The Breeze JMU’s award-winning newspaper since 1922
november 9, 2023 VOL. 102 NO.12 BREEZEJMU.ORG
Republicans dominate local elections
A historic time for JMU Athletics
Don’t rely on friends for relationship advice
News | 4-5
Sports | 14-15
Opinion | 19
2
Thursday, November 9, 2023 | breezejmu.org
Vol. 102, No. 12
O$4NLY 29
FOOTBALL TAILGATING SEASON ORDER ONLINE AT MASCOT-GRILLS.COM! CHECK OUT OUR JMU TONGS, RIB RACK AND SMOKER BOX AS WELL!
Vol. 102, No. 12
Thursday, November 9, 2023 | breezejmu.org
On the cover What a time for JMU Athletics. On Monday afternoon, women’s soccer learned it received an NCAA Tournament bid for the first time since 2015. On the men’s side, the Dukes are waiting to hear if they’ll have the same fate as the women’s team after losing in the Sun Belt tournament quarterfinals but beating No. 1 UCF to end the regular season Oct. 31. On Monday night, the men’s basketball team did something it hasn't done since 1992: defeat a ranked opponent — the No. 4 team in the country at that, Michigan State, 79-76 on the road in overtime. And on Tuesday, news broke that JMU brass sent a letter to the NCAA the day prior, the school’s latest attempt to appeal for the undefeated football team to be bowl eligible this fall. The Breeze tried to encapsulate it all, and to show what JMU’s continuously proven to be: an “everything school.”
3
What’s inside...
For more on JMU Athletics’ wild week, see pages 14 and 15.
Correction:
In the story on JMU-themed LEGOs in last week’s print edition, Rocktown Bricks, LLC Founder Jerry Weniger's last name was misspelled as Whittaker. The online version has been corrected.
From left to right, sophomore outside hitter Brenya Reid, fifth-year setter Caroline Dozier, junior libero Jaydyn Clemmer, senior middle blocker Alex Kwasnik and senior right side Elizabeth Helmich celebrate after a point in JMU’s five-set win over Georgia Southern on Oct. 26. The Dukes are 24-1 at home over the last two years, a streak they sustained this fall in a new home venue: the renovated Convocation Center. JMU (19-6, 12-2 Sun Belt) has one more series in the regular season, two away matches against South Alabama on Thursday and Friday, before the Sun Belt tournament commences on Wednesday. Matthew Taddei / The Breeze
For more on the Dukes’ continued dominance at home, see page 16.
Editorial Staff EDITOR-IN-CHIEF GRANT JOHNSON
EXECUTIVE EDITOR MICHAEL RUSSO
MANAGING EDITOR AVERY GOODSTINE
NEWS EDITOR ELEANOR SHAW
CULTURE EDITORS MORGAN BLAIR & EVAN MOODY
SPORTS EDITORS KAIDEN BRIDGES & JACKSON HEPHNER
OPINION EDITOR EVAN WEAVER
breezesports@gmail.com
breezeopinion@gmail.com
COPY EDITORS EMMA JOHNSON & WILLIAM MORAN
PHOTO EDITORS ABI MIDDLETON & KAILEY GARNER
AUDIENCE EDITOR KASEY THOMPSON
ASST. AUDIENCE EDITOR ALEXA BONILLA
breezeeditor@gmail.com
breezenews@gmail.com
breezecopy@gmail.com
breezepress@gmail.com
thebreezeculture@gmail.com
breezephotography@gmail.com
Advertising Staff
AD DESIGNERS
COVER ART BY: BEN MOULSE / THE BREEZE COVER PHOTOS BY: RYAN SAUER, KAIDEN BRIDGES AND LANDON SHACKELFORD /THE BREEZE, BREEZE FILE PHOTO
thebreezeweb@gmail.com
thebreezesocials@gmail.com
thebreezesocials@gmail.com
TRISTAN GAONA, MEGAN GOLINSKY & SAM RHINARD
Comm One
The Breeze
JMU’S AWARD-WINNING NEWSPAPER SINCE 1922 1598 S. Main St. Harrisonburg, VA 22801 PHONE: (540) 568-6127 FAX: (540) 568-7889
MISSION The Breeze, the student-run newspaper of James Madison University, serves student, faculty and staff readership by reporting news involving the campus and local community. The Breeze strives to be impartial and fair in its reporting and firmly believes in First Amendment rights. ART DIRECTOR BEN MOULSE
thebreezeartdirector@gmail.com
Published on Thursday mornings, The Breeze is distributed throughout James Madison University and the local Harrisonburg community. Single copies of The Breeze are distributed free of charge. Additional copies are available for 50 cents by contacting our business office. Comments and complaints should be addressed to Grant Johnson, editor.
NEWS
EDITOR Eleanor Shaw
4
breezenews@gmail.com
@BreezeNewsJMU
The votes are in: 2023 Rockingham County results for general election Republicans elected to represent local area in Va. Senate and House of Delegates NEWS DESK The Breeze
On Tuesday, Virginia voters took to the polls to decide their representatives in the state Senate and House of Delegates. Locally, seats on the Rockingham Board of Supervisors and the county’s school board were up for election, while one uncontested seat on the Harrisonburg School Board was up for a special election. Here are the results as of Tuesday night.
Virginia state Senate, 2nd District
Leila Longcor won with 57% of the votes, while Jared Cromer received 43%.
Virginia House of Delegates, 34th District
5th District, Rockingham Board of Supervisors
Gr
ap
Tony Wilt (R) was reelected to the House, beginning another term since he was initially elected in 2010. Wilt received 70.1% of the votes while his opponent, Esther Nizer (D), took 29.8%.
2nd District, Rockingham Board of Supervisors
4th District, Rockingham County School Board
Sara Horst won 66% of votes, beating incumbent Charlette McQuilkin, who received 34% of the vote.
5th District, Rockingham County School Board
ee ze
Incumbent Mark Obenshain (R), who was first elected in 2004, will return to Richmond. In Harrisonburg, his opponents Kathy Beery (D) and Joshua Huffman (L) won 27% and 1% of the votes, respectively. Obenshain received 72%.
4th District, Rockingham Board of Supervisors
hic s by
r eB Th / Ben Moulse
Joel Hensley was elected with 98% of votes after running uncontested.
Hollie Cave was elected to the board after receiving 59% of votes. Her opponent, Paula Lam, got 41%.
Harrisonburg City School Board special
2nd District, Rockingham County School Board
Tom Domonoske, who ran uncontested, won his election with 93.6% of votes. The remaining 352 votes, or 6.39%, were write-ins. Sara Wolfe Garrison ran uncontested, winning her election with 98% of the votes.
Ashley Burgoyne won her election after bringing in 40% of the votes. Her opponents, Amber Ham and Lawrence Chico, received 25% and 36%, respectively.
CONTACT the news desk at breezenews@gmail.com. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on X @BreezeNewsJMU.
NEWS
5
Thursday, November 9, 2023 | breezejmu.org
Republicans celebrate victories in Rockingham County elections
GOP sends local representatives to Richmond as Democrats take over General Assembly By ELEANOR SHAW, DRAKE MILLER, K. MAUSER, JOELLE MCKENZIE, ELLE HART & SIXUAN WU The Breeze
Rockingham voters united at watch parties throughout Harrisonburg on Tuesday night as they awaited the results of 2023’s general election. “The whole country is watching,” said Patty Scott, a Democratic watch party attendee. Republican and Democrat voters gathered at El Charro and Ruby’s Lounge, respectively, and took in the election with food and festivities. Among attendees was an air of tense excitement as they awaited results for what many called an impactful race for the Virginia House of Delegates and the Senate in state’s capital. “It’s an important election for the balance of power in Richmond, and we’ll have to see how it plays out,” said Virginia state Senator Mark Obenshain’s (R) previous campaign manager, Dennis DaPonte, who attended the Republican watch party. Incumbent Republicans Obenshain — running against Kathy Beery (D) and Joshua Huffman (L) — and Delegate Tony Wilt (R), running against Esther Nizer (D), were both reelected Tuesday evening. Obenshain, who is the 2nd District representative, was first elected in 2004 and will return to Richmond for another term. He received 72% of votes in Harrisonburg, while Beery took in 27% and Huffman got 1%.
Wilt will also return to Richmond for another term as the 34th District Virginia House of Delegates representative; he took office in 2010. He received 70.1% of the vote, whereas his opponent, Nizer, received 29.8%. As results favoring Republicans rolled in, El Charro lit up with cheers — an environment Wilt said felt “fired up.” Democrat attendees lamented over the defeat, with one crowd member, “This is bad.” Among them was Scott, who said she is afraid for Virginia. Friends and family joined candidates as they received election results. Suzanne Obenshain, incumbent Mark Obenshain’s wife, joined supporters at El Charro and said she was proud of her husband’s success, particularly in the context of recent redistricting. “It’s super exciting for him and an honor for him to get to know the all-new constituency and because he has served for 20 years,” Suzanne said. “There’s going to be a big turnover in the Senate and the House this year.” As elections were called, the victors began to evaluate their next steps after taking office. Rockingham County and Harrisonburg Circuit Clerk Chaz Haywood (R), who reran uncontested, joined fellow Republicans at El Charro. He said he is excited about his party’s wins. “We work together as a team and a family to serve the people of Rockingham County,” Haywood said. Back at Ruby’s, local Democratic Party chair Alleyn Harned expressed cynicism about a prominent Republican presence
in the state’s legislature. “They want to harm women; they want to upend public education,” Harned said. “They want to dismantle basic environmental progress or environmental systems.” In reaction to his win, Wilt said he was humbled and honored to continue on his job. On the topic of renewable energy, Wilt said the Democratic party introduced it too hastily while Virginia did not have the infrastructure to support its implementation. “I think we need to back up and do it in stages,” Wilt said. “And I think we can eventually get there.” Wilt said he is particularly excited about the concept of renewable energy and wants to introduce it during his tenure. “I’ve really gotten, in the last several years, excited and involved in the whole energy thing,” Wilt said. “As it relates to renewables, conceptually, I’m all in. I like the concept of renewables, but it has to be done incrementally.” Polash Chowdhury, a local volunteer for the Republican party, said he and his fellow party members were “very excited” about the results and planned to celebrate the evening’s victories. “It’s going to be a Republican night tonight,” Chowdhury said. “We are ready for the party.” CONTACT the news desk at breezenews@gmail.com. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on X @BreezeNewsJMU.
TOP: Supporters of Republican candidates took to El Charro on Tuesday to flaunt their party pride. As results rolled in, the crowd turned electric with excitement after Mark Obenshain (R) and Tony Wilt (R) were reelected to the state Senate and House of Delegates, respectively. BOTTOM RIGHT: Wilt, among other candidates, joined their supporters during the watch party. Photos by K. Mauser / The Breeze
Scan this QR code for the recording of Breeze TV’s live election coverage.
Thursday, November 9, 2023 | breezejmu.org
6
SGA approves $7,000 of contingency funds
The funds were divided between JMU’s American Marketing Association, Moong Crew and the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. Daria Ausen / The Breeze
By HANNAH KENNEDY The Breeze
The Student Government Association (SGA) Senate approved a Bill of Opinion drafted by its members to improve sustainability on campus, as well as contingency funds for the JMU American Marketing Association, Moong Crew and the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship.
SGA approves General Education Bill of Opinion
The General Education Sustainability Initiative Bill of Opinion, proposed by junior executive assistant Brielle Lacroix, was approved by the SGA with resounding applause. The bill aims to teach students how general education programs affect their current and future personal and professional lives and goals, which the resolution labeled as the classes’ “sustainability.” Because of a cap on the number of general education courses Virginia schools
are allowed to offer, it is not possible to add any based solely on sustainable teachings, as that would require the removal of a preexisting class, senior Parliamentarian Elena Finelli said. “To get this Bill of Opinion here at the Senate, we had to have 200 signatures on a form and then, once it passes here, we bring it to, like, the rest of the student body — we need 10% of the entire school to sign off on it,” Finelli said. Another goal of the bill was to present opportunities not necessarily accessible to minority populations at the school, as stipulated by the SGA. Given low socioeconomic or otherwise less privileged status that might preclude a student from learning about sustainability, the SGA’s bill holds JMU accountable for these teachings Finelli said. “I’m going to be following this all the way through, so I can personally guarantee that I’m gonna do my absolute best to make sure it is actually enforced,” Lacroix said. see SGA, page 8
EVERENCE FEDERAL CREDIT UNION
Get more. Give back. Everence® Federal Credit Union members get more through: • low fees. • great rates. • shared branching. • ITIN lending. Members give back to: • the environment. • the community and local charities. Join a caring Everence community. Visit us at 841 Mount Clinton Pike, Harrisonburg or call 540-437-0672 to learn more. everence.com/virginia
Federally insured by NCUA. Equal housing lender.
NEWS
Vol. 102, No. 12
Thursday, November 9, 2023 | breezejmu.org
OPEN POSITIONS: News Editor Photo Editor Copy Editor
Apply via JMU JobLink
7
Thursday, November 9, 2023 | breezejmu.org
8
as a guide for Moong Crew’s exhibitions. “We are looking to hold our own showcase next semester, just so we can create more of a presence at JMU,” senior Moong Crew President Kendall Carnegie said. Carnegie said the club held four fundraising events, profiting $87.63. It plans to hold more in the future but are unable to afford transportation given its resources. “I think this is a great example of exhaustive fundraising because, otherwise, they couldn’t attend these events,” Fox said.
from SGA, page 6
American Marketing Association gets $3,000 in contingency funds
The SGA unanimously approved a $3,000 contingency fund request for the American Marketing Association (AMA). This will, in addition to its own fundraising, allow members to attend the AMA International Collegiate Conference in New Orleans, taking place April 11-13. The conference is hosted by the AMA organization, which has chapters worldwide and presents internship and job opportunities to college students. Senior AMA President Tyler Esterly said the event is set to announce finalists for a case study competition, which JMU placed in the top eight in previous years. “We’re just working … for the entire marketing industry, specifically under the national organization, to promote sustainability within the marketing workplace and academia,” Esterly said. “In previous years, we’ve worked with the Wall Street Journal as well as Amazon Prime.” In preparation for the conference and post-graduate settings, the organization provides workshops for members. As of now, more than 50% are freshmen, spanning many majors. Esterly said the org wants to present as many career networking opportunities as possible, beginning as soon as possible. “We do a lot of passion projects to help build portfolios and make sure that students are growing in their own skills, as well as community service events giving back through participating in the arboretum, doing clothing drives, food drives and hosting fun socials,” Esterly said. Esterly said the AMA needs funds granted by the SGA to attend the conference, given that it was unable to afford costs last year because of mismanagement by the previous executive board. Because it had to work from the ground up when its savings were depleted by reckless spending at the conference in 2022, they had insufficient reserves without the contingency money. “I think it’s really important that JMU is represented in an international conference,” senior and senator Zach Fox said.
Moong Crew’s $900 contingency fund request is approved
The SGA unanimously approved a $900 contingency fund request for the Moong Crew, a Korean-pop dance club on campus. The club plans to use this money to charter a JMU bus
NEWS
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship’s request for $3,000 is approved
The nearly $7,000 of contingency funds distributed Tuesday night will be used to finance trips for student organizations, including New Orleans, the University of Maryland Baltimore County and JMU’s InterVarsity Christian Fellowship’s chapter camp. Max Burkhart / The Breeze
to and from the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) K-Pop Dance Showcase. The Nov. 17 performance at UMBC will allow members to observe and appreciate the style they practice, as well as serve
The SGA approved a $3,000 contingency fund request with one senator abstention for the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship organization. This will go toward scholarships for members unable to afford a chapter camp from May 12-17, 2024. The cost for each attendee is $425, and the organization expects anywhere from 100 to 130 members to attend the remote leadership program. To qualify for financial aid, a member must demonstrate need and interest via a Google Form distributed by JMU’s InterVarsity chapter, which will then be reviewed by the executive board, according to senior President Braden Nostheid. “What this chapter camp does is it trains and gives our leaders the tools that they need to be able to lead these different small groups, or these different teams they are a part of effectively,” Nostheid said. The “service-oriented” organization has roughly 400 registered members but claims to interact with up to 600 regular participants. Fundraising is poured back into the members, Nostheid said, and amounts to $5,691, and as such, will not contribute to the scholarships it is providing to members to attend the camp. “We have one of the largest organizations on campus,” Nostheid said. “The fact that we have no dues just speaks to how invitational and inviting we want our organization to be.” Some of the activities InterVarsity hosts include helping with freshmen move-in, winter and spring formals, community service opportunities and socials open to all JMU students, Nostheid said. “InterVarsity is very involved, and they are one of the first organizations freshmen [interact with],” Fox said. CONTACT Hannah Kennedy at kennedhj@dukes.jmu.edu. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on X @BreezeNewsJMU.
Don't let one night stands ruin your plans. Low Cost Morning After Pill STI Testing & Treatment Free Pregnancy Testing Birth Control Clinical Abortion Care Abortion Pills By Mail
Celebrating Over 20 Years of Reproductive Healthcare
2321 Commonwealth Drive, Charlottesville, VA (434) 973-4888 wholewomanshealth.com
NEWS
Thursday, November 9, 2023 | breezejmu.org
9
Traveling professor speaks on treatment of LGBTQ+ university members across U.S. JMU's Inclusive Community lecture series shifts focus to Queer issues in institutions of higher education By HANNAH KENNEDY The Breeze
CONTACT Hannah Kennedy at kennedhj@dukes.jmu.edu. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on X @BreezeNewsJMU.
D-L Stewart spoke about his experience as a Black member of the LGBTQ+ community who attended predominantly white educational institutions. Malia Sunderlin / The Breeze
CentralValleyHabitat.org/ReStore
Queer, clear and concise, D-L Stewart took the stage at Wilson Hall Auditorium last Thursday to discuss the role of LGBTQ+ students and faculty members in universities across the U.S. Stewart, who uses he/they pronouns, is a professor and chair of the Higher Education Department in the University of Denver’s Morgridge College of Education. Created by the Office of Strategic Initiatives and Global Affairs at JMU, the Inclusive Community Series invited Stewart to promote his perspective as a part of the school’s guest lecture circuit. “Each speaker will provide us with an inclusive perspective based on their areas of expertise,” said Narketta Sparkman-Key, Vice Provost for Strategic Initiatives and Global Affairs, at the beginning of the event. This school year's series has speakers slated to come to JMU through February. “As a community, we will then be able to process what we heard, identify possible impacts to our community and provide recommendations on the next steps towards inclusive excellence and our growth circles.” Stewart, having published over six-dozen essays in his field, crafted a presentation labeled “Queering Inclusion on Campus” to outline how LGBTQ+ people are excluded and the steps that must be taken to rectify these situations. “Dr. Stewart’s scholarship focuses on the philosophy and history of higher education, institutional transformation for equity and justice, and how higher education environments function within society,” justice studies professor Christine Robinson said as she introduced Stewart. Stewart opened by illustrating his own experiences, which he believes were built on the struggles of his ancestors. Raised in Harlem, New York, Stewart has attended predominantly white institutions (PWIs) since high school and especially struggled with his sense of belonging, he said, intensified by being a first-generation, Black and transgender student coming from an economically insecure household. “This is where we need to talk about multiple social identities and be in multiple social locations all at the same time because I also have significant privilege and identities that are also dominant,” Stewart said. “I have an advanced education; I am a tenured full professor; I am a department chair; I am also masculine presenting — so even though I'm trans, that gives me some leverage in spaces that my trans-femme and trans-women sisters do not have.” Delving deeper, Stewart spoke about the ways campus climates create exclusion in four distinct ways: through social context and history, institutional policies and practices, intergroup relations and perceptions of climate. “The focus of inclusion is on the individual and not necessarily single systems and structures,” Stewart said. “Inclusion is insufficient to ignite and support institutional transformation.” Stewart pointed to the fact that to make room for the existence of LGBTQ+ members of society, a reformation must take place in both the legal system and in people’s attitudes. It is, as Stewart said, not about appeasing the individual but working to make long-term structural changes to the university system. “Forty-five out of 50 states have together advanced well over 200 pieces of legislation that attack members of the LGBTQ+ community, particularly trans and non-binary folks, with questioning and trying to disrupt access to health care, equitable and access to education,” Stewart said. He emphasized that being part of these “critical conversations about inclusion” is only because of his role at their university, not because they were welcomed to the metaphorical table. Building on this, Stewart highlighted how LGBTQ+ people are only granted that privilege, under constant threat of causing too much “discomfort” to be invited back to a group that makes decisions about their futures. “There are still debates within the LGBTQ+ communities about the reclamation of the word ‘queer,’ and, today, I’m going to reclaim that word as talking about defying norms, refusing restrictions and constructing creative possibilities,” Stewart said. As Stewart sat down for the questions and answers portion of the lecture, he revisited his past, which consisted of “extremely racially hostile” events, and left attendees with a reminder to not let oppressive behaviors keep people from achieving all that they’re worth. As to what campuses can look like if this type of inclusion is implemented, Stewart said the process will be difficult but well worth the effort. "How can we think about this differently to get to the goals of what we say our values are as an institution?” Stewart asked. “We really lean into what is possible, not what tradition has always told us is the limit of what we can do.”
You don’t have to lift a hammer to help build and preserve affordable housing in the Central Shenandoah Valley. SHOP, VOLUNTEER or DONATE at the ReStore and help families realize their dreams of homeownership. All proceeds help to fund housing provided by Central Valley Habitat for Humanity.
SHOP. DONATE. VOLUNTEER.
CULTURE
EDITORS Morgan Blair & Evan Moody
10
EMAIL thebreezeculture@gmail.com
@Breeze_Culture
Rate My Professors is an instructor evalutation website that is popular among students during enrollment periods. While the site is widely used, the accuracy of Rate My Professor’s reviews is up for debate, with some students relying on the resource and others avoiding it entirely. Evan Moody / The Breeze
Is Rate My Professors effective? Students are split, while some professors prefer course evaluations By MALLORY EVANS The Breeze
Class enrollment is a race against the clock — literally and figuratively. With spring semester course registration having just come and gone, there’s one thing most students did when enrollment times and classes were released on MyMadison, and also when they needed to find a new class if their preferred choice filled up: Check Rate My Professors. Rate My Professors, an anonymous review website, allows students to post evaluations of former instructors and read classmates’ reviews in hopes of finding a highly-rated professor. Students can create an account to assess professors through multiple categories, including 1-5 quality and difficulty rating scales, whether or not attendance is mandatory, if a textbook is required and a brief free-response section. While Rate My Professors may be one of the most referenced websites on campus, its general effectiveness, depends on who you ask. Even though this platform is targeted toward student use, faculty members are well aware of its existence as a tool used during scheduling preparation. Physics and astronomy professor Keigo Fukumura said he tries not to pay attention to the website, as he questions its practicality in evaluating how students perceive classroom environments. For his own class reflection, he prefers to examine schoolsponsored student evaluations. “[Course evaluations] are conducted through the university, so I would think there’s a little more of a general aspect compared to the private services, like Rate My Professors,” Fukumura said. Sometimes, Fukumura shares several course evaluation comments with his classes, specifically his ISCI (School of Integrated Sciences) 104 lab, to hold a brief discussion
about beneficial teaching strategies and ideas for improvement. “I also don’t want to completely stay away from what students have been thinking about my teaching style or the materials because I do care about the students’ perspectives in the classroom,” he said. From a faculty perspective, Fukumura said the enrollment process is effective, and he also recognizes the first-come, first-serve basis of signing up for classes. While he tries to assist in students’ enrollment when he can, Fukumura said that ultimately, scheduling responsibilities are on them. “We want to help out the students who are interested in taking this [ISCI 104] class,” Fukumura said. “But at the same time, we can’t make individual accommodations or arrangements for every single student for large GenEd classes.” With the versatility of a website like Rate My Professors, ratings and categories are designed to allow students to seek out the most valuable classroom experience with a professor who will meet their learning expectations. Senior marketing major Abby Cooke said the website is an accurate and efficient tool for reviewing professors and assisting students with class registration. “I’ve never experienced a professor that has not been accurate to what the Rate My Professors [page] is saying,” Cooke said. “I tell everybody I know to check Rate My Professors because I find that it’s incredibly accurate.” Cooke said she relies heavily on the website during registration, as she has referenced it during each of her enrollment periods going back to her freshman year. Choosing a soughtafter professor is of such importance that Rate My Professors can sometimes discourage people from taking classes based on scheduling availability and how many sections of a course
are offered — as it has with Cooke. “I sacrificed a class that would have helped me graduate even earlier than I already am, so I decided I was going to wait just so I could get that ‘good’ professor,” Cooke said. Despite the functionality and reassurance Rate My Professors can provide, it is also the source of discontent and irritation for some. Whether or not the website is truly accurate remains up for debate, especially because of its limited free-response word count and how not every course a professor teaches has received a review. Hallie Meyer, a freshman intelligence analysis and political science double major, said JMU students rely too heavily on Rate My Professors. With only a limited rating scale and the likelihood of bias in reviews, she feels it lacks efficacy. “[The website] only reflects one’s personal experience in a class,” Meyer said. “It doesn’t really accurately represent how a professor is going to be perceived by a group.” Meyer said she tries to avoid using Rate My Professors because harboring particular expectations for an instructor could inconsistently influence her first impression of a class, especially throughout her first semester at JMU. Although the site can provide comfort and relieve anxiety during course registration, relying solely on online reviews can significantly impact a person’s learning experience. “For this fall semester, I’ve talked to some of my current professors to see who they would recommend because I feel like I trust their insight a little more,” Meyer said. “I’ve had professors I thought I’d love based on Rate My Professors, and then [with] the way I study or the way I take exams, it just hasn’t really clicked.” Depending on Rate My Professors for enrollment assistance may occur more or less frequently based on familiarity with a university’s
programs, but it can still be worthwhile throughout a student’s college experience. Senior history major Isaac Weissmann said that although he uses the website sparingly now, he believes it’s a great tool for students to reference during a stressful planning period. Sharing a similar viewpoint with Fukumura, the astronomy and physics professor, Weissmann said while he thinks course evaluations are more accurate for professors, “I would say Rate My Professors is more accurate for students.” Even so, Weissmann cautioned students of solely basing a schedule around information gathered from the website, which can lead to consecutive classes and complications with arranging class times. There is also the unavoidable partiality that permeates the website, something Weissmann said he believes is common among many posts. “I do find Rate My Professors to be generally negative,” he said. “I think the people that post on Rate My Professors either have a very, very good experience or a very bad experience.” Weissmann first heard of the program in high school, specifically with the K-12 website Rate My Teachers. Although he praises both websites’ intentions to assist students in course registration, he said he values a combination of referencing online resources with planning out what part of enrollment is personally most important. “I care a lot more about scheduling,” Weissmann said. “But I think making your schedule around [Rate My Professors] will lead you to schedule-block. The professor matters a lot to the class.” CONTACT Mallory Evans at evans4mr@ dukes.jmu.edu. For more on the culture, arts and lifestyle of the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the culture desk on X and Instagram @Breeze_Culture.
CULTURE
11
Thursday, November 9, 2023 | breezejmu.org
Writers’ org holds ‘spooky’ open-mic night By ABBY CAMP The Breeze
It was a dark and windy night Nov. 1 in Taylor Down Under as guests delighted in the fright-filled poems and short stories of Spooky Night, an open-mic event put on by the Word Is Born Writers’ Society. The society is an organization at JMU that helps students express themselves and find opportunities to share their original literature. One of their primary missions is to create a supportive environment where students feel comfortable sharing their writing publicly. The society said all writing levels are welcome to join. Spooky Night is an annual event by Word Is Born that complements Love Me, Love Me Not, its spring semester open mic. All students and faculty are welcome to enjoy the work of the society members and even participate themselves. “In the fall semester, it’s Spooky Night — which is like horror, spooky, ghosts — that sort of thing, and then in the spring semester, it’s Love Me, Love Me Not, which is like Valentines, love, loss, that kind of thing. We plan it, but we’ve been doing it for years,” said Emily Allen, junior social work major and president of Word Is Born. The night began with an introduction of the group from Allen, as well as a brief overview of open mic night etiquette. Many Word Is Born Society Board members, as well as general club members, then began to perform. Historian Sara Buie was the first speaker, followed by Allen and, later, society members and freshmen Zach Murphy and Camille DiPatri. Each member present from the society recited at least one of the pieces they’ve written throughout their college career. There were a variety of stories from past assignments they’ve been given in classes as well as literary works they’ve created during society meetings when provided with prompts for inspiration. Students who join the society have the opportunity to practice these skills surrounded by peer writers of all technical levels. Not all stories from the night fell into the spooky category, as all genres are welcome to be performed. Allen presented three pieces of writing. The first piece was a short story written about a parent whose child nearly falls to his death off a museum rooftop. The second performance was an excerpt from a longer piece titled “Chrysalis” about a deadly procedure, and the third was an excerpt about the aftermath of a car crash.
Word is Born treasurer Katherine Burgess reads her Halloween-inspired original literature.
The annual open-mic Spooky Night was hosted by Word Is Born Writers’ Society, an organization at JMU that helps students express themselves and share their original liteature. Photos courtesy of Word Is Born
As the night continued, many members showcased multiple pieces. Given most stories were about gore, paranormal activity and nightmarish experiences, the poet’s deliveries of their pieces added to the visceral and fright-filled presentation. Content warnings were given before each reading with any potentially sensitive material. Although most writers read their pieces aloud, freshman English major Zach Murphy performed covers of murder and mystery-themed songs with a guitar self-accompaniment, one of those being “What’s New, Scooby-Doo?” Murphy also incorporated audience participation into his songs, practicing vocal warm-ups with the crowd and asking an audience member to scream as loud as possible when prompted by the lyrics. These comedically frightful and unpredictable songs balanced lighthearted duality to the terror. “It was the first time I’ve performed in a while, so that was fun … I also look forward to reveling in other people’s work because that’s their stuff,” Murphy said. Each event is run with a similar structure. The first section of the night showcases performances of poetry, writing and live music written by members of the society. Members with leadership roles explain their responsibilities before presenting their pieces. Then comes the opportunity for anyone in the audience to have their name added to the docket, or to be “on deck” as is said by members of the society, to recite their work to the audience. Freshman Writing, Rhetoric and Technical Communication major, Maggie Watson, opened the audience participation segment of the night. “I just kinda felt … lost in my own world, and I could just like feel what I was reading because it was silent and everybody was attentive,” Watson said. “I love poetry and open mic sounded really cool, and I wanted to learn more about this group.” Standing on the tinsel-decorated Taylor Down Under stage, Watson recited “Ten Things I Love,” a poem about finding happiness in the specifics and small details of life, she said. The audience was instructed at the beginning of the event to snap when they felt a connection to or enjoyed the spoken writing, which Watson was met with throughout the poem. “They were so welcoming when I went up to read. I was so nervous; that was the first time I’d ever read any of my work out loud. It felt, like, at home. I didn’t feel judged,” Watson said. Running approximately one and a half hours long, the event showcased 22 pieces of literature, all written by various students across a plethora of majors. Stories included topics ranging from battlefield cannibalism and sadistic horses to love and homesickness. In between each story was a spooky joke researched and recited by Allen, with a few audience suggestions in the mix — a Word Is Born tradition. Homemade desserts were also offered to audience members to enjoy while they listened. “I was most excited about hearing everyone’s pieces … I do a
lot of writing, but I don’t often get to hear other people’s writing, and I think something comes alive in them when they get up on the stage and they’re reading their writing,” Allen said. “It’s like you’re hearing it in a whole different light than just reading it on the page.” Club meetings are held in Keezell Hall, Room 303, every Wednesday at 7 p.m. “It’s just such a cool environment; everyone is so welcoming and supportive,” Allen said. “Everyone’s really kind and understanding and creative, and it’s a great space to just come check us out.” CONTACT Abby Camp at campad@dukes.jmu.edu. For
more on the culture, arts and lifestyle of the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the culture desk on X and Instagram @Breeze_Culture.
Freshman English major Zach Murphy performed covers of murder and mystery-themed songs on his guitar at the event.
12
Thursday, November 9, 2023 | breezejmu.org
CULTURE
Rocky Horror club fosters inclusion in shadow cast production By MATEO CSERNECKY The Breeze
The lights in Memorial Hall dimmed for JMU Rocky Horror’s shadow cast and their final performance of the season Saturday, with people in both drag and costumes filling the auditorium. The audience sang and danced to every song while cheering, laughing, clapping and yelling throughout the performance. While this might not seem like proper movie etiquette to some, both the audience and performers were taking part in a tradition that goes way beyond JMU, with roots in both queer culture and body positivity. The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a 1975 musical, comedy and horror movie, written and directed by Jim Sharman and Richard O’Brien, who stars along with Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick. The film delves deep into themes of queer identity, sexuality, drag and body image. For this reason, the film has become a cult-classic and an important piece in pop culture with it being the longest-running theatrical release in film history. While the critical reception of the film was originally negative, the midnight showings of the movie saw many audience members dressing up as characters, lip-syncing and acting out the movie as it played, in what is known as a shadow cast. This typically heavily involves the audience, who would shout, sometimes repeatedly, sing and dance throughout the film. This tradition of shadow casts has continued with subsequent showings of the film in theaters, with the audience involvement consistently being a component, including things such as yelling obscenities at the character Janet, as well as getting up and following along to the moves from “The Time Warp.” Chloe Long, freshman media arts and design major and a member of the ensemble cast said the unique club made her feel included. “Being a freshman, I haven’t experienced many clubs, yet with Rocky Horror, they did such a wonderful job of making me feel accepted. I showed up late to the first meeting and they were amazing about it; it truly feels like a big family,” said Long. Long, and other cast members, expressed their appreciation for the connections and friendships they gained through Rocky
Shadow cast productions involve performers acting out the movies as they are played. Mateo Csernecky / The Breeze
Horror. Eva Suskind, junior media arts and design and independent scholars double major and ensemble member, reiterated this point, saying being a part of the cast was something that she enjoyed, citing the culture and the family as the major contributing factors. For some Dukes, JMU Rocky Horror Club and its performances are a place for them to make friends and feel at home among an “inclusive and loving” group, Long said. “I have been interested in Rocky Horror for a few years since I saw it for the first time. It was my first exposure to a very queer, body-positive and unapologetically outlandish space,” said sophomore Atticus Cooper, English and secondary education major and member of the ensemble cast. “The existence of the Rocky Horror Club is one of the factoring decisions in my decision to transfer to JMU out of any other college. It was just, it made me feel like this is a place where I can carve out a space for myself and belong to a community that I want to be a part of.” As Cooper put it, JMU’s Rocky Horror Club also allows Dukes to join a more inclusive space, one that embraces all identities and body types as well as making sure everyone feels comfortable and safe expressing themselves. Suskind said one thing she liked about the club was the way it prioritized consent and body
neutrality. In a show with very sexual and open themes about pushing boundaries, Suskind and other members said, the club makes sure to do this without pressuring anyone. Freshman cast member Jack Marshall emphasized this point, saying it didn’t matter the person’s sexuality, body type or background — they will always belong and be treated the same. “Speaking as someone who’s historically struggled to be social and to stay social in any environment, it’s been different and a very positive life-changing experience. I think everyone makes an effort to know everyone and make friends with everyone and it’s different,” Cooper said. “I don’t know how to put it into words, but it’s so much different than any other group the way we form friendships and form this community.” The cast members elaborated on how JMU’s interpretation of Rocky Horror Picture Show differed from traditional ones. Suskind said as time changes, the interpretations of Rocky Horror change, and how it’s all about embracing the campiness and queer culture within the movie. Long added that JMU’s interpretation was all about poking fun at the movie and adding onto that extra “silliness” and embracing the sex-positive, queerness and body positivity components. “I think you can also really see it in the casting we do here, which is very different from what I’ve seen of other shadow casts where they’re looking for the exact mold of who is playing the movie, but in ours, we purposely subvert those expectations and cast people regardless of gender identity or sexuality,” junior cast member Heidi Klaus said. As the cast members have put it, JMU Rocky Horror is about making sure every single member feels like they’re a part of the show. The shadow cast carries on the traditions of past ones while allowing members to embrace necessary queer culture and find a home for themselves among friends. CONTACT Mateo Csernecky at csernems@dukes.jmu.edu. For more on the culture, arts and lifestyle of the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the culture desk on X and Instagram @Breeze_Culture.
CULTURE
13
Thursday, November 9, 2023 | breezejmu.org
Creative resource offers JMU community free learning experience
Includes 3D printers, GoPro cameras, more By GRACE REED The Breeze
Being one of the first areas visitors see when walking through Rose Library’s main entrance, the sunlit, open space at The Makery is a welcoming sight. It’s a creative space located on the first floor of Rose, offering free resources such as 3D printers, vinyl cutters, sewing machines, a virtual reality room and much more. Equipment such as GoPro cameras, tripod stands and laptops can be checked out and loaned to students. Some of the resources are available for walk-in use, while others require appointments ahead of time. The Makery holds workshops for students, which may also be reserved by a faculty member for an entire class. Jared Wark, one of the makerspace instructors at The Makery, said he loves to see other people’s creativity shine in the space. “I think the most wonderful reaction to see is when those gears start turning,” Wark said. He said he believes the people visiting The Makery are split between newcomers and regular visitors, so he often gets to see people’s first reactions. Wark said the newcomers seem to be most surprised by the laser cutters available for use. “People aren’t sure if the space is for them, or whether it’s for a specific major or college,” Wark said. “But it’s open to everyone.” With a new marketing team for JMU Libraries, Wark said advertising for The Makery is getting better. “I hope everyone knows that all of our services are free to use. We provide most of the common materials and most of the expertise on how to use it. All of JMU students’ tuition and fees already pay for our budget, and we want to put it to good use,” Wark said. With the wide variety of creative resources at The Makery, Wark said he hasn’t had to buy presents for friends in the last four years since he’s worked at the library, since he can make his own using the space. Senior political science major Abraham Aponte first visited The Makery when he found out cameras and recording equipment were available for rent. Aponte enjoyed making videos but didn’t have any of the expensive equipment required to create them. When he visited The Makery for the first time, he said he was happy to see professors bringing their families to use
The Makery, which is located in Rose Library, offers students the resources for multiple creative outlets to explore. Grace Reed / The Breeze
the resources, adding that he wants to bring his cousins. During Aponte’s most recent visit, he used the laser cutter to make mini leather belts for his job at University Recreation Center (UREC) teaching a boxing class. “If students were aware of this place, it’d be packed. Usually when people find out about The Makery, they keep using it,” Aponte said. He noted students often don’t realize the resources at The Makery are free, or, rather, “paid through our tuition.” “Even though it was last minute, Adam was able to find the time to help me out,” Aponte said, adding the staff will “walk you through everything.” Maria Clark, a junior English major who has worked as a desk assistant at The Makery since 2021, said she felt intimidated by the job at first. “I didn’t think of myself as a tech, science or math person,” Clark said, but then she found out shortly after that Makery employees don’t need to be knowledgeable in the areas to use the space. During her time as a desk assistant, Clark has become familiar with the 3D printers, vinyl cutter, Cricut, button makers, embroidery machine and laser cutter. Upon Carrier Library’s recent closure for renovation, The Makery equipment at the Carrier location was transported to Rose Library. The Makery at Rose may appear more busy for those who have visited prior to Carrier’s closure. When Carrier reopens, The Makery is expected to have a new space, allowing the Rose location to be less cramped and busy. CONTACT Grace Reed at reedlg@dukes.jmu.edu. For more on the culture, arts and lifestyle of the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the culture desk on X and Instagram @Breeze_Culture.
e z e e r B The IN
SW E K U D
The Breeze
JMU’s Award-Winning Newspaper Since 1922
Online 24/7 at BreezeJMU.org In print on Thursdays TheBreezeJMU @TheBreezeJMU
BreezeVideo
breezejmu
SPORTS EDITORS Kaiden Bridges & Jackson Hephner
14
EMAIL breezesports@gmail.com
@TheBreezeSports
JMU Director of Athletics Jeff Bourne said the athletic department’s concerted efforts in vouching for the football team is all “student-athlete well-being“ driven. Ryan Sauer / The Breeze
AD Jeff Bourne addresses JMU’s newest letter to NCAA about bowl ineligibility By KAIDEN BRIDGES & JACKSON HEPHNER The Breeze In the words of JMU Director of Athletics Jeff Bourne, there’s no better time than now to be a JMU Duke. But with this, JMU football (9-0, 6-0 Sun Belt) still finds itself ineligible for a bowl game with three weeks left in the regular season. In the spring, JMU requested a waiver from the NCAA in hopes to expedite the process of reaching bowl eligibility. But on April 26, the NCAA denied the request. For the last few weeks, with the noise of JMU football’s ineligibility making national headlines, alongside an ever-present pressure from fans on social media and politicians, Bourne and JMU President Johnathan Alger have been working on an informational letter to send to the NCAA in regards to football’s eligibility, and on Monday, that letter was sent. “What we’re requesting now is different,” Bourne said on a Zoom call Tuesday afternoon. “What we’re really asking is that we be viewed as a full FBS member and that we’re basically eligible for bowl eligibility … And JMU’s approach is that we are fully compliant with those standards, and that we fully meet the transition committee’s
guidelines as they’re set forth.” Bourne said his intentions for sending the letter stood behind JMU’s student athletes, who would miss out on postseason opportunities if JMU remains ineligible. He said last April, when the waiver was denied, that he knew there was still a possibility JMU could find its way into a bowl, but that only time would tell with the results on the field this fall. Now with the Dukes well over six wins and still one of just seven FBS teams that is undefeated, Bourne said he’s not sure what else JMU has to do to prove its readiness for a bowl. “Winning at this level the way that we have this year really accentuates the preparedness for where we are,” he said, “and I think it adds significantly to our case and what the general public’s perception is.” The NCAA, back in April and last month in response to a letter from Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares (R, ’98), has maintained JMU’s ineligibility is out of fairness — to ensure all transitioning teams go through the same process. With just over a month before bowl season begins, Bourne said he hopes to have a quick response from the NCAA — an answer as soon as next week — but couldn’t give a definitive response as to when JMU would
hear back. He added that a timely response would help the Sun Belt fully prepare for its conference championship game on Dec. 2. Alongside JMU’s letter, Bourne confirmed that Sun Belt Commissioner Keith Gill also sent a letter to the NCAA from the conference, advocating on JMU’s behalf. If the NCAA grants JMU bowl eligibility, then it will be able to compete in said championship — the Dukes sit at the top of the Sun Belt standings. Bourne said the potential for JMU to compete in the conference championship has given the university more initiative to seek a definitive answer from the NCAA. Because of this, Bourne said that time is of the essence. Tuesday afternoon, the NCAA released a statement in regards to Bourne’s letter, saying it “has received a waiver request from James Madison and the request will be considered by the appropriate membership committees in a timely manner.” Bourne said the department’s efforts are all “student athlete well-being” driven. “I honestly don’t know how you could walk past that group of student athletes and those coaches, and look them in the eye and acknowledge what they’ve done, and not be willing to afford them an opportunity to play,” Bourne said. “It just doesn’t make sense.”
The Dukes have gone a combined 17-3 so far across their first two seasons competing as an FBS program. Kailey Garner / The Breeze
JMU student athletes being denied postseason opportunities by outside factors has been a recurring occurrence. In March 2020, all athletic events were abruptly canceled because of COVID-19, like all schools across the country, prematurely ending tournaments for winter sports such as basketball as well as regular seasons for the spring sports. But specific to JMU, when it announced its impending move to the Sun Belt in October 2021, members of the CAA, JMU’s previous conference, voted to ban the Dukes from participating in the conference’s postseason action. Bourne said watching student athletes’ opportunities get taken away has been “extremely hard,” but the potential of football being granted that opportunity has raised JMU’s spirits. “It does breathe a little more life into what we do on a daily basis to know that hopefully we’ve got another shot at this, and hopefully, it’ll be looked at with a little more different set of lenses,” he said. CONTACT Kaiden Bridges and Jackson Hephner at breezesports@gmail.com. For more sports coverage, follow the sports desk on Twitter @TheBreezeSports.
SPORTS
15
Thursday, November 9, 2023 | breezejmu.org
Men’s basketball upsets No. 4 Michigan State 79-76 SPORTS DESK The Breeze
Senior defensive end Jalen Green finishes his final season at JMU with 15.5 sacks, five of them coming versus Marshall on Oct. 19, and 21.0 tackles for loss. Ryan Sauer / The Breeze
National sack leader Jalen Green out for season with knee injury By JACKSON HEPHNER The Breeze Senior defensive end Jalen Green’s JMU career ended during the Dukes’ 42-14 win against Georgia State on Saturday. Head coach Curt Cignetti announced on Monday that Green suffered a knee injury at the end of the game that will require surgery. Green leads the FBS in sacks (15.5) and tackles for loss (21.0). He is ineligible to return next fall. “He put a lot into this season,” Cignetti said. “The silver lining is that he attracted the scouts’ attention, the NFL scouts’ attention, which I know is his goal — to play in the league.” Without Green, Cignetti said there are a few players who could get increased playing time on the defensive line, mentioning how redshirt freshman Amar Thomas may come in at defensive end while freshman Mychal McMullin steps in on the interior. “We’ll figure it out,” Cignetti said. “We’ve got some flexibility, but you can’t replace a guy like Jalen. He probably had more production as a pass rusher than anybody in the country this season.” Green finishes his year one sack shy of breaking the program’s single-season sack record of 16.5, set by John Daka (2016-19) in 2019. However, Green does now hold the Sun Belt’s single-season sack record, which Arkansas State’s Javon Rolland-Jones (201317) previously set with 13.5 in 2016. In his first year as a starter, Green gained national attention, being named to the watch list for the Chuck Bednarik Award, which is given annually to College Football’s top defensive player. He was also named a Midseason First Team All-American by both The Athletic and College Football Network. The highlight of Green’s season came in JMU’s 20-9 win over Marshall on Oct. 19, when he recorded five sacks, tying JMU’s single-game record that Jim McHugh and Bob Dunn both previously set against Emory & Henry in 1975.
JMU men’s basketball upset No. 4 Michigan State 79-76 in overtime on Monday, marking the Dukes’ first win over a ranked team since they took down California in 1992. Redshirt junior guard/forward Terrence Edwards led the Dukes with 24 points, while graduate forward T.J. Bickerstaff, who transferred from Boston College this past offseason, finished with 21 points and 14 rebounds in his JMU debut. In a losing effort, Michigan State graduate guard Tyson Walker led all scorers with 35 points. JMU struggled with foul trouble for the majority of the game. Redshirt senior guard Noah Freidel and redshirt senior forward Julien Wooden both fouled out, and Bickerstaff and freshman forward Jaylen Carey both racked up four each. The Dukes led by as much as 13 with 7:01 remaining in the first half, but Michigan State shrunk the deficit to four at halftime, and then went on a 6-0 run early in the second to take a 42-41 lead with 15:16 remaining in regulation. The Dukes took back the lead with a 7-2 run, but the Spartans responded with a 10-0 run to take a 54-48 lead with 8:35 remaining in the second. JMU kept the lead within two possessions through the end of second half but didn’t take the lead back until 1:48 into overtime. Up 75-74 with less than 30 seconds remaining in overtime, junior forward Raekwon Horton extended the Dukes’ lead to four with just 10 seconds left. Walker scored his final two points with a layup to cut the deficit to two, but a Bickerstaff free throw and steal by graduate guard Michael Green III capped off JMU’s historic win. Next, the Dukes head to Kent State for a matchup on Thursday at 7 p.m. The Spartans will stay home to face Southern Indiana at the same time and day. CONTACT the sports desk at breezesports@gmail.com. For more men’s basketball coverage, follow the sports desk on X at @TheBreezeSports.
“I’ve got some confident guys, and they did just enough.” Mark Byington
“That last sack happened so fast, and I didn’t even see it,” Cignetti said after the JMU men’s basketball head coach on the radio postgame Thursday, September 21, 2023 | breezejmu.org Marshall game. “I didn’t think anyone could 2 be sacked that quickly. He’s just been an incredible player for us this year.” Green is just one of many notable JMU players lost to injury this season. Redshirt senior defensive end Abi Nwabuoku-Okonji and redshirt senior running back Solomon Vanhorse went down in the season opener against Bucknell. In the next game against U.Va., junior and redshirt junior linebackers Jailin Walker and Taurus Jones both went down and were out for three weeks with injuries. Two weeks later against Utah State, redshirt senior right tackle Nick Kidwell suffered a season-ending injury on the first drive against Utah State, then junior left tackle Tyshawn Wyatt went down Oct. 28 against Old Dominion. Cignetti said JMU has a “next-man-up mentality,” which is evident by the Dukes’ performance following those major injuries. Without Vanhorse, redshirt senior running back Ty Son Lawton has stepped up and has the second-most net rushing yards of any Duke this season (441) heading into Week 10. Sophomore Aiden Fisher came in for the injured Jones against U.Va. and has since become the Dukes’ leading tackler (71). The defensive line, with help from Green, has tallied the most sacks of any unit in the country (42.0). On the other side of the ball, the offensive line has allowed more than one sack just once in its five games without Kidwell. So while Green is a crucial loss for the Dukes, their next-man mentality has proven enough to keep their undefeated (9-0, 6-0 Sun Belt) season alive. “We’ve got a lot of good players here, and we’ve been able to keep going and not skip a beat,” Cignetti said. CONTACT Jackson Hephner at breezesports@ gmail.com. For more football coverage, follow the sports desk on X at @TheBreezeSports.
Vol. 102, No. 6
16
Thursday, November 9, 2023 | breezejmu.org
SPORTS
JMU volleyball continues success in new home By SARABETH ELLIS The Breeze The crowd is up and on its feet, cheering on the Dukes at match point. Moments later, the ball lands on Marshall’s side, and the fans inside the Convocation Center erupt in applause. JMU volleyball has just won its 13th home match of the season and 24th in two years. JMU finished its 2022-23 season 11-0 on its home court — the end of it's time competing in Godwin Hall before moving into the newly renovated Convocation Center. “I loved Godwin; it was so special,” fifth-year middle blocker Sophie Davis said. “Last season, we didn’t lose a game in Godwin. That’s a great way to go out, so you know that place was special.” Godwin’s noisy environment was one of the many things the Dukes admired about it, and going into this season in a new facility, JMU head coach Lauren Steinbrecher worried that the Convo would be quieter than the team was used to. “I was concerned with all the space up here that it wouldn’t be as loud because Godwin was very intimidating and loud,” Steinbrecher said. “But it’s the exact same vibe here. It’s very loud down there in the bowl.” The move to the Convo came with new perks for the Dukes, and Steinbrecher said the transition between the two facilities was wonderful, and that it has been a “really fun upgrade.” With everything in one place, the team now has daily access to the things it requires. “In the athletic training room, everything you could want for recovery, treatment, the strength and conditioning spaces available, the fueling station,” Steinbrecher said, “I mean, there’s just so many things here that make it first class.” Another bonus of the move to the Convo is having bleachers on both sides of the court, which allows for a better fan experience. Steinbrecher said the amount of space is just what the team needed. “We can get more people in here, and it’s more comfortable for those people, so, it’s a win-win,” Steinbrecher said. “The space is really perfect for volleyball. Not too much shagging, but just enough space to get everything in.” Now nearing the end of its first season in the Convo, the Dukes have continued to thrive in Harrisonburg. JMU finished the regular season 13-1 at home and hasn’t lost a game on its court since its second match of the year against Ohio on Aug.
26. Davis said despite being in an entirely different gym, it feels similar in many ways to Godwin. “Coming here, I mean, everything is so new and fresh, and the court pretty much feels the same; the energy feels the same. It’s just as loud,” Davis said. “It’s still that intimate space, which I love.” The Dukes are 19-6 (12-2 Sun Belt) this season heading into a road series with South Alabama on Thursday and Friday, having lost five matches on the road. Steinbrecher said JMU’s home dominance is in large part because of the environment the fans bring to the game. “It’s just really loud,” Steinbrecher said. “You can feel our fan support, and we get great crowds, and so I think that helps push us.” The fans are something both Steinbrecher and Davis agree are an important factor in their at-home success. Davis noted the fans are a big reason she enjoys playing at home. “When they are cheering so loud, I can barely think, but it’s a good thing because I know they’re for me,” Davis said. “It is motivating, like, I want to do it for not only myself, my teammates, but them too. I love it — that’s why I love playing at home.” The Dukes are also a veteran team, with seven seniors and fifth years who experienced the transition from the CAA to the Sun Belt, as well as winning the Sun Belt championship last season, their first year in the conference. One of those veterans, senior outside hitter Miëtte Veldman, said the team transferred its energy and momentum over to its new court. “I think this is just an awesome environment to play in, and I think it's just so special, and the crowd and just like the feeling, I think, is incomparable,” Veldman said. “I think we brought it back over here to Convo.” JMU is second in the Sun Belt, only behind Coastal Carolina, and is on a four-game win streak. With only two games left in the regular season and the Sun Belt Conference championship on Nov. 15-19 fast approaching, the Dukes are looking to close out another successful season. Veldman said the longer the players are in the Convo, the more at home they feel. “As we’ve been able to spend more time in here, I think we’re there, and it feels very homey,” Veldman said. “It’s definitely special here, and I think we did a good job of making it feel special.” CONTACT Sarabeth Ellis at ellis2sp@dukes.jmu.edu. For more volleyball coverage, follow the sports desk on X @TheBreezeSports.
JMU volleyball finished 13-1 at home this season, only losing to Ohio in the Convocation Center on Aug. 26. Kaiden Bridges / The Breeze
Men’s soccer’s Evan Southern discovers niche at JMU By HAYDEN HUNDLEY The Breeze
Redshirt junior forward Evan Southern has the second most points on the team this season (17) behind senior midfielder Rodrigo Robles (20). Kaiden Bridges / The Breeze
Two years ago, JMU men’s soccer redshirt junior forward Evan Southern played at Iowa Western Community College. Now, he's scoring hat tricks in arguably one of the best soccer conferences in the country. Before Southern was at Iowa Western, he spent his freshman year at Saint Louis University but only appeared in two games. On top of the lack of playing time, Southern said he struggled in the classroom at the time and deemed the situation to be the wrong fit for him. Southern received a fresh start at Iowa Western. His twoyear stint (2020-22) included an NJCAA championship in 2021. During that time, he met JMU assistant coach Nick Melville, who played at Iowa Western from 2013-14 and helped lead the Reivers to a 48-0 record and a national championship in 2013. Southern finished his career at Iowa Western with 23 goals and six assists and had the opportunity to go back to Saint Louis but decided to transfer to JMU with “full belief” in Melville’s pitch about the program. “It was really him personally that got me here,” Southern said of Melville. “I never toured the campus or anything like that. The effort that coach Nick put in is what drove me to JMU, and if it weren't for him, then I probably would probably be somewhere else or maybe not even playing Division I soccer right now.” Since joining the Dukes, Southern has started 21 games, including 13 of 16 this season, and is second on the roster with 17 points, just behind All-Sun Belt Second Team senior midfielder Rodrigo Robles (20). Robles said Southern is a “hard-working machine,” and his aggression when JMU’s forwards press sets the tone for what he calls their “lion mentality.” “I think he had a very good season last year, and this year
is just a continuation of his work,” Robles said. “He’s definitely allowed the team to improve with his movement off the ball, and I think when he gets the ball in space, he’s very bendy and he can make things happen on the run.” Head coach Paul Zazenski said he believes it’s the environment and culture surrounding the program that allows Southern to “flourish.” Southern admitted that adjusting to a large school like JMU was a “shock” at first, but he said the school has offered him the most support he’s had in his college career so far. Southern credits his improvement in the classroom to the amount of resources the soccer program and university offers, on top of receiving help from “exceptional” staff members. Southern mentioned people such as the men’s soccer team's academic advisor Rebekah Barfield, Melville and Jessica Minnis-McClain, a political science professor who he’s had for three consecutive semesters, as instrumental in his improvement off the field. “I don't want to be that one guy that's messing up in the classroom, putting our team in jeopardy,” Southern said. “I had issues with that in the past and coming here really helped me mature a lot, helping me grow into that new, better version of myself that is going to hopefully continue getting better, and my grades are looking pretty good this semester, so I'm pretty happy.” On the field, Southern said he's always given 100% effort, even saying he’s willing to “run his body into the ground” to help his team. His effort is turning into goals, and now, coinciding with consistency in the classroom. “We’re seeing the best out of Evan,” Zazenski said. “And that's in every regard, not just soccer. I do think our environment helped but obviously, it's a decision for the individual. Do they want to buy in and go with that environment, or do they want to fight it?” CONTACT Hayden Hundley at hundlehf@dukes.jmu.edu. For more men's soccer coverage, follow the sports desk on X @TheBreezeSports.
SPORTS
17
Thursday, November 9, 2023 | breezejmu.org
Kaiden Bridges Sports Editor
Jackson Hephner Sports Editor
Colby Reece BTV Sports Director
William Moran Copy Editor
Avery Goodstine Managing Editor
Michael Russo Executive Editor
Grant Johnson Editor-in-Chief
Editor’s record
33-21
30-24
39-15
37-17
40-14
42-12
40-14
UConn vs. JMU
JMU
JMU
JMU
JMU
JMU
JMU
JMU
ODU vs. Liberty
Liberty
ODU
ODU
ODU
ODU
Liberty
Liberty
Tennessee vs. Missouri
Missouri
Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee
Missouri
Texas St. vs. C. Carolina
Texas St.
Texas St.
C. Carolina
Texas St.
C. Carolina
C. Carolina
C. Carolina
Duke vs. N. Carolina
Duke
Duke
N. Carolina
N. Carolina
Duke
N. Carolina
Duke
Utah vs. Washington
Washington
Washington
Washington
Washington
Washington
Washington
Washington
Kailey Garner / The Breeze
OPINION EDITOR Evan Weaver
EMAIL breezeopinion@gmail.com
Want to praise someone or get something off your chest? Darts & Pats is the place to do it. Submit your own at breezejmu.org. A “clean-up-afteryourself” dart to the students living at Copper Beach and The Commons for throwing beer cans in people’s yards. From a Harrisonburg resident who wants them to remember they’re a guest in town. An “I’m-flattered” pat to the Starbucks barista who remembered my name on Monday. From someone who orders way too many vanilla cream cold brew with cold foams.
A “missed-opportunity” dart to The Breeze for not putting the news of JMU beating No. 4 Michigan State in 72-point font across the front page of the website. From a JMU men’s basketball fan.
An “if-it-ain’t-brokedon’t-fix-it” dart to Chick-fil-A for getting rid of their honey pepper pimento chicken sandwich. From a disappointed customer.
Editorial Policies The Breeze 1598 S. Main Street Harrisonburg, VA 22801
18
@Breeze_Opinion
Affirmative action rulings will negatively affect diversity on college campuses EMMA SELI | Breeze columnist On June 29, the U.S. Supreme Court issued yet another monumental ruling for the history books. Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. (SFFA) v. President and Fellows of Harvard College and SFFA v. University of North Carolina, et al. effectively overturned raceconscious admissions in higher education. This decision will negatively affect diversity and equity in universities. The decision rolled back decades of precedent on affirmative action, a term President John F. Kennedy used to push policies ensuring racial equity in the 1960s. Since its beginning, affirmative action has regularly popped up at the Supreme Court’s doorstep. The establishment of Kennedy’s racial equity-aimed policies led to universities’ implementation of affirmative action in college admissions. However, it was challenged shortly after, when two cases, DeFunis v. Odegaard in 1974 and the University of California v. Bakke in 1978, arrived before the court. In Defunis, according to Oyez, the University of Washington Law School denied a student admission — a school that had used affirmative action policies to admit minorities. Defunis was then admitted to the school and had reached his final year by the time the Supreme Court presided over the case. The court declared the case moot, meaning it considered the argument no longer applicable. Bakke was similar, yet had a different outcome. The UC-Davis Medical School twice denied Alan Bakke admission, citing its racial quota system, according to Oyez. The Supreme Court sided with Bakke and decided that the school’s use of racial quotas in college admissions violated the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The majority was split 4-4 on whether race could be used as a factor in college admissions. This decision was upheld for decades until Grutter v. Bollinger and Gratz v. Bollinger were brought before the court in 2003. Both cases centered on the University of Michigan’s admission policies and were incredibly significant in setting modern-day precedents regarding affirmative action. In Gratz, two white students were denied admission to the University of Michigan. The students filed a class action suit against the university, and when the case was brought before the Supreme Court, it sided with Jennifer Gratz and Patrick Hamacher, in a 6-3 decision. In Grutter, Barbara Grutter wasn’t accepted into the University of Michigan Law School and alleged it was because of the school's use of racial preferences in admission. According to Oyez, UM’s law school conducts a “highly
individualized review of each applicant,” and the court decided in a 5-4 decision that its use of racial preferences in admissions was of “compelling state interest” and didn’t pose a disadvantage to non-minority applicants. SFFA v. Harvard and SFFA v. the University of North Carolina were highly anticipated. The SFFA is a nonprofit organization founded in 2014 that seeks to “eliminate race and ethnicity from college admissions.” Considering the court’s ideological makeup, a 6-3 conservative super majority, the outcome wasn’t surprising. According to the Pew Research Center, conservatives typically hold more negative views toward affirmative action than liberals, who harbor more positive views on the issue. Both cases questioned whether Harvard and UNC’s admission policies violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment. The Harvard case ended with a 6-2 conservative majority, and the UNC case similarly concluded with a 6-3 conservative majority, both in favor of the SFFA. Jackson abstained from considering and deciding the Harvard case as a Harvard graduate. Chief Justice John Roberts attended Harvard undergrad and its law school but didn’t abstain. The SFFA sued both UNC and Harvard for using race in their admission processes. Both schools admitted to using it as a factor and claimed they followed the requirements in the Grutter case, according to Oyez. The court held that Harvard and UNC violated the Constitution. In both cases, associate justices Clarence
The Breeze welcomes and encourages readers to voice their opinions through letters and guest columns.
The Breeze reserves the right to edit submissions for length, grammar and if material is libelous, factually inaccurate or unclear. The Breeze assumes the rights to any published work. Opinions expressed in this page, with the exception of editorials, are not necessarily those of The Breeze or its staff.
Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil G orsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett joined Roberts’ majority opinion, and Gorsuch and Kavanaugh both filed separate concurring opinions. Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor delivered the dissenting opinion, joined by fellow liberal justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, who also filed a separate dissenting opinions in the UNC case. The equal protection clause was created to eliminate discrimination, often based on race and gender, by providing all citizens with “equal protection under the law.” The conservative majority claimed that Harvard and UNC’s admissions policies discriminate against white and Asian college applicants and are no exception to the clause. In order for a policy to be considered an exemption, it must pass “strict scrutiny,” a process that a court may apply when a law potentially violates a constitutional right. In his opinion, Roberts applies strict scrutiny to decide whether using race as a criterion in admissions is of “compelling government interest,” a requirement under the test. The second requirement is whether race is “narrowly tailored” or “necessary to achieve that interest” — that interest often means diversity. In the prior Grutter case, it was decided that the University of Michigan Law School’s racebased process did pass strict scrutiny, fitting both conditions. Roberts and his conservative court reversed this decision; therefore, UNC and Harvard’s admissions policies were deemed discriminatory and did not pass strict scrutiny.
Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the majority opinion in SFFA v. UNC and SFFA v. Harvard. In both, the court decided on June 29 that these universities’ admission practices were unconstitutional. Tribune News Service
Letters and guest columns should be submitted in print or via e-mail and must include name, phone number, major/year if author is a current student (or year of graduation), professional title (if applicable) and place of residence if author is not a JMU student.
OPINION “Twenty years have passed since Grutter, with no end to race-based college admissions in sight. But the Court has permitted race-based college admissions only within the confines of narrow restrictions: such admissions programs must comply with strict scrutiny, may never use race as a stereotype or negative, and must—at some point—end,” Roberts wrote in his opinion. The majority fails to properly recognize the blood-soaked history leading to this decision. As Sotomayor states in her dissenting opinion, “The Court cements a superficial rule of colorblindness as a constitutional principle in an endemically segregated society where race has always mattered and continues to matter.” Equal opportunities for education are the foundation of a true democracy. As Sotomayor says, “the Supreme Court reinforced this [the importance of education] with the historic decision Brown v. Board of Education … Hundreds of years” of slavery in this country led to the need for race-conscious policies, and they’re still necessary over a century after the Civil War. Harvard and UNC are rich with histories of racial inequality, beginning with their very slaveholding founders and leaders, Sotomayor notes. Such elite schools especially are in desperate need of increased diversity in their student bodies. However, there are many schools nationwide that aren’t affected by the decision. Universities that abstain from race-conscious admissions won’t be required to change their policies. JMU is one of these schools. Instead, JMU focuses on achieving diversity through other means. In a Breeze interview in July with President Jonathan Alger, he described the benefits of JMU’s admissions policies. Having played a role in the Grutter and Gratz cases while working at the University of Michigan, Alger’s background with these cases gives him a unique perspective on the workings of race-conscious admissions on college campuses. JMU is and has looked to financial aid to achieve greater socioeconomic diversity. Alger explained that JMU’s biggest obstacle in achieving diversity is increasing the amount of aid the school distributes. Other state schools have significantly larger endowments for financial aid opportunities for lower-income students. But JMU has developed the Valley Scholars program, for example, which seeks to help local students who’ve shown academic potential before college attend JMU on full scholarships. Schools that can no longer use affirmative action policies must search for other ways to achieve diversity, perhaps through programs like JMU’s. In a Breeze Instagram poll, 75% of 48 respondents disagreed with the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Harvard and UNC cases, and 85% of 46 respondents thought the decision was biased. This is in line with a previous Breeze poll on the court, in which the majority of respondents were disgruntled with it on many levels, including distrust in its ability to produce unbiased decisions and the overturn of Roe v. Wade. The Harvard and UNC cases will no doubt negatively affect diversity and equity in higher education. However, JMU remains relatively unaffected by the decisions and instead has been using financial aid programs to increase diversity and close socioeconomic gaps. Only time will tell how the Supreme Court’s decision will truly affect diversity in higher education, but universities nationwide are striving to achieve it in unique ways. As students and citizens in a democracy, it’s our duty to uphold democratic values, regardless of party affiliation. It feels as if respectful political discourse has fallen off the face of the Earth, but hopefully, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Perhaps our generation will be the one to set our democracy back on track — wiping up past generations’ political messes. CONTACT Emma Seli at seliek@dukes.
jmu.edu. For more editorials regarding the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the opinion desk on Instagram and X @Breeze_Opinion.
19
Thursday, November 9, 2023 | breezejmu.org
The price of advice Kaleb Nute / The Breeze
Students should avoid asking friends for guidance when experiencing relationship troubles CAROLINE MCKEOWN | contributing columnist Students in relationships should be cautious to ask for relationship advice from friends because of the subconscious similarities peers share. With the availability of receipts from a relationship — from texts to social media — people can fully display these messages to their friends and get advice. While getting a friend’s input is a common and completely rational thing to do, it’s taken too far by showing receipts of emotionally driven incidents in a relationship. By allowing friends to get invested in a conversation instead of just describing an incident to them, it creates a higher level of attachment to the outcome for friends, causing them to want to be involved in the decision. Freshman Alli Hartman said she thinks her friends play a good part in her decisions around her relationships, but ultimately, she said she makes the decisions herself. Hartman’s mindset is an example of what most people have today surrounding the impact that friends can have on decisions. The unconscious effect of friends’ impact on decision-making raises the question: Can anyone truly have an independent relationship outside of their friends’ influence?
While the impact of friends on relationships is increased today with the ability to hold on to arguments word for word in texts, 20 years ago, people still acted based on the influence of people around them without the assistance of phones. According to Discovery, people mimic the behavior of people they surround themselves with. From mimicking mannerisms to the thought of “What would he or she think of this,” the ability for a person to remain completely neutral regarding relationship advice is out of the question. The fear of not being true to oneself in decision-making creates an extra emphasis on the need for people to surround themselves with like-minded people who value the same thing, so as to not lose themselves as they grow as an individual and in a relationship. Besides stepping back from a conflict in a relationship, there isn’t much to prevent the heavy impact of friends. Even if someone doesn’t show another person the novel’s worth of texts with their significant other, the impact of having someone close affects decisions in a romantic relationship. Hartman said she tends to ask for advice from friends who’ve been in a relationship before and the mature ones who “know how to respond.” Despite having that neutral
mindset of making the final decision for herself, people often find themselves seeking out advice from those who have already been through similar situations. While it might be helpful for someone to get another perspective, it prompts the other person to reflect on their own history and provide a weighted response as to what they should do. While it varies by situation and previous outcomes, there’s a theme in advice to cut ties with the “there-is-alwaysmore-fish-in-the-sea” mentality, especially in college. In terms of advice, the way people act in relationships and the way they give advice are all affected by being young students who have just discovered independence. Students have just been faced with setting up a future for themselves, which is why they need to get grounding advice from their peers on people who could potentially be a part of the rest of their lives. It’s the individual’s responsibility to try to balance peer influence and what their values and needs are in these relationships. CONTACT Caroline McKeown at mckeowcf@
dukes.jmu.edu. For more editorials regarding the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the opinion desk on Instagram and X @Breeze_Opinion.
20
Thursday, November 9, 2023 | breezejmu.org
Vol. 102, No. 12
MULTIMEDIA
21
Thursday, November 9, 2023 | breezejmu.org
THEY JUST KEEP WINNING.
JMU traveled to Atlanta this past weekend to face Georgia State in its ninth game of the season. The Dukes defeated the Panthers 42-14, advancing their undefeated record to 9-0 (6-0 SunBelt). The Dukes will next face the UConn at Bridgeforth Stadium on Saturday. Photos by Kailey Garner / The Breeze
For more photos of JMU vs. Georgia State, view the full gallery online at breezejmu.org/ multimedia.
CONTACT Kailey Garner at breezephotography@gmail.
com. For more multimedia content, visit breezejmu.org/ multimedia.
22
Vol. 102, No. 12
Thursday, November 9, 2023 | breezejmu.org FOR RELEASE NOVEMBER 6, 2023
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Patti Varol and Joyce Lewis
11/6/23
By John Michael Currie
DOWN 1 Guide that can become the outline for a meeting’s minutes 2 Imp 3 Commodity from abroad 4 __ Lingus: Irish carrier 5 Fair to middling 6 Civil rights icon Parks whose actions inspired a bus boycott 7 Another name for the Roman god Cupid 8 Overly agreeable guy 9 Starts a poker pot 10 Social standards 11 Spherical 13 Singer McEntire 15 Lacking vigor 18 One from Athens 21 Ruckus 23 Plunders 26 Brief moment 27 Round-bottomed cookware 28 Fireplace leftovers 31 Wither away 32 Public health agcy. 33 Leave alone
Saturday’s Puzzle Solved
stumpe
find the answers online
d?
ACROSS 1 Opera highlight 5 Spanish Mrs. 8 Yin and __ 12 Place in a house where one might find a cue or Clue 14 Sherlock’s sister, per two Netflix films 16 Caffè Americano base 17 Hale and hearty 19 Mil. category 20 Many a corporate decision-maker 22 “Finding Nemo” kid who scares the fish 24 “My thought is ... ” 25 Choir voice below soprano 26 Knightley’s “Pirates of the Caribbean” role 29 “On my way!” text, maybe 30 Black-and-white cookies 32 Keyboard sound 34 Investor who has shares in a company 37 Finish, as cupcakes 39 Precise 40 NFL official 41 Fill in, as a lawn bare spot 43 Caustic remark 47 Heartburn remedy 50 Thigh bone 51 Seating chart designation 55 Lagunitas Brewing Co. specialty 56 “You’re killing me, __!”: line from “The Sandlot” 57 Pet dander, for one 59 Top-notch 60 Mail that doesn’t need an envelope, and where both words of 12-, 20-, 34-, and 51-Across can be found? 61 Reduced by 62 Sault __ Marie 63 Regarding
www.breezejmu.org/ site/crossword_ answers/
©2023 Tribune Content Agency, LLC
34 Jocelyn Alo’s sport 35 Good Grips gadget brand 36 Little guy 37 Counterparts of sororities, for short 38 Menu option in a file manager 41 Runs water over 42 School URL part 44 Compañeras 45 Stewie’s teddy bear on “Family Guy”
11/6/23
46 Marlon of “On the Waterfront” 48 “Kate & __”: 1980s sitcom 49 Britons and Gaels 50 Agonize (over) 52 GPS app on iPhones 53 Printer smudge 54 “If all __ fails ... ” 58 Early TV brand
Vol. 102, No. 12
Thursday, November 9, 2023 | breezejmu.org
23
MADISON MARKETPLACE
DUKE DOG AUTO ALLY LOCAL AUTOS FOR SALE
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. HOMES FOR RENT
4 bed/3bath house near downtown for rent 290 w water st available for rent beginning July 1 2024. 4 bedrooms and 3 full baths. Hardwood floors. Plenty of off st parking. Front porch and back patio. Garage and basement for storage. Updated kitchen. 2 bocks from Memorial Hall. Pets allowed with no pet fees. Landlord references available.
JOBS
Career Opportunity - Crew Supervisor (Street Maintenance)
Career Opportunity - Outreach and Are you searching for a career opportunity Communications Specialist in street maintenance that allows you to The City of Harrisonburg Police Department have the best of both worlds: leadership (HPD) is seeking an Outreach and and field work? If so, consider applying to Communications Specialist to market, promote, the Crew Supervisor - Street Maintenance and disseminate information regarding the position in the City of Harrisonburg’s Public department’s various projects/initiatives Works Department! Find out more/apply and emergency public information. If this online: https://www.harrisonburgva.gov/ sounds appealing to you, apply today to be employment. EOE. considered for this opportunity! Find out/ apply online: https://www.harrisonburgva. gov/employment. EOE.
Internship Opportunity with the Harrisonburg Police Department Are you a student seeking real-world experience in law enforcement with a state-accredited agency? If so, apply to the City of Harrisonburg Police Department’s Internship Opportunity! Find out more/apply online: https://www. harrisonburgva.gov/employment. EOE. Career Opportunity - Firefighter The Harrisonburg Fire Department (HFD) is seeking individuals desiring a challenging career in public service to become HFD Firefighters! No prior certification or training as a firefighter or EMT is required to apply. Find out more/ apply online: https://www.harrisonburgva. gov/employment. EOE.
Vol. 102, No. 12
Thursday, November 9, 2023 | breezejmu.org
TT BAELUS EA V
JMU
• RENOVATED CLUBHOUSES • • NEW HARDWOOD FLOORS • • UPDATED APARTMENTS •
APPLY FREE ONLINE
THEHILLSJMU
540.432.0600 | LIVE-THEHILLS.COM
24