On the cover
JMU Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) in conjunction with the University Program Board (UPB) welcomed drag queens from Rhinestone Productions to Wilson Hall on Monday for its annual performance. Founder of Rhinestone Productions Jayda Knight said the queens were able to “bring a different twist to entertainment” and “push you out of your boundaries.”
K. Mauser & Libby Addison
By SIXUAN WU The Breeze
The first announcement came over the summer: faculty and staff received an email from Interim Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Bob Kolvoord on Aug. 5 that said JMU will be hosting its first-ever weekday football game on Thursday, Oct. 10 at 7:30 p.m. against Coastal Carolina.
While this first weekday game marks “one of many new characteristics of JMU’s growing national reputation,” Kolvoord wrote in the email that it will also impact the JMU community — most notably the adjustment to class schedules and increased traffic on Thursday.
A Monday email sent to faculty, staff and students from Interim University President Charlie King and AD Matt Roan details guidelines for Thursday’s game. According to the email, instructional faculty who teach in-person classes that begin after or extend past 3:35 p.m. may hold class as scheduled, relocate or consider an alternative instructional method, such as meeting via Zoom or assigning asynchronous work.
According to a poll posted on a Breeze Instagram poll, 52% of respondents (86 of 164) said at least one class was canceled due to the Thursday game.
Senior lecturer for the chemistry and biochemistry department Qingsheng Liu said he decided to assign his students asynchronous work for his General Chemistry Lab (CHEM 131L) because he recognizes students could miss class due to difficulty finding parking spots or plans to attend the game. He said he still chose to cancel despite the lab only meeting once weekly on Thursdays at 5:30 p.m.
“Because [the Thursday game] is a first time, it’s very unusual,” Liu said. “Because of the lab nature, people need to work together. If some people cannot attend, it will be miserable for the rest of the members in that group. That’s why I think we could think about the ways of teaching — we don’t always have to teach in person.”
According to a second Breeze Instagram poll, 72% of respondents (84 of 116) said they wouldn’t attend any classes after 3:35 p.m. on Thursday if their classes are not canceled.
Other faculty decided to finish their classes early to adjust to the Thursday game day guidelines, such as chemistry and biochemistry professor Kevin Caran, who teaches Special Chemistry Laboratory (CHEM 135L), which meets on Thursdays from 12:45 p.m.-3:50 p.m.
“It turns out that the projects we have planned for this day are actually going to be something that we will likely be done before 3:35 [p.m.], so it works out,” Caran said. “I was a little worried about it at first, but then once I realized that it fell on a day that we probably didn’t need the whole time, it worked out well.”
Political science instructor Joel Hensley, who teaches a section of U.S. Government (POSC 225) that meets on Thursdays from 5:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m., said canceling his class due to the football game offered more benefit than disruption. He said this allowed him to put his Thursday section in sync with his Tuesday section of the class — prior to the schedule adjustment, his Tuesday section was always one week behind due to the semester starting on a Wednesday.
“For me, it worked out great,” Hensley said. “It’s easier for me to organize that way.
Having to start a new lecture on Thursday felt a little disjointed, so for me, I’m excited to get everything on the same page.”
The Monday email also addressed parking difficulties for commuter students driving to campus Thursday. Specifically, access to reserved football parking lots will be restricted starting at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday and must be cleared by 3:00 p.m.
In addition, those teaching in Godwin Hall, Hartman Hall, Lakeview Hall, Showker Hall or Sonner Hall should “plan accordingly” for increased noise from the neighboring stadium and building access issues due to game setup, according to an announcement sent to faculty and staff on Oct. 3 from Kolvoord.
According to a third Breeze Instagram poll, 43% of respondents (43 of 101) said they have a class ending before 3:35 p.m. that’s impacted by the Thursday game, such as their class being canceled or relocated.
Senior Ella Agabob, who has two Thursday classes in the College of Business (CoB) Learning Complex — Strategic Management (COB 487), which starts at 11:10 a.m.; and Corporate Financial Reporting II (ACGT 344), which starts at 12:45 p.m. — said both of her classes are canceled despite ending before 3:35 p.m.
Agabob said one of her professors announced the cancellation of their Oct. 10 class at the beginning of the semester, and her other professor made the announcement two weeks ago while also assigning an asynchronous video lecture for the class
to watch. She said while her professors didn’t specify why her classes were canceled, the decision was clearly made due to the Thursday game.
“At least for CoB, I feel like they have to close classes for games because of parking at Champ[ions Drive Parking Deck] and all the tailgating,” Agabob said.
While Caran said he was initially a little confused as to how classes that extend past 3:35 p.m. are supposed to proceed, he believes having the university send out tentative guidelines regarding the Thursday game back in the summer allowed for early planning.
“Because they sent [the announcement] out early — which was actually kind of nice — it allowed us to have a little bit more time before the semester started to figure out what to do,” Caran said.
While fans and spectators aren’t allowed to access parking lots prior to 4:30 p.m., according to the Monday email, campus will still expect an influx of people Thursday afternoon, particularly in the Lakeside area — where most footballrelated activities such as tailgating take place — near Bridgeforth Stadium.
Freshman Justin Chiodo, who lives in Shorts Residence Hall, said he expects the game to be loud, and he believes having a weekday game will be an “interesting” experience.
“Maybe more students will go, but for other fans of JMU — because it’s not a weekend — they might have work the next day, or they’re busy that night,” Chiodo said. “So maybe it
won’t be as crowded as a Saturday game, but I still think it’ll be a great atmosphere.”
Accommodations to the Thursday game were made through collaboration with different divisions on campus, according to Kolvoord’s Aug. 5 email, which included a committee with Academic Affairs leadership and faculty representation.
University spokesperson Mary-Hope Vass said the committee included “representation from all areas of the institution” as well as community partners to develop an operational plan that “takes into consideration every aspect of the institution that could be potentially impacted.”
Whether JMU will be hosting more weekday home games in the future remains unclear — until the Sun Belt Conference schedule is released on March 1, 2025, Associate AD for Communications and Strategic Initiatives Kevin Warner said in an email to The Breeze.
“The biggest benefit is exposure on national television,” Warner wrote. “We will showcase 10,000 students creating a great college football atmosphere and showing their school spirit on national TV. That type of energy, passion and spirit is powerful when showcasing our brand, drawing alumni support and recruiting the next generation of students to our campus.”
The long-term impacts of hosting weekday games on academics and campus life remains uncertain. According to Kolvoord’s Aug. 5 email, academics remain JMU’s “core priority.”
“I’m in a wait-and-see kind of moment,” Caran said. “I think [the weekday game] is something that certainly, if it got out of hand, it could start affecting academics in a negative way. If it’s just every once in a while, I think it’s something we can probably work around.”
CONTACT Sixuan Wu at thebreezeculture@gmail.com . For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @BreezeJMU.
By ISABELLA DUNN contributing writer
Dukes welcomed drag queens to Wilson Hall for an annual performance meant to “bring a different twist to entertainment” and “push you out of your boundaries,” Rhinestone Productions founder and drag queen Jayda Knight said.
Michelle Livigne — Miss Gay Harrisonburg — Jessica Jade — Miss Gay USA — Tatiyanna Voche’ (former Miss Gay USA), Angelle Zhané, Sue Nami and JMU student Climaxx joined together Monday and embraced what Knight described as their “inner diva.”
JMU Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) is in conjunction with the University Program Board (UPB) and Rhinestone Productions, which is a local drag community here in Harrisonburg.
Knight said the cast was diverse and consisted of drag “royalty,” specifically drag queens. Other queens, such as Livigne, who created “Driveway Drag Shows” during the pandemic, and Voche’, who recently finished filming for reality television, were among the national and local pageant winners.
“Watching these queens develop into the character and the persona, finding their inner diva and showing it to you guys on stage is truly amazing,” Knight said. “That’s why creating these spaces is so important.”
Knight created the first Harrisonburg Pride show 20 years ago, she said. At that time, Knight said she was a “scared little boy” who lost her wig during the show, but another drag queen, Jade, supported her and showed Knight the ropes — a kindness she said is synonymous with drag culture at large.
“We support each other, we help each other,” Knight said, “and look where we are today.”
Climaxx was the surprise guest at the end, and students showed their
support with a mixture of loud screams and dancing along.
JMU was the first local university to have a “working relationship” with Rhinestone Productions, Knight said.
That first Harrisonburg Pride show around 20 years ago was just the beginning, as JMU’s been a part of its growth through events such as its drag show ever since.
The event itself showcased each queen’s personality using various costume changes and songs primarily highlighting feminine empowerment.
The queens mingled with the audience while performing, creating an interactive experience. Some queens would choose audience members and teach them dances.
“Creating long-term productions was at first just a thought, and 20 years later, here we are,” Knight said. “We wouldn’t be here without the love and support of JMU and the community.”
Rhinestone Productions now teams up with other organizations in the area, like the Shenandoah LGBTQ Center, and raises money to create safe spaces in the community.
There are also other drag events open to the public throughout the year organized by Rhinestone Productions, such as “Drag Bingo.” Knight said people are able to celebrate their “birthdays and divorces” at drag brunches at the Ridge Room on top of the Hyatt Hotel.
“Supporting local drag is a lost art, but you all are continuing to keep it alive,” Voche’ said.
CONTACT Isabella Dunn at dunnie@dukes.jmu.edu. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on X @ TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @BreezeJMU.
By ELLA TEELER contributing writer
It’s that time of the year for JMU sorority Alpha Phi to select its annual "Mr. Heartthrob" to raise money for Harrisonburg’s Sentara Hospital.
Contestants from 17 fraternities, such as Tau Kappa Epsilon, Lambda Chi Alpha and Kappa Delta Rho, gathered in Memorial Hall’s auditorium Monday from 7 - 9:00. to battle for the title of Alpha Phi’s Mr. Heartthrob through a talent show.
Alpha Phi Philanthropy Chair and junior Hannah Hutchins hosted the event, alongside co-directors sophomore Christina Scully and Vice President of Health, Wellness and Accountability for Alpha Phi and senior Ellie Shiveley.
Hutchins, Scully and Shiveley opened the floor by introducing themselves and inviting the contestants, ranging from freshmen to sophomores, to take the stage and begin performing.
Hutchins said the main reason behind the event’s creation was to raise money for women’s health at Sentara Hospital.
“Our proceeds are going to go to women’s heart health, which is [similar to] the Alpha Phi Foundation,” Hutchins said. “We donate a lot of our money to Sentara Hospital, so it’s local, and we work really close with them.”
Some of the contestants, freshmen Ryan Lunstead and Jake Dellangelo from Kappa Alpha, performed a version of a
Christmas- themed dance from the movie “Mean Girls,” while other participants chose to sing or dance.
Toward the event's end, participants were asked who their biggest female inspiration was.
Participants answere d and said their moms, best friends and grandmas, as well as Alpha Phi President Erica Nassan.
The overall winner of the event was Kappa Alpha, while Delta Tau Delta brother and junior Isaac Duncan won the title of “pretty boy”; Pi Kappa Alpha brother and freshman Harry Evans won the title of “smartie pants”; and Pi Kappa Phi brothers and freshmen Brandon Tate and Mitchell Hall won for talent.
This event is an essential part of raising money for Sentara Hospital, Hutchins said, adding that one of the most common causes of death in women stems from heart issues. Through this event, Alpha Phi raised over $3,000 for Sentara Hospital, according to its post-event Instagram post.
“It’s to advocate for women’s heart health, as it is the leading cause of death in women,” Hutchins said. “It’s not talked about enough and, it should be.”
CONTACT Ella Teeler at teelerel@dukes.jmu.edu. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @BreezeJMU.
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By CHARLIE BODENSTEIN contributing writer
The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) granted JMU $50,000 in early September to sustain and enhance mental health services on campus, specifically to strengthen the services within JMU’s Counseling Center.
This grant is the second part of an annual $100,000 grant that was initially awarded in 2022 and was allocated for continued funding through 2026, according to JMU’s website.
Mental health has been a key issue across university campuses, and it was only intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the American Psychological Association. In 2022, the Virginia General Assembly allocated funds to five Virginia universities, including JMU, in support of the “mental health care workforce,” according to SCHEV’s website.
This grant will be put toward improved training, salary and benefits for licensed professional counselor (LPC) residents working at the JMU Counseling Center, LPC and Counseling Center employee Nina Critz wrote in an email to University Communications and The Breeze.
“The Counseling Center will provide the resident with orientation and training, as well the supervision required,” Critz wrote.
The center’s current residency program uses multiple forms of counseling for the “walk-in/intake/crisis” system, Critz wrote. She added that residents receive supervision from board-approved supervisors while also participating in training, meetings and “support outreach opportunities.”
Residents typically focus on direct contact with clients through counseling, Critz wrote, but are encouraged to take part in activities offered by the Counseling Center so they can familiarize themselves with the center’s work expectations. Individually, she wrote that each resident usually takes on 20 to 25 clients, receiving new clients every week.
“Our brief model of treatment, in conjunction with this absorption approach, allows us to serve a greater number of
students and helps clinicians develop skills in targeted and time-limited treatment,” Critz wrote.
Freshman Sybella Coulson said she hopes this grant will allow for “more promotion and accessibility to mental health resources on campus.”
For Coulson, mental health is paramount for a “good mindset” while in college. She said the key to a “happier and safer” campus is taking care of your mental health.
“I try to do things I enjoy once in a while, and if I get overwhelmed or stressed, I try to take a step back and do something to decompress,” Coulson said.
The Counseling Center is located on the Student Success Center’s first floor and offers an array of services for Dukes, such
as individual and group counseling, workshops, TimelyCare, self-care spaces, psychotherapy and more. Its focus is on the “personal, social and academic development of all JMU students,” according to its website.
“The primary focus of the Counseling Center mission is to provide the highest-quality individual and group counseling to students struggling with problems common to a college population,” according to the Counseling Center’s website.
CONTACT Charlie Bodenstein at bodenscd@dukes.jmu.edu. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @BreezeJMU.
By EMMA NOTARNICOLA contributing writer
The Student Government Association (SGA) Senate received updates from JMU Dining — including the rebranding of Oath Pizza — approved a $3,000 grant in contingency funds for the Ice Hockey Club for transportation costs and approved another contingency fund grant for $1,000 to a capella group ReScored to fund its Nov. 17 concert.
JMU Dining representative Jenna Gray spoke to the SGA about the recent updates related to JMU Dining and its locations, namely rebranding Oath Pizza and renovating the food court in the Festival Conference Center.
Gray said JMU Dining is rebranding Dukes Dining’s Oath Pizza “as a JMU concept,” adding that the menu will be “very similar to the current menu at Oath.”
Because the new pizza concept will be an “internal JMU dining brand,” Gray said there will be more flexibility than seen in the past — which might lead to the return of popular toppings, including last year’s Bella pizza, she said.
The new pizza will be slightly different from Oath’s current recipes, as JMU no longer has access to the original pizza dough currently used at Oath, Gray said. However, when the new pizza crust was put to vote by the Senate after distributing samples, it was met with mostly positive reviews.
One senator said this new crust was “a completely different pizza experience” and that the pizza still tasted good, with another senator adding that they even “liked this a tad more than Oath.”
Dukes should expect this redesign to begin before they come back in the spring semester, Gray said, adding “[JMU Dining is] going to open it up to the university to help us name the pizza concept that will replace Oath.”
A new pizza establishment in Dukes Dining isn’t the only new development coming to campus. Gray said JMU Dining plans to renovate the food court located in the Festival Conference Center.
Students should expect new developments with a “new modern space” and some “new technologies,” including additional kiosk ordering, Gray said.
Festival will also experience some alterations to the individual dining booths. Gray said there may not be many changes in cuisine options, but students should expect new menus and names for some of the eateries.
Though still early in the planning process, Gray said these renovations are on track to take place during the latter half of spring 2025 and the following summer. However, some dining options will still be open during the spring semester, she said.
During the presentation, Gray said one final construction change to campus dining locations is moving the Dunkin’ Donuts from the first floor of the Student Success Center (SSC) to the third floor.
The main incentive behind this change was to combat the frequent student “traffic” caused by Dunkin’ Donuts’ current small space on the SSC’s first floor, she said.
This new establishment will allow for more seating and “enhance your experience,” Gray said.
Similar to the last two developments, Gray said the construction for this project is expected to finish before the fall 2025 semester.
Gray also shared other updates and highlights to dining services, including:
• Students will not be able to use their meal plan punches during fall break but will be able to use Dining Dollars, FLEX and credit card payments, as well as cash at some locations. Students can use punches again starting Oct. 20 at 4 p.m.
• The only campus dining locations that will be open over fall break are Mr. Chips, D-Hall’s second floor, Chick-fil-A and Panera. This decision was made to “keep the cost down” for meal plans.
• Due to JMU’s Thursday football game, select dining locations will stay open past regular hours of operation. The D-Hall Freshens will close at 10 p.m., while Chick-fil-A and second-floor D-Hall will close at 11 p.m.
• JMU’s Farmers Market will continue being held on the Union’s patio every Wednesday until Oct. 30.
• Bistro on the Breezeway returns outside the stadium Monday between 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Mediterranean food will be served.
• Each student who spends $100 or more on Dining Dollars Gold will automatically be entered into a raffle to earn “every single t-shirt” from JMU Dining’s t-shirt pack.
• A new 25-block meal plan was announced, targeted at students who do not currently have a meal plan. This plan will cut down to $6.85 per meal.
SGA allocates $4,000 in contingency funds
The SGA unanimously passed a resolution to allocate a $3,000 grant in contingency funds to the Ice Hockey Club.
Ice Hockey Club Vice President and sophomore Ryan Quaid said the club is a part of the Division II American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) and plays schools from across the East Coast, such as the University of Virginia (U.Va.).
The club’s dues range from $1,360 to $2,500 seasonally, Quaid said, which fluctuate based on the number of games each player attends, adding that the club currently has about 30 members. However, this club has to fund a great deal, Quaid said, adding that all the money the club has fundraised and received in dues goes toward “renting ice rinks, transportation, food, equipment, coach’s salary,” among other unspecified items. He added most finances go toward transportation to practices and games.
Since there isn’t an ice rink in Harrisonburg, Quaid said Ice Hockey Club members have to drive over an hour and a half to Haymarket for
their practices multiple times a week. He said the club uses two of JMU’s 12-passenger vans and one minivan to transport their members, adding that the current cost to use these vans is $0.60 per mile.
Quaid said this results in an estimated $12,625 spent on transportation each season. The majority of the requested contingency funds would go toward relieving the club’s members of some of the costs for transportation, he said.
Sophomore and Sen. Jon Carr said he supported the resolution because it could “take off some of the financial burden” for club members, especially when considering that the practice rink is so far away from Harrisonburg.
The Senate unanimously passed another resolution to allocate $1,000 in contingency funds to lower-voice a capella group ReScored.
ReScored President and senior Elijah Keyes said these funds would go toward the club’s semester concert scheduled for Nov. 17. Keyes added that a majority of the club’s funds currently come from dues — which are $40 per member — and paid performances.
In the past, Keyes said the club’s semester concerts have generated a net loss of income. Keyes said he’s hopeful the contingency funds would allow members to not only increase advertising of their concert, but also to create a better experience.
About $125 of the funds would go toward social media advertisements as well as physical advertisements, Keyes said, with around $650 going toward supplies like LED lights and a sound system, which Keyes said the club has never had before.
Carr said the contingency funds would provide “beneficial extra money for advertising and getting their concert out there.”
Keyes said this concert gives “a culmination of all the work that we’ve been putting in,” adding that members “hope to bring in as many people as we can.”
CONTACT Emma Notarnicola at notarnef@dukes.jmu.edu. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @BreezeJMU.
Abby Camp & Sixuan Wu
By JACOB NORDFELT contributing writer
When asked about the most important thing she wants to teach students, art history professor Laura Katzman said, “Whatever they pursue, they have to pursue it with passion.”
Passion is something Katzman has in spades; curating exhibits on campus and abroad, working with the Madison Art Collection, co-authoring books and teaching at JMU’s School of Art, Design, and Art History (SADAH).
In August, Katzman received the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery 2024 Director’s Essay Prize for her work on Lorenzo Homar’s “Cine Alba,” a portrait of five United States artists who were visiting Puerto Rico during the 1940s.
Her essay, “Lorenzo Homar’s Cine Alba: An Intimate Portrait of North American Artists in Nineteen-Fifties Puerto Rico,” was chosen for its “interdisciplinary contributions to the fields of American art, biography, history and cultural identity,” according to a press release from the National Portrait Gallery.
Katzman said the idea of art being interdisciplinary is something that’s always resonated with her.
“The reason why I’m not a historian and why I’m an art historian is because I think it’s fascinating to think about history through the lens of art,” Katzman said. “The reason for that is because I think artists can often get us to think about things from new perspectives — from unusual perspectives, from perspectives we might not have considered otherwise.”
Katzman’s past projects demonstrate those ideas in action. For example, her exhibition for the Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia in Madrid, Spain, from 2023 to 2024, “Ben Shahn, On Nonconformity,” showcases her belief in art’s interdisciplinary power. The exhibit focused on the artwork of Ben Shahn, a workingclass Jewish immigrant who became a central figure in the social realism art movement.
Katzman also involved students from different fields in the exhibition. For example, JMU music and dance students performed at the exhibit to a piece composed by the Director of the School of Music John Allemeier. Students studying abroad in Salamanca, Spain, also visited the exhibit and learned from Katzman’s expertise.
“Professors can use their scholarship not only to engage students and give them these invaluable behind-the-scenes and real-life skills and opportunities to expand their horizons and pursuits, but also show them what’s possible beyond the classroom,” Katzman said. “You can study something, but to actually see it in practice and say, ‘That’s what I want to do with my life,’ I think is really exciting.”
Katzman came to JMU in 2007. She said JMU drew her in due to its focus on social justice issues, outreach, community and overall engagement.
“[JMU is] a place where I could bring my outside research to campus to enrich the campus, and a place where I could also involve students in my outside research — because there is such a strong focus on student research at JMU,” Katzman said. “In terms of my own values, my own interests in the art world, I take a
very social and political approach to art, and I’m really interested in how art reflects the values of the society in which it was made. So it was just a good fit in terms of the engaged university.”
Fifth-year graphic design major Carrie Chambers, who took Katzman’s Museum Studies class last fall, said Katzman spoke to students on an equal level that encouraged nuanced discussion of divisive issues. She also said she thinks Katzman’s pursuit of research benefits her students, as they were able to see the curation process in real time as she ran the Shahn exhibition, conveying the true technical skill and knowledge she has in the field.
“You can see that there’s passion in what she does and she cares about what she’s teaching to us,” Chambers said.
In 2022, JMU was classified as a Research 2 (R2) Institution — designating high research activity according to the Carnegie Classification.
Katzman sees this as an opportunity for other professors to usew their scholarship not only to engage students but to increase the awareness of JMU on a greater scale. Katzman’s prize-winning essay highlights this belief; the essay was written after receiving an invitation by Puerto Rican scholars to write an essay for their book “La mirada en construcción: Ensayos sobre cultura visual,” and received nomination by those scholars for the prize after publication.
“Historically, we’ve been a very well-regarded regional university,” Katzman said. “We’ve always ranked very high within southernregional rankings, but now that we’re a Research 2 university, we’re going to be ranked more nationally. So I think the timing is right
for professors who do research nationally and internationally to bring that to bear on the campus, classroom, students and colleagues so we can raise the national/international profile of the university.”
Katzman said her research on Homar’s “Cine Alba” is incredibly concerned with the idea of identity.
“In my case, I was interested in not only what the portrait might say about the painter and about the sitters, the biographies of those artists, but also about history, culture and society,” Katzman said.
The interdisciplinary aspect of her essay focuses on the complicated reality of Puerto Rico’s identity, something she experienced herself as a teacher when she guest-curated the exhibit, “Museum of the Old Colony,” which focuses on the U.S. treatment of Puerto Rico as a territory and how the U.S. can exercise colonial power despite its history.
When discussing the exhibit with her students, Katzman found that many of them were unaware that Puerto Rico was a U.S. territory, and if they did know, they had never considered questions such as rights and sovereignty. The combination of research from this exhibition, Ben Shahn and the general lack of discussion on the subject led to her finding Lorenzo Homar’s portrait “Cine Alba.” She viewed “Cine Alba” as a way to discuss Puerto Rican identity and politics through the lens of local and visiting artists. see KATZMAN, page
By AVAJOSEPHINE D’ANGELO contributing writer
In today’s competitive job market, internships could raise the chances of an ensured occupation fresh out of college.
An internship is a professional experience to open students’ eyes and explore a career they’re interested in. This is a way for students to familiarize themselves with their field and showcase their skills to employers — and there are plenty of JMU-specific resources for Dukes.
“We hope that every student at JMU will complete a workbased learning experience like an internship, student teaching, research, etcetera while they’re here,” JMU’s Assistant Director for Internships Emma Gibbons said. “Many are built into the curriculum of some of the programs, and individual students seek others.”
The internship experience may look different depending on the student’s major. Students can take advantage of the internship program as early as freshman year.
“Students should look for internships as early as possible,” Gibbons said. “The more experience you get, the more experience you have on your resume, and the better prepared you are to apply the skills you learn in the classroom. It’s never too early to look.”
Internships can be paid or unpaid, and some offer credit hours. Some internships offered through JMU include athletic, abroad and through the University Recreation Center (UREC). When researching which internship suits them best, students can check out the websites Chegg, City Year, Idealist, Urban Employ and WayUp, according to the University Career Center. Internships can also help students learn about themselves and their personality traits.
“Internships are a great benefit to a student. It’s a snapshot of what working could look like post-grad,” Gibbons said. “If you love what you see, great — let’s keep looking for more similar opportunities. If you don’t enjoy it, that’s also great in the long run. It’s wonderful to figure that out before getting a full-time job, and there’s time to navigate what it was you didn’t like and try something different.”
Internships allow students to explore locations they see themselves working in — some close and far, depending on the student’s preferences.
“During the summer of 2024, I was an intern for a European company called NGM Sports and Golf Consulting,” senior communications major Jesse Davis said. “My responsibilities included researching potential golf courses throughout Spain that may be interested in the services offered by NGM and developing a content strategy to enhance their website.”
Overall, study abroad can widen students’ horizons of the world by immersing them in different cultures. This can further assist in the job market.
“My experience was also quite different from past internships because of how Europeans, Valencians in particular, go about their workday,” Davis said. “Work-life balance is a true balance in Spain, which enabled me to take a step back and realize how important it is to take care of myself during the weeks.”
Davis said interning abroad was very enlightening for him, as the experience helped him learn more about himself and enhanced his skills in post-grad endeavors.
“This was an incredible experience,” Davis said. “I learned a lot about my strengths and weaknesses working abroad. I completely recommend this experience to anyone who is looking to boost their resume and wants to go abroad while doing so.”
Whether you’re someone who’s looking to travel across the world or looking to stay a couple of minutes from campus, there’s likely an internship for you.
“I’m interested in working at a daycare or babysitting in Harrisonburg,” freshman Caroline Keating said. “My major is elementary education, so I think that spending time around kids will prepare me even more for one day when I’m teaching in the classroom.”
JMU offers on-campus internships tailored to students in different majors, such as nursing, education and sports within the university and hospitality through Hotel Madison. Each internship may look very different depending on what the work entails.
“Day-to-day work for me is always preparation for whenever our next home game is,” said senior sports and recreation management major Ania Ellis, who is interning with JMU football’s on-campus recruiting.
Sometimes an internship will be a lot of work to manage while also being a full-time student, but it’s a learning experience in preparation for the busy world ahead.
“When it’s not a game week, we send out game-day invites to recruits and organize questionnaires they’ve filled out,” Ellis said. “Game-day weeks get super busy between official visits and unofficial visits. I help set up the Robert & Frances Plecker Athletic Performance Center. Then we show them to the stands where we sit for the game and help with any questions and anything else they may need.”
The process of finding an internship can be explored through JMU’s Career Center. Other times, students find internships when they least expect to.
“I found this internship because I completed a practicum with JMU Athletics last fall, and I was around other positions throughout the football season,” Ellis said. “Recruiting was really intriguing to me, so I saw the opportunity and went for it.”
Sometimes, an internship may not be the one you expect, but experiencing it lets you know if you enjoy it or not.
“This internship is everything I want to have in my future career,” Ellis said. “As a sports management major, there are so many directions I can take my degree, and I’ve experienced different work opportunities in different directions of the field, but recruiting has been my favorite by far, and I would love to pursue a career similar to this after graduation.”
CONTACT Avajosephine D’Angelo at dange2ax@dukes.jmu.edu. For more on the culture, arts and lifestyle of the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the culture desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and Instagram @BreezeJMU.
By GRACE SAWYER The Breeze
For many students, college is the first time they’re living alone and navigating the complexities of getting a degree, finding healthy routines, making new friends and working — all while balancing other aspects of life. As amazing as these opportunities can be, they can also present many challenges that can be hard to overcome without support.
Mental health is a massive part of overall wellness, but it can be difficult to recognize when someone, including yourself, is struggling. There’s also a stigma surrounding getting mental health help, which can unfortunately deter individuals from receiving the support they need. However, many people and organizations, like educationoriented campaign, Make It OK, are working to break this stigma by providing resources, advice and incentives to remove the embarrassment that can surround mental illness and instead support mental health awareness. Make It OK is an organization that hosts educational events, connects people who want to share and talk about their stories, and collects signatures pledging to break the stigma.
Mental illness can be something that people struggle with from a young age. It can depend on a person’s environmental conditions or be a result of an incident or trauma. Half of all mental health disorders in adulthood start by age 14, according to the World Health Organization. Regardless of what someone is struggling with or why, getting help for mental health can greatly improve quality of life, productivity and functionality. It’s nothing to be ashamed of.
Dukes have a wide array of resources at their disposal to get the mental health support they need.
One of the most used resources is the counseling center. The JMU Counseling Center — full of highly educated, welcoming staff — can be found on the third floor of the Student Success Center (SSC) and provides a range of services, such as individual and group counseling, workshops, Sexual Trauma Empowerment Programs (STEP), self-care spaces, equine-assisted psychotherapy and more. Many students are aware of the individual and group counseling sessions, but the other resources may come as a surprise.
“Whatever they pursue, they have to pursue it with passion.”
Laura
Katzman
on the most important thing to teach students
Art history professor
from KATZMAN, page 10
Junior nursing major Alana Provenzali said that based on her experiences taking classes with Katzman, she felt Katzman isn’t only passionate about her research but also educating in a constructive and friendly way.
“She really impacted us in that way where you didn’t feel like you were just going to a classroom to just learn,” Provenzali said. “It almost made you feel at home.”
Katzman will be speaking on her essay at the National Portrait Gallery on Oct. 15 to a crowd including Susan Homar, the daughter of Lorenzo Homar. Other projects she’s working on include “Mining the Archive: Photography, Modernity, and the Office of Information for Puerto Rico,” a book with further research into documentary photography in Puerto Rico during the 1940s, building on the research from the Shahn exhibition and her essay on “Cine Alba.”
As a researcher passionate about educating students, she hopes she’ll have the chance to interact with more students as a fellow professor in SADAH — which is developing a museum studies minor.
“The work is so soul-enriching and so rewarding,” Katzman said. “I basically get paid to teach people about art. To exhibit exhibitions about amazing artists that can teach us so much about society and humanity, the rewards are not monetary but intellectual and fulfilling in other personal and emotional ways.”
CONTACT Jacob Nordfelt at nordfejp@jmu.dukes.edu.
For more on the culture, arts and lifestyle of the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the culture desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and Instagram @BreezeJMU.
EDITORS Hayden Hundley & Preston Comer
By PRESTON COMER The Breeze
On Oct. 16, 2021, JMU football traveled to Richmond after losing its first game of the season in a 28-27 nailbiter against Villanova. While there, the Dukes tallied a commanding 19-3 win over the Spiders.
That game’s outcome didn’t just add another win on the season, but also one of JMU’s most impactful defensive players.
Class of 2022 Richmond football commit Jacob Thomas was in attendance to watch his future team play — he just didn’t know that his future team would end up being the Spiders’ opponent.
“It was a home game for Richmond, so I was expecting it to be loud and a lot of people there,” now-JMU junior safety Thomas said. “But there were more JMU [fans] there and I got to see the atmosphere and how the fans are and how they really play.”
Following the game, Thomas said he thought “really hard” before decommitting from Richmond for JMU.
Fast-forward to the present, and Thomas has cemented himself as one of the best safeties in the Group of 5. But before making a name for himself in Harrisonburg, Thomas was a standout dual-sport athlete at Stone Bridge High School in Ashburn.
As a high school freshman, Thomas didn’t play safety, let alone any defense — he was a quarterback.
It wasn’t until his sophomore and junior years that he started playing safety, but Thomas was still taking occasional snaps as a quarterback — and even as Stone Bridge’s “X” receiver.
Stone Bridge football won back-to-back Class 5 state championships in 2020 and 2021 — Thomas’ junior and senior years. Both wins came down to the game’s final play, and both were won in walk-off fashion with Thomas scoring a touchdown. Both were offensive touchdowns but happened differently.
In 2020, Thomas led the Bulldogs past Highland Springs with a one-handed touchdown reception to seal the deal 1310 on the last play of overtime. Just one year later, he threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Zeke Wimbush — now a redshirt freshman tight end for Virginia Tech — to beat Maury 27-21 on the final play of regulation.
“It’s an awesome feeling,” Thomas said, reminiscing about the game-winning touchdowns.
Thomas started playing safety and corner in 2019 — his sophomore season. And according to his father, Richard Thomas, Jacob excelled in the secondary.
“In high school, honestly, there was not a ball that went over top of his head,” Richard said. “Either Jacob was intercepting it, returning it for a touchdown or returning it for a big play. They wouldn’t throw the ball deep at all when Jacob was roaming back there as a free safety or as a strong safety coming down in the box. He had this knack for being around the football at the right time.”
When it came time to hone in on where he would be at the next level, Jacob had to decide what position he would play in college.
“I had a lot of talks with my parents throughout my senior year, just seeing what position I like better,” Jacob said. “I was getting recruited for playing safety by multiple schools and [was] not really getting looked at as a quarterback or any other position. So I was like, ‘Why not just try this safety things out and just go from there’.”
Jacob’s parents said that Morgan State actually looked at him as a quarterback, while Emory & Henry University looked at him as an athlete, because “they didn’t know exactly what they wanted him to do … but they wanted him to just play there.”
After decommitting from Richmond, Jacob committed to JMU as a safety and walk-on. Jacob played his first two seasons as a Duke without a scholarship, even though he started at safety last season.
JMU head coach Bob Chesney gave Thomas the scholarship, but Jacob was originally unsure of his future with the Dukes with all of the coaching turnover.
“We told Jacob we wanted to support what he was going through,” his mother, Geraldine Thomas, said about Jacob deciding to stay at JMU. “I know Jacob is one that likes familiarity and a sense of … being in a routine. We told Jacob to at least listen to what [Chesney] had to say. Give him a chance and see what it’s like.”
Jacob gave Chesney a chance and decided to stay. It paid off when Chesney gave him a scholarship.
“I wish I got it a little bit sooner, but it shows that even if you’re a walk-on, it doesn’t matter as long as you get an opportunity and show what you’re capable of,” Jacob said. “I feel like coming in [to JMU], I had a little bit of a chip on my shoulder knowing what I did in high school … It was awesome finally getting a scholarship from Chesney and [was] just a relief for my parents.”
His compassion about his parents’ relief represents how much the Thomas’ value family. Their matching tattoos are a testament to that — an infinity sign with the word “family” that Jacob has on his right inner bicep.
The Thomas family got their tattoos during the COVID pandemic together. Richard said it’s because they “all believe in family first.”
“They mean everything,” Jacob said. “I get my work ethic from my dad and my mom. My parents are my biggest reason and are why I do everything I do, and I just want to make them proud at the end of the day.”
Jacob has an older brother, Jalen, who he said has “gone through some stuff and had hardships, but he’s come out on
the other side,” and they’ve been reconnecting.
Now as a junior, Jacob has been a staple of JMU’s defense. He was named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Third Team — and has shown why through his production. Jacob already has four tackles for a loss and two interceptions just five games into the season.
“He’s like our security blanket,” JMU redshirt junior safety Kye Holmes said of Jacob. “You can always rely on him to make that one tackle, get that one play made. I just love having him out there next to me.”
Jacob earned a starting spot his sophomore year, but he’s made a big splash this season.
“[My growth] really started with conversations with Chesney and the safeties coach, [Anthony DiMichelle],” Jacob said. “But it really wasn’t about any of the play on the field, it was more about, ‘How are you going to lead this team?’”
Jacob also feels that his technique and ability to read an offense has improved from how much time he’s spent watching the film. Regardless of his impact — and still having a year of eligibility left to play after this season — Jacob hasn’t forgotten what brought him to this point: his family.
“I don’t know if I would be here today without them,” Jacob said.
CONTACT Preston Comer at breezesports@gmail.com. For more football coverage, follow the sports desk on X and Instagram @TheBreezeSports.
By MAEGHAN STOCKLI The Breeze
In the eyes of JMU field hockey head coach Christy Morgan, there isn’t a lot that fifth-year midfielder Carissa Tambroni can’t do.
Since joining the Dukes, she’s played every position on the field, including goalie, which Morgan said shows coachability and willingness to be a team player. Tambroni even tried her luck as a striker this season and scored the first two goals of her career — one during JMU’s first game of the season on Aug. 30 against Villanova, and her second on Sept. 29 against Queens.
Tambroni’s versatility stood out to her teammates and coaches.
“When she goes into different positions, she understands the game enough to make the adjustments based on the needs of the team in the moment,” Morgan said.
She didn’t always want to play field hockey at the collegiate level. Originally, she wanted to play lacrosse.
Tambroni said she didn’t touch a field hockey stick until she was 13 years old because she didn’t know enough about the sport. Even after discovering the game, she was seemingly still all in when it came to her then-favorite sport, lacrosse.
During her junior year of high school, Tambroni started getting burnt out from lacrosse and turned to field hockey. She then attended a field hockey camp at JMU, which she said sealed the deal for her collegiate future.
Tambroni grew up in a competitive atmosphere. Her mom also played field hockey in college and her dad, Jeff, is the head men’s lacrosse coach at Penn State. Sports seems to run in the family, as they carry that on with all of their children who play, or are going to play, sports at the collegiate level.
Her younger sister, Madison, is a junior midfielder at Penn State, and her youngest sister, Ella, is committed to play field hockey at Michigan State. For the Tambroni family, no matter what they decide to succeed in, they fully support each other.
“They didn’t care if I was into dance or band or arts and media … whatever I was doing, they just wanted me to do it to the best of my ability,” Tambroni said.
While she’s proven herself as a field hockey player, Tambroni also shows out off the field. She made the Dean’s list and was named Athletic Director’s Scholar-Athlete all four years at JMU.
“Her commitment to that growth is my favorite thing, because some people think they have arrived and, you know
what? We never arrive, there’s a lot more, and [Tambroni] believes that and lives that,” Morgan said.
She also held a leadership position on JMU’s StudentAthlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) during the 2023-24 academic year. JMU SAAC is an organization with studentathlete leaders that act as athletes’ voice for JMU Athletic administration. Tambroni said she’s always wanted to help student-athletes on campus by setting them up for life after sports. Even during her final months at JMU, she still interns with SAAC.
“I love what SAAC stands for and how much of an impact that we have on student-athletes, especially being their voice when sometimes they don’t know who to talk to or go to for a certain situation,” Tambroni said.
Since becoming a captain, she’s taken the role in stride — for example, she trained with redshirt freshman goalie Molly Schreiner this summer and helped get her to be in a starting position.
Graduate midfielder Mia Julian, has been close with Tambroni since they both arrived on campus and have watched each other grow over the years. They were freshman-year roommates and are still roommates now. They’ve grown closer over the years to create a strong connection to take onto the field as well.
“I’ve played with [Tambroni] since freshman year,” Julian said. “And it just makes me so happy to see her have success and grow into the player that I know she’s always had the potential to be — both becoming a leader and such a presence on the field.”
Even with the experience and leadership she brings to her team, Tambroni still walks with humility.
“I could not have done it without the support of others … the coaches have so much belief in me and have literally crafted my position to fit my strengths,” Tambroni said.
With the Dukes playing in a conference — MAC — for the first time in three seasons, Tambroni has one goal to work toward: a conference championship. Tambroni said she understands what a MAC championship could mean for her team, while simultaneously appreciating the few months she has left as a Duke.
“I only have four more months, so [I’m] just being grateful for being here, being grateful for the opportunity to play, being grateful for the opportunity to learn new skills that maybe I haven’t learned in the past four years,” Tambroni said. “I try to just be a light for everyone else.”
As for what Tambroni hopes for her future, she wants to become a Division I field hockey coach. She plans on applying in December for open positions.
Until then, she wants to help her mom coach “Blue
— a club field hockey team located in State College, Pa., that her mom co-founded — and spend time with her sister before she leaves for Michigan State. CONTACT
EDITOR EMAIL breezeopinion@gmail.com
Maya Skurski
Want to praise someone or get something off your chest? Darts & Pats is the place to do it. Submit your own at breezejmu.org.
A “Goo-Gone” dart to people who place stickers on elevator doors around campus.
From someone who values the First Amendment but feels bad for the janitorial staff.
A “glass-not-full” dart to the Lakeside Pepsi machine for only ever having Cheerwine or diet drinks in stock.
From someone who doesn ’t care about the Coke product debate and just wants some Mountain Dew.
A “thank-you” pat to the one and only Beyoncé.
From someone who just wants to stay safe.
A “bee-have” dart to the extreme amount of bees in the air recently.
From a student who wants to save them but is tired of being swarmed.
ELANA LEICHTY | contributing columnist
Throughout the school year, dining hall conversations ebb and flow between class schedules and dorm life, often with a common question emanating: “Are you worried about the ‘freshman 15’?” Some chuckle; others uneasily push their plates away. The threat of gaining weight lingers, albeit the guarantee of gaining 15 pounds during freshman year has been debunked.
A recent article from Arizona State University found the average annual weight gain for college freshmen is 3.2 pounds — a far cry from the long-standing myth. Yet this infamous misconception drives some students to adopt restrictive habits in an attempt to sidestep what they’ve been led to believe is inevitable.
In reality, factors such as alcohol consumption — particularly drinking during social events — play a significant role. With their newfound freedom, freshmen often engage in this behavior, making alcohol the primary contributor to any weight gain. However, it’s not irregular for young adults to experience weight fluctuation.
Erin Williams, a counselor at JMU, warns that students feeling this pressure may engage in disordered eating behaviors like skipping meals or over-exercising. This can often accumulate to the point of exhaustion and cause organ, bone and muscular damage.
“Simply discussing the concept of the ‘freshman 15’ as an issue of concern communicates that a certain type of body image is the desired goal, and not maintaining it would be problematic,” Williams said.
Freshman Julian Lam has noticed this pressure among his peers.
“People definitely worry about the ‘freshman 15,’” Lam said. “My friends joke about it sometimes, but it’s still in the back of people’s minds.”
Eating disorders, such as anorexia, bulimia and orthorexia, often begin with behaviors that could easily be mistaken as harmless. People may restrict or eliminate entire categories of food under the guise of becoming “healthier.” Heather Harris, a dietitian at JMU, noted that warning signs include students who regularly skip meals, experience guilt after eating or are secretive about their eating.
Both Harris and Williams insist on balance rather than restriction to maintain health.
“Focus on the foundations of eating every three-to-four hours during the day [and] aim to incorporate at least three food groups at meals and at least two food groups at snacks,” Harris said.
Harris notes that stress can trigger disordered eating patterns; some students tend to lose their appetite or binge when overwhelmed. This often spikes during the school year, with food used as a coping mechanism against heaps of culminating exams and schoolwork. Casual jokes about “stress-eating” or eating nothing at all due to the demands of workload and daily life are common.
The pervasive cultural emphasis on body image has made dysfunctional eating normalized, even idealistic. Many students remain unaware of their toxic eating habits, surrounded by a multitude of people who chronically diet, cut out entire food groups or obsessively count calories.
“Ideal body images are often unrealistic but are portrayed as the goal to strive towards,” Williams said. “However, because body image ideals are unattainable, a person is often left feeling unworthy when they cannot achieve a certain image.”
This pressure is particularly pronounced in Greek life, especially in freshman girls eager to make a good impression. Many girls intentionally eat less to project a specific image that they see amplified by the “picture-perfect” people around them.
Gender also significantly impacts how eating habits are perceived or performed. For example, men — most often within gym culture — are praised for their extreme devotion to fitness regimes, such as bulking and cutting cycles. While these practices may look disciplined and goal-oriented, they often include negative misconceptions and relationships with food.
These behaviors are simply put under the guise of “performance enhancement.” The cultural reverence for so-called “gym bros” further justifies these extreme efforts to achieve an ideal physique. This obscures the potential real harm behind such regimens.
Social media outlets, including Instagram and TikTok, frequently display unrealistic beauty ideals and health advice that promotes restrictive behaviors. Often, this makes it trickier for students to recognize when they veer into dangerous territory. Trends are marketed as part of a broader lifestyle focused on “clean eating” or “detoxing.”
“Does this content bring me joy or misery?" — Williams advises students to ask themselves when engaging with such media. It’s crucial to shut out this unnecessary toxicity when possible.
Recognizing disordered eating patterns early is critical to prevent a full-fledged eating disorder. Harris suggests that students look for giveaways such as avoiding social situations that involve food, feeling anxious about eating certain types of food or feeling guilty after meals. If students notice these signs in themselves or others, it’s important to reach out for help.
JMU offers several resources for students struggling with disordered eating or body image issues. The UHC Nutrition Clinic and HOPE (Help Overcome Problems with Eating and Exercise) provide support, including one-on-one counseling, group programs and workshops on intuitive eating and body positivity. UREC cooking classes can also help students garner ideas for balanced meals.
“My hope is that we normalize the body changes that occur naturally during young adulthood,” Harris said. “Instead of fearing or judging these changes, students should focus on overall wellness.”
Rather than scrutinizing physical development, students should maintain a balanced lifestyle rooted in self-compassion. This approach allows greater confidence while undergoing natural shifts.
“It is normal, natural and even beneficial for our bodies to experience some small changes during the college and post-college years,” Harris said.
For those unsure whether their weight changes are typical, Harris suggests scheduling an appointment with a dietitian or medical provider for guidance.
While the ‘freshman 15’ is more myth than reality, its effects can be harmful. By promoting wellness over weight and focusing on healthy habits, students can avoid falling into the disordered eating trap.
“Don’t stress about weight gain. Focus on staying healthy,” Lam said.
Prioritizing overall well-being is key to navigating the challenges of college life.
CONTACT Elana Leichty at leichtek@dukes.jmu.edu. For more editorials regarding the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the opinion desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @BreezeJMU.
On Oct. 1, 2017, tragedy struck in Las Vegas when a gunman opened fire on the Route 91 Harvest Festival; 60 people lost their lives as a result, and hundreds were injured. This is considered to be the worst mass shooting by a single civilian in United States history. The shooter was a deeply disturbed individual who had a history of drug and alcohol abuse. The guns he used varied, but in particular, he used bump stocks — an attachment that can make a semi-automatic style rifle fire at a speed that almost matches a fully automatic rifle.
Following the shooting, in 2018, the ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives) — which had previously not defined a bump-stocked semi-automatic rifle as a machine gun — reversed course under the guidance of the Trump administration. This made those who owned bump stocks in violation of the 1986 act banning fully automatic weapons, making it imperative for them to turn in their bump stocks or face prison time.
In June, however, the Supreme Court ruled the ban unconstitutional in Garland v. Cargill. In this case, a man named Michael Cargill, who happened to own bump stocks, surrendered them and promptly filed a lawsuit, arguing the ATF overstepped its boundaries. The point of this case was to determine if a bump stock can be classified as a machine gun. Under the current definition of a bump stock in federal law, a machine gun is “any weapon which shoots, is designed to shoot, or can be readily restored to shoot, automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger.”
In Garland v. Cargill, the conservative majority on the Supreme Court found that bump stocks didn’t meet this definition. While they greatly enhance the features of a semi-automatic weapon, they still require the individual to manually pull the trigger for each new shot. A fully automatic machine gun, unlike bumpstocked semi-automatics, doesn’t require pulling the trigger multiple times in order to fire multiple shots. Instead, one can keep their finger on the trigger and shots will fire. In her dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, joined by Justice Kagan and Justice Jackson, argued that the majority adopts a narrow view of what a machine gun is, which they claim is unsupported by evidence.
Personally, I take the same view of the majority, despite my usual disagreement with conservative views on most issues. But
in this case, the conservative majority in my opinion takes the correct view, putting the Executive Branch, as well as unelected bureaucracies like the ATF, in check.
Matt Hill from the Harrisonburg-based gun store Liberty Arms also sides with the Supreme Court’s decision.
“I don’t think the ATF should be allowed to make federal laws, they were never set that way,” Hill said. “I definitely agree with overturning the ban. For years, bump stocks were legal, and then for the organization to suddenly decide it is an illegal firearm because it is fully automatic is not okay … An attachment to the gun should not make the gun itself illegal.”
Justice Alito, despite being considered one of the most conservative justices on the bench right now, wrote a concurring opinion arguing that should Congress please, it has every right to amend the definition of a machine gun in order to make it possible to classify bump stocks as machine guns. Democrats and liberal-minded individuals across the country expressed their dismay with the conservative supermajorities ruling in favor of Cargill, citing concerns about the potential for gun violence to become worse than it already is.
This sets a precedent that the bureaucracies in government need congressional approval first in order to redefine something already set in stone. This is seen in many different cases aside from bump stocks, such as decisions on those suffering mental illnesses, like the court decision in O’Connor v. Donaldson. The Cargill decision further enshrines this doctrine.
Along with all that, Donald Trump has a bold plan to make sure that his Executive Branch is in full lock with his agenda, should he be elected for a second term. Trump has publicly attempted to distance himself from Project 2025, which was formulated by the Heritage Foundation and would heavily consolidate the Executive Branch’s power and allow for a more cohesive process for firing bureaucrats in various departments. Despite this, the Heritage Foundation said in an article from 2018 that Trump has embraced their policy proposals and plans before. A task such as that seen in Project 2025 would make for a far more effective Executive Branch that would have more power than it ever has before.
EMMA CURRIE | Breeze columnist
Growing up and deciding to leave home can be one of the most rewarding feelings. Knowing that the trials and tribulations of the first 18 (or so) years of life have passed and that a new chapter is starting relieves a certain kind of stress only some people understand. While this may be an exciting experience for some, others often experience guilt for leaving their families and hometowns — or having an opportunity other family members didn’t.
Many students feel this way when they’re a first-generation student, meaning that their parents didn’t receive a degree from a university, so they’re the first person in their family to attend college, regardless of other family members’ education levels. Many of these students feel that extra pressure is put on them to succeed in these situations. This is because it feels like the success isn’t just for them — it’s for the entire family or community.
While some may believe a first-generation student is a success for many, others see it in a more negative light. Some people believe these students lack the knowledge other college students have or that they’re more likely to drop out before graduation.
These feelings of guilt can begin as soon as applying to college; not knowing the process of applying for schools or financial aid can be overwhelming. Without any guidance from the people closest to you, this new season of life can be tricky to navigate.
In senior Briana Lopez’s experience, being a first-generation student at JMU has come with three big stressors, in no particular order. The first one is learning time management.
“Trying to learn how to manage my time on my own, just cause I haven’t had someone go to college that I know that’s following the same path as me and kind of know, what I’m going through,” Lopez said.
The second setback is dealing with finances and setting up her schedule.
“Learning how to navigate the financial aspect for my family, for my parents to pay it off,”
Lopez said, “I do … that along with dealing with navigating through financial aid on my own, looking for scholarships, which is actually really hard to do.”
For the third stressor, Lopez said that over the past couple of years, she has learned that looking for resources on your own is tough.
“Learning how to find resources on campus by myself when I didn’t really know who to ask, like resume-building and cover letters, looking for jobs and internships,” Lopez said. “I don’t have anyone in my family who has gone down the same path as me and gone to college.”
Finding these resources and having to research volunteer opportunities for oneself can be a heavy burden, but Lopez has
flourished. Lopez has taken advantage of the career fairs JMU offers. While it hasn’t always been geared toward her, she’s participated to the best of her ability.
At the beginning of her college experience, Lopez found herself asking, “Where do I go from here?” and, “What’s a smart way to find scholarships?” simply because those around her were not going down the same path, or they were also unaware of the correct steps to take.
Lopez’s experience doesn’t stand alone, however. JMU offers a First-Gen program that consists of networking opportunities, academic workshops, study abroad programs and spaces for first-gen students to study, rest or collaborate. Lopez didn’t take advantage of these resources because of schedule conflicts and events being held on the opposite end of campus that she was in, which felt inconvenient.
Being a first-generation student can place a heavy weight on a person’s shoulders, and a negative support system can place an even heavier weight on said shoulders. Oftentimes, first-gen students hear backlash about their ability to succeed from those around them. In Lopez’s experience, some of the most common stereotypes include first-generation students only being multiracial and that they come from families of immigrants.
One of Lopez’s roommates proved this stereotype to be wrong, as her parents and grandparents are both originally from the U.S. Lopez also said that a previous chemistry professor she had was also a first-generation student.
“I would have never guessed that he was a first-generation student,” Lopez said. “That professor was successful and he became a professor in organic chemistry, which is something he enjoys, which is not something that is typically seen.”
From Lopez’s standpoint, so far in her college experience, she hasn’t had any negative backlash from being a firstgeneration student. However, she said it’s been difficult to manage at times.
“You’re trying to be a student, but also provide for yourself and learn, and help your family provide for you — which makes it more stressful because you’re not just focusing on school and trying to maintain a social life,” Lopez said. “Trying to help your parents out anyway that you can, so that you can stay in college and they can continue providing for you.”
All in all, it’s clear that being a first-gen student seems to come with many challenges. Leaving home for the first time, managing one’s own finances and adjusting to a new way of life without experience and lack of guidance are just a sliver of the challenges first-gen students can experience.
With all of this being said, Lopez suggests that first-gen students become involved on campus as much as they can and reach out to the resources offered.
see FIRST-GENERATION, page 20
from BUMP STOCK BAN, page 19
Such a powerful executive would emphasize all the more the importance of the fundamental checks and balances that the Founding Fathers intended. The same goes for Vice President Kamala Harris, who’s expressed a desire to send the government into the homes of lawful gun owners. Such an undertaking shouldn’t be allowed, or, at the very least, not be allowed solely on executive action.
The decision in Cargill sets a tone that the Executive Branch cannot merely bend words — or fit in similar items of interest to what they want to prohibit/permit or execute — rather, Congress needs to step in with matters where the definition is more vague. Justice Alito makes it clear in his concurring opinion that Congress may step in if they wish to amend a U.S. code, and the Executive Branch and its agencies will just need to wait or deal with the fact that they can’t do anything should Congress decide not to amend a U.S. statute.
Ultimately, I believe freedom takes precedence over security. This is not to say security doesn’t matter. Addressing gun violence is something that needs to be done, but is going to require a multifaceted approach. A mix of improved mental health infrastructure, as well as increased intervention in the issues, is paramount to the success of ending gun violence. Along with that, in the context of schools, increasing school security is also important and necessary. Finally, regulations surrounding gun ownership are elements that need to be put in place, such as increasing the effectiveness of red flag
laws, as well as background checks. What might be sufficient isn’t always completely necessary, such as the banning of assault rifles or bump stocks. Though restrictions are necessary, it isn’t a direct reason to take away from the freedom given to Americans by the right to bear arms. Bump stocks, on the other hand, should definitely be harder to access, but that should not be determined through unconstitutional means like what the ATF did in 2018. Ultimately, though, it comes down to the person holding the gun more than what gun they have. A deeply disturbed individual with an age-old-style revolver is more likely to be the perpetrator of a mass shooting than a stable individual with an AR-15. When we enact any policy or amend any code, we must make sure that we’re approaching it with the Constitution, and the liberties of the American populace, in mind.
This is why I reject the premise that the government should be allowed to scope outside the Constitution due to the fact that it may appear “effective” or “necessary.” My hope is that the Cargill decision will help to keep the Executive Branch in check and that those originally opposed to the Cargill decision will embrace it in the future. Even if someone is opposed to the Second Amendment, they should appreciate the other implications this decision has on a broader scale.
CONTACT Patrick Hanover at hanovepv@dukes.jmu.edu For more editorials regarding the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the opinion desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @BreezeJMU.
from FIRST-GENERATION, page 19
Lopez is part of the LatinX Student Alliance at JMU, which has allowed her to meet students with similar experiences to her as well as keep friends. Lopez also encourages incoming first-gen students to do research in their field and take advantage of first-
generation organizations, such as the firstgen lounge on the Student Success Center’s second floor.
“Find ways to help yourself and figure out how to better navigate through college,” Lopez said. “Just try to learn to manage your time and having to go through school, maintaining a social life and having to deal with finances, although I’m not sure all students have to go through this.”
The biggest lesson that Lopez has learned since being at college is to not be afraid to ask for help.
“Whether it’s help with classes or building your resumé or figuring out how to use Free Application for Federal Student Aid, resources are here, which is great. It is all a matter of looking for them and putting yourself out there,” Lopez said. “It can differ for everyone for what first-gen is seen as, because first-gen is just the first time in someone’s family that’s going to college and getting that degree that their parents or grandparents didn’t do.”
Whether the family didn’t go to college by choice or they didn’t have the opportunities that many students are now provided, it’s important to realize that everyone is in control of their future. While society has built these stereotypes into place, it’s not impossible to break them. As Lopez said, “If you’re able to break out of your shell early on, that’s going to take you so far in college with becoming a successful academic student.”
CONTACT Emma Currie at currieeg@dukes.jmu.edu For more editorials regarding the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the opinion desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @BreezeJMU.
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SUNDAY - THURSDAY 11:00 AM TO 9:00 PM FRIDAY & SATURDAY 11:00 AM TO 10:00 PM
By Bettina Elias Siegel & Dan Elias
Some MIT grads
Williams work
Promote
Switzerland’s __ Léman
Still waiting for a callback?
Picasso sculpture subject
School songs
Words to live by
Beginner’s book
Comedian Delaney
“Yes!”
Propeller part
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Election advice from young Grace Bedell to Mr. Lincoln
Fairy __: cotton candy, in Australia
30 “The Pianist” Oscar winner
Word with blood or water
Firmly fixed
Pre-euro Spanish coins 37 Impressionist painter born in Allegheny, Pennsylvania
Surfer’s need
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The Breeze, JMU’s award-winning student media organization, seeks a student graphic designer for print and online advertising. Job requirements include creating ads fro clients, collaboration with Advertising coordinator, page layout and design. Must be deadline oriented. Knowledge of Adobe software and previous design experience. EOE. Apply at jobs.jmu.edu
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Have you ever thought about becoming a first responder in public safety but desire a position that is office-based? Consider applying with the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Emergency Communications Center (HRECC) to become a 911 Emergency Communications Officer. No prior experience is required (on-the-job training is provided).
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The best place for banking isn’t a bank at all!
CommonWealth One is JMU’s trusted, full-service credit union, and student banking is better here. We’re conveniently located on campus and offer everything you might need financially as a student. What we don’t have? Excessive and unnecessary fees.
When it comes to handling your finances as a student, we’ve got your back with:
The secret is out – CommonWealth One is here to help you thrive financially at JMU.
To open an account or learn more about JMU Student Perks, which include special events, free food and prizes, visit cofcu.org/DUKES or stop by our branch in The Union (next to the post office)
The Union (Next to the Post Office) Monday – Friday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm