Harris. ■ .-,, , APR 7 198h \ oi. SM James Madison University Tuesday, April 7, 1981 No. 45 Two faculty try to save landmark By JEFF GAMMAGE Two James Madison University faculty members are desperately trying to save a 161-year-old Harrisonburg landmark. Dr. Robert Bersson and Dr. Steven Gibbons are attempting to prevent the destruction of the Morrison House, believed to be the second oldest building in Harrisonburg. Constructed in 1820, the structure is located at the corner of Market and Liberty streets. Both Bersson and Gibbons are coordinators on the Committee of Environmental Quality, a division of the Harrisonburg- Roekingham county chapter of the Citizens Party. Nelson Wetsel, head of the Wetsel Seed Co. which owns the landmark, will neither confirm nor deny reports that the building is going to be torn down soon to make way for a parking lot. rtwto by Ml*. »lt»lm "I'm not saying it won't (be torn down), and I'm not saying it CANDIDATES for SGA president, Mike Wilmore fielded questions from a panel of will," Wetsel said. "For 11 years we have tried to cooperate with Gripkey. Neal Harper, Lynn Tipton and Delos editors during Friday's debate. anyone who wanted to remove and preserve the house, and all we have had is continual harassment." The Wetsel Seed Company has owned the house since 1970, Jh The Breeze debate purchasing it soon after the last of the Morrison family passed away. Four presidential candidates WETSEL SAID his company has contributed money to groups wishing to preserve and relocate the house. "We gave one group $1,000, and they later gave it back," Wetsel said. "Once it got beyond the talking point, itstopped. We have tried to do our part." Last December the company placed an advertisement in the agree on birth control, Greeks Harrisonburg Daily News-Record which stated in part, "Due to By SANDE SNEAD services and that an added $10 per student long-range plans Four of the five candidates for Student would create the $88,000 Harper said is needed of the owner, Wetsel Seed Government Association President voiced to provide birth control services. Company will accept offers and proposals for the removal support for the implementation of birth control "If I am elected, I will go to the Health • • • services at the Health Center, during Friday's Director and present those figures I've worked of (Morrison House). Person presidential debates. out to him," he added. or persons submitting Delos Wilmore, Lynn Tipton Neal Harper Tipton also took a strong stand on the birth proposals for the removal of —First used in 1939 for a and Mike Gripkey participated in the debates, control issue, noting a month's delay for birth this house must indicate faculty picnic, the sponsored by The Breeze on the Warren control at the city Health Department. definite and future plans for University Farm has University Union patio. "Besides the long wait, many students who the use of this building." evolved from a women's A fifth candidate, Pat O'Donohue was unable come to an unfamiliar city are unwilling to go The Wetsel Seed Co. weekend retreat to sup- to attend. into town to an unknown gynecologist." previously has demolished a porting some 10 student Candidates were questioned by a panel of west wing, of the Morrison activities a month. See editors on various campaign topics, including IN RESPONSE to a query about the value of House to make room for a Folio, page 10. birth control. prior SGA experience, Wilmore cited present gravel parking lot, according Harper said he had obtained figures con- SGA president Chuck Cunningham as an to William Sullivan, The JMU women's cerning the feasibility of offering the service, example. "Chuck Cunningham is obviously the Harrisonburg city planner. lacrosse team defeats finding that birth control would cost an ad- most experienced person for SGA president, Also, in 1978, the company nationally-ranked William ditional $10 per student. but he is neither effective, popular, nor is he bought and tore down the John and Mary, 4-3. See Sports, He said students currently pay $40 for health (Continued on Page 4) (Continued on Page 2) page 12. Taking it easy SURROUNDED by bicycles and looking at the quad's activities, Craig Jonson enjoys the leisure of Spots wood flail's porch. Page 2. THE BREEZE Tuesday, April 7. 1981 NEW RELEASES The UHio "FACE DANCES" Grateful Dead "RECKONING" Photo by Vo Nataya Dixie Dregs "UNSUNG MEMBERS OF KAPPA SIGMA fraternity paraded through campus on Friday afternoon, HEROES" signifying the official beginning of Greek Week at JMU. Sigma Sigma Sigma and Sigma Nu won Greek sing held on Saturday night. Activites will continue throughout the week. Santana "ZEBOP" + TlVO The Pretenders "EXTENDED PLAY" (Continued from Page 1) distributing pro-Morrison teresting than a parking lot. I House literature throughout think it's a rash decision. I Wesley United Methodist the downtown area. "I don't think it's a stupid decision. Kampuchea Concert Church, which had been the know why they were there," oldest remaining church in Wetsel said. "They have no Harrisonburg. constructed THE DEMONSTRATORS • •*• interest in the Morrison collected more than 200 during the 1850s, Sullivan House." added. However, he conceded signatures on petitions urging According to Bersson, the that the Morrison House not Plus many morr imv rtkasts that the church"was in kind students present were of bad shape," hard to heat be demolished. "We're going "mostly from EMC, but there to submit them to the city and provided little space for will be an increased number thitwftk the church-goers. council and Mr. Wetsel." (of JMU students) as the news Bersson said. gets around." ALTHOUGH BERSSON has "I would hate to see the But when asked if the said relocation of the Morrison House destroyed," group's activities would have Phone 433-2136 Morrison House would be said Dr. Bruce Busching, a any effect on his decision. acceptable, he noted, "We JMU sociology teacher who Wetsel replied "Absolutely want the building here. Our attended the rally. "It is not." preference is preservation taking a shortsighted view to A second rally is planned for and restoration." Bersson destroy a landmark of April 24 at 5 p.m., to take Now h Stock added that the building could historical importance." place on the courthouse steps. serve "many positive func- Beth Shively. a JMU student Bersson said he welcomes all tions," such as being con- who also was present, said. JMU students and faculty to CALVIN KLEIN for men verted to a museum, "This house is more in- attend. restaurant or tavern. The maintenance of historical Harrisonburg Khaki and White buildings is important to the economic well-being of the For Men downtown area, Bersson said, adding. "The preservation of S2ES 29 to 36 WAIST old buildings is vital to the downtown businesses, in that shoppers will be attracted to the area." People "will not be attracted to a wasteland of The One 8B Only parking lots." Large Selection of Bersson claimed that the Alligator Shirts preservation of historical buildings will increase city income because the property Broad Range of Colors OP Swimweai value of the buildings will rise, thereby increasing tax bocoooooceocoooooooooooooocKxx>c>ooocoooaooc| revenue for the city. The extra money could be used to Knit provide more services for the SHIRTS & SHORTS Harrisonburg residents, & Bersson noted. MEN'S & LADIES I ABOUT 15 persons attended Terry a March 27 rally in front of the Morrison House, waving signs which read "Preservation, not $19" parking lots," and "Preserve ALSO AVAILABLE historic Harrisonburg." THE SPORTSWEAR OUTLET The crowd grew to 30 per- sons, including several JMU Danskin Swimwear faculty members, by the time r \ the demonstration moved to the steps of the courthouse where several rally (^OIMRV CASUALS organizers gave speeches before the gathering dispersed. Wetsel claimed it was Cioverleaf Shopping Center "primarily JMU students" who were demonstrating, and 9:30-9 Mon-Fri. also said that the students 9:30-6 Sat. were ■. ... responsible . for. 11 i 111 i r ■ TOE BREEZE, Tuesday, April 7, 19B1, Page 3 Rising prices make off campus living troublesome for students By ELIZABETH LIBBY Since then, the major oil companies have For Drew, making ends meet, even in a raised their prices more than twice as much as house with eight other guys, is a complicated the White House had expected. job. Gas prices have risen about 10 cents a gallon Inflation, food, gas and constantly rising oil since late January and economists predict by prices cause Drew to be especially aware of his the end of the year gasoline prices will be 25 to expenses and the money he must pay to keep 30 percent higher than they were at the start of up a house. 1981. A gallon of regular could cost $1.50 to For Leslie, living off campus in Squire Hill $1.60, which is another added expense for off- was such a bad experience that in January she campus students who often drive to campus. moved into a dorm. The high cost of living "We come on campus a lot," Drew said, "and made it financially impractical for her to live five to 10 dollars a week per guy starts to add off campus. up," Drew and Leslie are two James Madison University students who have found it finan- LAST YEAR, Drew and his housemates also cially difficult to live off campus. spent $3,000 for heating oil. With the current cost of oil, and predictions of its increase in the IDEALLY, the lifestyle sounds exciting, but future, students can count on paying more in realistically, it is often troublesome.