Serving James Madison University Since 1922 Vol. 87, No. 16 Thursday, October 21, 2010
Windy n 67°/ 39° chance of precipitation: 10%
local politics
drugs
fake pot, real high
Students disinterested in city council elections By Amanda Caskey The Breeze
As Election Day nears on Nov. 2, candidates for Harrisonburg City Council are moving into the final stages of their campaigns. Many are focusing on JMU students and how the university as a whole affects the community. Six candidates are running for the two available council positions: Sal Romero, Charlie Chenault, Ted Byrd, Joe Fitzgerald, Greg Coffman and Carolyn Frank. Incumbents Byrd and Frank are serving terms on the council. According to students and the candidates’ websites, some of the most important issues are public transportation, the construction of roads, education and turmoil in the community over instances such as Springfest.
“I think trying to develop an answer to our joint traffic issues is probably the biggest issue facing us right now, and several things are involved in that,” Chenault said. “One is student housing and, two, is we can’t build anymore roads out there so it seems to me we have to find a different way to transport people. To me that’s buses and bicycles.” Byrd, who graduated with a master’s degree from JMU in 1990, said that through efforts with the Harrisonburg public transportation department and JMU, the council has increased student ridership by more than 400,000 over the past two years. “One of the defining messages I’d like to get out to students is that we are working in cooperation with JMU to see COUNCIL, page 4
City Council Candidates Ryan Freeland / the breeze
K2, Black Magic and Spice are all names for a new, legal cannabinoid sold in Virginia. By Jordan Krug contributing writer
A new legal kind of chemically engineered synthetic cannabinoids have similarities to THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. Sold under names like K2, Black Magic and Spice, these chemicals priced at $10 to $30 per gram are sprayed on herbs or potpourri and sold as incense. Those buying the products aren’t looking for an air freshener. Like marijuana, the leaves can be rolled and smoked, and some doctors say it can give the same — if not more intense — effects to the user. Not far from the JMU campus, the Exxon on Reservoir Street sells several brands. There are at least 30 flavor options; most are priced at $8 per gram, others are more expensive. An employee didn’t want to talk about the store’s sales, but he did say it’s a popular item. Henri Yount, a sophomore media arts and design major, noted that the product is not sold for smoking purposes, but participants ignore the warnings on the packages. “I bought my first [package] at a gas station at home,” Yount said. “I thought it was a waste of my money. It didn’t last as long and it hurt because it’s not really meant to be smoked. I don’t see the need in doing it again.” Dr. Chris Holstege, medical director at the Blue Ridge Poison Center, strongly suggests to not use these products. “We’ve gotten calls of people becoming psychotic, seizures, agitations, there’s a number of things,” Holstege said. “It’s really a Russian roulette, you don’t know
Business
Occupation: Paralegal at Litten & Sipe LLP Website: charliechenault.wordpress.com
Greg Coffman
Joe Fitzgerald
Occupation: Retired, Harrisonburg City School Board member
Occupation: Technology Coordinator for College of Arts and Letters Website: fitzforcouncil.com
Carolyn Frank
Sal Romero
Occupation: Community technician with Verizon Website: carolynwfrank.com
Occupation: Fourth grade teacher at Smithland Elementary School Website: romeroforcouncil.com
see DRUGS, page 4
Purple out for LGBT support Purple on JMU’s campus is not out of the ordinary, but on Wednesday many JMU students wore purple in support of recent suicides in the gay community. The event was organized nationwide on Facebook. As of Wednesday, one version of the event had attracted more than 1.5 million people “attending” across the country. Wednesday was unofficially deemed “Spirit Day” in honor of the six young men who have committed suicide in the past month. Earlier this month, Rutgers University student Tyler Clementi jumped from the George Washington Bridge after his roommate allegedly broadcast a video
Charlie Chenault
what substance you’re getting.” The Blue Ridge Poison Center HotLine has received an increase in calls involving synthetic cannabinoids, said Sue Kell, a certified specialist at the Poison Center. “It’s a big hot topic in toxicology.” Symptoms users report include vomiting, accelerated heartbeat, paranoia, heightened senses and hallucinations. As of Oct. 5, the product has been banned in 10 states and at least four more are listed on the National Conference of State Legislatures as having pending legislation on the matter, including New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Virginia is one state that has not banned it yet, but
spirit event
By Molly Haas The Breeze
Ted Byrd Occupation: Incumbent city council member, farm manager
of him having a sexual encounter with another male on the Internet. At JMU, Hannah Martin, a sophomore theatre major, received five invites for the spirit event after hearing about it on Facebook. “I am gay, and I know a lot of people struggling,” Martin said. “I wore purple to show that I support those out there.” Martin was shocked when she first learned of the recent suicides. “I really thought things were more accepting,” she said. “It’s a little scary actually. If only those kids knew that they had people to support them like I had.” Jessica Page-Mallory, a sophomore hospitality and tourism management see PURPLE, page 4
David Casterline/ the breeze
More than 1.5 million people “attended” the purple out on Facebook.
Fuzionz of East,West
New downtown restaurant seeks to westernize traditional Indian and Pakistani dishes By Kaleigh Somers The Breeze
Umar Ali will bring Eastern flavor to Western palates with Fuzionz, the new restaurant opening Nov. 15 in downtown Harrisonburg where Cuchi Guidos used to be located. The only thing they’re waiting on is the pending approval for a liquor license from the Alcohol Beverage Control Board. But the focus now is on the food. Rather than fuse cuisines from the tristate area like its predecessor, Fuzionz will westernize traditional Indian and Pakistani dishes. Although Ali was born and raised in 01.FRONT.PRO.indd 1
Woodbridge, Va., his parents are from Pakistan. He grew up on the country’s food, but he wanted to open a restaurant that would offer more mild dishes with those same flavors. “Why not do something that everyone’s palate can enjoy?” Ali said. “There’s a lot of spices that are involved in that style of cuisine that don’t necessarily have to be hot or spicy, but you can still get that flavorfulness out of them.” Ali graduated from JMU in 2002 with a degree in integrated science and technology — because of his background, see FUZIONZ, page 4
10/21 Inside
3 The Center for Multicultural news Diverse history
Student Services celebrates a quarter century at JMU.
5 A student’s experience with opinion Impaired etiquette
cerebral palsy prompts a discussion about disabilities.
7 Band’s performance at life Scientific success
science fiction convention launches fan base.
9 Football looks for seasonsports On the brink
saving win at Villanova.
Eben knowlton / contributing Photographer
Mausam Shrestha (left), Ashok Kunver and Umar Ali, co-owners of the new downtown restaurant, plan to open Fuzionz by mid-November. 10/20/10 8:13 pm
Page 2 EDITORS Elizabeth Baugh
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MISSION The Breeze, the student-run newspaper of James Madison University, serves student, faculty and staff readership by reporting news involving the campus and local community. The Breeze strives to be impartial and fair in its reporting and firmly believes in First Amendment rights. Published Monday and Thursday mornings, The Breeze is distributed throughout James Madison University and the local Harrisonburg community. Comments and complaints should be addressed to Katie Thisdell, editor. Individual copies of The Breeze are free, but multiple copies can be purchased at The Breeze office. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF KATIE THISDELL breezeeditor@gmail.com
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Today
Friday
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NATION&WORLD
Shots fired at Pentagon
Apple unveils new MacBook Air
WASHINGTON — Authorities searched Tuesday for a gunman who fired shots at the Pentagon in the early morning, possibly using a high-powered rifle. No one was injured. The shots were fired shortly before a.m., shattering, but not penetrating, windows on the third and fourth floors, officials said. They also said the walls of the building may have been struck. “Right now, we are considering this a random event,” said Pentagon Force Protection Agency Director Steven Calvery. “We can only process what we have.” Federal and local authorities spent the morning searching for evidence, closing the adjacent Interstate for a brief time and combing through grassy areas. The FBI also was examining bullet fragments lodged in the windows.
SAN FRANCISCO — Apple Chief Executive Officer Steve Jobs unveiled a lighter MacBook Air laptop and a version of the Macintosh operating system called Lion, saying he was drawing inspiration from Apple’s touch-screen mobile devices. Macs will soon have an application store, similar to the App Store for the iPhone and iPad, Jobs said at an event at Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, Calif. The app store will open within days, and Lion will be released in the summer of . “We’ve been inspired by some of the work we’ve done on iOS, and want to bring them back to the Mac,” Jobs said. Apple is using the popularity of its iPhone and iPad tablet to bolster demand for its oldest product, the Macintosh. Sales of the computers rose percent to $. billion last quarter.
Larceny
On Tuesday, an employee
reported theft of an iPad, valued at $900, from an office in ISAT. On Sunday, a non student reported theft of a pizza delivery lighted sign, valued at $150, from the top of a vehicle on Greek Row. On Tuesday, two students reported thefts of parking decals from the D6 Lot and the C10 Lot. On Oct. 13, a student reported theft of an art project, valued at $50, from a tree outside of Carrier Library.
Alcohol and Drugs students received impersonation charges, falsification of official information charges and underaged possession charges at the Godwin
2
bus stop.
Hanson Hall.
On Saturday, a student
On Sunday, a student
received an underaged possession charge, a drunk in public charge and a urinating in public charge on Lois Lane. On Saturday, a student received an underaged possession charge in the C4 Lot. On Saturday, a student received an alcohol violation at Bridgeforth Stadium. On Sunday, a student received an underaged possession charge and an underaged consumption charge on Bluestone Drive. On Sunday, a student received a drunk in public charge and underaged consumption charge in Dingledine Hall. On Sunday, a student received an underaged consumption charge in
received a drunk in public charge on South Main Street near the Music Building. On Sunday, two students received underaged possession charges on Putter Court.
Property Damage On Sunday, a student
reported discharge of fire extinguishers on the sixth and seventh floors of Eagle Hall, resulting in $100 worth of damage. On Sunday, a student reported holes punched in bathroom walls of Potomac Hall, resulting in $100 worth of damage. On Oct. 13, a student reported profanities written on a door of Eagle Hall.
horoscopes
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IF YOU WERE BORN TODAY: Born today, you know how to transform thought into action, and as a result you are more likely to be successful at turning ideas into tangible rewards than most people. You may find yourself quite often in positions of some authority, with the right and responsibility of deciding the fate of others. Fortunately, you are fair-minded and always willing to listen to reason.whatever reason.
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JMU’S WHAT NOT TO WEAR
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LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) Your path isn’t likely to be routine or anticipated; in fact, you’re likely to take the hardest possible route — by choice, too.
ARIES (March 21-April 19) There’s no reason to impose your will on those around you. Be a part of the discussion, but don’t dictate the final outcome.
SCORPIO (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) Consistency can yield great rewards, but you must take care that things don’t get boring as a result.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20) You have two choices to make that will affect you for some time to come — one in a big way, and one in a small one.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) Keep track of developments as they stack up, and don’t assume you know what is coming next. Keep an open mind.
GEMINI (May 21-June 20) You may find yourself teased by someone who knows what you want but is unwilling to grant it to you outright. Negotiations ensue.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) Others may be sure that you’re made the wrong choice, but there’s nothing to indicate that this is so. You are the sole judge.
CANCER (June 21-July 22) Subtlety and delicacy are advised. The more important the issue, the more you’ll want to soft-pedal your approach.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) A treacherous journey may be unavoidable. If you have a chance to plot your course ahead of time, do so; you’ll minimize the risks.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22) You’re being misled, but you know it. Are you sure you’re going to be in control when the time comes? You’re taking a big risk.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20) You can contribute much and serve the group as a whole in a way that is unique and invaluable, but you’re not in it for credit.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) You’ve been making plans for quite some time, but you may have to face the kind of obstacle that has you second-guessing yourself.
News
Editors Matt Sutherland & John Sutter E-mail breezenews@gmail.com
in brief
Diversity
Charlottesville
Morgan Harrington memorial dedicated
The Harrington family dedicated a permanent plaque on Sunday to their daughter and sister exactly 12 months after she went missing, the Collegiate Times reported. The plaque was placed near the Copley Road Bridge in Charlottesville, where Harrington was last seen. Harrington, 20 at the time of her disappearance, was last seen leaving a Metallica concert at the John Paul Jones Arena on Oct. 17 last year. Her remains were found in late January.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
3
25 years of CMSS
The Center for Multicultural Student Services has promoted diversity for more than two decades
Richmond
I-81 and I-64 speeds to increase
DAVID CASTERLINE / FILE PHOTO
Gov. Bob McDonnell announced Wednesday he will order the increase in speed limits on the majority of I-81 and I-64 from 65 mph to 70 mph, according to WHSV. Areas with speed limits below 65 mph will not see an increase. The speed limit increase should take place by the end of the year.
DAVID CASTERLINE / FILE PHOTO
DAN GORIN / FILE PHOTO
Radford
RU fraternity temporarily suspended
Radford University’s chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon was temporarily suspended on Tuesday by its national organization, according to TV news station WDBJ7. The fraternity, already on probation, received its punishment after a new candidate, 20-year-old Sam Mason, was found dead on Friday after being seen drinking a bottle of liquor at a fraternity party. Shawn Babine, CEO of TKE, said Mason was not fully initiated as a member.
DAVID CASTERLINE / FILE PHOTO
DAVID CASTERLINE / FILE PHOTO
Clockwise from top left In the past, CMSS has promoted The Contemporary Gospel Singers, Chinese New Year, the Mozaic Dance Team, American Indian cultural celebrations and the Taste of Africa. JMU currently has a 13.1 percent minority enrollment and offers cultural shows by student organizations.
San Francisco
By Danielle Strickler The Breeze
The Justice Department is asking a federal appeals court to lift the moratorium on the military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy, according to The Washington Post. Government lawyers appealed the ban on the policy Wednesday after United States District Court Judge Virginia A. Phillips declined to lift her injunction on the ban. The government argues the current ban only applies to a small segment of the population and blocks the Pentagon from enforcing the gay ban across the military. Obama has urged Congress to repeal the law through legislation.
The Center for Multicultural Student Services celebrated its 25th birthday on Friday. During that time, CMSS developed new programs to cater to the growing diversity on campus. According to Valerie Ghant, director for CMSS, the services have evolved to encompass the diverse students at JMU. The university currently has 13.1 percent minority enrollment, with 4.1 percent African American and 4.8 percent Asian American. “Diversity does not just include race or color, but economic standing [and] sexual orientation,” Ghant said. “We have learned to respect more and see that people are more alike than different. Diversity has
“Don’t ask, don’t tell” appealed to higher court
become more diverse.” Throughout each year, CMSS holds cultural-based shows to give insight into the different cultures that 26 student-run organizations put on. “CMSS definitely offers different aspects of cultures that the general campus necessarily wouldn’t get to see and gives students the opportunity to take the initiative to learn,” said Caitlin Johnson, a senior math major. “CMSS events have definitely been the most memorable events I have been to on campus.” According to Ghant, leadership conferences are offered to the presidents of each organization, to learn how to market their organization and how to approach the public. “When I was an Orientation Peer Adviser, I had training with the program that taught me of the different
crime
The university has also created the Office of the Special Assistant to the President on Diversity to promote greater diversity at JMU. Ghant says that the most common misconception of CMSS is that it is only for students of another culture. CMSS is for every student on campus, and that they try to market to every student. According to Ghant, CMSS gives students the opportunity to grow and develop. “JMU is more open, we look around and see different races, but we treat each race the same,” said James Hong, a freshman communication studies major. “It’s not like we put a bubble around a certain race, we are very accepting.” contact Danielle Strickler at strickdj@dukes.jmu.edu.
SGA
Three indicted in September murder of pregnant woman Three Harrisonburg men were indicted Monday by a Rockingham County grand jury for the murder of 25-year-old Ledys Jeaneth Bonilla-Zelaya. According to a Harrisonburg Police Department press release, police found Bonilla-Zelaya shot to death in the Harris Gardens apartment
services, including sororities and fraternities and that it is not just restricted to students who are multicultural,” Johnson said. CMSS oversees the Martin Luther King Jr. weeklong celebration in the spring semester. The organization also hosts the Def Poetry Jam at the start of the semester to kick off the year and engage students in the spoken word, according to Ghant. CMSS also offers programs for Native American cultures, Korean and other Asian cultures, African Americans, Hispanics and Caucasians. During Homecoming week, CMSS held the Stompmania step show, where it awarded $1,000 to the winning sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha. “CMSS is only one sector that handles diversity programs on campus,” Ghant said.
complex parking lot the night of Sept. 16 after responding to a 9:23 p.m. call of shots being fired. Police charged Randy Sanchez Jr., 26, with capital murder, the use of a firearm in commission of murder, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Police also charged Lamar D. Randolph, 20, with capital murder as a principal in the second degree, and Ray C. Aaron, 28, with capital murder as an accessory before the fact. The three men will appear in court again on Oct. 21 at 9 a.m. — staff reports
Funds granted to PCMA, bill for fraternity considered By Anne Elsea contributing writer
SGA discussed bills for the Professional Convention Management Association and Kappa Alpha Phi on Tuesday. PCMA is a student organization that provides educational and social programs to hospitality and tourism management majors. Members requested $900 to send six members to the national PCMA conference in January. “By going to the conference our group can learn, grow and network with professionals from around the
meet the senator
country in our field,” said president Patrick Crosson, a senior HTM major. The funding bill passed the senate unanimously. The SGA also considered another bill to provide $770 to Kappa Alpha Phi to attend the Province Council Meeting. The bill was forwarded to the finance committee for further consideration. Ab o u t $ 51, 0 0 0 re m a i n s i n the fund for student organizations. The funds are allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis. contact Anne Elsea at elseaav@dukes.jmu.edu.
about what is going on around campus.
What made you want to join SGA? My freshman year
I didn’t have a lot of friends, but I still loved JMU so I wanted to find a way to get involved and find a new way to network.
What changes would you like to see at JMU? The
Allison Wong
One for the books
Paul Jones / The Breeze
Ralph Cohen, the provost’s distinguished professor in the Department of Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication, was honored Wednesday afternoon for his donation of more than 7,000 books to the university’s library system. The ceremony, behind Carrier Library at the Centennial Fountain, offered attendees a chance to talk to Cohen. While the majority of the books will circulate through the library system, books from the 17th through 19th centuries will stay in the libraries.
junior nursing major and at-large senator What is your role in SGA? I represent the students on the JMU campus. What I like to do most is to go out and get information from students
main thing I know that bugs me is seeing people not helping other people and the alcohol issues. I want people to know that it’s okay to help people when they need it.
What are you most looking forward to this year? I think JMU, SGA and
the campus is on track to make some positive changes, and getting involved with the community.
4
Thursday, October 21, 2010
breezejmu.org NEWS
COUNCIL | Student vote hard to target from front
promote the use and to improve the use of Harrisonburg public transit for JMU students,” Byrd said. Romero, a JMU graduate, said he would make K- education one of his top priorities if elected to bring communities together to benefit children. Romero teaches a dual language program in Spanish and English as well as fourth grade at Smithland Elementary School in Harrisonburg. Each candidate believes JMU’s relationship with the community is pertinent, especially in terms of expansion. Fitzgerald, technology coordinator for the College of Arts and Letters, said students should vote in Harrisonburg if they are registered. “They pay taxes and are part of the community and they have earned the right to give their input on the community,” Fitzgerald said. Fitzgerald said he has not specifically targeted students because it is hard to determine which students are registered to vote in Harrisonburg. He said he has received help from some students to conduct door-todoor in other residential areas. A ’ alumnus of JMU, Chenault echoes this notion on his website: JMU and Eastern Mennonite University “provide our city with resources that we would never have access to otherwise such as cultural events, athletics, assistance with our own educational needs and charitable resources.” Chenault believes creating a positive relationship with universities is one of the most important issues the council faces. “Harrisonburg and its image is largely defined by the university… so everything the university does reflects on our image, and I think everything the city does reflects on JMU’s image,” Chenault said. “We have a mutual best interest to work together and make the best of both possible worlds.” According to the City Registrar, there is no way to calculate how many JMU
students are registered to vote in Harrisonburg. Junior political science major Melanie Goff added that a meetand-greet on the commons or just “ being here to shake hands” would be beneficial to each candidate’ s campaign. Goff, president of College Democrats, said she plans to vote in the election. “I think it will be hard to get students to vote,” Goff said. “They might think it doesn’t affect them but, as students, we were all counted on the census as being residents of Harrisonburg so it really is important.” According to Goff, Romero and Fitzgerald have both visited College Democrats in an effort to appeal to students on campus. Anne Bianchi, a senior interdisciplinary liberal studies major and secretary for College Republicans, said they have been knocking on doors, wearing buttons and gathering support for Greg Coffman. “Mostly we’re doing residential areas where we know people are registered to vote,” Bianchi said. Regardless, most candidates consider students to be residents of the city and an important part of the voting population. “We really need to be integrated because students spend a lot of time here in Harrisonburg,” Romero said. “They go away for a few months, but this will be their home for four years.” Romero, as well as the other candidates, realize the importance of appealing to students and getting them involved in community issues. “I really believe that if JMU students become involved in the city and find ways to support the city, they’ll be invested in our community,” Romero said. “That will definitely change things. It will make people more aware.” The council is made up of five members elected at-large, plus the mayor. Elections for city council are held every two years, however, council members do not serve identical terms. CONTACT Amanda Caskey at caskeyap@dukes.jmu.edu.
DRUGS | Doesn’t show up in drug tests from front
Roanoke County is already on the move to add Virginia to that list. The Roanoke Times reported that county supervisor Mike Altizer claims it is a “scary” substance that is beginning to flood high schools and, in some cases middle schools, even though you have to be to purchase it. Glenn Basgaard, a sophomore media arts and design major, believes the synthesizing process makes the drug
director of the University Health Center, said he is aware of the substances but since the health center’s hours aren’t during evenings and weekends, when he believes students would most likely use the drug, staff haven’t had any cases relating to K or its look-alikes. “I would think that if they make dramatic symptoms, someone probably would go straight to the hospital,” Rodgers said. Even though there is potential danger in smoking the unlabeled chemicals, some
people have used the drug because it does not show up in traditional drug scans, reports The Roanoke Times. Even though easily available now, some Virginia lawmakers want to follow the recent trend of states outlawing synthetic cannabinoids. “I almost guarantee you’ll see legislation dealing with this,” said Delegate Chris Peace, R-Mechanicsville, reported by the State House News Service. CONTACT Jordan Krug at krugje@dukes.jmu.edu.
FUZIONZ | Menu offers ‘fusion’ of diverse cuisine from front
he thinks he knows what JMU students want to eat. “They’re exposed to different styles of cuisine,” Ali said. “They’re not just used to burgers and fries. They’ve got palates for Taste of Thai.” One of the featured dishes will be chicken tempura, a spinoff of chicken tenders. Instead of a bleached flour batter, the dish uses chickpea or rice flour and added Eastern spices. “It creates a more flavorful chicken,” Ali said. “We don’t traditionally need sauces for stuff like that.” Other dishes will include multiple types of curry, using cumin or coriander. The menu has been finalized, but Ali and co-owners, Ashok Kunver and Mausam Shrestha, continue
to experiment with possible additions. Most curry entrees will be under $, Ali said. Appetizers will range from $ to $ and sandwich wraps will be about $. Ali said Kunver and Shrestha have experience in the kitchen, while he has experience in the bar area. “Everyone knows everyone,” Ali said of the restaurant business. He’s friends with owners, bartenders and servers alike at locations across Harrisonburg. Because he works as an insurance agent for Hammond Insurance Services during the day, Ali has also befriended many of the owners of restaurants he insures. Ali, Kunver and Shrestha were able to get a good price on the location, in part because of Cuchi Guidos’ short-lived stint.
Ali said the location at S. Main Street is perfect because it’s right in the center of downtown Harrisonburg. Sophomore anthropology major Alisha Bhore has eaten at ethnically diverse restaurants in Harrisonburg before, like Blue Nile for Ethiopian cuisine. She thinks Fuzionz will draw a crowd from JMU and will be able to sustain itself better than its predecessor. “I think there’s enough people outside of Harrisonburg or outside of a small town that will probably appreciate it,” Bhore said. Ali isn’t worried that the restaurant will have trouble fitting in with the downtown atmosphere. Close to the Greek food at Dave’s Taverna and across from the traditional American food at Jack Brown’s
Beer & Burger Joint, the restaurant will give diners more options. JMU’s dining options have expanded to offer a similar variety of choices in recent years, according to Ali. “When I was there, they just started putting in different taste,” Ali said. “It wasn’t just your normal standard-fare burgers, fries and pizzas.” With more than years in the restaurant business, Ali feels equipped to handle the new opening. He has bartended in the area for more than years. Kunver has more than years experience, and currently owns Taste of India on University Boulevard. CONTACT Kaleigh Somers at somerske@ dukes.jmu.edu.
PURPLE | Some LGBT students teased, bullied from front
major, chose to wear purple after hearing about the suicides in her women’s studies class. “I was offended,” she said. “I thought we were better than that as a society.” Page-Mallory said she wanted to let lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students know they have her support.
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dangerous. “I know of a guy who tried it, he said it made him cough a lot and told me not to do it,” Basgaard said. “I think it’s pretty stupid anyway, fake THC, lacing herbs. It’s not natural.” Differing effects exist because there is not one sole manufacturer of the product; ingredients are not listed and can easily differ from packet to packet. This is a large source of concern because people are not really aware of what they are smoking. D r. S t e p h e n R o d g e r s ,
“I can’t believe they felt like no one loved them enough for it to matter,” she said. “That’s why I want to let people know I do.” Tuesday night, Madison Equality held a meeting on suicide and mental health awareness. Patrick Lincoln, graduate assistant for Madison Equality, talked to students about how to recognize signs of suicide and
stop bullying. “We have to realize that a lot of LGBT students are bullied,” Cook said. “It’s really cool to see so much support for them.” Since the suicides, there has been an influx in “It Gets Better” videos uploaded to YouTube giving a message of hope to LGBT teens. In the clips, LGBT celebrities and activists tell their own experiences with the same
moral: “It gets better.” “They really resonate with people,” Cook said. “Today a lot of people had quoted the video on their Facebook status. It’s weird because a lot of people wear purple at JMU every day, but today I know for a lot of people it means more.” CONTACT Molly Haas at haasmr@dukes.jmu.edu.
Opinion
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EDITOR Jordan Garegnani E-MAIL breezeopinion@gmail.com
Thursday, October 21, 2010
5
EDITORIAL
Working for peace The Mine Action information Center, part of JMU’s Center for International Stabilization and Recovery, has a program that is getting positive press for its demining training programs in the National Committee for Demining and Rehabilitation. War-torn countries and countries recovering from war, such as Iraq and Jordan, are often littered with hidden explosive devices. According to The Jordan Times, Iraq is littered with 25 million mines and thousands of tons of unexploded remnants of war. As part of a 21-country team, MAIC conducts trainings relevant to humanitarian mine clearance, victim assistance, mine risk reduction and other landmine-related issues for de-miners in Jordan, Laos and South Korea. These mines not only inhibit the growth of countries by making commerce, education and travel difficult, but also make even daily life difficult without casualty or injury. We applaud the MAIC as the only program of its kind in the United States for promoting peace and making a difference globally. EDITORIAL BOARD: Katie Thisdell
Jordan Garegnani
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MOLLY ROSSBERG | contributing columnist
Different is just different Disability does not mean incapability I like to tell people I was born while my parents were on vacation. But what I usually forget to mention is that my parents weren’t expecting me for another two months. My mom was rushed to the hospital and I was born around a.m. the next morning. But during the birthing process, because the blood vessels in my brain were weak and underdeveloped, some of them burst. That caused a stage three brain bleed (on a scale of -). Because of this, I developed cerebral palsy. The brain bleed affected the part of my brain that controls my motor skills in my legs, though it’s my left leg that’s most seriously affected. This causes me to walk with a limp. So even though my brain sends the signal to the nerves in my left leg to “walk,” because of my CP, my muscles can’t respond properly.
In an instant, I became embarrassed by how I walked, even though these kids had seen me walk since kindergarten. I thought that getting up and walking this time would be different — that somehow, they too would realize that I looked as silly as I felt. I don’t remember feeling “different” in elementary school. When I had tendon-lengthening surgery in first grade, the only thing my classmates were concerned with was who got to wheel me around or ride the elevator with me. The turning point came one day in seventh grade math class. We were about to have a test and everyone was getting up to sharpen his or her pencil. All of a sudden I was glued to my seat. In an instant, I became embarrassed by how I walked, even though these kids had seen me walk since kindergarten. I thought that getting up and walking this time would be different — that somehow, they too would realize that I looked as silly as I felt. I was never made fun of throughout my time in school. Being from a small town worked to my advantage. Everyone, from the kids at my school to the cashiers at the grocery store, understood that it was just how I walked — no explanation needed. I’m not saying there wasn’t an occasional stare, but by and large, any criticism or questioning of my cerebral palsy was coming from me. Then in the fall of I came to JMU. It didn’t take me long to realize that I had certainly left the comfort of universal understanding that I had grown up with. That’s not to say that I haven’t met lots of caring, compassionate and hilarious people here, many of whom
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have become my good friends. But think about it: I probably walk past hundreds, maybe even thousands, of new faces every day. I catch many people staring. I hear forms of the question, “What’s wrong with your leg?” about twice a week. People who’ve never come in contact with someone with CP don’t understand that I’m not just perpetually injured. The missing puzzle piece to all of this is speaking out and educating people about what being disabled means — even though it has taken me three years to do it. First, it’s important to think twice before you make assumptions or voice your opinion about the situation. Without even knowing me, I’ve had people immediately question my mental capabilities, assume I can’t drive and try to force me onto an elevator because they “knew” I couldn’t walk up stairs. Instead of focusing on my abilities, they made completely false assumptions just by looking at me. Despite the fact that I am disabled, I, and other disabled people, form a capable group. There are limitless alternatives and ways to compensate for the ways that we are limited by our respective disabilities. Second, staring at me or any disabled person will never be acceptable. People have different intentions with their “stares,” but the negative, biting effect of it will always carry the same weight. Finally, remember your approach when asking someone about his or her disability. Believe me, I know this can be a tricky situation to navigate for both people involved. I would recommend being alone or in a small group when you ask the person about their disability. I’ve been asked about it at meetings and shouted at from down the hall. It’s embarrassing for the person in question and will definitely show your immaturity. Also, ask in a way that conveys your genuine concern or want to understand. Just because a physical or mental disability is easy to see doesn’t mean the disabled person is obligated to give you an explanation. Many good things have come out of my disability. It’s made me a more compassionate person. My father decided to go back to nursing school because of his experiences during the two months I was in the neonatal intensive care unit after being born. But am I an inspiration? Is there really anything wrong with me? No. The fact that I, as a -year-old senior in college, strive to live well and succeed in life isn’t inspiring. It’s normal. And no, there’s nothing wrong with me. The word “wrong” implies that I am somehow incapable of being normal. Cerebral palsy is my normal. It might different than yours, but that doesn’t mean it’s bad or wrong. Molly Rossberg is a senior media arts & design major. Contact Molly at rossbema@dukes.jmu.edu.
EDD NAWABI | contributing columnist
Don’t touch my iTouch We spread germs every day in a way we might not think about Influenza season is here, which means more germs and more people trying not to get sick. The flu hits hard on college campuses mainly because so many people are crowded together in dorms and apartments. Cell phones can add to this by spreading huge amounts of germs. Who would have ever thought that you could become sick just by talking to your best friend on the phone? Bobby Calvan’s article published last week in The Sacramento Bee, “Talk about going viral: Touch-screen devices can harbor flu germs,” states that the glass screen on touch-screen devices is capable of holding times more germs than a flush handle in a men’s bathroom. For almost anyone, the automatic assumption is that bathrooms are dirty and it’s mind-blowing to imagine our phones are even dirtier than that flush handle. We need to start worrying about the cleanliness of our phones and other touch-screen devices. When you share your cell phone with other people, even if they want to simply text someone or check their Facebook, a simple touch transfers germs from their hands to your cell phone. Do you
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.
The glass screen on touch-screen devices is capable of holding 18 times more germs than a flush handle in a men’s bathroom. It’s easy to steer clear of these germs. Some people like to swipe their phones on their clothes often, just to get the fingerprint stains off of the screen. By doing this, you take some of the germs off the screen. In order to keep from getting these “phone germs,” wiping down your phone seems to be one of the most simple and effective solutions. Try wiping your phone off before you actually put it to your face to make a call.
Someone touching your phone isn’t the only way germs can get to your phone. Many women like to keep their phones in their purses, which aren’t really the cleanest places in the world. Microbiologists from the University of Wisconsin-Madison concluded that purses can be breeding grounds for bacteria, which can then get on all of the materials inside of purses. Pockets can be extremely dirty too. Bills and coins are some of the dirtiest items you can touch, and people often keep money in their pockets. Many people decide to put their phones in their pockets, making their phones extremely dirty. If you are sick, be respectful to others — cover your coughs and sneezes. People who are sick should wash their hands often so their germs don’t spread. Be careful next time you’re talking on the phone; you never know what kind of germs are now on your face. Edd Nawabi is a freshman writing, rhetoric & technical communication and political science double major. Contact Edd at nawabiem@dukes.jmu.edu.
An “I-didn’t-want-to-get-onanyway” dart to the bus driver who shut the door in my face. From a sophomore girl who would rather walk than be on that bus.
Darts & Pats are anonymously submitted and printed on a space-available basis. Submissions creatively depict a given situation, person or event and do not necessarily reflect the truth.
Submit Darts & Pats at breezejmu.org
A “you-make-Spaniardsseem-crazy” dart to my GHUM professor who would like my partner and me to completely rewrite our paper three days before it’s due. From a student who thinks you should be like Enrique Iglesias and just like it. A “you-didn’t-even-have-yourpads-on” dart to the University of New Hampshire player who was trying to run his mouth at the game on Saturday. From a football lover who was ready to defend her Dukes even if it came to blows. An “EW-that’s-nasty” dart to my -year-old roommate who doesn’t feel the need to shower. From someone who knows that even sorority girls have B.O. A “is-it-a-sin-that-you-stolemy-heart?” pat to the lead singer at Aletheia. From a girl who needs your name and number to add you to her “prayer” list.
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. 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.
know where their hands have been? When your cell phone isn’t properly cleaned after someone else uses it and you decide to call someone, those germs go directly to your face, which makes it easier for those germs to get into your eyes, nose, ears and mouth — the quickest way to get an infection.
Serving James Madison University Since 1922 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .KATIE THISDELL MANAGING EDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . DREW BEGGS NEWS EDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MATT SUTHERLAND NEWS EDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JOHN SUTTER OPINION EDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . JORDAN GAREGNANI LIFE EDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . TORIE FOSTER
A “thank-you-for-taking-careof-me” pat to the three girls who helped me find my way to the University Health Center after I wrecked my bike. From a freshman who ate asphalt yesterday. A “you-make-my-heart-sing” pat to the pretty girl walking around campus with a “Wild Thing” sticker on her medical boot. From a guy who hopes you get better and thinks you’re cute even with the extra hardware on your leg. A “what-the-Funyun?” dart to Market One. From all the other varieties of chips that have been replaced by the onion-flavored rings. A “you-saved-our-lives” pat to the people who typed up a Zombie contingency plan and posted it all over Eagle Hall. From a girl who was terrified by the thought of being caught unprepared by the impending Zombiepocalypse.
A “there-are-seven-deadlysins” dart to my roommate who obsesses over what she eats. From your roomie — give in, be a glutton. A “here’s-your-pat” pat to the boy who expected one in The Breeze on Monday for his chivalrous act in D-Hall. From someone who thinks your actions were pat-worthy. A “you-must-hate-theenvironment” dart to E-Hall for keeping its lights on day and night. From a girl who wants to help the Earth and doesn’t like your efforts. A “now-that’s-just-gross” dart to the two boys subjecting themselves to mouth cancer in the library on Monday. From a senior girl who thought you both were cute until she realized that disgusting brown liquid in your water bottles was from your mouths. A “what-about-me?” dart to all the Purple Outs on campus. From gold. A “don’t-make-us-cry-again” dart to JMU football. From your fans.
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Thursday, October 21, 2010
breezejmu.org
he t t Wha @ is u *&% with yo ng o r le? w p o pe
We Want a Piece of Your Mind. The Breeze is hosting a focus group to find out more about our readers. Pick one: October 26 or 27, noon-2 p.m. Free Breeze swag to participants! E-mail thebreezemarketing@gmail.com to sign up
Life
civil war lives on through novel
Editors Torie Foster & Pamela Kidd E-mail breezearts@gmail.com
on page 8
Thursday, October 21, 2010
7
Jamie Lose
keep the good times rolling
Brits see ‘beauties’ of ’Burg
Ryan Freeland / The Breeze
Drummer Josh Burtner (from left), guitarist David McFarlin and guitarist Steven Craun are part of Atomfest. Bassist Tyler Burch is not pictured.
Atomfest explosion MadiCon 19 success takes local band to Va. Beach to open for Saving Abel By Beth Cole The Breeze
It was the Saturday before their first major concert, and David McFarlin, lead singer of progressive rock band Atomfest, wasn’t even sure he and his bandmates would make it through the week. That April night, McFarlin, then a sophomore English major at JMU, and lead guitarist Steven Craun were in an argument that had been brewing for months. The band had been trying to make things work for nearly a year, with no real progress. Later that week, it would play at JMU’s MadiCon 19, a science fiction and fantasy convention held every year. As far as they knew then, it would be their last chance to try to patch things up. “We were like, ‘We’re just going to do this show and talk about it after that,’ ” McFarlin said. After their set, dozens of people came up to them and asked them for CDs. Their fan base grew from four or five devoted followers to about 500. “People actually liked us,” McFarlin said. “Complete strangers were totally into what we were doing and that had never happened before.” With a new sense of dedication, they began putting their efforts together to focus on the band once again. Last Wednesday, Atomfest opened
for Saving Abel at Peabody’s Night Club in Virginia Beach. After playing MadiCon 19, the band entered the Staunton Office of Youth Battle of the Bands, which they won. That meant a $300 prize and recording time at The Sounds Studio in Charlottesville, Va., where they recorded two songs in time to win Concert Gorilla’s Battle of the Bands, which gave them the chance to open for Saving Abel. “If it wasn’t for that show, we probably would not be where we are now,” Craun said about MadiCon 19. Craun is a junior at Blue Ridge Community College acquiring a music associates degree. The band has been together for about a year; drummer Josh Burtner joined about six months ago. Burtner is a freshman at Blue Ridge Community College and bassist Tyler Burch attends Fort Defiance High School, a few miles south on Interstate 81. The name Atomfest originated from a poem that McFarlin wrote for an introduction to poetry class. The poem was set in a fictional town that McFarlin created called Atomfest, which became the location for the concept for their first set of songs. Each set of songs that the band creates is based on a story, similar to the style of major influence Coheed and Cambria. Their current concept is
called “Sarah Bellum.” The idea came about while McFarlin was playing the game “The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion.” At one point, after completing a task, the room turns into butterflies and the character is left sitting in a meadow. “I had this strange thought,” McFarlin said. “I thought, ‘What if that’s what dying is like?’ ” The lyrics tell the story of a girl named Sarah Bellum, who died and entered the afterlife, and her boyfriend is trying to save her. The band currently has two songs for this album. The members have also thought about including a book to go with their CD to tell the story behind the concept, but their main goal for now is creating the songs. “Once we have all of the music together, then we’ll actually know how the story goes,” Craun said. By the end of the year, the band plans to finish writing and recording its current album “Sarah Bellum.” They also hope to expand their fan base and have recently begun the process of setting up shows in the Harrisonburg area. Contact Beth Cole at cole2ed@dukes.jmu.edu.
Show teems with self-loathing, discomfort By Jeff Wade The Breeze
There had to be at least one person at Xiu Xiu’s performance at Clementine Cafe on Sunday night who attended out of morbid curiosity. While the sure bet would have been on an unsuspecting bystander to be unsettled by the band’s challenging material, few would have guessed the most uncomfortable person there would be frontman Jamie Stewart. Xiu Xiu (pronounced “shoo shoo”), which includes keyboardist Angela Seo and percussionist Ches Smith, have been making their brand of damaged electronic gothic pop for a decade, with a tendency for the avant-garde music that can come off as purposefully obtuse and abrasive one moment, and then yield to reveal pop hooks and frivolity the next. While the band’s sound has trendy influences like Joy Division and The Cure that have been in vogue for the last couple of years, the sense of absolute despair propelling those bands’ best work has not been replicated. Stewart provides those feelings of desolation in spades going so far as to name the band’s latest work “Dear God, I Hate Myself.” Over the course of 50 minutes, the
band ran through a dozen songs, mostly pulled from the aforementioned record, but with scattered shout-outs to prior works. It was a set that often fluctuated between quiet and whispery to piercing and abrasive, often within the same song. This feeling is propelled by Stewart’s fragile and wispy voice that quivers with emotion and self-loathing. These feelings were mirrored by his body language as the singer convulsed and contorted, less playing and more attacking his instruments. Atonal blasts of noise and feedback amplified emotions Stewart didn’t have the words for. There is no taboo issue Xiu Xiu couldn’t use as lyrical subject matter. Their setlist touched on domestic violence during “The Fabrizio Palumbo Retaliation” and bulimia on “Chocolate Makes You Happy,” while an undercurrent of homoeroticism permeated throughout. It ranged from exploitative and tasteless to heartfelt and personal. While the band’s music is beatdriven, any dancing seemed like an attempt to squirm away from the music. Though audience members were attentively hushed with curiosity, see Concert, page 8
Brandon Payne / The Breeze
Lead vocalist Jamie Stewart of the band Xiu Xiu featured a Nintendo DS in one of their songs, “I Luv the Valley OH!” on Sunday night at Clementine Cafe.
You know those rare moments when life hands you lemons that are just dying to be made into lemonade? Well, I had one show up this weekend in the form of five British guys driving an RV up and down the East Coast. I know. Just wait — it gets better. Through a series of fortunate events involving Four Loko, IHOP and a set of stellar twins, my roommates and I had the opportunity to meet, get to know and house these charming gents, who were friends of my roommate’s boyfriend’s sister. Having studied abroad in London, I was excited at the idea of talking to real Brits again and getting all warm and cozy and nostalgic. After learning that they were indeed coming through JMU, I prepared myself all day. Play it cool, I thought. Not a big deal, no need to gush about how much I love their taxis, tea, street signs and Ron Weasley. “Just teach them how to Dougie and be done with it,” I told myself. As you can imagine, this all went to hell the moment they arrived. Once I heard their accents confirming they were indeed from London, I’m fairly certain my greeting went something like: “Hi. Welcome. I love you. Can I offer you cheap, awful American beer? We should probably kiss later, I mean if you want to. This is my pet hamster Larry, and also I love you. Did I mention I love you?” Fortunately, these guys were either kind enough to ignore my word vomit or I played it off better than I thought. The weekend went pretty smoothly from there on out, complete with a trip to Jimdel’s. Our intentions were to give them the all-American experience, and in my personal opinion, there’s no better way to do that than to get embarrassingly sloppy and rub all up on each other. Apparently, what they were really hoping for was to watch an American football game. Whatever Jimdel’s, football … same thing. The next night we took the guys on the scenic walk down Devon Lane to a party in Ashby. This was a prime opportunity to show off our new police enforcement policies and the joys of riding the drunk bus. As a senior, I’d like you all to know here and now I have officially completed a backward flip on the drunk bus, heels and all. Impressive, right? It was all part of my plan to win over their hearts. Check it off the do list; I’m a badass. I’ve often wondered if we as Americans appear exotic when we travel abroad or if we really do come across stereotypical, fat and loud. I’m just going to go ahead and assume our accents are ugly. Think about how we say the word “squat.” Now, I didn’t ask the British guys to say it, but I’m pretty sure it sounds more eloquent across the Atlantic. Other favorite accents of mine include French, Latin American and Australian, though I don’t discriminate. I figure men and women alike from any other culture could read the dictionary into my ear and I’d swoon just the same. So, here’s my plan. Obviously, rent an RV because the thing was nicer inside than my apartment, and pile all of you in to travel the world. I’m telling you, these Brits made it look easy. We all have the time and money to do it, because who really needs to complete college and pursue a career? Not us. Not when we’re backpacking across the globe leaving behind an economy designed to shatter our hopes and dreams. In the end, it was a neat experience and took some of the edge off October, what with no fall break and all (which is on the list of “Cool Things JMU Does,” right after parking tickets). Nothing like a good old-fashioned fantasy showing up at your door to shake up a semester, am I right? Jamie Lose is a senior media arts & design major and a humor columnist at The Breeze. Contact her at losejl@dukes.jmu.edu.
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Thursday, October 21, 2010
breezejmu.org LIFE
BOOK REVIEW
Civil War is ‘in the Attic’
By MARY CLARE TRACY contributing writer
Tony Horwitz’s “Confederates in the Attic” is a refreshing take on the Civil War that history buffs and history avoiders alike can enjoy. While the novel was published in , the experiences and insights Horwitz offers remain relevant, years later. The story details Horwitz’s journey up and down the East Coast (predominantly in the South) to find the answer to a seemingly unanswerable question — why are parts of the South still bitter that they lost the Civil War? To find out, Horwitz ventures deep into small forgotten towns of the South that have not quite forgotten the Civil War. It is here that Horwitz meets a colorful and hilarious cast
of characters. The interactions he records are a fascinating testament to living history. Perhaps the most memorable of these occur with the “hardcore” and “farb” re-enactors he camps out with in an effort to experience what the Civil War was like for soldiers. These re-enactors obsess over the details of their uniforms, even making sure the buttons on their grimy shirts are Civil War replicas. Horwitz quickly learns that these “hardcores” are leagues above “far-be-it-from authentics” or “farbs,” whose blue jeans and white T-shirts are anything but authentic. Despite such entertainment, Horwitz is not afraid to delve into issues of slavery and racism in the South, capitalization of the Civil War and the implications of the war.
While generally keeping a lighthearted attitude and open mind, Horwitz is unable to completely remove any sense of his bias in the book. He often garners an air of superiority over the people he encounters. Horwitz also often goes on tangents and then suddenly returns to his original story. One may need to flip back a couple of pages to find where he first began his original anecdote. Horwitz’s soul-searching quest appears unresolved by the end. Perhaps the deepest issue he tries to resolve is what the Civil War means to Americans today. The book may provide laughs, but also still recognizes the intensity of the social issues Horwitz tries to make sense of. CONTACT Mary Clare Tracy at tracymb@dukes.jmu.edu.
CONCERT | ‘Challenges listeners’ from page 7
the band perpetuated a prominent silence between songs. Stewart didn’t necessarily connect with the audience (his in-between song routine boiled down to taking a sip of water and giving a pained look toward the ceiling). Instead, he provoked them, constantly pushing the edge with his tales of the depraved.
Perhaps emblematic of a whole, the sparse acoustic “Fabulous Muscles” transformed its tale of a homosexual affair into an aggressive blast of rage. In songs like “Apple for a Brain” the band treated the handclaps and “la la las” of conventional pop with disgust. “I Luv the Valley OH!” had a buzzing edge and instrumentation by a Nintendo DS. This is not meant to scare
people off. Xiu Xiu is a phenomenal band that challenges listeners; the band had a captivating show. It’s just a recommendation that comes with words of reservation. Plus, if you end up hating them, at least you’re in good company. They’re not exactly fans of themselves, either. CONTACT Jeff Wade at wadeja@dukes.jmu.edu.
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Sports
Editors’ picks of the week
Editors Michael Demsky & Colleen Hayes E-mail breezesports@gmail.com
Baseball
Purple and Gold Series heads to Game 7
Thursday, October 21, 2010
football
Taking on the champs
“This season is going to require a lot of freshmen to step up and play a big role ... We are going to be a younger team this year.” Sean Tierney junior pitcher
Redshirt senior first baseman Trevor Knight, last year’s preseason Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Year, has returned to his spring form in the series. He led the team in hits, homeruns, stolen bases, runs and slugging percentage last season, and he will continue to lead the team that has now lost several key pieces to the puzzle since last season. Former closer Kevin Munson was selected in the fourth round by the Arizona Diamondbacks in June’s Major League Baseball Draft. He was the CAA Pitcher of the Year last season and a third team All-American. Second baseman Mike Fabiaschi was taken in the 38th round by the Oakland Athletics, while outfielder Matt Browning was picked by the Seattle Mariners in the 43rd round. The loss of veteran talent will force the Dukes to rely on young and inexperienced players. “This season is going to require a lot of freshmen to step up and play a big role, but we should be pretty solid,” junior left-handed pitcher Sean Tierney said. “We are going to be a younger team this year.” Of the 11 new players on the JMU roster, seven are pitchers. That gives the Dukes a deep bullpen and talent to spare for coming seasons. The recruiting class was ranked as one of the best in the nation by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. Two freshman pitchers, Luke Munson and Tyler McFarland, have special connections to JMU baseball. Munson is the brother of the aforementioned Kevin Munson, while Tyler is head coach Spanky’s son. Freshman infielders Conner Brown and Ryan Kilmon have both performed well in the series. They will need to step up throughout the year for the Dukes to repeat as CAA regular season champions. “The veteran players are helping me and the other young guys learn the ways of JMU baseball,” Brown said. “The see Baseball, page 10
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basketball
Dukes picked to finish first and fourth in CAA The JMU women’s basketball team, which is returning four starters from last season’s Colonial Athletic Association championship winning-team, was picked by the league’s coaches to repeat as CAA champion in 2010-2011. The Dukes, who went 26-7 last season, are led by senior guard Dawn Evans. Evans was named to the CAA First Team along with the title of Co-Player of the Year. Sharing the honor with Evans is the University of Delaware’s sophomore forward Elena Delle Donne. JMU sophomore guard Tarik Hislop was named to the CAA Second Team. The JMU men’s team was picked to finish fourth out of the 12 CAA teams. JMU’s position in the poll marked the first time in league history that a team has been picked at least seven spots ahead of its previous finish. The Dukes are coming off a 13-20 season in which they finished 11th in the league at 4-14. Senior forward Denzel Bowles was named to the CAA First-Team, while junior forward Julius Wells was a Second Team selection.
By David Barton contributing writer
The JMU baseball team has red meat on the mind. The winning team in this year’s annual intrasquad Purple and Gold Series will receive a steak dinner, while the loser will get nothing but hot dogs during a team picnic later this month. After splitting the first six games of the best-of-seven series, the teams will settle bragging rights in Game 7, to be played Friday. The series is an opportunity for the young players to show what they are capable of, while acting as a refresher course for veterans looking to get back into the swing of Dukes baseball. The team also had the opportunity to impress professional scouts during Wednesday’s annual Scout Day. “It is a chance to dress up, wear our uniforms, have umpires, and make it as game-like as possible,” head coach Spanky McFarland said. “It is as good as we can do to simulate the spring.” The six games leading up to Friday’s Game 7 were a mixed bag of results. After the teams split the opening two games, the Gold team was beating the Purple by 10 runs in the fifth inning of Game 3 before it was called early due to a slaughter rule. With Gold in control of the series, the Purple responded by winning Games 4 and 5 to get a one-game edge, with sophomore pitcher Nick Slogik stepping up to get the big win in Game 5. The Gold evened the series back up with a win in Game 6. Sophomore catcher Billy Logan provided the most dramatic moment of the series, when his walkoff two-run double in Game 2 gave the Purple squad a 7-6 victory. Two returning Dukes have played exceptionally well in the series. Junior catcher Jake Lowery has a number of hits and a homerun. He is coming off a stellar sophomore season and will be the Duke’s starting catcher after sharing the position last season with Brett Garner, who has since graduated.
on page 10
— staff reports david casterline / the breeze
By Thom Martinicchio contributing writer
In what looked like the start to a historic season for James Madison football following the 21-16 shocker against Virginia Tech just over a month ago, the Dukes may now find themselves watching the 2010 Football Championship Subdivision playoffs from home following two losses in their last three games. This may be a reality if head coach Mickey Matthews and his team cannot right the sinking ship this week against the defending national champions, the No. 6 Villanova Wildcats (4-2, 2-1 in the Colonial Athletic Association). The No. 11 Dukes (4-2, 1-2) will travel to Philadelphia on Saturday to take on the Wildcats, who handily beat the Dukes 28-0 last season in Harrisonburg. Redshirt senior quarterback Drew Dudzik, who was sidelined for last year’s game with a foot injury, refused to play up the role of redemption in the game. “I approach every game the same because every team we play is really good, and I just want to come out, execute and put points on the board for the offense, and I think we can do that,” he said. But this is not just another CAA affair. The Dukes find themselves reeling and in desperate need of a win following two home losses to the University of Delaware and the University of New Hampshire in the past month. To drop three games at this point in the season would be devastating to the JMU’s postseason chances. Including the Villanova game, the team has five games left on its schedule — all within the conference. “To go up there and beat the defending champs, I feel like it would definitely get it rolling,” redshirt junior
robert boag / the breeze
ABOVE Redshirt junior running back Scott Noble (No. 30) was the bright spot for the Dukes last weekend with 19 carries for 100 yards and two touchdowns. BELOW Redshirt junior wide receiver and kick returner Kerby Long will try to spark a JMU offense that has averaged just 13 points over its last four games.
strong safety Vidal Nelson said. “We wouldn’t look back because that would just give us the momentum and confidence the rest of the season to do what we need to do.” The JMU defense has played well for most of the year, but last week’s second half debacle against UNH led to some second-guessing. The Dukes surrendered 247 total yards of offense and 17 points in the half, giving up a late lead before falling 28-14. “I really think that our struggles
on defense against UNH in the second half last week were mainly due to injuries more than anything else,” Matthews said. Senior defensive tackle Ronnell Brown, who sustained a leg injury against New Hampshire, will not be able to play Saturday. Unfortunately for the wounded Dukes, Villanova’s offense is among the best in the nation: averaging almost 34 see dukes, page 10
Men’s Soccer
Dukes’ next five games to be played at home By Georgina Buckley The Breeze
robert boag / the breeze
On Oct. 17, 2009, JMU senior goalie Ken Manahan made two saves against the Georgia State University Panthers in the Dukes’ 2-0 loss. Manahan has posted three shutouts so far this season, including one against U.Va. (above).
The James Madison men’s soccer players looked focused at Tuesday’s practice as they prepared for the challenge of two home games against Colonial Athletic Conference opponents this week. After a 3-0 loss to George Mason University on Saturday, the Dukes are happy just to be home. “I think they’ve had a tough stretch with difficult teams and seven out of eight of those games on the road,” asssistant coach Tom Foley said. The Dukes’ loss to the Patriots was unexpected in the wake of their 4-2 win against conference opponent University of Delaware and the strong showing against University of Virginia (0-0) last Tuesday. “There was definitely a hangover effect from the U.Va. game,” head coach Tom Martin said. “We didn’t move on to George Mason with the right mentality.” The team spent most of the last month traveling, having played just one game at home since Sept. 13. Fortunately for players, the team’s next five regular season games will be at home. This stretch of games comes just at the right time for the team (7-32 overall, 2-2-1 in CAA), as it appears poised to make a jump in the conference rankings. “We’re struggling a little bit right now because card accumulation and injuries have caught up with us,”
Martin said. “We have to take advantage of our schedule. What we don’t want this late in the season is to end up with it out of our hands.” Currently ranked No. 6 in the CAA, the Dukes will try to break out of the cluster at the top of the standings. Currently, only six points separate the top 10 teams in the CAA standings. To qualify for the CAA championship tournament, the Dukes must take one of the top four spots. “Conference this year has been very unpredictable,” redshirt senior captain defender Jonathan Smithgall said. “Every point matters and every game is important to building up to the end of season.” This week they will face CAA foes William & Mary (9-2-1, 4-1-1) on Wednesday and Georgia State (5-5-3, 2-4-1) on Saturday. William & Mary currently occupies the top spot in the CAA standings, while Georgia State is ranked just behind JMU. “They’re a better team than they were a year ago,” Foley said about Georgia State. “They seem to be doing very well.” However, the team is feeling optimistic about its upcoming home games. “We’ve been on the road so long that not matter what happens we’re excited and ready to play because we’re finally home,” Smithgall said. “We’re mentally prepared for these next two games. “ Contact Georgina Buckley at bucklege@dukes.jmu.edu.
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breezejmu.org SPORTS
DUKES | A must win
BASEBALL | Series to be decided Friday
from page 9
from page 9
Jamal Sullivan, who had been sidelined with an ankle injury. Sullivan has provided an offensive spark this season for the Dukes, the highlight being his -yard touchdown reception against the Hokies. Sullivan will complement fellow running backs, redshirt senior Griff Yancey and redshirt junior Scott Noble. Noble is second on the team in rushing to Sullivan, having gained yards rushing and three touchdowns this season. But Matthews appeared to be optimistic about his offense and does not believe the Dukes’ struggles are due to serious flaws. “Any time you’re struggling on either side of the ball, it’s always the small things,” Matthews said. “Little things add up to big things. We just need to do some of the little things better, like block a little better, and we all just need do the little things and we’ll be fine.” Despite the recent letdowns, a big road win against the defending champions can change the tone for the rest of the season. “I always believe we can b o u n c e b a c k ,” S h e r m a n said. “As long as we feed into what the coaches are telling us, do our assignments and stop making mental errors.”
points a game and nearly yards of total offense. Senior quarterback Chris Whitney is coming off a performance against the University of Maine that led him to being named the CAA Offensive Player of the Week. He threw for yards and three touchdowns in the Wildcats’ - win. On the other hand, JMU’s offense has been plagued by inconsistent play all year long and knows that this is the week to turn things around. Much of the blame has landed on the shoulders of the inexperienced offensive line, which has struggled mightily in the past several games. “We have to work on holding our blocks longer and making the right reads, especially against Villanova,” redshirt senior offensive tackle Theo Sherman said. In the first two games of the season, the Dukes tallied and points against Morehead State and Va. Tech, respectively. However, in their past four contests, they have averaged just points a game, and have found it difficult to sustain possession, turning the ball over seven times. “We just have to finish drives, we have the opportunities to score and we’re just not getting it done right now,” Dudzik said. With Villanova’s defense only allowing points a game to FCS opponents, the Dukes will gladly welcome back redshirt senior running back
teams’ goals are to win the CAA and get a bid to the NCAA tournament. I will help the team get there anyway I can.” After going - last season, JMU looks to build off its
successes and forget about its disappointing showing in the CAA postseason. They lost to the University of North Carolina Wilmington Seahawks and the Virginia Commonwealth University Rams and were eliminated in the semifinals of
the CAA tournament. The Rams ended up winning the tournament and securing the NCAA regional bid. The team will begin play with an early season tournament in late February as well as a series of games over
spring break. Last season, the team played in the Battle of the Beach in Myrtle Beach and spent spring break playing eight games in Jackonville, Fla. CONTACT David Barton at bartonde@dukes.jmu.edu.
CONTACT Thom Martinicchio at martintj@ dukes.jmu.edu. Joey Doherty contributed to the reporting of this article.
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