Hello, JMU!
UPB now has a tumblr! Be sure to follow our posts on http://upbjmu.tumblr.com/
~Natalie Hamlin
-
What The Students Have To Say
Share This Blog
When I was first offered the position of Spirit and Traditions Director, I had no idea what the job entailed. As an outside hire, I imagined some sort of exaggerated University Program Board cheerleader with lots of personality and few responsibilities. However, there’s much more to the title than one might first believe.
For those unfamiliar with University Program Board, all general body members belong to one of five committees. Each of these committees is led by a program director. The Spirit and Traditions committee is responsible for two major series events. (Series events are programs that take place every month.) In our case, these are Late Night Breakfast and Funny Freakin’ Friday. Each a staple within the UPB community, these events have become a tradition in their own right. They are always free and always open to every member of our campus! In addition to these series events, S&T is responsible for programming that relates to special holidays and celebrations at JMU. These include Homecoming, Parent’s Weekend, Halloween, Valentine’s Day, and many others!
As the director, I lead our committee in the brainstorming, preparations, and execution of such events. I’m helped by five indispensable chairs, cumulatively responsible for marketing, outreach, decorations, hospitality needs, and committee administration. To lead our group, I organize meetings, facilitate voting procedures, and set the agenda for each week. Behind the scenes, I’m responsible for contacting agents, managing our budget, writing contracts for our events, and seeing to many other smaller details. Throughout the week and during events, I’m a resource for committee members and general members of the JMU community.
This is a quick description of what has kept me busy this past year, but if you’d like to know more or meet in person don’t hesitate to contact me! My e-mail address is chandlmr@gmail.com and I encourage everyone to apply to UPB!
~Megan Chandler, Director of Spirit & Traditions
I’m sure I’m not alone when I say that Valentine’s Day is a “Hallmark holiday” created by chocolate, card and flower companies only to make money. Maybe it is because I’ve never had that perfect Valentine’s date that movies portray. Instead, you could compare my Valentine’s days to those of Liz Lemon (30 Rock anyone?!) in which there are many awkward moments and things never go as planned. But even through all these years of being single on Valentine’s Day, deep down I always wish the next year would be different. Maybe one year I will get that perfect movie scene with a perfect boy, a delicious dinner and a memorable night. It is that time of year again when I get my hopes up and dream about that perfect night. I’m determined to have just ONE normal Valentine’s Day. 
With UPB’s Naked Dating event, this year is bound to be different. If any of you are out there with me, come out to Grafton at 8:00 on January 24th to get some advice on love. Naked Dating by Harlan Cohen will reveal a five-step approach to find love in college. Don’t let the event name fool you though; everyone will be completely clothed! 
This hilarious mix of motivational speaking, audience participation and music is sure to give you a fun and entertaining night. You know I will be there in the hopes that this Valentine’s Day will be different! So, come out to Naked Dating on January 24th at 8:00 in Grafton for FREE! See you there! -Cara Buchanan, Special Events
“You have four years, Aqeel. Make something of yourself.” That’s what I heard everyday on the phone from my mom freshman year. Coming to school was no big deal for me—I had been away from home plenty of times to not become home sick—but hearing those words made me more and more anxious every time I heard them.
There’s two ways of looking at the college; it can either be the best opportunity you’ll ever get, or the most overwhelming. For three years, it was the latter. I came in as a biology major, in the pre-med program, on the track to apply to medical school. That wasn’t what I wanted to do, though. I wanted to do something creative, like be a documentarian, an art director at an ad agency, a film editor, or an architect. Somehow, I had to change my life to be more congruent with what I was passionate about, not my parents’.
That’s when I found UPB. Applying to be the Vice President of Marketing was the best decision I made during my four years here. The leadership experience I was getting, the creativity that I was able to express, and the people I met in the process were more than anyone could ask for. I’ve changed my major and gotten overrides into classes that I love. For the first time, I’m living for myself. Although I’ll be graduating in May, I’m finally confident that my college experience has become the best opportunity to follow my dreams and be the person I want to be.
~Aqeel Akbar, Vice President of Marketing
I joined the University Program Board on a whim, after hearing about
it through the leadership development program Make Your Mark on
Madison. The spring semester of my freshman year, I applied and was
accepted for the executive board, not knowing what I was getting
myself into. As it turns out, it has been the hands down best decision
I have made in my JMU career. That was three years ago.
As a second-semester senior now, I have been looking back and
reflecting on my experience at JMU, while seizing the opportunities
that I have left before I graduate in May. It has been almost a year
since I was selected as the 2011-2012 University Board President. How
I got here…at this point, I’m not even sure. Last time I checked, I
was a freshman in Eagle Hall. But it’s time to select the next group
of leaders, and that is YOU. Some words of advice:
“Today is a most unusual day because we have never lived it before; we
will never live it again; it is the only day we have” – William Arthur
Ward
Now is the time to get involved! Don’t take for granted the little
time that you left here. Last night, the semi-annual Student Org Night
took place in the Festival ballroom, with representation from
hundereds of student organizations eager to make a difference on the
JMU campus and in your college experience. If you didn’t make it over
to the Festival ballroom yesterday, it’s not too late! Take the time
to reach out to a club that represents something you’re truly
passionate in, or even a club that you don’t know much about.
If you are interested in joining the University Program Board, I know
we would love to have you. Applications are out now and are available
on our website upb.jmu.edu. It’s never too late, or too early, to
create the college experience that you want and make a difference on
this campus.
~Emily Grochowski, President
There is a Golden Ticket Hunt going on around campus today! Be sure to find them and win a prize! While you’re at it, be sure to head to Willy Wonka Late Night Breakfast and Student Org Night tomorrow in Festival!
I remember my first Student Org Night (SON). Freshman year I ran around the UREC Turf writing my new @jmu.eduemail down on the lists for at least ten different clubs, only to later regret the flood of informational messages in my inbox. Who was I kidding, was I really going to learn how to bellydance? Anyways, though I finally got off of the email list for the last club just last year, there was one organization that I did stick with. Bet you can guess what it was (Hint: its UPB). Now you’re probably wondering where I’m going with this, and here it is. Student Org Night is the best way to learn about all JMU has to offer outside of academics. Though you may end up signing up for Bocci Ball or a dance team while having no previous experience, its the best way to figure out what you really do want to be involved in.
Even if you go and don’t find a club for you (highly unlikely), there’s a bonus this time around. While SON begins at 9 and ends at 11 in Festival, UPB will also be hosting our monthly Late Night Breakfast from 10 to 12 in Festival! How convenient! Even better? ITS WILLY WONKA THEMED. You know what that means, immense amounts of candy, games, activities, and chances to win. Come roll yourself around in a human bowling ball as if you were Violet being rolled away by Oompa Loompas or pin the gum behind her ear for a chance to win a prize! There will be several crafts, other games, and check it: cotton candy and pucker powder stations AND lollipop trees! ALL FOR FREE.So make sure you come out to Festival on Thursday 1/19 from 9-11, first for Student Org Night hosted by Student Activities & Involvement then stick around for Willy Wonka Late Night Breakfast from 10-12. I can guarantee it’ll be sweet. Get it?
-Kate Shamlian, Spirit & Traditions Outreach Chair
If you have looked at Facebook statuses, talked to friends, or walked in any bookstore, then you may already be familiar with The Hunger Games series. The Hunger Games is a popular young adult trilogy. However, people of many ages have read and enjoyed these books.
The soft science fiction books feature a teenage girl, Katniss, who is one of two selected adolescents to represent her district (similar to a US state) in a competition. However, this competition is nothing like any other. The members selected must say goodbye to everyone they know and fight to the death in a manipulated outdoor environment. The contestants are forced to survive in the wilderness and kill the other players while the entire country watches them on television. The last person alive wins the competition and becomes rich and famous instantaneously.
The author, Suzanne Collins, wrote The Hunger Games as a satire of modern reality-TV. The three books are a fast, enjoyable read that will surely keep you hooked regardless of age. I read the first two books over Winter Break and am now reading the third book. These books are so much fun to read and will definitely keep you interested. I stayed up all night finishing the first book and the second book I finished in just a few days.
These books are great. If you don’t believe me after my small synopsis you will just have to trust me and the millions of other people who just can’t put this book down!
And speaking of hunger and games, a great event to eat and play will be happening this Thursday Night! Willy Wonka Late Night Breakfast & Student Org Night will be happening in Festival! Come enjoy some breakfast, games, and brouse the clubs on campus! I wonder if there is a Hunger Games Club….
~Hannah Cox, Spirit & Traditions Committee
