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

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[■1 H vi l 19 m r . t ' i bhII I WUm ' M vB - ' k 1 ' M H K ' i f 9 K, WILLIAM WINDOM f f, f■ f lft tl f■rt Jtl t r4-■■4 r4-- - — - - - — — -• ■ . -A— A- -A- -A— A— A— A— A— A— A. -A-A— A— A— A. -A. -A- -4. - As students, we are parasites on society; soon we will join the massive host. During the 1973-74 school year, necessity has forced us to become aware, perhaps more than ever before, of the state of the world ' s affairs. Each of us has been af- fected by the gasoline shortage, either by having to pay outrageous gasoline prices, or by having to postpone returning to campus after a weekend because of Sunday gas station closings. Many of us rode the shuttle bus to and from Showalter Apartments to save gasoline. Perhaps for the first time we have been able to see a connection between an international event, such as the Arab oil embargo, and our daily lives. As children of an extremely affluent age, we found it difficult to conceive of a real, critical shortage of something so commonly and extravagantly used as gasoline. The energy crisis has invaded the normalcy of our lives. The dining hall ' s shorter hours, the reduction in the number of lights on campus at night, the initiation of Daylight Saving Time in January, and the reduction in the temperature of dormitories and classrooms have all made us aware of the need for energy conservation. We have complained about going to class in the dark and about the chilliness of our rooms, but we have survived, gaining an appreciation for the energy that we have so blithely taken for granted. Along with the energy crises, we have been observers of other historical events. For only the second time in the history of this country, the question of impeach- ment has arisen with regard to a United States Pres- ident. The Watergate situation has been both fas- cinating and awesome to many of us. As observers of the disintegration of the charismatic aura surrounding the Presidency, many of us became disillusioned with the U.S. Administration and politics, in general. We wit- nessed with surprise Agnew ' s abrupt resignation and plea of nolo contendere to a charge of income tax evasion. We could only hope, by exposing the scandals, to make it impossible for a similar series of events to occur in the future. iA s college students it is inevitable that we de- •4 velop an awareness of the relationship between our- • selves as individuals and the world in general. Our • commitment to the campus life-style, combining pred- ■ ominantly study and socializing, implies this commit- ■i ment to self-awareness. Our individual programs of H Study, ideally pointing us toward some goal or role to ■i fullfill in the so-called cold, cruel world, thrust us into H decision-making positions in which we begin to realize H that our futures are being specifically determined right H now. We come to know, with some trepidation, perhaps, that we shall ail too soon leave the womb-like ; atmosphere of Madison. We have such a haven here, if we desire it. During our four years at Madison it is conceivable that some of us may completely isolate ourselves from unpleasant current events. We may all too easily fall into superficial routines of social activities, classes, homework, and weekends. We may never think deeply about anything more than the approaching weekend or the state of the dining hall food. None of us ever has to read a newspa- : per or listen to a radio news broadcast. Instead, we can broadcast or flaunt our apathy. However, as we approach our senior year, this apathetic attitude that we may project becomes less and less a protective facade. As seniors we begin to become aware that we will soon no longer be able to classify ourselves as carefree, guileless college students, but will be expected to become responsible and aware contributors to society. Our excellent variety of visiting speakers gave us an opportunity to hear the opinions of nationally-known figures first-hand. Frank Mankiewicz, 1968 press secre- tary for the Robert Kennedy presidential campaign and 1972 campaign manager for George McCovern, revealed some lesser known political scandals which have been occurring in Washington. Dick Gregory, noted comedian, civil rights advocate, and political crit- ic gave an entertaining and informative commentary on Watergate, taxes, the energy crisis, racism, Vietnam, » ' » ' ' r y r y r ' ♦ ' ♦ ♦ ' ♦ ' ' t ' ' y» ' » ' » ' ' » ' » ' ' r ' ' » » ' ' y » » » » y ' f y » ♦ ♦ rf r f » y» - yy f »

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Adieu, Madison College. I am ready to succeed, and I will. « 4 4 1»H-V- -: I ' i « J! i ' «,. ' .i.jL.i.,

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, ». ,».r » » . . . .. .. .4.. » »» rl » .. .4M . f ,r ».r l |w t, , f, l h Crofts, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and a tall Bluegrass festival were excellent opportunities for skeptics to become exposed to the new style. We made it to the Miss America Pageant with Gail Vandeventer, crowned Jennifer Turner Miss Madison, held bike rallies, raffles, and mock elections. We brought about reforms in school policy by defeating the Junior English Proficiency Exam and the swimming requirement, and by influencing campus administration to allow married couples to become resident hall ad- visors. We went to Hump Parties, Martin ' s Garage, Mas- sanutten Ski Resort, and waited in vain for Comet Kohoutek to astound us with its brilliance. We dressed in our blue jeans and flannel shirts, rode our ten-speeds and found that we could not easily ignore everything but life within campus and the mountains that pro- tected us. We have created together a beautiful part of our memory of life. In September we began a year of bicycles and back packs, papers and parking, dropslips and deadlines, coffee and camping. Throughout the year we were a part of streaking, lectures, football, soccer, jobs, thefts, pressure. Roller Derby, concerts, basketball, intramural sports, yearbook pictures, fees, fires, and firedrills. We made snow angels during exams, comforted by the diversion of a heavy snowfall which psychologically buffered us from the tensions of exams. We heard rumors of an extended semester break but returned in January as planned and the cycle began again. We carry on, and grow with every day we wake. Some things we encounter are good and some are bad, but the totality of our experience makes us a little more aware and a little more knowledgeable about ourselves and about life. That ' s what it ' s all about. Dreams, so they say. Are for the fools, and they let them drift away. Peace, like the silent dove. Should be flying, but it ' s only just begun. Like Columbus in the olden days We must gather all our courage. Sail our ships out on the open sea Cast away our fears and all the years Come and gone, pick us up, always up . . . We may never pass this way again. .... James Seals DICK GREGORY and the C.I.A. He placed emphasis on the big job that we, as college students and citizens, have in improving the morals of American government and society. Professor Mary Daly, feminist leader from Boston College, expounded her theory that the oppression of women today is a result of attitudes encouraged by the Church concerning male supremacy. Professor Daly aroused mixed emotions on the subject of women ' s rights. However, when Billy Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs in one of the most controversial tennis matches ever, repercussions of these opinions on sexual equality culminated in a waterfight between two dormitories on our own lower campus. On the lighter side, we turned our attention to quite a variety of school-related activities. We won our first football game early in the ' 73 season against Anne Arundel, an event sure to gain importance as our team gains from experience. We watched the astro-turf playing field being constructed, its greenness dominating the spectrum of lower campus. We realized that it will surely prove to be both a drawing card for and advantage to Madison ' s athletic program. Madison ' s outstanding soccer goalie, Al Mayer, brought further attention to our athletics by signing a contract with the Baltimore Comets to play professional soccer. William Windom, noted television and stage person- ality, entertained us with a dramatic interpretation of some of James Thurber ' s works. Bluegrass music became increasingly popular. Its lively foot-stomping spirit proved quite a diversion from the hard rock sounds that have previously domi- nated the most of our record collections. Seals and