TUNING IN FOR 20 YEARS The Breeze
Staunton
On the cover
It’s been 20 years since JMU’s studentrun radio station WXJM moved off-campus to its current location on Reservoir Street. Despite the radio industry’s ever-changing landscape, WXJM has continued to showcase independent artists and connect the community through the station’s music and programming.
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K. Mauser & Drake Miller
Friends, faculty and alums remember ‘servant leader’ George Johnson
By SIXUAN WU The Breeze
7 a.m. — a time any student would find unimaginable to begin preparing for class each morning. But for former Media Arts and Design (SMAD) professor George Johnson and his teaching partner Roger Soenksen, this was just another day gearing up for their 8 a.m. class of nearly 200 students — now known as Introduction to Media Arts and Design (SMAD 101).
Bright and early on each Monday, Wednesday and Friday, the pair would roll out their cart stacked with gadgets from the storage unit into Anthony-Seeger Hall down the hallway and into the auditorium, where they would then unload the many screens, metal frames and spaghetti wires to piece together the projection screen Johnson had built by hand.
“It’s like driving a Cadillac compared to the early Model T version that we had,” Soenksen said, laughing while recalling this cutting-edge technology of the ’80s.
More than 30 years later, Soenksen said this remains one of his favorite memories of teaching with his friend.
A SMAD professor of 32 years, Johnson died Jan. 24 at 77 years old after battling with cancer for 14 years. He is survived by his wife, Marilou (’80); daughters, Callie (’08) and Caitlin (’11); grandchildren, Juliana, Henley, Lillian and Ezra; and many nephews, nieces, great nephews and great nieces.
Johnson first came to JMU in 1984 to teach in what was then known as Communication Arts. He did so for a year before moving to the University of Tennessee at Knoxville for his wife to pursue her Ph.D.
When the couple returned in 1988 while JMU was restructuring its major departments as a whole, Johnson helped found SMAD, spearheading in assembling faculty from different university departments designing the new curriculum and establishing SMAD as a closed major that requires an application. He later became SMAD’s first director in 1994.
It wasn’t without challenges — building up a brand-new curriculum that blended radio, TV, journalism, graphic design and even the music industry — all while guiding students who were clueless as to what their future major would entail.
“It was an absolutely crazy time,” Soenksen said.
But Johnson remained steadfast. His vision for SMAD was to maximize the technology at the time and prepare students for their future careers. He always had his students’ best interests at heart and a unique way of reassuring them during the unknown, Soenksen said, recounting how Johnson snatched the attention of an auditorium full of angsty students by walking in wearing a bear costume.
“And what people didn’t know was [that] he was dying underneath that costume because he had a terrible case of poison ivy,” Soenksen said. “But he wanted to make sure he got to the students no matter what. He was very student-centered.”
Tristan Lorei (’20), a former Breeze photo editor who took SMAD 101 with Johnson and Soenksen, said he thought of Johnson as a man who “commanded respect” when teaching his students. He said Johnson held students accountable in class early on in college and taught Lorei lessons that stuck throughout the years.
“When you [go] to college, you’re surrounded by creative minds and ideas and all these new realms of possibilities,” Lorei said. “Even just sitting with him in the office and talking with him felt like an adventure. I grew to revere him and admire him. Even in a small thing that seems meaningless and unremarkable, he gave you his whole attention.”
Soenksen said Johnson always believed the best way to make sure his students were learning the materials was to offer opportunities that challenged them.
“He would not hesitate if you didn’t understand something. [He’d] have you come in his office, sit down and go over the material, even if it meant almost like a second lecture because he wanted the students to succeed,” Soenksen said.
Johnson taught various classes throughout his 32 years with SMAD — including media law, photojournalism, telecom production and SMAD 101 — but law and photography
remained two of his greatest passions, Soenksen said. He was constantly researching to learn more about the development of his craft, even after retiring in 2019.
“After he retired, he had the opportunity to come back and teach one semester, just a photojournalism class,” Marilou said. “He probably worked for five or six months studying — thinking about developing that class just because he loved it, but also because he loved sharing what he loved with other people.”
Outside academia, Johnson was a man who always showed up for his family. He was the “ultimate ballet dad,” as his daughters would call him, who attended their — and later Johnson’s granddaughters’ — every performance. He was also a music lover and often played the piano while his children danced to the jazzy tunes.
Nature was another of Johnson’s passions. Marilou said one of his favorite memories was traveling to Yosemite National Park to study photography with renowned photographer Ansel Adams one summer. During his free time, Johnson enjoyed hiking, canoeing and camping.
An avid reader, Johnson read abundantly on the topics he devoted his curiosity toward, be it media law, history, science, photography or fiction.
“ The girls and I have gone through his books, and we’re taking in the wide variety of things he’s read over the years, and I said, ‘We need to get a library card,’” Marilou said. “We should, but he loved to own the books and to read them, and many of them he wanted to go back to ” see JOHNSON, page 8
Johnson taught various classes in his 32 years with the School of Media Arts and Design (SMAD), including media law, photojournalism and telecom production. Breeze file photos
JMU implements human trafficking prevention course to meet state requirement
By CHARLIE BODENSTEIN
contributing writer
Dukes who opened their Canvas page within the last month will have noticed an invitation to a new prevention course — Human Trafficking Training.
The course contains a training video, a slideshow and a comprehension quiz, and was implemented in accordance with the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (VA DCJS) and Virginia State Code 23.1-808.1 — a new bill passed last year in the Virginia legislature — proposed by Sen. Jill Vogel (R-27) and former Del. Emily Jordan (R-64), who’s now a senator for the 17th district, JMU Police Department (JMU PD) Chief Anthony Matos said in an email.
The new Canvas course aims to help Dukes identify human trafficking, how it affects students, how to report it and how students can prevent it, according to the course.
The course recommends students view both the video and powerpoint before taking the comprehension quiz. The course said the quiz must be passed before the end of the current semester or else a hold will be placed on the student’s account.
Vice President for Student Affairs Tim Miller posted an Instagram video urging students to pay attention to this course and to “get it done.”
“This is required by state law so we need you to make this a priority when you receive the email. Thanks for doing this, be safe, and Go Dukes,” Miller said.
Safety measures, mental health resources across campus
This course is yet another measure JMU has taken to ensure the safety of its campus, according to the JMU PD website, such as the free safety escorts JMU makes available to all students on campus seven days a week.
Another safety measure implemented on campus is the JMU Shield app. Developed by the JMU PD, the app has an array of features, such as emergency contacts, campus map, friend walk, safety toolbox, SafeRides and other safety resources all in one location.
“We will work collaboratively to prevent crime and disorder through a compassionate and empathetic police department,
supporting our students, faculty, and staff in their goals to lead productive and meaningful lives,” reads the mission statement on the JMU PD’s website.
Additionally, JMU has a plethora of mental health resources available to all students, including the Counseling Center — located on the first floor of the Student Success Center — and TimelyCare, an app dedicated to providing free therapy and psychological health services to Dukes.
The course’s effectiveness
According to a Breeze Instagram poll, 71% of respondents (52 of 73) said they didn’t believe the new training was effective in combating human trafficking. In another Breeze poll, 62% of respondents (45 of 73) said they didn’t learn anything of value from the training.
In a third poll, 53% of respondents (73 of 137) said they hadn’t completed the Canvas course yet.
“I don’t feel like I learned anything that hadn’t already been taught from other sources,” sophomore Emily LaBar said. “I think it’s important for us to have awareness of these issues, but the format that these training were presented in were ineffective and thus not really important for most JMU students.”
Sophomore Kyleigh Wallace said she believes the training to be “decently important,” but an in-person training would be more effective.
Despite these feelings, Wallace said she encourages victims of human trafficking to speak up and to seek appropriate help such as a therapist or the authorities.
“People are here for you,” Wallace said. “Your friends are here for you. Your family is here for you.”
This story contains mentions of human trafficking that may be triggering for some readers. If you or someone you know is involved with human trafficking, please call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at +1 (888) 373-7888.
CONTACT Charlie Bodenstein at bodenscd@dukes.jmu.edu. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @BreezeJMU.
There are many safety and mental health resources available for students, such as the safety
JMU Shield, left, and the JMU counseling center, right, which is located on the Student Success Center's third floor.
The JMU Police Department (PD) implemented the new human trafficking training in compliance with a new bill passed last year in the Virginia legislature, JMU PD Chief Anthony Matos said in an email. Breeze file photos
Harrisonburg community protests against the executive orders directed at immigrants
By EMMA NOTARNICOLA The Breeze
Protesters hailing from Harrisonburg and surrounding counties came together Saturday to protest the recent executive orders issued by President Donald Trump — which call to expand the use of immigration detention and fasttrack deportations — and show support to local families who may be affected.
Protesters met at 1 p.m. in the East Elizabeth Street parking deck across the street from Friendly City Food Co-Op. The protest began with the lead organizer — who didn’t disclose their name during their speech — and an immigration lawyer who detailed the protest’s plans and community members’ Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights — including Miranda Rights — in both English and Spanish.
“We believe our immigrant community deserves to be treated with respect and humility,” the lead organizer said while addressing the crowd.
Other protesters filed through the crowd to hand out red cards that described constitutional rights, such as one’s right to remain silent as stated in the fifth amendment, and the different ways to avoid being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in English and Spanish.
Shortly after, hundreds of attendees walked through downtown Harrisonburg toward Hotel Madison.
One of the protesters, Bridgewater student Gracy Bustillo, said her reason for attending the protest was to support “the hard-working mothers, and fathers, and kids that come into this f-cking country and give it their all, and sweat out their f-cking back for this country.”
Bustillo said there’s a lot of fear about Trump’s executive orders throughout the local community — especially as the orders may impact immigrant families.
“I have a lot of family members that are undocumented,” Bustillo said. “There has been so much fear instilled into their minds that unfortunately, they can’t fight back the same system that oppresses them.”
“You don’t only see immigrants here ... You see white people, you see other people, other races. I’m so glad to see that our community is able to get together.”
Gracy Bustillo
Bridgewater
student, protester
As the group walked down South Main street, protesters waved their flags and signs while shouting chants such as, “Diversity is welcome here, say it loud, say it clear.”
“You don’t only see immigrants here,” Bustillo said. “You see white people, you see other people, other races. I’m so glad to see that our community is able to get together.”
Passing cars honked their horns and waved while pedestrians stepped to the side and filmed with their phone cameras.
Many attendees were also JMU students. Junior Ezra Jenkins said their “heart is so full,” adding that watching everyone come together helps bridge divisions across the community. Jenkins repeated the chant echoing around them: “United, we’ll never be divided.”
Student organizations such as Unified, a coalition of student activists, came to support the protest as well.
“I think it’s great to see JMU students who get active in the community,” junior and Unified member Jules Perez said. “A lot of the time I feel like JMU and Harrisonburg are separate, but as you can see, we’re really part of the same community.”
Many Dukes also expressed disappointment in JMU’s lack of comment on the issue, such as Junior Annie Rose Greenman.
“I feel like there have been protest issues last semester as well, with JMU police and administration not exactly supporting the student body in the way that they’d like,” Greenman said. “I think it makes people nervous.”
The Breeze reached out to JMU communications on Wednesday about this statement. No comment was given.
However, even with rumors and fear she has seen and heard, Bustillo said the support of her community makes her feel “amazing.”
“There’s only been maybe a couple of days of the actual Trump presidency,” Bustillo said. “I’m hoping that this will invoke some change. If not, I’m hoping to see more people organize themselves and keep going, because we’re not being put in a stagnant place.”
CONTACT Emma Notarnicola at notarnef@dukes.jmu.edu. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @BreezeJMU.
JMU will transition to new multi-factor authentication security app over spring break
By EMMA NOTARNICOLA
The Breeze
Dukes will transition from Duo Mobile to new multi-factor authentication app Okta Verify during spring break to further “modernize” the university, said Robin Bryan,
associate vice president and CIO of JMU’s Information Technology (IT) Department. According to its website, Okta Verify is a multi-factor authentication app “that enables users to confirm their identity when they sign in to their Okta account or Okta-protected resources.”
Okta will allow Dukes to authenticate and authorize their accounts during the sign-on process, Bryan said, as well as provide access to single sign on, access control, adding that it allows the university to protect their systems as well as comply with audit and verification standards among other services.
Bryan also said Okta will assign eIDs to Dukes, give access to university systems and protect JMU systems and students through password protection plus multifactor authentication.
Okta will replace the “aging” Duo Security multi-factor authentication system currently
in place, as it “serves the same function as Duo and is included as part of the Okta system,” Bryan said.
The Okta company is currently an “industry leader,” while Duo is “reaching the end-oflife,” Bryan added.
Okta comes with various new mechanisms and advancements from Duo’s comparatively older software. Primarily, Okta will reduce the number of times students have to log in when using various JMU systems, Bryan said
Friendly City 4 Palestine — a local organization that participated in Saturday’s protest — has also participated in other downtown protests, such as last winter’s protest in support of Palestine, pictured above. Landon Shackelford / The Breeze
Some protesters handed out cards to the crowd, pictured above, containing fourth and fifth amendment rights of protesters. Graphic by Ella Austin / The Breeze
“It’s because of systems like Okta that everyone at JMU can access most resources with just one eID and password instead of having to remember multiple account names [and] passwords,” Bryan said.
Other differences regarding Okta include:
• Password changes will now only be required once per year.
• JMU’s multi-factor authentication app will become Okta Verify instead of Duo Mobile.
• The MyJMULogin site (mylogin.jmu.edu) will become a place where everyone can manage their password and multi-factor authentication devices, as well as organize links to systems they use at JMU.
• The login screen presented by some systems may look different.
• With Okta, text messages will no longer be accepted as an authentication factor, so students without smartphones are encouraged to obtain a device called a Yubikey.
• Any student who uses the Duo D100 hardware token needs to obtain a Yubikey for use with Okta.
Along with this, new students will also receive new eIDs which will no longer be name-dependent and instead will be “randomized and non-identifiable,” Bryan said. However, this won’t affect current students, as anyone with an existing eID won’t be required to change it, Bryan added.
“The implementation team has partnered with Academic Affairs to encourage faculty to not assign work that requires access to Canvas or other university systems over break,” Bryan said, which was an effort to ensure “students have time to resolve any issues they encounter.”
Though this change is happening during the school year, Bryan said support for students with issues or questions is offered through the IT Help Desk, and added that the “biggest risk” in the smooth transition to Okta is the chance that students won’t know about the change and won’t install the Okta Verify app.
“Technology has initiated a massive communication effort that includes email, social media, digital signage, print media, newsletters, and more types of messages from multiple campus partners to get the word out,” Bryan said.
Students will receive Okta enrollment emails during late February, he added. Bryan said the best way to ensure this process goes smoothly is if students are informed and prepared.
“If you enroll now, we know that your password and devices are working, and you are far less likely to experience access issues during the transition,” Bryan said. “Any issues you encounter will be much easier for us to resolve now than during the spring break rush.”
Some students, like sophomore Victoria Gonzalez, are excited about the transition.
“I’m not the biggest fan of Duo, so I really do hope that Okta Verify has a few better features than Duo,” Gonzalez said, adding that the lack of personalization, especially with devices, and login with Duo was a major problem.
• "Green auto"
gives back
Others share Gonzalez’s distaste for Duo and are hopeful for Okta’s changes. Sophomore Emerson Ballard said one of his biggest problems with Duo is “having to log into Canvas every single time” he turns on the computer, adding that he’ll be “happy” if this doesn’t happen anymore.
CONTACT Emma Notarnicola at notarnef@dukes.jmu.edu. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @BreezeJMU.
K. Mauser / The Breeze
from JOHNSON , page 4
After he was diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma — a rare lymphatic cancer — Johnson directed the same dedicated curiosity toward his diagnosis, actively researching the cancer and discussing the latest treatment developments with his doctors.
“He’d go to the doctor, and he would begin by talking about the treatment that he thought he needed,” Marilou said. “And so I started saying, ‘Before we go in, let’s let the doctor be the doctor for a few minutes, and then you can tell them. Let’s just see what his diagnosis is first.’”
For those diagnosed with Burkitt lymphoma at 60 years and older, only 30% have a five-year survival rate. Johnson lived for 14 years after his diagnosis.
“He said, ‘I just didn’t want to give up,’” Marilou said of Johnson at the end of his life when the treatments could no longer improve his health. “And I said, ‘You’re the one who needs to tell [the doctor] that we’re at the end’ — to give him permission to say, ‘I’ve done all I can do.’ But even to the end, he was trying to live his life. He wasn’t ready to go, although his passing was very peaceful.”
A service celebrating Johnson’s life was held Saturday in the Anthony-Seeger Hall auditorium, where Johnson taught for more than 20 years — and also where he had taught his last class before retiring. The service was packed with family, friends and faculty who shared fond memories of Johnson’s life.
To commemorate Johnson’s legacy, his family has set up a scholarship in his name. The George C. Johnson Scholarship will recognize a “servant leader” like Johnson, who goes out of their way to help others and doesn’t seek recognition to accomplish things, Soenksen said. He added that SMAD hopes to recognize the scholarship’s first recipient during the department’s award ceremony this spring.
“He made everyone better around him,” Soenksen said. “I’m a better educator because I work with George. I’m a better colleague because I work with George .”
CONTACT Sixuan Wu at thebreezeculture@gmail.com. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @BreezeJMU.
Soenksen (right) said Johnson always believed the best way to make sure his students were learning the materials was to offer experiences that challenged them. Breeze file photo
Abby Camp & Sixuan Wu
WXJM: 20 years of passion
Student-run radio station celebrates vicennial off-campus anniversary
By NICOLAS ISAZA SERPA contributing writer
It’s been 20 years since JMU’s student-run radio station WXJM departed from AnthonySeeger Hall where the station was first founded — since then has been two decades of programming, struggle and innovation.
Despite the radio industry’s ever-evolving landscape, WXJM has remained a steadfast beacon in uplifting independent music and local artists who exemplify local unyielding spirit.
“Our mission is to support the underrepresented small artists … Who we’re platforming is musicians that deserve more recognition,” senior media arts and design major and WXJM General Manager Kate Bean said. “We want everybody who’s interested to join us on that mission.”
Following this pursuit, WXJM has kept a tradition of not airing any songs in the top 40 charts. To this end, listeners can discover new music they otherwise wouldn’t be exposed to.
This independent spirit permeates the studio with posters of bands and artists from the past 50 years covering the walls. In storage, WXJM has hundreds of tapes and disks representing genres across eras — ranging from Indie to R&B
WXJM programming isn’t only limited to music, however; live talk shows and other multimedia endeavors have been the cornerstone of the station’s identity since its inception. “WXJM Live” is the station’s longestrunning show, founded in 1991. It still features live performances and interviews, according to WXJM’s website.
The station — now located in the WMRA and NPR building on Reservoir Street — had
its humble beginnings in a closet within Warren Hall before making its move to Anthony-Seeger. At the time, the broadcast was limited to the speakers within the building, said Matt Bingay, the executive director and faculty adviser for WXJM.
“We took an old housekeeping closet and turned it into a radio studio, and we’d spin disks, and then we knew we were only talking to people in the building,” Bingay said. “We would say things like, ‘Hey, if you’re in the student lounge and you’d like to hear something, we’re in the closet down the hall.’”
According to WXJM’s website, the station building’s first antenna wasn’t placed until 1987, which allowed it to broadcast at 88.7 FM — the frequency it still operates on today, shifting the nature of the station.
“When we started, anything on the air was, by necessity, live, so for the first 20 years of WXJM’s life, everything heard on that station was a person in front of a microphone and with all the equipment at their hands making that happen,” Bingay said.
“I don’t know what is in the air at the station, but it just makes conversations happen so beautifully. It’s contagious. Radio is beautiful.”
Holly Hazelwood WXJM program director and graduate student
The station prides itself on being an open environment for students from all walks of life to participate in radio content creation. The strong sense of community is part of what makes WXJM so special to its program director and graduate student Holly Hazelwood.
“This space is safe to all marginalized people, especially anyone that needs a place to share their voice,” Hazelwood said. “I’ve met all of my closest friends here, and everyone’s just talking to each other, even if they’ve never met. It’s crazy, I don’t know what is in the air at the station, but it just makes conversations happen so beautifully. It’s contagious. Radio is beautiful.”
Although the prospect of production may seem harrowing to newcomers, the staff always helps fresh-faced members and talent join the team.
“To have a radio show or to be a member of WXJM, all you have to do is sign up,” Hazelwood said. “Any student can have a show, it’s very beginner-friendly.”
It’s been 20 years since WXJM left campus, and since then, it’s only brought the JMU community closer.
“Radio is immediate,” Bingay said. “It is also the human voice. And the human voice has a lot of information in itself. You can say the same word five times and mean five different things, and you can hear emotion. You can hear and you can make a connection.”
CONTACT Nicolas Isaza Serpa at isazasnn@ dukes.jmu.edu. For more on the culture, arts and lifestyle of the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the culture desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @BreezeJMU.
WXJM began in a closet within the Anthony-Seeger building. Now, the station locates in the WMRA and NPR building on Reservoir Street. Landon Shackelford / The Breeze
One Duke’s recommendations to celebrate the season of love
By NIMRAT KAUR
The Breeze
Each year, Cupid joins us to celebrate love, but who said love has to be romantic?
Valentine’s Day has evolved from a lovey-dovey day and has become a time to focus on the people you admire. This includes all your loved ones — from friends and family to romantic partners. Everyone celebrates in their own way. Some want to go all out with a fancy candlelit dinner, while others might want to spend quality time doing their favorite activities.
Whether you’re strolling downtown hand-in-hand with your one and only or spending quality time with your closest friends, all forms of love can be celebrated on Valentine’s Day. If you want to spend it more traditionally with dinner or try something new, there’s a wide range of options to choose from. Here are some entertaining activities in Harrisonburg around Feb. 14 to fit what you’re looking for:
Valentine’s weekend at Clementine Cafe
For those looking to spend quality time with your romantic partner rather than a large group of friends, stop by Clementine Cafe on Friday. During its dinner hours from 4 to 10 p.m., the vibrant restaurant will have Valentine’s Day-themed foods and cocktails all night. Alongside the themed eats, the restaurant will still be serving its original food and drink menu for those looking for a simpler night out. Clementine Cafe’s Valentine’s Day dinner can cater to those who want to celebrate the holiday by going all out or those who would rather enjoy a nice dinner.
“I prefer Valentine’s Day in a more quiet and peaceful way,” freshman communications studies major Matthew Eisen said. “It’s a day about appreciation and admiration of your
partner and what you two have gone through. A nice dinner allows you to focus on each other rather.”
While the dinner and drinks will be Valentine’s themed, there’s no rule against enjoying the treats with your friends as well. Alongside dinner will be a live performance from Virginia-based indie-rock musician Abbi Jean, starting at 8 p.m.
Jean’s performance is free, so be sure to stop by to enjoy some classic indie music to celebrate your night.
“Ideally I feel like a good Valentine’s Day strikes a balance between intimate atmospheres and laid-back activities,” freshman psychology major Ryan Brown said. “I feel like having a fancy dinner and then doing something fun would be perfect.”
For those spending Valentine’s Day without a date, a single’s dance party will be held downstairs in Ruby’s Lounge starting at 10 p.m. The party below Clementine Cafe will be headlined by DJ Barkley and is also free of charge. You can dance the night away until 1:30 a.m. The late-night dance is restricted to only those 21 and up, but the special Valentine’s dinner is open to all.
Double date comedy show
Looking for some laughs with your friends or significant other? Head over to The Friendly Fermenter for a Valentine’s Daythemed comedy show this Friday from 8 to 10 p.m. Hosted by Harrisonburg-based comedian Travis Valle, the event includes two comedian couples who will face each other in a hilarious version of the newlywed game. The show will mix standard stand-up comedy shows with aspects of the newlywed game tied in. It’s a good start for those interested in getting into the comedy scene, as it’s beginner-friendly, free and informal.
Comedians Jen Xu, Tyler Rich, Dawn Davis-Womack and Chris Womack will balance cracking jokes with the audience and keeping their relationships afloat while trying to beat the
other team. The newlywed game entails couples fighting for prizes and winning them by correctly answering questions about their partners, sometimes resulting in embarrassing answers. Valle will mediate the game by asking the couples questions. The set will start with your typical stand-up comedy and the game will occur during the second portion of the show. The show is free, but audience members are encouraged to donate to the performers in exchange for a sticker.
If you’re looking for a bite to accompany your show, The Friendly Fermenter offers a typical array of bar food, from soft pretzels to pizza. It also offers specialty beers, such as French Vanilla Cream Soda, the Bee’s Knees honey double IPA and Call of the Mild — a chocolatey malt drink. The venue also offers non-alcoholic drinks such as bubble tea and soda. This comedy show is a laid-back event for those who want to spend quality time with a side of chuckles.
“My favorite part of Valentine’s Day is that you get an excuse to go all out, not just with a partner but also even with friends,” Brown said. “Going out and prioritizing your connection with others creates a really positive and healing atmosphere, in my opinion.”
There are plenty of events throughout Harrisonburg to choose from when deciding how to spend your Valentine’s or Galentine’s Day. From group-centered options to more one-on-one occasions, there’s something for everyone. Valentine’s Day celebrates all kinds of love, so make sure to spend it with whoever you care about — romantic or not.
Read the full article with Thursday events at breezejmu.org.
CONTACT Nimrat Kaur at balgk@dukes.jmu.edu For more on the culture, arts and lifestyle of the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the culture desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @BreezeJMU.
Harrisonburg offers a variety of events and activities around Valentine’s Day. Landon Shackelford / The Breeze
JMU’s Bee Friendly Beekeeping club is buzzing despite wintry weather
By MK KIRKWOOD contributing writer
As honey bees begin to awaken for the spring, so do JMU’s student beekeepers.
On East Campus’ hillside, in between solar panels, two beehives and a pollinator garden are taken care of by the Bee Friendly Beekeeping club.
Before COVID hindered the club’s ability to operate, it was quite popular. Now, the beekeepers keep up this public awareness through their on-campus honey sales to spread awareness about their organization.
“We want student engagement,” said Kaylin C., an executive member of the beekeeping club
and junior psychology and neuroscience major, who didn’t provide a last name. “Beekeeping is usually a really expensive thing to do, but everyone gets to come and join for free.”
While the organization has a few faculty sponsors, it’s almost completely student-run. During the winter months, beekeepers do a monthly check to feed their residents and of the hives’ status. Senior geology major and Beekeeping Club President Holly Wageley said during the winter months, it’s more difficult for bees to forage and provide for themselves. The beekeepers give their winged tenants extra food in the form of sugar patties so they can survive off their supplemental food alongside honey produced during the
fall months.
“There’s a lot of management and preparation that goes in, depending on what the season is,” senior history and intelligence analysis major Jacob Brenn said, another executive beekeeper. “I mean, you get in what you put out.”
As the weather warms, club members set traps to keep out hive beetles — “a major pest for domesticated honey bees,” Wageley said. They also treat for Varroa mites, which can affect the colony.
“It takes about an hour to really differentiate a healthy hive over one that’s not doing too well,” Wageley said. “You are looking for brood” — which, according to Beeswax From
Beekeepers, is a dark beeswax where the bees will lay their young “in the frames, which are the separate sheets of honeycomb.”
Wageley said the beekeepers will look for the brood to ensure the queen is laying enough eggs to maintain the hive’s population. Later in the spring, the beekeepers look for a capped honeycomb — according to Beeswax From Beekeepers, brood cells of a lighter yellow color, freshly laid by the queen — to ensure the bees produce enough food for the colony.
The JMU Beekeeping club attempts to spread awareness about the importance of its work and openness of the organization. Breeze file photo
from BEEKEEPERS, page 12
Taking care of the bees isn’t the only job for the beekeepers. The club’s mission is to create a pollinator-friendly campus and, in turn, support the number of bees and pollinators around Harrisonburg. Wageley said the club is a part of Bee Campus USA, which helps educate the public on pollination and pollinators.
“We’ve got people that organize pollinator events for Harrisonburg,” Wageley said, “so the public can get educated on how to create a pollinator-friendly garden, or just learn about different pollinators.”
Some faculty members involved with the organization will introduce the winged pollinators to their classes. The club also works with the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum on pollinator-friendly initiatives, such as planting flowers that promote pollination and working to keep the leaves on campus grounds. Wageley said the arboretum started “Leave the Leaves” with the goal of preventing leaves from being blown or swept away; these actions help native insects and pollinators have a safe place to hibernate.
Kaylin said these leaf piles are also where the bees lay their eggs. Sweeping away the leaves disturbs the pollinator population and keeps it from growing.
The Bee Friendly Beekeeping club started in 2018 but restarted after the COVID pandemic. Wageley said since no one had
taken care of the hives over the pandemic, mice moved in. The beekeepers then had to clean out the hives and reintroduce the bees.
Kaylin said the beekeepers are now working tirelessly to get more students, faculty and even other schools involved in their mission. They collaborate with other local keepers to facilitate the growth of pollinators in the community. Brenn added that other universities, such as U.Va., have reached out and asked how to get involved in the beekeeping process.
“We’ll participate in public education,” Wageley said. “We’ll set up a table at the pollinator event in downtown Harrisonburg.”
Wageley said the club also participates in Harvest Fest — an event held by the arboretum to educate attendees, including Dukes, about nature.
“We’re open to all skill levels,” Wageley said. “If you’re interested and you want to learn more about pollinators, I recommend joining our club.”
CONTACT MK Kirkwood at kirkwomx@dukes.jmu.edu. For more on the culture, arts and lifestyle of the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the culture desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @BreezeJMU.
The Beekeeping club began in 2018 but took a pause during the COVID pandemic. Adam Tabet / The Breeze
Ella Austin / The Breeze
SPORTS
EDITORS Hayden Hundley & Preston Comer
JMU track and field integrates ‘eager’ freshman class ahead of Sun Belt meet
By ZACH MENDENHALL The Breeze
This season, JMU track and field has 45 members total — 24 of which are freshmen — making up 53% of the largest roster coach Delethea Quarles has worked with during her three years with the Dukes.
With so many moving parts, assembling the pieces for greatness is no easy task.
“I walked into JMU, a first-time member of the Sun Belt Conference, and that in itself was a lot to digest, but at the same time, you put the pieces together and we’re building a team that can contend at the conference level,” Quarles said. “It does take some time, but we’re moving in the right direction.”
Freshmen like Merrick Mock, Kylie Brooks and Virginia Tech transfer Sidney Walters have led the Dukes to a distance medley relay victory during January’s VMI Invitational and have already made an impact. At the Marlins Invitational during the same month, the Dukes took home nine event titles, creating a huge confidence booster for the team.
“The freshmen are very social and very outgoing and excited about being here, and they are huge,” Quarles said. “They have very positive and great vibes, and most of the time they are ready to work, and they really have embraced this process which we appreciate because we can get to the next step and the next step pretty easily.”
So far, JMU’s large roster has needed adjustments — such as larger practice groups and less spots at meets, but having a lot of new freshmen is great for the team, senior runner Jordyn Henderson said. The Dukes’ most significant adjustment this season has come during practice, as the training groups are much larger than last season and full of new people.
“I’m the youngest child, so I don’t have any younger siblings and I really didn’t have anybody to look after, so I’ve actually really liked the entire process of fall training and getting to know everybody,” Henderson said. “It’s been nice that I can be like a mentor and a big sister for them, which they’ve told me is really nice.”
Henderson works closely with fellow hurdler and freshman Kam’Dyn Thomas and said the two have easily connected. They were roommates during the Virginia Tech Invite earlier this season, which gave them another chance to bond.
“She took the time to kind of pick my brain, and she always asked me how I feel about certain things, or how I approach certain situations, or certain races, like anything that can come up, because a lot of stuff can be situational,” Henderson said. “[Thomas] is like my little sister, so she’s already doing really well, she’s gelling really well.”
As the past four years “have flown by” for Henderson, she said it’s crazy to see things come full circle and for her to now be the one mentoring freshmen. First-year faces often look to seniors like Henderson for help, she said, which has allowed
“We’re building a team that can contend at the conference level. It does take some time, but we’re moving in the right direction.”
Delethea
Quarles Director of Track and Field
her to teach incoming classes the ropes.
Along with Henderson, seniors like Kaia Putman and Holly Mpassy have also taken over practice groups and ensured everyone on the team receives the attention needed for success. Henderson leads the hurdles group, while Putman leads the long sprints and Mpassy the short sprints.
“It was very new for me, but I was very excited because there were a lot of people and the freshmen are all very eager to learn,” Henderson said. “That’s what I love about this freshman class. They’re very open-minded, they understand that track is a hard sport, but we’re all here to uplift each other and be here for each other.”
In exchange for showing them the ropes, freshmen are always pushing the returners to improve in another display of friendly competition, assistant coach Rebekah Ricksecker said. She’s aware of the difference in maturity levels possessed by the freshmen this spring compared to last fall, as they’re more comfortable living on their own for the first time.
“Having young, excited athletes elevates the team dynamic and the performance for everybody and we have a lot of talent in the freshman class,” Ricksecker said. “They’re able to push each other and push the returners and everybody gets better because of it. They also have a lot of enthusiasm, which really elevates and contributes to the team culture in a positive way.”
With the cycle of teammates in constant motion, the coaching staff must keep planning, Quarles said, as she and her staff have kept the team accountable in ensuring every individual’s best effort. After assessing an athlete’s talents, the coaching staff creates a plan for how to best move them forward.
“That’s a day-to-day process, balancing a work life in the classroom and a work life on the track, helping them balance that,” Quarles said. “Of course, we have a support staff that helps us keep that intact, having an academic advisor and having a strength and conditioning coach.”
Getting through the season successfully with no injuries requires staying on top of treating your body right, Henderson said. Receiving rehab, getting enough sleep and drinking lots of water all factor into this, as well as keeping stress levels low so athletes can focus on their races.
Student athletes don’t have to tackle those processes alone. From academic advisers to team nutritionists and doctors, JMU track and field requires lots of moving parts to cultivate the best version of the team.
“CJ [Roth], who’s our academic adviser, makes everything so easy for us, especially the transition when you first get here, so of course, us having a lot of freshmen, he’s made a lot of their transitions easier into classes,” Henderson said.
“He’s making sure that we’re getting our study hall done, that we have tutors.”
Graduate pole vaulter Erica Moolman has a personal record of 3.89 meters in the pole vault. Photos courtesy of JMU Athletics
JMU track and field recorded a victory in the distance medley relay during the VMI Invitational in January.
Alongside Roth, strength and conditioning coach Christian Carter is needed in the training room to help keep the Dukes’ balance strong, Quarles said. Other names Quarles commends for assisting the team include sports psychologist Robert Harmison, nutritionist Faith Buck and trainer Jackie Leonard.
“This whole support team helps us do what we do on a track and without that, it makes it harder because we’re trying to achieve A’s, we’re trying to be physically healthy, and we’re trying to stay psychologically healthy,” Quarles said. “Everybody part of the support team helps us to make this happen, it’s the working parts to help us to be successful.”
As the Dukes will host the Sun Belt Outdoor Conference Championships in May, Henderson said she wants to go out with a bang and have the chance to earn school records in what could be her final meet. Athletes need to perform well during the indoor portion, as it’s often used as a “warm-up” for outdoor competition, she said.
“We are trying to win this year and I truly think we can with the pieces that we have, and the people who’ve already qualified and are gonna get better,” Henderson said. “Definitely win ECAC’s, and then going into outdoor, just have a really good showing for conference, because conference [meet] is at JMU.”
Henderson’s only championship came during her freshman year in the ECAC Outdoors, but JMU has placed second in back-to-back years during the ECAC Indoor Championships. With “a lot of strong pieces coming in,” Henderson is confident the gaps can be filled in the right way this year to win a title.
Some of the athletes filling those gaps last season include triple jumpers freshmen Madison Greene and Grace Mimnaugh as well as high jumper freshman Violet Evans, while freshman Elizabeth Michael joins graduate student Erica Moolman in the pole vault. Freshman Hayden Wilkerson joins senior throwers Jaiden Martellucci and Ryann Bennett.
Sophomores Sarah Cestare and Alayna Gifford, along with junior Faithe Ketchum, all stepped up “big time” during the cross country season, Ricksecker said — having made large improvements this season. The team’s four captains — junior Kadence Wilson, Moolman and seniors Sofia Terenziani and Martellucci — have also been leaders and stepped up in the right way this season, Ricksecker said.
“I think it’s very gratifying for me as a coach to see them grow as people in all areas and the process of watching athletes mature over four years is one of the most rewarding parts of coaching,” Ricksecker said.
When Ricksecker began at JMU, the current juniors and seniors were just freshmen and sophomores, and she said she
finds it incredible to see them stepping up more each year. Many of last year’s freshmen have also made a lot of progress and are already mastering the proper balance between athletics and academics — and helping new faces adapt.
Henderson said she will most miss having “built-in best friends” along with the team’s sense of sisterhood, and she’s grateful to have people on campus who understand the realities of being a student athlete. Seeing her teammates and coaches at practice is something she looks forward to every day and will miss when she graduates.
Quarles feels her time getting to know the seniors felt longer than just three years, which speaks to how great of people and athletes they are, she said. She feels all the seniors possess the leadership skills needed to help the team remain a stable force both on and off the track during their time at JMU, she said.
“It brings me a little emotion to know that this is the end, but also kind of happy tears to see them go out and knowing that they will be successful and that I had a small part of time in that to be with them,” Quarles said. “They all bring great, great character about who they are and integrity and they all bring the desire to win and get a ring this year.”
Ricksecker said she stays connected with former athletes through alumni events and exchanging contact information. When the amount of graduates she has worked with reaches into the hundreds, she said it can be difficult, but she and the coaching staff always love seeing alumni return and reconnect, she said.
“Every generation builds on itself, so every class contributes something unique and important to the next generation, and I think all of JMU track and field is connected in that way,” Ricksecker said. “We appreciate and love the seniors, and we’ll miss them when they’re gone and we just want to celebrate them and what they’ve done over the past four years.”
CONTACT Zach Mendenhall at mendenzl@dukes.jmu.edu For more track and field coverage, follow the sports desk on X and Instagram @TheBreezeSports.
LEFT: Senior thrower Jaiden Martellucci threw for 15.38 meters in the weight throw during the VMI Invitational. RIGHT: Martellucci is one of four captains assistant coach Rebkah Ricksecker said have stepped up in the “right way.” Photos courtesy of JMU Athletics
Director of Track and Field Delethea Quarles said that balancing school and conditioning is a “day-to-day” process.
Analysis | JMU men’s hoops ignoring noise amid conference standings tie
By JACKSON HEPHNER
The Breeze
During his weekly Monday press conference, JMU men’s basketball head coach Preston Spradlin referenced a Bible verse he had shared with his players the previous week to keep their focus away from the increasing coverage of the Sun Belt standings and the impending conference tournament, set to start March 4.
That verse, which he discovered in a daily devotional written by Pro Football Hall of Fame head coach Tony Dungy titled “The One Year Uncommon Life Daily Challenge,” was Proverbs 27:6 — “Faithful are the wounds from a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”
“Not that you guys are the enemy,” Spradlin said to the room of reporters, “but fans and media, you want to talk about standings. You want to talk about winning streaks. You want to talk about implications that are going to happen three weeks from now at the Sun Belt tournament, but those are a big distraction, and they can take away from what [my players] really need to hear is, ‘You didn’t do a good job against Toledo.’”
The Dukes’ (15-10, 8-4 Sun Belt) Saturday game against the Rockets was in fact a misstep that ended in a 72-69 loss, which snapped JMU’s five-game win streak. But it didn’t impact the Sun Belt standings, where the Dukes remain in a five-way tie for second after a 64-61 win over Troy on Wednesday.
There are plenty of reasons fans and media alike are so caught up in the conference’s logjam. The newly implemented Sun Belt Championship format has every two seeds after the second receiving an extra bye.
This makes the difference between the No. 2 seed and the No. 6 seed having to win two games to capture the title and having to win four. Those extra games could make the difference in a league that’s practically guaranteed only to send its conference champion to the NCAA Tournament.
But Spradlin maintains that worrying about standings won’t win JMU the games needed to come out of the logjam with a high seed. He said if the Dukes don’t stay focused on their process, they will “look up, and those standings won’t mean anything.”
“Keeping those guys in that moment, finding the different ways to resonate and motivate them, is
important,” he continued. “Our staff is doing a great job with that, but staying process and detail-oriented is kind of our attacking approach to that.”
In the meantime, the Dukes will move forward with just six regular season conference games remaining. JMU will return to the road this week, starting at Georgia Southern on Thursday at 7 p.m.
The Eagles (13-12, 5-7) are in their own logjam — one of five teams tied for eighth in the conference. They’re on a two-game win streak, after beating Western Michigan 8357 during their MAC-SBC Challenge matchup Saturday.
Even without diving too much into Georgia Southern, Spradlin highlighted its speed and high scoring as a major factor in its success. The Eagles have scored more than 80 points in 12 of their 25 games, losing only two.
“It’s a game where we’re going to have to really be on high alert,” Spradlin said, “but have to control the pace of the game, pick our spots as to when we want to run and be strategic as to how we attack in transition, keeping it in mind that we do want to make sure that it’s the pace that is favorable for us and not for them.”
Spradlin said the matchup was predicted by Toledo head coach Tod Kowalczyk when the two briefly interacted during the Broadwalk Battle in November. Kowalczyk ended the interaction with, “Well, I’ll see you in February.” Sure enough, the two coaches will meet again on Saturday at 2 p.m.
After that, the Dukes will face last-place Coastal Carolina (8-17, 1-11) for the second time this season. This time, the matchup will be on the road Saturday at 2 p.m. During the teams’ previous matchup, JMU beat the Chanticleers 73-64 at home on Jan. 30.
CONTACT Jackson Hephner at hephnejt@dukes.jmu.edu. For more men's basketball coverage, follow the sports desk on X and Instagram @TheBreezeSports.
JMU men’s basketball is in a five-way tie for second place in the Sun Belt with six games remaining. Reed Marchese / The Breeze
Analysis | JMU basketball coaches share frustrations following MAC-SBC Challenge
By PRESTON COMER
The Breeze
Records and rankings as of Feb. 12
To conclude his Monday press conference following JMU men’s basketball’s (15-10, 8-4 Sun Belt) 72-69 loss to Toledo in the second round of the MAC-SBC Challenge, a frustrated head coach Preston Spradlin said he wouldn’t be opposed to tweaking the timing of the challenge’s second round.
Spradlin doesn’t want to completely do away with the challenge, saying he’d “like to play two games in the MAC,” but he did call for change within the Sun Belt schedule.
“I’d much rather play a balanced league schedule,” Spradlin said. “We’re going to get to a point where someone is going to say, ‘Well, that team’s ahead of me because they didn’t play them.’ So I don’t know where that helps us, as opposed to taking care of business.”
The Dukes were on a five-game win streak going into the Toledo game — all wins came in Sun Belt play. JMU entered Saturday’s game in a five-way tie for second place in its conference, which it’s still in.
JMU currently sits at No. 149 in the men’s NET rankings three days after its loss to Toledo.
Even teams comfortable at the top of their conferences question the goals of the challenge and its impact on NET rankings.
“I was upset because we didn’t move,” JMU women’s basketball head coach Sean O’Regan said. “I was hoping that we would be in the ’40s … That part’s frustrating. I was thinking about going on a little rant but let’s just do what we can do.”
But after battling Ball State down to the wire, JMU (21-4, 12-0) stayed at No. 53, while the Cardinals moved up two spots to No. 57. The Dukes then moved up to No. 52 on Monday while Ball State stayed in the same spot.
“We stayed the exact same, and Ball State went up two, I don’t quite understand that but that’s OK,” O’Regan said. “I
don’t have the formula for the NET, I know we did what we can control, which is win the game.”
The second-highest ranked Sun Belt team in the NET rankings is Troy at No. 109. The rankings would make it seem that the Dukes’ matchup against the No. 59 Cardinals on Saturday wouldn’t just be highly competitive, but could be important for their spots in NET.
Spradlin and O’Regan aren’t the first JMU basketball coaches to call out the intentions of the challenge. After concluding the challenge last season, former JMU men’s basketball head coach Mark Byington (2020-24) said he liked the idea when it originally started, but his thoughts altered following the second game.
“What I don’t like about it, none of these games are going to help your NET ranking,” Byington said. “Not enough to be impactful to do something, whether it’s NIT or NCAA for that kind of bid.”
Much like last season, the men’s MAC and Sun Belt teams aren’t competitive enough to dramatically impact NET rankings. But the men’s selection committee is handed more than just NET, and has KenPom, BPI, KPI and T-Rank for consideration for the NCAA Tournament — while the women’s committee only uses NET.
While the MAC-SBC Challenge was created to give mid-major teams two quality pre-scheduled games, the matchups haven’t had the desired impact.
“Had we even won the game, I’d have the same answer I’m going to give you right now,” Spradlin said in reference to JMU’s loss to Toledo. “I don’t know that it accomplished what we wanted it to as a league.”
CONTACT Preston Comer at breezesports@gmail.com. For more basketball coverage, follow the sports desk on X and Instagram @TheBreezeSports.
JMU women’s basketball’s victory over Ball State counted as a quad-3 win. Breeze file photo
OPINION
EDITOR EMAIL breezeopinion@gmail.com Maya Skurski
Want to praise someone or get something off your chest? Darts & Pats is the place to do it. Submit your own at breezejmu.org.
A “best-exercise” pat to Massanutten Resort for keeping students busy during the snow days.
From a student who has been patiently waiting for a dump like this for three years.
A “power-of-positivity” pat to Dr. Flannery for giving a young activist hope and kindness in a scary world.
From a student who’s inspired by a professor who goes above and beyond for her students.
A “snow-superstition” pat to everyone who flushed ice cubes down the toilet and slept with spoons underneath their pillows.
From someone who needed two snow days in a row in order to study for law.
A “get-a-brain-cell” dart to the Tesla drifting up and down Devon Lane on Tuesday.
From someone who doesn’t think you’re funny or cool just stupid and reckless.
Overvaluing politics devalues the human
KATIE RUNKLE Breeze columnist
In conversation with a friend over Thanksgiving break, my friend told me she knew her boyfriend of almost a year was a good guy with good values similar to hers because he voted for former Vice President Kamala Harris. Now, this isn’t a partisan piece by any means, but her comment sparked thoughts about that correlation — or causation more aptly: values and how someone votes.
I’ve been thinking a lot about acting out of your values in general and especially what that looks like when voting. Are political beliefs values? Or rather a byproduct of said values? Assuming they have any place in politics at all, do they speak to our character?
This is all relatively uncharted territory, given that our political atmosphere has grown so polarized, personal and partisan in the last decade.
“It wasn’t always like this, which doesn’t mean there was some golden era of American politics where everyone was treated equally and with dignity, but there’s a mix of things. There’s polarization,” political science professor Bethany Blackstone said. “Our parties didn’t used to be so neatly sorted. There used to be stronger social ties among community members across those party lines, and it’s just much easier to structure your life now so if you don’t want to, you don’t have to actually interact immediately with people who disagree.”
A junior who spoke on the condition of anonymity shared her personal experience with this phenomenon. She was dating her now ex-boyfriend for three and a half years until he broke up with her in the weeks following the 2024 presidential election. Their relationship was accustomed to political arguments or conflicts, as he’s a strong conservative and she’s fairly moderate.
“Throughout the course of our relationship, there would be momentary arguments in specifically, politically polarizing seasons, like in the pandemic, in the George Floyd riots, we would have arguments where we realized we don’t necessarily agree, and I did not necessarily believe that was a deal breaker,” the student said. “I don’t necessarily think that politics makes you who you are. And I don’t even necessarily think that it’s your moral compass.”
This was considered the “norm” for them. From this student’s perspective, they always came away from these arguments respecting each other’s position. During the days leading up to submitting her ballot — per their usual
polarized moments — they had some back-andforth about who she would cast her ballot for, as a moderate who wasn’t so sure about either candidate. To her, deciding politics was the consideration of how her values were being best represented.
“He specifically told me, ‘It doesn’t matter who you vote for, as long as you vote.’ So I took that as, ‘Okay, I don’t have to worry about pleasing him in who I’m voting for. I can just really vote for myself and feel like I’m doing what I want to do.’ After I submitted my ballot and I told him who I voted for, we got into a huge argument the night of the election. We’re just having the same argument again and again in different forms, and he basically said that he thinks that some of my values are misaligned,” the student said.
At the end of the argument, he told her he wanted some time apart to think. After that time, they met for a conversation during which he broke up with her.
“He ended up saying that he didn’t think our values were the same, and so we wouldn’t be able to have a strong foundation for our relationship. And he broke up with me. Again, our relationship was three and a half years long. I think that we definitely had enough trust and love to support a future together. But it was one of those things,” the student said.
It was one of those things.
The obvious solution to such a character attribution problem is to prioritize listening, empathy, voting “based on your values” and meeting in the middle.
The problem is that this option doesn’t hold up for more than five minutes in the midst of the current political climate. Here’s why:
Take someone who values the biblical model for marriage — man and woman — due to their religion. If they voted out of these values, they would be directly voting against the LGBTQ+ population and their access to marriage — and imposing their religious beliefs on individuals who don’t subscribe to the same religion, in a government that’s supposed to keep church and state separate.
The pro-life value also comes into play here. What does it mean to be pro-life? Most people simply mean anti-abortion, but voting pro-life could — and maybe should — encapsulate being pro-humanity. In this case, the death penalty, treatment of immigrants, and foreign relations and international defense also come into play.
So there goes voting from your own values and being 100% sensible, and also the idea that a middle ground on some of these issues exists, such as expecting Atlantis to pop up in Detroit.
It’s hard to bridge the gap with listening and empathy when the individual on one side is at risk of being deported or losing their job and the entire industry their job exists for — and the other person voted for that choice. Where would the middle ground be? Why should either party care what the other has to say?
“People’s livelihoods are being affected. It’s a violation of the human. What’s going on right now is that there are these anti-human, knee-jerk reactions like, let’s pause federal funding. Well, what about Head Start? What about free and reduced lunch? What about the National Science Foundation, NASA, National
Institutes of Health, National Endowment for the Humanities, all these people who have their lives connected to federal funding?” English professor Mark Rankin said. “Let’s come up with an agreed-upon approach that doesn’t just pull out the plug on people. That’s the problem.”
This is the trouble: The political issues have become dehumanized, and each issue has grown to affect the individual. And we’re too partisan to even notice.
“If you see the human in the side that is across from you, you might be more willing to give something up in compromise, because we’re all Americans, we’re all humans. And there are ways that we can move forward that will still get us very close to our goals,” Rankin said.
Things that didn’t used to be relevant in the political sphere have now become political statements. We’ve made every aspect of our life too central to the political scene and a candidate’s platform, and humanity has gone to the wayside for it. We’ve started to evaluate everything through the political lens — even our significant others and a eulogy at former President Jimmy Carter’s funeral.
A major criticism from those who didn’t support Carter was that the speeches at his funeral were kind to the extent of rewriting history, crediting him with too much greatness given that his presidency was considered “unsuccessful” — though only in the realm of inflation and employment. He was a loving father and husband as well, and the first president to make human rights a part of his foreign policy. Couldn’t all the good things be true, along with all the factual aspects in which he fell short? Can’t two conflicting things be true at once?
“What we need as a country the most right now is practice listening to each other, and we’re doing a really bad job respecting the human in all of us, respecting our dignity, respecting the fact that we all want the same thing, a better country,” Rankin said. “We just disagree profoundly about how to get there. I don’t think that we should judge people in terms of character based on their vote, I think that we should create spaces where we can talk about what concerns us in ways that are safe, in ways that are affirming, in ways that can allow people to to share without fearing the kind of judgment you’re asking me about.”
Obviously, keep holding to your values and stay persistent in modifying them to best represent you. Let those guiding principles inform your decisions, but I absolutely urge you not to let the very contemporary and very transient political atmosphere of any given election or few years inform who you love, how you love and the quality or character of the humans around you. Values should inform politics; politics shouldn’t inform values — your own or another’s.
CONTACT Katie Runkle at runklekr@dukes. jmu.edu. For more editorials regarding the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the opinion desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and on instagram @BreezeJMU.
How to not get arrested
JMU students aren’t unique in college town arrests — especially on weekends — but why do these young adults continue to get arrested time and time again for the same thing?
The short answer lies in stupidity; the long answer relies more on ignorance of both laws from the state and the JMU code of conduct.
The JMU Police Department publicly releases its daily crime and fire log online — the overarching element being alcoholrelated issues. The problem with college students and the balance of healthy drinking habits versus getting into trouble lies in social pressure and, arguably, bad luck.
One JMU student spoke on the condition of anonymity and said she had a friend get arrested by Harrisonburg police officers when she was trying to pull her friend — who was being interrogated by a police officer — away from them and ended up getting arrested in the process for being under 21 with an open alcohol container.
“It was almost like they just got unlucky they were chosen to get talked to by the cops,” the student said.
Of course, not going out and drinking both in public and under 21 could’ve prevented this arrest, yet that typically doesn’t stop college-aged students. I would be willing to bet that most of those same partygoers were both under 21 and if not drunk in public, then also had an open container.
Students — who are over 21, of course — need to do one thing to party safely on the weekends: be aware of the laws.
For starters, Virginia’s open container law — even if the driver isn’t the one with the open container — says that if an officer pulls them over and anyone in the car has an open drink, the driver can be faced with a Driving Under the Influence (DUI) charge, which would certainly hurt your Uber rating in the long run.
While that might sound easy to avoid and you can walk to the function instead, you would be mistaken. Under Virginia law, “if any person takes a drink of alcoholic beverages or offers a drink thereof to another, whether accepted or not, at or in any public place, he is guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor.”
So even if a partygoer isn’t carrying a canned or bottled drink, but rather a fast food cup of a homemade cocktail and an officer sees them drinking it, they’re at risk of getting arrested for a Class 4 misdemeanor. It’s risky to go out and drink, but drinking
in dorms can be just as risky. For inspection, Resident Advisors (RAs) are required to let students know ahead of time when they’re performing these inspections. They’re permitted to check under the bed, the bathroom and the closet, but not any of your own boxes, ottomans or luggage.
Yet, if a staff member “has reasonable cause to believe that a student has violated a university policy — a request may be made for an authorized entry and search,” which would allow them to search your room more thoroughly, according to JMU’s website. What this means for students is to not make your hobbies a problem for JMU staff and RAs — and you’ll be fine.
That same mindset applies to weekends in the dorm. Most RAs aren’t out to ruin your college experience, but if you become a problem for the other students in your hall, you become a problem for everyone. Noise complaints will require RAs to come to your room and let you know to turn it down. If they see something that’s against the rules, they’re supposed to report it, which can potentially lead to legal issues depending on the severity.
Surrounding yourself with responsible friends who won’t let you steal or deface public property is always a good idea. Remind your friends that peeing in public is also prohibited under Virginia law and can turn into an indecent exposure charge if they’re seen by others, resulting in a Class 1 misdemeanor. To some, that’s a risk they’re willing to take as opposed to using a fraternity’s bathroom — a moral question students will have to answer themselves.
While these are all good tips to know, no matter what situation you’re in, being kind and honest with officers will always put you in a better position than lying and getting caught. While they do tend to put a damper on your Saturday nights, we cannot be mad at the professionals for doing their job to try to keep us safe and accountable for our actions.
Students need to use common sense and be aware of their limits to best avoid trouble with the law. JMU is a university campus and no one wants to take away the college experience from students, but students must be aware of the risks that accompany it as well.
CONTACT Caroline McKeown at mckeowcf@dukes.jmu.edu. For more editorials regarding the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the opinion desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @BreezeJMU.
Love like a Duke
During grade school, Valentine’s Day excitement was all about filling out cards for your classmates and going to Walmart to pick out candy that you really just wanted to eat yourself. Holidays, in general, were always the center of attention. We all remember watching “Polar Express” as a class, eating green eggs and ham in the cafeteria or making a turkey out of your painted fingerprints. Yet, somewhere between school age and adulthood, that sense of holiday cheer gets lost under the weight of expensive gifts and social media-worthy moments.
Here at JMU, we’re focused on bringing that spirit back. College students are getting creative, turning the day of love into an opportunity to celebrate all types of affection from romantic partners to platonic friends. Every student I encountered and discussed the holiday with had plans. It was surprising but heartwarming to see that the day isn’t forgotten. Many Dukes opt for simple dorm room dates full of movie marathons, watching sports and eating sweets.
Who says you need to go out to have a great night? Even though college culture and social pressure typically suggest otherwise, a night in with your roommates, suitemates or neighbors might be exactly what you’re missing. At the end of the day, who wants to take a break from studying to plan an extensive, expensive and stress-worthy gettogether? Perhaps a picnic on the Quad with arts and crafts is the better option. Overall, it’s not just the setting we college students are appreciating; it’s the company.
The term “Galentine’s” is on the rise. This saying interprets that Valentine’s Day isn’t just for couples — rather all about celebrating those who mean something to you and giving love to them. Resident Advisors (RAs) have been seen prioritizing holidays and making it fun for the freshmen. Shorts Hall RA Grace Law is hosting a Galentine’s event for the girls on her floor. She posted a GroupMe poll with arts and crafts options such as CD weaving, coffee filter flowers, fairy light jars and slime — which the girls ultimately landed on.
In addition, Shorts Hall has a palatine’s telegram system where you can send a free Valentine’s goodie bag to yourself, your roommate, your housekeeper or your RA. These telegrams are a way to show your admiration for someone who has helped make JMU feel like home. It’s an affordable and meaningful way to encourage Dukes to spread kindness this holiday season. Living on campus can sometimes feel isolating, especially when the homesickness hits, but RAs taking the time to decorate the halls, host events and deliver a Valentine's treat makes dorm life feel much more cozy.
Junior Alex Quinn, president of the Psychology Service Organization (PSO), also said her group has made Valentine’s Day a special occasion for the Sunnyside Retirement Community residents.
“Our club has coordinated with Sunnyside for a few years now and just love doing events with them, so we were already making Valentine’s
president. It’s been a tradition as we also make Thanksgiving cards for them in November,” Quinn said. “We do it because we know a lot of people at the retirement home may not have family or friends who are able to visit them on holidays and we want to make sure they feel appreciated and like they have people who care about them on those special days.”
To JMU’s PSO, holidays are valued as a time to give back to the community.
“That’s one of PSO’s main purposes, to give support to those who may not get it from other places on a daily basis,” Quinn said. “It’s something so easy to do and may seem small, but it has a big impact on these people’s attitudes and perceptions of holidays and if we can bring smiles to any one of their faces then we’ve done our job.”
On top of leading PSO, Quinn directs recruitment at Panhellenic sorority Tri Sigma. As spring rush coincides with Valentine’s Day, Quinn saw this as the perfect moment to implement festive vibes into their informal rush event. When the potential new members arrived, they were greeted with sisters dressed in pink and red, along with a large variety of sweets and heart decor. There was a particular banner that spoke to the girls visiting the house as it had the famous Valentine’s conversation hearts printed on it.
“We had a lot of Valentine’s Day treats out and decorations and then it was my idea for the banner with the heart candies,” Quinn said. “I just thought it was really sweet and a way to show the potential new members and sisters how we uplift each other in [Tri] Sigma.”
These are all kinds of ways organizations at JMU spread love and gratitude outside the walls of a dorm, classroom or apartment. Moreover, students mention the visits of grandparents, parents and long-distance relationship partners. Others schedule a video call to make the most of the holiday and cherish the time spent together.
“I’m going to Bella Luna Wood-Fired Pizza for dinner, it’s super close like a few minutes down the road,” freshman Juno HulserMorris said. “I’m looking forward to being surrounded by love which is what Valentine’s Day means to me.”
If there’s one thing college students agree on, it’s that Valentine’s Day shouldn’t be about feeling pressured to conform to what social media or commercials portray. We don’t pride blowing our paychecks on roses, dinners or gifts. At the heart of the day is spending quality time with friends, roommates and our community. Valentine’s Day in college is about making memories, unique dates and self-love. So pick out a movie, invite friends over, call someone you love, join in on a holiday club event or attend one of your philanthropy affairs. After all, Dukes hold doors.
CONTACT Annabelle Berry at berry3aj@ dukes.jmu.edu. For more editorials regarding the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the opinion desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and
CAROLINE MCKEOWN | Breeze columnist
Tri-Sigma members celebrate love surrounded by their sisters. Photo courtesy of Alli Hartman
ANNABELLE BERRY | Annabelle’s angle
Police around Harrisonburg, including JMU PD, patrol the area constantly. Breeze file photo
Leave the Starships alone
KATIE MAE YETTER contributing columnist
Starships: the cute little robots who are more than happy to deliver food straight to your dorm. Their sole purpose is to bring you food when you’re feeling too lazy to leave your room. Yet somehow, every day, I run into someone either hitting them, kicking them or taking their flags. There have even been times when I’m walking to class Monday morning and find a stray wheel lying on the sidewalk.
Now, not every interaction with Starships is negative. I’ve watched students pet them or lift them back onto the curb after falling off. I’ve even heard a Starship ask for help
crossing the road and seen a student gladly oblige.
Freshman Emily Mead said she feels so badly for them that she helps them any chance she gets.
“I always help the starships. There was a starship that was half on the curb and half on the street, and I put it all the way on the curb,” Mead said.
But I’ve also heard some horror stories — everything ranging from kicking them because they get in the way or putting them into porta potties because it’s funny. The worst part? These Starships are defenseless to it. Their purpose is to serve and deliver. It has a few sayings programmed in like, “Enjoy your food” or “Have a good day,” but otherwise, it can’t fight back.
“It makes me really sad because they don’t have self-defense,” Mead said. “They can’t just roll away because they have to stop when they see a person. They can’t say things like, ‘Stop, don’t hurt me.’”
And she’s right. While I’m the first to admit that it can be frustrating when they stop short in front of you,
that doesn’t give you the right to take your anger out on the Starships. I see them rolling around with five wheels instead of six, broken headlights and stolen flags. Those repairs can’t be cheap for JMU. What warrants taking your frustration out on the poor, defenseless Starships?
Another girl said she was annoyed at one of these robots crossing her path, so she kicked it.
“I actually kicked one the other day because it ran into me,” she said.
At the end of the day, the Starships are here to serve you. I’m not sure why people feel the need to blatantly abuse them for doing their job. So, the next time you want to beat up a Starship, think about how sad it is when it rolls away battered and bruised.
CONTACT Katie Mae Yetter at yette3km@dukes. jmu.edu. For more editorials regarding the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the opinion desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @BreezeJMU.
Ella Austin / The Breeze
Corrections
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MADISON MARKETPLACE
Madison Marketplace is open for business, and all text-only listings are FREE ! Post job listings, announcements, rentals and more using our online placement tool. Ads run two weeks online and in two print editions.
For Sale - White Chair Covers
150 White (polyester) Chair Covers for Sale for folding chairs will cover 2” cushions. Used once/washed. Good condition. Call (540) 433-9859. Please leave a message with name and phone #. https://www.songsforvalley.org/
Unbeatable Deal on New Vehicle - VA Dealer
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Free Prime Comedy Tickets!
Trevor Wallace and Michael Blaustein
Present: Stiff Socks Live, Paramount Theater, Charlottesville, 12/10. 8 PM
Show (prime 3rd row seats) & 9 PM VIP Reception. Meet at the Omni beforehand and walk to the show. Call Del at (424) 324-0154 & leave name & number, or email dkonnor@icloud.com.
Graphic Designer Wanted
The Breeze, JMU’s award-winning student media organization, seeks a student graphic designer for print and online advertising. Job requirements include creating ads fro clients, collaboration with Advertising coordinator, page layout and design. Must be deadline oriented. Knowledge of Adobe software and previous design experience. EOE. Apply at jobs.jmu.edu
CITY OF HARRISONBURG, VA
multiple part-time and full-time positions available.
Start gaining experience in your desired career field or simply earn some extra cash for the school year!
Visit www.harrisonburgva.gov and click on employment for more details.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Storage Services
SUMMER STUDENT STORAGE SERVICES. Going home for the summer? Leave your belongings in storage We will pick them up, store them and deliver them to your new place in August. Call 540-810-1196, email MikePackett@aol. com or check out www.Adventures-NTravel.com for details. Local business and competitive.
SwiftHaul: Your Affordable Moving Solution for JMU Students!
Hey JMU Students! SwiftHaul Moving Services makes your move easy and affordable! From dorms to storage, apartments, or home, we’ve got you covered with the best prices and friendly, reliable service. Contact us today at 434-665-1259 or maceevan03@gmail. com for a stress-free experience!
Help Wanted in Church Nursery
Mt Olive Brethren Church seeks a Nursery Care Provider during the hours of 8:45am-12:15pm each Sunday. For more information, contact Laura Waldron (540-820-7235, laura@ mtolivebrethren.org)
HOUSING
Downtown Harrisonburg onebedroom loft available for sublet August 2025 – January 2026 1BR/1.5BA loft in downtown Harrisonburg available Aug 1, 2025 –Jan 30, 2026. $1,600/month. Must be employed, no pets, lease required. Includes parking. Beautiful, modern, well-lit space. Serious inquiries only – email vivianvk17@gmail.com with your details and availability to meet with the tenant and landlord.
2 Bedroom Townhouse - Close to JMU campus!
2 BEDROOM - Two bedroom townhouse for rent starting in August 2025. The townhouse is 0.5 miles from the JMU campus. Contact me at (540) 435-7861 if you are interested.
NOTICES
Jon Foreman In Bloom Tour with Jordy Searcy
Jon Foreman IN BLOOM tour at 7 PM on Friday March 7 in Harrisonburg! Jon, lead singer of the Grammy Award winning band Switchfoot, will also be joined by singer-songwriters Jordy Searcy & special guest Graham Jones. Tickets are available at songsforvalley.org.
