Serving James Madison University Since 1922 breezejmu.org
Vol. 87, No. 47 Thursday, March 31, 2011
Rain 44°/ 36° chance of precipitation: 50%
Block party plans continue
SPEAKER
Student’s story rejects stigmas Sophomore describes onset of aneurysm for Disability week By EMILY WINTERS The Breeze
These two screen shots are from the changing Facebook events for this year’s block party. The “Trashby” block party (left) in University Fields was recently cancelled and moved to Forest Hills and Forest Hills Manor. Before this change the party was scheduled to be located in Sunchase Apartments. By AARON KOEPPER and KALEIGH SOMERS The Breeze
>> Would you attend a block party this April? Take our online poll at BREEZEJMU.ORG
Organizers say they are determined to throw a block party this weekend, despite opposition from management of apartment complexes and JMU administration, along with promises of strict enforcement from police. The Facebook event, which has gone by various names, such as “The Manor Smashfest JMU style Wiz Khalifa Pregame” as of Wednesday evening, is planned for the grass of Forest Hills Manor. Approximately , people were “attending.” The party is scheduled from noon to p.m. Saturday, according to the event’s page. The creators of the event, who claim to be students, go by the names Drew Carey, Darrell Carper and Poppcorn Mike on Facebook, but could not be located in the JMU campus directory. They said they don’t want to throw a party that could get out of control, such as last year’s April Springfest block party that ended with police using tear gas and rubber bullets to quell the riot crowd. “We don’t want to have people in the streets,” Carey said. “We just want to be a family and pre-game. We just want to go out and have fun.” Over the past week, the event has been planned for Sunchase Apartments and University Fields, formerly Ashby. Carper said he felt there were too many people interested in the event to cancel it in anticipation of any potential problems. “I’m pretty sure people are coming out regardless,” Carper said. “There’s nothing we can do about it.” Carper said he hopes there will be a visible police presence.
“They’d be smart to have a couple police around,” said Carper. “If something did happen — God forbid — if something did happen, they’d be around the corner.” While at previous block parties, police have routinely been ticketing those violating open party laws, during last April’s riot, police were sparse until late in the afternoon. Harrisonburg Police said in a press release Monday that they plan to increase patrols this weekend and the weeks ahead. Police said they will strictly enforce violations for drinking in public, open containers of alcohol, underage possession, noise violations, urinating in public and civil disturbances. “The Harrisonburg Police Department wants to remind the community of the negative effects and dangers of last year’s unlawful assembly,” said police spokeswoman MaryHope Vass in the press release. Police encourage students to stay away from any parties this weekend. “HPD recommends for individuals to avoid a situation that has a potential to turn into a dangerous environment,” Vass said. Forest Hills management has an agreement with HPD that allows police to remove trespassers from the premises without asking property mangers first. The agreement is part of an ordinance passed in August and allows HPD to enter an apartment complex to remove trespassers on behalf of the property manager. Previously, police had to get the immediate consent of a property owner before issuing trespassing citations. “If they are not a resident or a guest of a
Student organize alternatives to Springfest The Big Event — 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The Big Event is a day dedicated to JMU students creating tighter bonds with the Harrisonburg community. The day encourages all students to participate in community service and is not restricted to any one student organization. For more information visit thebigevent.org. Madipalooza — 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., Festival Lawn Madipalooza is a six-hour event with various activities, free food and musical performances. For more information see the event on Facebook.
resident they could be arrested if they don’t leave,” Vass said. “If you can’t prove you’re a guest of a resident, you don’t have any business being there.” Forest Hills could not be reached for comment Wednesday. University Fields posted a statement on its event’s Facebook page Tuesday afternoon saying the event was not permitted and no visitor parking would be allowed in the complex from a.m. Friday to a.m. Monday. “Police, security and property management will be closely monitoring activity this Friday and will take immediate action at the first sign of a block party in order to keep an event from happening,” Marie Route, University Fields’ community manager said in an email. see BLOCK PARTY, page 4
While studying for finals week in her freshman dorm room on the night of Dec. , , Trisha Smith began to lose sight out of one eye and had a terrible headache. It was the first >> For more warning signs of the on Disability brain arteriovenous Awareness malformations and a n e u r y s m t h a t Week, see would change her page 7 life, leading to her dedication to spreading awareness and support brain damage survivors. Speaking Tuesday in Wilson Hall as a part of JMU’s Disability Awareness week, Smith, who has started her psychology major due to her struggles recounted the events of her injury and her path to recovery.
Disability Awareness
Week events
March 31 — Disability Resource
& Career Fair, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Transitions, Warren Hall March 31 — Screening of “The Soloist,” 6 p.m., Transitions, Warren Hall April 1 — Disability Sports Showcase, 12:30-2:15 p.m., Sinclair Gymnasium, Godwin Hall
Smith had been telling her friend Brooke Powell, a sophomore health sciences and pre-physical therapy double major, about her problems. After calling her mother for advice, Powell told Smith to lie down with a warm washcloth over her face to get the blood circulating. Upon re-entering the room, Powell found Smith lying half off her bed with her head caught between the wall and bed, cutting off circulation, which lead to a seizure. “I could hear where she was trying to breathe,” Powell said during an interview. “It was the weirdest noise.” When the ambulance arrived, Smith was unresponsive and was immediately brought to the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville. see SPEAKER, page 8
Organization to combine vice president positions
Election falls later than usual, student body president will not seek re-election for next year By KALEIGH SOMERS The Breeze
Changes in leadership are underway for the Student Government Association. As potential candidates have announced their intent later than usual, and senators continue to debate the role of two vice presidents. At Tuesday night’s meeting, student body president Andrew Reese formally announced that he won’t be running for re-election next month as well. “I’m not thinking I’d really bring to it what I’ve done before,” Reese said, concerned that he wouldn’t have the time to dedicate to the position to do a good job. “I hope this brings some options for people who are seeking the presidency.” Reese, who has represented the student body as president for one year, mentioned difficult classes as his reason for not running again. He also said he wouldn’t be endorsing any of the candidates. Last year, four candidates ran for the presidency. The election packets are due tomorrow by p.m. in the SGA office. As of Wednesday evening, Elections Commissioner Jordan Descovich said he wasn’t sure how many candidates would be running. “I don’t have any numbers at the
3/31 INSIDE
Election dates April 1 — Application deadline,
before 5 p.m. to SGA Office in Taylor 203 April 5 — Candidates’ mandatory meeting, 8:30 p.m., Taylor 402 April 11 — SGA Debate, 8 p.m., Festival Stage
moment because we haven’t actually received a single packet to date,” Descovich said on Wednesday afternoon. “The candidates’ package is due on Friday at , so generally by [p.m.] we’ll know and have all of them counted out.” The election process is about a week later this year than previous years. “I was behind on the initial timeline,” Reese said. SGA had hoped to use its own system to run in-house elections, but the Information Technology department could not help with runoff elections this year. Traditionally, if no candidate gets more than percent of the vote, a runoff election is held, which Reese called a “long, arduous process.” Instead, a winner will be chosen based on the initial election results.
MEREDYTH KIMM / THE BREEZE
Creative aid
Katie Struble, a fifth year sociology major, observes art in downtown Harrisonburg’s Wonder Skate Shop. The shop hosted its second annual Art for Haiti Auction on Friday. Local artists’ works were displayed in the silent auction. All auction proceeds go toward the Konbit Shelter Project in Haiti. Haiti is still recovering from the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that hit Port-au-Prince on Jan. 12, 2010. The artwork will be featured in the shop until Friday.
see SGA, page 4
3
NEWS Above the limit
Local attorney questions the accuracy of breathtesting devices used by law enforcement.
5
OPINION So long, farewell
Exiting Breeze editors offer final words to their readers and friends.
7
LIFE Smith House installation
The works of two JMU artists are exhibited in the outdoor sculpture gallery.
9
SPORTS “Harrow”ing schedule
Lacrosse begins conference schedule on Sunday against George Mason.