After the election

With the latest post-election madness that is going around on campus, JMC faculty has been doing a great job on trying to explain to how the outcome came to be. The 201 Freshmen lecture, which was held after the election, was used as a roundtable in which many JMC professors participated and was basically a debriefing on the events that happened the previous nights. They all did a great job of keeping the conversation non-partisan. They also had their office hours open to talking to us students about what we were feeling. 

There were many groups around campus that were also offering a safe place to students who has mixed feelings about the election outcomes. Such places included Black Student Alliance (BSA), Cultura de Las Razas Unidas (CRU), North American Indigenous Student Organization (NAISO), Asian Pacific American Student Organization (APASO). Other groups aside from the cultural ones also offered a safe place to express their thoughts such as LBGTQ+ Resource Center and many different religious groups. 

On November 10th, many of these of groups got together to form a rally at the famous Rock on campus to show that hate will not be tolerated on this campus. They had many student leadersspeak and remind any students that there were many, many safe places on campus to talk about how you are feeling. After this rally, the groups proceeded to lead the massive amounts of students on a march that went along Farm Lane to Grand River and continued on Beal Street until the students reached the Administration Building. Throughout the entire march, the students tried to keep the message clear that this was an anti-hate rally. It was kept peaceful while the entire event lasted from 5:30 to roughly 8pm. 

Overall this campus has been doing a great job of combating hate within the student body and promoting love instead. There have been many resources made available to the students here. Thankfully in the months to come these resources will continue to be there for students to express their feelings without feeling judged no matter their political affiliations.

Chantal 

Freshman 

IR 

Braving the Cold: An Out-of-State Perspective

I am cold…at all times. It is unusual for me to have a day where I don't walk into the dining hall of Case sit down at a table full of my friends and declare “I am utterly frozen”. There responses have drifted from laughter to distress at my lack of a coat and finally to relief as I walked into the dining hall yesterday wearing a full length black puffy jacket. 

Needless to say I was completely unprepared for the weather. Coming from Southern Missouri where it is warm all the time, I wasn't ready to freeze or see my breathe as I exhale on the daily basis.

But as cold as I am there is nothing like riding through campus on my bike when everyone is asleep or in class and just feeling the cold air rush past. I fell in love with Michigan, Michigan State and James Madison in the short time I have been here. Madison is both the metaphorical and the literal warmth in my life…we have a community of people and of professors who are endlessly supportive in every instance. 

College is hard, you will be cold, you will miss your mom, and ultimately you will in some way be unprepared.  Madison gives you a place where that is okay, because you can grow and build up from there. As corny as it is I am always cold but then I step into Case Hall and as the warmth returns to my extremities I am reminded that Case Hall and James Madison are a family that supports each other and warms one another through thick and through thin.

Sydney

Freshman

Field Experience--A Learning Experience

Internships are a huge part of the learning experience at James Madison College. My field experience working on a U.S. House of Representatives race has been an amazing extracurricular opportunity for me. There are multiple Madison students whom I work with everyday outside the classroom and the learning experience is like nothing else. 

The ability to apply the skills I’ve gained during my time at the college hasallowed me to expand my horizons while learning how to operate on a daily basis in a professional environment. The field experience office- especially Max Olivero, the field experience director- have made the opportunity as smooth and optimal as possible. 

In conjunction with my faculty advisor for my MC401 research I have been able to garner new skills and knowledge in both the professional field and through writing and reading for my research. The faculty advisors I have had made my dual role as a student and intern an exciting one and a formative one. 

The ability for me to choose a field of research I am very interested in has sparked my passion to write the thesis and the internship is in a field that has inspired me to expand my reach. I now have a fairly solid idea of what I would like to do after graduation and my field experience has helped shape and form this idea. It is a unique facet of my James Madison education, and one I will cherish long after it is finished.

Jeremy

Senior

PTCD

JMC Student Senate

Part of making the best as a student in Madison is being involved outside of class. It helps to build friendships as well as an out of classroom learning experience. For me, being involved means being in a student organization. As a sophomore I was elected to the James Madison College Student Senate. JMCSS is a student led body which works to better the Madison community and to foster relationships between students, professors, and alumnus.

Since I joined, I have been part of putting on academic events through student senate which include the Alumni pizza night in which students meet graduated Madison students and discuss life after college in a non-formal setting. I have also helped with the Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy field party. Each major has a field party, which allows professors to interact in a social setting with current students, as well as students who have not yet chosen a major. The event is my favorite because many good discussions have happened between my peers, professors, and I about subjects otherwise completely mundane to our studies.

Our largest annual event is the James Madison Charity Ball. Each year a candidate is nominated and honored by the college and students, while proceeds go to the honoree’s charity of choice. This is a great opportunity to socialize with students across all the Madison majors as well as professors and faculty, many of whom give heartfelt speeches about things dear to them about Madison (namely that year’s honoree). The music, food, and happy atmosphere make the event an unforgettable evening of fun. It really makes being involved in James Madison worthwhile.

Being a college student can be difficult. Constant vigilance is required to maintain good study habits. Having a good work ethic is only part of the equation though. Relaxation and being social are also key. Getting involved in any way in James Madison or at MSU in general is a great way to meet new people and take a break from school. For me, that outlet is James Madison Student Senate, but there are countless options to choose from at Michigan State.   

Jeremy

Junior 

PTCD

Finding the Perfect Study Abroad

Michigan State University prides itself in consistently having one of the largest Study Abroad programs in the country. When I first visited MSU as a senior in high school the presentation I sat through placed a lot of emphasis on studying abroad. My tour guide stressed that there are more than 275 programs to choose from in over 65 countries and all continents, including Antarctica. Yet, as crazy as it sounds I remember thinking that I would most likely never find a program that would work with my schedule. I assumed because I was going to be in a residential college there would not be a program over the summer that would go towards my very specific majors, let alone be in a country I was actually interested in. I was frustrated until I learned that James Madison College sponsors multiple Study Abroad programs available during the summer and both fall and spring semesters.

At first, I thought studying abroad was going to be impossible being in a residential college but I could not have been more wrong. This semester I was accepted to study Comparative Republicanism in Rome and Florence for the summer. Once I looked into it, I realized James Madison sponsors programs specific to both of my majors— International Relations and Political Theory and Constitutional Democracy (PTCD). The Study Abroad program for PTCD just so happens to be hosted in my dream country, Italy. Not only do I have family in both Rome and Florence but I also have been studying Italian as my Madison language for the past two years.

There is a program that is over the summer, in the country of my dreams, and is specific to my major. For anyone who has the desire to travel and study in another country, there is definitely a program out there for you. Everyone is telling the truth when they say Michigan State and its residential colleges have the best Study Abroad programs in the nation! 

Gabriela 

Sophomore

IR &PTCD

A Balancing Act

One of the most difficult things for a college student is finding a proper balance between studying for class and having fun. Do not get me wrong--classes are important, but if a student does not put aside enough time to relax the stress can catch up with them and can make the college experience a nightmare. At Michigan State University, there are several opportunities for students to discover organizations. The groups vary to encompass just about everyone’s interests. These organizations are great ways to build a network of friends, especially for someone like myself, an out of state student with not a single friend or family member that resides in the state of Michigan.

When I am not busy studying, I choose to spend my free time on the Quidditch pitch. Yes, it is a variation of the fictional sport from Harry Potter, but it is pure fun! I have always been a huge Harry Potter fan, and ever since I heard about Quidditch I wanted to try it, so when I arrived on campus my freshman year I found the club’s table and signed up. The club has two entities: a travel team and a smaller intramural league that is separate from the university’s intramural league. The travel team goes throughout the Midwest to compete in tournaments against other university teams.

Fortunately, I have been able to make the travel team all three years that I have been here and have become great friends with my teammates. The amount of fun I have travelling with these people is great, I look forward to it every weekend we have a tournament. Over the years, my role within the club has grown, and I am now part of the coaching staff. My duties on the coaching staff entail introducing the sport to new recruits, while also aiding the team to perform well at tournaments through the regulation of substitutes and ensuring everyone has their gear. Since coming to college this is by far my favorite thing to do. I enjoy it so much that during the breaks of winter and summer I go through minor withdrawals. Being a part of a club like this helps me relieve stress caused by my classes, while also allowing me to relax with friends and enjoy my Michigan State University experience.

Brandon
Junior
CCP

MADI

Somehow, the last few years of college have flown by, and I am about to be a graduate of Michigan State University. It is unbelievable to think that just a few years ago, I was just a freshman in a new state with a bunch of new people. MSU has essentially become a second home for me.

Within my MSU experience, my time in James Madison College has been an integral part. One of the best parts about it has been my time as a member of the Madison Academic Diversity Initiative (MADI). I have been a member of the program since my freshman year, and the experiences I have received through the program have been nothing short of amazing.

At the start of my spring semester freshman year, I went on a weekend long retreat with several Madison students that I barely knew. As an out of state student, I was particularly excited about the opportunity to meet new people. I did not know that I would get lasting friendships out of it. The best part about these friendships though is that they are with people who are different from me in many ways. We might not have connected with each other in Madison otherwise.

In addition to the great relationships I got from participating in the retreat, I also had the opportunity to be exposed to a wealth of the resources that the college and university can provide. For many students in their first year, it can be a bit overwhelming to have so much in your face but participating in MADI is definitely a way to make the first year experience even better! There is a chance to have lunch with the deans, meet JMC alumni, connect with JMC Career services, and more!

Beyond the experiences it brings freshman year, MADI brings an affiliation with the Office of Diversity Programming that hosts a number of great events throughout the school year. Additionally, you have the chance, as an older student, to share your experience and advice with freshmen after you. This also gives the opportunity to be a leader that might not be so easy to find on this huge campus!

Overall, through my participation in MADI, I got connected to the college in variety of ways that might not have occurred otherwise. It is now a full year program and is worth considering if you are planning to come to Madison. It is a change to engage with your Madison community in a way that will make all the difference for your four years here at Madison. That’s a promise.

Florence

Senior

IR