The Breeze celebrates 100 years of publication

By SHIRIN ZIA FAQIRI & SAVANNAH REGER The Breeze

On Dec. 2, 2022, The Breeze officially turned 100 years old.

Suffice to say, this organization has reached heights likely unthinkable for the first staff in 1922. The current staff of The Breeze has created a special edition inside the weekly paper to commemorate this milestone — The Breeze’s official centennial special edition, inserted in this week’s paper.

The Breeze has evolved from a bi-weekly newspaper into a multimedia enterprise composed of over 100 staffers,available online, in print and now, in recent years, a weekly live broadcast. The organization has covered women’s rights, world wars, terrorist attacks, changing cultures and pandemics, along with the ins and outs of daily life at JMU. Although at one time financially supported by JMU itself, The Breeze has become its own entity — it’s independent from the university and cover events in suit.

As the current staff looks back on the last 100 years, we honor those who came before us. We keep investigative and in-depth news at the forefront to this day — we’ve covered COVID-19, mental health, sexual assault, diversity issues and more, and we’re the most robust news source for JMU’s student body. But this edition is about remembering the past: What made The Breeze The Breeze, and in turn, looking at the history of JMU itself, because this organization serves to inform and document the experiences of JMU.

Over the course of the past few months, The Breeze has worked to compress 100 years of history into the paper you hold in your hands right now. We made the special edition in broadsheet style as an ode to how newspapers were traditionally printed. Learn about the school, the history, notable alumni and how JMU’s education has evolved. Learn about JMU’s first-ever national championship in sports and the fashion trends through the years. Be a part of JMU basketball’s “electric zoo” and read old Darts & Pats.

Digging through old editions of the paper, appreciating the past and learning about the trials and triumphs of the past 100 years, you’ll see the current staff have put their hearts into making this paper one to remember.

Thank you to the JMU and Harrisonburg communities for 100 years of support.

CONTACT The Breeze staff at breezeeditor@ gmail.com. For more coverage, follow The Breeze on Twitter @TheBreezeJMU.