Three hundred JMU students are spending their spring break serving others. They have signed up for JMU's award-winning Alternative Spring Break March 2-9. Read More
Three hundred JMU students are spending their spring break serving others. They have signed up for JMU's award-winning Alternative Spring Break March 2-9. Read More
The Spring Career, Internship and Service Fair highlights opportunities for JMU students to meet prospective employers and learn about internship opportunities. Read More
Three hundred JMU students are spending their spring break serving others. They have signed up for JMU's award-winning Alternative Spring Break March 2-9. Read More
The Spring Career, Internship and Service Fair highlights opportunities for JMU students to meet prospective employers and learn about internship opportunities. Read More
Three hundred JMU students are spending their spring break serving others. They have signed up for JMU's award-winning Alternative Spring Break March 2-9. Read More
Three hundred JMU students are spending their spring break serving others. They have signed up for JMU's award-winning Alternative Spring Break March 2-9. Read More
The Spring Career, Internship and Service Fair highlights opportunities for JMU students to meet prospective employers and learn about internship opportunities. Read More
Downtown Harrisonburg
welcomed James Madison University's newest students to the community Saturday
night at the Block Party in the 'Burg.
JMU's first-year and transfer students were treated to entertainment,
games, food and more as they roamed around downtown.
This is the eighth year for the
Block Party but after last year's event was rained out, the first that JMU
students have come downtown as part of their scheduled orientation events. Junior Alcinda Brubaker said the group
of transfer students she led around had a great reaction to downtown. "We enjoyed Klines, the
photo booth, live music and just the whole event," she said.
Vicky Allison, student
coordinator for JMU's 1787 August Orientation, said in her experience new
students don't tend to come downtown their first year. "We've tried to introduce it to
them right away so that they will know what's down here and actually be
utilizing the area through their entire time at JMU," said Allison.
Main Street and Court Square
were closed off so that students and community members could wander around and
enjoy local shops, restaurants and entertainment on stages at the Turner Pavilion,
Court Square Theater and on Court Square.
In addition, caricature artists, balloon artists, games and a photo
booth were set up for the students to enjoy. The Check-in Challenge encouraged students to stop in at
eight downtown locations and check-in on Facebook places and Foursquare, both
location-based social media applications.
Harrisonburg Police and Fire
Department took part in the Block Party, providing students an opportunity to
test their driving ability, seat belt safety and witness a live-burn of a
room.
Kim Kirk, special events
manager at Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance, said downtown is a vibrant and
growing community. “We hope the students will discover all that it has to
offer as soon as they arrive to Harrisonburg,” said Kirk. “Once they are acquainted
with the food, shopping and entertainment in downtown, we’re confident that it
will become a huge part of their college experience and time in Harrisonburg.”
Allison
agrees, saying, "I'm most excited because their experience is going to be
more enriched because of this event."
