James Madison University - Index

James Madison University - Madison Magazine - Summer 2009 - Index

MADISON’S FIRST
ECO-COMMUNITY
Freshmen make lifestyle changes to make a difference BY EVAN DYSON (’08)
F
For 14 freshmen living in Hoffman Hall, thinking green is
much more than a fad, it’s a lifestyle.
Under the leadership of JMU professors Maria Papadakis,
Pete Bsumek and Julia Sochacki, the newly created Madison
Eco-Community at Hoffman Hall is a unique experience with
an emphasis on environmental stewardship and sustainability.
Throughout the year, students involved in the program learn
about human effects on the environment through course work
and projects in addition to getting a firsthand look at the world
through coordinated outdoor activities.
“Living in this community has helped me think about what I’m
doing and to make the small changes in my life become everyday
habits because I’m in a
‘Living in this
community has
helped me think
about what I’m
doing and to make
the small changes
in my life become
everyday habits
because I’m in a
place where people
care about that.’
BLAKE KREJCI (’12)
place where people care about
that,” says Blake Krejci (’12)
of Vienna.
In addition to hiking under
a full moon and visiting the
Chesapeake Bay to learn
about its health, the students
have also spent time removing
invasive plant species from
area wetlands. Everyday habits
adapted by the students include
the use of reusable mugs and
flatware and consideration for
the amount of electricity used
by their devices.
Liz Coates (’12) of Leesburg
says the experience
Hoffman Hall
students meet
weekly with
ISAT professor
Maria Papadakis
to talk
about human
effects on the
environment.
The students
also visited the
Chesapeake
Bay and removed
invasive
plant species
from area wetlands.
Freshmen are living a
green lifestyle in the
renovated Hoffman Hall,
JMU’s first eco-community.
The students compost
and are adopting
other lifestyle changes
to emphasize environmental
stewardship.
allows for “transitioning as a freshman into the college experience
and then giving us a place where we could connect with
other people.” In doing so, she adds, the community fosters
opportunities to form lasting friendships and plan adventures
outside of the academic experiences.
Working with staff members from the JMU Office of Residence
Life, the group is developing changes to the residence
hall room shown during campus admissions tours. Emphasis is
being placed on the importance of a green lifestyle. Students are
also providing input to revamp the suggested list of items that
incoming students should bring to campus.
The Madison Eco-Community is open to incoming freshmen,
but this year’s group is already investigating the possibility of
forming a club for the rest of their Madison Experience. “If you
want to be healthy and if you want to have a healthy lifestyle,”
Lindsay Holt (’12) says, “I think a big part of that is to remember
how you’re connected with the world around you.” M
34 MADISON MAGAZINE
PHOTOGRAPHS BY EVAN DYSON (’08)