The Breeze 4.16.2015

Men’s and women’s tennis prepare to start CAA Championships on Friday | page 10

Serving James Madison University Since 1922 BreezeJMU.org

Vol. 93, No. 51

Going postal

INSIDE TODAY BALANCING ACT

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Thursday, April 16, 2015

Increased business leads to need for more space for campus post office

Students to create solutions

Competitors prepare for JMU’s first hackathon Student documentary encourages mental and physical health

By MORGAN LYNCH The Breeze

The new location will be bigger, the mailboxes will be aligned in a “W” formation and the pickup window will be on the right side when first walking in.

Post office employees are also excited about the benefits of the move, including the increased speed and efficiency as well as the new additions.

While some students and the post office staff are enthusiastic about the move, other students don’t see the purpose.

“I have received at least 20 packages from the current post office and I don’t see the need for a location change — it has never taken too long,” freshman marketing major Skylar Mang said.

“Transitions could be used for something else because I think

Students who have innovative ideas for fixing real-world problems are signing up for Bluestone Hacks, which will take place from 6 p.m. Friday until 8 p.m. Saturday at the Forum in Memorial Hall.

The University Innovation Fellows and JMU X-labs are hosting JMU’s first student-run hackathon. Bluestone Hacks is a 24-hour event in which students in teams of three to five will define a problem, come up with a solution and pitch their ideas to judges in three different categories: food and agriculture, health care and consumer devices and tools.

During this time, students can share ideas, participate in coding workshops, observe 3-D printing tutorials and create their final pitches.

There are currently 20 teams signed up with registration open until Thursday, April 16.

Some examples of ideas that Moore mentioned students could pitch include improved farming techniques, updated medical devices, smartphone apps or enhanced ways to organize the health care system.

The first place team will be given $1,000, with $500 awarded to the team that wins in each category. Other prizes include Apple gift cards, a Tely Labs HD Webcam, a Target Gift Card and $500 worth of consulting services for packaging and assembling a product.

Other schools in Virginia besides JMU

see MOVE, page 3

see COMPETITION, page 4

NEWS | 3

AIN’T GONNA TIE ME DOWN Marriage rates are on the decline OPINION | 5

KILL TWO BIRDS WITH ONE SCONE Student creates dining services website LIFE | 8

FINAL HOME STAND Lacrosse gears up for its last two home games of the season this weekend SPORTS | 11

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“

Even though you don’t feel bad for these schmucks, the only other character to side with is Laura, the demonic presence who’s torturing teenagers.

”

LIFE | 9

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ERIN WILLIAMS / THE BREEZE

The post office has seen an increase of 5,000 packages from last year and is moving to the former Transitions room.

By CORYN ROMANO contributing writer

Most on-campus students have had to wait in line to pick up a package from the post office in Warren.

After years of asking for a new location, the post office is making the move to the Transitions room around the middle of June in hopes of a more efficient layout and faster service, according to Tina Custer, the post offices’ service delivery manager.

Although Transitions isn’t a far walk from the current office, the new space will be much larger and will include additional storage space that will be closer to the front desk.

The JMU Post Office receives 800 to 3,000 packages a day.

The new location and layout

is expected to benefit both the employees and students.

“I think Transitions would be more convenient because, right now, the post office is overcrowded,” freshman nursing major Julia Rennie said. “This would be a better use of the space.”

The decision to move locations is coming at a crucial time.

Last year, the post office received a total of 84,437 packages, a large increase compared to five years ago when it received 58,390 packages a year.

With the increase in packages, the post office is beginning to run out of space to store all of the packages, increasing the need to move. So far this year, the post office has already received 5 percent more packages than last year — approximately 5,000 more packages.

A lifelong journey Assistant adjunct professor on her global travels

LIFE | 8 MATT SCHMACHTENBERG / THE BREEZE

Making prom her night Students host formal dress donation drives for underpriviledged girls

By DINA MANCO contributing writer

For a girl in high school, there’s one aspect of prom preparation that’s the most exciting. It takes up hours of shopping, clammering about in fitting rooms and searching for the right size while filling her with nervewracking anxiety.

This step is a coveted and long-awaited moment for a teenage girl: choosing the right prom dress to make her feel confident all night long.

Two senior media arts and design majors, Erin Greene and Molly Hoffmaster, are working to make this process a fairy tale experience for select high schoolers — an experience complete with a red-carpet-style makeover and chance to be on TV via TLC. Greene and Hoffmaster are bringing a Say Yes to the Prom (SYTTP) Donation Drive to JMU – the first college campus to host one.

Through this drive, girls are encouraged to donate prom and semi-formal dresses that will go to high school students at events across the country. Each high school in the event’s area picks about five girls to attend. In March, there were two events: one in Silver Spring, Maryland and another in New York. Other popular locations for SYTTP events are Denver, Los Angeles and Miami.

“Teachers and guidance counselors go and select girls based on academic performance and involvement,” Greene said. “They are picking girls who deserve it.”

SYTTP is an event through LifeWorks & Inclusion and TLC, both part of Discovery Communications. “[Discovery Communications’] big initiative is to make sure employees give back to the community, see PROM, page 9

COURTESEY OF MOLLY HOFFMASTER

Rachael Griffith (left), a junior nursing major, and Katie Wixted, a junior communication studies major, are collecting dresses for TLC’s Say Yes to the Prom donation drive.

Page 2 Editor Greg Warrick

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Kenyan gang-rapists China releases five Nigerian president tried formally feminist protestors promises change

MERS not as deadly as initially believed

Deutsche Presse-Agentur

NAIROBI, Kenya — A Kenyan court Monday convicted three men to 15-year Charlee Vasiliadis jail terms for gang raping and assaulting a 16-year-old girl, two years after police ad Designers punished them with mowing a lawn.

Caroline Davis The victim, known as “Liz” to protect her identity, was brutally beaten and raped by Adrienne Elias six men in western Busia County on her Kaitlyn Rocchiccioli way home from a funeral in June 2013.

She was thrown into a latrine after Download our mobile app at the rape, sustaining severe injuries that breezejmu.org. forced her to sit in a wheelchair for several months.

The minors were arrested, ordered to mow the lawn of the local police station /TheBreezeJMU and then sent home.

The mild punishment caused major protest within Kenya as well as an international outcry, prompting more than 1.8 million people to sign a petition demanding “Justice for Liz.” @TheBreezeJMU The protests eventually prompted a formal legal process.

“Her case will hopefully continue to be a wake-up call for all,” said legal consultant Kimberly Brown of Equality Now, @breezejmu which supported the girl’s case in court.

“We must continue to push for safe environments for girls, where sexual violence is not tolerated and is punished to the fullest extent of the law,” Brown added.

Three other perpetrators in the crime youtube.com/breezevideo remain on the run.

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Los Angeles Times

Deutsche Presse-Agentur

BEIJING — China’s leaders have bowed to international pressure by agreeing Monday to release five feminist activists who’d been held for a month for planning protests against sexual harassment.

The release of the women, who were detained shortly before International Women’s Day last month, followed denunciations from numerous U.S. and other international critics, including Secretary of State John Kerry and his predecessor, Hillary Clinton, who on Sunday announced her candidacy for president.

The five women could still face prosecution, but for now some people think international pressure made a difference.

“The international attention did not hurt, it helped,” Liang Xiaojun, a lawyer for one of the women, Wu Rongrong, told McClatchy. “Cases in China have their own sequence of development. The attention from the international society has helped in this case.”

Leta Hong Fincher, the Hong Kongbased author of “Leftover Women,” a book about the pressures Chinese women face to marry early and let men handle business affairs, also credited international pressure for the release.

“For once and for all, let’s retire the notion that we need to let China ‘save face’ when it comes to human rights abuses,” she said on Twitter.

JOHANNESBURG — As Nigeria marked a year since the abduction of 276 schoolgirls from the northeastern town of Chibok by terrorist group Boko Haram, while President-elect Muhammadu Buhari said he could not promise the rescue of those still in captivity, he pledges to do his best to find them.

Buhari said his government would take a different approach from that of the previous ruling government by listening to citizens’ anguish and take action.

“This new approach must also begin with honesty. We do not know if the Chibok girls can be rescued. Their whereabouts remain unknown. As much as I wish to, I cannot promise that we can find them.

“But I say to every parent, family member and friend of the children that my government will do everything in its power to bring them home,” Buhari said.

Amnesty International said Tuesday that while the girls’ plight had drawn global attention last year with the “Bring Back Our Girls” hashtag campaign on Twitter, they accounted for a tiny proportion of the civilians who were abducted.

The rights groups added it was difficult to estimate how many women and girls were abducted by Boko Haram, but at least 2,000 girls and women had been taken. Some were forced to marry and others were enslaved.

BONN, Germany — The Middle East respiratory disease (MERS), first identified in 2012 in Saudi Arabia, is apparently more widespread but less deadly than originally thought, according to a German study.

The mortality rate for MERS was believed to be 30 percent, but the study found that the majority of infections likely caused no significant symptoms.

Led by the University of Bonn and the German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), the new study, published in the London-based medical journal The Lancet Infectious Diseases, tested blood samples from more than 10,000 Saudis.

Although none had had a serious illness in recent years, 15 were carrying antibodies to the MERS virus.

“More than 40,000 people in Saudi Arabia have probably been infected with MERS over the past 10 years without noticing it,” remarked DZIF scientist Christian Drosten.

The study’s findings support the hypothesis that MERS affects mainly camels.

Under certain conditions the virus can occasionally pass to humans, but humanto-human transmission is probably fairly rare, he added. So there is no reason to fear an Ebola-like epidemic.

Compiled from Tribune News Service.

National news Low-wage workers plan Obama drops threat to Legal implications of walkout over wages veto Senate bill drones being explored

Marijuana industry laments unfair tax law

McClatchy Washington Bureau

McClatchy Washington Bureau

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

McClatchy Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON — Heartened by growing support for their cause and recent pay hikes by large corporate employers, America’s lowwage workers will continue their fight for higher pay Wednesday with protests, rallies and one-day walkouts scheduled in more than 200 cities.

The actions are expected to attract thousands of participants in what organizers are calling the “most widespread mobilization ever by U.S. workers seeking higher pay.”

Fast food cooks and cashiers are expected to strike in 230 cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Detroit, St. Louis, Kansas City, Missouri, and Raleigh, North Carolina.

The growing effort to boost the wages and bargaining clout of workers in non-union establishments took off in November 2012, when 200 fast food employees in New York City left their jobs in protest, calling for $15 hourly wages and the right to unionize.

WASHINGTON — The Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday unanimously approved a compromise bill allowing Congress to vote on a deal to stem Iran’s nuclear program.

President Barack Obama, who had threatened to veto the original bill, embraced the compromise, an acknowledgment that there’s enough bipartisan support on Capitol Hill to pass it over his objection.

Republicans who oppose the pending nuclear deal joined Democratic supporters of Obama on Iran in voting 19-0 for the compromise forged by committee Chairman Bob Corker, R-Tenn., and Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland, the panel’s new ranking Democrat.

“What we have before us today is a bill that forces the administration, before they are able to lift the sanctions that we collectively put in place that brought (Iran) to the table, it forces the administration to bring to us every detail if there is a final agreement,” Corker said. “This puts Congress in its rightful role.”

PITTSBURGH — Amazon wants to use them to deliver orders. One hovered over a Pittsburgh Pirates baseball game last summer. And earlier this year, one crashed onto the White House lawn.

Drones are not everywhere yet, but once the Federal Aviation Administration fine-tunes the rules for commercial drone use, thousands of companies could receive licenses to do business via unmanned aircraft.

Using a drone for business purposes poses a host of potential legal issues, with privacy concerns at the top of the list, according to attorney Doug Wood. He recently co-authored a white paper titled, “Crowded Skies,” which explores the legal implications for companies using drones in the course of doing business.

“There’s a level of clandestine surveillance these things offer,” said Wood, managing partner of law firm Reed Smith’s New York office. “You don’t hear them coming.”

WASHINGTON — For owners of marijuana businesses, April 15 is one big downer.

While most business owners rush to meet the federal tax deadline and cash in on a plethora of deductions, pot store owners and growers complain that they can’t write off a single expense, even if they have state licenses.

They want the law changed, saying it’s discriminatory and outdated as more states move to legalize marijuana.

“We don’t want special favors — we just want to be treated like businesspeople,” said Nick Cihlar of Bellingham, Washington, co-owner of Subdued Excitement, Inc., a company in nearby Ferndale that grows marijuana for Washington state retailers.

The ban on deductions by the IRS is in place because, federally, any pot transaction is a felony.

Changing the law will be difficult because pot has been so grossly mischaracterized for so long.

Compiled from Tribune News Service.

News

It’s not too late

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Thursday, April 16, 2015

Editors Alyssa Miller & Erin Flynn Email breezenews@gmail.com

A different mentality

One student’s career goal inspires him to reach out to the JMU community

3

In brief JMU

University to host Ability Olympics More than 100 youths with disabilities will participate in JMU’s Ability Olympics Friday and Saturday, according to JMU’s Public Affairs Coordinator Eric Gorton.

Ability Olympics, an event organized and run by JMU’s Overcoming Barriers program and co-directed by Tom Moran and Joshua Pate, aims to empower individuals with disabilities by giving them a chance to compete in a challenging, yet successful athletic environment. This year, there will be 13 sports and and fitness testing offered. These sports and activities includes baseball, self-defense and gymnastics.

A social event, which will include fitness testing and a dance party will take place Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. in the JMU Convocation Center, and an opening ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday in Godwin.

This ceremony will be followed by clinics and showcases of several sports the athletes can participate in until the closing ceremony, which will take place at 3:45 p.m.

For more information, interested individuals can contact Pate by calling (540) 568-7409 or emailing patejr@jmu.edu.

Harrisonburg

City celebrates National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week

Marshal riggs / The Breeze

This week, Harrisonburg-Rockingham Emergency Communications Center (HRECC) employees are being recognized for their dedication, according to Harrisonburg’s Public Information Officer Mary-Hope Vass.

The employees include Public Safety Communicators who are first responders who strive to protect the lives and property of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County citizens and visitors. They do this by quickly and effectively answering 911 calls and dispatching responders hundreds of times each day.

This group handled more than 266,000 telephone transactions and dispatched emergency services 112,260 times during 2014.

“They are there when you need them, and still there when you don’t,” Operations Manager of the HRECC Dee Dee Sencindiver said.

Sophomore writing, rhetoric and technical communications major Gabriel Lee (left) and senior media arts and design major David Bittner work on their “Mind and Body” documentary, urging students to strengthen their mental stamina.

By Jessica Lyon contributing writer

“I want to affect a change in people’s understanding of balance and the only way to reach a large number of people is to be at Some JMU students are “I want to affect a change in the top of my field,” Lee said. using their talents and aspira“It’s not healthy for society people’s understanding of tions to help achieve a stronger to praise [body image] more mentality. than mental [exactness], you balance and the only way to Sophomore writing, rhetoric need both to be successful.” and technical communication to reach a large number of Combining their expermajor Gabriel Lee is collaborat- people is to be at the top of my tise in video production and writing, Bittner and ing with senior media arts and design major David Bittner to field. It’s not healthy for society Lee have been working on produce a documentary tenta- to praise [body image] more filming this video for two to tively named “Mind and Body.” three months and are halfThe documentary urges students than mental [exactness], you way through filming.

The video focuses on two to strengthen their mental stam- need both to be successful.” ina as much as they strengthen groups of individuals, one of their physiques.

Gabriel Lee whom is depicting physical Lee is the producer of the film, sophomore writing, rhetoric and strength and the other porwhile Bittner serves as the direc- technical communications major traying mental resilience. tor. Lee hopes to one day be an Lee and Bittner plan to inspirational speaker on the topic use a swimmer, a “lifter” or of the healthy balance between body-builder and a dancer the mind and the body, and is using this video as a to show a group of people who solely focus on pushjumping-off point to voice his ideas. He will be speak- ing their physical limits ing to the JMU community to establish his reputation and hopes to eventually reach the entire nation. see Documentary, page 4

move | Tour groups informed of relocation the post office is fine where it is.”

The current space will be converted to a meeting room, according to Custer. The post office also handles a lot of outgoing mail for the professors and faculty.

The beginning of the year is the busiest season for the post office between students buying textbooks online, and receiving care packages and things from home that they have forgotten. Holidays can also be burdensome for the post office; this past Valentine’s Day it had a line of Shari’s Berries waiting to be refrigerated.

New tour groups are now informed that the Transition area is the new post office, so incoming freshmen will know about the location change.

“No one likes waiting in lines, especially for a package from home,” sophomore Computer Information Systems major and class of 2017 President Tony Atkins said. “I wish I still lived on campus so I could take advantage of it. I know the incoming first years will really appreciate it.” contact Coryn Romano at romanocp@dukes.jmu.edu.

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breezejmu.org News

Competition | Student-run competition encourages creativity

James chung / The Breeze

Sophomore computer information systems major Jack O’Neil (left), sophomore international business major Andrew Carlone, senior industrial design major Timothy Moore and sophomore finance major Chris Ashley came up with the Bluestone Hackathon event, which will begin Friday. from front

also hold hackathons, including Virginia Tech, the University of Virginia and Virginia Commonwealth University.

“The big goal is to bring about institutional change,” Timothy Moore, a senior industrial design major and University Innovation Fellow, said. “JMU has to keep up with other schools, which, right now, they are not.”

The University Innovation Fellows came up with the idea of the event and is made up of five JMU students: Moore, Chris Ashley, a sophomore finance major; Emily Platt, a sophomore finance major; Jack O’Neil, a sophomore computer information systems major; and Andrew Carlone, a sophomore international business major, who go through online training and workshops to come

up with ideas to make campus more innovative.

Moore hopes that by making Bluestone Hacks a yearly event, students will continuously think of broader ideas to improve JMU’s campus specifically. Bluestone Hacks may be different from hackathons at other universities because the event will attract all majors, according to Moore.

“Every major, whether you’re business or health sciences, has its own abilities to bring to the table,” Moore said.

The University Innovation Fellows partnered up with JMU X-labs, a group that provides workspaces for students who are interested in solving real world problems through courses, collaboration and entrepreneurship. These groups met at a conference at Stanford University in February, where they decided to start Bluestone Hacks.

“Their goal is to get more students to participate and include

more innovative ideas that solve problems rather than just new apps for smartphones,” Nick Swayne, the director of 4-VA, which encompasses JMU X-labs, said.

Judges from the companies who sponsor Bluestone Hacks include Target, Capital One, CareTaker Medical, Friendship Industries, Inc., IVCi, Cisco and ABS. These judges will evaluate each team’s idea based on innovativeness and how well it’s pitched.

“The goal for the individuals is that people will come out of it thinking more creatively,” Moore said. “They will have the courage to start a business and think about real world problems.”

Since the judges are mostly people who work for the sponsoring companies, students will get face time with potential employers during their pitches.

“Although many college students likely have career aspirations that include joining large corporations, the most innovative ideas in business and technology are often born in small firms by people driven by passion, creativity and unconventional thinking,” Jeff Pompeo, the president and CEO of CareTaker Medical and one of the judges of Bluestone Hacks, said.

The event gives judges a substantial number of ideas to consider in a short amount of time.

“For me, the best pitches will concisely define an unmet market need, offer a differentiated and compelling value proposition, describe a clear channel to market and include a pragmatic financial model,” Pompeo said.

Cameron Young is a senior international business major who is considering competing in the event.

“I love consumer goods and food-focused business ideas but they have not gotten much love in the grand scheme of entrepreneurship,” Young said. “So for myself, it is nice to see an entrepreneurship event that is not fixated upon creating the next big app like Angry Birds.”

Young is looking to form a team of students that can come up with an idea and turn it into a reality, which is the goal of the event.

Students of all majors who have an innovative idea are encouraged to come to Bluestone Hacks.

“I want people to come out, make, create, do and design,” Moore said.

CONTACT Morgan Lynch at lynchma@dukes.jmu.edu.

documentary | Students hope to release film by end of semester from page 3

more than their minds. They also plan to use an app designer, a composer and a filmmaker in order to illustrate the kinds of people that strengthen their minds more often than their bodies.

“David and I have noticed that many JMU students place too much focus on their physical health and pay little attention to their mental well-being,” Lee said. “We both are physically active — I play basketball and David does Tae Kwon Do — but we see a need in our community to talk about a healthy balance between physical and mental fortitude and that’s what our video will address.”

Lee, who thought up the idea when he returned from winter break, wants the video to be as authentic as possible in order to best connect with his audience, which will be JMU students. He

and Bittner try to achieve this authenticity through using real JMU students as their leading role actors and shooting on-location at the university.

“The biggest challenge for me as the director of this video is finding a way to funnel our big idea into a clear story to tell our audience,” Bittner said. “Because, while showing physical strength is easy to do, mental fitness is not as easily depicted.”

Emily Nava, a sophomore history and international affairs double major is one of the actors in the documentary. She is fully supportive of the film’s message.

“I am a member of the triathlon team at JMU and I see people push their physical limits to the extreme but not think about their mental health,” Nava said. “It’s important to me to get people involved in this movement toward better mental health because a balance between both mental and physical health is key.”

Months of planning and pre-production meetings have turned into scheduled shooting and actual production duties. Both Lee’s and Bittner’s focus has shifted from planning out the video’s production elements to actually staging the actors and seeing their plans come alive in the shooting.

“Right now, I’m working on finding the best way to use our footage to complement Gabriel’s message and help him voice his idea,” Bittner said.

Lee and Bittner are both thrilled to see the final video and its impact on the JMU community. Their final production will be available on Lee’s Facebook page “GB LEE.” While it’s official release date is still unknown, according to Lee, they plan to release the documentary before school lets out.

CONTACT Jessica Lyon at lyonjl@dukes.jmu.edu.

Opinion

TIME FOR A BINGE-A-THON Write a Netflix recommendation. Email breezeopinion@gmail.com.

Thursday, April 16, 2015

EDITOR Ashleigh Balsamo EMAIL breezeopinion@gmail.com

KRISTEN BAKER | duking it out

MICHELLE LOGAN | contributing columnist

Marriage apocalypse Millennials have declining interest in tying the knot

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Getting off easy Tsarnaev sentence shouldn’t include the death penalty

KE

Prepare yourself ladies and gentlemen, because statistics show we may be on the verge of a “marriage apocalypse.”

It’s hard to believe. It seems like every other day you log in to Facebook, another friend is flashing a ring, freshly engaged.

But in reality, the number of people getting married has been steadily declining over the past several decades.

According to the Pew Research Center, 65 percent of people between the ages of 18 and 32 were married in 1960; in 2013, that number dropped to 26 percent. The National Bureau of Economic Research claims that our generation, also known as millennials, is marrying later because couples live together before tying the knot and there’s a growing societal acceptance of being single at an older age.

But I think the reasons for less vow exchange extend much further beyond that.

For one, smartphones and social media have completely and undeniably changed the way relationships function. Our devices demand our attention — and we give in. Harris Interactive Inc. conducted a survey that found that 33 percent of adults use their smartphones while on a dinner date and, even worse, 20 percent of young adults in the United States use them during sex — an activity that is meant to be personal, private and intimate.

“Our obsession with our smartphones has not only changed the way we spend time, but the way we feel and think,” Time Magazine’s Eliana Dockterman wrote As we scroll through our news feeds, we constantly compare ourselves to others. We compete to prove who has the best life with the most successful job and ultimately, the happiest, healthiest relationship.

So when you see “Stacy’s” boyfriend bought her the new “whatever” and took her to the romantic, elaborate “fill-in-the-blank,” you wonder why your boyfriend didn’t do the same and you question is this relationship really the

best it can be? Stacy has it all, why don’t I? On top of evolving technology, there’s the ever failing up-and-down economy of today. As more young adults graduate from institutions of higher learning, less and less feel economic security as they compete for a stable career in the cutthroat job market.

Young adults don’t want to be burdened with their spouses’ debt and, in return, don’t want to burden them with their own. The last thing a person wants to do while fighting to stay afloat in a financial downpour is have a wedding, which is outdated, yet expected for married couples.

Finally, I think over everything else, our generation is afraid because more of us have seen our parents’ marriages fall apart than stay together.

Millennials come from a culture rich in divorce. According to CNN, close to 42 million U.S. adults have been married more than once.

Since 1980, this number has increased by 22 million. As children of divorce grow up, many tell themselves, “I’m never getting married,” after seeing how marriage failed in their own homes.

However, as CNN anchor Carol Costello said, “Would a society without marriage be just as well-off as one filled with “‘I do’s?’”

In my perspective, the answer is no. Yes, there’s a lot more to life than finding a husband or wife and having children — a lot, lot more.

But one of the best things that comes out of marriage is being part of something bigger than yourself — a family.

Whether that consists of just you and your spouse or the two of you and six kids, it’s a commitment that not only proves your love but, as Slate Magazine’s Jessica Shaw put, teaches you “to be strong for one another, to comfort, to counsel and to share [your] joys and not just [your] problems.”

And I without a doubt think that’s something society needs — people who are part of something bigger than their smartphones, financial insecurities and fear.

Kristen Baker is a senior media arts and design major. Contact Kristen at bakerkl@ dukes.jmu.edu.

There is little argument over the fact that Dzhokhar Tsarnaev and his brother were the ones who left two bombs in backpacks near the Boston Marathon finish line in April 2013. There’s no denying that these bombs killed three people and injured 264 others who continue to suffer life-changing wounds. There is, however, reason to argue against something as brutal and impractical as a death penalty punishment.

For such a high cost, capital punishment seems highly ineffective and highly destructive.

To me, the death penalty seems like the easy way out of a complicated situation.

What Tsarnaev did was an enormous danger to society, and he deserves consequences for his actions. If I were the criminal in this situation, I would rather die than spend the rest of my life in prison.

In the same way, giving Tsarnaev the death penalty would almost be giving him what he wants. If locked in prison without parole, Tsarnaev could get the opportunity to think about his actions, realize how they affected others and feel guilt and possibly empathy for those harmed. I don’t see any way that capital punishment could allow him to feel any remorse for what he did — and isn’t that the main goal?

Another reason to stray away from the death penalty is that it’s morally wrong.

I believe wholeheartedly in the saying, “an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind,” and it doesn’t make sense to me that

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Submissions creatively depict a given situation, person or event and do not necessarily reflect the truth.

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The Breeze 1598 S. Main Street Harrisonburg, VA 22801 breezeopinion@gmail.com

The Breeze reserves the right to edit submissions for length, grammar and if material is libelous, factually inaccurate or unclear. The Breeze assumes the rights to any published work. Opinions expressed in this page, with the exception of editorials, are not necessarily those of The Breeze or its staff.

Letters and guest columns should be submitted in print or via e-mail and must include name, phone number, major/year if author is a current student (or year of graduation), professional title (if applicable) and place of residence if author is not a JMU student.

Michelle Logan is a junior media arts and design major. Contact Michelle at loganme@dukes.jmu.edu.

Bare Naked Ladies coverage is spot on After reading the article, “Club aims to encourage natural beauty and self love of women,” I felt the need to express my opinion about the gender issues here at JMU. As we are a predominantly female school, with the well-known ratio of 60 to 40 percent females, a club with the focus on female body issues is without a doubt necessary. I agree with the statement in the article by Kyra Miller, that she thought coming to college would make her feel worse about her body.

Coming to a university after such an interesting set of high school years makes you become extremely vulnerable while trying to find yourself.

Not to mention you are no longer at

A “thanks-for-the-memories” pat to JMU for making my college experience unforgettable.

From a senior who will be staying for two more years for grad school and wants to make a permanent home here.

A “gobble-gobble” pat to everyone in the KIN program who went camping last weekend.

From a Demon-Duke who was happy to ‘down-shift’ for a bit and join in on the fun.

The Breeze welcomes and encourages readers to voice their opinions through letters and guest columns. Letters must be no longer than 250 words. Guest columns must be no more than 650 words.

we would kill someone for killing others.

Killing another person is wrong, no matter what they’ve done or how detrimental the situation. Much like his attitude toward his victims, we know little about Tsarnaev’s values, background, thoughts or feelings. We have no clue of his motives or what caused him to do such a terrible thing. It’s human nature to want the most horrific thing to happen to such a criminal, but it’s not doing us or him any favors. What Tsarnaev did was inexcusable.

However, the death penalty isn’t justice; it’s revenge.

The death penalty doesn’t fix anything; it’s essentially taking a step backward.

Killing Tsarnaev won’t heal the injured, won’t bring those who were emotionally damaged peace and won’t bring others back to life. It’s simply stirring up more hate in our world, and more reason for people to kill.

Everyone has their own morals and own justice based on their perceptions, and it’s not our duty to decide to end a life because of someone’s different values. A human life is a very valuable thing that shouldn’t be taken for granted. Tsarnaev deserves to be locked up forever, but we shouldn’t have the power to decide who lives and who dies.

ERIKA FRANK | letter to the editor

A “thank-you-for-being-thebest-prof-I’ve-ever-had” pat to my interpersonal communication professor for teaching me so many interesting things that also help to make my real-world relationships better.

From a student who knows you’ll be missed when you leave for greener pastures this summer, but is lucky to have known you.

Editorial Policies

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Serving James Madison University Since 1922

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . WAYNE EPPS JR. MANAGING EDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . LAUREN HUNT NEWS EDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ERIN FLYNN NEWS EDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ALYSSA MILLER OPINION EDITOR. . . . . . . . . . . . . .ASHLEIGH BALSAMO LIFE EDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ROBYN SMITH

home with your parents choosing all your meals, ultimately dictating your diet and weight.

Here, we are responsible to choose the salad and side of broccoli over the tempting french fries and scoops of ice cream.

We not only have to trust ourselves to be able to be smart about taking care of our bodies, but we also need to trust the people around us to make us feel good about them as well.

The Breeze should pat themselves on the back for highlighting this new organization that is a great support system for all girls at JMU. Erika Frank is a sophomore communication studies major.

A “you-are-the-sweetesthuman-ever” pat to Eugene at Dukes for brightening my day with his positive attitude.

From a senior who will miss you and your daily positivity.

A “JMU-students-are-thechange” pat to the Dukes who spent time with children at Second Home during the past two semesters.

From fellow students, alumni, teachers and children who love you all.

A “thanks-for-inspiring-futureDukes” pat to Evan, the student ambassador who gave my little brothers their campus tour last Wednesday.

From a big sister who hopes to leave a legacy.

A “thanks-for-being-sohelpful” pat to Sarah from Parking Services for dealing with my parking issues and sorting out tickets.

From a senior who knows that you’re not all evil and are just doing your job.

A “who-do-you-think-youare?” dart to the group of football players who left their dirty dishes on the tables of D-Hall.

From a disgusted senior who doesn’t think you get a free pass just because you play a varsity sport.

A “please-run-me-over” dart to the driver who ran a stop sign and nearly hit me while I was crossing in a crosswalk.

From a student who would actually rather go to class than to a hospital.

“To the press alone, chequered as it is with abuses, the world is indebted for all the triumphs which have been gained by reason and humanity over error and oppression.”

— james madison, 1800 LIFE EDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .MIKE DOLZER SPORTS EDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RICHIE BOZEK SPORTS EDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .PETER CAGNO COPY EDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . OLIVIA COLEMAN COPY EDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DREW FAGAN COPY EDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .KAYLA MARSH

VIDEO EDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . PATRICK FITZSIMMONS PHOTO EDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .ERIN WILLIAMS PHOTO EDITOR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .MARK OWEN ART DIRECTOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .JACOB SANFORD GRAPHICS EDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . KELSEY HARDING ONLINE EDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BESS PREDDY

OPINION breezejmu.org

Thursday, April 16, 2015

6

CHLOE DONNELLY | contributing columnist

Gender disparities present in

As a sorority woman, Greek experiences are a huge part of my life. While addition to societal restraints, sorority women also must adhere to rules and I adore and value the bonds and experiences I’ve been afforded through double standards that exist within written policies and the mentality of their my involvement with Greek life, it’s impossible to deny that these social peers. institutions are far from perfect.

At the same time, fraternities are allowed more opportunities to foster There’s plenty of controversy surrounding Greek life, and despite all of the a successful social scene. For example, in addition to throwing parties in philanthropy and community service that these organizations provide, many their frat houses, the performances by fraternities at Greek Sing 2015 involved stigmas attached to sorority and fraternity members are negative. aspects such as partial nudity and the depiction of physical violence and sex.

One of the greatest issues within Greek life specifically (although it’s really This would have resulted in disqualification and a large fine if a sorority had a societal problem in general) is that of rape and sexual assault. included that in its choreography.

Recently, I was assigned a reading about “party rape” for Although these performances were entertaining and my class on social inequality, and it got me thinking about ridiculous, the reality is they were just another example of our university and Greek life as separate but connected By giving fraternity the double standard enjoyed by fraternities and endured by institutions, and how they rely on each other as well as sororities. men extraneous perpetuate each other’s shortcomings.

By giving fraternity men extraneous resources and While JMU places a certain amount of reliance on the resources and privileges, these university and national rules reinforce the Greek community to attract potential students (mainly patriarchal and androcentric nature of Greek life. privileges, these to increase the tuition influx), fraternities and sororities The irony in this is obvious. It’s a well-known fact that also depend on the university to create the rules that allow university and women, especially during teenage and college years, develop them to participate in campus-wide social life. and mature much more quickly than their male counterparts. national rules However, it’s clear that fraternities receive more This isn’t an insult, it’s the truth. In order to reduce the reinforce the privilege and their actions are more tolerated than patriarchal norms by which Greek life abides, increased sororities, and this aspect of the Greek community may responsibility and privileges should rest on the shoulders of patriarchal and be contributing to the potentially harmful and dangerous the women. androcentric sexual environment that women (and men) face.

Both JMU and the national headquarters of each sorority The dynamics of Greek life at JMU are complex and have the power to revise its rules and policies and should nature of Greek life. influential and there are rules and regulations set by the take a good look at the disparities between the prerogatives Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life (FSL) that apply to afforded to fraternities and sororities. all Greek organizations.

One solution might be to endow sororities with their own However, fraternities are allowed much greater official, off-campus house. Because the sorority houses are leniencies. essentially dorms, they’re neither cool nor convenient places For example, fraternities are allowed to officially take up residence in to party. Perhaps a location that’s female-oriented and controlled by the private, off-campus homes, whereas sororities are required to be housed on house girls and other sisters would create a new and safer environment for sorority row, an on-campus strip of dorm buildings. In this way, sorority life parties. is monitored and regulated to a much greater degree than fraternity life, as The dynamic would shift from fraternity men in high power to a femaleresidency on sorority row has the same rules as any other on-campus dorm friendly environment, where the women would be in a greater position of at JMU. In addition to JMU’s rules, each chapter’s national headquarters has authority. It’s possible that a similar approach, specifically changing the its own set of policies. environment, has the potential to create a new power structure, if only for The fraternities’ freedoms and the sororities’ restrictions contribute to the the night. gender system that is present both in Greek life as well as in society.

Just as individual women are forced to police their behavior due to societal Chloe Donnelly is a junior justice studies and sociology double major. expectations of femininity, women at JMU are expected to do the same. In Contact Chloe at donnelcn@dukes.jmu.edu.

COREY TIERNEY | media mogul

recommendation of the week Movie: “Paris is Burning” (1990) I believe a good documentary is supposed to open your eyes to a cause, problem or culture that you’re previously unaware of.

And that’s exactly what the 1990 film “Paris is Burning” does with the New York City drag scene.

The documentary highlights a group of drag queens (or men dressing and performing as women for entertainment purposes) as they practice their art in a society that, while only 15 to 20 years before our own, was extremely hostile and intolerant of their culture.

Apart from seeing their extravagant performances, learning fun new words and seeing amazing transformations, it’s also a

KELSEY HARDING / THE BREEZE

She said what?

Submit your darts and pats at breezejmu.org or on our Facebook page

riveting narrative. It follows multiple members of the LGBTQ community as they deal with issues like HIV and AIDS and navigate the sexwork industry.

“Paris is Burning” also rivets with the characters it follows; you become invested in their lives and struggles in less than an hour and a half. It’s so inspiring to see people completely live for their passion, especially despite some harsh — and often times violent — resistance.

So take a step out of your comfort zone and flip on “Paris is Burning.” Use it to reflect on how far the equal rights movement has come, but most importantly, prepare to gag (that’s a good thing, I promise).

OPINION breezejmu.org

Thursday, April 16, 2015

7

SATIRICAL NEWS COLUMN

President Alger’s dark world

By SAM ROSENBERG contributing columnist

sciences major Andrew Levins said of the man who governs JMU from the vast, opaque shadows of the blind night. “I mean, he’s doing great things for the school, but can someone who knows Jonathan Alger is one incredible man, and his credentials are only a world of impenetrable darkness really understand us astounding: counsel for the American Association of University millennials? I don’t know, maybe.”

Professors, senior vice president and general counsel at Rutgers Alger happily agreed to an interview, on the condition that it University and attorney-adviser to the U.S. be conducted in an earthen den at the end of a Department of Education. several mile-long series of catacombs.

And what’s more: he accomplished all of it “I just wish our When asked to outline his main objectives in utter darkness. for change at JMU, he replied, “I think that we president was more Alger, who has been shrouded in a cloak of need to provide opportunity for each student to darkness for over 50 years, is now leading JMU visible. I mean, he’s succeed,” in an omnipresent snarl that echoed into an uncertain future, with unprecedented as though his voice was the darkness itself. doing great things growth in both campus and student population “ T h a t m e a n s m o re s t u d e n t s f ro m size. for the school, but disadvantaged backgrounds, varying our Despite the rapid change, Alger has quickly choice of majors and ushering in an age of can someone who gained the resounding approval of JMU’s eternal darkness,” Alger said. populace. knows only a world He continued to outline progressive ideals Most are unaware that his office is located for reducing the risk of sexual violence on of impenetrable in a barren, windowless chamber three stories campus, new methods of rewarding student below Hillcrest House, accessible only by a darkness really achievement and letting the cruel black of the dolly-operated elevator. night consume JMU’s campus so as to create a understand us Alger’s colleagues, who lovingly refer to Kingdom of Shadows. him as “Our King, Mighty Prince of Darkness,” millennials?”

“I just hope students know that I always act laud his rapid action on issues which have in their best interests,” Alger concluded.

Andrew Levins plagued JMU’s campus for decades, such as Alger’s approach to the presidency comes senior health sciences diversity and economic inequality. Professors in stark contrast to one of his predecessors, major and administrators alike have demonstrated President Ronald Carrier, who attributes his undying loyalty to his new policies, which he longevity to never having left a room of 700 often barks from the corner of his underground lair.

32-watt fluorescent light bulbs.

However, he hasn’t come to campus without some criticism.

“I just wish our president was more visible,” senior health CONTACT Sam Rosenberg at rosen2si@dukes.jmu.edu.

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Life

WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE...

“Unfriended” movie review, page 8

Thursday, April 16, 2015

EDITORS Robyn Smith & Mike Dolzer EMAIL breezearts@gmail.com

Out in the

WILD

MATT SCHMACHTENBERG / THE BREEZE

Assistant adjunct anthropology professor Carol Janette Wallis holds up artwork that she collected during her travels. After getting her bachelor’s degree in zoology and psychology from the University of Oklahoma, Wallis traveled all around the world, concentrating her research in Africa before eventually heading back to Oklahoma to get her Ph.D. She now has her own research site in Uganda, Africa.

Assistant adjunct anthropology professor has traveled all over Africa to work with chimpanzees

By NATALIE MILLER The Breeze

“I mean, if I can answer their emails in my little tent in the middle of the Serengeti, they can certainly find internet in Miami.”

Assistant adjunct anthropology professor Carol Janette Wallis is recapping a teaching experience during one of her many travels.

The Oklahoma native is filling in for professor Richard Lawler while he is on sabbatical this semester. She first met JMU assistant anthropology professor Josh Linder, who recommended Wallis for Lawler’s teaching position this semester, at the annual meeting of the International Primatological Society.

“I thought she’d be interesting for students because of her background,” Linder said. “Students really like having professors who are experienced with the subject they’re teaching.”

Wallis continues to teach online courses at the University of Oklahoma while she teaches at JMU this semester.

Her temporary office in Sheldon Hall is filled with Lawler’s collection of books and African masks. Wallis has added her favorite framed vintage bookplates of chimpanzee photographs to the tall bookcase shelves.

She takes one of the rough, wooden shadowboxes down from a shelf to show her own picture — a male chimpanzee fishing for termites in an anthill. The fishing tools used by the chimpanzee in the photograph are pasted next to his picture inside the frame.

“Chimps are unique in that they actually make tools, like people do,” Wallis said.

Though she loves teaching, Wallis is first and foremost a passionate primatologist — a scientist who studies primates.

“She’s very knowledgeable of primates,” Ali Gips, a freshman media arts and design and communications double major and student of Wallis’s, said.

Wallis began her undergraduate years at Oklahoma on track for medical school before switching her major to psychology.

During her time in school, Wallis had the opportunity to study under Roger Fouts, a renowned primate researcher known for his work with Washoe the chimpanzee, who he brought to the university while teaching in the early 1970s.

Working alongside a graduate student, Wallis was tasked with helping another chimpanzee learn prepositions in sign language. Wallis claimed she wasn’t fully fluent in sign language, and required a little extra help.

“I’d be working with my chimp, and if I forgot a word in sign language, I’d run next door to ask Washoe.”

Carol Janette Wallis on working with a chimp fluent in American Sign Language adjunct anthropology professor

“I’d be working with my chimp, and if I forgot a word in sign language, I’d run next door to ask Washoe,” Wallis said.

Though she helped with language acquisition for class credit, Wallis preferred researching chimpanzee social groups and reproduction, which she has taught in her courses. She finished her undergraduate years with a bachelor’s degree in zoology and psychology, and later received her Ph.D. from Oklahoma too.

She broke up her graduate years with research work in the African country of Gabon. In 1981, Wallis was asked to observe chimpanzees for one year in a walled, French-built facility complete with French villas. Wallis returned to Oklahoma after her year in Central Africa.

“It was a good way to be introduced to Africa, but I could tell that this clearly wasn’t ‘real Africa,’” Wallis said.

The chance to experience “real Africa” came a few years later when Wallis joined Jane Goodall, a renowned primatologist who’s famous for her lifelong work with chimpanzees, at her research site in Tanzania. For five years, Wallis traveled between Goodall’s site in Tanzania and her home in Oklahoma. Wallis was the chimpanzee site coordinator, organizing data and managing the site’s researchers.

Wallis now has her own research site in Kasokwa, Uganda, where she observes chimpanzee behavior. The fragment site is a small patch of forest surrounded by sugarcane farms.

“The chimps tend to get in trouble with the crop farmers when they raid and eat their sugarcane,” Wallis said.

Experience with chimpanzees and connections with fellow researchers led Wallis to the world of scholarly publications.

Wallis has published her own scholarly articles since the 1970s, but she now works to spread others’ primate discoveries.

“My first time really sinking my teeth into teaching was when I got a job in Nigeria,” Wallis said.

Wallis was among the first professors to teach at the American University of Nigeria when it opened in 2005. Along with teaching biology courses, Wallis was tasked with ordering all necessary equipment and textbooks to begin the university’s biology department.

And Wallis’ list of titles doesn’t end with “professor.” She is the vice president for Conservation at the International Primatology Society, chair of the African Primate section of the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Species Survival Commission and board member of Kids Saving the Rainforest in Costa Rica. She has also led tours in Tanzania for National Geographic.

The world traveler still keeps tight relations with her permanent home in America. When she isn’t teaching, traveling, researching or outsmarting predators, Wallis can be found at her home in Norman, Oklahoma, with her relatives and her beloved cats.

CONTACT Natalie Miller at millernk@dukes.jmu.edu.

Mmmm, convenience

Senior creates website for students to easily check what dining options on campus are currently open

By MOLLY O’TOOLE contributing writer

Sometimes it’s hard to find an open place to eat on campus. Whether someone is new to JMU or has been at the school for years and doesn’t feel like navigating through the official JMU Dining Services website, some people think there should be an easier way to find out what’s open.

Joseph Cross has come up with what he thinks is a solution to this problem. The senior media arts and design major created jmmmu.com for JMU students and faculty.

JMmmU presents visitors with a list of all dining services on campus that are available and helps them figure out which ones are open — any places open just pop up on the website. If a location isn’t on the list, then it’s closed at that time.

For example, if someone is looking at the JMmmU website and D-Hall is on the list, then it’s open. If D-Hall isn’t on the list, then it’s not available at that time.

“I thought it would be a more pleasant experience to find where you want to eat lunch or dinner in a quick and efficient manner,” Cross said.

Cross created the website design for JMmmU through an Integrated Science and Technology class. He taught himself how to build the website using HTML, CSS and Javascript and released it to the public at the beginning of the 2014-2015 school year.

“The biggest challenges were probably deciding on a design that I liked and figuring out exactly how [Javascript] worked, because it was my first time using it,” Cross said. “Also, entering in all the hours for each place into the function it uses was challenging mainly because it was tedious and time consuming.”

Angela Ritchie, JMU Dining Services’ marketing

manager, said the website is a great idea and is open to partnering with students like Cross.

“The ability to have access to information in real time and mobile devices is essential in serving our customers,” Ritchie said.

There are currently no plans for the two to work together, but they’re open to partnering in the future.

JmmmU started with over 1,000 visitors to the website on its first day. The website was originally geared toward the freshman class, but has been used by students and faculty. The website now garners around 40 to 70 views per day.

“It can be annoying not knowing what time things close on campus and it would be nice to be able to see what stations are open and where,” Erin Herbst, a freshman media arts and design major, said.

Although it is a website and not an app, JMmmU is mobile friendly so students can view the website on the go. Cross doesn’t have plans to turn the website into an app.

“When I’m running late from class and I’m in a bit of a rush, jmmmu.com has really been a life saver,” Dylan Nicholls, a sophomore business major, said.

“My schedule is so busy at times that it is hard to sit down and figure out what is available. It is nice to just pull out my phone and see what’s open.”

Having a website connected to the different dining services around campus also helps students find what places on campus best fit their weekly schedules.

“Overall JMmmU follows the cardinal rule of web design; ‘strip your website down to the basics and do a few things really well,’” Nicholls said. “It gives JMU students a simple, sleek solution to their dining information needs.”

CONTACT Molly O’Toole at otoolema@dukes.jmu.edu.

JAMES CHUNG / THE BREEZE

Senior media arts and design major Joseph Cross created jmmmu.com to help incoming freshmen find places to eat on campus with immediacy and ease.

8

LIFE breezejmu.org

Thursday, April 16, 2015

9

PROM | Student interns have collected almost 200 donated dresses

COURTESY OF MOLLY HOFFMASTER

The BluesTones, an all-female student a capella group, performed at a Say Yes to the Prom donation drive back in mid-March. The drive also included a presentation on body image through the past few decades. from front

setting up to mentor girls in the community and make an impact [in the] internals of the company,” Greene said. “It’s an initiative to promote and encourage young girls to be the best they can be.”

As interns for Discovery Communications, Greene and Hoffmaster focus on collecting the dresses, organizing the drives and advertising the event across JMU. The two applied for SYTTP intern positions through the School of Media Arts and Design’s Discovery Dukes Program.

The prom donation events are more than merely dropping off a dress. At the March 17 drive, The Madison Project and The BluesTones set the atmosphere for the event with a cappella performances. Health sciences professor Virginia Quick also gave a presentation on body image and how SYTTP builds confidence in high school girls through offering a full makeover experience

in addition to picking out a dress.

“The entire program is to give back and have young women feel inspired and see potential [within them],” Hoffmaster said.

To encourage a large turnout, JMU donors are entered to win prizes. According to Hoffmaster, students who donated 30 dresses or more were entered for the opportunity to attend the Maryland event where the teenage girls select dresses and walk TLC’s version of a red carpet donned in their gowns and professional makeup. The winner also won the chance for a resume review by a Discovery employee related to her major and receive a tour of the headquarters.

By asking friends from home for dresses, junior health sciences major Mary Gover was able to collect 13 dresses. Those donating 15 dresses are eligible to have a resume review via email by a Discovery member who is related to their future career field. Attendees at future events may also win a Campus Cookies gift card. “[Students] should donate it to a great cause where another girl

may have a great prom night because of your dress,” Gover said.

Hoffmaster and Greene have collected almost 200 dresses since their first three drives on February 24, March 17 and April 9. They’re also accepting ties and bowties as donations for male high school students as SYTTP plans to incorporate them in the future.

Greene and Hoffmaster will host one more drive on April 21 from 12 to 5 p.m. in Madison Union 206. If JMU students don’t have their dresses at school with them, SYTTP is able to have them shipped free of charge. Students can donate outside of the drives by contacting Hoffmaster and Greene.

“If you still have [your prom dress] and haven’t worn it in the last three years, you probably won’t,” Hoffmaster said. “It’s an opportunity to give your dress another chance. Think of how much fun you had at prom — give those memories to someone else to relive through your dress.”

CONTACT Dina Manco at mancodm@dukes.jmu.edu.

Lacking ‘like’ability New film ‘Unfriended’ misses the mark in both cultural sensitivity and traditional horror aesthetic

By MIKE DOLZER The Breeze

G

rainy footage of a high school girl violently committing suicide as onlookers react in horror is the opening of the twisted new movie, “Unfriended.” I was fortunate enough to be able to see the movie at a free advance screening at Regal Cinemas. The unfortunate part was that “Unfriended” was the movie.

Six friends who communicate on Skype are tortured in a series of games, reminiscent of “Saw,” by the spirit of Laura Barnes “Unfriended” (played by  Heather SosR 82 min. saman), a girl Starring Shelley Hennig, Renee w h o k i l l e d Olstead, Courtney Halverson herself a year before due to a shaming video the six posted. The protagonist, if you could call her that, is Blaire (played by Shelley Hennig), a girl who was close to Laura and is the linchpin of this ornery sextet.

The group itself is made up of Jess, the promiscuous character; Val, who everyone refers to as a b----; Mitch, Blaire’s somewhat insensitive boyfriend; Adam, who fills the obligatory raging tool role; and Ken, the mean-spirited comic relief.

The characters are the carbon copies of every teenaged stereotype known to man. Even worse, they are all terrible people. Hearing them casually talk about how Laura deserved to die, even laughing about it, still makes me cringe. This makes it hard to feel sorry for them as Laura’s spirit torments them.

Even though you don’t feel bad for these schmucks, the only other character to side with is Laura, the demonic presence who’s torturing teenagers. Her only power, aside from hacking, is the ability to force the other characters to commit suicide. Suicide is a sensitive issue as it is, and I don’t think that the graphic depictions and lack of remorse after Laura’s own suicide is a good way to handle it. Aside from inciting suicide, Laura comes across as nasty in the shaming video too, so its difficult to see her as a martyr.

The fact that there was no character three-dimensional or likable enough to relate to, even

remotely, pulled me completely out of the movie. Having no emotional investment left, I decided to focus on the story itself and scan for other redeemable qualities.

I will admit that having the whole movie play out on Skype was an interesting idea that made the premise work. I also do have to give some kudos to the actors, who were believable even in their unlikable, stereotypical roles. If I was acting out this drek, I couldn’t have kept a straight face, so they deserve credit for that. The final bright point of “Unfriended” was the underlying warning of the internet’s power, especially in the social age.

The movie’s internet angle was innovative and gutsy.

I wish the guts had stayed in the angle of the movie, but alas, this horror flick had no good jump scares and relied completely on squashing the squeamish members of the audience.

One infamous scene from the film’s trailer, that most people have been subjected to, is the blender scene in which Ken shoves his hand into a blender and turns it on. As he screams and pureés his arm, it’s difficult not to reach for a barf bag. It’s not scary; it’s just disgusting and shows that the writing is too weak to create any real fear in the audience. I wish I could say that this was the most grotesque scene, but it’s in a tight race with a scene where one of the female characters dies after shoving a hair straightener down her throat.

“Unfriended” had a promising KELSEY HARDING / THE BREEZE premise and lots of hype, but the stereotypical and awful characters did a lot to diminish that. The fact that it relied so heavily on the ew factor and not on true terror also made the movie worse.

To put it in social media terms, this movie completely lacks “like”ability.

Mike Dolzer is a freshman media arts and design and writing, rhetoric and technical communications double major. Contact Mike at breezearts@gmail.com.

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Sports

SPRING FEVER

Go out there and watch JMU sports.

Or at least keep up on Twitter @TheBreezeSports.

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Editors Peter Cagno & Richie Bozek Email breezesports@gmail.com

10

Photos by Erin Williams and Danielle Epiifanio / THE BREEZE

Double stuffed tournament

Women’s team looks to take down defending champs

By Meghan Malloy The Breeze

As its season draws to a close, the JMU women’s tennis team is honing its skills and focusing on its upcoming opponent.

After a loss to the University of North Carolina Wilmington earlier in the season, the Dukes are ready to face the Seahawks once again in the quarterfinals of the Colonial Athletic Association tournament Friday at 9 a.m. The tournament is hosted by the top seeded College of William & Mary.

The Seahawks (9-8, 3-2 CAA), the reigning CAA tournament champions, are the No. 4 seed, while JMU (13-7, 2-3 CAA) sits just one seed behind at No. 5.

After facing UNCW in the CAA tournament last year and once again this during the regular season this year, head coach James Bryce feels as though the team has a firm grasp on how the Seahawks play.

“I know it’s going to be a very closely contested match,” Bryce said. “They play with a lot of energy. We can’t get caught up in their emotion, we just have to play the ball as it comes across.”

One of JMU’s most consistent players, AllCAA second team singles senior Taylor Pinchoff,

recognizes some of the more unprecedented obstacles.

“It’s going to be really loud,” Pinchoff said.

“They’re a really spirited team so I expect a lot of verbal conversation.”

In the loss to UNCW earlier this season, sophomore Alex Huie played only doubles, not singles.

JMU looks forward to Huie playing an integral role on the courts on Friday.

After numerous different pairings and lots of trial and error, the Dukes are improving and finding their niches within the team.

“We’ve got the matchups that we want,” Bryce said.

In order to defeat UNCW, JMU knows it has to improve in certain key areas, specifically doubles.

Pinchoff and her doubles partner, Huie, have been playing side by side since early March and have extensive experience working in unison.

Huie and Pinchoff were awarded All-CAA first team in doubles.

“We carry each other at different times in the match,” Pinchoff said. “You kind of pick each other up at different times.”

Playing doubles is extremely crucial when it comes to scoring in a tennis match. see women’s, page 11

Men’s team to face College of Charleston in quarterfinals

By Kevin Romm The Breeze

Lack of consistency has plagued JMU men’s tennis all year, but the team is still feeling optimistic heading into the Colonial Athletic Association tournament Friday.

After a four match win-streak, JMU lost its last two regular season matches to the College of Charleston and the University of Richmond. JMU finished the season with an overall record of 8-10, and a 2-3 record in the CAA. “We’ve definitely had some ups and downs ,but coming into the CAA we are hoping for good results … we will go in with a lot of confidence and belief that we will win, which will translate to good play,” junior Robert Stirling said.

Individually, Stirling is 10-7 in singles matches and has floated between being JMU’s No. 1 and No. 2 throughout the year. He has been the No. 2 for the past three matches.

Stirling finished on the first team All-CAA in singles this season.

Head coach Steve Secord described Stirling as the team’s “quiet leader,” but he also had positive things to say for the other top two

team members, sophomores Brett Moorhead (No. 3) and Sebastian Salinas (No. 1).

“Brett has been playing really well lately, he is realizing how hard he can hit the ball while Sebastian has done a great job fighting all year in both singles and doubles … I think those three guys [Stirling, Salinas, Moorhead] are the top three guys for a reason,” Secord said.

Salinas was named to All-CAA second team for both doubles and singles.

No. 5 JMU will play No. 4 College of Charleston again on Friday in the opening round of the CAA tournament.

Charleston (13-9, 3-1) made it to the CAA championship match last year before falling to the University of North Carolina Wilmington. The Cougars defeated JMU two weeks ago in what seemed to be a lopsided victory, 1-6.

“I know we are playing College of Charleston but we were all in close matches … believing that we can beat them is a big deal,” Moorhead said.

Despite the roller coaster ride of a season the Dukes have had, they have come a long way from the beginning of the campaign. The team lost four of its first six games to start the see men’s, page 11

Club Sports

Gymnastics returns to the top

Women’s club gymnastics wins second consecutive title at the National Association of Intercollegiate Gymnastics championships

By Matt Tyson contributing writer

Daniel Stein / THE BREEZE

Graduate club member Maria Hayden balances on the parallel bars during practice.

The JMU club gymnastics team returned to Harrisonburg after a victory in the National Association of Intercollegiate Gymnastics Club championships held April 9 to 12 in Philadelphia. This marks the second year in a row that the team has won this title.

The Dukes scored 147.05 points over the weekend, topping their point total of 146.075 last year.

Club president and senior anthropology Kelly Meredith said that being victorious for the second year in a row was quite an experience .

“I thought I was going to pass out, I was so overjoyed,” Meredith said. “I knew it was going to be close against some of these teams, and we just put our whole hearts on the floor and came out on top.”

Some schools JMU competed against included the University of Rhode Island, Texas A&M University, Pennsylvania State University, North Carolina State University, Cornell University, Ohio State University and Rutgers University.

The club has consistently performed well over the years since its founding in 1995. Since joining in her freshman year, Meredith and her team have gone from a competitive group to a national contender.

“During my sophomore year we won second, so we knew we were improving a lot,” Meredith said. “Then over the last two years we’ve been first and first.”

Because of the championship victory last year, the team came into this season with high expectations.

Many on the team, such as team historian and senior justice studies major Alyssa Seay, expected this to be a rebuilding year.

“We had lost a few good seniors from the year before, so I thought we could definitely stay

competitive but I wasn’t sure if we would be able to repeat,” Seay said.

As the season went on, the Dukes acquired new competitive players emerge to help the team reach the title.

“We picked up a few good freshmen this year,” Seay said. “Some of them competed finals day and really helped us out. People on the team knew what we needed to improve on and the freshmen who came in were a big part of that.”

For Maria Hayden, a graduate who still competes with the team, this championship was extra special. Since she was still a JMU student at the start of the season as a fifth-year senior, Maria was able to compete with the team at nationals. Aside from the back-to-back national titles, Hayden also won her individual competitions in the tournament the last two seasons.

“I guess I’m sort of living on a cloud still,” Hayden said. “It didn’t really sink in until we were driving back from Philadelphia.”

The different skillsets of each gymnast played an important role in repeating as national champions.

Team members recognized that there would not be as much success without the chemistry that they have built over the years together.

“Team dynamic plays into it a lot,” Seay said. “We don’t have a coach, so we have a responsibility to motivate each other to do better.”

Meredith also believes that the team won’t be able to continue its success on just talent alone.

“I think we need to have the ability to be a strong team not just in skills but as a family as well,” Meredith said.

Contact Matt Tyson at tysonme@dukes.jmu.edu.

SPORTS breezejmu.org

Thursday, April 16, 2015

women’s | Postseason play begins Friday

11

Lacrosse (10-4)

Chip off their shoulders

Dukes look to avenge last year’s conference championship loss against Towson

By Peter Cagno The Breeze

Erin Williams / The Breeze

Sophomore Rachel Nelson hits a forehand during Wednesday afternoon’s practice. from page 10

Sophomore Rachel Nelson, who currently plays doubles with senior Sarah Khan, emphasizes the importance of the first point.

“It starts off the match and it can propel you into singles but if you lose it you have to fight back,” Nelson said.

Bryce also emphasizes the importance of quality doubles play.

“If we can get the doubles playing well, we can carry that momentum into singles,” Bryce said.

Although they recognize the upcoming match as “win or go home,” the Dukes plan to keep their routine “as normal as possible,” according to Bryce. That means eating the same way, hydrating the same way and even traveling the same way.

As a team, JMU’s biggest focus is to regard UNCW as any other opponent.

Despite not having defeated UNCW since 2003, Bryce uses that fact as motivation.

“We shouldn’t look at them as the reigning champion,” Nelson said. “They’re on our level.”

After playing four matches in less than a week, winning three, topped off by a victory over Morgan State University last Sunday, JMU feels ready to keep the momentum going against the Seahawks.

“We’re in this groove now, so we just have to keep it going and keep rolling,” Nelson said.

Contact Meghan Malloy at malloyme@dukes.jmu.edu.

“Train like a champion everyday” — a motto that has stuck through and through for the women’s lacrosse team. The 10-4 Dukes currently sit at No. 3 in the Colonial Athletic Association and 16th in Laxpower.com Division I poll.

Another notable position for the Dukes however, is their place in the offensive statistics columns in the conference. JMU sits above the rest of the competition in categories such as: goals for (193), goals per game (13.8), points (277), shots (420), shots on goal (314) and shot percentage (.460). The Dukes also lead the conference in draw controls — a crucial aspect of the game. JMU currently has four players in the top 10 for points in the CAA. Head coach Shelley Klaes-Bawcombe attributes these offensive numbers to the team’s speed, talent, athleticism and, most of all, unselfishness.

“A lot of our sets don’t key in on one specific player, this allows everyone to be a threat,” Klaes-Bawcombe said.

Klaes-Bawcombe also noted her team’s growth in midfield production from last season.

“Our midfielders are scoring and contributing much more than they have in years past,” Klaes-Bawcombe said.

Senior midfielder Alison Curwin and junior midfielder Jaci Gordon are among the top conference leaders in assists, at No. 6, and No. 7, respectively.

Redshirt sophomore attacker Betsy Angel is the Dukes leading scorer with a conferencehigh 40 goals and 15 assists for 55 points. Angel said that she prioritizes capitalizing on all of her opportunities.

“With Steph [Finley] being one of our biggest threats, that draws a lot of attention to her, freeing up the field and allowing others to be in the right place at the right time,” Angel said. “We’ve been able to have a lot of success that way.”

Since the beginning of the season, taking each day and each game one at a time has been the game plan for the Dukes — and they are doing just that as they get set to face off in their last two home games of the season this Friday night and Sunday afternoon against Towson University and the University of Delaware, respectively.

“We aren’t looking ahead to Delaware just yet,” Klaes-Bawcombe said. “We have to focus on Towson before that.”

Last year JMU fell victim to Towson twice — both games with a 12-11 result — one of which was in overtime in the CAA championship match. This year the Dukes anticipate a different outcome.

“We expect them to come out with the best Towson team they have, and we’re going to come out with the best JMU team we have and play like we know how to,” Angel said. “But we’re not focusing on them, we’re focusing on

Perfect history

Chelsea Glowacki / contributing photographer

Senior goalkeeper Schylar Healy defends a shot from senior attacker Stephanie Finley during practice.

us.”

The Dukes posses strong leadership on both ends of the field.

“We have a high-caliber offense that can produce goals, we just have to come out and be the best JMU team we can be,” senior midfielder Stephanie Finley said. “We have so many threats on attack and our midfield is contributing so much this season.”

Last March, the Dukes went through a rough patch and lost four games in a row. This may have had an adverse effect on the team heading into the latter half of the season, and it certainly haunts them.

“It is very important that we be reminded of last season and the mistakes we made,” KlaesBawcombe said. “It’s not just a physical game, but a mental one too.”

Being the reigning conference champions and preseason CAA No. 1, Towson looks to repeat last season and defend its trophy. The

streak to 25 games.

In the first game of the doubleheader the Dukes defeated the Pirates 6-1.

Freshman pitcher Megan Good earned the win, picking up her 20th victory of the season. Good became only the third pitcher in program history to pitch 20 wins in a season — the only other two are Ford and senior Heather Kiefer.

The Dukes next travel to the University of Delaware (23-15, 5-6 CAA) this weekend for a three-games series.

-staff report

Contact Peter Cagno at breezesports@gmail.com

Men’s | Will play No. 4 Charleston on Friday from page 10

JMU softball’s junior pitcher Jailyn Ford throws perfect game in the second of Wednesday’s doubleheader On Wednesday evening against East Carolina University, softball’s junior pitcher Jailyn Ford found a place in the JMU record books by becoming the first player in program history to not allow an opponent on base. Ford also set her career record for strikeouts in a game with 13.

The 13-0 win completed the sweep of Wednesday’s double-header. It was only the third time in program history that Dukes didn’t allow a hit. JMU improved its overall record to 34-6, 11-0 Colonial Athletic Association, on the season and extended its win

Dukes plan on making a statement this Friday night at University Park for their latest chance to knock the chip off their shoulders.

“It’s going to be a tough game, just like the last two meetings,” Klaes-Bawcombe said. “We go into this game the underdog, so this time they have something to prove.”

The Dukes are set to make a two-game home stand this weekend as they first take on Towson under the lights on Friday night at 5 p.m.

The Dukes then have Senior Day on Sunday afternoon as they face Delaware at 1 p.m. at University Park.

“I think it’s a really good opportunity for the JMU community to come out and support such a passionate young group of girls, who are also one of the top programs in the country,” Klaes-Bawcombe said.

Taylor Main / contributing photographer

Sophomore Sebastian Salinas, who was named to All-CAA Second Team in both singles and doubles, reaches for a backhand during practice.

year, but have finished winning four of its last six.

“I’m proud of how we have improved … at different times different players have stepped up,” Secord said.

Both Moorhead and Stirling backed up Secord’s remark by adding that each player has worked on specific things, more specifically, Moorhead who has worked on his doubles play.

Moorhead and Stirling won their doubles match in the last outing against Charleston and look to duplicate that result.

But before focusing on beating the Cougars, Secord says the Dukes need to focus on their own play and not try to do too much on the court.

“We need to work on not giving too much away and going for too much … we need to play within ourselves and worry about our side of the court,” Secord said.

The Dukes hit the court at 3 p.m. in Williamsburg, Virginia, on Friday.

Contact Kevin Romm at rommke@dukes.jmu.edu.

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breezejmu.org sports

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Women’s Basketball

JMU standout aims high Redshirt senior center Lauren Okafor attends 2015 Tampa Combine to showcase her talents

By Richie Bozek The Breeze

to, but the end of the last day I feel like I was into a better flow of things even though I was extremely sore ... It was a lot.

The whole time I was wondering how comparable this would be to a professional team because it was really a lot of basketball. I thought our practices and my training [at JMU] was challenging, but this was a whole new animal.

JMU women’s basketball is coming off a 2015 campaign with a 29-4 record, including a second consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament. Redshirt senior center Lauren Okafor, the Colonial Athletic Association Scholar Athlete of the Year, helped lead the Dukes averaging 12.4 points and 9.8 rebounds per game this season. Okafor recently attended the 2015 Tampa Combine, which was held from April 3 to 5, to perform in front of WNBA and international scouts. We caught up with Okafor to talk about what she’s been up to and what’s next for her.

What was your most memorable part of the weekend?

Reuniting with people. There were actually two of my teammates that I played with in AAU [the Amateur Athletic Union] that attended the combine as well, and I didn’t find out that they were coming until about the night before. So it was exciting to see them, and then being able to play with a former point guard again. That was awesome. And just, you know, getting to meet different people. I was also able to connect with one of my old coaches.

What has your schedule been like since the end of the JMU season?

I’m just trying to get back into the swing of the end of classes and finishing off strong. Academics are very important to me so I’m really trying to focus in and hit the books.

How long before the combine did you know you were going to be attending?

You are a pre-med and psychology double major, what about both of those interests you?

I got invited via email, so I found out probably close to four or five days before. I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to go because I had so much stuff coming up with exams and everything the next week and I didn’t want to get distracted.

I ended up going and it was a great experience. I’m glad that I decided to go and just showcase my talents.

I’ve always wanted to be a doctor. Ever since I was younger I was fascinated by the field of medicine. Being in a doctor’s office I was always touching everything and getting my hands slapped. Psychology and the brain have always been my interests and passions as well. Coming to JMU, I initially hadn’t declared pre-med. I wasn’t sure how I was going to incorporate it into my schedule. But my coaching staff and academic advisor worked with me to make sure I was able to graduate on time, have all my classes, be balanced and still be eligible to play.

What were your days at the combine like?

The days started about eight in the morning and went until about six in the afternoon. It was just a bunch of basketball.

We went through some drills and the rest of the day was literally playing basketball games. After that, I had a couple friends down there so we went to a couple restaurants, went to the beach. I got to explore Tampa a bit, it was really nice.

What is next for you in the future, whether it be basketball or the medical field?

I’m kind of leaning toward playing more and playing professionally for a little while, with my ultimate goal to become a doctor … The ideal situation would be playing internationally and being able to volunteer at a hospital or shadow a doctor. That would be a unique experience that would help me stand out. But I’m just trying to keep my options open and then figure out what would be the best.

How do you feel about your performance?

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Contact Richie Bozek at breezesports@gmail.com.

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I feel like I did well, considering. It was kind of a different structure than I’m used to. Games were 20 minutes running time, playing with people I never played with before. Every five minutes in games they would rotate in a fresh five on the floor. Each team had about 10 players so if you didn’t get into the rhythm or flow in that first five minutes ... you kind of had to wait until the next rotation in that game. It was not anything I was used

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