faster — results. What’s the starting date?
News
Editors Matt Sutherland & John Sutter E-mail breezenews@gmail.com
in brief
academics
Harrisonburg
Third flashing incident reported, this time at EMU Harrisonburg Police are working with JMU Police to determine whether an indecent exposure on 1300 College Ave. at EMU on Wednesday afternoon could be related to two other indecent exposures incidents, according to HPD spokeswoman Mary-Hope Vass. A female witness described suspect as a Hispanic man in his 20s. She said the man exposed himself from his vehicle. The man in a Jan. 23 indecent exposure at JMU was described as Hispanic, 5 feet 5 inches tall, with a mustache. The man in a Dec. 13 indecent exposure at JMU was described as Hispanic and 5 feet 7 inches tall, according to police.
Monday, January 24, 2011
3
Made of honor
The Honors Program has twice as many applicants than 2008, forcing the program to expand
Honors Program Applicants 2008
20 1 0
900 Stu dents
1,800 Stu d e nts
crime
Trial dates set for laptop, iPad theft cases By Aaron Koepper The Breeze
Three men arrested for separate electronic thefts at JMU appeared in Harrionsburg/Rockingham General District Court Thursday to set their trial dates. Two men accused of stealing a $699 iPad in October are scheduled to return to court Feb. 17. Aleksander Shumeyko, 18, of Mt. Crawford, is charged with felony grand larceny, and David Verkhovstev, 20, of Palm Coast, Fla., is also charged with felony grand larceny and conspiracy to commit grand larceny. Neither attend JMU. The two allegedly stole the iPad from an unlocked ISAT office on Oct. 19. Surveillance cameras showed the act and then an ISAT employee followed the men and helped identify them, according to JMU Police Chief Lee Shifflett. In an unrelated case, JMU student Sun Hwi Yun, 20, appeared in court to set his trial date for March 10. Yun is charged with felony grand larceny for the alleged theft of a $600 pink Hewlett Packard laptop from ISAT room 1301 on the morning of Nov. 29. Yun confessed to police later that day when asked about the incident, Shifflett said. Out of 10 laptops stolen since the beginning of the academic year, two have been returned to their owners, according to JMU Police. Contact Aaron Koepper at koeppead@dukes.jmu.edu.
Graphic By Jena Thielges / The Breeze
By Natalie Dohner The Breeze
The Honors Program is growing, and twice as many people want in. The number of students applying to JMU’s Honors Program has doubled within the past two years, from 900 in 2008 to 1,800 applicants in 2010. Changes to the program are being made to enhance the experience of honors students, including a new honors dorm, Shenandoah Hall, which emphasizes a sense of community, according to Barry Falk, director of the Honors Program. “One of the main benefits of an honors community is that it allows highly motivated students to interact with other students who share the same interests and goals,” Falk said. Last year, the Honors Study Abroad Program, limited to only first and second year students, took a trip to London. Because of the increase in student interest, the program added Florence and next year the list will expand to Barcelona. “We like to give our honors students more experiential opportunities and these trips fulfill that,” Falk said.
Last summer, junior chemistry major Alexa DeLuca went to London with the Honors Program and said it was different than any class that could ever be taken at JMU. “I learned a lot because it wasn’t just a professor lecturing,” DeLuca said. “Getting to know other people in the program on a different level was a great bonding experience.” On the Honors abroad trip, classes were discussion-based and led by students followed by fieldtrips around the city where they could reinforce what was being taught. DeLuca explained that because of the increasing size of the Honors Program it can be difficult to get to know other honors students outside of those in her classes. “I don’t think that I would feel as much a part of the Honors Program if I hadn’t gone on this trip,” she said. “My experience as an honors student was definitely heightened.” This year’s total number of honors students rose to 850. This is an increase from the program’s size of 500 to 600 from about six years ago. However, certain course requirements, such as the senior honors thesis and upholding specific GPA requirements, sometimes forces
Students
students to withdraw and deters others from finishing. The current retention rate of the entering class sits at about 50 percent, which “is very much in line with other universities’ honors programs,” Falk said. Some students run into scheduling problems needing to take at least one honors class per semester and “prefer not to deal.”
“The skills that the students develop and the experience with the Honors Program will provide big benefits in the business world.” Barry Falk
director, Honors Program
Falk said dropouts from the Honors Program can also be attributed to students not wanting to exude three semesters worth of work to complete the senior project. However, strategic course planning and selection can help in making the transition into the
honors program, Falk said. The selling point of the JMU Honors Program is a “small college-feel within the larger university setting,” Falk said in regards to recent high school applicants’ responses. The Honors Program attributes its increased number of applicants to an amplified interest in JMU but especially the enhanced reputation of the program. “The Honors Program here fits in really well with the JMU culture … there is a buzz about the program as well as about JMU,” Falk said. Part of the increased chatter about the Honors Program can be credited to the culmination of work in the senior honors thesis project, what Falk described as a “wonderful and special part of the program.” The senior honors thesis, a three semester-long project, begins in the junior year. During which, students select an adviser who will work alongside them and serve as their mentor. “All majors are represented in the honors program,” Falk said. “With the senior project you find something that you are interested in to fit see honors, page 5
outer space
Madison might leave Madison Sarah Everett, the ‘James Madison girl, ’ says she can’t afford tuition By Anne Elsea The Breeze
A James Madison impersonator says she may not spend the rest of her time in college at JMU. As an out-of-state student transferring from Alaska, sophomore theatre major Sarah Everett would be charged at least $115,000 to attend JMU for four years. “I’ve done a lot of calculating and I’ve come to realize that I won’t have anything left for the next few semesters,” Everett said. “I didn’t know that the difficulty of finding loans and grants would be virtually impossible for me.” On Jan. 15, Everett posted a message on her Facebook wall, asking friends to post a comment saying what they appreciate about Mr. Madison’s presence at JMU. “It’s a desperate attempt to find some miraculous way to gain enough support from JMU to help me find some manner of acquiring basically $28,000 to continue my education here,” Everett said, calculating a year’s worth of tuition and room and board. Eleven students posted on Everett’s wall voicing their opinion of her work on campus. Aleece Hurt, a sophomore psychology and dance double major, wrote Everett “has so faithfully followed her passion and created a ripple effect on the campus not only as an advocate for James Madison’s true self, but for having faith in your passions to really make an impact.” Not everyone agrees with the see tuition, page 4
Meredyth Kimm / The Breeze
James L. Green, director of the Planetary Science Division at NASA Headquarters, discusses new technologies that NASA is using to travel to both Pluto and Mars.
Astronomer discusses travel By Natalie Dohner The Breeze
Meredith Sizemore / The Breeze
Sarah Everett, a sophomore theatre major, may have to leave JMU after realizing that her total expenses for being an out-of-state student would be at least $115,000.
Is Pluto really a planet? Is there life on Mars? James L. Green, director of the Planetary Science Division at NASA Headquarters, answered these commonplace inquiries when presenting in the Health and Human Services building on Thursday. Green’s team has been searching for water on Mars which scientists believe would help determine if life ever existed on the planet. “The past history of Mars has been a wet one,” Green said. “There are plenty of resources that would allow for humans to live there.” NASA’s next rover is scheduled to launch to Mars in November 2011. The “Mars Science Laboratory” is the size of a Volkswagen Beetle and will be searching for organics and measuring
methane levels on the red planet. According to NASA, the rover’s onboard laboratory will “study rocks, soils and the local geologic setting in order to detect chemical building blocks of life on Mars and will assess what the martian environment was like in the past.” “The excitement about going to a fresher, larger crater is just around the corner,” Green said of the rover headed to Endeavour, a 13.7 mile-wide crater on Mars’ surface. Mars Science Laboratory will rely on new technological advances to land the rover on Mars. “The spacecraft will descend on a parachute and then lower to the surface like a crane,” Green said. Two planets past Mars is the large ringed planet of Saturn, first visited by NASA’s Pioneer 11 in 1979. see space, page 4
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Monday, January 24, 2011
breezejmu.org NEWS
ASSAULT | Hooded suspects left Saturday’s brawl after about five minutes from front
Chi, said the fraternity is still operating as usual and is working with Harrisonburg Police about the incident. While the assault happened at the house on the corner of South Main Street and Port Republic Road, which is listed on the fraternity’s website, the fraternity’s new chapter house is at S.
Main St., according to the group’s Facebook page. Lambda Chi “doesn’t want anyone to hold this organization in different esteem in response to any rumors that are circulating,” Hill said. Reports on how the situation escalated are unclear among witnesses. “We were all dancing in the back room and we heard bottles
break and saw guys shuffling and fighting,” the female witness said. She said she had heard that two men were asked to leave the party earlier in the evening but refused to leave. Witnesses claim that other men then arrived and the brawl ensued. Members of Lambda Chi declined to comment further. The female witness said she and other partygoers were yelling
from page 3
MEREDITH SIZEMORE / THE BREEZE
TUITION | Everett works two part-time jobs to help cover costs plea, however. Clayton Hamshar, a freshman media arts and design major, didn’t post on Everett’s wall out of support. “I think it’s not fair to treat her any differently than any other student, who has to go through the normal routes of financial aid,” Hamshar said. “She knew beforehand how much out-ofstate tuition was going to cost, and should not expect any special treatment for her hobby.” Everett gave the responses to President Linwood Rose’s office on Jan. in an appeal to stay at
on their way home. She said he reported driving two black men from Copper Beech to the fraternity house about an hour earlier and listening to them talk about fighting and getting revenge for something. Attempts to reach the driver were unsuccessful. “The guy fighting him gave him a swift kick to the head,” he said. “He kicked him a couple times
— he was kicking him like a kicker would kick a football.” Several victims had cuts on their eyebrows, faces, bruises and swollen faces. “I’ve seen some stuff but nothing like this,” he said. CONTACT Katie Thisdell at breezeeditor@gmail. com and John Sutter at breezenews@gmail.com.
SPACE | An unmanned NASA spacecraft will reach Pluto in 2015
Sarah Everett, a sophomore, transferred to JMU from Alaska because of her affection for our namesake.
from page 3
“stop, stop” as the assault was happening. “After five minutes or so, all the guys in the hoodies left,” she said. “I guess they figured they did what they needed to do and ran off.” Soon, the house was surrounded with several police cars, fire trucks and ambulances. The witness and her roommates left after talking to police and talked to their cab driver
JMU next year. Brad Barnett, senior associate director of the Office of Financial Aid, couldn’t comment on the status of Everett’s financial aid because of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, a federal law that protects the privacy of student education records. Everett has two part time jobs on campus, one with the theatre department and the other with the communication and marketing department. She also works with a management major student who offered to help her find paying jobs as a Madison interpreter.
“I was doing it voluntarily for the first half of the semester,” she said. “However, I was encouraged to get compensated so I acquired an agent who will ask for a small fee for my interpretations.” Everett came to JMU in the fall as a transfer student from The University of Alaska Southeast, a community college. “There are no other schools that in the entire nation or world that I would want to go to,” she said. “I would do anything to stay here.” CONTACT Anne Elsea at elseaav@dukes.jmu.edu.
Saturn’s moon, Titan, is larger than the planet Mercury. After sending a rover to see what was underneath of the clouds on Titan, NASA discovered liquid. Green paralleled these findings to being similar to early Earth and because of this it is now being studied from a new perspective, he said. Currently, only percent of Titan has been mapped. Along with new discoveries must come the realization that not everything society teaches is truth. Green addressed the fact that most people are misinformed of the ways of the solar system due to bandwagon theories and his goal is to put those to rest. “What’s this business about Pluto?” asked Green. “People grew up with different ideas but we are just moving this field ahead like you can’t believe.” In , Pluto was discovered and became known as our ninth planet. However, many astronomers disagreed upon this classification. Debate arose in after an object named Eris was discovered beyond Pluto. NASA reported that in , the International Astronomical Union decided that “a new system of classification was needed to describe these new worlds, which are more developed than asteroids but different than the know planets.” After this realization, Pluto,
Eris and the asteroid Ceres were named the first dwarf planets. According to NASA’s Solar System Exploration website, “unlike planets, dwarf planets lack the gravitational muscle to sweep up or scatter objects near their orbits.”
“The history of the solar system is laying on the surface of the moon.” James Green director at NASA
A NASA spacecraft named New Horizons will be the first to visit Pluto and the Kuiper belt. In January , the spacecraft began its nineand-a-half-year journey and is expected to reach the surface of Pluto in . Aside from debates about Pluto, Green addressed a discrepancy about how long ago the moon was formed. Green explained that the moon was created between . and . billion years ago during the “late heavy bombardment.” During this time, gaseous planets migrated in orbit and pushed the asteroid belt and Kuiper belt into a different orbit, he said. “The history of the solar system is laying on the surface of the moon,” Green said. Green’s discussion evoked a powerful response from the audience and challenged
them to reconsider their current beliefs. “I didn’t know that planetary research and exploration had advanced this much,” said senior physics major Bojan Ljubovic. “I have been trying to follow it over the years but now along with my studies here at JMU I am very intrigued by it.” Green relished in the fact that he had the opportunity to share his passion for the planets with a college student body. “What I hope to do is get the next generation involved and excited,” Green said. “This is what the public pays for and from my perspective we want them to get their money’s worth…all I am trying to do is share this exciting, dynamic field.” Because the planetary field is constantly advancing, it has peaked the interests of students who may be pursuing careers in this field. Senior physics major Cate Nisson said she was unaware of NASA’s future plans before going to the event. “I didn’t realize that they had so many rovers and plans to explore,” Nisson said. “It seems like there is so much going on.” With new discoveries being made all the time, Green is eager to continue his research with NASA. “If we find life on Mars that looks like ours, are we seeding them or are they seeding us?” Green asked. CONTACT Natalie Dohner at dohnernh@ dukes.jmu.edu.
breezejmu.org NEWS
Monday, January 24, 2011
5
ROSE | Projects still left to be completed before next classic car restoration from front
classic British car enthusiast will not only have a chance to go to a football game without a suit and tie, but also to spend more time with his cars and his family when he steps down from the office in June . “I think we are handing off a pretty strong institution to the next team,” Rose said. “We really are at the right time now to be considering a new strategic plan for the university, begin the next capital campaign for the university [so] it doesn’t make much sense for me to leave and then have someone come in and take over in the middle.” Rose, the university’s fifth president, has been in the role since September . “I will miss most Dr. Rose’s counsel, his keen insights and his thoughtful decision-making,” said Mark Warner, vice president for Student Affairs and University Planning, in an e-mail. “I will personally miss his mentorship.” When Rose took office, he made a personal goal to create more adequate space for programs, to lower the facultyto-student ratio and to foster a student-centered environment. “Not long after I became president we started talking about All Together One and talking about bringing together all the parts of the university into one common environment where people felt they were part of the decision making of the university,” Rose said. Rose said by the late s JMU was growing rapidly but wasn’t receiving the state funds to compensate for the growth. “When I took over, resources were stretched thin, parents were complaining, people weren’t graduating on time and it wasn’t a pleasant place to be at that time,” Rose said. Rose changed how the university grew and took JMU from an institution that grew just to get bigger to one that grows to meet the demands of the state. “I told the faculty a number of years ago that if we don’t have the resources we aren’t going to continue to grow the institution,” Rose said. “I know the state would like to see, particularly the selective institutions, grow more and our position has been we would like to see that if you give us the resources.” During Rose’s term, the student-faculty ratio fell from : in to : in . Even though the student-faculty ratio fell, the number of students continued to increase. In
Highlights from The Rose Years
Increased enrollment by 37 percent Lowered student-faculty ratio from 20:1 to 16.:1 Expanded campus size to 712 acres Constructed 25 buildings and added 2.4 million square feet Initiated more than 20 new academic programs Established a Phi Beta Kappa chapter More than doubled the university budget Raised $70 million in the university’s first capital campaign
Rose’s years, enrollment has grown percent to ,. Not only has enrollment increased, but the physical nature of campus has changed as well. To fulfill the space needs, Rose oversaw the construction of new dorms such as Chesapeake Hall and Shenandoah Hall, the East Campus Library, the East Campus Dining Hall, the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts, the Integrated Science and Technology building, the Health and Human Services building, the Physics and Chemistry building and the renovation of numerous buildings such as Logan Hall, Hoffman Hall, Memorial Hall and Miller Hall. Rose also saw the campus grow to acres. Rose said he regrets that
“I would hope whoever that person is will bring that same commitment to students that I have tried to reflect and that’s the primary driver that’s made our institution as successful as it’s been. I hope the new president doesn’t come in and change and say ‘Now we’re are going down the path to be a researchone university.’ ” Linwood Rose President
some programs, like UREC, have already outgrown their buildings because the space wasn’t built big enough. “Unfortunately when you’re a state enterprise you rarely have opportunity to build growth into what you’re doing, you always have to build to the population that you have in place,” Rose said. “We could have spent less money if we would have
anticipated our growth and built some bigger buildings to begin with.” Looking back on his career, Rose regretted the decision to cut varsity sports in in order to be compliant with the federal law Title IX, which mandates equal opportunity to men and women in sports. “I don’t think we could’ve done anything else and stayed in compliance with the law, but for somebody who has been here as long as I have and who has worked to create opportunities for students it’s really counter to what you dedicate yourself to do to then take opportunity away,” Rose said. In his speech announcing his decision to step-down, Rose also spoke about budget cuts, economic shortfalls and the loss of student life as some of the difficulties he has faced in his career. “Dr. Rose has had a tremendous impact on JMU,” Warner said in an e-mail. “He has always made decisions with the best interests of student learning in mind.” Those decisions have led to more than recognitions in magazines, but also to high satisfaction rates among students. “If there’s one single accomplishment that I’m most proud of it’s having a or satisfaction rate from students,” Rose said. “That people leave here feeling like they’ve had the great collegiate experience and they’ve received considerable value for their money, their investment — that statistic means more to me than other rankings and ratings.” This year JMU has been ranked for rd best food in “The Princeton Review,” th on the best values in public colleges by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine, the top master’s-level university in the south by U.S. News and World Reports and has made U.S. News and World Reports America’s Best Colleges list. Looking to the future, Rose hopes the new president keeps the focus of the university the same. “I would hope whoever that
RYAN FREELAND / THE BREEZE
Linwood Rose hopes to leave JMU in 2012 better staffed, with more space and more applications than when he entered the office in 1999. Rose set a personal goal to foster a student-centered environment as president.
person is will bring that same commitment to students that I have tried to reflect and that’s the primary driver that’s made our institution as successful as it’s been,” Rose said. “The values, beliefs, core mission of the institution. I hope the new president doesn’t come in and change and say, ‘Now we’re are going down the path to be a research-one university.’ ” In January, the Board of Visitors created a presidential search committee to help manage and find qualified candidates for final approval from the Board. The committee is currently hiring a search firm to assist in the process. The committee hopes to find a candidate who will formally take over the position July , . Rose’s departure is months away, but he says his focus is still at JMU. There’s still legislative sessions to lobby, graduates
to confirm, projects to oversee and new students to welcome. As Rose transitions into retirement, he’ll look to the past to help him with his next endeavor. Rewind years to and Rose is wiping dust off the Bloody Beast. After years in storage, she looks old, worn and in serious need of love. Her driver — older, wiser and more experienced — still sees the same beauty he saw in her decades ago. “It started with his first car which was the one he kept and restored,” said Judith Rose, his wife. “And he’s always enjoyed wiping up oil from the garage floor and solving electrical mysteries.” Perhaps it’s the teacher in him, but as he personally restored the Bloody Beast, Rose added pictures, descriptions and details to his personal
website so others could learn from his craftsmanship. After years of meticulous work, Rose completed the full restoration and takes her on drives through town, to car shows, races and has even driven her in the JMU Homecoming parade in the past. With one beauty done, Rose’s love for British sports cars isn’t satiated. It’s time to start a new project. A new car, a new challenge and something to keep this mechanic at work. Taking cues from his earlier restoration, Rose will begin the restoration of a Jaguar. So if in a few years there’s a guy cruising through campus in a classic Jag, it’s Rose. Bu t o f c ou r s e, h e may not be wearing his signature purple tie this time. CONTACT John Sutter at breezenews@gmail.com.
HONORS | Program to offer new scholarships, expand Maymester courses from page 3
under that heading.” Being able to work one-onone with a faculty member in the same discipline that the student is interested in further fosters preparedness for the occupational setting. “The skills that the students develop and the experience with the honors program will provide big benefits in the business world,” Falk said. “The faculty members will serve as
connections that they will value for a lifetime.” Maureen Shanahan, associate director of the Honors Program, describes the honors students as “having a vision about their futures making it easy to advance their goals.” Shanahan sees being part of the Honors Program “as one of the best opportunities” for students. Falk added that “at other places students struggle to get their voices out there but JMU’s
attitude is ‘how can I help you?’ ” Falk and his associates are in the midst of making changes to the program to entice even more students to apply. “There are some really exciting things we are working on that could set us as a national model for honors curriculum,” Falk said. T h e p r o g r a m i s w o r king on expanding the Maymester Honors Seminar to provide for flexibility in highly
structured majors, as well as offering unique scholarship opportunities. Falk and his colleagues are also working on ways to further the “JMU faculty interaction with honors students and increase the network of alumni creating additional mentoring and internship opportunities” he said. Dan Richardson, a junior political science major, has been a member of the Honors Program since his freshman
year. “The Honors Program has been the single biggest thing for me and most of my current resume revolves around it,” said Richardson, who is the Honors Student Council chair. “It offers more than just courses and Dr. Falk has played an instrumental part in all of that.” According to Richardson, when deciding between other rigorous Virginia universities, he believes that high school applicants are drawn to the
atmosphere of JMU’s Honors Program. “They are looking for seminar classes versus lecture and the Honors Program exists to fill that void,” Richardson said. “JMU is known for the teacher-friendly environment and the Honors Program supplements and adds to that.” CONTACT Natalie Dohner at dohnernh@ dukes.jmu.edu.
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Monday, January 24, 2011
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Opinion
SUBMIT YOUR DARTS & PATS at breezejmu.org
EDITOR Kaleigh Somers E-MAIL breezeopinion@gmail.com
Monday, January 24, 2011
7
SEAN DOLAN | public interest
Senate to halt
After approval in the House, adjustments to health care reform won’t pass Senate The Republicans are once again showing their unwillingness to help Americans i n n e e d . Th e H e a l t h Care Reform Act, which will br ing universal health care to the United States, is President Obama’s crowning achievement, and Congressional Republicans are out to repeal the historic act. The repeal has already passed in the House of Representatives, but that is as far as it will go. Harry Reid will not bring it up in the Senate, and Obama has vowed to veto the bill if it ever reaches his desk. The bill is officially called the “Repealing the Job-Killing Health Care Law Act.” But does health care reform really kill jobs? Congressional Budget Office analysis from August — the data the GOP cited to use the term “job-killing” — shows reform will not eliminate jobs but will slightly reduce labor. The CBO states “the expansion of Medicaid and the availability of subsidies through the exchanges will effectively increase beneficiaries’ financial resources. Those additional resources will encourage some people to work fewer hours or to withdraw from the labor market.” So older people might retire earlier, because they will have greater access to Medicare. Perspective is everything when determining whether a claim is true. Republicans have been known to speak from the point of view of businesses, so I suppose in a very roundabout way they are telling the truth by calling the bill “job-killing.” Elderly employees will have the option of working less, so technically it will kill jobs from the perspective of the employer. What’s more, the non-partisan CBO stated the repeal of health care reform would add $ billion to the deficit over the next years. Speaker John Boehner responded to that statement by saying the CBO is “entitled to their own opinion.” Republicans have showed time and time again their ideology can make facts irrelevant. The exact same strategy of labeling facts as opinions has been used for issues like climate change denial. This debate ultimately boils down to the deep-seated belief of the role of government. This is a philosophical repeal of health care reform. The GOP agenda aims to reduce the size and
scope of government and take away the individual mandate forcing nearly every American to purchase health insurance (the individual mandate was originally introduced by Republicans, but the minute the Democrats use it, it’s socialism). Obama, on the other hand, aligns more with the principles of president Franklin D. Roosevelt. Roosevelt introduced the idea of an Economic Bill of Rights in his State of the Union address in January . “We cannot be content, no matter how high that general standard of living may be, if some fraction of our people — whether it be one-third or one-fifth or one-tenth — is ill-fed, ill-clothed, ill-housed and insecure,” he said to Congress. The Economic Bill of Rights would have guaranteed all Americans with a living wage, freedom from unfair competition and monopolies, housing, medical care, education and social security. FDR believed these should be considered individual rights, no less important than the first amendments to the Constitution.
Republicans have showed time and time again their ideology can make facts irrelevant. The exact same strategy of labeling facts as opinions has been used for issues like climate change denial. The failure of the Economic Bill of Rights is a fair summary of the American view of the responsibility of government. Instead of being guaranteed basic necessities such as health care, housing and education, Americans are on their own to find economic security in a country where poverty is built into the system. It leads to the suffering of many for the wealth of a few. Republicans were elected in enormous numbers in November following the promises to fix the economy and listen to the needs of Americans. So far all they have been able to do is jam their failed ideology into this repeal bill that will ultimately collapse. Can we please move on? Sean Dolan is a sophomore political science major. Contact Sean at dolansf@dukes.jmu.edu.
Darts & Pats are anonymously submitted and printed on a space-available basis. Submissions creatively depict a given situation, person or event and do not necessarily reflect the truth.
Submit Darts & Pats at breezejmu.org
A “we-don’t-want-you” dart to all of the Patriots fans who hopped on the Steelers bandwagon after last weekend. From someone who wants to beat the Jets regardless of your loss. An “oh-you’re-my-best-friend” pat to my roommate who saved my butt by driving back to Copper Beech to retrieve my calculus homework five minutes before class. From a Queen fan who knows that you’re truly the best. A “put-a-sock-in-it” dart to all the students who think it is OK to yell and laugh loudly at night while going down the street and getting off of buses. From a fellow student who actually uses the nighttime for sleeping and wishes there wasn’t a bus stop outside her front door.
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A “we-aren’t-a-group-buta-family” pat to all the Student Ambassadors who welcomed the new members with literally open arms and tons of hugs. From a new member itching for more. An “I-bet-we-got-more-incommon-than-just-liking-gyros” pat to the girl with the long red hair in line to buy Greek food at Festival on Wednesday. From the Christian guy behind you in line who is kicking himself for not inviting you to church. A “this-is-not-lover’s-lane” dart to the couple nonchalantly shuffling along while holding hands on the UREC track. From two track regulars who think you two need to take the strolls with your sweetheart to the sidewalk where they belong.
LUCAS WACHOB | no goal
Curbing childhood obesity New school lunch guidelines only temporary solution to permanent problem First Lady Michelle Obama has been at the forefront of a new initiative by the United States Department of Agriculture to lower rates of childhood obesity. The new standards more than double the required amount of fruits and vegetables, mandate steady reductions in sodium, restrict all milk with higher fat content than percent and place a cap on the number of calories a student should consume in a day. The initiative marks the first major change since when fat content was reduced. Because approximately percent of American children are considered obese, according to the Office of the Surgeon General, the USDA’s new standards for healthier school lunches are appropriate but they aren’t a solution and shouldn’t be treated like one. The battle against unhealthy lifestyles takes a lot more than one balanced meal each day for days of the year for years. The fact that minor improvements in school lunches have become national news worries me that some people think it will solve the entire problem. The problem with obese, unhealthy children is that they tend to grow up to be obese, unhealthy adults. An adult needs to be able to choose wisely and embrace an active lifestyle to be healthy, and it’s these skills that children need to be developing.
Letters and guest columns should be submitted in print or via e-mail and must include name, phone number, major/year if author is a current student (or year of graduation), professional title (if applicable) and place of residence if author is not a JMU student.
The problem with obese, unhealthy children is that they tend to grow up to be obese, unhealthy adults. Apparently in Ms. Wootan’s mind, the old saying goes “Give a man a fish, and you’ve just taught a man to fish.” Which, I assure you, it does not. The actual saying is “Give a man a fish, and you’ve fed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you’ve fed him for a lifetime.” Parents need to be teaching children about food choices just as much as we need to provide them a healthy meal during school.
A “thanks-for-giving-me-hope” pat to the section of LikeALittle.com for JMU that keeps me reading daily. From a single freshman girl who recently had her heart broken but loves to see all the flirting nonetheless.
A “you-are-the-best-bride-ever” pat to my twin who chose a location, date, dress and a pastor within hours of being engaged. From your maid of honor who is so happy for you.
A “you’re-the-effin’-man” pat to the dude at Chipotle who loaded my burrito so full, a second tortilla was required to roll it up. From a dude with the munchies whose night was made.
A “that’s-not-very-JMU-of-you” dart to whoever stole our recycling bin. From four environmentally friendly juniors in Copper Beech who can no longer save the Earth one plastic bottle at a time.
A “your-laughter-is-contagious” pat to the two girls who got swept off their feet by that sneaky ice patch on the th floor of the Grace Street parking deck. From two girls who were impressed by your great sense of humor in a slick situation. A “don’t-think-twice,-it’s-allright” pat to all the boys who second-guess their scruffy beards. From a sophomore who is refreshed by college boys who look like men. A “pancakes-or-waffles?” dart to my brother’s roommates who continuously ask me to make breakfast. From a chef who was just trying to be nice and wishes you wouldn’t keep bringing it up.
The Breeze welcomes and encourages readers to voice their opinions through letters and guest columns. Letters must be no longer than 250 words. Guest columns must be no more than 650 words. The Breeze reserves the right to edit submissions for length, grammar and if material is libelous, factually inaccurate or unclear. The Breeze assumes the rights to any published work. Opinions expressed in this page, with the exception of editorials, are not necessarily those of The Breeze or its staff.
While kids are in school, adults are able to make healthy choices for them. When these kids become adults, how will they know what to choose for themselves? If we simply keep unhealthy foods out of children’s reach, that progess may be easily be undone once they have access to those foods. Parents shouldn’t let kids eat whatever they want, but sheltering them from the bad things will only leave them less prepared to deal with them. Margo Wootan, director of nutrition policy at the Center for Science in the Public Interest, says, “Requiring school lunches to provide more whole grains, fruits and vegetables will teach kids healthy eating habits that may last a lifetime.”
Serving James Madison University Since 1922 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .KATIE THISDELL MANAGING EDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DREW BEGGS NEWS EDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MATT SUTHERLAND NEWS EDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JOHN SUTTER OPINION EDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . KALEIGH SOMERS LIFE EDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TORIE FOSTER
A “why-do-you-keep-teasingme?” dart to the weather forecasts that are never right. From a girl who just wants to see some white on the ground and keeps getting let down. An “oh-my-goodness,-kissesahoy!” pat to my two friends who make the cutest couple. From a friend who hopes he too will find his island of love. An “I-would-like-to-getthrough-a-lecture-withoutgagging” dart to the rank boy who sits next to me in game theory class. From a girl who thinks showering and brushing your teeth shouldn’t be an optional part of your morning routine.
Schools also need to promote physical activity much more than they currently do. Gym class, the laughingstock of public education, may actually be as important to our quality of life as the academic skills taught in other classes. Having gym class every other day — like I did — or even less isn’t enough to keep kids in shape. In school, we need to better emphasize the importance of physical activity to a well-rounded education by giving kids more opportunities to be active. Kids need healthy, active role models in their lives on a daily basis and personally attentive adults who can guide them as they experiment with finding balance. An extra cup of fruit won’t make an obese child healthy if his home life revolves around watching television or doing homework. Drinking percent milk instead of whole milk won’t add years to a child’s life if both of her parents work and have no time to prepare healthy dinners at home. Having a celebrity tell kids to be active won’t build healthy routines if the adults they see on a daily basis aren’t also active. Childhood obesity is a product of structural, societal conditions — not how much salt is on our freedom fries or syrup on our freedom toast. If Americans aren’t serious about discussing all of the causes of childhood obesity, they shouldn’t expect effective and long-lasting solutions. Lucas Wachob is a sophomore public policy and administration major. Contact Lucas at wachoblm@dukes.jmu.edu.
A “thanks-for-helping-me-withmy-bucket-list” pat to my roommate who inspired me to submit a dart about her playing a Facebook game in the library. From a senior who hopes to accomplish all things by May . A “sorry-’bout-it” dart to the girls who didn’t pre-register for World Beat Dance, making the class crowded. From someone who clicks obsessively hours in advance to make sure she can register each week. A “don’t-be-such-a-DebbieDowner” dart to my roommate who would rather stay in her room and read her syllabus than hang out. From your other roommates who know that the professor will go over that in class. A “thanks-for-wasting-mymoney” dart to the girl who said, “I’m just here to party, you know what I mean? I don’t want to do too much work.” From mommy and daddy. A “digestive-pyrotechnics” dart to people throwing up in public. From an innocent passerby who doesn’t want to know you had beans.
“To the press alone, chequered as it is with abuses, the world is indebted for all the triumphs which have been gained by reason and humanity over error and oppression.”
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Monday, January 24, 2011
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Life
on page 10
review of heartless bastards’ show
Editors Torie Foster & Pamela Kidd E-mail breezearts@gmail.com
Monday, January 24, 2011
9
Jamie Lose
keep the good times rolling
decode,
Partiers: Keep on keeping on, winter weather be damned Oh, January party scene, how daunting and anticlimactic you always are. I don’t know why it always surprises me when I go out in miniskirts and strapless dresses that I find myself suffering from hypothermia and humiliation. You would think after four years of your unforgiving and unpredictably frigid weather, I would be more prepared. Alas, at a school such as JMU, we women pride ourselves on high-heeled perseverance and I’ll be damned if ice-covered Port Republic Road is going to win! Of course, on the nights I don’t go out and instead drive my lazy butt up to Subway, I partake in the cynical banter of, “Look at that girl. She’s freezing her ass off. Literally, I can see it and it’s frozen.” All the while, I’m planning what I can get away with wearing to Jimdels next Thursday night. I learned early on about the cleverly immoral “beer jacket.” I’ve also heard it be called a “fratcket,” as well as “party gear.” It was explained to me either by word of mouth or on some reliable source like collegehumor.com that a beer jacket is a coat you might pick up at a party that doesn’t belong to you and wear it home. For the upcoming frigid nights this will be the jacket you take out with you, so if it gets lost, stolen or ruined, it doesn’t really matter because you had no monetary or personal investment in it. Sounds kind of evil but genius, right? I adopted my own version of a beer jacket when I went home one weekend to see the family. Rather than steal from someone else, I dug through old trunks and hidden closets I had forgotten about. Fortunately, I stumbled upon a leather and furred gem to rock over my sequins and halter tops most of my sophomore year. Unfortunately, somewhere between Sunchase Annex and Fox Hills on a negative degree night, my beloved beer coat went missing and I was off to fend for myself once again. If you ask me, it’s a good reason to pack on the extra pounds to stay warm in the winter — which means more beer and Tostitos, baby! Luckily, this year the majority of my party people live in the same complex as I do, making it remarkably easy to dress hot and stay hot — you know, temperaturewise. The other night for example, I had to journey exactly 20 yards to get to where I was going. I walked that path proud with my head held high and no coat in sight, just like I was a warrior princess. The one I can’t forgive, however, are the guys traveling from campus, non-drunk bus riders, in short-sleeved polos. Really? There’s no excuse. Thanks to the staggeringly unfair guy-to-girl ratio here, you don’t really have to try as hard to impress anyone, and frankly you look stupid freezing your man parts off. But I’m not here to judge. The goal is to remark on the unfairness of such a giant party school in a geographical location that goes through all four seasons. It’s not really our fault we just want to have a good time and that the elements plot against us. In fact, I’d go ahead and call us brave, dedicated champions. I wish I had some solution to the winter turmoil we go through and could lead JMU into drunken bliss, but besides the cabs, buses, long-sleeved shirts and pants that all seem like obviously helpful solutions, I’ve got nothing. So party on, party people. Hang tough you brave freezing souls and find comfort in the thought that warm weather is just a few, er, months away. Jamie Lose is a senior media arts & design major and a humor columnist at The Breeze. Contact her at losejl@dukes.jmu. edu.
dance
Photo courtesy of Richard Finkelstein
The Liz Lerman Dance Exchange performs “Ferocious Beauty: Genome” to embody genetics on stage. The performance ended a recent DNA series.
Professional dance company depicts DNA for Mainstage performance By Jennifer Bennett contributing writer
Some tackle the complex concept of DNA with textbooks or through a microscope. Nationally known choreographer Liz Lerman approaches it with dance. Through “Ferocious Beauty: Genome” at the Forbes Center for the Performing Arts on Friday and Saturday, Lerman’s company portrayed genetics with an expression of light, sound and the body.
Powerful music and movements mimicked DNA structures, questions about science and genetic deficiencies, including a moving scene about Huntington’s disease where the performers writhed around the stage. Ten dancers ranging in ages and abilities captivated the audience and used their entire bodies to tell the story of DNA. They wore minimally adorned costumes for the see Dance, page 10
The Liz Lerman Dance Exchange n Founded in 1976 and based
in Takoma Park, Md.
n Has created more than 50 dance and
theatre works and has participated in thousands of worldwide performances and events. n Goal is to open door to all kinds of insight and perception to make hard science more approachable.
play Review
Tech-take on ‘Town’ makes modern message By Beth Cole The Breeze
In a new adaptation of “Our Town,” a small town in the 1900s ties to the 21st century using a tool modern audiences can relate to: a cell phone. Directed by senior musical theatre major Glen North, “Our Town” premiered at Studio Theatre on Friday night, taking viewers through the intricacies of daily life in a dull New Hampshire town. Thornton Wilder wrote the play in the 1930s and designed it to be simple, not using any props. Viewers must imagine each activity as the actors mime it out on stage, from reading the paper and drinking the morning coffee to pouring a glass of milk. From the very beginning, the exceptional acting draws in the audience’s attention. Otherwise, the plot depicts a painfully ordinary small town life.
Our Town
Director Glen North Admission $6 Runtime About 2 hours; 8 p.m. tonight and Tuesday
As the play started, stage director and sophomore theatre major Katelyn Murray laid out the imaginary town of Grover’s Corners. Murray, in a New England accent, gracefully walked audience members along Main Street, painting an oral picture without any visual aides. She continued to act as the all-knowing tour guide throughout the play, breaking from scenes to talk - and engage the audience. After the initial scene-setting, Mrs. Gibbs and Mrs. Webb (junior theatre majors Taylor Faulkinberry and Kellie Ferrick) enter the scene, dressed in see Play, page 10
Photo courtesy of paula Discipulo
Emily Webb (played by sophomore Lauren Adkins) regrets humans’ inability to appreciate life while they are living it.
Movie Review
Portman, Kutcher suprisingly string you along By Rachel Dozier The Breeze
I take it all back. After weeks of making fun of this seemingly pointless and predictable story, I’m woman enough to admit I thoroughly enjoyed “No Strings Attached.” Yes, it is predictable, and yes, the ending could be served with wine, but the script was clever, intelligent and made me laugh harder than I have in weeks.
No Strings Attached
‘R’ 110 min. Starring Natalie Portman, Ashton Kutcher and Kevin Kline
The story centers around Emma (Natalie Portman) and Adam (Ashton Kutcher), two awkward barely-friends who seem to run into each other at rather pivotal points in their lives. Because Emma is a nurse with a busy schedule and a raging set of issues about commitment and emotions, the two “decide” (more like Emma declares) that they will remain “friends with benefits.” Just take one look at the trailer for details about what ends up happening.
Photo courtesy of MCT Campus
Emma (Natalie Portman) and Adam (Ashton Kutcher) try to be friends with benefits.
Now I know what you’re thinking: Replace Portman with Amanda Peet and you have “A Lot Like Love.” Despite the fact that Kutcher seems to get pulled into this archetypal love story on the regular, this story was
much more witty and enjoyable. The majority of my original concern and disdain for this movie was based on the fact that I was obsessed with Portman’s performance in “Black Swan.” After such a daring and artistic
masterpiece, why would she sink so low as to make a friends-with-benefits movie with Ashton Kutcher? Hmm, I don’t know. Maybe she’s a human who likes to have fun? Portman’s hilarious outbursts and miniature (because everything she does is miniature) tantrums were reminiscent of her uproarious “Saturday Night Live” sketches and prove that she is one of the most versatile actresses out there. She showed that she can be just as charmed by the sentimental Ashton Kutcher character as the next actress, while also winning a Golden Globe for playing a desperate ballerina obsessed with perfection. But ignoring those other pointless romantic comedies (see “Valentine’s Day”), Portman’s romance with the goofball — formerly known as Michael from “That ’70s Show” and currently known as Mr. Demi Moore — was so genuine, I couldn’t help but believe it. I found myself verbally rooting for two fictional characters while inside a dark theater (a humiliating thought after the fact). I guess now my main problem lies with a different movie coming out this summer. It’s called “Friends With
see Movie, page 10
10
Monday, January 24, 2011
From Britain to U.S. American adaptations appear on screen By JEFF WADE The Breeze
An invasion is subtlety happening as a slew of adaptations of British television shows hit American airwaves. Last Monday saw the debut of two American remakes within an hour of each other. “Being Human” (Monday, p.m. on Syfy) focuses on a ghost, werewolf and vampire who share an apartment. It splits the difference between supernatural drama and mythology building with light comedic elements. The show is well cast, and the chemistry between the central characters does a lot in grounding a very “out there” premise. “Skins” (Monday, p.m on MTV) received a huge publicity push from its network, hoping that its sordid tales of troubled teenagers can emulate the frankness about teen sex and drug use that made the original infamous. Much like the original it walks the line between telling it like it is and sensationalism with varying degrees of success. British adaptations are nothing new. Even megapopular shows like “American Idol” and “America’s Got Talent” use their patriotic branding to hide their foreign roots. But few adaptations have highlighted the differences in how each culture approaches television as much as these have. The British model of television differs immensely from what American audiences find familiar. A majority of their shows have short and intricately planedout runs that often only contain about six episodes a season. Case-in-point: Our version of “The Office” is currently running through its seventh season. The original had a mere episodes. Writers and show-runners have a much more noticeable control on how their shows
develop and are much more visible than American writers. The original “Skins” was notoriously written by writers in their late teens and early twenties. So it baffles why both “Being Human” and “Skins” remain so slavishly devoted to their source material. The shot-for-shot remakes hit a majority of the beats as the originals, with no major changes outside a gender flip for a character in “Skins.” From a critical standpoint, neither of these shows rank as bad. Many fans of the original “Skins” were horrified to learn that MTV would handle the adaptation, but outside of James Newman’s noble failure to live up to Nicholas Hoult’s performance as main character Tony, it works far better than it has any right to. It just seems inessential. “Being Human” makes slightly more sense to adapt, mainly due to the premise’s specificity. The scenario is a good jumping-off point that could go to some very different places than the original. Yet if you want to make a show about the actualities of the teenage experience, why adapt another show? The built-in fan base for “Skins” will be hostile to the idea of remaking it, and those unfamiliar with the original don’t care that it’s an adaptation. In the modern age where the spread of information allows shows to gather an international fan base, the idea of waiting for a remake seems antiquated. If either show decides to branch out on its own, it could excite existing fans and become more relevant to the standard American audience. As of now, it feels like watching a friend stuck with a British accent. While amusing, one cannot help but want the show to find its own voice. CONTACT Jeff Wade at wadeja@dukes.jmu.edu.
MOVIE | Not deep, but still entertaining from page 9
Benefits” and it stars Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake basically following the same general premise. In some ways this seems like two scorned celebrities trying to get back at the people who hurt them. Kunis lost two loves — Kutcher from their days on “That ’s Show” and Portman from “Black Swan” — and Timberlake lost the title to his former band’s best album “No Strings Attached.” It will be interesting to see if this second film will bring anything new to the table. And while I doubt it, who knows — I was wrong about
this one. As for “No Strings Attached,” if you go in expecting a weak, predictable plot with boring characters that don’t seem to fit together, then you’d be a lot like I was. Fortunately I embraced the fact that this film is fun and maybe a little pointless, but who cares? Not everything that comes to theaters has to be poignant and deep to be good. Sometimes you just want to enjoy a movie, no strings attached. CONTACT Rachel Dozier at dozierra@ dukes.jmu.edu.
breezejmu.org LIFE
Student band lacks professionalism By AMBER LOGSDON contributing writer
It takes a lot of gall to write a song about shopping for the perfect pair of pants. It takes even more to use the line “I put you on and it fits just like a glove around my balls” in the same song. Gary Haggerty and the Heartless Bastards, a band made up of JMU students, certainly have no shame. Gary Haggerty doesn’t exist. But seniors Robert Davis, Daniel Lynn, Patrick Langan and Patrick Moniz do, and they recently released a four-song, self-titled EP. Their style would best be described as a watered-down version of fellow JMU act, the Casey Cavanagh Band, but with a maturity of early Blink-. It’s hard to tell whether or not the Heartless Bastards take being a band seriously. Making sexual jokes is OK as an extra bit during a live show or messing around during rehearsals. But it just doesn’t fit on an EP that professionals are going to hear and which potentially makes career-changing decisions. The band doesn’t send off
BRANDON PAYNE / THE BREEZE
Bassist Robby Davis and lead singer Daniel Lynn give a performance reminiscent of early Blink-182 at Dave’s Taverna on Saturday night.
a professional vibe, nor do they seem cohesive, musically. Most of the songs, especially “Screaming Seagull” and “The Pants Song,” frequently get offrhythm. Sometimes, drummer Langan seems to stumble on rhythms beyond the basic bass/snare/hi-hat sequence and falls behind the rest of the group. There’s a particularly painful moment at the end of “Screaming Seagull” where he obviously missed a few beats and scrambled to catch back up with everyone else.
“The Pants Song” especially infuriates, because on the surface, the song talks about buying new pants. The chorus, though, betrays a potential underlying meaning about maybe trying on new girls until finding “the perfect fit.” The subject matter is bad, but the music itself is even worse. At points, it sounds as if everyone randomly wails on their instruments. One thing that remains consistent is Lynn’s vocals. When they’re consistently weak,
though, that’s not exactly a good thing. On the band’s cover of Old Crow Medicine Show’s “Wagon Wheel,” the last song on the EP, his voice stays flat the entire song. It’s not much better on the other songs, either. A bit of a surprise comes during “Goin’ Fishin’” when, in the middle of the song, he screeches “Bob Saget!” Things like that call their seriousness into question. Vocals aside, “Wagon Wheel” shows that the band have some amount of potential. It starts slowly, but gets a bit more interesting as it goes on, with the acoustic guitar experimenting with some more advanced techniques. In the future, they could easily revisit this song and tweak it to make it more complex. Gary Haggerty and the Heartless Bastards have a lot of maturing to do, both in the content of their songs and as a musical unit. However, some hope exists for them yet — just as soon as they realize it. CONTACT Amber Logsdon at logsdoan@dukes.jmu.edu.
DANCE | Choreographer held classes on campus from page 9
most part, which were simple rustic colored outfits, but their high energy made up for it. Jumping and running around the stage contrasted with slower scenes, like when the performers acted out “The Man Who Caught Death in a Sack” story. One dancer also acted as the voice inside many peoples’ heads, asking questions about the significance of DNA and how it affects humanity. Although not sold out, the show assembled a decent crowd. Meghan Overbey, a sophomore psychology major, said she was impressed. “I still don’t completely understand DNA,” Overbey said. “But I now want to know more about it and it is cool to learn about it in a different way that from a textbook.” Lerman spent nine months talking to scientists and educators on the subject before she even
began her work in the studio for the production. Throughout the performance, clips of these scientists gave information and insights and a few times their voices became the background track for the performers to dance to. The performers also studied videos of people with genetic disorders to make scenes accurately. Lerman’s decision to begin such an undertaking stemmed from her inability to help her daughter with her DNA-themed homework one day. Now, her dance exchange highlights “scientific discovery and issues associated with genetics, our common ancestry, aging and humankind’s constant search for perfection.” “It was a great representation of the study of genetics in a friendly way, instead of with scientific definitions,” said senior Jonathan Sanford, an anthropology major. It “can help the
community understand genetics by giving explanations through art and emotions.” Premiering in , the cast performed “Ferocious Beauty: Genome” in cities across North America and ended at JMU. However, the university hosted the company for more than just performances. For more than a year, Lerman and the cast visited as part of the university’s goal to combine science and the arts. “What besides art can make you think this way?” Lerman asked. In doing so, Lerman and the exchange taught dance students, local middle school students and helped with the DNA Dance First yeaR Orientation Guides, Orientation Peer Advisers and the incoming freshman class participated in this past summer as an extension of “The DNA Age” readings students discussed. Elizabeth Johnson, campus director and cast member of the exchange, said the performance at
the Forbes Center was a highlight of the tour. “The DNA Dance was one of the most fun projects I’ve ever done because the students took it and ran,” Johnson said. Johnson said she enjoyed combining three of her favorite things at JMU: dance, science and leadership. “It was amazing to see how art can catalyze a community,” she said. “It was inspiring.” George Sparks, dean of the College of Performing Arts, said he’d never been so impressed by a show. “That was the most moving live theatre performance I’ve ever seen in my life,” Sparks said. Lerman said reactions such as Sparks’ inspire her work. “This is why I do this,” she said. “It’s so good to get a reaction like that.” CONTACT Jennifer Bennett at benne2jm@dukes.jmu.edu.
SPEAKER | Personal genome influences project from front
Collins said he had his own genome scanned by several companies specializing in the process, including andMe, a genetic testing center. While he praised such groups for the ability to diagnose potential diseases, he admitted there was room for error. These groups are “pretty good at getting the right answer, but the interpretations are not all the same,” Collins said. Collins’ results indicated his risk of developing atrial fibrillation, an abnormal heart rhythm. This information prompted him to exercise and eat right. He’s lost pounds, but joked that the experience also turned
him completely gray. Collins also said that at the very least, these tests could encourage people to engage in healthier lifestyles. But the highlight of the presentation was not himself or his achievements, but rather, his genuine interest in helping others. Collins focused on the advantages of implementing a system that can analyze genome sequences for medical benefit. Though this has yet to become commonplace, Collins believes in the next few years, everyone will have a genome sequence in his or her medical record. Doctors compare an unhealthy individual’s genome sequence to a healthy person’s and look for mutations that may be caused by certain diseases,
Collins said. These mutations are called single nucleotide polymorphisms, or SNPs. “We scan the genome looking for variations,” Collins said. “This presents you with the ability to choose drug therapy more precisely.” Collins used an example with the drug Plavix, which is one of the most prescribed medicines in the United States. Doctors use Plavix to slow the creation of stroke-causing blood clots. It also fails for nearly percent of patients. An SNP of a particular gene may be related to this problem. For Plavix to work, an enzyme in the liver has to break it down. But patients with this mutation have trouble doing so. Therefore, those identified with this mutation can seek other treatment. Collins brought the science closer to home by talking about one particular patient. Seven-year-old Corey was born with Leber’s congenital amaurosis, making his vision deteriorate significantly as he grew older. The mutation for
this disease was found in a gene. After sequencing his genome, doctors found that his condition was genetically caused. Prior to treatment, Corey could not see more than four feet in front of him. Now, through gene therapy, he is on track to regain partial vision. While he is a man of science, Collins said he also wholeheartedly believes in intelligent design. He alluded to human traits that are not purely scientific. Collins claimed sacrificing one’s life for another and human interest in art and music go entirely against nature. “I have been both a scientist and a believer for nearly years,” he said. Collins and his guitar, named Rosalind after Rosalind Franklin, the first person to photograph DNA, walked off stage. But not until after he sung about his life’s work: “Imma walkin’ through the genes wonderin’ what all this means.” CONTACT Neal Hollowell at hollownr@dukes.jmu.edu.
PLAY | Actors enliven from page 9
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modest white blouses and long skirts — perfect pictures of housewives. This perfect picture broke, though, as the narrator handed them their only prop: an iPod. Everyone in the play carried some form of media device, from a cell phone to a laptop. This add-on to Wilder’s original play attempted to incite a deeper meaning within the modern audience, North said. “One of the main ideas in the play is that we don’t really connect on an everyday level, and today when we don’t really connect, it’s because of our technology,” North said. Two main characters, Emily Webb and George Gibbs (sophomores Lauren Adkins, a musical theatre major, and Cameron Clarke, a theatre major), drove this theme. In one of their opening scenes,
they flirt from each other’s windows with laptops in hand. Their innocent banter brought viewers to the simple time period. Cell phones and computers wove a link between their interactions that Webb took for granted in the end, and the interactions we may take for granted today via the use of media. Though not action oriented, the actors managed to entertain, sometimes sitting within the audience and interacting with them. While “Our Town” sounds like it would be a theatrical portrayal of history lectures, the actors create a relationship with the viewers, allowing them to see the brief parts of life that may otherwise go unnoticed. The show runs until Tuesday at p.m. Tickets are $. CONTACT Beth Cole at cole2ed@dukes.jmu.edu.
Sports
women’s basketball conference standings
on page 14
Editors Michael Demsky & Colleen Hayes E-mail breezesports@gmail.com
Monday, January 24, 2011
11
women’s basketball: jmu 69, vcu 59
Back at the top
Dukes take down Rams, tie for first in the conference
photos by dan gorin / the breeze
Eight JMU players scored Sunday, including senior guard Courtney Hamner (left) and sophomore guard Tarik Hislop (above). Senior guard Dawn Evans led everyone in scoring with 19 points. By Emmie Cleveland The Breeze
Before every game, JMU women’s basketball coach Kenny Brooks writes the same thing on the board in the locker room: Play hard and smart for 40 minutes. “A really good basketball team plays 40 minutes strong, hard and smart,” senior guard Dawn Evans said. “And that’s something that Coach Brooks writes on the board before every game.” Evans said that the Dukes didn’t play extremely hard the whole game, but they still pulled out a 69-59 victory over Virginia Commonwealth University on Sunday. With the win, they stay tied for first place in the Colonial Athletic Association with the University of North Carolina Wilmington and Old Dominion University and bump VCU to second. JMU (13-6 overall, 6-1 in the CAA) fell behind the Rams (10-7, 4-2) by as much as 10 in the first half, with the score at 21-11. The Dukes hit their stride going on a 29-8 run before heading into the break ahead 40-29. JMU extended its lead to as much as 16 points nine minutes into the second half. But a 14-6 run by the Rams narrowed the margin. “We came out in the second half, and I think we were a little lackadaisical,” Brooks said. “We were just gonna try to outscore them, and we lost a little bit of our defensive intensity down the stretch.” The defensive lull enabled the third leading scorer in the nation and VCU star, Courtney Hurt, to step
up. Hurt had a game-high 26 points, including three 3-pointers within the last five minutes of the game. “We know she’s going to score,” senior center Lauren Jimenez said. “She’s going to get her baskets. She’s a good player. We pushed her out, because that’s what we were told to do. But like I said, she’s going to get those baskets. We held her for a little while… then she just came out and got hot again.” The title of nation’s leading scorer, however, belongs to JMU. Averaging 24.6 points, Evans was held to 19 against VCU. But the stat didn’t faze her. “People make a big deal out of it, you know, leading the nation in scoring, or being the second leading scorer or the third leading scorer,” she said. “But it doesn’t matter if you don’t win the basketball game. So I just go out and do what I can. If I don’t have to score the entire game and we can win a basketball game, that’s fine.” What Evans didn’t score, her teammates made up, with eight people contributing to their total. “I think tonight was the first time probably since William & Mary, two and a half weeks ago, that we had everybody available to us,” Brooks said. “I was like a kid in a candy store. I had options. I had very good options… A lot of people came in and stepped up.” JMU continues conference play on the road at Drexel University and Towson University next week. Contact Emmie Cleveland at cleveej@dukes.jmu.edu.
men’s basketball: jmu 73, george mason 75
Dukes say so ‘Long’ to perfect home record By Michael Demsky The Breeze
dan gorin / the breeze
George Mason senior guard Cameron Long, a Second Team All-CAA pick last season, is currently sixth in the conference, averaging 15.3 points per game.
The men’s basketball team is now well-aware that all good things come to an end. In a matter of four days, the Dukes’ nine-game winning streak and perfect home record became things of the past. Following a 64-58 loss at Old Dominion University on Wednesday night, the Dukes suffered their first home loss of the season, falling to George Mason University, 75-73, early Saturday afternoon. JMU (15-5, 5-3 in the Colonial Athletic Association) came into the week tied atop the conference standings, but fell to a tie for fifth place following the back-to-back losses. George Mason (145, 6-2) now stands alone in third place in the conference. Leading the way for the Dukes was senior center Denzel Bowles with 21 points and 14 rebounds. He was joined in double-figures by junior guard Julius Wells and junior forward Rayshawn Goins, who had 11 and 10 points respectively. But the star of the game was George Mason senior guard Cameron Long. He led the Patriots with a career-high 30 points, 17 of them coming in the second half, on eight for nine shooting. He was joined by solid performances from junior forward Ryan Pearson, who posted 14 points and six boards and senior guard Isaiah Tate, who scored 10 points in 2:30 of the second half. GMU shot 66.7 percent in the second half compared to JMU’s 55.2 percent mark. In the first half, the Patriots shot 34.6 percent while the Dukes shot 37 percent. “They just made shots,” said JMU head coach Matt Brady. “They made plays and Cam Long got going. Quite truthfully,
when he got an open shot today, he made it. I thought we did a poor job of guarding him.” Tate’s contribution came in the second half when George Mason went on a 17-2 run to turn an eight-point JMU lead into a seven-point deficit for the Dukes. “The key of the game was the fact that we had a really poor four-minute stretch when we got the lead,” Brady said. JMU went ahead following a 14-5 run to start the second half after being down 33-32 at halftime. It was then that George Mason went on a run the Dukes never fully recovered from. “I thought that Mason showed their mental toughness,” Brady said. “They got down, they never got flustered, they took good shots and had good possessions, and we didn’t.” Despite giving up the lead late, the Dukes fought to keep the game within two points down to the final buzzer. But lights out shooting powered George Mason to the eventual victory. “They are an up-and-down team, they like to run, and we’re starting to get that but we haven’t figured everything out yet,” Moore said. Despite the 11 a.m. tip-off, the crowd at the Convocation Center was electric throughout, particularly during the Dukes’ scoring spree to start the second half. The attendance of 5,714 was by far the highest of the season. “What an atmosphere,” said George Mason head coach Jim Larranaga. “The arena, at 11 o’clock in the morning, my guess is normally empty. But today it was packed, the fans were into it, the players were into it and it made for a very exciting game from start to finish.” Next up for JMU is Hofstra University, as the Dukes will travel to Long Island on Monday night to take on the Pride (13-6, 7-1). Hofstra is currently tied with
Virginia Commonwealth University for first place in the conference. They won each of their two games last week, and feature defending CAA Player of the Year, senior guard Charles Jenkins. Following the game against Hofstra, the Dukes will return home to play Drexel University on Wednesday, before hitting the road again to play at the University of Delaware on Saturday. The games give the Dukes three opportunities to eliminate their current skid. “We just gotta figure it out as a team,” Bowles said. “We got three games next week, we just gotta figure it out. We’re going to have close games Monday and Wednesday.” But before the Dukes can look forward, their attention falls solely on the Pride. Much of the preparation will go toward stopping Jenkins, who is currently seventh in the country averaging 23.2 points per game. “That’s one of the best players in the league,” said sophomore guard Devon Moore. “You just have to hope he has an off-night.” After getting a taste of the top spot in the CAA, as well as votes in both national polls, the team has already realized the sort of success the team hopes to repeat at season’s end. In the meantime, the team remains two games out of the conference’s top spot with 10 conference games remaining. The Dukes remain confident, as none of their three conference losses have come by more than six points. “It’s not like we’re getting blown out, we’re right there,” Moore said. “It’s just the little things we need to figure out to get over the hump.” contact Michael Demsky at breezesports2@gmail.com.
12 Monday, January 24, 2011
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Monday, January 24, 2011
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SWIM & DIVE
Dukes split results, break records in final home meet By GEORGINA BUCKLEY The Breeze
In its last home meet of the season, the JMU swim and dive team lined the pool for every race, cheering their teammates on and presenting a unified front. Despite the fact the meet was the seniors’ last battle on home water, there were no tears. “I think they were really emotional at the beginning, but then when it was race time they got down to business,” said head coach Samantha Smith. The same sentiment was echoed by senior Carly Gibson, who placed first in the butterfly with a time of . seconds. Lisa Colapietro, a fellow senior, won the -yard breaststroke with a time of :. seconds. “We forgot that we were being honored,” Gibson said. “It wasn’t our meet, it was the team’s meet.” Competing against the Dukes were the Loyola University Maryland Greyhounds and the Towson University Tigers, the Colonial Athletic Association champion for the past three seasons.
The Dukes came out strong by taking first and second in the -yard medley relay and continuing to fight for dominance throughout the meet. “One of the biggest highlights was winning the first relay,” Smith said. “I don’t think anyone saw that coming.” The divers were also a force to be reckoned with. Despite having just come off a ruptured ear drum, senior diver Jackie Everett broke her previous school record in the one meter dive of . improving to .. It was Everett’s first day back on the board since her injury. Sophomore diver Kimberly Helfrich then smashed another school record in the three meter dive with a ., breaking her previous mark of .. “I’m on cloud nine,” said diving coach Dana Pederson. “We’ve been coming off some injuries, a broken arm, a hit on the board and what they did today was just phenomenal.” The team won seven out of events to top Loyola - and was just defeated by Towson -. The Dukes are now - overall and - in the CAA while the Tigers are - overall and -
in the CAA. “I think every team wants to take on Towson, but I think we are the ones to do it,” said senior Jackie Hartman. The tension of the crowd and the team grew as the teams headed into its last event: the freestyle relay. If they won, they would’ve had a fighting chance at beating the mighty Tigers. Despite failing to produce a necessary victory, the team left feeling proud of their performance. “I consider this a win,” Hartman said. “I don’t think any other team from our conference has been this close to them.” The Dukes have climbed up the CAA rankings in the last four years, going from th in the - season to rd in the - season, proving they are a force in the conference. “Our goal is to win conference no matter what it takes,” Gibson said. “This year we are going to fight until there is nothing left.” The Dukes head to the University of Richmond next Saturday to face off against the Spiders. CONTACT Georgina Buckley at bucklege@dukes.jmu.edu.
BLAIR BOSWELL / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
Senior Carly Gibson won the 100-meter butterfly with a time of 56.82 seconds in the Dukes’ showdown with Loyola and Towson on Saturday. It was the last home meet of the season for JMU swim and dive team and an emotional farewell for the seniors.
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Monday, January 24, 2011
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RANKINGS
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Women’s Basketball CAA Standings UNC Wilmington James Madison Old Dominion VCU Drexel Delaware Hofstra George Mason Georgia State Northeastern To w s o n William & Mary GRAPHIC BY JENNA THIELGES / THE BREEZE
TENNIS
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PHOTOS COURTESY OF JMU ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS
Senior tennis captain Ida Donner (far back left) and her teammates can be seen throughout campus wearing the JMU-inspired tutus for various sporting events, such as football games. By MEGAN HARMAN contributing writer
Senior tennis player Ida Donner and her teammates are often seen at football games or around campus sporting their infamous purple and yellow tutus. The tradition started with her older sister Barret (’09) and has no signs of coming to an end any time soon. As she finishes up her senior season, Donner explains her history with the sport and what makes the tradition of tulle so special to the team. What is the story behind the infamous tutus? My
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mom owns a vintage clothing store in North Carolina and she sells tutus and she can get any color mixture that you want. One day we thought, ‘Why not do it for our school colors?’ So my older sister started doing it and then all the other girls on the team wanted them so it just became a tradition. Every year the freshmen that come in get a tutu. It was kind of like a ‘Welcome to JMU.’ Did tennis make you want to come to JMU? Yes, it did.
It was actually a pretty big part. Maria [Malerba] recruited me, and then my sister also played here, so it was just a mixture of that. The team was really welcoming and had a really fun atmosphere, so tennis had a huge part in the fact that I came here.
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As a senior, do you anticipate taking on a leadership role? I got voted
as one of the captains this year so that automatically put me into a leadership role. We still have the season to go, so if a leadership role means winning matches or supporting people I will be there.
What is a personal goal for you this season, since it is your senior year?
Probably to play and to win. I was injured two years ago, and unfortunately it completely set me back, and then we recruited better players. I definitely have a goal to win and root on the team and make sure we get some wins this year. We had really close matches last year and I feel like this year we can definitely close them out. What is something people might not know about the tennis team here at JMU? I
feel like everyone knows we’re the tutu girls now and they know we’re a really close team. We also all have high GPAs.
What is your favorite moment from the past seasons? Probably freshman
year when we were getting on the plane to go to Florida for spring break. We showed up to the airport in our tutus and coach was completely shocked because we didn’t tell her. She told us to dress professionally because we’re traveling and we showed up in our tutus and it was hilarious. She let us travel in them but everybody at the airport was like ‘You guys have got to be kidding me.’
Are you planning on continuing to play after graduating? I want to.
There are so many leagues you can get into after you’re done playing. Also I’ve been teaching tennis since I was years old.
Being a business major, how do you manage your time between tennis practice and classes? It’s
a struggle. I was in COB last semester and that was very tough, but it was nice because all my classes were in the morning so I didn’t really miss a lot of practice. Now that I’m in higher
business classes, there are fewer choices you can choose from. So some Tuesday and Thursdays I can practice, sometimes I can’t. I have to lift alone on Mondays.Coach Malerba is very lenient when it comes to school being first. What are your career goals? I’m a business
major with a hospitality concentration. I actually have a paid internship this summer in Bermuda at a resort. I don’t know if I’m going to like resort life, but I really like event planning and I enjoy my hospitality law class, so I’m considering law school.
Who is your favorite tennis player? It’s funny because a
lot of people who play tennis don’t even keep up with tennis. I like [Maria] Sharapova and how she plays, but she’s definitely kind of fallen off a little bit. I don’t like Andy Roddick. I like [Rafael] Nadal. I like his drive for the sport. Are you better at singles or doubles? Probably singles.
I love playing doubles, but singles you’re on the court by yourself. You’re dealing with your mistakes and you don’t have to rely on someone else. I like singles for competitiveness, but doubles is definitely more fun.
What should we expect from the first match against West Virginia University on Jan. 29? I hope we’ll
come back with a win. We’re a deep team and everyone is playing really well right now. We lost to them last year, but it was a very close match. So hopefully we win and then the next day, another match against Appalachian State, and hopefully another win.
CONTACT Megan Harman at harmanmt@dukes.jmu.edu.
Want to cover the next basketball game? e-mail breezesports@gmail.com.
Classifieds AVALON WOODS TOWNHOUSE 2 Bedroom, 2.5 Bathroom, Furnished. JMU Bus Route near Copper Beech. Pets ok. $900 a Month (757) 621-2272. DEVON LANE Townhome. 3 Bedroom. 1.5 bath. August 2011. 540-435-7861. THREE BEDROOM HOUSE BIG ROOMS block from Memorial Hall, Off Street Parking, Yard, Pets OK, June 1. $350 each (540) 560-9542. MOUNTAIN VIEW DRIVE 5 BR, 3 BA furnished with dishwasher, microwave, garbage disposal, washer and dryer. JMU in walking distance. $1500. Start Jul or Aug. 1. (540) 828-0464. OLD SOUTH HIGH 2 BR, 2 BA house. Hardwood floors, washer, dryer, back/ front porch overlooking JMU baseball/ softball field. Rent $800 with lease start July 1. (540) 828-0464.
MOUNTAIN VIEW DRIVE Mountain View Drive 5 BR, 3 BA furnished with dishwasher, microwave, garbage disposal, and w/ d. JMU in walking distance. available for 6 months from february to June 20th, 2011. Call 540-828-0464. 1126 MOUNTAIN VIEW 5 Bedroom, 3 1/2 baths, W/ D, $300/ person. Available Available August 1. (540) 478-5980. 1111 MOUNTAIN VIEW DRIVE 3 Bedroom, 2 1/2 baths, W/ D, $300/ person. Available August 1 (540) 478-5980. 1351 SOUTH MAIN ST. 5 Bedroom, W/ D, 2 baths, $300/ person. Available August 1. (540) 478-5980. NORTH HIGH STREET 6 BR, 2 BA, all hardwood floors. Nicely sized bedrooms. Large wrap-around porch, off-street parking. Rent $2,250 with utilities included. Start July 1. (540) 828-0464.
G R E AT LO CAT I O N ! 226 Cantrell Ave. Across from old hospital. 2 BD/1 Bath duplex. Parking, W/D, hardwood floors, pets allowed. $800/mo. No utlities included. cantrellhouses@ gmail.com
WAKEFIELD PLACE 3Br, 1.5 Ba, Keister School Area, Start Aug, 1st Partially furnished, garage, lg deck, pets allowed <@end of cul-de-sac, cable, phone & internet hookups in each room, off street parking, $945, call, email or text for additional details 423-231-2160 davethomas1strealty@yahoo. com (423) 231-2160
CANTRELL AVE HOUSE Enjoy a quick walk to class from this spacious 3 BR/ 1.5 Bath bungalow. Large bedrooms, Parking, Pets welcomed. $1140/mo. cantrellhouses@gmail.com
2 BEDROOM APARTMENTS 717 South Mason St. Now signing leases! Stone throw away from the quad! All utilities included! $420/bed Call Chris now: (856) 297-5837
Monday, January 24, 2011
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BARTENDING $300/DAY POTENTIAL. NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY. TRAINING AVAILABLE 1-800-965-6520 EXT212 BARTENDING CLASSES 2011 jiggersbartendingschool.com flexible schedules & payment plans (540) 560-7971 23 PEOPLE NEEDED TO LOSE 5-100 POUNDS! DR. RECOMMENDED! GUARENTEED! (855) 288-3115 or www. BestDietDun.com. Save this ad
SKYDIVE! One-day first jumps from 13,500â&#x20AC;&#x2122; from 22-jumper twin engine airplane. Gift Certificates! www.skydiveorange. com (540) 943-6587
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Monday, January 24, 2011
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m One Bedroo Units Still 6 Month Available ble a il a v A 2 1 e s 1 1 a Le 20 2010-11 NOW!
FREE Internet FREE cable
FREE transportation
Private baths in each bedroom Washer & dryer in each unit 24-hour fitness center
2 Pools
Spacious living at a reasonable price Game Room Hot tub
Tanning Bed
and so much more...
Available furnished or unfurnished
410 Copper Beech Cir.
copperbeechtownhomes.com
540.438.0401