11/15/23 - GameDay - Student Involvement

Dear Organization Leaders and members, 

ESPN GameDay is coming to our city!  

We have the chance to showcase all of the great things about JMU.  We all will be representing the values of the university, and you will be representing the values of your organizations.  Dr. Miller has shared expectations for how to have fun while being mindful of your behavior and choices throughout this weekend. Make memories that you will be proud to carry with you afterward!  

Signage for GameDay 

If you plan to bring signs, GameDay has some guidelines. All signs will be checked on Saturday morning and will be removed if they do not fit College GameDay’s criteria:  

• No vulgar language  
• No political campaigns or religious efforts   
• No effigies   
• No signs promoting .com, .net or .org  
• Make sure your sign is lightweight and doesn’t have the potential to harm any other fans at the show  
• No poles or oversized signs  

Post GameDay fun on the Commons 

Once the show is over, why leave?! Come join us on the Commons before the pre-game activities begin, from noon to 1:30 p.m. There will be free food, music and a photobooth with Dr. Miller!   

Visitors and gatherings 

We will have many visitors in town; alumni, family and friends of JMU, in addition to students with families here to help get them home for Thanksgiving. We want everyone to enjoy the weekend and be safe at the same time. If you attend or host large gatherings, you need to abide by campus, local, state, and federal law regarding sexual assault, alcohol and drug use.  As a member of the JMU and Harrisonburg community, look out for one another; if you see something say something. Remember, people will be watching and judging us by our collective actions or inactions both in person and on television, so the decisions you make this week can go a long way in rewriting the narrative of students at JMU living on campus and in Harrisonburg for both our neighbors and visitors.  

Looking out for yourself and others   

Should you find yourself in a situation in which you or someone else needs emergency help, the state of Virginia and JMU want you to call for help. JMU has what is called the Enlightened Citizen Amnesty Process. You can find detailed information about that policy at that link.    

And here are some key takeaways from the VA Medical Amnesty Law:  

• Covers medical help for yourself or others in case of alcohol or drug overdose or emergency  
• Regardless of your age or legality of the substance  
• Stay with the person until help arrives and cooperate with emergency responders  
• Law provides protection against arrest and prosecution   

 Watch out for each other and our JMU community. Please be mindful and keep the safety of yourself and your peers a top priority. If you find yourself in a bad situation, we strongly encourage you to call for help. 

If you are concerned for a friend, call for help. Here is a link to a short video on the signs of an alcohol overdose.

Helpful Resources:

• JMU PD: 540-568-6913 (nonemergency)  
• 540-568-6911 (emergency)  
• FSL On-call phone: 540-421-1177  
• Counseling Center 
• Timely Care 
• Poison Control: 1-800-222-1222  

Click here for many more details to prepare you for what to expect.