Redshirt senior point guard Mark Freeman is one of 12 active players in the country with over 1,500 career points and assists, but who is he off the court? From Memphis, Tenn., Freeman was raised with a deep faith in God, which he has carried on to his 20-month-old son, Emyri.
By ISABELLA DUNN
The Breeze
After one week of being displaced, students returned to Garber Hall in the Village residential area Friday morning after a fire broke out in one room earlier this month.
First-year Ashlin Heflin said she was the only one of her suitemates in the building at the time of the fire and said it started in the room directly above hers.
“I went into the hallway and that’s the moment I realized it was real,” Heflin said. “I smelled the smoke, and I heard yelling from the [resident advisers] for us to come outside.”
Addison Niven was with her other three suitemates in a performance, Eve Ferguson, Maggie Minihane and Stella Jones — all firstyear — and said she remembered their “jaws dropping” upon receiving the news that there was a fire. She said she remembers thinking, “What if it reaches my room?”
Heflin said she thought it was a fire drill and not the real deal. She wasn’t the only one who shared this sentiment; suitemates Addy
Engelbren, Ellie Szulborski and Reese Lindsay — all first-year — had a similar experience.
“In the Village, people pulled a fire alarm, so everyone I talked to didn’t think it was real,” Engelbren said.
Other students including Lindsay were in disbelief; she said she didn’t realize the building was on fire until she “saw the whole scene.” She said she remembers thinking it was “just a little fire” and everyone would sleep in their Garber rooms that night.
“When we came back and I just saw the whole scene — of the ambulances, the fire trucks, the police and everyone screaming — it was really scary,” Lindsay said.
Deputy Fire Chief of Operations of the Harrisonburg Fire Department Ben Zimmerman said a “message” students should take away from this experience is that they “should not get complacent about fire alarms.” He said it’s “very easy” to become apathetic because of how many fire alarms are triggered in JMU residence halls.
“When the fire alarm goes off, leave the building,” Zimmerman said. “If there is a fire, you don’t want to get trapped in a place that you can’t get out of,” adding that students exited the building “the way they were supposed to.”
“What if it reaches my
Zimmerman said the evacuating students did “exactly the right things,” such as closing the doors behind them as they left to limit the amount of damage to the rest of the building.
“The first night was hectic, so everyone tried their best,” Minihane said.
Minihane said everyone was sent to Taylor Hall after being evacuated. There, interim University President Charlie King and Vice President for Student Affairs Tim Miller spoke to students that night about the next steps for students after the fire.
“Tim Miller was very helpful,” Lindsay said. “He communicated clearly to us.”
Students weren’t allowed into the building until around 1:30 or 2 a.m., Minihane said.
After being allowed to pack a week’s worth of clothes, Engelbren said, students were placed at Hotel Madison the first night but were soon moved to DoubleTree on East Market Street since all Hotel Madison’s rooms were booked over Valentine’s weekend.
Engelbren said she recalls having access to a 10-minute-long shuttle they could take twice a day between the hotel and Godwin Hall which she said was “pretty annoying,” and Heflin said the shuttle was the “hardest part” for them.
“The hotel was nice, but it was just really inconvenient — especially the shuttle,” Minihane said. “Once, I waited for the shuttle for 40 minutes.”
Upon returning to Garber Hall on Friday, Lindsay said there was still work being done on the third floor, and there was cardboard
over the main entrance. She also said men in hazmat suits worked and cleaned the building along with a “big truck with furniture” parked outside.
“It feels like an active construction site,” Szulborski said.
Zimmerman said a “very rough estimate” of the monetary value of the damage done by the fire is between $10,000 to $15,000.
“We had one room with the contents consumed and the other rooms in that suite had smoke and heat damage,” Zimmerman said. “There’s some smoke damage down the hallway, but it’s not nearly as much damage as there could’ve been.
By CHARLIE BODENSTEIN contributing writer
Assistant Professor of integrated science and technology (ISAT) Cheng Li is leading the charge on a marine microbial fuel cell (MFC) project to replace other energy sources currently used in the ocean.
Li is assisted by six undergraduate students selected to help with research during the project, which he said are mainly selected based on interest in the research.
“Microbial fuel cells are fuel cells — just like hydrogen fuel cells, you have fuel (organic matter) coming in, then you will oxidize the fuel and release the protons,” Li said. “Electrons will come out in the external circuits, then meet on the cathode with the oxygen to produce water, while protons also travel from the anode to the cathode. So, this will sustain the electron flow and then that will become current.”
An MFC uses microorganisms to break down biomass, which creates renewable electrical energy, according to the American Chemical Society’s website. Li said MFCs are important because the sensors cannot catch and use solar power as energy, but MFCs provide energy for oceanographic devices.
He also said MFCs are important to ocean systems because other power sources, such as solar power, cannot be utilized in the ocean due to sunlight not reaching far down into the depths.
Li oversees the project’s intellectual designs, including how the group can improve the engineering of the devices and consideration for deployments in the ocean. Li said the project will last about 20 months, with a test run slated for June 2026.
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) BioLogical Undersea Energy program (BLUE) initiated the project last April. DARPA’s objective is to research the “potential for dissolved organic matter, phytoplankton, zooplankton, and even microplastics to continually refuel, and thus extend the mission life, of ocean-deployed sensors,” according to its website, which also said DARPA wants this project to be a solution for its energy problem while minimizing environmental impact.
DARPA awarded the University of Maryland (UMD) $7.8 million to spearhead the design of an environmentally
friendly bioenergy fuel cell, according to JMU’s website. UMD employed seven other partners to help them with the design, including JMU. The selected partners will be closely collaborating to study the most efficient engineering designs that can be used.
The partners — listed by DARPA — include George Washington University, Harvard University, UMD Baltimore County at the Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology, John Hopkins University, Delaware University, James Madison University, Yokogawa Corporation of America and Battelle.
Teams working on this project will contact DARPA, government and defense stakeholders and other regulatory bodies to “ensure safety and efficacy,” according to DARPA’s website.
The ocean-deployed sensor systems’ uses include measuring water temperatures and salinity levels. The systems also aid national security and provide information on marine environments and climate change. However, a majority of these systems use batteries for power, which provides logistical and costly challenges; manually changing or recharging the batteries is a daunting endeavor that puts personnel at risk, according to BLUE’s website.
“Achieving battery-level power persistently and while fully submerged would be a game changer,” said Leonard Tender, BLUE’s program director.
If the BLUE program is successful, DARPA will have created a “novel” and “persistent” solution to its battery endurance problem without harming the environment.
Li will select the students involved in the project. He said these students will serve mostly as lab assistants, as they’re still receiving training. Although he hasn’t chosen all six students yet, he said he’s looking for students who exhibit interest in his research.
Due to the project’s lengthy timeline, some students will graduate before its completion. Li said he will have to recruit new students to continue work on the project despite some students graduating.
Li, who primarily studies ecology and environmental microbiology and its effects on climate change, said his work with Microbial Electrochemical Technology (MET) —
which “can provide tunable engineered systems to tap into the microorganisms’ full potential by interfacing their redox microenvironments and metabolic features,” according to JMU’s website — and his work related to benthic fuel cells directly led to his involvement on this project.
Junior biotechnology majors Erik Leer, Rahul Manav and Ryan Starling are three of six student lab assistants chosen to work on this project so far.
“We help build all the parts for it, we … learned to assemble the machine and we’re learning about how this actually all works,” Starling said.
Starling said the experience they’ll gain in this lab will be “invaluable” for their future careers beyond college.
“Having your name on a paper or your name on a … huge multimillion dollar device, that’s huge for your career,” Starling said. “That’ll follow you for the rest of your life.”
Manav said he joined this project because he wanted to deepen his knowledge of projects and experiments’ scientific process.
“It’s just a valuable experience,” Manav said. “It’s also a nice segue into grad school and a Ph.D. program where you can fully spread your wings.”
SGA allocates over $17,000 during its 110th birthday meeting
By EMMA NOTARNICOLA The Breeze
The Student Government Association (SGA) allocated $10,000 to Heavy Metal Club and $7,500 to Kesem, as well as heard dining updates during its 110th birthday celebration meeting
$10,000 to Heavy Metal Club for April music festival
The SGA unanimously passed $10,000 in contingency funds for audiovisual support, artist payment and production for JMU Heavy Metal Club’s April 19 Dogpile Music Festival. Dogpile Music Festival will be a collaborative event between the Heavy Metal Club, EDM club, WXJM and Students Against Sexual Violence (SASV), junior and WXJM booking agent Andrew George said.
This event will be held from noon to 10 p.m. April 19 in Taylor Down Under to Warner Commons, Heavy Metal Club President and Senior Osvaldo Perez said.
The main goal, Perez said, is to “take students and integrate them more with the Harrisonburg music scene.”
The festival will feature around 20 artists from various genres, allowing everyone the opportunity to “experience the music they enjoy,” George said.
It will be an opportunity to “give back to the community,” George said, adding that this is because it was what “fostered this idea in the first place.”
Working with SASV, George said the clubs created two potential plans for community engagement they’ll choose between before the music festival — a hygiene product donation drive for the Sexual Assault and Human Trafficking Awareness Center in Staunton or a mental health board of volunteers from SASV,
which will provide a “safe space” and “resources for survivors of sexual violence.”
The requested funds will primarily go to audiovisual support covering sound, lighting, microphones and staffing that the event needs for both spaces, production and promotion, said EDM Club audiovisual coordinator and Senior Hunter Newman.
“These funds would really help [make] this event as big as they want it,” freshman and Sen. Nyla Baker said, adding that it will
also allow the event to “run as smoothly as possible.”
Junior and Membership Chair Ella Stotzky said this event will be “great for the student body.” Perez said the event will foster more of a community between JMU organizations as well as celebrate the “extensive music history” of campus and Harrisonburg while “giving a platform to JMU rising musical artists.” see SGA, page 6
from SGA , page 5
$7,500 to Kesem annual summer camp
The SGA allocated $7,500 to Kesem — a nationwide organization supporting children “through and beyond their parent’s cancer,” according to its website — for its annual, week-long and free summer camp for kids whose parents have or had cancer, junior and Kesem Development Coordinator Sarah Rubin said.
“We support children in our community,” Rubin said. “It’s a mutual benefit to both the kids in our community and volunteers.”
Kesem offers JMU students and volunteers a lot of leadership training, which will prepare them to help lead the camp, Rubin said.
Sophomore Kesem Development Coordinator Emily Monaghan said Kesem offers diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and sensitivity training to all counselors to guarantee they’re “sensitive to the emotions” children may be experiencing.
This camp gives children a community of campers and counselors “who know what they’re going through,” Rubin said, and added Kesem “just makes sure that they don’t feel alone.”
The total event expenses include meals, lodging for the 30 volunteers and 50 children that attend the camp, the health and wellness team, nurses and mental health professionals, with requested funds assisting in paying these, Monaghan said. These expenses add up to around $47,000 — $27,000 of which has been fundraised by the club and partner fraternity Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI).
“This is a well-established national chapter that’s providing training for JMU students,” Baker said. “It is a really good opportunity for them to counsel this camp.”
Director of Student Engagement for JMU Dining Jenna Gray spoke to the SGA about JMU Dining’s future — specifically regarding dining surveys, sustainability and updated kiosks.
The Dining Style Survey has been released, Gray said, and encouraged students to fill it out.
“We got all the information from that survey, and we developed a lot of the things that we’re doing this semester,” Gray said.
For example, she said Chick-fil-A has adapted its menu to include limited-edition milkshakes that were originally only offered at the Resevoir Street location.
“It’s this survey that helps us run our program and help make change,” Gray said, adding that students should “know they are heard.”
JMU Dining is furthering its sustainability efforts with its “Too Good to Go” program, which “allows us to prevent items not sold from going into the landfill,” Gray said.
New kiosks are being tested in Bistro 1908 “to see if that’s where we are headed in the future,” Gray said. These new kiosks allow multiple payment options to be used for one purchase.
CONTACT Emma Nortanicola at notarnef@dukes.jmu.edu. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @BreezeJMU.
Minihane said she remembers an assistant dean saying he’d been at JMU for 25 years “and a fire like this has never happened.”
“The school did try their best [to accommodate] because obviously this has never happened before,” Englebren said.
Englebren said Residence Life staff was “sweet” and “made sure everyone was doing OK,” and Szulborski agreed that the staff was friendly and helpful “given the circumstances.”
“Everyone worked together and we were all patient,” Lindsay said.
Szulborski agreed with Lindsay about patience’s importance, because “there’s no written plan for what’s needed when a dorm catches on fire.”
The most helpful thing students can do to prevent fires is follow Residence Life reccommendations, Zimmerman said, including not “overloading electrical outlets” with the older dorms because they weren’t built with “modern electronics.”
There’s still no confirmation on what caused the fire despite many rumors, Zimmerman said, but the Fire Department is “confident” that it was an accidental fire and the investigation is ongoing.
“There’s a lot of false news going around,” Niven said. “It’s hard to keep track of what’s been said.”
Minihane said it would be “helpful to know the actual cause of the fire” for future safety, and Heflin said she thinks a meeting debrief with her section of Garber Hall will help everyone be on the same page.
“I was a little nervous coming in,” Szulborski said. “But we saw that our room was not damaged and everything will be okay, especially after finding out that no one was hurt.”
CONTACT Isabella Dunn at dunnie@dukes. jmu.edu. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @BreezeJMU.
from ENERGY SOURCE PROJECT, page 5
Despite the students’ work on this design, they’re unsure of what the future holds for them in the scientific world. Regardless, Starling said the experience of trying new skills can help any student succeed.
“Try something new. It’s always going to be better for you academically and … mentally to do something you love and be passionate about it. So, always go for that feeling,” Starling said. “Always try to pick up new knowledge in any field that you have interest in — being a jack of all trades is so much more valuable that being a master of one in science.”
The ISAT program was initially founded in 1993, stemming from a state legislature initiative, according to its website. It’s a multidisciplinary department that meshes a broad range of
scientific, economic, mathematical, engineering and humanitarian fields.
“ISAT is a really unique innovation of JMU,” Li said. “Future learning is not going to be limited by one area.”
Because ISAT is multidisciplinary, professor Cindy Klevickis said the program has attracted many students who otherwise wouldn’t venture into science.
“It’s not just science, but science in the context of how it’s used in society,” Klevickis said. “The kinds of projects that Dr. Li is working on are exactly what was the target for what ISAT was designed to do.”
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.
EDITORS EMAIL
Abby Camp & Sixuan Wu
By ISABEL LEWIS The Breeze
In February 2023, a lightbulb moment illuminated four JMU students’ minds while studying abroad in Belgium.
During their semester abroad, these students noticed their peers accepted careers in business consulting — where they work on specialized projects with businesses to help solve an issue a business is experiencing — but noticed a lack of development in consulting abilities within the university.
Aiming to create an outlet for students interested in the consulting field, the group formed the Madison Consulting Club (MCC). Since then, the group has partnered in projects with the University Recreation Center (UREC) at JMU, non-profit animal shelter Rockingham Harrisonburg SPCA, cat cafe Cat’s Cradle, the Montpelier Collective and Rockingham County Public Schools (RCPS).
The club’s popularity quickly grew, with roughly 200 people interested and 80 applicants during its first semester in fall 2023, said senior computer information systems major Carson Tighe, president and co-founder of the MCC. This year, the club had 140 applicants and accepted 42.
Last academic year, the MCC helped the Montpelier Collective raise funds for JMU student-athletes through NIL collectives. Tighe said the project included strategies to boost donorship — during football season if JMU won to another school by 20-5, people would donate $20.05. He added this was one of his favorite MCC projects.
“Our project was focused on building unique donors,” Tighe said. “[The Montpelier Collective] has a lot of big, one-time donors from specifically soliciting alumni from JMU to reach out and say, ‘Would you be willing to donate?’ But JMU has one of the lowest alumni donation rates.”
With the MCC’s services, the Montpelier Collective put around 10 new athletes onto NIL deals, whereas during the previous year, it had put around five athletes onto deals.
Sophomore finance and management student Asa Gleeson, the MCC’s portfolio manager, has worked closely on many of these projects and continues creating plans with companies. He said when the club began, it had to reach out to companies to ask it to do consulting work, but within a short time, that changed.
“Now, because of our work and our reputation, we’ve had a few of our clients actually reach out to us, in order for us to help them with their business,” Gleeson said.
The MCC works with nearby companies that may be lacking in staff or funds to take on projects to better their business. Recently, the club’s partnership with RCPS plans to create a comprehensive brand and communication guide to create messaging that aligns with RCPS’ vision, Gleeson said.
“That’s kind of where our club comes in and helps take that load off of them and take the time and really dedicate and do that kind of project that needs to be done,” Tighe said.
Not only has the MCC’s work supported businesses in Rockingham County, but the club has also provided work experience
which helped students’ post-graduate careers, Tighe said.
“There’s no other way at JMU to be able to get that kind of hands-on experience,” Tighe said. “A lot of employers recruit really heavily from our club in just two years.”
When members join the club, they’re required to complete a semester-long analyst program. Once they’ve completed the program, they become consultants and work on one project per semester.
The analyst program was created in partnership with Ernst & Young — a finance management company where Tighe will be working after graduation, alongside five other MCC graduating students, he said.
Education vice president and sophomore studying accounting, finance and economics
Dylan Feldman currently runs the analyst program. Once members complete the analyst program, they become consultants the following semester. The club often has events with speakers and goes to visit business offices to expose students to the workforce.
“We get more competitive every year, so finding the best people is really important to me,” Feldman said.
The club interviews to place members in roles that best suit their skillset and interests. Prior to the application period, the club hosts recruitment events such as alumni panels, case competitions and information sessions. The application includes three to four short answer questions.
Top applicants are invited to complete a behavioral interview and a case interview, where they present and solve an issue
presented to them by the MCC. Feldman said the MCC focuses on leader development even at the lower levels within the club. He added that half of their current members have at one point held a leadership position within the organization.
“Learning to lead and teaching to lead really have made me a much better leader as a whole,” Feldman said.
This past semester, the MCC partnered with the Harrisonburg Chamber of Commerce, where it’s currently working on six projects.
Besides creating connections with prospective employers, the club gives students an outlet to connect with like-minded peers.
“We’re people that interact with each other on an official and unofficial basis,” Feldman said.
Through working with the MCC, students have gained the ability to work in group settings and made friends who support them professionally and socially, Tighe said. The club hopes to continue growing and becoming more competitive, while cultivating strong leadership and educational programs for its members.
“Placing our members in roles that enable them to be successful for their careers and knowing that we played even a small part in that is very meaningful for us,” Feldman said
CONTACT Isabel Lewis at lewisik@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.
By MICHAELA POWELL contributing writer
While JMU offers multiple on-campus study spots such as the Union and Rose Library, finding a seat in these locations can be challenging, if not impossible — especially with Carrier Library’s renovation.
Many Dukes turn to off-campus study spots instead. Here are some off-campus study spots for you to explore:
Broad Porch Coffee and Cafe
Broad Porch previously had a small pop-up location in Agora Market, but the company moved into a larger location in Court Square this past year. It has plenty of covered outdoor seating. The light-filled cafe has made it the perfect space for Dukes, faculty and staff to work, socialize and take Zoom calls.
“The atmosphere they have created through their interior design, music and food service is unbeatable,” senior communication sciences and disorders major Cate Mancini said.
Broad Porch has an abundance of coffee and tea options along with a full menu ranging from various toasts to breakfast “sammies.” This makes Broad Porch a convenient spot for long study days. Mancini still prefers the cafe’s baked goods to its meals, though.
“My favorite food is any of their baked goods … I like to switch it up each time I go,” Mancini said.
Broad Porch’s popularity makes it difficult to find a seat, especially on weekends. Luckily, other cafe options nearby act as delightful backups.
Black Sheep Coffee Co.
Previously located in the Ice House building on Liberty Street, Black Sheep has since moved to a more central downtown location on East Market Street. This allows students to enjoy the city’s ambiance along with their favorite drinks.
While some students may have been disappointed with the move, sophomore elementary education major Ciara Powell couldn’t be happier.
“I loved the coffee, but I just didn’t like that the location felt so out of the way. I think I’ll be much more inclined to go even more now that it’s more central,” she said.
This new location has prompted a change in decor style. Rather than the darker, industrial style in the Ice House, Black Sheep now enjoys large windows across its storefront, highlighting the lighter, modern feel. It allows for prime people-watching to break-up studying.
Black Sheep boasts many breakfast wraps, making it a perfect option for the early birds. The cafe also has a lunch menu, but it’s smaller than other cafes.
If you miss Black Sheep’s previous location, don’t fret; another cafe took over. Drifter’s leans into the Ice House’s industrial setting with a minimalistic decor-style palette of natural wood, metal and aqua. It’s taken advantage of the large space, filling it with more than enough two-person tables and metallic chairs.
“The seating situation is great,” junior nursing major Cana Reasons said. “They have so many tables and chairs but also comfy couches. I love how much space there is.”
The large space allows people to socialize and be productive without distraction. As such, it’s great for students who don’t like a silent study session.
“Drifters is ideal to me because it’s the perfect balance of quiet but not too quiet,” Reasons said.
Its location also provides perfect study break activities; the Harrisonburg Farmers Market takes place across the street every Saturday, and there’s a thrift store, Dart Resale and Trade, a few doors down.
Located across from JMU’s Memorial Hall, Greenberry’s proximity to campus makes it an ideal place for students to study between classes or club meetings. The building has multiple tables and a couch seating area, illuminated by natural lighting from its many windows.
Junior psychology major Emma Hren said she likes Greenberry’s because there are always open seats, despite its small size, making the cafe ideal for those who prefer a more secluded environment or those with busier schedules who don’t have time to go downtown.
“I have never been there when it is busy, since I feel that a lot of people just come and go because it’s small,” she said.
Greenberry’s also offers a variety of breakfast and lunch options, such as smoothies, sandwiches, burritos and pastries. This makes Greenberry’s an ideal study spot no matter the time of day.
Hound
Coffee Hound is right next to Benny Sorrentino’s on Mason Street, only a 20-minute walk from the Quad. Rickii Davis, a junior psychology major, said the cafe’s location makes it an ideal study spot.
Not only that, but the colorful, welcoming environment sharply contrasts with the more modern cafes across town. It even allows patrons to bring their dogs, which only heightens the relaxed, laid-back ambiance. Despite allowing dogs, the cafe tends to be on the quieter side, with the only noise coming from the light music and the sounds of coffee machines.
Coffee Hound has various seating options, ranging from tables, a high-top bar, outdoor picnic tables, armchairs and a couch. This caters to a wide range of students depending on their study needs.
“I could see how seating could be hard, especially if it’s just one person at a bigger table, but I personally have never had a problem,” Davis said.
Davis spoke on Coffee Hound’s greatness and touched on something all students can agree with:
“I find that it is easy for me to relax in an environment that is so simple unlike being on campus and how busy and stressful the environment can get,” Davis said
powe25me@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.
By SIXUAN WU The Breeze
Editor’s note: This review contains spoilers. When I started reading “The Memory Keeper’s Daughter” by Kim Edwards one month ago, I expected a moving story of love and redemption — the kind that makes you go, “Aww,” while swaddled in blankets on a cold February night.
Well, I was only half right.
The novel began on a snowy night in 1964 in Lexington, Ky., when a blizzard forces Dr. David Henry to deliver his twins. His son, Paul, is born first and perfectly healthy, but the doctor immediately recognizes that his daughter, Phoebe, has Down Syndrome. Justifying his motives as a need to protect his wife, Norah, from an incoming heartache, David makes a split-second decision. He asks his nurse Caroline to take the baby to an institution and never to reveal the secret — something that will haunt the rest of all their lives forever.
Unbeknownst to David, Caroline disappears into another city to raise the child as her own. And thus begins the story of the two parallel families — ignorant of each other but intimately connected.
What I enjoyed the most while reading the novel was the author’s writing — especially her detailed expositions of nature mirroring the character’s inner struggles, whether melancholy, insecurity or budding hope. Edwards’ narrative mastery is also shown through descriptions of David’s photography — a hobby he has picked up since the separation of his twins. As both an orthopedist and budding artist, David’s photo representations of the world are always a combination of acute scientific analysis and a keen observation stemming from the will to understand the human emotions around him, particularly those of his wife’s as the secret begins wedging between them.
perspective, we don’t see much beyond his constant struggles with receiving the proper amount of love from his parents. First, the reader sees him as a baby whose mother fussed over at every moment, then as an angsty teen fighting for his father’s approval and finally as a troubled adult trying to navigate through his life and career.
The novel is also rich in characterization; each character whose narrative perspectives we’ve been able to see throughout the story are complex in their own struggles, with unique backstories that justify their motives and actions. David’s background of losing a sister to heart issues related to Down Syndrome, for example, explained his decision to keep Phoebe a secret from his wife. Because his mother never recovered from his sister’s death, David assumed Norah wouldn’t be able to handle the grief. He falsely decides that, instead, saying their daughter had died at birth would somehow soften the blow. Similarly, Norah’s longing for independence and adventure stemmed from growing up as a timid child beside her rebel sister, which led to her having affairs after David’s secret had strained their marriage.
That being said, I did wish we could’ve seen more through the children’s eyes. While the novel features a decent amount of Paul’s
On the other hand, Phoebe — who I had originally thought was the novel’s focus since the book was titled “The Memory Keeper’s Daughter” — is hardly allowed to show us her side of things. We were shown snippets of her throughout the novel, mostly through Caroline and eventually through the eyes of the Henry family. While I was glad to see that Phoebe had grown to be a vibrant young woman with a boyfriend and a career, the author never showed us what it was like to be someone living with Down Syndrome from Phoebe’s perspective. Similarly, while the novel includes moments of Caroline advocating for Phoebe and other children with Down Syndrome to be accepted into the public school system, much of what it’s like to care for someone with the disability remains behind the scenes when the novel could’ve provided a great opportunity for readers to learn more about Down Syndrome. But what specifically prevented me from fully loving “The Memory Keeper’s Daughter” is the book’s pacing. The story started with great momentum, creating suspense that tugged on my heartstrings as Caroline decides to raise Phoebe as her own and her dueling emotions of joy and dread as an abruptly-made new mother. As the novel progresses, we see parts of the characters’ parallel lives in snippets throughout the decades. Still, the author never fully explores how these characters changed over the years. We see the Henry family drift apart, but we never get to see how the rift grew bigger except for feeling that a certain something remains wedged between them because of David’s secret from all those years ago.
In sum, “The Memory Keeper’s Daughter” has its merits, such as its beautiful narration and rich characters. A 2006 New York Times bestseller, the novel painted an intimate portrait of how the same secret can tear one family apart while making another better because of it. But reading the novel now, 20 years since its publication, I find the events’ pacing and the arrangement somewhat lackluster, especially for a reader who craves churning emotions or a touch of suspense that keeps them hooked.
Sixuan Wu originally published some parts of this review on Goodreads.
CONTACT Sixuan Wu at thebreezeculture@ gmail.com. For more bookish content, stay tuned for the “Bibliomania” column and follow the culture desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and Instagram @BreezeJMU.
EDITORS Hayden Hundley & Preston Comer
‘One-of-a-kind
By HAYDEN HUNDLEY
The Breeze
Despite JMU head coach Preston Spradlin’s best efforts, Mark Freeman refused to walk on Senior Day at Morehead State in 2024 because he couldn’t play with two torn ligaments in his wrist; Spradlin said Freeman was “adamant” about being healthy for his Senior Day.
After a long journey back from his wrist injury, Freeman walked during Senior Day on Saturday as a Duke alongside his sister, parents, girlfriend and 2-year-old son Emyri. His father, Marcus Freeman, said he doesn’t shed tears often, but walking with his family made him emotional.
“It means the world because I did everything I could for that little dude,” Marcus said. “And it all pays off when you see him graduate college when you see him play his last home game. That was just a joyful feeling that I’ve done my job as a father. The way he reacts to Emyri, it’s crazy … it looks like me and him all over again.”
Emyri was born when Mark and his girlfriend Serah Waqa were at Morehead State in 2023. With Morehead, Ky. being nine hours from Mark’s home of Memphis and eight hours from Waqa’s hometown, their families couldn’t make the trip. The first person to visit Mark’s baby was Spradlin.
“His life has changed so much,” Spradlin said after the Dukes’ season-opening win over Ohio on Nov. 4. “He goes into last season as a father, doesn’t get to play. He was over there as an unbelievable teammate and leader for an NCAA Tournament team, and he really grew as a man, and he grew in his leadership and his maturity. So to just see him out there having fun and enjoying himself is great.”
‘Out of the mud’ Memphis
“I’m blessed enough to have my dad in my life since I was born,” Mark said. “So, watching how he was to me when I was growing up, just loving, caring, just unlimited love [for] your little one. Just be there, 100% all in. He showed me how to do that, because he did it to me, so it was like, I’m next up now.”
Marcus Freeman said before Mark committed to basketball, football was his first love. When Mark told his dad he preferred basketball, Marcus was hesitant because “he couldn’t shoot.”
“My thing with him was is he going to be good enough to play on a middle school team or a high school team,” Marcus said. “So we just grinded it out, but it was rough.”
Marcus described Mark’s development as “brutal;” Mark would rush everything and they had to work on letting him control the pace of the game. Once Marcus found out Mark’s middle school let the baseball coach coach the basketball team, he threw himself into the fold to coach the team and his son.
Before Mark began high school, Marcus would have him wake up at 5 a.m. before school started to get shots up at the gym. When practice would end after school, the father-son duo would stay after to get even more shots up.
Mark’s ball-handling ability came naturally, though, Marcus said, taking after his favorite player and current NBA point guard Kyrie Irving.
“I watched a lot of his highlights, he’s just so different with basketball in his own way,” Mark said. “I played a lot outside or on the street when I was younger at home … Memphis is a guard-heavy city so I probably just got that play style from coming from Memphis.”
Mark takes pride in how his hometown shaped him as a basketball player. Both he and his dad said former Memphis guard Derrick Rose (2007-08) influenced his game.
Marcus described Memphis basketball as “rugged.”
“If I had to say a point guard around the time he was in high school it probably was Derrick Rose,” Marcus said. “All the guards were always pressing. I wouldn’t say it was rough, but it was real, he had to get it out [of] the mud.”
While a senior at Southwind High School, Mark averaged 22 points and eight assists per game en route to leading Southwind to a 29-2 record — and was a finalist for the Class AAA Mr. Basketball Award.
Waqa said both Spradlin and Mark deserved to experience a “bigger stage” after they moved to Harrisonburg. Both Spradlin and Mark soaked in the raucous JMU crowd for the first time after beating Ohio on Nov. 4 in front of nearly 6,000 cheering fans, but they also were able to understand what it’s like to have a separate court to practice, a Target to shop at and restaurants more appetizing than Morehead’s local KFC.
“I like it better than Morehead,” Mark said. “Just because there’s a variety of things to eat here, things to do, things I can do with my son, my girlfriend, so that’s the biggest difference.”
Before Mark transferred to Morehead State in 2022, he gave Spradlin headaches playing for one of the Eagles’ rivals Tennessee State during his first two seasons. Mark averaged 16.9 points per game his sophomore year, including a 30-point performance against his future team, Morehead State, to finish his season. Mark transferred to Illinois State for
his junior year, but other than a career-high 34-point performance against Bucknell, he saw his production dip to just 8.8 points per game and entered the portal for the second time. That’s when Spradlin and his staff did everything they could to get Mark to wear the same colors as themselves for the first time.
“At Illinois State, they really tested his mental and I really think he needed that before he went to Morehead,” Marcus said. “If he didn’t go to Illinois State, he wouldn’t have had the year that he had at Morehead because it was crazy over there.”
Freeman fit perfectly in Spradlin’s offense. He averaged 15 points per game en route to winning Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year in 2022 and leading the Eagles to a round 1 NIT win over No. 1 seed Clemson. Mark wasn’t just suitable for Spradlin’s scheme, but they shared a commonality religiously.
“When we first went to coach P (Preston Spradlin) … it was all genuine love, I felt it when we walked in the university,” Marcus said. Spradlin and Mark are open about their faith and how it helps them on the court or when building team chemistry. Before the season started, Spradlin said it’s important to him that his players see their coaches at home with their families — a method Spradlin adopted from former Kentucky and current Arkansas head coach John Calipari. Mark said he values inviting his teammates over to his family’s house — “Coach can’t make a shot for us, so we have to be as locked in as possible as far as chemistry.”
“Almost everybody on the team [has] been here,” Mark said while sporting a sweatshirt reading “trust the process — God’s plan.” “The door is open, [if] they just want to come chill, play the game, watch a game. We [have] to be a family, we’re all we [have] at the end of the day.”
After Mark’s stellar first season at Morehead State, he dealt with a significant injury for the first time in his career — keeping him out for the entire 2023-24 season.
“I don’t think people understand how hard it is to come back and perform after you’ve been out a year like it’s a lot on your body,” Mark said. “Coach P’s practices get real intense, so it’s a lot.”
Mark said his faith in God and Emryi pushed him through sleepless nights during his recovery when doubt started to creep into his mind.
“I’m a big God believer, so I wasn’t worried,” Mark said. “I had nights I couldn’t sleep, it got to me a couple times for sure, but seeing my son every day, that was a big thing for me. Knowing that I’m a father now, it’s not about me anymore, so he’s a big contributor to this as well.”
Mark said Spradlin knows him so well that whenever Mark is going through a rough patch, Spradlin will pull him aside to offer encouragement or advice. Throughout his life, Mark said he’s never had a coach like Spradlin.
“It’s just not basketball with him,” Mark said. “He wants to see me and my other teammates be great men first, great fathers one day, great husbands one day and he talks about it a lot. He talks about life a lot, one day the basketball is going to stop bouncing. A lot of coaches when you’re down they forget about you, it’s not genuine. I had down moments and he was still talking to me every day.”
While Waqa was at Illinois State, Mark lived next to a couple of her best friends. One night when Waqa was over for a birthday party, Mark came home and Waqa left a note with her phone number atop Mark’s windshield — after a few months of courting, the pair haven’t separated since.
“It was kind of weird because I was trying to go out with her, but she was ignoring me,” Mark said. “But she left her info on my window so I was confused.”
Waqa was drawn to Mark’s confidence as he walks into a room, and Mark appreciated her initiative when they first crossed paths. Before Emyri was born, Waqa said Mark couldn’t sit still.
“He was very get up and go, he was a very adventurous person,” Waqa said. “If it wasn’t for basketball he wouldn’t be very responsible. He wasn’t responsible about time, he would lose stuff, and since Emyri, all that has sorted itself out. He loves being home. He’s always on time now, he always has a bag packed, he has extra stuff in the car, so he’s definitely matured.”
Marcus said Emyri has changed Mark’s temperament. Last week against Georgia State and Georgia Southern, Mark struggled shooting — going 8-32 from the field in those combined games. Despite struggling after scoring over 20 points during the previous three games, Mark’s white teeth still reflected the Atlantic Union Bank Center’s (AUBC) court’s bright lights during his shooting slump.
“I always used to get on him about his look,” Marcus said. “If he’s not making shots, what else can you do to help your team if you’re not making shots. Play better defense, you can get folks involved, you can be a leader out there.”
Spradlin, who’s been with Mark for three seasons, said Mark wasn’t a leader when he first got to Morehead. Now with JMU, junior point guard Xavier Brown said Mark was at the center of what united the locker room when the Dukes lost more often than won.
“I’ve made it to March Madness, I’ve made it to conference tournaments and I’ve been on the other end,” Mark said. “I’ve won seven games the whole year, so I’ve been on the losing and winning perspectives so just me
going through that before I got here shaped me to lead.”
Before Mark committed to JMU in May, he said his top three choices were former JMU head coach Mark Byington’s Vanderbilt, USC and JMU. Mark also received significant interest from Wisconsin and current No. 1 Auburn.
Waqa said she trusts Mark’s judgment, especially because of how successful his decision to transfer to Morehead State from Illinois State was. However, whenever Mark started leaning toward schools other than JMU, Waqa was reluctant, because she trusted Spradlin and his staff.
“I was happy when he decided here because that just made the transition so much easier,” Waqa said. “I’ve always wanted Mark to have a [bigger] fanbase and coach P told us, ‘Serah, the fans here are gonna love Mark.’ So I was happy when he decided here because I knew he had a lot of support here.”
Mark said the Dukes’ academic mentor — Kathy Frederick, who followed Spradlin from Morehead State — also played a “huge piece” in his commitment. When Mark first visited Morehead State, he met Frederick over a 40-minute FaceTime call and he said the two clicked.
Frederick, or “Miss doit-all” as Mark said, has helped take care of Emyri when Waqa and Mark’s lives get busy, and Mark said she has become a “grandmother” to Emyri.
Since growing accustomed to Harrisonburg, Mark and Waqa have enjoyed eating together at their favorite restaurants — like Rocktown Kitchen and The Ridge Room — or hearing fans scream out their windows when they spot Mark.
“Mark is a oneof-kind person,” Waqa said.
“People are excited to watch him play when they do watch him play so it’s nice, it [the AUBC] is electric. People in this town love this school … It’s great. I love the color purple, the concessions are good, all of it is good for me. 10 out of 10.”
CONTACT
Hayden Hundley at breezesports@ gmail.com. For basketball coverage, follow the sports desk on X and Instagram @TheBreezeSports.
By JACKSON HEPHNER
The Breeze
The Sun Belt regular season is in its final week, and as the conference tournament looms, so does the announcement of the SBC’s individual awards.
These awards include Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, Freshman of the Year, Sixth Man of the Year and Coach of the Year. With the regular season about to close, here are my picks for who should receive each of these honors.
The matter of who will be named Player of the Year boils down to one question: how much should wins factor in?
If the voters choose to look solely at the stat sheet, then the award could very likely go to Southern Miss graduate forward Denijay Harris, whose statistical season has been exceptional. He’s averaging 16.7 points per game — the second most in the Sun Belt — while leading the conference in rebounds with 11 per game. His 308 total rebounds are the fourth most of any DI player, and his 16 doubledoubles are the sixth most.
But there’s one glaring problem with his case: Southern Miss is the third-lowest-ranked team in the conference. Sporting a 5-11 record in conference play and
Harris’ Herculean efforts have only carried the Eagles to a subpar season.
It’s important to note that in recent years, the Sun Belt has given the award to players on winning teams. For example, former JMU guard Terrence Edwards Jr. (2020-24) won the award last season after he not only led the conference in scoring with 17.6 points per game but also led the Dukes to a programrecord 32 wins and then the No. 2 seed in the conference. The winner before him, Marshall’s Taevion Kinsey, led the Herd to the No. 3 seed.
With this in mind, the Golden Eagles’ struggles open the door for the Sun Belt’s third-leading scorer — App State redshirt senior guard Myles Tate (16.7 points per game) — whose Mountaineers are 10-6 in the conference, 17-11 overall and tied for the No. 3 seed.
Tate also leads the conference in assists (5.6) and is second in steals (2.1). His assistturnover ratio (2.1) is also the second highest in the conference. So while the Golden Eagles are likely to gripe if Harris’ stellar season is snubbed, Tate has the numbers — and wins — to justify the upset.
There’s a pretty simple way to win the Defensive Player of the Year award: block as many shots as possible.
The past two award winners — App State’s Justin Abson in 2024 and South Alabama’s Kevin Samuel in 2023 — led the league in blocks while ranking in the top 10 nationally. That trend looks like it will continue with Marshall graduate forward Obinna AnochiliKillen, who’s ranked second nationally in both total blocks (84) and blocks per game
Anochili-Killen’s numbers are so staggering, he’s averaging twice as many blocks per game than the three players tied for second. He’s practically a lock to win the award
Edwards, Georgia State
In a sport where transfers are more and more commonplace, the competition for Newcomer of the Year has only grown tougher. But amongst a crowded field, Georgia State senior center Cesare Edwards — a transfer from Missouri State (2023-24) and Xavier (2021-23) — has put together a strong case. Starting in all 28 of the Panthers’ games this season, Edwards ranks fourth in the Sun Belt in points per game (16.1), tenth in rebounds per game (6.8), third in field goal percentage (51.6%) and tied for second in blocks per game (1.5). In almost every aspect, he’s been one of the most consistent players in the
However, he does face stiff competition, including Georgia Southern junior guard Adante’ Holiman, a transfer from UTSA (2023-24) and
UTRGV (2022-23) who leads the Sun Belt in points per game (17.3). The fatal flaw in Holiman’s case is he missed eight games this season due to injury, which has skewed his shooting numbers. Also, while he has excelled at shooting the ball, he doesn’t rank highly in all other statistical categories, making his case flimsier under scrutiny.
Freshman of the Year & Sixth Man of the Year
Bryce Lindsay, JMU
JMU redshirt freshman guard Bryce Lindsay’s season has been so unique, he appears to be the front-runner for two separate awards. If he wins both, he’ll be the first player to take home two awards since Arkansas State’s Norchad Omier won both Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in 2022. Lindsay’s case for Freshman of the Year is pretty cut and dry. He leads all freshmen in the Sun Belt in scoring by a wide margin, with 13.4 points per game — far exceeding Georgia State’s Jelani Hamilton’s 9.9. He’s also third among freshmen in rebounds (2.6) and second in assists (2.3). It would be a shock if he didn’t receive the award.
As for Sixth Man of the Year, Lindsay is second in scoring for the first-place Dukes and twentieth overall in the Sun Belt. While his case may have diminished a bit due to him starting the past 10 games, his average of 11.9 points per game while coming off the bench — including 10 double-digit performances — still impresses.
But he does have one potential challenger. Georgia State senior forward Zarique Nutter started the first 13 of his 25 appearances, but
has come off the bench since, averaging 12.4 points as a reserve for the Panthers.
However, unlike Nutter, Lindsay has come off the bench for the majority of the season and has still managed to be a top contributor for the top team in the conference. His case for both awards looks airtight.
JMU’s head coach Preston Spradlin took over a program that returned only one scholarship player, filled out the ranks with his own recruits and transfers, and now has the Dukes on the brink of a Sun Belt Regular Season title. If JMU does win that title, it’s hard to think of a head coach more deservant of the award.
This would also be in line with recent history. The past five recipients of the award have coached the Regular Season Champions. Chris Ogden was the last coach to win the award but not the title when he was head coach of secondplace UT Arlington in 2019.
But even if the Dukes don’t secure the regular season title, no other coach has managed to turn around their program quite like Spradlin, and his ability to weather the storm and keep JMU atop the conference should lift him to his third conference coach of the year award after winning it in the OVC in 2021 and 2023.
CONTACT Jackson Hephner at hephnejt@ dukes.jmu.edu. For more men‘s basketball coverage follow the sports desk on X and on Instagram @TheBreezeSports
By PRESTON COMER
The Breeze
It’s the final week of regular-season Sun Belt basketball, and the only thing left to do before the conference tournament starts is hand out the Sun Belt’s individual awards.
The conference hands out six different individual awards — Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, Sixth Woman of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, Freshman of the Year and Coach of the Year.
Here are my picks for who will win each award:
Marshall senior guard Aislynn Hayes leads the Sun Belt in scoring with 18 points per game — but the Thundering Herd are sitting in the No. 11 spot in the conference. Aside from Marshall’s standing, Hayes has struggled with consistency during the season, shooting just 37.2% from the field and 29.4% from 3.
This gives JMU redshirt junior guard Peyton McDaniel the chance to swoop in and take home the award. McDaniel was the preseason pick to win, and she hasn’t disappointed. She’s second in the Sun Belt in scoring, averaging 16.1 points per game, shooting 44.9% from the field and 35% from beyondthe-arc.
McDaniel has provided the Dukes with more than just scoring as she averages 8.4 rebounds per game — the secondhighest mark in the Sun Belt — and tallied 11 double-doubles this season. She also sits at eighth in the conference with 1.9 steals per game.
It’s safe to say the Preseason Sun Belt Player of the Year and three-time Sun Belt Player of the Week will walk away with the conference’s highest individual honor.
While many of the conference’s best defenders contribute in ways that don’t show up on stat sheets and box scores, it’s hard to ignore outrageous shot-blocking numbers.
That’s exactly the case for Georgia State graduate forward Mahogany Matthews. She leads the Sun Belt with 3.3 blocks per game — the next closest mark is 1.4.
Matthews has tallied at least five blocks across nine games, even posting an 11-block performance vs. South Alabama on Feb. 13.
Matthews hasn’t just been an impactful defender by swatting shots but has also been successful at poking the ball free. She’s sixth in the Sun Belt with 2.1 steals per game, meaning she’s responsible for 5.4 steals plus blocks per game.
South Alabama junior guard Rachel Leggett makes an interesting case for Sixth Woman of the Year, but she’s still started 18 of the Jaguars’ 27 games. During the nine games she came off the bench, she averaged nine points.
But JMU graduate guard Ro Scott fits the award’s criteria perfectly. Scott has come off the bench every game this season and averages 11.4 points per game — 19th in the Sun Belt — with 23.3 minutes per game. She’s also scored at least 20 points in one game four times this season.
Read more online at breezejmu.org
CONTACT Preston Comer at breezesports@gmail.com. For more women’s basketball coverage follow the sports desk on X and on Instagram @TheBreezeSports.
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.
An “evil-step-roommate” dart to mine for always having me do her dishes.
From someone who’s tired of acting like Cinderella at age 21.
A “coughing-&-sneezing” dart to the illness that took me out this weekend.
From a student who can’t afford to miss another class this early in the semester.
A “sunshine” pat to the weather we’ve been having this week.
From someone who needs their seasonal depression cured as soon as possible.
A “female-solidarity” pat to my friends for supporting me through an insane weekend.
From a girl who needed it, both mentally and physically.
KATIE RUNKLE Breeze columnist
Therapy is controversial. It’s not like exercise, which has an agreed-upon health benefit and a straightforward implementation — cause and effect. Most people have a strong opinion on therapy one way or the other, likely informed by their very personal experiences. Therapy is more like that recipe you don’t really have a recipe for, and you can’t replicate or tell anyone else how to make it. Sometimes it turns out right, and sometimes it doesn’t. Imagine a puzzle with holes and pieces that don’t belong in the box. I know I’m not making it sound all that appealing, but the truth is, the hard things often aren’t. Therapy mirrors what life is really like.
As I said, it’s not simple how physical activity is, but shouldn’t we be taking care of our heart and mind just as much as our cardiovascular fitness and quad muscles? Maybe even more so? Last week, I urged a close friend to start therapy — almost mandated it for her — saying she couldn’t go on this way. Something had to change, and I felt therapy was the answer — which, as always, led me to reflect on why I felt that way about therapy, seeing it as such a saving grace for a flailing lifestyle.
“I’ve never felt the need for talk therapy. If it’s treatment for mental illness,” an anonymous male JMU student said. “I’ve never felt mental illness — at the same time, that’s kind of misconception that it’s only for people who have, quote, unquote, something wrong. It’s actually just to process things and help you understand yourself better, and help you understand how you relate to others better.”
I’m clearly a big proponent of mental healthcare, but I’ve had my fair share of bad therapists and unfavorable experiences sitting on that sofa. The first time I ever went to therapy, my parents came, and it turned into one big fight during which the therapist didn’t intervene. We didn’t go back. I tried again a few other times, unsuccessfully. I was harsh, hostile and outright mean to therapists.
Since then, I’ve found a therapist and a system that’s working for me — one that truly cultivates tangible changes in my day-to-day life, my relationships and emotional processing. I put a lot of thought into how and why that’s the case and wanted to share it, in hopes more people can have positive experiences with therapy. For better or worse, it seems it has almost everything to do with the patient.
I’ve simplified this into three key factors: vulnerability, accountability and intentionality. What do these look like incorporated into our lives?
If you don’t show up willing to share your past, a therapist cannot be informed on how that affects your present struggles or help you retroactively process past trauma, feelings or experiences. To know the road map for where you’re going, it’s necessary to know where you’ve been. If you don’t share your history with your therapist, they won’t know how to properly facilitate sessions.
Another aspect of this is sharing everything honestly each week. With one of my therapists, I showed up each week but only told her what I wanted to — the “easier” things, the things I could handle criticism on, the waters I’m willing to wade through. The trouble with this is that you won’t get anywhere that you couldn’t have gone on your own, and the trouble with that is you aren’t making any progress by only going places you’d usually take yourself.
This leads me to the next crucial factor of effective therapy — though only effective with vulnerability.
“My first therapist, it was more like talk therapy. And the woman that I’m with now, she does more like bringing in things she’s learned from her psych degree,” junior Emily Weber said. “I definitely feel like I walk away with more things that I can apply to what I’m trying to grow on now. And I see more immediate results now than I did when I was just talking. But I don’t think I would be able to change and grow if I didn’t process it verbally first.”
Being held accountable is a lost art. You can’t get away from facing the hard facts when sitting face-to-face with your therapist each week, especially if you also practice the vulnerability I described above. I know that each week, I’m going to have to tell my therapist about the choices I made, the things I felt and the ways I let my anxiety rule my life rather than managing it myself. When I bring these things to her, I know she will ask me difficult, introspective questions, in which I must reflect on them in a way I’m not sure I would hold myself to doing in my own journal or alone time.
More specifically, a key factor of my therapy’s efficacy is making goals each week. This can even feel like a homework assignment. My “goal” last week required a time commitment, interviewing those closest to me and intentional reflection — not too far off from studying course concepts. This week requires me to track a certain behavior that I want to understand better — which, in order for my therapist to even “assign” me that, I had to openly share an insecurity, one I haven’t even told my friends. This is another benefit of a therapist: a fully accepting, unbiased figure.
An anonymous male said his ability to talk to his therapist about problems within his friend group is useful, as it provides a distanced perspective and doesn’t cause additional problems in the social group.
I described the between-session goals as homework assignments, so why not take it a step further? Wouldn’t you show up prepared for class — maybe with a few notes, ready to learn? Take a literature class. You do the reading beforehand (observing and noting situations, feelings or behaviors that deserve to be broken down), but you come to class to truly understand it. That’s the point of having the professor and set class time (therapist and appointment).
see TALK THERAPY, page 20
Taking an exam can be anxiety-inducing on its own, but these days, students have the added stress of a Lockdown Browser. Respondus Lockdown Browser is a custom browser that isolates the testing environment within a learning management system, restricting access to other applications during an online quiz or exam. Most schools use this custom browser to prevent cheating, but it seems to be doing more harm than good.
While Respondus blocks hundreds of cheating methods, it introduces concerns about student privacy invasion, the potential for increased test anxiety, technical issues and the perception of a negative learning environment. Students may feel that this resource is intrusive or simply adds unnecessary trouble to an already stressful situation.
Respondus became a resource to prevent cheating during the early 2000s. When the browser is launched, it closes all other applications on your computer and monitors all activity while the software is running. Respondus Monitor is an add-on option
offered when downloading software that allows a webcam to record the user while completing an online exam.
Classes shouldn’t require such an extensive monitoring system. Students should be responsible for upholding academic integrity on their own, deciding for themselves whether to honor or violate the code of conduct.
Junior Olivia O’Shields believes there might be a better system to alleviate the fear of cheating by placing more trust in the students.
“Students who are going to violate the honor code will,” and “they should probably have more faith in students, that’ll make less of an incentive to cheat,” she said.
When enrolling at JMU, each new student is expected to become familiar with the Honor Code. At JMU, Dukes believe “an honor system must be believed in, supported by and administered by those who belong to it.” For some students, an honor code is a formality, but for O’Shields, it’s fear.
“The honor code is not overall effective in general, but it works for me. It is definitely a psychological thing,” she said. “I’m a very follow-the-rules type of person.”
While the Honor Code has implemented a no-cheating mindset for students like O’Shields, the added stress of a lockdown browser has become more of a burden than a benefit. The required use of Respondus doesn’t bother O’Shields much, but she said the potential technology issues make her nervous.
“The technical side is the worst part, the downloading is so stressful,” she said.
O’Shields has had a fair amount of experience using Respondus to complete her online work, but soon she will have to use it while physically present in the classroom — which seems to contradict the intent of the resource. She believes that using the lockdown browser creates nearly the same stress level as taking a test in person.
“In my experience, lockdown tests are typically open-note,” she said.
While open-note exams lower the stakes a little, they still add pressure due to monitoring.
O’Shields said violating the Honor Code is a “your own ethics kind of thing,” meaning it ultimately comes down to a student’s values and decisions regarding right and wrong when taking a quiz or exam.
“Lockdown Browser definitely does not prevent cheating, there’s not really an awesome solution to students who violate the honor code,” O’Shields said. “If we want to solve that issue, that’s something way different than using a lockdown browser.”
Individuals who want to cheat will find a way O’Shields said. She emphasized the need to focus more on the psychological factors behind cheating. The only real solution in
O’Shields’ eyes is systematic changes within the system.
“With how fast AI is developing, I think many parts of our societies will change, different jobs will be available and there will be different understandings of how we live. Testing will have to be reevaluated as well,” O’Shields said.
As technology evolves and pressures of academic life grow, it’s clear that the way we approach testing and academic integrity as a society needs to adapt. While resources like the lockdown browser serve as a tool to prevent cheating, this also introduces new challenges to students who are required to use it. The responsibility for upholding academic honesty should rest with each student, supported by trust and a strong honor code. As O’Shields points out, addressing the roots of cheating may require a more comprehensive approach — one that embraces the psychological factors at play and reevaluates traditional testing methods. Only then can we create a more effective and supportive academic environment.
For now, students should aim to have a similar mindset to O’Shields — one that consists of personal responsibility, integrity and a commitment to upholding an honor code based on individual ethics.
CONTACT Emma Currie at currieeg@ dukes.jmu.edu For more editorials regarding the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the opinion desk on Instagram @breezejmu.
Over the past few years, it seems that crises lurk around every corner. We’re always one bad day away from war, the economy is always about to collapse and the “ideals of our nation” are constantly under “attack.” This line is pushed on us by Republicans and Democrats alike throughout every election in living memory. So, what’s the truth? Are we truly living in the end times, or rather is this all really for political gain?
In order to properly consider these questions, we need to look no further than our current government and its ruling party. According to the Republicans currently in power, our way of life is “under attack.” One of the largest issues at the moment we are told is the “fact” that
10s of thousands of immigrants pour across the Mexican-American border every day; in reality, these numbers starkly decreased in 2024. People migrate their way to all corners of the country, and then a narrative is spun that they simultaneously “steal” the highest paid, most “skilled” jobs from “real” Americans and rob the government blind through Social Security and welfare payments, while somehow also owning all of the property in the nation.
I implore you to seriously consider how this contradictory story can be the most significant plight facing the United States. This editorial isn’t meant to change anyone’s mind; however, it’s also not my hope that only those who hold my beliefs read this far. This is an invitation to those who disagree with considering ideas they may not have previously. If what you believe truly is the way of the world, listening to a few paragraphs of criticism shouldn’t shake you. If a conviction you hold cannot bear to hear contrary opinions, it probably isn’t based on reality.
About two weeks ago, I attended a protest in downtown Harrisonburg. As we marched down
South Main Street, people waved posters bearing Sharpied-on phrases like: “Immigrants are welcome here!” and “No human is illegal!”
This isn’t a violent movement; there were no Antifa super-soldiers throwing bricks at windows or slashing tires. This is a movement rooted in compassion for our neighbors, care for those who grow our food and raise our children and a desire to support the persecuted.
Persecution isn’t nearly a strong enough word to describe how the recently elected president has treated migrants. His expansion of ICE attempts to normalize brutal images of children and families lined up in chains, and orders to expand the holding capacities of Guantanamo Bay and other federal prisons all show a clear downward trend in how immigrants are treated in the United States.
Immigrants aren’t your enemy. They don’t come here to steal what’s rightfully yours or otherwise harm you. They come here to pursue the same thing all people desire: a better life for themselves and their families. How cruel is it that we send back innocent people to suffer in awful conditions that they quite literally crossed oceans and entire continents to escape?
You aren’t a revolutionary for persecuting the poor and disenfranchised. This isn’t a dismantling of the “deep state” or a taking back what is “rightfully ours.” By believing immigrants are the problem, you’re playing directly into the hands of the true issue.
You aren’t being robbed by immigrants; in reality, most pay taxes without receiving government benefits of any kind. You are being robbed and played for a fool by people like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerburg — in
short, the billionaire class. These people hoard wealth produced by working-class people who they’ve never met. They’re the ones who want to dismantle the government programs families depend on. They, along with their firms, are the ones who lower your wages, send your job overseas and buy up all the property. Their motivation is simple: they want nothing more than to increase their wealth beyond the mountains of assets they already possess.
The problem isn’t immigrants; that idea is an absurd conspiracy pushed by robber barons who want to continue picking your pockets. This thin defense gives way to the truth: billionaires aren’t your friends. They want to decrease your wages so they can have more money, give themselves government handouts with your Social Security, so they can have more money, buy up all the homes and turn the United States into a renters’ economy, so they can have more money and send jobs overseas to places with less strict labor laws so they can have more money. Don’t be fooled; help our neighbors and friends who need it most. Don’t be deceived into thinking that they’re your enemy.
CONTACT Matt Gowel at goweljm@ dukes.jmu.edu. For more editorials regarding the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the opinion desk on X @TheBreezeJMU and on Instagram @BreezeJMU.
I describe this as intentionality. Show up intentionally for your appointment with important topics to discuss — an idea of something you want to work on. A therapist can only work with what you give them. I’ve done the thing where you show up and sit obstinate, holding tight to the belief that the therapist is the one being paid to do the work here. And I’ve always found them stupid or out of touch, most likely a result of me not being intentional about our appointments. Even the greatest quarterback can’t “be great” if not given a target to hit. If he’s on a dark field, there’s no player to throw to — no framework for success.
The third aspect of intentionality — beyond noting things in between sessions and having ideas for discussion during the appointment — is the commitment to carrying out the “homework assignments,” making time for them and remembering them, even when it’s hard or incongruent with your schedule. My personal tip for this is to share it with your closest people. Extra accountability never hurts, and they may even help you align it within your schedule, having more knowledge on your day-to-day than your therapist does.
“I’ve seen it help people a lot. The one caveat is, the person going into therapy has to buy in. They have to be willing to be told they’re wrong, and be willing to be told that there is something wrong,” an anonymous male JMU student said.
This “buy in” can look different depending on your needs or situation. Repeating the puzzle metaphor, each puzzle set has a different finished picture in mind, a different number of pieces and a different grid design. Another anonymous source shared that he’s had the same therapist since he was 10; now 22, he reaches out to her whenever he’s had a hard week or is in a difficult season. For him, therapy is more of a resource to tap into when needed
rather than taking time away from when he doesn’t feel it’s necessary. Sometimes he wants to make weekly goals; sometimes he wants to talk things out. For Weber, it’s a consistent part of her routine that she struggles to go without when out of town.
There are many reasons to try therapy — with vulnerability, intentionality and accountability — and few reasons not to. My last, and possibly most important note, is on the stigmatization of therapy. If the people in your life discourage or judge you for seeking help with mental health, or just seeking to be a healthier individual who has learned how to understand and manage themselves better, reevaluate their place in your life — not your inclination to try therapy. And if it’s your own internal shame or scrutiny preventing you from taking the step, well … that’s something you should work out in therapy.
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.
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Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by
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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/
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
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.
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)
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 stressfree experience!
Downtown Harrisonburg one-bedroom 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.
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.
HIRING! Dance Teachers Wanted - Fall 2025 to Spring 2026
Seeking teachers with extensive dance training, performance experience and love of teaching! Send your resume to dancecompany@gmail.com and call 540-810-3631 to begin interview process Interviews begin in March - Dont wait! Call Now!
Find signs that showcase how Dukes made a difference. (Hint: there are a dozen locations to explore!)
Catch the Cookie Cart for free treats, swag, and fun. Keep your eyes peeled for special events across campus!
Discover hidden boxes, donate the money inside, and keep the swag. Feel the power of giving!
In addition to tuition and state funding, donations of all sizes help make JMU the place we know and love. Giving Day is an opportunity to show gratitude for members of the JMU community who “Give Like a Duke.”
Drop by Leeolou Alumni Center’s Great Room to write thank-you cards for donors and pick up some JMU swag. Open until 7 p.m.!
Join us at the lower drum in Festival starting at 10 p.m for a special LNB. Enjoy pancakes served by university leaders and celebrate Giving Day’s success!
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