James Madison University - Bluestone Schoolmaam Yearbook (Harrisonburg, VA)

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studentprofile I Senior Chris Jones proudly leads over 65 other stu- dents around the Quad during the silent protest at September ' s presidential inauguration ceremony. Jones organized the protest after feeling an obligation to do the right thing. ■ Photo by Todd Grogan 3 5 ' fi) C Co c Through knowledge we become wise and learn to understand one another. » senior Chris Jones The single most important issue to me at JMU is the establishment of cultural and gender harmony, said senior sociology major Chris Jones. In order to achieve this, we as students, faculty, staff and administrators must learn from and befriend one another. Through knowledge we become wise and leafn to understand one another. Evident through his involvement in a variety of activities, including the Black Smdent Alliance, Brothers Of a New Direction and the NAACP, Jones was committed to working toward positive racial relations on cam pus. In September, he took his commitment a step further by organizing a silent protest during Dr. Linwood Rose ' s presidential inauguration to voice a variety of grievances he and others had with the administration ' s policies and procedures. The main issue at hand was the administration ' s refusal to declare Martin Luther King Jr. Day a university holiday. Despite repeated efforts, the university had told students for two years that it could not just decide to add a new holiday to the university calendar. Some students felt betrayed when the university approved a holiday for the presidential inauguration ceremony. Other concerns included the lack of financial aid packages for students, the number of minority students and faculty and limited funding for minority programming and staff. I felt an obligation to do ' the right thing, ' said Jones. We chose to protest during the ceremony . . . because we wanted all those affiliated with the university to know our issues. Over 65 students from university organizations joined Jones in a silent march around the Quad, commended by observers for its respectful nature. The protesters displayed signs with messages such as: To MLK you say NO WAY, but for Dr. Rose you have your day and Diversity is not a catch phrase. The protest organized itself, said Jones. Everywhere I went students wanted to observe MLK Day as a holiday and felt betrayed that the inauguration was a holiday. We wanted to make a statement, and students wanted justice. On Oct. 28, Jones and the other protesters were finally heard as the University Council voted unanimously to cancel all classes annually on Martin Luther King Jr. Day beginning January 200 1 . In my opinion, embarrassment made the admini- stration approve MLK Day as a holiday, said Jones. The protest simply exposed the administration ' s hypocritical ways. ■ lm TER Classes ■ Seniors 219

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12 I n 12 o c goforth -Jenkins Kelly A. Goforth, Sociology; Orange. VA Gjurmey M. Goldsmith, SCOM: Mechanicsville, VA Ronnie E. Goldstein, Pol. Sci. History; Sharon, MA Amanda E. Goll, Interior Design; Herndon, VA Jason P. Goodfriend, Pol. Sci. Mil. Sci.; Flemington, Nj Sharon M. Goodrich, SCOM; Annandale, VA Brian M. Gordon, Public Adminisrration; Burke, VA David A. Gould, History; Falls Church, VA Erik A. Govoni, Political Science; Harrisonburg, VA Christine M. Graham, SCOM; Fairfax. VA Todd S. Grogan, SMAD; Falls Church, VA Roy A. Gross, Theater; Sterling. VA Jacquelyn A. Gruosso, French; Huntington. NY Amos Z. Guinan, Eng. SMAD: Kennert Square, PA Karen M. Gulakowski, English; Burke, VA Jonathan D. Gunderlach, An; Norfolk, VA Julia C. Gunther, Inter. Soc. Sci.; Midlothian, VA Andrea E. Guyerte, SMAD ; North Brunswick, NJ Laura M. Hackett, Art; Burrowsville, VA Jonathan R. Hafnet, Theater; Herndon, VA Amanda J. Halterman, Music Education; Broadway. VA Jeffrey J. Hampson Jr., History: Virginia Beach, VA Melanie S. Hansson, Interior Design; Gothenburg, Sweden Jesse Harleman, English; Virginia Beach, VA Erin L. Harley, SCOM; RockvUle Cenrrc, NY James M. Harper, SMAD; Allentown, PA Jennifer A Harradon, Public Administiation; Yarmouth. ME Shani N. Harris, Music Theater; Columbia, MO Amy L. Harte, SCOM; Alexandria, VA Timothy D. Hartman, English Russian; Newark. DE Jennifer H. Healey, Political Science; Framingham, MA Jacqueline S. Helm, Graphic Design; Lancasrer, PA Angela R. Hesse, English; Lynchburg, VA Brenr D. Heupel, English; Vienna, VA Darlene C. Hirsr, Inter. Soc. Sci.; Lake Ronkonkoma, NY Lindsey A. Hodges, Political Science; Gloucester, VA Allyson L. Hofer, SMAD; Mechanicsburg, PA Cairlin L. Hogan, History; Glastonbury, CT Kinsey P. Holder, An; Roanoke. VA Sarah E. Holland, History; Stafford, VA Heather M. Holtz, German; Norfolk, VA Christopher L. Hooper. English; Springfield, VA John T. Horvath, An; Great Falls. VA Kathleen M. Houser, SMAD; Vienna, VA Amanda L. Howard, International Affairs; Oakton, VA Daniel W. Hoy, Music Education; Stroudsburg, PA Katherine E. Hudson, Art; Gary. NC Juhe E. Hunnicutt, Inter. Social Sciences; Danville, VA Victotia N. Hunter, English; Mechanicsville. VA Mary R. Hutchinson, F ' ngiish; Wilmington, DE Emily S. Hutter, SMAD; Lynchburg, VA Chi-yeon Hwang, English; Seoul, South Korea Eric A. Imbrescia, Art; Centreville, VA Marisa C. Impalli, Dance; Farmwood, NJ Matthew Ingenito, English; Hasbrouck Heights, NJ James P. lovino. History; Beilmore, NY Jeremy S. Jackson, History; Centreville, VA Marilyn C. Jackson, Political Science; Farmville, VA Brandi D. Jason, Music Education; Sykesville, MD Ethel M. Jefferson, Sociology; Blackstone, VA Amanda N. Jenkins, Sociology; Madison, VA Kelly D. Jenkins, Sociology; Luray, VA Lindsay Y. Jenkins, Sociology; Phoenbc, MD 2 I o I Classes ■ Profile: Chris Jones

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-I fecultyprofile 12 I a o c 91 Theater professor Dr. Tom Arthur enjoys his alternate perspective of the stage. Arthur grew up in a creative environment, beginning his career in advertising but ultimately returning to the theater. ■ Photo by Todd Grogan I tend to admire accors who are tech- nically gifed ... Caiy Grant, Jimmy Stewart and Meryl Streep. » Dr. Tom Arthur ■ 1 t 1 K H Y ' I ' i y V C M l I 1 When people hold an Oscar statue in their hands, you can tell they ' re practicing acceptance speech in their head, said Dr. Tom Arthur, who up until a few years ago displayed Melvin Douglas ' Academy Award in his house. As the aaor ' s literary executor, Arthur wrote Douglas ' biography and kept some of his belongings in safe-keeping. Douglas acted from the 1930s through the early ' 80s. Up until his death, he was a close friend to Arthur and his wife. We were very good friends. He was a highly intelligent man and one of the first political actors, said Arthur, who added that Douglas first ran Franklin Roosevelt ' s political campaign in 1 940. However, friendships with famous people were nothing new to Arthur. He grew up in a suburb of Chicago in what he described as an artsy environment. His uncle ' s brother, Alfred Henry Maurer, was considered America ' s first abstract artist. Arthur ' s aunt, Emily Harm, was a well-known writer. She vwote for The New Yorker, publishe d over 60 books and had served time in a Japanese prison camp. Most recently, one of Arthur ' s youngest cousins, Amanda Boxer, played the role of the mother in the film Saving Private Ryan. Growing up in such a creative environment, Arthur couldn ' t help turning to the arts as a career. He studied at Northwestern University and spent some time in advertising but realized acting was his true calling. Arthur loved the art of acting, especially teaching and studying it. He wrote numerous articles and criticisms and direaed various productions, including one of his iavorites, Shakespeare ' s King Lear. Arthur first taught at Illinois State where he just happened to have members of the band Steppenwolf as students. Visiting Sweet Briar College while he performed in Tennessee Williams ' The Glass Menagerie, Arthur was determined to find a posi- tion in the Shenandoah area. Arriving at the university with his family in 1973, Arthur loved the change in environment from his home area of Chicago. I thought I ' d died and gone to heaven. This place had seasons, and the temperature went up to the 60s most weeks, said Arthur. Arthur loved teaching and especially enjoyed working under the free-wheeling Dr. Ronald Carrier while he was president. During his time in Harrisonburg, Arthur continued to keep his contacts with well-known figures. One year he went to Africa and became acquainted with one of South Africa ' s greatest writers, Athol Fugard. Teaching acting, however, remained his greatest passion. I tend to admire aaors who are technically gifted, said Arthur who listed Gary Grant, Jimmy Stewart and Meryl Streep as examples. At the university, Arthur has enjoyed working with students equally passionate about acting. ■ S Whur ANN 1 220 Classes ■ Profile: Dr. Tom Arthur