Help NIKE Grind at UREC

Don’t know what to do with your old athletic shoes? Recycle them! UREC is currently collecting athletic shoes to donate throughout the Harrisonburg community as well as recycle through Nike Grind.

 

Gently used shoes will be donated to the community through First Step and Our Community Place. First Step offers shelter and support groups to women and children fleeing from domestic violence. Our Community Place focuses on people helping people and offers a soup kitchen for all in need. 

 

Worn and torn shoes will be donated to Nike Grind where they will be recycled and made into sport surfaces around the world, including gym/weight room flooring, running tracks, playground surfaces, and outdoor and indoor synthetic courts. Since 1990, Nike Grind has collected 25,056,779 pairs of shoes globally. You can learn more about Nike Grind while your old shoes could help create a basketball court!

 

Please, no cleats, sandals, flip flops, or shoes containing metal. Any brand of athletic shoes is acceptable!

 

Help UREC by donating your athletic shoes today.  Gently used and worn and torn shoes should be placed into their respective bin in the lobby of UREC. Also, thanks to our partnership with Athletics for a collection site, shoes may also be dropped off into their respective bin on the first floor of Godwin. Contact Chris Jones at 540-568-8723 or jones4cr@jmu.edu for more information. 

Leaving Behind a Legacy — Nick Keatts

No one will ever understand how the passing of such a bright, talented and excited individual comes about.  Nick Keatts is no exception.  However, this is not to talk about his death, it is to remember his life.

As a fifth year senior of JMU’s Cheerleading squad, Nick was best known for his enthusiasm for the game (which ever one he happened to be supporting that day) and spirit for JMU.  Teammates remember him as part of their family as the big brother they could turn to no matter what, and his loss has left a hole in the team that will never be filled.

This Saturday against Rhode Island marks senior night for the squad, and Keatts’ mother is flying up for the first time from Texas to be apart of the afternoon.

A memorial service for Keatts is scheduled for Tuesday night in the Convocation Center for all those who wish to remember such a vibrant life.  JMU Sports has released the details here.

“Live for today for tomorrow never comes.”

Those wishing to express their condolences can utilize the Tharp Funeral Home site, as they are helping the family make arrangements.

*some information was taken from the November 7th, 2011 Breeze article written by Geogina Buckley.  Contact her at breezenews@gmail.com. For the full article, click here*

Ms. Madison Candidates and Voting

Everyone knows that JMU has the best students in Virginia, possibly the country, who are we kidding.  So, in order to honor the best of the best seniors, we put the vote up to you the students! Check out their Facebook event pages (click on their name to get there) to learn a little more about them and why they deserve the honor of Mr. or Ms. Madison! You can also get to the overall event page here.

You can also come out and see them EMCEE at the Pep Rally on Friday September 30th.

In order to vote, head over to our official website and click on the VOTE button starting Thursday September 29th at 7am and ending at 7pm. You will be directed to Be Involved, where you can make a profile and then place your vote. Don’t know how to make a profile? Check out our blog post from Fall Minor Elections. Then, see if who you voted for wins!

Each candidate answered the four following questions:

1) What org nominated you?

2) What else you are involved in on JMU’s campus or otherwise?

3) Why you love JMU?

4) Why should JMU students vote for you?

Ms. Madison:

Rheanna Martino

1. Student Government Association

2. I’m currently the SafeRides Training and Education Director, the founding Secretary of the HRD Club and in the past I have been a 2k9 FrOG, a MYMOM Participant and an ASB trip participant.

3. Why would you NOT love JMU!? From the moment you set foot on this campus, there is an energy that surrounds you and welcomes you into your new home. Everything around JMU screams passion and excitement. The people, the traditions, the beautiful scenery and campus, the way students put their whole selves into everything they do; there isn’t a single part of JMU that isn’t overflowing with love. It’s the most incredible place on Earth.

4. I love JMU with my whole heart. It’s hard to believe that this is real life and I haven’t been living in a fairytale for the last four years. It has been such an honor to even be nominated along side such other incredibly influential people on this campus and nothing would make me more proud than to be your 2011 Ms. Madison. All my love is JMU <3

Katy Summerlin

1) My sorority, Alpha Phi, nominated me for Miss Madison. I am so honored that my sisters think highly of me, and this shows me that my hard work to be a good leader is really paying off.

2) I am also a member of the Student Society of Professional Journalists. As a SMAD Journalism major, this is a great organization for networking with other student journalists and the professors who mentor us. I also occasionally write for The Breeze. In Monday’s issue, I had a piece on front page on Officer Conley- it was titled “The People Cop”.  Though I enjoy writing, I hope to combine my flair for reporting with politics, specifically for television. I’d like to be an anchor for a political talk show someday.

3) JMU is a great place to go to college because of the amazing enthusiasm and culture of campus involvement. There is that “something in the water” happiness that we are introduced to from our very first visit to JMU, and carry through our college experience.

4) The original Ms. Madison is someone I strive to emulate every day. Dolly was outgoing, courageous, and conducted herself like a true lady. With that comparison, I know I have pretty big shoes to fill, but, vote for me for Miss Madison!

Katie Nowell 

1)  Zeta Tau Alpha

2) Greek Intervarsity, Ski and Snowboard Racing Team, Biology Research Lab, HASA (Health Administration Student Association)

3) JMU is passionate about their students and inspires us to “Be the Change” on campus and after we graduate. I love the spirit of JMU that is all over campus! People holding doors open for each other, meeting new people on the quad, and just the friendliness that is so common here at JMU. I also love that the teachers care about the students here and are always supporting us and pushes us to achieve great things. JMU inspires me to be a better person everyday and encourages me to strive for my goals and dreams!

4) I believe that I am a true representation of what it means to be a “true JMU student” for a few reasons. I have been inspired by JMU through all of the different organizations I am involved in, and in turn have been able to impact students on our campus. I absolutely LOVE JMU and would do anything for the students here. I have tons of school spirit and always have a great time showing my JMU pride!

Sandra Tran

1)  SafeRides!!

2) I co-founded the JMUTeach program about a year and a half ago and am the director this year. I’m also involved in Mortar Board as the social chair. And freshmen year, I was involved in creating MAPs (Madison Advising Peers)!

3) The easy stuff: the incredible people, the delicious food, beautiful campus, amazing organizations, but what you won’t find anywhere else is the passion. The energy and passion here is contagious; it takes you by the hands and pulls you in, it takes you by the heart and makes you love it! It is every where.

4)  I am bursting at the seams with excitement about JMU!! I would love to come back in ten years to see these programs I have been a part of and started are still thriving! If you believe that is possible, and there is/will be an impact I think I have made my mark and I hope you vote for me!

Purple Out Details

With the cool weather set-tling in for the beginning of Fall, you can practically feel the school spirit rising as temperatures drop. The reason? HOMECOMING 2011!!!!

Every year around this time SGA puts on the Purple Out event on the Quad. This year we are at it again with even more shirts to distribute, food to be consumed, and great music to listen to.  But this year, we’ve added a little bit of a twist…

In order to receive a shirt you can either:

1) Head FESTIVAL upper tables and pick up a TICKET. That’s right, a ticket, on MONDAY Sept. 26 from 11-2pm.
OR:

2) If you are usually on Quad side of campus, find us on the COMMONS to get your ticket TUESDAY Sept. 27 from 11-2.

These TICKETS will be the guaranteed way of receiving a shirt!!!!

3) Finally, bring your colored TICKET with you to the Quad on Wednesday Sept. 28th at 5pm to pick up your “I Bleed Purple” shirt and help to Purple Out the stands at Saturday’s game!                                                             To wrap up:
1) GET TICKET either Monday (26th) or Tuesday (27th) from 11-2
2) BRING TICKET Wednesday (28th) from 5-8:30pm and get your shirt
3) WEAR SHIRT on Saturday October 1 to the game!

What To Do This Weekend

As the first official weekend of the school year, there is a lot more to do at night than just hit the biggest party.  Almost all of our fall season athletic teams will be playing at home beginning on Friday night, with multiple opportunities to see the action.

It all starts on Friday where you can go see the volleyball team, picked to finish second in the conference according to pre-season polls, take on Lehigh in Godwin Gym at 7:30pm.  Men’s soccer is up on the turf across from the East Campus Dining hall against Florida Atlantic beginning at 7:30pm.

Saturday the action continues with field hockey, taking on Appalachian State at 11am on the field across from East Campus Library.  Volleyball has two more matches in Godwin, one against Coastal Carolina at 12:30pm and Robert Morris at 7pm.  (And even though football isn’t at home this weekend, they do begin their season at Chapel Hill at 3pm).

Wrapping up the weekend is field hockey taking on Ohio State at 2pm, men’s soccer against UNCA at 2:30pm and finally reigning CAA champions, women’s soccer takes on Richmond at 7pm.

Come out and support your Dukes, wear your finest Purple and Gold and be prepared for another amazing season from all our teams.  For more information check out JMUsports.com for schedules, results and highlights of all our teams.

Athletics not your thing? The University Program Board events page (UPB) is a great way to find other things to do as well.  Want to see a movie? Grafton-Stovall is playing Thor (starts at 7pm) and Bridesmaids (9:30-11pm) this weekend, and for $2.50 a ticket and .50 for popcorn, its a great deal.  Looking for a free option and love to laugh? Check out Funny Freakin’ Fridays in Taylor Down Under (TDU) from 8-9 with Adam Cayton-Holland.