Press Pass

Harrisonburg treasurer's hearing set to Tuesday

2008-04-26T23:34:00.000-07:00

After being indicted on eight felony and 12 misdemeanor counts of misappropriation of public funds and altering bank deposits, Harrisonburg City Treasurer Rebecca Neal is facing a hearing to determine whether or not she should be removed from office. The hearing will be held at 9:00 a.m. this Thursday, May 1, in the Rockingham County Circuit Court.

According to an article in The Daily News-Record:

"Judge James Lane set the date in a court order he issued Friday to Neal, her attorney David O'Donnell, and Commonwealth's Attorney Marsha Garst, who will represent the petition that triggered the civil case. Councilwoman Carolyn Frank, who took over the petition drive, said she would like to see Neal suspended from office until her indictments on misappropriation of public funds and altering bank deposits could be heard in circuit court."

Neal has repaid the lost $91,000.

It is important to remember that this is just a hearing. Neal is scheduled to face criminal charges in the Rockingham Country Circuit Court this August.

Let me know what you think. Should Neal be allowed to stay in office? Leave me a comment below, and make sure to vote in the poll.

Nothing is easier than self-defeat. For what each man wishes, that he also believes to be true. (Demosthenes)

2008-04-23T00:07:00.000-07:00

Let me start by saying that there are not too many things that really get me riled up. I hate prejudice, I hate small-mindedness, and above all else, I hate liars. Today I saw something on television that had me absolutely livid. This post is probably going to ruffle some feathers, but I have something that I need to get off my chest.

Tonight I was at my best friend's house for our weekly get together. We had just finished watching Gossip Girl when a commercial came on about paralyzed Iraq War veterans. (I warned you, this is going to get controversial). The 30 second PSA featured a veteran who spent more time working to get out of Iraq than actually fighting in it. After being wounded and paralyzed from the neck down he had to go through all sorts of customs and technicalities just to get home. It was a sad story, told in an unusually upbeat tone. Over countless clips of wounded soldiers the narrator discussed the honor and dignity of giving one's all in the fight against terrorism. The commercial ended with a shot of the featured veteran stating that if he was asked serve again, he would.

I looked at my friend in shock, to which she replied, "I wonder how much he got paid to say that?"

It was a simple question, but it really got me thinking about the role the media plays in presenting information to the public. Based on this 30 second clip, one would think that all veterans were happy to have sacrificed years of their lives fighting for a cause that many people don't believe in. I'm not saying that everyone is dissatisfied with the time they served, but wouldn't it be fair to throw in someone who was? The commercial made it look as though the soldiers were actually happy to have been paralyzed while abroad.

I've had friends die in war, and I've seen men come back from battle scarred, and it's not the pretty picture that the media presented. I searched YouTube for a clip of the PSA but couldn't find anything, so I decided to provide the first part of a documentary on the subject instead.

I know that I've gone on quite a rant here, but I would really appreciate hearing your opinion. Do you think coverage of Operation Iraqi Freedom has been fair? Leave me a comment and let me know.

Back off, Obama!

2008-04-12T23:09:00.000-07:00

The other day I was sitting in my quiet living, watching Big Brother and copying biology notes, when I heard someone run up the steps to my apartment and bang on my door. I answered only to be met with a half-naked, 20-something year old man whom I had never seen in my life, screaming, "I love Obama!"

Until today, I might have agreed, but I just read something that I found very upsetting. According to an article in The New York Times, while at a San Francisco fund-raiser Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) said that "small-town Pennsylvania voters, bitter over their economic circumstances, 'cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them' as a way to explain their frustrations."

Now I'm not from Pennsylvania, but here in Virginia those are fighting words! As someone who has lived in both a small town and a big city, I know what I'm talking about when I say that prejudice is everywhere. Rural areas might have the reputation of being conservative, bible-belts, but it's unfair to base an entire opinion on a few stereotypes.

I've followed Obama for awhile now, and while I would love to see either him or Senator Hilary Clinton (D-NY) take the White House, I can't help but wonder if his statement is going to affect his campaign. There are a lot of voters from small-towns who might be feeling a little offended right about now.

Tell me what you think. Has Obama ruined his run? What did you think of his statement? Leave me a comment below.

You can't stop the fire

2008-04-11T00:01:00.000-07:00

Last night hundreds of Harrisonburg residents crowded South High Street as they watched Dave's Recycling go up in blaze.

While the cause of the fire has yet to be reported, its effects were felt throughout the entire community. The 20 ft. tall flames kept audiences entranced for several hours, and the southern part of the city smelled of smoke for a good portion of the night.

At this time there are no plans to rebuild the recycling center at the location it previously held. In an article published by the Daily News-Record, Fisher said he had been planning to relocate to a larger building before the fire.

Editor's note: The photo at the top of this post was taken by Evan Dyson, a local photographer throughout the JMU and Harrisonburg community. More photos and commentary from this and other news events can be found at Dyson's blog, found here.

Shenandoah man charged with hiring someone to commit murder

2008-03-29T21:48:00.000-07:00

And you thought it couldn't happen in the Valley. Last week Kenneth Leo Alger, 59, of U.S. Highway 340, Shenandoah, was arrested and charged with four felonies, including murder-for-hire, attempting to persuade another person to distribute a controlled substance, attempting to persuade another person to commit perjury and attempting to distribute a controlled substance, according to an article in The Daily News-Record. He was also indicted for making a false statement to police, resulting in one misdemeanor count.

As reported in the DN-R:

"According to an affidavit for a warrant to search Alger’s home, Alger allegedly planned to falsely incriminate several intended victims in narcotics trafficking and then have them murdered. To carry out this plan, he allegedly asked another person to plant narcotics on his intended victims and later, murder them. The person whom Alger approached was an informant for investigators on the case."

I think this just goes to show that things like this can and do happen everywhere. Just because you live in the suburbs, doesn't mean you're safe.

Let me know what you think. Do you feel safe in the Valley? Leave me a comment.

Pilgrim's Pride layoff cuts 16

2008-03-26T15:04:00.000-07:00

As editor of James Madison University's student newspaper I will be out of a job in a week. I've known this for over a year.

As a senior, I will soon be leaving JMU, and it is only right that I pass my position down to another. As not just anyone can do the job I do, the newbies will have a month in the office to learn the skills they need to run the paper next year. In order for them to do this, I have to leave.

I'm not bitter. In fact, I can't wait. But I saw this coming. I can't imagine how hard it would be to find a job had I not known.

This nightmare is a reality for 16 Broadway residents, who were laid off from Pilgrim's Pride this week.

According to an article in The Daily News-Record:

"A truck driver, Otis Parker goes to farms to pick up chickens and delivers them to the processing facility. But, on March 17, management told Parker he would be laid off in two weeks...Parker is among 16 people laid off at the chicken processing facility, part of a companywide cost cutting move, according to Pilgrim's Pride spokeswoman Karla Harvill."

Layoffs happen all the time, and sometimes they aren't fair. There are a lot of hard working people in this area, but should there be some sort of job guarantee created to make sure that they cannot lose their jobs for just any reason? This is unlikely, seeing as how Virginia employers doesn't even need a reason to fire someone. Should this be changed?

Let me know what you think by leaving me a comment below.

The luck of the Irish

2008-03-18T20:24:00.000-07:00

Tonight's post is going to focus on one of my favorite holidays of the year — St. Patrick's Day. I know I'm a day late, but with last night's festivities I didn't have time to post.

I was inspired to blog on this subject by a note I read on Facebook yesterday, from a girl who was trying to correct some of the myths of St. Patrick's Day. She actually argued that it was unlucky and contradictory to wear green! I couldn't believe it, but after a little hard work and googling, I found that she was right.

According to a 2005 article by National Geographic:

"Irish brigands kidnapped St. Patrick at 16 and brought him to Ireland. He was sold as a slave in the county of Antrim and served in bondage for six years until he escaped to Gaul, in present-day France. He later returned to his parents' home in Britain, where he had a vision that he would preach to the Irish. After 14 years of study, Patrick returned to Ireland, where he built churches and spread the Christian faith for some 30 years...In the United States, it's customary to wear green on St. Patrick's Day. But in Ireland the color was long considered to be unlucky, says Bridget Haggerty, author of The Traditional Irish Wedding and the Irish Culture and Customs Web site."

So there you have it. I hope the knowledge doesn't keep you up at night. Or keep you from drinking a green beer next year.

This week's top headlines

2008-03-14T20:22:00.000-07:00

This week's Top Ten (02/23/08)

Violence in Tibet: Monks battle police
By Jim Yardley of The New York Times
"Violence erupted Friday morning in a busy market area of the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, as Buddhist monks and other ethnic Tibetans brawled with Chinese security forces in clashes that brought conflicting reports of deaths. Witnesses say angry Tibetan crowds burned shops, cars, military vehicles and at least one tourist bus..."

Federal Reserve provides emergency assistance to Bear Stearns
By Jenny Anderson and Vikas Bajaj of The New York Times
"The Federal Reserve’s unusual decision to provide emergency assistance to Bear Stearns underscores a long-building concern that one failure could spread across the financial system..."

CIA detains suspected Al Qaeda member
By Mark Mazzetti of The New York Times
"The Central Intelligence Agency secretly detained a suspected member of Al Qaeda for at least six months beginning last summer as part of a program in which C.I.A. officers have been authorized by President Bush to use harsh interrogation techniques, American officials said Friday..."

Environmental Protection Agency tightens smog standards
By Matthew L. Wald of The New York Times
"The Environmental Protection Agency announced a modest tightening of the smog standard on Wednesday evening, overruling the unanimous advice of its scientific advisory council for a more protective standard..."

Federal advisory panel limits anemia drugs
By Andrew Pollack of The New York Times
"A federal advisory panel, in response to mounting safety concerns, called on Thursday for additional restrictions on the use of anemia drugs by cancer patients..."

UCLA medical employees snoop in Britney Spears confidential records
By Charles Ornstein of The Los Angeles Times
"UCLA Medical Center is taking steps to fire at least 13 employees and has suspended at least six others for snooping in the confidential medical records of pop star Britney Spears during her recent hospitalization in its psychiatric unit, a person familiar with the matter said Friday..."

Doctors cleared from charges in John Ritter's death
By John Spano of The Los Angeles Times
"A Glendale jury today cleared two doctors of any wrongdoing in the multimillion-dollar wrongful-death lawsuit brought by the family of actor John Ritter..."

Democrats rush for the White House
By Janet Hook and Mark Z. Barabak of The Los Angeles Times
"Florida Democrats, searching for a way out of their mess of a presidential contest, unveiled a detailed plan Thursday for rerunning the state's primary election by mail. There was one big problem: Hardly anyone who mattered liked the idea..."

'Strawberry Quick' shakes Shenandoah
By Pete DeLea of The Daily-News Record
"Police say area parents and teachers should be on the lookout for "Strawberry Quick," a designer form of methamphetamine..."

Harrisonburg Planning Commission recommends church rezoning
By Jeff Mellott of The Daily-News Record
"On Wednesday, the Planning Commission recommended approval of a rezoning plan allowing Muhlenberg Lutheran Church to go forward with plans to build an estimated $2.2 million addition..."

That's it for this week. Leave a comment about any of these headlines, or post your own!

Spitzer scandal hits Shenandoah

2008-03-13T16:11:00.000-07:00

For those of you who have yet to hear about the Spitzer scandal, let me fill you in:

Gov. Eliot Spitzer (D-NY) has been called out for his involvement with a prostitution ring, Emperors Club VIP. According to an article in The New York Times, federal wiretapping revealed that he was arranging to meet a high-priced prostitute at a Washington hotel last month. Since this information has been released the public, Spitzer had decided to resign. Said The Times' article:

"The resignation will be effective on Monday at noon. Lt. Gov. David A. Paterson, a state legislator for 22 years and the heir to a Harlem political dynasty, will be sworn in as New York’s 55th governor, making him the state’s first black chief executive."

What's this have to do with Harrisonburg, VA? I'm glad you asked.

Harrisonburg High School graduate Temeka Rachelle Lewis, 32, of Brooklyn, was also involved with the Emperors Club VIP prostitution ring. According to an article in The Daily-News Record, she graduated from the school in 1993 with her twin sister, Tosha. The article said:

"Lewis, referred to as "Rachelle," communicated with a prostitute known as "Kristen" and "Client-9," reported to be Spitzer, according to federal authorities in their criminal complaint...Lewis allegedly received a call Feb. 12 from Client-9 about whether his deposit had arrived, reservations at a hotel and train fare for "Kristen" from New York to Washington, D.C., according to the federal complaint...On Feb. 14, 2008, at about 12:02 a.m., Lewis received a call from "Kristen," in which Lewis asked how "Kristen" thought the appointment with Client-9 went, according to the federal complaint."

Small world huh? Let me know what you think of the craziness by leaving me a comment below.

Seats taken, sir.

2008-03-11T21:39:00.000-07:00

Welcome back! I hope everyone had a great break and are excited for another week of my news bloggin'. I know you are.

I was looking at the Web site for The Los Angeles Times today and found an article I found particularly interesting. It seems that a public transit operation in Mexico City has created a line of transportation that services only women. After complaints that they were being verbally, emotionally and sometimes physically abused by other male riders, women were given their own bus line.

According to the article,"The all-women buses tend to be less crowded, passengers said, and the attitude is more polite."

Personally, I think it's a great idea. I know people will argue that it seems a little sexist, almost as though women will soon have their own drinking fountains and hang-outs, but I really don't think this is that extreme. If the women did not feel comfortable with their surroundings, it's good the government did something to remedy their concerns. Too bad Harrisonburg's public transport system is so lacking that most citizens can't use it to get around the city. But I'll leave that for another day.

I want to know what you think. Leave me a comment below.

Obama brings in the big bucks

2008-03-01T19:40:00.000-08:00

Barack Obama must have deep pockets. In an effort to defeat Senator Hillary Clinton in Ohio and Texas, the senator has been buying large amounts of advertising and building get-out-the-vote operations.

According to an article in The New York Times:

"The intensity of Mr. Obama’s drive is especially apparent on television, where he has outspent Mrs. Clinton by nearly two to one in the two states. That is helping him eat deeply into double-digit leads she held in polls just weeks ago."

I've been taught in countless government classes that the contender who spends the most is often the one who wins the election. Will this trend follow suit in Obama's race against Clinton? From where blog it looks possible. Let me know what you think.

This week's top headlines

2008-02-23T18:13:00.000-08:00

This week's Top Ten (02/23/08)

Immigrant militia men find it hard to gain citizenship
By Fernanda Santos of The New York Times
"Despite a 2002 promise from President Bush to put citizenship applications for immigrant members of the military on a fast track, some are finding themselves waiting months, or even years, because of bureaucratic backlogs..."

Many hide Hide DNA tests due to insurance fears
By Amy Harmon of The New York Times
"Afraid of having genetic information used against them, many Americans do not take advantage of its growing availability..."

Authorities hunt for rioters who attacked U.S. Embassy
By Dan Bilefsky of The New York Times
"Serbia’s top state prosecutor said Saturday that the authorities were hunting for the rioters who attacked the United States Embassy and other diplomatic missions last week..."

New schizophrenia drug focuses on glutamate
By Alex Berenson of The New York Times
"A new drug aimed at treating schizophrenia turns its focus away from dopamine and instead on the effects of glutamate, another powerful neurotransmitter..."

FDA approves Avastin for treatment of breast cancer
By Andrew Pollack of The New York Times
"The Food and Drug Administration approved Genentech’s best-selling drug, Avastin, as a treatment for breast cancer, in a decision that appeared to lower the threshold somewhat for approval of certain cancer drugs..."

Education tops local funding
By Jeff Mellott of The Daily-News Record
"Localities spent more per capita on education than any another area of government, according to the most recent draft report from the Virginia Auditor of Public Accounts..."

VA House and Senate reject cuts on higher-education
By Heather Bowser of The Daily-News Record
"Virginia's Senate and House of Delegates rejected the governor's higher-education budget cuts Thursday, and instead added additional dollars for the commonwealth's colleges and universities..."

Local youth believes dead Harrisonburg body to be her uncle
By Pete DeLea of The Daily-News Record
"Kim Shifflett remembered the good times she had with her uncle, Steve Nieswander, as her family waits anxiously to find out whether a body found in Harrisonburg last weekend was him..."

City and county fuel budgets projected high for 2009
By Jenny Jones of The Daily-News Record
"As fuel costs continue to rise, city and county school transportation officials are projecting increases in their fuel budgets for next year..."

HDP needs recruits
By Pete DeLea of The Daily-News Record
"Police are searching for roughly two-dozen city residents. However, they're not wanted for any crimes. They're wanted to participate in this year's Citizens' Police Academy, which starts March 13..."

That's it for this week. Leave a comment about any of these headlines, or post your own!

Is race still an issue in politics?

2008-02-21T20:34:00.000-08:00

I was looking through The New York Times today and found a really interesting article on race in recent elections.

The article chronicles a county in Alabama and states that "a few weeks ago, voters in a county that is more than 96 percent white chose a genial black man, James Fields, to represent them in the State House of Representatives. It is a historic first, but the moment is full of awkwardness...Yet in a state once synonymous with racial strife, there is no denying this milestone, for all its tentativeness. Everyone — the voter in Cullman, the Alabama politician, the local historian — is rubbing his or her eyes, a little."

This is particularly interesting in regard to the 2008 primary elections. As we all know, Sen. Barak Obama took Alabama, beating out Sen. Hilary Clinton by 14 percent. The tides really are turning. When it comes down to it some states in the dirty south would just rather have a black president than a female one. I'm not complaining. I think it's great that society is starting to come around. "The times, they are a changing."

Let me know what you think by leaving me a comment below.

This week's top headlines

2008-02-15T15:36:00.000-08:00

The week's Top Ten (2/15/08)

McCain expects Obama to stick to public financing pledge
By Jeff Zeleny and Steven Greenhouse of The New York Times
"Hammering Senator Barack Obama for a fourth straight day, Senator John McCain said here on Friday that he expects Senator Obama to abide by his pledge use public financing for his general election if Mr. McCain does so as well..."

Data implies strain on economy
By Michael M. Grynbaum of The New York Times
"A fresh batch of data on Friday presented a bleak picture of the economy, with rising prices of imported goods, struggling manufacturing and an erosion in consumer confidence..."

U.S. military attempts to shoot down faulty satellite
By Thom Shanker of The New York Times
"The military will try to shoot down a crippled spy satellite in the next two weeks, senior officials said Thursday. The officials laid out a high-tech plan to intercept the satellite over the Pacific just before it tumbles uncontrollably to Earth carrying toxic fuel..."

Lab rats be to replaced by machinery?
From The New York Times
"The government is studying a major overhaul of how to test the safety of chemicals, from household cleaners to pesticides. The goal is to see if robotic machinery can predict what is toxic as well as animals do..."

Wal-Mart goes Blu
From The New York Times
"Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has picked Blu-ray over HD DVD in the market battle for the format of high-definition video..."

Harrisonburg says no to hookah bar
By Jeff Mellott of The Daily News-Record
"A hookah lounge and restaurant are no longer planned for 1400 S. Main St. in Harrisonburg. The Middle Eastern grocery store at the site can continue to operate under terms of a rezoning proposal the Harrisonburg Planning Commission recommended for approval Wednesday..."

Harrisonburg man faces three years after break-in
By Pete DeLea of The Daily News-Record
"A 24-year-old man will serve nearly three years in prison for breaking into his girlfriend's apartment and punching her in the face in November..."

Retail sales up in Harrisonburg
By Dan Wright of The Daily News-Record
"Retail sales grew 1.4 percent in the city and 3.6 percent in Rockingham County last year. In Harrisonburg, retailers rang up $1.09 billion in sales, up from $1.07 billion in 2006, according to state reports..."

JMU dorm search uncovers possible fake ID business
By Pete DeLea of The Daily News-Record
"James Madison University police uncovered a possible fake ID business in a 19-year-old student's dorm room while searching for marijuana earlier this month, according to court records..."

Proposed bill would preserve Virginia farmland
By Jeff Mellott of The Daily News-Record
"A proposed law that supporters say will help preserve farmland in the Valley and elsewhere in Virginia is one of many bills by local lawmakers to make it through 'crossover day'..."

That's it for this week. Leave a comment about any of these headlines, or post your own!

The results are in!

2008-02-14T19:11:00.000-08:00

The Virginia primaries were held on Tuesday with some pretty unsurprising results. Barack Obama took it for the democrats, and John McCain brought it home for the republicans. Here are the official tallies:

For the democrats:

Barack Obama received 627,472 votes, totaling 63.65 percent of the voting population

Hillary Clinton received 349,607 votes, totaling 35.46 percent of the voting population

John Edwards received 5,190 votes, totaling 0.52 percent of the voting population

Dennis J. Kucinich received 1,635 votes, totaling 0.16 percent of the voting population

Bill Richardson received 990 votes, totaling 0.10 percent of the voting population

Joe Biden received 804 votes, totaling 0.08 percent of the voting population

Voter Turnout:

985,698 of 4,465,547 active voters voted, totaling 22.07 percent
985,698 of 4,618,188 total voters voted, totaling 21.34 percent

For the republicans:

John McCain received 243,980 votes, totaling 50.04 percent of the voting population

Mike Huckabee received 198,787 votes, totaling 40.77 percent of the voting population

Ron Paul received 21,866 votes, totaling 4.48 percent of the voting population

Mitt Romney received 17,498 votes, totaling 3.58 percent of the voting population

Fred D. Thompson received 3,368 votes, totaling 0.69 percent of the voting population

Rudy Giuliani received 1,975 votes, totaling 0.40 percent of the population

Voter Turnout:

487,474 of 4,465,547 active voters voted, totaling 10.91 percent
487,474 of 4,618,188 total voters voted, totaling 10.55 percent

As a voter, who is allowed to have an opinion, mine is as follows:

I thought that given the Obama craze at JMU that he would take the democrats, and McCain seemed a sure thing for the republicans from the get go. What stunk was voter turnout. I was shocked that more democrats made it out to the polls than republicans in such a conservative area (why can't it work that way in the actual presidential elections?), but all in all the numbers just weren't good enough.

There's no excuse for not voting. Like Diddy said, "Vote or die."

You better vote, Virginia

2008-02-11T22:09:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow is election day, and I want every single one of you to make it to the polls. I'll accept no excuses. In fact, I'm so serious about this that I'm providing all Harrisonburg voters with their voting locations:

Precinct 101 — Northeast —Lucy F. Simms Center, 620 Simms Ave.

Precinct 102 — East Central, Spotswood Elementary, 40 Mountain View Dr.

Precinct 103 — Southeast, Stone Spring Elementary School, 1575 Peach Grove Ave.

Precinct 201 — Northwest, Waterman Elementary School, 451 Chicago Ave.

Precinct 202 — Southwest, Keister Elementary School, 100 Maryland Ave.

Just so you know, in the Virginia primaries citizens can vote in the democrat election or the republican, but not both. They should ask you which ballot you'd prefer at the polls.

So there you go. Everything you need to know in one nice little package. And you said I never gave you anything.

$168 billion stimulus plan approved by Congress

2008-02-07T20:23:00.000-08:00

For those of you who like numbers, I have a bit of economy news.

Congress recently approved a $168 billion economic rescue package that will include rebates for taxpayers and tax breaks for businesses, according to an article in The New York Times. Apparently President Bush and other lawmakers think that the plan will boost springtime spending and help the economy.

According to the article:

"The Senate, voting 81 to 16, slightly expanded the House plan to include payments for some 20 million Social Security recipients and 250,000 disabled veterans who would not have qualified because they do not earn income. The final measure also specifies that illegal immigrant workers not receive payments."

Once again, this tax break probably won't benefit me. Will the stimulus plan help you out? Let me know by leaving me a comment below.

Giants squash cheaters...I mean Patriots

2008-02-04T19:59:00.000-08:00

First things first — sorry about the delay in posting. I have been sick lately and wanted to take some time to relax and get myself better. That said, I'm back and ready to blog!

To start off on a different note this week, I have some sports news. Yes. I said sports. Yes. This is the same Ashley you know and love. I've just been in a rut and need to switch it up a little bit.

I usually ignore the Super Bowl, but last night I just had to watch. Not because I was a fan of either of the teams playing, (I'm not), but because I wanted to see a team, any team, beat the Patriots into oblivion. Why? Because cheaters don't deserve to win.

For those of you living under a rock, the Patriot's were caught using electronic means to steal signals from other teams, a major violation of NFL rules. It's pretty easy to win all your games when you know what the other teams are doing, so I imagine there were a lot of pissed-off teams out there who are wondering why the Patriot's were even permitted to play in the game.

In the end it doesn't matter. The Giants won the most important game of the season, ending the Patriot's winning streak and calming my mind. I guess Kid Rock was right when he said, "You get what you put in, and people get what they deserve." Karma catches up.

Let me know what you think of the Patriot's loss by leaving me a comment below. (And enjoy this...tomorrow's Super Tuesday and we're back to politics).

This week's top headlines

2008-01-26T18:10:00.000-08:00

This week's Top Ten (1/26/08):

Obama takes South Carolina
by Michael M. Grynbaum and Jeff Zeleny of The New York Times
"Senator Barack Obama won a lopsided victory in the South Carolina Democratic primary on Saturday, drawing widespread support from a high turnout of black voters in the first Southern contest of the presidential campaign..."

Early votes shape Florida primary
By Adam Nagourney of The New York Times
"A surge of early voting by Florida Democrats and Republicans has startled officials here and injected additional complexity into the state’s presidential primaries on Tuesday..."

McCain fights hard in presidency
By Michael Luo and John M. Broder of The New York Times
"Senator John McCain stepped up his attacks on his Republican rival Mitt Romney on Saturday, accusing him of once wanting to withdraw from Iraq and likening him to Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton in his approach to the conflict..."

Spy satellite plunges toward Earth
From The New York Times
"A disabled American spy satellite is rapidly descending and is likely to plunge to Earth by late February or early March, posing a potential danger from its debris, officials said Saturdayhttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif..."

Botox kills sixteen
By Gardiner Harris of The New York Times
"Botox and a similar injected drug have been associated with 16 deaths, four of them in children, and scores of serious injuries that occurred after the drug spread to vital organs, a health advocacy group says..."

Ex-Indonesian dictator dies at 86
By Marilyn Berger of The New York Times
"Suharto of Indonesia, whose 32-year dictatorship was one of the most brutal and corrupt of the 20th century, died Sunday in Jakarta. He was 86..."

French bank loses billions
By David Jolly and Nicola Clark The New York Times
"The French bank Société Générale offered greater detail on Sunday about how it said a low-level former trader carried out fraudulent trades that led to more than $7 billion in losses..."

Local teen shot by friend
By Kelly Jasper of The Daily News-Record
"A teen shot a friend in the face Thursday afternoon in Elkton, said police who have taken a 15-year-old suspect into custody..."

Former governor to stop at JMU
By Heather Bowser of The Daily News-Record
"Former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore will make a campaign stop at James Madison University at 7:30 p.m. Monday..."

EMU magazine receives merit award
By Heather Bowser of The Daily News-Record
"Eastern Mennonite University's Crossroads magazine recently won an award from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education..."

That's it for this week. Leave a comment about any of these headlines, or post your own!

Rocky roads remain despite government effort

2008-01-25T21:06:00.000-08:00

Tired of popping in and out of pot-holes while driving down the street? Yeah...so is everybody else.

All over the country state and local governments are finding it difficult to pay for roads, bridges and other building projects due to the ever increasing construction costs.

These issues may just be the result of bad timing. Some time ago governments tried to come up with initiatives to improve roads and airports, build schools and upgrade water and sewer systems, but most of these plans were created when steady funds were coming in from property, sales and income taxes and when interest rates were low.

According to an article in The New York Times:

"Costs have jumped for projects as varied as levee construction in New Orleans, Everglades restoration in Florida and huge sewer system upgrades in Atlanta. The reconstruction of the Interstate 35W bridge in Minneapolis, a $234 million project, has been fast-tracked for completion by December, and state officials say it is too soon to know whether it will come in on budget."

Share your own rocky road stories or let me know what you think by leaving me a comment below.

Thompson drops out of presidential race

2008-01-23T21:22:00.000-08:00

All right political junkies, I have more election news for you.

After placing third in the South Carolina primaries Fred D. Thompson, a former senator from Tennessee, dropped out of the Republican primaries. Upon entering the race Thompson had hoped to win the state.

According to an article on The New York Times' website:

"Mr. Thompson’s withdrawal came three days after he delivered a rambling speech on Saturday night that signaled that his departure was imminent. Aides said it was delayed because he went to Tennessee to tend to his mother, who was ill."

It seems to me like the candidates are dropping like flies. Is your number one contender still fighting the fight? Who do you think we'll be the next to go? Let me know by leaving me a comment below.

This week's top headlines

2008-01-18T19:47:00.000-08:00

This week's Top Ten (1/11/08):

Chess champ dies at 64
By Bruce Weber of The New York Times
"Bobby Fischer, the reclusive chess master who became a Cold War icon when he dethroned the Soviet Union's Boris Spassky as world champion in 1972, has died. He was 64...Mr. Fischer died Thursday in a Reykjavik hospital, said his spokesman, Gardar Sverrisson. There was no immediate word on the cause of death..."

The biofuel debate continues
By Keith Bradsher of The New York Times
"Across the globe, huge demand for biofuels has created tension between using land to produce fuel and using it for food..."

Bush proposes $145 billion tax relief plan
By Sheryl Stolberg of The New York Times
"President Bush called Friday for roughly $145 billion in tax relief for individuals and businesses that he said would “provide a shot in the arm” for the economy, while Congressional Democrats, in a rare show of Washington bipartisanship, pledged to work with him to enact a plan quickly..."

Obama and Clinton trade attacks in Nevada caucuses
By Jeff Zeleny of The New York Times
"Senator Barack Obama sharply criticized Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton on the eve of the Nevada caucuses, declaring: 'The American people don’t want a president whose plans change with the politics of the moment...'"

Huckabee walks the religious line
By David Kirkpatrick and Michael Powell of The New York Times
"Mike Huckabee mentioned his faith only glancingly in his stump speech this week at North Greenville University in Tigerville. Discussing presidential decisions that will matter after he is long gone, he added: “By the way, I have made arrangements for what happens after that, and it’s all good. It’s all good...”

New apartment complex to be built in Harrisonburg, VA
By Jeff Mellott of The Daily News-Record
"A request to allow 1,000 residential units on Stone Spring Road to be developed in a high-density zone is a step closer to approval. The Harrisonburg Planning Commission voted Wednesday to recommend the City Council approve the request..."

Virginia superintendent supports Kaine's $1 billion education plan
By Jenny Jones of The Daily News-Record
"On Tuesday, City Schools Superintendent Donald Ford attended a conference in Richmond to voice support of Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's proposal to invest almost an additional $1 billion in K-12 public education..."

Uneasy neighbors prevents Harrisonburg hookah bar from opening
By Jeff Mellott of The Daily News-Record
"Plans for a hookah café at 1400 S. Main St. were put on hold on Wednesday. The Harrisonburg Planning Commission, at the property owner's request, tabled an application to rezone the site. The site had been used for professional offices and the café is requesting that its zoning be changed to allow a retail business there. The change would allow a grocery store operating there to comply with city zoning regulations..."

Plans for Stanley stake park underway
By Hannah Northey of The Daily News-Record
"A committee that raised more than $40,000 to build a skate park in Stanley hopes the town approves a construction site soon..."

I-81 negotiations end after four years
By Katie Prahlad of The Daily News-Record
"Part of a $13 billion project to address the long-term needs of Interstate 81 is dead, but spot improvements for the aging highway are still part of the Virginia Department of Transportation's six-year plan, VDOT officials said Thursday. VDOT announced that it ended a four-year negotiation process with KBR Inc. on Wednesday, after the company requested to withdraw from the project, department spokesman Jeff Caldwell said..."

That's it for this week. Leave a comment about any of these headlines, or post your own!

Snow creates problem for motorists

2008-01-17T21:50:00.000-08:00

The central Shenandoah Valley received six inches of snow accumulation this morning, causing accidents all across the Rockingham County/Harrisonburg area. Police were tied up around Interstate 81 and various other local roads as a result of the snowfall, according to an article posted on The Daily News-Record's website.

The article posted a timeline of the accumulation:

"Around 8 a.m., snowflakes started falling in Harrisonburg, causing headaches for many drivers as they made their morning commutes to work.

At about 10 a.m., the Virginia Department of Transportation reported that I-81's road conditions in Rockingham County were minor or considered to be bare with minor spots of snow, ice or slush.

By 12:45 p.m., the highway's conditions, as well as primary and secondary roads, were escalated to moderate, with snow or ice on major portions of the highway. In those conditions, VDOT recommends snow tires or chains on all vehicles...

Interstate 81 southbound near the Bridgewater exit was slow going for most of the morning. A jackknifed tractor-trailer just south of Exit 240 had both lanes shut down for a time around 1 p.m.

At about 2 p.m., snow stopped falling in Harrisonburg and freezing rain began. But, by the time the snow had stopped, a total of 4.75 inches had fallen, according to the Dale Enterprise Weather Station."

As for me, I stayed in all day, reading, writing and catching up on my reality television. Let me know what you did with your snow day by leaving me a comment below.

Romney beats McCain in Michigan primary

2008-01-15T19:43:00.000-08:00

Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney won the Michigan Republican primaries, beating out forerunner Senator John McCain of Arizona.

According to an article in The New York Times:

"Promising to revitalize the distressed automobile industry, Mr. Romney defeated his principal rival, Senator John McCain of Arizona, by winning a clear plurality of Republicans and conservatives, who turned out in greater numbers than they had in the 2000 primary, which Mr. McCain won."

This goes to show that voter turn out really can make a difference. Virginia primaries are on Feb. 12, so make sure to make it out to the polls. Let me know what you think of Romney and the presidential primaries by leaving me a comment below.

This week's top headlines

2008-01-11T21:48:00.000-08:00

I'm going to switch things up a little bit and see what everyone thinks.

For awhile it has been bothering me that I can only blog on one or two topics a post, when there are so many interesting things going on in the world and nation. For that reason, I've decided to post a weekly top ten, featuring the day's biggest headlines.

This week's Top Ten (1/11/08):

Relief on the way for AIDS patients?
By Donald G. McNeil Jr. of The New York Times
"Researchers at Harvard Medical School have identified 273 proteins that the AIDS virus needs to survive in human cells, which could lead to new strategies for combating the disease..."

At least 23 killed in Pakistan bomb explosion
By Salman Masood of The New York Times
"An explosion, apparently detonated by a suicide attacker, was aimed at police officers protecting a rally in Lahore..."

Bush outlines Mideast peace plan
By Steven Lee Myers of The New York Times
"President Bush outlined a two-state peace treaty he is hoping to broker between Israel and the Palestinians..."

Federal Chief cuts interest rates...again
By Louis Uchitelle and Michael M. Grynbaum of The New York Times
"Ben S. Bernanke sent a strong signal that the central bank will lower interest rates again..."

Bush and Congress consider economic stimulus plan
By Steven R. Weisman and David M. Herszenhorn of The New York Times
"Concern about a possible recession is bringing the president and lawmakers closer to agreeing that an economic stimulus package is needed soon, officials said..."

Scientists create stem cells without destroying embryos
By Karen Kaplan of The Los Angeles Times
"Scientists reported Thursday that for the first time they have made human embryonic stem cells without destroying embryos, a development that the government's top stem cell official said would make the controversial research eligible for federal funding..."

U.S. attorney's office accused of leaking anthrax case
By David Willman of The Los Angeles Times
"Attorneys for the former Army physician who was branded a "person of interest" in the deadly 2001 anthrax mailings named three federal officials Friday who they said leaked investigative details that harmed their client..."

O.J. Simpson taken into custody for violating bail
From the Associated Press, printed in The Los Angeles Times
"O.J. Simpson was taken into custody today in Florida and will spend several days in a Las Vegas jail before a judge hears allegations that he violated terms of his bail in an armed robbery case here, court officials said..."

Democrats campaign hard for primary elections
By Maura Reynolds and Ashley Powers of The Los Angeles Times
"The two leading Democratic presidential contenders revved up their campaigns Thursday, rallying supporters in upcoming battleground states and touting big-name endorsements..."

Post 9/11 security rules finalized
From the Associated Press, printed in The Los Angeles Times
"Americans born after Dec. 1, 1964, will have to get more secure driver's licenses in the next six years under ambitious post-9/11 security rules to be unveiled today by federal officials..."

That's it for this week. Leave a comment about any of these headlines, or post your own!

Get the vote out: Presidential primary schedule

2008-01-10T21:45:00.000-08:00

Everyone knows that the election is approaching, and I've mentioned that the primaries are in full swing, but it just occurred to me that many of you may not know when voting occurs in your state. For that reason, I thought it would be beneficial to post a calendar listing the tentative schedule.

JANUARY 2008
3: Iowa (caucuses)
5: Wyoming (GOP caucuses)
8: New Hampshire (primary)
15: Michigan
19: Nevada (precinct caucuses), South Carolina (R primary)
26: South Carolina (D primary)
29: Florida

FEBRUARY 2008
1: Maine (R)
5: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado (caucuses), Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho (D), Illinois, Kansas (D), Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico (D), New York, North Dakota (caucuses), Oklahoma, Tennessee, Utah
9: Louisiana, Kansas (R), Nebraska (D)
10: Maine (D caucuses)
12: District of Columbia, Maryland, Virginia
19: Hawaii (D), Washington, Wisconsin

MARCH 2008
4: Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont
8: Wyoming (D)
11: Mississippi

APRIL 2008
22: Pennsylvania
23-26: Constitution Party Convention in Kansas City, Missouri

MAY 2008
6: Indiana, North Carolina
13: Nebraska (primary), West Virginia
20: Kentucky, Oregon
22-26: Libertarian National Convention in Denver, Colorado
27: Idaho (R)

JUNE 2008
3: Montana, New Mexico (R), South Dakota

JULY 2008
10-13, Green Party Convention in Chicago

AUGUST 2008
25-28: Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colorado

SEPTEMBER 2008
1-4: Republican National Convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul

OCTOBER 2008
15: Final Presidential Debate at Hofstra University

NOVEMBER 2008
4: Presidential and Vice Presidential Elections

Now that you know when you can vote, you have no excuse not to! Let me know what you think about the election and the candidates by leaving me a comment below. Are you going to vote?

Gov. Bill Richardson set to drop out of primaries

2008-01-09T22:44:00.000-08:00

Welcome back, news lovers! I hope everyone had a great break and is ready for a fun filled election year.

Speaking of election news, after two fourth-place finishes in Iowa and New Hampshire, Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico will be dropping out of the democratic presidential race.

According to an article by Leslie Wayne of The New York Times:

"Mr. Richardson made the decision after returning to New Mexico Wednesday and meeting with his top advisers, they said. He is expected to make an announcement on Thursday.

His withdrawal removes a candidate who had a hard-edged message of immediate troop withdrawal from Iraq, but tempered it with humorous television advertisements that emphasized his wide-ranging résumé in a clever way."

While I can't say that I was a big backer of Richardson, I'll admit that I'm always disappointed to see someone throw in the towel. After all, there are candidates doing worse than him still giving it their all.

Let me know what you think. Should Richardson have dropped out or hung in there?

Nations take steps to revive climate treaty

2007-12-16T20:55:00.000-08:00

Good news ladies and gents — the U.S. is going green.

According to an alert I just received from The New York Times, "In a dramatic turnaround, the U.S. agreed to a compromise that sets a two-year timetable for reviving an ailing, aging treaty on global climate change after two weeks of intense and at times emotional talks among the world's countries in Bali, Indonesia." I don't know about you guys, but I'd love to see this happen.

I don't have all the details yet, but this seems very exciting! I'll let you know as I have more information, but feel free to leave me a comment in the meantime. What do you think about green initiatives? Are they a good thing or a hopeless waste of time?

Congress to vote on Darfur

2007-12-13T08:46:00.000-08:00

The long awaited moment is finally here – Congress is finally taking steps to do something about the conflict in Darfur. In sometime in the near future, the group will vote to determine if the conflict should be labeled as a genocide, according to Me and Ophelia, a British news blog I've recently started reading.

The United Nations is developing a peacekeeping force, and it's up to us to tell our legislatures how important this is. Citizens are encouraged to write or call Congress members, asking them to fund the mission.

Interested parties can call 1-800-Genocide (1-800-436-6243) to contact their representatives. Concerned individuals are also encouraged to contract members of Congress via e-mail or the postal system.

As of 12/10, 1,207 calls have been made in support of funding a U.N. mission in Darfur. I encourage everyone reading this to do the same. If one person can't make a difference, thousands can. Raise up and use your voices. It's for a good cause.

Harrisonburg receives $15,000 grant to promote tourism

2007-12-10T11:10:00.000-08:00

The Virginia Tourism Corporation just gave Harrisonburg Tourism and Visitor Services a $15,000 grant to produce a tourism DVD, a tourism brochure, and a two-page spread in the Virginia Travel Guide, according to an article on the Daily News-Record's website. Apparently a dozen local government, non-profit and local agencies provided an additional $32,000 for the project.

Personally, I didn't know Harrisonburg was that big on tourism. I kind of assumed that the only people who ever visited were families of loved ones on the holidays or JMU parents during parent's weekend. According to these numbers, however, it looks like tourism may have been a bigger deal than I imagined in H-burg.

That said, I suppose it could go the opposite direction as well — is Harrisonburg's tourism rates so low that we have to pump tens of thousands of dollars into is resuscitation? Tell me what you think by leaving me a comment below.

Gas prices up, gift certificate sales down

2007-12-08T22:18:00.000-08:00

People are paying more at the pump this holiday season, but not many are opting to buy gas gift cards for their loved ones. According to an article I just read by Jenny Jones of The Daily News-Record, demand for these certificates have not increased.

Some gas station owners say it might just be too early in the season. Of those interviewed in Jones's article, many seemed to think that sales will pick up as Christmas approaches.

Personally, I'd love to find a gas certificate snuggled into my stocking Christmas morning. That stuff is getting expensive, and I can think of a lot of things I'd rather spend my money on.

Let me know what you think. How many of you are giving the gift of gas this holiday season?

“There are a lot of people who you may only nod to; it's better to stop and say hello.”

2007-12-07T16:35:00.000-08:00

Hello all.

I'm Ashley Hopkins, a media arts and design major concentrating in print journalism, and this is my news blog!

I started this blog as part of my senior honors project but as it is now a part of Breeze Blogs, I thought it would be good to re-introduce myself. I'm news editor of The Breeze, and together with our copy editor, Kelly Conniff, have worked to increase the interactivity of our Web site by adding blogs to our homepage.

So you know how it works, I will be updating three to four times a week with news relevant to JMU and Harrisonburg communities. In the past I have even dabbled in national coverage, as these issues affect Virginia residents as well.

While I try to grab from a variety of sources, I'm just one person and I'm willing to admit that I need help! If you know of a big event I should cover on my blog or in The Breeze, let me know by leaving me a comment. I'm also open to tips and would like to use this blog as a means of knowing what you want to hear about.

I don't just work for The Breeze, I work for you. Use me.

Pop the pill, take the ride, pass the test

2007-12-05T21:38:00.000-08:00

According to many articles I've read this year, this one included, more and more college students are using prescription amphetamines to keep them awake and energized during long nights of studying for finals. In the article from link I just posted, it is estimated that up to 20 percent of college students have used Ritalin or Adderall to study, write papers or take exams at one point in time.

The Breeze tried to do an article on this, but as it was the end of the semester and a very tender subject, we ran out of time. It's still a possibility for January, however, and I'd like your input.

I think it makes more sense to learn time management than pop pills, but someone out there may disagree. Let me know what you think by leaving me a comment below.

Nerf gun notice not so honest?

2007-12-03T21:11:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago I blogged about a ridiculous notice I received about a student who ran into a JMU building and shot another student with a toy Nerf gun. The student was caught and identified, and the e-mail sent out police had labeled it as a prank so I never really thought anymore about it.

That is, until I received an e-mail from a staff writer saying that the incident may have been a lot more than a joke between friends. From what I've heard, and what I've been trying to confirm, is that the student ran into the building wearing a face mask and hiding the toy Nerf gun beneath his jacket before he shot the other student with the foam dart. Apparently some students were so scared that they were crying and calling members of their families.

Tomorrow I'll spend a lot of time getting in contact with people and update you as soon as I know anything.

In the meantime, does anyone out there have any information about this incident? I'm trying to find out what exactly went on and could use all the help I can get. Leave me a comment below if you know anything or have any suggestions about how to get in contact with someone.

UPDATE — Ed. note: Since this posting I have spoken with Don Egle, university spokesperson for JMU. He confirmed all the information sent out by police, but could not confirm that the suspect was wearing a face mask or that he had yelled for students to get down when the incident occured. Egle did say that the student had referenced a South Park line, although he did not say what that line was. The suspect, who was a student at JMU, is currently awaiting charges.

Bush's plan to increase AIDS funding abroad

2007-11-30T14:27:00.000-08:00

When I was in high school the school I attended had the highest birth rate in the county and the second highest in the state. Teenage girls were pushing out babies all over the place. That was bad enough, but I've just learned from one of my friends that a student in a local high school, I'm not sure which one, has just received notice that they are HIV positive.

Maybe I've naieve, but this is just scary! When I was in high school I spent more time hanging out with my friends and reading books than thinking about boys, and now students aren't only exchanging partners, they're exchanging diseases.

Given these circumstances, I can see why President Bush is interested in expanding AIDS funding, as was reported in an article I read on The Washington Post's website. Apparently, he has urged Congress to approve plans that would increase funds appropriated to battling the disease overseas to $30 billion over five years.

I hardly ever agree with anything Bush does, but this could work. I only wish that he had included some plans to battle AIDS within U.S. borders. This country is one of the leading countries in the world, but its citizens are still suffering. Aid is needed in Africa, but it is also needed in New York, Chicago and other big cities, and I think it's important that people don't forget this.

I also worry about where the money is coming from. Thirty billion dollars is quite a chunk of change, and considering we're in the middle of an extended military operation, I doubt the U.S. has a lot spare.

Let me know what you think by leaving me a comment below.

Red Cross funds deplete as fires rage

2007-11-29T17:02:00.000-08:00

The holidays are about giving, and now more than ever people are need of help.

After a series of house fires depleted funds last winter, the local Red Cross is short of money needed to pay for this year's efforts, according to an article on the Daily News-Record's website.

As last winter was particularly cold, Harrisonburg citizens increased their heating usage, resulting in more fires. When heaters are used incorrectly, or when a fireplace or woodburner is not well maintained, the chances of a fire starting increases, and as a result more families were displaced. According to the DN-R, "From October 2006 to March 2007, the agency served 37 families and spent more than $30,000."

This year, the Red Cross plans to set aside $21,000 for emergency services but would like to raise an additional $20,000 to $30,000 to counter the winter heating season, which typically runs from October through March. This could prove difficult as the non-profit organization is run almost entirely on donations.

I don't usually do this, but I encourage everyone to help out all they can. This season, think of someone else for a change and donate. Even a dollar could make a difference in someone's Christmas.

Covering the tough issues: Virginia Tech suicide shakes all

2007-11-28T23:41:00.000-08:00

I've had to cover some heavy issues since I've started writing, but today takes the cake.

On Monday night, Virginia Tech freshman Jonathan David Jones, 19, of Fredericksburg, Virginia, jumped from the seventh story of a dormitory, allegedly committing suicide. He died in Montgomery Regional Hospital, were he was transported as a result of his injuries. (For more information, check out this site on the Virginia Tech website, or my article which will appear in tomorrow's issue of The Breeze).

I spent a good portion of my day trying to track down and call people for this article, and ended up with nothing more than a few press releases and official statements. It's hard to get people to talk on a tender subject, especially when so little time has gone by since the incident. Since suicide is such a taboo subject, in this case I can see why I ran into so many walls.

Any advice is welcome. I'd like to know how the journalists out there get their sources to open up and talk to them in times of news.

The immigration issue

2007-11-26T21:13:00.001-08:00

As a news editor, I read a lot of articles. As it's the end of the semester and more and more print journalism students are being required to turn in their articles for publication, I've been reading more than ever. One thing that I've noticed, however, is that a lot of students are writing about immigration. It's obviously a hot ticket issue, so I thought I'd dedicate some space to the subject.

According to an article that I read that has yet to be published in The Breeze, Harrisonburg has noticed an increase in both the Hispanic population and crime committed across the city. While officials acknowledged that there is no provable correlation between the two trends, the local police force has stepped up security measures.

I didn't research this article, and I'm sure I don't have all the facts in front of me, but I'm disappointed in what I've heard so far. If this is America then people of all backgrounds and ethnicities should have the right to live freely in the comfort of their country, immigrant or natural born. Rather than protecting citizens the police may be going on wild witch hunts for people to prosecute, much reminiscent of seventeenth century Salem.

I have my opinions, but this spot is really an open forum for all of you to air your support and grievances. Leave me a comment and let me know what you think.

Crowds brave bitter cold to bargain shop for Black Friday

2007-11-23T19:53:00.000-08:00

Happy Black Friday everyone! I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving and didn't have to get up too early to catch this morning's sales.

I'm a sleeper, so I didn't start my shopping until 10:30 a.m., but even then the crowds were still in full swing, filling the aisles of retail stores and stuffing their carts to the brim.

In a national trend, not even the cold could keep shoppers from their stores, according to an article on the CBS website. All over the country shoppers bundled up and stood in long lines in hopes of buying discounted electronics, toys, clothes and sporting equipment.

One difference that I've noticed this year as opposed to in years past was the presence of online shopping. While researching for this blog I ran across a pile of sites advertising sales customers could get just by double clicking, allowing them to avoid long lines and busy streets by shopping in the comfort of their own homes. I haven't seen any numbers regarding the effect these sites will have on Black Friday, but from what I've seen they didn't keep the crowds from coming out in full force.

What about you guys? Did you hit the stores or the sites this year? Leave me a comment and let me know.

Rising gas prices lead to not so happy holidays?

2007-11-20T21:38:00.000-08:00

Everyone loves the holidays, but no one loves the traveling. During this time of year gas prices always seem to rise, hurting the wallets of Christmas shoppers who often have to travel long distances to visit family.

In fact, an estimated 1.1 million Virginians will travel 50 miles or more this holiday, which is a two percent increase over last year, according to an article in the Daily News-Record. As a result, travel is costing families twice as much as it did five years ago. In Harrisonburg, residents making an annual income of around $32,038 are spending 5.39 percent of that income per vehicle on fuel.

According to the DN-R, over the past five years, median income has risen 7.5 percent in Harrisonburg, while the price of gasoline has more than doubled. Let me know how you plan to make the holiday gas stretch by leaving me a comment below.

Oh the opportunities! Oh the decisions!

2007-11-19T21:55:00.001-08:00

Tonight's blog is going to get a little personal again. I usually use this site as a tool to present information to the public, but at this point in time I just need a little advice. Tomorrow we can get back to the normal stuff, but tonight I'm airing out my mind.

Like many college seniors at this time of the year, I'm in the process of applying to graduate schools. Like many college seniors, I'm very unprepared!

My head is swimming with possibilities, and I don't have enough time, money or energy to apply to all the schools I want to. Each time I think I have my list narrowed down a new, exciting opportunity presents itself.

Right now I'm considering:

Columbia University
Northwestern University
Northeastern University
University of Maryland
Temple University
University of South Florida
American University
University of North Carolina

As you can see, my list is pretty long. Let me know what you think. My list is extensive, but I might have missed a great opportunity. Or, I may be looking into a school that could turn out to be a complete waste of time.

Either way, I'd like your input. How many schools did you apply to? Where did you go, and how much did you like it? Leave me a comment!

Special election in the works?

2007-11-17T19:32:00.000-08:00

I have more election news for those of you out there who have been following it. This just in from Jeff Mellott and Jenny Jones's article for the Daily News-Record:

"The Rockingham County Board of Supervisors cannot make a decision about requesting a special election for the commissioner of the revenue until after Jan. 1, according to a state elections official.

Martha Brisette, policy analyst with the Virginia State Board of Elections, said on Friday that the commissioner of revenue position becomes vacant on Jan. 1.

At that time, the Board of Supervisors would have 15 days to petition the Rockingham County Circuit Court to set a special election, Brisette said."

Apparently all this is occurring because Richard Connellee, the late commission of the revenue, who died on Oct. 14, had his name on the ballot. That's not even the best part — he won, proving that Virginia would rather choose a dead man than any of the other candidates!

Personally, I think a special election would be a good thing, as it would most likely coincide with the presidential election, which could increase voter turnout.

In the mean time, I don't think anyone can deny that this whole thing is rather funny. Leave me a comment and share your weirdest political story.

How effective is JMU's timely notice system?

2007-11-16T21:15:00.000-08:00

As a journalist, I know that one of the most important functions of a newspaper is to keep the public informed about possible threats in the community. In order to keep our readers safe we depend on the JMU police to send up timely notices whenever something dangerous happens around campus.

Most times, this system works fine. A theft occurs, we hear about it. Someone's assaulted on Port Road, we're on it. There have, however, been times when, for some reason or other, the notice never came. In Nov. of 2006 The Breeze never received a notice of a rape that had occurred in a JMU dorm room. (For more information check out Rachana Dixit's article, first published in The Breeze). Just last week, Kaleigh Maher covered an incident in which alleged gang members were camping out in Jackson Hall on the weekends. Apparently an incident occurred a month ago and police never notified us. (Click here for more information).

As if to add insult to injury, below is a timely notice that JMU police sent out yesterday:

"At approximately 2:15 pm today a student-aged male was present in a classroom, wearing camouflage and a toboggan. The individual presented a toy (Nerf) dart launcher. which was immediately recognized as a toy by the faculty member due to the orange and yellow color. The individual hit a student with three sponge (Nerf) darts. The suspect immediately ran out of the classroom. The faculty member followed the suspect into the hallway but could not identify the direction of travel. At 3:35 pm the faculty member
reported the incident to JMU Police.

The JMU Police immediately followed-up on this incident. Shortly thereafter, JMU Police learned that the suspect was known to the victim. THIS INCIDENT IS BEING CONSIDERED A PRANK. The clothes and toy (Nerf) dart launcher have been recovered and a full account of the incident has been provided by the suspect. No charges have been filed at this time."

So basically — rape, gangs...no big deal. Not worthy of an E-mail. Nurf bombers pelting their friends with sponge balls around campus...front page news! I know people like their odd stories, but this all seems a little backwards. Let me know if you agree by leaving me a comment below, and feel free to leave any advice on how I might be able to correct this problem.

It's a dog eat dog world: bloggers catching up with newspapers

2007-11-15T20:49:00.000-08:00

I was checking out the Los Angeles Times website today and found an interesting article by Alana Semuels who wrote:

"Once upon a time, newspapers wanted nothing to do with bloggers, those amateurs who opined on anything that caught their fancy, whether it was interesting, or accurate, or not.

That was then. Now newspaper websites, desperate for readers and revenue, are increasingly in cahoots with bloggers, posting and plugging them and even sharing advertising revenue."

As an avid newspaper lover I hate to admit it, but she's right. More than ever people are turning to the Internet for information, and blogs allow people daily doses of news on the issues they care about.

This was made more than apparent to me this week. Kelly Conniff, copy editor for The Breeze, and I decided to take on the mission of adding blogs to the paper's website in hopes of keeping up with changing technology. We got idea during our newspaper production class this semester and planned to do a lot of adverting to pull in potential writers. Within one day of sending a bulk E-mail to every student on campus, we had received 150 replies from students interested in blogging for us. I would say a good quarter of students expressed interest in writing for the print version as well.

To quote Borat, it was a "great success." Blogging is definitely earning the respect of well established print publications. But is this a good thing? Leave me a comment and let me know.

Senator Clinton uses Web site to refute bad press

2007-11-09T19:54:00.000-08:00

I was checking out a blog on The New York Times Web site today and found that Hillary Clinton (D-NY) has added a new site to her presidential campaign that will allow her to instantaneously refute media coverage or charges she feels is offensive or incorrect.

According to Times blogger Jim Rutenberg:

"The day (the Website launched) offered a perfect opportunity for the campaign, with a potentially embarrassing mini-scandal: a waitress’s report that Mrs. Clinton had failed to tip after eating at a Maid-Rite diner in central Iowa, an assertion that ricocheted around the Internet on Thursday.

After NPR broadcast the report, Mrs. Clinton’s campaign responded by saying the candidate and her aides had in fact left a tip: $100 on a $157 check at the diner. The restaurant manager, Brad Crawford, confirmed in interviews, including with The New York Times, that Mrs. Clinton, of New York, and her retinue had indeed left a tip, though he did not say how much."

Yesterday I posted on the ethical dilemma of blogging, and I think this case applies. Legally Clinton is allowed to blog, but are voter's benefiting from hearing her respond to every allegation the media throws out there?

Maybe. On one hand, the public could benefit from a check on the media. Obviously, there have been cases when stories have been spun in different ways, causing a negative reaction on the part of the public. On the other hand, the media was put in place to act as a watchdog of government officials, and it's pretty hard to control someone who's controlling you.

Blogs definitely put more information out there, but is that always a good thing? Let me know what you think in my comment section.

Is blogging becoming an ethical issue?

2007-11-08T23:15:00.000-08:00

One of my professors recently sent me a link from the Innovation in College Media Web site about the Internet's influence on freedom of speech that I found very interesting.

In his article Bryan Murley, an assistant professor for Eastern Illinois, wrote:

"The best thing about the Internet is that it allows any U.S. citizen to put their First Amendment rights into practice with a minimum of effort.

A skeptic might say that the worst thing about the Internet is that it allows any U.S. citizen to put their First Amendment rights into practice with a minimum of effort.

The widespread use of the Internet has spawned a number of legal and ethical issues for journalists. The framework of U.S. law is scrambling to keep up with new questions posed by digital media, from RSS feeds and hyperlinks to intellectual property and fair use to weblogs and forum messages. Ethical quandaries have arisen as well in this new media landscape."

As a new blogger, I've run into my own ethical quandaries. Out of fear that I will violate a copyright law and steal someone's intellectual property, I've driven myself crazy trying to figure out what I can and cannot post. This is especially difficult when it comes to photos, as it's often hard to determine what can be freely used by the public and securing permission is a lot harder than it sounds.

All in all, I would say that the Internet is a good thing. Yes, it allows for the publication of information that has not been properly fact checked, and yes, it can dangerous when everyone is acting as their own editor, but at least more information is out there. I'm a firm believer in "the more the better," and I'd hate to think that free speech is being stifled due to the indiscretions of choice individuals. In a sea of false information the truth will shine, and it's time that people stopped looking at citizens as gullible morons who believe everything that it spoon fed to them.

There are rational people left. There has to be.

Don't you agree? Comment below and let me know.

Democrats take the Senate

2007-11-07T22:19:00.000-08:00

For the first time in 12 years, the Democrats have regained control of the Senate.

While Republicans kept control of the House of Delegates, the Daily News-Record reports that Republicans in the Senate may lose committee chairmanships, along with the power to shape legislation.

As for Harrisonburg, the results listed on the Virginia State Board of Election's website may be unofficial, but the winners look clear.

Virginia Senate — Mark D. Obenshain (R) — 64.69 percent of votes
House of Delegates — Matthew J. Lohr (R) — 59.92 percent of votes
Clerk of Court — Chaz W. Evans-Haywood (R) — 25.08 percent of votes
Commonwealth's Attorney — Marsha L. Garst (R) — 97.72 percent of votes
Sheriff — Don W. Farley (I) — 97.65 percent of votes
Soil and Water Conservation Director Shenandoah Valley District — William Latham (I) — 53.84 percent of the vote

So those are the results. Let me know what you think by leaving me a comment.

Vote or die: Virginia general election held today

2007-11-06T23:08:00.000-08:00

It's the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November, aka my favorite day of the year, aka election day, and I hope everyone got out to the polls and voted.

I don't know who won yet because it's still too early, but you best believe that I'll be updating as soon as the results are in. Right now I'm still basking in the glow of the since of accomplishment that I always get every time I vote. So far I've yet to miss an election.

While I can't give you results, I can tell you one main difference I've seen in recent elections that I haven't noticed in past years. Voters in Harrisonburg now have the option of voting via a computer touch screen rather than using a paper ballot. According to an article published on the Daily News-Record's website, Page Country just adopted the same technology.

I've had the option of voting with a computer twice now and have opted out both times for two reasons. One, the line is always long and I'm looking to get out quickly. Two, I like the tangible feeling of filling in the bubbles. It makes me feel like I'm really doing something.

What do you think? Leave me a comment and let me know.

Virginia general election to be held November 6

2007-11-02T23:23:00.000-07:00

The Virginia general election is approaching, and I want to encourage everyone to get out there and vote.

Maxine Hope Roles (D) of Luray will be running against incumbent Mark D. Obenshain (R) of Harrisonburg for a spot in the Va. Senate. In addition, incumbent Matthew J. Lohr (R) of Broadway will be running against Carolyn W. Frank (I) of Harrisonburg for membership in the Va. House of Delegates. For more information about the election check out the Virginia Board of Elections site.

I'm not telling you who to vote for, but I am asking that you take the time to look into the links I've provided, find someone to support, and go out their and vote for them. I'll spend the next few days doing the same, because when it comes down to it, if you don't vote, you can't complain. It takes minutes to vote, but if you don't you could be stuck with incompetent legislatures for years to come. (Don't make me point to the White House for examples).

After you check out the politicians running for office, shoot me a comment and let me know what you think of their platforms.

Stuck in a rut: generating story ideas

2007-10-31T22:33:00.000-07:00

As a news editor, I have to come up with 10 story ideas twice a week. One other news editor helps me out with this task, and of course we receive a lot of ideas via e-mail from various clubs, organizations or news outlets around Harrisonburg or on campus, but finding ideas for interesting stories can still be a pretty daunting task.

Most days Kaleigh, no co-editor, and I spend a good two hours in the news room searching websites, bulletins and racking our brains for anything that might be newsworthy enough to make it into the paper. We ask that writer's feel free to pitch us their own ideas, but unfortunately they very rarely take us up on the offer. More often than not we're so desperate to come up with nine or 10 ideas that we push through weak topics, resulting in weak articles. Obviously, something has to change.

Unfortunately we're often stuck with the classic conundrum: when we assign a lot of great stories, ads hardly sell and we have a short issue; when we have nothing, it's a 20 pager. I don't know of anyway to correct this problem, which would allow for better planning and hindsight when assigning stories, but it does seem as though something should be done. Any ideas are welcome. Leave me a comment.

Comet Holmes viewing at JMU tonight

2007-10-30T22:37:00.000-07:00

One of the reasons that I love my job is that I always get to see interesting things and meet interesting people. Tonight was no exception.

Tonight at 8:00 I went to a star gaze at the astronomy park behind the Physics and Chemistry building at JMU and got to view Comet Holmes through a 10 inch Meade telescope. It was the first time the comet has been visible to naked eye in 40 years, but it was still neat to get an up-close look at the comet as it moved through the constellation Perseus.

For more information check out my article in Thursday's issue of The Breeze. For a more hands on approach, take a step outside sometime in the next week and look up. The comet will be visible over the next week or so.

Tell me what you think. Have any of you checked it out yet? Will you now that you know about it?

Staph infections scare students

2007-10-29T15:08:00.000-07:00

An antibiotic-resistant staph infection is overtaking the Valley, worrying teachers and administrators in the Virginia school system.

Since the strain killed a Bedford County student, schools have taken preventative measures including sanitizing locker rooms, gyms, showers and sports equipment, and by alerting parents to the scare, according to an article on the Daily News Record's website.

So far no one I know has been infected, but I recommend checking out the health center if you have any of the following symptoms:

* Pain and swelling around an open wound (cut or scrape) of the skin.
* Furuncles (boils) and carbuncles, white-headed pimples around hair follicles.
* Blistering and peeling skin, in infants and young children.
* Swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpits or groin.

What do you think, or more importantly, how do you feel?

Meet the candidates for the 2008 presidential election

2007-10-26T15:24:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again — the country is gearing up for the 2008 presidential elections. This time Bush can't run, guaranteeing a new person in the hot seat, but are people going to be informed about the platforms various candidates are running on? CNN is here to help.

CNNPolitics.com recently published a page outlining the candidacies of major democratic and republican party contenders. Here's what is looks like so far:

Democrats:

Joe Biden – U.S. senator from Delaware
Hillary Clinton — U.S. senator from New York
Chris Dodd — U.S. senator from Connecticut
John Edwards — U.S. senator from North Carolina
Mike Gravel — Former U.S. senator from Alaska
Dennis Kucinich — U.S. representative from Ohio
Barack Obama — U.S. senator from Illinois
Bill Richardson – New Mexico governor

Republicans:

Rudy Giuliani — Former New York City mayor
Mike Huckabee — Former Arkansas governor
Duncan Hunter — U.S. representative from California
John McCain — U.S. senator from Arizona
Ron Paul — U.S. representative from Texas
Mitt Romney – Former Massachusetts governor
Tom Tancredo — U.S. representative from Colorado
Fred Thompson — Former U.S. senator from Tennessee

So the information is out there. Check out the platforms and let me know what you think.

Drought devastates Virginia, recent rain should help

2007-10-25T22:16:00.000-07:00

All day I've been wet and freezing cold from sloshing around in the rain, but for once I can't say that it's a bad thing.

The federal government had recently designated all of Virginia as a drought-related disaster area, according to an article I just read on the Daily News Record's website. Apparently conditions are so bad that some farmers in the Shenandoah Valley are eligible for low-interest loans to cover this year's crop losses.

This news isn't shocking. Up until recently it felt like summer, fire warnings lined the national parks, and sprinklers sprayed across the campus. I guess JMU can cut those sprinkers now. It's raining, and I'm sure the farmer's are relieved.

What do you think? Are you craving the summer sunshine or enjoying the much needed rain?

The news next door

2007-10-24T22:32:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry to be vague, but it looks like this one is going to have to be that way.

There's a pretty big event in the news these days that The Breeze is covering. So far we've been relying on timely notices, police P.R. and other articles for sources, but I just found out that I actually have a very good connection to someone who has the inside scoop. In fact, this connection personally knows the supposed perpetrator of this alleged crime. (Pardon the wordiness, but I had to cover my own butt on that one).

The facts are still shady, even to the people I have talked to. Granted, all of my research has been through personal conversation that I don't feel comfortable repeating in this blog, I know that if pushed I can obtain some real information.

So basically, I need your advice readers. Do I push the envelope and my sources and go for the big story? Or do I respect the line that separates my work life from my personal life and leave the people that matter to me alone?

Leave me a comment.

Three V.A. and N.C. newspapers to stop endorsing presidential contenders

2007-10-23T22:35:00.000-07:00

According to an article I found on Rocktown Weekly, The Virginia Pilot, The Roanoke Times and North Carolina's News and Record announced that they will no longer be endorsing presidential contenders.

In an editorial posted today on The Virginia Pilot's website, they explained their decision:

"Everyone can read the same news wires we do, access the same archives and do the same kind of political research, thanks to the Internet. Add the 24-hour news channels and talk radio, and it's never been easier for Americans to get the scoop on presidential contenders and to draw their own conclusions...Presidential elections are not our beat. Our time is best spent on local and state problems, or those national ones that bear directly on us."

Honestly, I can't say that I like this. Yes, the people can go online to get their news and find out about possible presidential candidates, but are they actually going to do it? I'm thinking that most people are going to use the Internet to further their knowledge on contenders they're already interested in rather than researching other options. While it's a nice thought that people will go to the wire services and news channels relied upon by area newspapers, I don't find it to be a very realistic one. Local news is important, but not at the expense of national coverage.

What do you think? Leave me a comment and let me know.

College coverage of the community

2007-10-19T12:36:00.000-07:00

I was checking out the Innovation in College Media blog this morning, and the most recent post talked about how it is often hard for media advisers to convince college journalists that it is worth their while to cover the community in their papers.

Personally, I think covering the community is a great idea, but as an editor, I can see why it's often hard to do so. It's easy to get trapped in the mindset that JMU students only care about the JMU community, and when coming up with story ideas we often try to find things that directly relate to campus.

Don't get me wrong, I do think that The Breeze does a decent job of covering the community. I know I've covered legislation that affects all of Harrisonburg, JMU included, such as the proposal for a smoking ban in all restaurants. Just this year Shayna Strang, a staff writer for the publication, wrote a great article on renovations on Blacks Run, a creek running through Purcell Park. Still, there are always ways to improve.

While JMU students might not care what's going on in the community, they would benefit from knowing what's going on around them. It would also benefit reporters, who need to prove that they can cover more than just college events if they want to land a job for any sort of media organization.

Let me know what you think by leaving me a comment.

Vietnam vs. Iraq- why is everyone so inactive?

2007-10-18T22:14:00.000-07:00

My inspiration for this blog comes from an unlikely source — Regal Cinemas.

I just finished watching Across the Universe, a movie about two lovers fighting for peace in the midst of the Vietnam War, and it really got me thinking.

During Vietnam there was fighting in the streets. Protesters put themselves in danger's way in an effort to influence politicians and bring about an end to the war. Groups were formed of young, hopeful activists who, like soldier's forging through foreign countries, put their lives on the line for something they believed in.

I don't see nearly as much activism in present times, over the very similar Operation Iraqi Freedom. Based on the polls and articles I've seen, a lot of people are not fan's of the United States's involvement overseas, but at the same time no one is doing anything about it. I don't know if citizens, discouraged from their lack of influence over elected officials, have turned a deaf ear to talk of change or if the current generation is more apathetic as a whole, but I'd like to hear anyone's input.

Check out the following links to check out what other media outlets think of the subject:

Outside the Beltway

Commondreams.org

Shoot me a comment and let me know what you think.

F.C.C. to lax restrictions on media owners

2007-10-17T21:42:00.000-07:00

Kevin J. Martin, head of the Federal Communications Commission, recently released a plan to reduce restrictions on media ownership. According to an article by the New York Times, the plan would allow for a company to own both a newspaper and a television or radio station in the same city — a long time media no-no.

While I support new media and am very interested in the future of the business, I can't say that I'm overly enthusiastic about the F.C.C.'s plans. There was obviously a reason why restrictions were placed on media ownership in the first place. When one company takes control of too many outlets they gain a monopoly on the information reaching citizens. With all information coming from one main source there will be no way for consumers to double check the facts they are given. This nation was founded on a principle of freedom of speech, and allowing one to speak at the expense of many seems unfair to me.

What's more, without competition media companies may not push themselves to the limit they might have reached for otherwise. Having control of multiple media outlets could make owners feel as though they are serving themselves, while in reality they should be serving their constituents.

And I hate to think about how advertising would fit into all this. It's no surprise that media outlets are often driven by the desire and wishes of those that provide them with the funds to do what they do. Newspapers have refrained from covering various topics that could put advertisers in a harsh light, thus hurting revenue dollars. The same thing happens with T.V. and radio, but when there's a check on ownership there is a check on this sort of behavior. If one company won't report on a certain subject, there is bound to be another that will. I don't know if this will be true if media owners are giving free reign over the outlets they can control.

I'd love to hear anyone else's input. Could this new F.C.C. plan be a good thing?

Call me old fashioned...

2007-10-16T22:32:00.000-07:00

As I was searching through media blogs today I came across something very interesting.

Joel Kramer, CEO and editor of a media company in Minnesota, is launching MinnPost.com, an online news site. The site will employ six editors and more than four dozen journalists, including two Pulitzer Prize winners.

In addition to the site, a paper version known as MinnPost In Print will launch on Nov. 8.

This is one of the first cases I've heard in which an online site has inspired a paper version, and I think it speaks volumes on where media is headed.

For years newspapers like The New York Times and The Washington Post have stood firmly as print publications before going online. Even then, sites for most newspapers are merely online versions of what they have published in print. As technology takes a stronghold,more and more news companies have used online resources to break stories faster and to reach larger amounts of people, but MinnPost.com is taking online publication in an entirely different direction.

It will definitely have interesting implications. I'm interested in seeing how the site is going to manage fitting all the information upwards of 40 journalists can research and write up in one day for the Internet into one daily publication.

While part of me wonders why the media company would even bother with a print version if their online version is successful, I'm an old softy when it comes to newspapers. I admire that even as technology takes over, a company can still recognize the importance of traditional news outlets.

But it doesn't matter what I think. I cater to you guys. How do you want your news?

We have a winner!

2007-10-15T23:19:00.000-07:00

And that man is Lee Brooks.

Brooks received 2,353 votes, while Ilk Ghavami received 2,272 votes — and once again the competitors were within a percent of edging out the competition. But in the end, Brooks brought it home, and now the SGA can finally get back on track as far as its agenda goes.

I talked to Brooks and he told me that the first platform point he hopes to accomplish is his pamphlet outlining things to do on the JMU campus besides drink and party. So far he has already contacted someone about getting grant funding for the project, which would be given to prospective students and their families.

I won't reveal my vote, but I will say that I am glad this election is finally over. After 7 articles, 2 SGA meetings and dozens of angry emails, I can finally put the issue to rest: LEE BROOKS IS PRESIDENT.

And I want to know what you think. Shoot me a comment.

Just when I thought it was over...

2007-10-04T18:10:00.000-07:00

The results of the new SGA election are in: and it was a tie.

Senator Ilk Ghavami received 49.8 percent of the votes, senator Lee Brooks received 49.1, and the rest went to various write in candidates. Since neither candidate obtained a majority, 51 percent of the vote, a run-off election must be held.

Ghavami and Brooks will be given an additional week to campaign, and a re-vote will take place on Thursday, Oct. 11 from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. In order to assure a winner, students will not have the options of writing-in a candidate for election.

And I can't believe it. Right when I think this entire SGA election fiasco is finally coming to a close, something like this comes up and turns everything on its head. These SGA guys sure have a way of keeping me on my toes. It gets better.

I received a call from Ghavami tonight, who told me that the elections commission made him stop campaigning two hours before the election ended today because of a violation. According to Ghavami, before hosting a "Take Your Professor to Lunch" session today he forgot to take off his "Got Ilk?" election T-shirt. He said that since this can be considered campaigning during an SGA sponsored event it was a violation of the election policy, and someone from the Brooks campaign turned him in to the committee.

Considering Ghavami and the SGA's track record, it looks like I have a lot of interviewing to do before Monday's issue of The Breeze. I guess it comes with the job description.

Brooks and Ghavami duke it out for the presidency

2007-10-04T12:29:00.000-07:00

When Brandon Eickel resigned from his position as JMU's student government association President, I thought I'd finally been given a break. The controversies surrounding the election that followed his resignation, however, showed me I was horribly wrong.

Today is election day, and Senators Ilk Ghavami and Lee Brooks are running for president. Last night they both participated in JMU's first ever presidential debate, allowing them to answer questions from the audience, the JMU community and the SGA. While both candidates were given two minutes to open, one minute to answer each question, and two minutes to close, there were only around 50 individuals in attendance, causing me to question the impact the discussion would have on campus.

This might not be a huge deal, expect that the Eickel situation has seemed to create some animosity among students who are ready to move on with the school year. Within the last few weeks The Breeze has received a significant amount of angry emails from students who were tired of seeing Eickel's face on the front page. The general consensus was that the public was tried of the SGA drama and ready to move on with the new election.

So imagine my horror when I found out, about three hours before the first ever SGA presidential debate, that the election's committee met earlier this week to discuss complaints about alleged violations in Ghavami's campaign regarding unregistered staff members. Fortunately for me, and the sanity of the JMU student body, the committee had a hearing and decided that enough factors hadn't been met to affect the election or keep him off the ballot.

While this was positive news for Ghavami, he didn't receive it until after the debate had already been held. This means that Ghavami was not filled in on the details of his election until less than 10 hours before voting began. Fortunately enough, nothing came of this, and drama was averted.

Don't get me wrong,it's not that I have any strong desire to see Ghavami's name on the ballot — I just couldn't stand the idea of having this process drawn out anymore than it already had been. After receiving a few emails accusing me of bias, I couldn't have something else come up that would make it look like I was supporting Ghavami.

This situation would have been even more dire, considering this is not the first time Ghavami has run into issues while campaigning for election. He ran against Eickel last spring but because of a mix-up with the elections committee, was not put on the ballot. [Check out an article by Rachana Dixit, a previous editor for The Breeze, discussing the situation in greater detail]. I feared that another mix-up might increase student anxiety even more than before.

The good news is that the polls are now open. Students can vote via www.sga.jmu.edu/voting until 7 p.m. tonight. I don't care if you cast your vote for Ghavami or Brooks, but get out there and let yourself be heard!

To name or not to name, that is the question

2007-09-27T18:53:00.001-07:00

As you can see below, I've spent a good chunk out of the last week trying to make heads and tails out of JMU's Duke Dog situation. Thanks to higher ups in university administrative offices, the wonderful technology that is Youtube, and help of students who were at the game, finding out what went down was not difficult. The hard part came later.

In order to gather student opinions regarding Saturday's game I walked through various academic halls on campus and interviewed them at random. As expected, student opinion varied. Some disagreed with the Duke Dog's actions, saying he was not being a good representation of JMU, while others thought the fight was awesome, and no worse than the "suck these nuts" cheer that resounds through Bridgeforth on game days.

After drudging though about five interviews, I happened upon a girl who said she is friends with the Duke Dog. This might not have been too big of a deal, expect that based on University policy the names of those acting as mascot are never revealed. I've written for The Breeze for over a year, and never have I had such an important source just fall on my lap. I asked her if she minded giving me his name, she spelled it out, and before I knew it I was on the JMU website finding his email address, and on Facebook connecting a face with a name.

I asked the Duke Dog for an interview, which he accepted...on the conditions that he only had to provide a short statement, his name wasn't mentioned, he'd be allowed to preview the article before publication (a BIG Breeze no-no), and that I met him somewhere on campus after 9 p.m. (The Breeze's printing deadline).

With no possibility of getting the interview before the paper was due, I set my mind to other options. The university doesn't release the Duke Dog's name, but after talking to my advisor I discovered that legally, there was nothing to keep me from printing it.

I talked to my editor-in-chief, who ultimately decided against printing the name. The Daily News Record had covered the situation earlier, and they had refrained from printing the name, and if we had there might have been some sort of university backlash. Not to mention I would have had a lot of explaining to do with the Duke Dog himself.

This is just one example of the many complicated situations that come up editing the school paper. While it may seem small, a university publication, we often face the same legal and ethical dilemmas as local and national dailies.

So I pose this question to readers: What would you have done?

Duking it out

2007-09-27T17:31:00.001-07:00

Campus reacts to mascot scuffle

By Ashley Hopkins and Kaleigh Maher, news editors

Feathers flew at Saturday’s football game when Duke Dog and the Coastal Carolina Chanticleer got into a tussle near the twenty-yard line.

A video captured at the game and posted on You Tube shows the teal rooster on the fan side of Bridgeforth Stadium. The Chanticleer turned to walk away and the Duke Dog followed. The Duke Dog gave a hop, skip and light kick to the bird’s tail feather. It is unclear from the clip if contact was made with the other mascot. The Duke Dog then turned and walked in the opposite direction of the Chanticleer. The Chanticleer turned around and tackled Duke Dog to the ground twice in retaliation. At this time a police officer stepped in to break them up.

An officer attempted to escort Duke Dog away from the Chanticleer. According to the Daily News-Record, Duke Dog inadvertently hit the officer in the face while trying to get away.

Police escorted Duke Dog out of Bridgeforth Stadium, according to staff members in attendance. Much later in the game, after chants of “We want Duke Dog” and “Bring back Duke Dog” from Madison fans, the Duke Dog reportedly resurfaced and gave an obscene gesture to the Coastal Carolina team. He was once again escorted off the field.

“It was pretty crazy, so it’s good they took him out,” senior Katrina Bramhall said, adding that she was unsure as to whether the incident was staged or not.

Sophomore Chelsea Norman said it wasn’t Duke Dog’s fault.

“It seemed like Duke Dog was just playing around,” she said. “The bird started it.”

The JMU Police Department referred all questions on the incident to University Spokesman Don Egle.

Immediately following the game Egle released a statement to the press indicating that the individual who served as Duke Dog would no longer be appearing as the school’s mascot and said that the university was disapointed with his actions.

Egle said that at this time he is unaware of any arrests or charges. While he has not personally had any conversations with Coastal Carolina, Egle said the schools have spoken and are on good terms.

“Both universities strongly believe that what happened on Saturday was very unfortunate,” he said. “Both are ready to move forward.”

The individual identifying himself as the Duke Dog said he can not identify himself at this time because JMU disallowed his identity from being shared in any form.

Taylor Adkins, faculty advisor to the Student Duke Club said that sportsmanship is a top priority right now.

“The actions and the gestures did not represent what JMU stands for as far as sportsmanship and the athletic department,” he said.

Students, however, have had mixed reactions to the incident.

“I didn’t think it was that bad,” John Wills. “It looked like a lot of clowning around until the CCU mascot took it too far.”

Sophomore Jonathan Rezadoost said it’s just because JMU is growing.

“Everyone acts so shocked, when the fact of the matter is the things that happen at bigger named schools are going to start happening here,” he said.

Other students disagreed.

“I don’t think the Duke Dog should be flicking off people if he’s supposed to represent JMU,” junior Catherine Gresham said.

Junior Caleb Bennetch agreed.

“I think it’s kind of embarrassing for the school, it’s sad that that has to be what represents JMU,” he said.

Senior Emma Dozier was upset she missed it.

“It’s about on the same footing as the ‘suck these nuts’ cheer,” she said. “It’s a delicate balance of school spirit.”

Results of new study hard to swallow

2007-09-17T21:23:00.000-07:00

New England Journal of Medicine finds possible link between oral sex and throat cancer

By Ashley Hopkins, news editor

For years health care providers have pushed oral sex off as one of the safer forms of sex, but a new study may discredit this theory. For the first time, researchers may have found a link between oral sex and throat cancer.

The study, reported in The New England Journal of Medicine, found that oral human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is strongly associated with oropharyngeal cancer among subjects. Those who engage in oral sex with more than six partners throughout their lifetime are up to nine times more likely to develop the cancer. In addition The Journal reported that people who have had 26 vaginal-sex partners are also at an increased risk.

This link is apparent with or without the established risk factors of tobacco and alcohol use, reported The Journal.

Oropharyngeal cancer affects the oral cavity and oropharynx, which helps with breathing, talking, eating, chewing and swallowing, according to the American Cancer Society. Minor salivary glands that make saliva to keep the mouth moist and aid in digesting food, can also be affected by the cancer.

The study did not determine whether Gardasil, a vaccine designed to fight HPV, would protect the sexual active against oral infections. Further testing is needed.

While the study found that fellatio and cunnilingus are the main modes of transmission between sexually active partners, it could also be passed through mouth-to-mouth contact. In addition, herpes, syphilis, gonorrhea, HIV and other sexually transmitted infection can be spread through oral sex, reported the Journal.

While the risks are apparent, students have mixed reactions to the results of the study.

“The endorphins that you get from sexual relationships counteract any kind of throat cancer issues or threats,” junior James Deskins said.

Freshman Erika Hard agreed, adding that she didn’t understand the correlation between the number of oral sex partners a person has and throat cancer. She said that thought the number of times someone engaged in the act would be more of risk factor.

“I don’t think it will change anyone’s behavior,” she said. “It’s one of those statistics that you hear and forget about because it doesn’t affect your daily life.”

Sophomore Megan Park said she recommends STI testing in order to safeguard against the cancer and other health issues.

This may be practical advice, as 20 million people are currently infected with HPV, and fifty percent of sexually active people will be infected with the virus at some point, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. JMU’s health center is open to all concerned students, and can provide STI testing, methods of contraceptive, and Gardasil.

Eickel out, search for new president begins

2007-09-17T17:44:00.000-07:00

SGA president announces resignation, Gibson will be interim president until election

By Ashley Hopkins, news editor

With the threat of another impeachment proceeding looming, Brandon Eickel, Student Government Association president, will announce his resignation at Tuesday’s SGA meeting. Andy Gibson, vice president of administrative affairs, will act as president until a special election is held to choose someone else for the position.

Due to the illegality of the Senate’s impeachment proceedings last Tuesday, during which it violated the Virginia Freedom of Information Act by casting a secret ballot, the SGA would have been required to hold a revote. Had procedure been followed correctly, the only opportunity for a revote would have occurred if more information had been brought to light regarding the Eickel case, and a senator who had voted on the winning side, in this case a vote against impeachment, motioned for reconsideration.

Matt Beato, chairman of the student Senate at William and Mary, said that his school faced the same predicament several years ago. After holding a secret ballot vote, the Senate was told that if it did not follow the law and revote during an open election, each senator could have faced fines adding up to $2,500.

In order to elect someone else to office, the speaker of the senate will create an elections committee to review applications for possible candidates. Candidates will have a week to campaign, according to Lee Brooks, internal affairs co-chair. The entire election process should take about a month,

“Everyone is supportive of [Eickel] as a person,” Brooks said. “We are ready to move on.”

Eickel said his resignation was in the best interest of the JMU student body and the SGA.

“It is my hope that this decision will allow the SGA to renew its focus in helping students,” he said.

The SGA Executive Council responded with an official statement, giving its support to Eickel.

“Brandon is a student who has always committed to being a public servant for this university from the day he set foot on campus,” read the statement. “His decision to resign did not come lightly. We honor his choice and we know if was made for the good of the SGA and the student body...We view Brandon as an extraordinary leader and we believe he will continue to be the change on campus without the title as president of the Student Government Association.”

Other senators seemed to agree.

“It was definitely the right thing to do,” Jeff Watson, the senator who first motioned for impeachment, said. “It shows that a mistake was made and that he’s being a leader by stepping down and showing responsibility on his own. Now hopefully the SGA can move forward from all this.”

Watson added that now that the issue is resolved, the SGA won’t get held up in a long trial.

Senator Ilk Ghavami agreed, adding that he thought Eickel’s resignation was both courageous and honorable.

“I think that it’s understandable that he resigned,” he said. “He took the high road for this one.”

While Senator Matt Jones agreed with Watson and Ghavami in that Eickel’s decision was the best one for the university, he also saw a downside.

“The only problem I have is that the SGA doesn’t have a chance to redeem itself,” he said. “We need to look towards repairing our image with students.”

Senator Brian Tynan agreed.

“Ultimately I respect the decision,” he said. “But I feel like if the impeachment proceedings had happened then more facts could have come out about exactly what happened.”

JMU senators are not the only elected officials interested in the outcome of the situation with Eickel. William and Mary has a lot to say as well.

Zach Pilchen is happy that the JMU student body has had their say in the actions of the SGA.

“I’m glad that the community at JMU made a decision,” he said. “It was always Valerie and my hope that the JMU community would decide what to do.”

He added, “It’s always unfortunate in any government when there are things that may seem to distract you from the real order of business which is to serve your constituency.

I’m glad that there seems to be a resolution that has been reached.”

Beato agreed.

“It’s definitely the best scenario,” he said. “From a personal perspective I think he’s done the right thing. There’s no doubt that this is the best decision for everyone involved.”

Students have also provided positive feedback for the resignation. After planning a protest on Tuesday’s Senate meeting, signing a petition for Eickel’s impeachment and creating a Facebook group dedicated to getting him out of office, they too think Eickel made a good choice in resigning.

“I think he should (resign),” sophomore Katie Farwell said, adding that in this case,

“Resigning is noble.”

Junior Tiffany Mink, who created the “Eickel for Impeachment” group on Facebook, disagreed about his motive.

“Nixon did this with the Watergate resignation to avoid a possible impeachment,” she said. “I feel Eickel is only up for removing himself so others cannot do it for him.”

While Eickel officially resigns on Tuesday, Watson has already said that he will probably run for the presidency. He and Ghavami have discussed running together as co-Presidents. As of press time, it had not been decided if this would be allowed by the SGA.

Breaking News: Eickel to resign

2007-09-14T21:37:00.001-07:00

Brandon Eickel, Student Government Association president, will announce his resignation at Tuesday's SGA meeting.

"In the best interests of the JMU student body and the Student Government Association, I have decided to resign as Student Body President, effective at the SGA Senate meeting on Sept. 18, 2007,” Eickel said. “It is my hope that this decision will allow the SGA to renew its focus in helping students."

This decision comes after Eickel admitted to taking aspects of his 2007 spring platform from the student assembly campaigns of Zach Pilchen and Valerie Hopkins of William and Mary.

The SGA Executive Council responded with an official statement:

"We, the Executive Council of the Student Government Association, give our full support of Brandon Eickel's decision to resign as Student Body President. First and foremost, Brandon is a student who has always committed to being a public servant for this university from the day he set foot on campus. His decision to resign did not come lightly. We honor his choice and we know if was made for the good of the SGA and the student body. We believe he has dealt with the public scrutiny exceptionally. We view Brandon as an extraordinary leader and we believe he will continue to be the change on campus without the title as President of the Student Government Association. We would ask that the student body of James Madison University respect Brandon, the difficult decision he has made and work to move beyond the issue at hand."

-from staff reports

Motion denied

2007-09-14T21:34:00.000-07:00

Eickel remains in office despite SGA bill of censure condemning his actions

By Ashley Hopkins, news editor

Among hugs, handshakes and high-fives, Brandon Eickel celebrated his victory over impeachment at Tuesday’s SGA Senate meeting.

The decision not to impeach followed a three-hour debate in which members of the Senate argued for and against taking action against Eickel. In a violation of section 2.2-3710 of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, the organization voted via secret ballot. While the vote counts were not released, the majority voted against impeachment. As the impeachment measure was not passed, it cannot be brought up again.

While a move toward impeachment was not granted, a bill of censure, written and proposed by Senior Class President Katelyn Grant, was passed and approved by a majority vote.

“By censuring (officially reprimanding) Mr. Eickel we are saying that we do not approve of his actions,” Grant said.

The bill stated that the SGA recognizes that Eickel’s actions were in the wrong, and that he has compromised the student body’s confidence in the organization. According to the censure, Eickel’s actions are not supported by the SGA.

While the bill passed, it was not without debate.

Most speakers said that Eickel should have given proper recognition to Zach Pilchen and Valerie Hopkins of William and Mary for using their ideas, but some said that they thought Eickel’s attempt to bring ideas from other schools was a good one.

“I think that borrowing ideas from other schools is a wonderful idea,” junior class treasurer Tara Rife said. “I think this is a very strong action.”

Senator Matt Jones disagreed.

“A president elected under false pretenses, regardless of his intent, should be held responsible for their actions,” Jones said. He later added, “Many students were embarrassed. A censure bill will not appease them.”

There was further debate as to how much weight the bill would carry. While some senators felt that the censure was not enough of a punishment, others felt that it was a fair one.

“I don’t think this is a strong enough slap on the wrist for Mr. Eickel,” Senator Tommy Bluestein said. “[A censure] is not enough.”

Senator Jeff Watson agreed, saying that as leaders of the student government, they should hold themselves to higher standards.

“We are an organization comprised of students who have made the choice to step up and lead this campus to success,” he said. “We have been charged as leaders to lead by ordinance, and to lead by example. It is our responsibility to this institution to do well and faithfully discharge the duties of our office.”

Senator Bekah Reiter disagreed.

“This bill is not a slap on the wrist,” she said. “It’s very harsh.”

Executive Treasurer Robert Burden agreed.

“We execs think this is a serious piece of paper,” he said.

While the censure bill passed, it was not enough for Watson. After voting, he motioned to form an investigative committee for impeachment. If agreed upon by 51 percent of senators the Speaker of the Senate, Stefanie DiDomenico, would have had to select members to look into the situation. The members, who could be chosen from inside and outside the SGA, would have two weeks to gather evidence for a hearing. Eickel would have temporarily lost his chair to the Vice President of Administrative Affairs, Andy Gibson, until the hearing, and if found guilty would lose his chair permanently. At that point, another election would be held to fill the position.

This too was not without debate.

One of the biggest concerns of the SGA was that an impeachment would put a hold on their proceedings or cause a rift in the organization. Eickel agreed.

“I came into this meeting knowing I could potentially make their decision,” he said. “I would have removed myself if it would have gone that far.”

Senator Charles Shaw agreed.

“If we do this student government will not run as smoothly,” he said.

Others, however, felt that it would be more detrimental to the student body to not investigate the matter further.

“I am sorry that an investigation would be inconvenient to you,” Stacy Fuller, student representative to the Board of Visitors, said. “I’m sure the rest of the university isn’t worried about the inconvenience.”

She added that censuring without investigation is an incomplete process.

Jones seemed to agree.

“Any delay would be caused by the actions that transpired last semester,” Jones said.

Other senators disagreed with impeachment because they felt Eickel had been punished enough for his actions.

“We feel that if we have already censured him that is enough,” Burden said.

Senator Lee Brooks agreed.

“That is public humiliation and that is a consequence,” he said.

But others say Eickel has not felt the full repercussions of his actions.

“If you pass this bill you’re saying what you think,” Fuller said. “Well I don’t particularly care what [the SGA] thinks and no one else does either. What you think has little consideration and no consequence to what is happening on campus. If we are going to talk about what you do, that is a slightly different story. What you do, or do not do, will matter.”

Jones agreed.

“We need to look toward action,” he said, adding that the SGA shouldn’t just take a quick

and easy way out of the situation.

Despite varying opinions, Eickel said that he has learned his lesson.

“I can honestly say I have learned more from making this mistake than I have from any other class at JMU,” he said.

Some senators, however, are trying to take matters into their own hands.

“I’m resigning my post as a senator in response to this and calling for a protest of the

SGA by other senators who disagree with the decision to resign as well,” Brian Tynan said, adding that he will be calling students to sit in on meetings until the issue is addressed again.

The Board of Visitors may be the next to address the issue, as they are scheduled to meet on Sept. 28. While they might discuss what happened, it does not look as though action will be taken.

Mark Warner, senior vice president of student affairs, said, “The Board of Visitors respects the tenets of student government and would not intervene.”

Campaign initiatives not Eickel's own

2007-09-14T21:33:00.000-07:00

Current SGA president scrutinized for similarities between his platform and W&M students’

By Ashley Hopkins, news editor

Last week Student Body President Brandon Eickel released an apology in The Breeze to Zach Pilchen and Valerie Hopkins of William and Mary, along with the entire JMU community, for not making it clear that he had taken the majority of his spring 2007 platform ideas from Pilchen and Hopkins’ campaign.

Since his letter to the editor, many have discussed what to do about the situation.

“I don’t know if he’s going to be impeached, I don’t know if he’s going to be scorned, but I’ve been talking to the students and they want to know the facts before they decide what should be happen,” Ilk Ghavami, senator for the college of science and math, said.

Eickel first met Pilchen, student assembly president of WM, at a Virginia 21 leadership retreat this summer. After the retreat, Pilchen came across Eickel’s website while searching to see what other student governments found interesting. While looking at Eickel’s platform he said that he noticed that seven out of eight of his “bold ideas” were similar to the ones used in his and Hopkins’ campaign.

Pilchen met with Hopkins, student assembly vice president of WM and decided to send Eickel an email, saying they had seen the “bold ideas” section of his website and were worried about the similarities between the two platforms.

Pilchen said that Eickel was very apologetic, but seemed confused about citation rules. He also said that what upset them most about the platform was that it had “copyright 2007 Eickel for president” at the bottom. Worried that they would look like plagiarists, they asked Eickel to remove his website and explain the situation to The Breeze, both of which Eickel did.

Eickel said that he did not intend for the copyright to pertain to the information on the site. He had hired a designer for his website and said that the copyright was solely on it’s name and the name of his designer.

"I realize that this could have been done differently,” Eickel said. “Whatever I could do to ease [Pilchen and Hopkins’] minds I was happy to go and do that."

Eickel does not deny the similarities between his platform and that of Pilchen and Hopkins’, but said that he did not take ideas from their site.

“I don't consider myself as having come in there and taken [their ideas],” he said. “Looking back I should have handled it differently."

Eickel credits the similarities to the fact that in planning his campaign he wanted to see what students were doing at other campuses. He said that he thought the WM students had a lot of great plans that he wanted to bring to JMU. He also said that there were many plans on their site that JMU had already been implementing which he thought he could improve upon.

"When I was creating my platform last semester, having already done this already, I thought it would be great to reach out to other schools," he said. “In order to make JMU a better place we have to reach out and see what other students are doing."

Once contacted by Pilchen and Hopkins, Eickel said that he realized his mistake.

In his letter to the editor, he said that he “wanted to make sure that due credit [was] awarded and emphasize [his] desire to bring successful ideas from other schools to JMU.”

Eickel also e-mailed the SGA explaining the situation, in which he presented an official apology. The apology said that his intentions were not to upset fellow members or put them in challenging situations, but to bring new ideas to JMU.

"I do realize that I have made a mistake,” he said. “No excuses. I am confronting that mistake head on and I have accepted the consequence and embarrassment that have developed as a result of my actions."

According to Eickel, he has worked things out with Pilchen and Hopkins and both sides are excited to move on and work together.

"I tried to solve the problem as quickly and effectively as possible,” he said, adding that he didn’t want the situation to turn into a battle between two competing student governments.

Pilchen and Hopkins agreed. While they didn’t want to ruin Eickel’s time at JMU, they wanted to ensure JMU’s student body had all their facts straight about the election. They also said that they were concerned for Ghavami, who worked hard and lost, despite having original ideas.

“When I first read it, I found it funny because it had come after everything was finished and completed,” Ghavami said. “It came kind of late.”

He also said that he doubts the validity of Eickel’s statement that he wanted to bring new ideas from other campuses to JMU.

“The concept of bringing other ideas to the school can be effective, but it seems as though with the way that everything worked out that that was not the original intent,” he said.

He also said that he thinks something must be done in order to insure that Eickel receives repercussions for his actions.

“I think if someone makes a mistake, they won’t learn from it unless they pay the consequences,” he said. “He needs to pay for it somehow, more than just an apology…If we don’t address it now, it’s going to be slid under the table. In a matter of time people will forget.”

This may not be the case. According to Ghavami, the senate plans to meet on Sept. 11 and may discuss possible solutions to the situation with Eickel.

Students seem to disagree in regard to what they think should be done.

“I don’t think there’s anything that can be done,” freshman Meghan Huber said. “Unless they put it in writing, they can’t really revoke his position.”

Freshman Kelly Meehan agreed, saying that she wasn’t surprised about Eickel’s platform because it seems that in politics everything is fair game.

“Keep him in office, and try to make sure there’s a clear cut rule about what the campaign can consist of,” she said.

Others, however, disagreed.

“I just think it’s unfair how he got elected,” Junior Colleen Mahoney said, adding that with only one person running for elections last year there was no way for them to choose the best candidate for the job. At the same time, she does not feel as though he should be impeached, as she does not see the impact he has on campus.

Sophomore James Fitzpatrick, however, said that if Eickel is not coming up with original ideas he should not be in office. According to Fitzpatrick, if Eickel did not come up with seven out of his eight platform ideas, he should not have received seven-eighths of the vote and should be impeached.