Abortion Protest on Commons Sparks Debate
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
" >«•! ^ >. TOOAY: Showers, high 61°F, low 42°F. TUESDAY: Partly cloudy, high 65°F, low45°F. WEDNESDAY: Partly IiOmbardi party cloudy, high 69°F, See Focus page 18-19 low 49°F. JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY Abortion protest on commons sparks debate "share the Gospel of Jesus Christ by Brad Jenkins & Katheryn Lenker as we strive to save the lives of news editors innocent pre-born children and spare their mothers from the hor- In straight rows, 400 small rors of abortion," Balta said. white crosses were displayed on Several people stopped by the the commons Wednesday and group's display throughout the Thursday in an anti- _____^^^___^^^^^^^—-_^^^^^— abortion demonstra- ii tfon. This campus is a liberal Members of Voices for the Pre- CaYYlDUS . [which] tetlds tO B/—* i • i j r *- -* orn Children, a >> newly formed JMU SUDDOrt abortion. student oreaniza-orga tion, displayed the Jimmy Balta crosses to draw President of the Members of Pre-Bom Children attention to its cause. two days it was on the commons. Each cross represented an Balta said there was "some posi- abortion; 400 abortions occur tive, mostly negative" reactions each minute world-wide, said to the display. senior Jimmy Balta, president of "This campus is a liberal cam- the group. pus and our generation tends to "This is a very conservative support abortion," he said. "It's estimate," Balta said. "It could be very, very sad." LINDSAY MANN/umvta/i; phuio editor three times as high." Balta said Some people who saw the dis- the statistics are gathered by the (counter clockwise from left) Michael Key, Chris Cowlman, Daniel Hammel, Lamar Jones and Heather American Life League. Moore inspect first hand the anti-abortion display on the commons last Wednesday. Students were divided The group's mission is to see ABORTION page 2 on the issue which compared abortion to the Holocaust. Clinton presents JMU grad with national recognition Bigler receives teaching award for excellence at TJHSST in Fairfax county said. "It's a celebration of quality teaching small school. We knew almost everybody by Jaime Dritt in our nation's classrooms." there. To this day it is the most important The ceremony took place in the Rose period of my life. It shaped me staff writer Garden at 3 p.m. Friday. About 200 people intellectually and professionally." Philip Bigler, a 1974 JMU graduate, was attended. Those present included Clinton, Bigler said he thinks the history named National Teacher of the Year in a Sen. Chuck Robb (D-Va.), Rep. Tom department was truly outstanding. One of White House ceremony Friday. Davis (R-Va.) and Secretary of Education the people who had the greatest impact on Bigler, 45, graduated with a degree in Richard Reilly, other teachers, the him was Lee Congdon, a JMU history history when JMU was still Madison principal of TJHSST, his teaching professor. College. He teaches at Thomas Jefferson teammate, five of his students and "For a teacher, there's no greater joy High School for Science and Technology members of Bigler's family. than having students like Phil and seeing in Fairfax County. "It was wonderful," Bigler said. "We them go on and make distinguished "This is obviously the pinnacle of a had a chance to go into the Oval Office, careers for themselves," Congdon said. teacher's career. I'm going to be a and I had a chance to stay with Clinton for Professor of history Clive Hallman said spokesman for education and for teachers ten minutes. "Teaching is a wonderful Bigler is one of those few unforgettable for the next year," Bigler said. "I think the profession and it's my hope to instill in people. "From the beginning, you knew teacher is the most important person in [students] the desire to choose teaching as that Phil was going to be outstanding," the country. We have a very big a career because we need new, talented Hallman said. "He's one of those responsibility in educating young young people in our profession," he said. exceptional people. He's very interested in people." Bigler offered advice to current his work. He's very intelligent and he Bigler said good teachers have a students. "I hope they realize their contributed a great deal to each class. He passion for their subject and bring that to education doesn't stop after graduation. enjoyed the work and Phil has remained a the students. "I think that all good They should keep themselves scholar." teachers bring that to the classroom. I academically sharp and keep reading. Bigler did his student teaching under hope I've done that," he said. Education is a life long process. You don't Henry Buhl, instructional team leader of PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BLUESTONE President Clinton presented Bigler's end your education with your college the history department at Harrisonburg JMU graduate Philip Bigler ('74) accepted his award. Both Bigler and Clinton gave degree," he said. High School. Buhl said Bigler was very award In front nearly 200 spectators, family speeches. "It's an enormous honor to Bigler said he took his studies at JMU dynamic. and friends. President Clinton presented Bigler speak about education before the very seriously. "I loved to study and I was In 1976, Bigler earned his masters in with the National Teacher of the Year Award at President and it's an honor representing very well-challenged," he said. "I thought secondary education with a minor in the White House last Friday. good teaching from all teachers," Bigler we had a first-rate education. It was a history from JMU. 2 Monday, April 27, 1998 THE BREEZE English loses composition courses College of Arts and Letters will relinquish field to another college |Breeze A H 11 MAPI5UK UHtVUilTl 'To the press alone, cliequered as English Ph.Ds with a specialize several forums about the pro process]," Ralph Cohen, profes- by Brad Jenkins tion in rhetoric and composition, posed changes, Gilliatt said she sor of English, said at a Feb. 20 it is with abuses, the world is forum. indebted for all tlie triumplis like the four English faculty that mostly regrets the process. I he news editor are moving, McDonald said. thing I regret the most is the way There weren't any tenured which have been gained by English faculty on the task force. Whitman's decision stems this was done, she said, AI reason and humanity over error After months of discussion, Gilliatt said she thinks this is sig- and oppression." the dean of the College of Arts from a report by the Composition other universities, there s a pnn Task Force of the college of arts ciple of shared governance with nificant because "it makes it — James Madison and Letters announced Friday harder for people to be fearless that composition classes will no Editor Courtney A. Crowtey and frank in what they say. longer be taught in the English Tenured faculty can speak freely Managing editor Yanny Rosa Department beginning July 1. "The unit will devise its own gover- without fear of recrimination." Technology manager Brian Hlggtns Richard Whitman, dean of the The new staff will initially Ads manager Alice K. Crtsci college of arts and letters, nance structure and include a curricu- teach the freshman writing class- Design editor Thomas Scala announced his decision in a es. The new curriculum will be News editor Brad Jenkins memo to "the college of arts and lum committee with the same status as developed over the summer and News editor Katheryn Looker letters community." "The unit will devise its own that of any school or department in the 1998-'99 academic year. Asst. news editor Julia L Fib McDonald said the new writ- Opinion editor KeflyLHamon governance structure and include a curriculum committee with the college." ing program will "offer more Style editor Vlntta Vlswanathan opportunities for more students." Jennifer Baker same status as that of any school Focus editor or department in the college," Richard Whitman The writing program facultv Asst. style/facvs editoi Jackie Clstemlno Whitman said in the memo. Dean of the col lege of arts and letters will also help other departments Sports editor Seth Burton The new program will include develop "writing intensive cours- Asst. sports editor MikeGesario General Education writing cours- es in their discipline," another Copy editor Jason Mclrrtyre es and will eventually include and letters. Since the task force faculty and administration for goal of the program. Asst. aipy editor Jenny Stromann upper-level composition classes. wrote its initial report Feb. 16, curriculum. JMU has not always Depeter said the group hopes Photo editor Dylan Boucherle The new writing program will several English faculty members honored that commitment." to get together this summer to Asst. photo editor Lindsay Mam be composed of Ronald Depeter, have criticized the move. Several English department fac- "dialogue together about what [we)'d like to teach." Rebecca Dougherty English instructor, Timothy Cynthia Gilliatt, associate pro- ulty members have criticized the Crapltics editor Depeter said he also wants to- Adiiisers Flip De Luca, Doherty, assistant professor of fessor of English, said Friday she make-up of the committee since the first memo was issued on develop some more upper level Alan Neckowfe, English, Elisabeth Gumnior, thinks the new direction for assistant professor of English, teaching composition is flawed. Feb. 16. composition classes in addition to David Wendelken Christina McDonald, professor of "I still think it's a bad idea for "I can't understand why you English 290, Intermediate Com- English and six newly hired fac- JMU," she said. "I'm sorry that's take the people who've devoted position and English 396 ulty.