This picture shows the construction of the new Bridgeforth Stadium as seen from the parking deck. This space is intended to serve as a meeting ground of sorts, where the JMU community will be able to come together for the common cause of cheering on the football team. In its current, unfinished state, however, it poses somewhat of an obstacle for commuters and pedestrians alike, as the construction work disrupts the peace of the campus and the ease with which students and faculty can get into the parking deck. This shows how a space in development can hinder the community's ability to function as it normally would and necessitates minor adjustments on the part of the community, such as having to take a different route when walking to class from the parking deck. Although it is currently an annoyance, the stadium will come to represent the school spirit of JMU and a shared sense of pride in athletic achievements. The stadium will come to shape the memories of the students through its role as the venue for many thrilling victories or defeats, and the collective feeling of excitement or disappointment that accompanies the outcome of a football game.
Tiffany Crosby's comment for Dr.H
ReplyDeleteI really like this picture and the idea that you have about what it represents to JMU. I would also like to add that this picture to me represents the construction of something new that will in turn bring more people together. The construction of the stadium represents the building up of a what is hoped to be stronger community. Once the stadium is built, more students and community members will be able to gather together. This raises an interesting question of whether or not more community members will gather with JMU students. We have discussed the possible tensions between the JMU community and the Harrisonburg community and with a recent event this question becomes more and more complicated. I think it will be interesting to see if more or less community members will still gather with the JMU students or if the intended use of the space is altered due to a decline in community participation.
Originally this picture grabbed my attention, because unlike the majority of the pictures posted of JMU, this one was of construction. Over the past few years, JMU has undergone major construction projects, like Bridgeforth Stadium, and there promises to be more where that came from as our universities continues to grow and expand our boundaries. What I thought was even more interesting is the author's take on the construction. Disruption is the key word I would like to highlight in the caption provided. Not only minor disruptions such as having to walk all the way around the parking lot instead of being able to cut straight through, but also the construction of the new stadium has prevented the Class of 2010 from having a commencement ceremony.
ReplyDeleteConstruction will always be apart of universities. Some view this as negative, and some view this as positive. In my opinion, while obviously construction sites are the most beautiful things to have to look at, this is how a university shapes its space. With out the construction, the spaces would not exist.
-Chelsea Krueger
This post is very meaningful to me because I am affected by this construction daily. The walk around Godwin is terrible because the entire lot is blocked off and a lot of the parking availability in the deck was taken away. Although it is somewhat inconvenient for the students, I keep telling myself what a great asset this stadium will be to our school. I think it’s an awesome addition that will help bring JMU’s status higher and hopefully to a D1 1A football program.
ReplyDeleteCaitlen Manning
Dr. Connerley
Most days, I have to walk all around the construction to get to Godwin Hall or Zane Showker Hall. The construction has the parking lot and sidewalk blocked off so it makes you walk out of the way to either get to the quad from the Godwin area or vice versa. I understand that is how it has to be for JMU to receive the stadium it is paying for. The part that moves me is that students are now in more of a rush to get to class because of the inconveince the construction is causing.
ReplyDelete-Beau Banglesdorf
I live down in the Lakeside area, in Eagle Hall, so this photo jumped out at me. This construction is something I have to deal with every day, and much worse than having to go around it is the noise. I am often woken up by beeping and crashing and all sorts of sounds, and on occasion the workers there have been working straight through the night and keeping me up. However, as annoying as it is to me now, this does symbolize the growth of the University, as well as the ideal of togetherness through sports.
ReplyDelete-Corey Mitchell