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

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Fields of 1 I A ith good weather, good music and good WW food, field festivals were a time for students to gather with friends and celebrate. Festivals in- cluded the 1997 Senior Pig Roast, the 1997 First Year FunFest, Homecoming 1997, the Valley Cookout and pre-game blowouts, and ev- ery Saturday before football games fans gathered at Godwin Field. For freshmen, the First Year FunFest was a great way to make new friends, introducing them to an unfamiliar college environ- ment. It took place at Godwin Field on August 23. Activities in- cluded a giant boxing ring and a bungee run. Each freshman re- ceived a free sports water bottle. Live music was performed by Spilling Dew and sponsored by the University Program Board. The First Year FunFest was a great way for me to get in- volved on campus since I live in Blue Ridge Hall, said freshman Kerri Eissing. It allowed me to meet other people who live in Blue Ridge as well as other new freshmen. It was a great activity. The 1997 Senior Pig Roast gave seniors one last chance to hang out together. This annual event was held at Godwin Field. BBQ and beer were supplied by the university. The Senior Class Challenge Steering Committee gave away free gifts to seniors, and students en- joyed playing frisbee and listening to live music performed by acts such as Rob Conklin and Slack Jaw. It was a day for outgoing seniors to say good- bye and hang out one last time over food, drink, and music, said 1997 junior class president Chris DiSano. Two major contributors to the Pig Roast were Senior Class Challenge coordinator Lisa Horsch and Geoff Polglase, a member of Alumni Relations. 20 Student Life Fitz Pa trick

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Bridging the Gap I • hen it comes to college, traditions of all kinds V w consume the atmosphere. Whether it ' s find- ing true love on the Quad ' s kissing rock, toilet papering Greek Row or strutting to the sounds of the band during a football game, campuses across the country invite students to dive into a little college cidture. But when it comes to James Madison University, tradition is all in the family. Freshman Lindsey Pack has reason to believe her entire family will end up at JMU over time. I ' m the oldest of five girls, and we ' ve all grown up at JMU, she said. My parents met here and then decided to stay in the area. JMU ' s been part of my community. Her mother, Martha (class of ' 73), now a professor at Blue Ridge Community College, thinks her daughter ' s decision to go to JMU provides the best of both worlds. She lives close, so if she needs us, we ' re here, and she ' s starting her life in the same place her parents did. Freshman Brian Cooke feels the same way about following in his parent ' s footsteps by going to their alma mater. They told me stories about how they met here and loved the campus. Plus, I went to basketball camp here for a few years, so I was fa- mihar with everything. Mrs. ' Victoria Cooke (class of ' 76) said, It ' s hard to believe the amount of time that has lapsed. It ' s as if we ' re still in the seventies when on campus. Brian said this young-again attitude was definitely visible when his parents joined him for the campus tour. They totally acted like stu- dents again because so much has changed. They were going on more of a tour than I was, he laughed. Although the college campus and the at- mosphere may be different a generation later, se- nior Andrew Hurda has connections to this col- lege that reach far beyond those of any other stu- dent or alumnus. He was actually born on the third floor of Wine Price Hall when it used to be the maternity wing of Rockingham Community Hospital. It ' s kind of neat to be close to your birth place, even though it ' s eerie too, he said. Andrew has also had the privilege of being •, taught by a few of the same professors that his parents had. My mom and I had Dr. O ' Meara for philosophy and my dad and I both had Dr. Kline, he said. It ' s fiinny because my dad gives ad- • vice to my friends about teachers. Whether it ' s sharing a similar teacher or reminiscing about the sun-covered Quad, there are tons of legacies tied to this college. $flQ I Freshman Sarah Hanson is part of a family legacy. Her grandparents met here and ended up getting married shortly after graduation. My mom was the rebellious type so she didn ' t come here, Sarah said, but I thought it was a nice school with a good curriculum, so I came. Now only a month into her first year of college, Sarah has a great time sharing stories and memories with her grandmother, Geneva Jenkins (class of 50). She tells me about how my grandfa- ther proposed on the rock on the Quad and she always talks about lying in the sun on campus. We compare places to eat, too. Sarah enjoys learning about how things were different socially bac k then. My grandmother was like, ' In my day, males were only day students. I ' m glad guys can go here with you now. ' It seems students of all types, young and old, have found this campus and college experi- ence perfectly suitable for all their individual needs. Family tradition among alumni is no longer just about parents. The university ' s grow- ing legacy is about grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles and the future. Generations 19

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i}f ' -Jt . Running the Senior Pig Roast, 1997 Junior Class President Chris DiSano and Jason Maede take a break. Although the festival was for seniors, a number of juniors attended as well. Bii Recent Hf graduates p,? Marsha ' Hazelwood P ,i and Candice Parker grab some snacks at J the Senior Pig m Roast. The Pig fl Roast offered a J break from studying for m finals. FitzParrick Pf All decked out. g this freshman makes sure that he has as many First Year FunFest mugs as he can carry. ' Free stuff was a main attention-getter at field ■2 iiiii.w.r ' festivab. Field Festivals 21