Chiedo (CJ) John - Taylor Down Under

Taylor Down Under (TDU) is an absolutely incredible space on campus where community is encouraged. TDU is a space where students can hop in games of Billiards with students they've never met and is a place where students can build friendships. TDU is at the bottom of Taylor Hall, you can't miss it. All you need to do is follow Bluestone drive, walk into Warren Hall and then walk through to Taylor Hall and go to the bottom floor.



Most JMU students use this space to play games of pool, relax and do homework, hang with friends, play board games or play on the iPads they provide. There are endless possibilities when it comes to TDU.

I definitely think that campus designers designed the space to be used the way it is being used. They designed it with an abundance of couches that line the walls and are placed in the center. It is designed to be a community-centered space.

I honestly do not think this space could be improved. The space is absolutely incredible and it is often overcrowded. The only thing they can do to improve TDU would be to make the space larger!

This space is a huge impact on my time here at JMU. Whenever I need a break or want to meet someone new, TDU is usually the place that I go. TDU is awesome!

Alyssa Wolf’s Madison Space for Dr. H.

This is a photograph of the newly constructed art gallery on the fourth floor of Warren Hall.  Although it may seem impossible to imagine now, this was once a wide open area with couches and tables that students affectionately called the Airport Lounge.  Students would gather here to study, meet with clubs, hang out with friends, or as I often saw—sleep.  It was a fun little public area in which to do just about anything.  However, starting this semester, the Airport Lounge was fully renovated, squared off into rooms, and transformed into an art gallery.  Don’t get me wrong, art galleries are cool too, but there is a little something missing now that this cozy hangout is gone.  It is a common example of the decrease of public space and town centers that Kevin Mattson writes about.  One of my friends who is a part of the Freethinkers club was very upset about the loss of the Airport Lounge.  The club held their weekly meetings there and was forced to relocate after the lounge was lost.  They now hold their meetings in Roop Hall, in a room with clunky desks and chairs in the way of their open conversation.  Needless to say, she says the club just isn’t the same.  There is no longer a welcoming public space to get together and discuss their views, which results in a loss of democracy. Even though the art gallery is essentially a public space, the university is telling us the way in which the space should be used, whereas the Airport Lounge could be used for anything.  However, I question whether the art gallery is really still a public area—I had to peer through its locked glass doors to take this picture.

To Stand Still in Time

Morgan L. Deacon
GAMST 200-0005
Dr. Jennifer Lockard Connerley

This photo is of a clock that is located in Keezell Hall G009.  Keezell Hall is the English building in the Bluestone area of campus, which is directly across from Carrier Library.  The clock’s intended use provide a visual for time management.  However, it can be more a distraction, to both the student and teacher, than a useful tool.  Students may focus on what time it is thus taking away from their learning experience.  The immediate problem, however is the time is not always accurate.  Some days this clock is five minutes fast whereas other days it can be ten minutes slow.  A simple solution, would to be to take the clock down, thus eliminating the distraction.  Another more practical solution would be to replace the analog clock with a satellite or solar powered clock.  However, the classroom does not have any windows; therefore, a solar power clock would not be very effective.  Most students watch this ticking clock in hopes that their class will be over soon.  On the contrary, I watch the clock every Tuesday and Thursday hoping time will stand still.  GENG 221: Literature/Culture/Ideas meets in this classroom taught by Professor Joseph Loyacano.  The class itself, focuses on the American Dream and whether or not the concept is attainable.  Although this is an English class, we focus on multiple issues that have arisen in America.  Therefore, the class explores other disciplines such science, history, and political theory.  The class is discussion based therefore it relies heavily on student participation.  This is what education should look like―active learning to simply gain knowledge.        

Carrier Library's Elevator

Photo by Courtland Womble

This is an elevator at Carrier Library at James Madison University.  When you walk into Carrier Library, it will be the first thing on your left.  Carrier Library is located on the side with the quad and Top Dog, right next to Keezell Hall.  Students normally use this space to get from floor to floor in Carrier if they are too lazy to use the stairs.  I feel like this is the way the campus designers intended this to be used when they built it.  The elevator at Carrier could be improved in a couple ways.  First, it could be improved by the inside due to everything is falling apart. Next, they could make it faster. It is a three floor library and it takes probably ten minutes for the elevator to get to you. I do not think that there are any ways that the elevator can be improved with respect to sustainability and environmental concerns. It has no effect on either one.  I feel like this space will shape my memory of my time at JMU in the way that I probably went by it at least once a day due to always being in Carrier finishing work and getting Starbucks. It will shape my memory in the way that it will remind me how hard I worked and how all the hard work I did around it, made me to be the person I am today.

Carrier Library Elevator by Courtland Womble

Festival Lawn

This is a picture of the Festival lawn and the surroundings on east campus. It’s pretty much the central location between ISAT, Festival and the Skyline dorms. There is a wide variety of space in this picture, including the Festival lawn, the new stadium, ISAT, and a small portion of what will soon be the new Biochemistry building. Some of the main uses of this space are socializing and learning. Students can sit outside in the grass or even inside ISAT, provided you’re lucky enough to get a table, to talk or get work done. I’ve even seen classes outside when it’s nice out. Another portion of this picture, the newly renovated stadium, is also used for social purposes. I think campus designers intended this space to be used for the exact things it is currently being used for. One practical improvement I can think of would be to add a few more trashcans/recycling bins along this space so students don’t have to walk inside ISAT to find a trashcan. James Madison University has a beautiful campus, and the Festival lawn is one of them. I think this space is aesthetically pleasing, even with all of the buildings. I might be the only one but I do like the design of ISAT, particularly the main entrance (not shown in this picture!).

Once I declared my major last year (as a sophomore), a majority of my time was spent on east campus, so this is a space I passed through on a daily basis. I used to sit inside Festival at the tables before my classes or if I had really long breaks and I needed to get work done. That’s actually what I was doing when I took this picture. Between classes I also like to sit outside (if the weather is nice) and read or hang out with friends, and have spent numerous evenings eating dinner at the picnic tables outside Festival (not pictured) that overlook the lawn. This picture represents where a majority of my time at JMU was spent.

Jordan Gray

Megan Shekletski's Madison Space for Dr. H

   This is a picture of "The Commons" on the campus of James Madison University. "The Commons" is the patio outside of D-hall. This space can be classified as a public shared space for it is used for many different reasons.

            Various activities occur here, mostly regarding student-based organizations but not excluding organizations from the Harrisonburg area. On this particular day, the organization trying to raise awareness was the JMU SGA. However, from my experience at JMU, I have also seen other organizations such as sororities and fraternities, Safe Rides, and people from local churches trying to promote certain things in the commons as well.  Since the area is right outside of D-Hall and on the way to the quad, it is a very effective place for people to convey a message because there is always a lot of student traffic through “The Commons.”

            In other instances, “The Commons” is used as a place to send more controversial messages that often cause tension. For example, earlier this year, an anti-abortion organization had put up huge graphic pictures of human fetuses. While some people agreed with the display, there were others who were infuriated and disturbed by the photographs. Regardless of the way people felt, “The Commons” is used as a public space so this display is technically allowed. This particular circumstance directly correlates with Kevin Mattson’s article titled, “Reclaiming and Remaking Public Space.” His overall complaint in the article was that communities are losing more and more public space. Also that public space is very important to a democratic society because it allows people a space in which they can interact with each other and persuade strangers of their views.

            Also, as seen in the photograph, “The Commons” is also used as a place of relaxation and social gathering. There is a line of picnic tables where students meet for lunch or sit and study in between classes.

            “The Commons” is a symbolic example of what is important to the James Madison community.  From this public space its is apparent that James Madison University values peoples’ opinions and wants everyone to be heard. James Madison University also appreciates academic success and social priorities by providing students with convenient picnic tables.

            “The Commons” at James Madison University is a public space in which people not only have the freedom to express their ideas and opinions, but a place for people to expand their knowledge, congregate socially, and relax.

Volley Ball Court by Lauren Cavalieri

This is the volleyball court in front of the arboretum and outside of Shenandoah Hall. I took this photo from my dorm room window, which overlooks the volleyball court and the arboretum. There is a small open field alongside the volleyball court where people can relax, do homework, and now as the weather gets warmer, tan. There is a beautiful view of flowers and trees that surround the arboretum. If you follow the path across the highway to Skyline, passing Chesapeake and then Shenandoah hall, you can find this volleyball court. James Madison University students most often use this space as a means or recreation and relaxation following a busy day of classes. As the weather gets warmer and sunnier, there tends to be a large number of people playing outside. Though this is a volleyball court, people do use this area to throw a Frisbee, kick a soccer ball, and do various other activities. The campus designers created this space so that people on the skyline side of campus could relax and have fun without having to walk all the way across campus. Just like the other side of campus has the quad, this is a mini area for Shenandoah hall residents to utilize.  Since the volleyball court is next to the arboretum it is mostly aesthetically appealing. However, there is a big building next to the volleyball court that does not fit in with the volleyball court. This could be improved by planting more bushes or trees surrounding the building. As long as JMU continues to replace the sand when the sand level gets low, then this area will be able to be sustained and enjoyed for many years. This place has definitely shaped my memory of my time at JMU. Though this volleyball court was recently put in, it has been a place of recreation and relaxation right outside the doors to my dorm. I have relaxed in this area hanging out with friends and playing volleyball. Though I won’t live on campus next year, this has shaped my memory of freshman and junior year at JMU.  

Lauren Cavalieri