Carrier Library Cubbies by Dana Probasco

This is a picture of a cubby on the second floor of Carrier Library. This cubby is located in the main area of the second floor by the computers. Most JMU students use these desks to study. These desks are nice to use when you are studying for an exam and do not want to have any distractions.  The cubby is perfect for quiet study-time because once you sit down in one you basically have nowhere to look at except the desk and walls of the cubby itself.  You can then concentrate totally on the materials you are there to review. The campus definitely intended for this space to be used for studying. They also did not seem to intend for this space to use any computers for studying because there are no outlets near these cubbies. Computer access in library cubbies is one thing that JMU could definitely improve on. If you go to East Campus Library all the tables had power outlets to plug in your computers, and it would be great if JMU improved Carrier library and this space by putting more power outlets by these cubbies. I do not really think there is a way to improve the sustainability or environmental impact that these desks have. If anything, from now on JMU could build these cubbies out of recycled materials in order to help the environment. This space will also definitely shape my memory of my time at JMU. There have been many times where I have needed to study during a school day, but because I live off campus there is no point or time to go home between classes. I started using these cubbies to study in between classes and not get distracted. Often times Carrier is so packed on the second floor that the only open table space are these cubbies. I will also remember these cubbies’ walls as having been written on with messages to students and with notes being left on the desks that had encouraging words on them. The picture of a library cubby will shape my memory of JMU long after I have graduated because it will remind me of all the time I spent studying in Carrier while an undergraduate student.

Brittany Bailey

One of my favorite things to do on a warm day at JMU is to hang out on the Quad. Whenever I need to actually get work done out on the Quad I usually find a good tree to sit against. I’m out of the direct sunlight and am usually far enough away from other people that I can focus on my work. I have yet to meet a JMU student that does not like spending time outside on the Quad. The Quad is such an integral part of JMU, I couldn’t describe the campus without mentioning it. I think this is exactly how the designers of the campus wanted the Quad to be used. They probably wanted students to utilize the space that is nearby the dorms and academic buildings to spend time outside and away from the classroom. At first the design of the Quad sidewalks was probably meant to be the easiest ways to get between buildings, but I’m sure that on the first nice day of spring, there were students out on the Quad from the beginning of JMU’s history.

            Personally, I wish there were a few more big trees on the Quad. But I love how there are big open spaces of grass on the Quad, and there aren’t a million sidewalks running across the Quad between every building. I actually really like the way the Quad is set up. I love that the Quad can be used in so many different ways. You can hang out and throw a Frisbee or football around with friends, or you can work on your tan. You can read or do work. You can even have class outside on the Quad. It’s a common ground for all JMU students. Anyone can hang out there. I think it’s something all JMU students identify with, even if as they advance in school, they might be spending more time on East Campus, it’s still something that I think shapes nearly every student.

            As far as environmental concerns and sustainability, I don’t think the grass needs to be cut as often as they cut it. I’m not sure how else these concerns can be addressed with regards to the Quad. One of the things I love about the Quad is that it doesn’t change a whole lot. The tunnel under S. Main Street and renovations being done on the nearby buildings have definitely changed the way the campus around the Quad looks, but the Quad itself has hardly been changed since the West side of campus was built up with the buildings around it.

-Brittany Bailey

GAMST 200, Section 4

Dr. Connerley

The Village (Rachael Gaul)

       Ever since the day I first began my JMU experience, I fell completely and utterly in love with the Village. Resting in the heart of campus and directly across from the Bookstore, the Village is a large community of dorms surrounded by beautiful trees, grass and other lovely scenery. The Village not only houses many freshman and sophomore students, but its large expanses of grass and numerous sitting areas provide a relaxing environment for students to enjoy. The Village also contains a basketball court and volleyball court available for use 24/7, as well as a space for grilling on the warm spring and summery days. I believe the Village is almost perfect the way it is, but I think it could possibly benefit by adding an extra volleyball court since the one already there has become so popular. The Village is probably one of the most environmentally friendly spaces on campus that is populated by many trees and other greenery. Also, none of the dorms have air-conditioning and many of them save energy by utilizing motion activated lights which turn off automatically.  Because I have lived in this space for two school years, I will always have very fond memories of spending much of my time enjoying the beauty and excitement of the Village. I cannot imagine living in any other dorm or laying outside on a bright sunny day anywhere else than this place and will always remember the Village as my favorite place at JMU.

The kissing rock (Stacey Walker)

The kissing rock was uncovered in 1920 when the quad was having another building built on it.  It was too costly to remove the rock so it left there.   This rock adds a unique character to the quad and can be found easily be standing out front of Wilson hall towards the quad and looking to your right.

Originally the rock was used as a place for young women to hide and make out with a man when it was not allowed for women to be in the company of a man without a chaperone.  Today it is used as a place to study, relax or go with your significant other.  There is even a legend of about this rock that if you kiss someone on that rock, that is who you are going to marry. However, this has not been proven.

The designers most likely just saw this as added scenery that cut down their budget on landscaping/building.  They did a very good job on making it a place for students to go because it a good background and a very good spot for pictures.  There is not much else you could do to this rock to make the area around it any better, not even from an environmental standpoint.  This rock is perfect in its raw form.

Over the course of my three years at JMU this rock has always been a place I go to sit down when I just want to relax. Since my freshman year I have always admired its simplistic beauty and how it makes our school unique.  I don’t think it could ever be the same JMU experience for anybody without this rock.

Rob Kozlowski's Post

Every morning for the past three years at JMU, I come to this fork in the path through the JMU arboretum as I am walking to class.  This space symbolizes the start of my day and the direction I am going to take for that particular day.  Keeping to the left would take me to the general education classes that I have had in the Bluestone side of campus, while veering to the right would mean that I am going to ISAT to work on my Integrated Science and Technology degree.  I have walked through this point each and every day I have been a student at JMU, even in the rain, sleet, or snow, I always meet this point.  If you would like directions to this intersection from campus, you can meet this point from any entrance to the arboretum on the east side of campus, and just walk on the path. 

From the countless times that I have ventured over this intersection in the JMU arboretum, I have seen many different uses for this space.  Most of the time, traveling students like myself getting to and from class if they reside in the Sun chase or Stone Gate communities use this space.  Every morning, I cross the paths of hikers and bikers traveling through this space on a daily basis. 

When the arboretum at JMU was built, my impression of the designers intended use for this space was exactly what it is used for, scenic walks for students to enjoy, and a convent method for students to walk to campus from their house or apartment. 

This space could be improved for student use if the paths were well lit at night for use to walk to and from campus.  I think this would be a very convenient path for the off campus students to get to class especially since it is very difficult to drive to campus.  While making this path a method of access to campus around the clock, we would be reducing the need to drive to campus thus creating a more environmentally friendly location.  The arboretum is already a clean, and for the most part, natural location so it is a great place to walk though and enjoy.

Upon my graduation, I imagine that I will remember this intersection of the JMU arboretum as the point I started by day and the various walks to class that I had.  I will also remember this location well because of this assignment I am completing on it, and the picture that I now have stored on my various devices.

Brittany Jeffers' Madison Space for Dr. H

This is a picture of the Quad, right in front of Wilson Hall, and it is probably one of my favorite spaces at JMU. The Quad is an open lawn in the Bluestone area that brings an inviting sense of community to the campus. It is completely open, making it more public than private, although students mainly utilize it.

It is amazing to see how students flock to the lawn when the weather is decent. As soon as it hits about 70 degrees, the Quad is flooded with people doing different activities. Classes will sometimes be held and people will toss around Frisbees, walk the type rope, play with their pets or just lay out in the sun. This is part of the original construction of the campus and it serves as a central area where everyone can interact.

The way this space was designed makes it impossible to avoid people. The walkways built into the Quad were devised to make it easy to cross and get to each building. The intersecting walkways offer more than just a sidewalk, but a way to meet new people. When you use them, you can bump into just about anyone.

This space is a symbol of an open and accepting environment, which is exactly what JMU values most. It promotes a sense of togetherness and is just a really nice place to meet up with friends and hang out.

Tori Lugar's Madison Space for Dr. H.

This picture is of the Astronomy Park located between ISAT and the Skyline dorms. This area consists of concrete benches for people to sit on and it also has an open field around it. This public space can be used for socializing with friends, doing homework, performing, as a JMU band did last week, and also for classroom use. On any nice day, groups of friends can be seen lying out in the sun on the benches, either reading for homework, talking, or playing various sports such as frisbee or football. Kevin Mattson stated in his article, “That is why architect who designed public spaces in the past invested them with symbolic power…They were to be beautiful so that they could evoke pride and public interaction.” The construction of the Astronomy Park and surrounding field areas can reflect this statement made my Mattson because it was created to stand as a symbol for community and togetherness, so many students can congregate together and interact, whether they know each other or not. The area was originally constructed for astronomy use, where students and could use the stands to put telescopes on and observe the stars and planets. Over time, professors and students have changed this area to be used as an outdoor classroom and a social area, respectively. The public space allows strangers to interact and people to speak their mind on various issues if desired. Students in bands have also used the area to promote their group and perform for the people in the Astronomy Park. Overall, the Astronomy Park is a public space that allows public interaction and promotes a sense of community here at JMU.