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

Interning Abroad

When I applied to Michigan State University, one of the biggest attractions to me was that MSU has one of the best study abroad programs in the nation. I found the perfect program for me not through a traditional study abroad program, but in an intern abroad program – where students intern in cities across the world for academic credit through MSU. Part of James Madison graduation requirements is to complete a Field Experience, which most students fulfill by interning for a semester. This program was an excellent way for me to add an international element to my working experience.

I spent the summer of 2015 interning for the Disability Federation of Ireland. DFI is a non-profit umbrella organization for disability rights advocacy groups. It is funded to act as an intermediary between the government and their member organizations to unify and represent the voices of people with disabilities throughout Ireland.  This is a very difficult task as disability itself is such a broad term. DFI represents organizations of people with physical, intellectual, sensory, learning, and hidden disabilities and they all have extremely different priorities and needs due to the wide variety of their daily struggles.

I went on this trip with several other MSU students, all of which had their own unique international internship. My friends worked in places like international legal offices, Eco-Unesco (an environmental branch of the UN), the various political parties and candidates, economic development firms, and marketing firms. Every Monday - Friday, we would take the bus into the heart of the city and walk the streets of Dublin to reach our internship. Often we would rendezvous after work to go to a local pub in the city for dinner and drinks to wind down from our day before heading back to our apartments.  

Not only did I have an amazing professional experience, I also got to travel extensively throughout Ireland. Almost every weekend, a group of us would travel to go explore a nation so incredibly different from our own. From the foreboding Cliffs of Moher to the quaint local pubs, we traveled the countryside and discovered much about ourselves along the way. 

Mandy 

Senior

PTCD

Finding Time to Give Back

As a James Madison student, it is easy to get caught up in your own life. When you are not reading or writing a paper you are enjoying your avid social life, which most likely consists of meeting up with fellow Madisonian’s to discuss readings or proofread each other’s papers. However, it is important every now and then to take a pause and try to impact someone else’s life.

This semester I joined a group called Spartans Rebuilding Michigan, which is a student organization, designed to connect students willing to volunteer with charities and associations in need throughout East Lansing and the state of Michigan. In addition to working with a myriad of organizations such as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Volunteers of America, and Greater Lansing Food Bank’s Garden Project they put on fundraising events of their own each semester to benefit different groups in the community. I recently volunteered with SRM at the Ronald McDonald House of Mid-Michigan, which works to create a home away from home for families of hospitalized children at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing. A group of us went and made dinner and dessert to give families a taste of home cooking for when they returned from the hospital. While we were there, we were lucky enough to get a tour of the Ronald McDonald House and then meet some of the families staying there. By taking a few hours out of our day and cooking a single meal we were able to provide these families a little sense of normalcy.

Not only do you get the satisfaction of helping others when volunteering, it is also a great way to network and build relationships with organizations and your fellow Spartans. With our busy lives, it can seem nearly impossible to find time to volunteer. However, I have found that I have benefited just as much as the people I have volunteered to help. SRM has helped me make new friends and feel connected to the community in a way that I have not before. If anyone is looking for an opportunity to volunteer or meet new people I highly recommend taking a few hours out of your semester to do so, it is definitely worth it!

Gabriela

Sophomore

IR & PTCD

Planning to make the most of JMC

            Upon coming to Michigan State, I had no idea what time my here would be like in terms of my college. I came in with many interests, and I wanted to find a way to fit all of them in my academic program. For how many interests I had, it was definitely a daunting task. Fortunately, Michigan State and James Madison have a great advising system in place. More specifically, James Madison has a great first-year advisors. I am sure the first time I met with my advisor she thought I was crazy, but she was really helpful in mapping out what my future at MSU could like. One of the most helpful things I did was to make a four year plan. At the time we made it, my advisor told me that it was going to change. I didn’t believe her. Looking back, I can’t help but laugh because I don’t know why I thought I had it all figured out.

            The four year plan really helped me get an idea of everything that I could do while at MSU and served as a helpful guide when it came to planning courses each semester. After my freshman year, I ended up with an African studies and an International Development specialization added to my program. Adding on these specializations really helped me narrow down which classes in Madison would be the best for me. Now, everyone doesn’t have to do a specialization or even minors (I’m minoring in French), but they are really helpful for getting creative with your academic program.

            Now, I must mention that at MSU, depending on what you choose to do, it’s not likely that you’ll have just one advisor. I meet with advisors for French, African studies, International Development, and the Honors College. It sounds like that might add a lot to my schedule but there are no requirements with meeting with them. It’s all on an as needed basis, and let me tell you, they are extremely helpful when you need them! They are honestly there to help every step of the way- especially through any changes that come through your academic program (i.e. picking up or dropping a major). Also, if you’re lucky to get close enough to your advisor, they’ll help keep you on track and be a listening ear. They just want to see you succeed!

            Of course, it is always a great feeling when you go to your advisor and get good news. I remember when I was meeting with one of my advisors at the beginning of this school year, and she asked me if I would be graduating soon. I was 100% shocked, but it turns out that somehow my four year plan had change to a three and half year plan. I definitely didn’t see this coming as a freshman, but I am truly grateful for all the support my advisors have given me over the years. With their help, I have been able to get the most that I can out of my time hear at Michigan State. 

Florence

Junior

IR