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

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James Madison CELEBRATING THE SPIRI ' i spect for all three areas in our lives. We must learn to check ourselves and living here at JMU affords us this chance to learn more and more about keeping our goals in focus in order to create a more secure, bal- anced life for ourselves. Here at JMU, students experienc- ing the new-found individual free- dom that college provides are each being given the chance to eventu- ally achieve their goals. Using JMU as a stepping stone towards these goals, each individual is allowed an equal chance at success, and each is also given the chance to advance even farther as a part of a more powerful whole; the student body. Through these experiences, a stu- dent out from under the protective wing of his parents and family evolves into a person in his own right who is finally capable of ex- pressing individual thoughts, ideas, and feelings. Life here at James Madison University allows him this freedom. James Madison University is ex- ceptionally proud to have been cho- sen as the university to officially sponsor the two hundredth anniver- sary of the signing of the United States Constitution on September 16. 1987. In view of the fact that James Madison, our school ' s name- sake, was one of the main propo- nents in the organization and sign- ing of the U.S. Constitution, it seems only fitting that we should receive this honor. In helping to celebrate the day, James Madison University helped to sponsor the bicentennial celebra- tion commemorating the Constitu- tion at James Madison ' s historical home. Montpelier. With so much of our attention turned towards our country ' s Con- stitution, we are able as JMU stu- dents to turn our attention more to- wards the democratic spirit engendered within our lives. The spirit of James Madison University in many ways mirrors the spirit that the founders of the United States Constitution embraced. More than just the strict interpretation of a de- mocracy that was outlined in the Constitution as a mere political sys- tem, democracy should also be seen as an ideal that we try to pursue everyday here at JMU. There are many characteristic qualities found within a strong democratic ideal that help to make a healthy atmo- sphere a reality throughout the campus. Just as the Constitution strived to create a government balanced by forces within itself and just as it tried to create an environment of freedom, fairness, and individual- ity, here at JMU our faculty tries to create the same sort of environment in which we, as students, can grow and prosper. Life away from home, in an environment where any dis- cipline must come from within our- selves and not the world around us, forces us to re-evaluate our prior- ities as individuals working to be good students, athletes, and friends. A balanced life of academics, ath- letics, and social interaction creates an equilibrium within our school that ensures our growth as well- rounded students with a healthy re- Udel 18 Constitution