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Serving James Madison University Since 1922
Sunny 53°/ 28° chance of precipitation: 0%
Vol. 88, No. 25 Thursday, December 1, 2011
A change in pace
FROM KNIGHT TO
DUKE PAUL JONES / THE BREEZE
Harrisonburg Department of Public Transportation held numerous debriefings with bus drivers the day after the Nov. 15 accident. “We’re all human beings, too, and you hate something like this to happen,” said Reggie Smith, director of HDPT.
Bus accident prompts university to become more aware of safety issues By GEORGINA BUCKLEY The Breeze
The Nov. accident at the intersection of Bluestone and Carrier drives, that resulted in the death of freshman Jane Hwang left the JMU community reeling, but it also opened up a dialogue about on-campus safety. Reggie Smith, the director of the Harrisonburg Department of Public Transportation, said that there have been no changes to bus routes since the accident. Hwang was hit by a bus at : p.m. that night. Hwang was walking during a “do not cross” signal. Charges against bus driver Kathryn Deavers won’t be filed, according to Sgt. F.L. Tyler of the Virginia State Police. “We had post-accident discussions, but we haven’t changed our safety training or anything in particular at this point,” Smith said. The department is always striving to improve in terms of safety, and the move by JMU to put in the traffic gates had been a safety change, Smith said. The bus drivers received numerous debriefings the whole day after the accident and later that night for the drivers who drove the night route. Smith said the debriefings included grief counselors. “We’re all human beings, too, and you hate something like this to happen,” Smith said. “It’s a tragic thing.” Smith was perturbed when asked whether buses would be using the
intersection with as much frequency. “Where would you want us to go?” Smith asked. “We haul , passengers a day, we got to go places.” Sophomore Cate Mundy, a communication studies major, said pedestrians feel like they own the campus, but so do drivers. “I think there should be more lighted crosswalks,” Mundy said, “but it’s also our responsibility as pedestrians or drivers to be watchful.” Don Egle, university spokesman, said there will be no infrastructure changes because everything was working correctly before the tragic accident. “You can expect to see more educational programming coming out in the spring semester as a reminder to everyone,” Egle said. Egle was vague in describing the plans, only mentioning possibly working with pamphlets discussing safety. Junior Spencer Wilson, a music major, thinks that the university’s response was adequate and it’s students’ responsibility to watch out for what they’re doing when they’re crossing streets. “That being said, I think the university could do a better job distinguishing traffic markings, especially on Carrier Drive,” Wilson said. “There are two different opposing traffic lines, and I have trouble distinguishing between them.”
PAUL JONES / THE BREEZE
Jon Alger will step into presidency at JMU beginning July 1. Alger currently oversees legal affairs as senior vice president and general counsel at Rutgers University and also teaches two undergraduate classes.
Students, faculty hope sixth president Jon Alger will bring diversity to campus, uphold school reputation
CONTACT Georgina Buckley at breezenews@gmail.com.
PAUL JONES / THE BREEZE
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NEWS Carrotmob
Student group aims to make business more sustainable.
Alger was born in Livingston
President-Elect Jon Alger has hit the mark in his third run for a university presidency. On July , Alger will become the sixth president of JMU with his election by the Board of Visitors on Monday. “In Jonathan Alger, we feel we have found the individual who ... is well positioned to lead our university,” said James Hartman, BOV rector. Vince Moore, spokesman for Furman University, said Alger was one of two finalists in the presidential search for Furman University in South Carolina during the - academic year. Alger was also a finalist at Binghamton University in New York during its presidential search during the - school year. Moore wasn’t sure why Alger wasn’t selected for the position. Alger is currently the senior vice president and general counsel at Rutgers University in New Jersey, a job he will be leaving to move to Virginia. Alger has a law degree from Harvard Law School and oversaw all legal affairs for Rutgers University in his seven-year tenure there. He also teaches two undergraduate classes. Before his time at Rutgers, Alger was the assistant general counsel for the University of Michigan. There, he was part of the school’s legal team during its Supreme Court cases Gratz v. Bollinger and Grutter v. Bollinger. The lawsuits were leveled at the undergraduate and law school admissions policies because of perceived injustice in the use of race during the admissions process. The outcome of the cases allowed affirmative action to be used in higher education admissions policies. Previously, Don Egle, university spokesman, had said the Board of Visitors would select the president by January or February. Students were informed of the announcement of a new president by an earlymorning mass email on Monday morning. The announcement came as a surprise to junior Matt McKeon, a business major. “I wish we had gotten more of a heads-up,” McKeon said. Students expressed hope for Alger’s presidency and what it might bring to JMU. Hannah Brecker, a freshman international business major, was impressed by Alger’s speech. “Alger appears to be all about diversity in general and especially now at JMU,” Brecker said. “I am looking forward to see how he will make our own university more diverse.” Alger has been involved with multiple diversity initiatives and has chaired national conferences on diversity and discrimination. “The engaged university must be open and accessible to individuals of all backgrounds,” Alger said in his acceptance speech Monday. “Diversity and excellence go hand in hand.” Freshman Joey Mazzara, a music major and Exit
>> JMU football to face North Dakota State in the second round of the FCS playoffs, page A9 12/1 INSIDE
About Jon Alger
By ELIZABETH DSURNEY The Breeze
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OPINION Already in full gear
Political attack ads have already begun, even though elections are still a year away.
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County in New York.
His wife, Mary Ann Alger, is a
business and finance consultant.
Together, they have a 13-year-
old daughter, Eleanor.
He enjoys church activities and
participates in local theatre.
He loves to travel and has been to Japan,
the Carribean and across North America.
member, said he would like Alger to bring music majors into more prominence, particularly because Alger has sung with internationally touring choral groups. “I anticipate Alger putting more emphasis on music in general and giving more publicity,” Mazzara said. “There are so many talented musicians here at JMU.” Some faculty members declined to comment on Alger’s selection, saying they didn’t know enough about Alger to do so, but Jorge Juan Nieto Cano looks forward to the future. “I hope that Alger will continue to uphold James Madison’s reputation for its excellent teaching and other great qualities,” said Cano, a Spanish professor. Alger traveled back to Rutgers after Monday’s announcement, but Egle said Alger has been working closely with the BOV and is currently in communication with President Linwood Rose. There will be a formal inaugural ceremony, but the date right now is unknown. “It’s a great thing to have these seven months to transition. During these months he will be collaborating with the Board of Visitors and Dr. Rose,” Egle said. “More information about important dates will be coming up, but right now, there are no events that include Alger set in stone.” While working as the senior vice president and general counsel at Rutger’s, Alger’s annual salary was $,, according to The Collegiate Times. Rose’s salary is $, annually, but Alger’s contract is still a work in progress, Egle said. Egle said that the board received hundreds of nominations and formal applications for the presidency. The information of those who applied will be kept confidential. “Jonathan Alger’s speech here at JMU when he was announced as the sixth president made me anxious, but in a really positive way,” said Mike Sorgi, a sophomore public policy and administration major. “I’m looking forward to seeing what he will do.” And from the sound of it, Alger is, too. “The challenges are great, but the opportunities are greater,” he said. “I look forward to working with all of you at the dawn of this next century for James Madison University.” CONTACT Elizabeth Dsurney at dsurneeg@dukes.jmu.edu.
LIFE Art 2.0
An upcoming art collection features early work by Andy Warhol.
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SPORTS Yet unscathed
JMU women’s basketball is - entering the weekend and will face its first conference opponent on Sunday.