The Breeze 2.29.24

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The Mill is an off-campus student housing community that was newly renovated at the end of 2023! Our property caters to JMU students as we are only 0 5 miles away from campus Our apartments come with our new furniture packages. The Mill includes Wi-Fi, and utilities making life easy for our residents. We host monthly community events, giveaways, and many more fun and exciting things! Our hammock park and outdoor areas are the perfect place for students to study, relax, and unwind.

On the cover

This week’s front page highlights the illegalities of the Student Government Association’s (SGA) 30-minute closed session at the beginning of its meeting on Tuesday evening.

Vice President for Student Affairs Tim Miller facilitated the meeting and incorrectly stated to Breeze reporters that the SGA was not in violation of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Even after The Breeze cited FOIA law, stating a public body cannot hold a closed meeting unless it begins with an open session, SGA faculty advisor Rebeca Barge insisted the reporters leave.

The Breeze received a statement from JMU spokesperson Mary-Hope Vass on Wednesday that said the SGA is subject to FOIA and will strive to follow it in the future.

For the full SGA story, see page 4.

Corrections

In the “SpongeBob” musical story in the Feb. 22 print edition, it was incorrectly stated the show will run through March 2. The show runs through March 3. Also, in the Sun Belt food fight story, Appalachian State was incorrectly listed as one of the eight schools involved in the competition. The online versions of these articles have been updated.

What’s inside...

For more on the standout freshman, see the full story on page 20.

Editorial Staff

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

GRANT JOHNSON breezeeditor@gmail.com

NEWS EDITORS ELEANOR SHAW & K. MAUSER breezenews@gmail.com

COPY EDITORS EMMA JOHNSON & HANNAH KENNEDY breezecopy@gmail.com

EXECUTIVE EDITOR MICHAEL RUSSO breezepress@gmail.com

CULTURE EDITORS MORGAN BLAIR & EVAN MOODY thebreezeculture@gmail.com

PHOTO EDITORS KAILEY GARNER & LANDON SHACKELFORD breezephotography@gmail.com

MANAGING EDITOR AVERY GOODSTINE thebreezeweb@gmail.com

SPORTS EDITORS KAIDEN BRIDGES & JACKSON HEPHNER breezesports@gmail.com

AUDIENCE EDITOR

KASEY THOMPSON thebreezesocials@gmail.com

OPINION EDITOR EVAN WEAVER breezeopinion@gmail.com

ASST. AUDIENCE EDITOR

ALEXA BONILLA thebreezesocials@gmail.com

ART DIRECTOR ABBY PAREDES thebreezeartdirector@gmail.com

The Breeze

Advertising Staff

AD DESIGNERS TRISTAN GAONA, MEGAN GOLINSKY & SAM RHINARD

Men's basketball freshman forward Jaylen Carey slams a dunk in the Dukes’ 67-52 win over Marshall on Jan. 20. Carey has played crucial minutes for the Dukes, providing a spark off the bench during the team’s program-best 27-win season. Head coach Mark Byington said it’s uncommon for players to contribute this early in their career on winning teams. Kaiden Bridges / The Breeze

SGA skirts Va. law

VP for Student Affairs Tim Miller instructed non-voting members, press to leave

By ELEANOR SHAW

The Breeze

The Student Government Association (SGA) illegally barred the public, including the media, from the beginning of its meeting Tuesday with the backing of Vice President for Student Affairs Tim Miller, who incorrectly cited Virginia law.

Shortly after two Breeze reporters and two photographers arrived around 6:05 p.m., Associate Director of Cultural Education and Engagement and SGA faculty adviser Rebeca Barge said the first 30 minutes of the SGA’s meeting, which regularly starts at 6:15 p.m., would be closed to the public.

Barge continued to insist the reporters leave even after the reporters cited the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which states a public body cannot hold a closed meeting unless it begins with an open session and then votes to go into closed session using one of the act’s 46 exemptions.

After The Breeze told Barge the three most common exemptions according to the Virginia Press Association’s 2023 FOIA handbook — personnel matters, real estate exceptions and legal matters — she replied: “We’re not holding a closed session; we’re holding a meeting with senators.”

According to Virginia law, the definition of “public bodies” is “any legislative body,” including “governing boards of public institutions of higher education; and other organizations, corporations, or agencies in the Commonwealth supported wholly or principally by public funds.”

Numerous legal opinions in Virginia, including an attorney general’s opinion and a Freedom of Information Advisory Council advisory opinion, say student governments are subject to the state’s FOIA requirements around open meetings because student governments allocate student-fee money to campus groups.

“We didn’t have a problem with this before with three of [your] reporters,” Barge said when one reporter continued to contest her conclusions. “So, we’d like to have this space until 6:45, until the regular senate meeting.”

The Breeze reporter remained in her seat and said she would not leave until the SGA cited which FOIA exemption acted as grounds for the closed session.

Around 6:20 p.m., Miller addressed the SGA in front of a slideshow titled “Student Government Association & Responsibilities as State Actors.”

Miller announced the “public portion of the meeting” would begin at 6:45 p.m. and instructed all non-voting SGA members to leave the room. Miller said this “would include press.”

The reporter raised her hand and asked Miller which FOIA exemption he was citing as grounds for the decision.

“That is not how FOIA works,” Miller replied. “This is not a document that you can FOIA later.”

But this is how FOIA works: According to Virginia law, all public meetings must begin open, and its members must vote to enter a closed session. Further, a meeting is considered public when three or more members of a public institution meet in their official capacities.

When Miller emerged in the hallway, Breeze reporters asked what was discussed during the “closed meeting” — which was roughly from 6:20 p.m. to 6:40 p.m.

“It was a closed meeting, meaning that we decided to delay the senate meeting until 6:45,” Miller said as he was leaving the meeting room. “We wanted to give them some guidance about decisions that they make.” He would not say what that guidance was nor what prompted it.

Virginia Coalition of Open Government Executive Director Megan Rhyne said in an interview Wednesday she agreed with the reporters’ pushback. She affirmed that a public body can only enter a closed session after first being open.

“The reporter was right to push back on the way that the meeting was being conducted,” Rhyne said. “A closed meeting can only occur from the confines of an open meeting.”

Earlier in the evening, Breeze reporters received the first indications that Tuesday’s meeting could be unusual. At 5:35 p.m., senior SGA President Nate Hazen informed The Breeze via text that the meeting would begin with “a closed session for SGA members only.”

But the SGA Senate, like others under FOIA, cannot delay a meeting without more public notice than what was given. According to FOIA, meeting times must be posted publicly at least three days before a meeting. Even as the Senate was meeting in its illegal closed session, its website showed 6:15 p.m. as the time of the meeting.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Hazen has not replied to The Breeze’s request for comment.

Miller said senators were notified of the delay, but The Breeze was not — something Miller called “a mistake.”

One SGA senator, who spoke to The Breeze on the condition of anonymity to avoid reprisal, would not share the details of what was discussed during the “closed meeting” but said the SGA needed to hear its contents.

The senator said SGA members were told Monday evening that attendance at its regular senate meeting was mandatory. The senator questioned several colleagues about the announcement

to no avail. After reading The Breeze’s article, the senator said they were “shocked” about the meeting’s illegality.

Assistant Vice President of Communications and university spokesperson Mary-Hope Vass sent The Breeze a statement Wednesday evening regarding the meeting, which she said happened at Miller’s request.

In the statement, Vass said the intention of the meeting was “for SGA advisors to provide education and coaching to SGA leadership in advance of the official meeting.” Vass said no vote on official business occurred then.

“Additional guidance surrounding public meetings, proper notification and general FOIA reminders will also be provided in an effort to avoid such confusion going forward,” Vass wrote. “We will all work together to strive for compliance with all of FOIA’s requirements.”

In response to The Breeze’s online article, media arts and design (SMAD) journalism faculty members drafted a letter denouncing the SGA’s actions, addressed to Associate Vice President for Student Life and Involvement and SGA faculty adviser Dirron Allen, Barge, Hazen and Miller, and signed by Interim SMAD Director M. Joseph Hinshaw. The letter was sent Wednesday afternoon.

The letter recapped the events listed in The Breeze’s article and expressed pride in its staff members’ actions.

“We are proud of the journalists who protested their removal,” the letter states. “Their action is an example of the engaged citizens we want to mold at JMU. Their engagement was rooted in their knowledge of the First Amendment and the opengovernment laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia.”

In the letter, SMAD faculty said the journalists and the JMU community “deserve a public apology” and a “complete briefing” of what Miller presented to the SGA.

“It especially concerns us that university leaders advised SGA students to go into a meeting that violated state law,” the letter states.

The letter further encouraged recipients to follow FOIA rules in the future and to train themselves and the SGA on FOIA policy.

“FOIA regulations are meant to promote transparency, which is at the heart of the First Amendment,” the letter states. “As faculty at the university named for that amendment’s author, we take this seriously. We hope you will, too.”

CONTACT Eleanor Shaw at breezenews@gmail.com. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on X @BreezeNewsJMU.

“That is not how FOIA [the Freedom of Information Act] works,” Vice President for Student Affairs Tim Miller said when a reporter asked on what grounds the SGA could close its meeting. FOIA prevents public bodies, including the Student Government Association (SGA), from holding improper and therefore illegal closed meetings. In spite of protests, four Breeze staff members were continuously told to leave the SGA meeting room by Miller and two SGA faculty advisers. Landon Shackelford / The Breeze

Read the public meeting recap here:

‘Butterflies for Ben’

Pins in honor of freshman Bernard Stapelfeld signify beauty, hope

By K. MAUSER The Breeze

Editor’s Note: This story contains mentions of mental health and suicide that may be triggering for some readers. If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health in any way, please visit the the American Psychological Association’s website or call 988.

The sharp pop of the button-making machine echoes throughout The Makery inside Rose Library on Tuesday as freshman Libby Stedman cuts a perfect circle around the shape of what will be a wearable pin. Stedman holds the finished pin up to the light, and it reads, “Butterflies for Ben; in loving memory.” A small blue ribbon embellishes the top of the pin’s design.

Freshman Bernard “Ben” Stapelfeld, also commonly referred to as “Bernie,” died in his residence hall in November. Stedman is one of many across campus who was affected by Ben’s death.

Ben and Stedman first met over the summer, but their bond grew closer when the two discovered they were in the same School of Communication Studies (SCOM) class.

“I walked into my SCOM class, first day of class, and he was sitting there,” she said. “Not only were we in the same class, but we were put in the same group together to work on a project. And then we just got super close through working with our group.”

Stedman, alongside freshman Molly Schreiner, has sold hundreds of “Butterflies for Ben” pins across the JMU community to raise money for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). They hope to raise more funds by participating in the Out of the Darkness JMU Campus Walk, an annual event organized by the AFSP to advocate for suicide prevention.

The walk is scheduled for April 7 on the Festival lawn. Junior committee chair Anna Robinson said the Terror Management Lab at JMU — a group researching suicide and its prevention that she is a part of — partners with the AFSP along with the Counseling Center and JMU Athletics to help facilitate the annual walk.

“We’re doing good work, and I think it scares people — which is understandable because suicide is scary,” she said. “But if we can save one person from dying by suicide, then it’s worth it.”

Terror Management Lab director Lindsey Harvell-Bowman, a professor who specializes in suicide and mental health, said the administration at JMU has been doing a great job in addressing student mental health due to the university “talking more about it.”

Harvell-Bowman cited events such as the Out of the Darkness Walk as helping students reduce the stigma around talking about mental health and suicide.

“You never know who you’re impacting,” she said. “If one person shows up that day, you got through to that one person, and you could have saved a life that day. That alone is worth all of the effort for one person.”

Although Harvell-Bowman said suicide is a “dark” topic to research, she said almost everyone who looks into it has a personal connection in some way. For Harvell-Bowman, this precedent stands: At her former university, she said six of her students died by suicide, which “broke my heart.”

“It’s hard to see people in that space,” she said. “For me, that’s always in the back of my mind.”

Students use philanthropy to destigmatize suicide

So far, the “Butterflies for Ben” donation page has already surpassed the group’s goal of $1,000 by almost 10%, and Stedman said they are just getting started with their suicide prevention efforts.

“I didn’t think it’d blow up or anything, or I’d get this far with it,” she said. “But I started posting things about ‘Butterflies for Ben’ … [and] numerous people just started swiping up and being like, ‘I knew Ben. I loved him. Let me join the team. I want to be a part of this. I’d love to buy a pin.’”

Donations made to the AFSP help fund research for suicide prevention, creating and distributing education programs, advocating for public policy and supporting for survivors of suicide loss, according to the foundation’s website.

Harvell-Bowman said these donations are vital to reducing the stigma around mental health conversations, especially through programs and research.

“All of those programs help people realize that they’re not alone,” she said. “It makes connections with people, and having those interpersonal connections undoubtedly saves lives.”

Freshman Natalie Branson said she didn’t personally know Ben, but the moment Stedman asked for her help in memorializing him, she was ready to be involved in “supporting her through this loss.”

Branson said she and Stedman talked at length about how butterflies represent growth, beauty and hope, and said it would be a perfect way to remember Ben.

“Butterflies are a symbol of growth and expanding from who you once were and getting out of your cocoon,” Stedman said. “I thought the message of a butterfly would represent him so well because he was just so special … He was so special to me.”

The teal color Stedman and Branson used to design their “Butterflies for Ben” pin has made an impact on Branson as well. She said she’s started associating the “beautiful teal color” with Ben and thinks about him each time she sees the color.

The “Butterflies for Ben” pin is one of two designs created. The other that Stedman and Branson made features a cartoon Earth with a butterfly flying around it and the words “A world without suicide.”

Both Branson and Stedman hope their fundraising efforts will help destigmatize talking about mental health and suicide.

“[Mental health] isn’t like a ‘passing-in-thehallway’ conversation,” Branson said. “This is a conversation that when you have it with people, it creates a connection that I honestly would like to say is unbreakable.”

To anyone who may be experiencing the loss of a friend, Stedman said any emotion experienced is “100% valid,” and that it’s OK to reach out to peers for help.

“It shouldn’t be something that’s so sheltered — we want people to talk about it,” Schreiner said. “We don’t want to have to tiptoe around the subject because it’s so important. It’s so prevalent, and it’s something that needs to be talked about all the time.”

Through the research Harvell-Bowman and her team have done at the terror lab, she said they’ve found “empirical evidence” that talking through one’s experiences with mental health, especially in settings like talk therapy, have a positive effect on people.

“We do this type of research, [so] it would feel almost unethical to not advocate for people,” Harvell-Bowman said. “Not only do we sit with people at their darkest times … but also it plays into this idea of also getting that conversation out there and understanding that it is OK to talk about it. Everyone struggles and everyone has dark times, and you’re not alone.”

In order to further destigmatize talking about mental health, Schreiner and Stedman’s SCOM group changed its final topic to focus on mental health resources. Schreiner said the point of itswww presentation was not only to honor Ben but also “let people know that they weren’t alone.”

“He was amazing,” Stedman said. “He literally touched the lives of everyone here and everyone was so impacted when he was gone. He will not be forgotten. Never.” CONTACT

TOP: Freshman Libby Stedman holds one of her finished pins. MIDDLE: Freshman Natalie Branson makes pins at The Makery to raise money for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. ABOVE: Stedman holds one of two pin designs while wearing an “Out of the Darkness” bracelet on her wrist. The button says “A world without suicide.” Photos and photo illustration by K. Mauser / The Breeze

Panel of health professionals shares perspectives, guidance

UREC recognizes Eating Disorders Awareness Week through passport event

By LIBBY ADDISON The Breeze

In concurrence with Eating Disorders Awareness Week (EDAW), the University Recreation Center (UREC) hosted a panel of professionals Feb. 22 to address students’ inquiries about eating disorders in hopes of raising awareness and sharing information and resources.

To maintain anonymity in light of the sensitive topic, students submitted their

questions to an anonymous form via a QR code so the panel could provide insight and feedback without revealing students’ identities. The panel consisted of Jessie Purcell, the university’s assistant director for fitness and nutrition; Erin Williams, a nationally certified counselor working in the Counseling Center; Heather Harris, a registered dietitian; and a JMU graduate student in the athletic training program, Patrick Cline.

This year, EDAW started on Monday and runs through Sunday.

Experts promote ‘fun, gradual’ changes

Purcell said she's seen more patterns of disordered eating behaviors rather than clinical eating disorders in her line of work.

Disordered eating “sits on a spectrum” between normal eating and an eating disorder, and the experienced symptoms or behaviors may be less frequent or less severe than a clinical eating disorder, according to the National Eating Disorders Collaboration. A

clinical eating disorder, on the other hand, is a “serious and often fatal” illness consisting of “severe disturbances” in both eating behaviors and feelings surrounding eating, according to The National Institute of Mental Health.

If an individual is eliminating full food groups without a medical reason, Purcell said it’s an “indicator” they may experience disordered eating.

“It’s a really big challenge for us as fitness professionals to make sure that we promote

Nationally certified counselor Erin Williams, left, said many people experience a “multi-layered misconception” of reality when using social media. She said this can skew what’s normal and realistic in terms of body image. Photos by Landon Shackelford / The Breeze

a culture and celebrate the things that we do when it comes to physical activity rather than the way that we look and the consistency that we can have within our fitness and nutrition as well,” Purcell said.

The journey of fitness is supposed to be a “fun, gradual lifestyle change,” Cline said.

When instructing new clients, Cline said they come to him with preconceived notions and limited education in regards to what they should be consuming and dietary “myths.”

“We’re here to get rid of some of those misconceptions,” he said.

Williams said it’s important for counselors to shift the focus away from “locking individuals into a diagnosis” when evaluating them for eating disorder symptoms because diagnoses can be “exclusionary.”

“A lot of what we see is anything in that spectrum of restrictive eating, binge eating, and then more recently the ARFID [avoidant/ restrictive food intake disorder] diagnosis,” said Harris, the registered dietitian.

ARFID is a disorder introduced in 2013 by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (fifth edition) in 2013. ARFID is characterized by avoiding a particular food, as a result of anxiety or phobia because of the food texture, taste or smell, according to the National Eating Disorders Collaboration.

Impact of social media

Some students at the panel raised concerns about how social media plays a role in body image and dysmorphia.

Williams said it’s important to recognize that social media only captures “temporary, momentary pictures,” adding that many people experience a “multi-layered misconception” of what is reality, which she said can skew what’s normal and realistic.

From a counseling perspective, Williams said she recommends people emphasize viewing media critically, which she described

as thoughtfully engaging with it.

She questioned attendees about whether the media they consume is “inspiring or tiring” and encouraged students to follow accounts that contribute to their wellness.

Harris said when students come to her to talk about their “body dissatisfaction,” their problem usually stems from comparing their lives to what they see on social media.

“Comparison can be a thief of joy,” Harris said.

She said she has students who eat a particular way because they were influenced by someone on social media promoting a diet, which is usually unhealthy for their lifestyle.

To combat potentially toxic media and maintain a healthy perspective on food, Harris has carefully curated her own Instagram so she only follows body-positive accounts. Similar to Williams, she urged students to question how they feel when they encounter potentially harmful social media posts.

Harris said she tells her students to ask themselves about how they feel when viewing social media through questions like, “Am I feeling more anxious or depressed [after viewing certain social media posts]?” and if they feel like they are “not good enough after getting off that space.”

According to Purcell, social media is one of fitness professionals’ biggest stressors.

“Unfortunately, social media has distorted what the true purpose of fitness and exercise is,” Purcell said. She feels like fitness has become a place to achieve a certain body type, whereas she believes its true purpose is “to allow you to live the life that you want.”

Like Purcell, Cline emphasized prioritizing wellness and functionality over aesthetic goals as the most beneficial approach to fitness and said this approach is “extremely important” because toxic fitness and diet culture is pervasive online.

In his profession, Cline said he has received numerous TikToks and Instagram videos

from his older clientele showcasing visually appealing 20 year olds in the gym, all seeking to attain that particular physique.

Although the adults he assists prioritize aesthetics, Cline said he aims to improve their function, balance and confidence when they play with their children but said it takes a long time to get over those “mental barriers.”

“Fitness should enhance your life rather than create an avenue to look a certain way,” Purcell said.

Improving nutrition, eating habits

“Whether it is you or a friend with an eating disorder, what is the first step to change your eating habits?” one student asked.

For those who want to eat healthier, Harris recommended students pay attention to their hunger cues. She said many students may skip breakfast or delay their first meal until after their classes, unaware they need fuel “from the get-go.” She added that experiencing excessive hunger can cause a decline in energy levels and blood sugar, potentially triggering bingeeating tendencies.

Harris recommended if someone wants to support a friend in overcoming disordered eating habits, they should first normalize their relationship with food. Then, she said students could invite their friends to “go grab a snack” or join them at the dining hall regularly. Harris said this can foster daily opportunities for them to eat food more regularly.

Purcell said a common concern among her clients is the stress about maintaining a balanced diet. However, she said she advises her clients that such strictness is not necessary.

“Little tweaks will make a difference in the way that you feel in your overall nutrition,” Purcell said.

She gave the example of “just incorporating more throughout the day will definitely make you feel better.”

“Comparison can be a thief of joy.”

Heather Harris, registered dietitian

Eventually, these small changes in daily diet will “compound and start to snowball,” Purcell said. “So, just start somewhere.”

Are there benefits to restrictive dieting?

“If someone wants or needs to lose weight, is there a healthier, mindful approach to do so?” a student asked.

When students seek weight loss advice from Harris, she said she encourages them to reflect on their thoughts and whether they stem from comparisons with others. She said she asks this because weight loss isn’t always healthy, and health and weight are not the same.

Read more of this story on breezejmu.org

CONTACT Libby Addison at addisoen@ dukes.jmu.edu. For more coverage of JMU and Harrisonburg news, follow the news desk on X @BreezeNewsJMU.

With election season in full swing, JMU gears up for primaries

By GRAM SHER contributing writer

As the country prepares for election season, so is the Madison Center for Civic Engagement. On Monday, the center plans to hold its Presidential Primary event, which will help students understand how the primaries work and give them a chance to discuss the presidential candidates.

“It’s important for JMU students to think about the primaries and think about the

primary election process is many people don’t know when it takes place.

“I think some people don’t realize when it's happening,” she said. “It sneaks up on them.”

Wilcox added that having this event the day before the primary reminds people to vote the next day.

March 5, also known as Super Tuesday, is the voting day for the Virginia presidential primary election. Across the country, thousands of people vote on this day.

The Madison Center for Civic Engagement’s

The Madison Center for Civic Engagement will prepare JMU for Super Tuesday through its Presidential Primary event Monday, during which students will speak with experts

prepare themselves to vote. Ryan Sauer / The Breeze

Dolley, JMU’s ‘unofficial’ Duke Dog, brings joy, smiles to campus

By ASHLEE THOMPSON The Breeze

As married couple Rob Perks and Karen Brooks (’93) push a stroller decked out in JMU gear around campus with smiles on their faces, students run up to take pictures, but not of a baby as onlookers may expect. It’s the couple’s 6 1/2-year-old English bulldog Dolley, also known as the “unofficial” Duke Dog.

Dolley, aptly named after the wife of James Madison, has been coming to JMU for over three years now, usually for tailgates, Homecoming events and major sports games. Dressed with a JMU-style crown and cape, Dolley looks like the real Duke Dog, which was Perks’ goal, he said.

“Dolley loves the noise, commotion, people, the bands, the cheerleaders and loves all the sights and sounds affiliated with sporting events and culture at JMU,” Perks said. “It gives us a chance to expose her to students so they make memories and can say that they met Duke Dog.”

Perks and Brooks adopted Dolley from an Amish farm in 2021 and quickly noticed she couldn’t walk long distances. After taking Dolley to Hotel Madison, she became obsessed with hopping on luggage carts and being rolled around the hotel. This is when Perks got the idea

to buy a dog stroller to push her around in.

However, the stroller wasn’t the only piece of the puzzle. Perks and Brooks didn’t realize how much people would love Dolley until they accidentally stumbled into a graduation photo session on campus a few years ago.

“We went to visit the statue of James Madison because I had a specific picture in mind,” Perks said. “I took Dolley to that area and there were people taking graduation photos. They got excited and I asked if they wanted her in the graduation photos, and they said ‘Absolutely.’”

After witnessing the reactions of students meeting and taking pictures with Dolley, the couple knew they had created something amazing. Perks and Brooks began taking her to every tailgate and sports game where groups of students would stop to take photos, talk to Dolley, and grab a purple and yellow lollipop provided by the couple.

Senior Molly Elliott remembers the smile on everyone’s faces when Dolley stopped by her tailgate before a football game last fall.

“Everyone got so excited to see her dressed up as the Duke Dog,” Elliott said. “She brought so much school spirit.”

Along with tailgates and Homecoming, another favorite tradition of Perks’ is to hang

Dolley is a 6-1/2-year-old English bulldog named after the wife of James Madison. The bulldog has been coming to JMU for over three years to sporting and Homecoming events to mingle with students, alums and fans. Photos courtesy of Rob Perks

Students agree having an official live Duke Dog mascot would be beneficial to campus spirit.

“It never gets old seeing somebody meet her for the first time and, what thrill they get from it.”

Rob Perks Owner of Dolley

out in the Hotel Madison lobby to cheer on the football team. Senior right guard Cole Potts has fond memories of seeing Dolley before games — he said spending time with her every Friday brought him and the team “lots of joy.”

“Having Dolley is like having a real Duke Dog. As she would walk around campus on game days, everyone would be super happy to see her,” Potts said. “Dolley is identical [to Duke Dog], and she always had her purple and gold on and was a representation of our school spirit and who we are at JMU.”

Potts and Elliott said they both believe having a live Duke Dog mascot such as Dolley would be beneficial to campus spirit, bringing more joy to sporting events and making students cheer louder.

JMU’s last live Duke Dog mascot was an English bulldog named Siegle who had to retire after suffering an injury. Kevin Warner, JMU associate athletic director for communications and strategic initiatives, said in a Jan. 17 email to The Breeze that the injury was unrelated to JMU and happened before the COVID-19 pandemic.

“With all the logistics involved (dog’s health, distance of owners, etc.), the role was never resumed,” Warner said in the email. “JMU Athletics is not actively seeking a replacement, though if the right opportunity surfaced that made sense, we’d evaluate it.”

Perks said if he could pitch Dolley as the mascot for JMU, he would describe her as a “natural” when

it comes to crowds and bringing people together — which he credits to the bulldog breed, saying they need to be around people constantly, always begging to be pet and interacted with.

“We love the current mascot,” Perks said. “But the idea of kids making indelible memories of meeting the actual mascot on campus and taking the stories with them would be a lot of fun.”

Brooks recalls bringing Dolley to CHOICES — an open house for admitted students — last spring, and she said people thought Dolley was part of the tour. Six months later, Brooks took Dolley to a tailgate and was approached by a student.

“A girl came up to us and said, ‘I met Dolley at CHOICES, and I decided to go here because of that,” Brooks said. “I get choked up when I think about that.”

The couple prides themselves on giving students at least one happy moment in their stressful academic year, which is why they keep coming back to campus.

“We don’t take her for granted. We love how lovable and how sweet she is,” Perks said. “It never gets old seeing somebody meet her for the first time and, what thrill they get from it.”

CONTACT Ashlee Thompson at thomp6ab@ dukes.jmu.edu. For more on the culture, arts and lifestyle of the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the culture desk on X and Instagram @Breeze_Culture.

The last live Duke Dog mascot was an English bulldog named Siegle who had to retire after suffering an injury.

JMU Athletics is not currently seeking a replacement for the live mascot, but if the right opportunity surfaced, it would be evaluated, JMU Athletics Spokesperson Kevin Warner said.

Scenic creative space deep in the Valley hosts JMU artists, alums

By ARIANNA TAYLOR The Breeze

Singer-songwriter Ebony Nicole (’23) remembers the chirping birds during the day and twinkling stars by night. She wanted the view at the studio in her fall 2022 visit to be “magical.” But at first, the overcast caused her about her wish. She thought the view wasn’t going to be scenic. Then, the sun came out at lunchtime. “It was the coolest thing ever,” Nicole said.

Recording studio, video and photo location Sill & Glade Cabin, about 25 minutes southwest of JMU, was purchased by CJ and Jenna Metz in January 2021, but it didn’t turn into a studio until seven months later. Before transforming the space, the couple lived in Baltimore while CJ was in his own band, The Milestones.

CJ attributes some of the band’s success to the cabin’s atmosphere. The tranquility took away the need to be perfect, he said.

“It was awesome to have a place to relax, record music and to feel at home,” CJ said. “A lot of the magic that came from that session came from us being relaxed.”

CJ said the engineer for his band encouraged him to turn the cabin into a studio because the acoustics and views in the space are incredible, and the ambience of the atmosphere “is unlike anything else.”

“You’ve got to open this up for other people,” CJ recalled a friend saying.

Since its opening in 2022, the cabin has been the venue for roughly 70 projects, most of them recording sessions, but it’s also hosted a yoga class, elopement ceremonies and cidery release events.

Located on 30 acres overlooking the George Washington National Forest, Mount Solon, Red Wing Roots Music Festival’s venue space, Massanutten Skyline and the Shenandoah Valley makes the cabin a destination venue, CJ said.

Nicole recorded at the cabin after moving to Virginia from Seattle in 2017. Said she feels the scenic view contributed to the experience of the cabin.

“I don’t think I’d ever get used to the mountains or crisp air,” Nicole said. “After growing up in the city, [the view] is what you’d see in books or movies.”

Along with the outside area, the rental space includes an open first floor, loft, bedroom, 1.5 bathrooms, a full kitchen and a wrap-around porch. The space can be altered to accommodate for recording, as a retreat for writing or a background to film, CJ said.

However, being in a non-traditional studio does add extra challenges to the production process, CJ said. Traditional studios leave their equipment up, but at the cabin, they set up and break down the equipment, adding the labor required for each project.

Some projects are ready to be recorded when artists come into the studio, but others require more work to formulate, CJ said.

“I definitely enjoy where I’m more involved, but then that can also be a blessing and a curse

because I become emotionally attached to something that isn’t even mine to begin with,” CJ said.

When the cabin first opened for business, marketing was done through social media, but as the location becomes more developed, more of Sill & Glade’s clients are reached through word-of-mouth.

A majority of clients are from the Shenandoah Valley, D.C., Charlottesville and Richmond areas. The space also has had clients come from Illinois, New York and Georgia.

This is the first business CJ has owned and said he had to learn how to be one throughout the process.

“I have had to acclimate to a straightforward approach to things rather than holding myself so loosely,” he said.

Nicole’s first recording at the cabin was a 10-hour session where she invited other musician friends. The atmosphere of the cabin was different from Nicole’s typical studios and music production.

“I completely fell in love with what it was,” Nicole said. “It seemed far enough away that you could be creative and not bogged down by your normal space.”

One of the songs recorded was an original, “Virginia Is For Lovers.” Nicole felt it would be important to include her native Virginians’ input.

“A lot of them are [from Virginia], and I wanted them to put their little piece of Virginia into the song,” she said.

Sill & Glade Cabin has worked with numerous JMU graduates, but the business has only worked with one band of current students, Not A Saint, which recorded an EP at the cabin from Oct. 23 to Dec. 6, CJ said.

Not A Saint was able to afford the record because it won the Valley Business Keynote 2023 Entrepreneurial Arts Scholarship, said the band’s lead singer, fifth-year Gillian “Georgia” Saunders.

“There is an interesting character to the cabin,” Saunders said. “It’s gorgeous and really calming. It’s in the mountains. The wood acoustics in the cabin and the tone adds warmth into your recording, which is really special.”

Saunders will be interning at the cabin this summer as a part of her music industry degree. She said she’ll be helping set up sessions, premixing for different talent and handling administrative tasks to assist new artists when they come into the studio.

CJ said he would love to work with more JMU students, and he feels the cabin atmosphere is so special that it brings in its own clientele.

“The cabin sells itself; you could replace me with anybody,” CJ said. “The cabin would still be the cabin.”

CONTACT Arianna Taylor at taylo3af@dukes. jmu.edu. For more on the culture, arts and lifestyle of the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the culture desk on X and Instagram @Breeze_Culture.

Sill & Glade, a cabin 25 minutes from JMU, operates as a recording studio and has been the venue for multiple bands and artists, including JMU students. Photo courtesy of CJ Metz

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MACROCK starts preparations

By ABBY CAMP The Breeze

Every year, the MACROCK music festival comes to Harrisonburg to share independent artists and bands with the entire local community. On April 5 and 6, students and residents will have the opportunity to travel downtown and attend concerts from approximately 60 different bands

“The festival is so fun,” said senior Annie McGowan, head MACROCK coordinator. “You’re just kind of running around Harrisonburg all weekend and seeing as many bands as you can and having the best time.” McGowan formally wrote for The Breeze’s opinion section.

The MACROCK planning committee is composed of about 15 people. That work behind the scenes throughout the year, screening applications from bands, booking venues for the concerts, organizing fundraisers and more. McGowan said even though the recruiters all have different music tastes, it can still recognize what music is right for the event. Additionally, the group has tactics for being as impartial as possible throughout the selection process.

“Personally, I am a student, but not everyone on the committee is students,” McGowan said. “We have some people who just live in Harrisonburg and are really involved in the music scene here. They may be student-aged, maybe they’re not a part of the JMU community, but they’re definitely a part of the youth culture around here.”

In addition to JMU students and young Harrisonburg residents, the MACROCK staff also consists of business owners, light and sound technicians, and older residents who donate money to the festival. Many volunteers from past years continue to help annually, which McGowan attributes to MACROCK’s shared passion for independent music and Harrisonburg culture.

“We also have some people who have been around for a while and they’re still helping MACROCK out because it’s something that they care about and it’s something that they love as well,” McGowan said. “They’re kind of like a backbone for a lot of our stuff, especially venue owners and people who donate, people who do sound for us.”

Choosing which bands perform at MACROCK is a multi-step process. The planning committee first contacts the bands and artists it hopes to book as headliners. Then, applications open for the rest of the bands. Each band sends in three songs, details about its music and basic contact information. The head coordinator anonymously plays a section of the songs for the committee, the group votes and the bands with the highest scores are booked for the festival.

“It’s trying to remove any bias, and if you recognize it and you’re like, ‘Oh, this is my friend’s

band from Philly’ or whatever, you have to opt out of voting,” McGowan said. “People just kind of take an honor code on that. This year, we had 423 applications. We had to pair it down to, I think it was around 56 applied bands. It was a lot of really hard cuts.”

One of the headliners for this year’s festival is CRUSH FUND. This will be its first year performing at MACROCK, and due to its current tour and upcoming new music release, the band said it was perfectly timed.

“I would describe our band as like a dancepunk meets kind of like punk-hardcore kind of sound, but it’s like a mishmash,” CRUSH FUND member Nora Knox said. “We want to try to get people to get moving and have fun and experience catharsis.”

The major genres performing at MACROCK this year are indie, girl-punk, Americana and folk. Some of the featured bands include latchkey kids, Afloat, Shower Curtain, loverghost and SLOPTART. Many of the bands performing have never played at a mainstream festival before. Bands such as CRUSH FUND have stuck to bar and college house performances.

“I really want to see who else is playing,” Knox said. “It’s obviously going to be a lot of local Virginia artists that are part of this so it’s going to be cool to see people all day and like get a taste for what’s going on around there.”

One aspect of MACROCK that committee members take pride in is the centering of diverse artists. Discrimination in the music industry sometimes causes these groups to be less recognized, and MACROCK’s goal is to combat that by creating a space that McGowan calls “accountable.” Additionally, they said MACROCK is an opportunity for people to express themselves alternatively without feeling judged, whether that be in their clothing or their choice of bands to see.

“It’s really focused on uplifting LGBTQIA+ and POC [people of color] voices and, you know, those who usually don’t get that kind of mainstream exposure but are still making great music and just kind of bringing people together to celebrate it,” McGowan said.

Although MACROCK is no longer JMU affiliated, students make up a large portion of its audience. MACROCK encourages JMU students to attend in order to connect with the community they live in, in an attempt to break out of what McGowan called “the JMU bubble.”

Read more online at breezejmu.org

CONTACT Abby Camp at campad@dukes.jmu. edu. For more on the culture, arts and lifestyle of the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the culture desk on X and Instagram @Breeze_Culture.

A drummer performs at local music festival MACROCK last April. The festival features independent artists of various genres every year. K. Mauser / The Breeze

Local comic shop encourages community with ‘ThunderCats’ illustrator signing

By ABBY CAMP The Breeze

Comic book illustrations are an art medium many people connect to, especially fans of classics like the Marvel series and DC Comics. However, stores such as The Secret Lair Comics are attempting to widen the comic-loving community locally in Harrisonburg.

Illustrator Drew Moss visited The Secret Lair Comics on Saturday to sign copies of his newest project, the revamped version of “ThunderCats.” Based on a TV show, the “ThunderCats” comic series was popular in the ’80s. The comic catered to young people, including Moss himself.

“When I watched ‘ThunderCats,’ that was a very tumultuous time in my childhood. I was living with another family because my parents were having things happening,” Moss said. “‘ThunderCats’ was like every day, Monday through Friday, 4 o’clock, I could count on it. And I guess as a kid, the psychology behind that, it was just something that was always there for me when everything else was crazy. So, I really latched onto it.”

Being a fan of “ThunderCats” throughout his childhood drew Moss to illustrating. After

picking up projects and making a name for himself and his art, he was offered the job of recreating the characters that supported him during difficult times in his childhood.

“Years and years and years later, I was offered this job, and I couldn’t say no," Moss said. "They were like, ‘You’re gonna redesign it! We’re gonna reboot it!’ So I get to reboot something that I love? Like, that’s a dream project. So, I can’t say no."

The Secret Lair's co-owner Chris Barcomb said Moss isn’t the first artist to visit the store, and he won’t be the last. Moss and Barcomb met at a comic book convention a few years ago, and they’ve remained in contact and in support of each other since. After recently hosting a guest artist named Brian Kong, known for his original designs, Barcomb asked Moss to come to The Secret Lair to sign copies of his new project for Harrisonburg fans.

“We hadn’t done events until my wife and I had really taken over, and I personally love going and meeting the creators, getting things signed by them, getting a chance to talk,” Barcomb said, describing the events as a thank you to “all the customers who are constantly coming in and supporting the books and things.”

Aside from guest artists, The Secret Lair

Drew Moss illustrated the revival of "ThunderCats" and signed copies for guests of The Secret Lair Comics on Saturday. Rowan Potts / The Breeze

Comics has shelves of graphic novels, gallery art on display and a few arcade cabinet games. Nearing the 10-year anniversary of the store, as well as Barcomb and his wife’s one-year anniversary as owners, he said he wanted to do something new. Moss was “probably the biggest creator we’ve had in the store to date,” he said and he reached out for the local “ThunderCats” fans.

“I came for my husband because he’s a huge fan of ‘ThunderCats’ from back in the ’80s, and he wasn’t able to be here, so we came to get it signed for him as a surprise,” said Suzi VasquezLopez, a guest at the signing.

Vasquez Lopez has been a collector of comics in Harrisonburg for years. As a Girl Scout leader, she brings her troupe to The Secret Lair Comics and worked with the staff to create a badge specifically for comic book illustration and learning from artists about the craft.

“I like that it can be interpreted in so many ways,” Vasquez-Lopez said. “There’s all age levels. It’s really no discrimination to it because you can find something that will fit every personality, every age group. There’s no limitations to it, so everybody can find their own niche. I love it … And, you’ve gotta support locals.”

Stories like this are the things that motivate Barcomb to put on events and Moss to attend them and meet his fans, they said. Both mentioned the ways the local comic book community has encouraged them to continue taking on the next big project.

“Meeting the people, seeing the happiness in their face, I’ve had people tell me stories — ‘Oh, man. My grandmother passed, and I was so close to her, but she watched ‘ThunderCats’ with me every day when I was a kid,’ and that, or when people come and they’re like, ‘This is the first comic I’ve ever had signed by anybody,’” Moss said, “that’s a big deal to me.”

The suspense for the release of the updated “ThunderCats” may have been a motivator for hosting this special occasion, but to him, there was a deeper meaning. He wanted to bring the

behind-the-scenes details of comic making to the foreground. Barcomb said one of his main goals was to show comic fans the many different roles and procedures that go into it.

“The problem with collecting art or enjoying art is a lot of it gets bought, and it doesn’t get shown off again," Barcomb said. "So when we bought the store, we wanted decorations, and we were like, ‘Let’s use our art from our collections and share them with people so they can see it, and hopefully they appreciate what goes into making the books that they love and enjoy so much.'"

Encouraging young people’s interest in comic books is another goal of both Barcomb and Moss. Barcomb said he’s noticed an increase in students visiting the store ever since they began decorating the walls with comic art, and Moss mentioned his excitement to share this passion with his own sons.

“They really dig this, too,” Moss said. “Your kids don’t express their interest in anything you do like. They’re just most of the time like, ‘Cool, dad,’ like, ‘Whatever,’ but stuff like this, like my sons going to start coming with me to things like this — my eldest — and I’m glad to spend the time with him.”

Through Moss’ career in illustrating, he’s learned the importance of supporting others in any way they choose to interact with comics to keep the community positive. A friend of Moss is a professor at Christopher Newport University who teaches a comic history class, and when he visits to speak, he tells them no matter what they’re interested in, keeping an open mind, learning from losses and staying positive will get them through their own hard times.

“You don’t have to draw superheroes or alien cats,” Moss said. “Do what makes you happy, and that way, 30 years from now when you’re still doing it, you’re still happy.”

CONTACT Abby Camp at campad@dukes. jmu.edu. For more on the culture, arts and lifestyle of the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the culture desk on X and Instagram @Breeze_Culture.

Inside The Secret Lair Comics are books and magazines of many different genres. Abby Camp / The Breeze

Goodman steps into bigger role for women’s hoops down the stretch

Redshirt junior fills void after injury in front court

By MAEGHAN STOCKLI contributing writer

Growing up, Annalicia Goodman didn’t want to play basketball.

Her career in the sport only started in sixth grade after her mom said she was too tall to continue competitive dance with her little sister.

At first, she felt forced to try out and go to basketball practices because her mom wanted her to.

While slowly gaining interest in the sport, Goodman thought she could play point guard and wanted to be the player who quickly dribbled the ball up the court, but realized that role wouldn’t be her’s. As she continued to acclimate to the game, though, she found she was needed more under the basket as a forward.

And it wasn’t until years later when Goodman was a freshman in high school that she realized what potential she could have in the sport.

“As I got older and to ninth grade, I started realizing that I could go to college and play basketball, so that’s what I wanted to do from there,” said Goodman, now a redshirt junior forward for the Dukes.

When Goodman came to JMU, she earned plenty of accomplishments in her first two seasons. She came up big in her sophomore year (2021-22), starting all 29 games and averaging 27.6 minutes per game.

When her junior year rolled around, she suffered an injury and couldn’t play the first half of the season. She knew that once she was healthy again, she was going to play that season coming off the bench — still trying to contribute any way she could.

In her absence as a starter, redshirt junior center Kseniia Kozlova stepped up and had a great season — remaining the Dukes’ starter over Goodman going into the 202324 campaign.

Goodman said she knew coming into this year healthy and having the whole season to play would be good for her, and would

“She’s definitely stepped up into that role, and I think she’s been ready for that.”

Redshirt sophomore guard Peyton McDaniel on Goodman stepping in for the injured Kozlova

give her new opportunities to prove herself on the court.

“[I’m] going through the season injuryfree and making sure I’m doing the right thing to stay on the court,” Goodman said. “To be able to play in every game this year so far is a full turn around.”

Now as this year has come to its last game of the regular season, the roles have been reversed. Kozlova went down after the Dukes’ loss at Ball State on Feb. 11 — with no solidified return date from head coach Sean O’Regan — and it was Goodman who stepped up for her this time.

“It’s a nice thing to be able to step up for Ksyusha for now,” Goodman said. “I hope she feels like I’m playing through her and for her right now.”

During her time stepping up for Kozlova, Goodman has started in all games for the Dukes and recorded a double-double in a win over Coastal Carolina on Feb. 18 with 10 points and 11 rebounds and a careerhigh in points against the Chanticleers on Wednesday night with 17.

In Kozlova’s absence, Goodman’s performances haven’t gone unnoticed by the rest of the team.

“She’s definitely stepped up into that role, and I think she’s been ready for that,” redshirt sophomore guard Peyton McDaniel said.

Goodman said her teammates being so competitive helps push her to do better. She added that they make her feel like she can make a lasting impact on them, especially as a leader in practice.

For Goodman, the teamwork that JMU fosters is what drove her to become a Duke.

“Once I’m talking and getting everyone else going, then it makes it easier for me to keep going,” she said.

Goodman wanted her main focus this season to be a growth in her confidence both on and off the court, as she said she knew she could impact the team even when she’s not on the floor during the game.

“I think she’s very underrated and can go unnoticed at times,” O’Regan said. “The jobs she’s doing right now … being a backup all year long and to come in when we need her to step up, she’s doing a really good job keeping her head in it all season long.”

Goodman has always had a team-first mentality. She said she believes if the team is good then the rest will follow. She said she’s driven by being a part of a competitive great that wants to do their best and win just as much as she does.

“I want us to build off each game and take it one game at a time,” Goodman said. “We know what we can do and what we’re capable of.”

CONTACT Maeghan Stockli at stocklma@dukes.jmu.edu. For more women’s basketball coverage, follow the sports desk on X @TheBreezeSports.

Redshirt junior forward Annalicia Goodman defends a Hofstra player on Jan. 28, 2022. She initially didn’t want to play basketball as a kid, but after falling in love with the sport in high school and committing to JMU, Goodman is currently averaging 5.6 points and four rebounds a game this season. Breeze file photo

Goodman in action during the 2022-23 season when injuries caused her to miss some of the year. After the Dukes’ loss against Ball State on Feb. 11 this year, redshirt junior center Kseniia Kozlova suffered an injury with an undetermined return date from head coach Sean O’Regan, and since then, Goodman has stepped up in her absence. Breeze file photo

Goodman reaches for a rebound against William & Mary on Dec. 7. She said she’s constantly motivated by her teammates to be the best version of herself both on and off the court. Landon Shackelford / The Breeze

‘Fearless’ Jordyn Henderson brings budding leadership, competitive spirit to track & field

By ZACH MENDENHALL The Breeze

At the Sun Belt Indoor Conference Championships, junior sprinter/hurdler Jordyn Henderson completed the 60-meter hurdles in 8.3 seconds, breaking a previous school record that she owned. Despite her new program record time, she placed third in the Feb. 20 event. But even without a win, Henderson’s time was one of the top 55 indoor marks in the nation.

“The hurdles is a tough race,” Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Delethea Quarles said. “The times are really, really tough, even in our conference and definitely at the national level.”

Quarles said Henderson has brought the competitiveness she’s looking for as the Dukes settle into their second Sun Belt season. Quarles arrived at JMU in fall 2022 at square one with Henderson and has seen her speed, confidence and competitiveness all grow, she said.

So far this season, Henderson has twice broken the school record in the 60m hurdles and earned the seventh best time in school history in the 60m dash at 7.57. She’s won two event titles and topped her season best time three times.

“I’m really happy for her,” Quarles said. “The training program is working for her, and she’s gone the next level of what it takes as a Sun Belt competitor.”

Henderson’s drills consist of repetitions in running 150, 200 and 250 meters. Henderson said a shorter recovery time helps with her endurance and simulates the circumstances of a race.

Junior sprinter Holly Mpassy saw a “whole new level of confidence” in Henderson after she broke her personal record in both the 60m dash and hurdles.

“One thing I’ve noticed about her is she’s probably one of the most fearless people that I’ve ever met,” Mpassy said. “She sees people that are faster than her … as a challenge, and it like sparks a fire in her.”

Mpassy said Henderson’s fire has motivated her and the team to perform better.

Growing into the sport

Henderson’s mom encouraged her to continue track as a child, after she randomly chose track and field at 9 years old. She said she originally hated running and didn’t begin to take the sport seriously until her sophomore year of high school, when she realized she was an “above average” runner, and her skills could take her somewhere.

She took an interest in hurdling when she realized less people participate in it, and said being 5-foot-10 also gives her a height advantage over other competitors.

“I feel like it’s hard to be good at it if that makes sense,” Henderson said about hurdling. “But it was just something that I could do really well.”

In high school, Henderson said she received offers from schools such as Appalachian State, Elon and William & Mary. She stumbled upon JMU as a junior and “loved the team environment and dynamic.”

“It was really comforting to kind of come on campus and have built-in best friends,” Henderson said.

Quarles said Henderson’s academic vigor and healthy lifestyle habits off the track are leading her life down a great path, adding that she does what’s asked of her and makes a “first place effort” without question.

“It takes a lot of desire to do track and field … It takes a lot of grit and a lot of grind, and a lot of work,” Quarles said. “She has that … She wants to be great at everything that she’s doing and so, you know, that’s what we want. That’s what we need on our team.”

Mpassy echoed Quarles and described Henderson as “the epithet” of a leader both on and off the track. At meets, Mpassy said Henderson always affirms her, which makes her feel more capable of performing well in her races.

“Just how she presents herself and the way she uses her words and stuff really makes you engage and want to listen,” Mpassy said. “You can tell that when she’s speaking, she really believes in what she’s saying.”

Mpassy said she believes Henderson has

found success through how she presents herself and has noticed how much stronger she has grown mentally.

“You can tell she knows why she’s there,” Mpassy said. “She knows what she needs to do; she knows how capable she is of doing well.”

Henderson said she’s always considered herself a “natural born leader,” and having the ability to encourage people to beleive in themselves is something she feels has always been inside her. Her teammates lean on her and look up to her for leadership, she said, while also reciprocating the support.

“It’s really helpful to have people who understand what you’re going through day-in and day-out with training and competing,” Henderson said. “They understand the highs and the lows.”

While Henderson is aware trophies are important, she said she wants to be known as a good leader and someone who can use those qualities not just in sports but also later in life after JMU.

As the spring season reaches its midway mark, Quarles said there’s “no limit” to what Henderson can achieve the rest of the season and expects her to only get better.

“She has a potential to get there, and I think the desire to win indoors,” Quarles said. “That fire will continue for outdoors as well.”

Mpassy said she sees Henderson continuing to share her confidence and positivity for the rest of the year as well as breaking a few records in the outdoor season. Henderson said her goals for the outdoor season include breaking the program record in the 100m by the end of the year — she said it would mean the world.

“I really feel like she has so many qualities that should be shared to everybody,” Mpassy said. “How caring she is, how she presents herself, how confident she is, especially in the sport that we’re in, I feel like it’s so important.”

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

Henderson stands on the third place podium at the Sun Belt Conference Indoor Championships on Feb. 20 after breaking the program record for the 60m hurdles, finishing in 8.3 seconds.

Junior sprinter/hurdler Jordyn Henderson broke two program records in the winter indoor track and field season in the 60-meter hurdles and dash, but said her work isn’t done as she hopes to keep rewriting history in the outdoor spring season with the 100m dash. Photos courtesy of JMU Athletics

Standout freshman makes immediate impact on men’s basketball

By MATTHEW TADDEI The Breeze

Off the court, Jaylen Carey describes himself as an “exciting guy who likes to have fun and laugh.” On the court, he said he’s a completely different person.

The 18-year-old freshman forward, who stands at 6-foot-8-inches, tied for the Dukes’ second-tallest player. He can do it all on either side of the court, from aggressive dunks to crucial steals and blocks. He said he’s been exposed to the game his whole life thanks to his brother, Vernon Carey Jr., a five-star recruit coming out of high school who committed to Duke for the 2019-2020 season.

“When I was about 5 years old, I was always watching my brother play,” Jaylen said.

Vernon won ACC Freshman of the Year with the Blue Devils and was drafted in the second round of the 2020 NBA Draft by the Charlotte Hornets. He now plays overseas in the Turkish Basketball Super League.

“I always wanted to pick up a ball and play just like him,” Jaylen said.

As a freshman for JMU this season, Jaylen’s been living up to the Carey namesake. So far in the season, Jaylen has played an average of 14.8 minutes per game, shooting 68.1% from the field and scoring 7.2 points per game. He had a season high 16 points on 8-for-10 v. Keystone on Dec. 3.

Jaylen has always been tall for his age. He said he stood at the average grown male height of 5-foot-9-inches at just 9 or 10 years old.

Jaylen played his freshman year of high school at Nova Southeastern University in Davie, Florida, playing alongside future NBA players Taylor Hendricks and Jett Howard.

Jaylen transferred and played at Westminster Academy, staying in the Sunshine State from his sophomore through senior year.

During his three years with Westminster, Jaylen was named all-county and all-state his junior year, averaging 14.7 points and 10.1 rebounds as a senior.

Jaylen received his first college offer as a sophomore from Ole Miss. Before his decision to JMU became public, Jaylen had offers from Ohio, Florida Atlantic and more, but what stood out about JMU to Jaylen was the Atlantic Union Bank Center.

“When I was on my visit and got to the facility, I just fell in love with the place and the people here, especially my teammates,” he said. “I had a fun time with the guys on my visit.”

On top of the tour, Jaylen said head coach Mark Byington called him 4-5 times a week during the recruiting process.

“I mean, he is just starting on his college journey, and for him to make an impact on a team that has won numerous games, that is very difficult,” Byington said. “Freshman usually only play and contribute on bad teams in college basketball, and the fact he is able to come in and handle physicality and give us impactful minutes has been really important to us.”

Byington added how “the sky’s the limit” for Jaylen’s development. JMU players echoed Byington’s praises.

“He has been huge ever since he has come here and has been a big part of this team,” redshirt senior forward Julien Wooden said. “I expect him to keep getting better and keep doing his thing.”

With two more games left in the regular season, Jaylen said he is hoping JMU wins the Sun Belt tournament and, even better, reach the NCAA Tournament in March.

But what is Jaylen hoping to gain from his experience at the college level as a whole?

“To be a dog, to be the best that I can be,” he said.

CONTACT Matthew Taddei at taddeimj@dukes.jmu.edu. For more men’s basketball coverage, follow the sports desk on X @TheBreezeSports.

Freshman forward Jaylen Carey slams down a dunk against Howard on Nov. 12. In his first season with the Dukes, Carey is averaging 7.2 points per game. Kaiden Bridges / The Breeze

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Julien Wooden showcases experience, versatility and grit in his JMU farewell tour

By JOVAN MCSELLERS contributing writer

JMU men’s basketball has come a long way from winning nine games in 2019-20. This year, it’s won a program-best 26 with two more regular season games to go. But through it all, redshirt senior forward Julien Wooden has been there.

Wooden is the longest tenured player on the team and the only remaining from the 2019-20 squad. He became the player with the most wins in program history on Wednesday. In early February, Wooden became JMU’s all-time leader in games played, which he called his biggest accomplishment.

“It just represents commitment,” he said. “Nowadays in the sport, players often look at the transfer portal and never fully commit. Loyalty is a big thing to me, and this accomplishment not only represents that but also showcases my ability to stay healthy and available for my teammates.”

This season, Wooden is averaging the most points in his career (10.2), while also improving his efficiency despite a heavier load. In the last three seasons, Wooden’s points per game (ppg) have increased from 7.4 ppg to 8.3 ppg and now in the double digits for the first time in his career. Not only that, but he had a career-high 31 points against ULM on Jan. 18, hitting seven 3-pointers in the process.

Despite the scoring uptick, selflessness is a constant thought for Wooden and a trait of his that head coach Mark Byington said doesn’t go unnoticed.

“He’s someone that deeply cares about his coaches and teammates,” Byington said. “He just comes to work and loves to ball. He’s just got a personality that leads others to gravitate towards him.”

His personality is not only prevalent off the court, but also showcases itself on it. Wooden’s former head coach, Bill Pope, who still coaches at Northside High School in Roanoke, praised his development.

“Julien’s someone who always let the game come to him; he always had a point guard mentality,” Pope said. “He never forced things, but just waited patiently for his opportunity while the others got to flourish.’’

Not only was Wooden naturally gifted as a facilitator at Northside, standing at 6-foot-8, but he played point guard there. This led to him taking a serious leadership role, which helped Northside win its first-ever state championship in 2019. Wooden ended his high school career with 22 points and nine rebounds in the 60-58 victory.

“His biggest strength as a player is his versatility,” Byington said. “He’s incredibly talented. He can post up, he can shoot and, of course, he’s a great passer.”

Wooden attributed his all-around abilities to Byington, adding that the two of them have a mutually beneficial relationship on and off the court.

“He really just allows me to be myself,” Wooden said.

“Having a good relationship with your coach goes a long way.”

Initially, Byington tried to recruit Wooden to Statesboro during his time as head coach at Georgia Southern (201320) after watching Wooden play AAU. With Wooden’s commitment to JMU, he’s the only player on the roster not initially recruited to Harrisonburg by Byington.

“He was a great prospect,” Pope said. “The first time I realized how special he could be was his freshman year in practice. His teammate had a fastbreak and threw it up to him, and Wooden finished the breakaway dunk with his famous left hand. That’s when I realized how unique he was.”

Wooden has proven on many occasions dating back to high school that he’s one to embrace adversity, Pope said, not back down from it.

“It was the district championship versus our archrival,” Pope said. “Julien had an OK game for his standards. At one point in the game he turns the ball over, so I take him out. While on the bench, he just sat there quietly. I gave him some time, but when I put him back in the game, he ended up having one of the most famous dunks in the school’s history. We ended up winning the game, and that final stretch run in his senior year, he barely missed. He was phenomenal.”

After graduation, however, Wooden said his move to college wasn’t perfect.

“My first two years here were a transition,” Wooden said. “I would be tired balancing Division I basketball with my schoolwork. Eventually, I ended up coming up with a routine where I’d spend one day solely focused on school while the others on my game.”

Once Wooden found his groove at JMU, he said he could focus more on self improvement while implementing routine into his everyday life. His pregame ritual consists of the team’s shootaround, then a quick nap and shower to help wake him up.

On days the Dukes don’t have games, Wooden said spending more time in the weight room has become a priority.

“The one thing I’ve been focused on the most the past couple offseasons is hitting the weight room and taking it seriously,” Wooden said. “My first couple of seasons, I didn’t spend as much time there as I do now.”

With the season coming to an end, Julien has big plans for up ahead.

“Hopefully in the future, I’ll play some type of professional ball,” Wooden said. “The idea of that being a possibility really drives me to get better.”

When talking about the upcoming Sun Belt tournament and Wooden’s final run, Byington only had one thing to say: “The final chapter is just getting started.”

CONTACT Jovan McSellers at mcselljm@dukes.jmu.edu. For more men’s basketball coverage, follow the sports desk on X @TheBreezeSports.

Redshirt senior forward Julien Wooden drives toward the paint against Marshall on Jan. 20. He is in his fifth and final season with the Dukes. Kaiden Bridges / The Breeze

Wooden protects the ball against U.Va. in 2019. He averaged 5.0 points per game across 30 appearances and 10 starts that year, his freshman campaign. Breeze file photo

Wooden watches a free throw attempt against ULM on Jan. 18. In his final season, he is averaging 10.3 points per game and has started in all 29. Kaiden Bridges / The Breeze

Evan

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 “go-Dukes!” pat for those who generously donated to the schools of the Sun Belt Conference Food Fight.

From someone who believes combating food insecurity and supporting JMU’s Pantry are noble causes.

An “is-this-real” pat to my professor for making the midterm open for a month, open book and allowing us to take it twice.

From a senior who appreciates the leniency.

A “dream-come-true” pat to @jmufits for posting me on its Instagram account on Wednesday.

From a loyal follower and fan.

A “does-this-meanit’s-optional?” dart to my professor for posting an assignment on Canvas without a place to submit it.

From a student who hopes no one emails the professor.

‘Easy A’ classes hurt students in the long run

Grade inflation has distorted the perception of how hard it is to earn good grades

SARA CURLING contributing columnist

“That class is so chill; the professor gives easy 100s.” Most college students’ ears would perk up at those words, especially when so many classes are packed with stress and require sustained effort to maintain a high grade. Classes that serve as buffers to more demanding ones are highly sought after.

As college students, stress is an expected factor of our daily routines. It’s what pushes someone to meet their deadline, study for exams and do what’s expected of them, and it plays an important role in driving students to success. Taking an easy class seems like a good way to make sure the stress doesn’t become overwhelming.

So, what’s the issue? Merriam-Webster defines grade inflation as “a rise in the average grade assigned to students; especially the assigning of grades higher than previously assigned for given levels of achievement.”

Today, a high grade point average (GPA) is the most direct reflection of grade inflation. Just a generation ago, it seemed that getting higher than a 4.0 GPA in high school was next to impossible. A 2017 study conducted by the College Board recorded that the average GPA increased by 0.11 — 3.27 to 3.38 — from 1998 to 2016.

Now, with even more availability of weighted AP and dual enrollment classes that can contribute to higher GPAs, the previously outof-reach 4.0 is much more obtainable.

It seems that higher GPAs are positive. In college, however, the issue’s effects become more prevalent. The praise associated with earning above a 4.0 should feel somewhat arbitrary when every other student has the same achievement, but it doesn’t. Students are led to believe that they are genuinely above average

— and with above a 4.0, that they are above perfection.

Could it be that students are just getting that much smarter? Unfortunately, the research points to no. Several grade inflation studies by organizations such as the ACT and the U.S. Department of Education found that SAT scores have decreased from 1998 to 2016, and students who had straight “As” were doing worse on the ACT than students with “As” 10 years before. Although bloated GPAs may seem to reflect smarter students, standardized testing of their comprehension doesn’t.

This isn’t to say that students shouldn’t be proud of their achievements. Having intellectual confidence is an important aspect of academic success and progress. But the equally important aspect of realism seems to be dwindling. When students expect “As” and don’t receive them, they can begin pointing fingers at the teacher or the course.

What is an “A,” anyway? The term “grade A,” per Merriam-Webster, means “of the highest quality.” It stands for work that is next to perfection. Contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t mean “meeting all the requirements,” which would align more with a “C” or “B.” An “A” would coincide with making connections, drawing inferences and closely analyzing material in classes — all of which require extra effort.

Is grade inflation and its motivators present at JMU? The Breeze contacted four professors who all declined interviews about grade inflation.

According to a Breeze Instagram poll, 73% of 94 students said hearing a class is an “easy A” greatly influences them to take the course. Another 78% of 105 students reported that at least a few of their classes were “easy As.” Students feel motivated to take classes that will bolster their GPA, which is probably due to the fact they know other GPAs are also inflated. They feel they must take these “buffer” classes to get on the same level as the competition.

Nearly a quarter of the poll’s 94 respondents reported that the average effort needed to get an “A” on a university assignment was only 50%. This contributes to the plateau of effort needed to do well on assignments, and, therefore, when some assignments are more demanding and require more effort, students aren’t used to that criteria. Average effort is therefore somewhat expected to correlate with a superior grade, which is a startling assumption, to say the least.

Forty-two percent of the poll’s 92 respondents feel they are academically above average, with 43% stating they feel they’re at average capability. These proportions are shockingly similar. How can nearly the same number of students be above average than the median? It’s a latent disproportion in assessing academic capability that’s very possibly a product of inflated grading due to the nature of the previous poll responses.

Many students may experience the effects of grade inflation more often than they realize. You get a paper back and find you’ve done significantly worse than expected. Could it be that you “deserve” a better grade because that’s what you are used to receiving? Or could it be that you put in less effort and, therefore, received a worse grade?

It’s true that both factors could be, to an extent, at play. The best thing to do is to think before you act. Reflecting on whether or not you did the best you could before sending an angry email to your professor could have much better implications for you. Removing the idea that students are entitled to the “A” standard is vital for encouraging practice, mistakes, real learning and understanding.

CONTACT Sara Curling at curlinsp@dukes. jmu.edu. For more editorials regarding the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the opinion desk on Instagram and X @Breeze_Opinion.

According to a Breeze Instagram poll. Abby Paredes / The Breeze

Editorial Board

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

The Breeze demands transparency from SGA and administration

Government and the press are inherently intertwined. At JMU, the Student Government Association (SGA) and The Breeze share the values of informing and serving our community. Journalists act as the fourth estate, an integral part of the checks and balances system our democracy is built on, and the same goes for our coverage of SGA.

A team of four Breeze reporters and photographers arrived at The Union to cover SGA’s weekly senate meeting Tuesday night and uphold our organization’s mission: to tell the stories of JMU with our values of transparency and accountability. However, those reporters were turned away after open meeting laws were incorrectly cited to them by SGA faculty advisers and Vice President for Student Affairs Tim Miller — a senior administrator at our university — and the senate entered an illegal closed session for the first 30 minutes of the meeting.

According to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), public bodies such as the SGA must begin all public meetings in open

session, as stated in Virginia code 2.2-3712, then its members must motion and vote to enter closed session and cite one of 46 exemptions to FOIA as to why. The SGA did not follow this protocol, nor did it inform the press or the public with the required three-day notice that there would be a closed session, as stated in Virginia code 2.2-3707.

We take our mission seriously, and the removal of our reporters prevented them from doing their jobs and informing JMU’s student body of its government’s actions. While it’s a disservice to us as journalists, The Breeze believes SGA’s actions in skirting these laws, knowingly or unknowingly, is an even greater fault to the whole JMU community — the people it promises to inform, represent and serve, its website says.

The Breeze received a statement Wednesday evening from JMU spokesperson Mary-Hope Vass that provided some clarity on the contents of SGA’s closed meeting. But there are still gray areas. The statement says select SGA members met with their advisers “prior to the start of

the regularly scheduled SGA meeting.” This is not true. The closed meeting began at 6:15 p.m., the same time the SGA normally gathers on Tuesdays — usually in front of the public, press included.

The statement also says the SGA didn’t discuss “transaction of any public business” during the closed session. Regardless of what’s discussed, to adhere to FOIA, the SGA needed to gather in public first.

JMU prides itself on being a university where civic engagement flourishes, and it seems its own student government either did not understand the importance of FOIA law or that there even is one. Public bodies holding closed meetings without prior notice undermines the notion of JMU being that glowing example of civic involvement, and, again, it only hurts the public because it can’t make informed decisions without an honest, open and transparent government serving them.

It didn’t end there. Tim Miller, a vice president with two degrees from a university named after the father of the Constitution,

either ignored or misinterpreted a law intended to protect open and transparent government proceedings for the people. There’s no other way to say it: it’s disheartening, concerning and alarming.

The Breeze always strives to report with the context, nuance and facts our audience not only deserves but needs. We can’t do our job to the fullest extent when those we are attempting to cover do not cooperate with the law. We strongly stand by our reporting that Tuesday’s SGA meeting lacked transparency, and as journalists, we will always call out lapses in what is a sacred journalistic trait when we see it.

We are still waiting on more answers, and you, our readers, will be the first to know when we have them.

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

On Tuesday, Vice President for Student Affairs Tim Miller spoke to SGA senators in a closed meeting before it opened to the public, ultimately violating Virginia law. Kimberly Aikens / The Breeze

Punch problems The

RILEY KILCARR contributing columnist

JMU’s least expensive meal plan costs almost $1,000 per semester, which only includes $175 dining dollars. No meal plan offered by the university exceeds $500 dining dollars. Students can use their punches — which give them access to meals and are built into meal plans at JMU — at almost every single food location, except a few. Panera Bread is one of those exceptions and is still a student favorite for dining, studying and hanging out with friends. However, despite its beloved status on campus, students can’t use their punches for any food at Panera.

This means most students are out $150 to $500 between Starbucks, Dunkin, Auntie Anne’s — all locations on campus that also don’t offer punches — and Panera, which is one of the only true sit-down dining places at JMU that students can’t punch at. With the cost of a standard, 14-punch-plan costing just under $3,000, students should be able to use their punches for any dining place. Instead, they’re still left splitting their dining dollars between coffee and Panera.

According to a Breeze Instagram poll, 100% of 70 students believe Panera should have a punch option. Thirty-four of these students indicated they used over $50 dining dollars at Panera. Specifically, 14 respondents spend between $100-$150 dining dollars at Panera, which could

E-Hall and part of Dukes Dining.

If a student were to pay out of pocket to eat at E-Hall, it would cost between $10.75 and $15.75. This is the same price range as a “You Pick Two” entree at Panera. If a punch is equivalent to the price of entree options at Panera, there’s no reason for students to not be able to use their punches there. Several other meal options on Panera’s menu equal other punch price rates as well. With the amount of punch-equivalent meals at Panera, JMU has no excuse to not introduce a Duke Deal. The Breeze contacted JMU Dining about why there are no punch options at Panera but did not receive a reply by publication.

If JMU hopes to support its students and their dining needs, it should increase punching options at Panera. Students who choose to purchase a meal plan do so to eliminate the hassle of planning lunch or dinner. Campus dining is designed to make students’ lives easier, not ration their dining dollars.

Panera is the only major food dining location with no Duke Deal. Students are entitled to get their money’s worth and eat where they please. No student’s dining experience should be restricted based on where they can use punches.

CONTACT Riley Kilcarr at kilcarmr@dukes.

17th Annual

SARAH GILMER contributing columnist

In today’s fast-paced world, the concept of multitasking is a necessity rather than a choice. For JMU students, the pursuit of academic excellence is undoubtedly a priority. However, the importance of gaining practical experience through a job shouldn’t be overlooked. Beyond the immediate opportunity of working for JMU Dining or the bookstore, students should actively seek on- or off-campus employment.

The availability of on-campus jobs provides students with an array of employment opportunities. While entrylevel positions on campus such as with JMU Libraries are accessible, it’s crucial for students to explore other avenues that align with their interests and career aspirations as well. Whether it’s working at the library, in administrative offices or for a research lab, these roles offer invaluable experiences that can complement classroom learning. By diversifying their employment background, students gain a broader perspective of the workforce and develop versatile skillsets that will benefit them in their future careers.

In addition, Harrisonburg offers a variety of opportunities for JMU students

beyond the confines of the campus. With its vibrant local economy and diverse range of businesses, students have many choices when it comes to seeking employment off campus. Whether it’s retail, hospitality or internships at local businesses, these opportunities enable students to gain realworld experience and establish professional networks within the community. Additionally, working off campus exposes students to different work environments and cultures, broadening their horizons and enhancing their adaptability.

Having a job while attending college can also be a great way to learn how to manage your time.

“Working a job on campus has allowed me to work on my assignments when I have some down time at work,” said Becca Bowie, a student manager at the Student Success Center. She emphasized the importance of fostering personal and professional development as part of her time in college. “I feel like it is a great way to gain experience, strengthen professional skills, and meet other students and professional staff.”

However, it’s essential to recognize that

Working helps students get the most out of college JOIN OUR TEAM

the decision to work while in college is a personal one, and timing may vary for each student. Freshman Mia DiAngelo said adjusting to the demands of a new academic environment may take precedence over seeking employment during the first year of college.

“I don’t want a job right now because I want to focus on schoolwork, and I think it’s more important the first year to just settle in,” DiAngelo said.

While DiAngelo’s perspective is valid, the advantages of student employment at JMU are numerous and far-reaching. By securing on- or off-campus jobs, students can gain

valuable skills, financial independence and a sense of responsibility.

While academic success remains a priority, integrating work experience into college can enhance personal and professional development. Therefore, JMU students should seize the opportunity to pursue employment and maximize their potential for success both inside and outside the classroom.

CONTACT Sarah Gilmer at gilmersc@ dukes.jmu.edu. For more editorials regarding the JMU and Harrisonburg communities, follow the opinion desk on Instagram and X @Breeze_Opinion.

A student prepares food at Burgers + Fries in Festival Food Court. Students who also work can learn valuable skills like time management. Kailey Garner / The Breeze

Riff-Off Season

This week on Breeze TV

Top Stories

In-studio interview on the illegality of SGA’s closed meeting

Live updates as JMU baseball begins its weekend series against Cornell

Staunton’s Presidential Library is a hidden gem in the Valley Maddy Night Live hosts first sketch show of the semester

Weekend weather forecast

The second annual Royal Riff-Off was held Friday at Wilson Hall. The University Program Board hosted the event and featured on-campus a cappella groups in a competition inspired by “Pitch Perfect.” Photos by Annika Moses / The Breeze

For more photos of the Royal Riff-Off, view the full gallery online at breezejmu.org/multimedia.

Thursday,

FOR RELEASE

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle

Edited by Patti Varol

ACROSS

1 “Golly!”

5 Infuriated with

10 Light on one’s feet

14 “It’s __ you”: “You decide”

15 Justice Kagan of the Supreme Court

16 Metals from a mine

17 “Jeopardy!” creator Griffin

18 Piccata ingredient

19 Christmas song

20 “Focus on the future now”

23 Top-notch

24 “__ you listening?”

25 “Never in a million years!”

31 Barely lit

34 Makes cursed

35 Some clip-on accessories

36 Game with Skip and Reverse cards

37 “Need You Tonight” band

38 Cover story

40 Pakistani language

41 Theater sign on a busy night

42 Shortly

43 “Delta of Venus” author Nin

44 Family

45 Easy to set up, as a computer

48 Deg. for an exec

50 Went by bike

51 Equestrian transport vehicles, and what the last words of 20-, 25-, and 45-Across can be

57 Desert in southern Mongolia

58 Clueless gamers

59 Go first

61 Surrounded by 62 Connecticut Ivy Leaguer

63 Spanish “she”

64 Brazilian soccer legend

65 Book of maps

66 Like purple hair

DOWN

1 Bubble blower’s mouthful

By Chris Gross

2 Go first

3 Houston MLBer

4 Rush-hour traffic conveniences

5 Christopher of “Law & Order: SVU”

6 Pub barrel

7 “Cool for the Summer” singer Lovato

8 “We don’t know who wrote this” abbreviation

9 Cranberry juice quality

10 Sunken ship finder

11 Many a TV crime drama

12 Assault the nose

13 Fashion monogram

21 Unwelcome word from a barber

22 Large coastal inlets

25 Batter blender

26 “Three Bathers” painter Matisse

27 S&P 100 company that’s a descendant of Standard Oil

28 On-the-job risk for a beekeeper

2/26/24

Saturday’s Puzzle Solved find

www.breezejmu.org/

©2024 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

29 White lie

30 Sweet-smelling garland

32 Nepal neighbor

33 Hardly assertive

38 Email pioneer

39 Baseball Hall of Famer Gehrig

40 Still having a rind

42 Health resorts

43 Not incl.

46 Saudi __ 47 Beeps and peeps

49 Wedding bouquet tosser

51 Base runner’s goal

52 Irish New Age singer

53 Precisely 54 Tootsie __ 55 Depend (on)

56 Cyber Monday event

57 Generation __ 60 Family guy

DOG AUTO ALLEY LOCAL AUTOS FOR SALE

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.

JOBS

Job Opportunity - Recreation Aide (Youth Services)

Do you want to have fun at work while also providing a safe and engaging environment for youth? If so, the City of Harrisonburg’s seasonal Recreation Aide - Youth Services position may be the right job for you! Find out more/ apply online: https://www.harrisonburgva. gov/employment. EOE.

Job Opportunity - Recreation Aide (Senior Programs)

Are you looking for a job where you can have fun at work while interacting with a variety of participants in the City’s 50 & Wiser recreation programs? If so, the City of Harrisonburg’s Recreation Aide-Senior Programs position may be the right job for you! Find out more/apply: https://www.harrisonburgva.gov/employment. EOE.

Job Opportunity - Evidence Custodian

Are you looking for a job where you can have fun at work while interacting with a variety of participants in the City’s 50 & Wiser recreation programs? If so, the City of Harrisonburg’s Recreation Aide-Senior Programs position may be the right job for you! Find out more/apply: https://www.harrisonburgva.gov/employment. EOE.

Two Opportunities

Owner of multiple local businesses seeking part time help for two positions. 1-Experienced highly dependable bookkeeper to assist in daily operations & handle accounts payable, receivable, and invoicing. 2-General Laborerhard working, reliable person to work flexible hours doing general building & grounds work. Call for interview 540-820-2341

Dog sitter in townhome

Looking for a pet sitter of 3 dogs. Ideal person would stay in our townhouse on the couch for the days we are gone. We are going away March 26th to March 31. With several other small trips in the summer.

Text or call 540-746-7946 (text preferred)

HOMES FOR RENT

3br, 1.5 bath ($1575/mo) for rent

3br, 1.5 bath Updated Kitchen & Bathroom

Rent: $1575/ mo (Term 1yr) Available Aug 1 1341 Devon Ln Harrisonburg, VA 22801 Please contact John Tel: 240.388.5507

STUDENT JOBS

DUKE

DOG SITTER