It has always been the philosophy of JMU to include everyone in the
life of the university. Now, however, with the condition of the Virginia
state budget, severe cuts are pending as we go to the printer with this
issue of Montpelier. We won’t know about the specific cuts until
later this semester, but they will affect JMU, including Montpelier.
While we have mailed
Montpelier to all alumni and parents in the past, the magazine will
not be able to maintain its current circulation of 80,000. Unfortunately,
you might not receive the next issue of Montpelier in February 2003.
That’s because,
as the JMU administration decides how to implement cuts, it will, of
course, preserve teaching as its No. 1 priority. What is most important,
as you’ll agree, and what Montpelier has always tried to show,
is the learning that occurs at JMU when students team with professors
in the classroom, in the lab and in the field and when they take part
in the university’s vibrant student life.
There is a way
to continue to receive Montpelier and help JMU educate students. If
you are a donor to JMU in this or the past fiscal year you will receive
Montpelier. A gift to JMU by Dec. 31 of this year will ensure that the
next issue arrives in your mailbox. You will continue to receive four
issues of Montpelier as long as you make a gift each year.
Gifts to the Madison
Fund, the Duke Club, a planned gift or an endowment qualify. To learn
how to make a gift, please call (800) 296-6162 or send a check to JMU,
Office of Development, MSC 2603, JMU, Harrisonburg, VA 22807.
Your gift will
help JMU continue its mission to prepare educated and enlightened citizens.
This is, after all, why we’re here.
In addition, Montpelier will help you stay in touch with your alma mater
and offer new features and departments that give you a voice and continue
to make JMU feel like home.
You’re reading
our newest addition now — our new letters to the editor forum.
We’re calling it “22807” — the ZIP code exclusive
to JMU. We have long looked forward to this department, which is one
of the hallmarks of a top-quality university magazine and traditionally
one of its most popular sections. It offers you, the reader, the opportunity
to respond to stories and issues raised in the magazine, and provides
us, the staff, with valuable feedback about how we can continually improve
the magazine.
We always look forward to hearing from you and pay close attention to
your comments.
Keep those great
story ideas coming.
Pam Brock
Editor
DISASTER
RELIEF
I am writing to thank you and all your colleagues for the wonderful
job you did with the Montpelier cover story about my disaster work.
One of the nicest consequences of this project is that I have heard
from so many former students who have read the article. It has been
great catching up with them and learning how our work together has influenced
their lives. My relatives also enjoyed reading the article. I should
mention that my brothers were delighted to point out that “Disaster”
was plastered across my chest on the cover.
Lennie Echterling
JMU psychology professor
THE COST
OF MONEY
I received my issue of Montpelier today, and turned to it with the same
interest I have had in every previous issue. After a stunned pause to
ponder the photographic praise of rich, white men on Pages 30 and 31,
I did a double take through the entire issue with disappointment. It’s
not bad enough as a misrepresentation of the JMU community that people
of color are missing from almost every page of the current issue (exceptions
are a brief mention of Sports Illustrated and a last-page sidebar, “American
Dreamers”). I found it especially telling and disturbing that
the feature article, “The Cost of Money,” visually drives
home the point that in the aggregate, financial success knows no diversity
— a hefty cost, indeed, as much to those with the money as to
those without. As much as I have enjoyed Montpelier in the past, and
even appreciate the theme of entrepreneurship as an appropriate one
in the spirit of James Madison, my belief that JMU is so much more than
this issue conveys compels me to point out the glaring absence of non-white
races and ethnicities, and women, among the entrepreneurs chosen. I
daresay this issue will fail to capture the attention of the more than
half the readership it fails to represent, except those among that group
who, like me, are disenchanted by its narrowness.
Amy Leary (’93)
Charlotte, N.C.
• The Summer
2002 Montpelier magazine article “The Cost of Money” is
a shameful embarrassment. Edie Jeffer’s article does not focus
on gender perspective but on “top-rung JMU entrepreneurs.”
Not one woman entrepreneur out of 10 profiles! This is a most serious
reflection on JMU. Surely JMU must have some successful alumni female
entrepreneurs?
Pat Anderson (’99P)
Rye, N.H.
• EDITOR’S
RESPONSE: We were surprised too. The magazine staff scoured
the alumni base and exhausted contacts looking for female and minority
entrepreneurs and found none who operate on the scale of those individuals
in the “Cost of Money” story. That said, it is always possible
that there are some of you out there about whom we don’t know.
If so, please get in touch. Nothing would please our (predominantly
female) staff more.
PROFESSORS
YOU LOVE
The JMU community lost a truly wonderful professor on July 13, 2001,
with the death of Dr. Marion Doss of the political science department.
Dr. Doss was extremely intelligent and always had an interesting story
to share from his vast life experiences. He was a graduate of the U.S.
Naval Academy, received a master’s in public administration from
Harvard and a juris doctor and master’s in law and taxation from
William and Mary. You could always count on him to be available for
help outside of class. I learned a lot about criminal justice from his
classes. His lectures were informative and supplemented with projects,
such as attending local court hearings that broaden the scope of learning.
He also gave his time as the faculty adviser for our criminal justice
fraternity, Lambda Alpha Epsilon. I may not always remember all the
criminal law statutes he taught me, but in addition to textbook knowledge,
Dr. Doss also taught his students life lessons. I will always be thankful
for his approach to helping students. He never imposed his opinion;
he always encouraged us to think for ourselves. Dr. Doss was on sabbatical
during the semester I was debating which field I should get my master’s
in, and he came in to help me with my decisions and wrote letters of
recommendations for me. I’m now in a wonderful criminal justice
program at Eastern Kentucky University. I would have never found this
place without his direction and support. I am very appreciative for
everything I learned from him, and he will be greatly missed.
Lauren Tucker (’00)
Richmond, Ky.
• I recently
read your spring edition of Montpelier. I especially enjoyed reading
about Dr. Paul Cline. I had Dr. Cline for numerous political science
classes in 1978-79. He was an excellent professor and a great guy.
Fred Bean (’79)
Carlisle, Pa.
• I particularly
enjoyed this issue [Spring 2002] because it featured a favorite teacher,
Dr. Ralph Cohen, who teaches Shakespeare, although I studied it with
Dr. Louis Locke. The C-SPAN feature of alumni that are successful, the
feature after 9-11, and the broadcasting fellow was interesting too.
Where is Kissing Rock? I would like to see more articles about alumni,
profiles of their business success; and I like the “how they met”
stories in the Class Notes, too.
Jane Wesley (’76)
San Francisco, Calif.
DISABILITY
COMPLEXITIES
I just read about Leigh Buckley [“Can-do Kid,” Summer 2002].
I’d like to confer with her in reference to the kids they have
mentored. I have a child with a visual learning disability. I wonder
how many children they work with have this too, perhaps undiagnosed.
Children with 20/20 vision have visual problems and can be labeled as
ADHD and slow learners, etc. This need not be the case. Help is out
there.
Sue Jeffrey Reese
(’82)
Chesterfield, Va.
WHO GIVES?
Several people we know have mentioned seeing our photo on the back cover
[“Who Gives?” Winter 2002] and said it was a good idea.
Now I hope you’ll hear from more folks about the message of making
a gift to JMU. Maybe more teachers might express that idea and carry
it out, too.
Alpha Spitzer (’37)
Bridgewater, Va.
MISSING
MARY ETTER (’34)
I student-taught for Mary Etter in 1963 and have stayed in touch with
her over the years since then. Last month, while visiting in Northern
Virginia, I planned to make my usual stop to see her on my way back
to North Carolina. I tried calling, but got no answer. Upon reading
Montpelier and seeing the “In Memoriam” column, I was saddened
to read about Mrs. Etter’s passing. I know she was very active
with JMU until fairly recently, and we had visited many times in her
lovely home on West Market Street. She was a treasure and an inspiration
to me in many ways, not only in her teaching, but in the way she lived
her life and served her community.
Carol B. Wootton
(’63)
Leicester, N.C.
FEEL THE
POWER
I am pleased to inform you that James Madison University ranks No. 18
nationally on the list of colleges and universities with alumni currently
serving as Peace Corps [“Feel the Power,” Winter 2002] volunteers.
Throughout the years, your institution has made a tremendous contribution
to this agency’s global legacy of public service. This ranking
certainly reflects the high caliber of the students who attend your
institution. Today, 39 of your talented students are representing our
country abroad by serving the people of the developing world as Peace
Corps volunteers. The Peace Corps and JMU have developed a significant
relationship over the years. My son goes to JMU and really likes being
there. Thanks for your recent story about the
Peace Corps.
Lloyd P. Pierson
Peace Corps chief of staff
Washington, D.C.
CLASS OF
1959
What an amazing insight into our friendship you garnered and were able
to express in the Montpelier article [“Reflections of the class
of 1959”] in the Winter 2002 issue. There should be no doubt that
we enjoyed our year together at Madison College. When I was a student,
getting an education that would prepare me for employment seemed of
utmost importance. Madison College did a good job with this. I didn’t
realize that what I would remember most was the relationships that were
encouraged. Who can I go back and thank for the placement of six girls
(five transfer students and one exchange student) in that suite? A tribute
to the unsung heroes who do this job! Thank you for being so generous
with your time, for your good humor and for helping six ladies of the
“old school” relive some fond memories.
Judy Grove Kinter
(’59)
White Post, Va.
WE’RE
BLUSHING
I look forward eagerly to receiving Montpelier. It’s a beautiful
statement of JMU’s outstanding progress.
Jean Chenoweth
(’44)
Taneytown, Md.
Your letters
to the editor are welcome
Montpelier welcomes your letters about stories and issues raised in
the magazine. Letters are subject to editing, and not all letters can
be published, nor can they be returned. Letters must include your name,
address, daytime phone number or e-mail address. So that we may properly
identify you to readers, please tell us your class year or whether you
are a parent, professor or student. Anonymous letters will not be published.
Send your letters to:
22807,
Montpelier, Medical Arts West, MSC 5718, JMU, Harrisonburg, VA, 22807
or e-mail us at montpelier@jmu.edu
