*V*tS aar S/ry 'bonbun v "BfAjy *• '>einl0 i280j ^|ie ^/deze Vol. 58 James Madison University. Tuesday, October 21, ISM No. 14; Academic growth may wane; state decisions cited as factor By CINDY ELMORE requested SCHEV approval of 20 additional This is the first of a three-part series examining programs. academic expansion at JMU. "Our office recommendation is not that positive," said State Council member Michael Mullen, even To many, James Madison University has become synonymous with growth. For more than a decade, News analysis the numbers and quality of students and faculty have consistently risen, and evidence of physical though according to Vice President of Academic and structural expansion is obvious. Affairs Dr. Thomas Stanton, "SCHEV had given us But the corresponding trend toward increased the understanding that they would approve them." ic offerings may be, reversing—partlv In arfmmistratfve' decisions, .at uaa ^WC«i7 2rt&aw*?*t^ i^aaVV^,. J w * - university, partly because of governmental derstandihg" and this year's recommendation, decisions by the State Council of Higher Education SCHEVs criteria for approving new academic of Virginia (SCHEV), but primarily because of programs at Virginia's colleges and universities money. may have changed, Stanton said. Currently, JMU offers some 60 majors at the SCHEV will meet in Williamsburg Nov. 19 to undergraduate level, and last year the university decide requests for 297 new programs for IS colleges and universities. JMU's request for 20 programs is minimal compared to George Mason , fey DM O-Srtw University's proposal for 64 new majors, but the IMC WILL not be able to add programs as It hat in Inside... University of Virginia only asked for two. the past, according to Dr. Thomas Stontoa, vice president for academic affairs. —The potential problem of grade inflation at Mullen noted that included among criteria for JMU is considered. See story, page 3. Council approval are the implementation costs and the job viability of each program, as well as its university is already doing." —See Folio page 11 review of Saturday's Molly duplication at another Virginia institutions. Hatchet concert In Godwin Hall. Some programs have minimal implementation EVERY TWO years each academic institution in costs if they are "consistent with the mission of the the state must write a 120-word or less "mission" —Two JMU archers have earned 198* All- university," he said, noting for example, that the for its role in the Virginia educational system and, America honors. See Sports, page IS. start-up costs for a veterinary school at JMU would according to Stanton, "It means one thing to us and be high because it is "pretty different from what the may mean something else to them. We thought our 20 programs were consistent with that mission." Suicide (Continued on Page 9) 'Everybody can see something was wrong when it's too late9 By SANDE SNEAD noticed an increase over the last couple of Ui the spring of 1978, a couple of guys months in the number of calls we've who lived in a house off campus returned received." Most problems today concern from a hunting trip to find their roommate relationships with parents, roommates, had shot himself in the chest. boyfriends or teachers, Hoshcher noted, He died before ever reaching the adding that the biggest social problem was hospital. unwanted pregnancy. The boy had been depressed, but his Academic pressures often contribute to roommates just brushed off the despon- student anxiety in the middle of a dency, never thinking of the possibility of semester, Daniel said. In the beginning of suicide. the semester, problems may be attributed "The funny thing about suicides is that to an adjustment period, he said, adding everybody can see that something was that exams and term papers may be wrong when it's too late," Dean of blamed at the end of a semester. "But in Students Dr. Lacy Daniel said. Daniel is the middle of the semester, there are no the training consultant for Listening Ear, external events for him to focus his a suicide prevention center in downtown problems on," Daniel said, "and this is Harrisonburg. when he sees the problem as coming from himself." According to Daniel, this 1978 suicide If a student is suspected to be suicidal, case has been the only "completion" in his head residents and resident advisors are three years at James Madison University. notified, and a support group is However, there have been about six to 12 established, Daniel said. attempts each year here, he said. Colleen Quinn, Dingledine resident "The seriousness does not lie in terms of advisor, said that she saw a film on numbers but in terms of the situation," suicides recently and thought it to be a. Daniel said. "The problem is that suicide valuable learning experience. "I think I is contagious. If one person chooses it as am better able to deal with the situation an alternative, others consider it as an now should it arise," she said. option." The methods of suicide among college Perhaps the belief that suicide is con- students are fairly consistent, according to tagious explains the recent growth of the both Daniel and Hoshcher. Females national college suicide rate. In Virginia, usually take drugs or poisons, and males there were 74 suicides in the 15-24 age usually use firearms. group in 1968 as compared with 119 cases A combination of pills and alcohol is the in 1978. most frequent method, according to Hosh- by Chartot A. Pail* * cher. "Shooting oneself is growing less and AFTERNOON shadows form geometric patterns on the steps near KEVIN HOSHCHER, head of the less common, although it is still preferred Godwin Hall, as two students make their way to I) hall. Listening Ear, said, "I have definitely by men," he said. j Page 2, THE BREEZE Tuesday, October 21,1980 30 percent graduated with honors Proposal to raise honor standards tabled curred at JMU. the rest oflhe" students," put it into effect for one group By CHRIS WARD THE STRONGEST concern Snead said. and not another?" McConkey The Commission on Un- for the proposal was voiced by WITH THE increased One of the problems the asked. dergraduate Studies tabled a Commission chairman Dr. number of applicants JMU commission saw in raising the The commission decided proposal to raise the Thomas Stanton, vice receives each year, it is requirements was the that it would be unfair to graduation with distinction president for academic af- enrolling better and better technicality of when would be make the proposal retroactive standards at James Madison fairs, who said raising students, Snead said. an appropriate starting point. for all classes. University pending further graduation with distinction Therefore, more and more Stanton and other com- "It is my understanding study. honors may be "a solution students are graduating with mission members suggested that the catalog represents a The Commission was ex- without a problem." honors, and that is reason that the only "fair" thing to do contract between the pected to vote Friday on the "I don't know that grade enough to raise the would be to raise it for an university and the students proposal, but several mem- inflation is a problem at requirements, he said regarding course content and bers expressed reservations James Madison University. I graduation requirements," about its necessity. think it (the graduation Roberson said. The proposal would raise system) has been working 'We may have a solution without a "The institution has a the minimum grade point fine. I don't think too many responsibility not to change average for which a student are graduating on the Dean's problem to solve' -Dr. Julius Roberson that contract unfairly," he could graduate with honors list or with honors," Stanton added. from the 3.25 to 3.40. It was said later. But Snead said later that f was presented by the Student Dr. Julius Roberson, dean of Last year, 30 percent of the incoming freshman class. the incoming class could be Government Association, so the School of Education and JMU seniors graduated with made aware of the new that graduation with distinc- Human Services, agreed with honors. HOWEVER. DR. DONALD requirements, adding "if they tion would represent Stanton, saying the proposal MCCONKEY, dean of the were stated clearly in the "recognition of significant may be a case of "the tail "The way I see it, with the School of Communications catalog, they could learn to academic achievement." wagging the dog." increase in better students, and Fine Arts, voiced concern live with it." Similar increases are "I think this needs studying there comes a need to raise about possible conflict bet- "If we raise graduation with suggested for cum laude, further. That is, Dr. Stanton the graduation with honors ween that freshman class and distinction, we'll be "••■fna CUP* ,'""u* «n«i sur""** is probably _right. We may requirements so the ones who the three other classes graduating those students who ■.; -rtBVc- w_-~— .. <W ■*' - »rai4na, under the old ■deserve Hand are »hov« other cum laude honors. ' Jrf graoY Me "-jBtaXr, ™ . y.ri -*r The raise would also problem to solve," Roberson List or with honors actually requirements. students," according- -HI ■ "counter any grade inflation said. deserve it and are better than "Can we do that? Can we Snead. and make the university look According to Snead, better," according to Steve however, the increase is necessary to curb any grade Snead, SGA administrative inflation that may have oc- vice-president Studying abroad helps students to appreciate culture By KELLY BOWERS autonomous provinces. Studying abroad helps a Students who visited the student appreciate the way of USSR noted the most life in the United States, said governmental impact upon Becky Stemper in a panel citizens' lives.