October 16, 1979

l$e ^Bteeze Vol. 57 James Madison University Harrisonburg. Virginia Tuesda y, October 16. 1979 No. 14 Board airs actions Living Continuing growth Open meetings together bothers members stiU 'relaxed9 By THERESA BEALE By THKRESA BEALE "We're getting boxed in." - Having the university's Board of Visitors That was the view of two members of the meetings open to the public doesn't bother Board of Visitors Friday as the Board Francis Bell, the Board's rector. reviewed university enrollment and housing "Not a bit," he responded quickly. "I think it before highly important that the Shenandoah Valley reports at its quarterly meeting. "We're overprojecting," said Vice-Rector become aware of the great economic con- Walter McGraw, noting an increase of 314 tribution JMU makes to this area." students this fall. "You can get sardined and I All state college and university boards of don't think that makes it comfortable." visitors held closed meetings until July 1, when marriage Last year James Madison University a bill signed by Gov. John Dalton to open those President Ronald Carrier projected an in- meetings became effective. The open board crease of approximately 100 students per year, meetings now are required by Virginia's with an anticipated" enrollment of some 9,000 amended Freedom of Information Act. students by 1989-90. But this fail's enrollment of 8,387 is off by more than 100 students of the •SOME PEOPLE have thought the media projected increase. would use this as a witch hunt, but I think the media is using it in a positive way by informing WITH INCREASING enrollment, the the public." he said. university faces the dilemma of providing the "I originally was opposed to the legislation campus atmosphere that so many students because I couldn't see anything positive Students say wedlock here seek while also providing adequate coming out of it, but now it doesn't bother me." housing. Board members told Carrier. The first open meeting of JMU's Board was Students in three dormitories —Wayland, held in August, when a reporter for The Daily endures current trend Logan and Gifford— are tripled this year. News-Record was the only media unit present. Eleven women are living in single ac- A reporter for The Breeze was only journalist By DONNA SIZEMORE commodations in Eagle Hall, and 38 freshmen —and observer— at Friday's meeting. The institution of matrimony will persist, at least among males are being housed in Howard Johnson's "I had anticipated that the meetings would the students of James Madison University. Motor Lodge. be a little more structured and formal with the However, living together prior to marriage is likely to "The problem this year is that the students media present but that hasn't been the case," become more prevalent. we anticipated taking rooms off-campus did Bell said. "The Board seems to be as relaxed In the midst of soaring divorce rates in a society where not," Carrier said. The university projects a as in the past." the role of men and women is changing, results of a random certain retention rate each fall so that students "Having the meetings open hasn't affected survey by The Breeze indicate that students here still view us." he said. "Frankly, I don't care who marriage as a top priority for the future. (Continued on Page 22) comes." Out of 150 JMU students polled. 146 said they planned to eventually marry. Surprisingly, more than 50 percent of these students cited marriage as a not too distant goal. They indicated a desire to marry between the ages of 21-25. ANOTHER 33 percent indicated they planned to marry between the ages of 25-30. If the students of JMU are any indication of a national trend, living together prior to legal commitment will become more common. Although the ratio was extremely close, students who would advocate living together either prior to marriage or as an alternative to marriage, took a slight edge over those who would not. as 52 percent of those polled stated they would seriously consider this step Despite the close ratio between the pros and cons, almost 75 percent of the students rated the effects of living together on eventual marriage as positive to very positive. Even though students indicated they believed living together would be more prevalent in the future, the majority believed it will never become a prerequisite to marriage. Eighty-eight percent said living together will never possess the same kind of correlation now enjoyed by engagement and marriage. THK REASONS most often indicated for not living together were religious beliefs, moral upbringing and parental objections. "I believe if you love someone enough to live with them then you should be in love with them enough to marry them,'" said one student. "Living with someone means the people are too weak to make a committment, another commented. rne only difference between marriage and living together is this: when people live together they are saying, •if we have problems, we'll run." When they get married, they are saying, 'if, we have problems, we'll work them out.'' said one student "Living together is for the im- Pholo by Marv Webb mature and indecisive people." Experience was the most often cited advantage of Logan's Ran living together "EVERYONE REACHED down and came up it will take a week or so to determine how much -IT ALLOWS both individuals to experience a 'what life running." according to Frank O'Brien. inone.v was raised from the event which ended chairman of the fourth annual Logan's Run around :i.:w p.m. Saturday. "The people (Continued on Page 2) - whMrraNMwnrMl this wekwd: «KBri*>n's»id • • Twnnhtff -'*»•« * «flp &*." OBrten said. 2, THE BREEZE. Tuesday. October 16. \979 Future of marriage is bright, counselor says uo SKXI VI; compatibility still plays a major role in By DONNA SIZEMORE the success ol a marriage. While I was driving down the interstate, a "Power 'We all need security ••Experienced couples have a better chance for a Line" segment came on the radio, discussing the future of marriage. better sexual satisfaction, if they have been open and involved with one another." Mclntire said. However, The segment concluded with a suggestion that and most need deeper he stressed that experience doesn't mean a thing living together would some day become an accepted unless you re honest and expected precedent to marriage. Many people who object to living together do so Is marriage really headed in this direction and will • t because they feel it is easier to walk away when living together ever come to occupy such a crucial personal interaction trouble comes place in the matrimonial cycle? "If you disregard the emotional aspect, it's easier V According to Jon Mclntire. counselor at the towalkawav." Mclntire noted However, he pointed Counseling and Student Development Center at out that the emotional aspect cannot be denied James Madison University, the answer is no. Questions surrounding the moral aspect of living "A piece ol paper does not necessarily make you together are still in existence feel stronger towards a person, he said "With economic conditions, students are swinging "Drawbacks can also be very good strengths." back towards a conservative attitude." Mclntire THIS Sl'MMKR. in an article in the Richmond Mclntire said Living together can aid the couple in said. "We all need security and most need deeper Times- Dispatch, it was stated that "an unmarried learning to give and take more, he noted personal interaction." couple sharing a residence is not violating Virginia's prohibition against cohabitation unless it can be ACCORDI.M; to Mclntire. so many people go into MclNTlRK described the future of marriage as proved the couple openly exhibits lewd and lascivious marriage naively "They feel if you love someone, bright. "Marriage is ingrained in us." he said. The behavior, according to Virginia Attorney General J. the nitty gritty details will fall into place."' he added ultimate goal of living together is to improve married Marshall Coleman." "That's a pitfall life and the quality of the relationship, according to In the article, reference was made to a recent Mclntire Supreme Court case involving a woman who was "Living together is a fad for some people, a subtle denied the chance to take the Virginia State Bar Mclntire believes one of the major problems in role we play to be sexually liberated." he added. examination because she was living with a man to relationships stems Irom the fact that people don't Basically, it all depends,on the person. whom she was not married know themselves The better a person knows himself, There are different variations of living together, The court ruled in favor of the woman However, the better chance he has to know someone else. according to Mclntire. Some people do it for con- the incident reveals a crucial fact about living Mclntire said Getting to know someone else is the venience, he noted, in order to share the bills. Other together: there is a moral stigma attached basis ol any relationship times people do it because of romantic involvement, Living together will get more acceptable, ac- with the intent of sharing. cording to Mclntire. but never by an overwhelming "I think living together is good lor an eventual Advantages and disadvantages can be cited in the majority. Sex is now more morally acceptable and marriage, said one JMl junior who has "ex- romantic-type living together. plays an undeniable role in living together. perimented'' with living together several times "It allows you to become familar with the other person \( ( OKIHM.

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