Tuesday, June 10, 2003
Woah, twice in one night! Yeah, I know. But I noticed something on JMU's site that really pissed me off and needs addressing. First, some background info.
It all started on one lazy friday at the happy little place I called home for four years. James Madison University. The Board of Visiotrs met on Friday, April 18, 2003. There was a summary of the meeting on JMU's website. Included on the very bottom was a short little note that said that the Board of Visitors "voted to direct the JMU Health Center to discontinue dispensing Emergency Contraceptive Pills (ECP). The pills currently are available, with a prescription, to students for a $15 fee. The majority of Virginia public colleges and universities make ECPs available to students."
Wait, what?
Yeah, just out of the blue, BAM! No more morning after pill. I wonder if they realized the outcry that would occur and the debate that would split the campus with strife and fiery deaths and impending doom and lots of name-calling. Ooooo, I can use cool phrases, just like NBC's announcers! (NBC did some dumb ass thing on Funny Cide on Saturday about being on the "doorstep of destiny" in regards to winning the Triple Crown, which he didn't. They must have said it four or five times. Bob Costas is an idiot.)
On Thursday, April 24, JMU's school newspaper, The Breeze, (published on Mondays and Thursdays) has lots to say on the issue. Students signed a petition to get the SGA to write a bill of opinion on the matter. That, and more info on what exactly happened, made the front page. The House Editorial said the board sucks, just in a more friendly way. Adam Sharp (a very cool guy by the way) wrote a column about the ethics, or lack thereof, behind the Board's decision. Broderick Bond wrote a letter to the editor about how he was concerned that his tutition was being spent handing out abortion pills. Finally, two darts and pats were sent in regarding the issue, the pat obviously (hopefully) being sarcastic:
An "I'm-so-sorry-you-have-to-leave-town-to-kill-your-baby-now" dart to everyone petitioning to get the morning-after pill back in the University Health Center.
From a pro-life student who is disgusted the pill was ever offered on campus and strongly supports the Board of Visitor's decision to discontinue it.
A "way-to-keep-'em-down" pat to the Board of Visitors for stripping away the right of female students to access birth control.
From a conservative who's glad we're keeping our women barefoot and pregnant.
(For those unfamiliar with The Breeze, darts are anonymous messages to yell at somebody and pats are to congratulate)
The next monday, The Breeze had more to say about the issue. Again, making the front page, there was some information about a rally and march being held and some more random stuff on the subject. The House Editorial again addressed the issue, this time pointing out that the situation had garnered national attention and that everyone should act intelligently. Yet another column was dedicated to the Board's decision, and basically said that they really suck. Two letters to the editor were written about the subject this time. The first was from someone who sharply criticized the Board and University, and mentions the whole political agenda scandal. (Basically the idea is that either the delegate who wrote the initial request to ban the drug or a board member who will be running for office had been criticized about not taking a firm enough stand against abortion and decided to take it out on all the poor college students) The last letter(which is the third on the page) was written by a friend of mine, Leslie. It is very well written, and severely criticizes all those trying to get the pill back. The Campus Spotlight was dedicated to it, and two of the people I know (Andrea and Sean, both KKPsi Marching Band people). Finally in this issue we got some more darts and pats.
An "I-suppose-full-fledged-abortions-would-be-better" dart to the Board of Visitors — and all those JMU students who agree with them — for discontinuing emergency contraceptive pill distribution at the University Health Center.
From a self-respecting, practical woman who thinks that getting rid of ECPs will not get rid of sex or unwanted pregnancies and most likely will increase the number of actual abortions.
A "way-to-step-up-to-the-plate-for-JMU-students" pat to the Student Government Association for passing the Student Bill of Opinion.
From one pissed off sophomore who thinks people should learn about Plan B before they voice their ignorant, uninformed decisions.
Tensions are rising.
In Thursday's issue of The Breeze the controversy hits front page for the third time in a row. Two stories this time. The first talks about said rally and march, and the second discusses the difference between the ECP, which is a form of contraceptive, and RU-486, which is actually the abortion pill. The House Editorial also talks about the difference between the two drugs, and how you should know your facts before you talk. A very interesting column was written by a University of Virginia student who grew up in Harrisonburg. It talks about how some of the Board should learn about the difference between the two pills (again), and how college students are not "children", as we were called, nor should female students be referred to as "coeds". It's groovy that our neighbors are concerned about the issue as well. Yes, I said groovy. More letters to the editor. The first defends Obenshain's(the Board's member who brought the issue to a vote) credibility and character. The second is from an alumna of Madison College (JMU's former name) from the class of 43 and how she's not sneding any money to JMU until the board's decision is reversed. Finally, one pat to all the students who came out to the rally and march.
Pat...
An "at-least-he-can't-say-he-didn't-hear-us" pat to all the wonderful JMU students who came out to protest the Board of Visitors' decision Monday both on the commons and in front of Mark Obenshain's office.
Sent in by a female sophomore who feels that since she is spending her money to come to this university, it is the board's job to give her and the rest of the student population the services that they want, whether they fit in Obenshain's agenda or not.
This whole thing has had a lot of attention, from such noteworthy publications as The Washington Post and Time.
So that's the background on the whole issue.
And now on to what pisses me off.
The Board of Visitors met this past Friday, June 6, 2003. The moment of truth. What will the Board do? I read the report that summarized their actions today. I scroll down to the middle of the document and find what I am looking for. Aha, here we go:
"In separate reports to the board's Education and Student Life Committee, Student Government Association President Levar Stoney and student board of visitors representative Timothy A. Brooks both called on the board to reverse its April decision ordering the JMU Health Center to stop dispensing Emergency Contraception Pills to students. Stoney said that 3,000 students had signed petitions calling on the board to reverse its action."
Sweet! And the Board's response to nearly two months of outcry?
"Neither the committee nor the full board took any action on the request."
NOTHING.
They didn't do a damn thing. What the hell. What the hell do the voices of JMU students matter? Obviously, not one bit. Nothing we say or do matters to a bunch of old men who don't care one bit about the students. Whether you're dancing for joy or pissed as hell for what the board did, you have to admit this sucks ass. Not even a vote to reconsider anything. No action. They didn't even consider what the students wanted. Then again, they didn't do it in the first place, so why should I be surprised now?
I am very disenheartened by this action. This non-action. What with this and the absurd pay raises for top administration officials when the teacher's pay raises are frozen and tuition was raised THREE times in one school year and the squelching of intellectual thought with the firing of that english professor, I've reached the following conclusion. JMU does not care about its students, faculty, or anything even remotely resembling integrity, intellectual freedom, or the pursuit of knowledge. As much fun as I had at this University, as much as it has given me, it has screwed me and far too many others for me to support the school for a very long time.
JMU...up yours.
It all started on one lazy friday at the happy little place I called home for four years. James Madison University. The Board of Visiotrs met on Friday, April 18, 2003. There was a summary of the meeting on JMU's website. Included on the very bottom was a short little note that said that the Board of Visitors "voted to direct the JMU Health Center to discontinue dispensing Emergency Contraceptive Pills (ECP). The pills currently are available, with a prescription, to students for a $15 fee. The majority of Virginia public colleges and universities make ECPs available to students."
Wait, what?
Yeah, just out of the blue, BAM! No more morning after pill. I wonder if they realized the outcry that would occur and the debate that would split the campus with strife and fiery deaths and impending doom and lots of name-calling. Ooooo, I can use cool phrases, just like NBC's announcers! (NBC did some dumb ass thing on Funny Cide on Saturday about being on the "doorstep of destiny" in regards to winning the Triple Crown, which he didn't. They must have said it four or five times. Bob Costas is an idiot.)
On Thursday, April 24, JMU's school newspaper, The Breeze, (published on Mondays and Thursdays) has lots to say on the issue. Students signed a petition to get the SGA to write a bill of opinion on the matter. That, and more info on what exactly happened, made the front page. The House Editorial said the board sucks, just in a more friendly way. Adam Sharp (a very cool guy by the way) wrote a column about the ethics, or lack thereof, behind the Board's decision. Broderick Bond wrote a letter to the editor about how he was concerned that his tutition was being spent handing out abortion pills. Finally, two darts and pats were sent in regarding the issue, the pat obviously (hopefully) being sarcastic:
An "I'm-so-sorry-you-have-to-leave-town-to-kill-your-baby-now" dart to everyone petitioning to get the morning-after pill back in the University Health Center.
From a pro-life student who is disgusted the pill was ever offered on campus and strongly supports the Board of Visitor's decision to discontinue it.
A "way-to-keep-'em-down" pat to the Board of Visitors for stripping away the right of female students to access birth control.
From a conservative who's glad we're keeping our women barefoot and pregnant.
(For those unfamiliar with The Breeze, darts are anonymous messages to yell at somebody and pats are to congratulate)
The next monday, The Breeze had more to say about the issue. Again, making the front page, there was some information about a rally and march being held and some more random stuff on the subject. The House Editorial again addressed the issue, this time pointing out that the situation had garnered national attention and that everyone should act intelligently. Yet another column was dedicated to the Board's decision, and basically said that they really suck. Two letters to the editor were written about the subject this time. The first was from someone who sharply criticized the Board and University, and mentions the whole political agenda scandal. (Basically the idea is that either the delegate who wrote the initial request to ban the drug or a board member who will be running for office had been criticized about not taking a firm enough stand against abortion and decided to take it out on all the poor college students) The last letter(which is the third on the page) was written by a friend of mine, Leslie. It is very well written, and severely criticizes all those trying to get the pill back. The Campus Spotlight was dedicated to it, and two of the people I know (Andrea and Sean, both KKPsi Marching Band people). Finally in this issue we got some more darts and pats.
An "I-suppose-full-fledged-abortions-would-be-better" dart to the Board of Visitors — and all those JMU students who agree with them — for discontinuing emergency contraceptive pill distribution at the University Health Center.
From a self-respecting, practical woman who thinks that getting rid of ECPs will not get rid of sex or unwanted pregnancies and most likely will increase the number of actual abortions.
A "way-to-step-up-to-the-plate-for-JMU-students" pat to the Student Government Association for passing the Student Bill of Opinion.
From one pissed off sophomore who thinks people should learn about Plan B before they voice their ignorant, uninformed decisions.
Tensions are rising.
In Thursday's issue of The Breeze the controversy hits front page for the third time in a row. Two stories this time. The first talks about said rally and march, and the second discusses the difference between the ECP, which is a form of contraceptive, and RU-486, which is actually the abortion pill. The House Editorial also talks about the difference between the two drugs, and how you should know your facts before you talk. A very interesting column was written by a University of Virginia student who grew up in Harrisonburg. It talks about how some of the Board should learn about the difference between the two pills (again), and how college students are not "children", as we were called, nor should female students be referred to as "coeds". It's groovy that our neighbors are concerned about the issue as well. Yes, I said groovy. More letters to the editor. The first defends Obenshain's(the Board's member who brought the issue to a vote) credibility and character. The second is from an alumna of Madison College (JMU's former name) from the class of 43 and how she's not sneding any money to JMU until the board's decision is reversed. Finally, one pat to all the students who came out to the rally and march.
Pat...
An "at-least-he-can't-say-he-didn't-hear-us" pat to all the wonderful JMU students who came out to protest the Board of Visitors' decision Monday both on the commons and in front of Mark Obenshain's office.
Sent in by a female sophomore who feels that since she is spending her money to come to this university, it is the board's job to give her and the rest of the student population the services that they want, whether they fit in Obenshain's agenda or not.
This whole thing has had a lot of attention, from such noteworthy publications as The Washington Post and Time.
So that's the background on the whole issue.
And now on to what pisses me off.
The Board of Visitors met this past Friday, June 6, 2003. The moment of truth. What will the Board do? I read the report that summarized their actions today. I scroll down to the middle of the document and find what I am looking for. Aha, here we go:
"In separate reports to the board's Education and Student Life Committee, Student Government Association President Levar Stoney and student board of visitors representative Timothy A. Brooks both called on the board to reverse its April decision ordering the JMU Health Center to stop dispensing Emergency Contraception Pills to students. Stoney said that 3,000 students had signed petitions calling on the board to reverse its action."
Sweet! And the Board's response to nearly two months of outcry?
"Neither the committee nor the full board took any action on the request."
NOTHING.
They didn't do a damn thing. What the hell. What the hell do the voices of JMU students matter? Obviously, not one bit. Nothing we say or do matters to a bunch of old men who don't care one bit about the students. Whether you're dancing for joy or pissed as hell for what the board did, you have to admit this sucks ass. Not even a vote to reconsider anything. No action. They didn't even consider what the students wanted. Then again, they didn't do it in the first place, so why should I be surprised now?
I am very disenheartened by this action. This non-action. What with this and the absurd pay raises for top administration officials when the teacher's pay raises are frozen and tuition was raised THREE times in one school year and the squelching of intellectual thought with the firing of that english professor, I've reached the following conclusion. JMU does not care about its students, faculty, or anything even remotely resembling integrity, intellectual freedom, or the pursuit of knowledge. As much fun as I had at this University, as much as it has given me, it has screwed me and far too many others for me to support the school for a very long time.
JMU...up yours.
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