Retired U.S. Sen. Harry Byrd Jr. reads a letter written by Madison, who offers his thoughts on the importance of education

Music professor Carol Kniebusch Noe plays

Madison's 19th-century crystal flute

James Madison Day was also a time to recognize students' and professors' a cademic and scholarly achievement. Award recipients are pictured top to bottom: 1) The Samuel Page Duke Award winner, media arts and design major Andrea Levin of Great Falls, with Faculty Award winners Julianne Arnold, a psychology major from Westfield, N.J., and Benjamin Shindler, an interdisciplinary social services major from Colonial Heights. 2) Madison Scholars included professors Diane Riordan, accounting; Richard Lippke, philosophy; James Winebrake, integrated science and technology; David H. Allsopp, education; and James Sochacki, mathematics, not pictured. 3) Winebrake also received the Distinguished Teacher Award along with professors Robert Kolvoord, integrated science and technology; James Benedict, psychology; William Wood, economics; Charles Ziegenfus, mathematics; Thomas H. Arthur, theater; and Harriet Cobb, psychology, not pictured.

JMU's day to cherish Madison

James Madison Day 2001 was something President Madison himself might have envisioned as part of the national "seminary of learning" he proposed to Congress back in 1810. Though the quiet president might have shied away from the tributes and honors given him, he probably would have cherished the spirit of the day - students, educators, legislators, musicians, academic administrators and judicial servants coming together in an atmosphere of learning.

Keynote speaker Clarence Thomas, associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, won over a crowd of students, professors and guests by presenting himself not as one of the guardians of the Constitution, but, simply and humbly, as a teacher.

Nearly 1,300 students, faculty and staff members and guests jammed into Wilson Hall Auditorium to hear the justice speak. Hundreds more students and professors listened to Thomas' address via closed-circuit television at five campus locations.

Thomas spoke on the Constitution, federalism and the "genius of Madison" and devoted time to students in a post-speech question and answer session. JMU President Linwood H. Rose thanked Thomas, saying "Thank you, Justice Thomas. That was a wonderful class, and you have about 1,300 ready to enroll."

After his address, Justice Thomas devoted more personal time to students, sharing lunch with 25 of them.

Rose also recognized students and professors for scholarly achievement and exemplary teaching and service. The convocation also included performances by the JMU Wind Symphony, the Madison Singers and professor Carol Kniebusch Noe, who performed on a crystal flute once owned by James Madison. Rose also announced the appointment of 1998 National Teacher of the Year Phil Bigler ('74, '76M) as director of the university's new James Madison Center.

JMU's week long celebration of the fourth president's 250th birthday also included a Colloquium on Church and State, a panel discussion on freedom and slavery, an exhibit on loan from the James Madison Museum, a tree planting and a 250th birthday dinner. More than 160 school children joined the JMU Student Government Association in a pre-sentation on the Liberty Bill Act, and consumer activist Ralph Nader wrapped up the week with a student-sponsored University Program Board presentation to a packed audience in Wilson Hall.

By Michelle Hite ('88)