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Serving James Madison University Since 1922
Vol. 88, No. 7 Monday, September 19, 2011
Partly Cloudy 71°/ 57° chance of precipitation: 10%
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Our family’s even bigger now.
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PAUL JONES / THE BREEZE (Jones, photo editor for The Breeze, had no part in editing or writing this story.)
Five Japanese wisteria trees were planted in the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum to commemorate senior Emily Smallman’s life.
After death of a senior, family and friends gather to remember her life at ceremony in Arboretum By KALEIGH SOMERS The Breeze
On Saturday morning, about friends and family members of senior Emily Smallman huddled under a wooden arbor in the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum to remember the young woman who brought them all together. Taking turns, they shoveled soil onto five Japanese wisteria trees planted at the corners of the arbor to commemorate Emily’s life. The trees will wind around the arbor as they grow and should flower for the first time next semester. “They tell me in the spring, we’ll have purple flowers,” said Sarah Looney, Emily’s
freshman year roommate. “Purple for JMU.” Emily committed suicide on July , . She began her freshman year at JMU in and would have graduated with a Master’s degree in education in May . Her father, Ron Smallman, explained that she had a year’s worth of credits before coming to JMU. “She had a joy and a love and a passion for teaching,” Ron said. Looney, a senior Spanish major, and Paul Jones, Emily’s close friend from high school, came together to organize a fundraiser shortly after the funeral. “I was like, ‘You know what? We need to do something positive for Emily,’ ” said Jones, a senior media arts and design major. “Making this a good memory and not a bad memory,
because that was my original intent.” Jones said the idea transpired when Mark Warner, senior vice president of Student Affairs and University Planning, came to Emily’s viewing the day before her funeral. Jones later emailed Warner, saying he wanted to do something special for her. That’s how Jones found out about the option to donate a tree, bench or scholarship in Emily’s honor. Warner put him in contact with Sheila Smith, the director of the Office of Annual Giving. Ultimately, Looney said they opted for the tree because they wanted to do something sooner, rather than later. Looney studied abroad in Spain during the fall semester, so Jones did most of
the initial fundraising, setting up a Facebook group and a donation page through the Office of Annual Giving’s website. Looney said they were able to raise $,, which went toward the trees and maintenance of them. Emily’s family, along with about other friends, donated. Before the planting began, Ron addressed all the attendees to thank them for commemorating his daughter’s life. “I just want to thank everyone, as Emily’s father, for taking the time to coordinate your efforts,” Ron said. “It’s been the most difficult year we’ve been through. Our family’s even bigger now, thanks to you guys.”
FOOTBALL COMMENTARY
Dukes put out Liberty Flames
Last-second field goal clinches 27-24 victory over highly touted non-conference opponent Liberty By DAVID BARTON The Breeze
We have seen the bad and the ugly from JMU’s offense this year, and finally, we got to see the good Saturday night in Lynchburg. In only the fourth field goal attempt of his JMU career, redshirt junior Cameron Starke, a West Virginia University transfer kicker, booted a -yard field goal in the last second to defeat the Liberty University Flames -, snapping their nine-home-game-winning streak. “It was a great kick by Cameron,” said head coach Mickey Matthews. “It was straight down the middle and it would have been good from yards.” The Dukes put on their best performance of the season but are still visibly flawed.Their night included porous defense, a balanced running and passing attack and numerous penalties. “We are a much better offensive team than we were two weeks ago,” Matthews said. “When you put up that many points against a defense as good as they are, I think that’s pretty good.” The JMU defense continued its struggles in adjusting to the new - scheme implemented to better protect against the run. While they allowed only rushing yards, Flames quarterback Mike Brown was able to pass for yards and two touchdowns. It was the second time this year that an opposing quarterback has efficiently picked apart the JMU defense for a -yard-plus game. In , the Dukes were ranked second in the Colonial Athletic Association in defense and gave up a school record-low touchdowns for the entire season. The pass defense has taken a step back this season, though the run defense has improved. “One thing we never do in the close games is we never get to
9/19 INSIDE
finish,” said Stephon Robertson, redshirt sophomore linebacker. “Overall our defense is coming along. We have depth, even though most people don’t think we do. Without them, we couldn’t have won this game.” The Dukes’ offense clicked for the first time this season, as they were able to both pass and run consistently. There were three players that carried the day for JMU. Redshirt junior quarterback Justin Thorpe passed for yards and was able to anchor the Dukes on three touchdown drives of seven plays or more. He also looked more comfortable in the pocket than he did in the first two games by waiting patiently for a receiver to open up, instead of scampering too early. Redshirt senior Kerby Long led the Dukes’ receiving corps by catching six passes for yards, including a -yard pass that was key in setting up the Dukes’ lastsecond field goal. But the star of the evening was redshirt sophomore Dae’Quan Scott. The starting tailback scored three touchdowns and rushed for yards. He not only made tacklers miss with his elusive running style, but was also able to gain extra yards by plowing his -foot-, -pound frame into defenders and churning his legs. “We moved the ball and we didn’t have any turnovers,” Scott said. “That wasn’t our best game, but we can always get better.” The game was rife with penalties, as there was a total of for an accumulated loss of yards. While the game was contentious, including two roughing the passer penalties and a personal foul on the Dukes, JMU had eight penalties to the Flames’ . Penalties were a major problem for the Dukes last year, losing an average of yards a game; opponents lost only see FOOTBALL, page B3
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NEWS Leftovers for locals
Dining Services’ Harvest Program provides meals to Harrisonburg’s Salvation Army.
PHOTOS BY ROBERT BOAG / THE BREEZE
TOP Quarterback Justin Thorpe sheds a tackle at JMU’s game versus Liberty Saturday. BOTTOM Redshirt junior kicker Cameron Starke scores the gamewinning 40-yard field goal before a crowd of 18,878 at Williams Stadium in Lynchburg, Va.
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OPINION Free students
JMU recently got the highest freedom of speech rating by national organization.
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SPORTS Classic meltdown
JMU loses two of three matches at JMU Classic.
see ARBOR, page A4
CRIME
Football player’s charge amended A former JMU football player accused of assaulting three victims and hospitalizing one had his charges amended on Friday morning. Jonathan Chad Williams, , of Ridgeway, Va., had his charge of felony malicious wounding by mob amended to felony malicious wounding in court after three others allegedly involved in the same assault last November had their charges dropped. Anthony I. Rose, ; Peter O. Rose, ; and Jonathan L. Rose, , all of Amherst, Va., were charged with felony malicious wounding by mob in relation to the assault that hospitalized one of three victims, police spokeswoman Mary-Hope Vass said last November. They had their charges dismissed in Rockingham County Circuit Court Sept. by Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Cris- Jonathan Chad t a b e l O p p , Williams, 22, had who declined his charge of felony to comment malicious wounding on a reason for by mob changed to the decision felony malicious because Wil- wounding in court liams’ case is Friday. ongoing. Williams’ defense attorney, Bruce Albertson, also requested that Judge T.J. Wilson consider individual jury selection should potential jurors show bias toward the case, which he said had been heavily featured in the Daily News-Record and The Breeze. “I do think it would be appropriate to switch a sequestered panel should people have read the newspaper,” Albertson said in Rockingham County Circuit Court Friday. Wilson said he would accomodate Albertson if necessary. Williams’s one-day trial is scheduled for Nov. . Williams remains free on bond. — staff report
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LIFE Karaoke machines
Singers young and old turn out for weekly karaoke nights.