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october 21, 2021 VOL. 100 NO.10 BREEZEJMU.ORG
Dukes behind the desk paper’s headline ah yeah
HCPS collaborates with JMU in wake of critical teaching shortage By MCKINLEY MIHAILOFF The Breeze
Annette Fornadel, a dual-language kindergarten teacher at Keister Elementary School in Harrisonburg, always knew she wanted to be a teacher. What she didn’t know was that a growing critical need for teachers would impact her career — along with many others. After transitioning back to in-person classes this fall, the strain placed on teachers has become evident. “There are perfectly wonderful teachers who are resigning and possibly looking for other lines of work because they can’t even go to the bathroom during the day,” Catherine Coulter, the former president of the Harrisonburg Education Association, said at the Sept. 21 Harrisonburg City Public Schools (HCPS) school board meeting. “When a teacher is told they have to eat lunch with their children and their planning time is taken up with a meeting, they have no break whatsoever, and that to me is criminal.” That’s what led Fornadel to stand before the HCPS school board and ask for their approval of an Exigency Plan that would alleviate some of the time pressure on teachers. “The demands on teachers across the nation are higher than they ever have been,” Fornadel said. “I felt like, and I think a lot of my colleagues felt like, we were tired at the beginning of school already. We worked so hard in new circumstances that I felt like it was really important to be heard at that meeting and to really voice that concern.”
Patrick Lintner, HCPS’ chief academic officer, presented the Exigency Plan to the school board Sept. 21. Lintner cited teacher stress, rising COVID-19 cases and the “critical” need for substitute teachers as a few of the reasons the relief plan was necessary. “Our school staff, administrators, teachers — all staff — are spread thin,” Lintner said at the school board meeting, “and certainly expressing the stress of the challenges of balancing this profession they love with their families and their own mental health.” One provision included in the Exigency Plan was to shorten the school day by an hour. After being approved unanimously by the board, this plan went into effect Oct. 4. Although it’s only been two weeks, Fornadel already sees improvement. She said teachers are using this time to their advantage in order to plan lessons that have been put on hold, communicate with parents and meet with each other. “There’s a lot that happens behind the scenes of teaching, so we get to do all of those things in that hour,” Fornadel said. “It’s been very valuable.” Another provision of the Exigency Plan was to begin the process of hiring permanent substitute teachers, starting with elementary schools. On Oct. 11, an email was sent to all active JMU students in teacher education about informational meetings on becoming HCPS substitute teachers. see PARTNERS, page 6
JMU professor stresses global awareness By EMMA JOHNSON contributing writer
Ken Rutherford has lived numerous lifetimes within his own lifetime. When a landmine overturned Rutherford’s vehicle on a humanitarian trip abroad, he found himself face-to-face with death. “The next thing I know is I went blind,” Rutherford said. Rutherford is a political science professor and former director of the Center for International Stabilization and Recovery at JMU. In 1987, Rutherford began his career working for the Peace Corps in Mauritania, a country in Western Africa. He continued his humanitarian work for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) as an emergency refugee coordinator in Senegal before finally landing in northern Kenya and Somalia working as a humanitarian emergency relief officer. On Oct. 4, 1993 — the day after Black Hawk Down, a failed raid in Somalia’s capital resulting in a helicopter crash that killed 19 American soldiers — a crowd surrounded Rutherford and his staff’s car.
“I was the only American operating in the area,” Rutherford said. “[My staff] backed the car up through the crowd, threw me in and pulled out.” Rutherford’s staff had told the crowd they were Canadian, allowing them to escape the mob unscathed. A week later, his life would change forever.
‘I mentally wrote my eulogy’
It was a Thursday, Rutherford recalled, when he was driving with a team of Somalis. They were traveling to meet a group of returned refugees from Ethiopia. “When I talk about it, I have to go back and think,” Rutherford said. He went through a checklist of memories leading up to his injury, vividly reliving the moment in his head. “Muslims don’t work on a Friday; my life was threatened,” Rutherford said. “The car slowed down, and I looked up and there was a donkey cart in the road,” Rutherford said. Rutherford’s car was in non-U.S. controlled territory when it hit the landmine. He remembers the dust clearing, looking down and seeing someone’s foot on the floorboard. see LEGACY OF PEACE, page 18
When he’s not teaching, Rutherford spends his time advocating for refugees injured by landmines. Photo submitted by Ken Rutherford
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Dukes make their way to Delaware
Does JMU do enough to protect free speech?
JMU football closes out a two-game road trip against No. 23 Delaware, looks to remain undefeated on the road this season
Although the U.S. prides itself on protecting free speech, there are places where these rights come into question — including at public universities
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Health risks on Halloween
JMU is providing students with several COVID-19 testing opportunities prior to fall break. Breeze file photo
JMU implements safety measures in preparation for fall break and “Hallo-weekend”
Thursday, October 21, 2021
By KINGSTON THOMAS contributing writer
JMU’s October consists of two main events: fall break from Oct. 21-25 and Halloween weekend, often called “Hallo-weekend” by students. Last year, JMU hosted Halloween events with standard precautions like mask wearing and social distancing. Almost a year and a half into the pandemic, JMU is still implementing measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. One example of this is COVID-19 testing opportunities for students in the days leading up to fall break. In an email to The Breeze, JMU assistant director of media relations Ginny Cramer said that for fall break, JMU is providing free self-test kits that have two tests each for fall break to students, allowing students to test before traveling and again before returning to campus. The kits were available to pick up at Warren Hall Room 502 at Oct. 18-20 from 1-4 p.m., though students had to reserve their tests ahead of time online.
Additionally, testing is happening at the University Health Center and through walkin tests at Warren Hall Room 502 in the days
leading up to the break. “At home and on campus, we encourage students to continue making safe choices
“I hope people make good decisions, but at the same time, I feel like people are going to do whatever they want to do.” Evan Harrison
Sophomore kinesiology major
to protect their health and that of our community,” Cramer said in the email. “Students should follow the university’s [COVID-19] guidance while enjoying Halloweekend and other events.” Last fall, Tim Miller, vice president for student affairs, participated in a ride-along with the Harrisonburg Police Department on Halloween in order to observe parties violating COVID-19 restrictions hosted by JMU students. Cramer said in an email that Miller plans on conducting one again, with a date to be determined. Junior biotechnology major Victoria Claros said she’s looking forward to fall break and Hallo-weekend and that it’ll be nice to have the opportunity to relax. Claros said she’s not planning on visiting family due to the health risks from dense crowds. However, at the end of the month, she plans on having small get-togethers to celebrate her birthday with her friends. Claros said that while she takes public health seriously, she sets a low bar of expectation that others will do the same.
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NEWS
Fall break, Oct. 21-25, and Halloween weekend, often referred to as “Hallo-weekend” by students, are two major events occurring in October at JMU. Breeze file photo
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fall break. Harrison wasn’t on campus last fall, so he has yet to see what Hallo-weekend is like. He parroted Claros’ and Tidwell’s doubts about the care students will put toward making decisions in the interest of public health. “I feel like people are doing whatever they wanna do, regardless of if they’re here or at home or going to the beach,” Harrison said. “I hope people make good decisions, but at the same time, I feel like people are going to do whatever they want to do.” Harrison said that since everyone was cooped up for so long last year, he sees everyone as willing to do whatever it takes to return to a sense of normalcy but doesn’t feel like people are making the wisest decisions on campus. “It’s a more comfortable feeling that [students] are mostly vaccinated,” Harrison said. “I really think that staff need to encourage students to go get the vaccine. Just remember what got us back on campus originally, and let’s not get away from that.” CONTACT Kingston Thomas at thoma2ks@ dukes.jmu.edu. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on Twitter @BreezeNewsJMU.
Free self-test kits were available to students in Warren Hall before fall break, in addition to walk-in tests. Breeze file photo
Thursday, October 21, 2021
“I think it’s expected to have safety concerns, and it’s sadly not surprising,” Claros said. “I also make sure I’m following the guidelines and taking care of myself so the people around me aren’t victims of [COVID-19]. It would be nice if people took that into consideration more, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it doesn’t happen.” Although it’s fun to spend time with loved ones, Claros said, it’s important to be mindful of the environment and health of others. Sophomore kinesthesiology major Becca Tidwell also said she’s anticipating fall break and Hallo-weekend. She plans on visiting family for the former and won’t be on campus for Hallo-weekend due to training she’s attending for Army ROTC. Tidwell said she believes JMU is doing a good job enforcing safety measures such as mask wearing and socially distancing. She puts less faith, however, in her fellow students. “I’ve never really thought about the safety concerns,” Tidwell said. “[COVID-19 is] still an issue, but I feel like a lot of people kinda avoid [precautions] because they wanna have fun.” Sophomore kinesiology major Evan Harrison said he has mixed feelings about
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Partners in education
Harrisonburg schools seek relief in teacher shortage from TEACHER SHORTAGE, page 1
Thursday, October 21, 2021
“It was a mutual need,” Shawn Printz, HCPS’ director of human resources, said. “I think JMU sees it the same way as us. It’s mutually beneficial — it’s both beneficial to the student and beneficial to Harrisonburg City Schools to provide more substitutes. Students that want to become teachers get that additional experience, and that’s a good thing.” Dara Hall, the executive director of teacher education and student success at JMU, said the emails and informational meetings saw a good turnout from students interested in substituting — a good sign, to her. “We have a really strong partnership with seven local school divisions, and they all are in need, to be honest,” Hall said. The MidValley Consortium is a collaborative effort that includes four institutions of higher education and seven local school divisions. For education students at JMU, practicum is the time in degree programs when students gain experience firsthand in the classroom with different grade levels. Hall said the partnerships fostered through the MidValley Consortium allow students to gain field experience for practicum and student teaching. “Through those strong alliances, they feel very comfortable reaching out to JMU when they need something,” Hall said, “and we feel comfortable reaching out when we have needs.” As the administrative head of the MidValley Consortium, Hall said it’s important to her that JMU can co-partner and work with these school divisions in meaningful ways. “Our students really are stepping up in order to help with this critical need in our schools,” Hall said. “It really speaks to the
quality of students that we have.” Although these informational meetings have been held for College of Education students, Hall said she believes that picture can be expanded. “I think that it would be wonderful if the JMU community at large could step up knowing that there is a tremendous need in our local schools for volunteers to substitute teachers,” Hall said. “It’s not only education students that have that opportunity to apply to those positions.” Printz also encouraged anyone interested to reach out. “We’re more than willing to have JMU students and others join our substitute ranks,” Printz said. “We’re looking for substitutes, and then we’re looking for after students graduate to become teachers. So, it’s a good way of working into a teaching role as well.” Hannah Peters, a sophomore elementary education major, has experience working as a substitute teacher in Loudoun County, Virginia, and now plans to continue that in Rockingham County. “I loved working as a substitute,” Peters said. “I really enjoyed being in the classroom and engaging with students and getting experience firsthand with students. It was a great experience, and it motivates me to be a teacher even more.” Peters said that when she received the email about substitute teaching, she was thrilled. She said she looks forward to education students being able to gain experience in the classroom before beginning practicum, while also helping with the current need for teachers. Peters, like Printz and Hall, said she hopes students will embrace these options. “I would encourage other people to jump on this opportunity,” Peters said. “It’s really great that, as college students, we’re able to
start actually helping in schools before we get our teaching licenses and go into the classroom long term.” Along with looking for substitute teachers, there are other ways that students can help local schools. Advancement via Individual Determination (AVID) tutoring is one example of this. Maria Fuentes, a junior middle grades education major, said AVID allows her to tutor children in all subject areas at Harrisonburg High School (HHS). It’s a program geared toward preparing students to go to college through practicing for the SAT, looking into different colleges and reviewing graduation requirements. Similarly to Peters, Fuentes was also inspired to pursue a career in teaching through her K-12 experiences. “I had a really hard home life and was really supported and encouraged by teachers,” Fuentes said. Fuentes said she’s passionate about learning and educating people but she also thinks having relationships with them will allow her to help students and impact their lives in a positive way — just like teachers have done for her in the past. Like Fornadel, Peters said she’s known she wants to teach for most of her life. The current need for teachers is also something on her mind, she said, looking to her own future. “I think about the labor shortage a lot,” Peters said. “It makes me very sad that a lot of people don’t want to become teachers since it doesn’t pay a lot and is a lot of hard work — but it also makes me excited to become a teacher and help solve the problem, even if it’s in a small way.” Fuentes also said she has concerns about what her career will look like when taking the teaching shortage into account, especially with what she’s seen through AVID tutoring.
“The teacher and substitute shortage scares me for when I get a job after college,” Fuentes said. “Am I going to end up really liking my career, or will I feel really burnt out by all of the responsibilities that I’m given?” Considering the current need from local schools, Fuentes also said she urges JMU students to help with this struggle, “whatever that means.” “Whether that means subbing for half a day or a whole day or doing tutoring,” Fuentes said, “if you are in the COE this is a great experience that you can obtain with all the opportunities that are given.” Even with the uncertainty of the future, Fuentes said her experience working with local schools has offered her invaluable experiences — specifically, when she can see her presence is helping students learn. “That moment when everything kind of clicks and I see that spark is really cool,” Fuentes said. “Seeing the students work collaboratively to help each other is the best experience I’ve had working with AVID in HHS.” Presently, Fornadel believes all the different pieces of the Exigency Plan are working together for the better in the face of this critical need for teachers. “We’re lucky enough to have a school board and administration that heard our concerns and did a brave thing to support their teachers in this way,” Fornadel said. “I’m grateful that our school board gave us this time and mental space to do the work that we needed to do so we could continue through the year. I feel supported.” CONTACT McKinley Mihailoff at mihailmx@ dukes.jmu.edu. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on Twitter @BreezeNewsJMU.
Fuentes said the current teacher shortage has her worried about her career, but she’s thankful for her experiences working with local schools. Christine Brady / The Breeze
NEWS Ashlyn Graphics by
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Politicians on tour Traveling town hall for the 26th district delegate race comes to JMU
By JJ HENSLEY The Breeze
Nearing the end of their races, 26th District Virginia House of Delegates candidates Tony Wilt (R) and William “Bill” Helsley (D) held town halls at the Student Success Center (SSC), Grace Street Apartments and Chesapeake Hall Oct. 18. Wilt, the incumbent, is currently in his fifth term as the 26th representative for the House of Delegates. He’s a member of the Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources committee; the Labor and Commerce committee; and the Public Safety committee. Helsley has never held public office, but he’s a first-generation college student and previously taught a criminal justice class at JMU from 2002-04. He’s been endorsed for circuit court judgeship, and he was individually recognized by the Blue Ridge Legal Services for the free legal services he provided for the less fortunate in the local community.
Both candidates took questions from the members of the meeting. Below are the most prominent questions asked, with respective answers from each candidate. What plans are you working on to tackle Harrisonburg city traffic issues? Wilt was first to respond, acknowledging the city traffic debates taking place and putting the responsibility on city government. “There’s potential federal funding that can come into play; there’s state funding, there’s also local funding; and then, there’s planning that goes into those things,” Wilt said. “That’s supposed to be a part of what your various planning committees in your city look at.” Wilt said the city committees should be taking into account growth of not just traffic but also stormwater runoff that leads to various new routes and potential jams. “We continue to look at various streets and roads around the city, and while those things continue to change, the city continues to adapt,” Wilt said. Helsley said traffic is more of a city
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government issue and “not so much a state one.” However, Helsley acknowledged the stagnation of Interstate 81’s widening projects. “Anyone living in this area 10, 12 years ago knew that Interstate 81 was a disaster,” Helsley said. Helsley said I-81 is considered “one of the most dangerous roads,” and last week, a young individual had died on the road. Helsley said this problem couldn’t be fixed instantly. He argued the state level of government should be designating small amounts of work and examinations each year or so to be ahead of the curve on I-81’s various complications and expansions. “You’ve got to do a little something all the time — you just can’t ignore it,” Helsley said. What’s your perspective on the Second Amendment? Both candidates said they firmly believe in the Second Amendment. Wilt said he has and will continue to fight for those rights not to be infringed upon
but that the issue is more under the federal government’s jurisdiction. “While it’s mostly a federal issue, we’ve seen some local leaders try to nibble away at one’s ability to own a gun,” Wilt said. While Helsley said he agrees with Wilt on the Second Amendment and the Constitution as a whole, he also said he believes in protective measures to ensure the people who own firearms are checked. “I oppose straw man purchases, buying guns to sell them to criminals, and I also oppose ghost guns: guns without any markings so they can’t be traced,” Helsley said. What actions have you taken to support minority groups in Harrisonburg? Wilt’s response was to point to a focus on maintaining a healthy economy; a healthy economy with jobs, opportunities and good education, he said, is “vital to helping socioeconomic infringed families — a rising tide raises all ships.” see CIVIC DISCUSSION, page 8
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Civic discussion
NEWS
Candidates for state delegate answer student questions from POLITICIANS ON TOUR, page 7
Wilt brought up the idea of alternative higher education routes, with the need for strong vocational schools and twoyear degrees that give an “opportunity for everybody.” In 2018, Wilt introduced a piece of legislation that provided English-as-secondlanguage teachers easier pathways to gaining teaching licensure. “I firmly believe in supporting minorities in any way we can, and a lot of it comes back to having those economic opportunities,” Wilt said. In Helsley’s response, he cited his career as a lawyer, acknowledging his work with the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), civil rights cases within Black communities and his support for legislation to reduce discrimination in Virginia. “When I see a wrong, I use my law degree to right it,” Helsley said.
Thursday, October 21, 2021
Do you think Democrats in Richmond are doing a bad job? “I think the whole government has done a bad job on a lot of these things,” Helsley said. The Democratic candidate said “Big Pharma” and other large corporations own a large number of the representatives in office. While Helsley said he approves of most bills the Democrats in Richmond put through, he said he believes both sides can do better. “One of the things Democrats did do was expand Medicaid to poor people — people who didn’t have health insurance prior, and I believe delegate Wilt voted against that,” Helsley said. Wilt said he was glad Helsley acknowledged the poor job Richmond is doing, saying
“Richmond is broken.” Wilt said Democratic policies are coming from “not much shorter of a ‘dictatorship.’” “You have a Democrat in a governor’s mansion, they have complete control of the Senate and complete control of the House of Delegates,” Wilt said. “They just run over the state, doing whatever it is they want to do without regard for the consequences.” Wilt cited a situation in Loudoun County, Virginia, schools where a piece of legislation was introduced that no longer forces K-12 schools to report criminal activity that reaches a certain threshold. “A young man sexually assaulted a young lady in the girls bathroom, and what did the school system do? Nothing,” Wilt said. “This is the kind of short-sided policy that a one-party rule can have.” What’s your opinion on school choice in the Commonwealth today? Both candidates said they were “firm believers” in Virginia’s public school systems. Helsley said it was strong public schools to educate the masses that led the country to where we are today. “I believe the public schools should be funded in paramount before money goes anywhere else,” Helsley said. Wilt brought up “school choice” and how Virginia is “coming up short” in that area. Wilt said both Maryland and North Carolina have well over 100 charter schools, and Virginia sits at a mere six to eight. “Virginia is lacking in is charter schools — that’s another option,” Wilt said. “Parents need an option for the education of their children.” Funding schools was also a big part of Wilt’s response, saying that while formulas for each division of education allocate money to
respective needs, it might not be impartial for all families. “Is it really fair for failing schools to have to force children with a lack of an option, to be sent to that terrible school?” Wilt said. “I think parents should have a choice, and that competition is going to force all schools to do better.” How will all of the projects and concerns previously addressed be funded by the Commonwealth? “All these are great ideas, but it takes money, and again, I may sound like a broken record, but I believe a firm, strong economy is key to this,” Wilt said. Wilt said there are two ways to address the issue of funding; people are successful in their jobs and are paying their taxes, or only a margin of the population pays for the other half’s share, thus taxing the paying half more. “It was mentioned before how abysmal I-81 is; there’s planning for that, and it involved a tax that was relocated to I-81 solely,” Wilt said. Wilt said they continue to move ahead, and while no major visible sign of progress is present, there are more highway patrols and signage being implemented. “It should have happened 20 years ago; I saw that we [moved] forward on getting it done,” Wilt said. Helsley said the community must make tough choices in deciding what to fund and where the money goes. Helsley also said that in the Commonwealth, there’s a balanced budget amendment to the constitution, meaning legislatures can’t be involved in deficit spending in Virginia. “You have to either reallocate money from one place to another, or you have to make the tough decisions on whether or not to raise
WE GREW MORE THAN CORN
taxes,” Helsley said. Helsley said he’d allocate funds for children with developmental disabilities and other individuals waiting for help. “We also can’t forget the big corporations that have revenue streams of over $50 billion and don’t pay one penny in tax,” Helsley said. “My secretary pays more in taxes than some of these corporations: I think they need to pay their fair share.” The election for the Virginia House of Delegates will be held Nov. 2, with voter registration offices open Oct. 23 and Oct. 30 for early voting. The last day to apply for a mail-in ballot is Oct. 22. The Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General are also up for re-election. CONTACT JJ Hensley at henslejj@dukes. jmu.edu. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on Twitter @BreezeNewsJMU.
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Thursday, October 21, 2021
OPINION EDITOR Jacob Carter
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EMAIL breezeopinion@gmail.com
Want to praise someone or get something off your chest? Darts & Pats is the place to do it. Submit your own at breezejmu.org.
@TheBreezeOp
The fight for the first JMU’s protection of free speech, while promising, could be better
A "thanks-for-keepingcampus-healthier" pat to the students in UREC who wipe down exercise equipment before and after use. From an appreciative student who wishes others would stop treating the facility as their private gym.
A "two-hours-wasted" dart to my GPS for taking me to Maryland. From someone who should've been moving in a very different direction.
A "make-up-your-mind" dart to Harrisonburg's weather patterns. From someone who doesn't appreciate 40 degree temperature shifts in the same day.
Thursday, October 21, 2021
A "sigh-of-relief" pat to Noodle the TikTok pug for having bones today. From someone who's day was significantly improved by Noodle's bones.
Editorial Policies The Breeze 1598 S. Main Street Harrisonburg, VA 22801
JMU was demoted to "yellow light" status during the 2015-16 academic year. Courtney Ryder / The Breeze
EVAN WEAVER | contributing writer Balancing the freedom of expression with the health and safety of the people has been an issue that's long troubled our nation’s highest courts. The freedom of speech, and Bill of Rights as a whole, is a symbol of national pride in the U.S. However, we don’t practice complete and unadulterated free speech — and haven’t for a long time. One of the first major Supreme Court cases regarding free speech, Schenck v. United States, saw the court rule in 1919 against the defendant’s right to spread antidraft literature, stating that speech inciting “clear and present danger” isn’t protected by the Constitution. Since that time, free speech has been increasingly narrowly defined by
preceding court decisions. Today, as corporations and institutions create policies to establish standards of appropriate behavior among employees and students, the question emerges: Do these individuals' rights remain when they enter these environments? More complicated yet is when this question is applied to public universities in receipt of public funding — and further still, when the public university in question is the Bill of Rights author James Madison’s namesake. For the past seven years, JMU’s maintained a “yellow light” status by the Foundation of Individual Rights in Education, or FIRE, an organization tasked with assessing the degree at which students’ rights are being violated on campuses across the country. FIRE ranks schools by their compliance to constitutional
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standards from “red to green light” statuses. Prior to receiving its “yellow light” status, JMU was one of few universities that boasted a “green light” status, first achieving the distinction in 2011. Moreover, JMU was listed on FIRE’s “Seven Best Colleges for Free Speech” in 2012. However, JMU’s enactment of school rules, such as enforcing a screening of all forms of public expression prior to expression, a requirement for mandatory association with a recognized student organization and a limit on the areas in which public expression can be found contributed to its demotion during the 201516 school year. School rules with the intent of protecting students from harassment, bullying and obscenity also played a role in FIRE determining JMU’s “yellow light” status. Ultimately, this begs the question of whether total free speech is desirable on campus, even when considering the crucial role the marketplace of ideas plays in the development of creativity at academic institutions. Student Defenders is an organization at JMU that actively seeks to prevent the encroachment of students’ rights during the process of determining appropriate retribution for the violation of university policy. More specifically, Student Defenders stands in as an advocate for students throughout proceedings of an Office of Student Accountability and Restorative Practices (OSARP) or Honors Council case. Closely associated with FIRE, Student Defenders has been the source of the most prominent movement for the amendment of rules limiting expression at JMU. Gage Waltner, the director of Student Defenders, said the organization has “been expanding its communication with officials on campus … to secure a spot on the Accountability Control Board, which meets every summer to provide feedback on potential changes to the student handbook.” Moreover, he suggested that rectifying even the most trivial infractions or vaguely worded policies is crucial, stressing that overlooking them could lead to a more consequential infringement of student’s rights. Considering JMU is a public institution receiving $98 million in state funding, as of 2021, the enforcement of policies that limit the freedom of expression on campus — while legally sound — could be interpreted as government censorship and prevents the voices of many to go unheard. While the U.S. government doesn’t recognize the protection of speech that could endanger another person, JMU’s policies take the sentiment a step further by not protecting speech that could be considered harassment or bullying.
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.
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OPINION The argument of whether or not JMU has a valid claim on the interest of its students’ mental health is precarious considering the gravity of its consequences. Most college students are adults and therefore don’t require the government or university to protect them from the world’s harsh realities. However, a hostile environment isn’t conducive to learning and can cause long-lasting psychological damage. Tim Miller, JMU’s vice president for student affairs, is tasked with fostering a constructive environment for students. He and his leadership team suggest that expression and safety aren’t mutually exclusive and that JMU strives to advance them simultaneously while noting the
complexities of assessing the severity of harassment and the various remedies provided by the university. “Health, safety and free speech on a college campus are both vital to student success and growth, just in different ways,” Miller said. “We are regularly examining ways we can enhance both while being mindful of restrictions and requirements that apply to us as a university and particularly as a public agency.” He went on to mention annual evaluations that the policies outlined in the student handbook endure and further stated that two policies that had been flagged by FIRE are currently under additional review. He also discussed the harassment section of JMU’s sexual
misconduct policy. Miller argued that this policy allows JMU to satisfy its legal obligations to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a law prohibiting employment discrimination on the basis of sex, race or other condition, as well as providing protection against subjection to hostile environments and sexual harrassment. So long as achieving “green-light” status requires the abandonment of rules flagged by FIRE, including those hedging against harassment and bullying, complete free speech may not be ideal in a college setting. That being said, reducing the barriers students face in the pursuit of self expression at JMU should be a priority, beginning with the removal of the rules that limit or prevent students — especially those without the support
of a recognized student organization — from speaking their mind. With compelling arguments and valid interests on both sides of the issue, a compromise must be reached and, in large part, has for the past six years. However, m ov e m e n t s t o f u r t h e r re f i n e s c h o o l policy in pursuit of the ideal balance that optimizes creativity and well-being should be welcomed and encouraged. It’s an indication of the health and vitality of the community at JMU that it’s splitting hairs on issues as important as the freedom of expression and its implications at large. CONTACT Evan at weavereh@dukes.jmu. edu. Evan Weaver is a sophomore English major.
Court-packing poses threat to US judiciary WILL FRASIER | contributing writer In the hyperpolarized p o l i t i c a l environment we live in, it seems like there’s nothing we can agree on. The U.S. Supreme Court, one of our oldest and most lauded institutions, has survived hundreds of years of strife, yet it’s still at risk of being politicized in the name of partisan warfare. One issue that’s been particularly pervasive lately is the possible expansion of the Supreme Court to include more than nine justices. This expansion is a bad idea for a variety of reasons. While the Constitution doesn’t specify how many justices should reside on the Supreme Court, the norm since 1869 has been nine justices. This standard was challenged by Franklin Roosevelt in the 1930s in an effort to make the court more efficient. It was shot down by politicians from both sides of the political
spectrum — viewed as a dangerous and unnecessary grab at power. The nine justice standard would remain unchallenged for decades. The 2010s ushered in an era of increasing political polarization and disregard for long-standing political norms, especially in regard to the Supreme Court. In 2016, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell refused to allow former President Barack Obama to hold a nomination hearing to fill the Supreme Court vacancy created by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, citing the proximity of the upcoming election as his reasoning. This decision would prove to be controversial, as it threw aside the tradition of allowing the sitting president to have a hearing in Congress for their choice of nominee to the Supreme Court. Furthermore, when Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg died mere weeks from the 2020 presidential election, Sen. McConnell ignored his own reasoning, rapidly pushing through the nomination of Justice Amy Coney Barrett. N o w , faced
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with Sen. Susan Collins (R-Me.) using the issue to hammer Democratic challenger Sara Gideon with negative attack ads and verbal jabs in their debate. Gideon had previously been non-committal when asked if she opposed court-packing and expressed vague support for the proposal on one occasion. While electoral success and popular opinion are certainly important concerns, the most devastating effects would be on the Supreme Court as an institution. The erosion of long-standing norms would negatively affect the Supreme Court’s independence and its apolitical nature. Martin Cohen, a JMU political science professor and expert of political parties, said court-packing would entirely undercut the legitimacy and stability of the Supreme Court. “Court-packing would destroy the Supreme Court as we know it,” Cohen said. “The Democrats would increase the size to ... say, 13. Then, when the Republicans get in power, they would up it to 17, etc. It would cease to be an independent branch of government. Its legitimacy would be liquidated — it would not just erode historical norms; it would obliterate them.” This sort of retaliatory court packing would politicize the court to the point that it ceases to operate in any sort of independent manner. The old adage that “justice is blind” would be dead. While this outlook is certainly bleak, it’s all but guaranteed should the courts be expanded. For this reason, it’s essential that we let our elected officials know that the Supreme Court is not to be tampered with — for the good of the institution, the country and the concept of fair and impartial justice itself. CONTACT Will at at frasiewd@dukes. jmu.edu. Will Frasier is a senior political science major.
Thursday, October 21, 2021
Mad
with the reality of a conservativecontrolled Supreme Court for the foreseeable future, many of the Democratic Party’s progressive members have begun to advocate for the same political hardball and norm-breaking Republicans have embraced. They seem to believe the most effective way to counter the ruthless tactics of Republicans is by expanding the Supreme Court in an attempt to recalibrate the court’s partisan lean. While their frustration is understandable, the expansion of the Supreme Court is a downright disastrous idea for a bevy of reasons. While the Supreme Court’s expansion has been endorsed by some of the more progressive politicians in the U.S. government, the overall opinion of potentially expanding the Supreme Court is largely negative. A poll of 1,100 registered voters conducted by Mason Dixon Polling and Strategy found that an overwhelming 65% of respondents believe President Joe Biden shouldn’t support efforts to expand the Supreme Court, while only 31% reported thinking he should. The poll also found that the measure was incredibly unpopular with Republicans and independents, with 95% and 72%, respectively, saying he shouldn’t support the expansion. Furthermore, it also demonstrated that a large number of Democrats — roughly a third sampled — didn’t support the expansion of the Supreme Court. Many Democratic leaders have also expressed reservations over expanding the court, as both Biden and — surprisingly — Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vt.) have publicly denounced the prospect of expanding the Supreme Court in the past. The unpopularity of expanding the Supreme Court has negatively affected Democrats in election cycles as well,
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OPINION
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Disparity in Dining
The greater meaning behind Harrisonburg’s food options
Thursday, October 21, 2021
MEG WILLCOX | ruth’s truths After a long week, sometimes the last thing a student wants to do is make dinner. There are only so many times a week when making boxed macaroni and cheese is acceptable. So, students turn to off-campus options. However, the options in the Harrisonburg area are slim. It begs the question: Why? Of course, there are the typical chain restaurants in Harrisonburg: Chipotle, Panera, Chick-fil-A, Taco Bell, Five Guys and McDonald’s. However, if a student is looking for a healthy option, a lot of these chains don’t really do the job. At almost every chain, there’s an option to find something healthy, but most of the time, people aren’t going there to get something healthy. They’re going because it’s fast and convenient. Convenience is essential for college students because they’re on a schedule. They’re going to go pick up something because it’s quick. Therefore, if a JMU student wants to go out for fast food, it’s likely to be an unhealthy option. This is the opposite for the University of Virginia (U Va.). U. Va. students have an endless number of healthy off-campus food options. The Charlottesville, Virginia, area has CAVA, Chopt, Meza, Roots Natural Kitchen, Zoe’s Kitchen, Corner Juice and Juice Laundry — all relatively healthy options for students. While these are only just a handful of places, they vastly outnumber JMU’s options. A lot of people like places that provide “salad bowls,” which is something that all of these places at U. Va have. One of the better options for salad bowls in Harrisonburg is Chipotle, but a typical order piles on sour cream,
cheese and guacamole, which ultimately makes the order unhealthy. JMU has tried to solve this problem by implementing a new dining hall, Dukes Dining, with a place called Blue Ridge Bowl. This restaurant is similar to the healthier options available in Charlottesville. However, it’s not as good as any of those places. It doesn’t feel any different than just eating dining hall food. While the creation of it was a good idea, it wasn’t executed well enough. Panda Express, which is a chain restaurant, is also located in this dining hall. JMU is clearly implementing chains into the dining halls, so why not build a healthier option like Sweetgreen or CAVA? For students, getting food off campus can feel like they’re back in their hometowns and going to their favorite places. Although, it’s possible that any of their “regular” on-the-go food options don’t exist in the Harrisonburg area. Laura Mosier, a junior at JMU, voiced her frustrations on the limited scope of Harrisonburg’s food options. On the topic of salad bowls, Mosier praised CAVA, a Mediterranean-style fast food place that gives you the opportunity to create your own bowl. “I know CAVA is something I really, really love back home, but they don’t have it here, which is something I was pretty upset about,” Mosier said. This brings back the idea that while students are away from their hometowns, they want to still enjoy the places they frequent back home. Looking at this through an economic lens, higher-income areas often attract nicer places to eat. Consider the example of grocery stores. In Harrisonburg, the typical grocery stores students may go to are Food Lion, Kroger and Martin’s Food. Out of
those three, Martin’s Food is arguably the nicest one. It has a lot of options for those with dietary restrictions. They have two sections dedicated to gluten-free items and dairy-free items. At Food Lion, the options for specific diets are slim, yet again limiting what students can pick from. When you look at the Charlottesville area, there’s not only Kroger, but Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s and Harris Teeter. Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s are especially nice compared to Harrisonburg’s grocery store options. It’s not unprobable that this is because the income levels in Charlottesville are higher than in Harrisonburg. Therefore, the number of options for eating and shopping in Charlottesville outnumber the options in Harrisonburg. It all relates back to income. When comparing Harrisonburg and Charlottesville, individuals typically relate the two cities with their respective universities. However, Harrisonburg isn’t just JMU, and Charlottesville isn’t just U. Va. Harrisonburg is a community that houses many refugees. According to Church World Service in Harrisonburg, “This area is an attractive resettlement site because of the affordable housing, diverse and welcoming community, and the abundance of entry level jobs in the poultry, agriculture, and hospitality industries.” In hospitality especially, there are great places scattered throughout the Harrisonburg area. Elise Candelario, a senior at JMU, talked about places throughout the Harrisonburg area that some students may not know about. “There’s a lot of hidden gems that people might not want to go to because the outside looks scary,” Candelario said. An example of this can be Xenia Kebab Grille. This is arguably one of the best places to eat in the Harrisonburg area. It
may not look the most inviting from the outside, but the food is unbelievable. One of the best menu items would be their kabobs. Customers are able to choose from steak, chicken, lamb or ground beef. It comes with both rice and a salad, and the meat is topped with fresh vegetables. It’s such a fresh and filling meal. If someone is looking for a vegetarian option, they have that too. There’s salads, soups, hummus with pita and sandwiches. Students may overlook places like this because they aren’t familiar with them. Individuals who are from Harrisonburg may be more familiar because they know more about the area. Candelario also brought up the idea of gentrification, which is something that larger cities typically have to deal with. Despite the fact that the population isn’t huge in comparison, gentrification is something that the Harrisonburg area deals with due to the fact that it’s home to a large university. This may represent the greater reason why Harrisonburg has limited food options. If multiple chain restaurants were to move into the Harrisonburg area, they may begin to dominate the area and almost “push out” the existing places in Harrisonburg. Therefore, the process of gentrification would begin. So, while the students at JMU could benefit from the implementation of new chain restaurants, local business owners would be negatively affected. In both scenarios, someone remains unhappy. If JMU wants to feed its students properly, it must look to healthier on-thego options that match students lifestyles. CONTACT Meg at willcomr@dukesjmu. edu. Meg Willcox is a senior media, arts, and design major.
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OPINION
Don’t pull that all-nighter
Jacob Carter / The Breeze
How to fix those unhealthy studying habits
Thursday, October 21, 2021
SAMI ANDERSON | contributing writer It’s no surprise that college students aren’t getting enough sleep. In a poll conducted by The Breeze, 88% of JMU students surveyed indicated getting less than seven hours of sleep per night. Rest can be seen as unproductive or a waste of time. “When I have a heavy work week, I get little to no sleep at night because studying comes first,” Matt Harris, a student at JMU, said. If someone has a big test they haven’t studied for, pulling an all-nighter or grinding through mountains of last-minute paperwork may be their first instinct, like Harris. In the same survey, 79% of respondents reported that when they did pull all-nighters, it backfired on them and made the next day harder. College students may rarely set aside time for a good night’s rest because they believe a good night’s rest won’t get them an A in biology. However, sleep needs to be a priority — success will follow. U.S. culture values productivity, meaning a good night’s sleep is a luxury for many. Doctors and nurses, who often make critical, life-saving decisions, are expected to work 12 or more hour-long shifts while running on very little sleep. Another example of how productivity is valued above sleep in the U.S. is when stores are open 24 hours for convenience, but the workers who take night shifts pay the price with irregular sleep hours. Sleep deprivation can seep into many aspects of our lives, such as academics, physical activity and socialization, yet it often goes unnoticed as the root cause of our problems. It’s accepted that driving a car under the influence of drugs or alcohol is dangerous, yet few may hesitate to drive after getting little to no sleep the night before. In an email to The Breeze, Terry Cralle, a certified sleep educator from The Better Sleep Council, said driving while
drowsy is just as deadly as driving under the influence. Sleep deprivation isn’t seen as a serious mental inhibitor in day-to-day life, and this misconception can influence college students’ mindsets. Cralle said staying up for 24 hours or more is comparable to being drunk, and students likely wouldn’t take a final drunk. According to The Better Sleep Council, sleep deprivation can cause impaired physical performance, decreased concentration, memory issues, lack of motivation, increased stress levels, weight gain and more. Additionally, long-term negative effects of sleep deprivation can include depression, obesity, increased risk for substance abuse, diabetes, cancer and mental health problems. Students should be mindful of the quality of their time spent awake, Cralle said, as opposed to quantity. A regular, good night’s sleep could solve more problems than expected. Teens and young adults are recommended to get eight-10 hours of sleep a night. If you’re struggling with keeping up with enough physical activity, receiving poor grades or finding yourself depressed, forming better “sleep hygiene” practices such as avoiding caffeine and alcohol before bed could go a long way in improving your quality of life. The amount of sleep we get each night impacts every aspect of our lives. Sleep isn’t only necessary to be a productive student but also to be a productive member of society. Make sure to set aside at least eight hours of your day for rest no matter what. Help end the sleep epidemic for good by spreading awareness of the importance of sleep. To live the best life possible, a good portion of it needs to be spent unconscious. CONTACT Sami at ander5st@dukes.jmu. edu. Sami Anderson is a freshman writing, rhetoric and technical communication major.
OPINION
Survey results from 31 Google Forms respondents 19% of respondents see sleep as “unproductive”
84% of respondents get less than eight hours of sleep per night
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84% of respondents say the’ve had all-nighters backfire, making school harder the next day
74% of respondents reported feeling tired most days
26% of respondents stay up all night regularly as a result of school Madison Root / The Breeze
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BUSINESS EDITOR Filip De Mott
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EMAIL breezembr@gmail.com
@BreezeMBR
Furloughed Harrisonburg’s unemployment rate performed better than average, but issues persist By FILIP DE MOTT & REBECCA GVOZDEN The Madison Business Review
When COVID-19 hit the world, the steady decline of national unemployment capsized dramatically, leaving health, norms and livelihood at risk. In Harrisonburg, the narrative was no different. According to a May WHSV article, 280 businesses had closed in 2020, as more shut down this year. Nationally, an August governmental report found that the unemployment rate rose 14.8% in April 2020 — “the highest rate observed since data collection began in 1948” according to the report. At the forefront of this job loss crisis stood the hospitality sector — a collection of service-based businesses unfit for a society on lockdown.
A tough loss
fell quicker and to lower percentages. “I think our biggest advantage is that we’re diversified,” Schull said, explaining the city’s fortunate circumstances. Besides hospitality, the local economy benefits from the university and hospital, as well as expansive manufacturing, transportation and retail industries. When one sector suffers, Schull said, “another will often pick up the slack.” But, although city hotels saw a progressive return of employees with each consecutive month, Schull said other sectors are still struggling. “If anything, I’ve noticed there might be some more job availability right now,” Mary Beth Hill, the coordinator of the Harrisonburg Community Resource Center, said. Although the organization mainly works with homeless individuals, it also helps out by getting people hired. Even now, there just aren’t enough workers. Seemingly a national experience, many are still impeded from working, whether because of familial concerns or childcare issues.
National policy: helping or hurting?
What may alleviate this is federal action — in fact, it already may have done so. Since the pandemic’s start, three rounds
of stimulus payments have been approved and sent out by the federal government, totaling over $5 trillion — though not all of this was spent in checks. The last round of about $1.9 trillion allocated $4 billion to Virginia, with $3 billion going to cities and towns, the Virginia Public Media reported. According to Business Insider, a push for a fourth check is gaining millions of signatures through a Change.org petition, emphasizing that many still need help despite a recovering economy. “Direct payments to families were crucial,” Schull said, describing the role of federal stimulus payments in Harrisonburg. “They really did provide a lifeline to our local businesses to keep their employees.” Besides allocating payments, the government has also tried to bring unemployment down by letting something else rise: inflation, or the amount of money in circulation. As laid out by The Wall Street Journal, the relationship between jobs and inflation is almost antithetical. When inflation rises — measured as the Consumer Price Index (the index) — unemployment falls, and vice versa. However, rising inflation means higher cost and limited buying power. As inflation rises, prices go up and workers begin to demand higher wages.
In meeting those demands, more money is printed and the cycle continues. Due to that, the institution at the forefront of this strategy — The Federal Reserve (the Fed) — seems set to start bringing inflation rates back down in coming months, according to the Journal. But whether this will happen soon isn’t clear. Inflation pressures are also coming from outside factors such as rising rent prices. A third of what the index measures are housing and rent prices. Although they’re less critical to the Fed’s inflation readings, they underline public expectations, potentially spurring a drive for higher wages, The New York Times reported. For Harrisonburg, there’s “some concerns with [rising inflation],” Schull said, citing the potential for a wage cycle. “We’re hoping the Fed can monitor and steer us through it.” Yet, for now, the city’s unemployment rate continues to decline. Hill, asked about her organization’s work, put it simply: “People have had success.” CONTACT the Madison Business Review at breezembr@gmail.com. Filip is a senior media arts and design and international affairs major. Rebecca is a senior media arts and design major.
Thursday, October 21, 2021
“We’re so heavily dependent on hospitality-type jobs,” Brian Schull, the executive director of Economic Development for the City of Harrisonburg, said. The Friendly City, a college community crisscrossed by a major highway, suffered significant decline as local hotels and restaurants were suddenly starved of customers at the pandemic’s start. “[COVID-19] hit that sector harder than any other,” Schull said. A pre-pandemic article from the Daily News-Record, titled “Area Hospitality Industry Continues to Expand,” reported that new construction in the city would lift room availability to 2,100. That year, Harrisonburg raised $3.1 million in hotel taxes. But the pandemic brought on a narrative shift. According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the unemployment rate of the national hospitality sector reached 37.3% in April 2020. Yet, compared to the state average, Harrisonburg’s unemployment rates have managed to fare much better. Statistics taken from the BLS seen above, demonstrate the difference. Although Harrisonburg and Virginia rates rose in unison, the city’s unemployment
Harrisonburg (blue) and Virginia (orange) unemployment rates compared. Filip De Mott / The Breeze, data from Bureau of Labor Statistics
CULTURE
EDITORS
Amy Needham & Charlotte Matherly
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EMAIL thebreezeculture@gmail.com
@Breeze_Culture
LEGACY OF PEACE
Both of Rutherford’s (center) legs were amputated after he was injured a landmine explosion. Photos courtesy of Ken Rutherford
Rutherford met Diana, Princess of Wales, at a conference hosted by the Mines Advisory Group and the Landmine Survivors Network.
Political science professor advocates for restricted methods of warfare
Thursday, October 21, 2021
from GLOBAL AWARENESS, page 1
“I fell on the passenger seat, and I couldn’t move,” Rutherford said. “That foot was mine — and it wasn’t on my body.” Rutherford said he fell out of the car, tied tourniquets around his legs and used a radio to call for help. “I mentally wrote my eulogy,” Rutherford said. He was taken to five hospitals in four different countries, eventually having both of his legs amputated from the knee down, using prosthetics on both legs to walk. It was then that Rutherford’s career took a turn. In spring 1996, Rutherford met Jerry White, a fellow amputee who was injured in Israel, also from a landmine. Wanting to spread their message and advocate for others impacted by war, the two co-founded their own organization. Rutherford said that due to the lack of awareness around the issue, the only way to “raise the volume” was to start their own organization. Rutherford and White began the Landmine Survivors Network, promoting the rights and supporting the voices of people affected by conflict around the world. However, they still felt as if their message wasn’t being heard. People only listened to their stories, Rutherford said, expressing their apologies for what Rutherford and White had been through but not listening to their desired mission. Rutherford said the feeling was like having “the microphone taken away from us.” Eventually, they saw the light at the end of the tunnel, getting the opportunity to travel internationally and promote humanitarian rights. “We started getting grants, and our first major grant was to go to Bosnia for five weeks to look at the rehabilitative needs of the recently returned landmine-disabled refugees,” Rutherford said. “Then, we got the opportunity to work with the most famous person in the world.”
Rutherford, during a lecture, recalled an early interaction with Princess Diana, presenting a picture of the two of them laughing together in Washington, D.C. “I was always told to call her ma’am as in jam until she corrected me, and she never did,” Rutherford said. “[The picture] is the only time I ever called her Diana, and that’s why she’s laughing.” Rutherford’s course revolves around international laws of war, expressing to students the importance of warfare restrictions and the protection of humanity’s welfare.
A royal introduction
Rutherford first met Diana, Princess of Wales, at a conference hosted by the Mines Advisory Group and the Landmine Survivors Network. Shortly after, the two met again in Washington, D.C., at the American Red Cross. Diana’s presence was the missing piece for Rutherford and White’s humanitarian battle to end landmines. The media began covering the stories of landmine-disabled people after Diana got involved, Rutherford said. Eventually, Rutherford had the opportunity to travel to Bosnia-Herzegovina with Diana to visit landmine refugees. He said he was “shocked” when she agreed to come. Diana arrived in Bosnia in 1997, accompanying Rutherford and White on a three-day trip to visit five families of disabled landmine refugees in order to promote the inclusion of their rights into the international law banning landmines. “She wasn’t one of those celebrities who said, ‘Come out to dinner’ or ‘I’ll do a banquet with you,’ and then was gone,” Rutherford said. “She walked her talk.” Three weeks later, Rutherford attended her funeral. He remembers being at Kensington Palace the day before it happened.
“We’re looking at the flowers around the palace, and there’s like 7 million people lining the streets for the funeral procession for a single mother of two,” Rutherford said. “How did she do it?” Rutherford described Diana as a person who “identified with the people in the margins of society” and gave a voice to those overlooked. “It’s not a coincidence that she’s the first celebrity to touch someone with AIDS,” Rutherford said. “She said they’re ‘human beings.’” 1981 marked the beginning of the AIDS epidemic. Despite the virus’s prominent presence, it represented a group of people in the minority, creating a stigma that anyone carrying AIDS was socially unacceptable. Shortly after Diana’s death, the landmine disability assistance language they’d worked on was included in the Mine Ban Treaty being negotiated in Oslo, Norway. The treaty was signed in Ottawa, Canada, in December 1997, becoming known as the “Ottawa Treaty.” “All of a sudden, victim assistance was a big deal; we had no opposition,” Rutherford said in his lecture. “I told Prince Harry that: I said, ‘Your mother brought the ball across the finish line.’”
The next generation
After years of working to promote the rights of those injured by war — attempting to bring attention to an issue he said was continuously disregarded — Rutherford found his way to the classroom. Rutherford said he wants to bring his message to the upcoming wave of potential activists, relaying it to students and using educational activities to involve them in international humanitarian law. In 2010, Rutherford came to JMU, where he created a course on the international laws of war — a topic never taught at the university prior to his arrival. “More civilians are being targeted than ever before,” Rutherford said. “We need to start restricting
the methods of warfare to protect humanity, and I’m trying to pass the baton off to the next generation.” Gracie Michelle, a political science major on the pre-law track and one of Rutherford’s current students in his international laws of war class, raved about her professor. “Rutherford champions causes so strongly that it’s easy to be passionate about anything he lectures about,” Michelle said. “He does such a great job at amplifying the issues and what needs to be done and how can we change it.” Broderick Malloy, a political science major and another one of Rutherford’s current students, has found an inner passion for Rutherford’s lectures about why humanitarian law is important to him. “There’s a lot of injustice going on in the world, and through law, you can make permanent changes,” Malloy said. Rutherford has taught his international laws of war class at JMU for three semesters. He said he hopes to continue educating students about global awareness and the need to protect people around the world. “I just believe in teaching right now,” Rutherford said. “I pour everything into it and, hopefully, whatever you learn in this class will benefit protecting people around the world — I believe that.” In addition to teaching, Rutherford continues to travel globally with the Landmine Survivors Network, speaking to and representing and fighting for the care of people disabled by landmines. ”The evil that men do lives long after them,” Rutherford said in his lecture. “It’s important for us to prevent some of these weapons from getting out there and to prevent further casualties.” CONTACT Emma Johnson at johns7ek@ dukes.jmu.edu. For more on the culture, arts and lifestyle of the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the culture desk on Twitter and Instagram @Breeze_Culture.
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CULTURE
KPJ Crystals has catered to customers as far away as Australia. Photos by Matt Young / The Breeze
cust m crystals
Prioleau said she believes crystals have healing powers.
JMU senior spreads gem knowledge through small business By MEGAN CREWS The Breeze
Prioleau’s business functions primarily on custom necklace orders, in which a customer can request specific benefits they wish to gain from a crystal, such as growth in confidence, communication or balance. After immersing herself in the theories and research behind the properties of various crystals, Prioleau said she believes she can match each customer with a crystal known to provide the healing properties requested. Through her website, customers can also purchase various crystal jewelry pieces and car accessories. Prioleau includes a description of the crystal’s characteristics alongside any product listing. Arie Hamade, a frequent customer of KPJ Crystals, kick-started her interest in crystals a
“I definitely don’t want this to be just a college thing. I’m gonna keep growing my business and try my best.” Kaitlyn Prioleau KPJ Crystals owner
few years ago with a blue, lace agate bracelet — a crystal said to improve communication. She said it’s helpful to her as “more of a reserved person.” It wasn’t until hearing of Prioleau’s business through a post on a JMU Facebook page that Hamade found a deeper understanding of crystals’ properties. After discovering KPJ Crystals, Hamade decided to purchase her first of many custom pieces: an aquamarine necklace. “It’s a relaxation crystal,” Hamade said. “I came to [Prioleau], and I said, ‘Hey, I’m kind of an anxious person, what can help?’ And [aquamarine] is what she gave me, and it worked.” Prioleau and Sofia D’Ermes, Prioleau’s roommate and frequent customer, jokingly debated whether it was hard work or the power of crystals that scored D’Ermes a job on Wall Street. Prioleau gifted D’Ermes a handmade ring while she worked on Wall Street during summer 2021. “[Prioleau] sent me this ring; it’s tiger’s eye and lapis,” D’Ermes said. “Both of these are supposed to be for the workplace for protection, for focus, productivity, and I got the job. So, maybe it was the ring.” see KPJ CRYSTALS, page 20
Thursday, October 21, 2021
Skeptical about the new-age movement of crystal healing? Looking to learn more? Kaitlyn Prioleau, a senior health sciences major, said she’s ready to change minds about the healing powers of crystals through her small business. Crystal healing, an increasingly common form of alternative therapy, involves the use of crystals to provide balance in both mind and body. Each different crystal is said to have a unique and stable energy pattern that creates healing properties, intended to improve the well-being of the user. Prioleau’s business, KPJ Crystals, provides customers with custom crystal jewelry pieces that have a purpose. Her items aren’t limited to the knowledgeable or experienced — even Prioleau herself started out with little knowledge and a few crystals just for fun. It wasn’t until she found moldavite — a crystal claimed to cause transformation and spiritual awakening that’s “formed from the molten debris of a meteorite impact,” according to the International Gem Society — that her belief in the powerful properties of crystals really began. “It’s not like you need to have a Ph.D. in crystals to get into them — they’re beautiful, fun and they’re helpful,” Prioleau said. “You
can start by walking into a crystal shop … see what crystals you’re gravitating towards, and see if that resonates with you.” Prioleau launched her business this April after wrapping a small piece of moldavite into a necklace and allegedly experiencing the commonly theorized effects — lightheadedness and nausea — firsthand. She said the crystal gave her headaches and “made [her] really irritable.” Prioleau said she believes there’s a link between the transformative powers of moldavite — and the necklace she created with it — to the success of her business ensuing. “Life just literally started changing,” Prioleau said. “Everything just started to fall into place.”
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from KPJ CRYSTALS, page 19
Prioleau said her business has been successful in its first six months, with customers ranging from close friends to JMU students and even some from Canada and Australia. D’Ermes said KPJ Crystals has been an “instant success” from her point of view. “When I tell you it literally feels like this just fell out of the sky,” D’Ermes said. “I remember we’d be sitting there talking about [Prioleau’s] moldavite, and then all of a sudden, people are coming to our door to buy necklaces.” Prioleau wasn’t alone in founding her business, however. She had help along the way from her “angel” or “life guide” she calls “Jeanne” — the namesake of the “J” initial is integrated into Prioleau’s brand alongside her own. In September 2020, Prioleau used a pendulum and a series of questions to determine her angel’s name. Working through the alphabet interpreting a motion in one direction as “no” and the opposite as “yes” for each letter, Prioleau had the name “Jeanne” spelled out and confirmed as her angel’s name. Prioleau interprets the sight of the angel numbers 717 as “Jeanne,” leading her down the right path and validating her decisions. Prioleau described the common phenomenon of the time 11:11 to be the first angel number many people experience and said that for some, 11:11 is a gateway into a deeper curiosity about angel numbers’ meaning. “An angel number is a set of numbers, usually three to four repeating numbers, but there are also
exceptions like my number, 717,” Prioleau said. “I would describe it as a series of numbers that have a meaning that you personally need to see at the moment.” For those who believe in numerology, angel numbers have a deep spiritual meaning, and for Prioleau, the number 717 is something she’s seen all her life, starting at her July 17 birthday. However, it wasn’t until her growing interest in the meaning of angel numbers and the start of her business that it became a recurring sight — whether it’s seen on her car ride to deliver an order or the time when she glances at a clock. During her interview with The Breeze, Prioleau said she noticed the angel number twice — on a license plate when she parked and mid-interview when she reached 717 followers on her brand’s Instagram page. “I just got 717 followers,” Prioleau said. “It’s crazy, when I parked to get here, I look up [at] the license plate right in front of me and there it is again — 717.” With plans for medical school ahead of her and guidance from “Jeanne” along the way, Prioleau hopes to continue balancing her business with academics and spreading the knowledge of crystals to anyone who stumbles upon KPJ Crystals. “I definitely don’t want this to be just a college thing,” Prioleau said. “I’m gonna keep growing my business and try my best.” CONTACT Megan Crews at crewsme@ dukes.jmu.edu. For more on the culture, arts and lifestyle of the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the culture desk on Twitter and Instagram @Breeze_Culture.
Thursday, October 21, 2021
DESIGN. PRINT. MAIL. HERE.
Prioleau matches each customer with a crystal she believes best matches their healing needs and places them in custom jewelry settings. Matt Young / The Breeze
46 Laurel Hill Road Verona, VA 24482 540.248.5300 office sales@midvalleypress.com
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MURDER AND MAYHEM
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Students solve who-dun-it at JMU-themed murder mystery party By MICHAEL RUSSO
Thursday, Ocotber 21, 2021
The Breeze
Staff dressed in black, a photo op at the door, fairy lights and candle-lit tables transformed the Festival Grand Ballroom into a beautiful venue — prime for murder. Murder at Madison, held Oct. 17, was an interactive mystery dinner that felt like a real-life round of the board game Clue. Hospitality management majors Regan Lenzi, Grace Peterson, Jake Abruzzo, Quinn Moore, Bekah Church and Nicole Lipcsey organized the dinner for their HM 417 Advanced Event Management course. Students from HM 317, Introduction to Event Management, staffed the event by checking in attendees, taking photos and serving the evening’s meals. “We worked really hard the past seven weeks to put everything together,” Lenzi said, “learning how to train staff and how to execute a murder mystery with the knowledge that we have and were gaining throughout the process.” The team’s original plan was to put on a drag show about queens in the Shenandoah Valley, but the students switched gears when JMU’s University Program Board planned a similar event for the same week. “We saw this as a great opportunity to do something a little bit different with more of a seated setting, a little classier and do something where it’s a little bit of a different atmosphere than you would have with a drag show,” Lenzi said. After purchasing a murder mystery packet online, the students used its foundation and adapted it to fit their event, which centered around fictionalized versions of famous JMU names — murder victim Bruce Forbes and suspects Francis Bell, Edith J. Carrier, Alice L. Chandler, Raus M. Hanson, Dorothy Garber, Wendy J. Gifford, Charlie H. Huffman, Paul Jennings, Zane D. Showker and Andy Seeger — a gender-swapped version of Anthony Seeger. The team’s goal was to deliver a great experience while also breaking even on the costs of the event — consisting of food and beverage arrangements, audio/visual equipment rentals and decoration purchases — which it successfully achieved with the night’s food, service and wild story.
To connect to a JMU theme, the organizers developed a menu for the night with hints of both university and Harrisonburg staples: “sticky nuggs” inspired by downtown Harrisonburg restaurant Billy Jack’s as an appetizer option, an entree of buffalo-brined chicken with mashed potatoes and peanut butter pie for dessert. The story of the night revolved around the 10 JMU figures — played by student volunteer actors — brought together by university president Forbes and nominated for the Madison Award to recognize the best staff member on campus. However, all of the nominees have feuds with Forbes and each other. Many of them are suing one another for a multitude of reasons — adding to their confusion. Upon arrival, attendees had their photo taken then mingled with other guests and the nominees while scanning through the exposing dossiers that Forbes compiled. Meanwhile, the nominees handed out the first round of clues to their tablemates to offer some background on them. The nominees left the ballroom to use the restroom or get some fresh air once dinner arrived, then filtered in periodically throughout the dinner. After some time, a scream of pure horror pierced the sounds of scraping silverware and small talk. Bruce Forbes was found dead outside the ballroom with an ice pick stabbed in his back. All of the nominees had a motive to kill Forbes, either for personal or professional reasons. A second round of clues was released with more details about the suspects’ whereabouts and potential motivations to commit the murder, as well as a forensics report that revealed some of the suspects’ fingerprints were on the murder weapon. In the end, all was revealed. Seeger was Forbes’ cousin and stood to gain a larger sum of the inheritance from their grandfather, Frank Forbes, to pay off her gambling debts. Carrier, on the other hand, was blackmailing Forbes for cash. The guests at Carrier’s table were divided but decided that she was the killer. Both suspects had prints on the ice pick but ultimately weren’t the murderers.
Garber, Huffman, Hanson and Gifford all had their own reasons to kill Forbes, but none of them had fingerprints on the murder weapon, so they couldn’t have been the perpetrators. Forbes was suing Chandler for breaking a vase, meaning Chandler wouldn’t have to pay the settlement after Forbes’ death. Showker profited off all the lawsuits involving the nominees, but neither had a strong enough motive, so guests concluded they had nothing to do with Forbes’ death. Jennings was angry at Forbes for exposing exclamatory emails between him and Bell during their defamation suit; he and Bell also had unique carpet fibers in their shoes, so they were the top two contenders to be the murderer. However, Jennings didn’t kill Forbes. All the signs pointed to Bell. She had the motive after Forbes disclosed in her dossier that she killed his grandfather, the means to grab the ice pick from the beverage station and
the opportunity to stab Forbes when she exited the ballroom. The last to speak, Bell confessed to her crimes and fled the scene, hoping to evade the authorities. Attendee Reese Elmore, junior public policy and administration major, said she and the other guests at her table didn’t accuse Bell in the who-dun-it investigation but enjoyed the entire experience. “I think the hosts pulled off a great event for everybody,” Elmore said. “It was really well decorated and really professional, and I think everybody had a good time. It was fun working with the table to try and figure out who the murderer was ... I think they did a really good job.” CONTACT Michael Russo at russomw@ dukes.jmu.edu. For more on the culture, arts and lifestyle of the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the culture desk on Twitter and Instagram @Breeze_Culture.
The murder mystery party included fictionalized characters — like Bruce Forbes and a gender-swapped Anthony Seeger — from JMU’s history. Abi Middleton / The Breeze
Skele-fun
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Local attractions for Halloween fanatics By MEGAN CREWS The Breeze
After aging out of trick-or-treating, it may seem like there’s not much left to do on Halloween, but the excitement of the spooky season never truly goes away — the activities just get more creative. With attractions ranging from pumpkin picking to running away screaming in horror, there’s something for everyone. Here are a few attractions in the Valley worth checking out.
American Fright Night
This 40,000-square-foot walk-through attraction built inside of the American Celebration on Parade museum at Shenandoah Caverns is the Valley’s largest all-indoor haunted house. Open every Friday and Saturday in October — with the only exception being the addition of Halloween on Sunday, Oct. 31 — American Fright Night features themed areas deemed Patriotic Chaos, Graveyard, Clown Town and Creepy Christmas.
Mulberry Hills Farm
Looking for a more wholesome way to celebrate the spooky season? Located less than 20 minutes away from Harrisonburg in Mount Crawford, Virginia, Mulberry Hills Farm Pumpkin Patch is owned and operated by the Phillips family. In its 22nd year of operation, the farm is open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Visitors can pick pumpkins from the patch or browse a pre-picked selection of pumpkins, gourds, mums, straw bales and corn shocks for sale. The Phillips family also offers a fall-themed photo area and multiple hand-painted picture boards for photo ops. Stop by any weekend in October to meet their friendly farm animals and enjoy a free hayride from 1-5 p.m.
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Madame Redrum’s
At Madame Redrum’s, an 18th century abandoned mill is transformed into a walkthrough horror experience. Located in Waynesboro, Virginia, the attraction is described as a sensory experience where “you will be bombarded with sights, sounds, and smells” — “Madame Redrum WILL make you scream,” according to its website. But don’t worry — the attraction makes a point to say that several people are escorted out of the “chicken” doors nightly. All tickets to this haunted house are sold online and in one-hour time slots.
Back Home on the Farm
Open nearly year-round with a variety of activities, Back Home on the Farm offers a family friendly and scare-free environment for the Halloween season. With over 30 farm activities, including a corn maze, pumpkin patch and a “spook-tacular” enchanted garden, there’s plenty to do on this 240-acre farm. For something more private, visitors can even reserve their own campfire and bring along the necessities for an evening of s’mores and scary stories. Tickets can be purchased at the farm, open Tuesday to Friday from 3-6 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.
DarkWood Manor
Willing to travel a little further to be scared? DarkWood Manor in downtown Luray, Virginia, is “Virginia’s premier theatrical and interactive haunted house,” according to its website. With talented actors, intricate sets and movie-grade makeup, the attraction tells a new story each year about the legend of DarkWood Manor. Open weekend nights in October — 7-11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 7-10 p.m. on Sundays — tickets may be purchased online with specific dates and times.
Nightmare at UREC
For those looking to stay on campus while enjoying a unique Halloween experience JMU’s Nightmare at UREC will take place Thursday, Oct. 28, from 9 p.m. to midnight. Students can choose from many activities, including a haunted house, an escape room, a zombie lab, a silent disco, a dive-in movie and more at no charge. All students need is their JACard for admission, and all guests must pay a $5 fee. Show up in your best costume for a chance to win a prize in the costume contest. Get the pumpkins ready for carving and the costumes set out because the Halloween season is here. Thrillseeker or not, the Valley offers a Halloween event for everyone, and these activities are the perfect way to get festive. CONTACT Megan Crews at crewsme@ dukes.jmu.edu. For more on the culture, arts and lifestyle of the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the culture desk on Twitter and Instagram @Breeze_Culture.
Thursday, October 21, 2021
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One of Harrisonburg’s most infamous Halloween attractions, Fear Forest, is in its 16th season, offering three full-immersion haunted experiences. The first, aptly named Fear Forest, is the original and most popular attraction that travels through a walking woods trail with “terrifying scenes, sounds, high tech animatronics and props,” according to Fear Forest’s website. The second attraction, Fear Crops, is
an interactive zombie experience that’s new this year. The third attraction, Fear Factory, taps into common fears and brings them to life. Open every Friday and Saturday in October from 7-11 p.m. — with the exception of Oct. 21, 27 and 28, open from 7-10 p.m. — the attraction makes a point to say the event “draws larger crowds Saturday nights, and closer to Halloween.”
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EDITORS Savannah Reger & Madison Hricik
EMAIL breezesports@gmail.com
@TheBreezeSports
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Jillian Carey / The Breeze
The polar bear
JMU women's soccer goalkeepers' play is key to CAA championship run
Thursday, October 21, 2021
By CONNOR HARRIS The Breeze
After two seasons as a backup, JMU redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Alexandra Blom earned the starting nod this season for JMU women’s soccer. And with her performances this season, she’s both received praise and racked up a host of quality statistics. So far this season, Blom has started every game for the Dukes, shutting out four teams and only allowing 1.27 goals per game, as of Oct. 16. Her 56 saves are second in the conference, and her 4.31 saves per game are third in the CAA. Blom has excelled as both a facilitator and a shot stopper for JMU, and head coach Joshua Walters said she’s often used to help set up the Dukes’ attack. “She’s our first line of offense and our last line of defense,” Walters said. With the way the Dukes set up, Walters said it’s important that Blom is skilled at both saving the ball and facilitating on offense. Redshirt junior defender Ashby Larkin said Blom’s able to play well with her feet. Larkin said JMU likes to “build out of the back” as much as possible and that Blom’s “very composed when pressure is coming” and can find the correct pass. Walters said Blom “falls in line” with other former JMU goalkeepers with similar skill sets and that one former Dukes goalkeeper
Blom resembles is Hannah McShea. McShea was so skilled with the ball, Walters said, that he occasionally used her in the field of play as opposed to in the box. Blom’s agility can be accredited to her upbringing in Sweden, where she said she played all over the field until she made the permanent move to goalkeeper at 13. She said she always enjoyed playing multiple positions, but her knack for keeping the ball out of the net was noticed by her coaches. At 15 years old, she received her first invitation to join the Swedish U18 National Team while playing for her club, Rävåsens IK. She described this as a learning experience for her development as a young goalkeeper. “You’re playing with the best people your age … you learn so much,” Blom said. “We had great coaches, and it helped me to get more experience and be a better player.” After being unsure of if she wanted to play college soccer, she said, her American teammates in Sweden encouraged her to give it a chance. Blom said she chose JMU based on her interactions with the coaching staff. “I had a great feeling for the coaches and how the team was,” Blom said. “I had no clue how the school looked or how the teammates were, but when I had a conversation with the coaches, I felt so good — so I chose them.” After arriving at JMU, Blom sat for two years behind more experienced keepers — namely Hannah McShea ('20) and Melissa Hoffheins — and only started two matches
before this year. Blom said experience was important to her development as a player and that those goalkeepers pushed her and helped her learn. Now in her third season, those learning experiences are paying off for Blom, Walters said. According to InStat, a data tool used by the JMU women’s soccer staff to track performance, Blom made “six or seven super saves,” which, according to Nacsport, is a save that “involves more than simply putting a hand on the ball.” Perhaps no save this season has been more important to JMU’s season than her overtime save against East Carolina on Sept. 19. A Pirates' penalty kick (PK) threatened to cost the Dukes the game, but Blom dove to her left and made the save that kept JMU alive. JMU won on a goal in the final minute. “I was a little nervous because PKs are really hard to stop,” Larkin said. “But, [Blom’s] very good at stopping PKs, and we have confidence in her and her ability. I knew she could stop it if she was dialed in, and she did.” Blom described it as a great feeling to make the save, and Coach Walters said the goalkeeper “union”— the group of the three JMU goalkeepers — is as supportive of Blom as she was of the other goalkeepers before becoming the starter. “You can’t have a group that’s jealous or doesn’t want to work together,” Walters said. “[The goalkeepers] cheer for each other and go crazy when they make good saves — and
she would do the same when she wasn’t the starter in past years.” Both Blom and Walters credit JMU’s new goalkeeper coach Rob Donnewirth, who spent 18 years as the East Carolina’s head coach before returning to Harrisonburg this season — where he began his coaching career in 1988. Walters said it’s “amazing” to see the production he gets out of the group, and Blom said he was the inspiration for her nickname — the “Polar Bear.” “We were coming up with our ‘power image,’ and [Donnewirth] came up with the polar bear for me.” Blom said. “I have stuck with that, and I guess I’m playing like a polar bear.” Earlier this season, Blom was named CAA Defensive Player of the Week after a 1-0 shutout against Drexel in JMU’s conference opener — the first CAA award of her career. Walters said Blom is a major key to the team’s chances for a spot in the CAA tournament. “I think [Blom] is the best goalkeeper in the conference,” Walters said. “I couldn’t have any more praise for her. As we go on and win some games, I think she’s going to be a big part of that.” CONTACT Connor Harris at harri7cj@dukes. jmu.edu. For more soccer coverage, follow the sports desk on Twitter @TheBreezeSports.
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DUKES VS. BLUE HENS A preview of JMU football’s road matchup with Delaware
By SAVANNAH REGER The Breeze
Third time’s a charm, right? JMU football meets Delaware on the road to close out, arguably, the Dukes’ toughest stretch of the season. It’s the Blue Hens’ homecoming, and it’s a matchup of two spring FCS semifinalists facing off in a packed Delaware Stadium. “We just have to keep our minds open,” redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Tony Thruston said. “We could expect anything, and we’re just preparing for anything that can be thrown at us.” What makes this STATS FCS Top-25 matchup so appealing? To start, it’s the first time since 2016 that JMU faces Delaware in “normal” conditions — that is, without a drenched Bridgeforth Stadium or an empty one, for that matter. The last time the Dukes played the Blue Hens was in 2018. The FCS playoffs’ first round came to Harrisonburg over Thanksgiving break, and Mother Nature wasn’t on Virginia’s side. It was overcast at kickoff, but through a downpour during pregame and a defensive affair, JMU outlasted Delaware 20-6 and limited the Blue Hens to 185 yards of offense. Attendance at the game, though, was under 8,000. The next scheduled meeting between the CAA foes was set for Sept. 5, 2020. The season was pushed to the spring, and JMU and Delaware never squared off. While the Dukes and Blue Hens never met in the spring, they were both top FCS teams. Delaware took the conference crown as the CAA was split into the North and South divisions. The teams fell in the semifinals to Sam Houston and South Dakota State, respectively. Now, it’s a new season, and both squads have grown since their performances six months ago. “Every game is a playoff game right now,” JMU head coach Curt Cignetti said. “We control us, and that’s where the focus is.” For the Blue Hens, the team has sustained injury after injury. First it was redshirt senior quarterback Nolan Henderson, a veteran presence on and off the field. Henderson was pivotal in Delaware’s playoff run but didn’t return against Albany on Oct. 2. The fifthyear player continues to recover. Redshirt junior quarterback Zach Gwynn stepped in during Henderson’s absence but left Saturday’s loss to Stony Brook with a fourth-quarter injury. Delaware head coach Danny Rocco said Gwynn was out of practice Monday and is questionable for JMU. Thruston said the Dukes are preparing for “either situation” — that is, whether it’ll be Gwynn or redshirt junior quarterback Anthony Paoletti, who finished the game Saturday, under center. Despite their quarterback situation, the offensive weapons on the Blue Hens are the same from a year ago. Graduate running back Dejoun Lee is the reigning CAA Offensive Player of the Year and the player to watch in
both the running and passing game. For the rest of the offense, Delaware is guided by veterans. Graduate wide receivers Thyrick Pitts and Gene Coleman II were playmakers last season, and they continue to be key players for the Blue Hens. “[Lee] was the player of the year in the conference last year for a reason,” Cignetti said. “He can take it to the house anywhere … then, you combine it with the weapons [they] have at wide receiver, you know — that’s what makes them so challenging.” Cignetti noted that the Dukes need to watch for trick plays from the Blue Hens, especially with a potential third-string quarterback behind an veteran offense that adjusts between quarterbacks. Defensively, JMU head coach Curt Cignetti said the Blue Hens have a ‘bend, don’t break’ mentality. He said that while he thought Delaware broke on a few big plays in their contest, overall, the defense is knowledgeable and can adjust. That veteran wit starts up front. Senior defensive back Kendrick Whitehead returns from the spring alongside redshirt senior linebacker Colby Reeder, who posted 12 tackles in the loss against the Seawolves. Junior defensive end Chase McGowan finished with two sacks. “[Delaware] is a physical group,” redshirt junior wide receiver Kris Thornton said. “[Delaware’s] secondary is good, and we know they’re a good team.” Thornton added that JMU knows Delaware’s defense is historically tough, but he said the receivers have the chance to get the ball more with the way the Dukes’ offense has been this year — using both the running and passing game is important to exploiting defenders. “In the past, JMU’s been looked at as more of a run-heavy offense,” Thornton said. “This year, I feel like since we have playmakers all over the field … it shows that we have a balanced offense.” For the Dukes, they’re coming off a 19-3 road win over Richmond. JMU kept Richmond out of the endzone and in between the 20s, but with 18 missed tackles resulting in 98 extra yards, there are spots for the defense to improve, and Cignetti put an emphasis on execution. With the FCS playoffs growing near, Cignetti said JMU has its back against the wall, just like Delaware. Another Delaware loss could mean missing the shot at a national championship, and Thruston said the Dukes are ready for the energy they’re bringing. JMU faces Delaware on Oct. 23 at 3 p.m. at Delaware Stadium. It’ll be an intense matchup, but Thornton said he’s ready for what the Blue Hens are going to do. “I think every team we play wants to give us their best shot,” Thornton said. “We’re JMU, and everyone wants to be us … we just have to take [the] punch and roll with it.” CONTACT Savannah Reger at breezesports@ gmail.com. For more sports coverage, follow the sports desk on Twitter @TheBreezeSports.
their best shot. We’re JMU, and everyone watns to be us ... We just have to take [the] punch and roll with it.” Kris Thornton Clayton Cheatham celebrates a touchdown against Villanova. Christine Brady / The Breeze
JMU football redshirt junior wide reciever
Thursday, October 21, 2021
“I think every team we play wants to give us
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What players and coaches are saying ahead of JMU’s matchup against Delaware Christine Brady / The Breeze
By MADISON HRICIK The Breeze
T
he two CAA 2020 semifinalists finally meet up this weekend after a three-year-long wait. It’s a conference battle of powerhouses, offering plenty of potential on both sides. As the Dukes reach the halfway point of the regular season, JMU makes a trip north to Delaware to take on the Blue Hens — closing out arguably the most difficult stretch of the season. It’s the first CAA game this season that JMU doesn’t have a historical advantage, with Delaware leading the all-time series 1412. With JMU coming off a 19-3 win over Richmond and Delaware looking to bounce back from a 34-17 loss against Stony Brook, the stakes are high for the Blue Hens. These two teams haven’t played since the first round of the 2018 FCS playoffs where JMU won 22-6.
In the office: what Cignetti is saying
JMU’s offensive line has four redshirt sophomore or younger players starting — one of the youngest groups in the conference. While the Dukes held their own over the past few games, limiting the Spiders to two sacks on redshirt senior Cole Johnson on Saturday, the team’s youth has still been exposed. Redshirt senior offensive lineman Liam Fornadel — out with a knee injury — has made good progress, head coach Curt Cignetti said, and is expected to return near
the end of the season. “We’ve got 18-year-olds blocking 23-yearolds,” Cignetti said. “We’re not getting us much push upfront … but I’m confident it’ll improve.” The Dukes are undefeated on the road thus far, giving the players extra confidence heading into this road trip. However, Cignetti said JMU needs to stay “locked in” — a statement he’s often told the team. “We have a tremendous amount of respect for Delaware and what they did in the spring,” Cignetti said. “This is still the next game, and we’ve got to stay focused on the preparation ahead.” Defensively, Cignetti said he wants to see improvement in tackling. The head coach counted 18 missed tackles against Richmond, and with the possibility of facing a young quarterback this week, he said the defense needs to start improving now. “We’ve had some huge missed assignments that hurt us,” Cignetti said. “We’re still missing too many tackles — 18 [that resulted in] 98 yards.” At the end of the day, Cignetti said, Saturday is just another game for the Dukes. It’s been three years since JMU played the Blue Hens, and it’s only Cignetti’s second time facing Delaware in his career as a head coach. Statistically, the Dukes have the upper hand against Delaware, providing JMU with the motivation to bring a “no mercy” mentality, as Cignetti said. “We’re never satisfied and always looking to improve,” Cignetti said. “It’ll be a good challenge for us Saturday, which I think is monumental.”
On the field: what the players are saying
Redshirt junior wide receiver Kris Thronton and redshirt freshman wide receiver Antwane Wells Jr. are taking over the CAA — ranking first and second, respectively, in receptions. Both are succeeding on short and long routes, including hauling in diving catches against the Spiders. Thronton — along with the rest of the receivers — is still focused on the same goal: Win more one-on-one opportunities. In the past two games, the Dukes saw multiple passes broken up by the defense, particularly in the red zone. JMU knows its spots for improvement, and the Dukes say they feel confident in their ability to do so. “Since we have so many playmakers on the field, [Johnson] tries to get me, Antwane and [redshirt senior wide receiver Scott Bracey] plays,” Thornton said. “It’s just showing that we’re a balanced offense.” The Blue Hens’ secondary — featuring senior defensive back Kendrick Whitehead, redshirt senior linebacker Colby Reeder and junior defensive end Chase McGowan — have all displayed athleticism. The Blue Hens have five interceptions on the and 14 sacks this season, showcasing the team’s skillset as another challenge for the JMU offense. “They fly around and fly to the ball,” Thornton said. “They’re a physical group.” Defensively, the Dukes know how to clean up their missed assignments — it’s about “focusing on the details,” redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Tony Thurston said. JMU doesn’t know who the Delaware starting
quarterback is yet, with redshirt senior Nolan Henderson dealing with an injury and redshirt junior Zach Gwynn questionable for Saturday. Thurston said the uncertainty puts extra emphasis on making every defensive assignment. “As long as we do our jobs, we’ll be alright and successful,” Thurston said. “We’re preparing for either situation, and we’ll see when it comes to game time.” Thornton and Thurston haven’t played Delaware before, and both agreed the game brings a fun challenge. Thornton was second for the Dukes in receiving yards, with 81 and a long of 49 against Richmond. In addition, Thurston’s coming off one of his best games heading to Newark, Delaware, earning two sacks and three tackles against Richmond. Thurston said it’s a confidence boost to have a strong performance before facing a new opponent and that having an “open mind” is key. “It’s been staying heavy on film and going out there and perfecting our craft,” Thurston said. “Practicing the little things will really help us in the long run.” The focus all around hasn’t changed — continue to improve and get the win. Cignetti described the defense’s strategy against the Blue Hens as “bend, don’t break”, and Thornton said he believes the Dukes can break Delaware. “We’ve just got to execute our plays to the best of our ability,” Thornton said. “If we do that, no team in the country can beat us.” CONTACT Madison Hricik at breezesports@ gmail.com. For more football coverage, follow
27
SPORTS
JMU Athletics weekly schedule Track & field’s Oct. 21-27 schedule released
JMU track and field releases spring schedule Redshirt sophomore jumper/thrower Shelby Staib looks after her throw. Courtesy of JMU Athletics
The Dukes’ spring schedule includes multiple in-state trips By SPORTS DESK The Breeze
JMU’s 2021-22 indoor and outdoor track & field schedule will begin Dec. 4 with the Navy Invite in Annapolis, Maryland. The Dukes stay in Virginia for their next three meets: the VMI Invite in Lexington on Jan. 16; the Liberty Kickoff in Lynchburg from Jan. 21-22; and the VMI Winter Relays in Lexington from Jan. 28-29. The Valentine Invite takes place Feb. 11 in Boston. JMU returns to Liberty for the Liberty Invite from Feb. 11-12. The Dukes end their regular season at Virginia Tech from Feb. 18-
19. The ECAC Indoor Championships will take place March 1-3 in Boston. The outdoor season begins March 18-19 in High Point, North Carolina. The Dukes follow up with the Fred Hardy Invite on March 19 in Richmond, Virginia. Next are two relay meets — the Raleigh Relays from March 25-26 in Raleigh, North Carolina, and the Colonial Relays from April 1-2 in Williamsburg, Virginia. The Hurricane Alumni Invitational takes place April 8-9 in Coral Gables, Florida. Next is the GMU Spring Invite on April 9. The Dukes host the JMU Invite at Sentara Park on April 16. JMU’s last regular season meet is the U. Va Invite in Charlottesville, Virginia,
from April 22-23. The CAA Championship is scheduled for May 6-7 in Boston. Redshirt sophomore jumper/thrower Shelby Staib finished off the Dukes’ track & field season in the spring at the NCAA East Preliminary, coming in 33rd. JMU finished the CAA championships in sixth place out of nine teams. Elon took the crown, followed by Towson in second and Delaware in third. CONTACT the sports desk at breezesports@ gmail.com. For more track and field coverage, follow the sports desk on Twitter @TheBreezeSports.
The Breeze’s Athlete of the Week
By SPORTS DESK The Breeze
Thursday, Oct. 21 Women’s soccer at College of Charleston - 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 22 Women’s tennis at ITA Super Regionals - all day Swim & dive at Duquesne - 4 p.m. Swimming, 5:30 p.m. Diving Field hockey vs. Drexel - 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23 Men’s tennis at ITA Atlantic Super Regionals - all day Women’s tennis at ITA Super Regionals - all day Football at Delaware - 3 p.m. Volleyball at UNCW - 4 p.m. Men’s soccer at Hofstra - 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 24
JMU volleyball’s Caroline Dozier takes home honors after career weekend against William & Mary
Men’s tennis at ITA Atlantic Super Regionals - all day Women’s tennis at ITA Super Regionals - all day
By SPORTS DESK The Breeze
CONTACT the sports desk at breezesports@gmail.com. For more volleyball coverage, follow the sports desk @TheBreezeSports.
Women’s soccer at William & Mary - 1 p.m. Volleyball at UNCW - 1 p.m. Field hockey vs. Louisville noon Monday, Oct. 25 Men’s tennis at ITA Atlantic Super Regionals - all day Women’s tennis at ITA Super Regionals - all day Tuesday, Oct. 19 None Wednesday, Oct. 20 None
Thursday, October 21, 2021
Setter Caroline Dozier serves the ball against William & Mary on Oct. 17. Courtney Ryder / The Breeze
The sports desk has selected JMU volleyball’s Caroline Dozier as The Breeze Athlete of the Week. Dozier racked up 51 assists in this weekend’s series versus William & Mary, surpassing 500 for the season. With 962 career assists, Dozier is on track to reach 1,000 career assists by the end of the season. Dozier began her JMU career in 2019 behind setter Sarah Martin. She played in 61 sets that season, racking up 83 assists and three kills. In the spring, Dozier saw increased playing time, and her assist number backed that up, picking up 357 in just 39 sets played. The junior stepped her game up even more in the fall, with 522 assists already with still four weekend series to play. Dozier’s a consistent starter, and her assists keep excelling. “It’s exciting, [but] I don’t really pay attention to that too much,” Dozier said postgame after the second matchup with
William & Mary. “The defense has been really stepping up and doing a great job putting me in a good position to go set the ball, and the hitters do an awesome job just adjusting and going up and ripping the ball, so I think I give a lot of credit to the defense and offense for just making my job easier.” Dozier is second on JMU with blocks, coming in at 44.0 behind fellow junior middle blocker Sophia Davis. She’s also tied with overall digs on the team with sophomore outside hitter Miette Veldman at 105. The North Carolina native earned a double-double against College of Charleston. She finished that match with 13 digs and 40 assists. JMU volleyball takes on UNCW on the road Oct. 23-24 at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m., respectively, before heading home for two straight weekends.
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SPORTS
Savannah Reger Sports Editor
Madison Hricik Sports Editor
Amy Needham Culture Editor
Editor’s record
30-12
31-11
25-17
JMU vs. Delaware
JMU
JMU
Rhode Island vs. Villanova
Villanova
Weber St. vs. Eastern Washington
Jillian Carey Executive Editor
Jake Conley Editor-in-Chief
31-11
25-17
30-12
JMU
JMU
JMU
JMU
Villanova
Villanova
Villanova
Villanova
Villanova
E. Washington
E. Washington
E. Washington
E. Washington
E. Washington
E. Washington
SDSU
SDSU
SDSU
SDSU
SDSU
SDSU
Clemson vs. Pittsburg
Pitt
Pitt
Pitt
Pitt
Pitt
Pitt
Oklahoma St. vs. Iowa St.
Oklahoma St.
Oklahoma St.
Iowa St.
Oklahoma St.
Iowa St.
Oklahoma St.
Northern Iowa vs. SDSU
Grant Johnson Copy Editor
Courtney Ryder / The Breeze
GLENs Fair Price store The Best halloween store in town 227 N. Main St. Downtown Harrisonburg, VA 22802
540-434-8272 Mon-Fri: 11a-6p | Sat: 11a-5p
Thursday, Ocotober 21, 2021
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29
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30 FOR RELEASE OCTOBER 18, 2021
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis
$10.95
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Thursday, October 21, 2021
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Hours: Monday- Thursday: 11am-9:30pm
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Friday-Saturday: 11am-10:30pm Sunday- CLOSED
10/18/21
By Lynn Lempel
DOWN 1 Thinking clearly 2 Saudi neighbor 3 Spanish port city 4 NFL officials 5 Spot for a bud 6 “The Chronic” Dr. 7 Gobs and gobs 8 Smeltery supply 9 Wished one could have 10 Gaming giant 11 TV personality O’Donnell 12 Starts a poker pot 15 Examine thoroughly 17 “No sweat!” 21 Tall, skinny Olive 24 Bubble, as water 25 Forearm bone 26 Tin Man’s lubricator 28 Convinced of 30 Hotel room sets 31 Meal opening? 33 All in the family 35 Many “Twilight” characters 36 Kids’ chasing game 37 Texter’s “Heavens!”
Saturday’s Puzzle Solved
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ACROSS 1 High-arcing tennis shot 4 Merlot and Malbec 8 Surname at Tara 13 Thurman in films 14 British noble 15 Particle in a nucleus 16 Happy-go-lucky 18 Supper, say 19 Ancient Andeans 20 Seek the affections of 22 The “E” in HOMES 23 Fizzles out 24 Meddlesome types 27 Germ-killing brand 29 Norse explorer Ericson 30 As well 32 Cry from a sty 34 State-sponsored gambling game 38 Pie à la mode choice 42 Tolerate 43 PBS science series 44 Chick-to-be, maybe 45 April 1 “honoree” 48 First head of the USSR 50 Anxiety resulting from being stuck indoors 54 Apples on desks 57 Codebreaker Turing 58 Public health org. 59 Bird that beats a birdie? 60 Small, sizewise 62 Morale booster ... or words that might suggest the arrival of one of the circled words 65 Left the building 66 Texan’s neighbor 67 Cooperstown stat 68 Gathered, as leaves 69 Use a Kindle 70 Fed. benefits provider
www.breezejmu.org/ site/crossword_ answers/
©2021 Tribune Content Agency, LLC
39 Limitless 40 “Merry old” king 41 Always 46 Eliminated, gangland-style 47 Went first 49 Spiritual guide at a mosque 50 Frivolous escapade 51 Amazon Echo assistant 52 Craft to dye for
10/18/21
53 Aircraft’s trail 55 After-school groups 56 Old photo tone 59 Barely got, with “out” 61 Bill’s co-adventurer 63 Name on a 1950s campaign button 64 Intelligencegathering org.
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MADISON MARKETPLACE
Madison Marketplace is open for business, and all text-only listings are FREE! Post job listings, announcements, rentals and more using our online placement tool. Ads run two weeks online and in two print editions.
JOBS
Graphic Designer Wanted The Breeze, JMU’s award-winning student media organization, seeks a student graphic designer for print and online advertising. Job requirements include creating ads for clients, collaboration with Advertising Coordinator, page layout and design. Must be deadline oriented. Knowledge of Adobe software and previous design experience. EOE. Apply at JMU Job Link https://joblink.jmu.edu/postings/6587
Field Trip Driver - Starting Pay: $15.35-$15.85/Hour
Do you want to utilize your driving skills for a part-time job that fits your flexible schedule? If so, the Field Trip Driver with the City of Harrisonburg Department of Public Transportation may be the right job for you! Starting pay: $15.35-$15.85/hour. Find out more/apply online at: https://www. harrisonburgva.gov/employment. EOE.
Career Opportunity - Building Codes Combination Inspector
Do you want to work in a team environment where you have an active role in pursuing quick and efficient reviews of plans and inspections? If so, the Community Development Department’s Building Codes Combination Inspector career may be the right fit for you! Find out more/apply online at https://www.harrisonburgva. gov/employment. EOE.
SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS - UP TO $1,000 HIRING INCENTIVE!
UP TO $1,000 HIRING INCENTIVE FOR NEW SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS. Check out the City’s website to find out more about how you can utilize your driving skills to make a difference in the community. On the job training is provided. Find out more and apply online at: https://www.harrisonburgva. gov/employment. EOE.
SCHOOL BUS AIDES - UP TO $500 HIRING INCENTIVE!
UP TO $500 HIRING INCENTIVE FOR NEW SCHOOL BUS AIDES. Check out the City’s website to find out more about how you can utilize your customer service skills to be a positive influence in the local community. On the job training provided. Find out more/apply online at: https://www.harrisonburgva.gov/ employment. EOE.
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Hotel Guest Services
Country Inn & Suites in Harrisonburg is currently hiring Guest Service Representatives. Great experience for Hospitality majors or others interested in working with people. Flexible Hours, starting pay $12 an hour. 540-433-2400
COMMUNITY
Kids’ Night Out Hey Parents, do you need a night off? Join us for Kid’s Night Out at Horizons Edge! Experienced program staff changes up theme each month. Includes Clip ‘n Climb, bounce castles, field games, etc. Second Friday of each month.6:00 pm - 9:00 pm Kids ages 6 – 12. $35/child. HorizonsEdgeVa.com/ KidsNightOut
HOUSING
One Bedroom Apartment Fully Furnished 1 Bed Room, Pots & Pans, Dishes, Silverware, Refrigerator, Electric Heat & AC included. High Speed Internet Available, Country Setting, 10 miles north of Harrisonburg on Rt. 1. $1,000 per month/security deposit required. 540-432-1989 FOR SALE
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UP TO $1,000 HIRING INCENTIVE FOR NEW FIELD TRIP DRIVERS. Check out the City’s website to find out more about how you can utilize your driving skills to make a difference in the community. On the job training is provided. Find out more and apply online at: https://www. harrisonburgva.gov/employment. EOE.
TRANSIT BUS OPERATORS - UP TO $1,000 HIRING INCENTIVE!
UP TO $1,000 HIRING INCENTIVE FOR NEW TRANSIT BUS OPERATORS. Check out the City’s website to find out more about how you can utilize your driving skills to make a difference in the community. On the job training is provided. Find out more and apply online at: https://www.harrisonburgva. gov/employment. EOE.
Tutor needed
Precalculus tutor needed 5406888035
For more information, qualifications, and to apply, please go to https://joblink.jmu.edu/postings/9864 or visit joblink.jmu.edu and reference posting number “J1803.”
Thursday, October 21, 2021
Post your ad at BreezeJMU.org/classifieds
The JMU Athletics Communications Department is looking for a student to assist with photographing intercollegiate sports during the 2021-2022 school year. Students must be degree-seeking students, enrolled on at least a half-time basis (6 credits for undergraduate and 5 credits for graduate), and be willing to work nights and weekends.
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In 2020, we broke records and over 4.4 million Virginians voted.
LET’S MAKE HISTORY AGAIN IN 2021.
Go to IWillVote.com/VA to make a plan to vote early or on November 2.