"v^oN MEMORIAL US W UmeS Mad JMLTWTT name chafi'ge^^^m, i «on University Jar *es Madiso first discussion . • University By TAM1 RICHARDSON Editor's note: The following story was run in the July l, 1977 issue NEXT RIGHT of The Breeie. First there was discussion, speculation, and polling , and a large majority agreed it was a good idea. Later, the Board of Visitors, Virginia General Assembly-both unanimously-and Governor Mills Godwin found the idea to be a sound one. % The rest is easy: a few splashes of paint, some new name plates, mountains of new stationery and a memo from President Ronald Carrier to all departments asking that henceforth '. everyone refer to this institution as either James Madison University, JMU, or simply the University. Welcome students, faculty, administrators and friends to our first school year at James Madison University! JMU is now Virginia's fifth largest university and this new status should make "41,200 faculty, staff, students and alumni happy," according to a statement made early in the year by IT'S JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY. traces of Madison College were removed from Carrier. Overnight, the transformation occurred and the campus and its surrounding areas. The only universities in Virginia larger than JMU are the within days after the change took place all Plwlo By Mark Thompson Rack resignation leaves empty post By TOM DULAN represented Eagle Hall in the ^e ^Btteze Kevin Rack, elected first SGA senate last year, was ——— - vice-president of the Student appointed to the vacated Vol. LV James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Va. Friday. September 2, 1977 No. 1 Government Association position until September 13, ' i (SGA) in April, decided not to when the spcial election mill return to school this semester, be held, DeWitt said. according to SGA President Dennison was appointed Mike DeWitt. because, according to DeWitt, Discrimination suit filed In accordance with the SGA she is "conscientious',''and a constitution, the executive "hard worker," but also Rejected prof seeks $1.8 million council has appointed an because the council wanted interim vice-president to fill someone not interested By BARBARA BURCH Madison College in a sociology Illinois University, the suit the vacancy until a special in holding the position for the A $1.8 million lawsuit journal seeking an associate said. election can be held. entire school year. charging James Madison professor and two instructors On May 18, 1973, Poddar Peggy Dennison, who (Continued on Page 32) University with racially in March 1973 and was turned said he received another letter discriminating hiring prac- down. _ from Guthrie, this time asking tices was filed this summer by The suit said Poddar him to send his transcripts Carrier relocates a professor of East Indian received a rejection letter and letters of recom- origin. from Dr. Robert V. Guthrie, mendation. Bhagwati P.K. Poddar, a head of the sociology Poddar did so and was resident of Oregon, claims department at that time. rejected again, according to to off-campus house JMU did not hire him for a the suit. The rejection letter position in its sociology The letter said Poddar's resume would be kept on file he received stated that the By TAMI RICHARDSON The gift was offered to the department because of his position was already filled. James Madison University foundation last fall by Lois race, according to legal in the event there was an opening, according to the suit. However, the suit con- President Ronald Carrier is Poster, wife of the late co- papers filed June 7 in U.S. tinued, Poddar said he later no longer residing at Hillcrest owner of Marval Poultry, District Court in Harrison- Poddar then placed an learned that the position was in the center of campus. Marvin Poster. Negotiations burg. anonymous advertisement in not filled until July, 1973, when The Carriers moved July 21 began last December and the Poddar states in the suit the same journal stating his a white woman was hired. off campus into a secluded home, along with its fur- that he answered an ad- qualifications, which include a In his suit, Poddar named and imposing estate now nishings, was purchased by vertisement from then doctorate from Southern 18 defendents-James named Oak View, in the the foundation in June. Madison University itself Forest Hills subdivision with When the foundation (then Madison College) , as tennis and basketball courts purchased the home, with the well as President Ronald and a swimming pool. intention of turning it into the SCHEV to decide fate Carrier, each member of the The exclusive home, which Kresidential residence, they Board of Visitors and each is surrounded by a serpentine ad to ask the JMU Board of past and present bead of the wall, was acquired by the Visitors to have the president sociology department. University Foundation move there. of nursing program The move was requested The latter defendents are through a gift-purchase By TAMI RICHARDSON named, because their agreement in which the informally in July by the James Madison University will learn on either Sept. 8 or 9 if knowledge of JMU's hiring foundation received the board and it gave formal approval .to the change in its proposed nursing program will be approved. practices constitutes "willfull, residence and furnishings At that time the State Council for Higher Education in Virginia deliberate and malicious valued in excess of $425,000 for August. An early informal (SCHEV) will make a decision on an appeal of an earlier rejection violation" of PodclOT^ciyil $200,000, according to Russell made by President Ronald Carrier July 19. rights, according, to mesuTt- M. Weaver, president of the agreement" was reached between the board and the The proposed baccalaureate degree in nursing was rejected in Poddar seeks $100,000 from foundation. March, after a "Health Manpower Study of Registered Nurses" The University Foundation foundation because of "social each defendent, $50,000 in responsibilities" the Carriers found there was an adequate supply of nurses in Virginia. compensatory damages and is an independent However, there is a shortage of nurses in JMU's geographical $50,000 in punitive damaf •, organization whose sole had in late August and early area. Carrier said in his appeal of the SCHEV decision. purpose is to obtain and September which have made the suit said. He ako a move difficult for them now. Last fall, JMU conducted its own feasibility study which demands immediate hiring, present gifts to the university, demonstrated there is a need for nurses in this area. with the seniority he would according to Fred Hilton, JMU buildings and grounds The study was conducted by sending questionnaires to assistant to the vice president workers will take care of the have had were he hired in home since it belongs to the hospitals, nursing homes, special facilities and physicians from 1973, as well as back pay and for public affairs. Winchester to Roanoke. Tne university as a state university, but security will all benefits he would have not patrol the house. Carrier Those nurses who attended schools in places other than the received, it said. institution cannot solicit gifts, Shenandoah Valley seldom return to the valley to work, Carrier Hilton said, adding that said. "The plaintiff (Poddar) has pointed out to SCHEV. been deprived of wages and "really" every college or After six and one-half Also, Carrier said, JMU met all the stipulations made when the university in Virginia years. Carrier has "regrets other benefits due him as an "probably" has a private about leaving Hillcrest, but he program was originally approved. employee and has suffered institution for this purpose. believes he will "fulfill his role Such stipulations included employing a chairman for the mental distress," the suit better." living off campus, department of nursing and phasing down and finally discon- said. i and he will have more tinuing the diploma program at Rockingham Memorial Hospital. Poddar also filed a com- In privacy. Now, without a nursing program at JMU, there is no nursing plaint with the Equal Em- Hillcrest will now be used program in the area, Carrier said, adding that RMH's last class ployment Opportunity The Breeze... for alumni association offices, graduated in February. Commission (EEOC) in a laboratory for students in In the event the nursing program is approved, the earliest date Washington, which issued a hotel-restaurant management it could be started is September, 1978, according to Dr. John "determination" stating there A watershed year, and an informal gathering Mundy, director of administrative affairs. was "reasonable cause" to place for faculty members. The department of Communication Arts is now housed believe JMU had engaged in p. 3 The newly formed faculty club in Rockingham Hall, which has been renamed the Price-Wine unlawful employment will also provide opportunities building. If the nursing program is approved, Mundy said, practices. The "deter- Mr. Madison, for faculty members to have arrangements will have to be made for space in the Price-Wine mination" was filed with the u formal meetings and personal building, or elsewhere when needed. There are no plans now for suit as evidence. p. 4 receptions in Hillcrest. exactly what arrangements would be made, he added. (Continued on Page 7) Page 2. THE BREEZE. Friday. September 2, 1977 Early registration limited this year By KENT BOOTY problem of other clubs and An experimental system organizations asking for aimed at eliminating cards. "abuses" in early registration "This especially hurt the has cut the number of students sophomores and juniors, who who register before their register late" and are usually classmates approximately in faced with a meager selection half. of courses.