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Vol. 88, No. 24 Thursday, November 17, 2011
JMU NATION Community mourns loss of seven Dukes in one semester
LAURA WEEKS / THE BREEZE
LEFT Students hold up their cellphones in a moment of silence last night at the “Forever All Together One” memorial service, held at the Convocation Center by SGA. RIGHT Students in the Visual Distortions Dance Crew, who sat at the front of the center during the event, mourn the loss of freshman member Jane Hwang.
>> For video and photos of this event, visit BREEZEJMU.ORG. PAUL JONES / THE BREEZE
By TORIE FOSTER and RACHEL DOZIER The Breeze
Only the truest of friends would brave breakdancing on wet pavement after p.m. on a Tuesday night. Jane Hwang’s friends would. A group of cheering and chanting members of the JMU breakdancing community gathered outside the Convocation Center after last night’s SGA event. The memorial was held in honor of the death of freshman Hwang as well as past and present students Katie Mausteller, Jackson Hazard, Nick Keatts, Kristen Edwards and Rob Throo. John Noftsinger, a former vice provost, was also commemorated. (The Breeze couldn’t confirm Hazard was a student.) “We definitely appreciate everyone coming out,” said junior Tyler
Van Parys, president of the Breakdance Club and member of the Visual Distortions Dance Crew, of which Hwang was a member. “This is really beautiful. Jane was beautiful. She danced pure and reminded all of us of why we dance in the first place. She’s an inspiration to us all … she lives on with us in our dance.” Students in Visual Distortions sat at the front of the center, heads bowed, eyes tearful and arms around one another. “We dance for her, and we know that she will always be with us,” Van Parys said. SGA organized last night’s event in less than hours, and more than , people filled the center’s seats. “I think the theme that kept surfacing during this evening’s event — that we’re all in this together, we’re all together one, that we’re here to help one another, to be there for one another,” said University
Spokesman Don Egle last night. “I think that came through loud and clear tonight.” Student organizations, including several a capella groups and volunteer members of the trumpet section of the Marching Royal Dukes, participated in the event. The trumpet players dedicated their performance of “Band of Brothers” to those lost. It was a song “that unites us all as a family,” said junior Alex Zuber, who directed the piece. In his speech, President Linwood Rose lamented being unable to meet Hwang. “Every student is special here,” he said after the event, “but to lose somebody in their first semester who really has not had the opportunity to really make her mark is very unfortunate.” He said he hoped JMU could be positively involved in Hwang’s family’s future.
“Jane’s family and friends will now have a new life, a different life for sure,” he said. “But it will be one that includes this university, and I hope that you will make it so.” Though acknowledging the fragility of life, Rose encouraged listeners not to fear their grief. “Face it, confront it, even embrace it, as those who know you have embraced you,” he said. Some students who danced with Hwang are coping with their grief in the way they know she would have wanted them to. “She’s the only reason I dance right now,” said Joseph Jin-oh Chung, one of Jane’s “bigs” in Visual Distortions. Still, there were some smiles seen among the tears. “She’s laughing at us right now because she’s up there dancing with Michael Jackson,” Van Parys said before the group broke out into dance.
Garnering weary chuckles, Art Dean’s impassioned speech urged the audience to appreciate the present moment. “Take the time to listen to somebody,” said the special assistant to the president for diversity. “Never stop caring and never stop loving those around you.” At the request of senior Pat Watral, SGA student body president, people held a moment of silence. With arms outstretched, audience members lifted glow sticks and cellphones, illuminating the crowd. SGA also had JMU banners on tables in the center for people to sign and to share thoughts and support. “Our community knows no true obstacles,” Watral said, “only things to build bridges over and tunnels under.” CONTACT Torie Foster and Rachel Dozier at breezeeditor@gmail.com.
SAMANTHA McDONALD / THE BREEZE
Freshman admired for love of dance, positive spirit
Fallen Duke, rising hope Students, groups offer ways to cope with tragedies
Jane Hwang’s death shocks already grieving community By GEORGINA BUCKLEY The Breeze
“She was just this crazy, sassy, energetic, gorgeous girl,” Mina said. Junior Tien Nguyen, an inteW h e n F re s h m a n Ja n e Hwang danced, everyone grated science and technology watched. major, is one of the co-founders Senior Kendra Burek said of Visual Distortions. that although Hwang didn’t Nguyen said Hwang’s dancjoin the Mozaic Dance Club, ing was exceptional and that he Burek would never forget how had never seen her unhappy. well Hwang danced during her “Being around her gave you a audition. good feeling,” Nguyen said. “She was such a lively perBurek spoke on behalf of the team when she said the son,” said Burek, a member of Mozaic. members expressed their conHwang died Tuesday night dolences to Hwang’s friends at the intersection of Carriand family. er and Bluestone drives after “This is truly a devastating being hit by a bus, according loss for the JMU dance comto Sgt. F.L. Tyler of the Virginia munity,” Burek said. State Police. Bryan Do, a freshman at Virginia Commonwealth UniHwang was a member of COURTESY OF FACEBOOK Visual Distortions Dance Crew. versity, went to middle school Reza Mina, a senior and MozaJane Hwang was a freshman and member of and W.T. Woodson High School ic president, is an adviser of the with Hwang. Do said in an email the Visual Distortions Dance Crew. group. that Hwang was one of the first Hwang “was like a crazy bubble, overnight at her house frequently friends he made in middle school. always happy,” Mina said. and that she always tried to cheer Mina said Hwang used to stay up everyone around her. see HWANG, page A4
11/17 INSIDE
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NEWS To Iraq and back
Alumni couple face war together.
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GRIFFIN HARRINGTON / THE BREEZE
Hundreds of students gather in front of Godwin Hall Tuesday night, just yards away from where freshman Jane Hwang was struck and killed by a bus earlier that night. By KELSEY BECKETT contributing writer
JMU lost another Duke on Tuesday night after Jane Hwang, , was struck by a bus at the intersection between Carrier and Bluestone drives. This is the sixth prominent death the JMU community has experienced this semester: alumnus Rob Throo, students Katie Mausteller, Nicholas Keatts, Kristen Edwards and Vice Provost John Noftsinger have all died this semester. Despite the tragic losses the community has endured, some students focus on a more hopeful message through the
OPINION Give me a break
Not having a fall vacation helps us appreciate weeklong Thanksgiving Break.
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devastation that has hit campus. Hundreds of students attended a Nov. memorial service that was held for Keatts, a fifth-year senior known for his compassion and school spirit on the JMU cheerleading team. Tuesday night, a crowd of JMU students showed up to the steps at Godwin Hall holding candles and flowers in honor of Hwang. Students arranged these, along with JMU memorabilia and candles in a makeshift memorial for Hwang. A handmade wooden cross bearing a JMU sticker was placed with the memorial.
LIFE Split-second cinema
Student club hosts screening of minute-long films.
see DUKES, page A4
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SPORTS First since 2005
Men’s soccer makes the NCAA tournament as a -seed for the first time since .