The Breeze 11.3.22

The Breeze

Community challenges local education policies affecting transgender students

By ELEANOR SHAW The Breeze

Just as the school day was coming to a close, the outcry of indignant students drowned out the bell.

Chants of “protect trans students” and “trans rights are human rights” overtook the crowd. The students, signs raised, gathered outside of Harrisonburg High School (HHS), marched around the building and gathered to listen to several students speak.

The students staged a walkout — organized by the school’s Gay Straight Alliance (GSA) Club — on Tuesday in protest of a lawsuit against Harrisonburg City Public Schools (HCPS) concerning names and pronouns for transgender students and the role of parental rights in education. The lawsuit had its first day in court on Tuesday as well, and at 1:40 p.m., students gathered around the exterior cafeteria entrance with what looked like several hundred students in attendance — several times more than the expected turnout of 20-30 students, organizers said.

The current policy for students in Harrisonburg schools who wish to change their name or pronouns used in a classroom setting specifies that the information will be shared with a guidance counselor who will then speak with the student about their gender identity. Teachers aren’t allowed to notify the student’s parents, per the policy.

A group of parents and teachers took issue with the current policy largely because the group perceived HCPS to be overstepping and limiting the rights of parents, according to court documents.

The lawsuit is just one piece of recent widespread attention concerning how public schools address LGBTQ — and primarily transgender — issues and parental rights, brought to the forefront by Youngkin’s proposed policies. This attention has spread nationally, state-wide and in local communities.

Youngkin policy proposal sparks debate

In addition to HHS, several other schools across Virginia have staged walkouts in protest of Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s (R) recent proposed policies about transgender students and parental rights,

according to a Sept. 27 CBS News article.

The Breeze reached out to Mary-Hope Vass, JMU’s executive director of communications and university spokesperson, requesting an interview with a member of Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE) — a group that does LGBTQ advocacy work on campus — to discuss the organization’s position on Youngkin’s proposed policies.

Vass responded via email saying “this is not something the university will be participating in.”

The Breeze also reached out to the Office of the Governor on Oct. 17 and Nov. 1 regarding Youngkin’s policy, but the office said no one was available for comment.

VP of DEI reflects on position

By MORGAN VUKNIC The Breeze

What can JMU do to best assist its students? This is the question Malika Carter-Hoyt wants to answer as JMU’s inaugural vice president (VP) for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Since starting in this position at the beginning of the semester, Carter-Hoyt has been in charge of creating diversity initiatives to help JMU be as inclusive as possible.

Carter-Hoyt comes to JMU from the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY ESF) where she served as chief diversity officer. Prior to this, she earned her Associate of Art degree with a concentration in stenography from Cuyahoga Community College; Bachelor of Science in middle childhood education from Cleveland State University; master’s degree in higher education and student affairs administration from the University of Vermont; and her doctorate degree in philosophy with a concentration in institutional analysis from North Dakota State University (NDSU).

In a statement on JMU’s website, President Johnathan Alger said he and the selection committee for this position were impressed with CarterHoyt’s “wisdom, breadth of experience and can-do spirit throughout the interview process.”

“I am excited to welcome [CarterHoyt] as a member of our senior leadership team and to further our deep institutional commitment to DEI efforts to make JMU an even more welcoming and inclusive community,” Alger said in his statement.

Men’s basketball leans on Morse in first Sun Belt season

By CRAIG MATHIAS The Breeze

Thirty-seven seconds left. Down 61-60 against George Mason, JMU redshirt senior guard Vado Morse brought the ball up the court with the fans in the Atlantic Union Bank Center on their feet.

Redshirt sophomore Justin Amadi set a screen to switch Morse onto a Patriot forward, creating the mismatch.

Morse took a couple dribbles to the left wing and fired a three.

Bang.

Morse then iced the game with free throws to close out a 67-64 win for the Dukes — which moved them to 4-0 early on in 2021-22. In an injury-riddled year where JMU couldn’t compete in the postseason, this win highlighted the Suitland, Maryland, native’s career in purple and gold.

A transfer from Mount St. Mary’s, Morse now enters his

third year with the Dukes, making him one of six players who’s been around for Mark Byington’s entire career as JMU head coach.

Last season, Byington had Morse in the starting lineup for all 29 games he played. In 22 of those games, Morse scored double figures.

Dustin Shiganakov, a freshman at Harrisonburg High School (center), and other students protest the HCPS lawsuit. Ella Stotzky / The Breeze

Savannah Reger / The Breeze

Policy controversy New transgender policies take Virginia, local community by storm

from POLICY, page 1

Youngkin’s proposal, first filed in September, says parents would be notified before a student receives any “counseling services pertaining to gender,” and participation of gender-non-conforming students in gender-separated activities, such as sports, will be limited. This will be done through separating students based on their “biological sex.” Further, students will only be able to use the bathroom according to their sex assigned at birth.

Kristen Kelley, a coordinator of multilingual student services and an assistant professor teaching the Queer Families course at JMU, defined transgender as someone whose expression of gender lies outside of the “boy and girl” binary that’s been put in place by society as the “only options.”

“If it is inside of the person,” Kelley said, “trans means you’re labeling someone as transgressive — like they were saying, ‘I’m going to go against your expectations of me.’”

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, being transgender means that one’s gender identity differs from the sex assigned to them at birth.

Youngkin’s policy — 2022 Model Policies on the

Privacy, Dignity, and Respect For All Students and Parents in Virginia’s Public Schools, or the 2022 Model Policies — was formed in reaction to the 2021 Model Policies, which were adopted in 2021 by former Gov. Ralph Northam (D). The document states that the 2021 Model Policies, which were developed by the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) to create a safe learning environment “promoted a specific viewpoint,” “disregarded the rights of parents” and “ignored constitutional and legal principles.”

The new 2022 policy document states that it aims to “respect … all students and parents” and their individual beliefs and recognize the “fundamental right” of parents to direct their child’s upbringing and education. The policy later specifies that it was designed to respect all students and create a safe environment.

Sept. 26 marked the beginning of a 30-day public comment period for citizens of Virginia that can be accessed online. As of Nov. 2, the forum has over 70,000 comments — all expressing vastly different responses to these new policies.

“This attempt to keep trans children from affirming their gender in the most vulnerable place they can be is a clear disregard for children’s lives

and an attempt at nothing but conveying control over children with an extremely partisan belief,” one person commented.

“It is unlawful for schools to take away parental rights,” another commented. “The high suicide rates [within] the transgender community are not because of the parents but rather because of the system failing a child, allowing the child to cut off their genitalia, and pursue a sex change at a very young age before the child has the sense that it is forever changing their future.”

Since the public comment period has now ended, VDOE will review the comments and could make changes to Youngkin’s policy before it’s finalized by the state superintendent.

Kelley said the policy contradicts its stated mission of compassion. Kelley specified that with these new parent-focused policies comes a push against the privacy and autonomy of students, and stripping privacy could increase safety risks.

According to True Colors United, LGBTQ youth are 120% more likely to experience homelessness. Transgender youth are overrepresented in the homeless population, according to Youth.gov.

Kelley said policies like these make children even more vulnerable to having the necessities of

food, shelter, love, nurturance and clothes “stripped away” due to their identities and unaccepting family environments. Youngkin’s policy could also potentially impact the mental health and particularly increase suicidal ideation among transgender students if they face unaccepting environments, whether at home or at school, Kelley said.

According to a study from PubMed, 82% of transgender youth have considered suicide, while 40% have attempted suicide.

Kelley further expressed concerns that these policies may preach harmful messages to students, prioritizing “rigid adherence to social norms” over curiosity and open-mindedness. She said these policies only work if parents don’t think of children as individuals.

“If we think of children as an extension or property of parents and if we look at the rhetoric around Governor Youngkin rolling this out, a lot of that language is used when it comes to letting parents have a say because they are the ones that are responsible for how the children are presenting themselves,” Kelley said.

Students at Harrisonburg High School participated in a walkout Tuesday in response to a lawsuit concerning Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s new policies regarding transgender youth in Virginia. Ella Stotzky / The Breeze

Ethan Crawford, a junior public policy and administration major at JMU, is similarly critical of the 2022 Model Policies. Crawford said the policy is flawed in its approach to pronouns and nicknames, and the policy’s focus on transgender students neglects to account for the impacts it may have on cisgender students — individuals whose gender identity reflects their sex assigned at birth.

“Most teachers always ask at the beginning of the year, ‘Do you have a preferred name?’” Crawford said. “It has never been a problem to ask to be called by any other name. I’m confused as to why this is so targeted to trans children even though other people also use alternative names.”

In response to the proposed policy, Madison Equality, a studentled LGBTQ organization at JMU, released a statement to the JMU community Oct. 12 condemning the policy. The organization said the policy discriminates against students based on their gender identity and creates an unsafe environment for gender-nonconforming students.

“Under these policies, teachers and staff are prevented from supporting trans, gender non-conforming and nonbinary students, creating an environment where LGBTQ students are at risk of feeling a lack of acceptance from the adults in their schools,” Madison Equality said in its statement.

The statement encourages Virginia school boards to vote against the policy “for the safety of trans, gender non-conforming and nonbinary youth.”

Rockingham School Board votes against proposed name change policy

Despite Youngkin pursuing policies concerning transgender students for Virginia as a whole, several localities are also attempting to implement similar policies. On May 9, the Rockingham County Public Schools (RCPS) school board representative of District 3, Matthew Cross, introduced a new policy in line with Youngkin’s that would notify parents of student name changes that may indicate a change in the expression of one’s gender.

According to The Daily News-Record, a total of 24 people spoke at the May 9 meeting. Fifteen of the 24 individuals spoke in support of Cross’ policy, while the remaining nine spoke against it.

RCPS school board member Charlette McQuilkin, representative of District 4, said while the proposed policy shared many similarities to aspects of Youngkin’s policies, there are some key differences. For example, rather than teachers being the sole individuals reporting students, Cross’s proposed policy expanded that role.

“All employees or agents of Rockingham County Public Schools will address a student by the name or names listed only in the student’s official school records,” the policy states. “If any student wishes to be called by any other name that does not reflect the student’s official school records, a parent or guardian shall be notified by the school administrator, and consent must be given for any such name change.”

The Sept. 26 vote struck down the policy 3-1, beginning a period of revision with new provisions — including one that if an RCPS employee failed to report the name change, they’d risk being fired. Cross was the sole vote in support of the policy.

McQuilkin, who voted against Cross’ policy, said RCPS focuses on providing all students, including transgender students, with equal opportunity and treatment.

“I believe that [Youngkin] said that he is interested in the education of all students,” McQuilkin said. “I guess he believes it is — what he is doing for all students — though I’m not sure everybody would agree with him.”

McQuilkin said she believes thoughtful parent and student communication is key.

“This is a personal, private topic and conversation for them,” McQuilkin said. “It is something that should be in the home. Governor Youngkin said he believes in all students and all parents having the responsibility. I think that it’s the responsibility of the parents to communicate with their students so that they are always knowledgeable as to what is going on.”

The Breeze reached out to Cross for an interview. As a condition for an interview, Cross requested to see a list of questions prior to the interview, which is against The Breeze’s policy.

“With how biased the media is today, it’s kind of nice to have the questions beforehand,” Cross said in an email to The Breeze. “I hope you understand. I’m not too worried about the interview, so just tell the Breeze if they can’t share the questions beforehand I won’t be able to do the interview.”

Parents and teachers sue HCPS over current name change policy

HCPS adopted its current policy — the one instated under Northam — in August 2021.

A group of parents and teachers — Deborah Figliola, Kristine Marsh, Timothy and Laura Nelson, and John and Nicole Stephens — filed a lawsuit over the policy. They allege that the policy violates First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and religion, according to court documents, as well as going beyond what the VDOE has “set in stone” in regard to how transgender students will be treated in public schools.

In an opinion editorial in The Harrisonburg Citizen by Figliola, a special education teacher at Skyline Middle School, she argues that the current policy violates the rights of parents and “forces” teachers to “deceive” parents. Figliola also said the policy is unconstitutional.

“We think it is wrong for a school to say that it gets to make sensitive decisions for children, leaving those children’s parents in the dark,” Figliola said in the opinion editorial.

Following Figiola’s editorial, JMU professors Heidi Pennington, an assistant professor for the Department of English, and Sara Snyder, an associate professor for the Educational Foundations & Exceptionalities Department, wrote a response editorial in which they address many of Figliola’s — and by extension the lawsuit’s — claims.

Pennington said what motivated the pair to write the piece was that they found Figliola’s claims to be “demonstrably untrue.”

“As we say in the piece itself,” Pennington said, “when I saw Ms. Figliola’s representations, she made two main claims, and we wanted to push back on both of those claims because they seemed, at best, incomplete and certainly inaccurate.”

High school freshman Dustin Shiganakov, is a transgender HHS student and GSA member. He was one of several speakers who spoke in opposition of the lawsuit at the HHS walkout on Tuesday. Shiganakov said he felt GSA has helped amplify his voice, while also providing him with a shared space.

Shiganakov said it’s important for the voices of transgender youth to be heard as more policy that will directly impact them is proposed and passed.

“There are people in the trans community who are … just like me and are struggling every day,” Shigonakov said. “If this policy [passes] it will devastate our trans community.”

Snyder said the school’s policy itself, as well as the training materials for public school faculty that have been under scrutiny, were formulated according to the guidance of mental health professionals. These training sessions were implemented following the 2021 Model Policies in HCPS.

Beyond this, Pennington and Snyder expressed their concern about teachers and how — with these policies — they are facing scrutiny and being asked to do more while receiving less support.

“[Teachers] are getting a lot of blame and not nearly the support they deserve,” Pennington said.

With this lawsuit, as well as Youngkin’s 2022 Model Policies, the pair said they worry teachers won’t have access to the support they would’ve had previously.

“Our students do come to school with many complexities beyond just this,” Snyder said, “so [it’s] really helping our students understand behaviors that lead to effective collaboration with experts so that teachers know, ‘If I don’t know what to do in this particular scenario, I have all of these other people that I can lean on to do what is best for the student.’”

CONTACT Eleanor Shaw at shaweo@dukes.jmu.edu. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on Twitter @BreezeNewsJMU.

Students in the walkout chanted “protect trans students” and “trans rights are human rights” while marching around the building with signs. Ella Stotsky / The Breeze

There are people in trans community who are ... just like me and are struggling everyday. If this policy [passes] it will devastate our trans community.”

Dustin Shiganakov Harrisonburg High School freshman

Let’s vote

Who’s on the ballot for midterm elections in Harrisonburg

By ABBY HERBERT contributing writer

U.S. House of Representatives

Jennifer Lewis (D)

Lewis is a mental health worker from Waynesboro, Virginia. Issues on her campaign include things like healthcare, women’s and LGBTQ rights, marijuana and hemp, education, farms and agriculture, the opioid crisis, infrastructures and criminal justice reform, according to her website.

• States on her website that she believes in providing affordable and easy access to all those needing medical attention by lowering prescription costs and creating more mental health care and rehabilitation access.

• Supports the legalization of abortions and current legislation helping to bring women more equality in the medical field and workforce.

Harrisonburg City Council

Christopher Jones (D)

Jones (’00) is a graduate of JMU and previously the mayor of Harrisonburg from 2015 to 2016. He’s served on city council since 2019.

• During the Oct. 20 traveling town hall on JMU’s campus, he said city council is working with the city to help combat homelessness in Harrisonburg with the building of a lowbarrier homeless shelter in collaboration with Open Doors.

• Hopes to bridge the gap between JMU students and Harrisonburg residents.

• In regard to the worker shortage in both public transportation and the local police department, Jones said he believes the city needs to create more initiatives that entice people to occupy those jobs, including increased salaries.

Dany Fleming (D)

Fleming has held several leadership positions within the Harrisonburg community. Issues on his campaign include improving infrastructure, housing, childcare, transportation, investing in the future, the economy, the growth of small businesses and sustainability, according to his website.

• Hopes to sustain the high standards of infrastructure in Harrisonburg and aims to create more opportunities for childcare, housing and transportation within Harrisonburg, which he believes are some of the city’s biggest issues, according to his website.

Harrisonburg City School Board

Obie Hill (I)

Hill has been a Harrisonburg resident for six years and is a current school board member. He’s a father and has a private counseling practice.

• If reelected, he plans to restore trust between families and schools, empower students and their families, and advocate for teachers, according to his campaign’s Facebook page.

• Advocate for an increase in funding towards counseling services within the school district.

• Prioritized opening the new high school when expected, according to The Daily News Record.

Corin Jackson (I)

Jackson is a mother and business owner in Harrisonburg.

• Hopes to fight for better education, according to her campaign’s Facebook page, because she believes all children matter.

• Advocate for better education standards within the Harrisonburg City School district–with a hope of decreasing

With the Nov. 8 midterm elections right around the corner, it’s crucial that Harrisonburg voters stay informed on who’s running

• Aims to implement more help for those with mental illnesses and to lower mandatory minimums for non-violent offenders.

• Believes in increasing funding to school districts Advocates for free or reduced college tuition.

• Wants to protect farming businesses that are at risk of being overrun by large monopolies by pushing for policies that would allow farmers to sell directly to consumers.

• Believes that voting is a fundamental right and supports easier and quicker access to voter registration.

Ben Cline (R)

Cline is a resident of the Shenandoah Valley and the current House Representative for the 6th Congressional district. Issues on Cline’s campaign include agriculture, gun rights, abortion, education,

in the district. Positions on the ballot in Harrisonburg include three Harrisonburg City Public Schools (HCPS) school board seats, two city council seats, one special election city council seat and the U.S. House Representative for the 6th congressional district. Here’s who’s on the ballot next week.

inflation and the economy, law enforcement, American democracy and the military, according to his website.

• Advocate for agricultural workers in the U.S. and strives to protect the financial security and competitiveness of the agricultural and farming community.

• Made it a goal to lower unnecessary congressional spending to return more tax dollars back to American citizens.

• Advocates for the protection of the 2nd Amendment right to carry and own guns in the U.S.

• Supporter towards voter ID requirements .

• Believes life begins at conception. Supporter of pro-life legislation that will protect the lives of the unborn.

• Believes that the education of children in the U.S. should be a top priority, even above teacher unions.

• Advocate for increased funding toward schools and staff to help create a better future for children in the area.

• Strives to expand economic opportunities and small business developments and hopes to expand opportunities to the working class, according to his website.

Marshall Orenic (I)

Orenic grew up in the Shenandoah Valley. He prioritizes mental health, equal representation, the housing crisis, police retention, economics and population growth, according to his website.

• Plans to prioritize mental health and increase advocacy as many individuals in the U.S. suffer from mental health issues.

• Believes there needs to be eight members on both city council and the school board, one candidate per eight voting precincts in the city to create more equal representation, rather than the city’s current at-large elections.

• Addresses the increase in inflation and housing prices and wants to lower real estate tax and make Harrisonburg more welcoming toward developers.

Monica Robinson (D)

Robinson has been a resident of Harrisonburg her whole life and graduated from JMU with both her undergraduate and graduate degrees.

• Believes in using equity, sustainability and inclusion principles to discuss policy options, according to her website.

• During the traveling town hall, she said clean energy was the No. 1 priority for her because of its implications on future generations; hopes to scale back Harrisonburg’s dependency on Dominion Energy and promote a switch to a cleaner energy.

• Said the city should be ensuring that homeless individuals are able to become homeowners and maintain that status and that mental health is a factor in homelessness in the area.

Rick Nagel (I)

Nagel is a former police officer from Charlotte, North Carolina. The main issues on his campaign include law enforcement, S.T.E.M. (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education, sustainability, local government accountability and tax accountability, immigration, affordable housing, high-paying jobs, economic growth and parents’ rights, according to his website

• Plans on fully staffing the police force to ensure safety in neighborhoods and schools.

• Wants to implement policies that would make it easier for those in enterprise to succeed and strives to create a more environmentally sustainable city.

• Strives to create more affordable living opportunities in Harrisonburg to those who are living in low-income households, according to his website.

the high school dropout rate.

• Wants to ensure that teachers are able to find substitutes and bus drivers that will ensure their students gain the education they deserve.

Emma Phillips (I)

Phillips is an educator in Harrisonburg who’s taught at JMU and Blue Ridge Community College.

• Wants to fight for an increase in S.T.E.M. education within schools and to close the education gap for women and underprivileged families, according to her campaign’s Facebook page.

• Believes that every student deserves to have equitable access to an education that will carry them into an exceptional career.

• Committed to ensure that the science classrooms in the new high school are used to their full capabilities.

Andrew Kohen (I)

Kohen earned a Ph.D. in economics from Ohio State University and was a former Professor Emeritus at JMU from 1976 to 2010. He’s served on the HCPS school board since 2014.

• Main issues for his campaign are education, government and public safety, according to his website.

• If reelected, hopes to expand S.T.E.M. education and has shown support for health fairs and educational panels.

• Wants to increase public safety in schools and supports active shooter training for local Harrisonburg elementary schools.

Kristen Loflin (I)

Loflin (’04) is a JMU graduate and has served on the HCPS school board since 2019.

• Loflin’s main issue for her campaign are schools’ budgets.

• Supports building new schools in Harrisonburg and renovating outdated ones in order to prevent more overcrowding.

CONTACT Abby Herbert at herberag@dukes.jmu.edu. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on Twitter @BreezeNewsJMU.

New proposals

Professors push for LGBTQ studies minor

By BRIANNA THWEATT contributing writer

JMU’s selection of majors and minors may soon become wider. Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) professors Mary Thompson, Dawn Goode and Kristen Kelley have proposed a new LGBTQ studies minor.

In creating this new minor from the ground up, the professors are essentially pulling different disciplines from across campus and combining them. Kelley said the LGBTQ studies minor’s goal is to give students “access to a quality minor that would give them insight into queer lives.” This would include courses in sociology, English, queer family studies, justice studies and more.

“It is going to be interdisciplinary where we are including these courses across campus that already exist and know that are being taught,” Thompson said. “The main question lies, where will be our introductory course that highlights why this study needs to be taken?”

Thompson, Goode and Kelley want the minor to be worthwhile, not just for WGSS minors but for everyone on campus, they said — ranging from business to nursing to communication majors. Thompson said JMU is “behind in the conversation,” so starting now is better than never.

“It is a legitimate academic field that is studied and represented at other institutions, but it is not something represented here on campus at JMU,” Thompson said. “We are missing out on this body of knowledge which is increasingly important and vital to our lives in the 21st century.”

Thompson attributed the proposal of the new minor to Christine Robinson, a justice studies professor at JMU. Robinson proposed the minor over 15 years years ago but never took it through the whole process. Feeling that the minor was ahead of its “political time,” Robinson decided to hang onto the blueprints. Thompson said Robinson chose to not present the minor because of consistent disapproval from the JMU Board of Visitors.

“She started a conversation and it’s been happening all along where different groups at different times have been circling around this idea,” Thompson said.

The minor isn’t just something the professors feel is important to have on campus, but students expressed a need for the minor as well. While in its proposal phase, the professors have hosted numerous stages of discussion for students, focus groups and an online survey for students to chime in.

“We’ve gotten resoundingly positive responses from students as this would be a really good fit for their different majors and a very timely and interesting topic,” Kelley said.

Before a proposed minor can become an official minor, it must go through a series of processes. In an email to The Breeze, Paula Maxwell, associate vice provost for faculty and curriculum, described the general process for creating a minor.

The academic unit head and dean of the proposing department or college must first let Maxwell know she can start the discussions with faculty about the new program, she said. Afterward, the faculty members must complete a preview document that will go on to lay out the curriculum for the minor, the need for the minor, the target audience, resource needs and more. Once given the green light to proceed, the minor goes through the curriculum approval process on campus, and once the proposal passes all approval steps, it goes into effect in the fall semester of the next year.

While the LGBTQ studies minor still has a ways to go from being finalized, it’s slowly making its way to JMU. In the meantime, Thompson, Goode and Kelley encourage students to continue to ask questions about queer studies and stay tuned for the upcoming study.

“JMU is this beacon for higher education where its needs are supporting students going into these occupations of politicians and business people,” Kelley said. “It’s important to look at it from an academic point to help them really understand the demographics that they are serving.”

CONTACT BriAnna Thweatt at thweatbf@ dukes.jmu.edu. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on Twitter @BreezeNewsJMU.

Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) professors Kristen Kelley (left) and Mary Thompson (right) are working to create a new LGBTQ studies minor. Photos by Ryan Sauer / The Breeze

“It is a legitimate academic field that is studied and represented at other institutions, but it is not something represented here on campus at JMU.”

Mary Thompson JMU professor

The professors have hosted several discussions, focus groups and an online survey to get student input on the potential minor.

Comments and concerns

SGA holds town hall with students, administration

By BRIANNA THWEATT contributing writer

Students asked the JMU administration about anything and everything at Tuesday’s town hall, including dining, curriculum and accessibility on campus.

Tim Miller, vice president for student affairs; Towana Moore, vice president for administration and finance; and Dirron Allen, associate vice president for student life and involvement, headlined the panel.

The Student Government Association (SGA), which held the event in place of its weekly senate meeting, distributed surveys to students around campus beforehand, allowing them to submit questions anonymously. The meeting was divided into two parts: student body questions from the survey and SGA members’ questions at the end.

Some of the students’ questions consisted of: What happened to the smokey mac bowls? Can we have better directories around campus and within the buildings?

Members of the panel answered each question and provided other resources that may be more equipped to answer students’ questions than they were.

One student response to the survey asked if there are ways Lakeside Cafe could expand its menu.

Moore said the question was reasonable enough and was willing to carry out the student’s request.

“There are, and I can work on that,” Moore said. “But I also wanted to mention how if you bring up anything to Dining Services, they are usually very approachable and accommodating.”

In another question, presented by the committee boards, there were inquiries about the direction of undergraduate research.

Miller said JMU officials are trying to make undergrad research more attainable for everyone on campus, not just graduate students. Miller said sometime in the near future, students might see more opportunities.

Another student survey question asked why there are so many required general education courses.

A representative from the general education board said there are specific guidelines that the general education system should be composed of but that JMU offers a hybrid approach that allows students to choose from a variety of options within each cluster in order to fulfill the requirements.

There were also suggestions from both the committees and the student body about adding a scheduling system with booking times for study rooms within the campus libraries. Moore said this idea was “interesting” and “something that would prove to be useful.”

“It’s important for us to hear from actual JMU officials — besides just us acting on behalf of students — so students can get real and

quality answers from representatives who are supposed to be serving our community,” sophomore James Love, a member of SGA’s communications committee, said.

While SGA is built on the ideals of representing, serving and informing the JMU community, senior Shawdee Bakhtiari, student body president, and junior Tara Snowden, SGA parliamentarian, said they felt student outreach was the best way of going about a town hall meeting.

“We were trying to have more information be spread out to the whole student body, while also trying to give students the opportunity to talk to people that they normally do not have access to,” Snowden said.

Emphasizing that student body voices need to be heard, Bakhtiari said that while informing the public may come easy, the town hall meeting was all about an event that was for the student body “while giving them information from higher levels that may not be as accessible.”

Taking Tuesday as a success, Snowden and Bakhtiari said SGA plans to have similar events in the future.

CONTACT BriAnna Thweatt at thweatbf@dukes.jmu.edu. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on Twitter @BreezeNewsJMU.

Members of JMU administration answered questions from students during an SGA town hall. Ryan Sauer / The Breeze

Michael Russo & Avery Goodstine

EMAIL

‘A new era’

from DEI, page 1

From the beginning of her career, CarterHoyt said she wanted to be a teacher, but after student teaching and gaining experience in the field, she said she realized she wanted to be on the administrative side of education. After talking with her mentors, she was introduced to resources such as the IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA), through which she was able to attend the University of Vermont, where she said she found her niche.

“Through the University of Vermont I found student affairs, because I like being at the university level, but I also like the administration part too,” Carter-Hoyt said. “But that wasn’t the end of my journey. I finished my degree and felt fulfilled, but something was missing. When everything started to click for me was when I found institutional analysis at NDSU. I walked away with my Ph.D. and real life experience.”

Carter-Hoyt said her mentors also showed her the VP position opening at JMU. She said the position interested her because she thought it would be a good fit for her. She said she enjoyed her positions at SUNY but wanted to be in a place where she fit in more and could share her knowledge and experiences, and JMU was the better opportunity for that.

“As soon as I accepted the role, I felt like I was stepping into a new era,” Carter-Hoyt said. “In this new era, I want to be able to be in a space that gets to me as much as I get to it, and that’s exactly what’s happened [at JMU] so far.”

In her new position, Carter-Hoyt hopes to affect students as much as they’ve affected her. Meaning, she wants to reach all students in order to increase inclusivity at JMU. Diversity isn’t just about JMU’s demographics; it’s about the experience of all students.

For example, Carter-Hoyt said the socioeconomic status of students is often disregarded by others. While there are campus programs in place to help students who may have trouble affording a meal plan, she said,

students themselves often disregard other students’ financial issues and that’s as much a part of DEI as making sure JMU’s campus is diverse in other ways.

“We have to think about the whole experience of humans, and we need to make sure that no group of individuals feel like they’re on the peripheral or in the margins,” Carter-Hoyt said. “In my role, I want to look at, what should we be doing? What can we be doing to assist our students? And what can we be doing to make sure that students feel connected?”

Along with increasing the number of diversity-related initiatives at JMU, the VP position has added the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion to JMU. In an email to The Breeze, Brent Lewis, associate vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion in student affairs, said Carter-Hoyt’s position will provide new initiatives and ideas and has the possibility to add even more diversity-related positions to JMU.

“The VP role places DEI work at the same level as all other Divisions on a college campus,” Lewis said via email. “It elevates the need for this important work and identifies a point person or leader for the university. In addition, as a university it shows our commitment and willingness to advance DEI efforts along with visibility, services and resources.”

Lewis will also be working with Carter-Hoyt to implement institutional strategy related to DEI initiatives. While specific initiatives are still in the works, Lewis said he hopes to work with Carter-Hoyt to address concerns from the Campus Climate Survey and the Task Force on Racial Equity. Two major findings from the climate survey were that the student body lacks diversity and a sense of belonging.

“The work I do is mostly student-facing and with departments that engage with students primarily, so I will engage with Carter-Hoyt on DEI related concerns and perspectives from the student lens,” Lewis said over email. “I hope to see Dr. Carter-Hoyt utilize the data shared and conversations with campus constituents to

implement new DEI initiatives that will create positive change. I have really enjoyed the perspective she brings to diverse topics, calm demeanor and willingness to engage.”

In order to address the climate survey findings, Carter-Hoyt said she’ll be joining the Climate Study Response and Implementation Team which, she said over email, “works to inform campus of the Climate Study results and seeks input on implementing new and strengthening existing programs aimed at increasing diversity, equity and inclusion at JMU.”

As part of this team, Carter-Hoyt said she’ll be looking at the data from the climate survey to see what currently works on campus and to come up with new ideas for corrective actions to address diversity and the sense of belonging at JMU.

One major aspect that’s important to CarterHoyt is resources, particularly financial and cultural ones. She said in this position, she hopes to share the resources she has and increase campus resources. She said she wants to go about this through an economic, humanistic and legalistic way. In other words, DEI efforts are influenced by an institution’s economics, how they treat other humans and their legalities.

“If we don’t rise to and continue to exceed our own benchmarks when it comes to these areas, we will fail,” Carter-Hoyt said. “We will no longer be a place with economic solids, we will no longer be a place with resources, we will no longer be a place that is humanistic. When resources are low, people start to look at each other differently, so we need to maintain as many resources as we possibly can.”

Currently, Carter-Hoyt is working with JMU human resources to virtually highlight identity-based affinity groups — groups of people with similar identities that promote

interpersonal connections — which are left off JMU’s website, to current and prospective JMU employees. She is also working to resources, such as the organizations housed in the Center for Multicultural Student Services (CMSS) and Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE), for both students and employees.

Along with these projects with human resources, so far at JMU Carter-Hoyt has created the agenda and participated in the first retreat for the JMU Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, refined Policy 1324 to address discrimination and retaliation complaint procedures, created an Instagram page where students can voice their concerns in regard to diversity, consulted with students, faculty and staff on how to publicize and celebrate the final report from the Task Force on Racial Equity and how to implement initiatives that will be created from the results of the Campus Climate Survey.

The position of VP of DEI is important, Carter-Hoyt said, for those same three reasons: economics, humanism and legality. She said she wants to make sure that students understand why certain trainings are required and why students’ information should be kept private.

“It’s all about inclusion; I want to make sure that no one feels left out,” Carter-Hoyt said.

“For example, let’s say I’m a student who’s transitioning, and the name I used to go by ends up on a professor’s roster. I then have to respond to this name and I’m going to have to explain to the professor that I’m transitioning, and I shouldn’t have to do that.”

CONTACT Morgan Vuknic at vuknicma@ 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.

Vice president for DEI leads charge to create a more inclusive, welcoming campus

Malika Carter-Hoyt said she wants to affect students as much as they’ve affected her by reaching all students to increase JMU’s inclusivity. Courtesy of JMU

“We have to think about the whole experience of humans, and we need to make sure that no group of individuals feel like they’re on the peripheral.”

Malika Carter-Hoyt Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Cleaner climate

Downtown Harrisonburg festival promotes renewable energy

By SABINE SOLTYS contributing writer

Global temperatures may be on the rise within the next two decades, according to earthday.org. Though making strides toward sustainable energy to combat this might be a daunting task for many, events like the Rocktown Clean Energy Festival exist to change that.

The festival made its second annual debut downtown on Saturday, Oct. 29, near the farmers market as part of the National Solar Home Tour, which has been running for five years.

Remy Pangle, one of the forces behind this festival and the education manager for the Center for Advancement of Sustainable Energy (CASE) explained how this is a tour for those who are thinking about going solar. During this tour, homeowners can go to a local solar house and learn from the owners about how to install solar in their own homes while saving money at the same time.

The festival allows small business owners and homeowners who’ve invested in solar panels and clean energy solutions to come together to share stories and wisdom on the topic.

“We want to make [the tour] bigger and better each year, and this is one way we can do that,” Dustyn Vallies, the outreach and development manager for CASE, said. “We are trying to ... facilitate opportunities for people to ... come to one central place and all get to meet and have it be more like a community event.”

The festival featured a carnival with themed games like energy source corn hole, renewable energy trivia and a power grid ring toss with prizes for the kids — all run by volunteers from the Valley Scholars’ program at JMU. Sustainable energy experts and solar homeowners came throughout the day to talk about sustainable energy and how people can make an impact. Some of these panels featured talks on how to build energy audits and what a career in clean energy looks like.

The event was also sponsored by the Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative (SVEC). Located in Rockingham County, the electric utility provider operates over 96,000 meters throughout Virginia counties like Rockingham, Shenandoah and Warren. It was the first ever electric cooperative created in Virginia, and this is its first year sponsoring the festival.

Sometimes to be a good steward and look out for the environment means to serve as a good resource of information on electric vehicles and solar panels as Preston Knight, the communication manager for SVEC, said. “We do want to keep

building those partnerships, and the festival is one of the ways that we can at least accomplish that.”

While the SVEC couldn’t attend the festival this year in person, Knight said he hopes to be there next year, and he emphasized its importance for the surrounding community. Where everything is constantly moving and changing at a fast pace, Knight said he thinks it’s important to take time to share ideas and see where the future’s headed.

“It is a good opportunity to get like-minded people together for sure, and you want to broaden the scope to open it up to anybody because you might change some minds or at least educate somebody who was not as interested or as knowledgeable on certain topics,” Knight said. “It’s good to have a festival like this as part of an ongoing conversation.”

This offer of knowledge on sustainable energy is what drew in Charlotte Bronaugh, a freshman theater education major at JMU. As part of the student government association (SGA), Bronaugh heard about the event through the CAGE, a community service-based committee within SGA, and signed up to volunteer.

“I just love volunteering and I love getting out of the campus bubble a little bit and kind of learning what is going on,” Bronaugh said.

Bronaugh attended the education and workforce panel and talked to business owners at different tables throughout the event. One of her favorites was the HP energy solution company where she said she learned about affordable utilities, like certain washers, that help with clean energy. As a college student, Bronaugh said she found the event helpful.

“The internet and resources can be a little bit overwhelming so that it can be hard to know where to look,” Bronaugh said. “So by having a big event that kind of has everything to get you started … I think it makes it a little easier on students to utilize the resources that they have.”

It may seem intimidating to switch it up and start gearing one’s life toward sustainable clean energy, but as Bronaugh said, there’s value in getting involved.

“There is no harm in going out and learning something new and also getting to be a part of your community,” Bronaugh said.

CONTACT Sabine Soltys at soltysms@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.

A WEALTH OF HEALTHA WEALTH OF HEALTH

How to combat college sickness

By HANNAH LIFRIERI The Breeze

Getting sick in college, whether it’s an average cold, stomach virus or the flu, tends to put students’ lives on hold. Students are left to debate whether they should go to class, reach out to the health center or ignore their symptoms. Between freshmen living in close quarters, constant social events and classrooms where the seating arrangements are a little too close for comfort, getting sick is inevitable.

Luckily for JMU students, medical care is available at the University Health Center (UHC). Before making an appointment at UHC or calling a medical provider, it’s important to check the self-care list on its website, which breaks down everything from symptoms of anxiety all the way to seasonal allergies and everything in between.

Self-care

The self-care category of UHC’s website may save you a trip to the clinic as it provides a list of measures and at-home remedies you can do yourself. If symptoms persist or get worse, UHC also explains when students should see a medical provider, especially if the at-home techniques aren’t relieving symptoms.

Many students may be feeling symptoms of the common cold as weather patterns change. One of UHC’s most common remedies was to get rest.

According to Healthline, the body fights infections during sleep. Cytokines, a kind of protein, are embedded in the immune system to target infection. These proteins are only produced during sleep, so allowing yourself to rest can return you to your daily activities more quickly. Not doing so when fighting off infections reduces the maximum energy you need.

Healthy habits

No matter what point you’re at in your life, it’s common to get sick, but even more so in college. For freshmen, being introduced to a new environment with new germs can cause illness.

In a U.S. News article, Craig Roberts, University Health Services physician assistant at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said he advises people to never share drinks or meals, as it can lead to more severe illnesses like mono. While germ exposure is a daily occurrence, it’s important to not voluntarily contract them.

No one has time to be sick in college, but it happens. Learning how to take care of yourself when you do get sick can help you get back to class and other activities more quickly.

Read the full article at breezejmu.org.

The second annual Rocktown Clean Energy Festival served as an opportunity for attendees to learn about sustainable energy methods and engage in conversation. Sarah Eccleston / The Breeze

GraphicsbyShirinZiaFaqiri/The Breeze

‘Sharp, strong and athletic’

JMU Dukettes dances its way to fame, national recognition

By HALEY HUCHLER contributing writer

To be a Dukette at JMU is to always be on your toes.

The dance team practices multiple times a week, but while a Monday practice might be held in a Forbes dance studio, a Friday practice could be held in a University Recreation Center (UREC) group exercise classroom. There are no facilities at JMU that the dance team has first priority to use for practice space, so locations can change on a whim.

The Dukettes, JMU’s official dance team, is not considered a sport at JMU. The Dukettes are housed under the Marching Royal Dukes (MRDs) as part of the band. This allows the Dukettes to perform with the MRDs during halftime shows at football games. However, it does limit the team in many ways, including a lack of accessible practice space and a limited budget.

“I think one of the biggest challenges is we just don’t have access to the facilities and the budget that we really kind of need in order to be successful,” head coach Taylor Kim said.

Without being considered an athletic team, the Dukettes don’t get a separate budget. Rather, the team’s budget comes out of the MRDs’. Kim said it’s up to the discretion of Scott Rikkers, the MRDs’ director, to allocate a portion of the MRDs’ budget to the Dukettes, the same way he does for the other groups that fall under the MRDs, such as color guard and the pep band. Kim said since she doesn’t know how much athletic teams receive in their budget, she can’t know for sure how much the Dukettes are getting in comparison, but estimates it’s far less.

“I have to guess that their budget is more sufficient for their overall needs for the program,” Kim said.

The reason for Kim’s assumption is that although the team’s allocated funds from the MRDs cover essential costs such as transportation, registration fees and travel accommodations, many other vital costs have to be covered by dancers out of their own pockets. This includes practice wear, shoes, competition costumes and meals during travel.

The Breeze submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to JMU to compare the base operating budgets for the current fiscal year for each team within the JMU Athletics Department, as well as the MRDs. The athletics department as a whole has a budget of $43,227,513, according to documents obtained from the request. The MRDs’ budget is $1,109,780. The Breeze reached out to Rikkers to ask about the allocated funds the Dukettes receive but didn’t receive a response by

deadline. The story will be updated if possible.

The dancers seem to take their challenges in stride. Meghan Yancy, sophomore marketing and media arts and design (SMAD) double major, said the team jokes about the “parking lot practices” they have when their practice spaces fall through.

“Although sometimes it’s not the best conditions for us, we always use it as fuel,” Yancy said.

Kim said Rikkers has been working diligently with JMU to get the Dukettes their own funding, but nothing has come of these endeavors. In the meantime, Kim said she finds the challenges have taught her and the team to be adaptable.

“We’re able to make do with what we’ve got,” Kim said.

The Dukettes are the top-ranked collegiate dance team in Virginia. For dancers native to the state, Kim said the Dukettes are a major attraction for those who wish to continue dance in college. The audition process begins in the spring of each year, starting with a round of video submissions, then an invite-only, in-person audition where potential Dukettes come to JMU to learn routines and perform them for a panel of judges.

Joining a collegiate dance team isn’t for everyone. The Dukettes is a year-round commitment, with training starting in July. Yancy said the Dukettes “stay really busy,” only getting a break for a month or two in the summer.

The Dukettes perform with the MRDs at every home football game during halftime, typically giving a pom performance — a type of dance that junior musical theater major and Dukettes member Annie Wogisch described as “sharp, strong and athletic.” The dance team also performs at every men’s and women’s home basketball game.

Yancy said one of the first times she realized how important the Dukettes are as a team was her first football game.

“It’s crazy to see school spirit on that type of magnitude, to be able to be on the sidelines,” Yancy said. “Looking up into the stands was so surreal.”

While the fall semester is dominated with performances at football and basketball games, the spring semester is when the Dukettes prepare for their dance competitions, where they’ll compete against colleges all across the U.S.

The Dukettes have already proved they can hold their own. After the National Dance Alliance’s (NDA) 2022 National Collegiate Dance Championship, the team placed third in the Division I Jazz category. Additionally, at NDA camp in August, they competed in the

larger division and brought home a gold bid, meaning the team will receive five free hotel rooms and reduced registration fees, for the NDA championship in Daytona Beach, Florida, in April 2023.

Wogisch said she’s excited for this year’s nationals because the team will be competing in two dances instead of its usual one. While the team typically competes with just a jazz dance, this year it’ll add a pom dance as well. It may mean more work for the Dukettes throughout the year, but Wogisch said that’s all right by them.

“Nationals is kind of like all this hard work you put in throughout the season is paying off, and now you just get to enjoy the performance and the competition,” Wogisch said.

Although the Dukettes are on their way to nationals, there’s still much to do before then, including the rest of the football season, basketball season and a trip with the MRDs to compete in Italy over winter break.

Alongside their dance obligations, Kim said she’d like to focus on boosting the team’s image and presence on campus, making the rest of JMU aware of the talent the dance team possesses.

“I think we have good recognition, but it could be better,” Kim said. “Since I’ve been coaching, we’ve tried to do as many events and take as many opportunities as the school can give us [to] get ourselves out there.”

The Dukettes’ exposure may be growing inadvertently with the addition of Kendall Vertes, former “Dance Moms” star, to the team. Vertes’ social media following, which includes 10 million followers on Instagram and 7.4 million followers on TikTok, means a huge number of people are seeing her posts about the Dukettes, making the name

known around the country. An Oct. 11 video on Vertes’ TikTok showed Vertes and her teammates dancing in their practice gear with the caption “Just dukette things” and received over 21.5 million views.

Yancy described Vertes as a “joy” to have on the team and said she would bring just as much to the group even without a social media following. But, she can’t deny that having a former TV star on the team brings potential opportunity to the

“Are there perks? Certainly,” Yancy said. “We’re not really sure what it quite entails, being that it’s her first season with us, but we have talked about the possibility of brand [deals] because of her.”

Riley Pedersen, a sophomore communications major, said the Dukettes have recently created a social media team, which she’s involved in. The goal of this new group is to build the Dukettes’ name and presence on campus in order to increase awareness and attract new members.

Combined with Vertes’ social media presence, Pedersen said she hopes the Dukettes will continue to grow — maybe enough to someday get their own budget and practice space. But for now, the team is focused on the season ahead.

“My biggest goal for the team is keeping a good energy, staying positive and staying mentally tough throughout whatever the season brings us,” Kim said.

CONTACT Haley Huchler at huchleha@ 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.

In addition to performing at JMU football and basketball games, the Dukettes dance competitively in events like the National Dance Alliance’s annual National Collegiate Dance Championship. Savannah Reger / The Breeze

Hricik

Grant Johnson

Bucketgetter

from VADO MORSE, page 1

Morse’s career high in points came last season when he finished with 32 in a 95-94 win over College of Charleston on Jan. 22. Morse went 5-for-10 from 3-point range and 13-for-14 from the foul line, including two crucial free throws with three seconds left to ice the game.

For Byington, Morse’s value as a player and a person is what will make him that much more crucial as his team embarks on the Sun Belt Conference this year.

“Vado’s a talented guard,” Byington said. “I’ve had a lot of them and he’s right up there … I like the fact that he’s been with me for three years. I’ve already seen a tremendous amount of growth in the way he’s seeing the game and taking ownership of not just himself but the other guys.”

One of those “other guys” is redshirt sophomore guard Tyree Ihenacho. Morse and Ihenacho controlled the Dukes’ backcourt for a majority of the second half of the season once Ihenacho recovered from injuries.

What makes the duo stand out is, they aren’t restricted to having one player always handle the ball and the other work off it. Ihenacho said they’re flexible — either one can facilitate while the other gets open to create points.

“I feel like whoever gets [the rebound] can bring it up,” Ihenacho said. “Vado can really space the floor and shoot it really well. I’ve been working on my shot a lot … so either way you go, you can’t really go wrong with that duo.”

Morse finished last season averaging 15.3 points per game, 34% shooting from threepoint range and roughly 84% on free throws — all these marks good enough for top five across the CAA last season. Morse earned All-CAA Second Team honors.

Despite all this, Morse said last season wasn’t up to his standards — both he and the team dropped off in the second half — so the hope this year, he said, is to play well in both out-of-

conference games and into Sun Belt play.

“Last year was kind of difficult,” Morse said. “We had a great first half, the second half was lackadaisical … We just want to finish strong, and that’s our goal this year.”

The Sun Belt coaches’ preseason poll picked the Dukes to finish fourth overall, while Morse was named to the Preseason AllSun Belt First Team.

Listed at 6-foot, Morse is a shorter guard. Despite this, he still finds a way to drop 30 points on any given night — like when he scored a career-high 32 points against College of Charleston last year — and be efficient in almost every facet of offense.

Morse said he couldn’t attribute

overcoming his size to one specific thing. What’s helped him, he said, is how long he’s played basketball, which allows him to see the floor better after all these years.

“Some of it is just instinct, some of it is me knowing the game,” Morse said, “because I’ve played the game for such a long time, I pick up things quicker.”

Morse and the Dukes begin the campaign Nov. 7 when they host Valley Forge for a 4 p.m. tipoff. The nonconference schedule includes the likes of South Dakota State, U.Va. and preseason No. 1 North Carolina.

In preparation for both these opponents and the entire schedule, Morse said the energy in the locker room has been encouraging for his expectations for 202223. If Morse wants to follow up his successful season last winter with an even better one, he said, he’ll have to bring this enthusiasm each and every night.

“Our energy in practice has been tremendous,” Morse said. “One of the things I wanted to work on this year was being an everyday guy. So far I’ve been successful, and I just want to keep that up and lift up my teammates whenever they need it.”

CONTACT Craig Mathias at mathiack@ dukes.jmu.edu. For more men’s basketball coverage, follow the sports desk on Twitter @TheBreezeSports.

basketball returns leading scorer for 2022-23 season

“I’ve already seen a tremendous amount of growth in the way he’s seeing the game and taking ownership of not just himself but the other guys.”

Mark Byington JMU men’s basketball head coach

Morse scored over 10 points in 16 straight games last season. Breeze file photos

Morse said JMU’s energy has been “tremendous” in practice going into this year.

NETHERLANDS NEWCOMER

Freshman makes rare immediate impact on JMU field hockey in 2022

By ZACH MENDENHALL The Breeze

From languages to coaching styles, playing field hockey in the U.S. is different compared to a country like the Netherlands, but freshman midfielder Alice Roeper has adjusted and made an impact in her first season with the Dukes.

Before playing field hockey for JMU, Roeper lived her whole life in Den Haag, Netherlands, where she played for the HGC Hockey Club and was a member of the 2018 National Dutch U15 team.

International recruits bring a new flare to the game, Morgan said, as they feel the connections and impact of the game more. Freshmen don’t always have the same impact Roeper’s had, Morgan said.

The culture and mentality that JMU fosters helped Roeper make her decision, she said. Another big difference from other schools was the automatic connections she and her family made with the coaches and the team.

“It immediately felt like a family,” Roeper said.

Her teammates guided her and acted as a family immediately upon her arrival, Roeper said. They answered every question without judgement — “even if it was really a dumb question or something that was just stupid,” she said.

Roeper’s teammates have also helped her cope with being far from the Netherlands.

“Missing home was a big thing, and being so far away, it’s difficult,” Roeper said, “but as I said, the team was just a family for me.”

Seniors forward Eveline Zwager and midfielder Diede Remijnse, also from the Netherlands, said it’s scary playing for a new team in a new country. The difference with JMU, though, is the already-existing culture makes the team feel like family. “Putting yourself in someone else’s shoes” has always been a trait of the team, Zwager said.

In her first season with the Dukes, Roeper played a key role in the team’s 10-7 season. She scored three goals, tallied seven assists and started every game — the only freshman of nine on the team to do so.

“She’s very good at staying calm and looking for the right paths when she has to, but she’s also not afraid to hold on to it if it’s needed,” Zwager said. “She’ll never give up. She can play a whole game and in the 60th minute she would dive for a ball, so I would definitely say she’s a helper.”

Zwager said if Roeper wasn’t part of the team, there’d be a void of eagerness and willingness to learn new things. All season, Zwager said, Roeper made the people around her excited about coming games and was eager to learn more at practice.

JMU field hockey head coach Christy Morgan said for as young as Roeper is, she’s a “crafty” athlete who has an advanced understanding of the game.

“She’s a technically sound player,” Morgan said. “She understands the game and can manipulate the ball. She can read the play, she has early awareness on attack and defense and she’s just a standout, committed player.”

What helped Roeper burst onto the scene as a freshman, she said, was getting individual skill work in before practice. She said she’d frequently arrive to practice 30 minutes early. The goal of every practice for Roeper is to “grow that 1%” every time, Morgan said.

Zwager said Roeper grew by becoming more confident as a player and asking questions. She said Roeper wants to work up to being a true voice on the team.

“Humility is a great lesson and we all get it from her every day because she wants more and she knows that she can be better every day,” Morgan said.

But, for Roeper, she initially got tagged as a player who made plays for others. During the preseason, she said, the team dedicated a “superpower” to each player. She said she thinks hers is having connections and creating new opportunities for her teammates on the field instead of being an individual player.

“I love the game. I love playing every weekend and having new opportunities every week,” Roeper said. “It’s never the same.”

She keeps a close connection with her

family and spent time with them earlier this season. Her parents were there for the team’s first two wins of the season and gave Roeper the confidence boost she needed early on.

“She cares a lot about the people around her,” Zwager said. “I feel like every time you run into her, she has the biggest smile on her face. She’s always asking how everyone’s day is going and is just very involved.”

Roeper’s family provides continued support and motivation throughout the season.

“I just want to make them proud, and we have our games on ESPN and they are always watching at home,” Roeper said. “So that just

makes me so motivated to do even better and work even harder.”

In the future, Roeper wants to work on becoming a bigger leader on the field and stepping up for her teammates in order to get the best out of everyone.

The main priority, though?

“I just really want to keep having fun,” Roeper said.

CONTACT Zach Mendenhall at mendenzl@ dukes.jmu.edu. For more field hockey coverage, follow the sports desk on Twitter @TheBreezeSports.

Midfielder Alice Roeper was the only freshman who started all 17 games for JMU field hockey in 2022. Photos by Savannah Reger / The Breeze

Roeper logged three goals and seven assists — tied for second most on the team — this season.

Next in line

By MADISON HRICIK The Breeze

JMU football has reached that point in the season — the Dukes' injuries are starting to pile up.

Head coach Curt Cignetti has only made one announcement regarding seasonending injuries — redshirt senior safety and team captain Sam Kidd had shoulder surgery and is out for the season.

Other than that, Cignetti has kept his lips sealed on who is and isn't playing against Louisville on Nov. 5. His justification was pretty straightforward.

“Why should I?” Cignetti said. “It doesn't benefit us.”

But regardless, the Dukes have positions that need to be filled in the short and long term. Here are a few players that could step up.

Que Reid Free Safety

Because of Kidd’s injury, Cignetti has shuffled around a few positions in this week’s two-deep depth chart. One of those

positions is free safety, which is where redshirt junior Que Reid now resides.

Reid is one of many safeties that “fly around,” Cignetti said. The 6-foot, 195-pound secondary player has a similar playing style to Kidd — there’s an aggressiveness to him, but he’s also a player with a lot of heart.

One of Reid’s best plays this season came against Appalachian State on Sept. 24, when he came up with a major tackle on third down that, had the Mountaineers converted, could’ve cost JMU the upset. He’s registered 15 tackles and one interception so far this season.

Francis Meehan & Josh Sarratt Strong Safety

Redshirt junior Francis Meehan has gotten his opportunity to play before, making appearances in every game this season. Alongside redshirt junior Josh “Cheese” Sarratt, the pairing at strong safety has proved to work so far.

Meehan has 12 tackles so far this season and is on pace to surpass his singleseason high of 15 tackles. Sarratt, on the

other hand, has 27 tackles in the seven games this fall. Four of those 27 have been for loss.

Joseph Simmons Right Tackle

True freshman offensive lineman Joseph Simmons made JMU’s two-deep for the first time on Wednesday as second string. Redshirt junior Nick Kidwell is still listed as the starting lineman, even though he didn’t play against Marshall on Oct. 22.

This is where last week’s bye could come into play. Cignetti said the bye week allowed a few players to get some rest, but there’s no confirmation on Kidwell’s timeline — whether it was a gametime decision against Marshall or something more substantial. But having Kidwell listed in the two-deep could mean he’ll be back on the field Saturday.

Billy Atkins Quarterback

Finally, the last, and likely biggest buzz remaining, is at quarterback. After graduate Todd Centeio was ruled out in

a gametime decision against Marshall, redshirt freshman Billy Atkins stepped in for his first-career start versus Marshall.

While it wasn’t a good performance for Atkins, Cignetti said after the game that Centeio suffered a “freak injury” that occured in practice, and after sleeping on it, the coaching staff decided to give Atkins his shot and Centeio some rest.

Similar to Kidwell, there’s no definite time table on the starting quarterback’s return, but he’s still listed as the starting quarterback for this Saturday’s trip to Louisville.

There aren’t many answers at this point because Cignetti chose to not answer questions about injuries — as Cignetti said during the bye week, why give out information when he himself doesn’t have all the answers yet?

Regardless, these questions should all get answered after kickoff in Cardinal Stadium on Saturday night.

CONTACT Madison Hricik at breezesports@ gmail.com. For more football coverage, follow the sports desk on Twitter @TheBreezeSports.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Billy Atkins made his first career start against Marshall on Homecoming, when Todd Centeio was ruled out. Kailey Garner / The Breeze

Charlotte

OPINION

Evan Weaver breezeopinion@gmail.comEDITOR EMAIL @Breeze_Opinion

Want to praise someone or get something off your chest? Darts & Pats is the place to do it. Submit your own at breezejmu.org.

A “feeling-heard” pat to my professor that listens to my problems and offers me advice.

From someone who appreciates being treated as an adult.

A “don't-explain-my-job” dart to the boy that thinks he knows more than me.

From someone that is his boss and has trained longer in that profession.

A “shut-your-pie-hole” dart to the group of boys sitting next to me in ssc who were obnoxiously fake laughing whenever that one girl in the group would make a joke.

From a sophomore who wishes to study in peace.

A “drowning” dart to a vending machine for giving me three water bottles instead of one.

From someone who wasn't that thirsty.

HAILEY RUFFNER contributing columnist

Do you know where Mount Everest is?

Have you ever been convinced you’d manage the journey that so many others couldn't? If so, look no further than JMU, home of the Godwin stairs: a perfect fit for you, the adventurous, but sadly, not the students.

The large stairs connecting the area near the bookstore, Bridgeforth Stadium and the bus station with D-Hall and the rest of main campus is an eyesore even from afar and truly no less hideous up close. The concrete is dark and heavily stained, crusted with grime from chewing gum stamped into the pores of the sand brown stones.

A new splatter of mystery liquid can almost always be found on this staircase, leaving the area smelly at times. The experience makes climbers scared to know what the foreign substance even was.

Railings line the stairs on both sides, providing false security. The metal railings are covered in layers of peeling paint. Each layer

slowly undresses a new color, grays and reds, just doing their best to cover what inevitably erodes through to rust.

At the base of the railings, where the metal connects with the concrete, it's eroded, leaving the railings more exposed. Large cracks splinter along the sections of concrete that make up the stairs, and chips of concrete are missing on the edges and corners.

The stairs go on for so long that half-way up there's a bench area, suggesting a seated area to stop and cool down. While nice, it’s questionable. The brick is now dark from the layers of dirt that have accumulated over time. The only pop of color is the bright green of algae that’s grown there.

While hiking boots aren't necessary when making the climb, the hike is so long and the terrain so harrowing they might aid the trip. Just under 70 steps, the ascent leaves you huffing and puffing at the top, left unrecoverably breathless for the rest of your walk.

With such a large quantity of stairs, it dissuades students from eating meals at D-Hall if they’re coming from that direction.

“They stop me from going to get food lots

GAS GRIEF

People shouldn't vote based on gas prices in the coming midterms

of times, 'cause I think about how I have to go up the stairs,” freshman dietitian major Sara Stayton said.

Eating is important for everyone's health. According to The Scientific World, our body, mental and social health is directly related to food. Skipping meals can negatively affect students' health.

The stairs are steep. If the looks, quantity or smell of the steps doesn't scare you off first, the sheer height of them will. When walking up the stairs and looking up, all you can see is more steps. Because they’re so steep, they also become more of a tripping hazard, Stayton said.

This stairway is steep, ugly, smelly and feels neverending. The stairs are a bane of existence when walking around campus, and although stairways are associated as leading to heaven, this one sure feels like hell

CONTACT Hailey Ruffner at ruffnehl@ dukes.jmu.edu. For more editorials regarding the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the opinion desk on Instagram and Twitter @Breeze_Opinion.

ETHAN JARDINES contributing columnist

It was exciting, for a while, when gas prices in Harrisonburg approached $3 per gallon. Unfortunately, OPEC+, an organization of oil producers led by Saudi Arabia, cut oil production, leading to a substantial decrease in supply and rising gas prices as a result.

With midterm elections approaching on Nov. 8, Harrisonburg voters should keep in mind that presidents and politicians rarely cause fluctuations in gas prices; determining which candidates to endorse by which side of $3.50 gas prices are on isn’t a very informed choice.

There are numerous factors going into the determination of gas prices in the U.S., but most don’t have much to do

with government regulation. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 76% of gas prices stem from the acquisition of crude oil and the process to refine it to petroleum, which is vastly determined by supply and demand.

Typically, the only major control the government has on gas prices is through excise tax — taxes levied on a good's sale — and it’s irresponsible to directly attribute a rise or fall in gas prices to a single person, such as the president.

Politicians can do little to affect the gas price other than to adjust tax rates, as reported by Investopedia. And according to the same EIA report, only 12% of gasoline prices can be attributed to excise tax on average.

The stairs by Godwin Hall are a significant obstacle for students

Godwin stairs are just under 70 steps long and very steep. Ryan Sauer / The Breeze

Stairs of hell

As gas prices remain high, the economy is a pressing issue for many voters. Valerie Chenault / The Breeze

Editorial Board

The Breeze stands with the LGBTQ+ community

CHARLOTTE MATHERLY Editor-in-Chief

SHIRIN ZIA FAQIRI Executive Editor

Transgender, gender non-conforming and queer people are facing an annihilation of their rights in front of our very eyes.

From Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay Bill” signed earlier this year, to a national bill introduced by House Republicans that would ban any discussion or material in federally funded programs about LGBTQ people, to measures at the local school board level in our area, politicians across the country are targeting the LGBTQ community.

When K-12 students walk into their schools, put their items in their lockers and sit down in their classrooms, they still have their first amendment rights, “as long as you don’t disrupt the functioning of the school or violate school policies that don’t hinge on the message expressed,” according to the American Civil Liberties Union.

This was decided in the Supreme Court case Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District. Students used black armbands to express their beliefs and were punished for it. The Supreme Court eventually sided with the students, citing that they weren’t being disruptive in wearing armbands to express themselves.

In Virginia, transgender rights have become contested in the public schools system. Recent policies concerning the rights of transgender students were proposed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) in the 2022 Model Policies on the Privacy, Dignity, and Respect for All Students and Parents in Virginia’s Public Schools, which was released Sept. 16.

These policies would require parental approval before students can adopt preferred names or pronouns at school. Moreover, the policies provide that students be organized on the basis of sex assigned at birth. This

distinction will determine which restrooms and locker rooms students can use, and what activities, including sports, they can participate in.

The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) cites the 14th amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which provides equal protection under the law, as well as Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which forbids discrimination on the basis of sex by educational institutions, among others as evidence supporting these policies. While the VDOE asserts these new policies are in accordance with these laws, they uniquely challenge the rights of transgender people and limit their ability to free expression.

Youngkin says this policy isn’t directly targeting transgender students and is instead involving parents in their children’s lives, but it establishes a barrier and puts these students in possible danger from their families, who they may not have come out to yet.

According to the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law, transgender people ages 16 and up are “victimized four times more often than cisgender people.” These policies that are being implemented in the U.S. will lead to the continued harassment of transgender people. The Human Rights Campaign argues that violence toward the LGBTQ community can be “fatal.”

These policies often maintain power against groups that question the status quo.

And too often, media covers these policies with a simple statement from each side in an attempt to stay “objective.”

Well, objectivity is an impossible standard, one that we believe journalism as a whole is shifting away from.

Objectivity is the lack of bias toward one

ZOE MOWERY Breeze TV News Director

ASHLYN CAMPBELL Managing Editor

side over another and something that we as journalists were taught to always keep in mind. On paper, being objective is the ideal, but the reality of our world today is, we can’t and shouldn’t remain objective on all matters, especially when it concerns human rights.

Instead, we aim for fairness and accuracy. It’s accurate to say that policies about transgender students are creating controversy. It’s fair to speak to those who disagree with gender-affirming policies. It’s also accurate to say that these policies will harm transgender people.

Because in the end, this isn’t a political issue. This is a human rights issue. And human rights shouldn’t be up for debate.

Forty-five percent of LGBTQ youth seriously considered suicide in the past year, including over half of transgender and nonbinary youth, according to The Trevor Project. Twentyeight percent of LGBTQ youth reported experiencing homelessness or instability in the past, and more than half ran away from home “because of mistreatment or fear of mistreatment due to their LGBTQ identity,” according to the Trevor Project.

Acceptance of someone’s gender identity is associated with significantly lower odds of a suicide attempt among transgender and nonbinary youth — especially when that acceptance comes from parents and other family members. Gender affirmation is literally life saving.

Policies across the country that have been proposed or accepted into law have the potential to out LGBTQ people to unaccepting environments, to thrust them into situations where they can’t be themselves and to be attacked by those who view them as less than human.

We also recognize our own lack of diversity. Much like the makeup of the university we serve, our staff is largely white, cisgender and heterosexual. We recognize our own room to grow, and in the meantime, we want to tell the stories of this community in the fairest, most accurate way possible.

JMU has many LGBTQ advocacy, education and support organizations, including Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression (SOGIE), a group that “works toward promoting James Madison University’s commitment to diversity through education, support, advocacy and the fostering of equity for all students, inclusive of all sexual orientation or gender identity and expression,” according to its website.

The Breeze reached out to SOGIE for the cover story this week, which looks at Youngkin’s proposed policy and local reactions to it, to gain a JMU perspective on the issue from experts in the field.

University Communications told us JMU would not be “participating” in this story.

It’s somewhat understandable. JMU has received backlash for its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in the past, like the diversity training video that was reported on by Fox News last year.

There’s a lot on the line, and it may be easier to remain inpartial. But sometimes objectivity isn’t an option.

The Breeze’s Editorial Board represents the official stance of the paper on important issues such as this one. For more information, contact Editor-in-Chief Charlotte Matherly at breezeeditor@gmail.com.

SAVANNAH REGER Managing Editor

EVAN WEAVER Opinion Editor

The editorial board represents the official stance of The Breeze on major issues.

Recent Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) policies require students to seek parental permission to use preferred names and pronouns. Ella Stotzky / The Breeze

from GAS PRICES , page 18

As an example of what that looks like here in Harrisonburg, the Virginia DMV states the tax rate is 26.2 cents per gallon — five cents below the national average.

Another common explanation as to how politicians impact gas prices is indirectly through the economy, but it seems as though gas prices have a greater effect on the national economy than vice versa. While it’s true gas prices fluctuate with the economy, this is a greater indicator of the international economy than any national circumstance because the petroleum business is international. According to Brookings, a nonprofit public policy group, the recent shocks of rapid increases and decreases to the gas price could even be enough to cause a recession to the U.S. economy.

As citizens get ready to vote for the representative for Virginia’s 6th congressional district, keep the following in mind: Just as you can’t blame President Joe Biden for high prices, you can’t attribute low prices to former president Donald Trump. Entire parties can’t be reduced to one person, and these fluctuations in the economy were caused by external factors — like the war in Ukraine and an emergence from the pandemic — that neither president is responsible for.

Voters should endorse candidates based on items they can control not how much it costs to fill up your tank. Unfortunately, the current bipartisan animosity in this country has seemingly clouded this fact: The midterm elections have both parties blaming the other in order to gain voters.

“I don’t think something that big could be blamed on one person,” junior Hannah McAllister, a media and arts design major, said. “It would probably be an administration … or two groups of people not willing to work together to solve the problem.”

This hostility between parties was a notable part of the election process during the 2016 presidential election, and Saudi Arabia cutting

oil production encourages the same antagonism from the election on Nov. 8. We know this due to Russia’s interference with U.S. democratic processes in the 2016 election, sowing division between the parties for years to come.

This is important to note because tension has been mounting between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia over oil. After U.S. officials had managed to negotiate with OPEC+ to produce an extra 100,000 barrels per day, OPEC+ cut production by two million barrels a day earlier in October, according to CNN. This comes after Democrats have been battling Republicans over gas prices since Biden took office. These actions by Saudi Arabia have increased gas prices once again, putting Democrats at a disadvantage for the midterms.

Given that Russia is a member of OPEC+ and the proximity of this oil cut to the election, there is speculation, as reported by The Washington Post, that this act is in retaliation against U.S. support of Ukrainian forces. Perhaps it’s not that Saudi Arabia wants a party to gain or lose power — a furtherance of political severance in the U.S. would be enough retribution. In the words of Abraham Lincoln, “a house divided against itself cannot stand.”

Voting is important for democracy, and the U.S. shouldn’t allow foreign powers to further divide it. There’s more to an election than how much it costs to fill up at the gas station. Keep in mind that not one single person or party can control the price of gas in this country, and more important than what party you vote for is your identity as a member of this nation.

Candidates should be assessed on policy character and other attributes they can control.

“Read both sides, make your own decisions and make sure you don’t ignore the local elections that are coming up,” McAllister said.

CONTACT Ethan Jardines at jardineg@ dukes.jmu.edu. For more editorials regarding the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the opinion desk on Instagram and Twitter @Breeze_Opinion.

This week in JMU history...

On Dec. 2, 1922, The Breeze was born. Since then, it’s been the indispensable source of news for the JMU and Harrisonburg communities for almost 100 years. The Breeze will celebrate its centennial this December, so we’re traveling back in time.

Each week, The Breeze takes a look back on historic moments in JMU and Breeze history by publishing the cover from the same publication day, just years in the past.

ACROSS 1 “Knives Out” actress de Armas

Skin care product

Bread that’s

before it’s baked

Not good

African animal with striped hindquarters

Monte __: gambling resort

Thanksgiving tuber

TRICK

Genre of many works with “star” in the title

+ or - atomic particle

Tot’s scrape

TREAT

__-Saxon

Mar.-to-Nov. hrs.

“Sin City” actress Jessica

Sphere

Waiting room seat

TRICK OR TREAT

Tough to climb

Batman and Robin, e.g.

Get ready, informally

Flow back

Flap on a jacket

TRICK

Email heading word

Rock’s __ Speedwagon

Honolulu-born “E Lei Ka Lei Lei” singer

TREAT

Spot for an AirPod

Stevie Wonder’s “My Cherie __”

Advisory group

$200 Monopoly buys: Abbr.

Doesn’t wear out

Mean and sarcastic

“Catch my drift?”

DOWN 1 Vast chasm

Rights org. that awards the Spingarn Medal

Worthy of esteem

Times Daily Crossword Puzzle

Doug Peterson

Programmer’s task 5 Former MGM rival

__ de parfum

Tough H.S. science class 8 Noble address 9 Slyly include in an email, for short 10 “__ Burr, Sir”: song in “Hamilton” 11 In adulthood 12 Borden mascot 13 One who draws the short straw 19 Stops

Concluding episode 25 Healthy aura 26 Golfer’s warning shout 27 Calamine lotion target 30 Contented sighs 31 Back muscle, informally 33 __-and-breakfast

“Fingers crossed”

Passenger planes

Hockey surface 38 Agt.

by

DiFranco

MARKETPLACE

Career Opportunity - Police Records Specialist

CITY OF HARRISONBURG JOBS JOBS COMMUNITY

Part-Time Job OpportunityCustomer Care Representative

Do you want to utilize your customer service skills/knowledge to help ensure that citizens and local businesses receive quality water and sewer services? If so, the City of Harrisonburg Public Utilities Department’s Customer Care Representative part-time position may be the right job for you! Find out more/apply online: https:// www.harrisonburgva.gov/employment. EOE.employment. EOE.

Job Opportunity - Office Assistant (Treasurer’s Office)

Do you want to utilize your administrative and customer service skills in a teamwork office environment that is deadline-oriented? If so, the Treasurer’s Office’s Office Assistant position may be the right fit for you! Find out more/apply online: https://www. harrisonburgva.gov/employment. EOE.

Career Opportunity - Sign Graphics Designer & Fabricator

Do you want a career that allows you to utilize your technical/creative skills and experience to design/manufacture a variety of signs for traffic control/City facilities? If so, the City’s Public Works Department’s Sign Graphics Designer & Fabricator role may be the right position for you! Find out more/apply: https://www.harrisonburgva. gov/employment. EOE.

Do you want to utilize your administrative and customer service skills in a teamwork office environment while making an impact within the local community? If so, consider applying to the City of Harrisonburg Police Department’s Police Records Specialist position. Find out more/apply online: https:// www.harrisonburgva.gov/employment. EOE.

Career Opportunity - Police Records Specialist

Do you want to utilize your administrative and customer service skills in a teamwork office environment while making an impact within the local community? If so, consider applying to the City of Harrisonburg Police Department’s Police Records Specialist position. Find out more/apply online: https://www.harrisonburgva.gov/ employment. EOE.

Career Opportunity - Equipment/ Automotive Mechanic

Are you looking for your next career move with an organization where you can apply your automotive technician experience or vehicle repair/maintenance skills? If so, consider applying for the City of Harrisonburg Department of Public Transportation’s Equipment/Automotive Mechanic position! Find out more/apply online: https://www. harrisonburgva.gov/employment. EOE.

Job Opportunity - Logistics Technician

Are you looking for a part-time role with a reputable agency that allows you to use your current/prior experience in fire and rescue industry services? If so, consider applying for the Logistics Technician position with the City of Harrisonburg Fire Department!

Find out more/apply online: https://www. harrisonburgva.gov/employment. EOE.

911 Emergency Communicators

Do you want to be a First Responder? Do you want to have a direct impact in saving lives and serving our community? Have you ever thought about becoming a 911 Emergency Communicator? Consider applying with the Harrisonburg-Rockingham Emergency Communications Center (HRECC). Find out more/apply online: https://www. harrisonburgva.gov/employment. EOE.

Housing

Several downtown four bedroom and two six bedroom houses for lease the 20232024 academic year. Pets welcome with no pet fees. Landlord eferences available. Contact:(540)-9080-650 or janicehamilton54@gmail.com

Parking

Looking for a parking space? I have spaces available on our farm. We’re located 1520 minutes north of JMU. Shuttle service available. For more information call Dennis @540-820-3838 .

Job Opportunity - Office Assistant (Registrar’s Office)

Part time Home Health Aide

Cooks Creek Presbyterian Church

Part-Time Job OpportunityRecreation Aide (Athletics)

Do you want to utilize your organizational skills, customer service skills, and passion for sports in a youth athletics league setting? If so, the City of Harrisonburg Parks and Recreation Department’s Recreation Aide - Athletics may be the right job for you! Find out more/apply online: https://www. harrisonburgva.gov/employment. EOE.

Attention JMU students and faculty!! Cooks Creek Presbyterian Church is seeking some talented students (or teachers) who would like to share their musical skills during our worship services. There will be financial compensation. We have an open parttime position as a church choir director. Please contact- dkbarnett07@gmail.com or 540-746-9661.

Victim Services Liaison Unit (VSLU) Coordinator

The City of Harrisonburg Police Department is seeking a qualified applicant who has skill in interpersonal relationship-building and excellent communication to coordinate a new unit - the Victim Services Liaison Unit (VSLU). If that’s you, consider applying today to this part-time opportunity!

Post your ad at

Water Service Technician (Full-Time)

Do you want a career that helps provide a meaningful service to the community through in-field customer response? If so, the Public Utilities Department’s Water Service Technician may be the right job for you! Find out more/apply online: https:// www.harrisonburgva.gov/employment. EOE.

Part-Time Home Health Aide needed for myself near JMU campus! I am wheelchair bound due to Parkinson’s and need another part time nursing assistant to fill in during the week! Contact me at 540 271 0439 with serious inquiries only!

Are you seeking a rewarding administrative job that allows you to make a difference in the local community? If so, consider applying to the City of Harrisonburg’s Office Assistant position within the Registrar’s Office! Find out more/apply online: https:// www.harrisonburgva.gov/employment.

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.