Free for All Friday

Good morning, Ashby!!

Here we are for our last Free for All Friday of the year! I hope you all have FUN this weekend and get a lot of studying done, too.

Friday

Ashby Hall Murder Mystery Dinner, 6:00 pm, TV Lounge
Baseball vs. Delaware, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday

JMU Group Voice Recital, 3 p.m., Room 142, Music Building
Baseball vs. Delaware, 6:30 p.m

Friday and Saturday

When in Rome, 7:00 pm, Grafton Stovall Theatre

Book of Eli, 9:30 pm, Grafton Stovall Theatre

Sunday
JMU Wind Symphony and Symphonic Band, 2 p.m., Wilson Hall

Baseball vs. Delaware, 2:00 p.m.

JMU Concert Band and University Band, 4 p.m., Wilson Hall

Reminders

Hey everyone,

Here are just a few brief reminders as we head into this weekend before finals:

1. All lofts must be taken down before 5:30 pm on THIS Friday or after 10:30 am on Friday, May 7. Lofts may not be taken down during quiet hours.

2. We have the Ashby International Murder Mystery Dinner this Friday. Sign up in the lobby to be character and get a list of ingredients to Michael if you plan to cook.

3. You MUST sign up for a check-out time with a RA.

4. Quiet hours begin Friday evening at 8 pm and last until Friday, May 7 at 10:30 am. There will be no warnings.

Let me know if you need anything as the week progresses!

Until next time...

Katie, Ashby Hall Director

Stress Management Session

Good morning, Ashby!

I know you all are in major study-mode now that finals are quickly approaching...

Are you feeling stressed? Not sure how to manage your time during Finals? Need a break from Studying? There are people that can help!
Go to the Stress Management Session put on my the Counseling and Student Development Center, the Center for Multicultural Student Services and the Peer Mentors! They want you to please stop by for relaxation, games, snacks, and much more! ;-)

Date: Thursday, April 29, 2010

Time: 12:00pm - 2:00pm

Location: Taylor 306

Until next time...

Katie, Ashby Hall Director

Chick-Fil-A

Good morning, Ashby!

I wanted to notify you of an initiative taking place at Chick-Fil-A this week:

Chick-fil-a is doing a spirit week for South River Boys & Girls Club. Spirit Week begins today, Monday, April 26th and goes through Friday, April 30th. If you eat at Chick-fil-a this week please put your receipt in our box in the dining area. If you go through the drive-thru please ask the attendant to put your receipt in the box for you.

Help save South River Boys & Girls Club! (I’m desperate for them to be able to stay open so I may have to eat there all week!) As many of you know, the South River Unit of Boys & Girls Club has to raise $17,000 by May 4th in order to keep the doors open. They currently have $6,250.00 in donations and pledges. So eat and Chick-Fil-A and help a great club at the same time and tell everyone you know so they can put their receipt in the box as well.

I hope you will consider contributing!

Until next time...

Katie, Ashby Hall Director

Maintenance Monday

Good morning, Ashby!

I hope you had a great weekend and are ready to tackle your last week of classes!!! Our Ashby Hall Community Activities Board is planning a study break for you all this Friday evening before you start studying for all of those finals... I hope you'll join us!!!

Click here to visit the Facebook event with all the details of the event! It will be an International Murder Mystery dinner with food, games, and paper plate awards for residents of the hall to vote on this week!

We hope to see you there!

Until next time...

Katie, Ashby Hall Director

Free for All Friday

Hello, Ashby!

We're back for another Free for all Friday!

Friday

UPB Convo Concert, Convocation Center, 7:30 pm

Saturday

Softball vs. Towson, 12:00 p.m.

W. Soc vs. Navy, 12:30 p.m.

Steel Band, 1 p.m., Room 108, Music Building, $2
Softball vs. Towson, 1:45 p.m.

Friday and Saturday

Daybreakers, Grafton Stovall, 7:00 pm

It's Complicated, Grafton Stovall, 9:30 pm

Sunday

Softball vs. Towson, 12:00 p.m.
W Lax vs. William & Mary, 1:00 p.m.

Honors Symphony Orchestra, 3 p.m., Wilson Hall, $3

Nickelus F and Guests, Memorial Hall, 7:00 pm, $10

Have a great weekend!

Until next time...

Katie, Ashby Hall Director

Recyling Bins

Good morning, Ashby!

One last note about trash/recycling for this year:

The Office of Residence Life would like to offer to you the opportunity to take your recycling bins with you to your next place of residence. We encourage you to continue recycling when you move off campus. If you do not want the bin, please leave them in your room when you check out. If you are living on campus again next year, you will have a recycling receptacle in your room next year and do not need to worry about taking the one from this year!

Please note: Residents not taking their recycling containers need to wipe them as clean as possible before putting them in the lounge.

Until next time...

Katie, Ashby Hall Director

Trash Room

Good morning, everyone!

In following with the 'closing the building' theme, let me share a little information about what will be happening with the trash room in the coming days.

The trash room will be locked on Monday, 4/26 and recycling cans will be pulled out and put in front of door. You should take your trash to the dumpster located in parking lot behind Gifford and Converse.

Please do not park your cars in front of or in any way blocking these dumpsters as that will prohibit them from being emptied.

If you have any questions, please let me know!

Until next time...
Katie, Ashby Hall Director

Why Wait? Donate!

Good morning, Ashby!!!

I wanted to let you know about an upcoming initiative in the building.

The Office of Residence Life sponsors a donation program called Why Wait? Donate! It is a way to donate all of the things you won't want to take home with you in a few weeks.

Is there a lamp in your room that you're planning to get rid of, sheets or towels you don't need anymore? Well, instead of throwing them away in the dumpster, please donate them! All the items donated go to the Salvation Army. There will be large boxes placed in the TV Lounge in the coming days. These are the locations for your donations.

Until next time...

Katie, Ashby Hall Director

Maintenance Monday

Good morning, Ashby!

I hope you enjoyed your weekend! Here are a few notes for this week:

1. The RAs had their closing banquet last night! Make sure you say thanks to them in the coming days for all of their hard work!!!

2. Closing hall meetings will take place this week. Please stay tuned to information from your RA about this meeting. These meetings will talk all about what you need to do in order to check out of the building in a few weeks.

3. The CAB will be hosting one last program this year. It will be an International Murder Mystery Dinner. It will take place Friday, April 30 at 6 pm. Book your planners now- you won't want to miss it!

Enjoy your Monday!

Until next time..

Katie, Ashby Hall Director

Free for All Friday

Good morning, Ashby!

Here is your weekly Free for All Friday of weekend events:

Friday

Baseball vs. UNC Wilmington, 6:30 p.m.
W Lax vs. Drexel, 7:00 p.m.

Madison Project, 8 p.m., Festival Ballroom

Saturday

Madison Singers, 5 p.m., Otterbein United Methodist Church

Baseball vs. UNC Wilmington, 6:30 p.m.
Track & Field @ JMU Invitational
CSA Culture Show, 7 p.m., Wilson Hall

Friday and Saturday

Crazy Heart, 7:00 pm, Grafton Stovall Theatre

Avatar, 9:30 pm, Grafton Stovall Theatre

Sunday

W Lax vs. Hofstra, 1:00 p.m.
Baseball vs. UNC Wilmington, 2:00 p.m.

JMU Student Composers Recital, 3 p.m., Anthony-Seeger Auditorium

Until next time...

Katie, Ashby Hall Director

Tax Day

Today is the day that millions of Americans are rushing to get their federal and state income taxes filed for 2009! Have you ever wondered why April 15 is designated as Tax Day? Well, here's why according to Fortune magazine:

"Actually, Congress originally put tax day on the calendar. When the 16th Amendment, which allows Congress to institute the income tax, was adopted on Feb. 3, 1913, Congress chose March 1--one year and a few dozen days later--as the deadline for filing returns. Then, with the Revenue Act of 1918, Congress inexplicably moved the date forward to March 15. The next overhaul came in 1955, when buried between tax-code revisions was yet another date change, this time to April 15. According to an IRS spokesman, the move "spread out the peak workload," but there's another explanation. Turns out that as the income tax applied to more of the middle class, the government had to issue more refunds. "Pushing the deadline back gives the government more time to hold on to the money," says Ed McCaffery, a University of Southern California law professor and tax guru. Still, the IRS's rigidity works in your favor: By law, it must mail your refund within 45 days or pay you interest."

I hope you enjoyed a brief Tax Day lesson! Don't forget you can file your federal return for free on www.turbotax.com using the Free edition!

Until next time...

Katie, Ashby Hall Director

CSA Culture Show

JMU Chinese Student Association (中国学生会) now presenting:

The 3rd Annual Culture Show, "Perceptions"

Saturday, April 17, 2010

7:00pm - 9:00pm

Wilson Hall Auditorium

Embark on a quest with a young hero as he challenges his own perceptions of what is beautiful. Experience Chinese cultural acts; songs, dances, acrobatics & martial arts.

Come and witness 15+ performances of intensity, culture, mystery, comedy, knowledge, and tradition tied together in one unforgettable night!

Performances ranging from:
-Wushu (武術)
-Dai/Peacock (傣族舞/孔雀舞) Dance
-Modern/Hip-Hop Dance
-Yo-Yo Act
-Thousand Hand Buddha Dance (千手觀音)
-Lion Dance (舞獅)
-Sichuan Mask Change (四川變臉)
-....and many more

2010 Census

Good morning, everyone!

A lot of you have been asking about what you were supposed to do for the Census. The great news is that the Office of Residence Life took care of it for you! Check out the message below:

Recently the local U.S. Census team contacted the Office of Residence Life regarding the counting of on-campus residents for the 2010 Census. In lieu of going door-to-door in the residence halls, they requested that we supply them with resident rosters for each hall. We were asked to include basic demographic information including name, room number, date of birth, etc. for each resident. We provided these rosters to the Census workers on Friday, April 2nd and they will be processing them over the next few days. For the purposes of the Census you have been counted and do not need to do anything further.

If you have any questions or concerns about this process, please contact us at res-life@jmu.edu.

Sincerely,
Kevin Meaney
Associate Director
Office of Residence Life

Yay for that you don't have to worry about doing anything concerning the census!

Until next time...

Katie, Ashby Hall Director

Maintenance Monday

Good morning, Ashby!

Thank you to all of you that came out to the Luau this Saturday! I am sorry I had to miss it- my flight was delayed and as a result, I had to miss the party! However, I was so glad to hear that so many of you came out to hang out and play games.

This week I want to begin sharing a few tips with you for a successful check-out at the end of the year in May:

1. Make sure you sign-up for a time with your RA. This is going to be a very busy check-out for your RA and you will want to make sure you have time!

2. Make sure you have your lofts taken down by Friday, April 30 at 8 PM (before quiet hours). You cannot take down a loft during quiet hours and will want to make sure you have this done!

3. There will be closing community meetings and closing bulletin boards happening throughout the building- make sure you inform yourself as much as possible so this is a smooth process for you!

Have a great Monday!

Until next time...

Katie, Ashby Hall Director

Free for All Friday

Good morning, Ashby!

Here we go with the weekly Free for All Friday routine:

Friday

Baseball vs. William and Mary, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday

M Soc vs. Longwood, 12 p.m.
Softball vs. Hofstra, 12 p.m.
Softball vs. Hofstra, 1:45 p.m.
W Tennis vs. George Washington Univ., 1:30 p.m.
Ashby Hall Luau, 2 p.m., Quad grass

M Soc vs. Davis & Elkins, 3 p.m.
Baseball vs. William and Mary, 6:30 p.m.

Friday and Saturday

Youth in Revolt, 7 p.m., Grafton Stovall

The Young Victoria, 9:30 p.m., Grafton Stovall

Sunday
W Soc vs. St. Francis, 12 p.m.
Softball vs. Hofstra, 12 p.m.
Baseball vs. William and Mary, 2:00 p.m.

JMU Percussion Ensemble, 3 p.m., Room 108, Music Building, $2
W Soc vs. Marshall, 4:30 p.m

Until next time...

Katie, Ashby Hall Director

Ask An Advisor

Good morning, Ashby!

Well, yesterday I shared with you some information about when registration for next Fall will take place. After all of that, you may have some lingering questions about what it takes to graduate from JMU, what do the course numbers mean, how many courses can you take in one semester, etc. That is where the Ask An Advisor page of the Career and Academic Planning webpage becomes helpful!

On their website, they list a section of Frequently Asked Questions that include the topics listed above and more. Click here to see the list of questions/answers.

If your question is not listed, you can click here and visit their website to get YOUR question answered!

As always, if you have questions, please feel free to ask me or one of the RAs. We are here to make your transitions painless for you- know your resources!

Until next time...

Katie, Ashby Hall Director

Course Registration

Good morning, Ashby!

It's that time in the semester again...time to register for classes. Your registration appointment date is coming and you need to be on top of it to ensure that you get the courses you want for next year!

Here is some general information about the registration process:

Registration for Fall Semester 2010 will begin on April 6, 2010. Graduate students may register through the deadline anytime after 8:15 a.m. on April 6, 2010. Undergraduate students will be assigned a registration appointment time according to the cumulative hours earned as of the beginning of the 2010 spring semester. A chart giving the appointment start times per range of credit hours is listed. Students will need to check their student center on e-campus to find their appointment start time. Appointments are assigned by credit hours earned in 15 minute increments. Students may register any time after their assigned registration start time, but not before. For example, a student with 107 hours completed at the beginning of the spring 2010 semester will have an appointment start time of 11:15 a.m., Tuesday, April 6. The student may use the web to adjust their fall schedule any time they have access to the system until the drop/add and course adjustment deadlines for that session. Non-degree Seeking "Special Students" can register beginning August 23.

Click here to see the dates and deadlines for Fall registration appointments.

If you have any questions, please come see me and I'll help you however I can!

Until next time...

Katie, Ashby Hall Director

Role Model Fashion Show

As part of the Be Beautiful Campaign, the Panhellenic Council cordially invites you to the second annual Role Model Fashion Show.

The aim of the evening is to highlight two amazing sorority women from each chapter that exemplify inner beauty to its fullest, allowing us the opportunity to celebrate our Greek Community.

Tuesday April 6, 2010 7 PM

Memorial Auditorium

$3 Entrance Fee

All Proceeds Benefit First Step

Dress to Impress (Think Spring Evening Wear)

Maintenance Monday

Good morning, Ashby!

I hope you had a great weekend and enjoyed the beautiful weather!

The only item of maintenance for today is an announcement about two programs this week:

1. On Wednesday night, there will be a scavenger hunt through the building! Look out for posters/flyers coming your way soon!

2. On Saturday afternoon, the Community Activities Board will be hosting a Luau out on the quad. The party will start at 2 pm. There will be food (sno cones) and games (water balloon toss, soccer, boccee ball, etc.) I hope to see you there!!!

Enjoy your Monday!

Until next time...

Katie, Ashby Hall Director

Free for All Friday

Good morning, Ashby!

Here we are for another Free for All Friday. I hope you'll get out and enjoy some of these events this weekend!

Friday

Softball vs. Delaware, 3:00 pm

Easter Egg Hunt Theta Nu Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta, 3-6 p.m., Edith J. Carrier Arboretum

Softball vs. Delaware, 4:45 pm

Saturday

Softball vs. Delaware, 12:00 pm

Friday and Saturday

Leap Year, 7 pm, Grafton Stovall Theatre

Invictus, 9:30 pm, Grafton Stovall Theatre

Until next time...

Katie, Ashby Hall Director

Spring has Sprung

Good morning, Ashby!!!

I feel as though it is finally safe to say it...Spring has sprung here in Harrisonburg! It's time to get out of the hall and enjoy the great outdoors in Harrisonburg. I have found some information on things to do outside in Harrisonburg and hope some of you will take the time to enjoy these events/activities:

Blacks Run/Downtown Clean Up Day, Saturday, April 10, 2010
Celebrate the 13th annual clean up day from 8 am-1 pm in honor of Earth Day. Meet at the green space across from the Daily News Record. Come out to volunteer and enjoy the games, music and exhibits all morning. Register at www.cleanstream.org or call (540)437-1258.

Purcell Park
Purcell Park is a 67 acre park located on Monument Avenue on the east side and on S. Main street on the south side of the park. There are two entrances to the park - one from Monument Avenue and the other from Miller Circle off of S. Main Street. The park has 3 softball/baseball fields, 4 tennis courts, two playground areas, 3 picnic shelters, several restrooms, and a 1.5 mile walking trail.

Downtown

Walk down South Main and find your way to one of the great restaurants downtown that allow you to eat outside: Jack Brown's, Pennybackers, or Dave's! Enjoy a nice meal away from campus while still enjoying the great outdoors!

The Quad

Don't forget about the great space available to you right out your front door- the quad! Grab a frisbee, a blanket and book, or just a few friends to go chat on the great green grass outside!

Now- get outside! Soak up that sunshine (remember to wear sunscreen, please!)

Until next time...

Katie, Ashby Hall Director